The President made the call on 16th October 2021 addressing members of Unity Club Intwararumuri the 25th Anniversary Celebration since the club was established.
As he delivered remarks, Kagame reminisced on priorities Rwandans should put forward including unity, security and development that should be pursued together for common interests.
The President said that many people misunderstand the concept of humility thinking it underestimates them yet it induces dignity.
“Being humble doesn’t deprive you of anything but gives you more strength. Humility brings strength, it does not underestimate you. However, its deficiency means that the one without these values is egocentric. He/she never considers others’ interests,” he said.
The President emphasized that gains acquired from egocentrism are not durable because they incur lots of anomalies.
“If people in your surroundings are hungry but realize that you are happy and wasting [food], they judge you. Their judgment is not read to hold you accountable immediately but it finally affects you. I think, leaders should always be mindful of that lesson,” he noted.
Kagame said that Rwanda was renowned for two facets including a negative image (the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi) but highlighted that the country has left the dark past behind where it is has earned credibility for achieved remarkable progress.
The President however stressed the need to keep up the momentum to achieve more and urged Rwandans to be characterized by patriotism, and prevent small anomalies that might hold back attained progress.
Unity Club (Intwararumuri or Torch Bearers) was founded in 1996 by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, as a way to bring together members of cabinet and their spouses to promote cohesion among themselves and work together to enhance unity and peace while contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
Former cabinet members and their spouses are also members of the club.
During the ceremony, seven protectors of friendship pact (Abarinzi b’Igihango) were recognized for bravery that characterized them during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Speaking at the event, Brig Gen Didas Ndahiro, the guest of honour and the Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) congratulated the graduates for their remarkable efforts in terms of discipline and hardwork. He also reminded them that the course is a very important career course of a senior officer.
The Commandant told the graduates that the knowledge gained will enable them to become better commanders and staff officers at tactical level and operational level. He noted that as they leave the College there is no doubt that the course improves efficiency in command and staff responsibilities.
Major Janet Musabyimfura the only female graduate said that she benefited a lot from the course in terms of command and staff responsibilities at different levels.
During the four-months course, the students undertook intensive training programme comprising many modules; including operational service writing, communication skills, force organisation, military leadership, command and management, military training, military intelligence tactics, logistics, land operations, air operations and peace support operations. They also undertook a number of study visits and conducted many indoor and outdoor exercises.
The pass-out ceremony was graced by RDF and Police Senior officers and attended by spouses, parents, friends, relatives of the graduates, religious leaders and local authorities in the Northern Province.
The flight to Goma is an addition to other DRC destinations including Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
It is expected that RwandAir will be conducting bi-weekly flights to Goma on Monday and Wednesday.
The maiden flight to Goma on Friday saw the airline carrying 33 passengers traveling to Goma for different purposes.
Passengers expressed delight for the launch of flights to Goma noting that they will no longer use land transport in urgent situations.
Patrick Nzoloka who was among passengers flying with RwandAir to Goma said that he was would travel through Ethiopia to reach Goma in some instances. He explained that the new destination comes in handy to facilitate movements.
“I usually travel from Goma to Dubai through Addis Ababa. It is my first time flying with RwandAir from Kigali to Goma. This development will help Congolese nationals flying to different destinations particularly Nigeria, Benin and Kenya among others,” said Nzoloka.
In March 2019, Rwanda and DRC signed agreements to open airspace which saw RwandAir commencing flights to Kinshasa and vice versa.
Later in April 2019, RwandAir started operating three flights per week from Kigali International Airport to N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa.
Recently in June 2021, both countries also signed three cooperation agreements on the promotion and protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion between the two countries as well as a memorandum on gold mining.
The launch of new flight to DRC is expected to further ease movements and give a significant boost to trade between both countries.
Operating from Kigali, RwandAir is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets on the African continent.
With a reputation for delivering a premium service to all its customers, RwandAir operates 12 aircraft with an average age of just under six years. The airline currently offers services to 25 destinations across 21 countries throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Dr. Habumuremyi was released one day after he was granted pardon by President Paul Kagame pursuant to the powers conferred upon him by the Constitution.
The pardon granted to the former Premier was announced through a cabinet communiqué released on Wednesday 13th October 2021.
Dr. Habumuremyi was handed three-year sentence after he was found guilty of issuing unguaranteed cheques.
During his trial, he asked forgiveness from President of the Republic and later sent him an apology letter.
Speaking to IGIHE, Dr. Habumuremyi voiced appreciation to Kagame for granting him mercy.
“I thank him for pardoning me because I was not expecting it. I just knew that I apologized from the bottom of my heart. Lucky enough, he has forgiven me as the President of the Republic. I warmly welcomed the mercy with great happiness,” he said.
Dr. Habumuremyi said that the apology letter also carried a message asking for forgiveness from all Rwandans.
“The prerogative of mercy granted to me is of great significance. It will always be engraved on my memory,” he revealed.
The former Premier said that he learnt a lot from prison that he won’t commit similar faults that opened prison’s doors for him. He also pledged to work with other Rwandans to build the nation.
The former Prime Minister was arrested in July 2020 following the closure of the Christian University of Rwanda (CHUR) to which he was owner and legal representative.
The university management was also accused of not paying lecturers and other employees, which had prompted an audit from the Higher Education Council.
Before closure by the Ministry of Education, his university had campuses in Kigali and another one in Karongi District.
Alleged crimes were in connection to anomalies in the management of the university where he was said to have accumulated millions of francs in debts to different suppliers to his university. The university management was also accused of not paying lecturers and other employees.
Dr. Habumuremyi owned 60 percent of the university’s shares, while his son owned 30 percent and the Vice-Chancellor 10 percent.
He was charged alongside Charles Serushyana, a former accountant of the university, but he was later acquitted.
The clemency nullifies the three-year jail term and Rwf892 fine that Dr. Habumuremyi was handed by Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on 27th November 2020.
He will however have to clear all debts he owed to plaintiffs.
Dr. Habumuremyi has told IGIHE that he will abide by laws and respect court’s resolutions.
Dr. Habumuremyi’s lawyer has said that his client has approximately Rwf30 million in debts because some plaintiffs have already received payments.
Habumuremyi served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 7th October 2011 until 24th July 2014. Since 2015, Habumuremyi has served as the chairman of Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decoration of Honour prior to his arrest.
Dr. Habumuremyi was born in Ruhondo, Musanze district on 20th February 1961. He pursued studies in different countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), France and Burkina Faso.
Kagame was speaking at the Global Business Forum Africa 2021 held in Dubai on Thursday 14th October 2021.
Despite the fact that COVID-19 brought unprecedented effects on African continent and the rest of the world, the President said that the pandemic is becoming more manageable as vaccine distribution improves globally.
“Travel and commerce are beginning to recover. However, we are not going back to the same economy that we knew in 2019. Some of the changes will be profound and lasting. The crisis in international shipping and transportation is already generating new thinking,” he noted.
As the world continues to recover, Kagame highlighted that manufacturing and supply chains will need to become more resilient, more local, and more technologically advanced and expressed optimism to make it possible through new innovations.
“Fourth Industrial Revolution innovations in artificial intelligence and 3D printing, for example, are making it possible to make products almost anywhere, at a competitive cost. Similarly, life-saving vaccines and other pharmaceuticals will increasingly be produced in a decentralized fashion, including in Rwanda, thanks to advances in engineering, and good partnerships with companies like BioNTech and others,” he said.
“These changes were already underway before the COVID-19 pandemic, but are now likely to accelerate,” added Kagame.
By the time the pandemic emerged, Kagame said that Africa was well-prepared in at least one important respect where the ‘African Continental Free Trade Area, which was decades in the making, had just entered its operational phase in July 2019’ as more efforts are underway.
“Africa is now the largest free trade area in the world, in terms of the number of countries, since the formation of the World Trade Organization. Last week, the 15th ratification of the African Medicines Agency treaty was deposited with the African Union, and the treaty will therefore come into force next month. The establishment of this body will be a game-changer for Africa’s ability to produce high-quality vaccines and medicines for our continent,” he noted.
Despite achieved milestone, the President highlighted that the progress of African economic integration will mean ‘more trade and investment between Africa and the rest of the world, not less’.
He pointed out an example of successful cooperation where the United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular, have long played a key role in linking Africa to the wider global economy noting that the inter-connectedness has been mutually beneficial ‘and we wish to continue to deepen those collaborations’.
Considering adverse effects of the pandemic to families, businesses and the anticipated journey to return to normalcy, Kagame also stressed the need to seize generated opportunities to strive for a better future.
“The Covid pandemic has been an extremely difficult period. Families and small businesses have experienced a great deal of loss. And while the worst may be behind us, the road back to normal is still long,” he affirmed.
“That is why we have a responsibility, amidst all this disruption, to maximize the strengths and assets that Africa does have. We must also strive to seize the new opportunities that have been generated to work with partners to build a more prosperous and cooperative future for all of us,” enthused Kagame.
The forum which took place from 13th to 14th October in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; GBF Africa offered businessmen and investors valuable insights and up-to-date information on a plethora of promising investment opportunities.
The forum also facilitates cooperation between business communities in Africa and the UAE to help African companies benefit from Dubai’s experience in building an integrated digital economy rooted in cutting-edge technologies.
Obadiah Biraro had held the position since June 2011. The cabinet meeting held in 2016, extended his office term for more five years prior to his replacement.
The appointment is part of resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 13th October 2021 chaired by President Paul Kagame.
Another appointee is Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi who has been named the Director General of National Child Development Agency (NCD).
He previously served as Kigali City vice mayor in charge of socio-economic affairs.
Among others, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rose Muhisoni has been appointed the Deputy Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) replacing Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza who recently moved to Rwanda National Police (RNP) as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Finance in April 2021.
ACP Muhisoni previously served as the Deputy Commissioner for Community Policing.
The pardon granted to Dr. Habumuremyi has been announced through a cabinet communiqué released on Wednesday 13th October 2021.
“Pursuant to the powers conferred upon him, His Excellency the President of the Republic granted pardon to Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi,” reads part of the communiqué.
The former Prime Minister was arrested in July 2020 following the closure of the Christian University of Rwanda (CHUR) to which he was owner and legal representative.
The university management was also accused of not paying lecturers and other employees, which had prompted an audit from the Higher Education Council.
Before closure by the Ministry of Education, his university had campuses in Kigali and another one in Karongi District.
Alleged crimes were in connection to anomalies in the management of the university where he was said to have accumulated millions of francs in debts to different suppliers to his university. The university management was also accused of not paying lecturers and other employees.
Dr. Habumuremyi owned 60 percent of the university’s shares, while his son owned 30 percent and the Vice-Chancellor 10 percent.
He was charged alongside Charles Serushyana, a former accountant of the university, but he was later acquitted.
During trial proceedings, the prosecution said that Dr. Habumuremyi had over Rwf1 billion debts.
Dr. Habumuremyi appealed against the sentence recently in Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, which commuted his sentence by 1 year and 3 months.
The clemency nullifies the three-year jail term and Rwf892 fine that Dr. Habumuremyi was handed by Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on 27th November 2020.
He will however have to clear all debts he owed to plaintiffs.
Habumuremyi served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 7th October 2011 until 24th July 2014. Since 2015, Habumuremyi has served as the chairman of Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decoration of Honour prior to his arrest.
Dr. Habumuremyi was born in Ruhondo, Musanze district on 20th February 1961. He pursued studies in different countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), France and Burkina Faso.
Curfew hours previously started from 11p.m through 4.a.m.
The decision is part of resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 13th October 2021.
The cabinet meeting has also resolved that all businesses must close by 11p.m.
As per new measures, public offices will continue with essential staff at no more than 75% capacity while other employees continue working from home on rotational basis.
Private businesses will continue at full capacity and must comply with COVID-19 preventive measures.
Bars shall also continue to resume gradually. Recreation, entertainment facilities are permitted to resume gradually at 50% maximum capacity while customers must be fully vaccinated and should possess negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours.
Among others, all services held at places of worship should not exceed 50% maximum occupancy.
Swimming pools, massage parlors and saunas shall reopen gradually. Customers must be fully vaccinated (except persons under 18 years of age) and should possess negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours.
These measures will take effect nationwide effective from 14th October through 14th November 2021.
Citizens are reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures including physical distancing, properly wearing face masks and hand hygiene.
“Peace is much more than the absence of violence. The precondition for sustainable peace is a shared understanding of the root causes of a conflict, by a broad range of stakeholders in society,” he said.
The President made the call on Tuesday 12th October 2021 at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s Debate on Peacebuilding and Sustainable Peace.
Chaired by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the meeting was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former South African President Thabo Mbeki and a civil society representatives among others.
As he delivered remarks, Kagame also shared thoughts on what sustainable peace may entail, picking an example from Rwanda’s recent experience.
“First, peacebuilding should be understood as an ongoing process, a constant search for solutions through dialogue and consensus, as we say in Rwanda. It may not be possible to entirely prevent all conflicts. In fact, disagreements and grievances will always be there, in one form or another. But the intensity and impact of conflicts can be minimized by remaining attentive to local needs and expectations,” said Kagame.
This means, according to the President, investing in the capacity of institutions and individuals, so they can deliver the results that citizens expect and deserve.
Secondly, Kagame highlighted that there is no universal template that can be transferred automatically from one context to another.
He said that external advice and examples can be helpful in encouraging reflection and finding new approaches noting that Rwanda has benefitted from various partnerships.
“Third, we must reckon with the growing power of social media to exploit vectors of division in society, that can quickly weaken the social fabric. Finally, peacebuilding is not a purely technical enterprise. It is deeply political and human and must take account of the emotions and memories that various parties bring to the table,” underscored Kagame.
Despite the opportunity to learn lessons from previous failures and successes of peacebuilding processes, Kagame said that the international community’s toolbox has hardly changed.
To this end, the President shared thoughts on Rwanda’s experience along resilience journey after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi where success is always an option in whatever circumstances.
“Rwanda’s post-genocide trajectory is marked by a consistent focus on national unity, inclusion, and service delivery. There are other positive examples from Africa, and beyond. Practical and tangible partnership is critical,” he said.
“Rwanda’s experience is that, no matter how bad the situation appears, success is always an option. Let’s build on today’s debate, and challenge ourselves to work together to demand better results in international peacebuilding,” added Kagame.
Speaking at the meeting, UN Secretary‑General António Guterres also urged countries to include and involve all segments of the population in the process of rebuilding communities and sustaining peace.
Kagame made the revelation today as he virtually attended the Global Security Forum 2021 held in Doha, the capital Qatar.
The Global Security Forum is an annual international gathering hosted by The Soufan Center. For several years it has brought together an international network of senior officials and experts, and consistently included ministers, heads of security agencies, and prominent experts, academics, and journalists, and thousands of attendees. This invitation-only event provides a unique dynamic platform for international stakeholders to convene and address the international community’s leading security challenges.
During a conversation with Steve Clemons, a journalist working with The Hill, United States based media house, Kagame responded to different questions concerning areas to be given priority.
Kagame pointed out health and security as priorities noting that no country can address related challenges on its own whether in Africa, Europe, Middle East or anywhere.
Kagame explained that insecurity is caused by shortfalls in governance which sometimes take dangerous forms such as terrorism, or even Genocide as it was the case in Rwanda. The President said that the issue crosses borders, affects neighbors and the entire regions.
Despite many lessons to learn from past failures, Kagame said, the global toolbox for dealing with these threats has hardly evolved.
He pointed out an example of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where a peacekeeping mission has operated for twenty years with meager results. He also hinted on what happened in Afghanistan with 20-year commitment from the international community.
“The efforts in the Sahel region to contain armed groups have also not yet managed to transform the security landscape. The point is not to cast blame. But at a minimum, we can say that something is very wrong in terms of how cross-border security threats are dealt with,” he said.
Kagame emphasized that failure to find a long-lasting solution is not from lack of engagement or lack of money observing that no amount of external funding or troop commitment can create sustainable peace, without putting governance at the center of it all.
Because of our country’s history, the President said, Rwanda is committed to contributing to peace building operations and making a difference where we can.
“We have done so multilaterally, through the United Nations or the African Union, such as in the Central African Republic or in Sudan and South Sudan. In fact, Rwanda has been among the top five UN troop-contributing countries for several years now,” he said.
Kagame also talk about Rwanda’s response to a bilateral appeal from the Government of Mozambique to combat the radical insurgency in Cabo Delgado.
The President said that Rwanda initially sent 1000 joint forces of the RNP and RDF, a number that has increased to approximately 2000.
“The Government of Mozambique invited us and many others like they invited the SADC countries. That is the southern region and neighbors of Mozambique to come and help. Rwanda went there on the ground that this was bilateral and an invitation from a friendly country that wanted such a help urgently. So, we did respond. In fact, we deployed more than 1000 troops. We have close to 2000, military troops and police as well,” he revealed.
Kagame said that the intervention was done quickly to deploy troops where the problem has been addressed to a great extent.
“And it is Rwanda, the Government of Rwanda working with Mozambique, the two of us found resources to deploy to support these operations. We didn’t get any financing from outside,” he noted.
Considering achieved progress, Kagame stressed that bilateral relations between two countries committed to deal with problems in Africa should be done faster and more effectively.
“If we had for example to wait until plans are put in place, mobilization is done , then using the usual format that is used, we probably would still be waiting by now and not sure when we get started,” he said.
Kagame revealed that both countries are working together to identify the root cause of the problem and what needs to be fixed.
This will be done through capacitating the country in many ways to deal with own problems.
Kagame said that Rwandan troops should not be on the ground forever but rather should be working with the country to deal with the problem for as long as the support is necessary leading to making the country stand on its own.
Rwanda sent the first contingent of joint troops to Mozambique on 9th July 2021.
The 2021 Global Security Forum will take place from October 12-14, 2021, in Doha, Qatar and adopt a hybrid approach for virtual participants. As states vie for power and resources in a rapidly evolving geopolitical climate, the 2021 Global Security Forum is held under the theme ‘Cooperation or Competition? Changing Dynamics of Global Security.’ Conversations will focus on the imperative of balancing cooperation and competition in ensuring security and addressing critical challenges in governance and development.
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