They believe this project will combat activities that destroy the park, such as cutting down trees for firewood and other purposes.
This was discussed on February 29, 2024, during the official launch of the project, which aims to engage in various activities focused on helping the local community by planting trees mixed with crops. This initiative is intended to protect the Nyungwe National Park and address climate change issues.
The coordinator of the IPFG organization, which advocates for family welfare and will implement the ‘The Nyungwe Agroforestry’ project, Faustin Kanani, stated their goal is to provide the local communities living around the park with alternatives to what they previously sought within the park, such as firewood. They plan to plant these crop friendly trees over a span of 20 years.
He mentioned, “We will plant trees mixed with crops, including fruit trees and traditional trees. About two and a half million trees will be planted, including avocados, oranges, lemons, grevilleas, and others, to provide the residents with firewood, timber, branches for bean and pea stakes, and other needs they used to seek in Nyungwe, which led to its degradation.”
He also stated that the local residents would be taught modern farming techniques to increase productivity. The leaders of the Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts, where the project will be implemented, said it would assist the local communities, including land improvement and terracing, to help them increase their yields.
The Mayor of Nyamagabe, Hildebrand Niyomwungeri, said, “Residents will be equipped with methods for better farming, where their fields will be terraced to increase crop yield.”
Adelphine Niyirema, from Buruhukiro sector in Nyamagabe, who runs a nursery for various trees, told IGIHE that she is hopeful for employment as she will be paid for the seedlings she provides.
She said, “I will find work in nurturing the tree seedlings needed, which in itself will provide me with significant income. I believe this project will aid in our development.”
The project is expected to cost over Rwf5 billion and will include agreements with the local residents to not harvest the trees before 20 years.
The protesters carried signs calling for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the international community to put an end to the genocide being perpetrated against their relatives.
Some signs bore messages such as “We condemn the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, We condemn Burundi, we condemn SADC, we condemn FDLR.”
Albert Methode Nsengamungu, the manager of the Kiziba camp, expressed that the protest was against the killings of Tutsis in Congo. He stated, “This genocide being committed by the Congolese government of Kinshasa involves killing Tutsis in North Kivu, in Ituri. Today, we strongly condemn the Kinshasa government that continues to kill our relatives, as we ourselves have been in exile for a long time and are also suffering.”
Nsengamungu mentioned that countries including Burundi and those in the SADC, rather than aiding the DRC in bringing peace to their country, are instead supporting actions that harm Tutsis.
He highlighted, “The latest news we have [about the worsening situation], and even today and yesterday, the killings continue. What we ask from the international community is to speak on our behalf, to restore security in that area and ensure Tutsis are given their rights and not continue to be killed.”
Another interviewee, who has spent 28 years in exile in the Kiziba camp in Rwanda, described life in the camp as dire and lamentable, a life they do not wish upon anyone. They are protesting against President Tshisekedi and his allies, including the Interahamwe who have caused devastation.
They accused them of committing atrocities in the DRC along with President Ndayishimiye of Burundi, SADC forces, South Africa, and other malefactors.
“All of them have evil within them. They are killers whom we urge the international community to apprehend, as they were supposed to bring peace but instead they have caused the loss of lives and property, burning down entire villages. It’s genocide.”
A parent who has lived in Rwanda for 28 years discussed the challenges and the long journey they have faced, emphasizing, “Now we are denouncing the genocide being committed against Tutsis back in the DRC, our homeland. We want advocacy so that we can leave this life. We see it. People are being killed while the international community watches.”
“Here, we also have new refugees from Congo, sharing the harrowing experiences they’ve endured and the atrocities committed against them. Some are traumatized. We ask the international community to stop the killings of Tutsis in Congo.”
These refugees include individuals who have spent 28 years in Rwanda fleeing violence, as well as those born in Rwanda, all of whom express sorrow over not knowing their homeland.
As of January 2024, Rwanda hosts 135,343 refugees, including those from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ‘Two Sessions’ are the concurrent yearly meetings of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress (NPC) usually held at the Great Hall of the People, a building in Beijing used for legislature and other ceremonial activities of national interest.
Jieyi, who was responding to journalists on the work of the CPPCC committee to promote employment, underscored that employment of the young people, especially the fresh graduates, is of great interest to the people and shed light on various measures put in place.
He explained that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have put employment front where various localities and departments have taken multiple measures to stabilize and expand the job market.
Jieyi disclosed that in 2023, the funding provided by the government at all levels to directly support jobs and start-ups exceeded 300 billion yuan.
He cited targeted measures that were taken to support jobs for college graduates, urban and rural residents living in difficulties that saw 12.44 million new urban jobs created last year.
“This is a hard-won result. It also laid a solid foundation for providing sound policies in support of employment and sustaining the good momentum in the job market,” he stated.
Among others, Jieyi elucidated that the National Committee has worked to help stabilize and promote employment where the CPC members and relevant departments conducted in-depth research on promoting high-quality employment, analyzed trends in the job market.
Additionally, Liu Jieyi revealed that they also put forth targeted proposals for promoting jobs and entrepreneurship for college graduates, strengthening institution safeguard for flexible employment, spurring job creation through the digital economy, and fostering a more equal job market.
Besides, a lot of targeted and vision proposals have been made on all these fronts. To this end, Ninety-one proposals have been made, a lot of which were adopted as policies by party and government bodies to resolve problems on the ground.
Regarding the difficulties facing both the fresh graduates and employers, Jieyi highlighted that targeted proposals for an interconnected mechanism between universities and industries to help university graduates find jobs were put forth and adopted by competent authorities.
The CPCC has also worked to promote the implementation of relevant policies.
Through the program of serving the people, some CPCC members have engaged in the initiative to bring their businesses to the campus and help the students with counseling and career planning and provided internship and job opportunities for the students based on the needs of the companies, contributing to the implementation of employment policies.
In response to structural difficulties in both job seeking and hiring, such as the shortage of skilled workers, the CPCC members have worked with representatives of relevant sectors and departments on subjects including setting up an incentive mechanism for workers with innovative skills.
On top of this, Jieyi indicated that they also held consultative seminars and offered recommendations for improving the wage distribution mechanism for skilled talents.
As a result, he said, this enhanced the training of such talents, enforced the tiered system of vocational skills and fostered a high standard vocational education system.
Jieyi also outlined projections for 2024, where the National Committee is expected to take further steps on stabilizing and expanding employment.
“The committee will conduct research on improving the system in support of stable employment of college graduates and have consultations on improving the lifelong vocational skills training system. This will be done with a view to resolve structural job issues, thus contributing its share to implementing the employment first strategy and improving people’s well-being,” he noted.
With a population of 1.4 billion, China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 posted a growth of 5.2% percent year on year, higher than the annual target of around 5 percent. It reached a record of 126.06 trillion yuan (about 17.71 trillion US dollars) last year.
The surveyed unemployment rate on average in China stood at 5.2 percent in 2023, down 0.4 percentage points from 2022.
Meanwhile, the surveyed unemployment rate of the workforce of the 16-25-29 age groups of the workforce excluding students was 14.9 percent, 6.1 percent and 3.9 percent respectively.
The report on the assessment of progress on regional integration in Africa, among other things, showed that Africa’s regional integration agenda is progressing, albeit slowly, the UNECA said late Friday. It said African countries have not met the macroeconomic convergence criteria despite progress in monetary and financial integration.
According to the report, infrastructure development through the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) achieved mixed results, in which while roads and information and communications technology advanced, rail transport and energy infrastructure progressed little. It said infrastructure financing remains a challenge for Africa.
The PIDA is the strategic framework of the African Union (AU) for regional and continental infrastructure development.
The report indicated that there has been some progress in the fulfillment of the first ten-year implementation plan (2014-2023) of the AU’s 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063. The achievements include the adoption of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and the creation of the Single African Air Transport Market.
According to the report, despite trade under the AfCFTA having officially started in January 2021, the envisaged changes in intra-African trade are yet to appear. Intra-African trade as a share of global trade of the continent declined from 14.5 percent in 2021 to 13.7 percent in 2022.
Over the same period, intra-African exports declined as a percentage of total exports from 18.22 percent to 17.89 percent, and intra-African imports declined from 12.81 percent to 12.09 percent, it said.
It also noted that the African continent has not performed well in bridging the gender digital divide, in which in 2023, about 32 percent of the female population used the internet compared with 42 percent of the male population, against a global average of 65 percent of females and 70 percent of males.
According to the report, Africa still faces a “massive annual infrastructure financing gap,” which is estimated between 130 billion and 170 billion U.S. dollars. It recommended innovative infrastructure financing instruments, which include blended finance, green, social and sustainability-linked bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps.
The report was released on the margins of this year’s edition of the UNECA’s Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, which runs from Feb. 28 to March 5 under the theme “Financing the transition to inclusive green economies in Africa: Imperatives, opportunities, and policy options,” in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Al-Burhan made the remarks when he received the delegation of the AU High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, led by Mohamed Ibn Chambas, in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea state, the sovereign council said in a statement.
“Al-Burhan expressed Sudan’s confidence in the African Union and the solutions it could offer, provided that Sudan deals with the organization as a full member,” the statement said.
Al-Burhan further stressed that the basis of the solution lies in the withdrawal of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the cities and villages they occupied.
For his part, Ibn Chambas stressed the need to stop the conflict and achieve stability for Sudan and its people, according to the statement.
He pointed to the AU high-level panel’s keenness and endeavor to find solutions to the crisis, noting that the panel listened to all Sudanese political forces.
On Jan. 17, the AU announced the formation of a High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan. The panel consists of three African figures, including Ibn Chambas as chairman, besides Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, former vice president of the Republic of Uganda, and Francisco Madeira, former special representative of the chairperson of the Commission to Somalia, as members.
The AU had frozen Sudan’s membership after Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the transitional government which was headed by the then Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since April 15, 2023. More than 13,000 people have been killed since the fighting broke out, according to recent estimates released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The girl, a second-grade primary school student, was assaulted at the end of last week when she was coming back from fetching water.
A resident of the area told IGIHE that the incident happened on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
According to the report, the residents of Kamubuga village in Mubuga sector rushed to the scene after hearing the girl’s screams for help in a small forest, finding the young man in the act.
The Executive Secretary of Kamubuga Sector, Duniya Sa’adi, has told IGIHE that the 20-year-old suspect has been apprehended and handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
The spokesperson for the Ugandan Police in the Kigezi region of southwestern Uganda, Elly Maate, on March 3, 2023, announced that the apprehended officers include Gracious Tusiime, aged 25, and his accomplice Zechariah Ekiyankundire, aged 26.
The spokesperson revealed that on March 1, 2024, a 38-year-old Rwandan national, who had come to Uganda for business at the Katuna border, was targeted.
At that time, it is alleged that the officers demanded a bribe from the Rwandan national.
Maate said, “It is alleged that these two police officers stole 85000 Rwandan Francs from the Rwandan national and used force to compel him to use a different route from the officially designated one for crossing back to Rwanda.”
Maate continued to explain that the Rwandan national initially resisted the demands of the officers but later succumbed to giving money to one of the employees of the Department of Immigration and Emigration on the Ugandan side of the Katuna border.
The employee in question has also been interrogated by his colleague in the Police Traffic and Road Safety Unit at Katuna to ensure further investigation.
The head of the Katuna Police Unit has urged these officers to explain their actions, however, they deny any wrongdoing. He has also informed the Kabale Police of the incident for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Nation reports that the Chief of Police in Kabale, Joseph Bakaleke, together with his colleague in charge of criminal investigations in this region, Hakim Mukama, have been suspended pending an investigation into this case, gathering evidence from eyewitnesses.
Maate also mentioned that until today, these police officers involved in corruption are not yet released while the investigation continues.
The Uganda Police Report shows crimes committed in 2023, indicating that Ugandans have lost billions of Ugandan Shillings and other valuable assets worth billions 1800.
Scheduled from March 4th to 7th, 2023, the meeting brought together GCF Board members to discuss various environmental protection projects.
Rwanda, the first African country to host this meeting, has been actively involved in projects with the GCF aimed at conserving the environment.
The ‘Green Gicumbi Project’ in Gicumbi District is one such initiative, aimed at combating climate change and fostering an eco-friendly economy.
Currently in its fourth year, the project is expected to run for six years with an estimated cost of $32 million.
Another key initiative is the TREPA project, focused on enhancing climate resilience for communities in the Eastern region. With a six-year timeframe, it includes afforestation and agroforestry on over 70,000 hectares, with a budget of $33 million.
By the end of 2023, the GCF had approved an $80 million investment to strengthen Rwanda’s environmental protection efforts.
During the event’s welcoming ceremony, GCF Director Mafalda Duarte commended Rwanda for its efficient utilization of GCF funds for environmental projects.
She highlighted that Rwanda is a good example of Green Climate Fund’s success, considering various projects that provide solutions in environmental protection.
“We are ready to continue working with you and support you in achieving your vision as a country,” said Mafalda Duarte.
Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, expressed gratitude to the GCF for selecting Rwanda as the meeting’s venue and conveyed her hopes for future meetings in Rwanda.
She highlighted the significant benefits Rwanda has experienced since joining the GCF in 2015 and the extensive discussions on environmental protection planned for the meeting.
In 2022, Rwanda launched the ‘Ireme Invest’ fund to support private sector projects aimed at developing an environmentally sustainable economy, which has since received 127 billion Rwandan Francs in investments.
The nationwide electrification is part of initiatives to accelerate the economic growth of the Rwandan people and the country as a whole. Under the seven-year plan, which is set to conclude in July 2024, the goal is to achieve 100% electrification in all households.
{The Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) has announced that over the past three years, the Rwandan Government has invested 1.2 billion US dollars in electricity distribution projects, aiming to reach 900,000 households across the country.} with numerous programs underway in different districts to extend service to those still without.
As he featured in a talk show dubbed “Kubaza Bitera Kumenya” on March 3, 2024, EDCL’s Managing Director, Felix Gakuba, stated that plans are in place at all administrative levels, from the village to the district, to ensure that electricity reaches every citizen soon.
Gakuba emphasized that achieving full electrification is feasible, considering the substantial progress made compared to the remaining tasks. He noted that with the strategies in place and the funds secured, it’s only a matter of time before the remaining households are electrified, especially as no sector lacks an electrification project.
In areas without access to the main grid, solar energy is utilized, with the remaining distances to the existing networks often not exceeding two kilometers. This small gap provides hope that the electrification of all Rwandan households is imminent, supported by the government’s significant investment.
The Rwanda Energy Group (REG) reported that as of January 2024, 21% of electrified households use solar energy, while 55% are connected to the main grid.
The Acting Director General for Energy at MININFRA, Jean Bosco Mugiraneza, announced forthcoming agreements with the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, totaling 400 million dollars, to further electrification efforts.
Dr. Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, the Mayor of Nyaruguru District, highlighted the positive impact of electrification on local development, including extended working hours, improved hygiene and security, and the growth of local industries.
By 2023, REG’s electricity generation capacity reached 383.4 megawatts, up from 276 megawatts in 2022. The financial year ending in June 2023 saw 259,068 households electrified, bringing the total to 2,538,449 across Rwanda.
The 2023/2024 budget for nationwide electrification is set at 193 billion Rwandan Francs, including a 74.3 billion Francs project in collaboration with the World Bank, a 25.1 billion Francs project with the African Development Bank, and an 18.5 billion Francs government program (EARP), along with the construction of the Nyabarongo II Hydropower plant, expected to produce 43.5 megawatts, with a budget of 10.1 billion Francs for the year.
She made the comments on Sunday 3rd March 2024, through a message posted on X. Makolo was responding to African Stream news outlet which ran an article reading that there are Congolese who are wary of him even though he is a popular figure in many African countries.
The article from this media outlet revealed some Congolese voices claiming Rwanda and President Paul Kagame support the M23 rebel group, asserting this as a reason for those who dislike him.
In her response, Yolande Makolo stated that President Kagame is a leader who has achieved much, which is why some Africans see him as a hero.
She mentioned, “What President Kagame has accomplished as a Rwandan and as an African hero speaks for itself and cannot be erased. Together with the RPF, he is an African leader who set out to liberate, rebuild, and defend Rwanda, and this is what he continues to do.”
Makolo further commented, “A new generation of Rwandans inspired & empowered by this leadership continues the work. This is why Africans admire him. We are all Africans.”
She indicated that President Kagame’s achievements should serve as a model for leaders in the DRC.
“DRC leaders should do the same for their country (that’s if they care), stop scapegoating, distracting their people with lies and expecting others to do the work that they should be doing themselves,” she added.
Makolo made the observation amid strained relations between Rwanda and the DRC, with the latter accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which opposes the government due to grievances expressed by Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese citizens.
President Tshisekedi recently addressed those involved in the security crisis in North Kivu, stating that Congo would be satisfied only if Rwanda was sanctioned.
Rwanda, on the other hand, refutes the allegations and argues that instead of addressing its issues, Congo tries to blame others, even to the extent of collaborating with groups like the FDLR, responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwanda demands that the DRC government cease its cooperation with the FDLR, disarm the group, and repatriate its members to Rwanda. Rwanda believes that this is the only way to ensure its security and maintain the unity that Rwandans have worked hard to achieve.
