Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Albert Murasira and Dr Shelly Whitman, the Executive Director of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security signed on behalf of both sides on Monday 13th June 2022.
This particular document helps to define the roles that each of the institutions play in creating the African Centre of Excellence that is in Kigali and the various activities that they will continue to carry out together.
The Centre of Excellence exists to strengthen African capacity for research, training, and policy development and to foster innovative, regionally appropriate strategies to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.
Kagame who is the Chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC).
Nardos Bekele-Thomas assumed duties on 1st May 2022.
Her appointment as the new CEO of AUDA-NEPAD was endorsed by the African Union Heads of State and Government during the Thirty-Fifth Ordinary Session of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2022.
She is the first woman to lead the African Union’s Development Agency. Nardos Bekele-Thomas previously served as the former Head and Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in South Africa. She replaced Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki.
RDF has made the disclosure through a statement released on Tuesday 14th June 2022.
“Rwanda Defence Force would like to inform the general public that the defence and security of the Rwandan population, as well as Rwanda’s territorial integrity is assured, and that the RDF will continue to seek guarantees that cross-border attacks on Rwanda’s territory are stopped,” reads the statement.
The statement follows escalating tension between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since M23 rebel group resumed fight with Congolese Army.
DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 and claimed that Rwandan soldiers crossed to the country for the same cause.
During the clashes with M23, FARDC in collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have shelled Rwanda territory three times since March this year.
The rockets shelled on Rwanda’s land injured people from Musanze and Burera district and destroyed properties.
RDF’s statement is released at a time when Rwanda is in final preparations ton host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due in the week starting from 20th June 2022.
Some political analysts indicate that the provocations are meant to tamper with smooth preparations of the meeting.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat requested Rwanda and DRC to engage in discussions aimed at calming the tension between both countries.
Following the tension between the two neighboring countries; Angolan President João Lourenço embarked on mediation process. His recent discussions with Congolese President, Tshisekedi saw the country releasing two Rwandan soldiers kidnapped by FDLR and FARDC.
On Monday this week, it was reported that M23 captured Bunagana town and border, seized an armoured vehicle from FARDC. The Spokesperson of M23 announced that Bunagana town is in full control of M23 adding that Congolese soldiers in the area fled to Uganda.
Bunagana is located in 60 kilometers from Goma town located at the border between Rwanda and DRC.
They were arrested on Sunday, June 12, by the Police, local leaders and District Administrative Security Support Organ (DASSO) in the sectors of Nzahaha, Bugarama and Muganza.
Gukura Ibyinyo (tooth bud removal) and guca ibirimi (uvulectomy), is usually done on infants, typically performed by self-styled traditional healers in non-sterile conditions using basic sharp instruments like nails, knives, scissors and forks. They believe that this violent practice on children will cure fever, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Uvulectomy is normally a surgical procedure in which all or part of the uvula is removed. The uvula is a bell-shaped organ that hangs from the top of the throat.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the operations followed increasing cases of the harmful and fatal traditional practice in Rusizi District, especially in the sectors of Nzahaha, Bugarama, Muganza, Gikundamvura and Butare.
“We have identified eight fake traditional healers in Rusizi District, who are engaged in this traditional harmful practices. Five have been arrested but three others are yet to be arrested,” SP Karekezi said.
He identified those arrested as Emmanuel Gasigwa, 68, Joseph Majyambere, 39, Ignace Ngirinshuti, 40, Elysée Tuyishime, 31, and Rachel Uwamahoro, 44.
“During the operations on Sunday, Police found 14 parents at the home of Ignace Ngirinshuti, who had brought their babies for either tooth bud removal and uvulectomy. Ngirinshuti was using dangerous objects like scissors, knives and forks, which were also seized. The suspects and exhibits were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and Muganza station,” SP Karekezi said.
At least 28 children with these oral mutilation complications have been admitted at Mibirizi hospital in Rusizi District between January and June this year. Of these, 22 were treated and discharged, three transferred, and two fatalities.
“These are unacceptable violent and life-threatening practices done in unhygienic places and methods, which can also cause or transmit other diseases to the infants. We call upon the public to always take their children to health centres and hospitals for medical services instead of risking their lives in the hands of local traditional healers.
Operations against traditional healers engaged in these dangerous and fatal practices are continuous, and we call upon the general public to be responsive against these practices by reporting those involved so as to save lives of children,” SP Karekezi reiterated.
Medical experts say that the Infant Oral Mutilation (IOM) inflicts pain and suffering on child, who may be sick, teething on healthy. The procedure may lead to shock, and loss of blood may lead to anaemia. The unhygienic methods applied during exodontia of decidous canine tooth buds can cause blood infections, tetanus, pass on HIV/AIDS, facial disfigurement and can be fatal.
M23 has announced to have captured Bunagana town today morning leaving many Congolese soldiers fleeing to Uganda.
Sources have revealed that three military vehicles and two FUSO trucks carrying FARDC soldiers have crossed through Bunagana border to Uganda while others have been seen fleeing on foot.
The Spokesperson of M23, Major Willy Ngoma has confirmed that the rebel group is now in full control of Bunagana.
Apart from FARDC soldiers who fled to Uganda, he revealed that others have laid arms downs and took cover among civilians.
“The fighting was intense yesterday that FARDC soldiers at the border also fled to Uganda. Others took off their military uniforms and took cover among civilians. They have abandoned an armoured fighting vehicle. We are in full control of the entire Bunagana town,” he said.
The fighting has also left more than 5000 civilians from Bunagana and its surroundings to Uganda while over 25,000 have fled to schools and churches in Rwanguba and Kininoni in Rutshuru territory.
Kombe la dhahabu means ‘golden cup’ in Swahili. The contest organized by Fairtrade Africa takes place in different African countries with a view to promote and market the continent’s coffee nationally and internationally.
Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella network organisation representing Fairtrade certified producers and workers in Africa. It has four regional networks – Eastern and Central Africa; Southern Africa; Western Africa; and the Middle East and North Africa.
During this year’s contest, Rwanda participated along with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
Initially, 10 best coffee varieties were selected from 38 registered samples before choosing the top three.
As the contest came to close, Bwishaza won the first two positions followed by Muhanga based coffee farmers’ cooperative dubbed ‘Abateraninkunga ba Sholi’.
Winners will be helped to market their produce at the international market and linked to investors from different corners around the world.
They will also be sponsored to attend big specialty coffee events to gain marketing and business skills, and create market connections.
Bwishaza cooperative is comprised of 532 farmers grouped together to increase quality coffee and help each other in commercialization of their produce.
The Managing Director of Bwishaza cooperative, Josué Imanikuzwe has attributed the quality of their coffee to best practices where they monitor the quality of coffee from the first day until the harvesting time.
“We closely monitor our coffee from the planting season until it reaches maturity. After harvesting, we process our produce with due diligence and taste it before supplying to buyers,” he said.
Imanikuzwe has expressed optimism that the awards will give them visibility, encourage them to keep striving for excellence and attract more buyers beyond existing market in Korea.
“We have registered steady growth since the creation of our cooperative. The awards will give us a competitive edge for a good market helping farmers to increase profits,” he revealed.
Aimable Nshimiye, an accountant at ‘Abaterankunga ba Sholi’ which took the third place has said that much effort have been earmarked to produce high quality coffee.
“After winning last year’s contest, we committed to work hard to remain among best coffee producers,” he said.
Faith Muthoni, Coffee Team Leader at Fairtrade Africa – Eastern and Central Africa Network has revealed that winners stand chance to get their coffee brands marketed across the world.
“We will help winners of this contest to market their coffee at the international market. Their brands will also be showcased at globally renowned exhibitions. These include a trade fair to be held in Italy and Korea,” she said.
Muthoni has advised contestants who did not win to work hard to improve quality of their coffee so they can win in next editions.
Rwanda has 355 771 coffee farmers of whom 68% are men.
Kombe la Dhahabu contest also encourages value addition and fair income distribution by producing and commercializing quality coffees, the producers guarantee sustainable production processes.
In September last year, National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) announced that Rwanda generated more than US$61.5 million (Rwf62.2 billion) from coffee exports amounting to 16.8 million kilograms in 2020/2021.
The revenues increased by 1.83% compared to US$60.4 generated from 19.7 million kgs of coffee exports in the previous year.
Mugisha wins Tour du Cameroun clocking 26h34’24’’ after the eighth stage covering 1066.2 kilometers.
He was followed by Andreev Yordan of Team Martigues SC with 32- second lead and Artuce Jodele Tella riding for SNH Vélo Club with 33 seconds lead.
The last stage covering 151.4 kilometers on Sunday saw riders setting off from Ebolowa heading to Yaoundé. It was won by El Arbaoui Adil, a Moroccan who clocked 3h40’17″ with 18 seconds ahead of Moïse Mugisha.
Moïse Mugisha took the yellow jersey after the seventh stage where riders raced in the roads of Boumnyebel and Mbalmayo covering 112.6 kilometers.
44 riders from eight teams have finished the race held in Cameroun for the 18th time.
Moïse Mugisha was participating along with other Rwandans including Didier Munyaneza who emerged 7th on the general classification, Eric Muhoza who took the 12th position, Jean Claude Nzafashwanayo (25), Samuel Niyonkuru (27) and Etienne Tuyizere (33).
The incident took place in Mukoni Village of Mbuye Cell in the night of 11th June 2022 around 9:00 p.m.
It is said that the couple that was not legally married had broken up over persistent disputes.
Sources reveal that the man was once sentenced over role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Upon his release, the wife had sired children with another man which is believed to have triggered disputes until their breakup.
IGIHE has learnt that the husband went to the home of the ex-wife in the night of 11th June 2022. The man was let in after knocking at the door and engaged in discussions with the woman but ended up in wrangles and clashed.
Neighbours rushed to calm the dispute and found the woman injured on the head above her eye.
She was immediately taken to Kibirizi Health Center which transferred her to Nyanza Hospital where she died.
A 12-year old child was also injured during the fighting.
After committing the crime, the Executive Secretary of Kibirizi Sector, Valens Murenzi has said, the man escaped and arrested later.
He is currently detained at Kibirizi RIB Post.
They had sired four children together but it has been three years since their relationship was broken up.
Murenzi appealed on spouses to solve disputes amicably to avoid similar incidents.
The driver of the Toyota Corolla plate number RAB 561A, identified as Emmanuel Ntigurirwa, 34, was also arrested.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobard Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the bales had been sneaked into Rwanda to Muhanga from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Lake Kivu.
“Ntigurirwa was a suspended smuggler supplying second hand clothes especially to traders in Muhanga market. It was just a matter of time for him to be arrested red-handed,” SP Kanamugire said.
He added that RPU, which had received prior credible information that Ntigurirwa was transporting a new consignment of smuggled clothes, trailed him to Muhanga where he was arrested on arrival at about 5am, with the six bales.
Ntigurirwa disclosed that he was hired by a trader in Muhanga market to transport the clothes from Nyamasheke District. He was to be paid Rwf70000 after delivering the smuggled goods, he added.
The vehicle and the goods were impounded to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) offices in Muhanga while the suspected smuggler was handed over to RIB at Muhanga station for further investigations.
In article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, smuggled goods and the vehicle used in smuggling are auctioned. The driver is also handed a fine of US$5,000.
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A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years
Britain’s government announced in April that it had agreed a deal to send asylum-seekers to the East African country, in a move that it insisted was aimed at disrupting people-smuggling networks and deterring migrants from making the dangerous Channel crossing to England from Europe.
A challenge to block the deportation flights was brought by human rights groups Care4Calais and Detention Action, along with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), a trade union representing civil servants in Britain’s Home Office, and some asylum-seekers facing deportation to Rwanda. They claimed UK Home Secretary Priti Patel’s policy was “unlawful on multiple bases,” and sought an injunction to stop the plane from taking off.
The claimants also challenged Patel’s legal authority to carry out the removals, the rationality of her claim that Rwanda is generally a “safe third country”.
But Justice Swift rejected the campaigner’s urgent injunction at London’s Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, saying on the “balance of convenience” there was a “material public interest” in allowing the flights to go ahead while the judicial review was ongoing.
Both Patel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the court’s decision on Friday. “We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals,” Johnson said on Twitter.
