The mass organized to celebrate the first-ever Rwanda’s Cardinal took place at Kigali Arena.
Cardinal Kambanda expressed delight for joining Christians after his new special appointment to comfort believers.
“ I am excited to join all of you to thank God and share with you the blessing acquired during my installation as Cardinal. Today, I bring the blessing here in Rwanda,” he said.
The President of Rwanda’s Episcopal Conference, Bishop Philippe Rukamba revealed that they were proud for the milestone and good news for all Rwandans.
“His Eminent Cardinal, your installation as cardinal made us happy. We interacted with different people on televisions, radios and social media channels expressing gratefulness because they showed how a person becomes cardinal,” he noted.
“You are adding up another stage to a long sequence of Christians and clerics Rwanda has ever had. Since the past, we are always aware that God spends the day elsewhere and returns to sleep in Rwanda. Your appointment as cardinal convinced us to understand this enough and helped us to understand the impact of Catholic Church in Rwanda globally,” added Rukamba.
He thanked Cardinal Kambanda for his contribution help Rwandans heal from wounds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as the head of Justice and Peace Commission among Rwanda’s Catholic Church Bishops.
“We consider your installation as cardinal as something proving that we are on the right psychiatric journey because it helps a Christian to pardon like Christ and God,” he said.
Bishop Rukamba explained that promoting unity and reconciliation under the championship of President Paul Kagame was the enabler to restore peace among Rwandans.
The Mass was also attended by other bishops from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi , diplomats accredited to Rwanda, representatives of different faith based organizations among others.
“The Continental Free Trade Area is the lifeblood of our continent’s integration and prosperity. It will also be the primary portal through which Africa engages with its partners around the world on trade and investment. We must therefore work together continuously to protect and strengthen this pact for the sake of the generations that follow us.”
Kagame made the remarks on Saturday as he participated in the 13th Extraordinary Sessions of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) which took place virtually.
The 13th Extraordinary AU Summit began on the morning of 05th December 2020 to finalise the instruments of African Continental Free Trade Area so that trading may commence on 1st January 2021. After the opening ceremony with statements by the Chairperson of the AU, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, participants moved into closed session.
President Kagame made a statement during the closed session stressing the importance of the AfCFTA to Africa’s integration and prosperity agenda.
He congratulated the African Ministers of Trade, the African Union Commission, and the new AfCFTA Secretariat for successfully overseeing the technical negotiations.
“I wish to congratulate the African Ministers of Trade, African Union Commission and the new AfCFTA secretariat for successfully overseeing the technical negotiations. The remaining negotiations should be completed as soon as possible in order to maximize the benefits of higher trade volumes for all of us,” he said.
Kagame stressed that the African Continental Free Trade Area will always be associated with the name of President Mamadou Yusuf of Niger ‘who has led this process on behalf of the assembly’ and thanked him for outstanding contributions.
Among others, Kagame observed that it is a collective achievement which could not have happened without the strong support of the African heads of state and Government who have remained steadfast throughout the journey.
He noted that such level of commitment ‘will continue to be necessary to sustain the agreement and make it successful’.
A World Bank report released in December 2019 on the AfCFTA showed that the common market would benefit the African continent in different ways.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement which was signed by 44 African countries on March 21st, 2018 in Kigali shows that a single market for goods and services across Africa will lead to poverty reduction. At least 30 million Africans (1.5% of Africans) will rise above the poverty line.
The report shows that 12 million people in West Africa, 9.3 million in Central Africa and 4.8 million in East Africa will rise above the poverty line. The AfCFTA has the potential of lifting 67.9 million Africans (3.6% of Africans) to middle income status by 2035. That is a $5.50 income per day.
The AfCFTA will connect 1.3 billion African citizens from 54 countries and is expected to generate $3.4 trillion annually. This trade bloc will improve Intra-African trade and definitely solve the problem of food import in Africa.
The Continental Free Trade Area was expected to start operating on July 1st, 2020 but was delayed due to Covid pandemic. The starting date has been extended to 1st January 2021.
Gasana, 58, served as Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York since 2012 until 2016. At the time, Rwanda replaced Gasana and summoned him but never returned to the country.
Since then, he was reported for involvement in different activities intended to destabilize Rwanda’s security. He is said to have coordinated RNC members’ discussions with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in which he was asked to join their activities.
In March 2019, Gasana was part of discussions that brought together President Museveni and Charlotte Mukankusi , the head of diplomacy in RNC.
The letter from the family of Gasana to which IGIHE has a copy, signed by his sister Alice Gasana shows that the entire family was shocked to hear a relative involved in wrongful acts.
Apart from cooperation with dissidents intending to destabilize Rwanda’s security, he was recently reported to have raped two times, a Rwandan girl who was conducting an internship at the embassy in 2014.
“On behalf of the family, I, Gasana Alice wishes to take this opportunity to share my heartfelt feelings with Rwandans over things talked about my brother Eugène-Richard Gasana for more than four years,” reads part of the statement.
As the eldest sister in the family of four, she narrated a bit of Gasana’s history recounting how they lived together in Burundi and Europe.
She explained that, during his teenage hood, Gasana was kin on Laws though other people wanted Gasana to become a diplomat which finally came true.
“Concerning the brother I am telling you, it has been four years hearing bad news against him discomforting me, the entire family and other relatives. He was reported to have committed some acts individually and conspiring in other activities all of which disturbs the family and relatives,” noted Alice Gasana.
As the eldest and head of family, Alice Gasana, reacted on behalf of the family and relatives to condemn acts reported to her brother noting that it is against virtues acquired during childhood.
“That is why, I take this opportunity on behalf of the family to condemn and distance myself from shameful acts reported to my brother because they are against virtues we acquired during our childhood,” she said.
Alice Gasana highlighted that her brother should be held accountable individually because the family was not involved.
“We have been shocked as a family. We were extremely shocked to hear the name of a sibling reported in such shameful acts. I take this take to declare that the family is completely against the acts,” she said.
“Brother Gasana, I know well that you used to respect myadvises. As your commitment to apologize is still pending, I apologize on your behalf as a sibling.”
Kagame made the remarks yesterday as he addressed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business. He noted that the Covid pandemic has delayed the start of trading and advised all to stay on course.
“Two years ago, we signed a historic agreement, and together wrote a new chapter in the story of African integration. The Covid pandemic has delayed the start of trading but we must stay on course,” he said.
Kagame revealed that doing more business with each other will be mutually beneficial for countries adding that it will also help to build the capacity to compete internationally.
“In Africa, we will start trading amongst ourselves in a few weeks. We need the private sector to be fully involved. That means, all of you gathered here with us today. We have to work closely together, to ensure the right frameworks are in place for the success of this process,” he noted.
“In addition, we must continue to communicate the benefits of free African trade to our citizens, especially, young people and mobilize them to remain engaged for the next phases of African Integration,” added Kagame.
The President also congratulated and welcomed Wamkele Mene , the new Secretary-General of the CFTA Secretarial and thanked the African Union Commission, for organising this Business Forum, which has become a tradition with each Summit.
A World Bank report released in December 2019 on the AfCFTA showed that the common market would benefit the African continent in different ways.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement which was signed by 44 African countries on March 21st, 2018 in Kigali shows that a single market for goods and services across Africa will lead to poverty reduction. At least 30 million Africans (1.5% of Africans) will rise above the poverty line.
The report shows that 12 million people in West Africa, 9.3 million in Central Africa and 4.8 million in East Africa will rise above the poverty line. The AfCFTA has the potential of lifting 67.9 million Africans (3.6% of Africans) to middle income status by 2035. That is a $5.50 income per day.
The AfCFTA will connect 1.3 billion African citizens from 54 countries and is expected to generate $3.4 trillion annually. This trade bloc will improve Intra-African trade and definitely solve the problem of food import in Africa.
The Continental Free Trade Area was expected to start operating on July 1st, 2020 but was delayed due to Covid pandemic. The starting date has been extended to 1st January 2021.
Places of worship are required to accommodate 50% of their capacity and respect all COVID-19 control measures including social distancing, washing hands, and wearing of face mask.
Under the newly issued guidelines, the Ministry of Local Government has revealed that ‘faith-based organizations can organize religious gatherings for more two days of choice per week and inform local leaders from the sector in which a church is located’.
The two days will be additional to existing proclaimed days of worship especially, Friday for Muslims; Saturday for Adventists and Sunday for other churches.
Burial and wedding ceremonies will also continue to be observed anytime respecting COVID-19 guidelines.
The guidelines also indicate that religious gatherings for people in advanced ages from 65 and above should be exclusively held except those leading church services.
Children from six and above have been also allowed to go to pray together with their siblings or parents.
Baptism and other sacraments will be ordained respecting COVID-19 health guidelines.
Ambassador Rwakazina is Rwanda’s ambassador to the Holy See with residence in Geneva, Switzerland. She also represents Rwanda to the United Nations and various organizations.
During the ceremony, other ambassadors from nine countries including Denmark, Estonia, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mauritania, Uzbekistan and Zambia also presented letters of credence to represent their countries.
After presenting credential letters to Pope Francis, Amb. Rwakazina held bilateral talks known as ‘Concordat’ with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin which focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Rwanda and the Holy See.
A concordat is a convention between the Holy See and a sovereign state that defines the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state in matters that concern both the recognition and privileges of the Catholic Church in a particular country and with secular matters that impact on church interests.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and the Holy See were established 56 years ago but were profoundly affected with involvement of members of the Catholic Church in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwakazina’s presentation of credentials comes only a week after Cardinal Antoine Kambanda was installed cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory held on 28th November 2020.
Her candidature was announced on Thursday evening during a ceremony in which Dr Biruta hosted members of the African Diplomatic Corps for dinner.
The position is currently held by a Ghanaian, Quartey Thomas Kwesi who took office in 2017. Like the Chairperson of the African Union, the deputy holds the right for four-year term renewable once. Their term will terminate next year.
President Paul Kagame recently revealed that Rwanda supports the candidature of Moussa Faki Mahamat, the current Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the second tenure.
He made the revelation as he took part in the Second Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, Regional Economic Committees and the Regional Mechanisms alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa who chairs the AU and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chair of the African Union Commission.
As he concluded his remarks, Kagame said: “I wanted to join the President of Tchad, my brother President Déby, in support of Moussa Faki, who has come back as the candidate running for chair of our African Union Commission. I also join in support of Dr Ngozi as the candidate for the director-general of the World Trade Organization.”
Mahamat, former Tchad’s Minister of Foreign Affairs was elected to chair the African Union Commission in January 2017.
Dr Nsanzabaganwa, 49, introduced as Rwanda’s candidate to deputize Mahamat, holds honorary doctorate received from Stellenbosch University in South Africa for her contribution to Rwanda’s development.
She is the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda since May 2011. Prior to that, she served as Minister of Trade and Industry (2008-2011) and Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (2003-2008).
Dr. Nsanzabaganwa is a holder of a PhD in Economics and a Doctorate of Commerce Honoris Causa, both obtained from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is an influential voice in financial inclusion in her country and on international scene as well as a passionate actor in women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
Dr. Nsanzabaganwa is also a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion’s Gender Inclusive Finance Committee, an alumna of Women’s World Banking African Advisory Council, and Founding Member and Chairperson of New Faces New Voices Rwanda. She is a wife and mother.
The figures were revealed yesterday during the ‘Police High Council’ held at Police headquarters in Kacyiru and chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye.
The council was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza and Deputy IGPs; Juvenal Marizamunda in charge of Administration and Personnel, and Felix Namuhoranye for Operations.
It brought together RNP leadership, heads of departments and territorial units, regional, and district commanders, among others. It also tackled other aspects related to the response to COVID-19, force discipline and welfare.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza said that the Council held towards the end of the year provides a platform to assess what has been achieved, where the force stands and the future prospects in terms of provision of security for the people and their property but in consideration of the law.
He explained that the welfare of Police officers, service delivery, continuous while training aimed at improving skills, acquiring modern policing equipment, infrastructure development are also given emphasis though some members are held accountable for indiscipline cases.
Despite the efforts to further improve the welfare of Police officers, some of them exhibit acts of indiscipline such as soliciting bribes. In this year, 425 Police officers were held accountable for various cases of indiscipline (corruption, desertion, drunkenness, theft and poor services). This number, however, indicates a downward trend from 587 Police officers dismissed from the force in 2019,” noted IGP Dan Munyuza.
In the provision of services, Minister Busingye challenged Police officers to always respect human rights and operate within the limits of the law, adding that whoever acts contrary is held accountable.
“Anyone, who engages in criminal acts, however small or big the crime is, affects the rights and wellbeing of the people; Rwandans have showed, through various platforms, that they cannot stand injustice. When a crime is committed, responsible institutions should act swiftly, comfort victims and bring suspects to book,” he said.
Crime prevention is the catalyst to peace, he said, adding that this should start from households, support efforts to ensure that all children are in school, young people educated to start small income generating activities and to be custodians of the law rather than being lawbreakers.
He pledged the government’s continued support towards Police professional services through training and advanced policing equipment.
In the past days, there has been a spate of public outcry in recent days criticizing some police officers for breaking the law as they enforce lawful orders that includes shooting civilians.
The latter saw President Paul Kagame issuing instructions to police top management to completely address the issue.
Later on, Police Spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that it was inappropriate for the police to use excessive force, and that the police are going to make efforts to inform Rwandans of how such people are being prosecuted.
He cited examples of police officers who shot dead civilians in Nyanza District and beat a resident of Rwamagana to death, all of whom were being prosecuted.
“Police officers involved in the recent incidents of brutality have been arrested and investigations are ongoing,” CP Kabera said.
“A police officer who shot people to death on March, in Nyanza on a motorcycle, was arrested, is being prosecuted. He is in prison, but people don’t know what happened next.”
Police officer who recently beat a resident of Rwamagana District, Karenge is in courts litigation. Also, another one who recently shot to death a resident of Zaza in Ngoma is under investigation. He further added that in addition to legal penalties, police officers are subject to disciplinary action including those that mistreat members of the public, those who harass citizens, those who provide poor services, and those who neglect duty, among others.
CP Kabera says that Police has the mandate to punish its members that police personnel with punishments lasting over six months are dismissed.
Mistakes attracting dismissal in Rwanda’s Police include desertion for over 15 days, possession of explosives with the intention of destabilizing security, corruption, drunkenness, theft and poor services among others.
56 of police members dismissed in August are officers including three senior officers and one at the rank of commissioner.
The list of 17/08/2020 Presidential Order dismissing Officers from Rwanda National Police includes Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mutsinzi Eric, and three Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), SSP Vuningoma Alex, SSP Kabanda Emmanuel and Kamali Celestin.
ACP Eric Mutsinzi Spokesperson in Northern Province, commander of Police Battalion on peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in 2016.
SSP Kabanda also served as Police Spokesperson of Traffic Police. In January 2019, he was among 140 police forces on peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Central Africa holding the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police.
Nine Chief Inspector of Police (CIP), Twenty Inspector of Police (IP) and 23 Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) are also among sacked officers.
In December 2018, South Africa summoned George Nkosinati Twala who was representing South Africa to Rwanda after completing his term.
The recalling came two days after tensions triggered by allegations that Rwanda spoke ill of the then South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Towards the end of last year, South Africa designated Mandisi Mpahlwa, 60, as the new ambassador to Rwanda.
Following the presentation of credentials to Dr Biruta, the designated envoy will also present his letters of credence to President Paul Kagame.
According to a message posted on twitter account by Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: ‘This was an occasion to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations’.
Mpahlwa has been representing South Africa to Mozambique where he completed his term this year.
He once served as the Minister of Trade and Industry and held different top positions in South Africa since 2004.
In October 2019, President Paul Kagame received Jeff Radebe, a special envoy from the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. Later on, both head of states met on the sidelines of Russia, Africa Summit in Sochi where they held discussions.
In July 2019, Rwanda replaced Vincent Karega, former ambassador to South Africa by Eugène Kayihura. Vincent Karega had held the position for eight years.
South Africa granted refuge to Kayumba Nyamwasa, the head of RNC terror group and P5, a coalition of political parties intending to destabilize Rwanda’s security.
Speaking to IGIHE during a past interview before leaving Rwanda in February last year, Twala revealed that South Africa once wanted to extradite Kayumba Nyamwasa and his colleagues to other countries but didn’t demonstrated willingness to accommodate them.
He however explained that they could not extradite them to Rwanda because of treaties regarding the status of protecting refugees the country signed with UN.
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.
Giscard, who served as France leader from 1974 to 1981, is among presidents who held office for one term. He fostered France’s foreign relations particularly African countries shortly after Independence.
The relations heavily rooted on cooperation agreements and injecting funds on the continent to maintain great power on African continent.
Giscard d’Estaing was replaced by François Mitterrand.
In December 1962, four months after Rwanda’s Independence, the developing country French as one of official languages, entered relations with France which later got boost when Giscard d’Estaing took office in in 1975.
On 19th July of the same year, the former President of Rwanda, Juvenal Habyarimana and Giscard d’Estaing signed military cooperation agreements. It was the first of its kind signed between both countries.
The agreements incorporated clauses stating that France would provide military trainings and help the country to get weapons. It is said that France provided 4 million of its then currency to Rwanda annually.
Analysts link the agreements to France’s role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi observing that they paved way for support to reinforce Habyarimana’s military to fight RPF Inkotanyi as well as training Interahamwe.
In 1998, France parliament delegated a committee to investigate the country’s role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The committee summoned people including Giscard d’Estaing to shed light on military cooperation agreements signed with Rwanda in 1975 as they were considered to have fueled France’s role in Rwanda.
Giscard d’Estaing replied that he didn’t understand the laws granting the committee to summon the former president for interrogation to explain reasons for activities or politics implemented by the Government he led.
He explained that what happened between his country and Rwanda has no connection to France’s role during genocide.
In 2009; an author called Odile Tobner run a publication explaining that the major purpose of France, Rwanda military cooperation was to inspect the extraction of minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that the role played during genocide was auxiliary.
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Giscard was the first France President to visit Rwanda where he spent three days.
He was along with wife during their visit to Rwanda in 1979 where they attended the Sixth Conference Franco-Africaine (Franco-African Conference) held in Kigali.
Giscard arrived in ahead of the conference visited various projects in Rwanda and went to Akagera National Park for hunting exercise.
On 18th May 1979, Giscard and Habyarimana with their wives went to former Ruhengeri Prefecture where they visited Ruhengeri Hospital and school of Gendarmerie (a military force with law enforcement duties). They returned to Kigali in the afternoon and signed cooperation agreements.
Part of these agreements include France’s commitment to fund rural development, expansion of Kigali International Airport, building tanks for petroleum products, promoting telecommunication, building a hospital in Gisenyi among others.
Speaking to journalists, both head of states revealed that France would establish a school of nurses additional to Ruhengeri Hospital and providing 50% of funds for expansion of Kigali International Airport.
The Sixth Franco-African Conference ran from Monday 21st May until 22nd May 1979. The conference discussed issues pertaining to advancing Africa’s development and how France can cement its participation.
At the time, President Giscard revealed that despite global economic crisis, France committed to increase budget allocated to countries including those from Africa to one million of the then France’s currency by 50%.
“France is eager for the advancement of social-economic development but it cannot be attained without peace. That is why I found it relevant to hold discussions geared towards supporting African countries in security matters,” he said.
The success of the conference is among factors that promoted the reputation of Habyarimana in France which started perceiving him as a potential gateway to maintaining influence in Africa. To this end, the country also increased funding to Rwanda.
Habyarimana’s good relations with France got further boost as François Mitterrand replaced Giscard.
