Ndadaye was along with the delegation of Burundian senators that accompanied the First Lady of Burundi, Angelique Ndayishimiye who attended the Women Deliver Conference taking place in Kigali from 17th to 20th July 2023.
Ndadaye and her delegation were warmly received by Dr. Kalinda at his office on Wednesday.
Following their closed-door discussions, Ndadaye addressed members of the press, highlighting the significance of their talks in deepening and expanding bilateral relations.
She emphasized the importance of exchanging ideas between the two countries, stating, “We came here to pave the way for reinforced relations. This visit is a valuable opportunity to strengthen the bond between Rwanda and Burundi, as the Kinyarwanda proverb goes, ‘Ifuni ibagarira ubucuti ni akarenge’ [friendship is reinforced by reciprocal visits].”
Dr. Kalinda, Rwanda’s Senate President, expressed delight for welcoming his Burundian counterparts, underscoring the cordial relations between the two nations.
He stressed the commonalities shared by both countries, including their membership to regional organizations and the mutual challenges they face in the region.
“We have discussed how both parliaments can exchange visits to share ideas because we have much in common. We believe that we can contribute to efforts aimed at assisting the people of both countries at the parliamentary level. We have agreed to initiate this process and further strengthen our existing relations,” Dr. Kalinda noted.
He took the opportunity to extend an invitation to the Burundian colleagues to attend the East African Inter-Parliamentary Games scheduled for December 2023.
This response comes in light of a statement released on July 19th by the Congolese Army (FARDC), signed by spokesperson Maj Gen Ekenge Bomusa Efoma Sylvain.
The FARDC claimed to be reacting to a statement allegedly made by the Rwandan government on July 18th, in which Rwanda supposedly announced its readiness to send troops from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to the DRC.
However, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, in a statement released on July 19th, refuted the existence of such statement.
The spokesperson for the Rwandan government stated that the claim by the FARDC is merely a pretext aimed at escalating hostilities and justifying an attack on Rwandan soil.
FARDC has through its statement vowed to fight against anyone seeking to destabilize the DRC, indicating its readiness to respond if the RDF and M23 plot an attack.
The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, a claim that Rwanda has consistently denied. Rwanda characterizes the clashes between the Congolese Army and M23 as an internal conflict and has advised the neighboring country to take responsibility for its internal problems instead of externalizing them.
Meanwhile, Rwanda accuses the FARDC of supporting, arming, and fighting alongside the genocidal militia group known as the FDLR.
It should be noted that the DRC has previously provoked Rwanda on multiple occasions and launched rocket attacks on Rwandan territory in collaboration with the FDLR terrorist group.
Congolese fighter jets have also trespassed into Rwanda’s airspace three times since 2022.
Rwanda has assured that its sovereignty will remain protected.
“As reiterated earlier, Rwanda will maintain mechanisms in place to guard against violations of our airspace and borders, and will counter any spill-over from the conflict in the Eastern DRC conflict,” adds the statement.
The meeting held on Monday 17th July 2023, was attended by various officials, including Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, the Minister of State in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The discussions centered around strengthening bilateral ties, friendship, and cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda.
Prime Minister Nabbanja emphasized that the discussions aimed to promote mutual understanding and facilitate trade relations and business interactions between the two nations.
Prof. Nshuti acknowledged the productive nature of the talks between the two leaders and highlighted the progress made since the reopening of borders, including the resumption of several projects.
Among others, Prof. Nshuti emphasized the significance of enhancing energy ties and implementing collaborative initiatives, such as the construction of a railway linking Rwanda and Uganda.
These efforts aim to facilitate increased cooperation and collaboration between the two countries, among other benefits.
Prof. Nshuti also disclosed that Prime Minister Ngirente and his Ugandan counterpart agreed to initiate a feasibility assessment for the construction of a railway from Kampala to Kigali.
Once completed, the Kampala-Kigali railway will complement the Isaka-Kigali railway under construction expected to connect Rwanda and Tanzania.
The Head of State made the disclosure on Monday 17th July at the official opening of Women Deliver Conference 2023 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
Held under the theme: ‘Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions’, the conference brings together about 6,000 delegates from across the world in person and more than 200,000 online.
In recent decades, Kagame stated, there have been meaningful results in closing the gap between women and men in terms of opportunity and achievement.
He however underscored that women remain vulnerable to various forms of injustice and are more often employed in the informal sector or even expected to provide unpaid labor.
Despite the many efforts in bridging the gender gap, inequalities have been exacerbated by some political pushback movements in certain contexts.
Moreover, women and girls are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden of the overlapping health, climate, and economic crisis which the world has faced over the past two years.
Recent studies show that it could take more than a century to achieve gender equality targets at the current rate of progress.
To this end, Kagame stressed the need to do things differently with a sense of urgency.
“Much more remains to be done to tackle bias attitudes about gender which are deeply embedded in our political, social, and economic systems. All of us share the responsibility to play an active role in changing these negative mindsets,” he stated.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Chair of the Board, Women Deliver, noted that there has been progress made over the past three decades in achieving gender equality as well as losses in some cases.
“We need to be inclusive, accessible and co-create. We want to bring together champions of gender equality from all sectors. The solutions we need are political, as well as social and economic, we have to make sure that our momentum becomes unstoppable,” she added.
Mlambo-Ngcuka also hailed the men who are attending the conference and their work done by going beyond the patriarchal privileges and actually carrying out their responsibilities.
Sima Bahous, UN Women’s Executive Director, said that they are seeing pushback against gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights, as well as regression in sexual and reproductive health rights, increased gender-based violence, and discrimination.
“In an era of policy crisis, including climate, conflict and Covid-19 recovery, the power and imperative of equality could not be more urgent…We do this by ensuring that we have the essential data, gender statistics, and information. We do this by crushing biases, intentional and unconscious. We do this by making sure that we engage men and boys.”
Progress can be seen in the number of women in legislative positions which has doubled in the current generation, reduced global maternal mortality, and in women’s increased life expectancy. At least 155 countries have laws on domestic violence and 140 countries have legislation on sexual harassment in the workplace.
{{Rwanda’s efforts in promoting gender equality}}
Rwanda continues to rank at the top of the list of countries that empower women worldwide, owing to its conducive environment for promoting gender equality in leadership positions, including politics, and at all levels.
President Kagame highlighted several examples of what the country has accomplished in this regard. These include the integration of the annual gender budget statement, ensuring that public spending considers the differential impact on men and women.
Moreover, Rwanda has invested in community-level programs aimed at involving men in discussions about the significance of sharing childcare responsibilities and preventing domestic violence.
“Our priorities are to advance gender equality across all sectors, especially digital and financial inclusion, and to continue challenging traditional gender norms,” he said.
“As the world rapidly evolves, we must join forces to ensure that advances in technology work for all of us rather than creating new sources of inequality…change is difficult and does not happen overnight, but together with sustained effort we can make a decisive difference.”
In 2020, preliminary research confirmed the presence of Lithium in Ngororero District, leading to Rwanda’s interest in developing a refinery for the mineral.
Amb. Karitanyi recently revealed in an interview with CNBC that Rwanda already has refineries for gold, tin, and tantalum, and they have plans to establish a Lithium refinery as well. The country aims to collaborate with regional partners to ensure sufficient reserves for the refinery to operate at full capacity.
Until 2020, Lithium was not as widely known or in demand due to its relatively low price. However, its value began to rise significantly as of December last year. In January 2018, a kilogram of Lithium cost US$20.5, but by December 2020, it had dropped to US$9 (Rwf9000). The decrease in value was mainly attributed to increased production coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, the price of Lithium has experienced a substantial surge. In April 2021, it increased by over 600% and reached US$78,000 (over Rwf78 million) per ton. This surge can be attributed to the growing production of electric vehicles, which rely on large energy-saving batteries that require Lithium. In 2021, 6.6 million electric vehicles were sold, double the number sold in 2020. Experts in the mining field predict that Lithium will continue to be an excellent investment, as it is estimated that over 26 million electric vehicles will be sold by 2030.
Considering these trends, the price of one tonne of Lithium is expected to rise from US$44,090 in 2022 to US$61,520 in 2023. Rwanda’s plans to establish a Lithium refinery align with the increasing demand for the mineral and the potential for significant growth in the electric vehicle market.
The Head of State made the revelation on Sunday as he received his counterpart of Hungary, Katalin Novák who is on a visit to Rwanda.
Hungary is among countries neighboring Ukraine and hosts over 2 million refugees from the country.
Speaking to members of the press after discussions with Hungarian President Katalin Novák, Kagame was asked to comment on the contribution of Rwanda and Africa in ending the war that has occasioned devastating consequences.
The Head of State said that Rwanda’s possible contribution is little but highlighted that the country can intervene through peaceful dialogues because the war cannot totally solve the problem.
“For us , what we can contribute to is the debate of moving towards peace because there is instability, war in that part of the region but which doesn’t stop an end in that region. It spreads across the world to the extent that it reaches here in Rwanda as it reaches the whole African continent,” he said.
“Now for me, we can contribute to the debate but there is little else we can really do as Rwanda. Since it is just giving an idea towards that, we can always say irrespective of the cause and who is right here, who is wrong there, at the end of the day when the war is up and running there are more wrongs than rights. When you move towards peace and get it then, you start moving towards more rights than wrongs,” added Kagame.
The president highlighted that winning a battle with the means of weapons doesn’t itself guarantee a durable solution.
The United States and European countries continue to supply weapons to Ukraine during the war with Russia.
President Kagame has stated that looking at peace as the end goal should be the main focus instead of keeping powering arms and ammunition, not who defeats the other.
“To keep fighting , powering arms and ammunition of all types in the situation and hoping that one side defeats that other, may take too long first of all, and the damage trail of that is already too costly. So you can imagine what it will look like if you can go for another two or three years. That is why there is a compelling need for those who have power, those involved in the war to really think about what is this give and take process they can be involved in to bring settlement. Inevitably, everyone will have something to give and everyone will have something to gain from that,” he noted.
It has been over 500 days since the Russia-Ukraine war began, inflicting significant devastation on Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in the loss of lives among both soldiers and civilians, while also leaving a trail of destruction across the nation’s infrastructure.
As of March this year, the World Bank reported that Ukraine had suffered approximately US$135 billion in damages to its infrastructure, underscoring the extensive scope of the destruction. To recover and rebuild the damaged infrastructure, Ukraine requires a staggering sum of over US$400 billion.
Besides, the war has had a profound impact on other parts of the world, given that both Russia and Ukraine were among major exporters of essential commodities such as grains and cooking oil. The disruption in these exports has had ripple effects on global markets and supply chains, influencing the availability and prices of these commodities in various regions.
The Head of State made the disclosure on Sunday 16th as he received his counterpart of Hungary, Katalin Novák who has spent days during her visit to Rwanda.
Kagame said that discussions with Katalin Novák focused on making bilateral ties even stronger for the benefit of both countries’ people.
“At this point, I want to mention that Rwanda intends to open diplomatic presence in Budapest very soon,” he stated.
The President disclosed that the aim is to enable the creation of jobs, foster an enabling environment for businesses.
Both countries also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on the training of Rwandan experts on atomic and peaceful use of nuclear energy, a Stipendium Hungaricum agreement as well as a loan facility agreement on upgrading of the Karenge water treatment plant in Rwamagana.
Kagame said that the cooperation between Rwanda and Hungary in the field of education is very important where 41 Rwandans have so far received scholarships to study in Hungary universities noting that it was agreed to extend the programme during discussions with Novák.
“We appreciate that. We’ll also be working with Hungary to train Rwandans in the field of nuclear energy, an important component of our future energy plants,” Kagame said.
“Through the new agreements signed, we are committed to build on this shared vision and create mutually beneficial opportunities for the people of Rwanda and Hungary. We appreciate the significant loan provided by Hungary to upgrade the Karenge water treatment plant. We hope to benefit from Hungary’s expertise in water management,” he added.
President Novák who is the first Hungarian President to visit Rwanda said that her country is a doorway to the European Union, just like Rwanda is a doorway to the African continent, that makes the situation of the two countries unique.
“Hungary is bigger in size, but our population is almost similar. We need to focus on how we cooperate based on a mutual respect because that is what we can offer as Hungarians, the respect for you, for your way of life, for your people and for your nation; and that is what we expect also from our allies. It is this mutual respect background which our corporation already lies on and which it is going to fly on in the future as well,” she said.
Hungary recently opened a trade and counselor mission in Kigali. Novák expressed delight that Kagame has also expressed willingness to open diplomatic presence in Budapest and welcomed the move.
Novák who is also in Rwanda to attend the ongoing Women Deliver Conference and she told President Kagame that: “Your Invitation to women deliver proof for our common commitment to empowering women. I thank you for what I have done in this respect.”
Novák also hailed Rwanda’s progress after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi owing to President Kagame’s visionary leadership.
Rwanda and Hungary enjoy diplomatic relations in the fields of investment, trade and air transport among others.
In today’s fast-paced world, filled with demanding work schedules and endless responsibilities, it’s all too easy to neglect taking care of ourselves, only to be reminded that we too matter when we start feeling unwell or develop an illness.
However, this shouldn’t be the case. By adhering to the following health tips, you can go about your day to day routine healthy and wealthy.
{{1. Get adequate rest daily}}
People with the best health and longevity get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily. According to the The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), getting enough sleep comes with countless benefits with the main ones being; lowers risk for serious health problems like diabetes and heart diseases, reduces stress and improves one’s mood in addition to enabling one think clearly and perform better at school or work.
{{2. Regular physical activity}}
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Popular ways to be active include; walking, running, cycling, wheeling, and other forms of sports. WHO recommends that adults between the age of 18-64 years do at least; 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical intensity or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity activity throughout the week so as to prevent/manage non communicable such as; heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers.
{{3. Having a balanced diet}}
Like it is said, ’we are what we eat’, but, how do you tell what to eat and what not to? Especially with ‘misleading’ proverbs like; ‘what goes in is not bad, what comes out is’. Nevertheless, if you’re to have a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet is key. This means eating meals that contain all food values. Things like; fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Without a balanced diet, one’s body is prone to; disease, infection, fatigue, and poor performance.
{{4. Staying hydrated}}
The phrase ‘water is life’ is known to many of us. How we interpret it is what may change. Other factors constant, it is highly recommended that one drinks plenty of water as it is essential for their health. The U.S National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine indicates that an adequate daily fluid intake is; 3.7 liters of fluids a day for men and 2.7 liters for women.
{{5. Say no to smoking and alcohol}}
Much as alcohol and smoking can be considered fun and relaxing for some people, their consumption is dangerous to one’s health. As per report by Dr. Godwin Meredith, MD, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP), whether smoked or chewed, tobacco is harmful to one’s health. This is so because it contains unsafe substances like; acetone, tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide which when inhaled, affect one’s lungs and organs. Alcohol on the other hand if consumed excessively can cause high blood pressure, liver and heart disease, and digestive problems.
{{6. Manage your stress}}
WHO defines stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Given our daily struggles, it is inevitable to not stress. However, how we respond to stress is crucial as failure to manage stress affects both one’s mental and physical health.
{{7. Limit screen time}}
A report by Jai Medical Institute published in 2023, indicates that, “too much screen time can impact everything from one’s mood to their sleeping habits. These effects extend to the whole body affecting not only their eyes, but also; the brain, posture, sleep quality, and increases risks of obesity.
{{8. Keeping in shape}}
Life can be funny sometimes, you gain some weight then you ask to lose it, you lose it and then you wish you can gain just a little extra. Never though, do we wish to be out of shape. The desire is to always have a ‘perfect’ size. Keeping in shape has a positive impact on one’s lifestyle as it comes with a lot of ease when going about daily activities, not to mention the confidence one gets when their clothes fit comfortably. The first six tips, if followed regularly can help you achieve this.
{{9. Spend quality time with friends and family}}
If there’s anything the pandemic taught us, it’s the value of being around our dear ones. There’s so much that’s added onto someone if they spend time with people they love. From learning to sharing and being cared for all which boost our mental and physical health.
{{10. Maintain a clean and healthy environment}}
A clean place is a safe place- safe from diseases and infections. There’s no way one can have a healthy lifestyle when their surroundings are cluttered with all kinds of ‘rubbish’. Furthermore, A healthy environment goes beyond what surrounds us (houses, trees, animals, etc.).
It also encompasses one’s mind and the people they spend their longest time with.
Like American writer Byron Katie says, “ if you want to clean up your environment, start with your mind- it starts there.”
Amb. Busingye’s response comes after Margaret Owen, founder and director of Widows for Peace Through Democracy, wrote a letter arguing that Rwanda was not safe for asylum seekers.
Owen’s letter followed the verdict of the UK Court of Appeal on 29th June, which ruled that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was “unlawful” and described the country as unsafe.
In a letter published in The Guardian, Amb. Busingye stated that Owen’s claim that Rwanda is not safe for refugees “is yet another example of an archaic view of Africa as a land of darkness and danger.”
He invited her to visit Rwanda and witness firsthand the modern, hopeful, and progressive nation that is being built.
“Our treatment of refugees has been recognised as exemplary by the UNHCR and others. We were commended for stepping in to evacuate refugees from detention centres in Libya, for welcoming Afghan girls wanting to pursue their education, and for hosting 140,000 refugees in our country,” he stated.
Amb. Busingye also reminded Owen that Rwanda ranks third in Africa for economic freedom and first globally for the percentage of women in parliament (61.3%), with this representation extending throughout society.
“Life expectancy has gone from 49 in 2000 to 70 today, and we are approaching universal access to healthcare and education. By any metric, Rwanda is a safe country,” he added.
Commenting on Owen’s claim that Rwanda invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which resulted in killings, displacements, and sexual violence, Amb. Busingye explained, “The crisis unfolding in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo is an internal affair. Rwanda does what’s necessary to ensure the crisis does not impact the safety of its citizens or anyone we welcome on our territory.”
“The DRC government and armed forces, far from providing security for their citizens, have instead formed heinous alliances with genocidal militias such as the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda [FDLR], one of more than 130 active illegal armed groups in eastern DRC,” added Amb. Busingye.
FDLR is made up of former perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Amb. Busingye further explained that Owen’s commentary inexplicably seeks to minimize the threat of FDLR’s extremist ideology and the ethnic cleansing of Congolese Tutsi communities. “Rwanda will continue to do what it takes to maintain our safety, security, and socioeconomic development,” he affirmed.
The plan, known as the “Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” was established in April 2022 to facilitate the transfer of migrants and asylum seekers who are illegally present in the UK to Rwanda.
The initial timeline for the first migrants to arrive in Rwanda was set for July 2022, but this was delayed due to a complaint filed by organizations advocating for migrants’ rights. The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and made the recent ruling.
The court’s decision contradicts the position of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who have consistently defended the deportation plan, highlighting Rwanda’s successful management of refugee and migrant crises.
It is worth noting that the UK has been granted permission to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
He made the disclosure on July 13, 2023, upon the completion of the Ingobyi Activity project, which aimed to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
Dr. Nsanzimana also disclosed that the ministry intends to enhance the capabilities of health centers to perform Cesarean surgeries with minimal complications, thereby eliminating the need for long-distance patient transfers to referral hospitals.
Besides, the minister emphasized the reinforcement of primary healthcare services to decrease maternal and infant mortality rates. As a result of these initiatives, hospitals will primarily focus on complex cases, leading to a reduction in ambulance traffic transporting patients to hospitals.
One of the factors contributing to maternity and infant mortality is the scarcity of healthcare professionals in Rwanda. A shortage of healthcare providers has resulted in a single doctor attending to multiple patients, leading to delayed access to healthcare for some individuals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum healthcare workers per 1000 people. However, only a few African countries reached the target, with the number sometimes dropping to one healthcare worker.
“The plan has been finalized and approved. We are going to increase the number of healthcare workers by four times over the next four years,” stated Minister Nsanzimana.
The plan encompasses the recruitment of nurses, midwives, medical laboratory scientists, and other healthcare professionals.
The Ingobyi Activity project was implemented in 20 districts across Rwanda, covering 325 health centers and 27 hospitals.
The initiatives included research to identify the causes of maternal and infant mortality, training for healthcare workers and community health workers in malaria prevention, equipment donations, and the establishment of toll-free lines that will remain operational beyond the conclusion of the project.
As a result of these interventions, infant mortality rates have significantly decreased from 177 in 2018 to 87 in 2022 and further down to 59 in 2023 at the health centers and other hospitals involved in the project.
