According to the Canadian police, the vehicle, which was carrying soldiers from Oromocto town, veered off the road and knocked a tree, immediately bursting into flames. Sources indicate that Nkubito and his two other colleagues died on spot.
The police reported that the accident occurred 30 kilometers from Fredericton, a city in New Brunswick Province. An investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of the accident.
A relative to Nkubito who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed sadness saying the death is a big loss to the family.
“He was expected to achieve much for his personal development and his country, especially given his young age. It is such a big loss,” he said.
The family member also disclosed that Nkubito had been serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for three years and lived with his family in Canada.
Requiem masses in his honor will be held at Institut de Formation Apostolique de Kimihurura (IFAK-Kimihurura), in Gasabo District on various dates.
They will be held on July 18, 2024, at 1:15 PM; on July 19, 2024, at 1:15 PM; and on July 20, 2024, starting at 7:00 AM. The final requiem mass will be on July 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the same venue.
His closest rival, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, managed only 0.50 per cent of the vote, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana trailed with 0.32 per cent.
While releasing the results on Thursday, July 18, NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa said that RPF and its coalition allies secured majority votes (68.83 per cent) in the July 15 parliamentary general elections.
The Liberal Party (PL) secured 8.66 per cent of the votes, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) got 8.62 per cent while the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda got 4.56 per cent of the total votes.
The Ideal Democratic Party (PDI) and PS-Imberakuri secured 4.61 per cent 4.51 per cent respectively.
Janvier Nsengimana, the only contestant who ran as an independent got only 0.21 per cent of the total votes.
The national constitution specifies that a candidate or political party which fails to get at least 5 per cent of the vote is not eligible to get a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.
The King expressed his warm congratulations on the Rwandan people’s renewed trust in Kagame’s competences and ability to lead the country towards further achievements, progress and prosperity.
“I take this opportunity to reaffirm my determination to continue working with the President of the Republic of Rwanda to strengthen the fraternal relations rooted in mutual esteem between the two countries,” he said in a statement.
“I commit to reinforce the fruitful Moroccan-Rwandan cooperation, serving both people’s shared interests and promoting integration and solidarity between African countries,” he added.
In the same spirit, Uganda’s Museveni posted his congratulatory message to Kagame on his X handle.
“Your re-election is a testament to the trust and confidence the people of Rwanda have in your leadership,” he said.
“Uganda recognizes Rwanda as a strategic ally with a shared vision of peace and prosperity. I look forward to collaborating with you for the benefit of our nations and the East African Community,” he added.
Rwanda enjoys cordial relations with both Morocco and Uganda in various sectors.
Simillary, in a message posted on X, the Government of Somaliland also reacted to Kagame’s re-election by conveying sincere congratulations.
“President Kagame’s steadfast leadership continues to inspire us. We express willingness to strengthen Somaliland’s relations with Rwanda given our shared history,” the message read.
Other distinguished leaders who have so far sent their congratulations include Presidents William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar’s Andry Rajoelina and Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Rwandans went to the polls on Sunday July 14, Monday July 15 and Tuesday July 16, 2024, following a three-week campaign period.
Partial results announced on Thursday by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) put RPF Inkotanyi candidate Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.18% of the votes, while Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana managed 0.50% and 0.32%, respectively.
The final results are expected to be announced by July 27, 2024.
“The United States welcomes a 15-day extension of the humanitarian truce committed to by the parties to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]. This extension will be in effect until 11:59 pm local time on August 3 and recommits the parties to the conflict to silence their weapons and provide humanitarian personnel unfettered access to vulnerable populations,” reads a statement released by the Spokesperson of White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson.
“In support of the Luanda Process, we commit to working with the Governments of the DRC, Rwanda, and Angola to use this truce extension to outline a series of steps to reach a durable cessation of hostilities and set conditions for the voluntary return of displaced populations,” he added.
The US has previously concurred that, based on discussions held by Intelligence Chiefs of Rwanda and the DRC in November 2023, FARDC and M23 had agreed to a one-week ceasefire.
This ceasefire, which began on July 5, was originally scheduled to end on July 19, 2024.
Its main aim of the ceasefire was to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians displaced by the conflict. Despite the agreement, there have been reports of ceasefire violations from either warring faction.
On July 14, 2024, M23 spokesperson Lt Col Willy Ngoma announced that a coalition of the DRC government and some affiliated rebel groups had launched an attack on their territories in Kirumbi and Kanyabayonga.
On the other hand, FARDC spokesperson in North Kivu, Lt Col Ndjike Kaiko Guillaume, accused M23 rebels of attacking them in parts of Nyange and Mpati, in the western part of Kitshanga, Masisi territory on July 10, 2024.
The United States has repeatedly warned against potential violations and recommended regional mechanisms as key to pacifying Eastern DRC.
According to David Maraga, the head of the East African Community (EAC) election observation team dispatched to Rwanda, the election was one of the best-organized electoral processes he has seen. However, such a remark is not enough to put an end to debates about whether the elections were free and fair.
For some, the election results reflect the popularity of Kagame and the RPF, as demonstrated by the massive turnout at the presidential campaign rallies. For others, it is yet another sign that the 2024 elections were merely a formality.
A presidential candidate winning 99% of the votes is an unusual occurrence, but what is unusual isn’t necessarily bad. The natural reaction to these results should be to ask why Paul Kagame remains such a popular figure in Rwanda even after two decades in power. No matter where you look for the answer, one thing must be acknowledged: Paul Kagame holds an unchallenged position in Rwanda’s post-1994 politics. Rwandans view Kagame as the architect of Rwanda’s development, and a future without him is one many are not ready to imagine, let alone embrace.
Unfortunately, the world shows little interest in hearing what Rwandans, especially young Rwandans, have to say about their views on Rwanda’s politics. Time and again, international critics have shown an unwillingness to accept that the Rwandan people are rational thinkers with agency, and hence, their choices are not taken seriously.
Discussing Rwandan politics as simply undemocratic or dictatorial is too simplistic. It is not that Rwanda doesn’t aspire to democracy, but that democracy is not in any way an end in itself. Rwanda is a country where politics was once a matter of life and death. Present-day Rwanda is one that many could not have even dreamed of 30 years ago. For that reason, Rwandans think and act within a historical context, not just in abstract concepts or theoretical frameworks.
Rwandans, like any people in the world, have the ultimate wish to live in peace, have security, and improve their living standards. To them, meaningful politics and voting are those that allow them to maintain what they have achieved over the last 30 years and hope for even better living conditions.
Otto von Bismarck’s saying that “politics is the art of the possible” captures the essence of Rwanda’s politics in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. While many thought Rwanda would forever remain a failed state, the RPF managed to start from scratch and build a country with a new unifying identity for all Rwandans.
Rwandans have tested and approved of Paul Kagame’s leadership. While the world is more concerned about when Kagame will step down, the majority of Rwandans want to continue living under the stability of his leadership. The unknowns of new leadership are not attractive to them. Dismissing them for not thinking beyond Kagame or belittling their choice using lofty terms like democracy is unfair.
As for Rwanda’s future, no one can be certain. But one thing is sure: Rwandans are far more united than they were decades ago. If they could rebuild their country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, they will not fail to continue along that path now that they are more united and share a vision of a more prosperous Rwanda.
About the author:
Claudine Ukubereyimfura
Learning Coach at the African Leadership University
BA in International Studies from Yonsei University
MA in China Studies (Politics and International Relations) from Yenching Academy of Peking University
In a statement released on Wednesday July 17, 2024, the RPF expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support shown by Rwandans in the elections.
“It is yet another testament of the trust and confidence placed in our leadership and vision for Rwanda. We remain committed to working for national unity, sustainable development, and prosperity for all Rwandans,” reads the statement.
While waiting for the final results to be announced, RPF thanked all Rwandans and all friends of Rwanda for their support.
Rwandans went to the polls on July 14, 2024 (for the diaspora) and locally the elections were held on July 15 with special interest groups being voted for on July 16, 2024.
Partial results released put RPF-Inkotanyi candidate Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.15% followed Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana with 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.
The Foundation was forced into the raging debate about governance issues in Kenya early this week after President William Ruto claimed that proceeds from the foundation were being used to sponsor the protests.
Ruto had earlier challenged the Ford Foundation to explain the purpose of the money the foundation was giving to Kenyans threatening to throw them out of the country if nothing changed.
In a twist of events, the Foundation has strongly denied Ruto’s claims, stating that the organisation does not condone violence.
“While we acknowledge the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, we repudiate any actions or speeches that are hateful or advocate for violence against any institution, individual, or community. We did not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grant making,” the Ford Foundation said in a statement.
The Foundation has a long history of supporting social justice initiatives globally, including in Kenya, a mission it is vehemently committed to.
“As we noted during the Kenyan state visit to the United States this past May, we are committed to building on the legacy of the Ford Foundation’s more than 60 years in the region so that Kenyans can unlock opportunities that extend to all,” the organisation added.
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The protests in Kenya have so far claimed 50 lives according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC). At least 20 of the victims were shot dead when angry protesters stormed Parliament buildings in Nairobi shortly after the passing of the Finance Bill 2024 on June 25.
The protests forced Ruto to make several concessions including the withdrawal of the controversial bill and recently firing his entire Cabinet.
President Ruto, in a surprise move, also scrapped operations budgets for the Office of the First Lady and that of the wife to the Deputy President.
However, despite the changes, Kenyans returned to the streets on Tuesday, demanding the President’s resignation.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Maraga described Rwanda’s polls as one of the most organized electoral processes he has ever witnessed.
“The electoral process was very orderly and peaceful. In fact, one of the best-organized I have ever seen. The organization was superb unlike in some places where elections are chaotic, rowdy, and noisy, even at the polling stations on polling day,” Maraga stated.
“My people gave me information from all the polling stations that there was no dancing, no noise in general, and it was very good,” he added.
Maraga’s delegation comprised 55 observers dispatched to different parts of the country on election day.
Apart from the EAC, other observer groups present during the elections included the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Others were from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and the electoral mission of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).
In a joint statement, the observers affirmed that the electoral, political, and security environment in Rwanda before, during, and immediately after the elections was calm and peaceful.
“The National Electoral Commission and other institutions responsible for managing the electoral process have so far discharged their duty diligently in accordance with the electoral calendar,” reads the statement.
The observers commended the government for the successful election and also congratulated the people of Rwanda for exercising their democratic right.
Partial results announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Monday July 15, 2024 put President Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.15% followed Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana with 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.
Museveni was the first to condemn the gun attack that resulted in the Republican Party presidential candidate being rushed to hospital after being injured by a bullet in the upper part of his right ear.
Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and two others left in critical condition after the incident on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
“I condemn this despicable and cowardly assassination attempt that put his life and that of his supporters at risk. Such political violence undermines democracy ” Museveni said in a social media post 3 days after the shooting.
He also extended his condolences to the family that lost a loved one and to those injured in the barrage of gunfire.
“I wish His Excellency and all those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Museveni added.
Similarly, Kenya’s Ruto termed Saturday’s incident as “a shocking and heinous act”.
“In these troubling times, I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the democratic ideals we share with the people of the United States of America. I wish Donald Trump a speedy and full recovery,” he stated, while also extending sympathies to the other victims of the incident.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has since identified Trump’s attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Crooks, who was taken down by Secret Service agents, was a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of Butler, where Trump was holding his rally.
The young man shot at Trump from the roof of a shed outside the security cordon around the rally shortly after the former US president had started speaking.
At the time of the attack, the FBI stated that Crooks was not carrying any identification and had to be identified using DNA samples.
The 20-year-old worked as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. His job mainly entailed working alongside dietitians, dietary managers, and chefs to help prepare food for the nursing home.
Marcie Grimm, the administrator of the nursing home, said she was “shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement.”
Grimm mentioned that Crooks had no previous criminal record when he was hired.
Law enforcement officers said that the Crooks had requested an off from work on Saturday and had reportedly told colleagues that he had “something to do,” and he would be back at Sunday.
Background checks on Crooks revealed that he was a registered Republican voter. However, on January 20, 2021—two weeks after pro-Trump alt-right supporters stormed the White House—Crooks donated $15 to a grassroots Democratic group.
This year’s presidential election would have been his first voting.
President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in the forthcoming polls, has since also condemned the attack, stating that he was grateful Trump was “safe and doing well.”
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” Biden said in a statement.
Trump is running for a second, non-consecutive term in the November 5, 2024, general election after losing to Biden in the 2020 edition.
This comes shortly after Rwanda established its embassy in Pakistan and is expected to enhance cooperation in security, trade, health, and education between the two countries.
She presented the credentials on July 15, 2024 and becomes, the first Rwandan High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Speaking to Rwandan local media, Harerimana said that she has had discussions with President Zardari focusing on bilateral cooperation.
“The discussions focused on the cooperation and relations between Rwanda and Pakistan. We have had a longstanding relationship, but now we will particularly emphasize trade, health, education, and security,” she stated.
She added that President Zardari agreed to expedite the signing of agreements, including those promoting transportation between the two countries.
In addition, Pakistan has agreed to provide scholarships to Rwandan students for studies in Pakistan, particularly in the field of health.
On the same day, other envoys from Zimbabwe, Tajikistan, Argentina, Myanmar, Cambodia and Botswana also presented their letters of credence.
