The peacekeepers provided sacks of rice, mosquito nets to fight malaria, clothes and hygienic items, to the orphans of St. Clare House for Children.
The donation is out of the financial contribution of the officers of Rwanda FPU-3.
St. Clare House for Children is a home for 95 orphans aged between 3 and 16 years.
Rwanda FPU-3 Contingent Commander, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Marie Grace Uwimana said that the humanitarian assistance falls in their mandated tasks.
“As a mother thinking about her children, Rwanda Formed Police Unit thought and looks at this humanitarian gesture in the same lense for the betterment of the lives of these orphans, who have experienced tragic situations and going through tough conditions. It is about giving these children hope,” SSP Uwimana said while handing over the items.
Betty Thomas Lolo, the founder and Executive Director of St Clare House for Children, thanked the RWAFPU-3 for the support rendered to the needy children.
She explained that the children lacked food and bed mosquito nets.
The children, she added, include those, who lost their parents in conflicts, uxoricide, victims of early marriage, and defilement as well as those abandoned by parents.
“They were eating only beans from Monday to Sunday, and these mosquito nets have come in handy because of the high cases of malaria,” Lolo said.
Rwanda FPU-3 of 160 officers is one of the two Rwandan Police contingents deployed in South Sudan. Another contingent, Rwanda FPU-1 of 240 officers, operates in Malakal, Upper Nile State.
On Sunday 23rd October 2022, the Government of Rwanda announced suspension of IPRC Kigali for two weeks to allow for investigation into cases of theft and misappropriation of public resources at the school.
Individuals who have been arrested in the saga include the Principal of IPRC Kigali, Eng Diogène Mulindahabi accused of connivance in resources misappropriation and forgery case.
Others include Vander Thomas Muhimpundu, the Director in charge of Administration and Finance at IPRC and Mediatrice Uwantege, the Director of Logistics arrested over connivance in the same case.
Meanwhile, another Jean Claude who served as a storekeeper and Fortune Ndayambaje who worked as the Deputy Director in Charge of Finance and Administration are charged with resources misappropriation.
The Spokesperson of RIB, Dr. Murangira Thierry has told IGIHE that 12 individuals have been arrested under this case. These include top managers and staff at IPRC, security guards and traders.
The dossier was transferred to the Prosecution on Tuesday 25th October for further legal process.
Dr. Murangira has appealed to individuals entrusted with the management of public resources to do it efficiently and avoid misappropriation.
IGIHE has learnt that Rukundo Tumukunde, Nepomuscene Mugenzi and Venuste Habimana are among other suspects facing resources misallocation while Eugene Yambabariye, Nzavugejo, Daniel Harerimana and a trader identified as Alphonse Manirafasha are charged with theft.
Rwanda’s penal code stipulates that funds misallocation attracts a sentence between seven to ten years and the fine worth three to five times the embezzled funds.
Meanwhile, a public servant convicted of forgery is liable to a sentence between seven and ten years and a fine between two or three times the misallocated funds or of the two.
The crime of theft also attracts between one and two-year sentence and a fine between Rwf1 and Rwf2 million.
The Executive Secretary of Gisenyi Sector, Jean Bosco Tuyishime has said that the suspects were arrested during an operation conducted last night.
“The exercise will be conducted every day as part of reinforced measures to ensure the security residents and shun theft in Gisenyi town. We were recently tipped of whereabouts of the thieves and fortunately found them in the place during the operation,” he said.
Tuyishime revealed that some of the suspects were caught along pathways attempting to ambush and dispossess residents of their belongings.
He also appealed on residents to provide information on thieves’ hideouts to be arrested and face the law.
The operation follows different cases where thieves stole household items including electronics and clothes among others in Gisenyi Sector.
Rwanda being one of the African countries most affected by the impact of climate change, a total of 39.5 million euros of the financing commitment will be allocated to Rwandan-German Climate and Development Partnership launched on 1st March 2022.
Commitments include funding of key climate change mitigation and adaptation projects by the Rwandan Green Fund (FONERWA), but also important activities to support sustainable urbanisation – such as making coastal cities along Lake Kivu climate-resilient, where the impact of climate change is particularly evident with flooding and landslides becoming increasingly common.
Activities to improve waste management and circular economy were also agreed upon. The partnership is embedded within global climate initiatives, such as the Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance and the COP27 in November 2022 in Egypt, where Rwanda and Germany will jointly showcase their climate partnership.
Commenting on the development, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze says: “Climate change and social protection are two sides of the same coin. This is why, in addition to climate action, our climate and development partnerships are also about strengthening social justice. We want to provide particular support to those worst hit by the climate crisis.”
Both sides also agreed to promote small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as strengthen the provision of vocational education and training for young people and women.
In this regard, Minister Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana and KfW Regional Manager Ms Bettina Tewinkel signed two agreements worth 29 million euros of German financial cooperation for the TVET sector, which will be used for stipends to increase access to education as well as for school investments in infrastructure and equipment of TVET schools.
Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, noted: “The outcome of the inter-governmental negotiations concluded today is a clear indication of a growing partnership between our two respective Countries as we celebrate 60 years of fruitful and impactful cooperation. The two parties agreed on key sectors of bilateral cooperation including Education with special focus on TVET, Climate Partnership, Social Protection, Vaccine Production and Governance among others.”
Laying the foundations for pharmaceutical manufacturing (including for vaccines) is another priority area of Rwandan-German development cooperation.
Currently, 99 per cent of Africa’s vaccines are imported. On 23rd June 2022, a high-level ground-breaking ceremony for a vaccine production factory of the German company BioNTech launched the construction work in Kigali.
Germany is providing substantial support with regard to training qualified personnel and lending support to the Rwanda Foods and Drugs Authority (with the involvement of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute and in close cooperation with European partners).
The joint efforts are a key contribution to making access to high-quality, affordable health care in Africa possible and to strengthen the pandemic preparedness of the continent.
As part of the negotiations, Germany and Rwanda also agreed to expand social protection system through a sector budget financing contribution.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperation has focused on expanding the Rwandan social protection system.
With the current war in Ukraine and its global implications of massive price increases and growing food insecurity threatening to increase poverty levels, Rwanda and Germany agreed to continue this cooperation.
The package also includes a pro-poor basked fund that aims to strengthen inclusive public service delivery and infrastructure to poor and vulnerable population groups.
Of the total commitment of 98.1 million, euros 31 million euros are subject to approval by the German Parliament.
The information circulated on social and mainstream media last week. It was reported that UAE banned visas application for 20 African countries including Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Embassy in UAE has through a statement released on 26th October 2022 indicated that no visa ban on Rwandans has been placed, noting that relations between both countries remain intact.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the United Arab Emirates informs the public that recent media reports of UAE via ban on Rwandans are false and misleading. Citizens of Rwanda continue to enjoy all categories of UAE visas including visit visa,” reads the statement in part.
Meanwhile, UAE recently announced new reforms for visa applicants.
Rwanda’s Embassy in UAE has also advised Rwandans on UAE’s new visa reforms officially launched on 3rd October 2022.
Under the new reforms, Rwandans like other applicants seeking a visit visa are required to provide proof of hotel booking for the duration of stay, valid return and onward ticket.
In case of home stay, the applicant is required to present an invitation letter from the host along with the address including phone and identity card, passport number of the host in UAE.
Rwanda opened embassy in UAE on 8th March 2018. Both countries have cooperation in the areas of investment and tourism.
The Head of State made the remarks on Tuesday 25th October 2022 as he officiated the opening of a three-day Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa organized by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).
The summit held on the African continent for the first time brought together over 2000 participants form more than 50 countries.
These include major players in mobile telecommunication, ministers of ICT, non-profit organizations, investors and researchers among others.
The summit to be concluded on 27th October 2022 is expected to create opportunities for investment and cooperation to increase the number of smartphone owners and internet users in Africa.
President Kagame has said that digital technologies are a catalytic force for development in Africa but pointed out existing challenges where almost half of adults in low- and middle-income countries do not have access to the internet, even when living in areas with broadband coverage.
“Digital infrastructure is key, but it is not enough. To leverage the potential of connectivity, investments in digital skills and literacy must be integrated in our national policies,” he said.
The Head of State pointed out an example of Rwanda, where Kigali Innovation City aims to develop a competitive and productive workforce and a conducive environment for start-ups, with the support of the private sector.
The project to be set up in Kigali Special Economic Zone in Gasabo District will be completed at a tune of US$2 billion.
It comprises buildings that will host international universities, tech companies, and commercial buildings among others. The facility will sit on 70 hectares.
Some of buidlings under this –project including premises of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and African Leadership University (ALU) have been completed.
Considering the project under development, Kagame said that Africa is home to creative and tech-savvy youth, looking for the right platform to contribute solutions.
“We cannot afford to reduce them to a statistic, only, or sit idly by, as they seek opportunity outside of Africa. Our young people have a lot to offer. We must do our part, and keep our promise to them,” he noted.
The President highlighted that significant strides have been made on the continent to accelerate the digital transformation, through initiatives spearheaded by the African Union and Smart Africa, among others.
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Kagame also stressed the need to create a more enabling legal and regulatory environment to leave no one behind.
He underscored that everyone, regardless of status, gender, or nationality, must benefit, ‘if we want to create lasting change’.
The President said that emerging technologies are shaping the economic future everywhere in the world, as well as the conditions for peace and security.
“To speed up prosperity, technology has to go hand in hand with good governance,” he noted.
The Director General of the GSMA, Mats Granryd said that the Africa presents a lot of investment opportunities in digital technologies that will contribute to the continent’s economic growth.
Last year, over 500 million Africans had mobile phones. The figures represent 46% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population. The number is projected to increase to more than 600 million in 2025.
Granryd explained that mobile penetration contributes to countries’ economies considering that fact that the use of mobile phones contributes 5% of the global GDP (US$500 billion).
In the Sub-Saharan Africa, using mobile phones contributed 8% (US$140 billion) to the total GDP in 2021. It also created over 3.2 million jobs.
However, there is still a long way to go as a half of the global population (3.6 billion) has no access to internet.
The two-day hike that started on Friday, 21st October 2022 comprised of hikers from partner institutions – RSSB, I&M Bank, BK Arena, RTC, Amakoro Lodge and all BK Subsidiaries – with a total number of 20 hikers. The whole team reached the summit safely and thankful for everyone who supported this noble cause.
‘”It is our utmost honor and privilege to be part of this toughest challenge for youth education. We are living our motto of Financially transforming lives, in addition to raising awareness for education as a key pillar for sustainable growth,” said Nathalie Mpaka, Chief Finance Officer at Bank of Kigali.
“We believe with this contribution, more students are given a chance to go to school and more importantly the hope for a brighter future,” she added.
This is the second consecutive year of hiking Karisimbi and raising funds for Agahozo Shalom Youth Village.
Last year’s hikers raised Rwf70 million for youth education through ASYV.
Nizigiyimana, an illegal mineral dealer, was at the time attempting to cross the lake from Gasange Sector to Kiramuruzi, both in Gatsibo District.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Nizigiyimana was reported by water transport operators in Lake Muhazi.
“Nizigiyimana, who had a motorcycle, boarded a boat from Gasange to cross Lake Muhazi going to Kiramuruzi, but boat operators, after noticing that he had minerals, suspected him of being a smuggler or to have stolen them.
They called the Police Marine detachment in Kiramuruzi, which took him into custody, seized the minerals and impounded his motorcycle registration number RRA 846R,” SP Twizeyimana said.
It is suspected that Nizigiyimana was attempting to cross the lake en-route to Fumbwe Sector in Rwamagana District, where he had a potential buyer.
“The suspect is detained at Kiramuruzi Police station, but the search for his accomplices is still underway,” SP Twizeyimana said.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Despite the presence of armed groups in DRC which have increased to more than 130; Tshisekedi, his country’s cabinet members and Congolese at large have directed their attention to M23 rebel group which has been controlling Bunagana town at the border with Uganda for the past four months.
DRC has been accusing Rwanda of supporting M23 but the rebel group has repeatedly indicated that it wants the Congolese government to implement peace accords signed in 2013.
Rarely, one can find discussions involving Tshisekedi during his recent visit to the UK where he did not hint at Rwanda.
From talks held with King Charles III to his interactions with Congolese diaspora in UK, Rwanda remained on the table of discussions.
The Financial Times recently reported that Congolese continue to accuse Rwanda of waging a war in eastern DRC and blame Western countries for remaining silent on the issue.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Johnston Busingye has hinted at the reasons why Congolese continue to yell but fail to get attention from targeted countries, mainly from Europe and the United States of America (USA).
Amb. Busingye has explained that DRC’s problems are domiciled in its capital Kinshasa where the country has to own up its problems instead of shifting the blame to others.
He went on to say that there is the presence of over 130 armed groups occupying large swathes of eastern DRC, violating every human right known to law including routinely raping women and girls but overlooked by the country.
“No Government isn’t worried because of violent armed rebel groups that sprout like mushrooms anywhere in the DRC,” Amb. Busingye tweeted.
Figures show that Congolese Army (FARDC) and ADF were main contributors to insecurity in eastern part of DRC from 2017 to 2022.
Reports indicate that ADF was involved in 451 incidents undermining security, FARDC in 416 while M23 was reportedly involved in one.
Considering the situation, Amb. Busingye said no government isn’t worried by the rate of violations of rights, including rape, murder and pillage among others committed by FARDC yet it still the national army still.
The United Nations (UN) Experts Report released in August this year accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 on one hand and blames DRC army for collaboration with FDLR terrorist group during its fight with M23.
The report indicates that the shelling on Rwandan territory in May this year was done on the order issued by FDLR officer who was working with Congolese soldiers.
“No Government wouldn’t be as worried as Rwanda that the FDLR, the Hutu extremist violent genocidal armed rebel militia, whose aim is violent return, is warmly hosted in the DRC since 1994, launches attacks on Rwanda at will, and commits untold crime against DRC citizens,” said Busingye.
Rwanda maintains that FDLR is the root cause for insecurity in eastern DRC, instead of the country’s accusations that Rwanda is behind its security problems.
The terrorist group has been spreading genocide ideology and harassed Kinyarwanda-speaking citizens whom partition history placed in Belgian Congo, Zaire in the current DRC.
This led to the creation of rebel groups including M23 to defend their rights.
Busingye highlights that Congolese government ignores the reality and accuse Rwanda of invading its land, supporting M23, pillaging gold, chimpanzees, and gorillas or quote a non-existent UN report ‘that can’t be remembered even in 12 hours’.
He wondered which position countries can consider or situation that would raise worries yet the country is putting forward baseless accusations.
“No Government isn’t aware that M23 is a DRC issue by identity, history and geography though DRC chooses distraction over reality,” said Amb. Busingye.
“To accuse is one, easy part. To accuse and try to prove is a different other part. But to accuse, regardless of proof, because it is politically expedient to do so, is a completely other part that takes a special type of courage to accomplish,” he added.
Analysts explain that Tshisekedi try to externalize his country’s problems to Rwanda to cover his shame over failing to fulfill promises to Congolese as he seeks to contend for another term next year.
On Monday 24th October 2022, the Government of Rwanda released a statement condemning DRC for continual blame games and contradictory assertions to externalize its problems to Rwanda yet it has not ceased to collaborate with FDLR.
The Head of State was addressing participants of the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) Conference taking place for two days in Kigali.
The African Philanthropy Forum is a strong and vibrant community of partners who through their strategic giving, investments and influence, foster shared prosperity on the African continent.
Established in 2014, PF seeks to promote philanthropies with the involvement of Africans and strive for an inclusive development of the African continent.
It brings together over 1400 philanthropists from across the world.
As he presided over the opening ceremony of the forum’s two-day conference on Monday 24th October 2022, President Kagame highlighted the need to increase Africans participation in philanthropies.
“Increasing philanthropic initiatives by African individuals and organizations is critically important, but not only because of the money. It is about having the dignity, as Africans, to choose for ourselves the future we want, and work diligently towards it, together,” he said.
The conference is held under the theme “African Philanthropists Closing the Gender Gap.” It brought together stakeholders in the African philanthropy community to intensify partnerships for greater impact in the gender equity and empowerment space.
Commenting on the issue of gender inequalities, Kagame said: “Discrimination against women and girls is fuelled by distorted mindsets that perceive women as inferior to men. To begin with, men must reject and reverse this. Now, even women, you must refuse that. They are not inferior.”
Rwanda hosts the meeting at a time when it is among top countries promoting the principle of gender balance.
Currently, Rwanda registers 65% of women representation in parliament and 50% in the cabinet.
