The symposium brought together academicians, government officials, diplomats and subject matter experts including Generals and Senior Military Officers to discuss contemporary security issues with a theme: “Contemporary Security Challenges: The African Perspective”.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Defence Maj Gen Albert Murasira emphasised that over the years, National Security Symposium has widened participants’ understanding and perspectives by listening to diverse views from policy makers, practitioners and scholars.
“This year’s symposium provides an opportunity to discuss complex challenges facing the globe in general and our continent in particular. Such challenges range from building institutions and capacities for good governance; migration; emerging digital technologies; evaluate African initiatives to address some of our perennial challenges; foreign interference and the future of peacekeeping operations.
The complex situation creates uncertainty to the functioning and survival of our nations and no single country can address them solely,” said Maj Gen Murasira.
The symposium discussions will cover a variety of topics ranging from good governance, migration and brain drain, foreign interference, the African Free Trade Area, digital technologies and peacekeeping operations.
Over 300 participants are sharing experience on the subjects above. They include student officers of the Senior Command and Staff Course from Rwanda and allied countries namely Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Japan is grateful for joining its celebrations in Rwanda as it holds a great significance and serves as a reminder to consolidate gains achieved together.
In view of the spirit of the day, the joint efforts between the Government of Rwanda and the Government of Japan have gone to avail information which will give positive impact on public life through space collaboration.
Corresponding to emergency request from Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is supporting RSA for their emergency analysis task for the recent flood’s disaster on 2nd and 3rd May 2023.
JAXA has provided the satellite observation results of flooding around the concerned area from Advanced Land Observation Satellite (2ALOS-2) through The International Charter Space and Major Disasters. RSA’s access to this data in the charter is helping to grasp the fully extent of the disaster damage.
Rwanda and Japan have had a variety of collaboration recent years. In 2019, Rwanda and Japan teamed up to build the first cube satellite (RWASAT-1), which was launched from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center and deployed to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from the International Space Station. From 2019 to 2021, JICA has also contributed to the RSA’s undertaking of drafting the space strategy.
Last April, a delegation led by Col. Francis Ngabo, Chief Executive Officer of RSA visited Japan to discuss about further collaboration with the Government of Japan, JAXA, JICA as well as Japanese Private Companies. Through JICA’s technical cooperation, some officials from RSA are doing master’s courses in different Japanese Universities and attending Training Programs jointly organized by JAXA and JICA.
This year, JICA plans to create new special training programs in Japan, to encourage more satellite technology utilization in public and private activities.
Japan hopes for the steady strengthened collaborations with Rwanda in space and satellite technology, contributing to the wellbeing and prosperity of both nations’ people.
The COP28 which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the end of this year is a critical platform that brings together nations, organizations, and stakeholders from around the world to address the challenges of climate change.
As a member of the COP28 President’s Advisory Committee, Dr. Kalibata will contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.
As per communiqué announcing her appointment, Dr. Kalibata will be involved in strategic initiatives, including working groups, task forces, and consultations, to ensure that the voices and needs of farmers and businesses are heard and incorporated into global climate policies.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr. Kalibata said: “I am delighted to join the COP28 President’s Advisory Committee. There is nothing today that is more important than all of us pooling together to contribute to the global effort to combat climate change.”
“Climate change is quickly becoming the most significant challenge facing our planet, and I am committed to working with other partners and stakeholders to address this critical issue. I am committed to share my experience and to collaborate with other members to drive urgent and meaningful action,” she added.
Dr. Kalibata shares the vision for COP28 having herself successfully stewarded the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit to create global awareness for the need to transform Food systems to be more inclusive, deliver better food and reduce environmental foot print.
“This is an opportunity to advancing Food Systems efforts even further globally and here in Africa and I remain desirous of and committed to sustaining the momentum” she said. “The diverse membership to the COP28 Advisory Committee is an opportunity for all of us to continue our efforts to combat climate change and work towards a more sustainable present for us and future for all.”
{{About COP28 }}
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the international forum for countries and stakeholders to discuss and collaborate on climate change policies and strategies.
COP28 is scheduled to take place in November 2023, and will be hosted the United Arab Emirates.
Representing Zimbabwe, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava, along with two other cabinet ministers, led the delegation.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta, represented the country during the signing ceremony.
Notably, Dr. Shava emphasized the importance of implementing the agreements and urged both countries to work diligently to ensure their full implementation.
He also acknowledged the strong bilateral relations between Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Dr. Biruta highlighted the existing economic partnership as a noteworthy aspect of cooperation between the two nations.
He emphasized the deep-rooted trade relations and the potential for further expansion.
Both countries recognize the urgent need to enhance trade and economic cooperation, aligning with the amicable relations enjoyed by both nations.
Write this essay. Complete this analysis. Unpack the meaning behind this excerpt. These are all sentences that bring horror to those who do homework – lengthy essays about things that students are not sure they care about, and that many do not see the point in doing in the first place.
This homework is not designed to be terrifying; it is designed to ignite the mind and critical thinking; to challenge students to form their own opinions and then using research and cognitive thinking to back them up. Currently, this is being threatened by tools like ChatGPT.
Yet, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are here to stay so instead of seeing it as a threat, it should be seen as an asset, but one that supports cognitive growth and memory function rather than replacing it, says Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA.
“Research by George Millar in 1956 found that the average person can only keep around seven items in their working memory,” she explains. “Miller’s Law of seven plus-minus two means up to nine or as little as five items are the limit of a human’s processing abilities. Today, that number has gone down to four. This research, along with other academic papers and analyses, points to reduced memory due to an over reliance on technology also called the Google effect,” explains Collard.
This is a concern, one that has grown increasingly vocal over the past year as educators and researchers have pondered the impact of technology, and now AI, on cognitive behaviour and memory retention.
However, it is also balanced by research that has pointed out that actually, human beings have been outsourcing their memory to various materials and solutions for centuries. Paper, parchment, papyrus and wood are some prime examples. Modern technology is no different. It can be a tool to bolster memory and make it far easier for humans to manage lives that are deluged by information, noise and digital clutter.
“The research goes in both directions, suggesting that technology is both an enabler and an inhibitor of human memory,” says Collard. “This points to the fact that actually, the impact does not lie in using it, but in how it is used or, in the case of ChatGPT, abused. The latter can be an immensely useful tool that supports students in their research and studies, but if it becomes the sole source of information and does all the writing for them, that is where the problems start.”
Nowadays, remembering where you found a fact has become more important than remembering the fact itself. This translates directly into the biggest challenge with ChatGPT – it is vague on its sources and often out of date, which means that it rarely is as accurate as it needs to be.
“ChatGPT uses machine learning to infer information and this introduces inaccuracies,” says Collard. “If you ask ChatGPT what happens if you break a mirror, it replies with ‘You will have seven years of bad luck’. This is not a fact; it is based on superstition. If users do not constantly check the factual accuracy of ChatGPT, they run the risk of sharing fake news, inaccurate information and even conspiracy theories.”
The TruthfulQA benchmark test has found that most generative models are only truthful 25% of the time, according to the 2022 Stanford University Artificial Intelligence Index Report. This means over reliance on technology such as ChatGPT is simply going to make the student’s work look stupid. However, that is not enough to stop people from turning to tech when they are tired, overwhelmed or lazy, which means that the best approach is to embrace it.
“Do not ban it, rather teach students how to use it within practical guidelines and policies that help them to enhance their understanding of AI and this type of tool,” concludes Collard. “This will enhance their own critical thinking skills by asking them to question the sources, content, truthfulness and accuracy of the content that the platform serves up to them, and it will turn the threat into an opportunity.”
Residents in the conflict zones are facing acute shortages of basic services, food, electricity, and water supply, while the situation has been exacerbated by air bombardments and looting of major local markets.
This has disrupted the supply of daily necessities, sent the prices of food commodities to skyrocket, and raised fears about an inflation surge that could push millions of Sudanese to the edge of starvation.
Mohamed Noureddine Hashim, a Sudanese economist, told Xinhua that “major food commodity factories and import companies of the country are in Khartoum, but most of those factories have now been vandalized to closure.”
He warned the number of citizens in need of urgent aid will likely increase “as millions of employees are currently unable to work because of the war.”
“Prices have increased dramatically for staple goods and there are shortages of imported goods such as wheat flour, oil, and tomato paste,” said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing a report by the Mercy Corps.
“In some areas, shops have closed because of insecurity or lack of goods. Access to cash remains a significant issue in Khartoum and South Darfur, while the increase in fuel prices and transportation costs has hindered both daily life and the ability of people to move out of insecure areas,” the report said.
Residents of Khartoum are suffering from frequent power outages for long hours due to the suspension of purchasing electricity through bank applications or direct sales windows, according to the National Electricity Corporation.
“There is no electricity in the northern Al-Shabiya area (a neighborhood north of Khartoum),” Tariq Hanafi, a resident of the Al-Shabiya neighborhood, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
Hanafi said that some residents had to resort to other alternatives, such as generators, but failed to operate them due to a lack of fuel. The power outages also disrupted the water supply.
In addition, the disruption of the education system is causing deep concerns in the country, as observers said it could leave the future of thousands of students uncertain.
Salah Abdel-Ghaffar, a Sudanese academician and educational supervisor, said on Tuesday that over 500,000 students were scheduled to take the Sudanese certificate exams next June, but now their fate is uncertain.
“If the crisis prolongs, the academic year will be blown in the air,” said Abdel-Ghaffar, who also expressed concerns about the “psychological effects of war on children.”
Eyewitnesses reported direct clashes on Tuesday between units of the Sudanese Army and RSF fighters in the Jabra area in the south of Khartoum, as well as Arkaweet, Al-Mamoura and El-Jeraif in the east of the capital.
The Sudanese Doctors Union said on Tuesday in a statement that the civilian death toll has climbed to 822 since the clashes broke out on April 15.
The event brought together officials from the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) as well as the 15 member states of the Regional Center on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA) to review ways of preventing the diversion of small arms and light weapons for illegal activities and hence contributing to the implementation of the African Union Silencing the Guns initiative.
In his opening remarks, Ivor Richard Fung, chief of the Conventional Arms Branch at the UNODA, said that one way of eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is through strengthening national arms regulations. “These weapons also need to be marked so that they are given a specific identity so that they can be easily traced and recovered.”
Badreldin Elamin Abdelgadir, executive secretary of the RECSA, said that combating the unregulated trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, as well as addressing the impact of misuse of legally owned weapons requires examining the human factors behind the supply, demand, and misuse of such weapons.
He noted that all the spheres of society have to be integrated and mobilized to ensure that all actors and institutions play a role in preventing the illicit arms flows, and diversion of weapons into the illegal and criminal networks.
Wilson Njega, principal administrative secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration, said that the country is about to fulfill one of its commitments to regional and international treaties on arms control as it nears completion of its marking of firearms and ammunition.
Njega said that the National Police Service has already marked 98 percent of its firearms stock while the Kenya Defence Forces 70 percent. “Considering that small arms and light weapons are responsible for many deaths and injuries in armed conflicts, it is imperative that we enhance the traceability of our firearms and ammunition.”
PCH operates a global network of internet exchange points including Ricta, an institution mandated to manage the .RW country code top level domain.
The firm is also in the business of providing equipment, training, data, and operational support to organizations and individual researchers seeking to improve the quality, robustness, and Internet accessibility.
PCH global provides operational and cybersecurity support to Ricta and the many other hard working IXP operators who keep the internet bits flowing.
An IXP is an essential technical infrastructure where networks come together to connect and exchange Internet traffic.
As of 2022, major PCH projects include building and supporting nearly half of the world’s approximately 700 internet exchange points (IXPs) and maintaining the canonical index of Internet exchange points.
On the same day, President Kagame met with Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Chairperson of Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) and Dr. Fidel Ndahayo, CEO of RAEB.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that they discussed the importance of nuclear energy for Africa’s future and the need to invest in capacity building to take advantage of ongoing innovations, including the development of small modular reactor technology.
The event is part of a series of events piloted by the Delegation of the European Union in Rwanda in the runup to the Women Deliver 2023 conference from 17 until 20 July 2023 in Kigali. In a #TeamEurope effort, several themes closely related to the cross-cutting issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment will be highlighted.
This Tuesday on 16th May 2023, the Embassy of Belgium in Kigali, the Belgian development agency Enabel, Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) and European and Rwandan partners have brought together women entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industry in Rwanda and gave them the opportunity to showcase their companies, products and services.
Visual artists, advocates of the Rwandan culinary culture, illustrators, fashion designers, authors, etc., a wide range of talented creators responded to the call and came to celebrate their achievements with an audience of 200+ participants from different backgrounds : entrepreneurs, private sector development experts, government bodies, artists, institutions, etc.
The cultural fair was animated by an artistic program, curated by L’Espace, which is a creative lab, arts gallery and theatre space in Kigali headed by a female entrepreneur. The guests were treated to a variety of musical performances, theater reading, poetry, slam and dance, all performed by talented Rwandan artists.
Special honors went to one Rwandan cultural entrepreneur in particular: Credia Umuhire Ruzigana, winner of Enabel’s Awa Prize 2022. With her company, Imanzi Creations, Credia develops entertainment and educational tools for youth, based on Rwandan cultural references. With illustrated story books, games and puzzles, Imanzi takes inspiration from forgotten Rwandan heroes. In doing so, she promotes Rwandan heritage and makes an impact on society.
Her efforts were crowned by victory in the category ‘Scale-up’ of the first edition of the Awa Prize, Enabel’s new initiative for women entrepreneurs. With co-laureats from from Burundi, Mali and Marocco, she received the prize a first time on 26 January 2023 from the hands of Her Royal Highness Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Belgian Minister for Development Caroline Gennez. The idea behind the prize is to show women and men that entrepreneurship can be synonymous with social success, personal development and positive effects on the community – without upsetting the family balance.
“I feel honored to be among the winners of this first edition of the Awa Prize” the winner said. “The exposure, the network and the platform will be good for us. It’s also an opportunity for me to meet new people, to develop partnerships to grow the business and create more value and impact in my country and beyond.”
In his opening speech, Mr. Versmessen, Belgian Ambassador to Rwanda, highlighted:
“Women empowerment is a joint ambition of Rwanda and our Team Europe. This event is meant to inspire us. How can we contribute to further enable female entrepreneurship in the Rwandan cultural industries?”
Team Europe is a strong partner of the Rwandan authorities and society to promote women’s entrepreneurship. The development of women entrepreneurship is a global challenge, including in Rwanda. Indeed, globally, one in three businesses is owned by a woman. Encouraging and supporting women’s entrepreneurship is therefore tantamount to taking action to achieve several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by fighting poverty (SDG 1), taking a step towards gender equality (SDG 5), promoting the creation of and access to decent jobs and participating in economic growth (SDG 8).
The Awa Prize will be awarded again between 5th and 15th September, 2023. Pre-registration is already possible on https://stories.enabel.be/awa-prize/
Thirty-five law enforcement officers from 10 African countries are part of the 11th PSCSC intake. The Police students are from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda.
The external study tour is held under the theme: “Socio-economic development, good governance and justice as pillars of sustainable peace and security.”
On the first day of the tour on Monday, the students visited Botswana Police Service, where they were given insights into various disciplines of security, peace, justice and governance.
Presentations focused on the impact of law enforcement agencies in socio-economic development and justice, and how intelligence contributes to the protection of individual rights, prevention of crime and how it sets ground for economic development and justice.
They were also explained on how financial intelligence contributes to stabilizing financial system, including fighting money laundering and terrorism financing, among others.
Botswana Police Service Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Solomon S. Mantswe, who received the law enforcement students, lauded the existing “good bilateral relations” between Botswana Police and Rwanda National Police (RNP).
The two police institutions signed a cooperation agreement in January this year, to formalized partnership in fighting transnational organized crimes including terrorism related activities, human trafficking, hi-tech and cybercrime as well as exchange of information related to criminal elements.
Other areas of partnership include capacity development through training, and sharing of expertise.
“Ensuring effective policing requires an agile, highly motivated and digitized police service capable and ready to invest more in human capital development, partnership, research, innovation and modern technology,” Mr. Mantswe reiterated.
He urged the PSCSC students to take advantage of the course, share experiences, and benchmark best practices in law enforcement for their personal and institutional development.
The NPC commandant, Commissioner of Police (CP) Rafiki Mujiji, who heads the delegation, thanked the Botswana Police Service for hosting this year’s external study tour.
He noted that study tours translate theoretical learning into reality and that visiting Botswana was a deliberate decision to benchmark from good practices.
The one year PSCSC has five main components; a Master’s in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation, operational and routine staff work, strategic leadership and management, international computer driving license, and peace support operations.
