The Mission bid a final farewell to the fallen peacekeeper yesterday in a memorial ceremony held at MINUSCA force Headquarters. In attendance were the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in CAR Denise Brown, the MINUSCA Force Commander General Sidiki Traoré and CAR Army Chief of Staff, General Zephirin Mamadou.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Denise Brown saluted Sgt NSABIMANA Jean D’amour: “United Nations appreciates his sacrifice to fight for the protection of civilians, peace services, stability and CAR population dignity” she said while also appreciating the dedication of Rwandan Contingent.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of CAR, the Inspector General of Central African Armed Forces, Major General Leopord Bruno Izamo, posthumously awarded Late Sgt NSABIMANA Jean D’amour ‘Medaille de chevalier d’ordre de la reconnaissance Centrafricaine’, one of the highest honor in the CAR.
Biden, sworn in at 11:49 a.m. ET, used a 21-minute inaugural address to call for unity and offer an optimistic message that Americans can get through dark moments by working together. The ceremonies were scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, with heightened security measures arising from the Capitol riot exactly two weeks ago.
“Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew, and America has risen to the challenge,” Biden said early in his address. “Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause: the cause of democracy.”
Biden pivoted to the challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States and become a polarized issue unlike in most other countries. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemic’s deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nation’s renewed reckoning on racial injustice.
“Those 400,000 fellow Americans — moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbours and co-workers — we’ll honour them by becoming the people and nation we know we can and should be,” he said, before asking for a silent prayer on their behalf.
Biden called on Americans to overcome divisions, declaring that “without unity, there is no peace.”
“We must end this uncivil war that pits red versus blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal,” he said. “We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.”
There was, he said, “much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain.”
“Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now.”
Biden also hailed the historic achievement of his Vice-President Kamala Harris. Harris took the oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, becoming the first Black, South Asian and female vice-president.
Harris, who spent some of her teen years in Montreal, was said to be using a Bible in the swearing-in ceremony that belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice.
Biden and his wife, Jill, began the day by attending a service at Washington’s Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Along with Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, those in attendance included: both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Biden is only the second Catholic president in U.S. history after John F. Kennedy, and St. Matthew’s is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.
A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol accompanied Harris and Biden at the west front. Officer Eugene Goodman, a Black man, confronted the overwhelmingly white insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers.
{{Family Bible brought out again}}
Prominent U.S. politicians past and present proceeded to the west front shortly before 11 a.m., with 44th president Barack Obama and wife Michelle getting a notable round of applause. Two other past presidents arrived with their wives — Bill and Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush and his wife, Laura — while the oldest living president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, had sent his well wishes.
Vice-President Mike Pence was the highest-ranking official from Donald Trump’s administration to attend the inauguration, but not Trump, the first outgoing president to skip the ceremony since Andrew Johnson more than a century and a half ago.
Biden used a Bible for his swearing-in that has been in his family since at least 1893. Several inches thick, it is the same Bible he used twice when being sworn in as vice-president and seven times as a senator from Delaware.
Although the festivities were radically scaled down due to the pandemic as well as security threats, a steady stream of A-list names signed on, headlined by Lady Gaga singing the national anthem, with Jennifer Lopez singing This Land Is Your Land and America the Beautiful and Garth Brooks performing Amazing Grace.
An invocation was given by the Rev. Leo O’Donovan, a former Georgetown University president, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Andrea Hall, a firefighter from Georgia. Amanda Gorman, the first national youth poet laureate, gave a riveting address, while the benediction was given by a Biden family friend, Rev. Silvester Beaman of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Del.
Biden, Harris and their spouses paused on the steps of the U.S. Capitol while leaving to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments. Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the new president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes such as Yankee Doodle Dandy.
The couples were then joined by the three former presidents and their wives at Arlington National Cemetery for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner by a brass band and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As Biden was ushered in, congratulations poured in from around the world, including statements from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Pope Francis sent a message to the second Catholic U.S. president, saying he hoped Biden’s decisions would be guided by justice, freedom and respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those with no voice.
{{Long political career}}
Biden becomes just the seventh person to have served as senator, vice-president and president and the first to achieve that feat since Richard Nixon. While on paper that wealth of previous experience may give the impression of inevitability to his becoming president, there were two failed bids and multiple points along the way where one could reasonably doubt he’d ever become commander-in-chief.
Biden took his first oath of office as a Washington politician just over 48 years ago, in a hospital room in Delaware as his two sons recuperated from a car crash that killed Biden’s first wife, Neilia, and their baby daughter, Naomi.
During his years in Congress, he earned the slings and arrows that come along with serving in the Senate — a strong reputation for bipartisan work and criticism for his handling of Anita Hill’s testimony at Clarence Thomas’s confirmation hearings from both parties. There were also a pair of brain aneurysms in the late 1980s, one of which was life-threatening.
In 2008, he was picked by Obama to serve as his running mate. Biden, not thrilled with playing second fiddle, later wrote of being persuaded to take the VP job in no small part by his 91-year-old mother, Catherine, who impressed upon him the history of serving under the first Black president. Catherine Biden died in 2010, eight years after her husband, Joe Sr.
Biden had every intention of running for president in 2016, but was waylaid by another tragedy. His oldest son, Beau, expected to become a prominent national politician himself, died at 46 of brain cancer.
As in the past, Biden proved a survivor in the 2020 Democratic race after a slow start, winning the nomination and the general election on Nov. 3.
In addition to his wife Jill, whom he married in 1977, their son Hunter, daughter Ashley and several grandchildren were on hand to watch him become the next U.S. president.
A slimmed-down version of the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue did take place in the end. The Bidens, wearing masks, walked an abbreviated part of the parade route, and then through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico.
Harris and Emhoff followed shortly after, also walking the abbreviated route wearing masks, accompanied by their extended family.
The inaugural parade featured 1,391 virtual participants, 95 horses and nine dogs.
{{Democrats take control of Senate}}
Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.
One of Harris’s first orders of business was to swear in three new senators, giving Democrats the majority in the Senate and across a unified government to tackle the new president’s agenda at a time of unprecedented national challenges.
Harris drew applause as she entered the chamber to deliver the oath of office to Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla just hours after taking her own oath at the Capitol alongside Biden.
The three Democrats join a Senate narrowly split 50-50 between the parties, but giving Democrats the majority with Harris able to cast the tie-breaking vote.
She has revealed this in a talk show aired on RBA following the imposition of lockdown in Kigali city to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting held on 18th January 2021.
“People seeking to visit farming activities out of Kigali will be facilitated to do so. We have delegated two staff members partnering with Police in such activities. Everyone in need to follow up own agricultural activities can contact them for support,” she said.
Dr. Mukeshimana also assured that upcountry farmers supplying food will continue as usual.
MINAGRI has also allowed people using bicycles and motorcycles to deliver milk to Kigali. These include farmers from some districts including Gicumbi and Rwamagana.
Among others, any vehicle transporting agricultural produce will be given pass.
During the two week-lockdown to be reviewed upon health assessment, markets selling foods and other agricultural produce are among services allowed to continue operations.
Col Simon Ndamukunda was the commander of Rwandan Contingent deployed in Darfur in 2017. He was at the rank of Lt. Colonel and promoted to Colonel in the same year.
Speaking to IGIHE, the spokesperson of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Lt. Col. Ronald Rwivanga has confirmed that Col Ndamukunda but didn’t provide much details about his death.
In July 2007, Col Ndamukunda who held the rank of Major received a recognition medal known as “Combat Action Ribbon” for outstanding contribution to the country.
He presented copies of credentials yesterday to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Taher Siala during a ceremony which took place at the ministry’s headquarters in Tripoli, capital city of Libya.
Minister Siala welcomed Amb. Kalisa to new duties and wished him well in his future endeavors.
Amb. Kalisa also thanked Libya for ambitions to restore peace to the country that has been engulfed by wars.
Amb. Kalisa will represent Rwanda in Libya and Algeria with residence in Egypt.
He commended Rwanda’s commitment to build strong relations rooted on mutual beneficial cooperation between both countries.
The ceremony was also attended by Khalifa Al-Rabibi, the head of African Affairs in Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 2019, Rwanda signed agreement to received 500 asylum seekers and refugees stranded in Libya.
In the same year, President Paul Kagame attended a meeting along with his counterpart of Egypt , Fatta al Sisi aimed at seeking together remedy to address security issues in Libya and Sudan.
The seminar was organized by Harvard University from the United States of America.
Rwanda’s Presidency has via Twitter handle revealed that President Kagame attended the seminar and spoke to participants.
“President Kagame is now speaking on leadership at the virtually held Africa Rising Seminar with students, faculty and members of the community of Harvard Business School,” reads the Tweet.
Other participants who delivered talks include Andy Zelleke, a lecturer at Harvard School of Business and Nigerian businessman, Hakeem Belo-Osagie. Hakeem is also the chair of Metis Capital Partners an organisation focused on brokering and delivering attractive, large-ticket transactions in Africa to select blue chip international investment partners. He was once listed by Forbes Magazine as the richest man in Africa. Hakeem is among alumni of Harvard School of Business.
President Paul Kagame is among leaders who delivered talks at Harvard University in 2016 and 2017.
In August 2017, Kagame received a delegation of 56 top African executives undergoing a special programme at Harvard Business School in the United States.
The executives were undergoing a programme dubbed Senior Executives Program-Africa (SEPA) offered in collaboration with the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and University of Lagos Business School in Nigeria.
As part of the training, participants met with President Kagame who gave them personal insights on Rwanda’s development path, leadership strategy among other things.
At the time, Prof. Srikant Datar from Havard Business School said that the team was inspired by Kagame’s approach to addressing several challenges the country faced to be where it is.
Harvard is one of top global universities renowned for training executives and acquainting other students with deeper knowledge leadership skills, politics and business.
The decision follows the cabinet meeting held on 18th January 2021 that placed Kigali city under lockdown for two weeks as part of ongoing measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus to be reviewed upon health assessment.
“Following the cabinet announcement on 18th January 2021; MINISPORTS informs City of Kigali residents that sports activities are not permitted during lockdown,” reads part of the statement released by MINISPORTS.
“Exercising at home is encouraged. Individual walking/jogging is also permitted but strictly within limits of the village of residence, and in compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures. Group sports and exercise are strictly prohibited,” adds the statement.
The communal bi-monthly physical exercise known as ‘Car Free Day’ had resumed in September last year following months of suspension after the first Coronavirus case was confirmed in Rwanda on 14th March in 2020.
Among others, 289 new cases have been found out of 4520 sample tests while 168 have recovered.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 114, Ngoma: 79, Gicumbi: 15, Gatsibo: 14, Karongi: 13, Nyagatare: 11, Muhanga: 8, Rulindo: 8, Huye: 7, Rubavu: 6, Kirehe: 3, Musanze: 3, Nyamagabe: 2, Rwamagana: 2, Nyaruguru: 1, Nyabihu: 1, Gisagara: 1 and Ruhango: 1.
It is the first time Rwanda records the highest number of new cases since the pandemic emerged.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 11 548 people have been tested positive out of 804 337 sample tests of whom 7580 have recovered, 3820 are active cases while 148 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.
Rwanda and CAR have been for long enjoying cordial relations whereby Rwanda is helping the country engulfed by wars to restore peace. Rwandan troops have been deployed to CAR peacekeeping mission since 2014. On 20th December 2020, Rwanda deployed more special forces to CAR under existing bilateral cooperation signed in 2019.
The CEO of RwandAir, Yvonne Makolo has told IGIHE that dates for the scheduled flights remain unknown because preparations are ongoing.
RwandAir will reach CAR through Douala in Cameroon.
“We are undergoing preparations that we plan to start flights next month if everything goes well. We have not yet identified the starting date because we are still trying to get all permits,” she said.
Previously, it was a complicated process to fly to Bangui. For instance, a passenger departing from Kigali with RwandAir would land to Kampala, Uganda for at least 30 minutes before resuming the flight to Kenya. Upon arrival in Kenya, a passenger would depart with Kenya Airways to reach M’poko airport in Bangui.
One of people living in CAR has told IGIHE that anticipated flights will facilitate movements to other countries.
IGIHE has learnt that RwandAir will operate the first flight to Bangui in the first week of February 2021 even though the carrier didn’t reveal it.
CAR covers a land area of about 620,000 square kilometres and has an estimated population of around 4.7 million. As of 2020, the country is the scene of a civil war, ongoing since 2012.
The Central African Republic’s economy is based primarily on subsistence agriculture, with important mining and timber industries the main source of export earnings. Diamonds are the country’s most profitable export, while agriculture occupies most of its working population.
Farmers grow cotton, coffee, and tobacco for export and crops for local markets, but economic development is handicapped by the CAR’s landlocked position, limited infrastructure, and the low education of its work-force. Poor government management and political instability have further weakened the CAR’s economic condition. The informal sector is important in the CAR, accounting for most economic activity and a large share of the diamond trade.
CAR has had a turbulent economic history. Since gaining independence in 1960, the economy has endured intermittent periods of economic decline caused in part by poor management.
The opening of flights might present a huge market opportunity for businesspersons as the country heavily depends on imports.
Related story: https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwandair-in-new-expansion-drive
It is said that Uwineza, hailing from Kabagogo village, Marembo cell, Ngamba sector of Kamonyi district in Southern Province was stabbed on the neck and arms in the night of 8th January 2021 when the suspects went to his home and waked him up.
As he stepped outside, the suspects abducted him and disappeared until 10 am of the next day when Uwineza was found stabbed on the neck and arms.
“After stabbing him in the neck and arms, they left him in an abandoned house thinking he died,” said a resident.
Local leaders in collaboration with security officials rushed for first aid and took Uwineza at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) where he is getting treatment.
The executive secretary of Ngamba sector, Jean de Dieu Twagirumukiza explained that it is unfortunate that the family was not aware that Uwineza was abducted till morning and appealed on residents to provide tip off on time to prevent similar incidents.
“It becomes easy to follow up when information is shared on time. I thank residents who rushed for support after the incident occurred and remind them to strengthen security patrols,” he said.
All the five suspects are detained Remera Rukoma Police Station as Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) investigates the case.
