Tag: Home_main_article

The graduation ceremony was presided over by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Patrick Nyamvumba on behalf of the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of RDF.

The student officers have been undergoing a year-long course in analytical and communication skills, personal and collective values, as well as professional military knowledge designed to help them in their future command and leadership management responsibilities.

CDS Gen Nyamvumba extended his gratitude to every one who contributed to the successful completion of the course and encouraged them to share experience and insight in various approaches to overcome security challenges at national, regional, continental and at global level.

“As you depart, go and convincingly use that knowledge to contribute in whichever way you can and in the best possible manner to make Africa peaceful, strong, prosperous and a better place to live,” he said.

“I believe that your studies here have equipped you with the necessary analytical, planning and communication skills to enable you make the transition from tactical to operational and strategic focus and to deal with complex security challenges,’’ he added.

The 47 graduates were awarded with the symbol ‘Passed Staff College’ certificate and among them 30 also were awarded a Master of Arts degree in Security studies by the National University of Rwanda.

Major Evans Mensa KOMEDJAH from Ghana emerged the best overall student followed by Major Emmanuel Mugabo from Rwanda who was the second-best overall student and the third was Lt Col Allan Gilbert Mittawa from Malawi.

The graduates were of the rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Made-In-Africa Leadership Conference (MLC) is an exclusive annual gathering of African business owners and business leaders, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Managing Directors (MDs) of mid-sized companies.

The leaders attending the conference held on 6th to 7th June 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda convened to learn from each other, inspire each other to greater leadership performance, and network with each other. They also discussed on measures to Promote Made in Africa.

The continental conference is the first of its kind and is organized by Breakfast Club Africa, a Pan African CEO membership organization, formed with a singular purpose of helping leaders of companies to become better leaders, thus benefiting their organizations and employees.

Talks held during the conference revolved around seeking together solutions addressing problems affecting small and medium-sized firms.

After attending the conference , participants toured development projects located in Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kigali city.

Special Economic Zone is home to renown manufacturing plants including C&H Garment, Africa Improved Food, Pharma Lab producing medicines and Safintra manufacturing roofing sheets among others.

After receiving explanation on activities carried out in SEZ, the leaders also visited different companies operating in Rwanda like telecommunication company Airtel Rwanda, Volkswagen, DMM Hehe, Kigali Innovation City and Carnegie Mellon University Africa branch among others.

They were also taken through challenges facing these institutions and discussed possible solutions.

1. The Cabinet meeting approved the minutes of its previous meetings held on 03/04/2019 and 26/04/2019.

2. The Cabinet meeting was briefed on the following:
– The need and benefits of joining the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance;
– Coordination mechanism for elaboration and approval of land use master plans;
– The Rwanda’s initial report on implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

3. The Cabinet meeting approved the following policies, programs and strategies:
– Waiver of visa requirements to the citizens of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire;
– National action plan on Chemical, Biological Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE);
– Revised national employment policy and its implementation plan;
– National skills development and employment promotion strategy (NSDEPS);
– National labour mobility policy and its implementation plan;
– Revised national environment and climate change policy;
– Revised national land policy;
– Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and NOTS for manufacturing of solar home systems;
– Granting 13 mineral and 8 quarry licenses.

4. The Cabinet meeting approved the following draft laws:
– Draft organic law governing elections;
– Draft law determining State finances for the fiscal year 2019/2020 amounting to Frw 2,876,916,340,789;
– Draft law on financial services consumer protection;
– Draft law establishing excise duty;
– Draft law approving ratification of the financing agreement between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA) to finance the project on socio-economic inclusion of refugees and host communities;
– Draft law approving ratification of the grant agreement between the Republic of Rwanda, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association for agriculture transformation;
– Draft law amending the law on offences and penalties in general;
– Draft law approving ratification of the Agreement establishing a Tripartite Free Trade Area among the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC);
– Draft law approving ratification of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on promotion and protection of investments;
– Draft laws approving ratification of Bilateral Air Services Agreements between the Government of Rwanda and the following countries: Angola, Bahamas, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Djibouti, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Hellenic, Iceland, India, Italy, Israel, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swiss Federal Council, Togo and Zambia.

5. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Presidential Orders:
– Presidential Order determining polling day and electoral campaign period for Senators;
– Presidential Order determining the polling constituency, number of Senators to be elected in each constituency and electoral college;
– Presidential Order establishing special statute governing Rwanda Defence Force;
– Presidential Order dismissing 5 officers from Rwanda Defence Force;
– Presidential Order seconding Lt. KANYAMANZA Yahaya, Lt. MUHINDA Emmanuel, Lt. RUKUNDO Gilbert, Sergeant KARENZI Isaac and Private MUGABE Joel of Rwanda Defense Force to Akagera Aviation Limited;
– Presidential Order dismissing 20 officers from Rwanda National Police;
– Presidential Order dismissing without notice 30 officers from Rwanda National Police;
– Presidential Order granting retirement to 21 officers from Rwanda Correctional Service;
– Presidential Order dismissing 4 officers from Rwanda Correctional Service.

6. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Prime Minister’s Orders:
– Prime Minister’s Order on Community Based Health Insurance Scheme subsidies;
– Prime Minister’s Order determining the institution in charge of assessment and collection of taxes and fees on behalf of decentralized entities;
– Prime Minister’s Order determining the committee in charge of assessment of mining and quarry licenses applications;
– Prime Minister’s Order transferring a land from the State public domain to its private domain and authorizing its allocation;
– Prime Minister’s Order determining supervising authority of Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority;
– Prime Minister’s Order determining organizational structure of the Office of the Prime Minister;
– Prime Minister’s Order determining organizational structure of the Ministry of Defence;
– Prime Minister’s Order determining organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice/Office of the Attorney General;
– Prime Minister’s Order granting resignation to Mr. DUSENGUMUKIZA Dieudonné from National Council for Science and Technology;
– Prime Minister’s Order dismissing Mr. RUTUKU Richard from Rwanda Standards Board, due to gross misconduct;
– Prime Minister’s Order dismissing Mr. KAGABO Théoneste who was a prosecutor at Primary Level for gross misconduct.

7. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Ministerial Orders:
– Ministerial Order determining procedures applicable to collection of taxes and fees for decentralized entities;
– Ministerial order regulating investment undertaking by a decentralized entity;
– Ministerial Order amending the Ministerial Order determining the requirements for an industry to be entitled to exemption from the value added tax on machinery, capital goods and raw materials;
– Ministerial Order determining requirements for granting authorization to import, manufacture, trade in and use of dynamites in mining and quarry operations;
– Ministerial Order repealing ministerial orders related to mining and quarry operations;
– Ministerial Order dismissing 1 non-commissioned officer and 18 enlisted personnel from Rwanda Defence Force;
– Ministerial Order granting release on parole of 788 convicted for various offences who fulfil the requirements;
– Ministerial Order dismissing 101 non-commissioned officers and low-ranking Police officers from Rwanda National Police;
– Ministerial Order dismissing without notice 147 non-commissioned officers and low-ranking Police officers from Rwanda National Police;
– Ministerial Order granting retirement to 69 non-commissioned officers from Rwanda Correctional Service;
– Ministerial Order dismissing 47 non-commissioned officers and prison warders from Rwanda Correctional Service.

8. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following regulations of Chief Executive Officer:
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining the nature, amount and deposit of environmental rehabilitation guarantee;
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining the quantity of mineral ore samples;
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining the provision of services relating to mining and quarry operations;
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining the content of mineral processing and trading licenses and modalities of their granting;
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining the format and content of a mineral license and the content of an agreement with a mining or industrial quarry license holder;
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining categories of quarries, requirements for acquisitions of a quarry license and reporting;
– Regulations of the Chief Executive Officer determining potential mining areas, criteria for categorization of mines, modalities and requirements for mineral license application.

9. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrément of the following Ambassadors/High Commissioners designated to represent their respective countries to Rwanda:
– Prof. Charity MANYERUKE : High Commissioner of Zimbabwe to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Kigali ;
– Mrs. GANOU Diaby Kassamba Madina: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Government of Burkina Faso to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;
– Mr. HEJBERG P. Nicolaj: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Kampala, Uganda;
– Mr. CHUA Alex Garcia: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Government of Philippines to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;
– Mr. DIMITRIOS Zavoritis: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic (Greece) to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;
– Mr. MAIGA Adam Zakariaou: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Niger to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;
– Mr. ZURAB Dvalishvili: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;
– Mr. Matthijs Clemens Wolters: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Kigali;
– Mr. Hatem LANDOULSI: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Republic of Tunisia to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;
– Dr. Brima Patrick KAPUWA: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

10. The Cabinet Meeting made the following appointments:

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND LABOR (MIFOTRA)
Mr. KANANGA Patrick: Director of Labor Administration Unit.

GENDER MONITORING OFFICE (GMO)
Ms. MUTONIWASE Sophie: Director of monitoring the fight against gender based violence and other injustice Unit.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS (NISR)
Mr. MWIZERWA Jean Claude: Director of Economic Statistics Unit

LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITIES AGENCY (LODA)
Mr. RWAHAMA Jean Claude: Director of VUP Unit.

RWANDA TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (RTDA)
Mr. NIZEYIMANA Emmanuel: Director of Research and Quality control Unit.

RWANDA MINES, PETROLEUM AND GAS BOARD (RMB)
Mr. NIYONGABO Richard: Director of Mining cadaster and Licensing Unit.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (WDA)
– Mr. MUSHABE Didus: Director of Science and Languages quality Unit;
– Mr. HATEGEKIMANA Jean Pierre: Director of Hospitality and Recreation arts subject quality Unit.

RWANDA POLYTECHNIC (RP)/IPRC-MUSANZE
Mr. NSHIMIYIMANA Anaclet: Director of Planning Unit.

RWANDA POLYTECHNIC (RP)/IPRC-GISHARI
– Mr. TUYISENGE Emmanuel: Director of Academic quality assurance Unit;
– Mr. SHEMA Fred: Director of Academic services Unit;
– Mr. RUTAGAMBWA Geofrey: Director of planning unit.

RWANDA POLYTECHNIC (RP)/IPRC-TUMBA
– Ms. GIRAMATA Yvonne: Director of Students affairs Unit;
– Mr. KAYITABA Abdul Ratifat: Director of Academic services Unit.

RWANDA POLYTECHNIC (RP)/IPRC-NGOMA
– Mr. BIGARABA Aggée: Director of Academic services Unit;
– Mr. BIZIMANA Jean Pierre: Director of Finance Unit.

11. AOBs.
The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources:
– Rwanda will hold the 14th Edition of the National Agriculture Show from 18th to 26th June 2019 at Mulindi Show Grounds in Gasabo District.
– Rwanda will host the 2019 Annual meeting of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau and Tour in Rwanda from 17th to 21st June 2019 at Serena Hotel in Kigali.
– Rwanda will host the Fourth Malabo Montpellier Forum on 25th June 2019 under the theme:” Smart Value Chains: Policy Innovations for Transforming Africa’s Food System”.

The Minister of Justice/Attorney General:
International Conference on Role of Case Management System for Justice Integration Performance and Country Development will be held from 11th to 13th June 2019 at Lemigo Hotel.

The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion:
– Rwanda will organize an ECD Conference from 11th to 12th June 2019 in Marriot Hotel under the theme:” Investing in early years for optimum human capital development”. During this conference, a two year ECD multi-media campaign will be launched under the theme:” Umwana wanjye, Ishema ryanjye”.
– Rwanda will celebrate the day of the African Child on 20th June 2019. At National Level, the day will be celebrated in Gasabo District, Nduba Sector.

The Minister of Health:
Rwanda will celebrate the International Day against drug abuse under the theme:” TWUBAKE U RWANDA RUZIRA IBIYOBYABWENGE”. The Launch will be held in Burera District on 12th June 2019 and closing on 26th June 2019 in Nyagatare District.

The Minister of Sports and Culture:
– The 15th Edition of Kigali International Peace Marathon will be held in Kigali on 16th June 2019;
– CECAFA KAGAME Cup Tournament will be held from 7th to 21st July 2019 and hosted in Huye, Rubavu and City of Kigali;
– Peace Cup Football Tournament started on 4th June and Final games are scheduled on 4th July 2019;
– East Africa Promoters (EAP) in partnership with MINISPOC is organizing the 1st edition of IWACU MUZIKA Festival 2019. This will be annual Festival that will be held in all 4 Provinces and the City of Kigali.

The Minister of Local Government Umurenge Kagame Cup competition finals will be held on June 9, 2019 in Huye and Gisagara Districts.

This communiqué was signed by
Marie Solange KAYISIRE Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs

Mutangana has revealed this as he hosted his counterpart Dr Serge Brammertz, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) on his visit to the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA).

The discussions with the Rwandan Prosecutor General and other senior members of Rwanda’s prosecution focused on areas of cooperation in genocide fugitives’ investigations and other areas of mutual interest.

Among fugitives, Mutangana, pointed out Burundians tried in Gacaca court for their involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi nearby Rwanda, Burundi border.

Genocide survivors in Southern Province have been giving testimonies pinning Burundian Hutus to have perpetrated genocide with extreme cruelty that some of them would roast and eat victims’ hearts after killing Tutsi in 1994.

Mutangana explained that pursuing these Burundians remains an issue over relenting willingness of Burundi.

“We have records of Burundians who perpetrated genocide in Rwanda and fled. However, there was no political will on the side of Burundi to facilitate investigations into Burundians who committed genocide,” he said.

“There are many Burundians who did so in Gisagara and Nyaruguru nearby Burundi border. We issued arrest warrants but never got any feedback. That is a problem,” added Mutangana.

He explained that the issue might be currently rooted political turbulence between both countries though Burundi hadn’t proven willingness before to render justice on pursuing its citizens involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“We eye for Interpol support into the matter as long as the country has no willingness. The issue doesn’t only concern Burundians but also other Rwandans and foreigners staying outside Rwanda who are neither deported nor tried,” revealed Mutangana.

He emphasized that wanted Burundians are mainly based in Kayanza region nearby Rwanda’s border.

“We believe Interpol can intervene because the country has no political willingness to assist us to apprehend those suspects,” said the Prosecutor General.

Dr Brammertz highlighted that they will keep collaboration with concerned parties to bring genocide fugitives to book.

He revealed a plan to present to the United Nations Security Council, the report containing information on countries hosting genocide fugitives to be pursued.

Dr Brammertz said investigation is underway to hunt more genocide fugitives including Felicien Kabuga, Protais Mpiranya and Augustin Bizimana among others.

The diplomatic row between Rwanda and Uganda relations dates back two years ago. The government of Rwanda reports 900 of its nationals are ambiguously incarcerated, tortured and illegally expelled from Uganda.

The souring relationship between Rwanda and Uganda worsened in March 2019, when Rwanda advised its people not to travel to Uganda until the situation comes back to normal.

Speaking at a recent press conference in Kampala, lawyers of detained Rwandan nationals said all rights of their clients have been violated by the government of Uganda as reported by The Observer, a Uganda based media house.

They allege that as many as 100 ordinary Rwandan traders, and business people engaged in export and import trade and others working with faith-based organizations have been illegally detained by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and the Internal Security Organization (ISO) on undisclosed charges.

Many have been illegally deported to Rwanda while others have had to endure inhumane treatment.

Gawaya Tegulle and Aboneka Michael, the lawyers of the detainees, who were joined by the Secretary of Uganda Law Society, Francis Harimwomugasho, said the time has come for the international community to get involved in order to arrest the situation, which they said is spiralling out of control.

Tegulle said as lawyers of Rwandan detainees, they were dismayed by the statement made by Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s foreign affairs minister on May 17.
The minister said the only Rwandans arrested in Uganda are those found on the wrong side of the law.

“Rwandans are welcome to visit Uganda. However, Uganda expects Rwandans who visit Uganda just like any other visitors to be law-abiding. Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with according to the law. In this connection, several Rwandan nationals who have been arrested for breaking the law have been charged in courts of law or deported back to Rwanda. In addition, a number of Rwandan security operatives have been entering Uganda without following laid-down procedures governing entry of security personnel into the country. A number of these when apprehended have been deported back to Rwanda,” Kutesa’s statement partly reads.

But Tegulle said the only truth in Kutesa’s statement is that Uganda has arrested Rwandans.

“The rest of the statement is a rather disturbing pack of prevarications. He simply skims and slides over very important matters concerning real people and their families; people whose lives are being changed for the worse; irreparably and irreversibly by the actions of the security agencies in Uganda. There are children whose fathers are missing wives whose husbands cannot be traced, old folks who are wondering if they will live long enough to see their children again,” Tegulle said.

He added that those arrested are not allowed access to their families, lawyers and medical care and some are subjected to torture to extort information from them. He said they have tried but failed to call government to order through the legal process.
Up to 12 orders of habeas corpus have been issued by the court but in almost all cases, the government has defied the court save for the cases of Calude Iyakaremye, Rene Rutagungira, Emmanuel Rwamucyo and Augustine Rutayisire who appeared in the Military Court Martial.

“A few weeks ago Robert Tumwine was released after torture and dumped half dead at his sister’s home in Mbarara; he died shortly after…If any law has been broken, then it’s the security agencies, not the detainees,”Tegulle said.

Harimwomugasho said Uganda Law Society is dismayed that government continues to disregard court orders.

“As long as a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order, it must be respected. As ULS, we condemn in the strongest terms possible anybody who receives orders and doesn’t respect them. If the government is displeased with such orders, let them appeal them,” Harimwomugasho said.

Rwanda also accuses Uganda of housing dissidents intending to threaten state security.

Ancel is among 2500 soldiers sent to Rwanda on 22nd June 22 1994 in French-led military operation in Rwanda ‘Opération Turquoise’ with a mandate of stopping genocide and setting up a temporary humanitarian zone in Western part of Rwanda ‘Zone Turquoise’.
Recently, on 29th May 2019, the School of Higher Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS) in France hosted talks on commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Among guests who graced the commemoration talks were Rtd Lieutenant Colonel Guillaume Ancel, the author of a wide array of books including ‘Rwanda, la fin du silence’.
He explained that they were briefed on their mission to Rwanda in Opération Turquoise two hours before their departure.
As per provided briefings, Ancel established that France was involved in the four year-long war in Rwanda against the then Government and RPF Inkotanyi soldiers.
Ancel revealed that France soldiers in Rwanda took part in raids intended to demolish RPF Inkotanyi headquarters and supporting the Government’s plan to execute genocide.
Guillaume Ancel, 53, narrated that the kinds of weapons they brought to Rwanda was evidencing of their mission to engage into war than humanitarian assistance.
The Land forces on the mission included Special Forces from Regiment Parachutistes d’Infanterie de Marine (RPIMa) with long and short range weapons, night vision weapons, armoured forces among others equipped with 10 fighting helicopters known as ‘Gazelle’ along with three Super-Puma helicopters.
Air forces had over 30 helicopters including C-130 Hercules, Falcon -20, C-160 TRANSALL and CASA-235. They had also hired one Airbus, one Boing 747, and 17 Antonov-124 Condor to transport military equipment.
He explained that they had received orders to “carry out a land raid on Kigali to put back in place the genocidal government and free it from RPA soldiers by the time they landed in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Ancel, this order was renewed on June 30, 1994, in order to “stop the advance of the RPF soldiers” (Rwandan Patriotic Front), before moving, the next day, in a rescue operation, with the establishment of a “temporary humanitarian zone” in the west of the country.
When they arrived in Bisesero, one of areas in Zone Turquoise, Ancel said, they were surprised to see the supported Government killing citizens. At the time the then Government had already killed over 60,000 Tutsi.
Ancel said this is the time when they received new orders to stop fighting and involve in humanitarian assistance.
As per testimonies released in French based Magazine ‘Esprit’, Ancel revealed that the place for humanitarian assistance was also used to support soldiers of the genocidaire Government providing a passage way to DRC and escorting them to the refuge in DRC.
Guillaume Ancel said he was part of France soldiers who distributed weapons to the Government which perpetrated genocide in DRC refuge.
Normally, international laws don’t allow refugees to cross to foreign country with weapons or receive weapons in the host.
The order to support the genocidaire government was issued by the office of President François Mitterrand after the approval of the Defense Chief of Staff.
Ancel explained that the assistance granted by France to the Rwandan government at the time confirms the complicity in the genocide.
He said France participation during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi went into force because there was no vibrant opposition ring to stand against the decision.
Ancel highlighted that hiding such history, makes it a great mistake of France that might lead to re-occurrence of what happened.
In April 2019, France President, Emmanuel Macron has unveiled the establishment of the commission made of experts in history and researchers analyzing writings kept in archives of the country indicating France activities in Rwanda between 1990-1994 to come up with the truth on the role of France in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Guillaume Ancel welcomed the initiative but noted that it might be obstructed by former leaders including Amiral Jacques Lanxade, former France Defense Chief of Staff during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Lanxade has recently said that researchers won’t find anything new on Rwanda, France relations before and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Despite the support granted to genocidaire government, RPA soldiers soldiered on until they liberated Kigali city on 4th July 1994.
The liberation struggle took end on 18th July 1994 after RPF Inkotanyi soldiers defeated the genocidaire government from different territories.

The building was located near Kigali City roundabout, opposite the Kiyovu neighborhood. It was closed and demolished in 2014 due to the under-use of the land and building.
“Together with the French embassy in Kigali, we are discussing on how to bring back the French Cultural Centre. This might not include the action of rebuilding the house but together we are looking for a place where they can operate from, which will be very soon. They are appreciating some of the buildings, and we are helping them to see if the areas are suitable for their activities”, said Marie Chantal Rwakazina, Mayor of Kigali City during a press conference.
Before its demolition, Centre d’Echange Culturels Franco-Rwandais had facilities such as a library and could host French lectures, seminars about culture and small concerts.

While speaking to over 1000 university youth in Musanze district during talks organized by Unit Club Intwararumuri, Gen Kabarebe said despite obstacles encountered they regained strength and hope for triumph emanating from values their commander President Paul Kagame instilled in them.

Unity Club, is an organization made up of former and current cabinet members and their spouses created with the aim of promoting unity while contributing to the socio-economic development of the country that following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The liberation war began on 1st October 1990 launched by RPF-Inkotanyi. After the second day of the liberation war, the force lost the top commander Maj Gen Fred Rwigema and close subordinates including Bayingana.

“This disturbed us and made us feel how the battle was complicated than expected,” he said.

Gen. Kabarebe revealed that the key to success following such loss was values instilled by President Kagame and his expertise commanding the war.

He explained that Kagame re-organized the battle from scratch because soldiers seemed to be on the brink of defeat over inadequate skills to combat and organizing a war.

“We were armed soldiers when we raided Rwanda. We would find Habyarimana soldiers playing cards in Kagitumba. They would flee as we shot them and conquer the area but without determined goal and values for the battle,” he said.

Gen Kabarebe stressed that their efforts would remain futile hadn’t they had President Kagame who came in with new tactics , reorganizing the battle and setting up defined goals.

He said President Kagame withdrew the force from Mutara where they were prone to gun and helicopters’ shots to Virunga National Parks where he set a redefined vision to fight for unity, human rights and Rwandans development among others.

“He taught us war techniques, does and don’ts, high level discipline and values,” he told the youth.

The latter enabled RPA military to understand that values and building mindsets opposed to adversaries is paramount.

“He urged us to be disciplined, love the nation and fight for it, sacrificing for the nation. Dedication and using few resources to achieve more. Every soldier was equipped with values and understanding the rationale for the battle. Such values gave us more strength than equipment we had because RPA had few resources,” said Gen Kabarebe.

He called on the youth to be characterized by such moral values, patriotism and sacrifice for it where necessary and draw from it a lesson to become confident.

One of members of Unit Club, Stella Ford Mugabo requested the youth to root on these values and preserve the country’s achievements.

The youth also pledged to utilize their efforts creating own solutions and building the nation.

The discussions have also been attended by Rwanda’s ambassador to Egypt,Sheikh Habimana Saleh.

During his visit to Cairo, Minister Sezibera also had a meeting with Gen. Mohamed Zaki, Minister of Defense of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

He also met with H.E Dr. Ali Abdel -Aal Sayed Ahmed, the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, who is expected to pay an official visit to Rwanda soon.

Rwanda,Egypt enjoy cooperation in three areas including trade,education and health to which both countries are earmarking much effort to generate mutual benefits.

In education sector, Rwandans students have been getting opportunities to further studies in Egypt.

Today, 63 students are pursuing studies in Egypt of whom 51 are studying at Al-Azhar University on partnership with Muslim community in Rwanda, 7 are self-funded at Alexandria University , 2 students attend studies at Cairo University and 1 studying at British University in Cairo.

They also laid wreaths at the mass graves and toured different facilities at the memorial to learn more about history before, during and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Hidalgo lauded efforts of Kigali Memorial to preserve genocide history.

“I appreciate works done at this memorial. It replicates the entire truth on the execution of genocide,” she said.

Hidalgo stressed that depicting truth on history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is the right way to regain strength towards the resilience journey.