They were arrested in the latest Rwanda National Police (RNP) operations against drunk-driving conducted between October 14th and 18th.
The group was paraded before the media on Wednesday, October 19, at Nyarugenge District Police Unit in Rwezamenyo Sector.
Jean Pierre Bigirimana, one of drivers paraded, admitted that he had taken alcohol before riding and asked for leniency.
“I was arrested on Friday, October 15, in Nyabugogo after the breathalyzer detected 2.46 millilitres of alcohol in my body. I had taken two bottles of beer,” Bigirimana said.
RNP Deputy spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Sendahangarwa Apollo said that these are part of the continuous Police operations to fight against causes of accidents.
“Similar operations have been conducted in the past drunk motorists arrested and paraded. These operations will continue to prevent such errant people with life threatening behaviours,” CSP Africa said.
He emphasized that Police does not prevent people from drinking but “will not allow anyone, to drive or ride while drunk to kill people and destroy property.”
He urged motorista to take necessary precautions to prevent road accidents and loss of lives.
The statement released last night shows that 32 people have caught the virus out of 7792 sample tests, three recovered, four are critically ill while the positivity rate stands at 0.4%.
A total of 1,739,947 people have been fully vaccinated while 3,328,947 have received the first dose of COVID-19 since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Francis Ngabo, the CEO of RSA has explained that filings with the ITU are essential to register satellite frequencies and orbital slots, and to secure the possibility of future satellite launches.
“This process is consistent with the ambition of the Government of Rwanda to make space a new frontier for our national development. With the technology now available to make full use of these slots, Rwanda plans to develop projects that will provide various essential services and open up the country as a hub for the African space industry,” he said.
The space industry is worth over $400bn, and the satellite industry, which represents 74% of the total space economy, is a particularly important area.
Rwanda continues to work to provide a secure and stable environment for investment by improving infrastructure, technology, and education, and creating conducive regulatory and taxation frameworks. The space sector holds enormous potential for Rwanda, and the Rwanda Space Agency looks forward to developing this area in the coming years.
While the development of the Rwandan space sector is still in its early stages, RSA has through a statement released yesterday emphasized that the ITU filing marks an exciting step in the ongoing efforts. Progress towards RSA’s goals will be achieved in collaboration with national, regional, and international partners, and with the full co-operation of the ITU and its members.
Further details on the space agency’s plans, and on the future of these constellations are expected to be announced in the coming months.
As RDF explained, the soldier crossed from the side of Bugeshi sector in Rubavu district.
The statement released on Tuesday 19th October reads that RDF continues to maintain good relations with Congolese army, FARDC.
“On 18th Oct 2021, Rwanda security forces pursued smugglers who crossed the Rwanda-DRC border at Hehu Cell, Bugeshi Sector, Rubavu District. Rwandan law enforcement forces unintentionally crossed a few meters into the DRC while pursuing the smugglers who were carrying unidentified packages and believed to have been armed. The RDF and FARDC maintain good relations and continue to collaborate on security matters,” reads the statement.
The signing parties will work together with the aim to support Rwanda in further developing the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), ranked 5th in Africa by the Global Financial Centre Index, considering the universally recognized expertise of Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, Minister Ndagijimana said that Rwanda established the Kigali International Financial Centre four years ago to increase the value addition of the financial services in the Rwandan economy and to make Rwanda an attractive investment destination, with opportunities to expand investments from Rwanda to Africa and beyond.
He highlighted that signed agreement tare meant to support Rwanda’s ambitions to become a financial hub.
“The partnership milestone that we’ve just signed will support our ambition of becoming a preferred Pan-African International Financial Centre which is in line with our aspiration of becoming a middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050,” he said.
The Luxembourgish Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Franz Fayot pointed out the signing of the memorandum begins a new chapter in both countries’ relations.
“Rwanda’s interest in sustainable finance and fintech reflects our priorities too. It is important that we build together and channel more finance in development cooperation, combating climate change and other areas that require financing,” he noted.
The implementing agencies are Rwanda Finance Limited, the agency tasked with developing Kigali International Financial Centre and Lux-Development S.A., Luxembourg’s development cooperation agency.
Strategic areas of cooperation are defined within the agreement, and these are: capacity building and talent development; development of sustainable finance in Rwanda; enabling a fintech ecosystem in Rwanda; and setting up a marketplace for impact investing in Rwanda.
Nick Barigye, the CEO of Rwanda Finance Limited (RFL), the agency mandated to promote the KIFC stressed that becoming a preferred centre for international investments in Africa requires strategic partnerships and welcomed the opportunity to draw on the expertise of Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem, to further develop Kigali International Financial Centre’s niche areas in sustainable finance and fintech.
“Upskilling financial sector professionals to efficiently serve global investors and financial institutions is a key feature of an attractive financial services hub and one of the pillars KIFC is looking to strengthen, through our cooperation with Luxembourg,” he said.
The 45 graduates including 25 girls and 20 boys received certificates during a ceremony that took place on 14th October 2021.
They graduated from various combinations including sciences, technology and mathematics among others.
The school also offers courses to learners from nursery and primary school.
During the ceremony, the school also awarded 58 learners from primary and secondary education who exhibited excellent performance during international exams. They received different prizes including laptops and certificates of recognition.
Speaking on behalf of their colleagues; Vanessa Kaliza Uwase who graduated from the combination of Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology (MCB) and Samuel Ndagijimana, a graduate from the combination of History Economy and Geography (HEG) narrated how they went through difficult times due to COVID-19 pandemic which prompted the school to shift to virtual classes.
“It was a cumbersome situation but we overcome hard times with the support of educators who walked with us day to day to attend online classes until we successfully completed courses,” said Ndagijimana.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Principal of Wellspring Academy, Stephen Rudakemwa thanked God for having capacitated them to keep soldiering on until students graduated despite challenging times went through.
“Today, we are thankful to Almighty because our students have successfully completed secondary education amidst mishaps brought by the pandemic,” he said.
Rudakemwa revealed that the school also takes pride for continued progress to meet its objectives.
“There are several achievements inducing pride as Wellspring Academy is instilling Godly values. God is helping us to meet objectives with which the school was established. We have to be thankful to God because students graduate with excellent performance and high standard of discipline,” he noted.
Rudakemwa expressed optimism that acquired knowledge will be applied efficiently to bring positive changes to their respective community.
He also urged parents to remain closer to their children because the journey to upbring them properly is ongoing.
Dr. Charles Murigande who was the guest of honour congratulated graduates, parents, school management and other employees for their commitment to support students along their intellectual journey.
He also reminded parents to take care of their children as they begin a new walk of life.
“Their education doesn’t end today. It is the beginning because they need to pursue studies at university and rise through other higher levels of education. Parents have to stay close to them so they can uphold Rwandan values,” noted Dr. Murigande.
The Board of Directors at Wellspring Academy, Lambert Bariho reminded graduates to uphold Christian values acquainted from the school.
Established in 2007, Wellspring Academy is an international Christian school that was created with a vision of producing a new generation of Servant leaders to bless Rwanda and display the best of Rwanda to the world.
The School located in Nyarutarama, Gasabo district of Kigali City, has a nursery school, primary as well as a secondary school.
It offers courses under Cambridge international program.
Graduates have been pursuing studies in the United States of America, Canada and Rwanda among others.
The captives handover ceremony took place on Tuesday 19th October at at Nemba One Stop Border Post separating Rwanda and Burundi in Bugesera district, Eastern Province through the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM).
Burundi was represented by the Chief of Military Intelligence, Col Ernest Musaba while Rwanda was represented by the Head Defence Intelligence, Brig Gen Vincent Nyakarundi.
The ceremony was witnessed by ICGLR, AU and UN representatives and facilitated by the EJVM.
The EJVM Deputy Commander, Col Khalid. M Ahmed said the initiative is a sign of renewed friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
‘’It is my hope that this gesture will go a long with cementing bilateral and diplomatic ties between Burundi and Rwanda, the two ICGLR member states and is a sign of renewed friendship and cooperation between them,’’ he noted.
Both sides, Burundi and Rwandan Heads of Military and Defence Intelligence said that they were delighted with the current efforts and collaboration aimed at contributing to normalisation of bilateral relations between the two countries and that more needs to be done in this direction.
The deportation follows recent events where Burundi and Rwanda have been exchanging criminals arrested in each of the two countries since July 2021.
Initially, Rwanda repatriated over 19 of RED-Tabara to Burundi. They had been arrested in Nyungwe National Park last year. RED-Tabara is an armed group hostile to the Burundian government.
On 6th August 2021, Burundi also sent home seven Rwandans arrested after illegally crossing to the country. The handover of these Rwandans took place in Remera cell, Ruheru sector of Nyaruguru district, Southern Province.
In the same month, Rwanda deported two Burundian men suspected of theft crimes committed at home land.
Since 2018, FLN rebel group plotted attacks in the Southern and Western Provinces maneuvering through Burundi.
Even though Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) repulsed the attacks, strong collaboration is paramount between the two neighboring countries to tighten security and work together for mutual benefits.
The exchange of criminals is considered a great milestone in the process of restoring both countries’ relations that worsened since 2015.
In 2015, a group of Burundian soldiers attempted to overthrow the then President Pierre Nkurunziza but the plan was nullified. Since then, Burundi has been accusing Rwanda of accommodating suspects behind the failed coup plot.
Rwanda has however been insisting that the individuals are considered as refugees who must be protected against deportation by international laws and accused Burundi of supporting rebel groups intending to destabilize national security.
The political mishap later halted cooperation and free movements between both countries.
Despite misunderstandings and long period of political tensions that ruined both countries’ relations, the situation is gradually improving and promising to bring the situation back to normal.
His arrest was announced on 31st August 2020, forty five days after Rusesabagina appeared in discussions with allies of his political party dubbed Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD) to give details on the rationale behind its creation.
Rusesabagina, 67, was paraded before the media, two days after he was arrested in Rwanda where he arrived tricked by his friend Bishop Constantin Niyomwungere who had lied to him that they were heading to Burundi to engage with different church leaders as they boarded a private jet.
Rusesabagina had last seen Rwanda in 2004 prior to his arrest.
As he was paraded before the media, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) explained that Rusesabagina faced different charges including terrorism.
He was arrested following enough evidences proving his implication in the creation of National Liberation Front (FLN) rebel group; including details disclosed during discussions with allies before his arrest. Appearing in court, he also admitted to have sponsored the armed group with contribution worth Euro 20,000.
During interrogation at RIB, the man had revealed that he was not sure of the exact amount contributed but admitted to have provided approximately Euro 300,000 to support the rebel group which plotted attacks that claimed lives of innocent civilians and destroyed several properties in Southern Province.
His direct involvement in the activities of FLN is no brainer considering gathered evidences made public and the talk he delivered on 16th July 2020, forty five days before finding himself behind bars.
At the time, Rusesabagina gave deeper explanations on the creation of MRCD.
The discussion which lasted for two hours and 38 seconds was attended by MRCD members. Its footages were later uploaded on the party’s YouTube channel by one, Espérance Mukashema who headed Radio Ubumwe sponsored by Paul Rusesabagina.
Apearing in court, Rusesabagina himself admitted to have paid Mukashema. The woman, who passed on, used to receive US$300 per month.
Following his arrest, the video was deleted from the MRCD YouTube channel in what seemed to tamper with evidences.
An extract of the video that lasts for four minutes and 50 seconds shows Rusesabagina replying to Faustin Twagiramungu who also owns a political party dubbed ‘RDI Rwanda Rwiza’ on the foundation of FLN and its objectives.
“We created MRCD in November 2016. It was a coalition of two political parties including CNRD-Ubwiyunge and PDR-Ihumure. At the time, CNRD was led by Wilson Irategeka and and PDR-Ihumure led by me. After long negotiations, we set five pillars under one platform,” he said.
“The first pillar is what is being carried out by our soldiers. The second was diplomacy, the third was mobilization, the fourth was communication and the fifth was finance,” added Rusesabagina.
In his explanations, Rusesabagina used the word ‘Isambu’ translated as arable land, a figurative word with which the context was well known among his supporters.
During interrogations, Rusesabagina explained that they used figurative language to talk about their activities where the word ‘abahinzi’ (farmers) was used in place of fighters, ‘amasuka’ (hoes) was used to mean guns, utubuyenge (pebbles) to mean bullets while the word ‘umurima’ or ‘isambu’(arable land) was used to mean battleground.
After forming the coalition of PDR Ihumure, CNRD-Ubwiyunge and establishing their philosophies, the two political parties sought more support.
“We worked together and, in the end of 2017, our brothers from Rwanda Revolutionary Movement (RRM) led by Callixte Nsabimana wanted to join us to become a platform bringing together three parties,” said Rusesabagina.
“After long discussions, RRM was accepted in March 2018, and we were successful in our executions. That is when we started asking ourselves the name we will give our soldiers. Since May 2018, our boys were named FLN and that is why FLN does not belong to PDR, CNRD or RRM, it is under MRCD. We called them FLN because RRM brought its soldiers as well which meant we had to get an inclusive name,” added Rusesabagina.
He explained that the coalition birthed MRCD/FLN because soldiers belonged to the three parties until they allowed RDI Rwanda Rwiza formed by Faustin Twagiramungu on 18th June 2019, to join the platform.
At the time, the rebel group had started attempts to threaten Rwanda’s security plotting different attacks.
Rusesabagina was brought to the High Court Chamber for International Crimes along with 20 co-accused MRCD/FLN combatants.
The suspects faced charges including the formation of an irregular armed group, membership of a terrorist group, financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, arson as an act of terrorism, attempted murder as an act of terrorism, and assault and battery as an act of terrorism.
The crimes were committed since 2018 when MRDC/FLN combatants plotted attacks to Rwanda which claimed lives of nine innocent residents in the Southern Province.
They left many others gravely injured, and caused significant material and economic damage in South-West Rwanda.
The court handed 25-year sentence to Rusesabagina and 20-year jail term to Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara, the former spokesperson for the terror group after they were found guilty of terrorism charges.
The young Rwandans arrived at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana on Monday 17th October 2021. During their week-long stay in Ghana, the youth will also attend YouthConnekt Africa Summit scheduled between 20th and 22nd October 2021.
They will also explore business opportunities in Ghana, interact with fellow entrepreneurs and seek together how to market their products at the global market.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Ghana, Dr. Aissa Kirabo Kacyira has said that the business trip is significant to the recovery of businesses affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
“Covid-19 pandemic has largely shaken businesses but we have embarked on the journey towards recovery. We are glad to be organizing programs aimed at supporting businesses particularly SMEs and helping them to expand footprints and benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area [AfCFTA],” he said.
The tour was organized by the Ministry of Youth and Culture in partnership with Rwanda’s Embassy in Ghana, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The young entrepreneurs have businesses from different fields including, Agro-Processing, ICT, tourism and Cultural Creative arts.
The business trip follows the first batch of 50 entrepreneurs who went to Kenya for similar tour in 2019.
Michael Mulinge Kitivi, the head of the delegation and Director of Uniformed Capability Support Division at UN Headquarters, said that they are working with Rwandan counterparts to collect and verify data that will be reviewed by the UN General Assembly and it will inform the General Assembly on its decision to increase troop allowances.
“Rwanda is a major troop contributing country that is why it fits in the criteria of the countries that we need to get data from,” he said adding that they will collect data from ten countries and Rwanda was the first country they are visiting.
Mr Mulinge Kitivi and delegation were received today at RDF Headquarters, Kimihurura.
Mulinge also held discussions separately with the RDF Army Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga and the Air Force Chief of Staff, Lt Gen J Jacques Mupenzi.
