The statement released last night shows that 42 people have caught COVID-19 out of 3 841 sample tests while 70 recovered.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 141 people have been tested positive of whom 24 764 recovered, 1033 are active cases while 344 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 350,000 people have been vaccinated 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.
These meetings are scheduled on 17th and 18th May 2021.
It is expected that French President Emmanuel Macron will chair the meeting discussing how Sudan can be helped to restore good reputation at the global scene.
President Kagame has met with Kristalina Georgieva , the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and his counterpart of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde ahead of scheduled conference on Sudan and Summit on Financing African Economies.
Jeune Afrique recently revealed that Kagame is also expected to meet with former France military officers deployed on working mission in Rwanda between 1990 and 1994 during the liberation struggle.
Rwanda, France have been going through the journey to revitalize worsened relations due to the lack of willingness to admit complicity during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron commissioned a team of expert researchers and historians to review archives on Rwanda, France relations between 1990 and 1994 analyzing the country’s role during Genocide against Tutsi.
The report presented to Macron on 26th March 2021 revealed that France bears “heavy and overwhelming responsibilities” over tragic history that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which took lives of over 1 million victims.
The Government of Rwanda welcomed the report saying it “represents an important step toward a common understanding of France’s role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi”.
Recently in April 2021, Prof. Vincent Duclert who headed the team of expert researchers and historians who analyzed French Government’s official archives presented the report to President Paul Kagame in Kigali.
On 19th May 2021, Rwanda released own report showing France’s role during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Bob Muse, a partner at Levy Firestone Muse presented findings of the report to the Government of Rwanda during a special cabinet meeting that convened at Village Urugwiro.
The 600-page report is entitled “A Foreseeable Genocide: The Role of the French Government in Connection with the Genocide against the Tutsi.”
Appearing on RBA talk show in April, the Minister of Justice and State Attorney General Johnston Busingye explained that the report ‘is a great milestone’ that emphasizes facts spoken about France for so long and observed that its findings complement ‘Duclert report’.
Rwanda is the only country in Africa with a “yellow” advice, which allows Dutch tourists and travelers to visit the country again.
Rwanda’s embassy in the Netherlands has welcomed the development and
great news for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists interested in a lifetime experience at the heart of Africa.
The lift of travel travel restriction gives tourists from Netherlands opportunity to explore and consume in beauty of the “country of a thousand hills” as a unique destination on the African continent, due to its breath-taking landscape, its national parks, volcanoes and rainforests, wildlife population, as well as its historical and cultural vestiges.
Among others, travelers have the opportunity to visit no less than fourteen (14) primate species in Rwanda found nowhere else in the world.
Rwanda is also home to the famous mountain gorillas at the bottom of the Volcanoes National Park.
Add to this spotting the “Big Five” in Akagera National Park, water sports and outdoor paradise at Lake Kivu, as well as the unparalleled cultural history, which are among other things that puts Rwanda among top list of countries to visit.
Rwanda, which is among the most stable and peaceful countries in the region, favours high-end tourism, combined with obligation to conservation. In this regard, the country adopted a package of extensive hygiene and safety measures, in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
{{Useful information for travelers}}
If you plan to visit Rwanda, you are required to complete a Passenger Locator Form before departure. It is advisable to do this no later than 48 hours before your departure to ensure that the data has been processed on time. You will receive a QR code that is required to enter Rwanda. You must also show a certificate with a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry.
This certificate must not be older than 72 hours before your departure. This is not mandatory for children under 5 years old.
All travelers are tested again upon arrival in Rwanda, and they must await the result of this test in a hotel designated by the government. The costs for the extra tests and the hotel are for your own expense.
Wearing a facemask is mandatory in Rwanda. Regular disinfection of the hands is recommended. The social distancing rule applies. Payments should be made contactless as much as possible.
The protection and welfare of the vast numbers of primates living in Rwanda is an essential part of the guidelines. For example, tourists should keep at least ten (10) meters away from the primates in Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
After your stay in Rwanda, departure at the Kigali International Airport requires a PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. However, as Rwanda is not among the risk countries in the Netherlands, you will not be required to provide a COVID-19 negative test or self-quarantine upon arrival in the Netherlands.
PSU1-6 of 140 officers commanded by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Innocent Rutagarama Kanyamihigo left Kigali International Airport at about 9am, aboard the national carrier, RwandAir.
They replaced PSU1-5, which safely returned home later in the day after 16 months of successful tour-of-duty.
Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, Commissioner for Public Relations and Media and RNP spokesperson, presided over the departure and arrival of the two contingents, on behalf of RNP leadership.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Gilbert Musoni guided the replaced contingent back home.
Prior to the deployment of PSU1-6, the contingent was briefed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations, Felix Namuhoranye, who urged them to uphold Rwanda’s peacekeeping reputation and be good ambassadors.
While addressing the replaced contingent, CP Kabera thanked the officers for their service.
“Welcome back home, you left before the outbreak of the pandemic of Covid-19 either in Rwanda or in your mission area; your country commends you for dedication, selfless service and successful peacekeeping duty despite the conditions and challenges posed by this pandemic,” CP Kabera told the officers.
The officers will be tested for Covid-19 before joining their families.
CP Kabera urged them to continue observing the national directives and health guidelines on preventing the spread of Covid-19.
CSP Kanyamihigo, the contingent commander of the newly deployed unit, said prior to their departure, that they received enough training and guidance to enable them accomplish their duties.
SP Musoni, on his part, thanked all officers of PSU1-5 for their commitment and teamwork.
“It was a challenging situation due to the threat of Coronavirus, but we stayed focused to our mission as a team while observing the health guidelines,” said SP Musoni.
He added: “We conducted various duties including ensuring the security of CAR Prime Minister and other high profile government and UN officials. We also protected the key national infrastructure and contributed to social welfare of citizens.
We are grateful to be back home safely, and we are ready to continue serving our country.”
President Kagame delivered the message today as he addressed the official opening of the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee Meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the President of the World Football governing body (FIFA), Gianni Infantino and CAF President, Patrice Motsepe.
President Kagame said that there is convergence between politics and other duties which requires great perfection to serve interests of citizens.
“I do politics for a living, but I also make sure that I have to do or get involved with good politics. It is not just politics, it is good politics. And because of that background, I find almost in everything, politics or there is convergence between politics and everything else,” he said.
Kagame observed that what the development of sports requires is similar to what is taking place across the political spectrum and stressed need for team work to achieve maximum results.
“…And that is not by accident, it is because there are similarities irrespective of whatever sector you are looking at. If you look at sports, sports teams, clubs, whatever from football to any other sports, builds on a number of things. And becomes similar to everything we do in politics. Whether it is Government or any other kind of politics,” he said.
“It is about leadership. You need to have leaders, you need to have vision, and then when it comes down to details, you find that we want to work as a team in our daily exercise of duty. Whether it is football, any other sports, or Government, and so on. In the same exercise of duty, we want also to be humble about it. That is what will give us maximum results,” added Kagame.
The President told participants to work together not only as teams that are involved in doing whatever specific task but also think about others beyond specific teams.
“If you have Government […] you see all that through it. It is a Government and team, but a team serving what purpose? It is for the citizens of our country,” he noted.
Kagame told gathered participants to set ambitious targets, strive for inclusive development leaving no one behind to achieve a desired level of satisfaction.
“Apart from the vision therefore, you also have to have an ambition. You need to have a drive you want to achieve. In this achieving, there is no body excluded including you. Achieving gives you a level of satisfaction,” he stressed.
“But do you want to achieve alone, be satisfied alone. Then you will have breached certain rules of the principles I was talking about. Because you can’t be happy alone until members of the team and beyond are also happy. You need to be thinking of others,” emphasized Kagame.
The President also reminded participants of their duties to promote football on African continent.
“If we carry in our minds the convergence we are talking about, we have duty to football, to Africa and Africans as well. So what do we aspire in delivering our mission as representatives, leaders of football and sports but also what does that mean to our continent. No one of us here doesn’t know our problems whether it is in politics but I will not talk about that for today. In fact, that means, we also have problems in our football organizations and we affect each other. Again there is that convergence,” he noted.
“For football, we know what we represent and what we want, what is our mission, what we feel as individuals that you should be looking at or be doing differently for us to be able to deliver our mission of improving politics or particularly football on our continent. I guess this is our task,” stated Kagame.
The main items on the Executive Committee Agenda relate to the implementation of the Pan-African Schools Football Championship, the CAF/FIFA Refereeing Agreement and the FIFA-CAF USD 1 billion Infrastructure Development project.
Amongst some of the matters under discussions are 2022-2024 competitions calendar and the challenges relating to the pre-match Covid-19 testing.
The Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger who currently serves as the world football body FIFA Chief of Global Football Development also attended the meeting in which he shared an insight into prospects to promote football.
{{Here are 7 wedding traditions and their meaning}}
{{1. Why men get down on one knee to propose }}
A man getting down on one knee to propose is deemed a sign of respect and surrender. The act signifies humility before the woman he wishes to marry while also acknowledging he’s surrendering his single life behind.
{{2. Why does the groom have a best man? }}
This is a tradition that springs from Anglo-Saxon England. According to history, the groom takes along his most trusted and strongest friend (best man) to ensure his bride is protected during the ceremony.
{{3. Why does the bride have bridesmaids? }}
In modern times, the bridesmaids help with the planning of the wedding but the tradition of having bridesmaids started in Roman times. Bridesmaids were believed to act as decoys to evil spirits trying to harm the bride.
{{4. Why does the bride stand to the left of the groom? }}
It was common during ancient times to have the bride kidnapped so the bride stood to the left of the groom so the groom could hold her with his left hand and draw his sword with his right hand, should other suitors try to kidnap her.
{{5. Why does the bride throw the bouquet? }}
This stems from a French 14th century tradition. During ancient times, it used to be considered good luck to get a piece of the bride’s wedding dress. To avoid a ruined dress and being physically grabbed as the bride and groom were trying to run off on their honeymoon, brides began throwing bouquets to distract the guests. Guests were happy grabbing the bouquet as flowers were believed to bring romantic luck for the future.
{{6. Why do brides wear a veil? }}
It is believed Roman brides wore bright veils for their wedding to ward off evil spirits.
{{7. Why throw confetti during weddings? }}
Confetti is an Italian word used for a type of sugar almond tossed into the air during special occasions. In ancient Britain, throwing grains of rice at newlyweds was seen as a symbol of fertility.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije was also present during discussions held at Urugwiro Village.
On the same day, Michel Sidibé held talks with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Clementine Mukeka.
Michel Sidibé once served as the Minister of Health in Mali. He commended Rwanda’s contribution to support the establishment of African Medicines Agency.
The African Union adopted treaties establishing AMA in February 2019. At least 15 countries need to endorse these agreements for the implementation phase to begin.
President Kagame is among Heads of State that support the establishment of AMA.
During the recent meeting on how African continent can begin manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, he rallied African Heads of State to endorse these treaties.
AMA is expected to address challenges in the health sector particularly reinforcing the manufacturing of medicines of African continent to avoid heavy reliance on imports.
Africa registers 375 plants manufacturing medicines which produce between 10 and 30 percent of medical products needed on the continent.
AMA is also expected to address the production of medicines that do not meet international standards.
African Medicine Agency coincided with COVID-19 related crisis whereby wealthy countries are contending to hoard vaccines.
On 11th February 2019, the AU Assembly, during their 32nd Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adopted the treaty for the establishment of the AMA. The treaty was then unanimously adopted by the African Ministers of Health gathered at the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva .The AMA was expected to be launched in 2018, with efforts being made to ensure that the agency capitalises on already existent mechanisms, experiences and technologies to work in an effective manner towards the accomplishment of its objectives.
It has been estimated that in the first 5 years, a total of US$100 million will be required to fund the AMA with portions of this amount funding human resource costs, infrastructure and operational costs.
The AU Member States have also agreed to provide contributions in kind to the AMA by way of dedicating part of the time of their National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRA) staff for the work of the Agency. This is to ensure that the AMA has a small critical mass of competent staff to enable the work of the experts, and that of their respective committees.
Spearheaded by FPU-3 contingent commander, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jeannette Masozera, the Rwandan peacekeepers worked together with South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) officers to clean the station and its surroundings.
They also picked up litter and trimmed bushes around the station.
Yei Police station commander, Capt. Madhong Kuc Yak thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers adding that the communal exercise defines the good relations between Rwanda National Police (RNP) and South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), and the two countries in general.
“This community exercise sends good message to communities around this Police station of the importance of coming together for the common purpose. It is also something that will always remind us… a remembrance even when Rwandan peacekeepers complete their mission here in South Sudan,” said Capt. Madhong.
He added that Rwanda serves as an example of how Police and the public work together for the overall well-being of the people.
“Personally, I like the way you do it in Rwanda; how the Police and the citizens work together in such hygiene and human security activities. We know what happened in Rwanda—the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—and how the country has moved very fast with the reconciliation, commitment, and cooperation as one people and one voice as security organs. This is an example for us to follow,” Capt. Madhong added.
SSP Masozera pledged continued support and partnership in various aspects of policing and the overall wellbeing of civilians.
“As Rwandan Police peacekeepers, we are here to also support you,” SSP Masozera said, adding that Umuganda will be organized at least once every month.
The deceased is a woman aged 76 from Huye district.
The statement released last night shows that 99 people have caught the virus while 106 recovered.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 033 people have caught the virus of whom 24 592 have recovered, 1098 are active cases, one is critically ill while 343 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
DIGP Namuhoranye made the call on Friday, May 14, while briefing 140 officers of the Protection Support Unit (PSU-1) contingent to be deployed under the rotation arrangement in the UN Multidimentional Integration Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA).
This will be the sixth rotation of the Rwanda PSU since the first contingent was deployed in CAR in 2016.
The unit is largely charged with the security of top government officials including the Prime Minister, and other local and international VIPs.
“Whatever you will be doing it will be in the name of your country and your actions should define Rwanda’s good image and peacekeeping reputation,” DIGP Namuhoranye said.
He added: “You are 140 ambassadors, always remember what you stand for; you represent Rwanda and Rwandans, we expect you to come back with the reputation like those you are replacing or previous contingents.”
The Prime Minister of Central African Republic (CAR), Filimin Ngrebada, last week, awarded certificates to his Rwandan ‘Special Escort Team’ in recognition of their service.
The recognized police officers are part of the PSU contingent that will be replaced.
The Deputy Police Chief challenged them to be defined by the Rwandan and RNP values.
“Be polite, professional, work and support each other as a team with self esteem. You are going to a country with different tradition and culture which should be respected,” he said.
Rwanda PSU 1-6 commanded by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Innocent Rutagarama Kanyamihigo will replace PSU 1-5 headed by CSP Valens Muhabwa, which was deployed in January 2020.
The PSU is one of the three Rwanda Police contingents deployed under MINUSCA.
