The revelation follows a statement released last week by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that 13 countries have agreed to temporarily host at-risk Afghans evacuated from Afghanistan and a dozen more have agreed to serve as transit points for evacuees, including Americans and others.
In evacuating Afghans who previously worked with its forces, the US has sought third countries to house refugees while their applications are processed.
Blinken said that potential Afghan refugees not already cleared for resettlement in the United States will be housed at facilities in countries including Rwanda, Albania, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Ukraine and Uganda.
Transit countries include Bahrain, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
The White House said Monday that the US has evacuated or helped to get approximately 48,000 people out of Afghanistan since Aug. 14, with about 10,900 of them airlifted out during 12 hours Monday.
These include workers of non-governmental organizations, public servants and others at risk depending on the nature of their jobs like journalists, interpreters and human rights activists among others.
According to CNBC, the tally represents an apparent acceleration in the military’s colossal efforts to relocate as many people as possible amid a Taliban takeover. In addition, coalition forces evacuated approximately 5,900 people over the weekend.
Since the end of July, the US has relocated approximately 53,000 people, the White House said. There are still several thousand Americans believed to be awaiting evacuation, according to the State Department.
The Pentagon said evacuees are flying from Kabul to temporary safe-haven locations across the Middle East and Europe, including US installations in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Afghan nationals arriving in the United States will be housed at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Lee in Virginia, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Fort Bliss in Texas.
As desperate Afghans were trying to escape the Taliban and board planes, during chaotic scenes at Kabul airport, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, on Monday last week, called for international unity on Afghanistan, in a briefing to an emergency session of the Security Council.
“The following days will be pivotal”, said the UN chief. “The world is watching. We cannot and must not abandon the people of Afghanistan”.
After seizing large swaths of territory in recent months, the Taliban on Sunday took control of the capital, Kabul, home to some six million people.
President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country, according to media reports, and desperate residents have been scrambling to the airport to get flights out.
Afghanistan’s UN ambassador, Ghulam M. Isaczai, recently spoke of the fear that has gripped Kabul where people displaced from other provinces had flocked to the capital, viewed as the last refuge in the country.
As Isaczai said, Kabul residents reported that Taliban forces started house to house searches in some neighborhoods in Kabul, registering names and looking for people in their target list.
“There are already reports of target killings and looting in the city,” he revealed last week.
As per RURA’s statement dated 19th August 2021, the telecom must have solved all network issues related to poor calls connections (first attempts failures), dropped calls and silent garbled-speech by the aforementioned dates.
RURA has revealed that the decision follows the hearing session held on 23rd July 2021 during which the management of MTN Rwanda acknowledged the gap between Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the translation of these improvements into customer oriented experience.
“Should these deadlines be exceeded, further sanctions including the monetary sanction shall be applied immediately,” reads the statement in part.
The regulatory has also explained that MTN Rwanda failed to meet the initial deadline of the remediation plan to improve the quality of services in the City of Kigali and upcountry districts as submitted in the letter dated 9th April 2021.
In June 2021, MTN Rwanda explained that 40 new telecommunication towers have been installed to improve service delivery.
At the time, the telecom said that these infrastructures have been installed in different parts of Kigali city namely; Nduba, Jabana, Rusororo, Bumbogo among others to enrich customers’ with improved experience.
The recently announced upgrade followed subscribers’ complaints for network failures, dropped calls, unclear calls and slow internet.
Speaking to the media in June; Eugene Gakwerere, the Chief Technical Officer at MTN Rwanda revealed that the telecom is installing 27 more towers to be completed by August 2021 to maintain improved service delivery to over 6 million customers who subscribed to its network.
It is against this background that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of Japan has been helping Rwanda to mitigate effects of the pandemic.
Through UNDP, Japan has provided over US$1.2 million that helped Rwanda to mitigate effects of the pandemic in different areas.
Initially, part of the funds were allocated to strengthen the capacity of COVID-19 laboratories across the country and helped to hire over 100 health workers deployed to 11 newly established centers for COVID-19 testing.
It has resulted into increased sample tests and reduced time it would take for the release of results.
Under this framework, selected hospitals received all necessary equipment to provide oxygen for critically ill patients at intensive care units.
Among others, the funds helped to provide equipment including masks shields, face masks to 41 hospitals, train frontline workers and robots deployed to disinfect different places.
UNDP Country Representative, Maxwell Gomera has told IGIHE that they rushed to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 considering the pandemic’s nature which requires stronger collaboration than ever.
“The pandemic has awakened us to be far-sighted and concert efforts because no country can feel safe when neighbors are hit hard by the pandemic. It is under this context that UNDP and partners like the Government of Rwanda and Japan teamed up in the cumbersome situation to mitigate occasioned effects during and after the pandemic,” he said.
Gomera has also rallied foreign countries to continue providing support within their capacities to fight the pandemic.
“This time around, we should be much concerned about consolidating efforts to fight the pandemic which continues to take people’s lives instead of turning against each other. I would like to call upon developed countries for emergent support to African countries battling to access medical supplies and vaccines,” he noted.
The Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, Imai Masahiro has also stressed the need for consolidated efforts if the world is to defeat the pandemic.
“I am convinced that the most important thing during these difficult times is concerting efforts to help developing countries access vaccines and other medical supplies,” he revealed.
Amb. Masahiro also referred to the use of technology in the project with UNDP, which is aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 in Rwanda.
“Rwanda is a country moving fast to embrace technology on the African continent. The use of innovation in COVID-19 response should have a positive impact on the frontline healthcare facilities. Technology is not only bound to positively impact Rwanda but also neighboring countries,” he affirmed.
In February this year, UNDP handed over two Ultraviolet-C (UV-C robots) to Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC). These robots are used to disinfect treatment centers and public places to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The acquired UV-C Robots have unique features which include the UV-C lamps that emit ultraviolet lights destroying deadly microorganisms that may be missed during the manual cleaning process, hence helping to reduce infection rates for patients and healthcare workers.
Among other capabilities these robots have is the capacity to undertake speedy cleaning and disinfecting patient and operating rooms, labor and delivery, ICU rooms, isolation discharge rooms and other indoor spaces. On average, one robot can disinfect one room in 32 minutes. They can also kill virus other than SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Dieudonné Nshimiyimana, a health worker at Nyarugenge Hospital which has been turned into COVID-19 treatment center has explained that these robots are efficient to disinfect varied items.
“A robot can perform the task that would require five persons in 30 minutes. It is fast, reliable and has the capacity to kill the virus at 99.9 percent,” he said.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then the government has been instituting different measures to prevent spread of the virus including lockdown imposed at different times, halting businesses, suspending movements, closing borders among others which shook the economy.
Through the funding of Japan, UNDP has helped 227 members from 13 cooperatives of persons living with disability across the country to mitigate COVID-19 effects.
Beneficiaries received food relief, enlightened on COVID-19 prevention measures while their cooperatives received funds to resume operations that had halted during lockdown.
One of these cooperatives include Union of Deaf Women Cooperative (UDWCO) involved in hand crafts, sewing and knitting in Kigali City.
The President of UDWCO, Micheline Nikuze has revealed that the cooperative encountered losses during lockdown that businesses would not resume had it not been the funding of UNDP.
“We were hit hard that time because we had no income generating business. We are however grateful for the support of UNDP which intervened with food assistance and provided funding to resume operations,” she noted.
Nikuze explained that received funds helped them to resume business promising to financially transform their lives during and after the pandemic.
The decision of scrapping transfer charges for Push and Pull services is part of new directive released by BNR and follows concerns among members of the public lamenting that transfer charges from one’s bank account to mobile money wallet and vice versa could slow down the country’s efforts to embrace cashless transactions.
In May this year, BNR announced that it was conducting a study to fix prices for digital financial services.
The directive signed by the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa reads that ‘Charges and fees on transfer of funds between e-money and deposit accounts belonging to the same person are prohibited’.
The Central bank has also waived 6 per cent interest rate which banks have been paying previously on the funds held in the trust account.
“Trust accounts and related individual e-money accounts are only used for the purpose of facilitating payment services. As such, interest on trust accounts and interest on individual e-money accounts are prohibited unless the latter is explicitly used as a savings account,” adds the directive.
First Lady Jeannette Kagame made the call on Friday August 20, 2021 as she co-chaired the first virtual AAB meeting of the UGHE along with Prof. Senait Fisseha, the Director of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation.
The duo was named to chair UGHE African Advisory Board recently on 14th August 2021.
Speaking at the first meeting held virtually, the First Lady requested board members to continue striving for transformations of the health sector leveraging lessons learnt from COVID-19.
“I am extending to you an invitation to keep trailblazing a new and health centered path forward, because 2020 taught us many lessons on how interconnected we are as a global community. We can no longer afford to maintain the status quo,” she said.
UGHE is an institution that strives to train the next generation of global health professionals committed to providing equitable healthcare for all in Africa and beyond, with a focus on the most vulnerable. The creation of the AAB is critical to ensuring that UGHE’s work is informed by the local context vis-a-vis the wealth of knowledge and experience of African leaders on the continent.
Prof. Senait Fisseha highlighted that the opening of the university in Rwanda was an optimal choice.
“It is no accident that the University of Global Health Equity was born in Rwanda, which has for so long been a beacon of hope and an inspiration not just for those of us on the continent, but globally. This is what resilience, perseverance, and the road map to equity looks like,” he said.
During the meeting, the board members pledged to support UGHE to educate young leaders to be able to strengthen health sectors as a pillar of economic development and stability worldwide, especially in Africa. With this far-reaching mission, they are ready to accompany UGHE as it implements flexible and innovative solutions to address complex global health issues on the African continent and beyond. They will also advise on the creation of research and the needed types of professionals, as well as the collaboration required for future self-reliance based on Africa’s health needs.
Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, Vice- Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity said that the university looks forward to continuing the dialogue expected to ‘provide invaluable recommendations to UGHE as it works to attain excellence in global health education’.
“Ultimately, we hope that this provision of quality education will improve the health of the population worldwide, especially that of the most vulnerable in Africa,” she noted.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of synergizing regional efforts and improving the quality and quantity of the healthcare workforce and delivery, to guide the way forward for the institution’s strategic development to build healthcare systems in Africa and other parts of the world.
Other participants include Prof. Paul Farmer, the Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity who stressed the need to work hard to position UGHE as one important legacy of the Rwandan renaissance.
Inaugurated in 2018, UGHE releases graduates with Bachelor and Master’s in global health sciences.
UGHE focuses on quality, innovation and scientific-based learning and requires that students learn from and live within the communities facing the aforementioned constraints to healthcare access. By situating the university in the rural North of Rwanda, it provides proximity education that exposes our students to the challenges that they will be tasked to address on the continent.
Through a community-based learning approach that leverages community members as teachers, students are equipped with a deep understanding of the needs of the vulnerable, positioning them to adequately address them in their future professional life. By applying these principles, UGHE breaks down traditional boundaries between academic disciplines, fostering interprofessional teaching and learning.
With presence of dense forests, Mbau is located in 45 kilometers away from Mocimboa da Praia.
It was reportedly used by rebels for training of recruits. Following days of intense fighting, the joint forces seized Mbau on Friday 20th August 2021.
As they attacked Mbau, Rwandan and Mozambican troops maneuvered through Mocimboa da Praia and Mueda.
Before entering Mbau, RDF and Mozambican troops exchanged fire with approximately 100 rebels. The fight left several rebels killed while others escaped.
Eleven of killed rebels were found on the battle ground.
The joint troops also seized weapons including Submachine Guns (SMGs) among others.
The Spokesperson of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Col Ronald Rwivanga has told IGIHE that operations to defeat insurgencies are ongoing despite the victory in Mbua.
“We have quelled rebels and seized the region but operations are ongoing,” he said.
IGIHE has learnt that Rwandan troops started operations on Tuesday and followed tracks left by rebels as they fled with their vehicles from Mocimboa da Praia also seized recently.
The remaining regions under control of rebels include Siri I and Siri II.
During the ongoing fight, liberated regions are left under protection of Police forces as soldiers advance to chase out rebels.
Rwanda started the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Mozambique, recently on 9th July 2021, to fight rebel groups linked ISIL.
The group sometimes calls themselves al-Shabaab, although they do not have known links with the Somali al-Shabaab.
The situation started worsening in October 2017 when armed extremists linked ISIL launched an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique.
Since then, Mozambique Defence Armed Forces have been battling the extremists while many civilians were displaced by the fighting.
The joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican troops have started yielding where different regions including Palma, Awasse, Mocímboa Da Praia, Quionga, Tete, Zambia, Maputo, Nhica Do Rovuma, Quelimane, Chinda and Mumu have been seized from rebels.
Following his demise, friends and Rwandans eulogized him as a man of peace who strived for everyone’s progress irrespective of their background.
Edouard Bamporiki, the State Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Culture has said that Amb. Habineza was a valuable person who had become an intimate friend apart from official duties.
Speaking to IGIHE, Bamporiki revealed that he sought advice from Amb. Habineza as a person who had long-standing experience.
“He is my minister. I knew him before when I was seeking his support to promote my artistic talent. It happens that a talented artiste might not have an opportunity to directly engage with the minister. I visited him for the first time being with an American called Lee Isaac Chung as we planned to produce Munyurangabo film,” he said.
“Joe was pleased to see a native from Nyamasheke being with an American talking about film projects. I later called him via provided phone number informing that our film had won an award. He helped us to get travel documents to receive the award in USA. This reflects his humility,” added Bamporiki.
He explained that Habineza continued to support his works of arts and enjoyed the privilege of becoming his intimate friend.
“The most important thing people can learn from him is humility. I know him as a humble person who assumed duties in difficult conditions. He particularly played a major role in sports where he brought foreign celebrities and worked hard to uphold culture in tough times,” he said.
Bamporiki revealed that he was saddened by the passing of Amb. Habineza as someone with whom they had built strong relationship.
“Hearing that Joe Habineza has died at such younger age is beyond imagination,” he said.
Bamporiki expressed optimism that Habineza’s kind heart and friendly interactions with members of the society give hope that he has gone to Heaven.
“His kind heart, compassion, love and humanity that characterized him gives us hope that we shall meet him again as believers because he has been granted seat in Heaven,” he noted.
Aimable Karirima Ngarambe, a journalist representing IGIHE in Europe and the United States knew Habineza since 1988.
At the time, both Karirima and Habineza were players of Electrogaz Volleyball Club and later played together in Amasata Volleyball Club between 1994 and 1995.
“I knew him as a professional and disciplined player who was always characterized by kind heart. He was friendly and interactive with everyone around. In fact, he was always charming” he stressed.
“He was a ardent player during exercises and matches. Such qualities continued to characterize him at work. I remember one day when he denied wearing the jersey of Electrogaz because it carried the names of Pepsi Cola which sponsored the team. Habineza was avoiding to promote products of a competitor because he was working with Bralirwa,” he added.
Karirima also highlighted that Habineza will always be remembered for his good attributes as a bright, amiable, disciplined and humble person.
Joseph Habineza was born in Kamonyi district in Southern Province on 3rd October 1964.
He served in various positions where he worked with Heineken in Kinshasa between1994-1998 and headed the digital power arm of Heineken in Nigeria between1998-2000.
Habineza started his political career in 2004 after returning from Nigeria. At the time, he was appointed the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.
In 2008, the Ministry was split into the separate institutions where Habineza continued to assume duties as the Minister of Sports and Culture until 2011.
He was later appointed Rwanda’s ambassador to Nigeria and Ghana.
Habineza rejoined the cabinet in 2014 following his new appointment as the Minister of Sports and Culture. He held the position for 183 days and replaced on 24th February 2015.
In November 2016, Habineza started own businesses where he was involved in the wholesale of noodles produced from Egypt based firm known as Antoniou.
He was appointed the CEO of Radiant Yacu Ltd in 2019 and left the position in August 2020.
{{Contribution to Miss Rwanda, music industry}}
Ishimwe Dieudonné, the Managing Director of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up which organizes Miss Rwanda contest is among people with indelible memories to late Habineza.
“I knew him when he was re-appointed the Minister of Sports and Culture at a time when we were organizing Miss Rwanda. I had heard many people describing him as a kind person but I had not yet witnessed the reality until I worked with him and realized how he was friendly and social interactive to everyone,” he said.
“It is also important to mention his brilliance. He was clever and constantly worked hard to bring innovations. I remember some days when we would feel desperate saying that some works are beyond our capacity. He instead encouraged us to push through insisting that we can make it. We followed his tips and succeeded,” added Ishimwe.
He stressed that Habineza was honest and humble man who strived for positive development of everyone around him.
“He was a righteous man who always stood for the truth. It is hard to believe that he has died but one sure thing is that he was a blessing to everyone who met with him. Habineza leaves a good legacy. I also take this time to condole with his children and the bereaved family during these difficult times,” said Inshimwe.
Joseph Mushyoma [Boubou]; the CEO of East African Promoters (EAP), an event management company which organizes concerts including Iwacu Muzika Festival among others described Habineza as a great icon who contributed to the growth of music industry.
“If you remember well, he closely followed up artistes; he was enthusiastic about arts and music and warmly welcomed everyone seeking his support. He was a peaceful man who lived in harmony with others, valuing everyone’s views and offering advice where necessary. As he worked with Radiant, he was among EAP partners with whom we toured the country together. Our industry loses an important and experienced person,” he said.
Singer Mani Martin is also among artistes who are grateful for the support of late Habineza to the growth of music industry.
“Joe Habineza was an outstanding person to me. His higher ranking positions didn’t favor arrogance. He however, interacted with everyone. He played a big role to my career development and Rwandan music industry at large,” he said.
As he started Kesho Band in 2011, Mani Martin sought advice from Habineza introducing him to his engagement in live performances.
“He gave me a message of encouragement that paved the way for my success. I owe the current progress to him in no smaller part,” he revealed.
“His death is a great loss,” added Mani Martin.
{{Social media users mourn Habineza}}
Rwanda’s embassy in Germany has also sent condolences via Twitter handle notoing that Habineza will be missed.
” RIP Joe – you will be missed. It was a pleasure and honor to work with you, particularly in sports. Condolences to the family and loved ones left behind,” reads the tweet.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Shema Maboko Didier also condoled with the bereaved family.
“I am saddened by the passing of Joe Habineza. May your soul Rest in Eternal peace. Sports fraternity will always remember you,” he tweeted.
The President of FERWAFA, Olivier Nizeyimana also wished him to rest in eternal peace.
“FERWAFA President, Olivier Nizeyimana and everyone at FERWAFA is saddened by the passing of former Sports Minister, Amb Joseph Habineza. The football fraternity stands with his family in these despairing times. Rest well Joe,” the federation tweeted.
The Director-General of the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS), Fred Mufulukye also said that Habineza will always be membered for his humility and comforted the bereaved family.
“Heartfelt condolences to Joe Habineza’s family. We will always treasure the memories of your simplicity and warmth. Your gentle soul will always be in our hearts. RIP Joe,” he tweeted.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that Habineza was first flown to Nigeria for medical attention and later transferred to Kenya where he has succumbed to natural cause on Friday 20th August 2021.
Speaking to IGIHE last week as he celebrated 33 years of wedding anniversary, Habineza said he was grateful to have spent good times with his wife throughout the journey.
Joseph Habineza was born in Kamonyi district in Southern Province on 3rd October 1964.
He served in various positions where he worked with Heineken in Kinshasa between1994-1998 and headed the digital power arm of Heineken in Nigeria between1998-2000.
Habineza started his political career in 2004 after returning from Nigeria. At the time, he was appointed the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.
In 2008, the Ministry was split into the separate institutions where Habineza continued to assume duties as the Minister of Sports and Culture until 2011 when he resigned.
He was later appointed Rwanda’s ambassador to Nigeria and Ghana.
Habineza rejoined the cabinet in 2014 following his new appointment as the Minister of Sports and Culture. He held the position for 183 days and replaced on 24th February 2015.
In November 2016, Habineza started own businesses where he was involved in the wholesale of noodles produced from Egypt based firm known as Antoniou.
He was appointed the CEO of Radiant Yacu Ltd in 2019 and left the position in August 2020.
The verdict which was initially scheduled on Friday 20th August has been postponed to 20th September 2021 at 11a.m.
Rusesabagina who was the President of MRCD-FLN terror group was arrested in August last year. He has been undergoing trial along with 20 co-accused terror suspects including Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara, the former spokesperson for the terror group.
The suspects face 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 the aforementioned terror group plotted attacks to Rwanda which claimed lives of innocent residents in the Southern Province.
During trial proceedings, the Prosecution sought life sentence for Rusesabagina and 25 years for Callixte Sankara.
These Rwandans were handed over to Rwanda’s immigration officers at Kagitumba border in Nyagatare district on the evening of Thursday 19th August 2021.
The deportees include 20 men, 4 women and 2 kids who received emergency assistance and tested for COVID-19 upon arrival.
Twelve of these deportees who tested positive have been admitted at COVID-19 treatment centers while others are put under quarantine before joining their families.
Some witnesses revealed that they were detained at Matinda prison located in Mbarara where they endured torture before deportation.
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.
Uganda has deported over 70 Rwandans under similar circumstances since the beginning of the year 2021.
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.
