The Libyan Foreign Ministry on Thursday demanded actions by Swedish authorities against the burning of the Muslim holy book Quran by protesters in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
“The State of Libya condemns the burning of a copy of the holy Quran by an extremist outside the central mosque in Sweden’s Stockholm after the prayer of Eid Al-Adha holiday,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Such acts clearly contradict international efforts to spread tolerance and moderation and denounce extremism,” it said, demanding clear actions by Swedish authorities against those who commit such acts.
On Wednesday, a person, reportedly an Iraqi immigrant living in Sweden, burned a copy of the Quran outside the central mosque of Stockholm.
In similar incidents in January, Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Danish far-right political party Hard Line, burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, and repeated the move in front of a mosque in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen a week later.
The study, titled the Rwanda National STEPs survey 2022, was unveiled on Friday 30th June 2023.
It aimed to assess the distribution of lifestyle factors, dietary practices, and various health measurements among adults aged 18-69 years. These findings offer valuable information that will assist in strengthening NCD prevention and control initiatives in the country.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the WHO, these diseases account for a staggering 71% of global deaths, with a significant portion occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Rwanda, like many LMICs, faces the challenge of addressing NCD risk factors to reduce the burden of these diseases on its population.
{{Methodology and objectives}}
The Rwanda National STEPs survey 2022 utilized the WHO STEPwise Approach (STEPS) to gather comprehensive information on NCD risk factors, injuries, and oral health. The study included a representative sample of 5,776 randomly selected participants across the country. Its specific objectives were to assess the distribution of lifestyle factors, identify dietary practices contributing to NCDs, determine the prevalence of various health conditions, and provide reliable information for planning and evaluating public health initiatives.
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The survey revealed that 7% of Rwandans currently use tobacco products, with a higher prevalence among men (10.4%) compared to women (3.7%). Additionally, 48.1% of Rwandans consume alcohol, with higher rates among males (61.9%) than females (34.3%). A concerning statistic is that only 11.5% of women have ever been screened for cervical cancer.
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The study indicated that Rwandans consume fruits on average 1.8 days a week and vegetables on 4.2 days a week, falling significantly short of the WHO’s recommendation of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Additionally, a notable percentage (8.8%) of Rwandans regularly add salt to their food, and 2.8% consume processed foods high in salt.
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Approximately 4.6% of Rwandans do not engage in the WHO-recommended amount of physical activity. Work-related activities constituted 61.5% of total physical activity, while transport-related and recreation-related activities accounted for 31.1% and 7.4%, respectively.
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The study found that 18.6% of Rwandans are overweight or obese, with a higher prevalence among women (26%) than men (11.5%). Obesity was observed in 4.3% of respondents, with a higher prevalence among females (7.4%) compared to males (1.3%). Additionally, there were notable gaps in the detection and management of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels.
{{Combined NCD risk factors}}
Only 6% of Rwandans were found to have none of the major risk factors for NCDs. Among individuals aged 18-44 years, 5.4% had three or more risk factors, while among those aged 45-69 years, the percentage rose to 12.8%. Overall, 7.1% of individuals aged 18-69 years had three or more risk factors.
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Rwanda has made significant efforts to combat communicable diseases through public awareness campaigns and strategic planning. The country’s health sector has implemented campaigns to educate the public about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
These initiatives aim to promote healthy lifestyles, early detection, and treatment of NCDs, thereby reducing the burden on the healthcare system.
Rwanda’s National Strategy and Costed Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, covering the period from 2020 to 2025, emphasizes NCD prevention through health promotion and the reduction of risk factors.
This includes addressing unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, indoor pollution, occupational exposure to carcinogens, and infections leading to NCDs.
The strategy recognizes the importance of health literacy to enable individuals to make informed and healthy choices, as many of these risk factors can have an impact from childhood and even during the intrauterine period.
Speaking at the unveiling of the survey today, Dr. Theopista John Kabuteni, Health Systems and Policy Advisor at WHO Rwanda, emphasized the progress made compared to the previous survey in 2013. However, she stressed the importance of not becoming complacent and using this progress as an excuse to overlook the work that still needs to be done.
“We have observed significant progress compared to the previous survey in 2013. Nevertheless, there remains a considerable amount of work ahead, and it is crucial that we integrate these factors into our routine systems. We should not solely rely on large-scale surveys that require substantial resources and effort. Our primary focus should be on creating community awareness, establishing partnerships, and allocating resources to ensure the implementation of all recommendations,” Dr. Kabuteni noted.
Mr. Marc Hagenimana, Director of the Cancer Unit at RBC, reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to enhancing cancer screening technology, raising awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and conducting impactful campaigns to reach a wider population.
“Our ultimate goal is to strengthen the human resources necessary for effective cancer management and achieve comprehensive cancer control,” he stated.
The Botanical Garden in Victoria is a renowned destination that houses 280 tree species and attracts many visitors to Seychelles. President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame were honored guests at the National Day event, which they attended following their arrival in the country on the 28th of June.
During their visit, both heads of state held a productive closed-door meeting and witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in various areas of mutual benefit, including tourism, security and defense, health, and agriculture.
One of the significant agreements reached was the signing of an MoU between the two countries, facilitating visa exemption for their citizens. President Ramkalawan commended President Kagame for his exemplary leadership, which he believes showcases the presence of great leaders in Africa.
Both leaders reiterated their commitment to continue working together, fostering stronger collaborations for the benefit of their respective countries. They emphasized their shared vision and highlighted their membership in major international organizations such as La Francophonie and the Commonwealth.
Seychelles’ National Day, also known as Independence Day, is observed as a public holiday on June 29th. This day marks the country’s independence from Britain in 1976. Previously, until 2015, the National Day was celebrated on Constitution Day, commemorating the adoption of the new constitution on June 18th, 1993.
The history of Seychelles dates back to Vasco da Gama’s charting of the islands in 1503, when he named them the Admiral Islands. Over the next 150 years, various European nations vied for control of the islands due to their strategic location in the Indian Ocean.
In 1754, at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War, the French established a colony on the main island, Mahé. However, in April 1811, the British took control of Seychelles after gaining control of other French colonies in the region. Despite becoming a British Crown Colony in 1903, Seychelles maintained its French identity in terms of language and culture.
The movement for independence gained momentum during the Second World War but reached its peak in the 1960s. After elections in 1974, during which both political parties campaigned for independence, Seychelles negotiated an agreement with the British.
This agreement led to Seychelles becoming an independent republic within the Commonwealth on June 29th, 1976. Every year, Independence Day serves as a significant milestone in the country’s history, commemorating its journey towards self-determination.
On Thursday, June 29, Sunak expressed his strong disagreement with the court’s decision, asserting that the Rwandan government has provided sufficient assurances to guarantee the safety of relocated asylum seekers.
He also emphasized that the High Court had previously deemed the deportation agreement lawful and that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has established a refugee scheme for Libyan refugees in Rwanda.
Sunak further announced the government’s intention to appeal the Court of Appeal’s ruling at the Supreme Court, stating that he will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the partnership with Rwanda proceeds as planned.
He argued that it is the responsibility of the UK government, not criminal organizations, to determine who enters the country. The original agreement was designed to facilitate the transfer of migrants and asylum seekers who are residing illegally in the UK to Rwanda.
The initiative was hailed as a groundbreaking effort aimed at promoting the dignity and empowerment of migrants.
While acknowledging that the final decision rests with the UK’s judicial system, Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government, expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling regarding Rwanda’s safety for asylum seekers and refugees.
Makolo emphasized that Rwanda has made significant contributions in addressing the global migration crisis and has created a secure and dignified environment for migrants and refugees, where they enjoy equal rights and opportunities. She reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to making the partnership work.
The graduation ceremony was presided over by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga on behalf of the RDF Commander- in- Chief, President Paul Kagame.
In his remarks, the CDS commended the graduates for their important achievement, commitment and discipline and encouraged them to keep the spirit.
He also appreciated the leadership of the training centre including instructors who worked tirelessly to shape students’ skills and capabilities to produce effective leaders for the RDF and the country.
Maj Cyrile Cyubahiro the overall best student of the training said that the knowledge acquired will help them to fulfil their responsibilities in RDF and the country in general.
Advanced Infantry Training is designed to improve skills of ordinary infantry to enable them effectively perform infantry tasks while fulfilling RDF missions.
The workshop organized under the auspices of the Dallaire Institute, the African Centre of Excellence for Children, Peace and Security, and Rwanda National Police (RNP); was held at the Centre of Excellence on Gender-Based Violence and Child Abuse.
The objective of the workshop was to enhance the participants’ effectiveness in carrying out their duties, with a particular focus on the unique and essential roles they play in protecting and upholding the rights of children, especially those coerced into violence and atrocities as child soldiers.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza said that the workshop was important to prepare participants to play a critical role in preventing and addressing child rights violations and responding to the needs of survivors.
Reflecting on Rwanda’s experience, DIGP Ujeneza noted that the country has been at the forefront of championing both the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians and the Vancouver Principles on UN peacekeeping, and the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in armed violence.
The Kigali Principles on Protection of Civilians comprise a non-binding set of eighteen pledges for the effective and thorough implementation of the protection of civilians in UN peacekeeping.
On the other hand, the Vancouver Principles consist of a set of political commitments in peacekeeping endorsed by member states regarding the prevention of recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed forces and armed groups.
“We are aware of how children and women are the most vulnerable in any situation of conflict. Therefore, as women in uniform and peacekeepers, we need to identify and understand the vulnerabilities of children and young people especially girls, to counteract any push factors that may expose them to any forms of violations such as human trafficking, sexual violence, child labour, child soldiers, indoctrination by terrorist groups and participation in transnational crimes and criminal gangs,” DIGP Ujeneza said.
She further urged female officers to be proactive in responding to calamities affecting children, emphasizing that protecting children is crucial for achieving sustainable peace and security in their countries.
“As conflict and wars persist, these create a window of opportunity for children to participate and become victims of these crimes. We can’t continue to sit and watch this happening. Counteracting this requires a holistic approach but it all starts with each one of us being aware of the issue and aiming to become a change-maker in their society, starting from our families and communities,” added DIGP Ujeneza.
However, this situation has changed as Rwandans have now mastered the culinary profession to such an extent that they can compete at the international level.
One outstanding Rwandan chef who has garnered extensive experience is Eric Kanyemera. With a background working in international hotels and completing various culinary courses, Kanyemera has been dedicated to his craft for the past ten years. His passion for cooking stemmed from his childhood, where he often found joy in preparing meals for his siblings as the eldest in the family.
Although Kanyemera loved cooking, he initially never envisioned it as a lifelong career. Like many children, he pursued his education with dreams of becoming a doctor or a pilot. When he was about to study technology at IPRC Tumba in 2013, he recognized the challenges of securing a stable career in that field. This realization prompted him to switch gears and pursue culinary studies at UTB, seeing it as a profession with promising prospects.
Consequently, he earned a second degree, which proved to be the gateway to his current success.
While starting his culinary courses, Kanyemera actively sought opportunities to immerse himself in the profession. In 2013, he joined the kitchen staff at Bourbon Coffee, later expanding his knowledge by working at Sports View Hotel and Kigali Serena Hotel. As Rwanda began attracting international investors in the hotel industry, Kanyemera saw this as an opportunity and went on to work at esteemed establishments such as Kigali Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu, and Kigali Convention Centre as one of the chefs.
In 2018, Kanyemera’s expertise led him to become the head of the kitchen at Bisate Lodge. Within a year, he assumed the same position at Magashi Lodge.
His talent and dedication were further recognized when Rwanda hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). During this event, Kanyemera had the opportunity to showcase his skills at M Hotel, which eventually led to an invitation to Europe, providing him with a unique opportunity to fulfill his dream of gaining international exposure.
“I had that opportunity and I grabbed it,” Kanyemera has told IGIHE. “I went to the United Kingdom as the head chef of theThe Inn Hotel Jersey, and I also took the opportunity to pursue specialized culinary courses that were not readily available in Rwanda.”
His pursuit of knowledge led him to acquire certifications in vegan cooking, UK cooking gastronomy technician, and level 3 certificate of supervising food safety.
Despite the allure of international success, Kanyemera never forgot his roots. “I have my family here, and I feel it’s my responsibility to help and contribute to the growth of this industry in our country,” he says passionately. Eager to share his expertise and experiences with his fellow Rwandan chefs, Kanyemera returned to his homeland.
As he takes the helm as the executive chef at Mythos Boutique Hotel’s Atmosphere Restaurant , Kanyemera’s vision for the culinary experience is clear.
He aims to create a dining atmosphere that surpasses expectations and delights guests. “I always try to create something like a fusion,” he explains. “I prefer using local ingredients whenever possible to ensure authenticity and availability.”
Kanyemera’s commitment to innovation and guest satisfaction is reflected in his approach to menu creation. Understanding the importance of freshness and novelty, he plans to change the menu every few months, ensuring that guests always have something new and exciting to experience.
Besides, Kanyemera emphasizes the significance of teamwork and leadership in the culinary world. “You can’t be a great chef if you don’t have a great team,” he states firmly. Recognizing that the success of a kitchen lies not only in cooking skills but also in collaboration and communication, Kanyemera aims to foster an environment where his team can thrive.
Kanyemera’s dedication and passion for his craft have brought him incredible opportunities and recognition. He vividly recalls the moment when he had the privilege of cooking for the President of Rwanda during a visit to Akagera National Park. “It was one of the biggest achievements I ever had in this career,” he proudly states. “Hard work always pays off.”
As he continues to explore his culinary repertoire, Kanyemera has developed a particular affinity for Italian cuisine. “Italian dishes are one of my favorites,” he reveals. “I enjoy creating a fusion by incorporating local ingredients that can easily be found in Rwanda.”
With Kanyemera at the helm, Mythos Boutique Hotel can expect a culinary experience that combines passion, innovation, and the flavors of Rwanda. As a chef who has honed his skills both locally and internationally, Kanyemera is poised to elevate the dining experience and leave a lasting impression on guests.
In a statement released by the spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, the government expressed its concerns over the characterization of Rwanda as an unsafe country for asylum seekers.
The statement emphasized that Rwanda is one of the safest nations globally and has been recognized by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other international institutions for its exemplary treatment of refugees.
The ruling by the Court of Appeal comes after a previous High Court decision in December 2022, which deemed the UK’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as lawful and in line with the refugee convention.
The plan, known as the “Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” was established in April 2022 to facilitate the transfer of migrants and asylum seekers who are illegally present in the UK to Rwanda.
The initial timeline for the first migrants to arrive in Rwanda was set for July 2022, but this was delayed due to a complaint filed by organizations advocating for migrants’ rights. The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and made the recent ruling.
The court’s decision contradicts the position of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who have consistently defended the deportation plan, highlighting Rwanda’s successful management of refugee and migrant crises. Rwanda’s government has reiterated its commitment to finding a solution to the global migration crisis, emphasizing its contribution in dealing with its impacts.
The statement from Rwanda emphasized that the country has created a safe, secure, and dignified environment where migrants and refugees have equal rights and opportunities. The government pledged to welcome and support migrants relocated to Rwanda under the partnership, stating that they will be provided with the necessary assistance to build new lives in the country.
Rwanda has expressed its commitment to making the partnership work despite the ruling, highlighting the failures of the global migration system and the detrimental impact it has on vulnerable individuals, while also empowering criminal smuggling gangs.
The government remains dedicated to protecting and supporting those in need, ensuring their rights and welfare are respected.
