Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame visited Benin on 15th and 16th April 2023 at the invitation of Talon.
During his stay in Benin, Kagame also invited his counterpart to visit Rwanda.
Beninese Presidency has announced that the visit is aimed at cementing existing bilateral ties.
Kagame was accompanied by officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta; Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze; Minister of Environment, Dr. Jeanne D’Arc Mujawamariya and CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi among others.
At the occasion, both countries signed carious cooperation agreements in the areas of ICT, tourism, investment, trade, agriculture, local government and security cooperation.
He made the disclosure on Monday evening as he began his visit to the Western Africa country.
“Every country on our continent has challenges. In Rwanda, we have our own challenges. In Guinea there are challenges. Working together there is no challenge we can’t address,” stated Kagame
Kagame who was received by the Transitional President, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya upon arrival in Conakry disclosed that he had a wish to visit the country for long and expressed optimism for productive discussions between both countries’ delegations.
President Doumbouya commended his counterpart of Rwanda for the visit noting that it is a great privilege to welcome him in the Republic of Guinea.
In October 2022, President Kagame received Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, the Minister of ICT of the Republic of Guinea, who delivered a message from Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya.
President Kagame last visited Guinea in April 2017 to attend the African Union Summit, having also visited the country in March 2016.
During his 2016 visit, Kagame was warmly received in Conakry and awarded the Grand Croix, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Guinean government.
The Republic of Guinea-Conakry, located in West Africa, has its capital in Conakry. As of 2013, the country’s population was approximately 13.5 million.
The Head of State made the remarks in Guinea-Bissau where he arrived on Monday 17th April 2023 for a one-day working visit.
During his visit, President Kagame who was conferred with the Amílcar Cabral Medal, the highest distinction in Guinea-Bissau. The Amílcar Cabral Medal is attributed to the heads of state of countries that are friends of the country.
He expressed deep appreciation for the honour bestowed on him noting that it is a privilege for him and the country.
On the same day, President Kagame disclosed that he had productive discussions with his counterpart, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló where Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau are working together to build a solid foundation for cooperation that will benefit their citizens.
He highlighted that human resource remains the most important one for Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau as well as the entire African continent.
“Like the rest of Africa, the most important resource Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau possess is a young population. Our duty is to ensure stability that allows us to create enabling environments for our youth to utilize their skills, and reach their full potential,” said Kagame.
He appreciated Umaro’s efforts as chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that he applies to regional stability and elsewhere on the continent.
Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau enjoy long-standing relations where both countries have cooperation in the areas of trade, education, tourism and air transport.
Kagame also stressed the need for African countries to deepen their collaboration and reiterated commitment to boost cooperation with Guinea.
“Indeed, at a time where multilateralism is facing multiple challenges, Africa needs to work even more closely together on the issues that matter most to our people.
We will continue working to strengthen friendship and collaboration between Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau,” he affirmed.
Police recovered over Rwf1.4 million from the suspect, who was arrested the following day on April 16, in his home village of Akabukara, Umubuga cell of Ruramira sector in Kayonza District.
On Monday, April 17, Police handed over the recovered money to the rightful owner, Antoinette Nyirakanani, at the Police metropolitan offices in Gasabo District.
Nyirakanani said that earlier on Saturday, she withdrew Frw2 million from the bank and kept it in the shop.
“The money was in the drawer, so I went outside to talk to a client and left my casual employee (suspect) in the shop. When I went back in the shop, the money was gone and my employee was nowhere to be seen; I immediately reported the theft to the police,” Nyirakanani said after receiving part of her money.
She thanked Rwanda National Police (RNP) for the efforts to recover her money, which she said that I would have been a big loss in her business.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the suspect fled to Kayonza District after stealing the money.
“The District Police units worked together to locate and arrest him on Sunday, April 16. At the time, he was found with Frw1,430,000. He had used the other part of the money to buy a smartphone, clothes, shoes and a traveling bag, which were also seized,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
He advised the young people not to waste their energy and time in such criminal activities.
CIP Twajamahoro also urged traders not to keep big sums of money in shops, home or cars.
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, 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 offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out during the night or the theft is carried out by more than one (1) person.
The Head of State arrived in the country on 17th April 2023 after concluding his visit to Guinea-Bissau.
His visit to West Africa countries began on Saturday 15th April with a two-day state visit to Benin.
Rwanda’s Presidency, has revealed that he was received by President of the Transition, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya as he arrived in the country.
The Republic of Guinea is currently led by an interim presidency after a military coup in September 2021 that ousted former President Alpha Condé. The interim presidency is expected to lead the country until elections can be held in 2024 to establish a permanent government.
Alpha Condé had led the country since 2010. He was ousted after winning the third unconstitutional term.
Kagame’s visit to the country seeks to deepen existing bilateral ties.
Both heads of state also engaged in private discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations.
In October 2022, President Kagame received Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, the Minister of ICT of the Republic of Guinea, who delivered a message from Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya.
President Kagame last visited Guinea in April 2017 to attend the African Union Summit, having also visited the country in March 2016.
During his 2016 visit, Kagame was warmly received in Conakry and awarded the Grand Croix, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual by the Guinean government.
The Republic of Guinea-Conakry, located in West Africa, has its capital in Conakry. As of 2013, the country’s population was approximately 13.5 million.
The Head of State was bestowed the medal on Monday 17th April 2023 as he visited the country.
Amílcar Cabral Medal is given to the heads of state of countries that are friends of Guinea-Bissau.
Guinée-Bissau is led by Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló,50, since February 2020.
He also served as the country’s Prime Minister between November 2016 and January 2018.
Since he was installed President, the country’s relations with Rwanda gets boost gradually.
On his visit to Guinea-Bissau, Kagame was hosted by his counterpart, Umaro.
According to Rwanda’s Presidency, both leaders held a tête-à-tête and exchanged on various topics including potential areas of bilateral cooperation as well as the regional situation in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
After holding a closed-door meeting, they proceeded to bilateral discussions with members of both delegations.
The President also visited the Mausoleum of National Heroes of Guinea-Bissau dedicated to Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral, Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean Pan-Africanist who was one of Africa’s foremost anti-colonial leaders, and João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira who was President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1999 and from 2005 to 2009.
Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau enjoy long-standing relations where both countries have cooperation in the areas of trade, education, tourism and bilateral air service.
President Kagame proceeded to Guinea where he met with the Transition President Col Mamadi Doumbouya to explore bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Guinea in areas of common interests.
He made the advice during a conversation with over 100 young entrepreneurs in Sèmè City on Saturday 15th April 2023 on the first day of his visit to Benin.
The youth undergo training on research and creation of innovations.
The Head of State told the youth that the secret to success is to understand that everything starts with individual efforts, what one has in mind and expected outcome. This goes hand in hand with hard working and doing a lot.
“Be confident in yourselves, have belief, then go out and try. You can do it yourselves. You just got to do one thing. Go out and try doing it. Don’t give up,” he said.
President Kagame said that there are many who are excited about what he has done in different areas of Rwanda’s development and told them that the secret is ‘not giving up’.
“If you fail here, try somewhere else. If you fail in one thing, try something else. Keep going. What do you want to do if you don’t do that? Just sit back and do nothing? No. In any case you are better off because after all, you have a chance. If you try it, you will get it whatever it is. If you don’t try it, you will never get it,” he noted.
President Kagame stressed the need to make make possible efforts to help the youth maximize their potential and is expected to address the issue of brain drain.
He highlighted that brain retention or attracting brains can be among solutions.
“If there is brain drain , it is because there is brain in the first place here that is being drained outward. Let us now invest in this brain,” he said.
and it is really these young people who have it. it is not unknown, it not something new to discover, we know it very well.
He underscored that the right investments should be made for the young people to freely come out, express themselves and be able to ‘give us their best from their brain’.
President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame visited Benin over the weekend to reinforce existing bilateral ties.
During the visit, both countries signed cooperation agreements in the areas of security, digitization, agriculture, local governance, and sustainable development among others.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Beninese counterpart, Patrice Talon, affirmed their commitment to enhancing security cooperation during President Kagame’s two-day state visit to Benin.
The leaders agreed that a joint permanent commission meeting would be held in Cotonou before the end of 2023.
The KAA said as a result of the runway closure, all incoming and outgoing flights have been temporarily suspended.
“Our top priority is the safety of all passengers, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to resolve this situation as quickly and safely as possible,” the KAA said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
The industry regulator advised travelers to contact their respective airlines for more details on the status of their flights.
“The latest outbreak of violence which regrettably comes during the month of Ramadan can only but reverse the significant gains that the Republic of Sudan had made in the quest for peace, stability, and post-conflict recovery in the last two years. Clearly, there is no winner in this conflict,” said PAP President Fortune Charumbira.
Charumbira’s remarks came following the outbreak of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces on Saturday.
He urged the Sudanese to address their differences through mediation and dialogue and avoid further loss to the lives of the people.
Charumbira also called for all the parties in Sudan to work towards restoring long-lasting peace and stability in Sudan and the region.
“The Pan African Parliament remains committed to contributing to peace and security in Sudan and the entire continent through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.
Hundreds of civilians were wounded in the violence, the statement added.
The tense situation in Sudan has sparked broad concerns in the international community, with the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and other international organizations having called for an immediate ceasefire.
Violent clashes erupted on Saturday between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and other cities, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.
The tension between the two military forces has escalated since Wednesday in the Merowe region in northern Sudan, after the RSF moved military vehicles to a location near the military air base there, a move that the army considered illegal.
Deep differences have emerged between the Sudanese army and the RSF, particularly regarding the latter’s integration into the army as stipulated in a framework agreement signed between military and civilian leaders on Dec. 5, 2022.
