In a press conference convened on Sunday, following his return from an official visit to Cuba and the United States, President Ndayishimiye sought to reassure the citizens about the resilience of his administration. While in New York, he participated in the United Nations General Assembly session.
In the preceding week, reports had surfaced suggesting an alleged plot to overthrow the Burundian government. These rumors gained traction due to unverified accounts claiming that President Ndayishimiye had issued an order to Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca to remove General Prime Niyongabo, the Chief of Defense Staff.
Moreover, additional reports indicated that the Prime Minister had purportedly resisted this directive, fueling speculations of potential discord within the government. It is important to note that the accuracy of these reports remains uncertain, yet they gave rise to concerns of a potential coup in the making.
In response, President Ndayishimiye firmly asserted that such rumors were propagated by individuals with malicious intent, aiming to tarnish Burundi’s international reputation.
“While we have faced similar challenges in the past, today our nation enjoys peace and stability. Rest assured, and continue your daily activities without any hindrance,” he stated.
Even before the President’s return, the Ministry of Security had attempted to allay concerns through social media, affirming that there was no imminent emergency situation to report.
Burundi has a history marked by several coup attempts, with nine recorded episodes to date, some successful while others were thwarted.
Maintaining high-quality education standards is a paramount concern in Rwanda, prompting regular inspections of both new and established schools. Schools that meet the necessary requirements are granted a license, typically valid for three years.
Key aspects considered during inspections include school infrastructure, such as a minimum of three classrooms for nursery schools and six classrooms for primary schools. Additionally, schools are required to possess adequate didactic materials to support both students and teachers in delivering a quality curriculum.
Vianney Augustine Kavutse, the Head of the Department for Basic Education and TVET Quality Assurance, emphasized that the welfare of learners is a primary focus during inspections.
Consequently, schools that fall short of these standards are temporarily suspended from offering education. Kavutse explained, “When we identify schools with significant deficiencies, we grant them one year to rectify these issues to enhance the quality of education. If a subsequent assessment confirms that the problems have been addressed, we may extend their license for two or three years.”
He further added, “In situations where alternatives would adversely affect children, such as the closure of schools with aging infrastructures, we prioritize the interests of the learners above all else.”
According to NESA data, out of the 85 nursery schools inspected from January to June 2022, only 65 were permitted to continue their operations, while 20 were denied licenses due to their failure to meet the necessary requirements. In addition to these, nine secondary schools that had applied for the introduction of advanced level science programs were also denied licenses for not meeting the stipulated standards.
Private schools faced challenges as well, with six of them being denied permission to place students who had passed national examinations, while 17 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools encountered similar issues.
Kavutse explained the process for schools grappling with such problems, stating, “Schools facing these challenges are restricted from enrolling new students and are given a year to make the necessary improvements. We cannot abruptly halt their operations; hence, we grant them a one-year grace period. During this time, we liaise with the district authorities to arrange alternatives for affected students or assist in resolving the issues.”
If schools successfully address these concerns, they are allowed to resume operations after the one-year grace period.
It’s worth noting that such issues are primarily reported among private schools and often lead teachers to seek employment opportunities in other institutions upon the suspension of their school’s operations.
NESA emphasizes the importance of timely planning for the establishment of new schools. Those intending to create schools must submit their license applications no later than May to allow sufficient time for inspections.
This enables authorities to determine whether the school can commence operations in the upcoming academic year.
Between June and September 2022, NESA conducted inspections on a total of 178 schools, including eight offering nursing courses, 40 TVET schools, and 138 primary schools.
The decision to support President Kagame’s candidacy was reached after he confirmed his intention to participate in the upcoming presidential polls scheduled for the following year.
PDI expressed its gratitude to Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, for accepting the call of Rwandans to continue their nation’s journey of rebuilding and to strengthen the gains in its development.
In a statement, PDI said, “After learning that President Kagame has agreed to run as a candidate in the 2024 elections, the party extends its heartfelt appreciation for his dedication to upholding Rwandans’ unity, safeguarding national sovereignty, and fostering the country’s development through consensual and inclusive democracy.”
The statement adds that the party’s endorsement of President Kagame aligns with a resolution made by its high council in Nyandungu, Kigali City, during preparations for the presidential elections in 2003. The resolution stated PDI’s commitment to support President Kagame whenever he is a candidate, ensuring the continuation of his leadership in the best interests of the nation.
It is noteworthy that PDI played a pivotal role in advocating for a constitutional amendment in 2015 to revise the article that previously restricted the head of state from seeking re-election.
President Kagame, who assumed office in 2000 and was first elected in 2003, is currently in his third term, set to conclude in 2024. The elections are scheduled for August of the same year.
In June of this year, the Parliament passed a constitutional amendment allowing Rwanda to conduct both presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently.
This harmonized approach is estimated to yield substantial cost savings, with the National Electoral Commission estimating up to Rwf 6 billion in savings.
Kazungu who appeared before court on Thursday 21st September 2023, for bail or remand hearing without defence lawyer demanded judges to proceed with the hearing ‘in camera’ citing reason of having committed serious crimes which he didn’t want to be aired in the media.
“I have committed serious crimes that I plan to confess but would not like to be announced through the media nor be a leading guidance to my fellow criminals on the way to do it.
Reasons being, I request to be tried in camera is that I myself accepted the alleged crimes and intend to share the whole truth.”
When asked to comment on the request, the prosecution rejected it citing lack of convincing reasons.
The judge ruled that the hearing be held in public. Kazungu is facing charges including manslaughter, rape,use of threats , hiding of human body and mutilation.
He is also being charged with armed robbery, forgery, and cyber crimes.
During preliminary investigation, it was established that Kazungu kept 12 bodies of the victims in a pit and the remaining two are still under investigation to know their whereabouts.
On the other hand, during the interrogation, Kazungu admitted to have killed 14 individuals including 13 women and 1 man.
The prosecution has accused Kazungu of having brought 14 individuals he killed from different places including Remera, Kimironk,Kabuga, Masaka and Rusororo to his residence in Busanza, a suburb in Kanombe Sector of Kicukiro District where he allegedly killed them.
They claimed that after luring victims to his residence, he would immobilize them, tie their hands and feet, use threatening words and then torture them with objects such hammer, a pair of scissors and a pen.
The prosecution showed that prior to killing these people, Kazungu had extorted money and valuables from them, and he had also forced them to provide their bank account numbers to transfer money to his accounts and phones.
It was also determined that a few of the victims that Kazungu killed were forced to write papers that they had sold their houses and land plots to him before being killed and dumped in a pit in his kitchen.
The prosecution told the court that during interrogation, Kazungu said he did not recall the names of all the people he killed apart from 4 identified as Eliane, Mbabazi, Clementine, Francoise and Eric Turatsinze who he started using as his identity after killing him.
This man confessed on raping only one woman who later escaped and was rescued by the neighbours. The woman in question testified to the persecution that she was indeed raped.
He had tricked her on a phone call pretending to be someone she already knew. After being lured into his house, he started threatening her with death.
The court was informed that other individuals apprehended with Kazungu included a woman known as ‘Code20’ and another known as ‘Code33,’ both of whom revealed that Kazungu had forced them to withdraw money.
When asked the reasons behind his merciless killing and burying them, Kazungu claimed they had transmitted HIV intentionally.
Considering the charges, the prosecution requested a 30-day remand for Kazungu, as it was deemed necessary to protect society from his criminal activities.
When asked his thoughts on the prosecution’s request for the remand, Kazungu told the court that ‘the guard is yours to keep or have it pass through your fingers’.
“Rising inflation has been putting pressure on the Global economy as we know, just as we rebuild from the pandemic. The result has been a tightening of monetary policy disproportionately impacting low and middle income countries.
Now is the time to come together to make the international financial system fit for purpose,” he stressed.
Kagame made the remarks during the High-Level Roundtable on International Financial Architecture on 19th, September, 2023, adding that it is a matter of real substance for Africa’s future, not a competition for geo-political influence which has been going on.
“We simply need fiscal space to finance our development and protect ourselves against climate and health shocks,” he explained.
Kagame further shared four examples on how ‘things can be done differently and better moving forward’.
Essentially, “we must accelerate the debt management process through the G20 common framework”.
Additionally, he encouraged rich countries to honour the commitment to allocate part of their special drawing rights to low income and developing countries on a need basis and not wealth.
Similarly, “international financial institutions need to significantly simplify and speed up the process of approving loan disbursements to enable private investments and financing as means of bridging the financing gap from multilateral banks,” he explained.
Ultimately, Kagame urged collaboration in addressing the ‘unfair’ payment of high risk premiums for developing countries which he termed as “extra costs that come on top of the ‘already high’ interest rates.”
Highlighting that the given examples are not forms of charity, Kagame applauded the efforts already in place that Rwanda has benefited from.
“Fortunately, the political will to change seems to be slowly emerging and we hope this trend gives us faster results. The bridgetown initiative and the Paris summit for a new Global financial pact are important examples.
Another important example is the IMF’s resilience and sustainability trust which happily Rwanda was among the first to benefit from,” he remarked.
The International Financial Architecture was crafted in 1945 after the Second World War designed by and for the industrialised countries of the post war period.
According to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, it is ‘failing the test’ as “halfway to the 2030 deadline, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are drifting further away by the day.
In May, the Secretary-General published a policy brief: Our Common Agenda (OCA) outlining recommendations on reforming the international financial and tax architecture.
To achieve this, the policy brief offers recommendations in six areas ; to reform and strengthen global economic governance, deliver debt relief and lower the cost of sovereign borrowing, scale up international public development and climate financing, strengthen the global financial safety net and provide liquidity to countries in need, reset the rules for the financial system, and to redesign the global tax architecture for equitable and inclusive sustainable development.
Belgium’s request to replace Ambassador Karega emerged after Rwanda had awaited his approval for long, according to Kagame.
While Rwanda respects Belgium’s right to reject a proposed ambassador, Kagame emphasized the importance of receiving clear explanations in such situations. He pointed out that Belgian officials provided unconvincing reasons for their decision.
The Rwandan President also revealed that it later became apparent that Belgium’s decision was influenced by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and not other undisclosed reasons.
Kagame connected this decision to the expulsion of Ambassador Karega by the DRC, stressing that it had nothing to do with Ambassador Karega’s character, as he was representing national interests during a period of tension between Rwanda and its neighboring country.
Kagame firmly stated that Rwanda would not replace Ambassador Karega with another ambassador in light of these circumstances.
Ambassador Karega left the DRC within 48 hours after being ordered to do so on December 31, 2022, but chose to depart before the deadline, exiting through Congo Brazzaville. On the same day, the DRC recalled its Chargé d’Affaires in Rwanda, Alice Kimpembe Bamba.
Belgium did not publicly announce the reasons for rejecting Ambassador Karega’s appointment.
The decision was leaked by Jambo News, an outlet associated with Jambo ASBL, a group consisting of children born to extremist Rwandan exiles accused of involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This leak sparked criticism on social media, with some users questioning whether Jambo News had become a communication channel for Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Belgium’s rejection of Ambassador Karega’s appointment marked another setback in the bilateral relationship between Rwanda and Belgium. This came after a previous misunderstanding in September 2021 regarding the case of Paul Rusesabagina, who was convicted of terrorism.
Rwanda had canceled a scheduled bilateral meeting with Belgium at the ministerial level during the United Nations General Assembly in New York in response to criticism from Sophie Wilmes, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, regarding Rusesabagina’s 25-year jail term.
Wilmes had expressed concerns about Rusesabagina’s trial, citing perceived flaws in the right to defense and the presumption of innocence. In response, the Rwandan Government accused Belgium of showing contempt toward Rwanda’s judicial system during the trial and highlighted the significant contribution of relevant Belgian institutions to the investigation. Rwanda emphasized that the victims of FLN’s terrorist acts deserved justice as much as Rusesabagina and his co-defendants, leading to the cancellation of the ministerial-level talks.
Rusesabagina was subsequently released on presidential clemency this year.
Following the rejection of Ambassador Karega’s appointment, Yolande Makolo, the government spokesperson, expressed regret over the decision and its potential negative implications for the bilateral relations between Rwanda and Belgium.
She criticized the Belgian government for appearing to capitulate to pressure from the DRC government and propaganda from negationist organizations and activists, through whom they chose to leak the decision.
The inscription of Nyungwe National Park serves as a vital step in ensuring its long-term conservation, preserving its natural heritage for future generations, and promoting sustainable development for neighbouring communities.
Established as a natural reserve in 1933, the forest became a national park in 2005 in a bid by the government to bolster its protection and safeguard the thousands of endangered and endemic species it harbours.
Covering an expanse of 101,900 hectares, Nyungwe National Park stands as the largest block of natural forest in the region. Boasting remarkable biodiversity, it is home to over a dozen species of primates, 322 bird species, 200 identified orchids, and nearly 300 butterfly species, including several endemic to the park.
The management of the park falls under the hands of the African Parks Network, a non-governmental organisation specialising in conservation, in partnership with the Rwandan Government.
Speaking after the inscription, Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement who was representing the Government of Rwanda, welcomed the development highlighting that it is not only a contribution to the preservation of Rwanda’s natural heritage, but also of particular significance to the Rwandan people, ‘for whom it is the first site inscribed on this universal list’.
The inscription of Nyungwe National Park into the UNESCO World Heritage list follows the inclusion of Gishwati-Mukura National Park in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2020.
This recognition builds upon the long-established presence of the Volcanoes Biosphere Reserve in northwest Rwanda, which has been a part of the network since 1983.
Together, these designations underscore Rwanda’s commitment to conserving its natural heritage and contributing to global conservation efforts.
During the second quarter, the service sector contributed 45% of GDP, agriculture contributed 27%, industry contributed 20%, while net direct taxes accounted for 7%. The agriculture sector did not exhibit any growth when compared to the second quarter of 2022. Within agriculture, export crops increased by 2%, buoyed by a 14% increase in tea production, although coffee production decreased by 11%. The production of food crops decreased by 3% due to a lower harvest in Season A of 2023 compared to Season A of 2022.
The industry sector grew by 6%, contributing 1.1 percentage points to the overall GDP growth. Within the industry, mining and quarrying activities increased by 7%, manufacturing activities grew by 8%, while construction activities increased by 4%.
The growth in manufacturing is primarily attributed to a 9% increase in food processing, a 6% increase in the manufacturing of metal products, machinery, and equipment, a 14% increase in the manufacturing of chemicals, rubber, and plastic products, a 32% increase in the manufacturing of wood and paper printing, and a 9% increase in the manufacturing of non-metallic minerals. However, manufacturing of beverages decreased by 2%.
The service sector increased by 10%, contributing 4.8 percentage points to overall GDP growth. Within services, wholesale and retail trade increased by 6%, while transport services increased by 8%.
Among other services, hotel and restaurant services increased by 7%, information and communication services increased by 37%, financial services increased by 5%, professional, scientific, and technical activities increased by 1%, real estate activities increased by 2%, while education services increased by 28%, public administration increased by 21%, and health services increased by 7%.
In the second quarter of 2023, total final consumption expenditure increased by 3%, with household final consumption decreasing by 4%, while government final consumption increased by 31%. Exports of goods and services increased by 23%, while imports of goods and services decreased by 4%. Gross Capital Formation decreased by 9%.
However, it’s crucial to scrutinize the credibility of these allegations, many of which are rooted in events that transpired over 25 years ago during the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
As of the most recent data from the Human Rights Commission, prison overcrowding in Rwanda currently stands at a rate of 124%. But can this overcrowding genuinely be linked to such gruesome acts of cannibalism?
It’s important to note that there is no concrete evidence to substantiate these rumors.
In fact, this is not the first time such claims have surfaced. Back in 2015, the Indian newspaper “Zeenews” reported on similar allegations, followed by coverage in various smaller media outlets.
These rumors reemerged in 2022, this time in the British newspaper ‘The Mirror’, and subsequently picked up by other publications like the ‘Daily Star’.
Muhanga Prison has the capacity of 3,063 detainees but currently houses 6,441 inmates, leading to an estimated overcrowding rate of 227.5%.
Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), the national body responsible for prisons, firmly maintains that there have been no reported cases of cannibalism in the country’s prison facilities.
To provide a more accurate picture of the situation, IGIHE has gathered testimonies from former Rwandan officials who unequivocally refute the notion of cannibalism at Muhanga Prison in the context of prison overcrowding.
Pierre Célestin Rwigema, a former Prime Minister from 1995 and the current representative of Rwanda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), emphasizes that no such incidents occurred during his tenure.
He underscores that cannibalism is entirely incompatible with the cultural values of the Rwandan people.
Sheikh Abdul Karim Harelimana, who served as the Interior Minister in 1996 with oversight of all prisons in Rwanda, corroborates that while prison overcrowding was indeed a reality, hunger never compelled prisoners to resort to cannibalism.
“Prison overcrowding did exist, it is true, but no prisoner has ever eaten another,” he assured IGIHE.
The Rwandan government is actively addressing the issue of prison overcrowding by constructing new facilities, providing alternative sentences, and employing electronic bracelet technology to monitor criminals instead of resorting to incarceration.
These measures demonstrate the commitment to safeguarding human rights and dispelling the baseless rumors that have circulated about Muhanga Prison.
Kagame made these remarks during the SDG Digital Day on September 17, 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York while commending the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for hosting the AI for Good Global Summit earlier this year.
“To cross the finish line and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to leverage the power of this technology. We have to keep in mind that it must work for us, not against us,” he said.
“We will need a collective and coordinated approach to AI governance frameworks, which protect everyone, everywhere,” Kagame added.
The SDG Digital Day was part of the SDG weekend convened by the Secretary-General to “generate opportunities for stakeholders, UN entities, and member states to set out commitments and contributions to drive SDG transformation.”
The SDG weekend was organized ahead of the SDG Summit, which coincided with the 2023 SDG Summit hosted by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the midpoint on the road to 2030.
According to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the latest SDG report indicates that without ‘accurate data,’ even well-intentioned programs and initiatives are working in the dark.
The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to provide a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
Kagame further highlighted Rwanda’s support for ITU’s call to the public and private sectors to increase their pledges for the ‘Partner2Connect’ Digital coalition to one hundred billion dollars by 2026.
“In Rwanda, through the GIGA initiative, spearheaded by ITU and UNICEF [United Nations International Children’s Fund], we are seeing firsthand the value of partnership. The pilot project in 63 schools has made connectivity faster and cheaper,” he remarked.
“Africa is blessed to have a young and vibrant population which is passionate about entrepreneurship and self-improvement; hence, the digital divide should not stifle their creativity and productivity,” added Kagame.
‘Partner 2Connect’ is a coalition led by ITU to raise funding through bold partnerships for meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation by 2026. To date, 30 billion has been raised, with almost half of it allocated to enhancing digital connectivity in least-developed countries.
“How can we expect people to leverage technology for healthcare, innovation, education, or employment if they cannot afford a digital device or service, lack the required digital skills, do not find the content useful, or do not feel safe online?” wondered Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General.
