Tag: HomeHighlights

{Rwanda and Congo Brazzaville have agreed to exchange criminal suspects and convicts.}

The agreement between the two countries was signed in November 9th 2013, but the laws governing the process stipulate that the exchange must first be approved by the parliaments from both counties. Rwandan parliament approved the agreement.
Rwandan Chief Prosecutor, Jean Bosco Mutangana, said that approving the agreement is fundamental, which is a precursor to legal collaboration, most especially in countering criminals.

“Within the last ten years, we sent requests to Congo to extradite 15 suspects. We are optimistic that this agreement will speed up the process.” He added that the requested extraditions are suspects of having had a role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs in the Ministry of Justice Evode Uwizeyimana, said the treaty will expedite extraditing Genocide suspects who are in Congo Brazzaville.

According to Ministry of Disaster Management and Refuge Affairs, there are over 10,000 Rwandans in Congo.

Congo arrested two genocide suspects who are; Jean-Baptiste Gatete the former Bourgmestre of former Byumba and Ildephonse Hategekimana, the former soldier in the Ex-FAR. They were subsequently given a life sentence.

{Djibouti Government has allocated more hectares of land to Rwanda, expanding from the 20ha allocated in 2013 to the current 60ha near the Autonomous Port of Djibouti and the Dubai World International Port.
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According to the Minister of Trade, Industry and East African Affairs, Francois Kanimba Rwanda was invited to establish facilities in Djibouti’s 4,800 hectares of the new free economic zone.

Mr. Kanimba said Rwanda was still exploring investment plans to put the land to use.
The development follows President Kagame’s visit to Djibouti following a two-day state visit of his counterpart, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to Rwanda in March 2016.

Rwanda offered ten hectares in Kigali Special Economic Zone to Djibouti.

On his recent visit to Djibouti, President Kagame and his counterpart signed a number of bilateral agreements mainly in the area of trade and investment between the two countries including; air services, visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders, reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, the establishment of a joint commission and a protocol agreement on cooperation in ICT.

{Although the date for President Kagame’ s Oath is not yet officially established, the Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou has confirmed his attendance for the swearing in Ceremony of Presidential Elect- Paul Kagame. }

National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced the final results at 98% of the electoral vote. Since the announcement, different leaders have written to President Kagame, congratulating him on his re-election.

Through his twitter handle, towards the end of this week, Niger’s President Issoufou congratulated him for the victory, confirming his presence during the presidential Oath.

He said, “As well I am happy about Brother Paul Kagame’s good victory, thereby confirming my presence during his next Oath.”

President Kagame thanked Issouffou, and welcomed him, saying “Thank you Brother Issoufou Mahamadou. You are welcome to Kigali.”

A 66-year-old Issoufou last visited Rwanda in May for the Transform Africa Summit.
Rwanda’s constitution stipulates that the President elect must be sworn not later than 30 days after his election, and the oath must be administered by the President of the Supreme Court.

When President Kagame was taking an oath of office in 2010, over 10 Heads of State attended including; Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Joseph Kabila of DR Congo, the former President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore, Ali Ben Gabon Francois Bozize, the former president of Central Africa, Thomas YayiBoni Benin, Good Luck Jonathan, the former president of Nigeria, the former president of Kenya Mwai Kibaki, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, the late Bingu wa Mutharika Malawi, Late Rupiah Banda Zambia, IdrissDeby of Chad and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia the late MelesZenawi and Ellen –Sirleaf of Sierra Leone.

{The President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi is expected in Kigali as part on a two day working visit to Rwanda according to the country’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Namira Negm.}

While in Rwanda, Al Sissi will meet with Rwandan President Paul Kagame for bilateral talks, before continuing his journey to other African countries, including Tanzania, Gabon, and Chad. As per the announcement aired on Nile Television, Sissi’s visit is intended to enhance Egypt’s stature in black inhabited Africa, politically, economically and other interests which are beneficial to those countries.

President Sissi first visited Rwanda during the 27th African Union General Assembly which convened in Kigali in July 2016.

During his visit, Sissi explained to President Kagame about the urgency of his country’s wish to cement sustainable cooperation with African countries, which is hinged onto respect and free from interfering within other countries internal affairs.

President Sissi will be the first President to be hosted by President Kagame after re-election during the recently concluded Presidential elections.

Between 13-14 March 2015, President Sissi invited President Paul Kagame for Egypt’s Economic Development Forum that was attended by over 3000 international investors.
In March 2015, the government signed an agreement Metito company to develop bulk water supply plant to serve the country’s potable water requirements with over 40,000cubic meters of water daily which will solve water scarcity problems in Kigali City and Bugesera.

{Ugandan Head of State Yoweri Museveni has congratulated President Paul Kagame after his re-election in a special message dated on August 8th.}

Museveni expressed his delight and that of his country, that Kagame who he enjoys a cordial relationship with had been re-elected to a third term in office.

“It gives me a great pleasure on this occasion of your victory to extend to you, on my own behalf our very warm congratulations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Rwanda. I had already congratulated you by phone on the 6th August 2017.”

Museveni wrote in an official letter that; “Excellence, your re-election for a third term and landslide victory reflects the voice and will of the people of Rwanda. It is a clear testimony of the trust, confidence and hope they have in you and your leadership.

“By you winning 99% of the votes counted, the people of Rwanda have spoken! I also congratulate them on their active participation in the electoral process and the peaceful conclusion of the elections.”

Museveni further thanked his counterpart for the hard work done in the last two decades to rebuild Rwanda into a stable nation and how it has continued to register strong economic growth and development.

{President Paul Kagame yesterday laid a foundation stone at Rilima in Bugesera District to officially flag off construction works for Bugesera International Airport.
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In a groundbreaking ceremony that gathered officials from the government and stakeholders in the aviation sector, President Kagame reiterated the Rwandan Government’s commitment to see the Bugesera Airport completed and operational.

“We may not be big but we will always strive to be our best. Bugesera Airport is an important part of Rwanda’s strategy for socio-economic transformation. We see this facility as an essential component in boosting intra-African travel, investment and business,” President Kagame said.

In September 2016, the Government of Rwanda concluded negotiations for a Public Private Partnership transaction with Mota-Engil Africa and Aviation Travel & Logistics Holding Ltd to develop the Bugesera International Airport. The private partners will construct, own, and operate the airport under a 25-year concession agreement.

The Bugesera Airport project will be developed in five phases, the first of which kicked off yesterday. The latter is slated to take 27 months and cost an estimated US $ 400 Million.

“Rwandans to whom we are accountable are used to having high expectations and trust us to deliver. This will be no different. We look forward to celebrating the inauguration of the new airport in the not too distant future,” President Kagame vowed.

{Latest statistics released by Rwanda Revenue (RRA) indicates that the revenue collection for financial year 2016/17 has surpassed the target by Rwf 5.4 billion.
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In a statement released by the tax body on Wednesday August 9th, tax revenue collection for the financial year 2016/17 reported to be Rwf 1,086.8 billion was above the Rwf 1081.4 billion target; an impressive performance of 100.5%. The tax body revealed that tax revenue posted a growth of 10.2 per cent during this year, in comparison to 2015/16 performance of Rwf 986.7 billion hence making a nominal increase of Rwf 100.2 billion.

The Commissioner General at Rwanda Revenue Authority RRA Richard Tusabe has said that this implies the level of tax payer appreciation of the importance of paying taxes and compliance have been achieved through education and sensitization because of the reforms particularly the automation of processes to bring efficiency in tax administration in FY 2016/17.

“We introduced; Unified Declarations for PAYE and Social Security, Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System and VAT Verification Control System, which have decreased leakages in VAT collections and eased refund process,” RRA Commissioner revealed
RRA revenue collection to budget increased from 55.36% in FY 2015/16 to 56.44% in FY 2016/17.

However, the tax authority cited a low target performance in local Government taxes.
Economic indicators in this financial year 2016/17 show the economy recorded a slow performance in first three-quarter, where real GDP grew by 5.4%, 2.4% and 1.7% for Q1, Q2, and Q3 respectively. Inflation rose to 6.8%.

With three months into the fiscal year, the slow economic performance is attributed to poor agricultural production due to bad weather. Food scarcities accounted for inflationary pressures with price indices for food and non-alcoholic beverages reaching a record 18.6%.

RRA Commissioner General expressed gratitude to the tax paying community in Rwanda for honoring their tax obligations.

{President Paul Kagame has said that he is ready to work with former presidential candidates he defeated during the recently concluded Presidential elections. He announced this on Monday in an interview with a Uganda-based NBS Television, commenting on the elections and what will happen thereafter. }

President Kagame, emerged the winner during the elections that took place between 3-4 August 2017 to win by 98.63%.

Independent candidate Mpayimana Phillippe followed with (0.73%) while Frank Habineza of Democratic Green Party got (0.47%).

The Head of State said that working with those he defeated poses no problem. He said, ‘‘I think that the place is open to everybody.”

He reiterated that there is no special issue to embark on during the seven-year term, saying that he will continue on what has been done.

“It’s a matter of continuing with what we had longed to achieve. During the first two terms, we were rebuilding our country, the economy which was in a bad shape as well as the Rwandan community which had been destroyed by bad history.”

{{‘I should have completed my work as the President’
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President Kagame explained that by now he should have completed his responsibilities as the President but he could not turn down the request of the population.

“I should have completed my work as the President this year but there emerged the requests from the population that I should continue. I was ready to conclude my duties. By the time the requests emerged, it necessitated that a criterion be followed (referendum).”

Kagame said that he felt no shame for having accepted what the citizenry had requested him, then noted, ‘‘If I say that I was inconvenienced by this article, wouldn’t be upholding what we strive for… I accepted that after hearing from different people, I am fully aware about what we encounter. The day I will leave the responsibilities of leading the country, I will continue serving it, in different capacities.”

President Kagame said that his focus is on promoting the economy and reducing poverty without leaving behind any single person.

He emphasized that he will continue to instill in Rwandans what is the most suitable for them, without waiting for any external assistance.

He gave an example of 1994, when the Genocide against the Tutsi was taking place saying that the so called friends of Rwanda left and came back after Genocide had been stopped.

He said; “Whenever problems arise, you are the one who takes the centre stage, everybody stood aloof, until it was stopped. After that is when they started coming back.”

“Whenever you hear people saying different things, they do say useless things with an intention of derailing us from what we believe in…..we don’t accomplish tasks for the purposes of being thanked; we accomplish them because they are the ones we are in need of.”

{‘Iam not ready to become the East African Community President’}

President Kagame said that the East African Community will continue to work as a team, in cooperation and in a dignified manner. However, he pointed out that if anybody tries to force others about the methods of work will be wasting his time.

He promised that security in East Africa will continue to improve, as well as cooperation among countries in the coming years.

He explained that the region is endowed with everything, for it to develop. “I can’t see any reason as to why this region can’t grow stronger within the next 10 or 15 years.”