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The development was initially announced by Immigration Denmark Minister, Mattias Tesfaye speaking to Reuters on Wednesday 20th April 2022.

“Our dialogue with the Rwandan government includes a mechanism for the transfer of asylum seekers,” he said.

The Deputy Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Alain Mukuralinda has also told IGIHE that talks are ongoing between both countries to address the issue.

The talks between Rwanda and Denmark follow the signing of Migration and Economic Development Partnership between the United Kingdom (UK) and Rwanda last week on 14th April 2022 that will see the latter accommodating asylum seekers staying in UK illegally.

As he spoke to Reuters, Minister Tesfaye revealed that the deal would aim to ‘ensure a more dignified approach than the criminal network of human traffickers that characterises migration across the Mediterranean today’.

Denmark, which has introduced increasingly harsh immigration policies in the last decade, passed a law last year that allows refugees arriving on Danish soil to be moved to asylum centres in a partner country.

In April 2021, Rwanda and Denmark signed Denmark also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on asylum and immigration issues.

The MoU was signed at a time when Denmark had already joined countries providing funds to support asylum seekers from Libya hosted in Gashora Transit Camp.

Speaking to the media last year in July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta stressed that the cooperation on asylum and immigration issues involves the management of a refugee transit camp in Bugesera but dealing with refugees’ problem in a broader perspective.

“Signing such agreements signifies that we are ready to discuss the issue but have no clauses of hosting asylum seekers illegally staying in Denmark,” he said.

Dr. Biruta further stated that agreements are entered into in adherence to international norms and provisions for human rights.

He said that refugees assisted under such circumstances need to be protected and helped to sort out their problem taking into consideration their dignity and rights.

“Any contribution to address refugees’ problems is in light of that context. It is about international norms, their dignity and rights,” he noted.

Denmark accommodates over 35,000 Syrian refugees who have been living in the country for the past ten years.

He voiced the appreciation via a phone conversation with President Paul Kagame on Tuesday 19th April 2022.

A statement released by the Office 10 Downing Street, the Office of the United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister shows that Boris Johnson reiterated his determination to work closely with Rwanda to tackle this pressing issue and break the business model of people smuggling gangs, while supporting refugees through safe and legal routes.

“The Prime Minister also set out the UK’s support for Ukraine and the need for the international community to come together against Russia’s unjustified invasion,” reads part of the statement.

The Prime Minister also set out the UK’s support for Ukraine and the need for the international community to come together against Russia’s unjustified invasion.

The statement also indicates that both leaders looked forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in June.

Rwanda and the United Kingdom (UK) signed Migration and Economic Development Partnership last week that will see Rwanda hosting asylum seekers from the country illegally.

Under this program, the UK will provide an upfront investment of £120 million to fund invaluable opportunities for Rwandans and migrants including secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.

These asylum seekers from African countries and others outside the continent will be treated decently like Rwandans upon arrival. It is expected that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.

Unlike asylum seekers and refugees from Libya living in Gashora Transit Camp, the ones from UK will be housed in specially-selected accommodation facilities where they will wait for asylum claims to be processed.

The partnership between both countries reflect Rwanda’s commitments to protecting vulnerable people around the world, and ensuring development and prosperity for Rwanda and its people.

Rwanda’s history has embedded a responsibility to protect vulnerable people around the world. After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has been an active contributor to peacekeeping missions where it is the largest troop contributor in Africa.

Rwanda was once one of the world’s leading producers of refugees, and as such is particularly concerned with taking urgent steps towards more humane solutions to the global migration crisis.

Rwanda already hosts almost 130,000 refugees from multiple countries including neighbours like the DRC and Burundi.

The country also accommodates other refugees from countries like Afghanistan and evacuees from Libya who have full legal and employment rights.

The 60-meter bridge was inaugurated on 11th April 2022 following nearly three months of rehabilitation works.

The Governor of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi has told IGIHE that the destruction was occasioned by heavy downpour.

“The bridge was destroyed during night hours. Technicians have informed us that the incident resulted from heavy rain which saw River Nyabarongo flooding. Structures of bridge in matter are placed on the side of Muhanga in Rongi Sector,” she noted.

Kayitesi has explained that Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Marine Regiment has arrived in the area to help residents cross the river using boats and support movements between both districts.

The Governor also revealed that a team of technicians and the Engineering Brigade which had built the bridge and Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA) visited the area to seek how they can work together to fix the issue.

Rehabilitation of the bridge had been completed at a tune of more than Rwf185 million.

The incident saw the aircraft landing in grasses nearby the airport’s runway. In a statement released today, RwandAir revealed that all passengers and the WB464 flight crew deplaned safely with no reported injuries.

The Communications Manager at RwandAir, Fiona Mbabazi has told IGIHE that the runway excursion during the process of landing is not unusual.

“It results from bad weather or slippery ground at an airport. No one was injured. All people are safe,” she said.

RwandAir is among airlines from the region and Africa that have rarely faced technical issues delaying passengers’ flights and accidents.

One of the plane’s accidents that dominated news headlines is an incident that occurred on 12th November 2009 at13:15 where the RwandAir’s aircraft crashed into the VIP lounge two minutes after taking off from the Kigali International Airport, killing one passenger.

The Rwandan passenger died shortly after reaching King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. At the time, the plane was headed to Uganda and had fifteen people on board.

The plane crash put airport business activities at standstill for hours.

The then management of RwandAir told the media that the plane (Jetlink Bombardier CL-600-2B19) leased from the Nairobi-based Jetlink Express, had technical difficulties with the engine shortly after taking off and required an emergency landing.

The plane crashed at a time when another plane- Kenya Airlines was preparing to take off but the pilot dodged and crashed into the VIP lounge.

The ruling was read on Tuesday 19th April 2022. Following the verdict, the Chinese was immediately arrested to serve his jail-term in Rubavu Prison.

His files had been sent to the Prosecution on 30th August 2021.

Shujun Sun was accused along with Alexis Renzaho, an engineer who was in charge of mining operations and Leonidas Nsanzimana, a security guard at the Chinese company operating in Rutsiro and Nyamasheke districts.

They were arraigned before court on account of complicity in torture.

On 21st September 2021, Gihango Primary Court remanded Shujun Sun and the two co-accused individuals.

The accused appealed against the decision where Karongi Intermediary Court released Shujun Sun on bail on 14th October 2021. At the time, the court ordered the confiscation of his passport and charged a bail fee of Rwf10,000,000 as surety.

After suspecting people to have stolen his minerals, Shujun Sun convened a meeting and issued a warning that whoever caught roaming around his quarry or suspected of theft will be beaten at a place called Golgotha where he erected a wooden pole.

The Chinese man used the pole to inflict corporal punishment on two suspected young men tied on a timber with a rope in Nyamasheke.

The viral video in which the Chinese man was seen whipping the young men served as an evidence to sue him along with his accomplices, Alexis Renzaho and Nsanzimana on account of torture.

Shujun Sun who was represented by defence lawyers admitted to have beaten the young men explaining that the assault was not to the level of torture.

He however admitted to have assaulted and injured them which he attributed to persistent theft at his company called Ali Group Holdings Ltd, which local leaders were aware of.

Considering available evidences, the Prosecution requested the court to hand 20 years sentence to Shujun Sun.

During trial proceedings, victims of the assault including Azarias Niyomukiza, Gratien Ngendahimana, Deo Bihoyiki and Thomas Baributsa requested compensation.

After analyzing the case and hearing both sides, Karongi Intermediary Court explained that there are enough evidences pinning the Chinese man, Shujun Sun on torture crime.

The court said that Alexis Renzaho was an accomplice who collaborated with Shujun Sun.

The court also acquitted Leonidas Nsanzimana over lacking enough evidences pinning him.

The court handed 20-year sentence to Shujun Sun and 12-year jail term to Renzaho.

The court also ordered that Shujun Sun and Renzaho will pay compensation worth Rwf2.5 million to each victim of the torture. They will also pay defence lawyers of the plaintiffs.

Shujun Sun and Renzaho have been given one month to have appealed against the decision.

[{{Related story: Chinese Embassy in Rwanda advises citizens against self-administered justice}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/chinese-embassy-in-rwanda-advises-citizens-against-self-administered-justice]

Following the crash of the plane which carried former President Juvenal Habyarimana on 6th April 1994, the plan of Genocide against Tutsi was executed in different parts of the country but killings did not immediately begin in Butare as the then Governor Jean Baptiste Habyarimana opposed the plan.

His reaction angered genocidaires who overthrown and killed him on 17th April 1994. On 19th April 1994, the interim President Sindikubwabo went to Butare where he sensitized Hutus to kill Tutsis which served as the beginning of killings in the area with extreme cruelty.

Today, a large part of the former Butare Prefecture is in Huye District.

The latter has released a book featuring history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in the area written in March 2020 by researchers from ‘Menya aho uva kugira ngo umenye aho ujya’ association translated as ‘Know where you are coming from, to shape your future’ led by Prof. Déo Byanafashe. The book is comprised of more than 200 pages.

The research whose findings are published in the book was conducted in 14 sectors of Huye District including Gishamvu, Karama, Kigoma, Kinazi, Maraba, Mbazi, Mukura, Ngoma, Ruhashya, Huye, Rusatira, Rwaniro, Simbi and Tumba.

It was conducted between March and May 2020 to 165 respondents from former Commune Mbazi, Maraba, Huye, Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ruhashya, Runyinya, Kinyamakara and Rusatira.

The book also features information from different archives related to Genocide history and testimonies.

The Mayor of Huye District, Ange Sebutege has said that the book’s soft copy is available on the website of Huye District to be easily accessible to everyone.

He explained that Genocide against Tutsi in Butare was executed on order of the then President of the Republic which highly influenced people to execute Genocide plan.

{{People lived in harmony}}

Research findings show that people in Butare Prefecture used to live in harmony before the advent of colonizers who played a big role in dividing Rwandans.

Discrimination and ethnic divisionism led to killings that targeted Tutsis in 1959 under the so-called Social Revolution.

This came after the announcement of 10 commandments of Hutus by Joseph Habyarimana Gitera, hailing from Butare, in 1959 who also founded APROSOMA political party.

The commandments followed the publication of a document known as Hutus Manifesto in 1957 where some of Hutu elites indicated that there was political tension between Hutus and Tutsis.

Joseph Gitera Habyarimana in collaboration with Grégoire Kayibanda mobilized Hutus to kill Tutsis.

This led to 1959 massacres against the Tutsis whose houses were destroyed while those who survived were subject to torture and persecutions.

The persecutions continued until 1990 when RPF Inkotanyi launched the Liberation Struggle.

{{Uniqueness of Genocide in Butare}}

The President of Ibuka in Huye District, Theodate Siboyintore has said that road blocks were mounted in different parts of Butare following the sensitization of Sindikubwabo. These include one before Ihuriro Hotel which housed the then Minister of Family Promotion, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko. The hotel has an underground section where Tutsis were raped.

Other road blocks were mounted before the National University of Rwanda, Ku Mukoni, in Cyarwa; Rango; Huye town at a place popularly known as Kwa Bihira; before Faucon Hotel; at Kabutare, and CHUB among others.

Local leaders worked with soldiers, gendarmes and Interahamwe militia to plot attacks to kill Tutsis.

In Ngoma town (currently in Ngoma Sector), Tutsis were taken from their homes to be killed at the Arboretum forest behind the National University of Rwanda while others were killed at roadblocks.

Others were killed at CHUB, ESO, Butare Prefecture Head Office, at Kabakobwa, in Cyarwa and Tumba, at SORWAL and Karubanda Junior Seminary.

At the University of Rwanda, some of Hutu students killed Tutsi colleagues and teachers of torture and killed girls after raping them.

In Communes that formed Butare Prefecture, a large number of Tutsis were killed in Simbi and Sovu in Commune Maraba, at Cyahinda Parish in Commune Nyakizu, Byiza Stadium in Commune Mbazi, at ISAR- Rubona and ISAR Songa in Commune Ruhashya and Nyaruhengeri Parish.

Butare Prefecture accommodated a large number of Burundian refugees who participated in killings and returned home after committing the atrocities.

Butare Prefecture borders with Gikongoro Prefecture. The latter had many killers who crossed to Butare to reinforce Hutus to kill Tutsis.

The Mayor of Huye District, Ange Sebutege has said that Butare Prefecture was turned into a killing ground where the severity of killings were much worse than other provinces.

He revealed that many leaders heading different institutions including the University of Rwanda, ISAR, IRST and SORWAR among others played a role in the Genocide.

“Their participation saw Genocide in the area executed at high level,” he said.

Butare was also home to the school of non-commissioned officers (ESO) which reinforced Interahamwe militia and other genocidaires.

{{Leaders’ participation}}

Many authorities from the interim government led by President Sindikubwabo from Butare highly participated in the killings of Tutsi.

Sindikubwabo hails from Save Sector of Gisagara District (in former Butare Prefecture). The former Prime Minister, Jean Kambanda hails from Gishamvu Sector as well as Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, the former Minister of Family Promotion.

Butare was also home to the former Director General of a matchstick plant dubbed SORWAL , Alphonse Higaniro; former head of ISAR, Ntahontuye Ndereyehe Charles and the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Nshimiyumuremyi Jean Berchmas among others including parliamentarians and mayors of all 20 communes of the prefecture.

Others are Jean Chrysostome Ndindabahizi who headed Région Sanitaire de Butare; Emmanuel Munyangendo, the former Director of LABOPHAR and Simon Ntigashira, the head of National Museum.

The National University of Rwanda also had many intellectuals including lecturers, researchers and students who participated in the Genocide hugely.

{{Helpless victims who fled to Butare}}

The President of Ibuka in Huye District, Theodate Siboyintore has said that many Tutsis fled to Butare considering the fact that the killings of Tutsis had not yet started in the area. As he explained, they hoped protection in the area but were later killed.

“Many of them came from Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe seeking protection but were also killed,” he noted.

{{The death of Queen Rosalie Gicanda in Butare}}

On 20th April 1994, Queen Rosalie Gicanda was killed on the order of Ildephonse Nizeyimana from ESO.

Witnesses say that Nizeyimana partnerwd with other military officers including Lt Colonel Muvunyi Tharcisse and others from Ngoma military barracks led by Lt Ildephonse Hategekimana and gendarmerie led by Major Cyriaque Habyarabatuma and Interahamwe militia.

Those who stormed the home of Gicanda nearby headquarters of Commune Ngoma include Lt Bizimana alias Rwatsi, Lt Gakwerere, Corporal Aloys Mazimpaka and Dr. Kageruka.

At the queen’s home, they found other hunted people including Jean Damascène Paris, Marie Gasibirege, Aurelie Mukaremera, Callixte Kayigamba and Alphonse Sayidiya.

Others include Uzamukunda Grace who survived gunshots and died of natural cause after the Genocide.

She was a daughter of Jean Damascène Paris who provided testimonies of circumstances under which Queen Rosalie Gicanda and other people who stayed with her were killed.

Captain Nizeyimana was convicted of Genocide crime and sentenced to 35 years while Lt Colonel Muvunyi was also convicted of Genocide crime and handed 15-year jail term.

{{Killings continued until Inkotanyi intervened}}

People who talked to IGIHE have revealed that killings of Tutsis in Butare were overseen by Minister Nyiramasuhuko in collaboration with his son Ntahobari until RPA soldiers rescued Butare on 3rd July 1994.

However, killings continued in rural areas but genocidaires fled as Inkotanyi intervened.

Clement Mbaraga is a survivor from Butare whose five siblings were killed but parents and one sibling were rescued by inkotanyi.

“We hid on the roof of Brother’s House in Kabutare. We heard gunshot as Inkotanyi arrived to rescue nuns staying there,” he said.

“In the next morning, there was extreme silence. We saw residents and soldiers fleeing. Inkotanyi came here and saved us. That is how we were rescued,” added Mbaraga.

Séraphine Namana and Jeanne Umurerwa also revealed that they were desperate waiting for the death but they hope was restored as Inkotanyi captured Butare.

{{Every sector has a Genocide memorial}}

Each of 14 sectors in Huye District has a Genocide Memorial. Butare District currently has 18 memorials of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and three graves.

“Due to the severity of Genocide, there are some sectors which have more than one memorial while others have three memorials and graves. This shows the uniqueness and how Tutsis were killed in a large number in Butare,” Sebutege noted.

Efforts are underway to relocate remains of Genocide victims from graves to memorials.

According to Sebutege, Huye will start building a Genocide memorial at district level which will have different sections.

One of them will be reserved for exhibition of history of Genocide against Tutsi in former Butare Prefecture.

He passed on in the morning of Sunday 17th April 2022.

It is said that Shimwe died as he went out for a dance with friends. Medical doctors are still conducting a postmortem to establish cause of his death.

Rodolphe Shimwe Twagiramungu died at the age of 34. He was a rising artiste who produced songs including ‘Mama’.

His father, Twagiramungu who currently lives in Belgium was born in former Cyangugu Prefecture in 1945.

He served as Rwanda’s Prime Minister between 1994 and 1995.

Twagiramungu was among presidential aspirants who lost elections in 2003 following the interim government established after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The development came at a time when deep global inequalities are driving millions of people from their homes in search of opportunity, at the same time as millions are forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution, and other threats to safety.

Under this program, the UK will provide an upfront investment of £120 million to fund invaluable opportunities for Rwandans and migrants including secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.

Following the agreement, some people, the majority of whom being from the western part of the world, expressed concerns over the partnership.

Among them, is the leader of the Anglican church who strongly criticized the British government’s plan to put some asylum-seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda, saying “sub-contracting out our responsibilities” to refugees can’t stand up to God’s scrutiny.

According to the Washington Post, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby made the direct political intervention in his Easter Sunday sermon at Canterbury Cathedral in southeast England, saying there are “serious ethical questions about sending asylum-seekers overseas.”

He said “sub-contracting out our responsibilities, even to a country that seeks to do well, like Rwanda, is the opposite of the nature of God who himself took responsibility for our failures.”

His words triggered mixed reactions among politicians including the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel who asked him to suggest a solution to the issue of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe.

{{Baseless claims }}

The Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has said that people doubting about Rwanda’s capacity to accommodate refugees should visit the country to witness its remarkable progress achieved over the past 28 years.

She highlighted that Rwanda has made tremendous progress in every aspect of development on rights, freedom, media as the country remains stable, united and continues to grow very rapidly.

Makolo was speaking during an interview with GB News, a television and radio news channel in the United Kingdom, commenting on human rights concerns raised following recent migration and economic development partnership between Rwanda and UK.

“Some of the reports do not correspond to the reality and both the United Kingdom and the US who have representatives here in embassies, are able to see this for themselves. Anyone who comes to Rwanda cannot fail to see with their own eyes, the progress this country has made,” she noted.

On agreements to host asylum seekers, refugees and migrants; Makolo said that Rwanda is among countries that ratified the international convention for refugee protection and has different policies to ensure their rights are respected in the country.

Today, Rwanda accommodates more than 130,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the country safely with equal access to opportunities to lead decent life.

These include refugees and asylum seekers from Libya since 2019 where there are third countries that have agreed to receive over 700 have of them in collaboration with UNHCR.

Makoloexpressed optimism that the new ‘innovative model will be emulated by other countries. Then we can do more together’.

Under the partnership between Rwanda and UK, asylum seekers will be entitled to full protection under Rwandan law, equal access to employment, and enrolment in healthcare and social care services.

These asylum seekers from African countries and others outside the continent will be treated decently like Rwandans upon arrival. It is expected that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.

Unlike asylum seekers and refugees from Libya living in Gashora Transit Camp, the ones from UK will be housed in specially-selected accommodation facilities where they will wait for asylum claims to be processed.

Makolo has explained that migrants will be treated decently.

“Once migrants arrive in Rwanda, we will take responsibility for them. Rwanda is a signatory to the refugee convention and we have an asylum process of our own. We do have our own immigration and migrant policy. So, we will take responsibility for them,” she said.

The spokesperson highlighted that they will have access to legal services through Rwanda’s asylum process which is in in line with the refugee convention and similar to the process of other countries.

“That is what we will use to determine whether they are asylum seekers or simply migrants looking for an opportunity.

Because we believe, in a fair world, people should be able to live with dignity and have access to opportunities wherever they are. Whether they are determined to be migrants or economic refugees, they are welcomed to stay with us if they want to,” she noted.