Bids for the bond will be received from 16th to 18th January 2023. BNR has urged interested investors to complete bond application forms and submit them not later than 18th January 2023 at 16h:00.
According to the Central Bank, all bids must be submitted to the National Bank of Rwanda through any of the licensed commercial banks or Capital Market intermediaries while successful bidders will get their results through email from 18/01/2023 at 5:00 p.m.
The interest rate will be confirmed on 18th January after reviewing all investors’ bids.
After raising the funds, it is expected that investors will be paid back not later than December 2042.
M23 was given the deadline of Sunday 15th January 2023 to have retreated from areas captured during a fighting with Congolese Army (FARDC).
Radio Okapi has reported that M23 combatants were seen on the same day withdrawing from their positions to respect the Luanda resolutions.
On Monday 16th January 2023, residents of Kiwanja also confirmed that they witnessed the rebels’ withdrawal.
Luanda summit demanded M23 to withdraw to its previous positions before the fighting in Sabyinyo and Chanzu to be allowed to engage in negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
TikTok’s inaugural award ceremony took place in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, following a highly competitive eight-day-long public voting process on the app across Southern, West, and East Africa.
Boniswa Sidwaba, TikTok’s Content Programing Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa, said that the award ceremony is TikTok’s way of recognizing storytellers, creativity, and the positive impact all creators bring to the TikTok community.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating our creators who have been a driving force behind some of the exciting trends for 2022. With these inaugural awards, TikTok aims to give creators in sub-Saharan Africa the recognition they deserve and to encourage them to tell the African story while spreading joy at all times,” Sidwaba said.
Sidwaba revealed that the winner of the Top Creator 2022 Sub-Saharan Africa was Dennis Ombachi, popularly known as @theroamingchef from Kenya, while the runner-up was Charity Ekezie, popularly known as @charityekezie from Nigeria.
She added that the winners of the Top Creator Awards for West, Southern, and East Africa were @e4ma from Nigeria, @Pilot_onthegram from South Africa, and @natasha_gwal from Kenya, respectively.
Lawyers of Asylum Aid which is among charities that had filed a lawsuit demanding cancellation of the deportation policy has announced that it claimed for a go ahead to appeal against the ruling noting that the court made a wrong decision.
“We’re extremely disappointed by the High Court’s decision. It’s very hard to see how it can be fair for the Home Office to decide to send hundreds – if not thousands – of asylum seekers to Rwanda without any of them having a right to argue that it’s not a safe place.
We’re asking for permission to appeal so that we can continue to fight for fair processes and fair outcomes for people who come here seeking protection,” said Alison Pickup, the Director of Asylum Aid.
The organization which provides legal aid services to asylum seekers says that it is concerned with the security of individuals to be deported.
In April 2022, Rwanda and the United Kingdom (UK) signed Migration and Economic Development partnership. The deal paves the way for deportation to Rwanda of migrants and asylum seekers staying in the UK illegally.
Under this program, migrants are set to benefit from secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons and higher education.
After signing the agreement, it was reported that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.
The UK made the decision to discourage people crossing to the country illegally and reduce the budget spent on them every year.
The deal was criticized by various organizations overseeing migrants’ interests and some British politicians.
Their first flight to Rwanda was expected on 14th June 2022 but was cancelled at last minute after an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The UK is one of the European countries that have for long struggled with an increase in illegal migrants, mainly through the English Channel.
Figures from the UK show that 45,756 migrants crossed to the country in 2022 through the English Channel, a higher number compared to 28,526 registered in 2021. This number represents an increase by 17,000.
These illegal migrants come from various countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.
The UK spends at least 5.5 million pounds a year on migrants where they stay in hotels while their claims are being processed.
While opening the conference on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Andrew Kagame, the Deputy Reserve Force Commander, reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to host the 13th EAC CPX Ushirikiano Imara 2023 scheduled in June this year.
“On behalf of Rwanda Defence Force and the Republic of Rwanda as the host Nation, I assure you of maximum support to ensure the success of the exercise in 2023,” he said.
Colonel William Rusodoka who represented the EAC Secretary General said that the general objective of EAC Armed Forces exercises is to enhance the state of readiness and interoperability of EAC partner State Armed Forces, Police, Civilian components and other stakeholders in responding to complex security challenges.
The exercises are conducted in accordance with Article 2 of the East African Community Protocol on cooperation in Defence Affairs and pursuant to the Defence Sector calendar of activities.
At least 813 pieces of assorted banned cosmetics commonly known as mukorogo, were impounded.
Diane Uwamahoro, 39, and Clemence Mporwiki, 44, were arrested by the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime department with 453 assorted pieces of skin bleaching cosmetics and 31 pieces of kitenge (traditional fabric), respectively.
Other 360 pieces of skin bleaching products were seized from Gisenyi market after owners fled, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO).
“These were targeted operations based on credible information provided by the public. Those arrested and others still at large, were sneaking the illegal cosmetics and clothes into Rwanda from DR Congo, through porous border points,” CIP Rukundo said.
“The ASOC had information that Uwamahoro was selling mukorogo Mporwiki selling clothes, especially kitenge, and are working with other people to smuggle them into Rwanda,” he added.
The two suspects were handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further investigations.
CIP Rukundo warned traders against smuggling and dealing in illegal and harmful products like skin whitening cosmetics.
He further warned of continued operations against such unlawful businesses.
There are 1,342 listed cream and oil brands with hydroquinone and mercury, which are prohibited in Rwanda.
Article 266 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who produces, sells, or prescribes harmful products; cosmetics or body hygiene substance or any other products derived from plants, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or one of these penalties.
Article 87 of the law on tax procedures provides an imprisonment of between 2 and 5 years, for tax evasion.
The latest report from Rwanda’s Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) shows that 2798 Congolese have fled to Rwanda from 13th November 2022 to 13th January 2023.
This means, the country receives at least 100 Congolese refugees everyday fleeing violence and insecurity.
On Friday 13th January 2023, Rwanda welcomed 106 refugees from the same country.
Despite the situation, 131 refugees have returned home since November with deep fear that the situation might worsen and seek refuge again.
Salathiel Nduhuye Gatuku, a breadwinner in a family of nine recently told IGIHE that he fled to Rwanda in 2012 coming from Kalehe.
As he said, they were being witch hunted by soldiers of FARDC and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) to kill them.
He shares the sorrow with Furaha Dusabimana also hailing from Kalehe. “I was brought up in refuge instead of enjoying rights in my home country. I still wonder the crime Tutsis committed to be persecuted and killed of torture in the country. The situation is worrying,” she said.
DRC registers over 130 armed groups where the majority of them are based in eastern part of the country.
These include the FDLR, a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
As the fighting between FARDC and M23 resumed, DRC formed a coalition with FDLR and started blaming Rwanda for insecurity in the country accusing the neighbouring country of backing M23.
However, Rwanda has repeatedly denied the allegations and urged DR Congo to solve internal problems without dragging it into its mess.
The FARDC-FDLR coalition also shelled rockets on Rwanda’s territory at different times which destroyed properties and injured people last year.
Apart from the provocations, DRC politicians have been propagating hate speeches that continue to fuel violence against Rwandophones who face rights abuse.
Instead of paying attention to the root cause of insecurity, DRC continues to accuse Rwanda of being behind insecurity in the country and politicizing refugees over self-interests.
The country has been claiming that Kinyarwanda-speaking communities are Rwandans who must return home ignoring facts of their ancestral roots where they lived in Congo for many years.
The United Nations recently warned of possible genocide against Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in DRC over the country’s continuous propagation of hate speeches and violence against the ethnic group.
Rwandophones who make up 5% of Congolese population mainly live in Northern and Southern Kivu Province.
The violence against them and insecurity that mired eastern Congo, saw some group of Congolese refugees fleeing to Rwanda where they have been living for more than 20 years.
As President Felix Tshisekedi came to power in 2019, they hoped for the end of refugee life nightmare experienced.
However, the hope has been lost after three years where the refugees are warning about the extermination of their relatives who stayed in DRC.
The fear for escalating genocide against Tutsi communities prompted over 19,000 refugees from Kiziba camp to stage protests on Wednesday, December 19, 2022, demanding the international community to put pressure on DRC to stop the killings.
These Congolese refugees protested after their colleagues from the camps of Kigeme, Mugomba, and Mahama mounted demonstrations demanding the Congolese Government to stop killing their relatives and help them return to their homeland.
instead of responding to their concerns, DRC has taken a stand [to advocate for and sanitize FDLR ->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/congolese-refugees-raise-alarm-over-escalating-violence-arising-from] yet the international community has labeled it as a terrorist group.
Rwanda hosts more than 70,000 Congolese refugees, including those who arrived for the first time in 1996.
However, the figures dropped from US$3.7 billion of 2021 considered to be the highest investments registered in Rwanda in one year.
In 2020, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) had registered US$1.3 billion that was a decrease by 47.1% from US$2.46 of the previous year.
The economic recovery efforts are reinforced through attracting new investments in various sectors including technology, manufacturing, mining, real estate and health among others.
The latest figures from RDB show that the country registered US$1.6 billion worth of investments from January to December 2022.
The construction of Gaz Methane extraction plant in Karongi District at a tune of US$530 is among more than 103 projects registered under the Manufacture and Build to Recover Program last year.
Other registered investments include ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) to develop and manage Bugesera Industrial Park; KOKO Networks, a project aimed at developing the world’s first nation-wide renewable cooking fuel utility.
The US$25 million project is expected to help Rwanda achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030, in order to solve the deforestation, carbon emissions and indoor air pollution deaths caused by the use of charcoal and wood for cooking, which is still prevalent in Rwandan homes today.
Among others, Rwanda registered a new investment from Kasada, a hospitality company which acquired the Umubano Hotel located in Kacyiru, Kigali, Rwanda.
Kasada is the leading independent investment platform dedicated to hospitality investments in Sub- Saharan Africa.
The new acquisition will see Kasada investing US$30 million to upgrade Umubano to a five-star hotel.
Doğuş Group from Turkey also entered Rwanda’s market where it is set to develop three luxury hotels.
In the same year, Bloomberg Media also announced plans to set up studio in Kigali to expand its TV presence in Africa.
In November 2022, RDB says that the country had registered US$425.5 million in tourism revenues.
Of the revenues, US$19.7 million were from sales of Gorilla Trekking Permits.
The call was made on Saturday, January 14, by the Regional Police Commander (RPC)-Eastern, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Innocent R. Kanyamihigo, while addressing about 250 taxi-moto operators from Nyagatare, at Nyagatare stadium.
This was part of the ongoing Gerayo Amahoro road safety campaign, which aims at influencing behavioral change on road usage from abiding by law to making it a choice and ultimately road safety by culture.
ACP Kanyamihigo reminded the motorcyclists of the dangers they face, including fatal accidents, due to their reckless behaviors on road.
“Taxi-moto operators are among the majority victims of road accidents but also one of the major causes of accidents due to their reckless behaviors on road.
You wake up in the morning going to work and safety on road should be the first thing on your mind in all your transport operations,” ACP Kanyamihigo told the taxi-moto operators.
He urged them not to observe traffic rules and regulations for fear of being penalized. “Observe traffic rules and regulations because they are meant to keep you and other road users, safe. Your safety should come first.”
The RPC challenged them to change their mindset in whatever they do. He further urged them to fight drug trafficking and smuggling by reporting those involved.
Drug traffickers and smugglers are mainly facilitated by motorcyclists and cyclists.
Nyagatare vice mayor in charge of economic development, Gonzague Matsiko urged them to be partners in security through information sharing on any unlawful acts.
The vice mayor also encouraged them to have a culture of saving and to invest in legal businesses to avoid unnecessary losses.
The officers of the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNP) acquired skills in crowd control, public order management and how to perform First Aid before the arrival of medical professionals.
Specifically, they were enlightened on how to respond to peaceful, hostile and aggressive demonstrations.
The two-day training conducted by Rwanda Formed Police Unit-One (RWAFPU-I), aimed at improving the capacity of the SSNPS to respond to common situations.
It also falls within the UNMISS mandate of developing the capacity of the local Police and other players in policing.
The SSNPS commissioner for Malakal, Major General Chol Atem, thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers for their commitment to work with and to develop the capacity of the SSNPS.
“Rwanda and South Sudan Police enjoy good relations, so thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with us. These skills will not be put to waste because these officers will facilitate similar trainings for other officers,” Maj. Gen. Atem said.
He added that as the SSNPS strives to be a professional force, training plays a key role. He pledged commitment of the local Police in Malakal to work with the Rwandan peacekeepers in the execution of their peacekeeping mandate.
Tereza Thomas, one of the trainees, said that the acquired skills will help her to attend to situations professionally.
“Take, for example, First Aid, in an operation; you count on your colleague for help when you are injured. These First Aid skills also helps you when you encounter such situations in your family or community where there are no medical professionals or services,” said Tereza.
The RWAFPU1-7 contingent commander, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prudence Ngendahimana, while speaking at the closing of the training, said that in the execution of their mandate to protect civilians, cooperation and collaboration with the SSNPS is crucial.
“Modern policing is proactive in nature, it focuses on working with the people, winning their trust and for them to believe in their Police. For that to happen, the Police has to be professional in its services and to see the people as part of the overall security framework to fight and prevent crimes,” SSP Ngendahimana said.
The RWAFPU1-7 composed of 240 officers, is one of the two Rwanda FPUs deployed under the UN Mission in South Sudan.
It is largely charged with ensuring protection of internally displaced persons, who are sheltered at the Malakal Protection of Civilian camp.
Rwanda FPU-3 of 160 Police officers, majority females, also operates in the capital Juba.
