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President Macron shares stance on DRC-Rwanda tensions

This was announced by the office of the President of France on March 21, 2024, after he had a conversation with the President of Angola, João Lourenço, who acts as a mediator between the DRC and Rwanda.

The statement said, “The President of the Republic [Macron] warmly welcomed the efforts of the President of Angola in resolving the issues of Congo, particularly through diplomatic means, and fully supports this mediating approach in finding a solution to the conflicts through dialogue, as he recently reminded the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, and the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi.”

In February 2024, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, announced his readiness to re-engage in dialogue with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, aiming to find a solution to the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

President Macron’s statement comes after France’s attempts to quell the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.

In September 2022, President Paul Kagame, his counterpart Félix Tshisekedi, and Emmanuel Macron of France held talks aimed at examining how peace could be restored in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These Heads of State met in New York, United States, during the United Nations General Assembly.

A report by Jeune Afrique in that year mentioned that it had reliable information that France was involved in mediating efforts between Rwanda and the DRC.

It is reported that in June 2022, amid severe tensions between the two countries, President Emmanuel Macron had discussions with the leadership of Rwanda and later committed to calling President Félix Tshisekedi.

Furthermore, it is said that President Macron played a role in ensuring the mediation by the President of Angola, João Lourenço, and continued to support all the steps taken.

March 22, 2024
Zipline expands partnership in Rwanda to boost economic development, wildlife conservation

The new partnership will help fund conservation of crucial ecological resources in Rwanda. Twenty percent (20%) of the fee paid for every delivery completed by Zipline within Rwanda’s tourism sector will go towards the expansion of Volcanoes National Park, an initiative to expand the protected habitat of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and other endangered species.

This initiative expands on Zipline’s long-standing collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.
Since 2016, Zipline has partnered with the Ministry of Health, the Rwanda Agricultural Board, the National Child Development Agency, the Rwanda Biomedical Center and other agencies to improve access to blood, animal health products, human vaccines, childhood nutrition products and medical supplies through 24/7, on-demand logistics.

“We are elated to join forces with the Rwanda Development Board, broadening the horizons of our drone delivery services far beyond the realm of medical supplies,” says Pierre Kayitana, General Manager of Zipline Rwanda.

According to Kayitana, this initiative allows Zipline, in collaboration with handpicked ‘Made in Rwanda’ brands, to deliver local gifts directly to tourists even in the most remote corners of Rwanda.

“Made in Rwanda” products include fashion and souvenir items created by a vetted list of local business owners.

This initiative aims to boost local businesses, enhance the visibility of Rwandan products, and contribute to the growth of the nation’s creative economy. The delivery service will first be available to guests at high-end Wilderness resorts and the UMVA Muhazi Lodge.

Commenting on the development; Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board said: “This partnership underscores our dedication to collaborating closely with private sector entities such as Zipline, to advance environmental conservation, stimulate economic development, and foster a culture of innovation.”

The partnership continues to position Rwanda as a global leader in embracing innovative solutions for the betterment of people and natural wildlife.

February 29, 2024
Over 13,000 teachers recruited in 2022/2023 school year

However, data released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2023 reveals that approximately half of Sub-Saharan African countries continue to experience a 10% dropout rate in primary schools, with the rate increasing to 50% in secondary schools.

Rwanda stands out as a country that has made substantial progress toward achieving universal access to education through its nine-year and 12-year basic programs, initiated since 2009. Under these programs, education is provided free of charge. Statistics indicate that the percentage of individuals who have attended at least secondary school education increased from 5.9% in the past to 10.8% in 2012, and further surged to 15.1% by 2022.

The Citizen Budget Guide, published by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) recently, highlights that the recruitment of new teachers last year was aimed at enhancing the pool of qualified personnel within the education sector. A total of 13,953 teachers and 1,758 head teachers were hired and assigned to their respective positions.

Figures from the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) for the school year 2021/2022 indicate that there were 125,621 school employees, comprising 64,414 men (representing 51.3%) and 61,207 women (equivalent to 48.7%), including both teachers and head teachers. Out of this total, 45,849 were employed in public schools, while 61,463 worked in semi-public institutions.

In May 2023, MINEDUC informed parliamentarians of the need for an additional 8,000 teachers in the upcoming 2023/2024 academic year. The ministry also highlighted a requirement of Rwf484.5 million to cover teachers’ salaries across different districts and Kigali City.

September 14, 2023