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Located in Kimihurura near the former Prime Minister’s office, the building was inaugurated yesterday. It has been under construction for 33 months at a cost of USD $ 27 million in funding by the Chinese Republic.

Premier Dr. Edouard Ngirente has said that the new building is evidence of improving Rwanda, China relations. He hailed China’s continued support to various development sectors including investment, health, education, and infrastructure among others.

Dr. Ngirente revealed that the new building given to the government will enable employees to improve service delivery.

“I thank the Chinese government for granting Rwanda such a decent office building. It will help employees from Prime Minister’s office and others from other government institutions who will run operations in it to move fast service delivery at a high tune,” he said.

Jianbang Zheng, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee lauded Rwanda’s progress under the championship of President Paul Kagame’s leadership.

He reiterated that his country is ready to push forward partnerships with Rwanda to reach the desired vision.

Zheng stressed that the new building China has handed to Rwanda will keep strengthening bilateral cooperation.

” I believe the relationships shall keep standing firm like this building. This building will be the model of vibrant bilateral relationships with other African countries. It symbolizes that we implement our promises,” he noted.

” In Africa’s development partnership, China roots on to the pillar of striving for joint benefits of giving much to take few in return, and giving before receiving anything,” added Zheng.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Amb. Claver Gatete has told media that the building stretched on 16000 square meters will help the government to reduce a large number of government institutions renting offices.

” It will reduce renting expenses. This is a beautiful building matching with our vision. The more we progress, the faster we increase government buildings to eliminate renting because it takes a lot of money,” he revealed.

Over 300 Rwandans were employed during the construction of the inaugurated building.

Minister Gatete said that 30% of construction materials were sourced locally while 70% came from China.

The new building was fully funded.

Some of the government institutions will move to the building towards the end of June 2019.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Rwanda yesterday where he was welcomed by president Kagame at Kanombe International Airport and later shared dinner at Kigali Convention Centre after witnessing the signing of 4 cooperation agreements in sectors of culture, sports, tourism & business events, aviation travel, and logistics.

Today morning on the second day of the visit President Kagame with Qatar Emir have visited Akagera National Park which is home to the big five.

The latter is graced with the presence of big five animals including rhinos, lion, buffalo, elephant, and leopard.

Akagera National Park stretches to 1200 square kilometers.

Photos released by the Office of the Presidency, Village Urugwiro, show President Kagame and Qatar Emir in Akagera National Park sheltered in umbrellas because it has been raining since the morning.

One of the pictures shows them glancing at an elephant in the forest.

The management of Akagera National Park has recently announced to have recorded 44,000 tourists in 2018, half of whom were Rwandans.

His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Emir of Qatar is in Rwanda for a three-day state visit which he started yesterday. He was welcomed by President

Kagame upon arrival at Kanombe International Airport.

After welcoming him, they both witnessed the signing of 4 agreements in sectors of culture, sports, tourism and business events and aviation travel and logistics which ended with a State Dinner at Kigali Convention Centre.

Signed agreements follow existing ones signed in Doha, Qatar when president Kagame visited the country previously.

These include air service transport services, promoting and protecting joint investment and cooperation in trade and technical areas among others.

In May 2017, Rwanda and Qatar signed agreements in diplomatic cooperation. Qatar Airways aircrafts conduct flights from Doha to Kigali among other destinations including Dubai.

On 26th May 2015, both countries signed cooperation agreements to fight against drug abuse on the sidelines of Qatar International Anti-Drug Forum held in Doha.

The visit follows President Kagame’s visit to Qatar towards the end of 2018.

At the time both leaders held discussions on improving and expanding economic cooperation. They also presided over the signing ceremony of three agreements between Rwanda and Qatar focusing on air service transport services, promoting and protecting joint investment and cooperation in trade and technical areas among others.

The delegation of envoys from Qatar led by Qatar Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani recently visited Rwanda and demonstrated a willingness to fund the project meant to fast track the implementation of the construction of Bugesera International Airport.

At the time, Rwanda Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Richard Sezibera said: “We have held discussions on investing in the construction of Bugesera International Airport and is apparent that it will be fruitful. We expect to conclude the talks soon.”

In May 2017, Rwanda and Qatar signed agreements in diplomatic cooperation. Qatar

Airways aircrafts conduct flights from Doha to Kigali among other destinations including Dubai.

On 26th May 2015, both countries signed cooperation agreements to fight against drug abuse on the sidelines of Qatar International Anti-Drug Forum held in Doha.

The commemoration event that took place yesterday brought together her relatives as well as residents of Nyanza District, Southern Province.

Queen Gicanda was killed with six women, close friends in Butare during the genocide and other relatives shot dead in front of the National Museum of Rwanda.

Queen Gicanda was buried in Mwima of Nyanza nearby the tomb of King Mutara III Rudahigwa and Kigeli V Ndahindurwa.

Gicanda is the last Queen of Rwanda. She was the wife of King Mutara III Rudahigwa.

Gicanda was born in 1928 in Rwamagana and killed on 20 April 1994 by soldiers of the then government during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in former Butare Prefecture.

She grew as a disciplined lady with good character that qualified her to become the wife of King Mutara III Rudahigwa.

Gicanda married King Mutara III Rudahigwa on 13th January 1942. In 1961 began the reforms shift from kingdom to republic, two years after the death of Rudahigwa (on 25th July 1959).

The latter saw Kayibanda Grégoire becoming the first president of Rwanda.

The prayers will be led by spiritual leader Morari Bapu. It was organized by a magnate and entrepreneur Ashish J. Thakkar.

Thakkar is the founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation. He is among founders of Atlas Mara having operations in Rwanda.

Thakkar said that he and his family lived in Rwanda and fled the country to Burundi and later to Uganda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

He lauded the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame which resurrected Rwanda to become a safe, clean and smooth country easing investment and pioneering gender equality.

“We returned in August 1994. In fact, we had lost hope, the country had lost hope but we commend the marvelous vision of President Kagame and his Government. I am a witness of how excellent leadership led Rwanda to the progress we have today,” he said.

Thakkar explained that they brought prayers and Ram Katha religious discussions of Ram Katha in Rwanda that the spiritual leader Bapu visited Kigali genocide memorial from where he committed to dedicating prayers to genocide victims and Rwandans in general.

“We have visited Kigali Genocide Memorial today. Bapu had eye witness and fell into tears leading him to dedicate Rama Katha prayer to Rwanda, genocide victims, genocide survivors, citizens and the Government of Rwanda,” he noted.

President Kagame thanked Thakkar and his family for bringing Ram Katha in Kigali especially during the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi calling it a symbol of cooperation.

“We truly appreciate this gesture of solidarity, which reflects the principles of truth, love, and compassion that are central to Bapu’s teaching,” he said.

President Kagame said that Rwandans relate very closely to those three human values because, over the last two-and-a-half decades, Rwandans have engaged in a constant process of conversation and collective action, to overcome the exact opposite, namely falsehood and hatred.

“The efforts and sacrifices made by Rwandans, and friends of Rwanda, throughout this complex journey, have given us a country to be proud of today,” he revealed.

President Kagame said that the example of Ram Katha is one of tolerance and inclusion in which he learned of the concrete lessons that are often given, about the importance of breaking down taboos and barriers among people, both within societies and around the world.

“This serves as inspiration for everyone, everywhere, to find the strength to live together in a spirit of mutual respect and harmony. Ultimately, we all aspire to have the opportunity to live our best lives and contribute to the well-being of others. This is why we are pleased to host Ram Katha in Kigali and to have you in our midst. We trust that you will have a chance to get to know our country and our people. And also find a reason to keep coming back, where you are very welcome,” highlighted Kagame.

Ramnik Karia, 75, the uncle of Thakkar revealed that he came from the United Kingdom to attend the prayer in which Rwanda pulls strength of prayers among other benefits.

“Kigali gains tourism benefits from it, infrastructures will benefit amidst happiness and blessings. We are glad that Kigali is clean with happy people that you can’t relate them to dark history they endured,” he observed.

Similar prayers usually take place in different countries. They were held in Uganda, Kenya, USA, United Kingdom, and India among others.

The delegation was comprised of Senator Lindsey Graham from Republican political party representing Southern Carolina; Senator Christopher Andrew Coons, from Democrat political party representing Delaware state; Senator Benjamin Eric Sasse, Republican representing Nebraska state and Senator John Barrasso who is also a Republican representing Wyoming state.

Barrasso is the chairperson of senators from the Republican Political Party of Donald Trump.

Other members of the delegation include a Republican Michael McCaul representing Texas and Cindy McCain, the wife of John McCain a former senator who passed away last year.
Following the discussions, President Paul Kagame said in a tweet: “Enjoyed the productive discussions on Africa and US/Rwanda excellent relations and look forward to more plans ahead.”

In February 2019, President Kagame and First Lady attended “Codel Prayer Breakfast” that brought together top government officials and USA congressional delegation that was on a visit to Rwanda.

The team was comprised of members from Republicans led by Senator James Inhofe representing Oklahoma State, Senator Mike Enzi representing Wyoming, Senator John Boozman representing Arkansas and parliamentarians including Greg Gianforte and Mike Kelly.

He revealed it yesterday as he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of three judges, one Member of Parliament and Rwanda Defense Force Army Chief of Staff.

The newly sworn-in leaders include judges in the Supreme Court François Regis Rukundakuvuga and Alphonse Hitiyaremye along with Vénantie Tugireyezu, a judge in the Court of Appeal.

Among others, Lt. Gen. Jean Jacques Mupenzi sworn in as the Rwanda Defence Force Army Chief of Staff while Emmanuel Ndoriyobijya took the oath as a parliamentarian replacing Janvier Kanyamashuri who abdicated at the beginning of March 2019.

“We ask every Rwandan, especially those who are leaders, to fulfill their responsibility with hard work and dedication. We all know where we have come from and where we want to go. Our goal is to put in the time needed to do our work well and move even faster,” said Kagame.

“There is an oath you have taken and you should live by. The law should treat all people equally and justice should be delivered equitably and as fast as possible,” he added.

President Kagame called new sworn in leaders to work even harder in all their responsibilities, wished them success and committed to always provide support whenever it is needed.

Rukundakuvuga was a commissioner in the Law Reform Commission.

Alphonse Hitiyaremye served previously as a judge in the Court of Appeal while
Vénantie Tugireyezu was a minister in the office of the presidency until August 2017.
Lt. Gen. Mupenzi was the commandant of Gabiro Combat Training Center in Gatsibo district prior to the new appointment as Rwanda Defense Force Army Chief of Staff.

The work of art portrays a standing tall man holding a straw drinking from a vessel laid on the head of a person kneeling in front of him.

The sculpture was shown on 12th April 2019 at the launch of works of art exhibition at the “Rwanda Art Museum” in Kanombe to run for 100 days.

The exhibition taking place at the house of former president Habyarimana is held for the first time since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped.

It seeks to use arts to explain horrors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, educating history to the youth and preserving it to build hope for the future.

24 works of art were exhibited at the event. These include works from nine artistes and other youth selected by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) through competitions. They are additional to 164 works of arts existing at the Rwanda Art Museum in Kanombe.

Ambassador Masozera requested artistes to use their talent positively unlike the past where arts were used to sow genocide ideology.

He explained that the sculpture was found in the sitting room of Habyarimana when RPF Inkotanyi soldiers conquered Kanomba in May 1994. It was among other works of arts displayed in his house some of which having shapes of a snake. “ This work of arts is displayed for the first time as one of the tools that were used to sow hatred among Rwandans. We were told that Habyarimana and his wife (Kanziga Agathe) used it to show to guests that Tutsis tyrannized Hutus to the extent of drinking beer from vessels laid on their heads,” he said.

“It is similar to the spreading ideology that the queen mother Kanjogera used to stand leaning on a spear plunged on shoulders of children. They were used to sow divisions and encouraging people to revenge,” added Masozera.

Masozera said he received the sculpture made from wood from a soldier who arrived at Habyarimana first.

“The message portrayed by works of art displayed here has no language barriers. Artistes should know that they can be destructive if wrongly used,” he advised.

The Executive Secretary of Kicukiro district, Adalbert Rukebanuka said it is of great value to exhibit works of art memories to a place where genocide was planned.

“Workers who lived in this house told us that there was pigs abode in the proximity of the house where they threw Tutsi killing during the genocide to feed these pigs,” he revealed.

He revealed this yesterday as he joined Christians of Saddleback Church led by American evangelist Pastor Rick Warren for the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi held in California.

Pastor Rick Warren is one among close friends of Rwanda for over 15 years.

During the event, President Kagame held a panel discussion with Pastor Rick Warren on the theme ‘Recovering From Traumatic Experiences.’

Pastor Rick expressed solidarity with Rwanda to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi saying what happened should be always reflected on. He explained that Rwanda rebuilt from a traumatic experience and asked President Kagame the secret to the journey walked through.

Replying him, President Kagame said: “ We had a tragic situation where over one million people died. Every individual has their own struggles and problems to deal with. The starting point is to create an environment to make sure individuals don’t feel alone.”

“We created conditions to make survivors feel that they lost a lot but not all is lost. There are others who want to be with them, feel their pain with them. It was a starting point,” he added.

To overcome a long term plan for the genocide that left Rwandans divided; President Kagame said that Rwanda promoted common ambitions among people.

“If you look at our history, the country was divided, ideology and politics played out so that a section of our population was made to believe the other is not only different but they should hate each other. We found a way of saying we are a family with different individuals but at the same time we have a lot in common and a lot of common aspirations,” he explained.

When asked on strategies to lead a traumatized country, President Kagame highlighted: “We are aware that you can’t dictate feelings. The best you can do is to create the environment where somebody can start seeing things happening. When the country is investing trying to do certain things for education, health, shelter and bringing in the very people who have been traumatized it is also showing they are not helpless. It is not a hopeless situation.”

“We tried to communicate to the victims that they still can pick themselves up with the family they have tried to build in the country and create a better future than the life they lived in the past. The truth is stubborn and you must be very stubborn to cope with the situation so we keep trying and we keep questioning and finding answers,” he added.

Following the launch of “The Purpose Driven Life” book written by Pastor Warren; Rwanda requested Saddleback Church to send its members to Rwanda as a country driven by a purpose. It led to the establishment of “Peace Plan” in Rwanda with the aim of sowing peace among Rwandans.

With Worldwide presence; Peace plan is the brainchild of Rick Warren. It brings together Christian churches to promote reconciliation, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick and educate the next generation in order to build a positive life, church, and nation.
Saddleback Church has so far sent over 26000 Christians in 197 countries including over 2800 that passed through Rwanda.

They held different activities including training medical practitioners, working closely with farmers, judges, and pastors among others.