His suspension has been announced through a Communiqué released by Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday 7th December 2021.
“Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana has been suspended from the position of Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center owing to matters of accountability under investigation,” reads the statement in part.
Dr. Nsanzimana had been appointed to the position in July 2019 replacing Dr. Condo Jeannine.
Dr. Nsanzimana has extensive experience in HIV program design, strategic planning, implementation, and operational research with a focus on global care and treatment of people living with HIV.
He holds a Medical Degree (MD) and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the National University of Rwanda; a PhD in Epidemiology from Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute,University of Basel, Switzerland.
Dr. Nsanzimana also served as Assistant Professor of Global Health at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and taught Epidemiology and Research Methodology at the University of Rwanda among others.
Following the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Rwanda turned to the semi-traditional justice system to help clear a backlog of Genocide related cases.
The Government launched Gacaca in 2002 expedite reconciliatory and restorative justice as well as establish the whole truth about the Genocide.
The courts were closed in 2012 after settling nearly 2 million cases including 1,266,632 related to properties looted during the Genocide.
The Ministry of Justice had planned to get these cases finalized in 2010 but over 52,000 were still pending in 2019.
Challenges that hindered timely finalization of the cases include financial constraints where some culprits failed to pay or reconcile with offended Genocide survivors.
Finalizing property-related court cases is normally exercised by professional court bailiffs from the Association of Independent Professional Court Bailiffs in Rwanda operating under the auspice of the Ministry of Justice or non-professional court bailiffs including cell, sector and district executive secretaries.
The President of the Association of Professional Court Bailiffs, Lawyer Valerien Munyaneza has said that the need to leave the execution of these judgments under the power of local leaders was discussed during recent discussions with the Ministry of Justice.
“We had suggested that local leaders be granted the power to exercise the duties because they do not demand the fees charged by court bailiffs,” Munyaneza revealed during an interactive session between members of the judiciary and press on Monday 6th December 2021.
A professional court bailiff receives fees not less than Rwf300,000 as per legal provisions yet some culprits defeated in Gacaca court cases cannot afford Rwf100,000.
{{Hindrances}}
Recently, the Government enacted a Ministerial Order stipulating that the enforcement orders and documents relating to their execution must be published in electronic system of execution of enforcement orders.
However, there is a cost behind the electronic system where the order stipulates that the document related to the execution of enforcement order must be announced through radio advertisement or have it published by online media house.
“Sometimes, the winner of a court case is required to cater for that cost to be refunded later. It has been observed that court cases with possibility of being finalized swiftly are the ones involving huge amount of money to be recovered where they can be handled by professional court bailiffs using the technology,” Munyaneza observed.
“Because it is not the primary job of local leaders, such issues are not handled with urgency while some of them might not be familiar with the electronic system. These are major challenges behind delayed completion of such court cases,” he added.
Munyaneza explained that the unique approach used to try suspects in Gacaca courts was also applied in related execution.
“We would bring citizens together under a unique approach where a culprit owing Rwf100,000 to the offended person, can till his/her land at least 20 times, provide a cow or goat for us to resolve that the case is closed,” he noted.
“However, there are no slots where these arrangements can be recorded in the electronic system to decide on finalization of a court case. We had suggested that such cases be executed in a unique way that does not require the technology,” Munyaneza added.
Upon arrival on Monday 6th December 2021, the deportees including 19 men, 6 women and 10 children narrated their ordeal where they endured torture in Uganda’s detention facilities accused of being spies. As they explained, some of their colleagues were killed.
It is said that espionage allegations are often raised against Rwandans after declining to join RNC terror group founded by Kayumba Nyamwasa.
On 29th November 2021, Uganda evicted more eight Rwandans after spending days in its detention facilities without consular access.
The recent deportation follows series of circumstances under which Uganda has been expelling Rwandans after enduring torture in its detention facilities accusing them of being spies yet they had traveled to the country to run businesses or visit relatives among other reasons.
In the past few months, Uganda handed over bodies of two Rwandans killed in the country.
The deceased include Theoneste Dusabimana, 52, hailing from Rubaya sector and Paul Bangirana, 47, from Kaniga sector. They were respectively killed on 30th August and 1st September 2021.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents posing threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
During the ceremony, Herzog thanked Gatera for Rwanda’s support in enabling Israel to have observer status at the African Union.
He also expressed interest in visiting Rwanda and Africa in general because he is convinced that there is tremendous potential in Africa.
Gatera assured the President that Rwanda will always support Israel noting that his country wants to see more people-to-people relationships.
Rwanda’s ambassador who was appointed to represent the country in Israel in June 2021, presented credentials on Monday 6th December 2021 along with three more envoys from Switzerland, the European Union and Italy.
Israel opened embassy in Rwanda on 1st April 2019. In an exclusive interview with IGIHE at the time, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Amb. Yuval Rotem said that opening the embassy in Kigali highlights the thirst to scale up relations.
Dr. Ron Adams is the current envoy overseeing Israel’s interests in Rwanda.
Rwanda and Israel relations date back in 1962 when the country obtained Independence.
In 2014, Rwanda became the first African country to sign bilateral agreements and later in 2015 opened embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In January 2019, both countries signed bilateral air service agreement to operate direct flights.
In the same year, RwandAir started flights to Tel Aviv.
Since 2012, Rwanda has been sending graduates from agricultural studies to Israel every year for hands-on training on different modern agricultural practices and paid internship.
Rwanda and Israel share common history as countries which experienced tragic history during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and Holocaust targeting Jews in the 2nd World War. From these scars, emerged courage and strength to work hard during the resilience process.
Kagame made the observation on Monday 6th December 2021 as he opened the two-day Meeting on Partnerships for Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa taking place in Kigali.
The meeting aimed at reviewing the ‘progress made so far on implementing the partnerships for vaccine manufacturing in Africa’, was convened by the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
The event follows the inaugural meeting held in April 2021 where participants were updated on the progress made so on the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa.
Major outcomes of the high-level Summit include a commitment to developing a detailed “Framework for Action” with key milestones on the way to reaching 60% local manufacturing of Africa’s routine vaccine needs by 2040, the launch of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) and the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the African Union and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Afreximbank and the Africa Finance Corporation.
As he addressed participants today, Kagame highlighted that a significant progress has been made since the inaugural meeting of partnerships for African vaccine manufacturing took place eight months ago.
He commended the African CDC, led by Dr. John Nkengasong for taking the lead in the historic initiative with the support of the African Union Commission.
The President also extolled other partners for their ‘decisive contribution to advancing this agenda noting that the joint effort ‘has helped to prevent Africa from being yet again an after-thought’.
Despite achieved milestone, Kagame said that a lot of work still needs to be done.
“Africa’s challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in securing timely access to test, therapeutics and vaccines have served as a constant reminder that we need to be doing things for ourselves. This is not a new problem. But a crisis of public health is literary a matter of life and death. Africa must therefore build manufacturing and scientific capacity with a sense of urgency,” he said.
The President highlighted that the continent needs to work with partners to meet its aspirations.
“We can and must do something new and different. And when we need to do this for ourselves, that does not mean working alone. Vaccine research and production is fundamentally a global enterprise. We therefore have to work in partnership with each other as Africa and also with key partners around the world. That requires not only funding but also and even more importantly trust, “he said.
Kagame also said that entry into force of the new African Medicines Agency is one of the most important developments since the last meeting and commended the African Union’s special envoy Dr. Michel Sidibé for his role in accelerating the process.
The Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) entered into force as of 5th November 2021.
AMA aspires to enhance capacity of State Parties and AU recognized Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to regulate medical products in order to improve access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products on the continent.
President Kagame has explained that it is essential ‘to maintain the momentum and fully establish this agency without which, Africa cannot independently authorize and regulate medicines and vaccines’.
He emphasized that producing medicines and vaccines on the continent, presents an opportunity for trade and investment.
Recently, Rwanda and Senegal concluded agreements with BioNTech to begin the end to end production of the mRNA-based vaccines as early as next year.
Kagame said that Africans will benefit a lot from the local production where vaccine doses will be distributed within the continent, an addition to technology and knowledge transfer to African engineers and companies.
Through its mRNA Tech transfer in South Africa, the World Health Organization is working with South African companies to build a valuable knowledge base for the African continent.
The Head of State said that this commitment and other initiatives underway in various countries are evidence of a strong momentum which must be supported and sustained.
“Because of this terrible pandemic, an opportunity has been created to fundamentally change the pharmaceutical production landscape on our continent. This window will not stay open forever. Now is the time to act, decisively and quickly together. As Africa and also globally,” he noted.
The event, jointly hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation as well as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, offered learning opportunities to help start-ups scale and grow their business to compete across the continent.
The SCIP bootcamp brought together private and public partners of the programme, including top industry experts from Volkswagen, Angaza Capital, Viktoria Ventures, and more.
Together with subject matter experts from entrepreneurship support organisations, MEST and AfriLabs, these partners offered masterclasses, co-creation workshops, pre-pitch practice and networking events that equip the supported start-ups with the needed skills and knowledge to grow and better fine-tune their solutions after the programme.
After almost two years of operating under the difficult conditions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, start-ups closed the event praising the opportunity of meeting fellow innovators and local and international partners in-person again. For some entrepreneurs, the bootcamp was the first opportunity of in-person pitches and networking since they started operations only two years ago.
Since SCIP’s launch in September 2021, start-ups commenced their six-months journey to scale innovative products which can boost the potential of urbanisation, ensuring smart cities achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By scaling innovations for smart cities, the programme concretely contributes to Africa’s urban transformation and the creation of new jobs in Rwanda and beyond. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prior to this Bootcamp, 31 start-ups were selected out of more than 300 innovators that responded to the call for applications issued from April to May. The selected start-ups are grouped in three tracks addressing common topics of smart cities: Cleantech & Smart Housing, Smart Mobility and Fintech for Affordability. They had participated in a virtual Bootcamp in October as part of the programme.
SCIP is part of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – also operating under the brand Invest for Jobs – and Make-IT in Africa implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ. The Programme’s implementation is supported by Luvent Consulting, AfriLabs and MEST.
{{About GIZ}}
As a service provider with worldwide operations in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ works with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions. GIZ is a public-benefit federal enterprise and supports the German Government and a host of public and private sector clients in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
{{About the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation}}
Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and
financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to team up with companies to create good jobs and training opportunities in the partner countries, of which there are currently eight, and to preserve them during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim is also to improve local working conditions. The Special Initiative is implemented by GIZ and KfW, among others. Further information is available at www.invest-for-jobs.com.
{{About Make-IT in Africa}}
Make-IT in Africa believes in African innovation and digital technologies for a green and inclusive development. In close collaboration with start-ups, local innovation enablers and political partners, it empowers entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems. Together it aims to strengthen an environment in which the full potential of digital innovation can unfold.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Further information is available at www.make-it.africa
The incident took place on Saturday 4th December 2021 when the student in first year, pursuing Science and Technology related courses went to swim along with his colleagues.
The university’s management has told IGIHE that the young man was seen floating in critical condition, shortly after submersion.
He was immediately taken to Kabutare Hospital where he breathed the last around 8p.m on Saturday.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that they were hosted at Village Urugwiro on Sunday 5th December 2021 but did not mention areas of discussions.
The discussions were also attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije.
The Meeting on Partnerships for Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa will take place in Rwanda from 6th to 7th December 2021.
It is taking place at a time when Rwanda is among other African countries selected as vaccine manufacturing hubs.
The plant to be established in Rwanda is expected to help the continent reduce over-reliance on imported vaccines.
Dr. Nkengasong and Prof. Fisseha last met with Kagame in May 2021 at Village Urugwiro.
Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation is a charitable not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the health of women and girls throughout the world.
Prof. Fisseha is a globally-recognized leader in reproductive health and rights and a lifelong gender champion.
She currently serves as the Director of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, as well as Chief Advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organization.
Dr. Nkengasong is also a leading virologist with over 30 years’ experience in public health.
As the founding director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and former deputy principal director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for Global Health, Dr. Nkengasong has used his public health expertise to champion effective and accessible approaches to strengthening global health equity.
During COVID-19, he was also appointed as special envoy to the director general of the World Health Organization for pandemic preparedness and response.
In 2019, Rwanda’s exports to DRC were estimated at US$372 million accounting for 32% of total exports.
Despite effects of COVID-19 pandemic which saw the value of exports to the country dropped to US$ 88.6 million, DRC remained the second largest export market for Rwanda.
Besides, both countries are members of the Economic Community for the Great Lakes Region (CEPGL) while DRC is in final processes to become members of East African Community (EAC).
As both countries’ heads of state exchanged visits in June 2021, they agreed on enhancing trade cooperation and free movements.
The latter implies the need for upgraded border infrastructures, increasing flights connecting both countries, building ports and railway among others to facilitate trade.
Cross border trade between both countries is mainly exercised in the districts of Rubavu and Rusizi through different border points including La Corniche One Stop Border Post known as Grande Barrière (main border).
Similar infrastructures are set to be developed in Mururu sector of Rusizi district on the side of Rwanda and Rusizi II in Bukavu on the side of DRC.
The One Stop Border Post to be built in Rusizi is expected to give a boost to the implementation of projects under the framework of both countries’ heads of state.
Figures from the Directorate General of Rwanda Immigration and Emigration shows that more than 12,000 people crossed through Rusizi border before COVID-19 emerged on daily basis.
These include informal cross-border traders, passengers using public transport buses from or to Bukavu town, pedestrians crossing for business reasons and truck drivers.
Every day, the Rusizi-Bukavu border was crossed by 150 cargo cars including 60 trucks before the pandemic which fuelled a drop in traffic to between 6,000 and 7,000 traders. The traffic for cargo cars also dropped to between 70 and 100 daily.
As he laid the foundation stone marking the beginning of construction activities of the a $22 million One Stop Border Post known as Rusizi II, the Governor of Western Province, François Habitegeko told IGIHE that the project will facilitate free movement of people and goods and improve service delivery as well.
“We need state-of-the art border infrastructure to improve services. Once completed, the latter is anticipated to increase traffic because we don’t want people to spend long time seeking clearance,” he said.
{{Investors urged to tap into presented opportunities}}
Rusizi One Stop Border Post is a joint project between Rwanda and DRC where both countries immigration and emigration officials will be operating in the same building.
This means, passengers will get movement clearance at one time from both sides.
Banking, customs clearance and foreign currency exchange will be among other services offered in the same building.
The Chairman of Private Sector in Rusizi district, Théophile Rugamba has told IGIHE that the one stop border post is expected to improve services and boost trade.
“The facility was long overdue as it is expected to improve services for Rwandans and Congolese. I would like to encourage fellow businesspeople to work together to tap into presented huge opportunities so that we can smoothly carry out our activities and increase exports to the country,” he said.
The Deputy Governor of Northern Kivu Province, Marc Malago Kashekere also stressed that the border facility will be beneficial for both country’s security and enhanced trade among others.
He made the revelation on Friday 3rd December 2021 as he presented national plans to recover the economy and boost national vaccination efforts.
As at 2nd December 2021, a total of 100,381 people had caught the virus out of 3,497,196 sample tests since COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Rwanda on 13th March 2020. Of these, more than 48,000 (48%) are men while men are 51,250 (52%).
Among others, 38347 people who tested positive are aged 29 while 62,034 (62%) are aged 30 and above.
The report from the Ministry of Health shows that 98,830 (98%) have recovered while 208 are active cases including 175 patients attended to through home-based care.
Moreover, 1343 have succumbed to the virus of whom 726 (54%) are men while 617 (46%) are women.
Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021 as part of the country’s response to the pandemic where the target of vaccine recipients might be reached before the set deadlines.
“The number of vaccine recipients increases gradually as fruitful results of rolled out campaign. As at 2nd December 2021, a total of 6,065,691 people (46%) had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine since the program began,” Premier Ngirente said.
Rwanda is among countries that hit the target of vaccinating 10% of their population by September 2021 as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Premier Ngirente said that Rwanda targets to cover 30% (3,915,533) of the population by December this year and 60% (7,831,066) by the end of next year.
“We are about exceeding these targets,” he revealed.
{{Increased vaccine recipients}}
Premier Ngirente said that the number of COVID-19 vaccine recipients are expected to reach 9,063,245 (69,4%) next year, following the country’s commitment to start administering vaccines to people in the age bracket between 12 and 17.
“All these people will have been vaccinated by December 2022 but we might hit the number before in consideration of expended efforts,” he revealed.
In Kigali City alone, more than 869,000 dwellers (89.2%) aged 12 and above have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine while 1,032,499 have received the first dose.
The vaccination efforts in the remaining parts of the country have seen 2,755,727 (34%) people fully vaccinated while 5,033,192 (62%) have received the first dose of COVID-19.
Rwanda has been administering eight types of COVID-19 vaccines. As at 2nd December 2021, the country had received 12,900,760 doses that can be used to vaccinate 6,736,220 people excluding the booster dose.
Rwanda received these doses through COVAX, a global initiative aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines, direct purchases while others were donated by partner countries.
