The Burundian suspects are said to have worked with the Interahamwe militias—backed by the then government.
In an interview with the press on this Monday, the National Prosecutor and Head of Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit (GFTU), Siboyintore Jean Bosco said that they tried to pursue the suspected Burundians but to no avail due to lack of evidence.
“We have the Ntongwe, Rilima, Nyakizu cases and we’re still working on them. It is difficult since there are no files on some of the persons mentioned in those cases. As an example, Murundi, Nyandwi or Macumi are names you cannot be sure are real or be able to know that the person is still alive; hence, it becomes difficult to investigate with such shortage of information,” he noted.
Siboyintore added that the procedures require cooperation from both countries, so to get information which he noted to be a lot harder than in cases of Rwandans living in the country.
“It requires cooperation from the other side’s prosecution office. These are not like cases we handle in Rwanda, where we have all the information we need.”
The Prosecutor General, Jean Bosco Mutangana remarked that at a time where a foreigner is found to have committed a crime in Rwanda, diplomacy is used so that justice is done.
“More than foreigners, even Rwandan refugees are hard to bring to justice. I feel that we should start on them, and see how we can pursue them.”
He further assured that they will not fail to pursue the cases.
Last year, Mutangana announced the start of investigations but had noted that they may hit a dead end due to political tensions between the two countries.
“We cannot push the country to adhere to our requests as it has its own laws, but what we do know is that we will continue to work with prosecution offices from other countries to see that we progress.”
Rating agencies such as S&P are independent institutions with international credibility and expertise to measure the credit worthiness of a country by evaluating their ability to repay with interest debts to creditors, to avoid the likelihood of defaulting.
Such analyses of the rating agencies are important reference points used by investors and development partners for strategic decision making.
S&P’s latest rating ofRwanda said that it would take a positive rating action if Rwanda’s economic performance was materially stronger than its projections and compared with peers.
The 2015-2016 balance-of-payments shocks forced Rwanda to implemented external adjustment policies supported by an 18-month International Monetary Fund (IMF) standby credit facility (SCF) of $204 million. This has partly helped the current account deficit to decrease by more than half to around 7% of GDP in 2017, from almost 16% in 2016.
S&P projected that the current account balance will gradually decline from 2019, notwithstanding the upcoming import-heavy projects, such as construction of the new Bugesera airport. It further anticipated that upcoming investment projects, higher exports and consumption will support stronger medium-term growth prospects.
However, S&P long-term rating on Rwanda was unchanged and remained at ‘B’, reflecting low GDP per capita levels of less than $1,000 and the debt accumulation to fund infrastructure projects. The rating reflects their assessment that the government will keep net debt levels moderate at around 45% of GDP by 2021.
Mutoni told IGIHE she was born in Gisozi Sector of Gasabo District in Kigali and is pursuing her studies together with her colleagues Marion Apio and Lokolimoe Susan Hilda at Makerere University in Uganda.
The trio submitted Girls Alive Uganda project for the awards of Mastercard Foundation and The Resolution Project 2018. The project intends to meet the need of lack of sanitary materials to vulnerable girls in Tororo District of Uganda.
Speaking to IGIHE after scooping the award, Mutoni said the project, which started two years ago, will make, distribute and train young girls about making affordable pads to reduce high rates of menstrual-related absenteeism which remains a key barrier to academic performance of the girl child in Uganda.
“We have so far trained 83 girls especially in Tororo’s schools on making pads and taught more about menstrual health. This is the second time we are participating in the resolution fellowship and we are excited we have won. We have not started making the pads but now that we have secured the funding, we are going to start,” she said.
Only 15 teams out of the 272 applications won the social venture with each team earning a fellowship that includes seed funding amounting to $5,000 (about Rwf4.4 million), mentorship and access to a network of young global changemakers to pursue impactful projects in their communities.
Mastercard Foundation Spokeswoman, Ashley Collier, said the SVC aims at supporting the most impactful projects that are owned by young African social entrepreneurs.
“This is a very competitive process because scholars come from across the continent and we encourage those who have not won now to keep applying every year. Three years ago, we had 10 scholars that won, last year we had 20 and this year we have 31,” she said.
Collier said Mastercard Foundation has opened a country office in Kigali recently because “we believe this is such an incredible environment” with access to education and skills
The third edition of the challenge’s finalists included scholars from Malawi, Gambia, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Lebanon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Somaliland.
Rwanda was not featuring among this year’s finalists but a trio of Rwandan graduates, from EARTH University in Costa Rica, won the Resolution Social Venture Challenge at the Mastercard Foundation Baobab Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, last year.
The trio of Annet Mukamurenzi, Gerard Ndayishimiye and Yvette Abizeyimana had put forward their Rwanda Youth Initiative for Agricultural Transformation (RYIAT) at the competition that rewards compelling leadership and promising social ventures led by the youth.
The Mastercard Foundation first partnered with The Resolution Project in 2016. The foundation is implementing various projects in Rwanda including Hanga Ahazaza (Create the Future) and Scholars Programme.
The Canada-based Mastercard Foundation is one of the world’s largest foundations which strives to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty and it operates almost exclusively in Africa.
As IGIHE came to learn from Zirumuze New Life Clinic, a herbal medicine and treatment facility, a special tea made of ‘Lippia citriodora’ might just be the solution to locals and others suffering from high blood pressure.
‘Lippia citriodora’ is a plant used as an antihypertensive and commonly used as a relaxant and carminative herb that counteracts the effects of stress.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Director of Zirumuze New Life Clinic, Nyakarundi Samuel, how Lippia citriodora which is commonly known as ‘Lemon Verbana’ due to its tangy lemon smell, is endowed with an antihypertensive effect and contributes to a better regulation of blood glucose levels.
“Due to several factors, tea made with Lippia has a great effect in regulating blood glucose levels and treating the pressure to a normal reading. When one has a high BP, we prescribe 25-30 grams to use for a period of 21 days. For those using it just for preventive means, we prescribe between 20-25 grams of the tea.” Nyakarundi said
According to research, you have a normal blood pressure reading at 120 over 80 and less than 140 over 90 (120/80-140/90).
While high blood pressure remains a potentially life-threatening condition, it can be successfully managed through the correct medical treatment and positive life-style changes.
Nyakarundi added that the Lippia tea the clinic makes, contributes in re-inforcing strength and diminishing stress. He further said that the one who consumes the tea has better chance at getting sleep and feeling more relaxed.
Lippia also has various biological properties and acts as a defense against insects and parasites for injuries.
For more information on the Lippia Tea, you can reach Zirumuze New Life Clinic, located at Muhima on the road to ‘La fraicheur’ near former Nyabugogo market or in Musanze grocery market in room 69 in front of the office of Rwanda Revenue Authority, Musanze Branch. You can also reach them via phone on 0788863221, 0784647369, 07830727227, 0784647166, 0784647265 or by mail: [nyakasamyy@gmail.com->nyakasamyy@gmail.com], [info@zirumuze.com->info@zirumuze.com]. You can also visit their website at [www.zirumuze.com
->www.zirumuze.com]
The commitment was made by the Technical Director at FERWAFA, Hussein Habimana while closing football competition that brought together youngsters across Rwanda at IPRC Kigali stadium on Wednesday.
Dubbed ‘Ambassadors of Foot Ball’, the three-day Christian programme competition was organized by the Association of Pentecostal Church in Rwanda (ADEPR) under the theme ‘Play For Peace’.
Eleven teams from across the country participated in the competition with Muhoza Team of Musanze District shining in male category while Kagamba Team from Gicumbi District shined in female category.
The legal representative of ADEPR, Ephrem Karuranga said that the programme fulfilled the church objective of guiding the youth by teaching them Christian values.
He said that ADEPR plans to build a strong Football team.
FERWAFA’s Habimana lauded the initiative saying that it provides young talents with opportunity to bloom into great players.
“I commit my support to ADEPR in this programme. We shall give out trainings to the children’s coaches and systematic follow-up on promising talents,” he promised.
Speaking to the media, the programme country coordinator, Jean Paul Seneza hailed the government of Rwanda and sponsors’ support to make the competition successful.
The Football Ambassadors Programme aims at inspiring youngsters and equipping them to build Christ-centred relationships through football.
Cogebanque has gone an extra mile to please esteemed clients as well as Tour du Rwanda enthusiasts, by organizing festivities at every completed stage of the competition.
On Thursday, after players set off from Karongi District of Western Province to Rubavu District, the dynamic Duo of TMC and Platini under the auspices of Cogebanque entertained crowds with popular songs such as Mumutashye, Ruracyariho, Bucece and other masterpieces.
Izabayo Claire, a reveler at the event told IGIHE; “I was happy to see the riders, as cycling is a sport that I enjoy, but most especially I was able to see my favorite singers! They are not infrequent here in Rubavu, but still I wouldn’t miss their performance for anything.”
Speaking to IGIHE, the Business Development and Commercial Director at Cogebanque, Louis de Montfort Mujyambere, revealed that they came up with the idea of bringing Dream Boys to Rubavu as it was one of the places that host Rwandans that are on the look-out for fun.
“Rubavu is a popular entertainment Hub; we wished to celebrate with them in the spirit of the Tour du Rwanda. We brought Dream Boys and several Tombolas that include bicycles as prizes, etc…All this is done with the aim to show that Cogebanque as a bank, cares.”
Conferences on the prosperity and security of Africa based on peace, will take place at Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on August 15th to 16th. This series of peace conferences is organized by an international peace NGO called HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) under the UN ECOSOC along with representatives from various sectors and organizations in Ethiopia.
On the 15th, groups of youth and women will talk about the ethnic or regional conflicts that have been continuing until recently and discuss the legalization of peace necessary for harmony and reconciliation among nations. The host organization, HWPL, is proposing the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War(DPCW) as a resolution for establishing a legally binding law for peace that can fundamentally prevent war and conflict.
On the 16th, there will be a forum for interfaith dialogue to promote a network among Christian denominations to be one under the meaning of the scripture and the 2018 Addis Ababa Summit to strengthen a cooperative partnership for regional stability and peace by reaffirming the importance of the implementation of an international/internal law for peace.
Mushikiwabo, who is standing against incumbent Michaëlle Jean, in an interview with AFP, elaborated on how she could take La Francophonie further on the global scene, her priorities and what she thinks could be used to put forth the visibility of the French language on an international level. Below are excerpts:
{{What is La Francophonie in your opinion?
}}
For me, La Francophonie is a cultural environment; it is an ecosystem where, through the French language, we exchange on topics of common interest. In my opinion, an organization like this, with a variety of cultures and assets of all kinds; economic, social, political, should be much more important. It is also among my priorities to raise the status of this organization on the global scene.
{{La Francophonie is often denounced as a continuation of France’s foreign policy. Do you agree with this judgment?
}}
The criticism is legitimate as in the word ‘Francophonie’, there is France and there is the French language, so that’s a reality, but I think we have to distinguish France from La Francophonie. If I am not wrong, the French President Emmanuel Macron has understood that La Francophonie is more than France; it is an organization that must take into account the realities of the world today, including living in harmony with other languages.
{{How should we promote the French language?
}}
The promotion of the French language is its presence and its visibility. Beyond the language, the French-speaking countries and the various operators of the Francophonie, such as Heads of States should be visible on an international level. The omnipresence of English is inevitable, but it does not mean that the French language cannot put forth its advantages and its assets. I think we should have a much more proactive attitude.
{{What will be your priorities if you are elected as Secretary General of the OIF?
}}
The issue of youth employment is central: an organization like La Francophonie has the advantage of being able to build bridges between its member countries, and I am frustrated not to see France’s private sector adequately organized when there are so many Francophone businessmen and women, who are capable of making things happen. Youth employment automatically addresses the issue of migration, the issue of radicalization. If we could use all our energies and our relationships as an organization (…), we could make a difference.
{{What is your view on Michaëlle Jean’s record; she who has been criticized for her lifestyle?
}}
I’m going to answer it like this: At the OIF, there are many things that are being done today, but for me, we could do a lot more, which is why I want to introduce myself. I have plans, I have an ambition, our organization is not really where it should be, for me, transparency in management is not even an issue, I’m in the Rwandan government and for us, that’s the culture: the culture of transparency and sound management. What I can tell you is that with me at the head of the OIF, there will be transparency and there will be a good management.
{{Will the respect for human rights and the promotion of democracy, be among your priorities, while Rwanda— of which you are the Foreign Minister is criticized in these areas?
}}
The whole notion of democracy and human rights is not always very clear and does not precise what we mean by that.” There was a label in Rwanda on these issues of freedom, but I am very proud of the political management in Rwanda. I see what— not everyone, but the majority of Rwandans think; and they are happy with the democratic system that is there. President Paul Kagame is a president who worked hard for his country, who came at a very difficult time in the history of his country, and who is very popular.
{{Do you think La Francophonie needs to go further in denouncing autocratic regimes?
}}
I do not believe in lesson givers, I believe in a coaching system, where we listen, where we ask questions, where we give advice, and for me the best way to manage our mission in relation to democracy and freedoms is to stand close to the states, to give them advice, sometimes even to help them. The objective is not to give lessons, or to compare systems to each other. I believe that what we want in our Francophone space is political systems that are fair, that respect the rights and promote all citizens.
The environment has made some of them decide to settle their businesses in Rwanda with five foreign participants having already registered their companies with Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Ronald Athanase Rutagengwa, exhibitor for Fubisun Company from Malaysia, told IGIHE he has participated in many countries’ exhibitions particularly all regional countries but Rwanda stands out in terms of exhibition organisation and security for the exhibitors and their goods.
He also rated Rwanda as the second most paying country in exhibitions in the region behind Kenya which has a larger market and a stronger currency.
“About the organisation of exhibitions, Rwanda is the best. Every document for exhibitors are issued on time, the security is tight with no single threat day or night, nobody abuses me, nobody tries to steal from us,” said the seller of home equipment such as blenders, juice mixers, sophisticated mops, dry cleaners, irons and massage equipment among others.
Rutagengwa said that, while a few people are shopping while many usually do window shopping in the first days of the fair, his expectations are too high to have sold much by the end of the expo as it has always happened in the previous exhibitions.
Robert Dossou, the Director General for Centre de Pharmacopée Bénin Tisane which is in Rwanda’s expo for the first time, said he has liked the environment and considers opening a local shop for his Bénin-based centre which is present in Cameroun, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Guinea Equatorial, Gabon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville and DRC.
“I have brought to Rwanda natural medicine that is made from herbs, trees leaves, roots, clay… by a group of 42 specialists who bring together their skills to produce effective medicine for either treatment or prevention of infections. We treat haemorrhoid, remedy for fat belly, we have liver remedy to decongest it from fats, purify blood, uric acid, skin buttons, we have remedy for swollen prostate and more,” said Dossou who started natural medicine practices in 1983.
Bénin is one of eight countries that are participating in this expo for the first time.
Dossou said people are visiting his stall in big numbers to buy the remedies, adding that he wants to let all Africans know that natural medicine is so important and break the misconception that likens natural medicine to fetishism, myth or sorcery.
Evas of the Yvonne Exclusive Design from Ghana said the expo environment is good but sales are still poor.
“We are designers of ladies and gents wear. Security is very good here, promptness, everything is alright but sales remain the challenge. People think our products are expensive but as a designer, I use the best fabrics to make my attires and accessories. This is my first time to come here but my mother participated in the previous three exhibitions here,” said Evas, adding that he considers reopening the shop in Kigali if the sales improve in the remaining days of Expo 2018.
He said they had a shop in Kigali City Tower but were forced to close it down because they had few customers while most perceived his products as expensive. Each wear’s price is between Rwf25,000 and Rwf90,000 but Evas says he is offering discount at the Expo.
“All depends on this expo, if it goes well, I will open a shop again in Kigali but if it doesn’t go well, I will be forced to go back home. We have shops in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. We manufacture everything from scratch. We usually sell online and we are in expo to create customer relationship.”
Richard Kayibanda, the Registrar General at RDB, said they had registered five foreign companies participating in Expo 2018 as of last Thursday. By then, a total of 40 companies had registered from the RDB’s stand at the fair which is running at Gikondo Expo Ground in Kigali from July 26 to August 15. The fair attracted 500 companies from 23 countries. Among the exhibitors, 300 are Rwandans while 200 are foreigners.
The summit brings together government ministries, civil society organizations including youth and women, media, educators and religious leaders to seek practical solutions for peacebuilding.
It will provide a platform for former and current leaders of Africa to advocate an intergenerational dialogue to promote sustainable peace and security and develop a legal framework for a conflict-free Africa.
As a resolution to establish a legal framework for peace that can be implemented at both national and international level, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) will be discussed in the various sessions including peace education, civil society, and youth.
The DPCW addresses principles of conflict resolution and international cooperation for peacebuilding such as respect on the international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and spreading a culture of peace.
