The journey to this milestone began in October 2021 with the laying of the foundation in the Rutaraka industrial zone, Nyagatare Sector. Funded by a robust budget of 45 billion Rwandan Francs, the factory is strategically positioned to procure milk from the prolific dairy-producing districts of Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Kirehe.
Governor Rubingisa, in a conversation with IGIHE, highlighted the completion of the factory’s construction and its recent inauguration. “It’s all set and already in motion. The factory not only supports our existing Inyange milk processing capabilities in Rusororo but pioneers the domestic production of milk powder, catering to both our local needs and international markets,” he explained.
This facility is projected to process 650,000 liters of milk daily, steering the nation towards prioritizing local, high-quality dairy products over imported alternatives. When queried about the transition from imported to locally produced milk powder, Governor Rubingisa confidently advocated, “Let’s embrace our own high-quality products and move away from imports.”
The Eastern Province, with its cattle population exceeding 500,000, produces over 320,000 liters of milk each day. Governor Rubingisa expressed a robust optimism regarding the factory’s milk demands. “We are hopeful about meeting our daily requirement of 600,000 liters. Beyond supplying the factory, there’s a broader need for milk for direct consumption and for producing other dairy products like yogurt and cheese,” he noted, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to ramp up milk production to fulfill both factory and market demands.
In anticipation of this significant advancement, Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente, during the 19th National Dialogue Council, announced that the milk powder factory in Nyagatare is slated for its official opening in April 2024.
This initiative not only showcases a remarkable increase in dairy production, from 700,000 liters in 2017 to over a million liters in 2023, but also underscores Rwanda’s dedication to enhancing its dairy sector and reducing dependency on imported milk powder.
The meeting not only aimed to bolster the bilateral ties between Mauritania and the DRC but also tackled the persistent security issues plaguing the eastern regions of the DRC and the strained relations with Rwanda. In response to these security dilemmas, President Ghazouani pledged to offer diplomatic aid to support the ongoing Luanda and Nairobi peace dialogues.
According to reports, this high-level engagement followed closely on the heels of a visit from Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s envoy, Dr. Vincent Biruta, who serves as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Post-discussion, Minister Biruta shared his honor at being welcomed by President Ghazouani and the opportunity to relay messages from his Rwandan counterpart, emphasizing the importance of their bilateral relationship and the broader challenges facing the continent.
Prior to this, a significant phone conversation between President Ghazouani and Angolan President João Lourenço, who has been mediating the Rwanda-DRC conflict, underscored Mauritania’s commitment to peace in the region. Despite the lack of an official statement from Mauritania, there is strong evidence of President Ghazouani’s dedication to resolving Africa’s conflict issues, notably the crisis in the DRC.
The urgency of President Ghazouani’s involvement has been heightened by the escalating conflict in the eastern DRC, driven by clashes between the national military and the M23 rebel faction.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a political and military coalition, has openly expressed their intent to urgently dismantle the DRC government, condemning the lack of security and attributing it to governance that neglects and exploits the populace.
He criticized the Kinshasa administration for exacerbating division, deprivation, and corruption, thereby deflecting responsibility onto external figures.
Nangaa’s bold declaration of plans to seize control over significant territories, including Goma and the capital, Kinshasa, speaks to the profound discontent with the centralization of wealth and power in the capital, which is seen as unjust.
Adding to the discourse, Bintou Keita, the UN’s head of peace missions in the DRC, informed the UN Security Council about the strengthening position of the M23 group. She noted the group’s significant territorial advancements, including the strategic encirclement of Goma, following their recapture of regions previously held by the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in late 2023.
In the wake of President Ghazouani’s peace-making endeavors, other political figures, including ex-Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, French President Emmanuel Macron, representatives from Qatar, and the United States, have all contributed their efforts towards quelling the unrest, showcasing a unified global stance on peace and stability in the region.
He mentioned that the citizens’ request for him to continue leading is not due to a love for power but rather because of his perspective on the country’s condition.
Kagame made these remarks on Monday in a conversation with Radio 10 and Royal FM, where various topics were covered.
He said, “I, too, see the existing problems, as I have eyes. If it were a country of choice and there was a capability for things to go well, I would have left a long time ago. If continuing would pose a problem to people’s livelihoods, then I would feel it.”
“People will say what they say, but we must look and provide a platform for Rwandans to express their thoughts. It won’t take much time, and it won’t escape me; if they were to say ‘this person has brought us this far’, I would leave before they say so,” added Kagame.
He commented that those criticizing him for staying in power for too long fail to recognize that the countries they govern are different from Rwanda or other African countries.
Kagame gave the example of the United States, a country that has been long established and has set its course, suggesting that what is done there should not necessarily be replicated in developing countries.
He stated, “Not all countries are the same around the world, what is done in one country cannot necessarily be done in another.”
The Head of State explained that some countries criticizing African leaders also have leaders in their ranks who may have different titles but have stayed in power for a long time.
He said, “Let’s say because it’s the Prime Minister of a certain country, they have the right to continue, they just change the title from President to Prime Minister or Chancellor, and stay there until they are tired. You know some who have been there for 20 years.”
He emphasized that what should be considered is what a leader does for the people, rather than counting the years.
“Citizens reach a point of fatigue. There should be policies to correct things so people don’t get stuck in that rut. If they haven’t grown tired, why should you?” Kagame wondered.
The President has agreed to run for presidency again in the elections that will take place in July this year, having been nominated by the RPF Inkotanyi party.
He began leading Rwanda in 2000, succeeding Pasteur Bizimungu who had resigned, and ran for his first term in 2003, in the first elections after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
John Ntirushwamaboko, her husband, confirmed to IGIHE that Mukaruliza’s illness was sudden and brief.
“The tragic event occurred today, roughly two hours ago. She was under medical care in Brussels for approximately two weeks,” he stated.
In early March, President Paul Kagame appointed her as Ambassador at Large with a focus on regional integration efforts within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Prior to this role, she served as an Advisor within the same ministry.
Amb. Mukaruliza’s most notable tenure was as Rwanda’s first Minister to the East African Community (EAC), a position she held from 2008 until February 25, 2013.
Her leadership significantly contributed to Rwanda’s diplomatic and regional integration initiatives.
Between 2016 and 2017, she led the City of Kigali as Mayor, leaving a lasting impact on the city’s development and governance.
Her diplomatic career also included serving as the Rwandan Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi, roles she assumed after her mayoral tenure in Kigali.
Furthermore, from 2006 to 2007, she was the acting representative of the African Union in Sudan and previously the deputy head of the African Union mission in Sudan from 2004 to 2006.
Amb. Mukaruliza was not only a seasoned diplomat but also a skilled financial expert. She played a crucial role in establishing the Rwanda Revenue Authority, where she served as Commissioner of Internal Audit and later Commissioner of Domestic Taxes.
Her financial expertise also extended to the Bank of Kigali, where she worked as an auditor, and to the SOS Children’s Villages International-Rwanda, where she was the Chief Financial Officer.
Amb. Mukaruliza’s contributions to Rwanda’s diplomatic, financial, and governance sectors have left an indelible mark on the nation, and she will be remembered for her dedication, expertise, and leadership.
He announced that he obtained this information from various documents and also from his personal observations while he was leading a United Nations team tasked with investigating the Genocide against the Tutsis.
During a conference held in Brussels, Belgium, on March 29, 2024, focusing on the planning of the Genocide, Galand explained that the World Bank and European banks provided financial support to the government of Juvénal Habyarimana for purchasing weapons in 1990.
This annual conference was organized by the Socialist Party and the IBUKA organization, which advocates for the interests of the survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Attendees included Rwandans living in Europe, university professors, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.
As explained by the BBC, the researcher stated, “Approximately one billion US dollars from the World Bank’s mission in Rwanda was given to the Rwandan government in the early 1990s to purchase weapons used during the Genocide.”
Galand highlighted that this support was significant because, since 1990, the military was allocated 50% of the country’s total budget, which significantly strengthened it before 1994.
Since the Rwandan government at that time was under an arms embargo, Galand explained that the World Bank and the IMF chose to channel this support through BNP Paribas Bank in France and Lambert Bank in Belgium.
He said, “BNP Paribas Bank in France and Lambert Bank in Belgium were the channels used for the money to buy weapons used in the Genocide because Rwanda was under an embargo on purchasing weapons, and it’s no secret because we have the documents to prove it.”
Regarding BNP Paribas, Galand explained that the documents showing its involvement are being used to sue it in court to compensate the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Genocide against the Tutsi was perpetrated by soldiers, the Interahamwe militia, and politicians. From April 7 to July 4, 1994, it claimed the lives of over one million people.
It was announced that 61-year-old Sir Jeffrey and another 57-year-old woman, whose identity was not disclosed, were arrested on Thursday and interrogated about the crimes the man is accused of and the woman is alleged to have assisted him with.
The country’s police announced that Sir Jeffrey and the woman will be brought to court next month to face the charges against them. However, the man stated that he does not accept the accusations against him and will continue to vehemently deny them.
The DUP’s leadership announced that “The Leader has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirming that he is being pursued for alleged crimes he committed in the past, stating that he resigns from his position as the leader of the DUP party immediately.”
“As per the party’s regulations, the leadership has stripped Donaldson of his membership pending the outcome of the trial, appointing Gavin Robinson as the interim leader.”
Robinson, who succeeded Donaldson as the party’s leader, expressed his shock at the allegations against Donaldson.
“It was very surprising, not just for me but also for my colleagues in the DUP, and indeed across all of Northern Ireland. We are a party that believes in our justice system, and we hope that in the coming days and months, no one will try to behave in a manner that could hinder the ongoing investigation.”
Speaking at a press conference held on 29th March in Beijing, under the theme “Promoting High-Quality Development,” Mr. Wang Weizhong, the Governor of Guangdong, shed light on the province’s strategic advancements and future prospects.
As he explained, Guangdong’s journey towards high-quality development is deeply rooted in the directives of CPC’s General Secretary and President of China, Xi Jinping, emphasizing the province’s pioneering role in reform and development.
The guiding principle, as outlined by the General Secretary, is for Guangdong to lead in constructing a new development pattern, focusing on high-quality development as its core task.
This vision was encapsulated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s development, aiming to serve as a strategic support point and a demonstration area for high-quality development and Chinese-style modernization.
Governor Wang Weizhong detailed the “1310” strategic deployment, aiming to anchor Guangdong’s leadership role in development through reform, opening up, and innovation, while making breakthroughs in ten key areas. This strategic approach has been pivotal in seizing opportunities brought forth by technological revolutions and industrial transformations, setting a blueprint for “recreating a new Guangdong.”
Guangdong’s economic milestones are impressive, with a GDP reaching 13.57 trillion yuan (over 2.5 trillion US$), maintaining its position as China’s leading economic province for 35 consecutive years. This economic prowess is coupled with significant efforts in expanding investment, promoting consumption, and stabilizing foreign trade to achieve a targeted economic growth of 5% in 2024.
The construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area marks a significant stride towards deepening reforms and opening up, creating a synergistic effect across the region. This initiative is bolstered by major infrastructural developments and the collaborative efforts with Hong Kong and Macao to position the Bay Area as a world-class economic hub.
Innovation and the cultivation of new productive forces are at the heart of Guangdong’s strategy for high-quality development. With leading positions in industrial enterprises, high-tech firms, and intellectual property rights, Guangdong is steadfast in its commitment to the real economy and manufacturing, aiming to develop new trillion-level industrial clusters.
Moreover, the province’s dedication to ecological sustainability and the well-being of its residents underscores the holistic approach to development. Efforts in ecological construction and improving people’s livelihoods through the “Ten Major Projects for People’s Livelihood” exemplify the province’s commitment to a green and equitable development path.
The province’s journey is a blueprint for others, showcasing the possibilities of sustainable development in the 21st century. With its eyes set on the future, Guangdong welcomes the world to witness its transformation, inviting global audiences to explore the charm and vibrancy of a region at the forefront of China’s march towards modernization.
Chronic exposure to air pollution, especially in educational settings, has been associated with a range of negative health outcomes such as increased respiratory issues, diminished lung function, more frequent school absences, and decreased cognitive abilities.
In response to these challenges, Egide Kalisa, an Assistant Professor at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, initiated an innovative air pollution education campaign in Rwandan schools, dubbed #HumekaNeza (Breathe Easy).
In 2023, Prof. Kalisa’s research, which was published in a peer-reviewed journal, revealed that air pollutant levels during school drop-off hours were more than double those during off-peak times. This underscored the significant impact of vehicle emissions on school premises in Rwanda.
Building on this finding, Prof. Kalisa launched an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness about air pollution among school children. The campaign includes discussions about the science of air pollution, anti-idling efforts, and the introduction of an Air Quality Flag Program. This program employs low-cost sensors and colorful flags to inform school communities about the current air quality, both outdoors and indoors.
Prof. Kalisa’s approach involves interactive workshops that empower children to use air quality sensors and monitors, enabling them to collect and analyze data firsthand. This hands-on experience not only enriches their STEM education but also personalizes their understanding of air pollution. The initiative seeks to heighten students’ awareness and motivate them to minimize their exposure to air pollution, particularly around cooking activities.
Moreover, Prof. Kalisa has taken several measures to assess and improve the air quality in schools. These measures include the installation of air pollution monitors, the use of air purifiers in classrooms, the planting of trees (allocating one tree per student), and advice on optimal times for outdoor play and choosing cleaner routes to school.
The campaign kicked off at Kigali Parents School and Dove International Montessori School in Kigali. Students were educated on air pollution monitoring, launching anti-idling campaigns, and managing air quality flags based on real-time pollution data. They also expressed their understanding and concerns about air pollution through art, creating posters that encourage mitigation efforts and positioning themselves as change agents.
As the campaign concluded, the participating students penned letters to their parents, urging them to join the fight against air pollution. They suggested practical steps such as avoiding car idling, considering electric vehicles, and monitoring air quality at home.
Prof. Kalisa’s efforts were recognized when he received the Most Outstanding Research Contribution Award from the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), acknowledging his work in addressing national societal challenges. His campaign is a part of the “HELTH” research group, which focuses on the nexus of human health, environmental quality, transportation, urbanization, and the use of citizen science to bolster air quality policies in sub-Saharan Africa and Canada.
A pivotal moment in this ongoing revolution was recently witnessed by a group of African journalists in Beijing, who were given an exclusive opportunity to delve into the advancements spearheaded by Baidu, Inc. a market leader in autonomous driving in China in terms of number of test miles and number of test licenses.
This exploration at Baidu’s headquarters located in the northwest section of Beijing, revealed the strides made by Apollo Go, the company’s autonomous ride-hailing service, in reshaping the future of urban mobility.
Baidu, established in 2000, has always been at the forefront of leveraging technology to simplify the complexities of the modern world. With a deep commitment to innovation, Baidu made a strategic pivot towards artificial intelligence in 2010, aiming to enhance internet content discovery.
This decision paved the way for the creation of Baidu Brain, the company’s core AI technology engine, which has since become the backbone of its new AI ventures.
Today, Baidu stands as a leading AI entity, offering a comprehensive AI stack that includes AI chips, deep learning frameworks, and core AI capabilities such as natural language processing, knowledge graph, speech recognition, computer vision, and augmented reality.
Apollo Go, an autonomous ride-hailing service platform, is a testament to Baidu’s relentless pursuit of innovation.
The journey of Apollo Go is characterized by a series of remarkable achievements. In a significant operational upgrade, Apollo Go recently announced the launch of a 24/7 autonomous driving service in selected areas of Wuhan, setting a new benchmark as China’s first provider to offer such a service.
On February 27, 2024, the service took a bold step by launching fully driverless rides across the challenging terrains of the Yangtze River, including both the north and south banks, demonstrating its capability to navigate complex landscapes with precision.
This followed the introduction of driverless airport transportation services in Wuhan in August 2023, making Baidu the pioneer in autonomous airport rides in China. Furthermore, on February 23, 2024, Apollo Go expanded its services to Beijing, launching a robotaxi pilot operation on highways to Beijing Daxing Airport, thereby connecting urban roads and highways with seamless autonomous transportation.
Wuhan, recognized as a leading city in intelligent transportation, has seen its autonomous vehicles cover a total test mileage of over 3,378.73 kilometers by the end of 2023, reflecting the city’s commitment to advancing smart mobility solutions.
Apollo Go’s operation of 300 fully driverless vehicles in Wuhan underscores its dedication to transforming urban transportation. The platform’s user-first approach has resonated well with its customers, as evidenced by an impressive 97.12% of five-star reviews on the app.
With over 5 million cumulative rides provided as of January 2024, Apollo Go’s ambition is to extend its fully autonomous ride-hailing services to a wider audience, further solidifying its position as a pioneer in the field.
Beyond ride-hailing, Baidu’s Apollo platform embodies the company’s vision for the future of intelligent driving. Apollo serves as an open platform, fostering a collaborative ecosystem with more than 200 partners, including tier-one suppliers and strategic collaborators.
This ecosystem approach enhances the reach and value of Apollo’s technology, offering comprehensive solutions that support all major functionalities of autonomous vehicles. Through initiatives such as HD Maps, automated valet parking (AVP), and autonomous navigation pilot (ANP) services, Apollo is at the forefront of building intelligent vehicles and smart roads.
Apollo Go offers robotaxi services in over 10 Chinese cities, marking itself as a leader in delivering fully autonomous robotaxi services in major cities like Beijing, Wuhan, Shenzhen, and Chongqing.
Currently, more than 20 cities in China have established policies favoring autonomous driving tests, enabling upwards of 60 companies to obtain licenses for these experiments.
Central to this quest is its subsidiary, CCCC Tianhe Mechanical Equipment Manufacturing Co Ltd, nestled in Changshu, Jiangsu Province.
This facility isn’t just a manufacturing unit; it’s the birthplace of some of the most advanced Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) the world has seen, marking a significant leap in the engineering domain.
TBMs, the workhorses of modern tunnel construction, are at the heart of CCCC Tianhe’s innovation. Unlike traditional tunneling methods, which often involve labor-intensive processes like rock drilling and blasting, TBMs offer a less intrusive alternative.
They not only minimize the impact on surrounding environments but also ensure the structural integrity of the tunnel walls, making them indispensable for projects traversing unstable geological conditions.
The scope of TBMs manufactured by CCCC Tianhe is impressively vast. The facility boasts the capability to produce over 160 shield machines annually, with sizes ranging up to 18 meters in diameter, alongside 50,000 tons of large steel structures.
This diversity caters to a wide spectrum of tunneling needs, encompassing mud water, earth pressure, dual-mode, composite, open, vertical tunneling, and even rescue tunneling machines, thus demonstrating CCCC Tianhe’s commitment to versatility and innovation.
The journey of CCCC Tianhe is marked by a series of groundbreaking achievements that underscore China’s transition from a follower to a frontrunner in the global engineering scene.
From the first ultra-large diameter shield machine “Tianhe,” which shattered the foreign monopoly, to the “Zhenxing” mud-water shield machine that incorporated numerous domestic core components, CCCC Tianhe’s innovations have consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible.
Other notable achievements include the “Canal” shield machine, which represents a monumental advancement in continuous excavation technology, and the “Shouchuang,” a vertical boring machine designed for the challenging conditions of the Tianshan Mountains.
CCCC Tianhe’s TBMs have carved tunnels in over 30 urban areas across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, and have crossed borders into countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Russia, Lesotho, the Philippines, and more.
This international footprint is a testament to the company’s engineering excellence and its ability to meet the complex demands of both domestic and international markets.
The accolades and recognitions received by CCCC Tianhe, such as “National Key New Products,” “High-tech Enterprise,” and “Jiangsu Province Shield Machine Key Technology Engineering Technology Research Center,” further affirm its status as a benchmark in the global tunnel excavation equipment industry. These honors not only reflect the company’s technological prowess but also its role as a trailblazer in the field of transportation infrastructure construction and management.
With a mantra that resonates with the spirit of innovation—”Innovation builds dreams and shields the future!”—CCCC Tianhe is dedicated to making the world more accessible, cities more livable, and life better. This vision, coupled with a corporate spirit of “hard work, innovation, integrity, and harmony,” drives the company towards providing comprehensive, world-class services in high-end engineering equipment.
During a special session with journalists as part of the ‘2024 Travelogue of China’ Media Exchange Programme, Zha Chan Gmiao, the Executive General Manager of the Brand & Corporate Culture Department at CCCC, emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and innovations to deliver top-tier services.
Zha highlighted the significant contributions the company has made in Africa and conveyed a hopeful outlook for the continued provision of high-quality infrastructure services across the continent and beyond.
He particularly noted CCCC’s capabilities and determination to foster a collaborative future with Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
“For instance, in Kenya, the Mombasa Railway stands as a testament to our work, alongside numerous railways in Cameroon and harbors in Nigeria. Our projects include the construction of over 13,000 kilometers of roads,” he stated.
“Wherever you find railways, ports, or bridges, you’ll see the handiwork of CCCC. The Chinese have made substantial efforts in nation-building, and CCCC possesses the complete capability and commitment to partner with African countries towards a brighter future,” Zha elaborated.
With more than 130,000 workers, CCCC’s global presence spans over 150 countries and regions, securing the 61st spot in the Fortune Global 500 in 2021. The company is behind several iconic projects, such as the 55-kilometre Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world; phase IV of Shanghai Yangshan Port, the largest automated terminal globally; and the Beijing-Xinjiang Expressway, the longest desert-crossing expressway on the planet.
By 2021, CCCC had accomplished the construction of over 13,000 kilometers of roads, in excess of 180 bridges, 121 deep-water berths, and 17 airports. It had supplied over 760 container cranes, managed 23 industrial parks, and constructed and operated more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, with signed contracts exceeding US $100 billion.
