Over the years, Rwanda National Police (RNP) has engaged all road users to educate them on safer road usage and influence behavioral change to fight and prevent fatal human decisions like impaired driving, which lead to loss of lives.
Awareness against intoxicated driving was also part of the RNP nationwide Gerayo Amahoro campaign.
Nonetheless, some motorists continue to put people’s lives on the edge when they go on the wheel or ride motos while drunk.
Thus, Rwanda National Police has heightened its operations to fight such reckless human behaviours.
In the latest operations conducted between October 28, and November 1, on various roads of City of Kigali, RNP arrested 45 motorists, who were under the influence of alcohol.
They include one Olivier Irakoze, 17, who was caught on Monday, November 1, at about 10pm, riding under influence of alcohol and without any traffic related documents including a permit.
They were all showed to the media, on Tuesday, November 2, at Nyarugenge District Police Unit offices in Rwezamenyo Sector, Nyarugenge District.
Didace Dushimimana, one of the drivers paraded, said that he was arrested in Kibagabaga, Gasabo District after Police found 1.47 millilitres of alcohol content in his blood.
The maximum blood alcoholic content for one to drive or ride is 0.8 millilitres
RNP Deputy spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Sendahangarwa Apollo urged motorists to change their mindsets and put safety first.
“Police will not tolerate any act which can lead to road accident and loss of lives, such as intoxicated driving,” CSP Africa said.
He said that fighting drunk driving and violation of other traffic rules and regulations is part of the daily operations of the Traffic and Road Safety Department to ensure safer roads for all.
The statement released yesterday shows that the provider of foreign currency exchange services has been revoked over non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
“Unimoni Bureau De Change Ltd’s Forex Bureau and Payment Service Provider licences have been revoked with immediate effect due to non-compliance with regulatory requirements,” reads the statement in part.
BNR has warned the public that whoever deals with the company has to bear consequences at own risk.
Unimoni is part of Finablr, a global platform for Payments and Foreign Exchange solutions.
With a global reach spanning over 170 countries, Finablr companies processed over 150 million transactions in 2018, managing nearly US$ 115 billion for customers.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, is on the right course of rallying multilateral efforts behind energy transitioning as a pathway to a sustainable future.
With 166 member states, IRENA stands out as a uniquely global energy hub and a source of guidance and support for stakeholders across the world. Through its 2021 World Energy Transitions Outlook, the Agency presents to member states policy frameworks necessary to advance a transition that is aligned with a global net zero future, while being just and inclusive.
With over 300 partners collaborating under IRENA’s climate investment platform, stakeholders with viable projects in renewable energy and climate investment around the world can bank on the Agency for resource mobilization. By 2020, the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility resulted in the selection of 32 renewable energy projects that benefited from $350 million in concessional loans and improved lives of over 2.5 million people around the world.
In Africa, IRENA has supported different national and regional programs and initiatives including Africa Clean Energy Corridor, a regional initiative to accelerate the development of renewable energy potential and cross-border trade of renewable power within the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). This is in addition to West Africa Clean Energy Corridor, a regional initiative supporting the creation of a regional power market in the West Africa Power Pool.
For IRENA, the expansion of renewables goes beyond the provision of reliable energy and climate protection.
“Energy is the key to development in Africa and the foundation for industrialization. Like in Europe and other parts of the world, the expansion of renewables goes beyond the provision of reliable energy and climate protection. Economic development as a whole will benefit and new jobs and opportunities for entire industries will emerge,” wrote IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera in a recent IRENA-German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development joint report on renewables in Africa.
Energy transitioning has emerged as an important pillar of addressing climate change, one of the critical global challenges of our time. Carbon dioxide levels and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere worsen the global warming, affecting lives and disrupting economies.
In the face of such challenges, mobilizing collective climate action is very vital in pursuit of environment-saving initiatives and global climate targets of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C and a net carbon zero future by mid-century under Paris Agreement and the Climate Ambition Alliance.
Within this global framework of saving the environment, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol signed on 15th of October, 2016 in Kigali – Rwanda is another landmark global commitment to reduce the production and usage of powerful greenhouse gases in a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of this century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.
For Rwanda, whose first Permanent Representative Ambassador Emmanuel Hategeka presented his credentials to IRENA on 3rd May 2021, increasing the share of renewable energy is enshrined in a clear national vision of becoming a green, climate resilient and low carbon economy by 2050.
Advancing environmentally friendly practices is an integral part of Rwanda’s development. This is further emphasized in a statement from H.E President Paul Kagame speech at a Climate Change Panel at World Economic Forum – Davos in January 2015: “As we look forward to development, we are not making a choice between environment and prosperity. We are rather looking at how we combine both because one supports the other.”
{{Ambitious plan, attractive incentives}}
Rwanda targets to achieve universal access to electricity by 2024 with a production capacity of 556MW of which renewable energy will constitute 60% of the energy mix mainly from hydro projects and solar energy. As of end August 2021, access to electricity in Rwanda is recorded at 65.4% with 47.6% grid connections while 17.8% accounts for off-grid connections. The current installed power generation capacity is 235.6MW.
To achieve the above target, the Rwanda Government has developed a Least Cost Power Development Plan that gives priority to renewable energy projects. These mostly include hydro projects (MHPP 33MW, HPP 133MW and hydro pump storage 80MW).
Solar power is also expected to contribute a significant share of electricity generation with solar power plants connected to the grid currently at 5% but as technology improves and prices of storage decrease, there is a plan to increase the share.
IRENA’s analysis published in March 2021 shows that 543MW of on-grid solar PV could be cost-effectively deployed by 2040, and a number of small off-grid systems could be added in rural areas, increasing the share of renewable energy to above 60 percent.
Rwanda’s ambitious targets in renewable energy are built on sharp rise in renewables over the last decade. In terms of installed capacity, Hydro power grew from 48 MW in 2010 to 116.6 MW in 2020 while solar power reached 12.1MW from 0.3MW over the same period. The two constituted 54% of the total national installed capacity in 2020. In terms of energy generation, Hydropower increased from 177 GWh in 2010 to 527.1 GWh in 2020 while solar jumped from 0.3 GWh to 18 GWh with the two making 61% of the total national energy generation in 2020.
Attractive incentives and facilitation package have been put in place to facilitate investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Rwanda.
For private developers in the power sector, incentives include provision of investment certificate for the investor’s special treatment, a variety of non-fiscal and fiscal incentives, tax exemption including VAT on importation of some RE equipment, free repatriation of profits, preferential corporate income tax of 15%, Corporate income tax holiday of up to seven years for energy projects producing 25MW with 50M investment and provision of RDB aftercare support to registered projects with Investment certificate.
Rwanda also offers investment facilitation for Renewable Energy projects, including Power Purchase Agreements of 25 years as minimum, Established Legal Framework to stimulate Public Private Partnership, Standard Independent Power Purchase Agreements, Renewable Energy Fund (REF) to support Off Grid solar and Clean Cooking Technologies development, Result Based Financing and Technical Assistance to increase private sector players and consumer capacity through studies, trainings and awareness campaigns.
Stepping up cooperation with IRENA could give an impetus to ongoing Rwanda’s energy transitioning.
“Enhanced partnership with IRENA will promote exchange of knowledge and best practices in renewable energy. We will work together in resource mobilization efforts to implement our Nationally Determined Contribution especially for renewable energy targets. We look forward to scaling up in our cooperation in renewable energy transitioning for a greener future of Rwanda,” ambassador Emmanuel Hategeka said.
The growing Rwanda-IRENA cooperation opens doors to public and private entities in Rwanda and East Africa. In addition to knowledge and best practices exchange, actors can share projects for consideration by partners collaborating under IRENA’s climate investment platform.
{{Some key ongoing and new projects in Rwanda that may attract IRENA partners under climate investment platform}}
1. Capitalization of the Renewable Energy Fund to support in addressing the affordability challenge for low-income households through the Result-Based Financing framework, managed by Rwanda Development Bank and Rwanda Energy Group/ Energy Development Corporation Limited.
The project encompasses Support to private companies through low-cost loans or direct equity; Grants to strengthen the Standalone Systems value chain, Grants to establish a testing or verification center for Standalone Off-grid System components, Establishment of a regional production and assembly center for off-grid systems, Support of off-grid connected households towards higher tier access energy level and Support in establishing productive use opportunities from Standalone systems owners
2. Construction of Green City. The Green City Kigali is a key project that will develop a blueprint that can be replicated across the country. The project has some parallels with Masdar City in Abu Dhabi in terms of sustainability and green technology. The costing of Green City Delivery is estimated at $5 billion over the next decade. The first phase requires approximately $86 million for the construction of 1,680 housing units.
3. Financial support (Equity, Concession loans, Grants, RBF) in the dissemination of clean cooking technologies in institutions like schools, hotels and restaurants and households by adopting energy efficient cooking fuels such as LPG, high efficient pellets, briquettes and wood stoves. Its key component include Capacity building and awareness campaigns, Provide equipment to the National Clean Cooking Testing Lab, Improved Cook Stoves and LPG Subsector.
4. Energy Efficiency in the Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure with major components of Investment in the dissemination of smart meters to allow for the establishment of the time-of-use tariffs, Upgrade of Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure to n-1 capabilities and Upgrade of transformers in six Secondary Cities
5. Energy Efficiency for appliances. This project envisages the Capitalization of the Cool Lease Fund for the dissemination of energy efficient cooling appliances plus Awareness and promotion of dissemination of efficient lighting appliances.
6. Renewable Energy Generation project with a focus on Rehabilitation of Nyabarongo I Hydro Power Plant; Construction of small hydropower plants with a total installed capacity of around 20MW and Installation of Pump Storage at Nyabarongo II Hydro Power Plant.
7. Proof of concept for transportation and cooking with methane gas (compressed) from Lake Kivu, currently a PPP project under development.
IRENA underlines that East African region including Rwanda requires significant levels of investment in its power generation infrastructure
“To meet the needs of rapidly growing economies, the East African region including Rwanda requires significant levels of investment in its power generation infrastructure. It is important that such long-term planning decisions are well-informed and present a balanced picture of all potential pathways including renewable energy options,” said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
Rwanda joined IRENA in June 2009 and has been an active member since then. Renewable energy is expected to play a central role in delivering Rwanda’s ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in May 2020 that features a 38% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to business as usual by 2030. The country’s efforts to limit its contribution to climate change and adapt to the consequences over the next decade will require approximately US$11 billion.
The disbursement was the result of successful achievements of the third set of 9 policy actions by the Government of Rwanda.
The trigger-based disbursement of the loan has been divided into three tranches in which the first tranche equivalent to US$36 million (40%) was disbursed in December 2019 and the second tranche (US$28 million) in July 2020. The total disbursement from the start of the program amounts 10 billion Japanese yen (approximately US$ 91 million).
Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana has commended the achievements made in the policy actions and a good cooperation between the Government of Rwanda and Japan through JICA.
The program is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), National Child Development Agency (NCDA) and Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC).
The key achievements during the third tranche include the initial development of the Rwanda’s first Food Composition Table, district-level planning and implementation of Nutrition Dense Food (NDF) production, Nutrition-sensitive crop calendars, development of Community-Based Nutrition Program (CBNP) Implementation Guidelines, and introduction of Child Scorecard as a tool to monitor access to nutrition related services.
The Program targeted 12 Districts with the highest stunting rates; namely Rutsiro, Rubavu, Burera, Nyaruguru, Ngororero, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Gakenke, Gisagara, Gicumbi, Musanze and Ngoma District.
Mr. Maruo Shin, the Chief Representative of JICA Rwanda Office hailed the achievement and appreciated the efforts made by the relevant ministries, agencies and local government authorities in Rwanda for successful implementation of the program despite the challenges brought by COVID-19 global pandemic. He also reassured the JICA’s commitment to its continuous support in eradicating malnutrition and fighting against stunting in Rwanda.
It is highly expected that the program contributes for improvement of nutritious status of Rwandan people and leads to the socio-economic development of the country.
Xinhua News Agency was founded on November 7, 1931, in Ruijin, in southeast China. Its coverage of Africa news came well before the start of its permanent presence on the continent: the first Xinhua bureau in Africa was set up in Cairo, Egypt, in December 1956. Xinhua’s first sub-Saharan bureau was inaugurated in Accra, Ghana, in February 1959.
Many of Xinhua’s earlier reports on Africa were about the continent’s independence movement and the interactions of the People’s Republic of China with African countries emerging from colonial rule, such as Premier Zhou Enlai’s historic visit to Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia from December 1963 to February 1964.
By the end of 1965, Xinhua had 16 bureaus in Africa, about one-third of its total 51 overseas branches.
Xinhua Kigali bureau was founded in 2011.
Fast forward to 2021, Xinhua now has full-time correspondents or freelance contributors in 48 sub-Saharan countries.
Xinhua’s Africa regional bureau, established in Nairobi in 1986, coordinates news coverage of and subscriber service in sub-Saharan Africa, where it has more than 140 full-time editors and reporters.
Over the years, Xinhua has strived to make Africa’s voice heard and present a full picture of the continent to its subscribers in China and around the world, upholding its principles of objectivity, justice, truth and accuracy.
Xinhua, which has taken on challenges of the information age and embraced new technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, now offers wire services in 15 languages (Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Thai, Indonesia, Urdu, Korean, Turkish, and German), with content in a full range of media formats, catering to subscribers and the general audience around the world. Xinhua also maintains an extensive presence on all major social media platforms, including posts in Swahili put out by a dedicated team at its Africa Regional Bureau.
As the state news agency of the world’s largest developing country, Xinhua stories cover the full spectrum of Africa’s development, from politics, economy, society, culture, to technology and sports.
Xinhua maintains sound cooperation and friendly exchanges with major media counterparts across Africa, contributing to deeper understanding and enhanced trust between China and “the fastest growing and most promising continent in the world,” as described by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech at the China-Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 4, 2015.
Xinhua is looking forward to a more prosperous and developed Africa when Xinhua celebrates its centenary in 2031.
{{Madam, what is the advantage to work at the multilateral and bilateral levels at the same time?}}
Combining the roles of ambassador and permanent representative presents numerous advantages. First, it allows me to engage my bilateral and multilateral counterparts in one place. I have the opportunity to be directly involved in multilateral discussions and debates which gives me a clearer picture of the priorities of other countries when it comes to global and regional matters. Our various partners are learning to know what Rwanda champions, or supports in the global agenda too. Wearing both hats helps to position Rwanda as a bilateral and multilateral strategic partner while more effectively advancing the interests of my country and of the Rwandan people.
{{Having a Rwandan woman as head of Mission is not exceptional as your country ranks in the top 10 for gender equality in the world. Could you tell us more about the commitment of your government to ensure equal rights for women and men?}}
Since the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the country has made significant progress in terms of gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. This has only been possible thanks to a leadership that has been intentional in promoting these principles.
At the national level, gender equality has been a key pillar of the country’s vision, strategies and policies. Our Constitution, emphasizes the principle of gender equality and women’s rights, and provides for a minimum quota of 30% of women in all decision-making positions. In addition to this, other gender-sensitive laws have been enacted including matrimonial regimes, donation and successions, access to land as well as the prevention and repression of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and criminalization of GBV offenses.
As a result, Rwanda has become a global leader in women’s participation in decision-making positions with 61.3% female members of Parliament and ranked 7th globally in closing gender gaps according to the Global Gender Gap Report, 2021. 55% of cabinet members are women, 51% of female judges and 45.2% of female as members of district councils in local government leadership.
Rwanda also takes its commitments under international conventions and agreements to which it is party to.
{{Also known as the “Land of Thousand Hills,” your country is famous for extraordinary biodiversity, incredible wildlife, montane rainforests, and national parks. How do you protect your environment and are you impacted by climate change?}}
Like most countries in the world, Rwanda has been negatively impacted by climate change, which has manifested through drought, floods, and landslides. We recognized early on that tackling the climate crisis was a necessity to build a resilient economy. Therefore, Rwanda has decided to take bold measures to protect the environment.
Plastic bags were banned in 2008 and single-use plastics in 2019. We have reforested 30% of the country and have fostered community-led programs such as “Umuganda”. Every last Saturday morning of the month, Rwandans come together at the village level, and agree on which environment or infrastructure challenge they will address and fix.
On the biodiversity conservation side, we also have several initiatives that involve the local communities. To give an example, the Virunga park’s mountain gorillas are the only great ape species increasing in number all over the world with their official status recently upgraded from critically endangered to endangered.
Rwanda is committed to environment protection and with the support of strong partners, will achieve its ambitious plan detailed in the Paris Agreement’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
{{Rwanda has made enormous progress in the communication sector, extending internet accessibility, improving infrastructure, integrating ICTs as well as prioritizing digital literacy. Could you share with us the country’s vision?}}
In the early years of the internet, our government quickly realized the potential of ICT as a driver and enabler of sustainable socio-economic development, especially for a landlocked country with limited natural resources. From there we defined a vision for our country to become a knowledge-based economy and society; and to position Rwanda as a regional and continental ICT hub.
To reach our goal, the government has adopted an ambitious digital agenda articulated in a series of five-year strategies. These strategies support the progressive roll-out of digital infrastructure, with 90% of the country being covered by 3G and 4G, one of the highest rate on the continent. E-governance is also a priority, with close to 100 public services available on “Irembo”, an online one-stop center for e-governance services.
In addition to that, the government has launched a series of innovative partnerships to expand digital literacy and create an infrastructure to support the private sector and technology start-ups.
{{The health sector has also significantly improved and universal health coverage is one example. How do you make it a reality?}}
Good governance and decentralization of health services have made possible the implementation of national health strategies and universal health coverage.
While central government focuses on policy formulation, monitoring, capacity building and resource mobilization, health services are decentralized. The network of community health workers has been critical in ensuring citizen awareness and participation in health programs as well as rapidly identifying health problems and referring patients to the relevant services. 90,5% of the Rwandans are covered by a health insurance. This existing system has allowed for Rwanda’s response to COVID-19 to be swift and robust. Our vaccination campaign kicked off in late March this year, and to-date, over 25% of the adult population has been vaccinated, with over 90% in the Capital City.
{ {{This article was first published by UN Today on 1st November 2021. }} }
{{Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga is a correspondent and Vice-President of Club Suisse de la Presse.}}
The reduction is proven by the Ministry of Health’s daily reports on the status of COVID-19 across the country.
As of 17th July 2021 when Kigali City and eight districts were placed under lockdown; the country registered 1997 new infections with 69.6 percent of new cases found in Kigali.
On the following day, Rwanda recorded 2773 cases including 2225 from Kigali.
Ten days later, new infections dropped to 791 cases including 76 from Kigali. On the last day of lockdown, only 34 cases were found in Kigali out of 860 infections across the country.
Latest figures show that 29 people caught COVID-19 out of 8346 sample tests while one person succumbed to the virus yesterday.
Appearing in a talk show aired on RTV on Sunday 31st October 2021, the Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana revealed that the current situation is promising but highlighted that it should not leave loopholes for complacency.
“It is true that we are taking sample tests in concerts and other public places. It has been observed that the COVID-19 positivity rate from sample tests taken in Kigali City remains below 0.5%,” he said.
“We are also confirming new cases among people coming to Kigali from other provinces. We encourage people with symptoms or who had direct contacts with COVID-19 patients to be careful or go for testing to lest he/she spreads the virus,” added Dr. Nsanzimana.
The positivity rate currently stands below 1% countrywide.
Dr. Nsanzimana urged people to keep soldiering on to avoid whatever that could hold back the country’s progress towards defeating the pandemic.
At the end of 2020, Rwanda had made commendable strides in containing the spread of COVID-19 but the Government later imposed lockdown early 2021 in some parts of the country as new cases started soaring due to complacency.
Dr. Nsanzimana has said that people should be mindful of adverse effects that would arise from holding parties.
“The festive season is unfolding when people want to throw parties. Taking examples of cases that happened in other countries, these behaviors often worsen the situation,” he noted.
Dr. Nsanzimana explained that Rwanda has learnt from other countries that the vaccine doesn’t offer full protection.
“The time might come when the vaccine will not be considered enough. We are assessing how vaccine recipients may receive another dose [the third vaccine dose] after six months. It is under process to confirm whether the vaccine developed immunity to protect recipients against new infections,” he said.
Dr. Nsanzimana attributed the decrease in COVID-19 cases and deaths to ramped up vaccination efforts and people’s efforts but urged the general public to remain compliant.
{{Closure of treatment centers}}
As of today, only two patients are admitted at COVID-19 treatment centers in Kigali City and Western Province.
Dr. Nsanzimana revealed that the two patients are admitted at Nyarugenge and Kibuye hospitals.
He explained that they are assessing how Nyarugenge Hospital may resume usual health services.
“We want to concert efforts so that Nyarugenge Hospital may not be used as COVID-19 treatment center again. When all patients recover, a designated hospital resumes usual health services but it can be reused for similar purposes when cases increase,” he said.
As of 1st November 2021, Kanyinya Hospital has started operating as the national referral hospital for COVID-19 cases while Nyarugenge Hospital is set to resume other health services.
Rwanda continues to ramp up vaccination efforts and mulls administering vaccine shots to people below the age of 18.
Dr. Nsanzimana has explained that research is underway to establish if children can be vaccinated.
Latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that a total of 2,032,065 people have been fully vaccinated while 3,884,463 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Their remains were found in the night of 31st October 2021 when two young men pursued a colleague who stole a chicken and fled to the caves. As they entered the caves, the young men saw four remains laid together.
They rushed to alert local leaders and relatives who lost children. As they got inside the caves, relatives identified their children with clothes they wore by the time of disappearance.
They all went missing on 15th September 2018. At the time, their parents made possible efforts to establish whereabouts their children but ended up in vain.
The executive secretary of Bugeshi sector, Jean Bosco Rwibasira has confirmed that the children’s remains have been retried from caves.
“It is true that children’s remains have been found. Rwanda Investigation Bureau and the Prosecution have arrived at the crime scene pending the decision to bury the remains or proceed with further investigation,” he explained.
As the four children went missing in 2018, suspects were arrested and released after spending eight months behind bars.
IGIHE has learnt, by press time, that the remains were taken to one of parents whose children went missing while the suspected thief was taken into custody at Bugeshi RIB Post.
This addendum takes effect immediately and will ensure that the established ETM in Gashora, Rwanda continue until 31st December 2023, and increases its capacity from the initial 500 to 700 persons at anyone time.
Under this agreement, the Government of Rwanda will continue to receive and provide protection to refugees and asylum-seekers, as well as others identified as particularly vulnerable and at-risk, who are currently being held in detention centres in Libya. They will be transferred to safety in Rwanda on a voluntary basis. After their arrival, UNHCR will continue to pursue durable solutions for the evacuees.
While some may benefit from resettlement to third countries, others will be helped to return to countries where asylum had previously been granted, or to return to their home countries if it is safe to do so. Some may be given permission to remain in Rwanda subject to agreement by the competent authorities.
Evacuation flights are expected to resume and will be carried out in cooperation with Rwandan and Libyan authorities. The African Union will continue to provide assistance with evacuations, mobilise resources, and provide strategic political support with training and coordination. UNHCR will provide protection services and necessary humanitarian assistance including food, water, accommodation, education, and healthcare.
Rwanda has received a total of 648 refugees and asylum seekers so far, who arrived in six evacuation flights from Libya to the ETM since its establishment in September 2019.
UNHCR and the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) will continue to conduct individual registration of all the individuals and issue Proof of Registration (POR) documents that allow them to travel in the country and access assistance provided in the centre.
The registration activities are followed by individual case processing for solutions, including Refugee Status Determination (RSD), Best Interest Determinations (BIDs) for children with specific needs, including unaccompanied and separated children and resettlement interviews.
Currently, the ETM in Rwanda hosts 214 refugees and asylum seekers from eight African countries, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon.
However, some 1,680 Persons of Concern (POCs) are currently inside detention centres across Libya.
They urgently need to be moved to safety and to be provided with protection, lifesaving assistance, and durable solutions. The AU and UNHCR urge the international community to continue contributing resources towards the implementation of the agreement and assist POCs in these detention centres, and called on other Member States to emulate Rwanda’s example.
The caution comes after some bars were found breaching the set guidelines, including prior authorization.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, in its guidelines, set at least 12 conditions before the bar is granted permission to resume operations after assessing the submitted re-opening application to the sector by a joint team that include PSF and RDB.
Some of the requirements include being registered with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or those bars with a valid trading license issued at sector level are allowed to resume operations.
Bars should also have handwashing facilities and/or with alcohol-based sanitizer at every entry and exit points, visible signs indicating acceptable and prohibited seating in the bar such as 1.5 metre distance between the seats; use of digital payment; all bar employees to wear masks properly at all times as well as clients while entering the bar.
Each bar is also required to an employee or a team wearing visible yellow vest to monitor the adherence to Covid-19 preventive measures on a regular basis.
Doors and windows should always be open while owners are required to facilitate their employees to take Covid-19 test, at least every after two weeks and to ensure maximum sanitation and hygiene.
While appearing on Good Morning Rwanda talk-show on Rwanda Television on Monday, RNP spokesperson Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera called upon the public to be responsive against bars that operate contrary to the set guidelines.
He observed that some bars resumed operations without going the due procedure to apply for re-opening, warning of serious consequences if caught.
“If you did not apply for the re-opening or did not get authorisation from responsible administrative entity, and you are operating the bar, you are misleading people and putting them in danger, which will not be tolerated,” CP Kabera warned.
Forged Covid-19 test certificate
CP Kabera further warned people, who forged or use forged Covid-19 test certificates so as to attend ceremonies and sports events.
“Forging or using Covid-19 test certificate is not only a deliberate act to spread the virus in events where you are going, but also a serious criminal acts punishable by law,” CP Kabera said.
Article article 276 of the law Nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general, states that any person, who in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations, commits an offence.
Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years but not more than seven years and a fine of not less than Frw3 million but not more than Frw5 million.
Any person, who knowingly makes use of a forgery document in any way, commits an offence. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to the same penalty.
If forgery is committed by a public servant or any other person in charge of public service, the applicable penalty is an imprisonment term of not less than seven (7) years and not more than ten (10) years with a fine of not less than Rwf2 million but not more Rwf3 million or one of these penalties.
