Upon his appointment, the Secretary-General has extended his appreciation and gratitude to the former Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe of Cameroon, as well as to the Deputy Executive Secretary, Programme Support, Antonio M. A. Pedro of Mozambique, who will continue to serve as Acting Executive Secretary until Mr. Gatete assumes his functions.
Amb. Gatete is currently Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations in New York.
A seasoned economist, he brings to the position extensive strategic leadership expertise, coupled with international experience in the political and financial landscape of the African continent.
Amb. Gatete has served in senior government positions, notably as Minister of Infrastructure (2018-2022) and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (2013-2018).
He has also served as Governor (2011-2013) and Deputy Governor (2009-2011) of the National Bank of Rwanda, Rwanda’s Central Bank, and Secretary General and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Rwanda (2003-2005).
He was Director General for Economic and Social Affairs in the Office of the President of Rwanda (2000-2003), during which time, he served as the President’s Representative to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and Coordinator of the National African Peer Review Mechanism.
Amb.Gatete began his diplomatic career in 2005 and was based in London until 2009 as Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Iceland. Prior to this, he served as National Economist of the United Nations Development Programme in Kigali (1998-2000) and Economist of Agriculture and Agri-Food and of Statistics Canada, in Ottawa, Canada (1993-1997).
Amb.Gatete holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of British Columbia in Canada. He is fluent in English with working knowledge of French.
On the same occasion, Ms. Minako Shiotsuka, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Grant Agreement (G/A) with Minister Ndagijimana for the same project.
The project will contribute to the improvement of traffic flow and safety in Kigali through the development of a traffic control system and signal control system together with intersection improvements. The population of Kigali will considerably benefit from the project as it will reduce congestions which will make it timesaving.
The works will include the installation of traffic lights at selected 20 junctions with connecting the fiber network and establish the traffic control center in the City of Kigali which will have the interconnection with the traffic police system. The project will also work on the improvement of intersections to improve the traffic flow.
Commenting on the development, Minister Ndagijimana said, “The intelligent transport system will be a game changer in terms of reducing congestion improving safety, mobility, convenience and efficiency of transport within and through Kigali. Efficient and sustainable transport systems are critical for accelerating trade, which benefits businesses and boosts the economy.”
Ambassador Fukushima said that Rwanda, as a landlocked country, has an integral role to play as the nodal point between the ‘Central and Northern Corridor’.
Rwanda is expected to expedite the trade in the region and continent under The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“It is the sincere hope of the Government and the people of Japan that this Grant assistance will contribute to improve the lives of Rwandan people and economic development of the country,” Ambassador Fukushima concluded.
The project is aligned with “Ease of mobility and efficient transport “in the fourth pillar ‘Urbanizations and Agglomeration’ in the Vision 2050, aiming at ‘Economic Growth and Prosperity’ and ‘High Quality and Standards of Life for Rwandans’.
Japan has been supporting the Government of Rwanda in the infrastructure sector through JICA, mainly developing the economic infrastructures such as one-stop border post, road improvements, improvement of Substations and Distribution Network, and in water sector, strengthening water supply infrastructure, and operation and maintenance of water supply system through grant aid project as well as technical cooperation.
Inzovu Mall will be situated opposite the Kigali Convention Center, ensuring it becomes a beacon for international visitors. With Kigali’s population growing at an annual rate of 4 percent, this development aims to meet the rising demand for commercial, office, and convention space within the city.
IFC and Proparco are injecting $17.5 million each into this transformative project, which boasts a multifaceted approach. Inzovu Mall is expected to be completed to the tune of $68 million. It will encompass a shopping and entertainment area, serviced apartments, and an office building featuring co-working spaces. Notably, this ambitious endeavor is expected to generate over 700 local jobs, a significant boost to the local economy.
One of the project’s standout features is its commitment to green building practices. Inzovu Mall is set to pursue EDGE certification, showcasing its dedication to sustainability and environmentally-friendly construction techniques. This commitment is perfectly aligned with the Paris Agreement, and it’s at the heart of Proparco’s new strategy, emphasizing “Acting together for greater impacts.”
Louis-Victor Duval, Deputy Managing Director of Groupe Duval, expressed his pride in supporting Rwanda’s sustainable growth through Inzovu, while Amena Arif, IFC Country Manager for Rwanda, emphasized the project’s role in fulfilling Kigali’s growing need for business infrastructure and job creation.
Philippe Lagier, Head of Financing for the Services Sector at Proparco, highlighted how Inzovu Mall exemplifies Proparco’s mission towards a more sustainable and resilient economy in Rwanda. The project’s eco-conscious approach will undoubtedly leave a positive mark on the environment.
Besides, Inzovu Mall is expected to pioneer the use of energy-efficient materials and technologies, effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes significantly to Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change, aligning with the World Bank Group’s mission to create a poverty-free world on a livable planet.
The disclosure was made during an interview with IGIHE on the sidelines of a 3-day retreat for foreign ministers of African Union member countries in Kigali where Pandor stated that this matter could be resolved before the end of 2023.
It has been nine years since South Africa suspended visa issuance to Rwandans traveling with ordinary passports. During this period, individuals were required to obtain diplomatic or service passports to enter South Africa. This decision led to mutual expulsions of diplomats, with three Rwandan representatives sent back from Pretoria and Rwanda reciprocating by expelling six South African diplomats from Kigali.
The tensions stemmed from Rwanda accusing South Africa of supporting subversive activities on its territory, which had resulted in attacks. In return, South Africa had accused Rwandan diplomats of involvement in an attack on the residence of Kayumba Nyamwasa.
Despite numerous summit discussions on this issue, a compromise had remained elusive. While the South African President had hinted at a resolution during his recent visit to Rwanda, years had passed without tangible progress. In her interview with IGIHE, Pandor assessed the progress of negotiations on this matter as a 6 out of 10.
“We are addressing it. We have been having good discussions between our two countries’ ministries of foreign affairs and I believe the matter will be resolved very soon. We did have these problems just before Covid-19 and it interfered with the work already done. I believe we will resolve it,” she said.
“We are having very good discussions, minister Biruta and myself, and I think between the two of us and our ministers responsible for immigration, we will find a solution,” added Pandor.
She also discussed the presence of Rwandan forces in Mozambique, emphasizing their close coordination with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the initial stages of their mission.
This development follows a recent price increase in August 2023 when petrol and diesel were respectively priced at Rwf1639 and Rwf1492.
The new prices will result in a Rwf183 per liter increase for petrol and a Rwf170 increase for diesel.
RURA has attributed these price adjustments to the rise in petroleum product costs on the international market.
The new prices are scheduled to take effect on October 4, 2023. Fuel prices are reviewed every two months, depending on international market fluctuations.
This agreement was formalized by Dr. Vincent Biruta, the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Maneesh Gobin, the Mauritian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade, further solidifying their already fruitful cooperation.
This agreement aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aimed at transforming Africa into a leading global player by removing internal economic barriers.
It’s worth noting that Rwanda and Mauritius already maintain vibrant bilateral relations. In 2014, they signed an agreement to boost investments, trade, and mutual cooperation.
Both nations are recognized for their significant efforts in facilitating investments on the African continent. This signing follows President Paul Kagame’s visit to Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth in June 2022.
Jugnauth had also visited Rwanda where he paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at Kigali Genocide Memorial.
According to a report from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, Mauritius significantly increased its investments in Rwanda, growing from $386.4 million in 2020 to $543.8 million in 2021, representing a growth of 40.7%. In 2021, Mauritius dominated foreign investments in Rwanda, holding an impressive share of 32.4%, particularly in the financial, energy, technology, and tourism sectors.
Besides, several Mauritian companies, including Mauritius Union Assurance and LOLC Mauritius Holdings Limited, have established a presence in Rwanda. The latter, a subsidiary of the Sri Lankan firm LOLC Holding PLC, recently acquired 90% of the shares of Unguka Bank PLC.
Located in the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar, Mauritius is composed of other islands such as Rodrigues to the east, Agalega, and Saint Brandon, which are part of the Mascarene Islands.
The island nation has a population of approximately 1.3 million people over an area of 2,040 square kilometers.
Fred Gisa Rwigema is in the category of “Imanzi” heroes.
His tragic demise occurred during the daring incursion of the armed wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), into Rwandan territory.
Comprising over three thousand individuals, mainly young Rwandans in exile, this force aimed to challenge the entrenched regime of President Juvenal Habyarimana. At the time, Habyarimana’s government stubbornly refused to allow Rwandan exiles to return to their homeland.
Rwigema’s loss struck a severe blow to the leadership of the FPR, both within the RPF and its army. The leadership, out of concern that revealing his death would demoralize their troops and endanger their mission, initially classified it as top secret. Rwigema had been the linchpin of the invasion, and his absence weighed heavily on their efforts.
This military campaign was a bold move against Habyarimana’s government, which had declared a state of national saturation, denying the rights of Rwandans in exile to return home. Tragically, Rwigema’s fate was followed by the loss of two other top commanders, Major Peter Bayingana and Major Chris Bunyenyezi, who were killed by Habyarimana’s forces in Ryabega. This further intensified the gravity of their sacrifice.
For a month, the RPF maintained a strategic silence about these critical losses before officially announcing them at a press conference in Brussels.
The reaction from the Habyarimana regime was swift. In Rwanda, supporters of the genocidal regime greeted the news with jubilation, while the RPF, though wounded, regrouped and continued their struggle.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Tito Rutaremara, a key figure in the RPF who currently serves as the Chairperson of Rwanda Elders’ Advisory Forum, reflected on this tumultuous period.
He explained that the media silence was a deliberate effort to preserve troop morale and external support, stating, “Announcing such a loss on the first day would have sown doubt and confusion.”
The post-Rwigema era witnessed the ascent of Major General Paul Kagame, who, at the time, was undergoing military training in the United States. He answered the call of duty and assumed command of the RPA, returning to Rwanda on October 8, 1990, just days after the tragic loss of Maj Gen Fred Rwigema.
In later years, rumors circulated, partly fueled by Major Michael Mupende, who was in exile in the United States, suggesting internal dissent within the RPA as the cause of the “assassinations” of these honorable sons of Rwanda.
General (retired) James Kabarebe, currently the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, vehemently refuted this theory, asserting that the deaths occurred in combat, in the face of the enemy. There was no more to it than that.
The memory of Maj Gen Rwigema and his comrades who fell in battle remains etched in the annals of national history. Rwigema was laid to rest on October 1, 1995, with full military honors at the Heroes’ Square in Remera.
Today, the names of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of a free Rwanda serve as enduring symbols of a struggle that, even in the darkest hours, aimed to restore Rwanda to its unified and sovereign essence.
A meeting took place in August, during which the Rwandan High Commissioner to the UK, Johnston Busingye, was also in attendance. The discussions during this meeting covered various aspects of the bilateral relationship between Rwanda and the UK, and according to Makolo, the article contained several factual inaccuracies.
Makolo clarified that Chelgate, owned by Terence Fane-Saunders, mentioned in the article, neither represented nor currently represents the Rwandan government. The government had terminated its contract with Mr. Fane-Saunders’ company over a year ago, and therefore, his comments should be disregarded.
Addressing the broader issues raised in the article, Makolo emphasized Rwanda’s pride in partnering with the UK government to address the challenges posed by the broken global migration system. She underscored the need to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent the empowerment of criminal smuggling networks, highlighting that Rwanda was actively engaged in finding solutions in cooperation with the UK.
In April 2022, the UK and Rwanda entered into a migration and economic development partnership aimed at offering a dignified life to those seeking asylum in European countries. Under this agreement, some individuals would be relocated to Rwanda and supported through various initiatives.
Makolo expressed Rwanda’s deep empathy for those seeking safety and opportunity in a new land, citing the country’s historical context as a driving force behind its approach to migration and asylum issues. She reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to combating discrimination, emphasizing that it is enshrined in the nation’s constitution and upheld through a dedication to the rule of law.
Regarding the Migration and Economic Development Partnership, Makolo stressed that Rwanda and the UK approach their collaboration from a foundation of mutual respect and open dialogue.
She also highlighted the pivotal role played by the Rwandan High Commissioner to the UK in maintaining the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations across various domains, including migration.
Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and Keith Hansen, World Bank Country Director inaugurated a multimedia photo exhibition depicting Rwanda’s development story over the past six decades and joined a conference to reflect on 60 years of partnership.
Rwanda became a member of the World Bank on September 30, 1963. Since then, the bank has provided about 8.2 billion in support of different development programs in Rwanda including human capital, infrastructure, agriculture, resilience, and private sector development. Over the last decade, one million people have lifted themselves out of extreme poverty, capitalizing on a rapidly improving agriculture sector in which the International Development Association (IDA) has been proud to make substantial investments.
“World Bank has had the honor and privilege of accompanying Rwanda in its exceptional journey of building transformational infrastructures and setting up modern institutions that led to one of the most impressive growth performances in the World in recent decades, said Keith Hansen, Country Director for Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda.
“Continuing Rwanda’s remarkable success requires accelerated efforts and collaboration to rebalance its economy away from public investment toward greater reliance on private investment, and the World Bank is committed to continuing supporting the government to attain her targeted sustainable development goals.”
Rwanda tells the world a remarkable story of poverty reduction and development. It has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, having generated persistent high growth averaging 7.2% per annum between 2000 to 2019, poverty has declined from 58.9% in 2000 to 38.2% 2016, and inequality has reduced with GINI co-efficient of 0.51 in 2000 to 0.43 in 2016 maternal mortality ratio fell from 1070 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 203 in 2020, and by 2019, 96% of the population has health care cover, and Rwanda is a leader in gender equality, in innovation, technology, and its investment climate has radically improved.
“World Bank has been a reliable and strategic partner in supporting our country’s development trajectory over the past six decades. Together, we have achieved tangible results in reducing poverty, developing human capital, promoting private sector, increasing access to infrastructure and digital economy, improving agricultural production and commercialization as well as urban development,” said Minister Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
“We also recognize, the knowledge and technical assistances that have helped to design and implement innovative and evidence-based policies and programs which have been important guiding tools that are helping us to achieve our ambitious goals of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050,” he added.
In collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, the World Bank supported many sectors with significant impact. For instance, Rwanda has rapidly expanded access to electricity from 6% in 2003 to 65% in 2023. In this, the World Bank has mobilized resources, financed generation, transmission, and distribution of power including from renewable sources, helping fuel economic growth.
Marshland and hill-side areas have been developed, irrigation systems expanded, rural communities empowered, post-harvest infrastructures enhanced, farmers trained in modern farming techniques sector policies and institutions strengthened, and innovative approaches such as agricultural finance and insurance have been adopted improving food security and farmer’s incomes raised.
To accelerate human capital development, provision of financial support, technical expertise, data, research have improved access to quality of basic and tertiary education and acquisition of market-relevant skills. Strengthened Vision Umurenge Program has enabled poor and vulnerable households access economic inclusion services.
The World Bank, IFC and MIGA, delivered one of sub-Saharan Africa’s first PPPs in the water sector – Kigali Bulk Water Project, which is supplying 27 percent of the city’s water supply.
In the past 60 years, the World Bank has also produced knowledge, analytical work, and data which has supported the government’s evidence-based development decisions and policies.
“The speed with which Rwanda has successfully achieved major transformations is an evidence that much more can be done to realize the country’s development aspirations,” said Sahr Kpundeh, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda.
“I would like to reaffirm that Rwanda and the World Bank will continue to work together, as we have for six decades, to further advance the country’s transformation, and to achieve green, resilient, and inclusive development to which Rwanda aspires,” he added.
Ambassador Gatete conveyed these concerns during a statement at the UN Security Council Briefing on MONUSCO Secretary General’s report on September 28, 2023, in New York.
He highlighted that despite positive developments such as the Luanda and Nairobi mechanisms and the deployment of the East Africa Regional Force (EACRF), sporadic clashes involving various groups continued in the Eastern DR Congo.
He called on the council to urged DRC government to fulfill its responsibility by disassociating from the FDLR and ensuring their immediate repatriation, as stipulated in the Luanda and Nairobi mechanisms.
Amb. Gatete stressed that hate speech and violence against Rwandophones in the region pose a grave threat to Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region.
He also expressed concerns about disinformation targeting MONUSCO and the EACRF and urged the DRC government to extend the EACRF mission during this critical period. Rwanda implored the Council to hold the DRC accountable for any resumption of hostilities and encouraged addressing the root causes of the conflict.
Among others, Amb. Gatete emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to regional mechanisms and called out external powers for pursuing their economic interests at the expense of Rwanda, which could worsen the situation in the DRC.
Lastly, he highlighted the dire humanitarian situation of DRC refugees and internally displaced persons and appealed to the Council to facilitate their safe repatriation and return.
