He was received at Village Urugwiro along with his delegation that is in Rwanda for the African Union-European Union (AU-EU) ministerial meeting.
Josep Borrell Fontelles has been in Rwanda since Sunday 23rd October 2021 to attend AU-EU ministerial meeting scheduled on 26th October 2021 at Kigali Convention Center.
Ahead of the meeting, Josep Borrell Fontelles visited Gashora Transit Refugee Camp located in Bugesera district.
On Monday 25th October 2021, she was also received by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta. They discussed joint agenda, focused on regional peace and security, closing the vaccination gap and deepening EU-Africa partnership.
Ministers attending the meeting are expected to exchange views on the EU-AU partnership and how to strengthen cooperation.
Discussions will also revolve around various topics including the response to and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as building resilience.
Other areas of interest are investing in the digital and green transitions, peace, security and global governance, migration and mobility, education, science, technology and skills development.
Africa and the European Union enjoy partnership in different development areas.
Figures from EU show that Europe exported goods worth Euro 124 billion to Africa while Africa’s exports to EU are estimated at Euro 101 billion in 2020.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana has welcomed EIB’s latest private sector engagement in Rwanda and the launch of its Euro 175 million East Africa COVID-19 Response Facility in the country.
Rwanda is the first country in East Africa to benefit from the new streamlined financing programme that will provide long term financing in both Rwandan Francs and US Dollars.
“COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted Rwandan businesses which has led to a negative economic impact on our country. The European Investment Bank partnership with Bank of Kigali and KCB-Rwanda will ensure that businesses can continue to invest and more specifically, targeted support will also improve access to financing by companies that contribute to the economic empowerment of women and girls,” Minister Ndagijimana said.
Commenting on the development, Thomas Östros, European Investment Bank Vice President said: “Since the COVID-19 outbreak the European Investment Bank has worked with leading banks and financial institutions across Africa to ensure that companies can continue to invest, protect jobs and harness new business opportunities. The agreements signed today will help strengthen economic resilience in Rwanda and includes targeted financing for female entrepreneurs and firms that accelerate the economic empowerment of women.”
Dr. Diane Karusisi, Bank of Kigali Chief Executive Officer has also highlighted that provided funds will help clients to maintain business growth.
“We are delighted to partner with the European Investment Bank in financing Rwandan businesses that were affected by the pandemic especially women-led businesses. The funds provided will enable our clients to stay afloat and continue progressing steadily even after the COVID-19 crisis. This facility clearly compliments the Government of Rwanda and Bank of Kigali’s efforts to stimulate the country’s economic recovery,” she said.
“It is our pleasure to be involved in this partnership with the European Investment Bank,” said George Odhiambo, the Managing Director of KCB Bank Rwanda.
“We believe in enabling local businesses with multiple financing options, targeted to various sector growth initiatives. Over the past 2 years we have seen several businesses and households overly affected by COVID-19. Therefore, this is a timely convergence of funds that will ultimately seek to benefit women entrepreneurs, many of whom are the backbone of our society”, he added.
30% of new financing will support female economic empowerment.
Female led companies and firms that contribute to gender quality will benefit from improved access to finance up to 30% of the total financing under the two new credit lines.
Allocation to companies that support female economic empowerment will be made under the EIB’s SheInvest criteria and global 2X Challenge Criteria.
Among others, the Government of Rwanda and the European Investment Bank have also signed a project agreement to complete the last milestone of the financing contract worth Euro 22 million for National Health Referral Laboratory Project.
Leligdonova was approved to represent her country to Rwanda by the cabinet meeting held on 30th July 2021. She will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Recently on 8th October 2021, Slovakia joined other countries supporting Rwanda’s response to COVID-19 pandemic with a donation of 280,000 vaccine doses.
At the time, Slovakia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Katarína Žuffa Leligdonová who joined other officials to receive vaccines upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, highlighted that COVID-19 pandemic can only be successfully overcome ‘if we join hands together’.
“That is why Slovakia has joined the EU family in Kigali to provide 280,000 Astra Zenecca vaccine doses to help Rwandan Government and people to control this pandemic,” she said.
As he celebrated his birthday on 23rd October 2021, Rwandans, friends and officials used different social media platforms to send best wishes to Kagame.
One day following his birthday on Sunday 24th October 2021, Kagame used his twitter handle to voice appreciation for all who sent heart-warming messages.
“I take this moment to express my sincere appreciation to all of you who wished and have been wishing me [over the years] Happy Birthday. Bless You all,” he tweeted.
Kagame also thanked friends and relatives for making his day a special one.
“Thank you to friends and family that made my Birthday a very happy one,” he said.
The President also revealed that spending his day with his grandchild was the best part of his birthday celebrations.
Paul Kagame was born in Nyarutovu, former Commune Tambwe, Gitarama Prefecture currently in Ruhango district, Southern Province.
He is the last born in a family of six born to late Deogratias Rutagambwa and Asteria Rutagambwa.
In 1959, his family fled to the north-east of Rwanda before moving to Uganda in Nshungerezi refugee camp, two years later.
Like many Rwandans, Kagame spent his childhood life in refuge in Uganda where he did primary and secondary school.
He commanded the liberation struggle until 1994 when RPA Inkotanyi soldiers stopped Genocide against Tutsi.
After winning the battle, Kagame held different positions serving as the Vice President and Minister of Defence.
On 24th March 2000, Kagame became the interim President replacing Pasteur Bizimungu who had resigned. He was elected for the first term during presidential elections held in 2003.
The Acting Executive Secretary of Nyamirama sector, Pascal Nkuriza has told IGIHE that clashes arose as the man ambushed the debtor.
“We went to the crime scene following the incident. We learnt that the deceased had lent Rwf200 to the young man and ambushed him to claim his money. Upon arrival, they engaged in heated argument which sparked fight. The man hit the debtor with a bottle who also hit him with a big stick on the head resulting into his death,” he said.
The murder suspect is detained at Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) Mukarange station awaiting his files to be transferred to the Prosecution.
As per released schedule, the trade fair will run from 9th to 30th December 2021 bringing together more than 400 exhibitors from Rwanda and abroad.
The statement released on Thursday reads that registration of participants is underway.
The trade fair will be attended by different exhibitors from different fields including telecommunication, technology, agriculture, construction, garments’ manufacturers, crafts, financial services, tourism and mining among others.
PSF has assured that this year’s expo will be a good opportunity for factories and other members of the private sector to showcase their new products that were not launched in public due to COVID-19 restrictions.
So far, countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Syria, Egypt, Benin, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey have confirmed participation while others are still under preparations.
The trade fair will be held under strict COVID-19 control measures.
The trio has been accused of conspiracy in illegal border crossing crime, and helping Kizito to bribe his way out.
Plans to flee the country started in January 2020, one month before Kizito was arrested.
It is said that the house help of Kizito dragged Nhayabahiga into the case to provide support while Harerimana was hired to intervene as a driver.
Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), on 13th February 2021, announced that he was arrested in Nyaruguru district.
The day Kizito’s attempt to escape was foiled; residents said that they saw him taking cover in a forest located in the vicinity of the border between Rwanda and Burundi.
Kizito had been arrested in 2014 and handed 10-year sentence in 2015. He was convicted for crimes ranging from convicted conspiracy to murder, treason and formation of a criminal gang among others.
He was released in September 2018 under presidential prerogative of mercy.
On 17th February 2020, Rwanda National Police announced that Kizito was found dead inside its detention facility in Remera after committing suicide by hanging.
On Monday 18th October 2021, RDF released a statement explaining that a Rwandan soldier crossed into DRC unintentionally as he pursued smugglers in Bugeshi sector, Rubavu district of Western Province.
““On 18th Oct 2021, Rwanda security forces pursued smugglers who crossed the Rwanda-DRC border at Hehu Cell, Bugeshi Sector, Rubavu District. Rwandan law enforcement forces unintentionally crossed a few meters into the DRC while pursuing the smugglers who were carrying unidentified packages and believed to have been armed,” reads the statement.
FARDC soldiers arrested the soldier who crossed into the neighboring country.
Following the incident, regional and international media houses reported that both countries’ militaries exchanged fire, which officials from both sides dismissed.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday; DRC Government Spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya explained that what happened is not unusual.
“We refuted the reports and we also have to look at circumstances under which it happened. It is not a blow to relations with neighboring countries,” he said.
Muyaya pointed out examples of similar border incidences and urged people against exaggerating the situation.
“It does not mean that our army is incompetent. Other countries including India and elsewhere across the world engage in serious clashes in similar circumstances. So, there is no need to compare the situations. This is something simple,” he said.
Commenting on the cross-border incident recently, RDF assured that it remains committed to maintaining good relations with FARDC and continue to collaborate on security matters.
The court’s ruling read on 20th September 2021 convicted Rusesabagina of terrorism charges and handed him 25-year jail term while Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara, the former spokesperson for the terror group was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
The remaining nineteen co-accused individuals were sentenced from three to 20 years.
Following the ruling, the accused, plaintiffs and the Prosecution were given 30 days for appeal.
So far, the Prosecution has announced that it was unsatisfied with the court’s judgment and filed an appeal against the entire process in which the case was handled.
The judiciary spokesperson, Harrison Mutabazi has told IGIHE that 13 of convicts and 74 survivors of FLN attacks who sought compensation expressed satisfaction with the judgment separately and filed an appeal.
During trial proceedings, 94 survivors of the attacks sought over Rwf1 billion but the court resolved that few of them would get compensated and the amount was below demanded compensation.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that Rusesabagina did not appeal against the ruling. He had boycotted the court during trial proceedings citing zero expectation of fair trial.
The convicts 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.
The deportees including young men in the age bracket between 18 and 23 arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday 20th October 2021 through Kagitumba One Stop Border Post.
Their deportation follows series of circumstances under which Ugandan officials have been dumping Rwandans at borders following days of torture in detention facilities accused of being spies yet they had traveled to Uganda to run businesses or visit relatives among other reasons.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents that are posing a threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
