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The High-Level Forum Africa-Europe is scheduled for December 18, 2018. It will focus on the development of technology as a pillar to the economies of the two continents.

The forum will be attended by African and European heads of state or government, CEOs of major global companies as well as innovative entrepreneurs and stakeholders to the High-Level Forum Africa-Europe.

Corporates, as well as startups, will have the opportunity to interact with high-level government representatives, potential investors and cooperation partners.

Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz, chairman of the European Union, was last in Kigali on December 7, where he spoke on the preparations for the forum and the relations between the two countries.

At that time, President Paul Kagame said that in this forum, there will be a wide range of topics including investment and cooperation that can continue to integrate Africa and Europe, so that the continents can continue developing without anyone left behind.

He talked about the history of the issue of migrants, saying that it should not be missing in the discussions of both sides and how bilateral co-operation may focus on resolving it because it is still possible despite the fact that it is late.

“Our partnership between Africa and Europe should have been well-utilized and motivated our youth to hope that if they stay on our continent or in their respective countries they may be safe and find jobs,” he said.

“What we do today is what should have been done that time, which is an investment and understanding the reasons why people leave their homeland and go elsewhere and see what we can do to make people happy in their countries,” he added.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz welcomed the co-operation between Rwanda and Austria, the economic development it has been achieving, and being the second best place to do business in Africa and its achievements for the continent since Kagame has been AU chairman.

He pledged bilateral profitable cooperation, and empowerment of the private sector so that it becomes the pillar to economic development, the core of welfare of the African population.

ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi nationwide talent search competition was held for the first time this year with the aim of developing creative talents. It is a project organized by the Ministry of Sports and Culture, the Ministry for Youth and implemented by Imbuto Foundation.

The competition started in August 2018 looking for talented youths around the country’s four provinces and the City of Kigali and it saw 2400 young men and women participating with 587 were selected at the Preselection.

70 were selected for the final and trained as they were tipped on how they can improve their projects through their talents.

This year’s Edition ended with a flourish on December 15 with all the finalists given occasion to showcase their talents.

The panel of judges was made of experienced and well-known people in the creative industry including Jacques Muligande [Mighty Popo], Jones Kennedy Mazimpaka, Masamba Intore, and Pascal Busheja.

Talented youths competed in six categories including art, songs and dances, theatre and comedy, photography, fashion and literature.

Those who competed in the theatre category started playing the theatre entitled “Ubuzima si Ubuzima” [Life is not Life] showing consequences of poor family planning.

Most of the messages in plays showcased were about problems facing the Rwandan society mostly unplanned pregnancies.

Competitors in photography and cinematography presented their artworks explaining the messages behind them.

The category of music and dances also had many competitors with amazing talents.

Besides showing their different talents, finalists in the same category sat together and studied profitable projects that can also help create jobs for the youths. Three groups were to be awarded for the best projects.

Maximillien Muhawenimana emerged as the winner in the Plastic Arts Category with Jean Pierre Shyaka coming up as the winner in the music category while Jacqueline Mukamurigo won in the fashion category.

In theatre, Annuarite Uwumukiza was the winner while Jean Chretien Munezero won in the cinematography & Photography category with Carine Maniraguha winning in the literature category.

Each of the winners was handed a cheque of Rwf1,000,000 to help him/her nurture their talent.

In projects, the best project that won was of the Fashion Category who named it “Rwanda Fashion Art Centre’’. It will teach tailoring among youth and start a small cloth making factory in a bid to increase products Made-In-Rwanda.

The second is of the cinematography which is called ‘Reba Visual Limited’ which will deal with trade in the industry.

The third Best Project was from the literature category who pitched a project to start writing books to be used in the curriculum for nursery education.

Each group was awarded a Rwf10 million to help them start the project.

The Minister of Sports and Culture, Espérance Nyirasafari assured the winners and those who were not awarded of the support they would always have in nurturing talents.

“Some say they don’t have where to operate from. We are ready to offer places for developing businesses get able to showcase their activities with Ministries and stakeholders we worked together,” Minister Nyirasafari said.

The First Lady and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, Jeannette Kagame thanked all who participated in the project and assured them of her help, reminding them that their talents will get them decent lives if they use them well & professionally.

“It is true you have special talents which we want to expand and play a remarkable role in your individual development and that of the country in general. I assure you will not lack motivators, those who will listen to you, and support you but it requires you also to work hard and cherish your talent. You are the ones who will make us love your profession more,” she said.

ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi will be held on a yearly basis and it is expected to raise the number of jobs created in line with the government’s strategy to see 10,000 jobs created in the creative industry every year.

Umushyikirano is a forum for national dialogue where Rwandans gather to assess issues related to the state of the nation, functioning of the decentralized structures, and national unity.

As he officially opened the 16th National dialogue, Umushyikirano 2018, President Paul Kagame started by delivering the State of the Nation address and said: “Umushyikirano is a unique Rwandan institution. It is about bringing all Rwandans together to review the State of our Nation over the past year, and exchange ideas about the way forward.”
H.E Paul Kagame Full Speech

We owe all the good results we have achieved towards socio-economic transformation to your hard work. I thank every Rwandan for what has been achieved. We are better off than we have ever been, and we are on the right path.

But from experience, we also know that we have the power to multiply the speed and scale of progress. For leaders especially, this simply means doing more of what we are already capable of, using the resources we have, and to do it right now, not later.

Whenever Rwandans come together and do our best, we always accomplish more than we thought possible and faster.

In international affairs, Rwanda has played a role in many aspects.

Cooperation with others is also aimed at transforming our country. When we are trusted with a responsibility, we do everything we can to fulfill it.

Rwanda had the honor of chairing the African Union this year for the first time. We are seeing concrete returns on continental integration efforts. Examples include self-financing, the Peace Fund, the Continental Free Trade Area and Free Movement of Persons.

As Rwanda, our goal and what we have worked towards is good relations in the region and integration. We are all one as Africans. But the problem comes from how we work with each other. We have to put words into action.

Integration is not just about trade, it is also about security. People cross the border but when they get in your country you put them in jail or they disappear. How can you trade with each other if you get put in prison when you cross the border?

There are some in our neighborhood who think that regional integration is supposed to only benefit them but not others. This cannot work. Regional integration is give and take.

That is what integration and trade means. It cannot just be for you to take and you don’t give anything.

Regional integration most importantly means security. You cannot use your sovereignty to allow your territory to be used to compromise the security of your neighbours. That is not regional integration.

It was recently announced that South Africa summoned its ambassador to Kigali, George Nkosinati Twala. It was also reported that among the reasons for his summoning was that South African Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was slandered.

In a statement, released by the Government of Rwanda Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that it has communicated, through diplomatic channels, serious concerns about consistent attempts by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation “to delay or derail the course of normalization”.

It further reads: “These include unfounded allegations made against Rwanda in public statements and the media, based on rumours and distortions propagated by Rwandan detractors based in Canada and South Africa, and media platforms associated with them.

It is a cause for concern that the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation chooses to believe these groups over the assurance provided by the Government of Rwanda.”

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu recently announced that he had a conversation with Kayumba Nyamwasa, before negotiations between the two countries, aimed at normalising their relations which was bad news for Rwanda.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda also expressed concerns over “the repeated summons of the Rwandan High Commissioner in Pretoria for reasons unknown to the Government of Rwanda, including articles by obscure tabloids.”

Rwanda argues that relations between states cannot be contingent to suggested negotiations with subversive and criminal movements led by individuals who have either been convicted of, or are wanted for, criminal activities.

In 2014, South Africa temporarily suspended visas for Rwandans flying to South Africa using ordinary passports. At the time, the country expelled three Rwandan diplomats in Pretoria, and Rwanda retaliated by expelling six South African diplomats in Kigali.

Rwanda accused South Africa of hosting those who were behind exploding grenades in the country, killing innocent people. South Africa also accused Rwanda of being behind an armed attack at Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa’s home in the country.

The former Rwandan Army Commander was convicted of the crimes including forming a terror group, disturbing the country’s security, divisionism and escaping the army.

He was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment in absentia in 2011, and was stripped of all military ranks.

He fled to South Africa, where he founded an opposition movement, the Rwandan National Congress.

He made this remark on Wednesday when he attended the Youth Connekt Convention at Intare Conference Arena where over 2000 Rwandan youth from across all districts and 15 countries are gathered including those who will also participate in the upcoming Umushyikirano.

Kagame said that the future of Rwanda is in the hands of young people.

He said that Rwanda’s past was so damaged that it took a bad reputation, and asked the youth to take the lead in changing it.

“Our country used to be defined by a bad history and the wrong character and identity. But today as we stand here, the goal is to transform this country, change the wrong that used to define us and build the kind of unity that will define us for future generations,” he said.

He further said that the bad history will be deleted with development.

He urged the youth to maintain the mindset of self-employment.

President Kagame further stated that creating one’s own job does not require that someone has no other job as it is often mistaken.

“Being self-employed doesn’t necessarily require that someone cannot find another job. Entrepreneurship does not depend on your age. The first step towards becoming an entrepreneur is that you have grown in thinking and not just because you do not have a job to give you a salary,” he said.

He said that although self employment begins with the benefit of one person, it also benefits the country because the one who created a job may employ others.

He explained that all of this cannot be attained by people with shallow thinking.

“We have to think big. Our goals and ambitions must be beyond our geographical size. Entrepreneurship, security, development, moving our country forward must all be based on thinking big,” he said.

Youths participating in the Youth Connekt Convention include young entrepreneurs from across the country’s districts, universities and secondary schools, youth unions, and the Rwandan diaspora, among others.

The purpose of the campaign is to remind Rwandans to test for ‘Hepatitis C’.

Figures show that 5% of Rwandans have the infection. It is acquired through unprotected sex, blood, bodily fluids and children born to infected parents are more likely to acquire it as well.

Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba said that every Rwandan is encouraged to test in order to know their status.

“Testing is important because hepatitis C is a treatable infection. If today the government of Rwanda is investing in the capacity with its stakeholders to reduce the cost of drugs, Rwandans should know their status and so we can get enough drugs to treat them all and prevent new hepatitis C prevalence,” she said.

“In five years, about 5 million Rwandans should be tested, but can’t we do so in one month? Our citizens are willing and we have partners, the government is willing to provide all the necessary requirements to eradicate this infection before five years,” she added.

In 2016, the Government of Rwanda agreed with Gilead Industry, an American pharmaceutical company, to reduce the cost of Hepatitis C drugs. The current price has reduced from 95,000 USD to 1200 USD.

Due to the high cost of the drugs, the government of Rwanda has continued to support, so that the patient cannot pay more than $100 and recover in three months.
Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) Director General, Dr. Jeanine Condo, said that until now there are no figures of Rwandans killed by Hepatitis C. But they want to take tough measures to stop it.

To date, Hepatitis B has a vaccine, and people are required to be vaccinated against it, because when one acquires it, they have to be on treatment throughout their whole life. Hepatitis C has no vaccine but can be cured.

The Ministry of Health in Rwanda reports that if 100 people with Hepatitis C were to be treated, 91 would recover.

This year’s edition, the third of its kind, of Combined Arms Field Training Exercise was done under the theme “Hard Punch.”

The exercises were carried out as army officers displayed how small and big weapons are used for reinforcement of the army units fighting the enemy at the battlefield.

Weapons used by the air force, land arms and marine arms were all put on a show.

Recounting his previous battles that were won by sheer determination, President Kagame said capacity is far way beyond having military materiel. “We used to go to the battlefield with 10 bullets in our guns, our enemies had maybe 100. But to win the war, you do not need 100 bullets. When the bullets are done, you are the one left standing to accomplish the mission.”

“I also want to thank you because this job you have chosen of protecting citizens, requires more from you than what you are given, in terms of salary or means available to us but it does not stop you from doing the work we do. You work under the sun, the rain, in the middle of forests and different environments and we ask ourselves whether what we give you is enough. The answer is that it can never be enough because this job goes beyond the individual, it is for the nation. What we do requires of us more than we have but it means that every resource we have is used to deliver to our maximum ability. Every bullet you shoot counts. Every resource you use must accomplish its purposes. We do not have room to waste. We have to deliver results beyond the resources we have. Nothing is impossible as long as we have the right mindset and values. Our enemies can only wish us ill but they will never be able to defeat us. Anyone who dares to threaten our security will fail.” He noted

President Kagame further commended Rwanda’s armed forces strength, saying that “Anyone who dares to threaten our security will fail”.

The trainings were given to army officers in the Rwanda Defence Force 3rd Division whose headquarters are in Gisenyi, Rubavu District representing the RDF Northern/Western regional command of which Commander is Maj. Gen. Alex Kagame.

Last year’s edition of the combined arms field training exercise- which was the second- was held on November 10, 2017, presided over by President Kagame and it was followed by his meeting with RDF senior officials, representatives of other security organs, and militaries who had undergone that exercise.

Kagame told them that the exercises are among activities of RDF done in order to build capacity and professionalism so achieve its mission.

The first edition of the exercise was also held at Gabiro Combat Training Centre on November 5, 2016.

The State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed that Twala has been summoned by his country.

“Yes. Any government has the right to summon its diplomat at any time,” he said.

Twala has been South Africa’s ambassador to Rwanda since 2012. He is summoned at a time when Rwanda and South Africa have shown willingness to launch talks aimed at re-establishing good relations between the two countries.

President Paul Kagame recently held a meeting with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa when he was in Argentina on the sidelines of G20 summit.

In March President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the problem of Rwandans being denied visas to South Africa would soon become history after holding talks with President Paul Kagame. However, up to now, no signs of good relations between the two countries have bloomed.

Drawn on aspects of Rwandan culture and traditional practices, Umushyikirano is a development program adapted to the country’s needs and context.

It is one of Rwanda’s largest gatherings bringing together leaders and citizens to reflect on the country’s progress and share ideas to solve ongoing challenges.

Governed by Rwanda Constitution Article 140, Umushyikirano is a forum to debate the state of the nation, local government and national unity.

{{Read More: [How eight resolutions made during the 2017 national dialogue been implemented
->http://www.en.igihe.com/news/how-eight-resolutions-made-during-the-2017.html]}}

Officers from RDF in the area reacted as instantly, pursued and fired, killing four of them.

Busasamana Sector executive secretary, Epimaque Uwimana told IGIHE that the attackers have not been identified and that the resident who caught the bullet at home was taken to Bugeshi health center.

Today, early in the morning local authorities summoned a security meeting at the scene of the attack, and residents were shown the bodies of the four attackers who were shot dead to see if they knew them.

They had documents that indicate that they are DRC citizens with voters’ cards.

Bugeshi and Busasamana sectors border the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are often targeted by armed attacks from the country.