The CIMIC medical care week was conducted in different regions including Machakos, Kajiado and Nairobi. The aim of this medical care week is to enhance cooperation in civil military affairs between EAC Defence Forces.
The RDF contingent was led by Lt Col Vincent Mugisha, the Chief of Civil Military Relations (J9) of the RDF. RDF specialized medics are currently conducting medical outreach services in Machakos county -Muumandu Health Center, 85 Kms from Nairobi.
They are providing free treatment in pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, general medicine, ophthalmology and dental. The RDF medical contingent have so far attended to 90 patients on the first day of the exercise.
Winny Chemutai Too, who is in charge of Muumandu Health Center Facility observed that the gesture is a testament that the military has what it takes to transform citizens’ lives in different aspects.
“Citizens usually associate the military with guns, and do not often see them offering humanitarian services. This is therefore a very important gesture of good civil military relations,” he said.
The EAC Armed Forces CIMIC Week is annually carried out in accordance with EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence.
This is the 3rd EAC Armed Forces CIMIC Week. The previous CIMIC services were held in Uganda and Rwanda respectively in 2018 and 2019.
The donation of part of the annual RNP community outreach activities to mark the force’s anniversary dubbed “Police Month.”
RNP was created on June 16, 2000 with the merger of three institutions that had the policing mandate at the time. The merged entities were Gendarmerie Nationale under the Ministry of Defence, Communal Police in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Judicial Police under the Ministry of Justice at the time.
“The annual Police Month is dedicated to community development activities targeting mainly the disadvantaged vulnerable groups, it is the same context that 110 households of Rutagara Village were today lit with solar energy,” said Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Ndayisenga, the District Political and Civic Education Officer (DPCEO) for Musanze, said.
The connected houses are those that are far from the national grid.
“Connecting houses with solar energy is meant to fight use of candles, which emit gas, provide security lights at night to prevent theft committed in the dark,” said CIP Ndayisenga.
One of the beneficiaries, Jean De Dieu Hakizimana thanked RNP for reaching out to them.
“We were using candle at night, which was a security concern because they can torch the house at any time. We were also facing the issue of light security at night, walking distances to charge phones but also children were not performing well at school because they were not revising at night,” said Hakizimana.
“These are rewards of good governance where police goes beyond just security to ensure the overall wellbeing of the people.”
Damascene Munyentwari, the Executive Secretary for Shingiro sector, commended RNP for the support and urged the beneficiaries to handle the solar systems well.
About seven villages in the Northern Province will be lit with solar power system as part of the Police Month.
Early this week, Police connected other 55 households with solar power system in Gicumbi District.
The statement released last night shows that 140 people have caught the virus out of 11985 sample tests, three recovered while seven are critically ill.
A total of 1,694,441 people have been fully vaccinated while 2,139,148 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine 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.
After presenting credentials, these envoys pledged to strengthen bilateral ties.
The ambassador of Qatar to Rwanda, Misfer bin Faisal Mubarak Al-Ajab Al-Shahwani arrived in Kigali after the country’s new embassy headquarters located in Kimihurura was inaugurated on 14th July 2021.
He promised to strengthen Rwanda, Qatar relations ties building on existing cordial relations.
Rwanda and Qatar have deepened ties rooted on mutual respect and diplomacy.
As of today, Qatar Airways aircraft conduct flights from Doha to Kigali among other destinations including Dubai.
In February 2020, Qatar Airways announced that it was undergoing discussions to acquire 49% shares in Rwanda’s flag carrier, RwandAir.
Among others, Qatar’s interests in Rwanda include a 60% stake in Bugesera International Airport, currently under construction.
Once completed, the airport worth US$1.3 billion will have the capacity to receive 7 million passengers in the first phase and 14 million in the second phase.
Amb. Ajab Al-Shahwani said that it is the beginning noting that both countries are looking for more projects.
In April 2019; the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani came to Rwanda for two-day working visit.
At the time, both heads of states also visited Akagera National Park which is home to the big five animals.
During his stay in Rwanda, President Kagame and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Emir of Qatar witnessed the signing ceremony of four agreements meant to promote various development sectors between both countries.
These include 4 agreements in sectors of culture, sports, tourism and business events and aviation travel and logistics.
They were added to existing ones signed in Doha, Qatar when President Kagame visited the country at the end of 2018. These are related to air service transport services, promoting and protecting joint investment and cooperation in trade and technical areas among others.
In May 2017, Rwanda and Qatar signed agreements in diplomatic cooperation.
On 26th May 2015, both countries signed cooperation agreements to fight against drug abuse on the sidelines of Qatar International Anti-Drug Forum held in Doha.
{{Rwanda, Egypt relations}}
Rwanda and Egypt enjoy longstanding relationships before and after independence. Both countries have built friendships in major areas of trade, education, agriculture, energy, health and military cooperation.
Among others, top Government officials have been meeting to build vivid relationships built on mutual trust.
Amb. Rania Mahmoud said that she discussed bilateral relations with President Kagame.
She highlighted that the President of Egypt trusts his counterpart of Rwanda for his visionary leadership to fats track the country’s development and transform citizens’ livelihoods.
“We need to strengthen cooperation in the areas of trade and economy for benefits of citizens,” said Rania Mahmoud.
Rwanda and Egypt recently signed agreements paving the way for construction of a new heart research center in Masaka, Kigali signed between Amb. Ahmed Samy Mohamed El-Ansary and the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije.
The project is backed by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD).
Among others, people of Egypt look forward to increasing investment in Rwanda. The country organizes annual exhibition known as ‘Egyptian Expo’ to showcase products manufactured from its factories based in Rwanda.
Rwanda also exports agricultural produce to the country including tea, vegetables, pineapples and bananas.
{{Rwanda, Belgium ties}}
Kagame also hosted the ambassador of Belgium to Rwanda, Bert Versmessen who commended existing bilateral relations.
“We have discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations. We can foster cooperation in different areas including trade, investment and economy among others,” he said.
Belgium and Rwanda enjoy longstanding relations dating back from colonial era.
The country supports Rwanda in the areas of good governance, health and energy.
In August 2021, Belgium reiterated commitment to partner with Rwanda to set up a plant manufacturing vaccines and other pharmaceuticals.
In October 2021, Rwanda received 196,000 doses of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine from donated by Belgium.
The three envoys accredited to Rwanda will have residence in Kigali.
Recently on 23rd September 2021, Rwanda received nine more nationals evicted from Uganda through Cyanika border in Burera district after enduring torture and dispossession of their valuables.
Their deportation follows series of circumstances under which Ugandan officials have been dumping Rwandans at borders following days of torture in detention facilities accused of being spies yet they had traveled to Uganda to run businesses or visit relatives among other reasons.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents that are posing a threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
Rwanda is an associate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
IOSCO is holding its fifth annual World Investor Week (WIW), a global campaign supported by securities markets regulators and IOSCO stakeholders around the world.
From 4th to 10th October 2021, securities markets regulators, stock exchanges, global and regional financial organizations and other stakeholders will conduct an array of educational activities. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of investor education and protection in participants´ jurisdictions.
The Public Relations and Communications Officer of CMA Rwanda, Magnifique Migisha noted that: “CMA, RSE and all market intermediaries in Rwanda usually complement each other towards various investor education activities. During this year’s World Investor Week, we will conduct digital media and broadcast media campaigns to engage the public into available saving and investment opportunities through the local stock market.”
Mr. Migisha added that: “We shall aim at raising awareness of the importance of investor education and highlight various investor education initiatives in place; in line with CMA and the capital market industry’s mandates to promote investor education and public awareness in Rwanda.”
Rwanda has made impressive strides over the last decade in developing its local capital market, as one of the new sectors in the country with many untapped opportunities.
CMA and the capital market industry have committed to carry out regular public education and awareness initiatives meant to bridge the financial literacy gap targeting retail investors in Rwanda to facilitate an interactive, and educative forum to enable investors to start saving and investing through the local capital market.
The aircraft carrying 280,000 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine landed at the Kigali International Airport in the morning of Friday 8th October 2021.
Upon arrival, the shipment was received by officials from the Slovak Embassy, the European Union (EU) delegation, Rwanda’s Ministry of health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delivery of the vaccines has been coordinated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM), which Rwanda applied to in order to access the vaccines.
Responding to calls for vaccine justice and solidarity, Slovakia joins the EU in Kigali to donate the vaccines and commends Rwanda’s efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commenting on the donation; Slovak Ambassador to Kenya, Katarína Žuffa Leligdonová explained that ‘Slovakia has heard loud and clear the calls for vaccine justice’.
“COVID-19 pandemic can only be successfully overcome if we join hands together. That is why Slovakia has joined the EU family in Kigali to provide 280,000 Astra Zenecca vaccine doses to help Rwandan government and people to control this pandemic,” she said.
The Head of Delegation of the European Union to Rwanda, Ambassador Nicola Bellomo also said that the EU is proud to have assisted the arrival of the vaccines through the EUCPM.
“The EU stands in solidarity with Rwanda, both multilaterally by supporting the COVAX facility, but also bilaterally by mobilising vaccines donated by our Member States through the EUCPM, and by working with Rwanda to create the framework necessary to attract foreign investment into vaccines manufacturing in the country,” he said.
The EU finances 75% of the transport costs of the assistance sent through the EUPCM. Through this Mechanism, the EU helps coordinate and finance the delivery of vaccines, medical and protective equipment and other material which are donated by EU Member states across Europe and the world to countries that seek assistance.
Slovakia has reiterated commitment to remain a staunch supporter of international solidarity through multilateralism and the COVAX facility to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly two weeks ago, Slovak President Ms. Zuzana Čaputová said that solidarity should be a binding principle, not an option.
RGS is an independent annual publication of the RGB that seeks to gauge the state of governance in Rwanda, comprehensively assesses governance in using both primary and secondary data sources.
It is mainly designed to generate credible and reliable data on governance issues, serves as practical tool that drives policy reform in the domain of governance through the identification of areas for improvement and generates actionable recommendations and to contribute to current and authentic knowledge formation about Rwanda.
The launch of the 8th edition of Rwanda Governance Scorecard 8th attracted participants including members of diplomatic corps, international organizations, representatives of Government institutions, private sector, civil society and academia among others.
The research carried out was entrenched on eight pillars namely; :(1) Rule of Law, (2) Political Rights and Civil liberties, (3) Participation and Inclusiveness, (4) Safety and Security,(5) Investing in Human and Social Development, (6)Control of corruption, Transparency and Accountability, (7) Quality of service delivery,(8) Economic and corporate governance.
Of the eight pillars, six scored above 80%.
The pillar of Safety and Security came on top scoring 95.47% in 2021 from 95.44% of 2020, the Rule of Law performed at 87.08% from 87.86% of last year, Political Rights and Civil liberties scored 83.80 % from 85.76% while Anti-corruption, Transparency and Accountability got 86.77% from 86.28%.
The pillar of Quality of service delivery scored 81.86% from 78.31 of last year, Investing in Human and Social Development scored 75.23% from 73.32%, Economic and corporate governance scored 74.65% from 78.14% while Participation and Inclusiveness performed at 84.19% from 81.96% of last year.
Quality of Service Delivery has emerged the most improved pillar with an increase of 3.55%. It is the first time this pillar scores above 80% since the inception of RGS in 2010. The improvement in this pillar is attributed to the use of ICT in service delivery which improved by 5.07%.
Among others, Economic and Corporate Governance is the least performing pillar at 74.65%. As he made the presentation; the CEO of RGB, Dr. Usta Kaitesi explained that the decline by 3.49% resulted from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to national economy.
Speaking at the launch of the 8th edition of RGS on Friday 8th October 2021, the Deputy CEO of RGB, Dr. Emmanuel Niyibishaka highlighted that the RGS 8th Edition gives a comparative analysis with the previous editions and gives a snapshot of the variations that have occurred in pillars performance since the 1st edition.
He also emphasized that the improvement or decline in pillar performance is not about figures; rather the reality on the ground.
As he delivered key note address, the One UN Resident Representative in Rwanda Dr. Fode Ndiaye commended RGB for keeping the regularity to produce the index despite challenges of Covid-19 pandemic.
He also extolled Rwanda for producing Rwanda Governance Scorecard considering it ‘the most comprehensive national index on the African continent that consistently assesses the state of governance in the country’.
Ndiaye also highlighted that RGS uses a comprehensive methodology that particularly values the voices of the citizens through different surveys used as sources of data.
“By including citizens’ perception, the RGS does not only consider expectations and analysis of governance trends, but also makes people at the center of the assessment, thus, representing the views of experts and citizens,” he said.
“The impact of RGS as a national assessment tool transcends the national level to play an important role in the context of renewed multilateralism and the UN decade of action to speed up the implementation of the shared commitment for sustainable development,” added Ndiaye.
Safety and security has maintained the lead since the inception of RGS.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that the two envoys were hosted at Village Urugwiro on Thursday 7th October 2021 afternoon.
Amb. Lulit Zewdie Gebremariam has been representing Ethiopia to Rwanda for almost four years since January 2018.
Amb. Ernest Jumbe Mangu had assumed duties in 2018 before he was recently replaced by Major General Richard Mutayoba Makanzo who previously served as Tanzania’s Navy Commander.
Throughout their tour of duty, the two ambassadors have played a critical role to reinforce bilateral relations and cooperation in the areas of economy and diplomacy among others.
Rwanda’s Presidency has via Twitter handle revealed that the meeting discussed key areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Kagame received the delegation one day after the Government of Rwanda and Mozambique signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote trade, attract and facilitate investments in the two countries.
The MoU was signed on Wednesday 6th October 2021 between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Investment and Export Promotion Agency (APIEX) on behalf of Mozambique.
During the ceremony; Mozambique was represented by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita; Presidential Adviser, Omar Ossumane Momade Mitha and Luis João Matsinhe, the National Director of Studies and Economic Analysis at the Ministry of Planning and Development among others.
Meanwhile, Rwanda was represented by senior economic advisor to the President of the Republic, Francis Gatare; Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning , Richard Tusabe and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry among others.
At the time, Rwanda showcased investment opportunities to the visiting delegation from Mozambique and took them through different incentives to provide favorable business environment for Rwandans and foreigners.
The delegation comes to Rwanda following Kagame’s two-day state visit to Mozambique recently in September 2021.
