The money was recovered from two prime suspects on Friday, October 1, who were also arrested. The suspects are Abdul Nshamihigo, 38, and Hamad Iyakaremye, 37.
In the morning of September 30, the duo allegedly connived and broke into the car of one Bravo Patrick Ndayishimiye, where it was parked in the city centre, and stole the money.
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the suspected thieves were identified through footages captured by the nearby CCTV camera.
Nshamihigo said narrated that in the morning of September 30, he parked the car he was driving in the city centre, which the victim also parked shortly after.
“I noticed the way Ndayishimiye was closing his car and checking every door, I suspected that he had something valuable inside.
I called my friend Iyakaremye, who had a master key, he came, we opened the car and found an envelope, which contained a lot of money. After counting, we found it was Frw3 million and we shared it equally,” Nshamihigo said.
Iyakaremye also admitted that he was called by his friend Nshamihigo to bring the master key.
“We first checked the whereabouts of the owner of the car before opening it and stealing the money,” Iyakaremye said.
Iyakaremye and Nshamihigo said that they met in Nyarugenge prison, where they were serving varied sentences on related crimes.
Iyakaremye had been convicted for theft and sentenced to four years while Nshamihigo had been sentenced to 28 months in prison.
They were both released recently on presidential clemency.
The victim, Ndayishimiye thanked the Police for recovering all his money.
CP Kabera said that the swift recovery was informed by the victim’s quick reporting.
“When Ndayishimiye realized that his money had been stolen, he immediately reported to the police. With the help of CCTV camera in the area, Police identified Nshamihigo, who was the first to be arrested. Nshamihigo provided further information on his accomplice, who was also located and arrested. At the time, they still had all the money as shared,” CP Kabera said.
The suspects were handed over to RIB for further investigation.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that, any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, a community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 167, the penalty for theft doubles if the act was carried out at night, by more than one person or recidivism.
They were arrested in separate operations conducted on Thursday and Friday as they sneaked the polythene bags into Rwanda from the neighbouring Uganda.
The suspects are identified as Alphonse Munyaneza, 21, and Odette Nyiransengimana, 48.
Munyaneza was arrested in Isangano village, Rugari cell, Mimuri sector with 20,000 pieces of plastic bags.
Nyiransengimana was arrested in Kinunga village, Mishenyi cell, Rwempasha sector with 1,800 pieces.
The Eastern region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamduni Twizeyimana said that the suspects were arrested in partnership with other security organs.
“Nyiransengimana was the first to be arrested in Rwempasha sector with 1,800 pieces of polythene bags. She said that she got the plastic bags from a Ugandan national at Muyanja stream. For Munyaneza, he was arrested at the borderline trying to sneak the polythene bags into Rwanda from Uganda,” said CIP Twizeyimana.
He warned against trafficking and selling plastic bags as well as using them for packaging.
The suspects were handed over to RIB for further legal process.
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. 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.
Kagame was speaking at the 14th World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates on 1st October 2021.
The conference is organized by Swiss foundation known as ‘WPC Foundation’. This international conference acts as a forum for discussion and reflection about the global economy and international relations.
Kagame is among participants of the conference scheduled from 1st to 3rd October 2021.
As he delivered remarks, the President reminisced on unprecedented effects brought by COVID-19 pandemic which exposed weaknesses in both the national and global systems ‘that have been there all along’.
He highlighted that these weaknesses includes insufficiencies in both public health and governance.
Kagame said that the crisis has also revealed economic and power imbalances within the international community where African countries have been lagging behind in vaccine supplies while rich countries hoard vaccines.
Despite encountered obstacles and inequitable vaccine distribution, the President observed that there is a progress whereby access to vaccines has begun to increase, both through donations and purchase of vaccine doses.
He pointed out an example of Rwanda where the country has administered more than 2 million doses with 90% of residents of cities, especially Kigali, having received a dose.
“We see also cooperating with various commercial and development partners to launch an ambitious program to manufacture vaccines and other pharmaceuticals for the African market, beginning next year. So, even though things could have been better, we do appreciate the good cooperation that has been there,” he said.
Apart from cooperation in vaccine manufacturing, Kagame said that another area of good partnerships that can produce results is in the fight against insecurity, terrorism and extremist ideologies including genocide ideology.
He pointed out an example of Rwanda’s engagement in peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions in Africa.
“Islamist insurgents are now on the run in northern Mozambique in the province of Cabo Delgado, because of a good program of cooperation between Rwanda’s Defence Forces, and those of Mozambique and the region,” he said.
“Similarly, our commitment to the Central African Republic, which is both bilateral and multilateral, through the United Nations, aims to create the space for the country to chart its own path to political reconciliation, peacefully,” added Kagame.
The President highlighted that the next step is to consolidate the gains and focus on providing services and guaranteeing rights for citizens.
“These are just two examples that might link to some of the themes under discussion at this event,” he noted.
{{Full speech}}
{{World Policy Conference | Remarks by President Kagame | Abu Dhabi, 1 October 2021}}
• Dr. Thierry de Montbrial, Founder and Chairman of the World Policy Conference
• Excellencies
• Honourable Ministers and Senior Government Officials
• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I am happy to be back to the World Policy Conference, and I wish to thank Thierry de Montbrial for the invitation to join you here in Abu Dhabi.
The past two years have been particularly consequential.
The Covid pandemic is unprecedented, but it has exposed weaknesses, in both the national and global systems, that have been there all along.
This includes insufficiencies in both public health and governance.
The crisis has also revealed, quite starkly, the economic and power imbalances within the international community.
While major powers work to contain and constrain each other, Africa is at the receiving end, in all senses.
That means, of course, that when vaccine supplies are scarce, Africa is last in line to get doses.
Africa is also, almost as an afterthought, attacked for all sorts of things, in the name of so many things including democracy, human rights, as if these concepts or values are totally foreign to Africa.
You could say that one function of Africa in international relations, is to serve as a foil for the importance of universal values, precisely because so many states outside of Africa continue to fall short themselves.
The unspoken assumption is that only rich countries and their political elites have interests.
Poor countries should allow their interests to be looked after by others.
The rights and well-being of ordinary people are completely forgotten.
We cannot talk about a theoretical democracy that is not built on what the actual citizens of that place desire for themselves, their families, and their societies.
That’s the confusion, in some cases, for example, of contemporary liberal democracy with its singular emphasis on individual freedoms, identities, and desires, even at the expense of the common good.
This is not to say that there are no serious shortcomings in Africa, like elsewhere there is a lot to address in Africa. That is not the point at all.
But the double standards and hypocrisy that consistently applied to Africa, show that something else is going on.
However, where the main global players have stuck to certain principles, things can and do work.
We seem to be turning a corner on the pandemic, despite obstacles.
For example, COVAX was supposed to be a solution to assist low-income countries to get access to vaccines and therapies.
But Covax could not compete with wealthy countries for supply, and we saw examples of hoarding. In actual fact, the rich countries are the ones who were offering vaccine doses through COVAX.
To add insult to injury, we now see some travel restrictions based on where people were vaccinated, even though the vaccines themselves are exactly the same. So we have now an issue of where you’re vaccinated, something else that’s about to come or is slowly coming is; what type of vaccine.
Despite this, there is progress.
Access to vaccines has begun to increase, both through donations and doses we purchase for ourselves.
In Rwanda, we have administered more than 2 million doses, and 90% of residents of cities, especially the capital, Kigali, have received a dose.
We see also cooperating with various commercial and development partners to launch an ambitious program to manufacture vaccines and other pharmaceuticals for the African market, beginning next year.
So, even though things could have been better, we do appreciate the good cooperation that has been there.
Another area where good partnerships can produce results is in the fight against insecurity, terrorism, extremist ideologies, including genocide ideology.
There are cross-border challenges that require close cooperation.
Rwanda’s engagement in peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions in Africa falls under this rubric.
Islamist insurgents are now on the run in northern Mozambique in the province of Cabo Delgado, because of a good program of cooperation between Rwanda’s Defence Forces, and those of Mozambique and the region.
Similarly, our commitment to the Central African Republic, which is both bilateral and multilateral, through the United Nations, aims to create the space for the country to chart its own path to political reconciliation, peacefully.
The next step is to consolidate the gains and focus on providing services and guaranteeing rights for citizens.
These are just two examples that might link to some of the themes under discussion at this event.
Once again, I thank the World Policy Conference for this wonderful evening and opportunity. And thank you all for your kind attention and interest.
I look forward to our discussions to take place immediately.
The four institutions phased out include; the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), National Itorero Commission (NIC) and the Fund for Support and Assistance to the Neediest Survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi (FARG).
The law repealing these institutions has been enacted following the creation of the new Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE).
Some members of parliament have expressed worries that duties previously carried out by the dissolved institutions might not be assumed effectively by the new ministry in charge.
They urged the new ministry to work hard to consolidate gains achieved in unity and reconciliation, preventing Genocide as well as improving the welfare of survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean-Damascène Bizimana assured parliamentarians that the new ministry will make all possible efforts to deliver on expectation and achieve envisaged goals in unity and reconciliation.
He explained that the ministry will have departments with duties that were previously carried out by phased out institutions.
Recently on Tuesday 21st September 2021, the cabinet meeting approved the draft laws repealing the four institutions.
At the time, the cabinet also approved the Prime Minister’s Draft Order which determines the mission, functions and organizational structure of MINUBUMWE.
All the functions that were performed by each of the institutions mentioned above will be under the responsibility of the new ministry, which will set policy and as well as implement programs.
The ministry will have the capacity to fully discharge all of its responsibilities in collaboration with the partners and beneficiaries of each of the former institutions whose responsibilities will be absorbed by MINUBUMWE.
The new ministry is built on four key pillars namely: National Unity and Citizenship Education; Research and Policy Development; Memory and Genocide Prevention; and Community Resilience.
The statement released last night shows that 178 people have caught the virus out of 12168 sample tests, two recovered while 12 are critically ill.
A total of 1,677,682 people have been fully vaccinated while 2,127,543 received the first dose of COVID-19 since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
RNP has revealed that the suspects were arrested with different improvised explosive devices (IEDs) materials that include; wires, nails, phones, explosives and videos for radicalization.
They were arrested at different times in Kigali City, Rusizi and Nyabihu districts.
The suspects have said that they were assigned to shatter different buildings including Kigali City Tower, Downtown and others in Nyabugogo.
According to RNP, investigation has proved that arrested suspects work with a terrorist group known as Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
ADF operates in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) IN North Kivu.
“We appreciate people who worked with security organs in sharing and corroborating information in order to prevent these attacks. Rwanda National Police with other security organs will continue to prevent and fight against terrorism and ensure public security and safety,” RNP has tweeted.
{{Terror suspects speak out}}
Ismael Niyonshuti and Hassan Mbaraga are among members of the terror group, who were arrested. They narrated on how they joined the terror group with intention to destabilize Rwanda.
They disclosed that they were recruited by their colleagues and trained by a Kenyan national, who was part of the IS-linked terrorists in Cabo Delgado, where they were subdued by the joint Rwanda and Mozambique forces.
“I was arrested on August 31, a week after I got connected to the Kenya national, who was coming from Mozambique. He is the one who was training us on how to use explosives to target specific buildings in revenge for Rwanda’s intervention in Cabo Delgado,” said Niyonshuti.
He added: “The mission was to carry out an attack on KCT (Kigali City Tour) with explosives through an electronics shop operating on the ground floor, and a petrol station in Nyabugogo.”
On his part, Mbaraga revealed that he was recruited by Niyonshuti and that they had planned to detonate explosives in Kigali and other parts of the country.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that Rwanda police worked with other security organs to dismantle the terror cell, which was planning to carry terror attacks mainly in City of Kigali.
As he said, all the suspects were arrested in September.
CP Kabera thanked Rwandans who provided tip off that led to the arrest of terror suspects and advised the general public against putting their lives at risk dragging themselves into terrorism.
RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Thierry B. Murangira has said that the 13 terror suspects face seven charges namely; conspiracy to commit a crime, being part of of terror group, engaging in acts of terrorism, treason and mobilizing people to conduct terrorist attacks, illegal use of explosives or using toxic substances in public places, shattering buildings, establishing or joining terrorist group.
Upon conviction, terror suspects will be charged under law No. 46/2018 of 13/08/2018 on counter-terrorism where the accused crimes attract the sentence between seven and 25 years.
[{{Related story:}} {{RDF reacts to statement of Islamic State on Mozambique deployment}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rdf-reacts-to-statement-of-islamic-state-on-mozambique-deployment]
The discussions have been held on the second day of Kagame’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he went to participate in the 14th World Policy Conference (WPC).
The conference is organized by Swiss foundation known as ‘WPC Foundation’. This international conference acts as a forum for discussion and reflection about the global economy and international relations.
Kagame is among participants of the conference scheduled from 1st to 3rd October 2021.
The President has also met with Khedaim Abdulla Saeed Faris Al-Darei, the Co-founder, Vice Chairman and CEO of Al Dahra Holding LLC to discuss various investment opportunities.
Al Dahra Holding LLC is a company involved in the processing of agricultural produce.
The elections will be held in compliance with COVID-19 containment measures on different dates in October and November 2021.
As per released calendar, aspirants seeking to join districts’ advisory committees will submit credentials from 11th to 20th October 2021 while eligible candidates will be announced 26th October.
The aspirants on district councilors’ positions will hold electoral campaigns virtually between 3rd and 12th November before participating in elections scheduled on 26th November 2021.
Meanwhile, districts’ executive committees will be elected on 19th November 2021.
Among others; village committees will be elected on 23rd October, cell advisory committee on 30th October while elections for sector advisory committees will coincide with members of councils for special interest groups at sector level on 6th October.
Elections of members representing special interest groups at district level will be held on 9th November while voting members of councils for special groups namely women and the council of people living with disabilities at provincial level and Kigali City are scheduled on 22nd November.
On 23rd November, there will be elections of councils for special interest groups at national level.
Elections results at district, provincial and national level will be released not later than 26th November while the final election report will be submitted before the end of 2021.
Local leaders’ elections will cost Rwf3 billion as NEC announced recently.
Newly elected local leaders will assume office effective from February 2022 for five year tenure.
Qatar is making inroads into the African economy and Rwanda is a key focus of interest. Sub-Saharan Africa is the final frontier for state-owned investors (SOIs), offering potential large rewards – but also significant challenges. For patient investors capable of honing in on good deals, the region offers significant long-term returns that could generate big yields.
While the country has enjoyed political and economic stability since the end of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, the low level of banking sector penetration limits the ability of the financial sector to provide credit to the private sector. Yet, Rwanda is determined to overcome these constraints and is looking to foreign investment, with Qatar firmly at the top of its potential partners.
Rwanda Finance, which runs Kigali’s financial center, made a visit to Doha earlier last month as it seeks to establish President Paul Kagame’s vision of the capital as Africa’s financial hub. Africa Intelligence states that Donald Kaberuka, formerly Rwanda’s finance minister and ex-chair of the African Development Bank, is acting as intermediary between Qatar and Rwanda and is advising QIA on the new fund’s structure.
Qatar’s interests in Rwanda include a 60% stake in Bugesera International Airport, currently under construction, and a 49% stake in RwandAir. QIA’s portfolio companies are also supporting the Rwandan government’s efforts to make the central African country a global tourism destination. African interests outside Rwanda include a US$200 million investment in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business in August.
Earlier this year, the Qatari investor forged a joint venture with Italian utility Enel – Enel Green Power – to finance, build and operate renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The deal gave QIA a 50% stake in projects in operation and under construction in South Africa and Zambia, amounting to around 800MW of capacity.
The growing relationship between Kigali and Doha could lead to co-investments between QIA and Rwanda’s Agaciro Development Fund. As Global SWF reported in July, the government has overhauled the sovereign wealth fund’s board, appointing foreign and domestic asset managers and government officials. The inclusion of international experts suggests the government could be seeking FDI partners in strategic sectors, as well as firming up governance and investment strategy. The appointments also indicate that Rwanda is seeking to leverage the fund to advance venture capital investments.
The strategy adopted by the fund is likely to chime with the government’s focus on investment in boosting agricultural productivity and developing digital infrastructure. Rwanda is also heavily investing in its human capital with a heavy emphasis on ICT, which the government wants to utilize to diversify the economy.
Agaciro also owns 67% of the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) which is aligned with Rwanda’s economic transformation plan, the National Strategy for Transformation. It has supported the BRD with capital injections to deliver development, including an important role in delivering stimulus in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rwanda’s drive towards economic development and the status of “Singapore of Africa” favour QIA’s goal of expanding its footprint in a high growth region, while benefitting from the stability and security of the central African state. No doubt we will see relations between Kigali and Doha grow ever closer, with the likelihood of joint ventures between QIA and Agaciro.
The double tax avoidance agreement (DTAA) serves as an incentive for businesses and investors in both regions as it eliminates the double payment of taxes on both income and capital, but also aids transparency as it serves as a deterrent against tax evasion and avoidance.
The agreement was signed by the ambassador of Rwanda to Luxembourg (who is resident in Brussels), Dieudonné Sebashongore, and finance minister Pierre Gramegna (DP) during a short ceremony in Luxembourg City.
“This agreement will allow both Luxembourg and Rwandan economic actors to go further in their mutual exchanges. For those who are willing to invest in Rwanda, including the diaspora, this agreement will increase their motivation and facilitate business,” Sebashongore told Delano, adding that the relations between both countries have been cordial and interactions have so far been marked by mutual respect.
Bilateral relations between the countries, up until December 2013 when Luxembourg reassessed its list of official partner countries for development cooperation, was mostly based on development aid with an emphasis on the health and agriculture sectors. It was led by Luxembourg’s development agency, LuxDev, which was at the time also present in Rwanda, said Ndoli Pierre, senior communications and public affairs advisor.
He added that the countries’ relationship has more recently taken more of a partnership format, with knowledge transfers and trainings by the Luxembourg House of Training and its Rwandan counterparts–the Rwanda Revenue authority, the ministry of finance and economic planning, and the National Bank of Rwanda–being organised specifically in relation to banking and finance.
Beyond double taxation, on which the countries have had a breakthrough with the signed agreement, Pierre noted a concern regarding the reluctance of banks to provide loans to companies looking to invest on the continent. This reluctance has eased up following the 2016 launch of a financing facility–the business partnership facility (BPF)–which was initiated and financed by the Luxembourg government with an annual budget of €1m to co-finance up to 50% of development, job creation and knowledge transfer projects led by Luxembourg and European private sector partners in developing countries.
“Our agreement is another building block of the economic success that we wish you. On the surface, the signing of this agreement may seem to be something administrative, but for all the countries with which Luxembourg has signed agreements on double taxation, the interest and the will is to strengthen bilateral relations, to make them easier, clearer and more transparent. In this way, we will be able to trade with each other and forge links that go beyond the framework of development aid,” noted Gramegna.
The agreement, which intends to attract Luxembourg investors in Rwanda, is also in line with Rwanda’s ambition to attract international investors on the African continent through its Kigali International Financial Centre, and to position itself as an ideal location for pan-African investments thanks to the AfCTA framework.
The first-ever trade mission by the grand duchy to Rwanda took place in 2019 with top-level representatives from Luxembourg in attendance. About four projects were initiated during this mission, including a hotel project in Rwanda by Luxembourg-based group Onomo. Due to covid-19, discussions stalled for a bit, but this will once again kick off, noted Pierre, starting with an e-banking project together with a Luxembourg company which was not disclosed.
Discussion on the DTAA was first initiated by Luxembourg in 2019 with the first round of negotiation taking place in January 2020 in Luxembourg City. The second round of negations followed online from 26 November to 2 December 2020. The final negotiation round, also held online, took place on 27 April this year. The agreement will enter into force following its ratification by both countries.
