M23 has announced to have captured Bunagana town today morning leaving many Congolese soldiers fleeing to Uganda.
Sources have revealed that three military vehicles and two FUSO trucks carrying FARDC soldiers have crossed through Bunagana border to Uganda while others have been seen fleeing on foot.
The Spokesperson of M23, Major Willy Ngoma has confirmed that the rebel group is now in full control of Bunagana.
Apart from FARDC soldiers who fled to Uganda, he revealed that others have laid arms downs and took cover among civilians.
“The fighting was intense yesterday that FARDC soldiers at the border also fled to Uganda. Others took off their military uniforms and took cover among civilians. They have abandoned an armoured fighting vehicle. We are in full control of the entire Bunagana town,” he said.
The fighting has also left more than 5000 civilians from Bunagana and its surroundings to Uganda while over 25,000 have fled to schools and churches in Rwanguba and Kininoni in Rutshuru territory.
Kombe la dhahabu means ‘golden cup’ in Swahili. The contest organized by Fairtrade Africa takes place in different African countries with a view to promote and market the continent’s coffee nationally and internationally.
Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella network organisation representing Fairtrade certified producers and workers in Africa. It has four regional networks – Eastern and Central Africa; Southern Africa; Western Africa; and the Middle East and North Africa.
During this year’s contest, Rwanda participated along with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
Initially, 10 best coffee varieties were selected from 38 registered samples before choosing the top three.
As the contest came to close, Bwishaza won the first two positions followed by Muhanga based coffee farmers’ cooperative dubbed ‘Abateraninkunga ba Sholi’.
Winners will be helped to market their produce at the international market and linked to investors from different corners around the world.
They will also be sponsored to attend big specialty coffee events to gain marketing and business skills, and create market connections.
Bwishaza cooperative is comprised of 532 farmers grouped together to increase quality coffee and help each other in commercialization of their produce.
The Managing Director of Bwishaza cooperative, Josué Imanikuzwe has attributed the quality of their coffee to best practices where they monitor the quality of coffee from the first day until the harvesting time.
“We closely monitor our coffee from the planting season until it reaches maturity. After harvesting, we process our produce with due diligence and taste it before supplying to buyers,” he said.
Imanikuzwe has expressed optimism that the awards will give them visibility, encourage them to keep striving for excellence and attract more buyers beyond existing market in Korea.
“We have registered steady growth since the creation of our cooperative. The awards will give us a competitive edge for a good market helping farmers to increase profits,” he revealed.
Aimable Nshimiye, an accountant at ‘Abaterankunga ba Sholi’ which took the third place has said that much effort have been earmarked to produce high quality coffee.
“After winning last year’s contest, we committed to work hard to remain among best coffee producers,” he said.
Faith Muthoni, Coffee Team Leader at Fairtrade Africa – Eastern and Central Africa Network has revealed that winners stand chance to get their coffee brands marketed across the world.
“We will help winners of this contest to market their coffee at the international market. Their brands will also be showcased at globally renowned exhibitions. These include a trade fair to be held in Italy and Korea,” she said.
Muthoni has advised contestants who did not win to work hard to improve quality of their coffee so they can win in next editions.
Rwanda has 355 771 coffee farmers of whom 68% are men.
Kombe la Dhahabu contest also encourages value addition and fair income distribution by producing and commercializing quality coffees, the producers guarantee sustainable production processes.
In September last year, National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) announced that Rwanda generated more than US$61.5 million (Rwf62.2 billion) from coffee exports amounting to 16.8 million kilograms in 2020/2021.
The revenues increased by 1.83% compared to US$60.4 generated from 19.7 million kgs of coffee exports in the previous year.
Mugisha wins Tour du Cameroun clocking 26h34’24’’ after the eighth stage covering 1066.2 kilometers.
He was followed by Andreev Yordan of Team Martigues SC with 32- second lead and Artuce Jodele Tella riding for SNH Vélo Club with 33 seconds lead.
The last stage covering 151.4 kilometers on Sunday saw riders setting off from Ebolowa heading to Yaoundé. It was won by El Arbaoui Adil, a Moroccan who clocked 3h40’17″ with 18 seconds ahead of Moïse Mugisha.
Moïse Mugisha took the yellow jersey after the seventh stage where riders raced in the roads of Boumnyebel and Mbalmayo covering 112.6 kilometers.
44 riders from eight teams have finished the race held in Cameroun for the 18th time.
Moïse Mugisha was participating along with other Rwandans including Didier Munyaneza who emerged 7th on the general classification, Eric Muhoza who took the 12th position, Jean Claude Nzafashwanayo (25), Samuel Niyonkuru (27) and Etienne Tuyizere (33).
The incident took place in Mukoni Village of Mbuye Cell in the night of 11th June 2022 around 9:00 p.m.
It is said that the couple that was not legally married had broken up over persistent disputes.
Sources reveal that the man was once sentenced over role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Upon his release, the wife had sired children with another man which is believed to have triggered disputes until their breakup.
IGIHE has learnt that the husband went to the home of the ex-wife in the night of 11th June 2022. The man was let in after knocking at the door and engaged in discussions with the woman but ended up in wrangles and clashed.
Neighbours rushed to calm the dispute and found the woman injured on the head above her eye.
She was immediately taken to Kibirizi Health Center which transferred her to Nyanza Hospital where she died.
A 12-year old child was also injured during the fighting.
After committing the crime, the Executive Secretary of Kibirizi Sector, Valens Murenzi has said, the man escaped and arrested later.
He is currently detained at Kibirizi RIB Post.
They had sired four children together but it has been three years since their relationship was broken up.
Murenzi appealed on spouses to solve disputes amicably to avoid similar incidents.
The driver of the Toyota Corolla plate number RAB 561A, identified as Emmanuel Ntigurirwa, 34, was also arrested.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobard Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the bales had been sneaked into Rwanda to Muhanga from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Lake Kivu.
“Ntigurirwa was a suspended smuggler supplying second hand clothes especially to traders in Muhanga market. It was just a matter of time for him to be arrested red-handed,” SP Kanamugire said.
He added that RPU, which had received prior credible information that Ntigurirwa was transporting a new consignment of smuggled clothes, trailed him to Muhanga where he was arrested on arrival at about 5am, with the six bales.
Ntigurirwa disclosed that he was hired by a trader in Muhanga market to transport the clothes from Nyamasheke District. He was to be paid Rwf70000 after delivering the smuggled goods, he added.
The vehicle and the goods were impounded to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) offices in Muhanga while the suspected smuggler was handed over to RIB at Muhanga station for further investigations.
In article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, smuggled goods and the vehicle used in smuggling are auctioned. The driver is also handed a fine of US$5,000.
{{Tax fraud}}
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years
Britain’s government announced in April that it had agreed a deal to send asylum-seekers to the East African country, in a move that it insisted was aimed at disrupting people-smuggling networks and deterring migrants from making the dangerous Channel crossing to England from Europe.
A challenge to block the deportation flights was brought by human rights groups Care4Calais and Detention Action, along with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), a trade union representing civil servants in Britain’s Home Office, and some asylum-seekers facing deportation to Rwanda. They claimed UK Home Secretary Priti Patel’s policy was “unlawful on multiple bases,” and sought an injunction to stop the plane from taking off.
The claimants also challenged Patel’s legal authority to carry out the removals, the rationality of her claim that Rwanda is generally a “safe third country”.
But Justice Swift rejected the campaigner’s urgent injunction at London’s Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, saying on the “balance of convenience” there was a “material public interest” in allowing the flights to go ahead while the judicial review was ongoing.
Both Patel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the court’s decision on Friday. “We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals,” Johnson said on Twitter.
The statement released by RDF today indicates that the two soldiers have been returned home safely.
“Following the kidnap of two RDF soldiers on patrol along the Rwanda-DRC border on 28 May 2022, and the subsequent diplomatic interventions between the Heads of State of Angola, DRC and Rwanda, the RDF is pleased to announce that the two soldiers are now safely back in Rwanda,” reads the statement in part.
These RDF soldiers include Cpl Nkundabagenzi Elysée and Pte Ntwari Gad. They were arrested on patrol along the border between Rwanda and DRC.
DRC said that they were arrested in 20 kilometers from the border as they went to support M23 in its clashes with Congolese Army.
However, Rwanda rejected the statement insisting that they were kidnapped along the border on patrol.
Few days after the incident, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi accepted to release them on the request of Angolan counterpart João Lourenço, who is the mediator between both countries on the issue.
IGIHE recently learnt from credible sources that the soldiers were initially detained by FDLR and later handed over to Congolese Army which incarcerated them in Goma and later in Kinshasa.
Sources also revealed that DRC didn’t want to send them directly to Rwanda but mulled sending them to Angola as the mediator which would hand them over to Rwanda.
RDF has through the statement commended the efforts invested in securing the release of the two soldiers.
The Western region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that Vedaste Habimana, 38, and Emmanuel Hitimana, 20, were arrested red-handed mining coltan in Bereshi Village, Tetero Cell, Kavumu Sector.
“These are ongoing operations against illegal mining activities and illegal trade in minerals conducted by the Police, other security organs and local leaders with the support of the local residents, who provide information on individuals or groups involved,” said SP Karekezi.
The arrest of Habimana and Hitimana, he added, followed reports of people, who steal minerals from a coltan concession in Bureshi village owned by NL Mining Company.
“The two suspects were caught in the mining concession on Thursday at about 6pm. They are part of a group engaged in illegal mining and illegal trade, although others managed to flee during the operation. They will be located and arrested to face charges for their alleged unlawful acts,” SP Karekezi added.
He further stressed that conducting mining activities requires skills, knowledge and use of specialized tools to prevent possible risks including loss of people’s lives.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Kavumu station for further legal process
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Unlike the recent shelling which injured people and destroyed houses, RDF has through a statement revealed that today’s shelling didn’t injure anyone.
“The DRC armed forces, FARDC, fired two 122mm rockets into Rwanda from the Bunagana area, striking along the Rwanda-DRC border in Nyabigoma Cell, Kinigi Sector, Musanze District on 10 June 2022 at 11:55am. There were no casualties but the local population is terrified,” reads part of the statement.
This follows similar shelling by forces in DRC on 19th March and 23th May 2022 in Kinigi and Nyange Sectors of Musanze District and in Gahunga Sector of Burera District, which caused casualties and damaged property.
Rwanda has also reported more provocations by DRC including the kidnap by FARDC in collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) of two RDF soldiers on border patrol. The incidents have been reported to the Government of DRC, the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism of the ICGLR and other partners.
FDLR is rebel outfit comprised of remnant masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi who at different times plotted hit-and-run attacks to Rwanda and repelled back.
RDF has reassured the population that efforts to resolve the issue are underway noting that their safety is assured.
Speaking to the media recently; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta said that Rwanda is ready to protect its citizens in case the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) does not halt provocations.
Minister Biruta made the revelation on Tuesday 31st May 2022 during a press conference on the current situation of deteriorating relations with DRC.
The press conference was held amidst ongoing tension between Rwanda and DRC, where the latter accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 rebel outfit in clashes with Congolese Army (FARDC).
Rwanda has however been maintaining that the allegations ‘are baseless’ and accused DRC of working with FDLR.
Commenting on the previous shelling during the press briefing; Minister Biruta said that he called his counterpart of DRC inquiring into what happened, but did neither apologize to Rwanda nor reassure that it won’t happen again.
Minister Biruta also talked about Rwanda’s possible reaction in case DRC’s provocations linger. He disclosed that Rwanda won’t idly sit by if DRC doesn’t stop its provocations.
“We have responsibilities to protect our citizens and country’s borderlines. A country defends itself against attacks. This means, if the issue persists, we cannot idly sit by and wait for repetitive shelling on our citizens every day or provocations to kidnap people anytime. It is among issues pointed out at the African Union Summit in Malabo. I clearly indicated that we have legitimacy to respond and defend ourselves, in case we are attacked,” he noted during the recent press conference.
“We want such provocations to stop. We want these soldiers released. However, in case these attacks continue to threaten our country’s security, we would be legitimate to defend ourselves and you know that we have capacity,” Minister Biruta added.
MoMo Rwanda currently serves over 3.8 million customers and over 51,000 merchants with various mobile money products and services. The launch of MoMoBiz serves to widen the array of services in use by merchants and businesses who currently use MoMo.
Merchants and businesses using MoMoPay have in the past raised the need to have an end-to-end solution that allows them, amongst others, the visibility of all transactions, the ability to make bulk payments while also being able to pay bills seamlessly. MoMoBiz serves as this single interface that will improve the efficiency and productivity of these businesses.
Speaking at the launch of the MoMoBiz; Chantal Kagame, Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd Chief Executive Office said: “MoMoBiz is a product that we’ve been looking forward to launch for a while now. We can now confidently say, gone are the days where business owners have to count bundles of cash, keep piles of daily transaction books, and ensure the cash counter is safely locked. MoMoBiz relieves our partners of that and provides a seamless platform for them to transact, buy goods and pay salaries, all at a click of a button. Let’s not forget the convenience of having all this critical information at their disposal everywhere they go.”
All business owners are encouraged to join MoMoBiz, which is not limited to MoMo merchants to improve the efficiency of their cash operations. To register, clients are required to upload their RDB certificate, TIN number among other documents via the MoMoBiz platform found at www.momobusiness.mtn.co.rw.
“MoMo Rwanda is committed to providing easy to access and convenient products and services with the aim of propelling financial inclusion across the nation and promoting the country’s cashless agenda. Our mission is to provide digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress,” concluded Kagame.
{{About Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd}}
Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd is MTN Rwanda’s FinTech subsidiary, established on 27th April 2021 to provide and manage Mobile Money services in Rwanda. The company has over 50,000 Mobile Money agents and over 51,000 MoMoPay merchants across the country.
The penetration of Mobile Money has seen a continuous rise with the enhancement of existing offerings such as MoMoPay, MTN m-Ticketing as a digital user-friendly ticketing solution, Tap&Go payments for bus services, Bill Payments, Bulk Payments, Electricity purchase, Payment of Government services, Bank Push & Pull, MoKash Loans & Savings, and more.
