The African Union Special Representative for Somalia, Mohamed El-Amine Souef, confirmed that four military officers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one from Bahrain, were shot dead at the General Gordon Military Base, operated by the UAE.
“On behalf of ATMIS, I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on the military trainers and Somali soldiers at the Base, who were working towards advancing Somalia’s security efforts,” Souef said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The incident in Mogadishu happened after a Somali army recruit discharged his gun targeting the soldiers inside the military facility.
The UAE soldiers were on a training mission of the Somali National Army as part of the bilateral agreement between the UAE and Somalia.
“ATMIS remains deeply committed to working with the people, the Federal Government of Somalia, and international partners in the fight against terrorism,” the AU mission said.
Souef extended his condolences to the government of the UAE, and to the families, relatives, and friends who lost their loved ones, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Al-Shabab, which has been fighting the government for more than two decades, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters killed many people involved in the Emirati military training mission in Somalia.
During a one-on-one conversation with CNN’s News Anchor Eleni Giokos at the 11th World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE, Kagame emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes behind these incidents.
According to Kagame, the persistence of coups is linked to leadership that fails to serve the interests of the people and ensure prosperity. He identified bad governance as a contributing factor, highlighting instances where leaders neglect their responsibilities.
The summit, attended by leaders, experts, and senior officials from over 150 countries, aimed to address global trends and shifts, fostering collaboration at both regional and global levels.
Reflecting on the world’s failure to learn from tragic histories, Kagame noted that there is no new call to influence different global operations. Drawing attention to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, he underscored the lack of international mobilization to prevent or stop the tragedy. Kagame questioned the responsibility of countries, regions, and international institutions in ensuring the capacity to prevent such catastrophic events.
Despite ongoing conflicts globally, Kagame observed that certain individuals with resources and power often refrain from taking action, signaling a lack of progress in learning from past mistakes.
When asked about his call to the world regarding ongoing conflicts, Kagame expressed uncertainty about influencing global operations. However, he emphasized the crucial lesson learned – the need for countries to build their capacities, as they may find themselves alone even when deserving of support in challenging circumstances.
In a proactive move toward affordability, the government now covers 30% of transport fares for individuals. This approach ensures that travel expenses remain reasonable and accessible to the general public. For instance, a trip from Kigali to Musanze, originally costing Rwf3000, now only requires passengers to pay Rwf2000, with the government covering the remaining Rwf1000.
Speaking to RBA, Dr. Gasore emphasized that despite the seemingly modest amounts, the cumulative impact on the country is significant. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, over Rwf87.5 billion has been invested in supporting public transport.
Furthermore, the government has allocated an additional Rwf6 billion to aid public transport users, while actively seeking ways to reevaluate and enhance assistance. Acquiring buses at a reduced cost of Rwf120 million, compared to the initial Rwf150 million, aims to alleviate the financial strain on Rwandans.
As part of ongoing reforms, the government is moving towards destination-based pricing instead of charging for the entire trip. Between March and August 2023, a subsidy of Rwf21.8 billion benefited over 63 million passengers, involving 12,559 buses. During this period, 223,120,808 liters of petroleum products were utilized in Rwanda, comprising 136,947,053 liters of diesel and 86,173,755 liters of petrol.
President Andrzej Sebastian Duda embarked on a three-day working visit to Rwanda, spanning from February 6 to February 8, 2024.
During this visit, the two nations inked agreements across various sectors, including trade and economic cooperation, environmental protection, geology, and energy.
These new agreements complement the existing ones in the field of education, which have already begun yielding positive results. Presently, over 1500 Rwandan students are pursuing their studies in Polish universities.
Dr. Francis Habumugisha, CEO of MEGA Global Link, the agency facilitating opportunities for people to work in Europe, expressed optimism about the impact of President Duda’s visit on the endeavor to bring individuals to work in Poland.
He stated, “For us, it is a great blessing as Mega Global Link. We have been operational in Poland for some time, especially in our services of sending people to work there. Among others, we sent students for studies, individuals in need of medical care, and those exploring the country in general.”
Dr. Habumugisha emphasized that the President of Poland’s visit instills confidence that the Polish Embassy will soon open in Rwanda, eliminating the need for individuals assisted by the agency to travel to Tanzania for visa interviews.
He highlighted, “We have signed an agreement with a major Polish company, collaborating with various private and public entities to facilitate employment opportunities. Those we have sent there, equipped with work contracts and visas, are provided accommodation, access to medical services, and comprehensive support, excluding their sustenance, with competitive salaries.”
The agency aids individuals in securing employment in countries such as Romania, Lithuania, and Hungary, where employees enjoy full rights in their designated work.
Dr. Habumugisha outlined the unique advantage of obtaining a visa for Poland, which extends to other Schengen countries like France, Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. This flexibility enables individuals to work during designated hours while also pursuing studies or traveling within the Schengen region.
Highlighting the ease of obtaining study documents for European countries, Dr. Habumugisha mentioned that the agency provides support for students, including assistance in reaching the school and necessary visits.
Expanding their services globally, Dr. Habumugisha revealed that the agency now aids individuals in traveling to Central America, offering assistance in obtaining visas, finding accommodation, and securing plane tickets at affordable rates. Similar services are extended to those desiring to travel to Australia.
He remarked, “There are instances they inquire about other countries visited while applying for a US or Canadian visa. Having traveled to Central America makes obtaining visas for the USA, Canada, and elsewhere much easier.”
Currently spanning 121 hectares, encompassing 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest with more than 62 indigenous plant species, the [eco-tourism park->https://rentacarrwanda.com/] has also seen nearly 200 bird species that had migrated due to wetland degradation returned to the park after its rehabilitation. The park receives close to 6,000 visitors every month.
Speaking to the media recently; Faustin Munyazikwiye, the Deputy Director General of REMA, said that the expansion will usher in a host of new facilities to enhance the park’s offerings noting that “additions will include kiosks, boardwalks, playgrounds, artificial lakes, and more, catering to the evolving desires of visitors.”
“The demands of our visitors for enhanced amenities have been duly noted and will be incorporated as part of the park’s expansion,” Munyazikwiye explained.
Marie-Solange Muhirwa, the City of Kigali’s chief urban planner has told The New Times that the expansion would affect close to 74 plots and due to budget constraints “we are expropriating in phases with the first phase consisting of 14 plots.”
The government is poised to replicate this success by rehabilitating five additional wetlands across Kigali, with a budget of more than Rwf100 billion for the endeavour.
The identified wetlands earmarked for restoration include Rwampara (65ha), Gikondo (162ha), Rugenge-Rwuntare (65ha), Kibumba (68ha), and Nyabugogo (131ha). These wetlands derive their names from the streams and rivers flowing through Kigali city across Gasabo, Nyarugenge, and Kicukiro districts.
According to REMA, the initial phase of wetlands rehabilitation is estimated to span 18 months, with one of the key interventions being the reintroduction of native tree species.
The decision to rehabilitate these five wetlands follows the successful completion of the Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park. The repurposed wetlands are envisioned to serve as recreational hubs akin to the Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park which looks to attract more visitors.
Ronald Kayitare, the Manager of Active Vacations, a tour operator, says more eco-tourism parks means increased business for all stakeholders, propelling tourist activities, especially domestic tourism.
“The investment that the government has put in including rehabilitation of swamps among others, we will see many tourists come into the country along with increased appetite for domestic tourism, the sector’s future is bright,” Ronald Kayitare, the Manager at [Active Vacations->https://www.rwandagorillatrek.com/] said.
The establishment of Nyandungu Ecotourism Park has already generated over 4,000 green jobs and attracts approximately 6,000 visitors monthly.
To have the tourism sector fully recover from the effects of Covid-19, several initiatives have been rolled out by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). These include the reduction of the cost of gorilla trekking permits. The permit fees for gorilla trekking are now reduced from $1500 to $500 for foreign residents.
Gorilla Trekking permits in [Volcanoes National Park->https://www.volcanoesnationalpark.com/] for Africans outside the East African Community will now cost $500 while gorilla trekking permits for East Africans will cost $200 per person. This is expected to boost Rwanda’s tourism sector and make gorilla trekking more accessible to a wider range of tourists.
According to data by RDB the tourism sector generated US$247 million or Rwf290 billion in revenue during the first half of 2023, reflecting a notable 56% surge compared to the US$158 million reported during the same period in 2022.
The services sector, mainly tourism and hospitality, played a significant role, contributing 46% to the GDP, followed by the agriculture sector at 25%, the industry sector at 21%, and net direct taxes accounting for 7%.
He made this disclosure on Monday, 12th February 2023, while attending a session organized on the first day of The World Governments Summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The conversation was moderated by CNN’s News Anchor and Correspondent, Eleni Giokos.
During the session, President Kagame was asked to share his stance on winning elections slated for 15th July 2024, considering he had already announced his candidacy.
In response, Kagame emphasized that the choice of who should lead the country is in the hands of Rwandans, based on their experiences.
“Elections are for people to decide whether the people they are electing are qualified for the job, we will see. Voters’ part counts, history counts, and the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” he said.
The upcoming presidential polls in Rwanda will be merged with parliamentary elections to streamline related budgets. This will mark Rwanda’s fourth presidential election since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Campaigns for candidates in both parliamentary and presidential polls are set to commence on Saturday, 22nd June 2024, concluding on 13th July 2024. The previous presidential elections took place on 3rd and 4th August 2017, while the latest polls for deputies were held on 2nd and 3rd September 2023.
According to Elgeyo Marakwet Police Commander Peter Mulinge, the incident, which occurred around 11 p.m. at Kpatagat area, involved Kiptum, 23, driving a Toyota Premio with two passengers, including his coach and a woman named Sharon Kosgey, en route to Eldoret.
Sharon sustained serious injuries and was taken to Racecourse Hospital, while the bodies of Kiptum and Hakizimana were transported to the Racecourse hospital mortuary. The vehicle, extensively damaged, was towed to Kaptagat Police Station.
The accident was described as a self-involved incident, with Kiptum losing control of the vehicle.
The car veered off the road, collided with a large tree, and landed in a ditch approximately 60 meters away.
Kiptum, who had recently achieved a marathon record in Chicago, was on track to participate in the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14 and had secured a place in the Kenyan provisional team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The remark came during the 20th African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition and the First African Coffee Week that took place from Feb. 6 to 10 in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with the aim of advocating the export of value-added coffee from Africa.
The event has brought together more than 800 regional and international coffee roasters, traders, producers, buyers and professionals to discuss policies, sustainability, access to finance and international market regarding coffee industry.
Amir Hamza, chairperson of the AFCA, said coffee exporting African countries need to concentrate on value addition and apply better marketing strategies to boost their earnings from the coffee export.
“The biggest problem Africa is facing is poor marketing approaches and export of unprocessed coffee, something the AFCA is trying to solve. Africa has the best coffees, but they are not marketed as they should be,” Hamza told Xinhua in an interview.
He encouraged African coffee exporting companies to intensify trade promotions, broaden markets while concentrating on quality raising and processing to meet the demands of importing markets and to establish brands for sustainable exports.
“After the green beans are exported from Africa, they will be blended and roasted by companies outside the continent, particularly by those companies in Europe and the United States and then they will be sold in the Middle and Far East as coffee products from other origins,” he said.
According to data obtained from AFCA, coffee exports from Africa were valued at over 3.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Ethiopia was the leading exporter, earning around 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Uganda with an export value of nearly 813 million U.S. dollar during the same year.
The chairperson urged the coffee industry in Africa to shift its focus to improving product quality and aligning with market taste trends, especially in the major coffee consumption markets, which account for around half of global coffee imports, including the EU and the U.S.
Hamza said the expanding inter-Africa trade would give one of the best opportunities for African coffee producing countries to fetch better income from their coffee exports in the coming years.
According to AFCA, non-coffee producing African countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Algeria and Morocco as well as Nigeria and South Africa will be the most important destinations for the coffee market in Africa.
Speaking about forthcoming European Union’s Deforestation Regulations (EUDR), a move that threatens a significant portion of coffee exports to the economic bloc, Hamza said Africa imports more volume of coffee than it exports and he believes that the regulation would little affect Africa’s coffee export.
AFCA’s Executive Director Gilbert Gatali told Xinhua that the majority of coffee growers in Africa are not getting the right price for their products due to poor marketing strategies and agricultural practices.
“Coffee growers in Africa lack the necessary knowledge and technology to produce high quality coffee,” said the executive director, encouraging traders in the continent to collaborate and establish production chains, making it more feasible to adopt modern technology and promote the shift from raw to processed coffee export.
He further said Africa’s coffee production and export have been influenced by rising inflation, geopolitical impacts and increasing fertilizer costs, urging coffee exporting companies to closely monitor the market for suitable business and production strategies.
Gatali urged coffee buyers and governments to support farmers in increasing their knowledge and skills of coffee agronomical practices besides helping them get the right prices for their products at the international market.
“Climate change, access to inputs, intermediaries which negatively affect the final income of coffee growers, low volume yields and access to market remain to be challenges for coffee producing countries in Africa,” he added.
The blast occurred in Nkambe, a town in the region, as school children were taking part in activities to mark National Youth Day, which has been celebrated in the country on Feb. 11 since 1966.
Many of those affected were school children.
Health workers were “working very hard” to treat many of the children who sustained “very serious” injuries, a security source in the region told Xinhua.
“The death toll could increase. It is a disturbing situation but our brave soldiers have beefed up security to track down the terrorists who committed this abominable act,” the source said.
Authorities were yet to make an official statement.
Separatists had imposed a three-day lockdown to disrupt the activities in the regions where they have been clashing with government forces since 2017 in a bid to create an independent nation they call “Ambazonia.”
The call for march has been given by farmer unions to increase pressure on the federal government to meet their demands including the enactment of a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Approximately 200 farmer organizations are part of the protest plan.
Authorities have announced prohibitory orders under Section 144 (a government order). The order prohibits gathering of more than four people in public places.
