As Rwanda’s Presidency revealed, Kagame arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Other heads of state expected to grace the summit include Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, and William Ruto of Kenya among others.
The first-ever Saudi-Africa summit seeks to strengthen political coordination, tackle regional security challenges, foster economic transformation through research, local development of innovative energy solutions, and promote investment cooperation.
Following their independence in 1960, numerous African nations forged diplomatic ties with Arab countries.
Africa and Saudi Arabia have cultivated a robust relationship, marked by trade collaboration, cultural exchanges, and other initiatives.
Situated at UNILAK University in the East African Region, this branch aims to facilitate research across various fields, particularly in the domains of natural resource development and environmental protection.
The official inauguration of the center took place on November 8, 2023, during an international conference hosted by UNILAK that brought together researchers from different countries.
The Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xuekun, highlighted the strong research-focused partnership between the two nations as the driving force behind choosing Rwanda as the location for the center.
“We are delighted to announce the formal opening of the China-Africa Joint Research Center. This institution will play a crucial role in researching Rwanda and fostering the relationship between the two countries,” stated Wang Xuekun.
President Xi Jinping had previously emphasized that the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center is dedicated to the development of African countries through collaboration with universities on the continent and in China.
Prof. Wang Qing Feng, the Executive Director of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC), expressed optimism that establishing the office in Kigali would support regional countries in their research endeavors.
Rwandan researchers anticipate gaining access to modern tools, as Dr. Christophe Mupenzi, Head of the Department of Environment at UNILAK University, highlighted the potential for learning and technological advancements.
UNILAK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jean Ngamije, emphasized the positive impact of the center on environmental research in the region. Rwandan researchers, showcasing progress in their work during the conference, acknowledged the nation’s advancements in research and their active participation in diverse research areas.
Prof. Mapendo Mindje from the University of Rwanda, specializing in biodiversity research in Rwanda, noted the country’s transition from foreign-led research to active Rwandan involvement. However, challenges such as limited capacity, inadequate data storage methods, and gaps in implementing research findings persist.
Dr. Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General of Higher Education Council, urged Rwandan researchers in environmental protection to seize available opportunities and focus on generating original, impactful research to contribute to conservation and overall development.
These water filters were handed over to residents on November 8th, 2023, through a collaboration between the Coproriz Ntende cooperative and Spouts of Water that seeks to extend the reach to 3600 rice farmers in the coming phases.
Theophile Gasingwa, a resident of Rwimbogo Sector and member of the cooperative, shared his gratitude, highlighting the previous challenges his community faced. “We would catch verminosis from drinking contaminated water shared with our livestock. We are thankful that we received new equipment to filter water.”
Venacie Namahirwe from the same sector expressed hope for positive changes in her family and community. She mentioned the frequent medical treatments needed for verminosis and anticipated a significant reduction in such cases with the availability of safe water.
Olivier Niyonshuti shed light on the difficulties faced in obtaining firewood for water purification, leading to the consumption of unsafe water. This, in turn, resulted in health issues, especially for children. The newly introduced water filters are set to break this cycle, promoting a healthier living environment.
Brian Vuningoma, Sales Manager at Spouts of Water, explained the technology behind the filters, emphasizing the use of baked clay mixed with other substances.
The ceramic water filter undergoes a meticulous process, starting with the careful selection of clay mixed with sawdust. After molding and shaping, it goes through the baking stage. To enhance its functionality, silver nitrate is incorporated to shield the pot from moisture.
These filters are designed to benefit a large population previously reliant on marshland water, offering protection against waterborne diseases.
Elysée Rugwizangoga, President of the Coproriz Ntende cooperative, shared the initiative’s origin, driven by the urgent need to address water contamination issues in rural areas. He emphasized the importance of safe water in eliminating verminosis and promoting overall well-being.
Marceline Mukamana, Gatsibo District Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs, highlighted the positive impact the donated filters would have on residents, improving hygiene practices and reducing verminosis cases arising from poor sanitation.
Looking ahead, Spouts of Water plans to distribute over 1.2 million filters at affordable price to communities across Rwanda, especially those organized in various cooperatives.
The filters come in varying capacities of 75 liters, 30 liters, and 20 liters, with recipients having the option to pay related costs in installments, making this essential technology accessible to all.
FDLR is a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Amb. Einat emphasized that Israel’s actions aim to defend its people and eliminate the threat posed by Hamas, comparing it to how other nations act to protect their citizens.
According to her, the Israeli army’s withdrawal from Gaza depends on the resolution of the war and the assurance that Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israel’s security.
Amb. Einat commended Rwanda’s support and encouraged continued international understanding of Israel’s perspective. The situation in Gaza involves significant casualties, but the figures remain unconfirmed by the international community.
Amb. Einat stressed the responsibility of every nation to protect their citizens, particularly when people are displaced from their homes.
She also talked about Israel’s exports to Gaza such as petroleum products that might be stopped because Gaza uses it not for a good call.
However, Amb. Weiss said that Israel has agreed to provide an aid transit route through the Rafah border and is still distributing water and electricity although not as much as before.
The sixth International Conference on Environment, Energy and Development in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, was co-organized by the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the CAS, under the theme of “Sustainable Management of Natural Resources.”
It served as a platform to delve into cutting-edge research and highlight best practices and the most recent technologies designed to preserve the earth’s resources.
“Our world faces unprecedented challenges in maintaining the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation. As we witness the growing impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion, it becomes increasingly imperative for us to come together, share our knowledge and forge innovative solutions,” said Jean Ngamije, vice chancellor of the UNILAK.
Ngamije urged international cooperation to “ensure a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between humanity and the planet.”
Opening the conference, Wang Xuekun, the Chinese ambassador to Rwanda, noted that the build-up of ecological civilization is one of the five key areas of China’s national development and an important element of the Chinese path to modernization.
He also acknowledged Rwanda’s commitment to green and sustainable development.
“Our two countries have cooperated in areas of energy and agriculture to advance Rwanda’s sustainable development. I believe we have more to share and cooperate in this area. Today’s conference is a very good occasion for exchange and further discussion,” he said.
Chen Xi, president of the CAS Xinjiang Branch, said the cooperation between the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography and the UNILAK has enabled training and research projects on climate change and disaster prevention over the last decade.
During the conference, meanwhile, the Rwandan Office of China-Africa Joint Research Center of the CAS was inaugurated to be hosted at the UNILAK.
The Chinese ambassador expressed hope that the office will make an important contribution to Rwanda’s development, China-Rwanda relations, as well as regional academic cooperation.
The call was made by Angela Martins, acting director for social development, culture and sport at the AU Commission, addressing a continental technical experts’ consultation on drug demand reduction, the AU said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“While efforts to combat drug trafficking and supply are undeniably important, we acknowledge that addressing the demand side of the equation is equally critical,” Martins said. “By focusing on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration, we can break the vicious cycle of drug use and dependency, and create healthier and more resilient communities.”
She underscored the significance of dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and cooperation among experts, policymakers, civil society, and stakeholders, recognizing that no single country can effectively tackle the drug menace alone.
Martins also emphasized the need to develop comprehensive strategies that address the root causes and consequences of drug use through collective action and international cooperation.
The consultation on drug demand reduction was strategically formulated to delve into the 2023 Pan-African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use report, which aims to improve health security, and socio-economic well-being of Africans by addressing substance use and treatment.
According to the AU, illicit drug trafficking, substance dependency, and related criminal activities have far-reaching consequences that undermine Africa’s efforts toward the achievement of sustainable peace, security, and prosperity. The number of people who use drugs in Africa has risen exponentially with a corresponding increase in the number of people with drug use disorders and comorbidity, including young people.
It said the growing trend in drug use in Africa is a result of a growing market for drugs including those produced locally, in addition to Africa being a major transit area for trafficked drugs, of which a significant amount remains on the local market.
The RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga said that tendencies of bribery are sometimes reported in traffic related services and warned of severe measures to hold accountable anyone that will be caught in such criminal acts.
He sighted motorists, who attempt to bribe Police officers to prevent being penalised for road traffic violations as well as some Police officers, who are sometimes arrested soliciting bribes.
“Fighting corruption and related vices is given due attention… it’s a zero-tolerance policy. This goes both ways, to the person offering a bribe and a Police officer receiving it,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He observed that offering or soliciting a bribe to prevent any penalties for committed traffic offences, to acquire a driver’s license even when one failed the test, and for the unroadworthy vehicle to be given a roadworthy certificate; it puts the safety of people on the road in great danger, which is unacceptable.
“This is a high impact crime, which goes a long way to affect service delivery, national and institutional values and image. It becomes even worse when such insecurity is caused bya Police officer, who is charged with ensuring the safety of the people on the road,” ACP Rutikanga said.
The 2023 Rwanda Governance Scorecard, 10th edition by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), shows that 94.23 percent of Rwandans are confident and rely on Police services.
ACP Rutikanga urged the public to avoid such criminal behaviours and to report anyone that attempts to offer or solicit a bribe, to build a culture where “integrity is valued and corruption rejected.”
“Fighting corruption and poor service delivery is an individual and collective responsibility. Call 997 (toll-free) or any known Police communication channels, to report a Police officer, who solicits a bribe and the person offering it,” the spokesperson said.
According to article 4 of the Law on Fighting Against Corruption, any person, who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/herself or another person in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate, commits an offense
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years, with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited or received.
ACP Rutikanga said that the RNP established the Inspectorate of Services and Ethics, and the Police Disciplinary Unit to fight corruption and enforce force discipline.
He reiterated the RNP’s commitment to E-policing to digitalize its services to further ensure efficiency service delivery.
Currently, most road traffic related services are processed online, including booking for vehicle mechanical inspection, registering for driving test, paying for a driver’s license and traffic fines, among others.
A delegation from Bella Flowers, Oxfam Rwanda, and Bright Harvest, as well as DUHAMIC-ADRI, a promoter of small farmer cooperatives, is attending the event to enhance the visibility of Rwandan flowers in the market and expand their customer base.
Ms. Janet Basiima, the Division Manager of Export Markets Development & Innovation at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), stated that IFTF 2023 presents an opportunity for Rwanda to establish market connections with international buyers.
“We aim to raise awareness of the ‘Rwanda Fresh’ brand on a global scale, thus increasing the market share of Rwandan flowers worldwide,” she revealed.
Ms. Maria Casimiro, the Marketing Manager of Bella Flowers, mentioned that their participation in IFTF 2023 is geared towards reaching out to new clients from various regions, particularly European and Asian countries.
“We aspire to engage with new buyers from Europe, as well as expressing interest in Japan and Korea,” she noted.
On the other hand, Mr. Janvier Ugeziwe, a representative from DUHAMIC-ADRI focusing on small-scale summer flowers, expressed that their involvement in IFTF 2023 will provide them with the opportunity to gain insights into increasing production and accessing markets for summer flowers and replicate this in Rwanda.
Ann Karemera, the Managing Director of Bright Harvest Company, also revealed that her company chose to participate with the goal of showcasing their flower varieties.
She emphasized that the exhibition holds promise in enhancing the international visibility of Rwandan flowers by facilitating interactions with buyers to understand market trends and dynamics in the floriculture value chain.
Godfrey Gakwandi from Oxfam stated that the organization’s support for flower exporters’ participation is aimed at increasing the visibility of Rwanda’s quality flowers and, more importantly, facilitating sustainable market linkages for Rwanda’s industry worldwide.
He expressed gratitude to the European Union (EU) for supporting Rwanda’s floriculture industry through the “sustainable livelihoods in horticulture value chains project,” which financed this year’s participation.
Rwanda’s stand showcases various varieties of roses and summer flowers.
According to Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s stand was exceptionally popular on the first day, with many visitors flocking to see the wide array of flowers.
Amb. Nduhungirehe is optimistic that Rwanda’s representation at the trade fair in will significantly boost sales of Rwandan flowers through diversified markets.
“We firmly believe that the floriculture industry, which we embarked on less than a decade ago, will continue to flourish. As we grow, the demand for flowers is increasing, making it vital to expand our business, especially as we are still importing seeds from other countries. It’s crucial for the government to establish research mechanisms to develop our seed production, facilitating growth and self-sufficiency,” he stated.
“We anticipate more visitors to our booth, and we hope that following this expo, the government and the private sector can collaborate to strategize and further enhance our business,” added Amb. Nduhungirehe.
More than 120 nationalities are represented at the exhibition.
NAEB’s figures on Rwandan floriculture indicate that a total of 23,678,585 stems of rose flowers and 8,881,404 stems of summer flowers were exported during the financial year 2022-2023 and generated US$4,535,223.
A significant 98% of Rwandan flowers are primarily sold to the Netherlands, with potential markets emerging in Australia and the United Kingdom.
In an era marked by growing awareness of environmental sustainability and the importance of supporting local economies, the concept of local sourcing has gained significant traction especially in the manufacturing industry.
Bralirwa Plc, part of Heineken company, has set local sourcing as a core principle that guides their operations and shapes their commitment to creating a positive social economic impact in the community.
In 2019, the company introduced Barley as a new cash crop in Rwanda which is used as one of the raw materials for malt, a key ingredient in beer manufacturing. Barley was previously sourced from Europe but today there is an increase of locally sourced barley.
“Introducing a new cash crop required a process of seed multiplication and a series of variety trials which would not have possible without the support and partnership of key stakeholders such as the Rwanda Agricultural Board and Farmers’ Associations,” said Samuel Murumu, Supply Chain Director at Bralirwa.
Farmers are regularly trained on comprehensive modern agricultural practices for barley cultivation which includes technical guidance on land preparation, planting, irrigation, pest and disease management as well as access to mechanized harvesting techniques to ensure a consistent compliance to quality yield.
Over 2000 farmers are engaged in barley farming as an alternative rotational crop, which boosts the yield of staple crops such as Irish potatoes. Many farmers testify to the benefits of crop rotation and to the ready market that is guaranteed by Bralirwa.
“I was introduced to Barley farming in planting season B of 2020. By then I involved in Irish potato farming on a land of 6 hectares and was always afraid to find alternative crops for crop rotation because I was not sure of the profitability and as a result my yield was always low” said Nkurunziza a 44-year-old farmer in Musanze.
“Barley farming changed my life, and I was able to progress due to the training I received, the support and the guaranteed market. I now do farming on 18 hectares of land, and I am able to provide school fees and other basic needs for my eight children” he added. Nkurunziza also testified how he was able to move from category 2 to category 3 of Rwandan wealth ranking system (ubudehe) in the past two years.
During the forthcoming planting season, Bralirwa is preparing to significantly boost its local barley growing program in an effort to upscale its local sourcing efforts through partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure consistent production standards whilst supporting sustainable growth and social impact in the community.
“Our commitment to local sourcing remains unwavering due to its social impact to the community and contribution to environmental sustainability through reduction of carbon emission that stems from transportation,” said Samuel Murumu. “We are exploring different innovative approaches to scale-up our efforts in a sustainable manner in order to avoid business risks to both the farmers and the business,” he added.
Bralirwa’s local sourcing program also extends to maize farming hence benefiting from government incentives for use of local raw materials to boost the agricultural sector.
Xi Jinping, then Party chief of Zhengding, encouraged Zhao to conduct thorough field research and see for himself the real situation on the ground.
The two also engaged in deep discussions on a wide array of subjects ranging from the economy to the people’s livelihood and talent fostering.
Thanks to the assistance from Xi himself and the government of Zhengding, Zhao visited many places in the county and finished an in-depth report of Zhengding after extensive interviews with people from all walks of life.
Wednesday marks the Journalists’ Day in China. Since his early days as a Party cadre, Xi has consistently given his support to the professional development of journalists and shown concern for their well-being.
In June 1998, east China’s Fujian Province sent a group of professionals from various sectors of the province to engage in an assistance program in the Xizang Autonomous Region. Xi, then deputy Party chief of Fujian, led the delegation to the plateau region.
On the first night after they arrived in Xizang, Zhang Hong, one of the reporters in the delegation, felt ill due to lack of oxygen. She asked for help from the hotel where they were staying.
Upon hearing it, Xi gave up his oxygen bag without a second thought to Zhang to ensure the reporter’s safety.
In February 2016, President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection tour of the country’s leading media outlets and spoke at a symposium on media work following the inspection.
He encouraged journalists to better communicate the Party’s ideas and policies to the public, record the changes of the times, promote social progress, and uphold fairness and justice.
Xi has called on journalists and those working on public communication to absorb new learning, get to know new areas, broaden their horizons, improve their comprehensive skills, and conduct more field research.
He has, on many occasions, highlighted the four essential qualities of a good reporter, which entail the will to get down to the grassroots, the ability to observe clearly, to think profoundly, and to write powerfully.
“To put it simply, a journalist must be trustworthy and reliable,” Xi noted.
