The handover of these Rwandans will take place today afternoon in Remera cell, Ruheru sector of Nyaruguru district.
The Governor of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi will lead Rwanda’s delegation during the handover to be preceded by talks between both sides.
Speaking to IGIHE, Kayitesi has revealed that residents to be repatriated had crossed to Burundi illegally.
Rwandans to be deported today are said to have crossed to the neighboring country unwillingly over failure to identify landmarks separating both countries.
The repatriation follows Rwanda’s recent handover of 19 militants of RED Tabara rebel group opposed to the government of Burundi arrested in Nyungwe National Park in September last year.
The event took place last evening at Kigali Convention Center.
Touadéra arrived in Rwanda on Thursday 5th August 2021 for a four-day state visit.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport; he was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
Touadéra was also received by Kagame at Urugwiro Village where both heads of state held closed-door meeting and later witnessed the signing of four bilateral agreements before addressing members of the press.
These agreements were signed in the areas of mining, transport development, security and economic development.
As they delivered remarks, both heads of state recommitted to further strengthen bilateral ties for mutual interests.
On his first day in Rwanda, Touadéra also visited the Campaign Against Genocide Museum located at the Parliament Building in Kimihurura where he received explanations on Rwanda’s liberation journey.
On Friday 6th August 2021, Touadéra will visit the Kinigi IDP Model Village, which was inaugurated on 4th July 2021. The model village consists of homes for 144 families, a secondary school, an Early Childhood Development Center (ECD), health center and other facilities.
Touadéra will also tour several conservation and eco-tourism destinations before his departure on 8th August.
Rwanda and CAR have been for long enjoying cordial relations whereby Rwanda is helping the country engulfed by wars to restore peace. Rwandan troops have been deployed to CAR peacekeeping mission since 2014.
On 20th December 2020, Rwanda deployed more special forces to CAR under existing bilateral cooperation signed in 2019.
Ahead of Touadéra’s visit, Rwanda started the deployment of an additional Infantry Battalion of 750 military personnel on Tuesday 3rd August 2021 to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The statement released last night shows that 754 people have caught the virus out of 14 393 sample tests, 12 recovered while 37 are critically ill.
The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 70, Bugesera: 60, Nyamagabe: 54, Ngororero: 53 and Gicumbi: 53.
A total of 564, 951 people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 44,584 received since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Gisanga Ndahimana, the District Police Commander (DPC) for Gicumbi, said that the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from traffickers and dealers in separate Police operations conducted in Byumba sector between January and July, this year.
“These drugs were impounded from dealers, who were attempting to sneak them into Rwanda from Uganda, through porous borders as well as those who were selling them locally. At least 28 dealers; 20 of them with kanyanga, seven with cannabis and one with khat, were arrested in the process,” SP Ndahimana said.
Majority of the arrested dealers are members of the groups that call themselves Abarembetsi.
“These operations were successful largely because of the ownership of the residents, who reported the dealers that use their communities as transit routes or destination,” the DPC said.
“Besides awareness and varied operations targeting drug dealers especially in the borderline districts of Gicumbi, Burera and Musanze, the government projects such as feeder road construction, reafforestation under Green Gicumbi programme; some young people that belonged to Abarembetsi rackets have now engaged in these constructive and development activities, where they are employed. We call upon all those still involved in these criminal acts to follow suit for the better future.”
Cannabis and khat also commonly known as mayirungi, are classified as very severe drugs in Rwanda while kanyanga is listed as a simple drug.
Article 263 of law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction for “very severe narcotics,” the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
In case of simple drugs, the offender faces between seven and ten years and a fine of not less than Frw5 million but not more than Rwf10 million.
Among others, revenue increased by 27.5% to Rwf 56.8 billion in the first half year of 2021 from Rwf44.6 billion of 2020.
Revenue growth is driven by improved growth of beer and the recovery of soft drink volume and reclassification of proceeds from services from other income to revenue in 2021.
Bralirwa’s operating result also increased to Rwf12.6 billion from Rwf 8.9 billion of the same period last year resulting from strict cost management in addition to COVID-19 mitigating actions.
Generally, volume and revenue increased respectively by 13.2% and 19.8% mainly driven by the continued growth of beer and the recovery of soft drink volume.
Commenting on the performance; Merid Demissie, Vice Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Bralirwa said that Bralirwa has been able to perform well despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the measures that are in place to slow down the spread of the virus.
“Both volume and revenue increased mainly driven by a more intentional route to consumer that targeted off-premise channels such as supermarkets and grocery stores,” he noted.
In the second half of 2021, Bralirwa expects an increase in volume with the expected relaxation of COVID-19 government restrictions and the continued leverage on the route-to-market and effective allocation of commercial firepower.
{{About Bralirwa}}
Bralirwa Plc is a Rwandan company producing and selling beers and soft drinks.
The Company’s beer brand portfolio includes Heineken, Primus, Mützig, Legend, Amstel and Turbo King produced in the Gisenyi Brewery. Primus, the Company’s largest selling beer brand has been available to consumers since 1959.
Since 1974, the Company has been producing and selling soft drink brands under a licensing agreement with The Coca-Cola Company. These include Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Krest, Tonic, Stoney, Pineapple and the Company’s own brands Vital’O and Cheetah – energy drink.
The Company was founded in 1957 with the construction of a brewery located in Gisenyi. Since 1971, Bralirwa is a subsidiary of Heineken N.V., which holds 75% of the shares of Bralirwa with the remaining 25% listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange. As a socially responsible company, Bralirwa supports a variety of projects from Health to Environment.
These agreements were signed this afternoon in the areas of mining, transport development, security and economic development.
After witnessing the signing of agreements, Kagame and Touadéra highlighted that both countries have built strong ties.
In a joint press conference, Kagame said that Rwanda has been happy to join hands with people of Central African Republic, in pursuit of peace, reconciliation and prosperity.
“The signing of these agreements and the joint communiqué will serve to further cement our bilateral ties and deliver on the immense potential for the social economic transformation of our nations,” he stated.
Kagame also emphasized that sustained cooperation across the continent ‘is essential for all of us to be able to succeed’.
“Rwanda is committed to expand our strategic partnership with tangible results in the years ahead,” he affirmed.
President Touadéra also thanked Kagame for inviting him to Rwanda noting that it is of great significance to both countries’ relations.
“This visit is a testament of cordial relations between Central African Republic and Rwanda,” he said.
Touadéra stressed that the people of CAR and Rwanda share common ambitions adding that his visit to Kigali is an opportunity to further strengthen relations and exchange ideas in priority areas.
Among others, Touadéra thanked Rwandans and Kagame for contribution to restore peace, security and economy in his country.
He also told Rwandans that CAR is open for investments in different areas.
Touadéra arrived in Rwanda today for four-day working visit.
During his stay in Rwanda, Touadéra will visit the Campaign Against Genocide Museum located at Parliament before being hosted at a State Banquet.
On Friday 6th August 2021, Touadéra will visit the Kinigi IDP Model Village, which was inaugurated on 4th July 2021. The model village consists of homes for 144 families, a secondary school, an Early Childhood Development Center (ECD), health center and other facilities.
Touadéra will also tour several conservation and eco-tourism destinations before his departure on 8th August.
Rwanda and CAR have been for long enjoying cordial relations whereby Rwanda is helping the country engulfed by wars to restore peace. Rwandan troops have been deployed to CAR peacekeeping mission since 2014.
On 20th December 2020, Rwanda deployed more special forces to CAR under existing bilateral cooperation signed in 2019.
Ahead of Touadéra’s visit, Rwanda started the deployment of an additional Infantry Battalion of 750 military personnel on Tuesday 3rd August 2021 to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
CAR covers a land area of about 620,000 square kilometres and has an estimated population of around 4.7 million. As of 2020, the country was the scene of a civil war, ongoing since 2012.
The Central African Republic’s economy is based primarily on subsistence agriculture, with important mining and timber industries the main source of export earnings.
Diamonds are the country’s most profitable export, while agriculture occupies most of its working population.
Farmers grow cotton, coffee, and tobacco for export and crops for local markets, but economic development is handicapped by the CAR’s landlocked position, limited infrastructure, and the low education of its work-force. Poor government management and political instability have further weakened the CAR’s economic condition.
The informal sector is important in the CAR, accounting for most economic activity and a large share of the diamond trade.
As he arrived at Kigali International Airport, Touadéra was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
The two heads of state will hold a closed-door meeting before holding bilateral talks with accompanying officials from the Central African Republic and Rwanda.
They will also witness the signing of several bilateral agreements and a joint communiqué before addressing the media.
During his stay in Rwanda, Touadéra will visit the Campaign Against Genocide Museum located at Parliament before being hosted at a State Banquet.
On Friday 6th August 2021, Touadéra will visit the Kinigi IDP Model Village, which was inaugurated on 4th July 2021. The model village consists of homes for 144 families, a secondary school, an Early Childhood Development Center (ECD), health center and other facilities.
Touadéra will also tour several conservation and eco-tourism destinations before his departure on 8th August.
He has made the call ahead of the university’s 19th graduation ceremony expected to be held virtually on 6th August 2021 due to ongoing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In a message to graduands, Prof. Edwin Odhuno requested them to uphold integrity and strive for excellence in whatever they do.
“As you go out into the world as graduates, I implore you to be the difference in the face of challenges, in the face of adversity, in the face of impossibilities, you will be the possibility. God bless you and congratulations,” he said.
Prof. Odhuno hailed the courage of 22 graduands who excelled with ‘First Class’ grading.
He also urged 82 more graduands from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme to continue working hard.
“To you, specifically, I challenge you to continue working hard in your profession and ensure that all of you pass the licensing examinations with flying colors. I say this because the success of your program is highly regarded in the Republic of Rwanda and beyond,” he stated.
Prof. Odhuno also commended all graduands for tenacity and resilience to overcome societal and individual challenges occasioned by COVID-19.
The university will graduate 458 students in different programs.
Graduands will be bestowed diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s degrees and PhD in various fields including education, health sciences, journalism and mass communication, hospitality and management, information technology and social sciences, nursing, among other disciplines.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, Touadéra was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
Touadéra will also be received by his counterpart of Rwanda, Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village where the two heads of state will hold a closed-door meeting before bilateral talks with accompanying officials from CAR and Rwanda.
The heads of state will then witness the signing of several bilateral agreements and a joint communiqué before addressing the media.
During his stay in Rwanda, Touadéra will visit the Campaign Against Genocide Museum located at Parliament before being hosted at a State Banquet.
On Friday 6th August 2021, Touadéra will visit the Kinigi IDP Model Village, which was inaugurated on 4th July 2021. The model village consists of homes for 144 families, a secondary school, an Early Childhood Development Center (ECD), health center and other facilities.
Touadéra will also tour several conservation and eco-tourism destinations before his departure on 8th August.
He was sworn in for his second five-year term in March 2021.
The EABC is the regional apex body of the private sector in the EAC member states including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.
John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC said that the domestic air transport sector remains protected, reducing accessibility and increasing air transport cost at the expense of potential users.
“Liberalization of air services in the region is set to increase traffic volumes, improve connectivity and lower air transport fares. This will in turn increase trade and tourism, inward investment and productivity growth,” Kalisa said in a statement.
According to findings from the latest policy paper by EABC, Costs and Benefits of ‘Open Skies’ in the EAC region, air-transport liberalization is set to lower flight costs by nine percent and result in a 41 percent increase in flight frequencies.
The policy paper recommends for the EAC partner states to provide subsidies for the aviation industry in the form of direct financial support, loan guarantees, corporate bonds and tax reliefs.
“By removing foreign restrictions, EAC partner states will be able to attract private sector investment. This will open up access to capital and avail investment in infrastructure upgrades and capacity expansion for regional airports,” Kalisa added.
