The officials from Burundi led by the Permanent Secretary in the Interior Ministry in charge of Public Security arrived in Rwanda through Nemba One Stop Border Post in Bugesera District on Monday 19th December 2022.
Rwanda’s delegation that received Burundian officials include the Minister of Emergency Management; the Governor of Eastern Province, Emmanuel Gasana; his counterpart of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi and the Mayor of Bugesera District, Mutabazi Richard.
Governor Gasana gave a warm welcome to the officials and took them through planned activities during their two-day stay in Rwanda where they will interact with officials from the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They will also interact with representatives of Burundian refugees living in Kigali City and other parts of the country and visit Mahama refugee camp.
The campaign is held for the first time since 2015, when over 80,000 Burundians fled to Rwanda amidst the insecurity that followed an attempted coup.
According to MINEMA, a total of 30,315 refugees have returned to Burundi since 2020.
Currently, 50, 329 Burundian refugees live in Rwanda, most of them in the Mahama refugee camp.
Argentina led 2-0, only for two goals from Kylian Mbappe in 100 seconds to force extra time, where Messi scored again, only for Mbappe to again peg Argentina back.
Emiliano Martinez was then the savior, pulling off a vital save in the dying moments of extra time and saving a penalty in the shootout, to add his name to Argentina’s list of heroes.
France coach Didier Deschamps brought back central defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who had both recovered from a virus, while Angel Di Maria was back for Argentina, who played a flat back four, with Nicolas Tagliafico keeping his place at left back.
Argentina started strongly, with their midfield swamping the French, who struggled to get out of their half.
Alexis Mac Allister shot straight at Hugo Lloris in the fourth minute, before Rodrigo De Paul saw an effort deflected for a corner.
Di Maria was looking very lively, but should have done better than blaze over from De Paul’s pullback after Messi had put the midfielder in behind Theo Hernandez.
The winger did a lot better in the 21st minute, turning inside Ousmane Dembele, who then caught his heel. There wasn’t a lot of contact, but it was enough and the referee pointed to the spot.
Messi stepped up to calmly send Lloris the wrong way and net his sixth goal of the tournament.
Argentina continued their control and doubled their lead in the 36th after a magnificent team move that started with Messi and continued with Julian Alvarez, who fed a diagonal ball to the onrushing Mac Allister. Mac Allister looked up and sent in a low cross for Di Maria to slip past the exposed Lloris.
Deschamps responded with a double substitution, replacing Dembele and Giroud, both of whom were well below their best, with Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
It looked as if Deschamps’ team talk was to little effect as Argentina continued to control the second half, even if they were happy to sit a bit deeper.
It wasn’t until the 67th minute that France had a chance, with Kolo Muani heading wide following a corner. France looked dead and buried.
And then they were level.
In the 80th minute, Nicolas Otamendi’s clumsy challenge brought down Kolo Muani and Mbappe sent his spot kick just wide of Emiliano’s dive.
A minute later it was 2-2, France combined in the last third, Kingsley Coman chipped the ball to Mbappe, who did the rest, volleying past Emiliano as the ball dropped over his shoulder.
France stayed on top for most of the first period of extra time, but the best chance fell to Lautaro Martinez, who had just come on as a substitute, and perhaps for that he took an extra touch that allowed a defender to block.
Messi scored again in the 108th minute, firing just the line from close range after Lloris had saved Martinez’s volley, but incredibly Argentina’s celebrations were cut short in the 118th minute when Mbappe’s shot hit Gonzalo Montiel’s arm in the area and Mbappe completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Kolo Muani should have won it for France but Emiliano stuck out a leg to pull off a providential save when the striker was through on goal.
He then saved Coman’s penalty and when Aurelien Tchouameni dragged his effort wide, it was time for Argentina and Messi’s celebrations to begin.
Speaking on behalf of BPR Bank, Head of Marketing, Corporate Affairs and Citizenship, Albert Akimanzi said: “The bank is proud to yet again partner with the Golf community. This tournament has symbolized what the bank stands for; a convention of people, toward achievement of collective goals.”
“Our aim is to maintain these partnerships, purposed to solidify stakeholder relationships,” he added.
The BPR Bank Lakeside Classic was attended by several golfers from across Rwanda, who were competing on the scenic Falcon Golf Club course, which provided as much challenge as it did elegance.
“Congratulations to all the winners and participants. We look forward to engaging with you all at future events, across the bank’s social, business and sports’ activities,” said Akimanzi.
BPR Bank, Rwanda’s biggest bank by branch network and it’s parent company KCB Group recently launched new values, For people, for better. The ethos behind this development is the bank’s customer obsession. Multiple developments in technology and processes are ongoing with the primary objective to simplify the lives of all customers.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the spokesperson for the Eastern region, said the suspects arrested on Thursday, December 15, include the owner of the vehicle identified as Ignace Mwizerwa, 45, and one Umuhizi Marie Jeanne, 46, who owns a garage in Rwamagana town.
“On December 15, Mwizerwa brought his car for inspection at Rwamagana Automobile Inspection Centre (AIC), but it failed the test due to brake failure,” said SP Twizeyimana.
He added: “Instead of fixing the mechanical fault, Mwizerwa connived with Umuhizi to flip the old brake drum with the new one, took back the vehicle to the AIC, and passed the mechanical inspection.
After getting the roadworthy certificate, Mwizerwa took the vehicle back to Umuhizi’s garage to remove the new brake drum and to fix back the old and faulty one. They were arrested red-handed flipping the brake drum and handed over to RIB at Kigarama station.”
SP Twizeyimana thanked a resident, who tipped off the Police about the dangerous act.
“This was so dangerous to use such criminal procedures just to acquire a mechanical inspection certificate and to put lives of people at such high risk, a practice that cannot be tolerated,” the spokesperson said.
He urged owners of vehicles to think about safety first in whatever they do and to always make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy.
“It is not about passing the mechanical inspection test; it’s about knowing the status of your vehicle and fixing every identified problem for you to be safe and to make other road users safe too.”
The month-long activities were conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Environment, the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), Rwanda Energy Group (REG), Agaciro Development Fund, and National Child Development Agency (NCDA).
The projects including about 7,500 households lit with solar energy, 65 houses constructed for the disadvantaged families and 30 Early Child Development (ECD) centres, were officially handed handed over to the beneficiaries on Friday, December 16.
The RNP also constructed 16 cattle spray races, provided a financial facility amounting to over Frw35 million to cooperatives, 2000 medical insurances and four cows.
This year’s Police Month was held under the theme: “22 years of partnership in policing for sustainable transformation of Rwandan community.”
While addressing hundreds of residents in Kitabi Sector, Nyamagabe District, the Minister of Local Government, Jean Claude Musabyimana said that the last 22 years of the RNP service were not in vain.
“The last 22 years have defined the safety and security that Rwandans enjoy today, and these Police socio-economic development activities are results of productive collaboration between institutions and the people,” Minister Musabyimana said.
Out of 2407 households in the Southern Province, which were connected with solar energy, 459 are in Nyamagabe District. Sixteen houses and eight ECDs were also constructed in the same province
The Minister said that security is the foundation for development and wellbeing of the people towards sustainable transformation, and that the houses, ECDs and solar energy supports them to get out of poverty.
“Poverty begins from the mind; conquer that poverty by changing how you thinks and strive to develop…to change your status.
This strong cooperation and collaboration between the Police and the citizens is a strategic guidance by His Excellency the President because Police cannot achieve its mandate without working with the people,” the Minister said.
He reassured the residents of security and urged them to focus on their development activities as well as maintaining the community policing spirit to report anything that can cause insecurity and affect the country’s development agenda.
“Fighting crimes is continual, it requires enhanced measures, strengthened cooperation and collaboration and being swift in sharing information.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza, said that the Police Month is dedicated to the national development activities, to improve the wellbeing of Rwandans, and to raise awareness against crime for people in Rwanda to continue to be safe.
He observed that Nyamagabe is one of the districts with fewer crimes, majority related to smuggling, family conflicts and environmental crimes.
The Police Chief thanked Nyamagabe residents for their responsiveness to fight armed groups that attempted to destabilize their security in the past.
“Because of your patriotic spirit and partnership with security organs, we were able to identify those connected to the criminal activities, we thank you for this continuous partnership,” IGP Munyuza said.
He reiterated that this security campaign is a reminder of the individual and collective responsibility, to be eyes and ears against crimes towards sustainable transformation.
While closing the Police Month activities in the City of Kigali, the Minister of Interior, Alfred Gasana urged residents, who converged in Mageragere, Nyarugenge District, not to lean back and to sustain what has been achieved.
“Security is a wide aspect and these community development activities are meant to ensure and sustain your safety,” Minister told residents in Mageragere Sector, Nyarugenge District.
Similar activities were also conducted in the Eastern, Western and Northern provinces.
Beneficiaries speak out
A 70-year old Veneranda Mukandori of Gasharu Village, Nyabivumu Cell, Gasaka Sector in Nyamagabe, was all smiles for having a place to call home.
“I returned home two years ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), I had no place to call home, and I started to lay bricks and other casual labour to earn a living and to get money to pay for rent.
God has answered my prayers to use our President and our Police to construct this modern and fully equipped house. I can now sleep well and feeling secure,” Mukandori said.
Another beneficiary, Alphonsine Mukeshimana, 35, a single mother of two from Nyabivumu also in Nyamagabe, said that the house will provide safety for her children.
The latter is an event that enabled Rwandans to get a better understanding of the Veteran World Cup Championship (VCWC2024) rendez-vous that will bring together over 150 football legends to Rwanda in 2024 for a tournament and series of forums on Peace, Education, Technology, Investment and Tourism.
The flag of remarkable Rwanda this time has been flying high in Doha, Qatar for the international kickoff of the LEGENDS IN RWANDA promotional tour.
Through out the week, Fred SIEWE, Chairman of the VCWC and his team met with over 40 football legends from around the world to discuss their participation in the 2024 edition of the Veteran Clubs World Championship Rwanda 2024. Some of them include Samuel Eto’o, Rio Ferdinand, Claude Makelele, Marcel Desailly, Roberto Carlos, Michael Essien amongst many others.
This international Kickoff edition was also ponctuated by a presentation conference held at Luxurious Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hôtel in the presence of Ambassador Igor Marara, Ambassador of the republic of Rwanda to the state of Qatar together with a good number of international media, curious to see how this first and historic edition unfolds in Rwanda.
It is reported that Gavana was killed in the morning of Friday 16th December 2022.
IGIHE has learnt that Gavana was killed during an intense fighting that erupted in five kilometers from M23 base in Bwiza following the attack of FARDC and its proxies including FDLR and Mai Mai.
Maj Nshimiyimana led the attack against residents of Kinigi in the night of 3rd leading to 4th October 2019 that claimed lives of 14.
M23 has released a statement claiming that FARDC has attacked its base located in Bwiza considering it a violation of ceasefire agreement reached in Luanda, the capital of Angola on 23rd November 2023.
The statement further reads that FARDC apparently seems to be against efforts to restore peace in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In October 2019, around 67 combatants of armed groups including P5 and RUD Urunana attacked Rwanda through Kinigi in Northern Province but were repelled by Rwandan soldiers.
The attack claimed lives of 14 residents while Rwandan soldiers killed 19 of the assailants.
Some of attackers captured at different times were tried before Rwanda’s Military High Court in Kigali where they faced charges including joining an illegal armed group, attempting to use war to remove the current government, and terrorism.
The event took place in Nyungwe National Park where some of the attacks were carried out.
The attacks were conducted in Nyabimata Sector of Nyaruguru District, Kitabi and Uwinkingi sectors in Nyamagabe District as well as Bweyeye Sector in Nyamasheke District.
The attacks also left many others gravely injured, and caused significant material and economic damage
During the event to commemorate victims of the attacks, mourners who set out from Kintobo Village, Kagano Cell, Kitabi Sector in Nyamagabe District to Nyungwe also conveyed messages denouncing FLN terrorism.
Desire Ngirababyeyi was driving a bus carrying passengers on 15th December 2018 along the road Rusizi-Nyamagabe in Nyungwe forest, Kitabi Sector in Nyamagabe District.
FLN combatant’s ambushed the bus along with others where they killed some passengers and injured others.
He explained that his bus was stopped by a log laid on the road by FLN terrorists who started shooting at passengers.
“As they shot us, the bus skidded off the road and rolled down. I immediately broke the glass, moved out and ran away along with some passengers who followed me. Later on, Rwandan soldiers came on our rescue,” he said.
“I was shot on the shoulder that I am handicapped. Since then, we have never received compensation but the government provided us with treatment and other support to survive,” narrated another affected resident identified as Azela Niyontegereje.
Residents who turned up for the commemoration event said that they wanted to denounce the international pressure exerted on Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina yet he was the leader of terrorists that killed relatives.
They also laid roses on two places where the victims were killed.
Vincent Nsengiyumva, the former Executive Secretary of Nyabimata Sector who was shot on the head by FLN attackers in June 2018 also provided testimonies at the event.
He commended security personnel for having intervened and urged foreigners against pushing for the release of Rusesabagina lest they continue to hurt affected residents.
Nsengiyumva asked the government of Rwanda to help them access fair justice because their compensation was not provided.
On 4th April 2022, the Court of Appeal maintained the 25-year sentence handed to Paul Rusesabagina while Nsabimana Callixte alias ‘Sankara’, the former spokesperson of MRCD-FLN terror group saw his sentence reduced from 20 to 15 years behind bars.
Rusesabagina and 20 co-accused individuals faced charges including the formation of an irregular armed group, membership of a terrorist group, financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, arson as an act of terrorism, attempted murder as an act of terrorism, and assault and battery as an act of terrorism.
[{{Related story: Victims of FLN attacks demand Anthony Blinken to consider their concerns}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/victims-of-fln-attacks-demand-anthony-blinken-to-consider-their-concerns]
Success is not exactly something that can be inherited, no matter how much a parent or guardian tries, without the skills and hard work of a child it will all be for nothing.
The sooner you teach your child how to work, find a hobby beyond watching television, the more chances you provide for them to find their way in the world.
Languages, playing musical instruments, IT or graphic design based skills and more like these are things that can get a young person clean money.
These are skills that most times do not require a degree, just a level of professionalism and creativity.
The more languages a person knows the more opportunities they are offered on the job market from a writer, a translator, a hospitality manager, a teacher, flight attendant, to a customer service representative and more.
Typically a child under 12-years of age is able to unconsciously grasp a language, from simply having it used frequently around him or her.
Children will mirror what they see and hear in their environment, even as adults a person who is being exposed to a new language without the aim of learning it being the underlying rule that governs it will have a head start.
Spending time around people who speak a totally different language than you, will be beneficial in your journey to learn a new language.
Teaching a child musical instruments is another great idea, music is one of the most beautiful things, it is something that will not cease to exist.
As a person with absolutely no rhythm, learning how to play a music instrument would have probably been beneficial.
Teaching a child to play a musical instrument enables them to learn about sounds, rhythm, melody, pitch, beat, while also stimulating the brain cells, and giving them an outlet for their creativity and their emotions.
This is something that can be taught to a child from the age of 3 to the age 7, making it as fun as possible, while having them understand the basics and fundamentals of music at an early age.
Being able to play one or multiple musical instruments will have a young person making more money than most graduates.
Being a typical student from Monday to Friday, and a musician by week-end in weddings, concerts and even church.
From this, a child can develop a love for music and grow up to become singer, a composer, a music teacher or even as far becoming a musical therapist, a person who uses music within therapeutic environment to help individuals of all ages who are experiencing emotional or mental health problems, or who have learning or physical disabilities or physical illnesses.
Another easy to learn and available skill for young children is IT and graphic design.
As an individual who had the pleasure of being taught computer skills by my own father at a young age, I know the advantage one can have over others either in class and in the workplace.
I was so interested in how my father was so invested in computers, trying to teach me how to type quicker, use Microsoft and general basic information about computers, that I started to spend hours on the computer learning other applications and software.
Before I was out of high school, I was getting paid because I had taught
myself to use Adobe software and making business cards, invitation cards and other editing videos.
I was not the only one in the family who was inspired to explore more of what the IT world offers, my oldest sister went into software engineering, the other is in university learning to become a web developer.
This goes to show the importance of sharing your skills with your children, especially at an early age because they will explore and if they decide to stick with what you showed them they will already have a head start.
Our mother from a very tender age taught us the value of learning different languages, knowing that we were not going to the schools that would teach us languages adequately. She made it her mission to get us to exercise with her.
Having been a teacher at some point in her life, she knew the best way to teach us, she concentrated on getting to sound out our words, the accents we were using, reading and writing as a professional.
She did not allow the ‘i didn’t’ it was always ‘i did not’, which later in life turned out to be useful.
She believed that a person learning a language should immerse completely in the language, so depending on the language she was teaching in that period, our television shows, music and books would be based on that.
We were given the right to choose whatever careers we wanted, and some of my siblings did choose careers aside from things that are computer related. One of my sisters is currently learning psychology.
It is good and it can be fun to share your interests with your children. You never know just how important you can inspire them while making them young professionals.
In April 2022, Rwanda and the United Kingdom (UK) signed Migration and Economic Development partnership. The deal paves the way for deportation to Rwanda of migrants and asylum seekers staying in the UK illegally.
Under this program, migrants are set to benefit from secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons and higher education.
After signing the agreement, it was reported that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.
The UK made the decision to discourage people crossing to the country illegally and reduce the budget spent on them every year.
The deal was criticized by various organizations overseeing migrants’ interests and some British politicians.
Their first flight to Rwanda was expected on 14th June 2022 but was cancelled at last minute after an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Currently, the issue is still in court, pending a decision on the appeal filed against the deportation.
Although the court has not yet made a decision, Amb. Omar Daair said that they are still confident that the deportation will go into force.
“The British government is very confident that this agreement is legal and correct, and has fought that case in court,” he said.
“We expect that verdict to come on Monday, so once we have that verdict, if it is in favor of the UK government then we will be able to move towards implementation of this agreement, with people being transferred here.” Added Amb. Daair.
This was also highlighted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while appearing before parliament on Tuesday.
Once the legal challenge is handled, Sunak said that migrants will be deported to Rwanda based on signed Migration and Economic Development Partnership.
The UK is one of the European countries that have for long struggled with an increase in illegal migrants, mainly through the English Channel.
The BBC recently reported that at least 40,000 people crossed the English Channel in 2022, a higher number compared to 28,526 registered last year.
These illegal migrants come from various countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
The UK spends at least 5.5 million pounds a year on migrants where they stay in hotels while their claims are being processed.
