Soldiers in the West African country say they launched a coup “to restore democracy”.
The BBC reports that they took control of the national radio station at 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) to read a short statement announcing a “National Restoration Council”.
President Ali Bongo took over power in 2009 and has been out of the country for more than two months.
Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville.
President Bongo reportedly suffered a stroke in October and received treatment in Morocco.
He sought to put an end to the rumors about his health with a televised New Year message in which he said he was feeling fine.
Soldiers said they had been disappointed by the message, calling it “a pitiful sight” and a “relentless attempt to cling onto power.”
The insurgents called on soldiers to take control of the transport system, ammunition reserves and airports “for the good of the country” reports RFI.
Since independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had just three presidents. Late President Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades until his death in 2009.
He was replaced by his son Ali Bongo who won a contested election that year.
Gabon is a major oil producer but a third of its population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.
The Intra-African Trade Fair is the first of its kind in Africa, consisting of a 7-day trade fair that provides a platform for sharing trade, investment and market information and enabling buyers and sellers, investors and countries to meet, discuss and conclude business deals.
From the 11th-17th December, it attracted investors, traders and many others in Cairo, Egypt. It was further agreed that Rwanda would host its second session in 2020.
Closing the IATF, the Afreximbank President, Prof Benedict Okey Oramah applauded the result of the first launch, as it attracted over 50,000 prominent dealmakers, businesses, industries, investors, countries and suppliers and where up to $30-billion-dollar business deals, contracts and investment transactions were sealed.
He said that more than 100 business deals, contracts and investment transactions were sealed.
Oramah said that the deals represent an important footstep in the cooperation of Africa.
The Afrexim bank says that the majority of the deals were in sectors of industrialization/export manufacturing ($6.2 billion); power ($6 billion); and financial services ($1.86 billion). Other key sectors included oil and gas; transport and logistics; heavy industry; mining; infrastructure; healthcare; and SME promotion.
The Rwandan Ambassador in Egypt, Sheikh Saleh Habimana said that Rwanda which will host the next edition of the IATF, was tasked to surpass the Egyptian edition.
“We have been tasked to host it with pomp and radiance, and possibly to outshine this first Edition,” Saleh Habimana said
The IATF2018 was aimed at promoting trade among African countries and at supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Growing up, Nicole Musoni listened to Celine Dion, Erykah Badu, Lara Fabian, Jill Scott and more. None of this might sound like a recipe for Electro-soul, but Musoni surprises in ‘Die with me’, applying her feather-light vocal delivery to undulating accompaniment changing swiftly between soothing, crushingly heavy and pleasantly elegant. In one word; a paragon of songwriting about a tale of taking a gamble in life, dropping everything in pursuit of something greater and fulfilling, as she told {[Nylon->https://nylon.com/nicole-musoni-premiere].}
Produced by International renown Louis Kevin Celestin known by his stage name Kaytranada, a talented Haitian-Canadian producer who has worked with outstanding names in the music Industry such as Craig David on the song “Got It Good”, Azealia Banks, “Along the Coast” (2016), Alicia Keys, “Sweet F’in Love” (2017) and of recently, Ty Dolla $ign and Shay Lia. The Producer is also known for his ebullient remixes that made him quite a reputation in the industry. In 2015, he opened for two nights of Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour.
With such a producer, it is of no wonder that the Single is pure musical bliss.
Nicole Musoni participated in different contests, such as the “Sécondaire en Spectacle”, “Star Académie” in 2009, where her hard-work placed her among the 50 finalists. She once was a back-up singer for talented Corneille. Taken under the wing of her teacher Jennifer Mead, she worked on her craft and grew as an artist, both vocally and performance-wise, and this, for 4 years. With her talent and vocals, Nicole is set to break out as a promising new music artist.
According to reports from the US state of Maine, Mukarurangwa arrived in the country in March 2018 then proceeded to ask for asylum, claiming she was “fleeing persecution in Rwanda”. She even alleged that she had “spent two weeks in jail because of her ties with Rwigara.”
According to a US website, {{[Press Herald->https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/01/rwanda-woman-finds-home-with-loan-for-asylum-seekers/]}}, Mukarurangwa said she had been to jail because she supported Diane Rwigara, “a human right activist who tried to run for president in Rwanda.”
But a simple fact check immediately shows problems with this story. First of all, they do not state anywhere the fact that the “campaign” of Rwigara was beset by problems of fraud and forgery, and as such was forestalled by legal issues the Rwigaras brought upon themselves.
Secondly, Claudine Mukarurangwa was never a supporter of Diane Rwigara. She in fact was a supporter of President Kagame and RPF.
We have screenshots from her Facebook page, Da Colo MC, that show she and her family are staunch supporters of the president, and RPF. There are several pictures on her Facebook page of RPF 2017 campaign posters, displayed prominently.
There are pictures of Mukarurangwa with her two sons, Kevin Nshuti and Kelly Shima, one of them in the white cap of RPF with its red, white and sky blue flag, very visible. There are pictures of the young men dressed in t-shirts of the RPF, the proud mother between them.
There also are pictures of the young men wearing military attire, consistent with what pre-university young people do when they go to Ingando solidarity camps, an RPF-introduced program to teach kids patriotism.
On the other hand, according to our sources in Kigali this lady was never seen anywhere within the Rwigara camp. Not when she made an announcement in 2017 that she intended to campaign, and not even when Diane was standing trial on forgery charges.
Photographs from Rwigara’s events show no signs of Claudine Mukarurangwa anywhere. “If this lady sought asylum anywhere on the pretense that she is an ally of Rwigara, that’s the biggest joke so far,” said a gentleman in Kigali that’s known her for a long time.
“She is RPF throughout; ever since RPF stopped the Genocide and formed a new government!” said our source who requested anonymity.
An investigation to verify whether she in fact the lady had been to jail – allegedly for supporting Rwigara – turned up nothing.
There are no news reports of any Claudine Mukarurangwa going to prison for supporting Rwigara, or for any other reason. “If Claudine is in the US claiming she went to prison so as to get asylum, that’s another lie,” said our source.
After nine months however, despite the false information she gave, Mukarurangwa was granted asylum and she is now living in Maine. The website {{[Press Herald->https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/01/rwanda-woman-finds-home-with-loan-for-asylum-seekers/]}} reports that she is beginning a new life, and waiting for her work papers to be processed.
Those that know her best say she in fact escaped Rwanda for a different reason other than the (harmful) lies against Rwanda she has been telling. “Claudine left Rwanda because she was totally broke!” said a woman associate of hers in Kiyovu.
“Claudine was someone that loved partying and men, living large, and working very little!” said the former business partner of Mukarurangwa.
Inquiries confirm indeed that Mukarurangwa was someone that liked to spend big all night “then spend half the day sleeping”, and that on weekends it would be worse – it would be partying all night and waking up after lunch hours.
“When you add in travel to expensive places, shopping and so on in addition to the partying lifestyle, yet you aren’t earning much, soon you will be broke. No matter how much you have,” our source remarked.
An investigation revealed that Mukarurangwa’s first husband, Vianney Nyamutera, divorced her before 2006 because, according to those who know them, “he found it impossible to live with her.”
It was around that time that Mukarurangwa went to visit a friend of hers – whose name we shall only disclose as Parfine – who had gotten a European husband (“through a similar partying lifestyle”). Parfine lived with her husband in Switzerland and that’s where Claudine went to visit her.
It was while in Switzerland, according to our sources, that Parfine “connected” Claudine to a certain Mr. Andrew Nightingale, an Englishman in his seventies. They were soon “regularly communicating”.
Around 2010, Nightingale came to Kigali, and they married that year.
Nightingale according to records bought two houses in Kigali – a property in Kiyovu valued at over Frw 250 million, and another in Gacuriro, valued at over Frw 100 million. “Nightingale also showered Claudine with cash!” say our sources. After only a year together, in 2011, Andrew Nightingale passed away – on a morning he was supposed to travel to Europe.
An autopsy said he died of a heart attack.
In any case, he left the two houses and unspecified amounts of money to his wife. “Soon the lady was partying like there was no tomorrow, enjoying herself, most times in the company of “hunky-looking” young men.
“You can see that doing that kind of thing for seven years, but with no clear business anyone will go bankrupt,” said a woman they used to spend evenings together, sometimes spending as much as a million francs in one night.
She says no one in Rwanda has ever threatened Mukarurangwa with arrest, “not a single day”.
If she left Rwanda it was because she had no money any more, said this friend who says she has “known Claudine for half a decade”.
“Claudine sold the houses, she spent all the money, and she had even sold her cars! It would have been too shameful to be without money, that is the only possible reason she left!”
The Alibaba Netpreneur Training program will welcome local Rwandan entrepreneurs and those who operate businesses within the Rwandan market.
The 10-day program hosted at Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou will run from 16 to 27th, February 2019.
During the program, participants will learn among other lessons, the key factors in Alibaba’s long-term success, the defining moments and failures that have shaped Alibaba’s journey (including the early stages of development) and will have an understanding of Alibaba’s ecosystem.
Alibaba will cover all costs for entrepreneurs including hotel accommodation, meals, and site visit transportation costs while participants are to pay for themselves the air tickets and transportation/pick-up services to and from Hangzhou, China, single hotel room requests and additional food or personal expenses.
Eligible applicants for the training program participation must be below 40 years old and a founder/co-founder or business owner of an officially registered venture that has been in operation for at least 2 years with female entrepreneurs and locals of the selected regions for each class being strongly encouraged to apply among other requirements.
Applications started on the 28th December 2018 and are slated to end on January 13th this year and aspiring entrepreneurs can apply online through the link below: https://activity.alibaba.com/supplier/alibaba-netpreneur-training-rwanda.html
The launch took place last Wednesday, January 2nd, 2018. In the past 8 years, KASNEB was located in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at the University of Rwanda.
Those who complete their degrees in accountancy, finance, credit, and related disciplines; register themselves in KASNEB, where they seat for exams which allow them to carry out the aforementioned disciplines on an International level. These include; CPA (Certified Public Accountants), CIFA (Certified Investment and Financial Analyst), CCP (Certified Credit Professional), CS (Certified Secretaries) and many others.
In the past eight years, more than 500 students have so far taken their examinations in accountancy, while a 1000 more took exams in other disciplines. These exams take place twice in a year.
KASNEB’s Director, Pius M.Nduatih, told IGIHE that “the concept of KASNEB came from our seniors/elders. At the time where the white people were leaving the continent; African countries started to think on the different ways that could be used so that Africans could be taught on the professions that were established by the White men.”
KASNEB’s Representative in Rwanda, Jeanne Abayo, echoed his remarks, noting that their certificates are acknowledged on an International level.
“The Certification that we provide are acknowledged and respected on an International level. As an example, when someone moves in the United States of America, our certification assures one not to start from scratch,” Abayo says.
She added that KASNEB chose to work in Rwanda due to its soaring economy and the fact that there were no quality examinations being offered for professionals.
Aside from Rwanda, KASNEB also operates in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, South-Sudan, Cameroon and Burundi.
For more information on KASNEB, you can visit them at CHIC Complex or visit their website at {{[www.kasneb.or.ke->www.kasneb.or.ke] }}
While briefing the media, yesterday, RNP spokesperson Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, observed that the past year has been generally peaceful with significant reduction in crime and improved road security, which the force will build on especially against high impact crimes.
“The reduction in crimes is largely attributed to increased participation of the general public in sharing information, strengthened community night patrols and enhanced partnership with other groups such as youth volunteers, community policing committees, anti-crime and anti-drugs clubs, among others,” CP Kabera said.
According to CP Kabera, five fatal accidents were recorded in the festive period claiming four people.
Nineteen people were also arrested for drunk-driving in the festive period although majority accidents were due to over-speeding, bad maneuvers and other reckless driving behaviors, he said.
Road traffic accidents decreased by more than 20 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year.
The reduction in accidents was also attributed to installation of speed governor in cargo and public service vehicles. The two categories of automobiles were in previous years the majority involved in fatal accidents.
CP Kabera said that crime prevention, improving road security and combating high impact crimes like drugs, corruption and engaging more in human security activities are among the major focus in this year.
“Police increased its operations and community awareness against psychotropic substances, and this year will be no different; the law against drugs was revised especially against big dealers and all these measures are aimed at breaking chains of supply and saving the young, the majority victims,” he said.
RNP established the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) to spearhead the fight against drugs.
On road safety, the force, he said, will continue to revitalize its services by employing technology especially in driver’s license and mechanical inspection related services; work with other entities like RURA, insurance companies, transporters, drivers and motorcyclists groups as well as driving schools.
“As usual, partnership at all levels is key and we continue to call for increased vigilance and real time information sharing. The Police are there for the safety and security of the people, that’s why we call upon the general public to always report anything that can impede on their well-being,” CP Kabera said.
The authorities said accreditation for the Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent in Kinshasa, Florence Morice, had been withdrawn.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende accused Morice of violating electoral law and “the code of good conduct for foreign journalists covering the elections”.
Accusing the station of stirring controversy, he said, “RFI’s broadcasts have been cut off in all of Congo’s cities.”
“We are not going to let a radio station throw petrol on the flames at a time when we are waiting for the compilation of the provisional results,” Mende said.
RFI, a French public-service broadcaster, has a very large audience in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a French-speaking country of around 80 million people.
It has been closely covering Sunday’s presidential elections and the marathon vote tally.
RFI issued a statement saying its coverage had been impartial and expressing full support for Morice.
She had been “merely working as a professional journalist,” it said, and urged the authorities to reverse their decision to withdraw her accreditation.
On Tuesday, RFI said that its broadcasts had been blocked since Monday evening.
{{- Suspicions –
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The elections will determine who succeeds President Joseph Kabila, at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest country for nearly 18 years.
Kabila refused to step down after his two-term constitutional limit ended in 2016, sparking protests that were quelled at the cost of scores of lives.
Among the DRC’s opposition, suspicions run deep that the vote will be rigged to let his preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, be declared winner.
Mende said RFI had been “declaring results (and) trends” as the vote count unfolded.
“Only the head of CENI can proclaim” these, he said, referring to the Independent National Electoral Commission, in charge of overseeing the elections and the count.
On Monday, the authorities cut off access to the internet, a move that opposition activists said sought to gag communications and stifle transparency.
An adviser to Kabila, Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, said the move targeted the dissemination of “fake figures” to avert a “popular uprising.”
The European Union, United States, Canada and Switzerland urged the government to restore access.
The DRC has a long history of turmoil, and many fear a bloodbath if the elections go badly wrong.
The mineral-rich country has never had a peaceful handover of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
Millions of people died from fighting, starvation and disease in two full-fledged wars between 1996 and 2003, and bloodshed marred elections in 2006 and 2011.
Preliminary results are due by Sunday, and definitive results by January 15, with the next head of state due to be sworn in January 18. Legislative and municipal elections took place alongside the presidential ballot.
According to a survey by Afriscope/TNS Sofres quoted by RFI, the French radio station has 40 percent of listeners in the DRC.
Bart Hofker, the MTN Rwanda CEO said, “in 2018, MTN Rwanda invested over Rwf 22 billion in network expansion and modernization, which was key in the acceleration of internet penetration by availing quality and affordable services to MTN subscribers”.
The unprecedented growth comes after a successful completion of network modernization that resulted into tripling the average internet access speed. MTN Rwanda has also been pushing a pro-customer campaign that, among other initiatives, left the internet (out of bundle) prices per megabytes slashed down from Rwf 51 to Rwf 10.
The trend is projected to continue as MTN has been positioning itself as the Number 1 Internet Network in Rwanda.
In the end year 2018 message to Rwandans, Kagame said Rwanda achieved a lot last year and lot more is coming in 2019.
Among commendable achievements is the good performance in sports particularly in cycling as Team Rwanda won tournaments on African continent while it also participated in other worldwide biggest cycling races.
“In sports, Rwandans showcased ability and performed well on the international level mostly in cycling,” Kagame said.
{{Rwanda’s Cycling Team in 2018
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The year 2018 started with Rwandans celebrating as Joseph Areruya became the first Rwandan to win the UCI (International Cycling Union) 2.1 race when he emerged winner of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, the biggest cycling race on the UCI-Africa Tour which was held in Gabon from 15th to 21st January 2018.
Areruya won the race in Team Rwanda jersey where he competed with Didier Munyaneza, Valens Ndayisenga, Jean Ruberwa, Jean Paul René Ukiniwabo and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana.
Joy for Rwandan lovers of the cycling game continued on February 4th,2018 when Rwanda’s U-23 team which was composed by Samuel Mugisha, Didier Munyaneza, Jean Paul René Ukiniwabo, Jean Ruberwa, Samuel Hakiruwizeye and Joseph Areruya won ‘Tour de l’Espoir’, a racing competition which was staged in Cameroon.
This made Rwanda qualify to U23 Tour de France which was held in France from 17th until 26th August 2018.
Rwandans won Tour du Rwanda for the fifth time in row when Samuel Mugisha was worn the yellow jersey at Kigali Stadium after covering the 953.2km distance of the 8-stage race in 24 hours, 26 minutes and 53 seconds.
To win the tour, Mugisha, ‘the King of the Mountains’ who also became the youngest rider to win the race in history, beat his closest contender and compatriot, Jean Claude Uwizeye by 21 seconds after the latter clocked 24h27’14” while Ethiopian Mulu Hailemicheal finished in the third place clocking 25h27’57”, one minute and four seconds behind.
