The new mercenaries from Bucharest in Romania arrived in Goma town on Tuesday 7th February 2023.
Sources from FARDC have confirmed that they are accommodated at La Joie Plazza Hotel.
It is said that the recruitment will bring the total number of mercenaries fighting in eastern DRC to 340.
Increasing mercenaries evidences the country’s stand to fight instead of respecting resolutions reached through Luanda and Nairobi processes to end hostilities by means of dialogue.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta told parliamentarians last month that relations between Rwanda and DRC are not good even though there are established regional mechanisms to end ongoing tensions.
He disclosed that FARDC is openly engaged in collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Minister Biruta also revealed that the coalition never ceases saying that it will finally strike Rwanda.
“I told you what happened recently including fighter jets that have been violating Rwanda’s airspace. Besides, you have seen mercenaries brought by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past few days. It is said that they are around 300 mercenaries living in Goma. It done openly,” he said.
Dr. Biruta highlighted that the African Union (AU) signed a convention on 3rd July 1977 for the elimination of mercenary activities on the continent.
He explained that the recruitment of mercenaries in DRC is done with intentions to attack Rwanda and the country is not condemned despite the signed ‘treaty for eradication of mercenaries’.
Dr. Biruta however assured that FARDC soldiers and those mercenaries will be dealt with the way the come if they cross the red line and attack Rwanda.
The Urban CPI is considered as the headline index for monetary policy purposes. In addition, select detailed item indices are published for items judged to be important or experiencing extreme price movement.
In January 2023, reads the report released yesterday, food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 41 percent on annual basis and increased by 2.7 percent on monthly basis.
‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ increased by 8.3 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.1 percent on monthly basis. Transport increased by 12.6 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.5 percent on monthly basis.
The data also show the “local products” increased by 21.4 percent on annual change and increased by 1.4 percent on monthly basis, while prices of the “imported products” increased by 18.5 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.8 percent on monthly basis.
The prices of the “fresh products” increased by 44.6 percent on annual change and increased by 3.6 percent on monthly basis.
The prices of the “energy” increased by 18.2 percent on annual change and increased by 0.2 percent on monthly basis.
The prices of the “general Index excluding fresh products and energy” increased by 15.2 percent on annual change and increased by 0.7 percent on monthly basis.
The ETM provides a life-saving channel to evacuate refugees and asylum seekers in need of international protection from Libya to Rwanda. While these individuals temporarily remain in Rwanda, the ETM provides shelters as well as access to health, psychosocial support, and livelihood trainings for evacuees during the processing of their files and identification of future solutions, including award resettlement to third parties.
This latest round of funding builds on earlier phase I support package of €12.5 million between 2019 and 2022.
The EU also funds another ETM in Niger, through which more than 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers have been evacuated out of Libya since 2017.
Commenting on this funding; the Ambassador of the European Union to Rwanda, Amb. Calvo Uyarra said that the ETM is a crucial life-saving initiative to evacuate people facing major threats and inhumane conditions in Libya to safety in Rwanda.
“It is a significant example of African solidarity and and of partnership with the European Union. We are grateful to the Government of Rwanda for hosting these men, women and children until such time, durable solutions can be found,’ she said.
UNHCR Rwanda Representative, Aissatou Ndiaye also said that the European Union has been a vital partner and donor to UNCHR Rwanda’s operations over the last few years.
She disclosed that the agency is thrilled to continue the partnership through the latest round of funding to the ETM.
“The needs of asylum seekers and refugees strapped in Libya are immense. Through the ETM and Government of Rwanda support, solutions are being found to bring them to safety, first in Rwanda and then subsequently in third countries through resettlement. Over the next years, we aim to support about 3,000 more people to find solutions to their plight,” she noted.
Since 2019, over 1500 refugees and asylum seekers have been hosted at Gashora Transit Center of whom more than 900 have sent to third countries in Europe including France, Sweden, Belgium and Finland among others.
Minister Ndagijimana announced that the proposed budget revision will increase the Government spending by Frw 106.4 billion, a 2.3% increase to Frw 4,764.8 billion from Frw 4,658.4 billion announced in the original budget in June, 2022.
This revised budget will support continued economic recovery, supplement job creation efforts and continue to facilitate businesses to recover from covid-19 impact. Additional Investments in education, healthcare, ICT, and agriculture will be at the forefront of the ongoing government effort to invest in Rwanda’s future, through the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1).
“Despite persistent challenges stemming from COVID-19 effects, global supply chain issues, inflationary environment and impact of climate shocks, our economy continues to show strong signs of recovery. Over the first three quarters of 2022, the economy registered an 8.5% growth, with signs of beating projections. This budget revision reflects these successes, and the effectiveness of the economic recovery plan in keeping businesses afloat, encouraging new investments, creating jobs, and maintaining strong social protection for vulnerable citizens”, Minister Ndagijimana said.
{{Key changes in the 2022-2023 Revised Budget}}
{{Resources}}
The proposed revised budget contains several important adjustments, such as an increase of domestic revenues by Frw 115.2 billion from Frw 2,372.4 billion in the original budget to Frw 2,487.6 billion – a 5 % rise, while domestic financing increased by Frw 39.4 billion from Frw 282.6 billion in the original budget to Frw 322 billion.
A stronger recovery has increased government revenues, including Frw113.2 billion increase in tax revenue from Frw 2,067.7 billion in the original budget to Frw 2,180.9 billion representing 5.1% increase. Furthermore, non-tax revenue is expected to increase by Frw 2 billion from Frw 304.6 billion to Frw 306.7 billion, thanks to the continued recovery through increased internally generated revenue streams.
{{Expenditure }}
In the revised budget Government expects to increase spending by Frw 106.4 billion from Frw 4,658.4 billion to Frw 4,764.8 billion. The expenditure envelope has been revised to reflect the changes for some items under recurrent spending, capital expenditure and net lending outlays.
{{Recurrent Expenditure}}
On the original budget estimate of Frw 2,543.2 billion is being raised to Frw 2,705.5 billion showing a net increase of Frw 162.3 billion, while on capital expenditure, there will be a decrease in capital spending of Frw 66.5 billion from Frw 1,847.2 projected in the original budget to Frw 1,780.8 billion to support key recurrent expenditures, such as increase of the number of teachers and their salaries, supporting universal school feeding program, and additional fertilizers to boost coffee production.
The earthquake jolted the Southeast of Türkiye and neighboring Syria early Monday on 6th February 2023.
As of today, media reports indicate that over 4000 victims have died in the strong earthquake.
In Türkiye, at least 2,921 people were killed and 15,834 others were injured in the earthquakes, the country’s Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
In neighboring Syria, at least 711 were killed and 1,431 injured in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Tartus, said the Syrian Health Ministry. Media reports also cited rescue workers as saying that 733 were killed and over 2,100 injured in the rebel-held region in Syria.
Leaders of different countries have provided support for the countries to strengthen emergency response and sent messages of comfort.
President Kagame has also condoled with the bereaved families through a message posted on Twitter.
“My deepest condolences to President Erdogan, the people of Türkiye and of Syria for the immense loss of life and destruction following the earthquake. The people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with you during this time of sorrow,” he tweeted.
Turskish President, Erdogan has declared seven-day mourning to honour victims of the earthquake.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Türkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) on Monday, followed by at least 78 aftershocks. The quakes were also felt in Lebanon, Israel and Cyprus.
Turkey is among countries that are often jolted by earthquakes. In 1999, strong earthquake killed over 17,000 people in Northwest of the country.
The deadliest earthquake struck the country in 1939 and took lives of 33,000 people in Erzincan Province located in eastern Turkey.
The incident occurred in the morning of Friday 3rd February 2023 when the maize drying facility which caved in, took 11 lives and left more than 30 people injured.
The drier belongs to Duharanire Ubukire – Gasagara Cooperative based in Gasabo District of Kigali City.
Following the accident, the government assured to take measures to ensure the safety of built up structures is reinforced to avoid similar incidents in the future. The deceased were buried on Sunday in Rusororo.
Minister of State in charge of social Affairs at the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), Assumpta Ingabire represented the government during the ceremony.
She condoled with the bereaved families and others whose relatives sustained injuries. Ingabire told them that the government stands with them during these difficult times and ‘will continue to stay closer to them’.
“On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, we have come here to sympathize with you. You lost siblings, children and parents but we are also saddened by the incident because it is a loss to the country. These brothers have died but they leave a good legacy – the legacy of work,” she said.
“The government will continue to stay close to you to move on with life, be it in terms of wellbeing or sustaining the cooperatives’ activities. There are recommendations to reinforce safety on facilities used by citizens and we assure that this incident won’t repeat itself,” added Ingabire.
It said that the accident resulted from heavy weight of maize on the drier’s wooden structure and wind that shook it.
The latter is part of resolutions of the Extra-Ordinary Summit of East African Community (EAC) Heads of State held in Bujumbura on Saturday 4th February 2023.
During an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Prof. Nshuti disclosed that regional Heads of State sticked to dialogue as the ideal process that might put an end to the fighting between Congolese Army (FARDC) and M23.
“What we have agreed upon as the region and considered it to be the best solution to this problem, is that nothing is better than dialogues. They have to endorse it when the resolution is backed by the whole region; otherwise, the presence of regional forces in the country would be useless,” he said.
Even though discussions between Heads of State resolved to opt for the process of negotiations, there are footages showing Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi chatting with Maj Gen Jeff Nyagah, the commander of EAC troops deployed in DRC.
Tshisekedi is heard telling Maj Gen Nyagah that they want the troops he leads to help them in the fight against M23.
Prof. Nshuti has said that fighting M23 was not part of discussions.
“Fighting was not part of discussions because we focused on political process. It was about dialogue not fighting M23 […] They were only asked to cease fire and withdraw as negotiations go on. The option for EAC troops to fight them was not part of discussions,” he noted.
Prof. Nshuti further revealed that Tshisekedi himself also agreed to engage in negotiations with M23.
“We asked them to engage in negotiations and agreed, this time around, that they are going to do so. He [Tshisekedi] accepted it. It is about reaching consensus as a region on what should be done. Ceasefire and withdrawal going hand in hand with negotiations,” he said.
“It is about helping them to restore peace and end hostilities not helping them to fight,” added Prof. Nshuti.
Resolutions held in Bujumbura complement previous ones reached in Luanda, the capital of Angola in November 2022 where concerned parties were urged to end hostilities and engage in dialogue.
At the time, M23 was asked to withdraw from captured areas to be allowed to take part in discussions. The rebel group has so far withdrawn from several areas and handed them over to EAC forces.
However, fighting has been going on between FARDC and M23, which claims that it is protecting Kinyarwanda-speaking communities from attacks by Congolese Army.
The repatriation of foreign armed groups from DRC including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) was also part of discussions in Bujumbura.
FDLR is a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
It was reported at different times that the rebel group works with FARDC to fight M23.
Usto Hafashimana alias Yussuf, 34, was arrested on Friday, February 3, in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District following two months of investigations into four separate gruesome murders and two cases of attempted murder.
He was paraded to the media on Sunday, February 5, at Kigali metropolitan headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.
The inhuman acts were committed between December 27, last year and January 23.
Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, the RNP spokesperson, said that the arrest of Hafashimana was a result of thorough investigations.
“All the four murders and two attempted murders, were committed in the same scenario, with a machete, sometimes beheading the victims. Investigations connected all these dots and information from other people, whom he was also conniving with in other criminal acts of theft, helped to identify and arrest the suspected killer,” CP Kabera said.
{{How Hafashimana was committing the murders}}
While speaking to the media, Hafashimana said that he was killing them with a machete and would kill only those he found sleeping.
“It was a random target. I didn’t know or have any history with those I killed. I would go household by household at night and anyone I found sleeping, especially security guards, I would kill them with a panga. I beheaded two of them, took their heads and dumped them in a well,” Hafashimana said.
A decapitated head of one of the victims, was recovered in a swamp in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District.
When asked how many people he had killed, Hafashimana said: “I knew that I had killed six people, but I was told that I killed four and two others survived. The plan was to kill at least 40 people.”
{{The murders}}
On December 27, last year, Hafashimana allegedly beheaded one only identified as Matayo, in Kicukiro District, Kigarama Sector, Rwampala Cell, Uwateke Village. The decapitated body was recovered in Rwampala swamp.
On December 30, the duo of Vedaste Hagenimana, 22, and Philemon Nzabagerageza, 27, were allegedly attached by Hafashimana with a machete at a construction site in Nyarugunga Sector, Kibaya Cell in Kamashashi Village.
They both survived with injuries. Hagenimana lost his left eye while Nzabagerageza’s left hand was also cut off.
Later on January 15, one Vedaste Gafaranga, a night guard in Marembo Village, Nyarukombe Cell of Muyumbu Sector, Rwamagana District, was killed.
Hafashimana is also said to be behind the murder of one Gideon Niyonsenga, on January 18, in Kanyinya Village, Nyagahinga Cell, Rusororo Sector in Gasabo District. Niyonsenga was also a night guard.
One Leonce Nshimiyimana was also beheaded on January 30, in Rusororo Sector, Gasabo District.
Nshimiyimana was Hafashimana’s close friend. Investigations indicate that he killed him in a bush in Rusororo Sector where they were at the time hiding and planning to break into one of the houses in the area to steal valuables.
At the time of his arrest, Hafashimana was also found with assorted valuables belonging to some of the victims, including mobile phones.
The suspect, who hails from Ngororero District has a history of burglary. He was previously convicted for theft and served two years at Nyarugenge prison between 2015 and 2017.
{{Survivors narrate the ordeal}}
Hagenimana and Nzabagerageza narrated how on the night of December 30, last year, as they were sleeping, were attached.
“It was at about 01a.m, when someone armed with a machete, appeared from nowhere as we were asleep, and started cutting us. We don’t know how we survived by somehow, God was with us,” said Hagenimana.
Rashid Barinda, who was employing the deceased, Gideon Niyotwagira, said that the attack happened at about 03:45a.m.
Nzabagerageza said: “I lost my hand and the other was left injured… I cannot do anything. My worry right now is my child, who expects all the parental support, which I can no longer give. Any support to find other means of survival besides using my hands, to support my child, will be much appreciated.”
“I heard a scary sound, but at once I thought that maybe Niyotwagira had fell down. When I came out, I found my security guard lying dead in a pool of blood,” Barinda said.
Japhet Niyonshima, a twin brother to Niyotwagira, narrated how as brother came to Kigali to work.
“We came to Kigali three months ago, from Ngororero, to look for casual jobs. We were staying together in Rusororo although my brother had a night duty as a security guard, where he was killed as he was sleeping,” Niyonshima narrated.
Meanwhile, CP Kabera said that the arrest of Hafashimana saved lives of many other people.
Murder under article 107 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, is punishable with life imprisonment.
The accident which occurred on Friday 3rd February 2022, claimed 11 lives and injured 36.
The statement released by Prime Minister Ngirente reads that the government stands in solidarity with bereaved families.
“The Government of Rwanda conveys its condolences to the families of the bereaved. Those injure dare being attended to by emergency health personnel and evacuated to medical facilities. The government will provide appropriate support to the bereaved families and the injured,” reads part of the statement.
The government has also assured to take measures to ensure the safety of built up structures is reinforced to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Speaking to IGIHE, Bafakulera disclosed that he submitted his resignation to PSF’s Board of Directors on Friday 3rd February 2023.
“I have resigned over personal reasons,” he noted.
Bafakulera said that PSF has made good progress and expressed hope that his deputies will continue to lead the organization until the election of a new chairperson.
“This federation which currently stands firm is led by my former deputy, Jeanne Françoise Mubiligi whom we have been working together. She knows what to do and will work with the second assistant to help her discharge the duties until the election of a new chairperson,” he disclosed.
Bafakulera was re-elected to lead PSF for the second term in March 2022. He had been elected for the first renewable term in 2018.
Bafakulera is among Rwanda’s tycoons where he runs several investments including hotels.
He owns different hospitality establishments including Ubumwe Grand Hotel. Bafakulera is also involved in logistics business as well as trade of rice and cooking oil.
