The accelerated international response to the current public health emergency is an illustration that when we combine our efforts, we have the capacity to prepare for future threats but also, to act on pre-existing ones. In that context, the Commonwealth, which has been leader on environment and climate change that continue to affect communities around the globe, could also play a key role in ensuring equitable access to and distribution of fairly priced COVID-19 vaccines.
The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to take place in June 2021, in Rwanda, under the theme “Delivering a common future: connecting, innovating, transforming”, will be an opportunity for Commonwealth Leaders to reflect on new forms of global governance while, also, assessing key decisions taken during CHOGM 2018. It will also be the occasion to build unified positions ahead of key upcoming events, including the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) scheduled for early November 2021, in Glasgow, UK.
It is indeed time to put our words into action, by making our governance models more inclusive; by making our health systems more resilient; by ensuring our economies and trade attain sustainable growth; by strengthening our social protection systems; by taking bold action on climate and by unlocking the advantages of technology for development.
We must adapt our national, regional and international systems to respond to both current and pressing challenges and as our talented and innovative young people will inherit this world, we shall do it with them, rather than for them.
Let us build on CHOGM’s momentum, to strengthen existing strategic partnerships and alliance as well as build new ones towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other major international commitments designed to preserve global common goods.
As we look ahead with optimism that the global health situation will improve over the next few months, Rwanda, as the youngest member of the Commonwealth family of Nations, is looking forward to welcoming all of you in your extended home.
Our national COVID-19 response has been focused on multi-sectoral collaboration and built upon regional and international responses. As we continue to strengthen our capabilities, be reassured that we will host you in a safe environment, in respect of all World Health Organization recommendations.
Murakaza neza mu Rwanda! (Welcome to Rwanda!)
{{The article was first published in Commonwealth Voices
The author (Hon Dr. Vincent Biruta) is Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation}}
Kagame revealed this today via Twitter handle as Rwanda celebrated Heroes Day for the 27th time.
He highlighted that the legacy of bravery that characterized Rwanda’s heroes should be upheld and passed on to future generations.
“Happy Heroes Day to every Rwandan. The selfless dedication to our country of the heroes we honour today, showed us what we can achieve. The nation we have is a result of their sacrifice. These are the values we must pass on to the next generations,” he said.
Kagame also thanked people who played role in containing Coronavirus pandemic noting that it has evidenced that everyone can be a hero.
“This pandemic has shown us that we are all capable of heroic acts. As we continue the fight against COVID-19 we thank the front line health workers, the security services for their heroic sacrifice and call on every citizen to keep each other safe,” he noted.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 14 784 people have been tested positive out of 864 349 sample tests of whom 9519 have recovered, 5077 are active cases while 188 have succumbed to the virus.
Since the pandemic emerged, Rwanda embraced several preventive measures including the closure of some activities, encouraging citizens to adhere to health guidelines, testing members of the public and setting up various infrastructure designed to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
Lowy Institute from Australia has recently ranked Rwanda the 6th among top ten global countries with efficiency in Covid-19 management. It is the first African country emerging on the top 10 list.
This year, Rwanda is celebrating Heroes Day for the 27th time.
Rwanda has been celebrating National Heroes Day since 1999, with heroes classified into three categories; Imanzi, Imena and Ingenzi.
Those classified in Imanzi are; late Gen. Maj Fred Gisa Rwigema former commandant of Rwanda Patriotic Army and Unknown Soldier.
Imena includes King Mutara III Rudahigwa, Michel Rwagasana, Agathe Uwiringiyimana, Félicité Niyitegeka and Nyange Students.
He made the criticism on Saturday 30th January 2021 during a talk show with One Nation Radio.
The Government of Rwanda has recently denounced claims by the United Kingdom (UK) which cited gaps in respecting human rights and put forward recommendations to improve human rights in the areas of rule of law urging the country to bring to book masterminds behind extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.
On 25th January 2021, the Minister of Justice and State Attorney General, Johnston Busingye presented Rwanda’s 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to the Human Rights Council.
Minister Busingye explained that Rwanda respected human rights principles in terms of freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of press; and freedom of association and of peaceful assembly.
He stated that the country has been efficiently implementing recommendations received in 2015.
Commenting on some organizations that have been accusing Rwanda of harassing opposition figures and journalists; Minister Busingye explained that it is untrue because Rwanda’s judiciary is independent and makes fair judgment.
After presenting the report; UK envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland Julian Braithwaite said that Rwanda still need to implement some recommendations to improve human rights record.
“The United Kingdom welcomes Rwanda’s strong record on economic and social rights, and promotion of gender equality. We remain concerned, however, by continued restrictions to civil and political rights and media freedom. As a member of the Commonwealth, and future Chair-in-Office, we urge Rwanda to model Commonwealth values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights,” he said.
Julian Braithwaite also recommended Rwanda to: ‘Conduct transparent, credible and independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture, and bring perpetrators to justice’.
Among others, he urged Rwanda to ‘Protect and enable journalists to work freely, without fear of retribution, and ensure that state authorities comply with the Access to Information law. Screen, identify and provide support to trafficking victims, including those held in Government transit centres’.
In response to these comments, Rwanda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland said that these recommendations are unfounded.
As he featured in a talk show with One Nation Radio, Nduhungirehe explained that genocide perpetrators continue to spread genocide which pushes for the need to arrest and bring them to book.
“Apprehending suspects of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a good gesture to render justice. However, it is better to fight against genocide trivialization, denial and ideology spread among children and others by perpetrators who fled to different parts of the world,” he said.
“The genocide ideology has been increasingly spread within the past 27 years because of impunity culture and failure to arrest perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi loitering freely,” added Amb. Nduhungirehe.
He also condemned countries with relenting efforts to bring genocide perpetrators to face justice but rather spend their time to teach Rwanda how to respect democracy and human rights.
“It is astonishing that some countries educating Rwanda on democracy and human rights didn’t take action. There countries which didn’t arrest or bring to book a single genocide fugitive despite the fact that they have a list of such individuals sent by the Government of Rwanda,” noted Nduhungirehe.
He observed that bringing to book genocide suspects is the first step to respecting human rights.
“Genocide is the worst crime, this means, fighting against the crime, arresting perpetrators who are wandering freely and spreading genocide ideology in these countries, is the first step towards striving for human rights. It is crucial that these Governments understand the need to work with us to render justice, fight against revisionism and denial of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” stressed Nduhungirehe.
Nduhungirehe explained that Rwanda, Netherlands currently enjoy cordial relations as a country that has been helping Rwanda to arrest and bring to book genocide fugitives.
“After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Netherlands helped Rwanda through non-governmental organizations established in Rwanda. It also opened embassy in Rwanda in 1995 and started cooperation in different areas […] they have provided great support in justice,” he said.
Apart from helping Rwanda to set up infrastructure in judicial sector, Nduhungirehe highlighted that Netherlands has been bringing genocide fugitives to book.
“Netherlands has so far tried two Rwandan genocide fugitives. These include Joseph Mpambara handed life sentence in 2011 and Yvonne Basebya handed 6 years and eight months sentence in 2013. Two more Rwandans including Jean Baptiste Mugimba and Jean Claude Iyamuremye alias Nzinga were deported to Rwanda as the process is underway to extradite more suspects namely; Charles Ndereyehe suspected to have perpetrated genocide in Huye and Venant Rutunga,”he said.
“There are nine more fugitives loitering freely. We continue to collaborate with Netherlands so that they can be arrested and deported to face justice in Rwanda,” added Nduhungirehe.
On Thursday this week, the United Kingdom added Rwanda and Burundi to its travel ban red list explaining that the decision is meant to prevent the spread of new variants of Covid-19. The variant has however not been reported in Rwanda.
A UK government statement on Thursday said that the decision to ban travel from both countries follows the discovery of a new coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, that may have spread to other countries, including the UAE, Burundi, and Rwanda, the UK said. The United Arab Emirates was also placed on the UK travel ban list.
“From 1 pm on Friday 29 January, passengers who have been in or transited through the United Arab Emirates, Burundi, and Rwanda in the last 10 days will no longer be granted access to the UK,” the statement says.
Following the travel ban, Rwanda has issued a statement explaining that the country has been respecting all health guidelines and requested the UK to clarify reasons behind such a decision.
“The Government of Rwanda has taken note of the UK Government announcement banning visitors who have been in, or transited through, Rwanda. Rwanda’s overall response to COVID-19 including testing, surveillance, contact tracing, containment, treatment, and reporting has been consistent, transparent, by third party entities. Rwanda is one of the few countries that require a PCR COVID-19 test for all departing passengers and all those in transit,” reads part of the statement.
“Notably, Rwanda did not join in the widespread of bans on travelers from UK in December 2020 over the variant discovered in parts of the UK. Considering the list of countries in the region affected and not affected by the ban, the spare information communicated to Rwanda does not stand up to scientific scrutiny. The Government of Rwanda looks forward to receiving clarifications on the motivations behind this arbitrary decision of the UK Government,” adds the statement.
Apart from Rwanda, other African countries on the red list include Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cap Vert, RDC, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Argentina, Bolivie, Brésil, Chile, Colombia, Equateur, Guyane Française, Guyane, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal Suriname, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Venezuela are among other countries put on the travel ban red list.
UK is the 5th country most affected by Coronavirus where 3,796,088 people have been tested positive of whom 105,571 succumbed to the virus.
The annual research known as Rwanda Bribery Index (RBI) is conducted to analyze the prevalence of bribery. Research outcomes were virtually presented on 28th January 2021 due to ongoing Coronavirus health guidelines.
The research showed that the prevalence of bribery among local leaders has extremely risen from 2.51% in 2019 to 4.90% in 2020 bringing local government entities on the 5th place among top corrupt institutions following Police traffic department, Private Sector, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and WASAC.
Despite the 5th place, the local government entities are however reported to have received hugest amount of bribes totaling to 74, 37% of all bribes taken last year.
The report shows that taken bribes are totaled to Rwf 19,213,188 of which Rwf 14,288,500 (74,37%) was received by local government entities.
As she presented research outcomes on Radio 10, the Chairperson of TI-RW, Ingabire Marie Immaculée explained that the rise in bribes among local government entities is due to the fact that local leaders were at the forefront of enforcing of COVID-19 preventive measures which provided a loophole for bribery.
“Corruption mostly upsurged by giving bribes to be allowed to breach COVID-19 prevention measures to run activities or move freely. These include allowing bars to operate as restaurants and shops within communities to continue activities violating curfew hours,” she said.
Ingabire explained that all these businesses operate beyond deadline hours or run bars camouflaged as restaurants because they bribed local leaders to remain silent.
Apart from COVID-19 loopholes, local leaders are also reported to take bribes while issuing land possession documents and in Girinka program among others.
Seeking quick service delivery, illegal services, evading the total cost of a particular service or offering bribes as the only alternative to get services are among top reasons people attributed to offering bribes.
The research also proved that 88, 1% of respondents in 2020 up from 86,8% in 2019 were reluctant to provide bribery related information which is considered a barrier to eradicating it.
Lack of knowledge of where to report bribery cases; fear to conflict with leaders, assuming that people gathering bribery information are corrupted are among other factors pushing people to remain silent.
In order to find a durable solution, Ingabire recommended zero tolerance to anyone reported in bribery cases and promoting technology in many possible services. He also encouraged the general public to be actively engaged in the fight against corruption and provide information whenever they are asked to give bribes.
Neglected tropical diseases are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affect more than 1.5 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 836 million children. Over 40% of the global NTD burden is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa.
NTDs rank among the four most devastating groups of communicable diseases.
In Rwanda, the most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), elephantiasis, taeniasis/ cysticercosis, podoconiosis and scabies and ectoparasites (Tungiasis) among others.
In order to contain devastating effects of such diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a summit aimed at ratifying ten-year plan (2021-2030) to end suffering from neglected tropical diseases.
A new World Health Organization (WHO) road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) proposes ambitious targets and innovative approaches to tackle 20 diseases which affect more than a billion mainly poor people and which thrive in areas where access to quality health service.
The overarching 2030 global targets including reducing by 90% the number of people requiring treatment for NTDs , at least 100 countries to have eliminated at least one NTD, eradicate two diseases (dracunculiasis and yaws), reduce by 75% the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to NTs, clean water and sanitation is scarce.
As he attended the launch of new 10-year plan to end suffering from neglected tropical diseases, President Kagame thanked WHO for introducing the plan highlighting that such diseases must be eradicated at all cost.
“These diseases cause pain and long-term disability. They also prevent children from reaching their full potential, both cognitively and physically. So it is very important that international community is rallying around this agenda for a decade of action, to attain the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
Kagame explained that integrating NTD medication into the national supply chain, down to the community level has the driving force for Rwanda to eliminate some of these diseases.
He also stressed need for domestic financing for the continent to combat the diseases.
“Investing in health is very good value for money. In this regard, allow me to stress the importance of increasing domestic financing for health, especially in Africa,” he said.
“Domestic health financing is a priority for the African Union, and progress is being tracked across member states on an annual basis,” added Kagame.
Sarkozy was the French president between 2007 and 2012. He is the only French president who visited Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on 25th February 2010.
At the time, he admitted that his country had made “grave errors of judgment” by France politicians in Opération Turquoise alluding to tragic history that befell Rwanda during the genocide.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that Sarkozy visit to Rwanda has been a good opportunity to visit some touristic attractions of the country especially gorillas in Virunga National Park which he visited on Thursday.
As he visited Rwanda in 2018, Sarkozy was along with a group of French investors who came to explore investment opportunities in the country. The business mission was composed of investors from French multinational firm Bolloré that included executive Cyrille Bolloré.
The visit yielded big that Vivendi Group, a subsidiary of Bolloré Holdings belonging to Cyrille Bolloré accepted to invest US$40 million in different projects at Kigali Cultural Village located in Rebero, Kicukiro district.
At the time, Sarkozy visited Inema Arts and spend one night in Rwanda. With his private jet, he resumed his journey to Abidjan in Ivory Coast.
Sarkozy is one of France leaders who strived to restore relations with Rwanda.
Three months later, President Paul Kagame also visited France as he attended the Francophonie Summit that took place in Nice.
He has been hailing Kagame’s leadership explaining that it takes extra-ordinary efforts to rebuild a country like Rwanda shaken by Genocide.
Kagame made the remarks today as he attended the virtual NEPAD@2020 Symposium that coincided with the organization’s 20-year anniversary since it was established 2001.
The President said that the organization has had a great contribution to African development with its mission to eradicate poverty and integrate Africa into the global economy, focusing on good governance.
Kagame highlighted that NEPAD has throughout the years remained focused to its mission.
“NEPAD’s values are part and parcel of the reform spirit we have seen in the African Union over the past several years, with good results,” he noted.
In 2018, NEPAD’s mission was changed to serve as the driving force for Africa to achieve Agenda 2063.
Kagame underscored that the organization’s structure and functioning gives it capacity lead development agenda.
“It is therefore no accident that NEPAD officially became the African Union Development Agency in 2018. NEPAD’s track record makes it the ideal institution to help lead implementation of Agenda 2063 on behalf of the African Union,” he said.
Kagame called on African countries to support the organization to achieve its mission.
“I thank the partners who have supported NEPAD over the last two decades, both in Africa and beyond. I call on Member States to continue supporting the multiple partnerships that AUDA-NEPAD has developed,” he enthused.
Kagame emphasized that backing Continental free Trade Area (CFTA) is of priority areas.
“Honouring our statutory commitments as Member States is not only our duty; it is good value for money. Doing so also facilitates resource mobilisation more broadly,” he said.
Kagame also thanked Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki for having led NEPAD with integrity and commitment for more than a decade and ‘for his extraordinary service to our organisation, and to our continent’.
NEPAD was created in in July 2001, NEPAD was created, few months after the African Union was founded to replace the Organisation of African Unity in May 2001.
NEPAD’s mission was to eradicate poverty and integrate Africa into the global economy, with a focus on good governance. It officially became the African Union Development Agency in 2018.
Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa are among countries that spearheaded the establishment of NEPAD. Many others rallied to the NEPAD cause in the following years.
On 25th January 2021, the Minister of Justice and State Attorney General, Johnston Busingye presented Rwanda’s 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to the Human Rights Council. Minister Busingye explained that Rwanda respected human rights principles in terms of freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of press; and freedom of association and of peaceful assembly.
He stated that the country has been efficiently implementing recommendations received in 2015.
Commenting on some organizations that have been accusing Rwanda of harassing opposition figures and journalists; Minister Busingye explained that it is untrue because Rwanda’s judiciary is independent and makes fair judgment.
“There are no prosecutions that target persons simply because they are politicians or journalists or human rights defenders, and the so-called political trials do not exist, nor are trials against journalists or human rights defenders just for being journalists or human rights defenders,” he said.
After presenting the report; UK envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland Julian Braithwaite said that Rwanda still need to implement some recommendations to improve human rights record.
“The United Kingdom welcomes Rwanda’s strong record on economic and social rights, and promotion of gender equality. We remain concerned, however, by continued restrictions to civil and political rights and media freedom. As a member of the Commonwealth, and future Chair-in-Office, we urge Rwanda to model Commonwealth values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights,” he said.
Julian Braithwaite also recommended Rwanda to: ‘Conduct transparent, credible and independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture, and bring perpetrators to justice’.
Among others, he urged Rwanda to ‘Protect and enable journalists to work freely, without fear of retribution, and ensure that state authorities comply with the Access to Information law. Screen, identify and provide support to trafficking victims, including those held in Government transit centres’.
{{Unfounded claims}}
Following these claims, Rwanda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland has via twitter handle said that these recommendations are unfounded.
“The Government of Rwanda regrets the unfounded recommendations put forward by the UK Mission in Geneva which have no basis in reality and go against established UPR peer protocol,” reads the message.
“And more importantly, Rwanda seeks, among other things, to improve the human rights situation on the ground. In the context of the UK’s silence regarding blatant violations of human rights elsewhere in the region, this baseless attack on a partner country is deeply unfortunate,” adds the message.
Human rights activists usually accuse Rwanda of detaining people in unofficial military detention centers where they are tortured, harassing opposition figures and journalists.
As he presented the UPR, Minister Busingye explained that such allegations by rights activists ‘are unfounded and motivated by the political interest and agenda of those who advance them’.
Rwanda has emerged the 6th among top ten countries in a COVID Performance Index of almost 100 countries for their successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with Britain and America near the bottom of the pile.
The Lowy Institute said its index published on Thursday excludes China, where the first cases were identified in December 2019, due to lack of publicly available data.
New Zealand, Vietnam and Taiwan have ranked the top three, while other countries in the top 10 include Thailand, Cyprus, Rwanda, Iceland, Australia, Latvia and Sri Lanka. These countries are said to have fewer reported cases and deaths both in aggregate and per capita terms.
In total, 98 countries were evaluated in the 36 weeks that followed their hundredth confirmed case of COVID-19, using data available to Jan. 9, 2021.
Fourteen-day rolling averages of new daily figures were calculated for confirmed cases, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per thousand people, the Lowy Institute said.
The report comes as world coronavirus cases surpass 100 million with the death toll exceeding 2 million.
The United States, with over 25 million confirmed cases, ranked 94 while India, with more than 11 million cases, was 86th. Britain, with the highest number of the deaths in Europe, stood at the 66th spot.
The index showed countries in Asia-Pacific proved the most successful in containing the pandemic as Europe and the United States were “quickly overwhelmed” by the rapid spread of COVID-19.
“Levels of economic development or differences in political systems between countries had less of an impact on outcomes than often assumed or publicised,” the Sydney-based Lowy Institute said in its analysis.
“In general, countries with smaller populations, cohesive societies, and capable institutions have a comparative advantage in dealing with a global crisis such as a pandemic.”
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 14 166 people have been tested positive out of 853,238 sample tests of whom 9042 have recovered, 4941 are active cases while 183 have succumbed to the virus.
Since the first case was reported, Rwanda has put in place several measures to contain the spread of the virus. These include sensitization to adhere to health guidelines, establishing hand washing facilities, intensifying testing for Covid-19, deploying robots in Coronavirus management among others.
In a bid to contain further spread of the virus, Rwanda imposed inter-district lockdown early January 2021 followed by lockdown in Kigali city which has been identified as the major hotspot for new Coronavirus cases.
The Ministry of Health has recently announced that the country acquired five freezers that capacitated the country to administer all types of Covid-19 vaccines which are already being used by some countries. As per reports from the Ministry of Health, Coronavirus vaccines are expected in March 2021. People exposed to risks of catching the virus like health workers and others with chronic diseases have priority to receive vaccine in the first batch.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
