Kagame visited the College on Thursday 24th February 2022 on the second day of his visit in Mauritania.
As he visited the College, Kagame was received by the Minister of Defence of Mauritania, Hanenna Ould Sidi and other officials.
The G5 Sahel Defense College in Nouakchott was first a Mauritanian project created in 2013 well before the birth of the G5 Sahel. Originally, the institution was intended to raise the level and capabilities of the Mauritanian army in the face of the new security threat.
The G5 Sahel countries include Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Tchad.
The college has a simulation center capable of putting the trainee in a field situation, and is interconnected with the G5 East and West centers with which it can have simultaneous exercises.
During the visit to Mauritania, both Heads of State witnessed the signing of Air Transport Agreement that will enable the national carrier, RwandAir to conduct flights to the country.
Kagame began his two-day visit to Mauritania on Wednesday where he was received by his counterpart, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani upon arrival. The visit was concluded on Thursday.
Ms. Rugwabiza succeeds Mankeur Ndiaye of Senegal, who has led the Mission since 2019.
The statement released today reads that the Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Ndiaye’s service to the people of the Central African Republic during a turbulent and critical period in its history.
“His leadership was instrumental in MINUSCA’s comprehensive support to the general elections held in 2020-2021,” reads part of the statement.
Rugwabiza has worked for more than thirty years on Africa development and security issues in both the public and corporate sectors as a Cabinet Member, a senior diplomat of Rwanda accredited to several countries and organizations and a senior leader in national, regional and multilateral entities.
From 2016, Rugwabiza has served as the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations and non-resident Ambassador of Rwanda to Colombia and Jamaica. From 2014 to 2016, she was the Minister of East African Community Affairs and a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly. From 2013 to 2014, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board and Member of Cabinet.
From 2005 to 2013, Rugwabiza was the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Prior to that, she served as the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office in Geneva and United Nations specialized agencies, as well as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Rwanda to Switzerland from 2002 to 2005.
Rugwabiza speaks English, French, Swahili and Kinyarwanda.
Her appointment will cement Rwanda’s rise to prominence within the mission. Since June last year, the mission’s police component was led by CP Christophe Bizimungu , the former Commander of Rwanda Police Academy located in Musanze, Northern Province. He replaced French citizen Pascal Champion. Among others, the humanitarian coordination office has been managed by Rwandan Vedaste Kalima since January 2021.
Rwanda has 1660 soldiers and police force comprised of 459 since the mission began in 2014.
Rwandan soldiers have been protecting CAR’s president’s office since 2015.
Upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy Airport on Wednesday 23rd February 2022, Kagame was received by his counterpart of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
The two Heads of State will hold a tête-à-tête followed by a bilateral meeting alongside their respective delegations.
Following the bilateral talks, representatives from both delegations will sign a General Cooperation Agreement, strengthening opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Possible areas of cooperation include defence and security, ICT and digitalisation, mining, agriculture, investment promotion and more.
The Head of State was in Mauritania for the 31st African Union Summit.
In September 2019, both Heads of State met as they attended the United Nations General Assembly.
. Muri Gicurasi 2021, bongeye guhurira i Paris mu musangiro wari wateguwe na Perezida Emmanuel Macron.
In May 2021, they also met in Paris, France during a State Luncheon hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.
The majority of these artistes are from French speaking countries.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that Kagame met with these artistes on Wednesday 23rd February 2022, one day after inauguration of the stadium but did not disclose topics of discussions.
In a picture posted by Village Urugwiro, Kagame is seen in a group picture along with his counterpart of Senegal, Macky Sall and different legendary African artistes.
These include Seydou Koné known for his stage name as Alpha Blondy; Youssou Ndour considered the King of Mbalax music, Salif Traoré renowned as A’Salfo in Magic System crew and Congolese Fally Ipupa, popular for Rumba music among others.
Both Senegal and Rwanda seek to become sports hubs.
The stadium inaugurated in Senegal has the capacity to accommodate 50,000 people.It will bear the name of former President Abdoulaye Wade who accepted the decision taken by President Macky Sall.
As the race was flagged off at 9:00 a.m in Kimironko, cyclists rode through Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Kagugu, Gitikinyoni and Base before crossing the finishing line in Gicumbi.
Main Kent was the first to cross the finish clocking 3 hours 17 minutes and 40 seconds and maintained 2 seconds ahead of Anatoli Budiak riding for Terengganu Polygony Cycling while the next rivals including Alan Boileau of B&B Hotels, Eyob Metkel and Muhoza Eric arrived three seconds later.
Axel Laurence of B&B Hotels has taken the yellow jersey after clocking 10 hours, 45 minutes and 7 seconds during the four stages.
He maintained a difference of ten seconds between the next rivals on the general classification. These include Madrazo Angel Ruiz riding for Burgos and Natnael Tesfazion of Drone Hopper.
The top performing Rwanda is Muhoza Eric who took the 13th position.
The tournament will continue on Thursday 24th February 2022 with the fifth stage where riders will set off from Muhanga to cross the finishing line in Musanze after covering 124,7 kilometers.
The stadium was built by a Turkish company dubbed Summa. The latter also extecuted other mega projects including the construction of Kigali Arena, Dakar Arena among other handball courts.
Kagame is among dignitaries invited to attend the inauguration of Senegal Stadium, a 50,000 seater multipurpose Olympic complex.
The stadium will bear the name of former President Abdoulaye Wade who accepted the decision taken by President Macky Sall.
Other Heads of State who attended the ceremony include Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Erdogan’s visit reinforces his country’s willingness to expand investment in Africa.
Erdogan went to Senegal after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo. The next destination on his itinerary is Guinea-Bissau.
George Weah, the President of Liberia, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau and Adama Barrow of Gambia , FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe were also present.
It is reported that he has died in the United States of America (USA).
Joe Ritchie who was granted Rwandan nationality headed RDB from 2007 until 2009.
In 2017, Joe Ritchie was among among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
His death follows the loss of another friend of Rwanda, Dr. Paul Farmer who died on Monday 21st February 2022.
The two friends of Rwanda whose death is announced in 24 hours were decorated with the medals on the same day.
In August last year, he attended the Presidential Advisory Council meeting which discussed various topics including the COVID-19 pandemic and current affairs.
It was chaired by President Paul Kagame. Among others, the meeting brought together Rwandan and International experts who offer strategic advice to the President and the government.
Also present at the meeting were Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa among others.
International experts who attended include Ashish Thakkar, the Founder of Mara Group which established phones manufacturing plant in Rwanda ; Dale Dawson, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bridge2Rwanda.The latter is a foundation formed to help expand Rwanda’s global network of friends, to encourage foreign direct investment and to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study abroad.
The council also hosted Kaia Miller, Mauro De Lorenzo, Joseph Ritchie, Michel Roux, Dave King, Paul Davenport, Rod Reynolds, Pastor Rick Warren, Scott Ford and Christian Angermayer.
Dr. Farmer breathed the last on Monday 21st February 2022. The UGHE announced that the renowned American physician and philanthropist died while sleeping. He has been in Rwanda for almost one month where he lectured at UGHE.
He has been a friend of Rwanda for more than 20 years who significantly contributed to the advancement of the country’s health sector. In 2019, President Paul Kagame decorated Dr. Farmer with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medal.
He had wished to stay in during his advanced ages, sources reveal.
As the bad news dominated the media coverage on Monday, health officials headed to Butaro where Dr. Farmer was staying to get first-hand information on circumstances of his death.
Following his demise, President Paul Kagame is among high profile personalities expressed condolences to the bereaved family noting that he will be cherished for his contribution to national development.
He said that is hard to find the words to express the sad news of the passing of Paul Farmer, a philanthropist who ‘combined many things hard to find in one person’.
The Head of State went on to explain that ‘the weight of his loss is in many ways personal, to the country of Rwanda [which he loved and to which he contributed so much during its reconstruction], to my family and to myself’.
Ange Kagame, the daughter of President Kagame has said that it hard to meet a human being as special, kind and impactful as Paul Farmer was.
Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States of America (USA) has said that he, his wife and their daughter Chelsea are devastated by the sudden passing of Dr. Paul Farmer whom they described as one of the most extraordinary people ever known.
The family has through a statement revealed that it is an honour to have worked closely with him in Haiti, Rwanda and beyond; to serve alongside him on the board of the Clinton Health Access Initiative; and to be counted among his multitude of friends around the globe.
“Paul Farmer changed the way health care is delivered in the most impoverished places on Earth. He saw every day as a new opportunity to teach, learn, give, and serve—and it was impossible to spend any time with him and not feel the same,” Bill Clinton tweeted.
Bill Gates has also shared his feelings via Twitter noting that the demise of Dr. Farmer is a huge loss.
“What a devastating loss. Paul is a hero, and I was fortunate to call him a friend. I have never known anyone who was more passionate about reducing the world’s worst inequities in health—or who did more to live by his values,” he said.
“Paul was never happier than when he was caring for patients in one of the clinics he helped create. My heart goes out to his family and friends, his colleagues, and all the people whose lives he touched, “Bill Gates added.
Bill Gates expressed optimism that his work will continue through Partners In Health, the organization he co-founded which he described as ‘a phenomenal legacy’.
Melinda Gates, the ex-wife of Bill Gates also expressed sentiments of sorrow for the passing of Dr. Farmer, her teacher whom she considered a friend and role model.
“I’m heartbroken that my teacher, mentor, & friend Paul Farmer is gone. He taught me what it means to listen—to really listen—instead of charging in with my own solution. He showed me how to channel my anger about the barriers that hold people back into relentlessness & optimism,” she tweeted.
Melinda Gates highlighted that she will miss her dear friend and ‘continue to be inspired by him, every day’.
Samantha Power who once served as US ambassador to UN has mourned Dr. Paul Farmer and eulogized him as a person who shared everything with others.
“He saw the worst, and yet did all he could to bring out the best in everyone he encountered. Indefatigable, mischievous, generous, brilliant, soulful, skeptical, idealistic, beloved. A giant,” she tweeted.
The Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also revealed via Twitter handle that he was deeply saddened and heartbroken by the death of a friend and global health champion.
“He led so many efforts for health equity and against root causes of injustices. We must never stop continuing his legacy. You will be so greatly missed my friend,” he said.
Dr. Farmer was renowned for his efforts to provide health care to low-income nations. Born in North Adams, Mass., he graduated from Duke University in 1982 and went to Harvard University, where he earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in anthropology.
He served as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 1987, Farmer founded Partners in Health in Haiti with the mission to provide high-quality care to patients from impoverished backgrounds and those living far from health-care facilities. Over the next three decades, PIH expanded to countries across Africa and Latin America, to Russia and to the Navajo Nation in the U.S.
In 2020, he won the million-d0llar Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, an honor that goes to an individual who has made major contributions to advancing ideas that shape the world.
As per existing law, income not exceeding Rwf30,000 per month is taxed zero percent, while that ranging from Rwf30,001 and Rwf100,000 has to pay 20 percent tax rate, and above that is taxed 30 percent.
The adopted draft law proposes Rwf60,000 as the minimum taxable income instead of Rwf30,000 and the reduction of tax after two years since the law was enacted.
Once enacted, income ranging from Rwf60,001 and Rwf100,000 will be taxed 20% initially to be reduced to 10% after two years. Workers earning from Rwf100,001 and Rwf200,000 will be taxed 30% to be reduced to 20% after two years.
The proposal was tabled to reduce the tax burden on low-income formal workers and promote employment.
IGIHE has learnt that the draft law was not immediately presented to the parliamentary Standing Committee on National Budget and Patrimony but rather was returned to the Government for further review.
Even though the draft law is still under review, there is optimism that the clause meant to reduce tax burden on low income earners won’t be annulled.
Parliamentarian Théogene Munyangeyo has told IGIHE that approving the proposal would hugely contribute to citizens’ progress.
“Raising the taxable income would be a great relief to citizens. This should be more optional than increasing salary because it would cause price hikes. By doing so, citizens’ kill two birds with one stone with possible avenues to run income generating activities,” he said.
Munyangeyo explained that it was long ago since the establishment of existing tax on income stressing the need to have it revised and aligned with financial stability.
“The law has existed for long. If it was established at a time when a dollar was exchanging for Rwf300 or Rwf400, but apparent that the amount has doubled, the revision will ease citizens’ burdens,” he noted.
The existing tax on salary would see some private companies employing a large number of people limiting their salary to Rwf30, 000 to cut expenses.
Once the proposal is approved, Munyangeyo said, it would see some workers’ salary increased without incurring losses to the Government.
He explained that some employees seemed to be limited to that amount of money while others kept working without employment contracts.
Munyangeyo observed that raising the taxable income will facilitate investment while enabling people to diversify sources of income.
IGIHE has learnt that the entire proposal was returned to the Government after it emerged that many clauses needed to be revised.
As the proposal was being reviewed, some parliamentarians suggested that the minimum taxable income should increase to Rwf100, 000.
Following his demise, President Kagame paid tribute to Dr. Farmer, expressed condolences to the bereaved family noting that he will be cherished for his contribution to national development.
“It is hard to find the words to express the sad news of the passing of Paul Farmer – the person, the Doctor, the philanthropist. He combined many things hard to find in one person. The weight of his loss is in many ways personal, to the country of Rwanda [which he loved and to which he contributed so much during its reconstruction], to my family and to myself. I know there are many who feel this way in Africa and beyond,” Kagame tweeted.
“My deepest condolences to Didi, his wife, their children, family and friends,” he added.
Dr. Farmer, the co-founder of Partners in Health (PIH) and UGHE was among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in 2017, in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
He will be remembered for his great contribution to the progress of health sector in many countries including Rwanda.
The management of the university has also extended condolences to his family, his colleagues at Partners in health and the UGHE Family.
Partners In Health is a Boston-based nonprofit health care organization founded in 1987 by Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White, Todd McCormack and Jim Yong Kim.
Known locally as Inshuti Mu Buzima, PIH has worked in Rwanda since 2005, helping the government fight HIV, improve maternal and child health, and bring integrated, high-quality health care to more than 860,000 people across Burera, Kayonza, and Kirehe districts.
{{[Related story: Dr. Paul Farmer, founder UGHE passes on->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/dr-paul-farmer-the-founder-ughe-passes-on]}}
