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.
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]
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.
He made the disclosure during a fireside chat with Semafor news outlet in Washington DC, in the United States (US) on 14th December 2022.
President Kagame responded to questions on different issues including the arrest of Paul Rusesabagina who was handed 25 years over terrorism charges related to attacks plotted in Southern and Northern provinces.
Reacting to US request to release the man, Kagame said that the case of Rusesabagina is very clear where it was handled by the courts of law with due process and evidences proving him guilty.
He explained that Rusesabagina was accused along with 20 other individuals who were also convicted on the basis of the same facts and evidences presented before the court.
“The other 20 are not complained because some of them admitted what they were involved in and with Rusesabagina as even at one time their leader. Now, with this situation, somebody comes and says this person is famous, a celebrity, and he is a resident of the United States. So, by that you have got to release this person,” he said.
“Some of us have raised this question and said, we let this one go free, how about the other 20 who have been in the same crime with him and have actually pointed to him as even having been their leader?” wondered Kagame.
In this context, the Head of State said the case is serious but seems to be nullified because there is somebody in the US is saying so.
“Some people may find that normal but I don’t. Rwandans don’t,” he noted.
When asked whether the advocacy of US State Secretary is helpful to Rusesabagina’s case, Kagame said: “I think from what I said, you can conclude because we have made it clear. There isn’t anybody going to come from anywhere to bully us into something to do with our lives.”
On 20th September 2021, the High Court Special Chamber for International and Cross-border crimes convicted the former President of MRCD-FLN terrorist group, Paul Rusesabagina of terrorism charges and handed him 25-year jail term.
He had been arrested in August 2020 while his trial began on 20th January 2021.
Rusesabagina and 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.
The crimes were committed since 2018 when MRDC/FLN combatants plotted attacks to Rwanda which claimed lives of nine innocent residents in the Southern Province.
They left many others gravely injured, and caused significant material and economic damage in South-West Rwanda.
On Thursday 11th August 2022, President Kagame received the United States (US) Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken. The US request to release Rusesabagina was among topics of discussions between the two leaders.
Speaking to the media after their discussions in August, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta said that Rusesabagina was tried and convicted along with 20 other accomplices, under both Rwandan and international laws, for serious crimes against Rwandans.
He revealed that it is unusual for Rwanda to be influenced by pressure and insisted that the country’s stand on the case of Rusesabagina is clear.
“For us, the trial has definitively ended. He was convicted and sentenced like other criminals jailed for different cases handled before courts. This is where we stand,” he said at the time.
On whether Rwanda won’t change its position on the issue and release Rusesabagina over pressure, Minister Biruta explained that the country will abide by laws and stick to the court’s decision where Rusesabagina has to serve his sentence.
Amb. Daair made the disclosure during a press conference held on Wednesday 14th December 2022.
He said that the fighting causing humanitarian suffering has to stop through Luanda and Nairobi process.
“All sides need to implement what has been agreed in places like Luanda and Nairobi. First, the fighting has to stop, all armed groups need to stop fighting and respect the ceasefire. That also includes the FARDC forces. There should not be support to illegal armed groups, and there should be withdraw as has been agreed and the M23 has publicly announced that they will ceasefire and withdraw. These things need to be implemented,” he said.
Amb. Daair has however highlighted that no side seems to be respecting the implementation.
“We are not yet seeing the implementation and we are clear that it needs to happen. We are also clear that there needs more action from the Government of DRC to tackle hate speech in the region, which is now very concerning to many communities there. It also has to tackle any collaboration between its forces and armed groups such as the FDLR,” he noted.
“But there will really not be a military solution to this. A strong opinion is that it needs to be a political process both between countries of the region but importantly between the government of Kinshasa and various rebel groups that exist on its territory,” added Amb. Daair.
Rwanda has been accusing DRC of working with FDLR. The collaboration was also confirmed by the armed group’s combatants captured during a fighting with M23 recently.
The Head of State made the disclosure on Wednesday 14th December 2022 during a conversation with Semafor news outlet in Washington DC of the United States of America (USA).
During the conversation on the sidelines of US-Africa Leaders Summit, President Kagame responded to different questions regarding Rwanda and international politics.
Semafor editor, Steve Clemons raised a question on African countries debts owed to China considered as a trap.
Kagame said that the blame should not only be put on China but also the country which accepted such overwhelming debts.
“If there is any debt trap with any country and China, we should blame it on both sides. If you keep being drawn into a debt that you are not sure how you are going to repay, you also have a problem as the one who keeps giving you money knowing that you won’t be able to pay,” he said.
The alarm for Africa-China debt trap is often raised by institutions and leaders from USA and Europe warning the African continent that it will end up failing to repay the debts received from China mainly to build infrastructures.
President Kagame said that China identified Africa as an investment destination to fill existing gaps. He highlighted that those blaming China should first explain why they chose to fold arms instead of bringing their investments.
“China will necessarily find a way to bring their money into Africa because it is simple that there are gaps and therefore, they take advantage of filling those gaps. That question should go to the other sides, whether the United States, Europe or others. Why are there these gaps? Why don’t you make the investments? The investment gaps that China takes advantage of, come and does whatever they do?”
“You can’t complain about China coming to Africa and doing whatever they are doing, bad or good and you are there not doing anything about investing yourself in the continent,” added Kagame.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s debt burden increased to record US$702 billion in 2020 from US$380,9 in 2012. China’s share account for at least 20 percent of Africa’s debts.
FDLR is a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwanda has been raising concerns over the collaboration but the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continued to feign innocence.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC, Christophe Lundula, recently told the United Nations Security Council that his country encouraged people to share information about the whereabouts of FDLR commanders based in Congo or collaboration with the FARDC to attack Rwanda for authentication.
“It’s been three months and we are still waiting,” he said.
However, FDLR did not stop highlighting this partnership which deepened roots after the resurgence of M23.
Released videos showing FDLR fighters captured by M23 reveal more about the terrorist group and collaboration with FARDC.
Warrant Officer Innocent Uwamungu is among FDLR combatants captured during a fighting that took place in the last few days in Rutare, near Paris, on the way to Tongo.
He says that he was born in former Mutura Commune in Gisenyi Prefecture.
“They apprehended on the battlefield. I am an FDLR combatant,” he said.
Warrant Officer Uwamungu worked in the secretariat of General Pacifique Ntawunguka alias Omega, who took over as the commander of the military wing (FDLR-FOCA) after the assassination of Sylvestre Mudacumura.
Uwamungu disclosed that he joined the FDLR from Masisi, although he had arrived there from refugee camps in the forests of Congo in 1996.
Uwamungu listed commanders of the FDLR living in Congo including its commander Lt Gen Iyamuremye Gaston alias Byiringiro known as Victor Rumuri, Gen Omega, his deputy Gen Mugisha, Secretary-General Gen Gakwerere, Gen Uwimbabazi Sebastien alias Nyembo Kimenyi in charge of intelligence, Gen Matovu, Gen Manzi, Gen Serge, Gen Calme, and Gen Poète.
“I was part of a group led by Circophe, operating in Kazaroho. There is another led by Colonel Oreste in Gwindi through other areas to Paris, and the battalion of Colonel Ruhinda operating in Rugari,” he revealed.
Like his colleagues, this FDLR fighter also answered in Kinyarwanda as he was interrogated by Major Willy Ngoma, M23 military spokesperson.
Responding to why they were wearing FARDC uniform, Uwamungu said: “We work with FARDC during the battle. We also work with Nyatura and train its fighters.”
Uwamungu said that FDLR depends on agriculture and collection of taxes to buy ammunition and medicines.
Private Safari Mbitse, another captured combatant was born in DRC and has never arrived in Rwanda.
The spokesperson for M23 asked where they get the military equipment, to which he answered, “It is the FARDC that sends them.”
First Sergeant Uwiduhaye Marie Chantal also said that she was born in Gisenyi. Both her father and mother were born in Rwerere.
Dieumerci Birihanze Jacques is another captured combatant born in Congo but his parents hail from Rwanda.
Among the people captured together with the FDLR was Pastor Niyonzima Jean Damascene, who said he provided the FDLR with intelligence information.
He was born in the former Commune Kinyami in Byumba Prefecture and left in 1994.
Niyonzima said that he was the ‘Assistant Bourgmestre’ before leaving the country.
He said that he needs support to return to his motherland.”
Others arrested include Uwase Diane, Nzamatikazu Consolata and Nyiramahirwe Esperance.
According to analysts, FDLR continued to spread genocide ideology after arriving in DRC and fueled massacres in the country.
There are growing concerns that Genocide against Tutsi Congolese is being planned and executed gradually.
Before 2020, the mineral was not so popular given that its price was still low. As of December last year, a kilogram of Lithium cost US$9 (Rwf9000) from US$20.5 in January 2018.
The stone’s decrease in value was mainly attributed to large production which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In April 2021, Lithium’s price increased by more than 600% and reached US$78,000 (over Rwf78 million) per ton.
The great value is related to increased production of electric vehicles that require large energy-saving batteries.
In 2021, various manufacturers sold 6.6 million electric vehicles, a double of electric vehicles sold in 2020.
Experts in the mining field show that Lithium will continue to be an excellent investment as over 26 million electric vehicles are expected to be sold by 2030.
Currently, the world’s largest lithium exporters include Chile, China, the Netherlands, Korea, Germany, and Belgium.
In 2020, Rwanda announced that conducted the preliminary research confirmed the presence of such minerals initially in Ngororero District.
Speaking with IGIHE, the Deputy CEO Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), Dr. Ivan Twagirashema said that Lithium is not solely found in Ngororero.
He explained that Lithium has been discovered in different locations all over the country.
“We realized that the Lithium discovered in Ngororero is present across the country. It resembles existing crystals that some people used them to build houses without knowing that they using Lithium. However, the reason is related to that fact that the mineral’s price was low in the past two years,” said Dr. Twagirashema.
He went on to say that the value of this precious stone continues to skyrocket.
“A ton of refined Lithium used to cost US$5,000 per ton but the price rose to US$85,000 per ton within two years due to its use in the production of electric cars,” said Dr. Twagirashema.
Considering the high demand for this precious stone, Dr. Twagirashema disclosed, more people have started to recognize its benefits.
“Today, a ton of these unrefined stones containing at least 8% of Lithium costs between US$2,000 and US$3,000,” he noted.
{{Rwanda to establish Lithium refinery}}
Mining is the second largest export sector in the Rwandan economy after Tourism.
In light of this, Dr. Twagirashema said that Rwanda has started discussions to process and add value to Lithium before exportation.
“The study for two projects under discussions is going on and might be finalized in the near future,” he said.
Considering the current stage of discussions, Dr. Ivan Twagirashema expressed optimism that Lithium refinery will be built next year.
“The two companies are working on it for us to begin the construction of Lithium refinery next year so that we can start exporting, in the coming months, Lithium powder at higher price and increase domestic taxes,” he noted.
Dr. Twagirashema said that the preliminary research has shown that Lithium is present all over the country where it can be found without excavation in some places.
The 2020 report from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) indicated that the country fetched over US$1.4 billion from minerals exported in five years from 2015 to 2019.
In 2015, Rwanda generated US$149 million from exported minerals including coltan, wolfram and others.
In the following years, Rwanda generated US$166, 5 million and US$373 million respectively.
As she attended the launch of Mining Week in Rwanda on Monday 5th December 2022, the CEO of RMB, Amb. Yamina Karitanyi said Rwanda generated US$733 million in 2020 from minerals’ exports up from US$373 of 2017.
In 2021, revenues dropped to US$516 million owing to reduced prices on the international market. Amb. Karitanyi said that the year 2022 is promising in consideration of the US$585 generated in the first nine months.
She attributed the increase in revenues to Rwanda’s initiative to establish plants adding value to minerals before exportation.
These include gold and cassiterite refineries. Amb. Karitanyi also revealed that the country mulls opening a coltan processing plant in the near future.
The mining sector in Rwanda currently employs 46,000 people with a target to increase the number to more than 100,000 by 2024.
