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The Hague, 30 June 2015 – Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo, was in the Netherlands on 29 and 30 June 2015, on an official visit at the invitation of her counterpart. The two-day visit aimed at strengthening the existing good bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Rwanda.

Minister Mushikiwabo met with representatives of non-governmental institutions and universities. Several topics were discussed including European Union (EU)-Africa relations, Migration as well as the need for continued collaboration between EU-AU. All stressed that there is a need to improve the relationship between Europe and Africa. Minister Louise emphasized the need for having a genuine and serious dialogue on how Europe should collaborate with Africa based on mutual respect.

On her second day, Minister Mushikiwabo met with Standing Committees of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of the Dutch Parliament. Minister Louise Mushikiwabo was informed by the standing committees that they intend to visit Rwanda in August 2015. This meeting was an important occasion for the Minister and standing committees to exchange ideas on the exiting good relations between Rwanda and the Netherlands and the Members of Parliament had the opportunities to ask several questions, among others, the situation in Burundi and how it affects the region.

Minister Mushikiwabo briefed the standing committees on the situation in Burundi, as well as the steps that have been taken by the East Africa Community Members states and the African Union.

The Rwandan Foreign Minister also met her Netherlands counterparts, Hon. Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hon. Lilianne Ploumen, Trade & Development Cooperation. During the meetings the ministers commended the good relation existing between the two countries, which is strong and stable and the expressed the will for continued collaboration. Hon. Mushikiwabo stated that “visits such as these ones from both sides, underscores the deep and longstanding ties between the two countries. The close cooperation across many fields, including Justice, Agriculture, defense and trade, and the signing of the several Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships between the countries opened a new chapter in Rwanda-Netherlands relations” said Mushikiwabo. 

We may recall that Minister Ploumen paid an official visit to Rwanda in November 2014, accompanied by a delegation of Dutch businessmen. On Trade and Investment, both Ministers agreed that they need to strengthen their strategic cooperation aiming at moving ‘from aid to trade’.

Minister Louise also visited Koffiebranderij Boon, a shop which roasts Rwanda coffee beans from Rushashi. The Rwanda specialty coffee is becoming popular in The Netherlands.

Kigali: A series of socio-economic activities are taking place across Rwanda during Army Week to mark the 21st anniversary of the Liberation of Rwanda (Liberation 21) or “Kwibohora21”.

In collaboration with partners, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) is conducting Army Week medical activities and infrastructure development in Gicumbi District in June and beyond. These include medical operations in the fields of ophthalmology, dental Care, gynecology, pediatrics, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC).

Starting June 25 2015, Army Week is set to provide medical care to more than 10,000 people in the above mentioned medical services at Rubaya, Rutare and Rushaki Health Centers.

Infrastructure development activities include construction and hand over of health posts of Gatoma and Rubaya, construction of Rubaya modern market, construction of six class rooms at Gishambashayo, rehabilitation of 11 km Gatuna-Rubaya road, electricity and water connectivity to Gishambashayo school and Rubaya health centre.

All these socio-economic activities are conducted in Gicumbi District considered as one of the birth place of Liberation of Rwanda.

The idea of the Army Week was conceived by the Rwanda Defence Force leadership as a series of practical and high value socio-economic activities that will culminate into the 21st Liberation Day celebrations.

Government of Rwanda and Kingdom of Belgium signed two financing agreements worth € 35.5 million (approximately RwF 28.5 billion). The agreements which are in form of grants will support health care and decentralization.

One of the agreements is a €21 million, four-year project support to improve the quality of primary health care and health services in Rwanda dubbed Ubuzima Burambye.

The people-centered project will provide integrated and sustainable health care system with quality essential health care services that are as close to the community as possible. The second agreement worth €14.5 million will support decentralization programs in secondary cities.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Claver Gatete said; “The two financing agreements intend to sustainably enhance capacity of districts to deliver services and to create an enabling environment for local economic development in respect of best governance practice and will also improve health services of the Rwandan population through the provision of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care thereby contributing to the reduction of poverty and enhancing the general well-being of the population.”

Arnout Pauwels, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Rwanda said; “A lot of work and effort were put in their preparation from both sides. The result are two successful programs which for the first time will almost fully rely on the use of national public finance management systems. This is a first for Belgian Technical Cooperation projects and is a big leap towards more alignment to the country systems as well as project approach modality.”

In alignment with the agreed Division of Labor in Rwanda, Belgium concentrates its activities within the framework of Indicative Cooperation Program for the Rwandan-Belgian development cooperation in health, energy and decentralization sectors.

Kigali–The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched Twiyubake Project on Monday, June 29th to uplift 50,000 poor families out of poverty.

The USAID’s new Rwf 26.6 billion (USD $37 million) project is set to improve the protection of vulnerable groups and connect them to the health, social, and educational services that can enable them to improve their lives.

Implemented by Global Communities, the 5-year project will work in partnership with the Government of Rwanda to provide integrated services for 50,000 vulnerable households (approximately 250,000 individuals), including people living with HIV, orphans and vulnerable children, and very poor families, many of them female or widow-headed households.

Speaking at the launch of the new project, the US Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica Barks-Ruggles, said the project seeks to build community resilience with a particular aim of protecting vulnerable communities from poverty, diseases and disasters.

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Concerned officials are expected to be quizzed on why residents in Nyamasheke District can’t listen to Radio Rwanda or watch TV .

During his visit in Nyamasheke, President Paul Kagame has promised residents to come up with the answer after citizens raised the question of not listening to Radio Rwanda or watching TV.

“Is it a problem or something else? Officials from Radio Rwanda will provide me an explanation, “he said as he was talking with the people of this district to which he visited on Monday, June 29

President Kagame recommended to Nyamasheke residents not to meddle in the internal problems of their Congolese neighbours.

The African Union has called for the immediate release of General Karenzi Karake, the executive secretary of the National Intelligence and Security services arrested in London last weekend.

A special meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council that convened in Addis Ababa Ethiopia condemned in the strongest terms the arrest of General Karenzi calling the move a violation of the principles of universal jurisdiction.

Rwanda received overwhelming support by the AU peace and Security Council on Friday, just two days after it had requested the council to convene a special meeting on the arrest of General Karenzi Karake and its larger implications on the continent.

Addressing the gathering at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Rwanda’s minister of foreign affairs and cooperation Louise Mushikiwabo said that the arrest of General Karake is a blatant attack on Rwanda and Africans in general.

“The absurdity of this is that those who committed genocide and have been indicted according to principles of universal jurisdiction, many of them still today 22 years later live freely and roam European capitals and have the audacity to instigate judges against those who stopped the genocide. That is the absurdity.” Mushikiwabo said.

Underscoring the bizarre nature of Gen. Karenzi’s arrest, Minister Mushikiwabo noted that it is baffling that he was arrested after traveling to the United Kingdom on numerous occasions, further stressing that there is nothing judicial about the Spanish indictments.

“The question to ask is; why now? What really is the sustenance of these indictments?”

Addressing a press conference following a closed session of the AU Peace and Security Council meeting, the minister told local and international media that the AU Peace and Security Council should swiftly do everything in its power to ensure that those behind judicial harassment stop it and engage in serious political dialogue, ensures that justice serves all fairly and is not used by some powers to settle political scores.

Responding to an assertion that Western justice acted independently in the arrest of General Karake, Minister Mushikiwabo noted that Rwanda waiting 22 years for justice after the genocide against the Tutsi is a glaring example.

“There are plenty of examples of the interception of politics with justice, if that was not the case, why should we Rwanda 22 years after the genocide be begging these same so called law abiding and civilized countries to either extradite or try people who are guilty of genocide? The case of General Karenzi today is a blatant violation of anything related to justice”

The commissioner of the AU Peace and Security council Amb. Smail Chergui warned that the arrest of Rwanda’s senior official is the right time to scale up the AU’s engagement on the matter because it risks violating the integrity and sovereignty of African states.

In demonstration of solidarity from the region, Rwanda was accompanied to the special AU peace and security meeting by the Ugandan state minister of foreign affairs Okello Oryem and Kenya’s attorney General Githu Muigai.

The Nyamirambo Primary Court has sentenced to five years in jail a man who was arrested for impersonating Rwanda’s Defense Minister James Kabarebe on facebook.

Mugema Jacques allegedly managed to dupe some people that he was Minister Kaberebe and successfuly collected money from some with promises of attending to their issues expeditiously — which would be deposited on a mobile money account he claimed belonged to the ‘secretary’.

For the first appearance in court, Mugema admitted to all charges.

On Friday 26th June, the court ruled that Mugema is sentenced to five years in jail for the crimes he committed.

Also Mugema will pay back all the money he collected from public using a fake Facebook in the name of Defense Minister James Kabarebe.

On Thursday, 25 June 2015, an extraordinary Cabinet Meeting chaired by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Paul KAGAME, convened in Village URUGWIRO.

1. The Cabinet Meeting welcomed Dr. MALIMBA MUSAFIRI Papias, the newly appointed Minister of Education, and wished him all the best for his new assignment.

2. The Cabinet Meeting strongly condemned the arrest of Lt. Gen. Karenzi Karake, the Executive Secretary of the National Intelligence and Security Services, who was on official mission in London, Uk, for his arrest was not based on legal grounds but rather was politically motivated; the Cabinet Meeting requested Rwandans to do their best to continue to strive for dignity.

3. The Cabinet Meeting approved its earlier decisions of 08 June 2015, after minor adjustments.

4. The Cabinet Meeting approved that the Liberation Day, which takes place on 4th July, will be held at the Village level; the Cabinet Meeting requested all the concerned organs to speed up preparations for the successful celebrations of this anniversary.

5. The Cabinet Meeting approved the Government projects performance at the end of the third Quarter of the Fiscal Year 2014/15. The Cabinet Meeting approved the measures already taken to improve the management of projects in general, and specific measures taken to improve the management of selected projects with very low execution rate, in particular.

6. The Cabinet Meeting approved the revised National Export Strategy (NES) and establishment of an Export Growth Facility (EGF).

7. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Draft Laws:

Draft Law establishing the levy on petrol and gasoil for road maintenance;
Draft Law establishing the levy on petrol and gasoil for the establishment of strategic petroleum reserves;

Draft Law modifying and complementing Law Nº 26/2006 of 27/05/2006 determining and establishing consumption tax on some imported and locally manufactured products as modified and complemented to date.

8. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:

Presidential Order establishing the rules and regulations of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decoration of Honour;

Prime Minister’s Order transferring Land and Immovable Assets in the plot N° 958 located at Kiyovu Cell, Nyarugenge Sector, Nyarugenge District, in the City of Kigali from the State Public Property to the State Private Property.

9. The Cabinet Meeting approved that Dr. NGIRABEGA Jean de Dieu terminates his duties as Head of Institute for HIV/AIDs, Diseases Prevention and Control Department in order to start a new job as Deputy Executive Secretary at the East African Health and Research Commission.

10. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrément for the following Ambassadors and High Commissioners to represent their respective Countries to Rwanda:

Mrs. FREDERIQUE MARIA DE MAN, of the Kingdom of Netherlands, with residence in Kigali
.
Mr. OTA KIYOKAZU, of Japan, with residence in Kigali.

Mr. BOULAHBEL FARID, of People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, with residence in Kampala, Uganda.

Mr. FORNARA DOMINICO, of Italy, with residence in Kampala, Uganda.

Mr. PRASITTIPORN WETPRASIT, of Thailand, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr. QUSAI RASHED AL-FARHAN, of the State of Kuwait, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mrs. NDILOWE HAWA OLGA, of the Republic of Malawi, with residence in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Mr. MYONG KYONG CHOL, of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), with residence in Kampala, Uganda.

Mr. BRUCE RATA SHEPHERD, of New Zealand, with residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. JOACHIM ANVIRE DJABIA, of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, with residence in Kinshasa, DRC.

11. The Cabinet Meeting approved Mr. ALUN THOMAS to be the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Country Representative in Rwanda, with residence in Kigali.

12. The Cabinet Meeting made the following appointments:

* IN THE MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE/MININFRA

Mr. BAHIZI Frank: Advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure.
Mrs. KAYITESI Marceline: Advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure.

* IN THE MINISTRY OF SPORTS AND CULTURE/MINISPOC

Mr. KARAMBIZI Oleg Olivier, Advisor to the Minister

* IN THE OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN

Mr. NKURUNZIZA Jean Pierre: Advisor to the Ombudsman.

* IN THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES/MINIRENA

Mr. NSENGUMUREMYI Donat: Director of Mining and Petroleum Unit.

* IN THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY/MYICT

Mr. NGABONZIZA Benoit: Director of Youth Empowerment and programs Coordination Unit.

* IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH/MINISANTE

Mr. KAMUHANGIRE Edward: Director of Health Services Quality Assurance Unit.

* IN THE RWANDA BIOMEDICAL CENTER /RBC

Mrs. MUGWANEZA Placidie: Director of Clinical Prevention Unit.
Mr. MBITUYUMUREMYI Aimable: Director of Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) and Other Blood Borne Infections (OBBIs) Unit.
Mr. UWINKINDI François: Director of Cancer Disease Unit.
Mr. RUHINDA Eria: Director of Center for Blood Transfusion, Rwamagana.
Mrs. KAZAYIRE Marie Fidèle: Director of Center for Blood Transfusion, Karongi.
Mrs. MUGENI MURASA Catherine: Director of Community Programs Unit.
Mr. REMERA Eric: Director of HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit.
Mr. MUTABAZI Vincent: Director of Other Respiratory Diseases Unit.
Mr. HAKIZIMANA Jean Léonard: Director of Outbreak Preparedness and Response Unit.
Mr. NIYONSENGA Simon Pierre: Director of Pulmonary, Renal, Diabetes and other Metabolic Diseases Unit.
Mrs. MISAGO Claire Nancy: Director of Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit.
Mr. NKUNDA MWESIGWA Richard: Director of Medical Entomology Unit.
Mr. KAYIGI Etienne: Director of Clinical Pathology Unit.
Mr. NIYINGABIRA MAHORO Julien: Director of Media Relations Unit.

* IN KIGALI UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL /CHUK

Mrs. MUNYARUGERERO KANEZA: Director of Human Resources and Administration Unit.

* IN RWANDA AGRICULTURAL BOARD /RAB

Mr. MUTIJIMA Vedaste: Director of Procurement Unit.

* IN RWANDA GOVERNANCE BOARD/RGB

Mr. NTAMBARA Paul: Director of Media Houses and Associations Unit.
Mr. BIMENYIMANA Robert: Director of Media Coordination and Monitoring Unit.

* IN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNEMENT SPOKESPERSON /OGS

Mr. MAGORANE Richard: Director of Photography and Videography Unit.

13. In AoB:

a) The Minister of Internal Security informed the Cabinet Meeting that the Japan Government has committed to support the establishment of a Cybercrime Investigation Center in Rwanda. The Center shall provide appropriate tools and equipment to enable detection, prevention and investigation of the cyber related crimes and be able to bring offenders to justice.

b) The Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water in MININFRA informed the Cabinet Meeting about the planned signing of the International Energy Charter by the Ministry of Infrastructure on 07/07/2015, in Kigali.

c) The Minister of State in charge of Transport in MININFRA informed the Cabinet Meeting that Rwandair has acquired a new Aircraft expected to be received on Thursday 25th June 2015 at Kigali International Airport. This new aircraft comes as an additional aircraft to RwandAir’s fleet and will help in serving a network of 18 destinations across 14 countries, in Africa and Dubai.

d) The CEO, RDB and Cabinet Member informed the Cabinet Meeting that:

The progress of preparations for the upcoming 11th Kwita Izina ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on 5th September 2015. In this ceremony, 24 baby gorillas born after last year’s ceremony will be named. This event is expected to bring together 400 international guests from various countries. This ceremony will also be a climax of a week-long celebrations under the theme: “Conserving now and for the future”. It will also be an opportunity for Rwanda to showcase various activities such as: a conversation on conservation, familiarization trip, Igitaramo, Kwita izina awards and business exhibitions.

On 30th June, RDB in collaboration with the African Parks will translocate 7 (seven) lions from South Africa to re-introduce the species into Akagera National Park. The return of lions to Akagera is a conservation milestone for the park and the country and it is an opportunity for Rwanda to increase its competitiveness as a tourism destination and portray to the world our commitment to conservation.

This Statement was signed by
Stella Ford MUGABO
The Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs