{ The U.N.’s top human rights official said Tuesday he is alarmed by what appears to be a “widespread pattern” of rallies in Burundi in which members of a pro-government youth militia chant a call to “impregnate” or kill opponents.}
An online video emerged this month of an incident in a rural province involving the Imbonerakure militia. It showed members singing in the local Kirundi language: “Impregnate those opponents, so that they give birth to Imbonerakure.”
Burundi’s ruling party criticized the song. The party normally supports the Imbonerakure, despite accusations of rights violations perpetrated by its members.
The U.N. human rights office cited reports of several similar incidents early this month.
“The grotesque rape chants by the young men of the Imbonerakure across several provinces in various parts of Burundi are deeply alarming — particularly because they confirm what we have been hearing from those who have fled Burundi about a campaign of fear and terror by this organized militia,” the high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said in a statement.
Zeid welcomed the governing party’s condemnation but said reports senior officials were present at other rallies are “very disturbing” and called for an acknowledgement that the rally caught on camera “was not an isolated incident.”
Burundi has been plagued by violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza successfully sought a disputed third term in 2015. Hundreds of people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have fled the country.
Zeid said his office has received “credible reports of grave human rights violations, including the systematic use of torture by security forces and nightly raids by the Imbonerakure into the homes of people who refuse to join the ruling party.”
{Unarmed South Sudanese refugees demanding to be moved to a third country had captured 16 MONUSCO staff.}
The United Nations says 16 staff members held hostage at a UN camp in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been released unharmed.
The UN peacekeeping department said in a statement late on Tuesday that “the camp is quiet and under full control” of its peacekeepers.
Unarmed South Sudanese refugees took the staff members hostage earlier on Tuesday at the Munigi base in Congo’s North Kivu province, demanding they be sent to another East African country to avoid their forced return to South Sudan, the UN Mission in Congo said.
Negotiations had continued into the evening.
The UN peacekeeping department said: “All staff have returned safely to their homes. No casualties have been reported.”
It said the mission is investigating the incident.
The captors were among 530 people who have been living in the Munigi base, outside Goma, since fleeing South Sudan last August, UN Goma bureau head Daniel Ruiz told the Reuters news agency.
Most of them are former fighters loyal to ex-Vice President Riek Machar, who have clashed with President Salva Kiir’s forces since July 2016.
The UN estimates about three million South Sudanese have been uprooted by the violence in their country, the biggest cross-border exodus in Africa since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Ruiz said the camp occupants had been demanding to be moved to a third country for months, but no one would take them.
On Friday, eight of them agreed to be repatriated to South Sudan’s capital Juba. Others fear going back and are frustrated at being confined in the tiny camp in DRC.
“They’re [the captors] saying if the eight were transferred to South Sudan, why shouldn’t we be able to go to a third country?” Ruiz said.
Civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013, after Kiir sacked Machar from the vice presidency.
That conflict ended in a peace pact in 2015 and Machar was reinstated early last year, but tensions between the two men lingered and finally erupted into new fighting in July.
{The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame and her Djibouti counterpart of, Kadra Mahamoud Haid yesterday visited the association of women in Djibouti known as Union Nationale des Femmes de Djibouti (UNFD).}
The visit was attended by hundreds of women from Djibouti and Civil society organizations.
Guests were taken through activities of UNFD in promoting women’s livelihoods, enhancing political participation and economy since the country obtained its independence 40 years ago.
They also visited crafts center of Djibouti women and the center fighting against gender-based violence which provides legal aid and health services to both men and women.
UNFD has also promoted women education among others and is chaired by Djibouti First Lady, Kadra Mahamoud Haid since 2000.
Djibouti obtained independence in 1977.
The First Lady and president Paul Kagame arrived in Djibouti yesterday on a two-day state visit to Djibouti accompanied by other government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, Minsiter of Youth and ICT, Philbert Nsengimana and the Minister of Infrastructure , James Musoni.
{Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) has said that some inmates have accepted to reveal where victims of 1994 genocide against Tutsi they killed are laid following pacification lessons in various prisons countrywide during the 23rd commemoration of 1994 genocide against Tutsi.}
RCS spokesperson, CIP Sengabo Hillary has told IGIHE they collaborate with local leaders and Ibuka, umbrella organization of genocide survivors to accord decent burial to victims when inmates unveil where remains of genocide victims are scattered.
“Nine inmates from Rubavu prison, Muhanga and Rwamagana have accepted to reveal where remains of Tutsi they killed in genocide are laid. One inmate from Rubavu prison will indicate remains of genocide victim in Rubavu , one Muhanga prison inmate will indicate two locations of remains in Gakenke district while seven inmates from Rwamagana prison will indicate where remains of 12 genocide victims are scattered in respective districts of Gatsibo, Kayonza, Ngoma and Rwamagana,”he said.
Sengabo urged inmates to keep confessing and reveal where more remains of genocide victims are scattered.
“They should be relieved and provide information because it won’t increase punishments,” he said.
{Commandants of Senior Command and Staff Colleges from the East African Community Partner States are meeting in Kigali from 18 to 20 April 2017. The three day meeting is aimed at reviewing the status of cooperation in training and progress made on academic capacity building of the military officers for Command and Staff Colleges utilisation.}
Presiding over the official opening ceremony of the meeting, the incoming chairperson, Lt Gen Andrew GUTTI, Commandant of the Kimaka Senior Command and Staff College of Uganda underlined the importance that EAC Partner States attach to the Forum.
“I thank the EAC Secretariat for organizing this meeting and EAC Partner States for sending their Delegates on time. This is a clear manifestation of the importance that the EAC Partner States attach to this meeting”, Gen Gutti said. He went on by expressing his gratitude to the Republic of Rwanda for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to the delegates.
On behalf of Rwanda Defence Force, Maj Gen Jean Bosco Kazura welcomed the Delegates to Rwanda and wished them a very pleasant stay. He also pointed out that harmonization and working together of the EAC Partner States Defence Forces will help in solving potential problems. “By the time everything will be harmonised, I think it will be better for all of us to move forward to peace and try to solve problems we may have in the region”.
The Representative of the EAC Secretary General to the meeting, Col James Barigye Ruhesi, Uganda Defence Liaison Officer at the EAC Secretariat, underscored that the EAC Command and Staff Colleges Commandants forum have achieved a lot in terms of syllabus harmonisation, which he said it is at seventy percent, and cooperation in training. “So far we have exchange programs of Directing Staff and Students among the EAC Partner States”, he noted.
The meeting was convened in accordance with Article 2 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs, and in line with the Defence Sector Calendar of Activities for the period January-June 2017.
During the ongoing bi-annual EAC Command and Staff Colleges Commandant meeting, Uganda has taken over the Chairmanship and Rwanda became the Rapporteur. For the last two years, the Republic of Tanzania was chairing the Forum.
{A truck of NPD COTRACO carrying murram in Nduba sector of Gasabo district has killed three students while the driver died on arrival at hospital.}
The executive secretary of Nduba sector,Providence Musasangohe has told IGIHE that the accident took place in Gasanze cell around 12:00 hours yesterday saying it may have been caused by brake failure.
“The truck that belongs to NPD COTRACO carrying soil is suspected to have experienced brake failure and hit three students to death,” she said.
“The truck driver was pronounced dead on arrival at Kabuye Health Center,” she added.
The truck also destroyed a house on the roadside but no one was inside.
Traffic police spokesperson,CIP Emmanuel has confirmed the accident but the cause has not yet been established.
Governments across Africa, private sector actors, donors and development partners have been urged to step up efforts to accelerate Africa’s path to prosperity, inclusive growth and decent jobs creation by moving from agricultural commitments to action.
The call was made at the official unveiling of Côte d’Ivoire as the host of this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), hailed as premier continental agriculture gathering, to be held on 4-8 September 2017.
The west African nation, a leading agricultural powerhouse and a hub of expertise in improving smallholder farming, will be the first francophone African country to host the annual Forum.
Chosen for its leadership in placing agriculture at the heart of its economic transformation, Côte d’Ivoire is among a few select African countries that have made the biggest investments in agriculture resulting in sizeable increases in both farm productivity and overall economic performance.
These countries provide a shining example of agriculture’s potential to turnaround the continent’s economic fortunes.
Under the leadership of His Excellence President Alassane Dramane Ouattara, the AGRF 2017 will focus on Accelerating Africa’s Path to Prosperity: Growing Economies and Jobs through African Agriculture.
MamadouSangafowaCoulibaly, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Côte d’Ivoire, emphasised his country’s commitment to continually improve the agricultural sector which is key to its economic development.
“Five years of significant investments through the National Agricultural Investment Plan have enabled the country to empower farmers and place them at the heart of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic transformation. The first phase of the NAIP contributed to a significant boost in our agricultural production, with more than 17 million tons of food crops in 2015 compared to 11,886 million? Tons in 2012. We are delighted to see that our efforts are being recognized internationally. We are confident that Phase 2 of the NIP, based on a more integrated approach that includes water resources management, health, electricity and education, will help to lift farmers out of poverty and further stimulate our economy. Côte d’Ivoire is committed to developing its agricultural economy, this needs to be consolidated. ”
Agriculture is the backbone of Côte d’Ivoire’s economy and its robust growth is driven by sustained investment in agriculture and smallholder farmers. The sector contributes 26 percent of GDP, 40 percent of all export revenue, close 75 percent of non-oil export revenue and employs close to 60 percent of the population. The 2016-2020 National Development Plan (PND) aimed at guiding the country into emerging nation status by 2020, considers agriculture as a key pillar and specifically calls for an increase in agricultural output.
Speaking at the launch event in Abidjan, Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said “Agriculture is now back at the top of Africa’s development agenda as an economic driver for inclusive and sustainable development. After Seizing the Moment at AGRF 2016 and securing political, policy, and financial commitments of more than $30 billion. As agriculture is the surest path to Africa’s prosperity, we now need to harness this surge of support for agriculture and ensure it creates decent jobs and drives economic growth across the continent.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by the President of the African Development Bank, AkinwumiAdesina. Highlighting the Bank’s prioritization of the agriculture sector against its $24 billion Feed Africa strategy, Adesina said “AGRF 2017 will bring together stakeholders in the African agricultural landscape to share lessons on countering the challenges being experienced in the agricultural sector across the African continent.
The forum, expected to host African Heads of State, ministers, farmer organizations, private agribusinesses, financial institutions, researchers, development partners, and implementing organizations, will provide a platform where delegates can discuss and advance policies, programmes, and scalable investments for the enhancement of agricultural transformation and food security. Through its Feed Africa Strategy, the African development Bank will raise its financing of agriculture to over USD24 billion in the next 10 years”
{Police in Huye District have arrested three people including a female nurse for allegedly conniving and throwing a new-born baby in a pit.}
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Andre Hakizimana identified the trio as Louise Uwamariya, Jean Baptiste Sindikubwabo and Claudine Mukankusi.
They were arrested on April 17 following investigations after retrieving the body of the baby, which has since been taken to the University Teaching Hospital Butare (CHUB) for postmortem.
Police said the mother of the baby connived with the Uwamariya, her relative to throw the baby in the latrine soon after birth.
CIP Hakizimana said that after carrying out the crime, the mother of the child was taken to hospital.
“She sought medical attention because of bleeding. While at Ngoma health center, doctors discovered that the cause of the bleeding was associated with child birth or abortion but could not see the baby,” explained CIP Hakizimana.
He said that the hospital management immediately contacted police.
“After investigations, it was revealed that the trio had conspired to throw the baby in the latrine where it was discovered.” he said.
It is alleged that the mother of the baby had travelled from Kigali, where she was residing, to Huye where she sought help with her accomplices.
“This is an inhuman and criminal act; this baby had a right to live, and as a nurse, she should have also stood by ethical standards and give some professional advice to the expecting mother on the best way to save both the baby and the mother,” he said.
The criminal action which is classified as infanticide under section one of article 143 of the panel code, sets a life imprisonment upon conviction.
{Rwanda National Police (RNP) has advised the public against keeping large sums of money in their house, which can influence house break-in and theft.}
The call comes in a wake of recent incident in Kigali where a househelp broke into his employer’s bedroom and stole Rwf1.4m and US$100 before fleeing.
Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, said that the, suspect Pierre Ngirababyeyi had made a copy of the key to his employer’s bedroom, thus gaining access.
Eddy Fernand Habimana had made copies of his (Habimana’s) bedroom, opened it and stole the money.
“On realizing that the money was stolen, the victim, Eddy Fernand Habimana reported to Police. Immediate investigations led to the suspect in Musambira of Kamonyi District where he was hiding, and brought him back to Kigali where he committed the offence, and currently held at Kacyiru Police Station,” said SP HItayezu.
“Of the stolen amount, the suspect had only spent Rwf84, 000, but the rest of the stolen money was recovered from him at the time of arrest, and two smartphones – Samsung S7.”
“We highly recommend that people resort to smart transaction and not keep or walk with such amounts as it makes them soft target for robbers… By keeping or moving with bulk of money, you are also exposing yourself but also fueling criminality,” said the spokesperson.
The money and the phones were handed back to the owner, Habimana.
Habimana hailed Rwanda National Police for the quick intervention and recovering his stolen monies and items.
“I am very thankful to RNP for the professionalism they exhibited. As soon as I informed them about the theft, they immediately started investigations that let to the recovery of my money and my phones and arrested the prime suspect ,” he said.
{Members of Community Policing Committees (CPCs) in Gasabo District have been urged to strengthen their role in curbing crimes by enhancing their cooperation with the Police to ensure maximum safety.}
The call was made by Inspector of Police (IP) Theogene Mugabo, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) for Gasabo while meeting with about 115 CPCs of Gisozi Sector, on April 15.
The meeting that was attended by local leaders and community night patrols.
It intended to enhance partnership between Police and stakeholders in implementing community policing initiatives.
IP Mugabo noted that drug abuse remains one of the challenges affecting security, which he said should be given special attention to break other crimes it fuels.
“We find most crimes are related to drug abuse, like domestic and gender based violence, assault and theft; so endeavor to work with the residents to identify drug dealers and abusers, and facilitate easy means to fight them,” IP Mugabo said.
He further urged them to involve the public on matters of security through neighborhood watch and vigilance to identify and prevent anything that can impede on the safety and security of the community.
He also urged them to lead by example and desist from anything that can tarnish the image of their activities.
Joseph Murangwa, speaking on behalf of the CPC’s hailed the collaboration with police mainly through giving them skills on maintaining security and arousing them about security consciousness.
He reiterated their commitment to ensuring security prevails in their localities.
