He made the disclosure on Wednesday 15th February 2023 after Congolese soldiers entered the no man’s land on the side of Rusizi District and shot Rwanda’s border post where Rwandan soldiers responded and repelled them.
After the incident, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) announced that FARDC forces involved in the provocation were estimated to be about one section (12 to 14 soldiers).
Speaking to RBA, Mukuralinda has said that the latest incident is a testament of ongoing provocations by DRC but assured that there is no war between both countries.
“There is no war because it is not Rwanda’s option. The country has clearly indicated this and the statement still stands. Rwanda believes that the problem will be solved through peaceful process,” he said.
“We don’t need a war but Rwanda will defend itself against attacks and fight when it is dragged into a war. When it comes to provocations, it is another issue. The latest incident is part of ongoing provocations,” added Mukuralinda.
He has also disclosed that DRC’s continued provocations to Rwanda signals lack of willingness to find a solution for insecurity in eastern part of the country.
“It reflects what we have been saying that Congo did not implement Luanda resolutions on its side […] if the country declined to do so and witnessed no changes in the situation, it attempts provocations,” said Mukuralinda.
As for the incident in Rusizi, he observed that DR Congo might announce the opposite that Rwandan soldiers entered the country’s territory.
Before concluding his term, Kagame chaired the 40th session of AUDA-NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee on Wednesday 15th February 2023 which discussed health, infrastructure financing and elected President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the new Chair of the AUDA-NEPAD HSGOC.
It was also attended by Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Nkengasong as partners.
The Head of State commended AUDA-NEPAD for working closely with regional economic communities and member states to set up regional health financing hubs.
As highlighted during the second Dakar Financing Summit hosted by President Mack Sall recently, Kagame reminded participants that the continent’s infrastructure remains weak yet the world continued to experience difficult times last year.
The President underscored that he shared Africa’s perspective on these pressing issues as he attended G20 and the Effective Development Cooperation Summit on behalf of AUDA-NEPAD.
“First, I mentioned that higher borrowing costs are deepening Africa’s debt burden. But there are tools to get our economies back on track,” he said.
Of these, Kagame pointed out the International Monetary Fund’s new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, and the Debt Service Suspension Initiative.
Secondly, the Head of State emphasized that Africa continues to lag behind in terms of pharmaceutical production where the continent’s efforts to bridge this gap ‘are crucial to our health security’.
Thirdly, Kagame highlighted that what Africa needs is peace when it comes to geopolitical conflict.
He also mentioned how Africa has been disproportionally affected by the rise in food and fertilizer prices.
To better support the implementation of AUDA-NEPAD programs, Kagame observed that the agency needs to be financed in a predictable and sustainable manner given that it has fallen significantly as voluntary contributions have declined, hence increasing dependence of development partners.
“These issues need to be addressed. Otherwise, it is like saying, that we do not need the work which AUDA-NEPAD is charged with doing on our behalf.
As I conclude my term as Chair, I take this opportunity to thank all of you, along with our partners, for the continued dedication to Africa’s development. Let’s continue working together to meet our objectives,” he said.
Kagame has been chairing the AUDA-NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee since 2020.
The statement released by RDF reads that the intruders have been dealt with and assured that the situation is calm at the border.
“On Wednesday morning at 4h30, FARDC forces estimated to be about one section (12 to 14 soldiers) entered the No Man’s Land between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) bordering Rusizi District in Western Province, and opened fire at our border post. Our security forces responded and FARDC soldiers withdrew,” reads the statement in part.
“At 0554hrs, FARDC forces visited the scene and cleaned up the area. There were no casualties on the Rwanda side and the situation is calm,” adds the statement.
RDF has requested the Expanded Joint verification Mechanism and the Ad Hoq Verification Mechanism ‘to investigate this act of provocation’.
Congo’s provocation to Rwanda is not happening for the first time. In June last year, the country’s soldier stormed Rwandan territory through the small border in Rubavu.
He was shot dead after opening rapid fire on civilians crossing the border and police officers on patrol.
In November 2022, another soldier of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was shot dead after crossing to Rwanda.
The incident occurred in Gasutamo Village, Mbugangari Cell of Gisenyi Sector in Rubavu District in the night of Friday leading to Saturday 19th November 2022.
At the time, RDF released a statement indicating that the soldier had crossed through the small border between the two countries in Rubavu District and started shooting at Rwandan soldiers on patrol, which prompted them to shot him dead.
Commenting on the incident; Congolese Army spokesman in Northern Kivu, Lt Col Guillaume Ndjike Kaiko confirmed to the media that the soldier shot dead was from FARDC.
“Following an investigation, we have established that he is a soldier of Congo who was recently deployed to Northern Kivu. He knew well border demarcations between Rwanda and Congo,” he said.
He further stated that the soldier was on patrol along with colleagues and mistakenly crossed the border between Rwanda and DRC.
The Congolese soldier killed in November last year in 50 meters from no man’s land, was the third shot dead at the border between the two countries in 2022.
Apart from soldiers reported to have stormed Rwandan territory, DRC’s fighter jets have also violated Rwanda’s airspace at different times. Similar incident recently saw Rwandan soldiers firing at the country’s warplane which returned to Goma burning on its left wing.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday 15th February 2023 by the new NEC Chairperson, Oda Gasinzigwa after swearing-in before the President of Supreme Court, Faustin Ntezilyayo.
Gasinzigwa told the media that NEC has been undergoing process to overhaul elections’ preparations in consideration of other countries best practices.
Normally, presidential and parliamentary elections in Rwanda are held in different years given that the duration of their terms were not equal. The President would run office for seven years while parliamentarians had to stay in office for the duration of five years.
However, the presidential term will be reduced from seven to five years effective next year as per revised Constitution in 2015.
“Synchronizing the elections is important […] Following senate’s approval, I took time, approached the National Electoral Commission and other partners for discussions on synchronization of those events,” said Gasinzigwa.
One of pointed out reasons for the proposal is related to financial constraints as elections require huge budget.
“It would be a good move. There have been consultations on the possible synchronization of presidential with parliamentary elections. It will be very helpful because the budget for elections is not only a serious challenge to all countries but also to political parties,” noted Gasinzigwa.
“You know that political parties spend a lot of money during elections’ preparations […] the synchronization would help us a great deal in terms of saving time and the budget ,” she added.
Gasinzigwa appealed on concerned institutions to discuss the proposal and expressed optimism that it will be endorsed.
If the proposed changes go into force, the term for parliamentarians will be extended by one year to end in 2024.
The synchronization of presidential and parliamentary elections is common among Commonwealth countries.
NEC Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza has told journalists that spending much on elections would be addressed once the proposal is welcomed.
He explained that both elections can take up to Rwf14 billion when they are organized separately yet the cost can be reduced to Rwf8 billion when synchronized.
During the ceremony, Carine Umwari was also sworn-in as commissioner in NEC.
News about his demise went to the public in the morning of Wednesday 15th February 2023.
Rwanda’s Parliament has confirmed that MP Rwigamba ‘died of disease in the morning of 15th February 2023 at King Faisal Hospital’.
Rwigamba served as a parliamentarian since 2013. He was a clerk in the Chamber of Rwanda’s Senate from 2009 prior to the appointment.
He also held other positions as the State Minister in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) in 2003 and Director in charge of coordination of governmental Actions in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2001.
Currently, coffee is considered one of the cash crops with good returns for Rwanda whereby its value is expected to increase as the years go by.
Every year, Rwanda sells between 16,000 and 21,000 tons of coffee grown on 42,000 hectares around the country. Bourbon and Arabica are among the most cultivated coffee varieties in Rwanda.
Currently, figures from NAEB show that Rwanda exported 24,000 tons of coffee that generated more than Rwf108 billion in 2022 while the target is to increase the country’s coffee exports to 27,000 tons in 2024.
In general, the value of Rwanda’s agricultural exports is projected to increase to US$1 billion by 2024. Of the revenues, coffee exports are expected to increase from US$61 million earned in the fiscal year 2017/2018 to US$120 million in 2024.
The target is likely to be achieved considering current figures where the crop generated US$2,796,579 (Rwf3 billion) last week.
{{Farmers’ concerns}}
Coffee began to be cultivated in Rwanda in the 1900s introduced by the German colonists. Today, more than 400,000 Rwandans grow this cash crop and force their meal upon it.
Despite the fact that the crop generates huge returns for the country, farmers have been claiming over meager payments that cannot help them to get rid of rudimentary farming practices.
The issue was brought up again on Monday, February 13, at the third edition of World Coffee Producers Forum (WCPF) bringing together coffee producers from 40 countries in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
More than 800 participants from 40 countries gathered at the conference to discuss how to improve coffee processing and turn it into a sustainable source of income.
As she officiated the opening of the forum, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gérardine Mukeshimana hinted at this problem that is often raised by coffee farmers who sell their crops at a low price and stressed the need for all stakeholders in the coffee industry to ensure decent living for millions of coffee farmers worldwide.
“It is imperative that we secure increased revenues and enhance welfare for coffee producers. The sustainability of the coffee industry does require that coffee producers and those at the bottom level enjoy shared prosperity,” said Dr. Mukeshimana.
She also called on all key actors in the coffee sector value chain to recognize the role played by coffee producers in guaranteeing the sustainability of the industry and its long-term viability.
{{Meager payments}}
Coffee farmers in Rwanda say that the money earned per kilogram is still low depsite the fact that the amount has been increasing year by year. Last year, the price of a kilogram reached Rwf410.
Cassien Ndashimye is one of the coffee farmers working from Nyarusange Sector in the Muhanga District.
The man, who started growing coffee in 1997, says that the money earned from this crop does not correspond to expended efforts.
“I have been involved in coffee farming for a long time because I started it in 1997 with 1,340 coffee trees. The money we receive is not rewarding. We have earmarked substantial resources to improve quality and productivity of our coffee but the price is still low,” he says.
Ndashimye further expresses lamentations that received money cannot help them meet household expenses as per current market conditions.
“ Apparently, the amount we used to receive in the past was more helpful than today’s earnings due to the current inflation that worsened the situation. We demand advocacy for increased price and agro-inputs supplied to farmers,” he noted.
Landouard Musengimana, a coffee farmer from Muhanga District shares the same thoughts with Ndayishimiye.
“I have more than two hectares of land with 3,800 coffee trees. The price today is not compatible with what we do. This year they pay us Rwf410 per kilo, but this amount is not suitable for the farmer. They should pay us Rwf500Frw or Rwf600,” he noted.
The CEO of NAEB, Claude Bizimana, says the government is aware of low prices for coffee produce noting it is making possible efforts to handle the situation.
Bizimana said that they expect deliberations from this meeting to take into consideration the improvement of coffee farmers’ livelihoods.
The players in coffee value chain from 40 countries across the world visited coffee plantations located in Karenge of Rwamagana District and Musasa of Gaskenke District on Sunday.
They are in Rwanda to attend the third World Coffee Producers Forum taking place in Kigali from 13th to 15th February 2023.
At least 50 foreign delegates who went to Gakenke visited a coffee processing plant belonging to Dukunde Kawa Cooperative in Ruli Sector.
Eric Ruganintwali, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Division Manager at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has said that they preferred to take guests to Gakenke because the cooperative has a lot of best practices to share.
The visit was also an opportunity for guests to witness the process of coffee production from the plantation to the packaging stage.
Musasa has unique taste that it is among the most preferred coffee brands on the market.
It is grown on high altitude hills of Gakenke District at 2,000 kilometers above sea level.
Dukunde Kawa Cooperative was established in 2000 by 300 members from 10 sectors in the former Commune Musasa, Kigali Ngali Prefecture.
The cooperative which grows coffee on 392 hectares, has four processing plants and one coffee dryer.
Members have increased to 1993 of whom women make up 80%. It to produces high quality coffee and seeks to put farmers’ livelihoods at the center of its operations.
In 2004, the cooperative was the first in Rwanda to acquire Trade Fair licensing.
Through Dukunde Kawa cooperative, farmers attest transformed livelihoods as they have 220 jersey cows that have served as a source of milk and compost used to fertilize their plantations.
The cooperative also provided members with interest-free loans, built two primary schools nearby its operations and help them subscribe for community based health insurance subscriptions on time.
Dukunde Kawa has also built a plant that processes milk, produces cheese and yogurt.
The move comes after the industrial agency in partnership with FXB-Rwanda last week, Friday 10, 2023 launched a Phyto Social Enterprise Project (POSE) which seeks to increase the production of herbal medicinal products for local and regional consumption.
The event took place in Huye district where NIRDA’s Applied Research and Development Department is based.
The Huye Research Centre has a state of the art life sciences laboratory and a botanical garden where more herbal medicinal plants will be planted.
The POSE project seeks to valorize rich medicinal plant diversity, sustain local production of herbal medicinal products, and increase economic opportunities for the community.
It also seeks to contribute to the research on medicinal plants for their safety, efficiency, and quality control.
According to Dr. Christian Sekomo Birame, the Director General of NIRDA, the three-year project could ensure more herbal medicinal plants are cultivated and high quality phytomedicines produced and used as alternatives to modern medicine.
“We want to valorize herbal; we will first engage in the cultivation of herbal medicines in our botanical garden and work with the community around,” he said
“We will then use our life sciences laboratory to produce herbal medicines and then transfer to the private sector for commercialization, we want those products to be modernized and be sold in pharmacies as they are known to be an alternative to modern medicine,” added Dr. Birame.
He noted that NIRDA will also seek to commercialize already developed products while more research could be conducted on new ones.
Dr. Birame said that it will also help with other research institutions including the academia to do more research to turn herbal medicinal plants into improved phytomedicines.
The partnership will also see companies involved in production of herbal medicine trained to embrace the implementation of Good Manufacturing (GPM) process and comply with national standards and have them registered and certified.
“We also intend to create more jobs, through employing casual workers while the project will also have a few permanent staff, this is really a crucial project and we are optimistic it will have a positive impact,” he added.
{{ Why the project is very important}}
Despite the role herbal medicine plays in treating several diseases as an alternative to modern medicine, it has remained less developed and in the hands of traditional healers so that they don’t meet standards of being certified and accepted both at national and international market.
They are not aware of the properties of the active ingredients or how the doses should be adjusted according to the plant’s raw material used in the drug formulation processes
According to health experts, herbal medicine or phytomedicine play a big role in the health sector development and in the treatment of several diseases as an alternative way to modern medicine. However, official figures indicate that Rwanda imported 98 per cent of medicines and spent nearly US$100 million in 2019.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 88 per cent of all countries are estimated to use traditional medicine especially herbal medicines, acupuncture, yoga, indigenous therapies among others.
Besides, over 40 percent of pharmaceutical formulations are based on natural products and landmark drugs, including aspirin and artemisinin originated from traditional medicine according to WHO.
The WHO also says that the contribution of traditional medicine to the national health systems is not yet fully realized and traditional medicine workers’ facilities, expenditures and products are not fully accounted for.
According to Jean Damascene Ndayisaba, FXB-Rwanda Legal Representative hailed NIRDA’s commitment to improve herbal medicinal plants and turn them into quality products.
“We are committed to making this partnership a success,” he said. “We want to make sure that the community around us benefit from it through getting jobs and learning how to cultivate medicinal plants in their gardens,” added Ndayisab.
The National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), is a government institution that has been mandated with a mission to enable a generation of industrial innovators to become competitive through technology monitoring, acquisition, development and transfer and applied research.
Sources from Burundi confirm that products from Rwanda produced by Inyange Industries, drinks from SKOL are among others present on Burundi’s market nowadays.
Meanwhile, some goods from Burundi can also be seen in Rwanda’s markets. These include palm oil and sailver fishes from Lake Tanganyika even though their quantity is still insufficient compared to the past.
On 4th February 2023, President Paul Kagame went to Bujumbura in Burundi where he attended the extra-ordinary summit of regional heads of state on insecurity in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and met with his counterpart of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The visit was also considered as one of great milestones along the process to restore bilateral relations as Kagame had been last in Burundi in 2013.
It is a fruit of ongoing process to mend ties between the two neighboring countries that had deteriorated since 2015 emanating from chaos that followed the re-election of former President Pierre Nkurunziza for a third term.
Burundi Eco news medium recently announced that drinks produced in Rwanda from Skol and Inyange Industries as well as cheese from the country are present in different markets in Bujumbura.
Before both countries’ relations worsened, Skol was among popular drinks in Bujumbura that some bars carried the name of the company’s drinks. Advertising billboards were also erected in different parts of the city.
As relations soured, some products from Rwanda were no longer shipped to the country which affected businesses in different aspects.
Volcano Express, a transport company from Rwanda has also resumed travels to Burundi. It recently announced that travelling to Bujumbura onboard the company’s buses costs Rwf15, 000.
In October 2015, Volcano Express’s office was destroyed in Bujumbura and searched by Burundi’s intelligence officials as the country accused Rwanda of supporting coup plot suspects who attempted to overthrow former President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Before both countries experienced strained relations in 2014, trade volumes totaled to US$20 million per annum.
Figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) released in December 2022 indicate that Burundi was Rwanda’s sixth re-export partner.
In December 2022, Rwanda exported goods worth US$290,000 (over Rwf290 million) to Burundi up from US$180,000 of the previous month.
This Sunday, IGIHE conducted a spot check to different markets across Kigali to assess the situation and stablished scarcity of products from Burundi.
“Silver fishes’ prices change overtime. They currently cost Rwf12,000 per kilogramme but it recently stood at Rwf9500. It depends on available quantity. The price reduces when they increase on the market and goes higher in case the quantity decreases. Besides, prices also go up when taxes increase at borders,” said one of vendors selling silver fishes from Lake Tanganyika in Nyabugogo.
Vendors of the silver fishes locally known as ‘Indundi’ affirm that they used to order them through Tanzania, thus affecting the pricing.
Despite their high cost, vendors say that the sardine fishes from Lake Tanganyika are the most delicious. The price of other types of silver fishes in the market stands at Rwf2500.
Felicité Tumwitizina, another vendor of silver fishes in a market known as ‘Kwa Mutangana’ also said that prices would drop if they get enough Indundi supplies.
A client comes to us and leaves instantly after learning about the higher price.
Other products from Burundi found in the market include apple fruits and mangoes among others.
Traders in Kigali say that fruits from Burundi have not yet started pouring in large quantities as usual.
“We do not have fruits from Burundi on the market. The majority of mangoes here are from Tanzania, Uganda and Bugarama,” said another trader.
On Saturday 11th February 2023, the Governor of Kayanza Province in Burundi, Col Remy Cishahayo visited his counterpart of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi. Both leaders assured that the two countries are working hard to resume businesses as usual.
He conveyed the message on Sunday 12th February 2023 as he interacted with Rwandan diaspora in Europe during an event to celebrate National Heroes Day.
The virtual talks brought together Rwandans from across Europe and diplomats representing Rwanda to European countries.
The Minister of Youth and Culture, Rosemary Mbabazi; Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Olivier Nduhungirehe and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany, Igor Cesar; were among other guests who delivered talks.
Lt Gen Kabandana said that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was possible because of bad leadership that promoted ethnic divisionism, spread hatred and excluded a segment of Rwandans.
“All those aspects came into play along with refuge and other problems that led Rwanda to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. After the Genocide, the country was reduced to ashes. So, we needed far-sighted heroes, committed to reshape Rwanda beyond and spearhead the resilience journey of the nation and its people,” he said.
Lt Gen Kabandana has however disclosed that there are individuals who harbored intentions to hold back the country after RPA soldiers stopped the Genocide.
“A large number of security threat architects wanted to threaten the country and had strength. The majority of them was in Congo. We went through such situation for long,” he noted.
“From 1995 to 2001, there were several wars. The infiltration attacks were tough, the struggle to bring back over 3 million Rwandans taken hostage in Congo […] All these activities required heroism and dedication,” added Lt Gen Kabandana.
At the time, Lt Gen Kabandana highlighted, the majority of the country’s enemies wanted to commit genocide again over various reasons.
“It was necessary to thwart them lest they hold back the country’s progress. The third enemy and still exists today is genocide ideology. The enemy always reproduces, and brings into existence those who are still stuck in the dark history,” he said.
“Building the nation and consolidating gains requires bravery and everyone’s contribution. Today’s war does not require fighters with bows and guns […]”
{{Warning to security threat architects}}
Lt Gen Kabandana urged Rwandans to strengthen their unity because its absence affects the entire country as it happened in the past leading to refuge, ethnic divisionism and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He explained that Rwanda’s developments after Genocide against the Tutsi are fruits of heroes’ dedication.
“The country cannot exist without heroism because there are many reasons why other countries or enemies want another to be destroyed. There are individuals who still think that our country can experience aforementioned problems again,” noted Lt Gen Kabandana.
“So, it requires resolute bravery and dedication for the country to restore its reputation and trust among its people which send a lesson to dissidents that it is impossible to destabilize the country,” he added.
Lt Gen Kabandana further revealed that there are individuals harboring intentions to attack the country but have failed because the country is safeguarded.
“There have been attempts. There are still people wishing to do it but did not stop willfully. They are unable to make it happen. There are soldiers, other security organs and citizens who must embrace heroism to protect territorial integrity […] It is the foundation for everything we do because the country would be in danger without safeguarding its integrity,” he said.
“I want to assure you that Rwandan soldiers are capable, they are dedicated enough, we have heroes of all categories among them. These values do not only characterize them here but also in other places where they are needed for intervention,” disclosed Lt Gen Kabandana.
He pointed out countries including Mozambique, South Sudan and others where Rwandan troops continue to exhibit excellence in their mission to restore peace going hand in hand with values of promoting unity and heroism.
Lt Gen Kabandana joined Rwandan army in 1990 and was among soldiers who fought the Liberation Struggle.
He once served as Defence Attaché to the Embassy of Rwanda and held different positions as a Brigade staff officer in charge of Civil Military Affairs, Chief Instructor at Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, and Deputy Chief Military Personnel Officer in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan -UNMISS Sudan.
Among others, Lt Gen Kabandana was once the Chairman of the Military Tender Board: Chief of Logistics, RDF HQ; Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy and Director of Rwanda Peace Academy.
He was promoted from the rank of Major General to Lieutenant General towards the end of last year after completing his tour of duty as the Joint Task Force Commander of Rwandan Security Forces deployed to fight terrorists in Mozambique.
Minister Mbabazi also commended Rwanda’s heroes for their contribution to make Rwanda an internationally recognized country which is currently contributing to different peacekeeping missions.
She requested participants of the discussions, particularly the youth, to take responsibility and leading step to desist those who misinterpret history.
