AFSA was launched in Kigali on Tuesday 7th March 2023 at the official opening of the African Society of Forensic Medicine (ASFM) International Conference which brought together researchers and experts in the area of forensic services.
The academy was officially launched by the Minister of Justice and State Attorney General, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja and the Head of AFSA during the ASFM International Conference held in Kigali.
The academy will serve as a professional representative body for forensic science practitioners in Africa.
It is expected to build the capacity of African countries in forensic services.
AFSA activities will be rolled out either in online or in-person format overtime. It envisages training programmes in various formats, development of best-practice guidelines, webinars, workshops and much more.
Minister Ugirashebuja said that the launch of the academy in Rwanda as the host country of the conference is a result of RFL’s achievements.
Since it was launched five years ago, RFL has greatly contributed to justice delivery with forensic evidence services.
Dr. Ugirashebuja emphasized that forensic evidence services are crucial in enhancing quality justice.
The Head of ASFM, Dr Uwom Okereke Eze explained that the academy was opened in Rwanda because of achieved milestone in forensic services.
He underscored that the academy will set pace for transformations with impact on the entire African continent.
Rwanda Forensic Laboratory offers services including forensic toxicology, drug and chemistry, and documents examination and fingerprint analysis, DNA forensics, ballistics, forensic pathology and digital forensics.
As at November last year, RFL was offering services to more than 20 African countries since it was established in 2018.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of RFL, Dr. Charles Karangwa said that AFSA will play an important role not only for Rwanda but also for the African continent as it will promote research and foster cooperation in forensic evidences.
The President of Supreme Court, Dr. Faustin Ntezilyayo said that Rwanda will continue working closely with players in the sector to deliver justice to citizens.
He emphasized that Rwanda is pleased to host the academy and expects continued collaboration to provide needed contribution to the delivery of quality justice in Africa.
Dr. Ntezilyayo also reiterated the Government of Rwanda’s commitment to develop the AFSA to become more meaningful to different countries.
The academy will also intervene in conducting DNA tests, investigate disputed death circumstances, and deploy latest technology in forensic services among others.
Dr. Nteziryayo delivered the message on 7th March 2023 as he officially officiated the opening of African Society of Forensic Medicine (ASFS) International Conference.
The conference was hosted by Rwanda through RFL. After enacting the law establishing RFL in 2016, the institution started offering convenient services to the judiciary, members of the private sector and citizens in 2018.
It became an autonomous body in the same year and is currently run under the aegis of the Ministry of Justice.
The RFL has modern equipment as well as experts and specialists capacitating it to conduct forensic investigations used to boost justice delivery.
Today, RFL provides 12 services including forensic toxicology, drug and chemistry, and documents examination and fingerprint analysis, DNA forensics, ballistics, forensic pathology and digital forensics.
As at November last year, RFL was offered services to more than 20 African countries.
The Director General of RFL, Dr. Charles Karangwa said that the conference provided a platform for participants to share knowledge and expertise in forensic services.
“This conference is seen as a catalyst for expansion or our activities. We want to harmonize approaches to fight crimes in Africa and technology using available resources on our continent,” he said.
“Technology used in Forensic science evolves every day like crimes get gradually sophisticated. That is why this conference serves as a platform to learn from the latest technologies lest we are left behind,” added Dr. Karangwa.
In his remarks to participants of ASFM2023, Dr. Ntezilyayo said that hosting the 10th edition of the conference is of great significance and commended the management of ASFM for having selected Rwanda.
“ASFM International Conference is a good initiative that brings together hundreds of scientists, forensic practitioners and other players from the forensic science community to exchange knowledge in the fast-increasing number of forensic science disciplines,” he said.
Dr. Ntezilyayo further stated that RFL continues to contribute to the delivery of quality and timely justice.
“Having a Forensic Institution that supports the justice system with evidence based on science and technology for use in our courts of law and other justice bodies is a great achievement to the country,” he noted.
“Besides providing relevant scientific evidence, Rwanda Forensic Laboratory services contribute towards reducing the turnaround time of judicial proceedings. It is worth noting that RFL has now concluded strategic forensic partnerships with international bodies and organizations and other sister institutions in order to enhance its expertise,” added Dr. Ntezilyayo.
He highlighted that RFL has been providing services not only in Rwanda but also to regional countries.
Today, RFL has so far released over 35,000 forensic evidences since 2018.
The President of ASFM, Dr. Uwom Okereke Eze said that forensic evidence services are much needed but stressed the need to harmonize them with other evidences to deliver quality justice.
“The evidences are important. How do we know they are valid evidences? I have just met you, I shake hands with you and I die. Then Police arrest you and conduct DNA test. Does it make you my murderer?” he wondered.
“We need to look at forensic evidences in a broader perspective to conduct investigation critically taking into consideration the reality of situations,” added Dr. Uwom.
He also said that governments should cater for the cost of forensic evidence services needed in justice delivery.
The African Forensic Science Academy which will be based in Rwanda was opened during the ASFM International Conference.
The Head of State delivered the message via Twitter handle on 8th March 2023.
The International Women’s Day is a global day observed on 8th March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also making a call to action for strengthening gender equality and accelerating women’s empowerment.
President Kagame took advantage of the day to send best wishes to women in Rwanda and across the world.
“Salute to all women in Rwanda and Globally on this important day. We are with you in this Gender equality struggle in its real sense!!” he tweeted.
Figures from the latest Population and Housing Census in 2022 indicated that Rwanda registered 13,246,394 population of whom 48.5% are men while 51.5% are women.
Rwanda is globally reputed for efforts to promote gender equality and women empowerment.
The country has instituted policies aimed driving women’s inclusion in the areas of education, economy and leadership among others.
Rwanda’s Constitution of 2003 revised in 2015 provides for the minimum 30% quota for women in all decision-making organs.
Promoting gender equality was among Rwanda’s priorities following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Today, women have representation at different leadership levels and have ushered their way into prosperity in the private sector.
In 2008, Rwanda’s Lower Chamber of Parliament became the first globally with the highest proportion of women representation at 61.25% today, a way above the current global average of 26.4%.
Rwanda has maintained the leading position in Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Ranking of Women in Parliament for the past ten years.
Among others, women account for 50% in the cabinet. The law also provides for 30% women representation among local leaders.
Not far from the main venue of the sessions, the Great Hall of the People, a popular exhibition is being staged at the National Museum of China to showcase the progress of the country’s manned space program over 30 years, precisely illustrating how China has accomplished in sci-tech self-reliance as well as benefits it has brought to the world.
{{Self-reliant but open}}
According to a government work report submitted Sunday for the national legislators to deliberate, breakthroughs have been made in core technologies in key fields, and a series of innovations have emerged in areas such as manned spaceflight, lunar and Martian exploration, deep-sea and deep-earth probes, supercomputers, satellite navigation, quantum information, nuclear power technology, airliner manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
In late 2022, China’s space station Tiangong entered the new phase of application and development. It now features a basic three-module configuration consisting of the core module named Tianhe, and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian.
The construction of the space station benefits from China’s system of pooling national resources and strengths. Hundreds of thousands of scientific researchers have participated in the program, inspired by the spirit of self-reliance and independent innovation. The self-development rate of key components of the space station reached 100 percent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed on many occasions the importance of self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology.
Speeding up efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology is the path China must take to advance high-quality development, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, while attending a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu Province on Sunday at the ongoing first session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s national legislature.
To open up new areas and new arenas in development and foster new growth drivers and new strengths in face of fierce international competition, China should ultimately rely on scientific and technological innovation, he said.
Building self-reliance and strength in science and technology is key to building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects within the set time frame, Xi added.
The nation’s achievements in space exploration, with the space station construction as an outstanding example, reflect the strength of innovation in China, said Wang Xiaojun, head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.
Sci-tech empowerment is a prominent symbol of China’s high-quality development, while sci-tech innovation has become an important driving force for Chinese modernization, Wang added.
The country moved up to the 11th place in the 2022 Global Innovation Index and firmly remains the only middle-income economy in the top 30, according to the latest ranking published by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
China’s spending on research and development totaled 3.087 trillion yuan (about 445 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, an increase of 10.4 percent over the previous year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Not only does the perseverance with self-reliance advance the sci-tech development of China, but it also creates more opportunities for global cooperation.
In its manned space program, China has signed agreements and carried out cooperation projects with France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Pakistan, and many space agencies and organizations. Its Tiangong space station is the first of its kind open to all UN member states.
In a cooperation program with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, projects from 17 countries have been included in the first batch of Tiangong’s experiments in aerospace medicine, life sciences and biotechnology, microgravity physics and combustion science, astronomy and other emerging technologies.
China is fully aware that independent innovation should never exclude international cooperation.
{{The global chain}}
Self-reliance in science and technology has helped Chinese high-tech enterprises to forge their core competitiveness, and enabled them to become an essential part in the global innovative industrial chain.
Located in Ningde, east China’s Fujian Province, battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is now operating at full capacity, with its blue battery cells to be shipped to automakers worldwide, including BMW, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Founded in 2011, CATL has ranked first in the world in terms of the usage of its power battery system for six consecutive years, and also in the shipment of its energy storage battery for two consecutive years.
To get more deeply involved in global industrial cooperation, CATL has built power battery production plants in Thuringia of Germany and Debrecen of Hungary. In February, it confirmed that it would work with Ford Motor Company on the latter’s lithium iron phosphate battery plant in the U.S. state of Michigan, providing technology and service support to the new plant.
In 2022, China’s foreign trade withstood the impact of multiple unexpected factors, with exports of EVs, photovoltaic (PV) products and lithium batteries growing by 131.8 percent, 67.8 percent and 86.7 percent, respectively.
According to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, China’s global market share of PV polysilicon, lithium battery cells and modules exceeded 70 percent in 2021.
“China today is the biggest driver of clean energy technologies,” Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Agency, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.
Zou Ming, an NPC deputy and a senior engineer with the Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute, said that enterprises should give full play to the major role of innovation and transform sci-tech innovation into the biggest driving force on the Chinese path to modernization.
{{Benefits for all}}
While adhering to independent innovation, China has been actively promoting sci-tech sharing and exchanges, aiming to benefit all mankind.
The contribution of scientific and technological progress to the country’s economic growth has exceeded 60 percent, said the government work report.
In February, a group of guests from Mexico came to Fujian Province to study the technology of “Juncao,” an economical and environmentally friendly substitute for timber as a substrate for growing mushrooms.
Discovered by Chinese scientists, Juncao is famed as “magic grass,” as it is particularly suitable for developing countries to improve their agriculture and reduce poverty.
It is becoming a new sustainable industry in countries and regions along the Belt and Road and has been introduced to 106 countries, creating hundreds of thousands of job opportunities and helping to alleviate poverty.
At a UN meeting in 2019, former President of the General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces described Juncao as “emblematic of China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” which, according to the World Bank’s estimates, could contribute to lifting 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty.
China has also hosted a large number of international students learning about the Juncao technology. So far, the country has held 310 international training sessions on the technology, both at home and abroad, training more than 10,000 people.
When chairing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee last month, Xi noted that efforts should be made to enhance openness, trust and cooperation in the international sci-tech community to make new and greater contributions to the progress of human civilization.
China has established sci-tech cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions, and signed 116 inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation.
In 2022, China signed or renewed 25 international sci-tech cooperation documents, and carried out fruitful cooperation with many countries in multiple fields, including COVID-19 control, biodiversity, climate change and clean energy.
The country’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope has been available for scientists worldwide since April 1, 2021. Meanwhile, products, technologies and services related to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System have been applied in more than half of all countries around the world.
After the recent devastating earthquake hit Türkiye, China quickly deployed several satellites to help analyze the disaster situation and allocate relief resources.
Sci-tech progress will make China better prepared for international sci-tech cooperation, and the country will continue to contribute to global sci-tech development for the benefit of humanity.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said that the trafficker was intercepted at about 9a.m. following information that he was trafficking and supplying the outlawed polythene bags.
“He was arrested in Birambo cell will 111 cartons (22,200 pieces) of polythene bags. He was working with other dealers in Rubavu District, who were supplying him before selling them to his clients in Ruhango and other districts. Available information indicates that he has been selling plastic bags for over five months now,” CIP Rukundo said.
Manufacturing, use, importation or sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items are prohibited under article 3 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use, and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items in Rwanda.
In article 10, any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300,000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
He succumbed to natural at a hospital in Belgium where he was receiving treatment.
RDF has through a statement mourned his death and extended condolences to the bereaved family.
“The Rwanda Defence Force is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Gen (Rtd) Marcel Gatsinzi,” reads the statement in part.
“The Rwanda Defence Force extends its condolences and joins the family in grief during this sad moment. May his soul rest in peace,” adds the statement.
Gen Marcel Gatsinzi served in various leadership roles for the army and the country including serving as Rwanda’s Minister of Defence from 2002 to 2010, and as the Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugee Affairs from 2010 to 2013.
Following his death, a source told IGIHE ‘that Gatsinzi was not critically ill’ but felt unhealthy and went to a hospital where he died shortly after arrival as doctors prepared to attend to him.
He has been living in Rwanda but traveled to Belgium for medical attention.
People who lived with him attest that he was a patriotic and honest man.
Gen Marcel Gatsinzi was born in Muhima, Nyarugenge District in 1948.
He attended Primary School at Sainte Famille and pursued secondary education at Saint André where he studied Latin and Science courses.
He later joined the military at the age of 20.
Gatsinzi spent two years undergoing military training at “Ecole Supérieure d’Officiers Militaires (ESM)” where he graduated with the rank of Lieutenant in 1970.
He served as an instructor, and attended different professional training in Belgium between 1971 and 1976 at “Institut Royale Supérieure de Défense”.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Gtsinzi was at the rank of Colonel and was the commander of Non-Commissioned Officers School in Ngoma Commune, current Huye District.
Following the shooting down of former President Juvénal Habyarimana’s airplane on 6th April 1994, Gen Gatsinzi was named Defence Chief Staff replacing Gen Maj Augustin Nsabimana who died with Habyarimana.
He assumed the duties for ten days before dismissal by the then interim government and was replaced by Col Augustin Bizimungu.
By the time RPA soldiers captured Kigali, Gatsinzi had the rank of Brigadier General and was living in Kigeme camp along with other soldiers.
He left the camp for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Rusizi.
Gatsinzi stayed in DRC for one month before returning to Rwanda where he joined RDF. Upon joining the army, he was given the rank of Colonel.
Gatsinzi served as the Deputy Army Chief of Staff, Commander of Military Police and Headed the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).
He held the rank of Major General at the time.
In 2004, Gatsinzi was promoted to General and became the first soldier to rise to to the rank.
He served as the Minister of Defence between 2022 and 2010.
In October 2013, Gen Gatsinzi was sent to retirement along with five other generals.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the market was constructed at an estimated cost of US$25,000 within 54 days.
The Governor of Cabo Delgado Province, Tauabo who was the guest of honor commended the joint forces commitment to improve the quality of life of the population after returning to their homes.
The RSF Joint Task Force Commander, Maj Gen Eugene Nkubito in his address said that Rwandan Security Forces are not in Cabo Delgado for combat operations only, but to also pledge their support to the social economic development of the province.
He assured the authorities of their continued support to the leadership in addressing the human security issues in order to achieve lasting peace and security.
The ceremony was concluded by a friendly football match between RSF and Mocimboa da Praia youth football team.
Soldiers of Congolese Army (FARDC) were shot dead in Rwanda at different times on 19th November 2022 and recently on 4th March 2023.
The two soldiers were shot dead in Gisenyi Sector as they opened fire at Rwandan soldiers on guard at the border between Rubavu and Goma.
Some of gunned down soldiers include Kasereka Malumalu and Sambwa Nzenze Didier from FARDC.
Congolese Army denied that Kasereka is among its soldiers but an assessment conducted later established that he was among missing soldiers where he was shot dead at the border trying to confront Rwandan soldiers.
It is said that he was drunk at the time.
The second soldier was shot dead storming Rwandan territory around 15:30.
Their bodies were taken from the mortuary of Gisenyi Hospital and handed over to EJVM and Congolese leaders.
EJVM also received guns and ammunition seized from these soldiers as they stormed Rwandan territory.
DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23 rebel group, claims which the country has repeatedly denied noting that it is part of Congo’s plan to externalize its problems.
Details about his death emerged in the evening of Tuesday 7th March 2023 but it is said that he breathed the last on Monday.
A source has told IGIHE ‘that Gatsinzi was not critically ill’ but felt unhealthy and went to a hospital where he died shortly after arrival as doctors prepared to attend to him.
He has been living in Rwanda but traveled to Belgium for medical attention.
People who lived with him attest that he was a patriotic and honest man.
A statement signed by M23 political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, indicates that the group has taken the decision in fulfillment of outcomes of consultations between M23 and Angolan President, João Lourenço in Luanda and the decision taken in different regional summits in Bujumbura, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
All the meetings were aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The M23 movement, hereby, declares a ceasefire from this Tuesday, March 7th, 2023 at 12:00 hours to pave the way for the political process to take place,” reads the statement.
M23 has thanked regional leaders and international partners who have made efforts to understand its problems and for endless efforts to restore peace and security in eastern DRC.
“From the foregoing, the M23 calls on other regional leaders and international partners to spare no effort in contributing to the current initiatives aimed at the restoration of peace and stability in eastern DRC and the region as a whole,” adds the statement.
M23 has reiterated commitment to peacefully resolve conflict in eastern DRC but highlighted that it ‘reserves the full right to defend itself once attacked by the DRC Government Coalition of FARDC, FDLR, NYATURA, Mai-Mai, APCLS, PARECO, NDC-R and mercenaries.
The rebel group further stated that it won’t spare any effort to protect the civilian population and their belonging.
M23 controls large swathes in eastern Congo even though it has already handed over some of captured areas to forces of the East African Community.
