FDLR is a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Amb. Einat emphasized that Israel’s actions aim to defend its people and eliminate the threat posed by Hamas, comparing it to how other nations act to protect their citizens.
According to her, the Israeli army’s withdrawal from Gaza depends on the resolution of the war and the assurance that Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israel’s security.
Amb. Einat commended Rwanda’s support and encouraged continued international understanding of Israel’s perspective. The situation in Gaza involves significant casualties, but the figures remain unconfirmed by the international community.
Amb. Einat stressed the responsibility of every nation to protect their citizens, particularly when people are displaced from their homes.
She also talked about Israel’s exports to Gaza such as petroleum products that might be stopped because Gaza uses it not for a good call.
However, Amb. Weiss said that Israel has agreed to provide an aid transit route through the Rafah border and is still distributing water and electricity although not as much as before.
The sixth International Conference on Environment, Energy and Development in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, was co-organized by the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the CAS, under the theme of “Sustainable Management of Natural Resources.”
It served as a platform to delve into cutting-edge research and highlight best practices and the most recent technologies designed to preserve the earth’s resources.
“Our world faces unprecedented challenges in maintaining the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation. As we witness the growing impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion, it becomes increasingly imperative for us to come together, share our knowledge and forge innovative solutions,” said Jean Ngamije, vice chancellor of the UNILAK.
Ngamije urged international cooperation to “ensure a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between humanity and the planet.”
Opening the conference, Wang Xuekun, the Chinese ambassador to Rwanda, noted that the build-up of ecological civilization is one of the five key areas of China’s national development and an important element of the Chinese path to modernization.
He also acknowledged Rwanda’s commitment to green and sustainable development.
“Our two countries have cooperated in areas of energy and agriculture to advance Rwanda’s sustainable development. I believe we have more to share and cooperate in this area. Today’s conference is a very good occasion for exchange and further discussion,” he said.
Chen Xi, president of the CAS Xinjiang Branch, said the cooperation between the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography and the UNILAK has enabled training and research projects on climate change and disaster prevention over the last decade.
During the conference, meanwhile, the Rwandan Office of China-Africa Joint Research Center of the CAS was inaugurated to be hosted at the UNILAK.
The Chinese ambassador expressed hope that the office will make an important contribution to Rwanda’s development, China-Rwanda relations, as well as regional academic cooperation.
The call was made by Angela Martins, acting director for social development, culture and sport at the AU Commission, addressing a continental technical experts’ consultation on drug demand reduction, the AU said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“While efforts to combat drug trafficking and supply are undeniably important, we acknowledge that addressing the demand side of the equation is equally critical,” Martins said. “By focusing on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration, we can break the vicious cycle of drug use and dependency, and create healthier and more resilient communities.”
She underscored the significance of dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and cooperation among experts, policymakers, civil society, and stakeholders, recognizing that no single country can effectively tackle the drug menace alone.
Martins also emphasized the need to develop comprehensive strategies that address the root causes and consequences of drug use through collective action and international cooperation.
The consultation on drug demand reduction was strategically formulated to delve into the 2023 Pan-African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use report, which aims to improve health security, and socio-economic well-being of Africans by addressing substance use and treatment.
According to the AU, illicit drug trafficking, substance dependency, and related criminal activities have far-reaching consequences that undermine Africa’s efforts toward the achievement of sustainable peace, security, and prosperity. The number of people who use drugs in Africa has risen exponentially with a corresponding increase in the number of people with drug use disorders and comorbidity, including young people.
It said the growing trend in drug use in Africa is a result of a growing market for drugs including those produced locally, in addition to Africa being a major transit area for trafficked drugs, of which a significant amount remains on the local market.
The RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga said that tendencies of bribery are sometimes reported in traffic related services and warned of severe measures to hold accountable anyone that will be caught in such criminal acts.
He sighted motorists, who attempt to bribe Police officers to prevent being penalised for road traffic violations as well as some Police officers, who are sometimes arrested soliciting bribes.
“Fighting corruption and related vices is given due attention… it’s a zero-tolerance policy. This goes both ways, to the person offering a bribe and a Police officer receiving it,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He observed that offering or soliciting a bribe to prevent any penalties for committed traffic offences, to acquire a driver’s license even when one failed the test, and for the unroadworthy vehicle to be given a roadworthy certificate; it puts the safety of people on the road in great danger, which is unacceptable.
“This is a high impact crime, which goes a long way to affect service delivery, national and institutional values and image. It becomes even worse when such insecurity is caused bya Police officer, who is charged with ensuring the safety of the people on the road,” ACP Rutikanga said.
The 2023 Rwanda Governance Scorecard, 10th edition by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), shows that 94.23 percent of Rwandans are confident and rely on Police services.
ACP Rutikanga urged the public to avoid such criminal behaviours and to report anyone that attempts to offer or solicit a bribe, to build a culture where “integrity is valued and corruption rejected.”
“Fighting corruption and poor service delivery is an individual and collective responsibility. Call 997 (toll-free) or any known Police communication channels, to report a Police officer, who solicits a bribe and the person offering it,” the spokesperson said.
According to article 4 of the Law on Fighting Against Corruption, any person, who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/herself or another person in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate, commits an offense
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years, with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited or received.
ACP Rutikanga said that the RNP established the Inspectorate of Services and Ethics, and the Police Disciplinary Unit to fight corruption and enforce force discipline.
He reiterated the RNP’s commitment to E-policing to digitalize its services to further ensure efficiency service delivery.
Currently, most road traffic related services are processed online, including booking for vehicle mechanical inspection, registering for driving test, paying for a driver’s license and traffic fines, among others.
A delegation from Bella Flowers, Oxfam Rwanda, and Bright Harvest, as well as DUHAMIC-ADRI, a promoter of small farmer cooperatives, is attending the event to enhance the visibility of Rwandan flowers in the market and expand their customer base.
Ms. Janet Basiima, the Division Manager of Export Markets Development & Innovation at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), stated that IFTF 2023 presents an opportunity for Rwanda to establish market connections with international buyers.
“We aim to raise awareness of the ‘Rwanda Fresh’ brand on a global scale, thus increasing the market share of Rwandan flowers worldwide,” she revealed.
Ms. Maria Casimiro, the Marketing Manager of Bella Flowers, mentioned that their participation in IFTF 2023 is geared towards reaching out to new clients from various regions, particularly European and Asian countries.
“We aspire to engage with new buyers from Europe, as well as expressing interest in Japan and Korea,” she noted.
On the other hand, Mr. Janvier Ugeziwe, a representative from DUHAMIC-ADRI focusing on small-scale summer flowers, expressed that their involvement in IFTF 2023 will provide them with the opportunity to gain insights into increasing production and accessing markets for summer flowers and replicate this in Rwanda.
Ann Karemera, the Managing Director of Bright Harvest Company, also revealed that her company chose to participate with the goal of showcasing their flower varieties.
She emphasized that the exhibition holds promise in enhancing the international visibility of Rwandan flowers by facilitating interactions with buyers to understand market trends and dynamics in the floriculture value chain.
Godfrey Gakwandi from Oxfam stated that the organization’s support for flower exporters’ participation is aimed at increasing the visibility of Rwanda’s quality flowers and, more importantly, facilitating sustainable market linkages for Rwanda’s industry worldwide.
He expressed gratitude to the European Union (EU) for supporting Rwanda’s floriculture industry through the “sustainable livelihoods in horticulture value chains project,” which financed this year’s participation.
Rwanda’s stand showcases various varieties of roses and summer flowers.
According to Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s stand was exceptionally popular on the first day, with many visitors flocking to see the wide array of flowers.
Amb. Nduhungirehe is optimistic that Rwanda’s representation at the trade fair in will significantly boost sales of Rwandan flowers through diversified markets.
“We firmly believe that the floriculture industry, which we embarked on less than a decade ago, will continue to flourish. As we grow, the demand for flowers is increasing, making it vital to expand our business, especially as we are still importing seeds from other countries. It’s crucial for the government to establish research mechanisms to develop our seed production, facilitating growth and self-sufficiency,” he stated.
“We anticipate more visitors to our booth, and we hope that following this expo, the government and the private sector can collaborate to strategize and further enhance our business,” added Amb. Nduhungirehe.
More than 120 nationalities are represented at the exhibition.
NAEB’s figures on Rwandan floriculture indicate that a total of 23,678,585 stems of rose flowers and 8,881,404 stems of summer flowers were exported during the financial year 2022-2023 and generated US$4,535,223.
A significant 98% of Rwandan flowers are primarily sold to the Netherlands, with potential markets emerging in Australia and the United Kingdom.
In an era marked by growing awareness of environmental sustainability and the importance of supporting local economies, the concept of local sourcing has gained significant traction especially in the manufacturing industry.
Bralirwa Plc, part of Heineken company, has set local sourcing as a core principle that guides their operations and shapes their commitment to creating a positive social economic impact in the community.
In 2019, the company introduced Barley as a new cash crop in Rwanda which is used as one of the raw materials for malt, a key ingredient in beer manufacturing. Barley was previously sourced from Europe but today there is an increase of locally sourced barley.
“Introducing a new cash crop required a process of seed multiplication and a series of variety trials which would not have possible without the support and partnership of key stakeholders such as the Rwanda Agricultural Board and Farmers’ Associations,” said Samuel Murumu, Supply Chain Director at Bralirwa.
Farmers are regularly trained on comprehensive modern agricultural practices for barley cultivation which includes technical guidance on land preparation, planting, irrigation, pest and disease management as well as access to mechanized harvesting techniques to ensure a consistent compliance to quality yield.
Over 2000 farmers are engaged in barley farming as an alternative rotational crop, which boosts the yield of staple crops such as Irish potatoes. Many farmers testify to the benefits of crop rotation and to the ready market that is guaranteed by Bralirwa.
“I was introduced to Barley farming in planting season B of 2020. By then I involved in Irish potato farming on a land of 6 hectares and was always afraid to find alternative crops for crop rotation because I was not sure of the profitability and as a result my yield was always low” said Nkurunziza a 44-year-old farmer in Musanze.
“Barley farming changed my life, and I was able to progress due to the training I received, the support and the guaranteed market. I now do farming on 18 hectares of land, and I am able to provide school fees and other basic needs for my eight children” he added. Nkurunziza also testified how he was able to move from category 2 to category 3 of Rwandan wealth ranking system (ubudehe) in the past two years.
During the forthcoming planting season, Bralirwa is preparing to significantly boost its local barley growing program in an effort to upscale its local sourcing efforts through partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure consistent production standards whilst supporting sustainable growth and social impact in the community.
“Our commitment to local sourcing remains unwavering due to its social impact to the community and contribution to environmental sustainability through reduction of carbon emission that stems from transportation,” said Samuel Murumu. “We are exploring different innovative approaches to scale-up our efforts in a sustainable manner in order to avoid business risks to both the farmers and the business,” he added.
Bralirwa’s local sourcing program also extends to maize farming hence benefiting from government incentives for use of local raw materials to boost the agricultural sector.
These interactions with Dr. Biruta took place on Tuesday 7th November 2023 during his visit to the Netherlands, where he was invited by his counterpart, Hanke Gerdina Johannette Bruins Slot, with whom he held discussions.
Dr. Biruta also held meetings with envoys from various African countries based in the Netherlands to explore avenues for cooperation and integration of the African continent. They also discussed strategies for safeguarding Africa’s interests in The Hague City.
While addressing the Rwandan community in the Netherlands, Dr. Biruta provided an overview of Rwanda’s progress and the preparations for the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2024.
Claude Ndabarasa, the President of the Rwandan Community in the Netherlands, briefed Minister Biruta on the diverse activities undertaken by Rwandans in the country, such as celebrating national events, contributing to the embassy’s initiatives, and making investments in Rwanda.
He also touched upon their philanthropic efforts to aid Rwandans affected by disasters, especially in May 2023 when the country experienced devastating landslides that claimed the lives of 135 people.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Olivier Patrick Nduhungirehe, told IGIHE that Dr. Biruta emphasized the importance of Rwandans in the country continuing their role in nation-building.
He disclosed that Minister Biruta presented a comprehensive view of the country’s progress and the regional political landscape, emphasizing the need for Rwandans to contribute to national development.
These discussions provided an opportunity for Rwandans to ask questions and share their thoughts on various national programs of interest.
During his visit, Minister Biruta also engaged with officials from the Netherlands, including those from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, and the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
This visit marked a significant milestone as it was the first of its kind since Dr. Biruta assumed the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in November 2019. It also represented the first visit by a Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister to the Netherlands since the Rwanda Day gathering held in the country in 2015.
The latter is owned by the Norrsken Foundation, a Swedish non-profit organization that supports and invests in entrepreneurs addressing global challenges, including poverty, famine, environmental issues, mental health, and discrimination.
Norrsken East Africa is situated on the former Ecole Belge premises in Kigali. By bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives, and corporate entities, Norrsken aims to foster business growth and networking opportunities for East Africa’s leading startups.
The inauguration ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, was attended by dignitaries, including the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire Musoni, Co-founder and CEO of Norrsken, Niklas Adalberth, and the Managing Director of Norrsken Kigali House, Pascal Murasira.
Commencing operations in 2021, Norrsken Kigali House presently offers co-working space for 1,200 young entrepreneurs with innovative tech startups. The hub has generated a remarkable $45 million in just two years.
The inauguration coincided with ‘Norrsken Africa Week 2023,’ an event aimed at accelerating Africa’s growing tech and startup ecosystem. Hosted at Norrsken House Kigali, the two-day event will focus on opportunities for investors and startups on the continent.
Pascal Murasira, the Managing Director of Norrsken House Kigali, highlighted the comprehensive support provided to entrepreneurs by Norrsken Kigali House, including cutting-edge infrastructure, networking opportunities, and facilitating initial investments. The hub has emerged as a catalyst, showcasing local startups to an international audience of investors, and it embodies an ecological consciousness in both its aesthetics and functionality.
State-of-the-art connectivity ensures users seamless access to technological resources, making it an ideal space for entrepreneurs to thrive.
Niklas Adalberth expressed his gratitude to President Kagame and the Rwandan government for their support in establishing Norrsken in the country. Norrsken’s total investment in Rwanda amounts to $20 million, part of a broader commitment of $250 million dedicated to Africa.
During his address, President Kagame invited investors to see Africa as a land of rich opportunities and untapped potential. He emphasized the importance of valuing not only the market but also the dynamic populations and societies of the continent, aligning with the vision of making Kigali an indispensable technological hub in Africa.
With the construction of a new facility, Norrsken Kigali House reaffirms its expansion ambitions.
This upcoming building, estimated at Rwf7 billion, commits to maintaining the organization’s environmental focus, with 30% of its area dedicated to greenery.
Emmanuel Rwibasira, the managing director of Rwandan agribusiness company Rusango Real, told Xinhua in a recent interview in the capital of Kigali that Rwandan exhibitors are showcasing their products on a wider platform with potential market expansion, “which is why the expo is important.”
The company grows chili on 360 hectares of land in different parts of Rwanda, with plans to increase the planting area next season. “We are expanding our farms and putting more effort into increasing chili production by working with our partner farmers. We are set to increase production with our sights set on exporting to the China market,” he said.
As the world’s first import-themed national-level expo, the sixth CIIE kicked off on Sunday in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai, attracting participants and guests from 154 countries, regions and international organizations.
Rwibasira pointed out that the expo offers Rwandan farmers the opportunity to tap into the vast Chinese market for their chili exports, and also provides an excellent platform for showcasing products from developing countries to the world.
Rwibasira said the company wants people to know that Rwandan chili is unique with good taste because they do not use chemical fertilizers. “We use organic fertilizers, which give our chili a good taste.”
More than a dozen Rwandan exhibitors from various companies are participating in this year’s CIIE. They are showcasing a variety of Rwandan products, including coffee, tea, chili, and honey.
Rwanda and China signed a protocol in 2021 on the export of dried chili to facilitate bilateral trade.
The statement was made by the AU Peace and Security Council in a communique issued following its recent meeting on counter-terrorism in Africa.
“The council notes with deep concern sustained financing of terrorism activities, particularly the growing linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, illicit exploitation and trade of mineral and natural resource, as well as illicit financial flows with debilitating impact on the national economies of the member states,” the communique read.
It further expressed concern over the growing threat to peace, security and stability in Africa posed by the spread of terrorism and violent extremism throughout the continent, which is undermining the AU’s efforts to silence the guns in Africa by 2030.
It said peace and security threats in Africa are derailing the progress toward the realization of the aspirations of Africa’s development blueprint Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The council also “condemned in the strongest terms all acts of terrorism and violent extremism committed in the continent by whomsoever, wherever, which cannot be justified under whatever circumstances.”
It reiterated the determination of the AU to rid Africa of terrorism and violent extremism. It further called on all member states to refrain from inciting, instigating, organizing, facilitating, participating in financing or encouraging terrorist activities.
The council encouraged AU member countries to take necessary measures to ensure that their respective territories are not used as terrorist sanctuaries.
