Josefa Sacko, the AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, said that out of the 828 million people listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as facing food insecurity in the world, a vast majority of them are in Africa, with East Africa having the largest population of those facing starvation and hunger.
“We are staring at food security problems because out of these 828 million, 278 million are mostly from Africa,” Sacko said at a briefing in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Thursday evening.
The AU is concerned that an additional 150 million people have joined the food insecurity bandwagon since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which indicates that the African continent is not on target to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on food security.
“Reducing food insecurity on the continent is quite important. We have 278 million people in Africa, a fifth of the population in Africa, who do not have access to nutritious foods,” Sacko said.
The food crisis in the East African region has been worsened by the Ukraine crisis which affected the delivery of fertilizers and grains to much of the Global South, especially Africa, Sacko observed.
She added that the conflict in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the prolonged drought cycle in Kenya have also undermined efforts to feed civilians.
In response to the food insecurity crisis in Africa, the AU has adopted progressive measures to boost crop yield while increasing investments in the agricultural sector, Sacko said.
Those measures, according to Sacko, are being implemented by AU member states and foreign partners, including China, which have provided financial support to enhance the implementation of ambitious strategies to boost food security in the continent.
At the RDF HQs, they were briefed on the Liberation Struggle and the RDF’s transformation journey since the end of the liberation struggle in 1994.
They were acquainted with Rwanda’s journey towards unity, reconciliation and development, and the role of the youth in sustaining this development.
Yannick Bandora, a member of the Youth of the diaspora who arrived in Rwanda for the first time said that he was committed to take part in the transformation of Rwanda moving forward.
According to Kennedy Bizimana, the youth coordinator in Belgium and the head of the youth delegation, this trip is organized to give a chance to the youth living abroad to learn about Rwanda’s liberation history, Rwandan culture, and the opportunities available to the youth in different sectors in the country.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that Kagame hosted Trovoada on 14th July 2023.
In 2017, São Tomé et Príncipe and Rwanda signed cooperation agreements in various sectors including tourism, security and air transport.
Trovoada comes to Rwanda, after a delegation from São Tomé and Príncipe led by the Minister of Justice, Internal Administration and Human Rights, Dr. Cilcio Bandeira dos Santos also held a visit to the country in May last year, during which they held talks with the management of Rwanda Forensic Laboratory.
At the time, Dr. Cilcio Bandeira dos Santos and his delegation visited Rwanda Forensic Laboratory on 23rd May 2022 where they were received by the Acting Director General, Dr. Justin Kabera who took the delegation through activities of the laboratory.
Following discussions between both parties, the visiting delegation toured different sections of the laboratory including forensic pathology and fingerprint analysis unit among others.
Speaking to IGIHE after touring the facilities, the Chief Cabinet of Minister of Justice, Internal Administration and Human Rights in São Tomé and Príncipe, Eloisa Cabinda revealed that they learnt a lot from Rwanda’s practices to be emulated at home.
“We came here to learn from Rwanda. There are different ways of using technology in the judiciary and we want to emulate it in our country. We will assess how to adopt it as we go back home,” she said.
Eloisa Cabinda disclosed that his country mulled sending a delegation of analysts from his country to learn from Rwanda’s practices or request Rwanda to send a team to São Tomé and Príncipe to train them at home.
“We want to emulate what we have witnessed here as we get back home. If needs be, we will send our staff here to learn before implementation,” she said.
Amb. Kimonyo, who will represent Rwanda to the country with residence in Beijing, conveyed warm greetings from President Paul Kagame to President Arif Alvi and expressed his commitment to enhancing diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Prior to the ceremony, Amb. Kimonyo engaged in crucial meetings with officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including investment.
During a meeting with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Amb. Kimonyo highlighted Rwanda’s business-friendly climate and urged Pakistani investors to consider Rwanda as an attractive investment destination.
He emphasized Rwanda’s strategic location, stable political climate, and progressive policies, which make it an ideal choice for Pakistani investors seeking high returns and long-term growth.
Assuring the ICC of the Rwandan Embassy’s support, Amb. Kimonyo expressed his readiness to assist investors in meeting their requirements. The ICC reciprocated the interest, expressing a desire to invest in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, building industry parks, mining, agro-processing, and direct trade of tea and coffee from Rwanda.
Rwanda and Pakistan have a longstanding diplomatic relationship dating back to July 1962, collaborating in various fields, including trade and investment.
The presentation of credentials by Amb. Kimonyo signifies the deepening of ties between the two nations and opens doors for enhanced economic cooperation.
With Rwanda’s growing reputation as an investment destination and Pakistan’s interest in exploring new avenues for investment, the stage is set for mutually beneficial partnerships between the two countries.
This competition, managed by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), seeks to address the common challenges faced by exporters and enhance Rwanda’s presence in the global market.
Established by the Government of Rwanda in 2015, the Export Growth Fund (EGF) has been instrumental in facilitating export activities by tackling obstacles such as limited access to finance, high production costs, and barriers to international markets. This competition is a testament to the continuous efforts to boost the competitiveness of local businesses and encourage their active participation in the global economy.
The competition is open to a wide range of participants, including exporters, export-focused investors, startups operating in pilot sectors with an export-oriented purpose, all sectors actively involved in export activities, new borrowers, and young entrepreneurs engaged in business lines that promote industrialization for exports and reduce imports.
The Export Growth Fund (EGF) offers several windows, each tailored to cater to the specific needs of participants. These windows provide unique benefits to support export-related initiatives and contribute to the growth of Rwanda’s export sector.
{{Facilities}}
{{The Investment Catalyst Facility }} is aimed at encouraging private sector investment in export-oriented production. Winners of this competition will receive a promotional interest subsidy of 10% and can access financing of up to Rwf1.5 billion.
{{The Matching Grant Facility}} aims to assist firms entering the export market by reducing costs associated with adjusting to standards and technical requirements in target markets. Eligible exporters participating in this competition can receive a grant of up to Rwf100 million, covering 100% of the total project costs.
{{The Credit Insurance Guarantee Facility}} provides transaction-related guarantees to commercial banks, securing export finance transactions up to 80% of their value. This facility supports exporters by offering credit guarantees for pre-shipment and post-shipment finance, covering 80% of the required working capital.
{{The Industrial Start-Up Facility}} encourages private sector investments in start-up projects that recapture domestic markets and promote export-related activities. Borrowers establishing new export-oriented businesses or those with direct import substitution effects can access loans with an interest subsidy of 6.5%. Winners of this facility will receive a promotional interest subsidy of 10% and can avail themselves of a maximum financing amount of Frw 1.5 billion per project.
Interested participants can submit their applications for the competition from July 17th to September 17th through the EGF website at https://egf.brd.rw/. Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria and application procedures can be found on the website of the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) at www.brd.rw.
In today’s fast-paced world, filled with demanding work schedules and endless responsibilities, it’s all too easy to neglect taking care of ourselves, only to be reminded that we too matter when we start feeling unwell or develop an illness.
However, this shouldn’t be the case. By adhering to the following health tips, you can go about your day to day routine healthy and wealthy.
{{1. Get adequate rest daily}}
People with the best health and longevity get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily. According to the The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), getting enough sleep comes with countless benefits with the main ones being; lowers risk for serious health problems like diabetes and heart diseases, reduces stress and improves one’s mood in addition to enabling one think clearly and perform better at school or work.
{{2. Regular physical activity}}
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Popular ways to be active include; walking, running, cycling, wheeling, and other forms of sports. WHO recommends that adults between the age of 18-64 years do at least; 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical intensity or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity activity throughout the week so as to prevent/manage non communicable such as; heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers.
{{3. Having a balanced diet}}
Like it is said, ’we are what we eat’, but, how do you tell what to eat and what not to? Especially with ‘misleading’ proverbs like; ‘what goes in is not bad, what comes out is’. Nevertheless, if you’re to have a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet is key. This means eating meals that contain all food values. Things like; fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Without a balanced diet, one’s body is prone to; disease, infection, fatigue, and poor performance.
{{4. Staying hydrated}}
The phrase ‘water is life’ is known to many of us. How we interpret it is what may change. Other factors constant, it is highly recommended that one drinks plenty of water as it is essential for their health. The U.S National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine indicates that an adequate daily fluid intake is; 3.7 liters of fluids a day for men and 2.7 liters for women.
{{5. Say no to smoking and alcohol}}
Much as alcohol and smoking can be considered fun and relaxing for some people, their consumption is dangerous to one’s health. As per report by Dr. Godwin Meredith, MD, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP), whether smoked or chewed, tobacco is harmful to one’s health. This is so because it contains unsafe substances like; acetone, tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide which when inhaled, affect one’s lungs and organs. Alcohol on the other hand if consumed excessively can cause high blood pressure, liver and heart disease, and digestive problems.
{{6. Manage your stress}}
WHO defines stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Given our daily struggles, it is inevitable to not stress. However, how we respond to stress is crucial as failure to manage stress affects both one’s mental and physical health.
{{7. Limit screen time}}
A report by Jai Medical Institute published in 2023, indicates that, “too much screen time can impact everything from one’s mood to their sleeping habits. These effects extend to the whole body affecting not only their eyes, but also; the brain, posture, sleep quality, and increases risks of obesity.
{{8. Keeping in shape}}
Life can be funny sometimes, you gain some weight then you ask to lose it, you lose it and then you wish you can gain just a little extra. Never though, do we wish to be out of shape. The desire is to always have a ‘perfect’ size. Keeping in shape has a positive impact on one’s lifestyle as it comes with a lot of ease when going about daily activities, not to mention the confidence one gets when their clothes fit comfortably. The first six tips, if followed regularly can help you achieve this.
{{9. Spend quality time with friends and family}}
If there’s anything the pandemic taught us, it’s the value of being around our dear ones. There’s so much that’s added onto someone if they spend time with people they love. From learning to sharing and being cared for all which boost our mental and physical health.
{{10. Maintain a clean and healthy environment}}
A clean place is a safe place- safe from diseases and infections. There’s no way one can have a healthy lifestyle when their surroundings are cluttered with all kinds of ‘rubbish’. Furthermore, A healthy environment goes beyond what surrounds us (houses, trees, animals, etc.).
It also encompasses one’s mind and the people they spend their longest time with.
Like American writer Byron Katie says, “ if you want to clean up your environment, start with your mind- it starts there.”
The development comes after the UK Court of Appeal declared the deal to deport migrants and asylum seekers to Rwanda as illegal and labeled Rwanda as an unsafe country.
The Independent, a UK-based media outlet, has reported that Home Secretary Braverman said she “respectfully disagrees” with the judgment and the government intends to present “robust arguments” in defense of the Migration and Economic Development Policy.
Braverman has also defended the “robust assurances” provided by the Rwandan government, assuring that asylum seekers from the UK would be offered a safe and fair process.
“I absolutely believe this policy is lawful, and both the High Court and Court of Appeal have unanimously stated that relocating asylum seekers to a safe third country can be done in line with the Refugee Convention,” she added.
At the end of June 2023, the Court of Appeal issued a ruling against the policy, prompting UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to affirm continued support for the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Sunak rejected the notion that the plan is a “gamble” and instead asserted that the government will vigorously challenge the court’s decision.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling contradicted a previous decision by the High Court in December 2022, which had deemed the deportation plan lawful and in accordance with the refugee convention.
The plan, known as the “Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” was established in April 2022 to facilitate the transfer of migrants and asylum seekers illegally present in the UK to Rwanda.
The implementation of the plan faced delays when organizations advocating for migrants’ rights filed a complaint, leading to the Court of Appeal reviewing the case and subsequently ruling against the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Despite the court’s decision, Sunak and Braverman have consistently defended the deportation plan, highlighting Rwanda’s successful management of the refugee and migrant crisis.
The officers of the 12th intake, who were given the rank of ‘Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP)’ include serving police officers, graduates from National Police College, newly recruited civilians as well as those from Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) and National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
The colorful pass-out and commissioning ceremony was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Felix Namuhoranye, Governor Eastern Province, Emmanuel K. Gasana, RIB Secretary General, Col (rtd) Jeannot Ruhunga, RCS Commissioner General, Evariste Murenzi and the Deputy IGP in charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza as well as the joyful parents and family members of the new officers.
Minister Gasana congratulated the officers for their resilience and hard work throughout the course.
He further thanked parents and families of the commissioned officers for encouraging their children to serve and protect their country.
“The world today is threatened by various challenges including war, disasters, economic crisis, climate change, epidemic diseases, terrorism, cross-border crime and other things that undermine the freedoms of the people.
Despite all these threats, we all need to live in freedom, free from insecurity and the risks associated with it. This cannot be achieved without everyone’s cooperation, understanding that it is up to us all to work together and fight for a better life,” Minister Gasana said.
Peace and keeping everyone safe, he said, starts from individual and collective actions. “In this context, the Police has the responsibility to do everything possible so that peace and security exist, and this goes with continuously building a knowledge-based force through training and education so as to guarantee peace and freedom to Rwandans using the available resources.”
He pointed out that to achieve sustainable peace and security, there is a need for the police to prevent crime, enforce the law and provide solutions to the problems faced by Rwandans, which goes with having the required knowledge, understanding and good performance both in Rwanda and in other countries where they are deployed.
He reminded the new Police officers that they have acquired all the skills and knowledge to successfully complete tasks that will be assigned to them to prevent crimes and facilitate development.
The Minister pledged the government’s continued support to build the necessary capacity of the police, through various training programmes, and to provide adequate and modern policing equipment.
The PTS commandant, Commissioner of Police (CP) Robert Niyonshuti said that during the 16-month Cadet Course, officers were taken through physical, mental, moral, and academic programmes.
These include military science, use of force and firearms, public order management, road safety, criminal investigations, staff work and internal security operations.
“The aim of the course was to develop character, resilience, professionalism, leadership, and responsibility for community safety and development,” CP Niyonshuti said.
Amb. Busingye’s response comes after Margaret Owen, founder and director of Widows for Peace Through Democracy, wrote a letter arguing that Rwanda was not safe for asylum seekers.
Owen’s letter followed the verdict of the UK Court of Appeal on 29th June, which ruled that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was “unlawful” and described the country as unsafe.
In a letter published in The Guardian, Amb. Busingye stated that Owen’s claim that Rwanda is not safe for refugees “is yet another example of an archaic view of Africa as a land of darkness and danger.”
He invited her to visit Rwanda and witness firsthand the modern, hopeful, and progressive nation that is being built.
“Our treatment of refugees has been recognised as exemplary by the UNHCR and others. We were commended for stepping in to evacuate refugees from detention centres in Libya, for welcoming Afghan girls wanting to pursue their education, and for hosting 140,000 refugees in our country,” he stated.
Amb. Busingye also reminded Owen that Rwanda ranks third in Africa for economic freedom and first globally for the percentage of women in parliament (61.3%), with this representation extending throughout society.
“Life expectancy has gone from 49 in 2000 to 70 today, and we are approaching universal access to healthcare and education. By any metric, Rwanda is a safe country,” he added.
Commenting on Owen’s claim that Rwanda invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which resulted in killings, displacements, and sexual violence, Amb. Busingye explained, “The crisis unfolding in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo is an internal affair. Rwanda does what’s necessary to ensure the crisis does not impact the safety of its citizens or anyone we welcome on our territory.”
“The DRC government and armed forces, far from providing security for their citizens, have instead formed heinous alliances with genocidal militias such as the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda [FDLR], one of more than 130 active illegal armed groups in eastern DRC,” added Amb. Busingye.
FDLR is made up of former perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Amb. Busingye further explained that Owen’s commentary inexplicably seeks to minimize the threat of FDLR’s extremist ideology and the ethnic cleansing of Congolese Tutsi communities. “Rwanda will continue to do what it takes to maintain our safety, security, and socioeconomic development,” he affirmed.
The plan, known as the “Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” was established in April 2022 to facilitate the transfer of migrants and asylum seekers who are illegally present in the UK to Rwanda.
The initial timeline for the first migrants to arrive in Rwanda was set for July 2022, but this was delayed due to a complaint filed by organizations advocating for migrants’ rights. The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and made the recent ruling.
The court’s decision contradicts the position of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who have consistently defended the deportation plan, highlighting Rwanda’s successful management of refugee and migrant crises.
It is worth noting that the UK has been granted permission to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
