Environmentalists say that single-use plastic bags take up to 300 years to photodegrade.
Plastic bags break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways, and enter the food chain.
They also contribute to pollution, blockage of channels, rivers and streams, and landscape disfigurement.
In Rwanda, manufacturing, use, importation or sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items are prohibited under article 3 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use, and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items in Rwanda.
In article 10, any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Frw700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of three hundred thousand Rwandan francs (FRW 300,000) and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
Rwanda National Police (RNP), therefore, continues to enforce these laws and policies to fight environmental degradation and to protect the ecosystem.
In the latest operation against these non-biodegradable products conducted on Monday, April 18, RNP arrested one Claude Ndayishimiye, 34, in Kayonza Cell, Mukarange Sector in Kayonza District with 200 cartons (40,000 pieces) of plastic bags, which were sneaked into Rwanda from Uganda.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamduni Twizeyimana, the Eastern region Police spokesperson, said that Police was tipped off by someone in Kayonza taxi-park, where Ndayishimiye was trying to board a public vehicle.
“Ndayishimiye was attempting to board a commuter in Kayonza taxi-park heading to Kabarondo when someone suspected his luggage to be containing the illicit bags and called the Police,” said SP Hamdun Twizeyimana.
“Indeed, when Police officers arrived and checked his luggage, they found it contained 40,000 pieces of polythene bags in 200 cartons. He was immediately arrested and the outlawed packaging products impounded to RIB station in Mukarange, where he is currently detained pending further investigations.”
Ndayishimiye admitted that he trafficked the plastic bags into the country from Uganda and had customers to supply in Kabarondo.
SP Twizeyimana commended the resident, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspect and seizure of the plastic bags.
He equally warned people who smuggle, sell and use these outlawed products, and advised the public to use the alternative environmental friendly packaging products.
Dreams did we have?
Those who didn’t lose their dreams lost life and limb. Little were we! Belittled were our ambitions,
We, the innocent souls stripped of the identity in our lands, Leaders we gave our trust stabbed us till we were no more.
My dream was to evacuate my family from the misery of poverty. But our vision was shuttered by a confusion of our indifferences,
Preachers taught that Tutsis had no home, that their souls would wander in the depths of hell.
So determined to give us hell, I questioned what had happened to humanity and leaders who vowed to protect us.
Certain occasions became depressions, thinking how much I lost and what I was about to endure.
Every second gone, was a life-long gone.
Sorrowful sounds were at their highest pitch begging for easier ways to die Surrendering to the butchers was a sign of desperation,
Such shady ideology, I knew my time was up, up and down I played ignoring the fact.
Tick-tack my heart raced into the nothingness of despair.
Jordan and James, joyful as they were, I never imagined their fate would end up so unfortunate, laying in the fields mercilessly tortured, begging the tyrants to make it quick.
Oh! How oblivious of their origins?
So much life unlived, so many promises unfulfilled, and for what? Now I despise my life even in disguise,
They said you are not one of us, but I asked are you sure?
Parents widowed; children orphaned; a calamity that stormed our nation. Leaving a few but none of whom envisioned a better recuperation.
Hatred jungled people’s hearts.
Rain, rain go away was our cry, but pain, pain flowed in us like a waterfall
Scared we ran to the mountains and hid into forests, but death haunted us beyond imagination.
Hope lost, Immortality our wish.
Survival wasn’t an option at all but a miracle.
We prayed, begged for our life but beggars have no choice, after losing it, I said the die is cast.
Our enemy wished our extinction, they killed our hope, but our unity was engrafted in our mother country.
Fierce they looked upon us, death an unquestionable outcome. Beheaded were our throats but not our thoughts.
Thoughts of a better Rwanda, Rwanda as a free country.
Today I live, because heroes lived
Peace they left in our hearts to live again
But the idea of Memento Mori (Remember you shall die) was stuck in us. Every day I question my existence
And live for those who left us
Their bodies were left in this merciless world but their kindness will forever be cast onto us.
Endless love we promise you, courage we owe you.
The tears you shed and the cross you carried will be a synopsis of the past we should never go back to.
{{I READ YOUR STORY BUT YOU LIVED THAT STONY STORY
POET: NSHUTI SERGE
SCHOOL: Nu-Vision High School. Class: Year 13 PCM}}
Rwanda’s national lottery, Inzozi Lotto, was launched in December 2021 by locally registered firm Carousel Ltd in partnership with the Ministry of Sports with a goal to help uplift professional sport in the country and benefit Rwandans participating in the lottery’s games.
Initially, the jackpot was set to Rwf1 million but has increased to Rwf5.5 million, three months after its inauguration.
Inzozi Lotto is very unique in a sense that participants stand big chances to grow their finances while revenues of the lottery are spent to promote sports in Rwanda.
Individuals can participate through two games including {{Quick Lotto}}, where a player where one will be asked to choose one number within 35 (0 to 34) and precise the stake amount. The system draws a number and if you match it, you win 15 times tax exclusive of your stake. For instance, if your stake is Rwf5000, you can win up to Rwf75,000. The lotto takes place every 10 minutes with recommended stake amount ranging from Rwf300 and Rwf10,000.
The second game is {{JackPot Lotto}} where the player selects a series of six numbers within a pool of 49 numbers that start from 1 to 49, to make it one combination.
In Jackpot Lotto, tickets cost Rwf500 and each ticket has six digits.
Players can either pick out the numbers themselves or have the system generate random numbers for them.
To play Inzozi Jackpot Lotto, you need to pick six numbers (from 1 to 49) to make a line on your ticket.
The winner receives Rwf5.5 million.
The Deputy Managing Director of Carousel Ltd which manages Inzozi Lotto, Nshuti Thierry has said that the lotto has several advantages for Rwandans.
“We encourage people to participate in the lotto so that they can stand chance to win Rwf5.5 million that can transform their lives,” he said.
“The more the number of participants increase, the more the grand prize increases, hence benefitting the winner and Rwanda’s sports in general,” added Nshuti.
Rules stipulate that 47% of the stake amount is awarded to participants, 20% is invested in the development of sports, 18% is reserved for taxes while the remaining percentage is reserved for different activities of Inzozi Lotto.
Figures released in February 2022 show that the lotto attracted nearly 300,000 participants who played using their phones and other platforms in three months.
At the time, cash prizes worth Rwf36 million had been handed over to winners. Of these, Rwf15 million was reserved for the development of sports.
Inzozi Lotto is part of activities of Carousel Ltd. The company has entered 10-year agreements with the Ministry of Sports in Rwanda to promote sports policy.
Rules and regulations restrict the participation of people aged below 18.
Inzozi Lotto has agents in different parts of the country, majority of whom being in Kigali, Musanze and Rubavu. The number is expected to increase to cover all parts of the country.
Interested individuals can play through the support of agents, visit the website www.inzozilotto.rw or dial *240# using mobile to participate.
Following the crash of the plane which carried former President Juvenal Habyarimana on 6th April 1994, the plan of Genocide against Tutsi was executed in different parts of the country but killings did not immediately begin in Butare as the then Governor Jean Baptiste Habyarimana opposed the plan.
His reaction angered genocidaires who overthrown and killed him on 17th April 1994. On 19th April 1994, the interim President Sindikubwabo went to Butare where he sensitized Hutus to kill Tutsis which served as the beginning of killings in the area with extreme cruelty.
Today, a large part of the former Butare Prefecture is in Huye District.
The latter has released a book featuring history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in the area written in March 2020 by researchers from ‘Menya aho uva kugira ngo umenye aho ujya’ association translated as ‘Know where you are coming from, to shape your future’ led by Prof. Déo Byanafashe. The book is comprised of more than 200 pages.
The research whose findings are published in the book was conducted in 14 sectors of Huye District including Gishamvu, Karama, Kigoma, Kinazi, Maraba, Mbazi, Mukura, Ngoma, Ruhashya, Huye, Rusatira, Rwaniro, Simbi and Tumba.
It was conducted between March and May 2020 to 165 respondents from former Commune Mbazi, Maraba, Huye, Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ruhashya, Runyinya, Kinyamakara and Rusatira.
The book also features information from different archives related to Genocide history and testimonies.
The Mayor of Huye District, Ange Sebutege has said that the book’s soft copy is available on the website of Huye District to be easily accessible to everyone.
He explained that Genocide against Tutsi in Butare was executed on order of the then President of the Republic which highly influenced people to execute Genocide plan.
{{People lived in harmony}}
Research findings show that people in Butare Prefecture used to live in harmony before the advent of colonizers who played a big role in dividing Rwandans.
Discrimination and ethnic divisionism led to killings that targeted Tutsis in 1959 under the so-called Social Revolution.
This came after the announcement of 10 commandments of Hutus by Joseph Habyarimana Gitera, hailing from Butare, in 1959 who also founded APROSOMA political party.
The commandments followed the publication of a document known as Hutus Manifesto in 1957 where some of Hutu elites indicated that there was political tension between Hutus and Tutsis.
Joseph Gitera Habyarimana in collaboration with Grégoire Kayibanda mobilized Hutus to kill Tutsis.
This led to 1959 massacres against the Tutsis whose houses were destroyed while those who survived were subject to torture and persecutions.
The persecutions continued until 1990 when RPF Inkotanyi launched the Liberation Struggle.
{{Uniqueness of Genocide in Butare}}
The President of Ibuka in Huye District, Theodate Siboyintore has said that road blocks were mounted in different parts of Butare following the sensitization of Sindikubwabo. These include one before Ihuriro Hotel which housed the then Minister of Family Promotion, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko. The hotel has an underground section where Tutsis were raped.
Other road blocks were mounted before the National University of Rwanda, Ku Mukoni, in Cyarwa; Rango; Huye town at a place popularly known as Kwa Bihira; before Faucon Hotel; at Kabutare, and CHUB among others.
Local leaders worked with soldiers, gendarmes and Interahamwe militia to plot attacks to kill Tutsis.
In Ngoma town (currently in Ngoma Sector), Tutsis were taken from their homes to be killed at the Arboretum forest behind the National University of Rwanda while others were killed at roadblocks.
Others were killed at CHUB, ESO, Butare Prefecture Head Office, at Kabakobwa, in Cyarwa and Tumba, at SORWAL and Karubanda Junior Seminary.
At the University of Rwanda, some of Hutu students killed Tutsi colleagues and teachers of torture and killed girls after raping them.
In Communes that formed Butare Prefecture, a large number of Tutsis were killed in Simbi and Sovu in Commune Maraba, at Cyahinda Parish in Commune Nyakizu, Byiza Stadium in Commune Mbazi, at ISAR- Rubona and ISAR Songa in Commune Ruhashya and Nyaruhengeri Parish.
Butare Prefecture accommodated a large number of Burundian refugees who participated in killings and returned home after committing the atrocities.
Butare Prefecture borders with Gikongoro Prefecture. The latter had many killers who crossed to Butare to reinforce Hutus to kill Tutsis.
The Mayor of Huye District, Ange Sebutege has said that Butare Prefecture was turned into a killing ground where the severity of killings were much worse than other provinces.
He revealed that many leaders heading different institutions including the University of Rwanda, ISAR, IRST and SORWAR among others played a role in the Genocide.
“Their participation saw Genocide in the area executed at high level,” he said.
Butare was also home to the school of non-commissioned officers (ESO) which reinforced Interahamwe militia and other genocidaires.
{{Leaders’ participation}}
Many authorities from the interim government led by President Sindikubwabo from Butare highly participated in the killings of Tutsi.
Sindikubwabo hails from Save Sector of Gisagara District (in former Butare Prefecture). The former Prime Minister, Jean Kambanda hails from Gishamvu Sector as well as Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, the former Minister of Family Promotion.
Butare was also home to the former Director General of a matchstick plant dubbed SORWAL , Alphonse Higaniro; former head of ISAR, Ntahontuye Ndereyehe Charles and the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Nshimiyumuremyi Jean Berchmas among others including parliamentarians and mayors of all 20 communes of the prefecture.
Others are Jean Chrysostome Ndindabahizi who headed Région Sanitaire de Butare; Emmanuel Munyangendo, the former Director of LABOPHAR and Simon Ntigashira, the head of National Museum.
The National University of Rwanda also had many intellectuals including lecturers, researchers and students who participated in the Genocide hugely.
{{Helpless victims who fled to Butare}}
The President of Ibuka in Huye District, Theodate Siboyintore has said that many Tutsis fled to Butare considering the fact that the killings of Tutsis had not yet started in the area. As he explained, they hoped protection in the area but were later killed.
“Many of them came from Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe seeking protection but were also killed,” he noted.
{{The death of Queen Rosalie Gicanda in Butare}}
On 20th April 1994, Queen Rosalie Gicanda was killed on the order of Ildephonse Nizeyimana from ESO.
Witnesses say that Nizeyimana partnerwd with other military officers including Lt Colonel Muvunyi Tharcisse and others from Ngoma military barracks led by Lt Ildephonse Hategekimana and gendarmerie led by Major Cyriaque Habyarabatuma and Interahamwe militia.
Those who stormed the home of Gicanda nearby headquarters of Commune Ngoma include Lt Bizimana alias Rwatsi, Lt Gakwerere, Corporal Aloys Mazimpaka and Dr. Kageruka.
At the queen’s home, they found other hunted people including Jean Damascène Paris, Marie Gasibirege, Aurelie Mukaremera, Callixte Kayigamba and Alphonse Sayidiya.
Others include Uzamukunda Grace who survived gunshots and died of natural cause after the Genocide.
She was a daughter of Jean Damascène Paris who provided testimonies of circumstances under which Queen Rosalie Gicanda and other people who stayed with her were killed.
Captain Nizeyimana was convicted of Genocide crime and sentenced to 35 years while Lt Colonel Muvunyi was also convicted of Genocide crime and handed 15-year jail term.
{{Killings continued until Inkotanyi intervened}}
People who talked to IGIHE have revealed that killings of Tutsis in Butare were overseen by Minister Nyiramasuhuko in collaboration with his son Ntahobari until RPA soldiers rescued Butare on 3rd July 1994.
However, killings continued in rural areas but genocidaires fled as Inkotanyi intervened.
Clement Mbaraga is a survivor from Butare whose five siblings were killed but parents and one sibling were rescued by inkotanyi.
“We hid on the roof of Brother’s House in Kabutare. We heard gunshot as Inkotanyi arrived to rescue nuns staying there,” he said.
“In the next morning, there was extreme silence. We saw residents and soldiers fleeing. Inkotanyi came here and saved us. That is how we were rescued,” added Mbaraga.
Séraphine Namana and Jeanne Umurerwa also revealed that they were desperate waiting for the death but they hope was restored as Inkotanyi captured Butare.
{{Every sector has a Genocide memorial}}
Each of 14 sectors in Huye District has a Genocide Memorial. Butare District currently has 18 memorials of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and three graves.
“Due to the severity of Genocide, there are some sectors which have more than one memorial while others have three memorials and graves. This shows the uniqueness and how Tutsis were killed in a large number in Butare,” Sebutege noted.
Efforts are underway to relocate remains of Genocide victims from graves to memorials.
According to Sebutege, Huye will start building a Genocide memorial at district level which will have different sections.
One of them will be reserved for exhibition of history of Genocide against Tutsi in former Butare Prefecture.
He passed on in the morning of Sunday 17th April 2022.
It is said that Shimwe died as he went out for a dance with friends. Medical doctors are still conducting a postmortem to establish cause of his death.
Rodolphe Shimwe Twagiramungu died at the age of 34. He was a rising artiste who produced songs including ‘Mama’.
His father, Twagiramungu who currently lives in Belgium was born in former Cyangugu Prefecture in 1945.
He served as Rwanda’s Prime Minister between 1994 and 1995.
Twagiramungu was among presidential aspirants who lost elections in 2003 following the interim government established after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
As she assumed duties, a guard of honour by peacekeepers in CAR was mounted on Monday 18th April 2022 to welcome her officially.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres appointed Amb. Rugwabiza on 23rd February 2022 replacing Mankeur Ndiaye of Senegal who had led the Mission since 2019. He concluded his tour of duty on 28th February 2022.
Rugwabiza has worked for more than thirty years on Africa development and security issues in both the public and corporate sectors as a Cabinet Member, a senior diplomat of Rwanda accredited to several countries and organizations and a senior leader in national, regional and multilateral entities.
From 2016, Rugwabiza has served as the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations and non-resident Ambassador of Rwanda to Colombia and Jamaica. From 2014 to 2016, she was the Minister of East African Community Affairs and a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly. From 2013 to 2014, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board and Member of Cabinet.
From 2005 to 2013, Rugwabiza was the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Prior to that, she served as the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office in Geneva and United Nations specialized agencies, as well as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Rwanda to Switzerland from 2002 to 2005.
Rugwabiza speaks English, French, Swahili and Kinyarwanda.
The statement announcing her appointment read that Rugwabiza is expected to cement Rwanda’s rise to prominence within the mission.
Since June last year, the mission’s police component was led by CP Christophe Bizimungu , the former Commander of Rwanda Police Academy located in Musanze, Northern Province. He replaced French citizen Pascal Champion. Among others, the humanitarian coordination office has been managed by Rwandan Vedaste Kalima since January 2021.
Rwanda has 1660 soldiers and police force comprised of 459 since the mission began in 2014.
Rwandan soldiers have been protecting CAR’s president’s office since 2015.
The incident took place in Nyarucyamu Village, Ruli Cell in Nyamabuye Sector in Muhanga District on 16th April 2022 between 9:00 p.m and 12:00 midnight.
The executive secretary of Shyogwe Sector, Gustave Niyonzima has confirmed to IGIHE that the thieves assaulted patrol agents.
“They injured six patrol agents. Four of them were attended to at a health center while two others were taken to hospital but have been also discharged,” he said.
Niyonzima explained that five of suspected gangs have been arrested.
They are detained at Nyamabuye RIB Station as investigation is underway.
Niyonzima appealed on residents to tighten security and provide information regarding suspected criminals on time.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, named the arrested suspected robbers as Sylvestre Nteziryayo, 24, Edouard Ntizirema, 32 and Jean Pierre Dusabimana, 30.
The money was recovered from the suspects, he added. They had broken into the bank through the rooftop.
“On Monday at about 10:30am, security guards at Musange called the Police reporting that they had apprehended a man (Sylvestre Nteziryayo), who was sneaking out of the bank through the roof and was trying to jump over the fence to flee with a sack containing money amounting to Frw5,566,600, two computer laptops and their accessories, which he was stealing from the bank,” said SP Kanamugire.
Police later traced his two accomplices, Edouard Ntizirema and Jean Pierre Dusabimana, who had fleed, and took them into custody.
How the robbery was orchestrated
Nteziryayo, who hails from Nyagatare District but lives in Gisozi Sector, Gasabo District, was allegedly called by Ntizirema and Dusabimana on Friday, April 15, for a “job” in Nyamagabe. He traveled and joined them that very day on Friday.
Investigations indicate that Ntizirema and Dusabimana were seen loitering at the bank on Sunday at about 6pm, a day before the alleged robbery.
At about 9am on Monday, Ntizirema and Dusabimana, who were now in company of Nteziryayo, came back and asked the security guard if the bank branch has an ATM machine.
Nteziryayo was to be arrested later that morning at about 10:30am as he was sneaking out of the bank with the money, laptops and their accessories concealed in a sack, before his two accomplices were also located and taken into custody.
Ntizirema is a resident of Karambi in Nyamasheke District while Dusabimanahails from Buruhukiro in Nyamagabe.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Musange station for further investigation.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 167, the penalty for theft doubles if the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out during the night or by more than one (1) person.
Grace Dusabemariya, 35, was arrested in Videwo Village, Urugarama Cell, Gahini Sector in connection with defrauding a resident identified as Silas Majyambere, a businessman in Kayonza, of Rwf2,830,000.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamduni Twizeyimana, the Eastern region Police spokesperson, said that Dusabemariya was guising as a Police officer with a rank of “Superintendent of Police” and defrauding people promising to give them driver’s license.
“Dusabemariya, who was masquerading as Superintendent of Police, made Majyambere believe that she can help him acquire a driver’s license.
In October last year, Dusabemariya allegedly took Rwf600,000 from Majyambere, his ID and provisional driving license promising that she would bring him a definitive driver’s license,” SP Twizeyimana explained.
It is suspected that Dusabemariya later called Majyambere and demanded more Rwf1.5 million apparently to renew his expired provisional driver’s license and further Rwf730,000 to share amongst his “senior bosses” to approve and issue his driver’s license.
After paying all the money, Dusabemariya was nowhere to be seen.
The victim decided to report the unlawful act to the Police leading to the arrest of Dusabemariya, who was handed over to RIB at Rukara station for further investigation.
SP Twizeyimana also warned the public against such criminal shortcuts to acquire a driver’s license, which makes them vulnerable to fraudsters.
“It is unwise for someone to pay Rwf2,830,000 for a driver’s license, which costs only Rwf50,000. That is being imprudent and such is the end result. Utilize the eased process to acquire a driver’s license and report any person, who asks money promising to facilitate you. Money for a driver’s license is paid online but not to any individual,” the spokesperson emphasized.
Obtaining property of another person by deception, under article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties, is punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 3 years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
The development came at a time when deep global inequalities are driving millions of people from their homes in search of opportunity, at the same time as millions are forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution, and other threats to safety.
Under this program, the UK will provide an upfront investment of £120 million to fund invaluable opportunities for Rwandans and migrants including secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.
Following the agreement, some people, the majority of whom being from the western part of the world, expressed concerns over the partnership.
Among them, is the leader of the Anglican church who strongly criticized the British government’s plan to put some asylum-seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda, saying “sub-contracting out our responsibilities” to refugees can’t stand up to God’s scrutiny.
According to the Washington Post, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby made the direct political intervention in his Easter Sunday sermon at Canterbury Cathedral in southeast England, saying there are “serious ethical questions about sending asylum-seekers overseas.”
He said “sub-contracting out our responsibilities, even to a country that seeks to do well, like Rwanda, is the opposite of the nature of God who himself took responsibility for our failures.”
His words triggered mixed reactions among politicians including the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel who asked him to suggest a solution to the issue of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe.
{{Baseless claims }}
The Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has said that people doubting about Rwanda’s capacity to accommodate refugees should visit the country to witness its remarkable progress achieved over the past 28 years.
She highlighted that Rwanda has made tremendous progress in every aspect of development on rights, freedom, media as the country remains stable, united and continues to grow very rapidly.
Makolo was speaking during an interview with GB News, a television and radio news channel in the United Kingdom, commenting on human rights concerns raised following recent migration and economic development partnership between Rwanda and UK.
“Some of the reports do not correspond to the reality and both the United Kingdom and the US who have representatives here in embassies, are able to see this for themselves. Anyone who comes to Rwanda cannot fail to see with their own eyes, the progress this country has made,” she noted.
On agreements to host asylum seekers, refugees and migrants; Makolo said that Rwanda is among countries that ratified the international convention for refugee protection and has different policies to ensure their rights are respected in the country.
Today, Rwanda accommodates more than 130,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the country safely with equal access to opportunities to lead decent life.
These include refugees and asylum seekers from Libya since 2019 where there are third countries that have agreed to receive over 700 have of them in collaboration with UNHCR.
Makoloexpressed optimism that the new ‘innovative model will be emulated by other countries. Then we can do more together’.
Under the partnership between Rwanda and UK, asylum seekers will be entitled to full protection under Rwandan law, equal access to employment, and enrolment in healthcare and social care services.
These asylum seekers from African countries and others outside the continent will be treated decently like Rwandans upon arrival. It is expected that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.
Unlike asylum seekers and refugees from Libya living in Gashora Transit Camp, the ones from UK will be housed in specially-selected accommodation facilities where they will wait for asylum claims to be processed.
Makolo has explained that migrants will be treated decently.
“Once migrants arrive in Rwanda, we will take responsibility for them. Rwanda is a signatory to the refugee convention and we have an asylum process of our own. We do have our own immigration and migrant policy. So, we will take responsibility for them,” she said.
The spokesperson highlighted that they will have access to legal services through Rwanda’s asylum process which is in in line with the refugee convention and similar to the process of other countries.
“That is what we will use to determine whether they are asylum seekers or simply migrants looking for an opportunity.
Because we believe, in a fair world, people should be able to live with dignity and have access to opportunities wherever they are. Whether they are determined to be migrants or economic refugees, they are welcomed to stay with us if they want to,” she noted.
