The attack took place early Wednesday in Makate village located in Laramanaye, a sub-prefecture of the region, said Djimet Blama Souck, sub-prefect of Laramanaye.
“Nine dead were identified immediately, while three others, unfortunately, succumbed to their injuries. Security forces managed to capture eight attackers, while six bandits were killed in the clash,” Souck told reporters.
According to him, this “despicable” crime may have been committed by armed road robbers.
Local media said the attackers do not appear to be Chadian. Logone Oriental Region borders Cameroon and the Central African Republic.
Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, Chadian transitional president, who is on a nationwide tour of the country, said he was saddened by the news.
“I want to sincerely extend my condolence to families of victims and also congratulate security forces who succeeded to neutralize and arrest these bandits before they crossed the border,” Itno said while addressing a crowd during a rally in the Massenya locality of the country.
The situation is calm, but villagers remain in shock, officials said.
Uwanjye, who is competing against 15 other talented girls, firmly asserts that the contest serves as a platform to showcase the rich African culture and promote tourism.
With great aspirations of emerging victorious, she confidently expressed, “This contest aims to shine a spotlight on our diverse cultures and enchanting tourist attractions. I joined this event with the hope of securing the win.”
Apart from her participation in the beauty pageant, Uwanjye also excels as a model, garnering attention and acclaim in the industry. Her remarkable achievements in the field of fashion have been featured on the cover of a renowned fashion journal, Model Guide.
Besides, Uwanjye is no stranger to the world of acting, having ventured into the career in 2022 with her debut in “O Preço Da Tradição,” which translates to ‘The Cost of Dishonesty’. She shared that her passion for these artistic pursuits dates back to her childhood, and she continues to nurture them with unwavering dedication.
As the second eldest among five siblings, Uwanjye received her primary education at Remera Catholique I & II. She later pursued her Ordinary Level studies at St. Joseph Kabgayi before completing her upper secondary education at GS Karambi. In 2016, she relocated to Mozambique with her family, where she also enrolled in university.
The winner of Miss Africa Unite Mozambique will have the honor of representing the country in the forthcoming Miss Africa Unite 2023 pageant.
Uwanjye stands in a promising position, leading the public voting with an impressive count of 2432 votes. Her growing popularity and support from the public bode well for her chances of success in this prestigious competition.
He was found by the roadside along the route from Rusizi town to Bugarama Sector.
At the time, CIP Mucyo Rukundo, the Police Spokesperson in the Western Province, said that the officer was killed after his working hours.
Following the death of Police Constable Sibomana, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), in collaboration with the Rwanda National Police (RNP), apprehended three suspects believed to be connected to the murder.
Dr. Murangira B. Thierry, the Spokesperson of RIB has confirmed to IGIHE that the three individuals are currently in custody on suspicion of their involvement in Sibomana’s murder.
“The policeman who worked at Rusizi police station was killed over violence related to drunkenness. RIB would like to remind everyone that taking a person’s life is a heinous crime punishable under Rwanda’s laws. Those found guilty of such acts will face the law,” he said.
The suspects are detained at Remera RIB Station while their files are being processed to be transferred to the Prosecution.
The article 107 of the Law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties stipulates that a person who willfully kills another commits a crime and is liable to life sentence upon conviction.
According to AFP, Biselele’s lawyer, Richard Bondo, addressed journalists on Tuesday and expressed concern about Biselele’s deteriorating health due to a “tear” in his right arm. Bondo stated that Biselele is accused of treason, an offense punishable by death, for allegedly colluding with Rwanda’s intelligence.
Biselele is scheduled to appear before the High Court of Kinshasa Gombe on May 19 to face accusations of treason related to his alleged connections with Rwanda. The charges against him stem from an interview in which he discussed economic cooperation between President Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Kagame.
At the beginning of Tshisekedi’s term in 2019, relations between the DRC and Rwanda seemed to be normalizing. However, these relations have deteriorated following the resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23) in late 2021 when M23 took up arms against the Congolese Army (FARDC).
DRC has been accusing Rwanda of supporting the rebels, while Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations and instead blamed the DRC for collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Bondo claimed that Biselele was removed from a military hospital on May 13 by order of the Minister of Justice, just a few days after being admitted. Bondo argued that their client is a political prisoner and called for the intervention of the head of state.
“We request the President of the Republic, who has the power to regulate matters concerning the prison regime of detainees, to make a decision for the release of our client to receive medical treatment,” Bondo stated. “Our intention is not to influence the decision of the judiciary, but to ensure the respect of his rights.”
This case highlights the current state of Congolese justice and the urgent need for the separation of powers and the protection of detainees’ rights.
Nelly Mukazayire, deputy chief executive officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), made the announcement during a CIIE promotion conference held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, Wednesday.
Mukazayire emphasized that the CIIE presents an excellent platform for raising brand recognition for Rwandan products and attracting Chinese investors. “This year marks Rwanda’s sixth participation in the CIIE, and the continuous involvement has significantly increased awareness of Rwandan products in the Chinese market,” she said.
Mukazayire highlighted Rwanda’s active trade partnership with China, citing exports primarily composed of minerals, coffee, and chili.
According to her, the expo enables Rwandan companies to explore additional products that might arouse the interest of the Chinese market, beyond the traditional exports of tea and coffee.
Mukazayire pointed out that China ranked first in terms of investments registered with the RDB in 2022, with 49 projects involving investments amounting to 182.4 million U.S. dollars.
Song Shangzhe, visiting deputy director general of the China International Import Expo Bureau, expressed China’s sincere desire to share its market with Rwanda and the world through the CIIE. He underscored the positive impact of the CIIE on China-Rwanda economic and trade cooperation, facilitating Rwandan enterprises’ access to the vast Chinese market.
“To support Rwandan and African participants, particularly least developed countries (LDCs), CIIE offers various policies and incentives such as a certain number of free standard booths, construction subsidies, and preferential tax policies for the retention and purchase of exhibits,” said Song.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun emphasized that the CIIE is not merely a week-long exhibition but also an economic forum where dignitaries, international officials, and scholars gather to discuss economic cooperation.
“Bilateral trade between China and Rwanda has seen consistent and rapid growth in recent years, reaching a record high of over 477 million U.S. dollars in 2022, an increase of 31.2 percent,” he said.
Wang said that the CIIE serves as a platform to attract investments from China and other countries, offering opportunities for knowledge exchange and improving output and supply chain management for Rwandan counterparts, while welcoming Rwandan enterprises to participate in the CIIE and assuring the Chinese Embassy’s commitment to facilitating their involvement.
The preparations for the event are progressing as scheduled, and the 6th CIIE is set to take place from Nov. 5 to 10. The contracted Business Exhibition area has exceeded 260,000 square meters, covering sectors including food and agricultural products, automobiles, intelligent industries and information technology, consumer goods, medical equipment and healthcare products, and trade-in services, according to organizers.
Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat was in Rwanda to participate in the National Security Symposium, a gathering of experts focused on discussing practical solutions to security challenges in Africa.
The symposium, organized by the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in collaboration with the University of Rwanda (UR), commenced on Wednesday.
The ongoing conflict between the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group is among key security challenges facing the region.
The African Union had assigned Angola as the mediator, but the process has faced setbacks due to the Congolese government’s decision to pursue a military option instead of peaceful dialogues, despite recommendations for the latter.
Before his visit to Rwanda, Moussa Faki Mahamat also attended a summit in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, two weeks ago.
The summit aimed to address security problems in the region and emphasized the need to strengthen existing mechanisms to find a lasting solution for peace in eastern Congo.
“Thus, there is a chance, not in words but in deeds, to help ensure global food security,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing.
“Our fundamental assessment of the 2022 Istanbul agreement has not changed and the discrepancies in its implementation must be corrected as quickly as possible,” she said.
In July 2022, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Türkiye and the United Nations on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Ukraine crisis.
The initial 120-day agreement was extended by another 120 days in November 2022 and then by 60 days in March 2023.
The ceremony to award certificates was held on Tuesday, May 16, at the Prime Minister’s offices in the capital Bangui.
It was also attended by other high profile government and UN officials in CAR.
The recognized unit is part of the Rwanda PSU-7 contingent, which has concluded it’s one year tour-of-duty under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA).
The Prime Minister thanked the government of Rwanda for its “willingness to help Central African Republic in its reconstruction process.”
He appreciated the Rwanda PSU-7 for their dedication and sacrifice to ensure security in CAR and particularly ensuring his safety.
” You have always been there for me over the last 12 months; you have been with me in all my travels. I am grateful to you,” PM Moloua said as he wished them safe return back to their families.
The PSU-7 contingent commander, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Vincent B. Habintwari, thanked the Prime Minister for the support and encouragement to successfully accomplish their mandate.
He also thanked the CAR security forces for the “friendly collaboration.”
“The good collaboration and support facilitated us to accomplish our mission. Thank you,” CSP Habintwari said.
CSP Habintwari was last month named by MINUSCA as the ‘Best Contingent Commander.’
The recognition was attributed to the “good performance based on discipline, availability, commitment and professionalism” that characterized his contingent since its deployment in the mission area on May 20, last year.
MINUSCA defined him as a “very committed and available senior officer, who has been able to maintain order and discipline within his unit.”
The Rwanda Protection Support Unit is largely charged with ensuring protection for high profile government and UN officials, including the Prime Minister, President of National Assembly, Minister of State in charge of Justice, and MINUSCA Head of Police component.
Youssef Izzat al-Mahri, the political advisor to the RSF, said they are willing to implement the cease-fire agreed upon on May 11 with the SAF in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“We welcome South Sudan; we know President Salva Kiir has more understanding of the crisis in Sudan in general, and he has a role to play to stop the war. We welcome the contribution of South Sudan in stopping the fighting and attaining peace in Sudan,” Izzat said during a press conference held in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Despite the two warring factions signing the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid and guarantee the safe evacuation of civilians, heavy fighting as well as air and artillery bombardment continue in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.
“We have agreed on a cease-fire to end the conflict that has now taken a month and two days; as RSF, we have to play a role in implementing the signed cease-fire and the beginning of the political process,” Izzat said.
He denied accusations that the RSF was using civilians as human shields in ongoing fierce fighting with the Sudanese military since April 15, adding that the RSF has been protecting foreign embassies and assisting civilians exiting Khartoum.
Izzat called on Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the SAF, to respect the cease-fire that was initiated recently by the two sides with mediation from Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Deng Dau Deng, South Sudan’s acting minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said Wednesday that Kiir called upon both parties to respect the cease-fire deal.
He said Sudan’s neighbors like South Sudan, Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, and Libya are currently grappling with the huge refugee influx across their borders.
“We are the neighboring countries to Sudan, and he (Kiir) talked on their behalf to give this appeal to the representative of the RSF, and also he has been communicating with Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan,” Deng said.
He added that they also discussed the opening of humanitarian corridors, particularly the hospitals and water points.
Sudan has witnessed deadly armed clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.
According to the court ruling, Sarkozy will only need to serve one year of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, and his civil rights will be deprived for three years.
Right after the ruling, Sarkozy’s legal team announced that they would continue to appeal at the highest court.
Sarkozy served as French President from 2007 to 2012. He was sentenced in March 2021 to three years in prison for corruption and influence peddling. It was the first time that a former president has been convicted of corruption and sentenced to prison in France.
He was convicted of attempting to bribe, through his then-lawyer, a magistrate with a job offer in Monaco for information about an investigation of his 2007 presidential campaign.
