Under the theme: “Contemporary Security Challenges: The African Perspective”, the primary aim of the symposium is to deliberate on matters of national, regional and continental security with a view to developing practical solutions.
The conference was officially opened on 14 May 2018 by Hon Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe, the Guest of Honor in the opening ceremony, who reiterated that the symposium is an opportunity for college students and other participants to engage in discussions about the real-life security challenges that affect military profession.
“By the end of this Symposium, you will have not only gained the requisite knowledge and skills, but you will have also sharpened your awareness and readiness in your quest for better performance on the field, with clarity and understanding of the geo-political nature of contemporary regional and African security challenges.” he said
During the symposium, students of Senior Command and Staff Course (SCSC) intake 6, the beneficiaries of this gathering, will have an opportunity to interact with high level policy makers, security practitioners, subject matter experts and scholars of security studies in interactive discussions on security challenges in Africa.
The SCSC intake 06 is composed of 45 Senior Officers (Major to Lt Colonel) students from Czech Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The suspects are; the Director of Planning and Budget, Faustin Mutambuka and Province Technician, Olivier Mutuyimana.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau Spokesperson, Modeste Mbabazi told IGIHE that on the document was message inciting people to hate the government.
“There are documents spreading messages of hate with intention to cultivate enmity among the people towards the government. They were found in the office of the Director of Planning and Budget on Friday. Five staffers operating from that office had been arrested the same day, but currently two of them are under investigation,” he explained.
However, Mbabazi did not want to reveal the details in the documents saying that there are still under investigation.
Artticle 463 of the penal code says that any person who, by speeches held in meetings or public places, or writings, images or emblems, any posters, sold or on sale or displayed to the public, knowingly spreads rumours, excites the population against established Government, or incites or attempts to incite citizens against each other or attempts to alarm the population with intention to cause trouble on the national territory of the Republic of Rwanda, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of ten (10) years to fifteen (15) years.
As Rwandans, yesterday commemorated women and children that were slain on Kayumba hill of Nyamata sector, Bugesera district, CNLG recalled the violence against women and girls that constituted a tragically widespread component of the genocide and war strategy in 1994.
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi had very grave effects on top of the over a million that lost their lives. According to various reports, a number of women contracted the deadly HIV/AIDS due to rape from Genocide perpetrators. This subsequently had serious implications on human health and the Rwandan population in general.
According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR)’s survey that was conducted in 2007, a total of 309,368 survived the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, with 58 % being female.
Although the female population was higher among survivors, Dr Bizimana remarked that it was not out of pity but a well-documented and tragically widespread component of the genocide and war strategy in 1994.
During the genocide, women and girls-predominantly survived or succumbed to extraordinary acts of violence. Many were raped at barriers erected by the interahamwe youth militia and/or held as sexual captives in exchange for temporary protection from interahamwe militia and the military. Their bodies and spirits were mutilated, humiliated and scarred.
“The impact of sexual violence perpetrated during the genocide is critical. Among survivors, 6321 women contracted HIV\AIDS, 10,3 % were left as widows, 21% were left as orphans and 7% were left with permanent disabilities.” Dr Bizimana said
He added that women and girls-predominantly were raped at barriers erected by the interahamwe youth militia, their bodies and spirits mutilated, humiliated and scarred.
Ibuka President in Nyamata sector, Dukuzumuremyi Eugene, said that on tragic memories were left on Kayumba hill, whereby 9000 lives were slain, leaving behind not more than 70 people.
Today, Kizito appeared in the court with Jean Paul Dukuzumuremyi as the co-accused Cassien Ntamuhanga escaped prison.
In the court, Kizito was Clad in inmates uniform, red shoes, white socks, watch and Rosary on his right arm.
The presiding judge expressed two challenges, one was that the co-accused Cassien Ntamuhanga escaped prison and the second is that Dukuzumuremyi had no lawyer.
About the challenges, Kizito requested the presiding judge to separate his case file from that of the co-accused saying that they have no big connection in charges.
He insisted that their hearing process is different, as he pleaded guilty of the charges yet others pleaded not guilty.
Kizito’s Counsel Antoinette Mukamusoni said that on the concern that Dukuzumuremyi had no advocate, it would not be guaranteed as to when he will get one since he appealed in 2015 and had ample time to seek for one who he hasn’t got to date. She said that he did not write to Rwanda Bar Association requesting an advocate.
For Ntamuhanga who escaped, Mukamusoni said that his case would be separated from others since he committed another separate crime.
“For Kizito Mihigo’s side, we were thirsty for this date because we need justice,” she said.
On why he has no advocate, Dukuzumuremyi said that he submitted his appeal decision when he was in Gasabo prison, he was later moved to Rwamagana based Prison and now is in Rubavu based prison.
Due to the moving process, he said that he didn’t know whether his appeal was due for hearing, and was told about the hearing date when he didn’t even know whether his application was endorsed.
“I was caught unawares about the hearing date. I request the court a short time to seek an advocate,” he requested.
The prosecution side represented by Faustin Nkusi among others requested the presiding judge to annul Ntamuhanga’s appeal saying that it is stipulated by law when the defendant misses the hearing over no reasons.
The prosecution side rejected hearing separation of case files of Kizito and accomplices saying they’re connected, no matter the magnitude.
For Dukuzumuremyi, the prosecution said that he has rights for an advocate and admitted that he would be given time to seek defense lawyer services.
The presiding judge adjourned hearing to June 11th 2018 for Dumukuzumuremyi to be able to find an advocate.
The presiding judge annulled Ntamuhanga’s appeal decision saying that escaping the prison meant that he had no interest in following his appeal.
On case file separation, the presiding judge said that as Kizito admits to a connection with accomplices, separation of hearing would not serve the interests of justice. The case file was kept as one.
On February 27th 2015, the High Court in Kigali found Kizito guilty of the crimes of formation of a criminal gang, conspiracy against the established government or the President of the Republic and conspiracy to murder. However, the court did not find sufficient proof implicating him on the crime of complicity in a terrorist act.
“A very Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers of Rwanda, Africa, and the World! To the one special mother in our home, lives and our hearts of 4 children – Jeannette- Thank you forever, God bless..!!,” he wrote.
Following his tweet, First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame, also celebrated Mother’s Day with a Twitter tribute for her family, being her ‘raison d’être’.
“Grateful for @PaulKagame, Ivan, Ange, Ian and Brian for being my ‘raison d’être’.” she tweeted
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father’s Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents Day.
In 1914, American President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the first national Mother’s Day
The world has made great strides in empowering women and girls in recent decades, and Rwanda has played its part. Good politics, legal reform, and policy frameworks have helped speed up this progress.
Taking place in Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, on 12th May 2018, the ceremony was attended by different Heads of State and Government among others, President George Weah of Liberia, First Lady of Gambia, among others.
Via his twitter account, Bernard Makuza announced that he had attended the Inauguration ceremony of the new President of Sierra Leone in Freetown.
“After the inauguration ceremonies, I paid a courtesy visit to the new President of Sierra Leone and delivered a personal message and a gift from his Rwandan counterpart President Paul Kagame.”, reads the tweet.
During the Inauguration Ceremony, President Bio vowed to be president for all Sierra Leoneans, to fight corruption and poverty and run the country in a “disciplined, honest and professional manner.”
Brigadier Julius Maada Bio was declared the winner and proclaimed as the president of the Republic of Sierra Leone, having pollied 1,319,406 – which is 51.82% of the total votes cast.
Rwanda and Sierra Leone enjoy good bilateral relations. Dr. Harebamungu Mathias was the first ambassador to Sierra Leone in October 2017.
According to Ndera Sector Executive Secretary, Francois Iyamuremye, whose identity was not readily revealed, who survived the genocide from inside the Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital (Craes) informed them that the hospital compound may contain mass graves.
The girl said that during the genocide, she heard people digging behind the house she was hiding in, and dumped dead bodies there.
Local officials acted on the information from the girl who currently lives in Canada, and exhumation activities started on Monday last week.
“From Monday to Saturday, we have been exhuming and today we have counted remains of 123 victims,” Iyamuremye said.
“We cannot affirm that these are the only victims that were dumped there, because the hospital had been using the pit for rain water harvesting. Possibly, some remains have totally decayed, especially of children. Exhumation activities continue, and there is another pit inside the hospital that we want to open,” he explained.
Iyamuremye said that exercise to search for more remains continues across the sector.
At Iwawa, youth acquired different skills including masonry, carpentry, tailoring, agriculture and veterinary among others.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, the Director General of National Rehabilitation Service (NRS), Aimé Bosenibamwe urged the youth to use acquired skills in developing themselves through working in cooperatives.
“There is a programme to receive those who graduate from here in districts; different officials are working to welcome you and will direct you in projects to establish, as a way to reintegrate you in the society, NRS in partnership with local government authorities will facilitate you in establishing associations and cooperatives through which you will perform income generating activities,” he explained.
After a year of being trained, the youth say that they acquired skills that will help them in future.
“I learnt masonry skills from here which will help me towards development. I abandoned drugs and will encourage former peers to abandon such vices,” said Jean Paul Gacamumakuba from Kicukiro District.
Cesalie Nyirantagorana, a parent whose child was rehabilitated, hailed the programme saying it was not possible for parents themselves to change the behaviors children had developed.
The cohort of 1,974 graduate is the 15th edition at Iwawa. Since the centre was established in 2010, over 15,000 have graduated from there.
Mr. Harerimana, who had been in the dockets for three years, has confirmed to IGIHE that he submitted his resignation letter Sunday morning to the district’s council President Jean Claude Mvuyikongo.
“I have resigned for my personal reasons; there isn’t any problem that pushed me to resign. I have done a lot for the time I led the district. Any person can feel tired and want to change the work but it is just for my personal reasons that I have resigned,” he said.
“I am proud of the progress we have attained as the district’s residents and partners and I believe nothing will scroll that back.”
Harerimana had replaced Oscar Nzeyimana who resigned after an arrest in 2015 over falsification of records about community-based health insurance but he was later acquitted in April 2015 because the prosecution failed to provide sufficient proofs pinning him on the charges.
Harerimana’s resignation follows the Friday’s resignation of Nyabihu Mayor Théoneste Uwanzwenuwe and Vice-Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Clarisse Mukansanga, both citing personal reasons.
However, Mukansanga was subsequently arrested on the allegations of genocide ideology.
Busingye made the remarks yesterday while presiding over the launch of a three-day retreat of the bureau’s senior officials in Bugesera District.
He told the newly established instigation board’s staff that professionalism is essential in handling the suspects.
“Professionalism is a sign of development, attaining the mission peacefully without any violation. People like you should be cooperative, if you detect a person and send them in prison, they should go lighthearted, and when they are released, they should not differentiate whether they were helping investigations or were enjoying a picnic,” he urged.
Busingye told investigators not to use their powers in violating suspects’ rights but provide them with any assistance they might need such as communicating their arrest to friends.
RIB Secretary General, Col. Jeannot Ruhunga said that professionalism will come from training. He said that the retreat will discuss the vision and laws that will regulate the board’s staff.
“We shall discuss a five-year strategic plan of RIB as a new institution and discuss laws that will guide the staff. Laws give them extra powers in their job, if the powers are not legalised and well-disciplined, they can misuse them. That is why we want to share about the laws that will help us implement our responsibilities,” he explained.
RIB was officially operationalised on April 20th and took over the responsibilities that were formerly carried out by Rwanda National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
RIB has the mission of preventing and pre-empting criminal acts by identifying and investigating all kinds of physical or cyber-crimes.
