Dr. Nsanzimana who once served as the Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has been working as the Director General of Butare University Teaching Hospital (CHUB) for the past nine months.
His new appointment was announced on Monday 28th November through a statement released by the Office of Prime Minister.
The communiqué further reads that Dr. Yvan Butera is the new State Minister in the Ministry of Health replacing Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga who was named Director General of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).
The duties were previously assumed by Dr. Theobald Hategekimana.
The communiqué further reads that Dr. Yvan Butera was appointed the State Minister in the Ministry of Health replacing Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga named Director General of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).
The role was previously assumed by Dr. Theobald Hategekimana.
Dr. Butera has been serving as the Deputy Executive Secretary in Human Resources for Health Secretariat in the Ministry of Health.
He worked in different hospitals including Kanombe Military Hospital.
Dr. Butera has a Bachelor of Medicine obtained from the University of Rwanda in 2014 and PhD in Medical Sciences from Liège University in Belgium acquired in 2019.
In 2017, he also obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Global Health Equity located in Burera District.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nsanzimana was named the Director General of RBC in 2019 replacing Dr. Condo Jeannine.
He holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Rwanda and PhD doctoral research studies in Epidemiology at University of Basel, Switzerland.
Kagame was delivering his remarks as he virtually joined Heads of State for the East African Community (EAC) led Nairobi Process for the Restoration of Peace and Security in Eastern DR Congo.
The meeting was physically attended by Evariste Ndayishimiye, the President of Burundi who also serves as the Chairperson of EAC, his counterpart of Kenya, William Ruto and the EAC facilitator of peace talks in eastern DRC, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The special envoy of ICGLR Chairman, Huang Xia also attended in-person.
Meanwhile, President Kagame, his counterpart of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi participated in the summit virtually.
As he addressed participants, Kagame thanked EAC leaders for their commitment to find a solution for challenging security and other situations in the region.
He highlighted that the problem of insecurity and instability in eastern DRC has a complicated and long history spanning for almost three decades but has festered and remained unsolved’.
The Head of State stated that this situation has occasioned negative impacts including the issue of hundreds of Congolese refugees who are unable to safely return homes, impeded trade and investment ‘with negative implication to the whole region’.
To this end, he pointed out the primary reason for the persistent crisis and proposed a solution.
“The primary reason for this persistent crisis is the failure to implement many agreements that have been reached at various levels & at different times in past years. I most sincerely believe that this time around, these efforts are going to bear good results,” said Kagame.
He underscored that the recent resurgence of ‘one armed group among many others’ has received a lot of attention globally noting that this situation comes on top of other unresolved security and political challenges.
Kagame further welcomed the region’s ‘swift response’ and mechanisms being established to save lives in eastern DRC, and address dangerous escalations that threaten neighbouring countries including Rwanda.
The President also proposed a solution to such problems.
“What is needed today, more than ever, is steady political will to implement the ongoing regional initiatives, particularly the East African Community-led Nairobi Peace Process and the African Union Mediation by President Lourenco of Angola,” said Kagame.
“This should seriously include addressing the root causes of insecurity once and for all, which will make a real difference in resolving the security concerns of DRC and neighbouring countries,” he added.
The President observed that the current framework established by regional leaders and the decision taken last week in Luanda, the capital of Angola constitute an opportunity to find a durable solution and reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to support these efforts.
“It is therefore in the interest of all of us, to stay the course and not let the situation be a perennial problem. On this, you can count on Rwanda’s full support toward a lasting and permanent solution,” he assured.
Today’s meeting follows another held on Wednesday last week in Luanda.
It was attended by Angolan President, Lourenço; the President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi of DR Congo.
It was also attended by Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta and Uhuru Kenyatta.
The first resolution of the meeting was a call for M23 to ceasefire, halt attacks against Congolese Army (FARDC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) effective from 25th November 2022 at 18h:00.
It was also decided that the rebel group has to withdraw from captured areas and return to previous positions in Sabyinyo Volcano.
Before the deadline, the President of M23, Bertrand Bisimwa released a statement agreeing on ceasefire.
He explained that the group is willing to cease fire as was the case on 1st April 2022 without involvement of DR Congo.
M23 also requested ‘a meeting with the mediator and the facilitator in order to discuss the matter of its concerns in a way to restore a lasting peace in our country’.
During past meetings in Luanda, M23 was not represented where resolutions were only supported by DR Congo.
The recent resolutions triggered mixed reactions as to how the Congolese Government would be assured of their implementation yet M23 was not represented in the meeting.
The ceremony took place at the academy located in Mundoli, Arusha City in northern Tanzania.
The Spokesperson of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga has confirmed to IGIHE that two Rwandans were among gradiuates from TMA.
Suluhu was presiding over similar ceremony for the third time after succeeding John Pombe Magufuli in March 2021.
Commissioned officers include 89 women and 651 men. Among those commissioned were 16 military officers from neighboring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Eswatini.
Rwanda and Tanzania enjoy defence cooperation agreement signed in 2021.
Last year, the former Chief of Defence Forces of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), General Venance Mabeyo came to Rwanda for an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between TPDF and RDF from 23rd to 26th August.
At the time, the TPDF Chief of Defence Forces and his delegation paid respect to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi at Kigali Genocide Memorial, visited the Campaign Against Genocide Museum and RDF Command and Staff College in Nyakinama.
M23 released the statement on Friday 25th November 2022 before 18h:00, a deadline for ceasefire that had be set previously during a mini-summit held in Luanda, the capital of Angola on security situation in eastern DRC.
The meeting which took place on Wednesday this week was attended by Angolan President, Lourenço; the President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi of DR Congo.
It was also attended by Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta and Uhuru Kenyatta.
The first resolution of the meeting was a call for M23 to ceasefire, halt attacks against Congolese Army (FARDC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) effective from 25th November 2022 at 18h:00.
It was also decided that the rebel group has to withdraw from captured areas and return to previous positions in Sabyinyo Volcano.
Before the deadline, the President of M23, Bertrand Bisimwa released a statement agreeing on ceasefire.
He explained that the group is willing to cease fire as was the case on 1st April 2022 without involvement of DR Congo.
Later on 10th April 2022 in Entebbe, Uganda, the statement adds, both parties agreed on the cessation of hostilities but was never respected by DRC Government coalition of FARDC, FDLR, Nyatura, ACPLS, CODECO and Mai Mai.
“Yet again, the M23 accepted the ceasefire as recommended by the Heads of State, however, request DRC Government to respect the ceasefire. Otherwise, the M23 reserves the full right to defend itself and to protect the civilian populations against any violations of the agreed ceasefire,” reads the statement.
M23 has also requested ‘a meeting with the mediator and the facilitator in order to discuss the matter of its concerns in a way to restore a lasting peace in our country’.
During past meetings in Luanda, M23 was not represented where resolutions were only supported by DR Congo.
The recent resolutions triggered mixed reactions as to how the Congolese Government would be assured of their implementation yet M23 was not represented in the meeting.
Besides, M23 resumed fighting after DRC failed to implement peace accords signed in Nairobi in 2013.
Speaking to France24 on Thursday, the Congolese Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya said: “You know that M23 is represented by Rwanda from the onset of attacks. Let’s talk about things as they are. We are optimistic that the resolutions taken this time around with their timeframes will be implemented to restore peace on the entire national territory.”
In response to that, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Alain Mukuralinda told France24 that it would be far from the reality if DRC and its spokesperson believe that Rwanda was representing M23.
Mukuralinda further stated that the resolutions of Luanda make up a continual failure of Congo in restoring peace in eastern part of the country.
“Resolutions reached in Nairobi, Luanda and Burundi are the same. This resolution has demonstrated a great failure and total incapacity of Congolese Government in restoring security in eastern part of the country, and lack of political will to implement the aforementioned resolutions,” he said.
“Rwanda is neither a representative nor a spokesperson of M23. This kind of additions has always seen the implementation of resolutions failing because they are mixing up things,” added Mukuralinda.
DR Congo boycotted negotiations with M23 calling it a terrorist group but later changed its stand and agreed that it would engage in talks if the rebel group withdraws from captured areas.
This has been hampering the peace process to restore calm in the area. M23 has been also denouncing Genocide under preparation in DRC on collaboration between DRC and its allies highlighting that it won’t stand idly and watch killings committed against Congolese.
The rebel group maintains that it is willing to participate in all negotiations to restore peace in eastern DRC.
Despite the agreement to cease hostilities, M23 recently announced that it cannot withdraw from held positions.
The 37th General Assembly was chaired by the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Albert Murasira and attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Jean Bosco Kazura; as well as service chiefs and heads of security organs; and selected list of members.
According to the approved Business Plan for the year 2023, ZCSS targets to increase its Gross Income to 85 billion from 69 billion and its Net Profit to 25.9 billion from 20 billion.
Zigama CSS Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. James Ndahiro said that ZCSS is currently concluding 5 years strategic plan whereby they registered a number of achievements including providing shelter to a big number of members as well as providing services using digital platforms. The general assembly was also an opportunity to receive suggestions from members for the next 5 years strategic plan, he said.
“In the last 5 years we managed to provide products and services for our members, and those services have been largely provided using digital platforms. I think that is a remarkable achievement given that our membership now is able to utilise digital services and we package our products now digitally to all levels of our membership. As we continue into the future, most of our products and services will be digital and we are calling our members to keep in line,” he said.
ZIGAMA CSS is a financial cooperative with membership drawn mainly from Security Organs namely Rwanda Defence Force, Rwanda National police, Rwanda Correctional Services, National Intelligence and Security Service and Rwanda Investigation Bureau.
He made the revelation on Thursday 24th November 2022 during an interview with France24, one day following peace talks in Angola bringing together regional heads of state aimed at finding a solution for security crisis in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where a fight between Congolese Army (FARDC) and M23 is ongoing.
Some of the meeting’s resolutions include a request for M23 to withdraw from held positions or be quelled by the joint regional troops.
It was also resolved that all armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which has been working with FARDC in the fighting with M23, must lay down arms and return to countries of origin.
The resolutions have however triggered mixed reactions as to how the Congolese Government would be assured of their implementation yet M23 was not represented in the meeting.
Speaking to France24 on Thursday, the Congolese Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya said: “You know that M23 is represented by Rwanda from the onset of attacks. Let’s talk about things as they are. We are optimistic that the resolutions taken this time around with their timeframes will be implemented to restore peace on the entire national territory.”
Mukuralinda has said that it would be far from the reality if DRC and its spokesperson believe that Rwanda was representing M23.
He explained that Rwanda attends the meeting as a country committed to upholding its security.
Mukuralinda further stated that the resolutions of Luanda make up a continual failure of Congo in restoring peace in eastern part of the country.
“Resolutions reached in Nairobi, Luanda and Burundi are the same. This resolution has demonstrated a great failure and total incapacity of Congolese Government in restoring security in eastern part of the country, and lack of political will to implement the aforementioned resolutions,” he said.
“Rwanda is neither a representative nor a spokesperson of M23. This kind of additions has always seen the implementation of resolutions failing because they are mixing up things,” added Mukuralinda.
He said that resolutions of the meeting have to be implemented by all concerned parties.
“M23 and other groups have to respect yesterday’s resolutions. A roadmap was given where the group will be subjected to further decisions for failure to do so. Rwanda is not the spokesperson of M23. It is concerned about its security,” stated Mukuralinda.
The Deputy Government Spokesperson has underlined that security problems in eastern DRC cannot be resolved in case some of armed groups present in the country are overlooked.
“Today, the problem is known. It is time to fight all armed groups at once not drawing attention on two or three groups only. When an individual or government focuses on the area and excludes others, it shows lack of willingness to solve an existing problem. This situation has lingered on for more than 20 years,” he said.
M23 announced that it won’t withdraw from captured areas because it was not considered during the meeting.
The banquet was hosted by the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum in the evening of Thursday 24th November 2022.
Apart from Kagame, the banquet was also attended by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari; Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau; Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana and the Chairperson of African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification is taking place in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
It aims to highlight renewed commitment towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Economic Diversification.
President Kagame arrived in Niamey on Thursday 24th November 2022.
The Summit is convened as part of the Africa Industrialization Week annual commemorative activities.
Given the importance of industrialization and economic transformation in Africa, the 20th of every November is commemorated as the Africa Industrialization Day, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in July 1989, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Africa Industrialization Day provides an opportunity to key stakeholders to reflect on Africa’s industrialization by looking at how the continent can change its current status quo.
Since 2018, the Africa Industrialization Day has been commemorated with week-long events, marking a departure from the one-day tradition, and which affords more time to reflect and accelerate actions towards Africa’s structural transformation, as an enabler to meet the objectives of Agenda 2063, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030.
The Boeing 737-800 SF, which is painted in RwandAir’s first cargo livery, will be based at the carrier’s Kigali hub.
The new jet delivered on 24th November 2022, will allow the Rwandan carrier to further expand its cargo operation, which has been on the rise.
RwandAir will operate the new freighter to a number of key destinations in Africa and the Middle East, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir said: “The delivery of our dedicated cargo aircraft is a huge milestone in RwandAir’s fleet expansion plans.
Cargo is of ever-increasing importance for the aviation industry, and as a landlocked country, we recognize the importance and value of good cargo connections.
We want to ensure that Africa is seamlessly connected to the world, driving economic growth and valuable trade deals.”
From its hub at the heart of Africa at Kigali International Airport, RwandAir is renowned for its excellent customer service where recently RwandAir won the award for ‘Best Airline Staff in Africa’ at Skytrax’s 2022 World Airline Awards, for a second successive year.
RwandAir currently operates to a variety of destinations across East, Central, West, and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
The proposal to rise legal drinking age emerged among resolutions of the recent 15th forum of Unity Club Intwararumuri following discussions on the behaviours of youth, a segment of the population considered to hold the country’s future.
The Unity Club is an association that brings together members of cabinet – former and present, their spouses, and other top government officials, with a purpose of promoting unity and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
Speaking to IGIHE, Tito Rutaremara, a political expert and the Chairperson of Rwanda Elders’ Advisory Forum affirmed that drunkenness and drug abuse is among issues affecting the youth.
He however observed that rising legal drinking age is not the only solution.
“The solution should be about enforcing laws, to discourage people serving alcohol to minors and get them arrested because the situation might remain the same if the age is raised to 21 without close monitoring,” he said.
“Besides, bar owners need to be strict and refrain from serving alcohol to minors. On the other hand, they might order alcoholic drinks through other people. So, the most important thing is that parents have to own the problem, educate children on the negative effects of alcohol and prevent them from consuming alcohol.
The youth and schools should also play their part in this sensitization. In brief, the policy needs to be devised, have people serving them with alcohol punished and call for collective efforts to contain alcohol consumption among teenagers,” added Rutaremara.
Figures from Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) show that 744 teenagers aged below 18 represent 3% of people arrested over drunkenness and drug abuse between 2018 and 2022.
For people aged between 18 and 30, the number increased to 14,765 representing 58.7% while 9,658 are people above 30 representing 38.4%.
According to statistics from Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, in 2021/2022, 96,357 mental health patients were received by the hospital, and of these, 70 per cent are youth with issues induced by alcohol and drugs.
According to the World Health Organisation, 5.3 per cent of all deaths are attributable to alcohol consumption.
Globally, around 61 per cent of countries have a drinking age of 18 or 19. India is the exception, where some states have a minimum drinking age as high as 25 and 30 years old.
In Africa, the highest legal drinking age is 21 in Egypt while the lowest is 15 years old in Ethiopia. In countries like Algeria and Benin, there is no legal drinking age.
Despite the fact that part of the youth fell for different vices including alcohol, Rutaremara explained that Rwandans should not feel like the country’s future is destroyed because there are others with good conduct.
“The youth have a lot of evil obsessions but it would be wrong to assume that they are all in the same case. There is a large number of youth with good manners but we have to work hard to bring others in the right direction,” he said.
Generally, over 84,000 people are detained in Rwanda’s prisons. Of these, 12,000 are remanded excluding suspects detained at Police stations as per findings by TIR released in May 2022.
The main objective was to assess the application of other alternative measures to imprisonment.
The probe followed another conducted by the Commission for Human Rights in 2019/2020 which indicated that overpopulation in Rwanda’s prisons stood at 136%.
Speaking to BBC towards the end of last week, the Executive Secretary of TIR, Apollinaire Mupiganyi said that overcrowding in prisons results from, among other reasons, the incarceration of individuals suspected of minor crimes yet there are other alternative punishments under Rwanda’s penal code that should be applied.
“The conducted survey indicated a sharp increase from the previous statistics released by Human Rights Commission. This stresses the need for quick action. It is apparent that challenges still exist. Security organs mandated to carry out investigations, even the judiciary rush to opt for imprisonment instead of other 12 alternatives that should be applied to make prison the last choice,” he said.
Mupiganyi explained that there are crimes requiring imprisonment but pointed out other available options like fines, house arrest, introducing electronic ankle monitors, mediation, and amnesty among others.
“The other 12 alternatives are applied at a very low percentage hence resulting into a sharp increase of detainees,” he said.
The Spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution (NPPA), Faustin Nkusi, explained that criminals increase overtime where there are emerging crimes including cybercrimes and human trafficking among others going hand in hand with fast development.
In the year 2021/2022, the Prosecution received 83,349 dossiers involving 106,554 suspects.
Of these, 43,645 dossiers were filed to courts while 39,211 suspects were released without undergoing trial.
The President of Rwanda Bar Association, Lawyer Moise Nkundabarashi said that overpopulation in Rwanda’s prisons can be reduced by 97,38% in case the other alternatives for imprisonment are applied.
He explained that some cases can last for three years due to a large number of people seeking justice. To this end, Nkundabarashi disclosed that an individual acquitted after spending three years in jail hardly copes with related effects.
“It is our option that suspects should be tried without detention but it requires much effort to educate people that trying a suspect being out of prison does not mean the case is ignored. We have different examples where the Prosecution did the same and filed lawsuits against individuals out of jail who faced justice and taken into prison after courts’ verdicts,” affirmed Nkundabarashi.
The Judicial Spokesperson, Harrison Mutabazi said that more than 40,000 criminal cases were taken to court during last year’s judicial year.
The number excludes civil, commercial, administrative and labour court cases.
“The number is an addition to the backlog of court cases accumulated in the previous years,” he noted.
Mutabazi explained that judges try to balance all punishments as provided by law but the situation is exacerbated by backlogs and the shortage of courts’ employees.
{{Promising efforts}}
As for civil and commercial cases, a mediation policy was introduced in Rwanda. Rwandans are encouraged to opt for this method as it is believed to be efficient and fast in conflicts’ resolution.
Besides, Rwanda introduced plea bargaining procedure, on 11th October 2022, to adjudicate on criminal cases.
A plea bargain is any agreement in a criminal case between the prosecutor and the defendant where the latter agrees to plead guilty to a particular charge in return for a lenient sentence.
This may mean that the defendant will plead guilty to a less serious charge, or one of the several charges, in return for the dismissal of other charges. It may also mean that the defendant will plead guilty to the original criminal charge in return for a more lenient sentence.
Plea bargaining is provided by the Law regarding criminal cases. The Article 26 of the Law stipulates that; at the end of the suspect’s interrogation, the prosecutor may propose a plea bargaining agreement whereby the suspect helps the prosecutor to obtain all the necessary information in the prosecution of the offence and to know other persons involved in the commission of the offence and in return of some benefits but without hindering good administration of justice.
The prosecutor undertakes to make concessions to the suspect in relation to charges against him or her and the penalties that he or she may request.
During investigations, a suspect who enters into plea bargaining with the prosecution may be prosecuted while free.
Plea bargaining does not prevent the victim of the offence from getting information on the prosecution file and from contributing to the explanation on the commission of the offence.
The article 26 of the same Law stipulates that, in case of an agreement of plea bargaining, the public prosecution charges the suspect as agreed on by both parties.
The court may admit or reject an agreement of plea bargaining but cannot alter the agreement.
In case the agreement is admitted, the court, while taking a decision, considers the agreement on plea bargaining concluded between the public prosecution and the accused.
Nkusi explained that the process is more advantageous as it paves the way for lenient punishments, prosecuting suspects while free, suspending a punishment and slapping them with fines among others.
