During a commemoration event for former Ministry employees lost in the genocide, Claudette lamented the involvement of educated individuals in the genocide, which stagnated educational progress.
She remarked, “The deterioration began with education. Following colonial rule and policies of discrimination, Rwanda’s independence led to further exclusion of Tutsis from societal benefits, notably education.”
Irere emphasized how the corrupt regime left Rwandan children, particularly Tutsis, orphaned and bereft of educational opportunities.
She noted, “Political circumstances drastically reduced the number of educated individuals, denying many based on ethnicity, primarily Tutsis, from pursuing education.”
The Ministry’s commemoration efforts were hailed as crucial for reflecting on the genocide’s impact, especially among professionals and students affected by the tragedy.
Ntazinda Erasme, Mayor of Nyanza District, recounted how schools were affected by the genocide, with teachers and students immersed in genocidal ideology, turning schools into perilous environments.
He described the challenges of attending school during those times, where ethnicity, rather than merit, determined one’s prospects, risking denial of further education.
Ahishakiye Naphatal, Executive Secretary of Ibuka, stressed the role of educators in either fostering or corrupting character, highlighting education’s influence on shaping individuals.
Ambassador Prof. Joseph Nsengimana spoke of ongoing efforts to combat impunity and foster Rwanda’s progress, urging continued unity among Rwandans.
The Ministry of Education counts 77 former employees slain in the genocide, excluding educators and students killed across the country on the basis of their identity.
HWPL organized this event to promote peace education in Burkina Faso, a region long plagued by conflicts in Africa, aiming to instill a passion for peace education in the hearts of citizens and achieve sustainable peace. From April 2nd to 5th, Peace Camps were conducted at Tampouy C School, Nioko 2B School, and Lycee municipal Bambata School in Ouagadougou, during which MOUs were signed with each school.
During this period, meetings were also held with the Secretary-General of UNESCO, the Minister of Education, and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education. In the meeting on the 2nd day, UNESCO expressed its desire to collaborate with HWPL to implement peace education.
Furthermore, UNESCO mentioned the necessity of obtaining approval from the Education Ministry before implementing education initiatives, proposing continued meetings with Education Ministry officials. HWPL proposed signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Education Ministry for nationwide peace education during the meeting with the Education Ministry.
The Education Ministry stated, “Such education is needed for the children of Burkina Faso, and since our curriculum already includes content on peace, integrating peace education would likely generate positive synergy.” HWPL plans to formally propose cooperation with the Ministry of Education to implement peace education through formal procedures.
According to news from The Gudian media outlet, nearly 2 million people became refugees in Burkina Faso due to conflicts that spread from Mali at the end of 2016. An estimated 800,000 are believed to be living under blockade by the Islamist militants, who have reportedly attacked water supplies and forced school closures. UNICEF reports that around one million are still unable to go to school due to violence and insecurity. Emilie Roye, UNICEF’s education officer in Burkina Faso, stated, “Some 6,000 are still schools closed, which represents around 25 percent of the country’s schools,”
In relation to this situation, HWPL introduced peace camps during the event to achieve sustainable peace in Burkina Faso and explained the importance of peace.
HWPL conducts peace educator training and peace camps worldwide to foster peace-oriented citizens. Peace teacher training helps educators learn HWPL’s 12 peace education curricula, enabling them to teach students about peace. Peace camps provide opportunities to experience peace through fun activities, teaching participants what peace is and how to bring peace into daily life.
At Tampouy C School and Nioko 2B School, students learned peace dances and danced to songs of peace. At Lycee municipal Bambata School, students experienced cooperation through a cooperative game called “We Are One Game.” As a common activity, they learned about gratitude, the most fundamental of HWPL’s peace values, and then wrote thank-you letters to their teachers.
They also wrote commitments on paper handprints and attached them to heart-shaped cards that read “I Love Peace,” as part of the “Hand Peace Commitment Writing” activity. Additionally, they also briefly explained the spirit of peace and the 12 aspects of peace education, and shared plans for future online peace educator training.
Ouedraogo Risnata, who attended the event, said, “The Peace Camp is a fascinating initiative, as it immerses participants in the culture of peace from its very foundation. This approach effectively mitigates potential conflicts that might otherwise threaten social stability.”
Adama Yago, who attended the event, said, “The arrival of this much-needed camp in our country is greatly appreciated, particularly considering the challenging circumstances we currently face. We dare to envision that by instilling the values of love within the hearts of our children, we will ultimately harvest peace as the fruit of our endeavors—something our nation desperately requires.”
Schools that signed MOUs will implement HWPL’s peace education program. HWPL will plans to continue to conduct peace education programs in Burkina Faso, fostering a culture of peace dissemination, and will maintain ongoing cooperation with local organizations and schools through MOAs and MOUs.
Among the graduates, 51 are women, and 33 who completed military courses in partner countries.
During the ceremony, Kagame emphasized the crucial role of these officers in safeguarding Rwanda’s progress and peace. He urged them to remain steadfast in the face of any threats to national security, emphasizing the importance of dealing with such challenges decisively.
The newly commissioned officers took an oath pledging allegiance to Rwanda and its leadership, reaffirming their commitment to protecting national sovereignty.
Of them, 102 officers pursued long-term studies in various fields such as medicine, IT, social sciences, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, law, and mechanical engineering, reflecting the diverse expertise within the RDF.
Kagame commended the officers for their dedication to national security and their exemplary performance in academic pursuits. He expressed gratitude to partner countries for their support in providing training opportunities to Rwandan officers and acknowledged the crucial role of parents in encouraging their children to pursue careers in the military.
Addressing the officers directly, Kagame highlighted the importance of their role in preventing the recurrence of Rwanda’s dark past. He urged them to remain vigilant and resolute in protecting the country and its citizens from any threats, drawing upon the lessons learned from past tragedies.
“The history of our country is one where people were killed by fellow citizens, as a result of bad politics, both internally and externally. Children, the elderly, young men and women were asked to choose the weapon of their death. When a nation has reached this level of tragedy, it would be unthinkable for us to repeat this history,” noted Kagame.
“The training of our armed forces, and the knowledge of our past, cannot allow for our tragic history to ever repeat itself in this country. That is your responsibility as the armed forces of this country: yours, the elders you are joining today and anyone who will come after you. And you must pursue it with dedication and integrity,” he added.
Using poignant examples, including the story of an elderly woman who defiantly faced her killers, Kagame emphasized the need for courage and resilience in the face of adversity. He urged the officers to reject any attempts to undermine Rwandan sovereignty and to defend their values and dignity at all costs.
Kagame reminded the officers to uphold their conscience and stand for truth and justice in their profession. He also warned against cowardice and urged them to ensure that those who attempt to threaten Rwanda face consequences for their actions.
This comes after the recent opening of its embassies in Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Embassy of Ukraine in Rwanda is scheduled to open officially on the 18th of May, 2024.
The decision to open its Embassy in Rwanda was made following a visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, to Rwanda in May 2023, where he expressed his country’s desire to establish its embassy in Kigali.
During his visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta, held discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, and they reached agreements regarding bilateral political cooperation.
At that time, President Paul Kagame also conveyed a message to his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Following this development, Dmytro Kuleba announced that Liberia, Kenya, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Rwanda are new partners of his country, expressing great optimism for future collaborations.
In 2022, President Zelensky stated Ukraine’s intention to expand its presence to at least 30 African countries to strengthen relations after years of neglect and underestimation.
President Paul Kagame, during his attendance at the Davos World Economic Forum in January 2024, held discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky on matters concerning their respective countries and the quest for conflict resolution.
Ukraine has been embroiled in a conflict with Russia for the past two decades, with various implications on global markets, particularly in the oil sector, affecting prices and supplies.
Opened to the public in July 2023, Beijing GoBroad Hospital is more than just a medical facility; it’s a dynamic ecosystem of clinical research, advanced patient care, and pioneering medical technology.
The hospital sprawls across a vast 100,000 square meters in the strategic locale of Zhongguancun Life Science Park, surrounded by Medical Road to the east, Science Park Road to the south, the Sixth Hospital of Beijing Medical Science to the west, and Yuhengnan Road to the north.
This prime positioning is not only crucial for accessibility but also places the hospital at the crossroads of collaboration among top-tier medical and research institutions.
Designed to accommodate 500 beds with specialized provisions like 75 beds for phase I clinical trials and an additional 24 for quantitative pharmacology, the hospital is tailored to handle a spectrum of medical scenarios, from routine procedures to the most challenging clinical cases.
{{Wealth of expertise}}
As a member of the GoBroad Healthcare Group established in 2017, Beijing GoBroad Hospital draws on a robust network of expertise and resources.
The hospital operates under a well-orchestrated infrastructure comprising four major centers: the Center for Challenging and Critical Care Medicine, the Clinical Research Center, the Precision Diagnosis Center, and the Data Intelligence Center.
These specialized hubs not only streamline patient care but also facilitate a seamless flow of information and innovation across various disciplines.
The hospital has rapidly become a magnet for leading clinical experts from around the globe. This diverse pool of talent fuels its mission to drive medical innovation and enhance patient outcomes.
With more than half of its team dedicated to transforming clinical innovations into practical solutions, Beijing GoBroad Hospital stands at the forefront of medical advancements.
{{An ecosystem of medical innovation}}
At Beijing GoBroad Hospital, innovation is not confined to the laboratories; it permeates every aspect of patient care. The facility boasts a comprehensive suite of specialized service teams, including the Early Clinical Research Center, Central Laboratory, Imaging Center, Pathology Center, and Clinical Evaluation Center for Cardiac Safety, among others.
These teams are critical in propelling the hospital’s research initiatives from theory to therapy, ensuring that new treatments are not only imagined but also implemented with precision and care.
The focus areas of the hospital—solid tumors, hematologic tumors, and brain science—are among the most complex fields in medicine today.
By specializing in these areas, Beijing GoBroad Hospital not only tackles some of the most critical challenges in healthcare but also offers new hope to patients who previously had limited options.
{{A legacy of innovation and compassion}}
Since its inception, Beijing GoBroad Hospital has experienced exponential growth and development.
The hospital has become a pivotal force in the medical community, facilitating hundreds of innovative pharmaceutical trials and serving tens of thousands of patients with challenging and critical conditions.
Each success story adds to the hospital’s legacy of excellence and innovation in healthcare.
{{Looking to the future}}
The vision of Beijing GoBroad Hospital extends beyond the immediate horizon. It is an integral part of the GoBroad Healthcare Group’s broader strategy to create a unique Academic-Led Clinical Research Organization (ARO).
This innovative model bridges clinical discovery with basic research, industry translation, and clinical application, thereby enhancing the development efficiency and quality within the biopharmaceutical industry.
As Beijing GoBroad Hospital continues to grow and evolve, it remains steadfast in its commitment to its foundational philosophy—putting patients’ needs first.
Through breakthrough technologies and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Beijing GoBroad Hospital is not just shaping the future of medical care; it is redefining it.
The incident took place around 5:20 a.m. on Monday, April 15, 2024.
According to reports, the suspect disobeyed police orders, resisted arrest, and attempted to engage in physical confrontation with law enforcement officers.
CIP Emmanuel Habiyaremye, the Police Spokesperson in the Southern Province, stated that investigations into the incident have commenced, with further details to be provided later.
Gihana Tharcisse, the Executive Secretary of Rugendabari Sector, explained that the suspect, who was found with two bags containing meat, resisted arrest and brandished a machete, prompting the officer to shoot him in self-defense.
The information was disclosed on the 14th of March 2024 by local authorities in Idiofa.
The affected individuals were mainly identified after the landslide occurred on the 13th of March 2024, near a market in Idiofa.
A local leader named Dhedhe Mupasa stated, “Above this market, there is a slope. The rain caused the slope to collapse.”
The Governor of Kwilu Province, Félicien Kiway, announced that emergency aid teams have been dispatched to all affected areas in the region to ensure that survivors are provided with immediate assistance and that those injured are taken to new medical facilities.
Kiway also announced that the injured individuals, mostly critically wounded, will be taken to the hospital for treatment, while the other 60 injured will be given medical attention.
Moreover, one of the local leaders of the region emphasized the need to know the exact number of affected individuals because the area is known for informal settlements where vendors sell their goods and others engage in various activities.
In Rwanda’s security apparatus, collaboration with the populace occurs without intimidation, fostering a culture of disciplined interaction both domestically and internationally, where Rwandan forces contribute to peacekeeping missions.
A study conducted by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), tasked with promoting good governance and monitoring service delivery, highlights security as the foremost pillar, with a rating of 93.63%.
Addressing workers from the National Rehabilitation Service, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the National Electoral Commission during the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis, Gen (Rtd) Fred Ibingira emphasized the soldier’s authority to make decisions while on duty.
Illustrating with an incident in Nyanza, Gen (Rtd) Ibingira recounted how a soldier, after being rejected by a girl, resorted to violence, eventually leading to her death. In response, the soldier was executed by hanging him on a tree, as a demonstration of maintaining discipline within the ranks.
“We administered punishment through hanging and shooting to ensure discipline within our forces,” Gen (Rtd) Ibingira affirmed, citing the existence of an ethics committee and a court martial to address misconduct.
Attributing the restoration of peace in Rwanda to divine intervention, Gen (Rtd) Ibingira stressed the importance of leadership in upholding discipline, particularly during turbulent times such as the genocide.
Recognizing the doubts that soldiers harbored during the genocide, Gen (Rtd) Ibingira expressed gratitude for divine intervention, averting further catastrophe and enabling visionary leaders under the command of President Paul Kagame to restore order and humanity.
In emphasizing the ethos of non-discrimination within the RPA forces, Gen (Rtd) Ibingira underscored the importance of treating all individuals equally, regardless of ethnicity.
He urged citizens with national responsibilities to excel and contribute to the nation’s progress, emphasizing that their actions are pivotal indicators of Rwanda’s development.
Gen (Rtd) Ibingira also implored the youth to uphold the nation’s values, shunning discrimination and genocide ideologies, recognizing that the future of the country rests in their hands.
Guterres, while calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, stated that neither the Middle East nor the world at large can afford another war.
“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” the UN boss said in a statement shared on Sunday morning.
He added, “I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.”
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel on Saturday night in a retaliatory attack, which the country has attributed to an Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate in Syria a fortnight ago.
The country on Sunday urged Israel not to retaliate, saying “the matter can be deemed concluded.”
Iran, while acknowledging its commitment to resolving the conflict amicably, warned that any further provocations would result in a severe response.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required. Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran’s response will assuredly and decisively be stronger, and more resolute,” Iran’s Mission to the United Nations warned even as it accused the UN Security Council of failing to stop Israel’s aggression, which claimed the lives of seven Iranian senior military personnel.
{{Foiled}}
Israel’s army on Sunday declared the Iran attacks “foiled”, insisting that it had shot down 99 percent of the drones and missiles with the help of the United States and other allies.
US President Joe Biden also condemned the Iranian drone attacks on military facilities in Israel and vowed to convene a G7 leaders meeting to deliberate over the matter on Sunday.
“Tomorrow, I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” Biden stated, further affirming America’s “ironclad commitment” to the security of Israel.
Iran’s attack mirrors that of Israel-Hamas war which started on October 7, 2023.
Hamas launched missile attacks on Israel, saying the attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, threats to the status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners.
The world is also reeling from the effects of the two-year fighting between Russia and Ukraine.
The war started following Russia’s invasion, which began with dozens of missile strikes on cities all over Ukraine before dawn on 24 February 2022.
Some of the global impacts of the conflict include an increase in the prices of commodities such as food and fuel, exacerbating the already soaring inflation.
Neretse passed away in Liège on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. A funeral ceremony was held for him on Saturday, April 13, his family said.
The agricultural scientist was the first person tried by Belgian courts for his involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi and sentenced to 25 years in prison in December 2019.
He was found guilty of 11 war crimes committed between April 6, 1994 to July 14, 1994.
“All of these facts established points that the accused committed the crime of genocide in Rwanda between 6 April to 14 July 1994 in Kigali, Ruhengeri and Gitarama,” Sophie Leclercq, President of the criminal court, ruled.
Neretse was arrested in France in 2011 where he had rebuilt a professional life as a refugee.
The prosecution had cited Neretse’s appearance at public rallies, where he is said to have incited fellow members of the Hutu ethnic group to slaughter the minority Tutsi community, resulting in the deaths of 13 people in Nyamirambo.
Some of the victims were shot dead by soldiers as they were preparing to flee their homes to join the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) camp.
While convicting Neretse, the court said there was evidence that the accused created, sustained, and financed militia members of the Interahamwe, who were out to exterminate the Tutsi.
The accused had denied involvement in the atrocities during the trial, insisting and was an inactive party member and a friend to Tutsi.
“I will never stop insisting that I neither planned nor took part in the genocide,” he told the jury.
Neretse’s death comes as Rwanda marks the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed the lives of more than a million people.
