On Thursday 8th April 2021, the team of Japanese volunteers paid a courtesy call to the Minister of State for East African Community Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Prof. Nshuti Manasseh.
The team was accompanied by ambassador of Japan in Rwanda, Masahiro Imai and Maruo Shin, the chief representative of JICA Rwanda.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that they discussed, among others, bilateral relations and the JICA resuming the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers’ activities in Rwanda.
Rwanda registered 44 volunteers from Japan as of March 2020 who returned home as Coronavirus emerged.
Despite their return, JOCV continued to assist Rwandan residents virtually.
These volunteers arrived again in Rwanda on 3rd April 2021 expected to resume their activities in the districts of Kayonza, Kirehe, Musanze, Ngoma and Rwamagana effective from Friday 9th April 2021.
These volunteers also visited Kigali Genocide Memorial yesterday morning where they paid respect to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in solidarity with the people of Rwanda during this commemoration period.
JICA has released a statement showing that resuming volunteerism activities is entrenched on the fact that Rwanda has made giant and promising strides towards fighting COVID-19.
Japan volunteers started activities in Rwanda in 1987 through JICA. These activities halted in 1993 and resumed after 12 years in 2005.
A total of 300 youth volunteers from Japan in the age bracket of 20 and 30 have so far involved in volunteer activities in Rwanda with major interventions in proper maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructures, building capacity for coffee farmers and promoting science based education among others.
The suspects arrested in Nkongi Village of Kangamba Cell have beens identified as Eric Dusengimana, 28, Seraphine Mukandera, 28 and Chantal Nyirambarushimana, 35.
According to the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the suspects were apprehended in partnership with local leaders following a tip-off by the area residents.
“Police received information about two people, who were frequenting the homes of Mukandera and Nyirambarushimana. Residents reported that they saw these same two men burrying unknown objects in the backyards, which raised suspicion and suspected a foul-play,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “Police officers were dispatched and began with searching the house of Mukandera where they discovered blue ink-stained clothes. During interrogation, Mukandera disclosed that one Onesphore Manirafasha came to her house on April 03, from Kigali with money amounting to Rwf227,000, which he gave to Eric Dusengimana.”
The money, Mukandera explained, was later buried in her backyard by Dusengimana.
The money was later unearthed and the duo taken into custody.
“Police officers continued to search the house of Nyirambarushimana, where other counterfeit bills amounting to Rwf170,000 were unearthed in the backyard. Nyirambarushimana also disclosed that it was given to her by Onesphore Manirafasha,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
Manirafasha, who is yet to be arrested, was recently released from prison after completing his two-year sentence for fraud and deception.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Karenge station as the search for the prime suspect, Manirafasha, continues.
Article 269 of Law No 68/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states; any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.
The statement released last night shows that the majority of new cases were found in Nyaruguru: 19, Nyamagabe: 17, Ruhango: 14, Nyanza: 12, Gisagara: 11 and Kigali 9.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23 152 people have been tested positive of whom 20 870 have recovered, 1968 are active cases while 314 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 348,926 people have been vaccinated 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.
Rusingiza was arrested in Rushenyi village, Nyakabungo cell in Mpanga Sector where he was fleecing residents promising to provide electricity to their homes. He is a resident of Nyamabuye Sector also in Kerehe District.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police Spokesperson for the Eastern Region, said Rusingiza had already fleeced eight people by the time of his arrest.
“He was posing as REG employee and falsely promising electricity connectivity with a charge Rwf10,000 per person . Some of the victims, later suspected him to be a conman after he failed to deliver, and reported him to the Police which led to his arrest,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
Article 174 of law nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general, any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
Impersonation, under article 279, attracts an imprisonment of between two and three years and a fine of between Rwf300, 000 and Rwf500, 000.
These remains will be relocated from different memorial sites and cemeteries under the ongoing program to preserve few memorials that can be properly managed.
The Representative of IBUKA, organization umbrella of genocide survivors in Rubavu district, Bisengima Innocent has told IGIHE that 100 days of commemoration will be marked by relocation of remains of genocide victims from cemeteries to different genocide memorials located in the district.
He explained that 147 remains will be relocated from a memorial in Nyamyumba, Rutsiro district to Nyundo memorial on 9th April 2021.
“We shall commemorate from homes but have organized three major events during the 100 days of commemoration. On 9th April, we shall relocate 147 remains of genocide victims from Nyamyumba and Kivumu sectors in Rutsiro district in the former Commune Nyamyumba to Nyundo genocide memorial. On 30th April, we shall also accord decent burial to 142 remains recently exhumed at Gisenyi airstrip and relocate Rugerero memorial,” said Bisengimana.
He went on to explain that more 17 remains of genocide victims exhumed recently will be buried at Bigogwe genocide memorial in Kanzenze sector.
Bisengimana appealed on residents to reveal whereabouts of more remains of genocide victims to be buried decently and requested them to shun all forms of genocide ideology that could undermine unity and reconciliation efforts.
The letter summoning Mukangemanyi Adeline residing in Ishema village, Kiyovu cell, Nyarugenge sector of Nyarugenge district in Kigali city shows that she was summoned to report herself on Thursday 8th April 2021.
“You are summoned on 8th April 2021 at 9am at RIB Headquarters in Kimihurura,” reads the letter.
Mukangemanyi Adeline Rwigara has told the Voice of America that he won’t report herself because Rwandans are commemorating.
A lawyer who spoke to IGIHE has revealed that being in commemoration period doesn’t mean justice has halted in Rwanda.
“She should report herself. If a person doesn’t honor the request for the second time, the institution with the mandate to carry out investigation collaborates with the Prosecution to issue a ‘Mandat d’amener’, a warrant that allows to bring the suspect for investigation by force,” he said.
Mukangemanyi was in 2017 accused of inciting insurrection among the population, discrimination and sectarian practices.
One year and two months later, the High Court acquitted Mukangemanyi and other co-accused citing insufficient evidence tabled by prosecution to conclusively pin them on charges they stood accused.
Nyamirambo in Kigali city is among areas where Tutsis were brutally killed by Interahamwe militia in collaboration with Guards of the then President Habyarimana Juvénal.
After the shooting of the airplane that carried Habyarimana on 6th April 1994, the long-planned Genocide went into execution from the next day on 7th April.
On 8th April, Tutsis in Nyamirambo were hunted Interahamwe militia in collaboration with Republican Guards of the then President Habyarimana Juvénal. Some Tutsi sought refuge at St Charles Lwanga Catholic Church, School of Josephite Brothers and College Saint André in Nyamirambo but were unfortunately killed.
27 years after genocide against Tutsi, survivors who lost relatives or continue to endure physical and emotional wounds inflicted by perpetrators.
Gakwaya Gérard, is an old man from Urumuri village in Rwezamenyo sector. He is among Tutsi that survived gun shots of Habyarimana’s guards after the death of her children and wife.
As killings started, Gakwaya revealed that these soldiers were invited by neighbors that worked at the Central Bank to exterminate Tutsi in the area.
“After the plane crash on 6th April 1994, we started hiding from killers the next day. In the night of 8th April, soldiers shot dead a resident at the entrance of my home,” he said.
As he explained; Fabien Neretse, a resident of Nyamirambo invited Republican Guards of former President Habyarimana to help them exterminate Tutsis on 9th April 1994. Gakwaya’s wife and children were killed the same day.
Neretse Fabien was in 2019 handed 25-year sentence convicted of genocide crimes and crimes against humanity by Belgian courts.
Gakwaya explained that Nyamirambo was inhabited by magnates and other public servants with decent jobs working with the Central Bank or Banque Commercial du Rwanda (BCR) currently known as I&M Bank.
The old man went on to reveal that some BNR staff in the area invited soldiers because most of them hailed from Gisenyi and Ruhengeri, regions where Habyarimana and senior military officers had roots.
Since then, Gakwaya said that those soldiers went to the area regularly to hunt and kill remaining Tutsi.
Before the killings began, Gakwaya explained, a list of Tutsi to be killed had been made earlier. These soldiers did not only kill Tutsi in Nyamirambo but also pillaged their belongings.
Like other relatives, Gakwaya narrated that these killers looted all his possessions that he was left with bare hands.
Cerobika Alphonsine also lives in Nyamirambo. Her husband called Buseruka Gérard was killed by guards of President Habyarima.
She told IGIHE that her husband who worked at BCR was killed on 3rd May 1994.
The day her husband was killed, Cerobika had fled with children so that they could not be killed together and hide them from rapists.
“The husband advised us to flee fearing her daughters would be raped in his presence. So we went into hiding. When killers came, they asked him where we were. He replied that he didn’t know. They immediately took him outside the house and shot him dead in the backyard,” she narrated.
The President of IBUKA, organization umbrella of genocide survivors, Rwego Yusuf, has told IGIHE that many Tutsi were killed in the area even though the number of victims has not yet been established.
“Many Tutsi from different places were killed here in Nyamirambo. Some came from St Joseph and Biryogo among others. Many victims in Urumuri village were killed by soldiers,” he said.
Rwego explained that some Tutsis were boarded in a car from St Joseph and taken to Rwezamenyo where they were killed.
The former mayor of Commune Nyarugenge and Renzaho Tharcisse who was the then Kigali city mayor are accused to be masterminds behind getting Tutsis killed in Nyamirambo.
Despite the atrocities, Rwego said that the evil was finally defeated in July 1994 that Habyarimana soldiers fled the country as RPA soldiers intervened to rescue and liberate the country.
“From Kanombe Military camp and elsewhere, Habyarimana’s soldiers were dispersed that they couldn’t spend time identifying who is a Tutsi or not but rather begged food along the road. Whoever alive witnessed how Habyarimana’s soldiers were defeated and hit hard at the time,” he noted.
RPA soldiers kept soldiering on to rescue targeted Tutsis and as they repelled Habyarimana’s soldiers until they were completely defeated.
Despite endured dark past, Genocide survivors in Nyamirambo are glad for attained transformations under the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame.
The Government helped them to get decent shelters, access education among others that orphans have grown into men and women with great hope for a prosperous future working with the rest of Rwandans to rebuild the nation shaken by wounds of genocide.
As Rwanda started the 27th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, President Paul Kagame has said that Rwandans have united against the evil than ever before highlighting that the shared identity of striving for a united Rwanda has paved way for Rwanda’s resilience and quick recovery from wounds of Genocide.
Considering the journey, Rwandans went through and attained progress; President Kagame said that the immensity of what has been achieved is almost miraculous that the results are attested to by Rwandans, and indeed indisputable.
“First, there are the tangible signs, things that we can see and feel. New buildings and roads. Better hospitals and health centres. Water and electricity services, where they never existed before. Visitors flocking to see Rwanda’s unique wildlife and enjoy our hospitality. But the intangible transformations which have taken place in the hearts and minds of our people are even more important. They allow progress to be sustained from generation to generation,” he said.
Despite efforts by genocide deniers and propagandists that continue to fuel genocide denials, and trivialization, Kagame stressed that Rwandans have managed to distinguish the right from evils and remained committed to their purpose to rebuild a better nation and consolidate gains.
“We also credit Rwanda’s rebirth to the fact that the larger part of Rwandans wanted to build a better nation and overcome the manipulations by the bad leaders of the past. Given the chance to live better and see things differently, our people seized it. This is an indispensable part of our strength,” he said.
“As a result, even in the midst of constant pressures and distractions, Rwanda today is unquestionably more united and forward-looking than ever before. And here, I am speaking particularly about the youth, who are the vast majority of our country’s people. That is why all efforts to divide and divert us have failed, and will continue to fail,” added Kagame.
He delivered the message via Twitter handle yesterday few hours after granting public access to archives on Rwanda, France relations between 1990 and 1994.
“President Emmanuel Macron decided to open François Mitterrand’s presidential archives relating to Rwanda between 1990 and 1994. This access is extended to the archives of Édouard Balladur and to documents cited in the Duclert Commission report,” reads a tweet by France Presidency.
These archives were utilized by Duclert committee which recently released a report showing France’s role during history that led to Genocide against Tutsi.
Following the revelation, Macron released a message joining Rwandans in commemoration of genocide victims noting that granting such access is a way to discovering the truth.
“We think of the victims of Genocide against Tutsi, the survivors, their families and Rwandans. Depicting the truth must continue through the opening of the archives of this period,” he said.
Macron is among French President after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi with willingness to revitalize relations with Rwanda that had for long been damaged by the country’s denial of complicity during genocide.
Apart from establishing a committee of historians to investigate his country’s role during Genocide against Tutsi, Macron also dedicated 7th April for commemoration of Genocide against Tutsi in France.
As Rwanda began the 27th commemoration yesterday morning; France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Yves Le Drian, accompanied by Rwanda’s ambassador in France, Dr. Francois Xavier Ngarambe laid wreaths at a memorial of Genocide against Tutsi in Paris to honor genocide victims.
The remembrance was held separately in different Rwanda Formed Police Unit (FPU) camps in compliance with the COVID-19 preventive guidelines.
The peacekeepers converged in different halls of their respective camps to ensure social distancing as they followed Kwibuka 27 back home, on Rwanda Television.
A minute of silence was also observed to pay tribute to innocent lives massacred 27 years ago.
“We will continue to remember as we execute our peacekeeping duties. Today, officers who were not on duty came together to remember and followed a strategic guidance by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda on what all Rwandans stand for in the name of unity and peace, and which in one way or another defines why we are here in South Sudan as Rwandan peacekeepers largely for the safety of civilians,” said Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Carlos Kabayiza, the contingent commander for Rwanda FPU-2 serving under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
In Rwanda FPU-3, a female dominated contingent also deployed in the capital Juba under UNMISS, men and women, converged in their camp to follow Kwibuka 27 activities back home.
“We are in a fragile situation posed by the COVID-19 where we have to follow safety guidelines, but that will not stop us from remembering. We will be following Kwibuka events on TV as we mourn for the lost innocent lives, pray for the survivors as we also continue to execute our peacekeeping mandate,” said SSP Jeannette Masozera, the contingent commander for Rwanda FPU-3.
In Malakal, Upper Nile State where Rwanda FPU-1 is deployed, CSP Fabian Musinguzi reminded the officers to be close and continue supporting each other in such trying moments.
In all contingents, leisure activities have been suspended as a norm during the commemoration week.
In his message, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres said: “We saw what happened in Rwanda in 1994 and we know the horrific consequences when hate is allowed to prevail.”
Preventing history from repeating itself, he added, requires countering these hate-driven movements that have become a transnational threat.
“We must redouble our efforts and forge a permanent agenda to renew and reinvigorate our collective actions going forward.
In doing this, we must defend human rights and continue to push for policies that fully respect all members of society.”
The statement released last night shows that the majority of new cases were found in Southern Province where six sectors have been recently placed under lockdown following increasing Coronavirus cases.
Of these cases, Huye district registered 62 new infections; Nyamagabe registered 46 cases while Gisagara recorded 14. Among others, Kigali city recorded 13 new cases.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23041 people have been tested positive of whom 20835 have recovered, 1892 are active cases while 314 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
