Reflecting on the exhibition’s successful conclusion on Thursday, the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, Rugwizangoga Michaella commended the positive outcomes and the opportunity it presented for engaging with key figures in the travel sector.
The exhibition spanned three days, during which Rwanda’s booth attracted significant attention, including a visit from Makram Mustafa A. Queisi, the Minister of Tourism for Jordan.
The ITB Berlin served as an essential platform for Rwanda to present its tourist attractions and investment opportunities to a European audience.
The event was a gathering point for various stakeholders in tourism, including hoteliers, tour operators, and officials from tourism-promoting institutions across the globe.
Leading the Rwandan delegation, RDB showcased a diverse array of exhibitors, including prestigious entities like Wilderness Rwanda, Wanderlux Safaris, Wolf DMC, Kingfisher Journeys, Primate Safaris LTD, Akagera Aviation, RwandAir, African Parks, and Mythos Boutique Hotel.
Tourism stands as a cornerstone of Rwanda’s economy, with the industry’s earnings reaching $247 million in the first half of 2023 alone—a 56% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2022.
The successful participation in ITB Berlin 2024 highlights Rwanda’s ascending trajectory in the international tourism landscape.
From March 4th to 7th, 2024, members of the GCF Board convened in Kigali for a meeting that decided on environmental conservation projects to fund.
Mafalda Duarte commended the Rwandan government, under Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente, for exemplary utilization of the grants provided to combat climate change.
“The Rwandan government has been exceptional in collaborating with us, to the extent that it now receives funds to implement environmental protection projects. Some of our board members remarked that Rwanda has much to share with the world, demonstrating how to gather environmental fund resources like ours to support various projects,” Duarte said.
Duarte mentioned that they chose Rwanda for the GCF board meeting so the members could directly observe the positive outcomes of the funded projects in Rwanda.
“We are delighted to take the GCF board members to see the fruitful results of the projects we’ve been funding here in Rwanda, to truly show the importance of our support and how it is utilized. I am confident they will be as pleased as I was during my last visit in September 2023,” she stated.
The Green Gicumbi Project, initiated in January 2020 after Rwanda received over $32 million from the GCF in 2019, is being implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mujawamariya Jeanne d’Arc, revealed that the GCF board members were shown the Green Gicumbi Project, which has transformed the lives of the local residents.
“They visited Green Gicumbi to see our work beyond just sitting in offices and making project decisions, to witnessing the impact on the community,” she explained.
“They toured the terraces we’ve built, saw the planted wheat, tea, and the agroforestry on those farms, as well as the energy-saving stoves and a model village where we resettled people from high-risk zones.
They were amazed by how our project integrates all aspects, including the well-being of the community and economic aspects where the residents themselves provide testimonies.”
Dr. Mujawamariya also mentioned plans to propose projects focused on forest conservation and renewable energy, with the GCF Director promising support.
In 2022, the GCF granted Rwanda $35 million for environmental protection and climate change adaptation projects across the Eastern Province.
Additionally, in October 2023, Rwanda received another $100 million, including $39.1 million allocated for afforestation projects in various districts. This initiative will contribute to forest care on 278,000 hectares and promote agroforestry on at least 2,000 hectares.
The GCF Director also commended Rwanda for hosting the 38th board meeting, which resulted in various decisions, including the funding of 11 projects worth $500 million. These projects, primarily in Africa, include efforts in Madagascar, a country severely affected by climate change.
This new variety, named Nowa 566, was planted on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, marking the start of the 2023/2024 B Agriculture season. It was sown in Kibirizi Sector, Mushikiri Cell.
Nowa 566 is a new variety developed in Rwanda, anticipated to increase yields significantly.
Farmers traditionally harvested over 800 kilograms of beans per hectare, but with this new variety, they expect to harvest at least two tons per hectare.
Mathias Muhawenimana, one of the farmers who planted this new variety, expressed gratitude to RAB and local leaders for providing this seed. He noted that the conventional bean variety was prone to various diseases, affecting yield adversely.
He mentioned that this new variety is expected to significantly boost production.
Frank Kayumba, the head of RAB in Gatsibo and Nyagatare, explained that the Nowa 566 bean variety is reliable and well-suited to the soil of the Eastern Province.
This variety also matures quickly, enabling farmers to harvest sooner. He added, “It’s resistant to diseases, particularly rich in iron and other essential minerals needed by the body. Moreover, it’s highly productive because a well-cultivated hectare can yield up to two tons.”
Nyagatare District Mayor, Stephen Gasana, urged the community to use quality seeds and fertilizers and to plant in a timely manner to ensure prompt harvests. He also advised against burning crop residues, highlighting their value as animal feed and fertilizer.
Yet, women represent over 51% of the population and play a crucial role in the development of society at all levels.
In 2021, Spark Microgrants, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and with the support of the World Bank, launched the Advancing Citizen Engagement (ACE) project.
The ACE project aims to improve the lives of those living in extreme poverty, through the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP). The project strengthens participatory planning and citizen engagement in government processes, by training local Government officials on FCAP tools.
It also supports villages to lead their development and increase citizen capacity, self-reliance, confidence, financial literacy, and project management, and develop a framework for a national-scale roll-out of FCAP – the National Framework for Participatory Village Planning, by working with the central government policy-makers.
With the FCAP meeting, women’s attendance and participation in village meetings have increased.
In the 249 communities benefiting from the ACE project, women attend meetings at 35%, and their participation in the meetings at 61%. Women participate in engaging discussions ask questions and guide the conversation with men to make their voices heard and their perspectives and ideas understood.
Mrs. Evans Niyitegeka living in Busoro Village, Gishamvu Sector-Huye District, was given a pig, but after several attempts, she found that it wasn’t mating while other people’s pigs were. When she realized there was a problem, she worked with the village committee to assist her in selling it so that she might find another pig to support her growth.
“The committee heard my problem as some other members were experiencing similar difficulties. The pig was sold and replaced with the one that was able to produce. Today I am pleased that I am making a profit: I care for my pig, and now I have fertilizer to use in my fields and I produce enough agricultural products,” Niyitegeka said.
“You can even see me now” she added, “I am healthy because I eat well and enough. when I plant crops like potatoes and vegetables, they grow and produce good yields. I previously owned a cow at home but gave it to my newlywed son and told him he could use the cow dung as manure instead of me”.
Evans mentioned that when she learned about the Spark Microgrants project she was fortunate to receive a pig because she was regularly attending the FCAP meetings. She currently grows on compost, and her family does not go hungry anymore.
“I applaud our government for seriously considering development initiatives and bringing them to the population. I’m also grateful to Spark since it does not discriminate against anyone based on their socioeconomic status; even those who previously did not receive assistance now do”, she concluded.
Nyiramahano Laurence, an elderly woman (64) living in Ruhanga cell, Busengo Sector, Gakenke district, said she can’t miss FCAP meetings. She said that women and men complement each other and it is good that they share thoughts and ideas during the meetings.
“During the FCAP meetings, everyone is allowed to share their thoughts regardless of their gender or age. In the early years, it was difficult for women to speak up in public as those who did were considered stubborn and disrespectful. But after electing Kagame, our President, women were empowered”.
The study, published by the IPU on March 5, 2024, demonstrates that Rwanda maintains its position at the forefront worldwide, with women constituting 61.3% of the Chamber of Deputies and 34.6% of the Senate.
Following Rwanda in this ranking are countries including Cuba with 55.7% female representation, Nicaragua with 53.9%, Mexico at 50.4%, and both Andorra and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 50.0%.
The IPU notes that the global average of women in legislative bodies is 26.9%, marking a 0.4% increase following the elections of 2023.
The research also highlighted that the overall percentage of women leading parliaments has risen to 23.8%, up from 22.7%, with countries such as Cambodia and Côte d’Ivoire electing female parliamentary leaders for the first time in their history.
Furthermore, the IPU reported that Sub-Saharan Africa saw the most significant increase in female parliamentary representation, with a 3.9% rise following the 2023 elections compared to the last election cycle in those countries.
The United States announced these sanctions on March 4, explaining that Mnangagwa, his wife, and other government officials of Zimbabwe were involved in embezzling the country’s assets and violating human rights.
The Deputy Spokesperson for the President of Zimbabwe reminded that their country has been under unjust sanctions by the United States since 2001.
He also mentioned that the United States made this decision alone, disregarding international law and the United Nations’ regulations.
He stated, “This decision of hostility was made by America alone and has deviated from international law and what is stipulated by the United Nations, given credence by the unapproved history of successive American Presidents, where the United States has established laws and policies to punish independent African countries, which are neither adjacent nor share a history.”
“All these decisions do not comply with the law and are baseless and continue to be so today until they are lifted without any justification.”
The Government of Zimbabwe has announced that the United Nations once condemned the sanctions America imposed on the country, but it refused to relent, continuing to increase them up to the administration of President Joe Biden.
Because of these sanctions, the Government of Zimbabwe indicated that some American officials in the Biden administration have continued to insult leaders from Zimbabwe, including employees of the American Embassy in Harare.
It has demanded the Biden administration to present evidence supporting these accusations, or else, to lift them without delay. “We ask the Biden administration to provide evidence supporting these accusations, and if not done promptly, to withdraw them.”
The sanctions against Zimbabwean officials followed after an investigative report titled ‘Gold Mafia’ was published by Al Jazeera in April 2023.
This report exposed how minerals were being illegally extracted from Zimbabwe and sold in various countries, aiming to circumvent the sanctions imposed by the United States on the country.
The cooperation pact was signed on Thursday, March 7, in Dubai between the Inspector General of Police (IGP) CG Felix Namuhoranye and Dubai Police Commander-In-Chief, Lt. Gen. Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri.
This was on the sideline of the three-day World Police Summit, which concluded on March 7, at the Dubai World Trade Center.
The agreement reaffirms the commitment of the two Police institutions to exchange training programmes and experiences; exchange of expertise in the fields of general public order management, transnational organized crimes and terrorism, investigation techniques, forensic science, technologies, canine, and traffic police, among others.
During the bilateral meeting, the two Police Chiefs appreciated the existing cooperation and recommitted to make the agreement a success.
The Rwandan Delegation also visited the Dubai Police Command and Control Center (CCC), Smart Police Station (SPS), UAE SWAT Challenge Center, STREIT Group, an armoured vehicle manufacturer in United Arab Emirates and Motorola Solutions which has hi-tech related radio communications, command centers and video security solutions.
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The three-day Summit and exhibition brought together Police Chiefs and other participants from over 65 countries, including exhibitors, under the theme, “Uniting Global Police Forces for a Safer Tomorrow.”
The summit discussed the latest developments and challenges in policing, addressing global challenges in combating crimes and enhancing security through collaboration and information exchange between police institutions worldwide.
Building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system, from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, and from a promising vision to practical outcomes, showing strong vitality, Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress.
Noting that China has been building communities with shared future with dozens of countries and regions in multiple forms and domains, Wang said that the vision has been written into resolutions of the UN General Assembly for multiple times, and included in resolutions or declarations of multilateral mechanisms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS.
“The number-one reality in today’s world is that all countries rise and fall together, and that the sure path to meeting the challenges is mutual assistance and win-win cooperation,” Wang said.
He said that the future of humanity should be decided by all countries together, and that the future of the world should be built by all people together.
China stands ready to make joint efforts with the international community to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity, he said.
In 2024, China will stay committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and dignity, Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress.
Reviewing China’s diplomatic work in 2023, Wang said the country has taken steps to promote international solidarity and cooperation, offered solutions to various crises and challenges, and contributed to world peace and development, breaking new ground in China’s diplomatic theory and practice.
China will maintain stable relations with major powers, join hands with its neighboring countries for progress, and strive for revitalization with the Global South, Wang said, adding that the country will practice true multilateralism and promote democracy in international relations.
China will strive to provide more Chinese solutions to both regional hotspots and global issues, creating new opportunities for the world with its own development, Wang said.
Wang said that through the FOCAC summit, China and Africa will carry forward traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and cooperation, and open up new space for accelerating the common development of China and Africa.
In response to a question on China-Africa relations at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature, Wang highlighted a tradition that Chinese foreign ministers choose Africa as the first destination in their annual overseas visits.
This tradition, having lasted for 34 years, is “both unique and unparalleled” in the history of international exchanges, because China and Africa are brothers treating each other with sincerity and sharing a common future, Wang said.
“We have fought shoulder to shoulder against imperialism and colonialism. We have supported each other in pursuit of development. We have always stood for justice in a changing international landscape,” he said.
Noting that China and Africa have entered a fast track in building the China-Africa community with a shared future, Wang said China has been Africa’s biggest trading partner for 15 years and that China-Africa cooperation has grown larger with the people-to-people bond further enhanced.
As African countries have realized that they need to explore a development path that suits their national conditions and hold their future in their own hands, China will continue to stand firmly with Africa and support an Africa that is truly independent in thinking and ideas, Wang said.
China will assist Africa in building capacity for self-driven development and support faster modernization in the continent, he added.
Wang said that China has always maintained that Africa should not be marginalized. “We hope that all parties will, like China, pay greater attention to Africa and increase input to support Africa’s development with real actions,” he said.
