Marie Michelle Umuhoza, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) spokesperson confirmed the arrest and said that further investigation is being conducted.
“The suspect is currently held at RIB Gisenyi station in Rubavu district while investigation proceeds.”
Article 133 in the Rwandan Constitution states that “any person who is convicted of rape shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than ten years and not more than fifteen years, and a fine of not less than one million Rwandan Francs and not more than two million Rwandan Francs.”
The penal code stipulates 20 to 25 years of imprisonment to defilement convicts. When rape or defilement is done on a minor of less than 14 years old, the penalty is life sentence.
Last week, the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) published a book titled ‘Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi mu cyahoze ari commune Cyangugu’ loosely translating to ‘The genocide against Tutsi in former commune Cyangugu.’
The book was released as a result of a research which was conducted by Donatien Nikuze, a genocide scholar under the supervision of Dr. Gasanabo Jean Damascène, Director General of the National Research and Documentation Centre on Genocide at CNLG.
It elaborates on allegations that French military forces worked closely with Interahamwe militia during the genocide, supplied them with weapons and offered them cover, under the United Nations (UN) auspices.
The book also shows that France was not in Rwanda to rescue thousands of Tutsi families who were trapped amidst ruthless and brutal massacres but that they were sent to halt FPR Inkotanyi soldiers which had outstripped the Armed Forces of Rwanda (FAR), the army of the ethnic Hutu-dominated Rwandan regime which executed the genocide.
{{Rape allegations}}
The book shows that French soldiers who were sent in Rwanda for ‘Operation Turquoise’ a French-led military operation in Rwanda in 1994 under the mandate of the United Nations reached former Cyangugu Prefecture and divided into two units.
One unit stayed at Kamembe airport in Cyangugu while the other unit went to Nyarushishi, Bugarama, Ntendenzi and Kirambo sectors. In Nyarushishi, French soldiers patrolled through the camps and a few days later knew which tents sheltered women and girls.
The soldiers then started a rape spree, dragging women and girls from their tents to rape them every day while they were supposed to protect them.
Kambongo Constance who witnessed the atrocities committed by French soldiers in Nyarushishi said “French soldiers would come in the morning, pick women and girls in their tanks and raped them. Later on, we learned that the women and girls were not picked to clean French soldiers’ houses as they lied about but that they were violently raped once they reached French camps.”
Claudine who survived the rape spree in Nyarushishi was 14 years old at the time. She developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of rape. Other rape survivors include Mukayiranga Mado, Mukayeze Pascasie, Mukayitesi Jacqueline, Umulisa and girls from Ecole Agricole Et Veterinaire (EAV) Ntedezi.
Page 360 of the book reads “Women and girls were subjected to unimaginable atrocities where French soldiers would insert pepper in their genital parts, force them into oral and anal sex and take naked pictures of their victims. The soldiers would then offer them portions of their field ration to buy their silence.”
The book also shows facts that French soldiers raped women at Kamembe Airport and Kamarampaka stadium.
Habimana Jean Bosco, a genocide convict and former member of the Interahamwe militia worked closely with French soldiers. He said that French soldiers asked him to collect Tutsi women for raping and that he executed their orders because they had supplied him with firearms.
The first time, he brought them Beata, a 15-year old Tutsi girl from Mururu. After they raped her, they ordered the Interahamwe militia not to kill her.
The second victim Habimana brought was 14-year-old Mukasine Florence from Winteko sector, former Bugayi cell whom he found hiding after her entire family was decimated.
On page 361, the book reads “At Kamarampaka stadium, Mukasine was gang-raped to a point she was unable to walk. The soldiers then ordered that she shall not be killed as well.” Habimana said that the soldiers would reward him with food.
Beata and Mukasine were captured as they moved out of Nyarushishi camp to look for food. They were brought to French camps, raped and sent back to Nyarushishi where they fortunately survived the genocide.
Another victim was an unidentified 19-year-old girl whom Habimana brought to a French soldier. After raping her, the soldier denied Habimana a portion of his field ration as it had become the routine. He got angry and threatened he was going to kill the girl. The French soldier was indifferent to the threat and said he did not care at all. Habimana then killed the girl in front of the soldiers and left her corpse lying there.
{{Complicity with killers}}
Bisengimana Elisée who was a teacher at Groupe Scolaire de Gihundwe at the time of the genocide said that the French government was a close ally of the Rwandan regime that planned and perpetrated the mass slaughter of more than a million Tutsi.
In Rusizi, French soldiers collaborated with Interahamwe militia at roadblocks and barricades.
They verified identity cards and those who were identified Tutsi were sent to Interahamwe to be killed. The soldiers also provided firearms and grenades to the killers.
On page 355, the book reads “soldiers sent in the United Nations-sanctioned humanitarian mission in Rwanda in 1994 only offered back up to the killers and pushed further their agenda of totally wiping out the Tutsi minority in complete impunity.”
Sinzabakwira Straton explained that French soldiers also joined the killing spree. In Gasare, former Karengera commune, French soldiers killed Tutsi, packed the corpses inside bags and dumped them in the middle of the Nyungwe forest.
The victims were accused of supporting FPR Inkotanyi. The soldiers helped genocide perpetrators erase evidence of the genocide by picking corpses of Tutsi in Kamembe and dumping them in the Nyungwe forest.
{{Erasing evidence}}
The French government thought the Interahamwe militia to erase all evidence of the genocide. In Cyangugu, French soldiers saw corpses floating in Lake Kivu and alerted the killers that if anyone took a photo of it, it would cost them a lot. Habimana said, “the soldiers instructed us to incise the victims’ bellies and fill them with stones so that they could sink into the lake.” The killers used bayonets to execute the evil plan.
Kayitsinga Abdallah who lived in Kamembe during the genocide explained that not only did the French soldiers participate in the genocide, they also looted processed tea from Shagasha and Gisakura tea factories and exported it to be sold in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ndikubwabo Jean who admitted having been a broker for French soldiers said they also looted cars and sold them in DRC. He was paid between $20 and $30 for each car they sold.
FPR Inkotanyi victory was disadvantageous to the French Government
By July 17th, 1994, FPR Inkotanyi had conquered almost all the country with the exception of the ‘zone humanitaire sure’ (ZHS), a safety zone spreading over former Gikongoro, Cyangugu and Kibuye prefectures where French soldiers had established camps.
The book explains that after realizing that FAR forces were outnumbered on all fronts, French soldiers in ‘Operation Turquoise’ urged génocidaires in Cyangugu to flee the country. French soldiers and government officials patrolled through Cyangugu calling killers to flee Rwanda as soon as they could
.
Bisengimana Elisée said, “they used microphones to call upon all génocidaires in Kamembe to leave the country.”
The message was informing génocidaires that the next day, French soldiers would leave the country and that they would have no protection. “Tomorrow, FPR Inkotanyi will conquer Cyangugu and will kill every Hutu on their way. We urge you all to flee to DRC before the last French soldier leaves Rwanda. You are warned!”
Upon realizing that they would be killed, génocidaires destroyed their houses and moved to Congo in search of permanent asylum.
Surwumwe Bernard, an ex-FAR soldier said that as they fled to Congo, they were shielded all the way by French soldiers.
“When we reached DRC, French soldiers helped us move our weapons across Lake Kivu to Panzi military camp. General Bizimungu and Minister Kambanda later came to see us accompanied by two French soldiers.”
In Panzi Military Camp, FAR soldiers and other génocidaires conspired to come back in Rwanda to finish the ‘job’ they had started and destabilize its security.
Despite independent reports released by the Government of Rwanda and accusing French officials of complicity in the 1994 genocide, France continuously denied playing any role.
Last year, President Macron appointed a panel of experts to investigate France’s actions in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. He also announced the creation of a judicial unit in charge of prosecuting genocide suspects.
The meeting will be held at the French National Assembly, Palais Bourbon, in Paris under the pretext of studying issues Great Lakes countries are currently facing.
The agenda shows that genocide deniers and other researchers who in the past advanced the double-genocide theory will be invited to freely express their ideologies.
CRF and IBUKA France stated “It is highly inappropriate for a respectable government body to give a platform to genocide deniers and double-genocide theorists especially when France prepares to commemorate the 1994 genocide against Tutsi as stated in Decree No. 2019-435 of May 13th, 2019 that “The 1994 Genocide against Tutsi shall henceforth be observed and commemorated in France every year on April 7th.”
“We demand that senators and the French parliament condemn genocide ideologies and deny support to all forms of hate propaganda.”
The petition condemning the meeting and its agenda has so far been signed by 2693 people of 5000 needed and follows various social media posts urging the French Senate to cancel the meeting.
Some notorious genocide ideologists expected in the meeting include Charles Onana, Judi Rever, Hubert Vedrine, and Vincent Hervouët.
Vedrine is a French Socialist politician and was President Mitterand’s diplomatic and advisor, spokesperson and finally as Secretary General of the French Presidency from 1991 to 1995. Mitterand’s government vehemently supported the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
Judi Rever is a Canadian freelance print and broadcast journalist. She is the author of many books denying the 1994 genocide against Tutsi as it is the case for Charles Onana.
Vincent Hervouët is a journalist on the LCI channel who is notorious for offering a platform to genocide perpetrators and ideologists.
At the beginning of 2020, Arthur Nation that organizes Seka Live announced that the performances will be happening on a monthly basis. February will see a Seka Live in which will perform the South African Ndumiso Lindi and the Nigerian Kenny BlaQ.
Kenny BlaQ was welcomed by Arthur Nkusi and the whole team of Arthur Nation.
Ndumiso Lindi is expected to arrive in Rwanda this Friday, February 28, 2020.
This month’s Seka Live is scheduled to take place on February 29, 2020, at Marriott Hotel, with entrance fees being Rwf 10,000 for ordinary seats and Rwf 20,000 for VIP.
.
Beside these international comedians, Seka Live will see the performances of such Rwandan emerging comedians as Nimu Roger, Mercy, Patrick, Milly, and Captain Father.
Neptunez Band and Nep DJs will entertain the public with music.
Organized by Ithraa, Oman’s investment and export development agency, Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Madayn, the high-profile four-day show is designed to boost trade relations between Rwanda and Oman.
The exhibition is expected to showcase a host of leading Omani businesses from food and beverage, plastics, textiles, metals and minerals, construction and logistics.
Mrs Maymuna Al Adawi, Ithraa’s Director for Export Facilitation said: “With its economy expanding by 8.6% in 2018, Rwanda has proven to be an economic role model for the continent, with leading business analysts singling it out as one of the emerging economies to watch for in terms of investment opportunities, value for money and economic growth.”
He added that while many African economies are known for distinct exports or income streams that have remained unchanged for years, Rwanda has chosen a different path by embarking on a concerted effort to diversify exports and revenue streams. “Indeed, this approach has seen services become the leading driver of GDP growth in the past few years, taking over from agriculture. Given the economy’s success, we see multiple opportunities in Rwanda for Omani exporters. It’s clearly an exciting time to be showcasing Oman-made products in this important African market.”
Mr. Ayman Al Hsani, OPEX Committee Head explained that Omani products have built a strong reputation internationally, and given Rwanda’s diversification plans “we’re looking to forge long-term and mutually beneficial trade ties. OPEX is an excellent opportunity for us initiate those connections and take trade partnerships forward. As we’ve seen at recent OPEX shows in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE I’m confident the Kigali event will deliver positive results for everyone involved.”
OPEX is a trade show designed to promote Omani products exported to over 140 countries. Since its launch in 2012 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, OPEX has seen a steady increase in the number of participating companies.
During the exhibition, Rwanda Development Board will organize a special session at the Kigali Convention Centre on Monday 2nd March to present the various business and investment opportunities in Rwanda to key business leaders from Oman.
Besides, B2B meetings between the Omani industries and the investors, business owners and commercial agencies in Rwanda will also take place ion Monday co-hosted and supported by the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF)
Among the new ministers are Dr. Ngamije Daniel who was appointed Minister of Health, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine, Minister of Education, Dr. Bayisenge Jeannete, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, and Mpambara Inès, Cabinet Affairs Minister.
Others sworn include Tushabe Richard, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Charge of the National Treasury, Lt. Col. Dr. Mpunga Tharcisse, Minister of State in charge of Primary Health Care, Twagirayezu Gaspard, Minister of State in Ministry of Education in charge of Primary and Secondary Education and Irere Claudette, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in Charge Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Also sworn in are two members of parliament; Karemera Emmanuel and Mukabalisa Germaine.
{{Kagame emphasizes services above self}}
In his speech, President Kagame said that Rwanda is matching on well but needs to pragmatically face the current pressing challenges.
“We need to work better, to work with each other well. All sectors, people from other places, there is no problem in treating others well when they treat you the same. That’s how it should be all the time.”
“You’ve seen it, in the swearing-in, I’ve realized that all of you are young. Most of you are women. You should use those strengths. With them, nothing should be out of our reach. Otherwise, we will have failed ourselves since we have everything we need. We must maintain good practices, a good collaboration, without focusing on ourselves but on Rwandans. I’m not restricting anyone from focusing on themselves, but that needs to come second after the interest of the country.”
“The oath, maybe some read it merely speaking without thinking about what they are swearing. When they ask you, ‘Won’t you use the power you are given for your personal benefits,’ what does it mean? That is the part of the oath which is most difficult to implement. Because of weaknesses, I don’t think it is about being human since making mistakes is natural, but some get so weak that they focus their duties on their personal benefits. It’s not right when repeated a lot. … What’s good is the public’s interest. That’s what is crucial to us, giving the country a good future that we want.”
President Kagame thanked the sworn-in leaders and talked about why some of them change posts.
“The first thing is to thank those who have accepted new duties so that they can work with others in order to keep building our country. For those who changed their posts or left, there are reasons. The first reason, when they change your duties, it doesn’t mean they did not like your performance. It is for the sake of moving with the times or trying to do what we already do in a different way. There are others who leave their duties due to responsibilities that they failed to accomplish. I think we have spoken of this many times here. When people fulfill their duties well, they deserve thanks. When people fail to fulfill them, blame is normal.”
“Even a self-employed person has duties to do a good job so that his work gives out a good result. However, there is no profit when what produced that profit did bad to other people.”
The three, whose names have not yet been disclosed, were arrested early this week from their residence in Cyarwa Cell, Tumba Sector, Huye District.
RIB got the information from the neighbors, the executive administration, and the night watchmen who claimed that the men have sex with teens under 16.
Both suspects are aged 22, from Bugesera and Nyagatare districts respectively.
The executive officer of Tumba Sector, Migabo Vital, said that they also arrested a woman suspected of being a pimp and sex trafficker.
“We got information about three girls under 16 who are said to have had sex with two men who study at IPRC-Huye. We arrested them and handed them over to RIB. There is also a woman who was arrested for allegedly involving the girls into the sex trade.
She is also well known for being a sex worker. She had employed one of the girls as a house girl to take care of her child but with a hidden objective of trading her off in sex work.”
Some people from Cyarwa Cell have however said that the girls in question are known sex workers in the area.
“What I can say is that the boys are innocent because the girls were prostitutes even before. They are known in Butare Town. The girls are prostitutes. They always frequent pubs.”
Huye District is one of the districts with a lot of early pregnancies among teens under 18. In 2018, the district registered 338 which shot up to 669 early pregnancies.
The Southern Province police spokesperson, CIP Twajamahoro Sylvestre has said that both men are in custody of RIB, Ngoma Sector as investigations get underway.
CIP Twajamahoro said more people involved in sex trafficking are being investigated.
This year, Cécile Kayirebwa will receive a recognition award during the concert which is scheduled to take place on March 8, 2020, in Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), the former Camp Kigali.
Tickets are Rwf 20,000, Rwf 10,000, and Rwf 5,000 for those who buying with hard cash.
Tickets can be found at different places where Airtel services are provided; Remera at Airtel headquarters, Nyabugogo, and Nyamirambo.
Other selling points are; Camellia at Gisimenti, UTC, CHIC, KBC, Simba Supermarket, T2000 at Monaco, Nyarutarama at Tenis Club, downtown Simba Supermarket, Blues Coffee, and in the downtown bus station.
Fans who will buy tickets on the day of the concert will part with Rwf 25,000 (VVIP), Rwf 15,000 (VIP), the rest being Rwf 10,000.
It will be the first time that a musician will be given the recognition of high contribution and promotion of Rwanda’s culture through arts.
Among the performers at the much hyped concert are Muyango, Mariya Yohani, Mani Martin, Sentore Jules, Clarisse Karasira, the traditional dance and singing troupe Ibihame By’Imana, Mushabizi, and the
An announcement from the office of the Prime Minister says Dr. Ngamije Daniel has been appointed minister of health, replacing Dr. Diane Gashumba who recently resigned.
Dr. Daniel is a physician and public health specialist. He previously worked for the World Health Organisation in Rwanda. He has 23 years of experience working in the public health sector. Before joining WHO, Dr. Daniel worked for Global Fund as a Coordinator to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria and worked as coordinator of Single Project Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Uwamariya Valentine was named Minister of Education, succeeding Dr. Mutimura Eugène who was appointed Head of Science and Technology Commission.
Dr. Valentine was Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Training, Institutional Development, and Research at Rwanda Polytechnic, a post she held since 2018. She was also a senior lecturer at University of Rwanda.
Dr. Valentine holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from former National University of Rwanda (NUR). In 2005, she got her Msc degree in Chemistry from Witwatersrand University (Johannesburg-South Africa). In 2013, she obtained her Ph.D. from UNESCO-IHE and Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands) in Environmental Engineering and Water Technology.
Dr. Valentine has been involved in teaching/research for 18 years at University and served as Dean of the School of Science at the College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda.
Among other changes made, Dr. Bayisenge Jeannette replaced Nyirahabimana Solina as the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion.
Dr. Bayisenge was the President of the City of Kigali Council and served as Director and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda, College of Arts and Social Sciences (UR-CASS), Center for Gender Studies.
She has a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden; a Master’s degree in Development Cooperation with a specialization in Women and Development obtained from Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul- South Korea and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from National University of Rwanda.
In 2004, she was a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, with her research interest being in the areas of gender and development and women and children’s rights.
Dr. Jeannette also held other such important positions as being the director of the National Women’s Council, the Chairperson of Gasabo District Council, and being on the board of directors of LODA (Local Administrative Entities Development Agency) and NIDA (National Identification Agency).
Mpambara Inès was named Minister in charge of cabinet affairs in the office of the Prime Minister. She replaces Marie Solange Kayisire who was appointed Minister in Charge of Emergency Management, replacing Germaine Kamayirese.
Previously Inès worked as Director of Cabinet in the Office of the President and director of the school of journalism and communication at the National University of Rwanda.
Tushabe Richard was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Charge of the National Treasury. He was formerly the Director of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), a position he held after being at the helm of as the Commissioner General of Rwanda Revenue Authority.
Nyirahabimana Solina who was the minister of Gender and Family Promotion was named Minister of State in Charge of Constitution and Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, replacing Evode Uwizeyimana who recently resigned.
Lt Col Dr. Mpunga Tharcisse who was Director General of Butaro Hospital was appointed Minister of State In charge of Primary Health Care replacing Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi.
Twagirayezu Gaspard was named Minister of State in Ministry of Education in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, replacing Dr. Isaac Munyakazi who resigned.
Irere Claudette was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in Charge Technical and Vocational Education and Training. She was the permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation nd had been kLab General Manager till 2015. She holds a Msc. in Computer Engineering from Oklahoma Christian University and a Bsc. in Computer Science from the National University of Rwanda.
Rugira Amandin was appointed Rwanda’s ambassador to Zambia while Dr. Sebashongore Dieudonne was made Rwanda’s ambassador to Belgium.
Rugemanshuro Regis was appointed Director General of RSSB. He was the Chief Digital Officer in BK Group Plc.
Regis did his high school studies in Minor Seminary of Karubanda, did his undergraduate studies at Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, the same university from which he did his graduate studies.
He served in the United States consulting for the global Tech giants such as Hewlett Packard (HP) as a Program Manager and later with Accenture PLC in Seattle, Washington. During his time there, his main clients included Microsoft and T-Mobile.
The president also appointed Dr. Ndimubanzi Patrick as the Executive Secretary of the Human Resources for Health Secretariat, a new office.
Iradukunda Yves was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and Innovation while Gacandaga Jean Marie was made Deputy Director General in Charge of Fund Management in RSSB.
Dr. Daniel Ngamije has replaced Dr Diane Gashumba who resigned two weeks ago on account of gross misinformation to the office of the president.
Valentine Uwamariya is the new Minister for Education, replacing Eugene Mutimura who now heads Science and Technology Commission while Gaspard Twagirayezu was appointed Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, replacing Isaac Munyakazi who also resigned son account of dishonesty and corrupt practices.
Other appointments include; Inès Mpambara Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs, Jeannette Bayisenge, Solina Nyirahabimana was appointed Minister of State in Charge of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, replacing Evode Uwizeyimana, who resigned over visiting violence on a female guard on duty. Marie-Solange Kayisire, formerly Minister of Cabinet Affairs moves to Ministry of Emergency Management.
Lt. Col. Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga becomes Minister of State in the Ministry of Health in charge of Primary Healthcare, replacing Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, who has been appointed Executive Secretary of the Human Resources for Health Secretariat.
Former Director General Rwanda Social Security Board, Richard Tusabe was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Charge of the National Treasury.
A newly formed docket for the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in Charge of ICT and TVET Education has been given to Claudette Irere while Yves Iradukunda becomes Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and Innovation.
Régis Rugemanshuro was appointed Director-General of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), Amandin Rugira Ambassador-designate of Rwanda to Zambia and Dieudonné Sebashongore as Ambassador-designate of Rwanda to Belgium.
