The incident which occurred on Wednesday 19th October 2022 also saw the roofing of 11 classrooms and a kitchen at Groupe Scolaire Munazi in Save sector blew away and three children injured.
An assessment of damages conducted on Thursday indicated that the rain and wind destroyed 59 houses, equipment and ravaged crops.
The Mayor of Gisagara District, Jérôme Rutaburingoga has told IGIHE that the assessment of damages is ongoing.
“59 houses belonging to 39 families have been destroyed. Affected residents have received emergency assistance and are accommodated by neighours,” he said.
Received items include blankets and soaps among others.
Students at the destroyed school have been given temporary classrooms at a nearby facilities and received school kits including notebooks and pens.
Rutaburingoga said that they are making possible efforts to renovate classrooms and assured residents that the district is working closely with the Ministry of Emergency Management to find shelters.
The envoy made the call on Thursday as he visited the Islamic Cultural Center which is home to ESSI in Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District of Kigali City.
During his visit to the center, Amb. Alqahtani toured different facilities including a computer lab and science laboratory among others before interacting with students, teachers and taking them through the UAE’s legacy of tolerance, acceptance and coexistence between people of different faiths.
UAE Ambassador also awarded the best performing student from Senior 5 with a laptop at the event.
Amb. Alqahtani echoed the definition of tolerance where it is ‘the virtue that makes peace possible and contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace’.
The latter goes hand in hand with recognizing the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“The practice of tolerance does not mean abandonment or weakening of one’s convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one’s own convictions and accept that others adhere to theirs,” he said.
As Amb. Alqahtani explained, his country inherits the legacy of tolerance from the founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who ‘was tolerant and called all people to be tolerant themselves, to accept others and coexist with them regardless of color, religion or beliefs’.
The ambassador highlighted that religious diversity should not spark misunderstandings but rather a bridge uniting people to live in harmony.
He referred to his country’s case where it promotes peace, cultural diversity and coexistence despite the presence of over 200 nationalities living in harmony with every major religious denomination represented.
Despite the fact that Islam dominates in his country, Alqahtani disclosed that other religious denominations are granted freedom they deserve highlighting that such culture should spread across the world.
The diplomat also hinted at the historical visit of Pope Francis (head of the Roman Catholic Church and spiritual leader to 1.2 billion devotees) on February 4th, 2019 to Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE becoming the first pontiff ever to visit the Arabian Peninsula.
During his momentous visit, Pope Francis met with the Grand Imam Sheikh of al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed al-Tayyib. At the occasion, the two religious leaders signed the ‘Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together’ at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi.
The Document of Human Fraternity calls for an end to the use of religion as justification for war, violence and harm and opposes extremism in all forms.
This historic document presents a series of guidelines which denounce violence in the name of religion and urge the adoption of a culture of dialogue and mutual cooperation as a code of conduct and reciprocal understanding.
{{The Abrahamic House of Fraternity}}
Amb. Alqahtani said that the Abrahamic religions including; Judaism, Christianity and Islam are united by the belief in one God and all three share in a history connected to the patriarch Abraham.
He stressed the need to promote dialogue and shared his country’s efforts to support the cause.
Amb. Alqahtani revealed that UAE has proposed a dedicated space for inter-faith dialogue.
The UAE unveiled plans for the Abrahamic House of Fraternity on September 20th 2019 in New York alongside the UN General Assembly.
“The Abrahamic Family House will be an interfaith complex currently in development in Abu Dhabi, a representation of the Document of Human Fraternity which will feature a church, a mosque, a synagogue and a secular welcome center on one shared site. Currently, in development, the project’s anticipated completion date has been set for this year,” he said.
Amb. Alqahtani further revealed that the Abrahamic House of Fraternity will feature each of the three houses of faith namely; a mosque, a church and a synagogue, which will stand at the same height to symbolize equality. The design will highlight the often overlooked similarities between the three faiths and their corresponding architectural traditions.
It will act as a place for religious worship as well as a space for exhibitions, programs, conferences and inter-faith dialogue initiatives.
Abdellatif Aouid, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Center thanked Amb. Alqahtani for the visit and commended UAE for the support extended to the center.
He highlighted that the Islamic Cultural Center is a fruit of collaboration between Libya, UAE and the Government of Rwanda adding that the ESSI also promotes values of tolerance where it recruits teachers and enrolls students without any kind of discrimination.
Students also commended the envoy for delivering an inspiring talk and pledged to be characterized by tolerance in daily lives.
Togo became the 56th member of the Commonwealth on 25 June 2022 following approval from Commonwealth leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.
As the tradition goes, a special flag-raising ceremony was held on Thursday 20th October 2022 in the presence of the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo, and the President of the Togolese Republic, Faure Gnassingbé. They were joined by guests including high commissioners, senior government officials, the Togolese diaspora, and the media.
In remarks welcoming Togo to the association, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General said: “Togo’s journey into the Commonwealth has been a long time in the making. We walked the journey for many years, as the Commonwealth provided guidance to Togo’s efforts and commitments to embody the values of the Commonwealth Charter.
“Togo has shown commitment to meeting institutional and governance reforms. The Government of Togo has demonstrated clear action in developing its economy and infrastructure; in providing a conducive business climate and stability to attract tourism and investment.
“Today, we welcome [Togo] into our family home, where we work every day to deepen our bonds and abilities to conquer the challenges we face – together. Welcome to a special group of nations which are committed to doing their best to uphold shared values and to help one another.
“Long live Togo and Long Live the Commonwealth!”
President Gnassingbé on his part said: “It is my great pleasure to address this honourable audience on this highly symbolic occasion and to express the joy and pride of the people of Togo as we gather here today to raise our flag among those of the great Commonwealth of Nations family.
“As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, I would like to solemnly ask each one of you to bear witness to Togo’s renewed pledge to the values of peace, democracy, and development, which are the core values of the family we are joining.
“Our stepping into the Commonwealth family is an incredible booster towards progressing together and leaving no one behind.
“It is my wish that the new dawn we are setting today will unveil an era of fruitful cooperation, economic growth, sustainable development as well as social and cultural fulfilment for all of us.”
The flag of Togo was then ceremoniously raised on the roof of Marlborough House to the tune of Togo’s national anthem with guests looking on in awe.
By joining the Commonwealth, Togo’s Embassy in London now officially becomes a High Commission. To mark the occasion, a plaque commemorating the move was unveiled.
As an institution uniting 2.5 billion people from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, the Commonwealth is unique. Membership to the Commonwealth means joining a community of mutually supportive independent and sovereign states, aided by more than 80 accredited organisations such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Education Trust, that bring their expertise and the strength of their networks to support all our member countries in their development and aspirational goals.
Members can also access a variety of training and technical assistance resources and benefit from more than 50 strategic partnerships with renowned organisations such as the United Nations, the African Development Bank, and the World Trade Organization, to create the conditions for people across the Commonwealth to flourish.
Togo will now also be able to take part in major Commonwealth summits and ministerials which bring together government leaders, from developed and developing nations, to help amplify collective action on global challenges.
The official celebration will take place on Monday, 24 October 2022 in Kigali to mark the anniversary, and fruit trees will be planted during Umuganda in Huye and Musanze Districts, and in Kigali, on Saturday, 29 October 2022.
These events serve as an opportunity to reflect on the success stories and lessons learned from the partnership between Rwanda and the UN.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta said: “We commend the UN for its support to our country and for spearheading multilateralism efforts and global cooperation. Rwanda remains committed to our partnership in addressing common challenges in diverse areas including socio-economic development, gender equality, peacekeeping, refugees’ rights protection, climate change, and much more. The world needs consistent and effective collaboration among countries, and Rwanda will always play its role.”
The UN Resident Coordinator Ozonnia Matthew Ojiel also said: “The UN extends its sincere appreciation to the Government and the people of Rwanda for the support and continued commitment to work closely for the benefit of the people of this country – leaving no one behind. We reaffirm the UN’s collective commitment and pledge cooperation and support in all forms to address shared objectives grounded on the UN Charter.”
Rwanda is one of the biggest contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions with over 5,000 military and police personnel deployed in different countries. Rwanda is also among the African countries that achieved Millennium Development Goals and is on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Rwanda became member of the United Nations on 18th September 1962.
The agreement was signed on Thursday 20th October 2022 between Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta and Mozambican Minister of Interior, Arsénia Massingue.
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs has revealed, the agreement will encourage free movement and enhance collaboration between the two countries.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that their discussions held on Thursday 20th October 2022, focused on furthering collaboration towards socio-economic transformation.
GiveDirectly works in 17 Districts in Rwanda and has provided unconditional cash transfers to over 170,000 households.
The non-profit organization initiated its interventions in Ngoma and Gisagara districts and later expanded its activities to other parts of the country.
In Gicumbi District, GiveDirectly implemented two projects including one aimed at helping residents to move out of poverty in the sector of Nyankenke, Miyove and Rukomo. Under this project, 5298 families received Rwf4.3 billion funding.
The organization also run another project in the areas that saw over Rwf119 million distributed among residents to mitigate effects of COVID-19.
Born in January 1973, Rory Stewart is a British academic, diplomat, author, broadcaster, former soldier and former politician who served as the Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom.
His organization operates in East African countries including Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya where it helps families living in extreme poverty by making unconditional cash transfers to them via mobile phone.
The commitment was unveiled on Wednesday October 19, 2022 during an event held in Lagos, Nigeria, with over 70 journalists in attendance. It was headlined by the twin singing and dancing sensations, P-Square, and was streamed live with the media and Airtel employees joining from across the 13 other OPCOs.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, stated that the “decision to sponsor the show was informed by our firm belief in and commitment to empowering the youths to achieve their dreams.”
According to him, “sponsoring The Voice Africa was an easy decision to make because it not only aligns with the philosophy of our brand, but also consolidates on the current dominance of the music world by Africans.”
Dr. Ogunsanya praised the dominance of the global music scene by African musicians, saying The Voice Africa was therefore intended to broaden the opportunities for more of the continent’s talented youths to realize their dreams.
The GCEO recalled the company’s previous sponsorships like the MTV Music Awards and Airtel Rising Stars, which contributed immensely to the emergence of many notable stars in music and football respectively, adding that “at the end of the day, Airtel Africa would have facilitated the emergence of successful musicians who can compete with their peers from anywhere in the world”.
“These investments”, he explained, “were intentional and deliberate to empower our youths and enable them to channel their talents and energies positively for their individual good and the good of their families, communities and indeed Africa.”
Ogunsanya, who was represented by the VP Corporate Communications and CSR, Emeka Oparah, restated Airtel Africa’s commitment to the empowerment of not only the youths but also all Africans to achieve their dreams and succeed in their lawful undertakings.
He commended the media for their unflinching support for the brand. “Your influence in leveraging this sort of opportunity cannot be overemphasized and I trust you will do what you know how to best in Nigeria, East Africa, or Francophone Africa”, he concluded.
Also speaking at the event, Airtel Africa’s Head of Brands, Nandkishor Buty, explained that The Voice Africa aims to showcase the brightest of African musical talents from across our markets, alongside a panel of coaches and TV hosts, and act as a launchpad for global recognition. Seven strongest vocalists from each of the 14 countries will be selected to participate in the programme, with one of them eventually crowned The Voice of Africa.
He announced that The Voice will formally kick off on Friday, October 21, with a call for entries followed by virtual auditions from where the seven contestants will emerge.
The successful contestants will then proceed to a camp where they will be groomed by coaches and participate in competitions for the emergence of the last 10. The overall winner will receive a US$100,000 star prize which will include cash and a recording contract.
Customers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite contestants, when the show airs on television stations across Africa in March 2023, with the grand finale taking place later in the year.
Holtzman made the assurance recently on 15th October 2022 during a ceremony in which he received the award presented to Bank of Kigali as the ‘Best Bank in Rwanda’.
Earlier this year in March, Bank of Kigali was awarded “Best Bank in Rwanda’’ by Global Finance Awards, an international magazine with an experience of 35 years in financial reporting.
The winners of this year’s awards are banks that attended carefully to their customers’ needs in difficult markets and accomplished strong results while laying the foundations for future success.
Selection of the nominees is made by the editors of Global Finance after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts throughout the world.
During the financial contest, banks were invited to submit entries supporting their selection and Global Finance considered factors that ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective.
The Best Bank Awards ceremony was hosted on the 15th October 2022 in Washington DC, during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – World Bank Meetings.
The ceremony attracted a large gathering of senior banking executives and central bank governors from all over the world and presented an opportunity for award winners to collect their awards physically.
Bank of Kigali was represented by Chairman Marc Holtzman who proudly accepted the award on behalf of the bank.
Speaking after the ceremony, Holtzman reflected on BK’s position as a leading bank that aspires to financially transform lives.
“It’s an honor for us to be recognized for our amazing team and the pride they take in serving our customers. At Bank of Kigali, we are continuously developing strategies to innovate and digitize our products to allow our clients to transact seamlessly. Our customers are at the heart of our mission. It is gratifying and rewarding to receive this recognition,’’ he said.
Bank of Kigali has won the Global Finance “Best Bank in Rwanda’’ for two consecutive years.
The Global Finance accolades have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.
The three-day event was inaugurated by Ahlam Al-Baji Al-Sayeb, chief-of-staff of the Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, in the presence of experts in the fields of energy and renewable energies.
During her speech, Al-Baji Al-Sayeb stressed that the SITE aims to introduce Tunisia’s energy infrastructure potential to the world.
“It is an opportunity to attract investment in the field of renewable energies in light of the development of the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the global trend toward a green economy and clean energies,” she noted.
At least 30 exhibitors from Tunisia, Germany and China are taking part in the fair which is expected to receive over 5,000 visitors.
A statement released by the Norwegian criminal police (Kripos) on Wednesday, shows that the man aged in his forties was detained pending the outcome of an extradition request filed by Rwanda.
According to AFP, the Kripos confirmed that it had carried out a preliminary investigation before making the arrest, and the decision on whether to extradite the individual would be a matter for a judge.
