At Session II of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for building a world economy characterized by cooperation, stability, openness, innovation, and eco-friendliness.
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Police dismiss reports of Miss Muheto’s re-arrest
The spokesperson for the Rwanda National Police, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, told IGIHE on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, that the circulating reports are baseless rumours.
Miss Muheto, who was recently arrested and fined for drunk driving, also denied the claims in an audio message shared on social media.
“I am fine, I am safe, and I thank God for everything. I truly thank God. I am not detained and don’t understand where all these rumours are coming from or who is spreading them, but they are completely false. These are baseless rumours from certain individuals who may not wish others well or want to see them progress in life. But I am at peace,” she stated.
The beauty queen was released from custody two weeks ago after being handed a suspended three-month sentence by the Kicukiro Primary Court for drink driving and driving without a license.
In a ruling delivered on November 6, 2024, the court also imposed a fine of Frw 190,000 for the two offences. The 21-year-old was acquitted of the charge of fleeing the scene after causing an accident.
The suspended sentence means that Muheto will not serve time immediately, but the sentence could be enforced if she commits similar offences again within one year.
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Rwanda’s unemployment rate drops by 2.7 percent
According to the Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate stood at 15.3% in August 2024, marking a decline from both the previous year and pre-COVID-19 levels. This translates to 815,000 unemployed individuals out of a working-age population of 8.3 million.
Compared to the same quarter in 2023, the unemployment rate dropped by 2.7 percent, and it decreased by 0.7 percent compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
The survey showed that around 4.5 million Rwandans were employed, while approximately 3 million people were outside the labor force. Those not participating in the labor force included full-time students, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and discouraged job seekers.
The labor force, which combines the employed and unemployed populations, was estimated at 5.3 million people, with labor force participation reaching 64.1%, up from 59.8% in August 2023.
However, disparities persist across gender, age, and geographic areas. The unemployment rate was higher among women (18.5%) compared to men (12.5%) and among youth (18.8%) compared to adults (12.6%). Additionally, rural areas reported a slightly higher unemployment rate (16%) compared to urban areas (13.8%).
The labor force participation rate has steadily risen, driven by an increasing share of the working-age population actively engaging in the labor market.
This improvement is reflected in the reduction of the population outside the labor force, which fell to 35.9% in August 2024 from 40.2% a year earlier.
The distribution of employment across sectors highlights a notable shift in Rwanda’s economic structure. The agriculture sector, historically a key employer, saw its share of employment shrink to 32.6% in August 2024, down from 37.4% a year earlier.
In contrast, the services sector took the lead, employing 45.4% of the workforce compared to 41% in August 2023. Employment in the industrial sector remained relatively stable over the same period.
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Bishops reject Ruto donations; Mpox case reported in California: Snapshot of world’s top stories
{{First U.S. case of aggressive Mpox strain reported in California
}}The U.S. has confirmed its first case of a more aggressive strain of mpox, clade I, in a California resident who recently traveled to East Africa, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The individual is isolating at home, and public health officials report no evidence of local transmission.
Clade I, which has a higher fatality rate than the clade II strain responsible for the 2022 global outbreak, has been spreading across several African countries and was recently detected in Sweden, Thailand, and other nations.
Unlike clade II, clade I primarily spreads through contact with infected animals or within households, though some cases have been linked to sexual transmission.
Experts suggest that while clade I poses minimal risk to the general U.S. population, it could affect high-risk groups similarly to the 2022 outbreak. U.S. health officials say they are prepared, with testing, surveillance, and a substantial supply of the Jynneos vaccine.
The CDC emphasizes the need for vaccination among high-risk groups to curb potential spread and mitigate severity, leveraging lessons from the 2022 outbreak, which caused over 32,000 infections and 58 deaths nationwide.
{{EU warns China against military aid to Russia amid Ukraine war
}}German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned Beijing of potential sanctions if reports of Chinese military support to Russia are confirmed. During an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, allegations surfaced about a Chinese factory producing drones shipped to Russia.
While an unnamed EU official called the intelligence “credible,” they admitted no conclusive evidence of direct military cooperation.
Baerbock stated, “We are introducing further sanctions against Iran and are also making this clear regarding Chinese drone aid, because this too must and will have consequences.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed the sentiment, warning Beijing against escalating the Ukraine conflict.China dismissed the accusations as “baseless speculation,” emphasizing its strict export controls. “We have never provided lethal weapons to any party of the conflict,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, adding that China upholds peace talks in contrast to countries.
The U.S. recently sanctioned Chinese and Iranian firms for allegedly supplying military goods to Russia, with additional accusations against North Korea for artillery and troop support. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to rely heavily on international aid, with over $310 billion contributed by the U.S. and European nations since 2022.
{{Germany to deliver 4,000 drones to Ukraine
}}Germany will supply 4,000 sophisticated drones to Ukraine, the Defense Minister announced on Monday.
“These are drones piloted by artificial intelligence (AI) and which can disable the electronic defenses of enemy drones,” Minister Boris Pistorius explained to the press.These 4,000 units, “deliverable very quickly” would be able to act over a range of “30, 40 km” in Russian territory and “attack combat positions, logistics nodes and others. Considering that they constituted “an important additional asset for the Ukrainian armed forces,” he explained.
{{Abkhazia’s President resigns amid political unrest}}
President Aslan Bzhania of Abkhazia announced his resignation to quell anti-government protests that erupted last week, urging demonstrators to vacate government buildings in the capital, Sukhumi.
His decision followed prolonged negotiations with the opposition, who accuse Bzhania of favoring Russian interests over Abkhazia’s sovereignty.
Under the agreement, Prime Minister Aleksander Ankvab will also step down, with former PM Valeri Bganba set to take his place. Vice-President Badra Gunba will serve as acting leader until new elections are held.
However, Bzhania warned that if protesters do not leave the occupied buildings, he will withdraw his resignation.The unrest began over a proposed agreement allowing Russian companies to invest in Abkhazia, which critics saw as compromising national interests. Protesters stormed government offices last Friday, rejecting early elections and demanding Bzhania’s immediate departure.
The president initially called the protests an “attempted coup,” accusing opponents of undermining stability and exploiting anti-Russia rhetoric for political gain.
Abkhazia, a South Caucasus region with a population of 244,000, declared independence from Georgia in the 1990s and was recognized by Russia in 2008. Tensions persist as Georgia continues to claim the region as part of its territory.
{{Nairobi Archdioces rejects political donations from President Ruto and his people}}
On Sunday, November 17, 2024, President William Ruto donated Sh600,000 to the Soweto Catholic Church Choir and Parish Missionary Council and an additional Sh2 million for the construction of the Father’s house.
Governor Johnson Sakaja also contributed Sh200,000. President Ruto further pledged to buy the parish a bus and promised Sh3 million more for the priest’s house.
However, on Monday, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi announced that all donations from politicians would be refunded. In a public statement, he reaffirmed the Church’s stance on remaining independent of political influence, emphasizing the need for neutrality in matters of faith and governance.
The decision highlights the Church’s commitment to maintaining its spiritual and moral authority without interference from political entities, despite the significant financial pledges offered for its projects.
{{President Suluhu Orders Building Inspections After Tragic Collapse in Kariakoo}}
Following the collapse of a four-story building in Dar es Salaam’s Kariakoo area on Saturday, President Suluhu Hassan has directed a comprehensive inspection of all buildings in the bustling district. The tragedy has claimed 13 lives and injured 84 others.
President Hassan emphasized that rescue operations remain the top priority, delaying investigations into the collapse’s cause. She tasked the Prime Minister with leading a team of inspectors to assess the structural integrity of nearby buildings, promising transparency in sharing the findings and taking necessary actions.
The government has pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured and ensure respectful handling of the deceased. The President also announced that police will collect details from the building’s owner about its construction.
Expressing sympathy for the victims’ families, President Hassan reassured the public of ongoing updates and a commitment to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
{{Rwanda surpasses digital literacy target, aims for full digitization by 2029}}
Rwanda has achieved significant progress in digital literacy, surpassing its 2024 target of 60% by reaching 75.2%, according to the latest Labour Force Survey by the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR).
This milestone reflects the growing ability of Rwandans to navigate digital platforms for e-services, e-learning, and mobile financial transactions.
Key initiatives like the Digital Ambassadors Programme (DAP) have played a pivotal role, training 1,327 digital ambassadors and 57 supervisors to promote digital literacy nationwide. By January 2025, the number will increase to 2,148, ensuring one ambassador per cell across the country.
Additionally, over 3,200 public servants have received digital training to improve public service efficiency.
Investments in ICT infrastructure have expanded access to essential online services, notably through the government’s Irembo platform. Citizens now process IDs, driving licenses, and birth certificates online, reducing reliance on physical offices.Looking ahead, Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST) aims to train one million coders, develop advanced ICT skills, and implement a Single Digital ID system. By 2029, all government services will be fully digitized, enhancing service delivery, accountability, and citizen engagement.
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21-year-old Ugandan man jailed for insulting President Museveni in TikTok video
Emmanuel Nabugodi, a comedian, was sentenced on Monday, November 18, 2024, days after pleading guilty to four charges, including hate speech and spreading malicious information about the president.
He ran into trouble with the authorities after posting a video featuring a mock trial of the Ugandan Head of State. In the video, which he shared with more than 20,000 followers on his account, he called for Museveni’s public flogging.
Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis, while passing the sentence, said the accused showed no remorse and that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to social media attacks against individuals, including the president.
“This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he will have learned that abusing people in the name of content creation is wrong,” she said.
Nabugodi has 14 days to lodge an appeal against the sentence.
The young man is among several individuals charged under a 2022 amendment to the Computer Misuse Act, which has faced opposition from some rights groups. Three others are awaiting trial over content shared on the social media app.
The amendment made it illegal to “write, send, or share any information through a computer that is likely to ridicule, degrade, or demean another person, group of persons, a tribe, an ethnicity, a religion, or gender.”
In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison for insulting the First Family through a TikTok video.
Edward Awebwa was charged with hate speech and spreading “misleading and malicious” information against Museveni, First Lady Janet, and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the head of the Ugandan army.
Although Awebwa pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness, the presiding magistrate noted that he did not appear remorseful and that the language used in the video was “extremely vulgar.”
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Rwandan banks maintain profitability despite increase in non-performing loans to Frw 267 billion
In the same fiscal year, loan approvals surged by 33%, amounting to Frw 2,162.9 billion.
The BNR’s report, presented to both chambers of Parliament on November 18, 2024, highlighted notable changes in the banking sector.
Deposit interest rates in commercial banks rose to an average of 10%, driven by long-term savings, while loan interest rates declined by 15.97%, spurred by the growth of short-term loans.
The increase in the NPL ratio, from 3.6% to 5%, was largely attributed to repayment challenges faced by some large companies. Nevertheless, the banking sector demonstrated resilience, with net profits rising by 36.7% to Frw 132.5 billion in the first half of 2024.
BNR Governor John Rwangombwa explained that the 5% NPL ratio does not threaten the profitability of banks.
He remarked, “Even with this 5%, there are amounts already written off as unrecoverable, which are closely monitored over time.”
Rwangombwa also emphasized that BNR maintains strict oversight to ensure banks can issue loans prudently or recover collateral when necessary.
Despite a strong financial position, the sector faces structural challenges. In 2024, 67% of total deposits were demand deposits, which can be withdrawn at any time, while only 33% were time deposits with maturities of less than a year. This limits banks’ capacity to issue long-term loans.
As of June 2024, the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) stood at 135.6%, well above the regulatory minimum of 100%. This indicates a robust liquidity position, bolstered by a 23.1% increase in customer deposits, which accounted for 78.5% of total bank liabilities.
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Pope Francis calls on G20 leaders for urgent action to eradicate hunger and poverty
Through a message read by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, the Pope directed his words to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the current chair of the G20, as the leaders convened in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 and 19.
This two-day summit brought together representatives from 19 nations, the African Union, and the European Union to discuss pressing global issues.
According to Vatican News, the Pope congratulated President Lula for hosting the summit and expressed his hope that the leaders’ discussions would yield meaningful solutions to create a better world and ensure a brighter future for generations to come.
He highlighted the critical and urgent need to eradicate hunger, which he described as a scandal of our time.
Millions of people suffer and die from hunger while vast amounts of food are wasted—a contradiction he called a “criminal act.”
“It is thus evident that immediate and decisive action must be taken to eradicate the scourge of hunger and poverty. Such action must be undertaken in a joint and collaborative manner, with the involvement of the entire international community,” he stated.
Drawing from his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, he emphasized that food is an inalienable right and that allowing hunger to persist represents a profound moral failure.
Pope Francis further pointed to the devastating role of armed conflicts in perpetuating hunger and poverty.
As the Pope said, wars not only destroy lives and communities but also disrupt global supply chains, deepen inequality, and redirect enormous resources toward weaponry rather than human welfare.
He stressed the need to forge new paths to peace, calling for a stable and lasting resolution to conflicts that would restore dignity to those affected.
The Pope also lamented the vast sums spent on military expenditures and urged leaders to redirect these funds to initiatives aimed at addressing hunger and fostering development in impoverished regions.
The Pope expressed his support for the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and assured the G20 leaders that the Holy See remains committed to promoting human dignity through the work of Catholic institutions worldwide.
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Sudanese gov’t says open to settling armed conflict, ensuring aid delivery
“The Sudanese government is open to all solutions to end and settle the conflict, and it is also open to delivering humanitarian aid, but the government will not accept this to be exploited to deliver weapons to the rebels instead of delivering food,” Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, told visiting U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello during a meeting, according to Sudan’s Ambassador to the United States Mohamed Abdullah.
Al-Burhan told Perriello that the Sudanese government does not agree for the Adre border crossing with Chad to be exploited in delivering weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abdullah said.
On Nov. 13, the Sudanese government decided to extend the opening of the Adre border crossing for three months to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-affected population in the country.
“The two sides discussed the roadmap and how to stop the war and deliver humanitarian aid, besides the political process as a final solution,” Abdullah said.
Following the meeting, Perriello told reporters that the U.S. would continue to work with the Sudanese authorities to help expand the number of Sudanese people who have access to food, water, and medicine.
Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023. The deadly conflict has resulted in over 24,850 deaths and displaced more than 14 million people, according to estimates by international organizations.
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Africa CDC pushes for reassessment of U.S. travel advisory on Rwanda
In a letter addressed to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the US CDC, Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya highlighted Rwanda’s substantial progress in controlling and managing the outbreak.
As of November 17, it has been 18 days since Rwanda reported its last Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) case. All previously infected patients have been successfully discharged, while rigorous monitoring and community follow-up systems remain in place. Additionally, 100% of identified contacts completed the required monitoring period.
Rwanda’s achievement is attributed to the swift and coordinated efforts led by its Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and international partners.
Key measures included enhanced nationwide surveillance for early case detection, innovative approaches to contact tracing and isolation, upgraded treatment facilities meeting global standards, and widespread public awareness campaigns on prevention.
The Marburg virus outbreak was first declared in Rwanda on September 27, 2024. Since then, the country has worked diligently to contain the virus and prevent its spread within Rwanda and across the continent.
During Africa CDC’s weekly media briefing, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, stated: “More than a month without a death from Marburg is indicative of the sound progress we have made, but the country remains vigilant.”
Surveillance efforts have been extended to include monitoring fruit bats, the source of the index case, and all caves in the country.
Based on current data, the MVD index case originated from a single zoonotic transmission. Of the 66 reported cases, Rwanda has recorded 51 recoveries. Efforts continue to follow up on survivors and monitor those who have recovered.
Dr. Nsanzimana further noted, “The case fatality rate for those who did not make it has been maintained at 22.7%, which is relatively lower compared to previous outbreaks in the region. The deployment of new tools, therapeutics, and vaccines has contributed significantly to these outcomes.”
Recent evaluations by Africa CDC and WHO acknowledge Rwanda’s progress, confirming a low risk of further MVD transmission. No cases have been reported outside Rwanda or in the United States.
Africa CDC has urged the U.S. HHS and CDC to collaborate with international health agencies to reassess the situation and update the travel advisory to reflect Rwanda’s current epidemiological status.
Dr. Kaseya emphasized that revising the advisory “would recognize Rwanda’s public health achievements while supporting its economic recovery.”
He also reaffirmed the strong partnership between Africa CDC and the United States in advancing global health security.
In a statement released on November 18, 2024, Africa CDC reiterated its commitment to protecting public health across Africa and collaborating with global partners to enhance health security.
Africa CDC, an autonomous public health agency of the African Union, supports member states in strengthening health systems, improving disease surveillance, and enhancing emergency response and disease control efforts.
