Kagame received Ahmed after meeting with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta where the two ministers held discussions on strengthening bilateral relations and signed a General Cooperation Agreement.
Ahmed Kattan becomes the first Saudi official to visit Rwanda.
On Monday, Ambassador Jamal M.H Al-Madani presented credentials to Kagame has to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Rwanda with residence in Kampala, Uganda.
He was approved by the cabinet meeting held on 14th December 2020.
Rwanda and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed cordial relations and cooperation in different areas since 2006. In 2018, both countries signed the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Saudi Arabia was among Rwanda’s top 10 import markets last year with imports valued at US$5,83 million in December 2020 from US$6,50 million in 2019.
Kagame made the recommendation today at the official launch of the partnership between MasterCard Foundation and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The three-year partnership will leave US$1.3 billion deployed to save the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Africa and hasten the economic recovery of the continent.
The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative will acquire vaccines for at least 50 million people, support the delivery of vaccinations to millions more across the continent, lay the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing in Africa through a focus on human capital development, and strengthen the Africa CDC.
President Kagame said that MasterCard Foundation has been making real difference on the continent in the areas of education and youth empowerment since 2009 and highlighted three critical areas the newly launched partnership should prioritize.
“First, it is practical and immediate. Lives are going to be changed vaccine purchases. Second, there is a commitment to work directly with our public health institution and make them stronger. Creating pararrel systems has not been effective or sustainable. Third, there is a long-term vision to build Africa’s capacity to produce high quality medicines and vaccines right here on our continent,” he said.
Kagame also stressed the need for urgent interventions to get out of the crisis.
“As Africa, we have to do our part with a sense of urgency and excellence. We won’t get out of this crisis with a business-as-usual mindset. That means, investing much more of our own domestic health resources in our national systems,” he noted.
The African Union’s goal as set out in the African COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access Strategy is to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its population – approximately 750 million people or the entire adult population of the continent – by the end of 2022. To date, less than two percent of Africans have received at least one vaccine dose.
The new partnership builds on the efforts of the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access facility (COVAX), the COVID-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), and the global community to expand access to vaccines across Africa. The number of vaccines available to Africa represents a small portion of the global supply and the financial costs to purchase, deliver, and administer vaccines remain significant. The Africa CDC has called on governments, global funders, the private sector, and others to help meet this goal.
“Ensuring inclusivity in vaccine access, and building Africa’s capacity to manufacture its own vaccines, is not just good for the continent, it’s the only sustainable path out of the pandemic and into a health-secure future,” said Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa CDC.
“This partnership with the Mastercard Foundation is a bold step towards establishing a New Public Health Order for Africa, and we welcome other actors to join this historic journey.”
In 2020, Africa faced its first economic recession in 25 years due to the pandemic.
The African Development Bank has warned that COVID-19 could reverse hard-won gains in poverty reduction over the past two decades and drive 39 million people into extreme poverty in 2021. Widespread vaccination is recognized as being critical to the economic recovery of African countries.
The initiative builds on an earlier collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa CDC to expand access to testing kits and enhance surveillance capacity in Africa. Through the Foundation’s support, the Africa CDC’s Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT) deployed nearly two million COVID-19 tests and more than 12,000 trained health care workers and rapid responders across Africa.
In total, the PACT has enabled over 47 million COVID-19 tests across the continent.
In 2019, Rwanda earned over US$ 500 million from tourism and provided job opportunities to approximately 164,000.
In a bid to promote tourism sector, the country has expended substantial resources for development of infrastructures facilitating tourists to enjoy memorable experiences during their stay in Rwanda.
Such infrastructures include luxurious state-of-the art hotels to promote the country’s flagship programme known Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) to market the country as conferences’ hub.
The programme is set to get boost with Four Points by Sheraton, a new hotel brand entering Rwanda’s market.
Being under final phases of construction, the four-star facility is located in Nyarugenge district, Kigali City nearby Kigali Serena and Marriott hotels.
The hotel expected to have been completed within 30 days, is the first of its kind run by Four Points by Sheraton hotel brand in Rwanda. The hotel has 154 rooms of different categories including a Presidential Suite.
Four Points by Sheraton is a multinational hotel brand operated by Marriott International that targets business travelers and small conventions. As of June 30, 2020, Marriott operated 291 properties in 45 countries worldwide under the Four Points by Sheraton brand, with 53,054 rooms.
The new facility to be launched in Kigali will be an addition to its presence in East Africa with footprints in Tanzania and Kenya.
The company was founded in 1995 operated by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts.
It was later in 1998 acquired by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc and underwent a rebrand in 2000.
In 2016, Marriott International acquires Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. bringing Four Points by Sheraton to existing 32 operated brands.
Four Points by Sheraton in Kigali will be a four-star hotel with 154 rooms.
The basement of the 10-floor building has storeroom, staff training room and will also accommodate a restaurant, bar and kitchens.
Among others, the hotel will feature displays of traditional decorations and has four elevators, two being for clients, one for staff and another one to lift foods and other items.
The first floor has three rooms dedicated for meetings and can be converged to host 60 people.
The second floor has six rooms for meetings. The hotel also has a pool with a segment for elders and children respectively.
Next to the pool, is a gym with glass walls. The hotel also has eight cold rooms for meat, vegetables and other fresh fruits.
Four Points by Sheraton will have own bakery and dedicated space for meat processing.
Four Points by Sheraton in Rwanda was built by Canon Construction Ltd, led by Jack Arslanian.
According to the contractor, most of materials were sourced in Rwanda while the rest were imported at completion phase.
Jack Arslanian has told IGIHE that the hotel was built in compliance with international standards.
“The hotel’s brand is very much concerned about meeting standards and draws attention to all details to ensure clients are satisfied with delivered services,” he said.
The hotel has 20 ordinary rooms, some of which have own kitchens and one Presidential Suite as well.
During the remaining 30 days, developers are making final touches and putting everything right to ensure air conditioners, electricity and water supply systems among others are properly installed.
The contractor, Jack Arslanian has also took part in the construction of other hotels in Rwanda including Bisate Lodge in Northern Province, Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Marriott Hotel and renovation of One & Only Nyungwe House.
Before meeting with Kagame yesterday, Al-Madani presented copies of credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
He was approved to represent Saudi Arabia to Rwanda with residence in Kampala, Uganda by the cabinet meeting held on 14th December 2020.
Rwanda and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed cordial relations and cooperation in different areas since 2006. In 2018, both countries signed the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Saudi Arabia was among Rwanda’s top 10 import markets last year with imports valued at US$5,83 million in December 2020 from US$6,50 million in 2019.
He made the call on Sunday 6th June 2021 during a live conversation on the fight against genocide denial with the Rwandan community abroad aired aired on RBA.
The talk was held at a time when Rwanda is commemorating the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi for the 27th time which took lives of over 1 million innocent Tutsi killed for innate personality.
Despite the fact that different measures have been put in place to depict the truth, propagandists continue to fuel Genocide ideology, misinterpret history and distort facts claiming that Genocide took lives of 800,000.
They also claim that the shooting of the plane of former President Juvenal Babyarimana was the trigger of Genocide yet there are evidences proving that it was a result of long-term plan to exterminate Tutsi.
The situation raises alarm considering the fact that propagandists are currently using social media to mislead and spread destructive ideologies among the youth constituting 70% of Rwanda’s population.
Appearing in RBA talk show, Minister Biruta called for concerted efforts to shun all forms of Genocide ideology.
“We should raise voices and counteract them whatever platforms they are using,” he said.
“Genocide ideology still exists and might continue in the days to come. However, it can be devised if we concert efforts and make it our concern. Everyone has a part to play along the journey. The Government, different organizations will also play their part,” added Dr. Biruta.
He urged Rwandans to use all possible platforms to tell the truth of what happened and take legal action where necessary.
The State Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Edouard Bamporiki stressed that the journey of stopping Genocide and rebuilding the country is a good legacy to the youth and urged them to consolidate gains.
The newly appointed Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Service Chiefs have assumed duties during a handover ceremony which took place on Saturday at RDF Headquarters, one day following their appointment on 4th June 2021.
Lt Gen Muganga has been serving as RSF Division Commander for RDF Eastern Province and Kigali.
The changes in RDF leadership also saw President Paul Kagame and the Commander in Chief of Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) appointing the former Air Force Chief of Staff, Major General Emmanuel Bayingana as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.
The latter handed over duties to Lt Gen Mupenzi appointed Air Force Chief of Staff.
The project launched on Friday 4th June 2021 as Rwanda celebrated the World Environment Day which is marked on 5th June globally.
The plant is expected to buy plastic wastes at a cost of Rwf 90 per kilogram.
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya has explained that the project comes in handy to complement existing environment preservation efforts and benefit people collecting plastic wastes.
“We shall sensitize people to collect plastic wastes for the recycling plant. The project will discourage Rwandans throwing plastic materials but rather to use them to generate activities while reducing threats to biodiversity in the ecosystem,” he said.
Dr. Mujawamariya explained that implementation phase of the project is expected begin towards the end of 2021.
“Private investors will join hands for the project to materialize,” she noted.
Companies requiring single-use plastic materials in daily activities have already contributed funds to begin the project. These include Inyange Industry, Sulfo Rwanda, Bralirwa and Ese Urwibutso among others.
PSF Chairman, Robert Bapfakurera has said that some members of the private sector who understood the relevance of the project contributed over Rwf 9.6 million and encouraged others to support the initiative.
“You know that people use plastics for various purposes. We need to raise more funds than contributed Rwf 6.9 million to implement the project,” he noted.
This year’s World Environment Day is celebrated under the theme “Ecosystem Restoration”.
The first celebration took place in 1974. In the following years the World Environment Day has developed as a platform to raise awareness on the problems facing environment such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable consumption, sea-level increase, and food security, among others.
The development announced yesterday through joint statement following discussions between Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta and his counterpart of South Africa Dr. Naledi Pandor comes after seven years of tensions.
Rwanda and South Africa have been hit by diplomatic tensions where Rwanda accused South Africa to grant refuge to fugitives intending to threaten Rwanda’s security like Kayumba Nyamwasa who escaped justice and currently heading RNC terror outfit.
In March 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the problem of Rwandans being denied visas to South Africa would soon become history after holding talks with President Paul Kagame. However, up to now, Rwandans still struggle to get visa to travel to South Africa.
Rwanda has at different times explained that actions of convicted people or fugitives should not blur bilateral relations.
During discussions with Dr. Biruta who was on working visit in South Africa, both ministers committed to restore bilateral relations to normal following discussions between President Paul Kagame and Cyril Ramaphosa held at different times.
The statement released yesterday by South Africa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads that the two ministers met to assess the current state of bilateral relations and iron out challenges.
They recalled good bilateral relations that existed between the two countries prior to events that led to the straining of relations in 2013 and reiterated commitment to bring the situation to normalcy.
“In open and frank discussions, both ministers confirmed their determination and commitment to normalize diplomatic relations as expressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Paul Kagame, following bilateral meetings,” reads the statement in part.
The ministers agreed that full cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas and sectors will support increased socio-economic development.
It was agreed that mutual actors and measures would be taken to direct bilaral relations along a new path for the benefit of the Government and people of South Africa and Rwanda.
The ministers agreed on a roadmap that will support the normalization process, predicated on agreed timelines whereby both countries must value and respect international laws and regulations that govern relations between countries including territorial integrity and international sovereignty.
Among others, the meeting agreed on the establishment of a Joint Mechanism led by minister Pando and Biruta, to guide and manage the normalization process.
It is expected that senior officials from both countries will serve as the Technical Committee of the Mechanism. The latter will be required to engage the entire spectrum of issues affecting bilateral relations and report to ministers.
The move follows discussions between both heads of state on 18th May 2021 in France ahead of the Summit on Financing African Economies.
The three-month pilot phase launched on Friday 4th June 2021 at Kigali International Airport, is a result of partnership with the Germany Embassy in Rwanda.
The launch of the project was presided over by the Deputy Inspector of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations, Felix Namuhoranye and RBC Director General, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana.
Police officers under the Canine Brigade were trained as dog handlers.
Rwanda becomes the first African country to rollout the use of sniffer dogs in detecting COVID-19 positive cases.
Dr. Nsanzimana said five sniffer dogs will be used in the three-month pilot phase. He added that the use of sniffer dogs will save time that was being spent to produce laboratory test results.
“It is a pilot project but soon, we will be using these sniffer dogs in areas that receive many people. These sniffers will speed up the testing process and easy to identify COVID-19 positive cases. The current lab process takes at least two days for people can receive their results, but these sniffers will be able to detect positive cases instantly,” said Dr. Nsanzimana.
The dogs are trained to recognize a distinctive odour produced by people with the virus, but undetectable to the human nose.
According to Dr. Nsanzimana, there will be no contact between dogs and people.
“It will be just a cloth used on the person, put in a marked container for the dogs to sniff out Coronavirus,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.
According to experts, dogs can have up to 100,000 times the smelling ability of humans and have long been used to sniff out drugs and explosives.
Dr. Nsanzimana observed that there are people, who were complaining or not contented with the nasal and mouth swab Covid-19 test coupled with delays in getting results, which will be eased with the use of sniffer dogs.
Prof. Leo Mutesa, a researcher and lecturer at the University of Rwanda, said the dogs are trained for over 400 hours before they start sniffing out Covid-19.
The sniffer dogs’ COVID-19 detection capability, Prof. Mutesa said, is at 94%. One dog, he added, has the capacity to produce results for at least 200 people in a space of two minutes.
The five dogs will be used to screen and test at least 1000 people in the pilot phase.
New changes were announced on Friday 4th June 2021.
Among other appointments, Lieutenant General Jean Jacques Mupenzi has been appointed Airforce Chief of Staff while Major General Emmanuel Bayingana became a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.
Lt General Muganga has been the RDF Division Commander for Eastern Province and Kigali.
Muganga replaces Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi appointed Airforce Chief of Staff.
Lt Gen Muganga is among soldiers that liberated the country and stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
In 2012, he was elevated from the rank of Brigadier General to Major General. He was the commander of RDF Fourth Division before leaving for studies overseas.
Upon return, he was appointed Commander of First Division.
Lt Gen Muganga is also the current Chairman of APR Football Club (APR FC), a position held since January 2021.
{{Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi}}
Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi was born in 1968 and previously served as the RDF Army Chief of Staff (ACOS). For the last 30 years of his military career the Gen has commanded Battalion, Brigade and Division both during peace time and war time.
He has been the Commandant of the Rwanda Defence Force Senior Command and Staff College and the Commander Mechanized Division.
The Gen has attended military courses both within Rwanda, Region and Abroad. He is a fellow of National Defence College (Karen-Kenya), Joint Passed Staff College (UK), Passed Staff College (Nigeria) and Army High Command Course (China).
Lt Gen Jean Mupenzi is a holder of Masters Degrees in Defence Studies and International Studies from Kings College London (UK) and Nairobi Universities respectively. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration.
He has served as the Rwandan Battalion Contingent Commander in Darfur in the AMIS and the Sector Commander in the UNMISS. The Gen has attended and participated in several Regional Field and Command Post Exercises intended to operationalize the African Stand-By Force (ASF) as well as Eastern African Stand-By Force. He has attended high level conferences/ seminars/ Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (USA) and Regional Senior Mission Leaders Course at International Peace Support Training Centre (Kenya).
The Gen is happily married and his hobbies include Jogging and reading military history books.
{{Who is Major Emmanuel Bayingana? }}
Major General Emmanuel Bayingana appointed PS in MINADEF has been serving as Airforce Chief Of Staff since September 2019.
Prior to that, he had been serving as Chief Executive Officer of Zigama CSS. Major General Bayingana joined the military twenty-nine years ago and was part of the force that engaged in the war for liberation of Rwanda on 1st October 1990.
After the military victory of 4th July 1994, he served in several appointments including: Member of the Military High Court, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Chief Instructor Rwanda Military Academy Nyakinama, Director for Plans at RDF HQs and Chief of Staff of the Ceasefire Commission under UNAMID.
Major General Emmanuel Bayingana is a graduate of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Accra Ghana and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA.
