Rwanda and CAR have been for long enjoying cordial relations whereby Rwanda is helping the country engulfed by wars to restore peace. Rwandan troops have been deployed to CAR peacekeeping mission since 2014. On 20th December 2020, Rwanda deployed more special forces to CAR under existing bilateral cooperation signed in 2019.
The CEO of RwandAir, Yvonne Makolo has told IGIHE that dates for the scheduled flights remain unknown because preparations are ongoing.
RwandAir will reach CAR through Douala in Cameroon.
“We are undergoing preparations that we plan to start flights next month if everything goes well. We have not yet identified the starting date because we are still trying to get all permits,” she said.
Previously, it was a complicated process to fly to Bangui. For instance, a passenger departing from Kigali with RwandAir would land to Kampala, Uganda for at least 30 minutes before resuming the flight to Kenya. Upon arrival in Kenya, a passenger would depart with Kenya Airways to reach M’poko airport in Bangui.
One of people living in CAR has told IGIHE that anticipated flights will facilitate movements to other countries.
IGIHE has learnt that RwandAir will operate the first flight to Bangui in the first week of February 2021 even though the carrier didn’t reveal it.
CAR covers a land area of about 620,000 square kilometres and has an estimated population of around 4.7 million. As of 2020, the country is the scene of a civil war, ongoing since 2012.
The Central African Republic’s economy is based primarily on subsistence agriculture, with important mining and timber industries the main source of export earnings. Diamonds are the country’s most profitable export, while agriculture occupies most of its working population.
Farmers grow cotton, coffee, and tobacco for export and crops for local markets, but economic development is handicapped by the CAR’s landlocked position, limited infrastructure, and the low education of its work-force. Poor government management and political instability have further weakened the CAR’s economic condition. The informal sector is important in the CAR, accounting for most economic activity and a large share of the diamond trade.
CAR has had a turbulent economic history. Since gaining independence in 1960, the economy has endured intermittent periods of economic decline caused in part by poor management.
The opening of flights might present a huge market opportunity for businesspersons as the country heavily depends on imports.
Related story: https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwandair-in-new-expansion-drive
During a talk show aired on Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije explained that people have been complacent for the past few days which triggered the surge in new Coronavirus cases.
He has revealed this following the cabinet meeting held yesterday on 18th January 2021 which took stringent measures to contain spread of the virus.
The meeting has placed Kigali city under lockdown for two weeks, a decision that will be reviewed upon health assessment. All public and private schools in the city have been also closed.
“We have registered over 142 people have succumbed to Coronavirus up to date of whom 65% died in the past 50 days. This means, the situation worsened and it is apparent to everyone,” said Dr. Ngamije.
“To slow down the upsurge in new Coronavirus cases, we need strict measures like the ones the Government has taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by President of the Republic,” he added.
To date, all schools in Kigali are closed while unnecessary movements are prohibited except for essential services including medical/ healthcare, food shopping, banking etc and for the personnel performing such services. All movements will require an approved permit from Rwanda National Police.
Travel between Kigali and other provinces and districts of the country is not permitted, except for essential services and tourism (tourists must possess negative Covid-19 test results).
Public transport in Kigali is prohibited, however transportation of food and essential goods will continue to function. Motos and bicycles are not permitted to carry passengers, but may offer delivery services.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 11 259 people have been tested positive out of 799,817 sample tests of whom 7412 have recovered, 3701 are active cases while 146 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
The journalist also said that RPF Inkotanyi soldiers shot the airplane of former President of Rwanda, Habyarimana Juvenal which is considered a biased argument not informed by research.
Through her foundation dubbed ‘Yolande Mukagasana’ , she has written a letter protesting acts of Judi Rever who tends to use ‘freedom of expression’ for activities that might be likened with propaganda that characterized the media before and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“Freedom of expression” was used as a weapon to expedite the 1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda. Today, Judi Rever uses this same concept to deny the genocide.
In the years leading to 1994, media outlets and tabloids belonging to to Hutu extremists used the noble concept of ‘Freedom of Expression’ as a weapon while the world stood idly by and watched it happen.
The infamous Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), the Kangura newspaper which published the ten Hutu Commandments, and many others were used by these extremist groups.
In the aftermath of the genocide, a number of journalists were found guilty of genocide extremism related crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The sentenced media practitioners included a foreign journalist, George Ruggiu, condemned to 12 years in prison.
Through an open letter, Yolande Mukagasana Foundation has explained that there should be no excuse for people lagging behind freedom of expression to undermine genocide.
“Today, we cannot, in no way, tolerate revisionists and genocide deniers who use freedom of expression as an excuse to manipulate historical facts by, for instance, labeling Rwanda’s liberation movement as criminals. We cannot allow 26 years of continuous lies and torture imposed on genocide survivors to go unchecked and unchallenged. Most of their manipulation and denialism amount to criminal acts that deserve to be condemned and in several cases, tried,” reads part of the letter.
The letter further states the journalist Rever didn’t prove researched evidences whereby her witnesses are deemed spurious.
The foundation recalled that the genocide against the Hutus which would have been committed by the Tutsi was announced for the first time in an article written by “l’Association des Femmes Parlementaires pour la Défense des Droits de la Mère et de l’Enfant” in collaboration with Dr. Mugesera Léon. The article, titled “The Whole Truth About the October 1990 Rwanda War” was published in February 1991.
“The war of the RPF is to restore the dictatorship of the extremism of the minority Tutsi based on a genocide, the extermination of the Hutu majority,” the article reads in part.
The authors of this article, starting with Dr. Léon Mugesera, who was sentenced to life imprisonment played a role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The planners of the genocide against the Tutsi devised this ideology to make Hutus fear and hate Tutsis. They then used state institutions to turn fear and hatred into the myriad acts of hunting, rape and massacres that made up the Genocide against Tutsi.
In his book “When Victims Become Killers”, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, scholar and author of several books, points out that “Most genocides have been rationalized, mobilized, organized, explained as preventive actions; do to them what they will do to you before they do it to you. ”
Judi Rever supports this conspiracy theory announced by Professor Mahmood Mamdani.
Based on such acts, Yolande Mukagasana Foundation has called for action to condemn the Canadian journalist.
“The genocide against the Tutsi was not a crime by ignorant people. It was planned and coordinated by intellectuals, politicians, and the military. Journalists contributed to it, such as Judi Rever and Stéphan Bureau, who gave it a platform by disseminating its insults and denialism without qualms, shame or scruples,” reads the letter.
The foundation also calls on Canada, through its ambassador to Rwanda to ‘make a comment on what we denounce with anger and indignation and tell us if as a country, they support genocide denial as promoted by some Canadian journalists’.
“In Canada, the country of Judi Rever and Stéphan Bureau, no one can dare claim that the Jews disguised themselves as Nazis and murdered their own families. No one would have the heart to question the testimonies of Holocaust survivors by accusing them of disseminating an “official version of history which would suit the State of Israel.” Why would this be allowed when it comes to the history of Rwanda? How can Canada allow this? We need to understand, but don’t come and tell us that it is freedom of expression because we know it from having lived in Rwanda in 1994,”reads the letter.
The Yolande Mukagasana Foundation is an independent foundation promoting research on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Among its various objectives is, in the very first line, the fight against revisionism and genocide denial, as well as a determined fight against the genocidal ideology which is hidden under these multiple acts of denial.
“Consequently, we strongly condemn both Radio Canada for having offered a platform for evil, and the shameful remarks that deny and trivialize the genocide made by Judi Rever and Stéphan Bureau: their comments, hidden behind the curtain of ‘freedom of expression’, insult the memory of genocide survivors and all Rwandans of good will,” concludes the letter.
The resolution of the virtual cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame is part of stringent measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic which has been on steady rise.
Kigali city has been the major hotspot for surging Coronavirus cases where 862 COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths were recorded between 11th January to 17th January 2021.
“Upon health assessment of the recent unprecedented rise in cases, deaths and transmission rates in the community, the cabinet called on Rwandans to heighten vigilance in observing COVID-19 health guidelines in order to slow the spread of the virus,” reads part of a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister.
“The surge in cases specifically in the City of Kigali has necessitated a lockdown. Citizens are urged to significantly reduce social interactions and limit movements only to essential services,” adds the statement.
{{Specific measures in the City of Kigali }}
a) Unnecessary movements including visits outside home are prohibited except for essential services including medical/ healthcare, food shopping, banking etc and for the personnel performing such services. All movements will require an approved permit from Rwanda National Police. A complete list of essential services will be shared by the Ministry of Local Government.
b) Travel between Kigali and other provinces and districts of the country is not permitted, except for essential services and tourism (tourists must possess negative Covid-19 test results).
c) Public transport is prohibited, however transportation of food and essential goods will continue to function. Motos and bicycles are not permitted to carry passengers, but may offer delivery services.
d) All employees (public and private) shall work from home, except for those providing essential services.
e) Businesses are closed, except distribution and delivery services as well as those selling food, medicine, (pharmacies), hygiene and cleaning products, fuel, and other essential items but will operate at 30% capacity. Businesses permitted to operate must close by 6pm.
f) Restaurants and cafés will only provide take-away service.
g) All schools (public and private) including universities are closed however remote learning is encouraged.
h) Places of worship are closed.
i) Kigali International Airport will remain open, arriving passengers must present a negative PCR taken within 120 hours prior to their first departure. Departing passengers must present a negative PCR test before departure.
j) Designated hotels for arriving passengers will remain open under strict COVID-19 prevention measures. RDB will share complete list of approved hotels.
k) Tourism activity will continue in strict adherence with COVID-19 health guidelines. This includes hotels, tour operators and transport services facilitating guests. Tourists and service providers shall inform RDB of itineraries.
l) Hotels will only host essential conferences upon written approval from RDB. Detailed guidelines will be provided by RDB.
m) Farming will continue for the ongoing agricultural season while observing COVID-19 control measures.
n) Funeral gatherings should not exceed 15 persons.
{{Measures in the remaining part of the country }}
a) Movements are prohibited from 6pm to 4pm.
b) Places of worship are closed.
c) Schools will continue while respecting COVID-19 control measures.
d) All social gatherings and events including religious wedding ceremonies, receptions, meetings, and conferences are prohibited.
e) Public gyms and swimming pools shall be restricted from the public with the exception of tested guests staying at hotels.
f) Attendance at a wake / vigil (Ikiriyo) should not exceed 10 people at any one time.
g) Funeral gatherings should not exceed 15 persons.
h) Gaming activities remain prohibited.
These measures will take effect immediately to be reviewed after 15 days upon a health assessment.
Related story: https://en.igihe.com/news/article/total-lockdown-looms-if-violation-of-covid-19-preventive-measures-persists
The decision was announced one day before pupils in Pre Primary and Lower Primary School (P1-3) were supposed to resume studies on 18th January 2021 following ten months of suspension due to COVID-19 pandemic.
In a talk show aired on Rwanda Television; the Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya explained that the decision was meant to contain the steady rise of new Coronavirus infections in Kigali.
“It is true that the decision concerns the City of Kigali because new Covid-19 cases have been extremely increasing. This is additional to registered deaths,” she said.
“After an assessment in consultation with the Ministry of Health, we have established that it is necessary to close public and private schools including nursery, primary, secondary, vocational and international schools effective from Monday 18th January 2021. An assessment will be done after two weeks to decide if these schools can reopen,” added Dr. Mujawamariya.
She explained that boarding students in Kigali city will stay and continue to receive possible support to revise courses.
MINEDUC has revealed that courses will continue out of Kigali that nursery and primary schools are set to resume studies on scheduled dates.
“Studies are continuing in other parts of the country. This means, learners in this category will resume courses. Parents should continue to prepare children,” she noted.
On 7th January 2021, MINEDUC announced that pupils in Pre Primary and Lower Primary School (P1-3) would resume studies on 18th January 2021 following ten months of suspension due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Uwamariya however explained that the decision would be assessed in accordance with the prevalence of COVID-19 infections and advises from the Ministry of Health.
New COVID-19 infections continue increase whereby Rwanda has recorded 1402 cases and 22 deaths from 11th to 17th January 2021. The majority of new cases were found in Kigali city with highest figures of new infections which started increasing gradually towards the end of last year.
The Ministry of Health shows that 862 COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths were recorded in Kigali in one week.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 11 032 people have been tested positive out of 796 867 sample tests of whom 7363 have recovered while 3527 are active cases while 142 have succumbed to the pandemic.
In a statement released yesterday, MINEDUC explained that the decision concerning public and private schools must go into effect on Monday 18th January 2021.
According to MINEDUC, the directive taken after consultation with the Ministry if Health was taken to prevent upsurging COVID-19 cases especially in Kigali city.
“Boarding students in schools located in Kigali city will stay and continue to receive essential services,” reads part of the statement. “All schools out of Kigali will continue to operate as usual in adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures,” adds the statement.
These measures will be reviewed after two weeks upon health assessment.
On 7th January 2021, MINEDUC announced that pupils in Pre Primary and Lower Primary School (P1-3) would resume studies on 18th January 2021 following ten months of suspension due to COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, the Minister of Education, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine requested parents to start preparations for anticipated reopening.
“Children from nursery schools and lower primary schools (P1 to P3) will resume studies on 18th January 2021. Parents and students should start preparations to be ready by that time,” she said.
Dr. Uwamariya however explained that the decision would be assessed in accordance with the prevalence of COVID-19 infections and advises from the Ministry of Health.
New COVID-19 infections continue increase whereby Rwanda has recorded 1402 cases and 22 deaths from 11th to 17th January 2021. The majority of new cases were found in Kigali City with highest figures of new infections which started increasing gradually towards the end of last year.
The Ministry of Health shows that 862 COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths were recorded in Kigali in one week.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 11 032 people have been tested positive out of 796 867 sample tests of whom 7363 have recovered while 3527 are active cases while 142 have succumbed to the pandemic.
In a bid to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the Government ordered the closure of all schools that saw all students returning home in March 2020.
Universities and higher learning institutions were allowed to reopen in September 2020 under strict COVID-19 control measures.
In October 2020, the Ministry of Education announced 2nd November as the reopening date for learners in primary 5 and 6 classes. Students from ordinary level, senior 5 and 6 also resumed studies the same day.
The second batch started the second term on 23rd November 2020. This includes learners in primary 4 classes, and secondary school students from senior 1, 2 and 4.
The current MINEDUC timetable shows that students will start the third term on 19th March 2021 to end on 9th July 2021.
The second term’s holidays will run from 3rd April to 15th April 2021. Finalists in primary schools, ordinary level and senior six are expected to sit for national exams in July 2021.
New patients were found in Kigali: 128, Kirehe: 13, Gatsibo: 10, Rwamagana: 6, Rulindo: 6, Musanze: 5, Rubavu: 5, Gicumbi: 4, Huye: 2, Nyaruguru: 1, Ngoma: 1 and Nyagatare: 1.
New COVID-19 infections continue increase whereby Rwanda has recorded 1402 cases and 22 deaths from 11th to 17th January 2021. The majority of new cases were found in Kigali City with highest figures of new infections which started increasing gradually towards the end of last year.
The Ministry of Health shows that 862 COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths were recorded in Kigali in one week.
Following the gradual increase in the City of Kigali, the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has closed nursery, primary and secondary schools from Kigali City and advised students to attend classes online.
In a statement released yesterday, MINEDUC explained that public and private schools are required to respect the decision effective from 18th January 2021.
Students in boarding schools will however stay at school while schools out of Kigali City will continue to operate in adherence to COVID-19 health guidelines.
These measures will be reviewed after two weeks upon health assessment.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 11 032 people have been tested positive out of 796 867 sample tests of whom 7363 have recovered while 3527 are active cases while 142 have succumbed to the pandemic.
The directive is announced 11 months after the Government of Rwanda has been handling COVID-19 tests and treatment for free.
With the decision, Covid-19 management will be integrated in the existing health management for treatment and will use health insurance schemes.
The latter allows health facilities to start billing, processing invoices and requesting compensation by health insurance.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health in charge of Primary Healthcare, Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga has told IGIHE that insurance companies have accepted to cater for the cost of Coronavirus treatment as the pandemic has spread out across the country.
“Coronavirus has spread across the country; patients can now get treatment from various health facilities. We have already engaged with insurance companies operating in Rwanda which have expressed interest in catering for treatment cost. This will be helpful to people given that health facilities where they have been seeking medical attention for various diseases like Asthma and HIV are closer to their communities,” he said.
Previously, the cost of treatment of Covid-19 cases in public treatment centers was handled by the government and free for patients.
Dr Mpunga has explained that the decision to integrate Coronavirus treatment cost into health insurance schemes was taken due to extremely up surging cases.
“The Government has been catering for treatment cost for 11 months but financial constraints are apparently increasing that it cannot continue catering for total costs,” he said.
In September 2020, the Government of Rwanda initiated home based care to follow up COVID-19 patients from their homes. Latest figures from the Ministry of Health shows that 2800 people are attended to under this approach.
On 17th December 2020, the Ministry of Health authorized public health facilities across the country to conduct COVID-19 tests to facilitate rapid testing to a large number of people.
A total of 42 private health facilities across the country are allowed to use rapid diagnostic tests which are priced at not more than Rwf10,000.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March last year. Since then, 10,850 people have been tested positive out of 791,472 sample tests of whom 7193 have recovered, 3517 are active cases while 140 have succumbed to the pandemic.
The drainage collects waste and rainwater from homes in the sectors of Nyamirambo, Gitega and Kimisagara all in Nyarugenge, towards River Nyabugogo.
The drainage channel that had lacked sustainable management of water from the sectors surrounding the drainage would be clogged by too much water during heavy rains, hence destroying several properties including homes, merchandises among others in its surroundings.
Under the project design, Mpazi drainage channel will be expanded while two major bridges are widened to enable direct flow of drainage water into River Nyabugogo.
As IGIHE visited construction sites; Engineer Fidèle Tuyisenge, the Water and Sanitation Infrastructure planning Officer at the City of Kigali said that construction activities currently stand at 54%.
“Construction activities are underway at 54%. We are upgrading drainage channel linking two bridges in Nyabugogo. We initially had to build an elevated bridge with desired heights so that water can directly flow into River Nyabugogo appropriately,” he said.
Two major bridges on Mpazi drainage channel including one located near the area known as ‘Ku Mashyirahamwe’ and another one in the vicinity of ‘Poids Lourds’ will be completed at a cost of Rwf 7.9 billion.
Eng.Tuyisenge explained that construction activities were stalled by Coronavirus pandemic as some materials would be imported.
“We experienced shortage of steels that we used to import due to measures implemented to contain the spread of Coronavirus. Moreover, local factories were unable to meet the country’s demand including works at Mpazi drainage channel. This hindered smooth execution but we are currently on track,” he said.
Construction activities at Mpazi drainage channel provide jobs to 150 people every month.
Apart from Mpazi, Kigali city also plans to upgrade 40 drainage channels from Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge districts at cost of Rwf 30 billion.
Funded by Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), Mpazi project will improve the resilience of the Nyabugogo area to flooding by enhancing the hydraulic conveyance capacity of Mpazi channel and Nyabugogo River. It will have a flood monitoring system as well as monitoring water flow within the Nyabugogo floodplain.
News about his death circulated today morning. He has died at the age of 57.
Speaking to IGIHE; Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, has confirmed that Dr. Kigabo died in Kenya.
“It is true that he has passed on. We are still trying to reach out to his family for further information,” she said.
Pastor Irakiza Rweribamba Isaac, the elder brother of late Kigabo has told IGIHE that Dr. Kigabo succumbed to Coronavirus which he caught last week.
Dr. Kigabo was also a board member of Economic Policy Research Network Rwanda (EPRN).
Thomas Kigabo Rusuhuzwa holds a Ph.D in monetary, finance and international economics at University of LYON 2/France and Masters in Applied Mathematics. He joined the National Bank of Rwanda in 2007 as Chief economist, after serving many years as Director, academic affairs and Rector of Kigali Independent University.
Kigabo has been teaching following courses at the same university but also at University of Rwanda and Jomo Kenyata University at bachelor, masters and PHD levels: econometrics, monetary economics, applied mathematics and microeconomics.
He has an extensive experience in research in different areas including monetary policy, financial inclusion, issue related to financial sector development, development economics and regional integration among others.
Kigabo supervised or co-supervised PHD students in Rwanda and in different universities in Europe.
As chief economist of the National Bank of Rwanda, Dr. Kigabo played an important role in formulation and implementation of monetary policy in Rwanda and Government of Rwanda economic policies as well as the development of financial sector. He also played important role in negotiation of policies with different stakeholders including the International Monetary Funds and the World Bank.
