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{{France will soon extradite Claude Muhayimana a Rwandan Genocide fugitive. Muhayimana is accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.}}

The Board of Education of the Court of Appeal of Rouen in France found that the Rwandan courts are able to provide the fundamental guarantees of procedure and protection of rights of defense in accordance with the French conception of international public policy.

It also argues that the legal requirements for extradition have been met. And also found that the allegations have no political character and are criminal in nature and that the prescription cannot be acquired.

The Ambassador of Rwanda to France said, “It should be remembered that this judgment is consistent with previous decisions by both the European Court of Human Rights dated27 October 2011 by the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda dated 16 December 2011 . It enshrines the concept of rule of law of the Republic of Rwanda.”

The Ambassador of Rwanda in France welcomes this progress of French jurisprudence on extradition of genocide suspects and remains convinced that other extradition requests are sure to be welcomed.

He noted that Rwandan people can achieve true reconciliation only if the alleged perpetrators and executors of the genocide of Tutsi in 1994 were tried, they are in Rwanda or in the courts of the country where they reside.

{{Malawi Vice President Joyce Banda (pictured Above) will step in as Malawi’s head of state after attempts to resuscitate President Bingu wa Mutharika seem not yielding.}}

Cabinet source revealed to IGIHE that Mutharika is being resuscitated at Garden Center Clinic in South Africa but he remains unconscious. He was airlifted to South Africa at 7Pm local time.

President Mutharika collapsed at statehouse Thursday morning following a cardiac arrest and was immediately admitted to Kamuzu central Hospital in the Morning after.

Doctors are said to have attempted to resuscitate him but the condition remained critical.

Malawi cabinet met for an emergency meeting when the president was taken ill to Kamuzu Central Hospital Thursday morning.

However, The Malawi Democrat has reported as breaking news that ‘Bingu Wa Mutharika is Dead”.

“The president has died”, the Malawi Democrat quoted a top government official who declined to be named.

It’s also reported that President Mutharika was flown to South Africa Dead for further Postmortem and Preparation for Burial.

According to Malawi constitution, section 83(4) whenever there is a vacancy in the office of President, the first Vice president shall assume that office for the remainder of the term and shall appoint another person to serve as first Vice-President of the remainder of the term.

Mutharika came to power in a 2004 election and was re-elected with a large majority five years later.

President Mutharika is a former World Bank Economist.

A source in Lilongwe city in Malawi told IGIHE that citizens are in suspense without any details about their president.

Kerry Mabaso told IGIHE, “what I heard from the radio is that he had a heart attack and was rushed to hospital. Others said that he passed away but we aren’t entirely sure about it. We are now left in suspense, waiting to hear about the whole issue.”

{{Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has stated that the Government of Rwanda will always maintain strength for the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide.}}

“The government will always support the commission to fight against genocide and its prevention. This will be done in taking care of the genocide survivors in order to rebuild the country,” Dr. Habumuremyi stated.

The prime Minister made the remarks while officially opening the ongoing International Conference held at Serena Hotel under the theme “18 years after the Genocide against Tutsi: Testimonies and Reflections”.

The two-day conference 5th -6 April was organised by the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide .

The President of the commission, John Rutayisire says the main purpose of the conference is to reflect the past and prepare for a bright future mainly for the new generation not to get misled by the wrong history of their country.

Since 1994, the genocide against the Tutsi has been the subject of academic and research publications. The social impact at the individual and family level have however, not been analysed sufficiently.

With limited knowledge on the antecedents of atrocities endured, there are limits to understanding Rwanda’s current society.

There has also been limited assessment of judicial processes at a national and international level aimed at prosecuting and punishing genocidaires. This has further been compounded by the continued denial of the genocide against the Tutsi.

Addressing this will require according more prominence to the voice of genocide survivors and victims’ in all writings if an accurate memory of the genocide is to be preserved.

The objective of the 2012 colloquium in seeking to restore the victims, will delve into existing literature, legal sources and connect threads between structural violence against the Tusti in the pre-genocide era to the genocide committed in 1994 all aimed at aimed at strengthening the literature and seeking ways to handle and utilize existing legal sources.

This conference joins different boards including Ministers, Local government and church leaders with other international organizations together with analysts who will provide different presentations of the history of Genocide like;
-Dehumanisation process and the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi
-Victims in the aftermath of Genocide
-Assessing the legacy of national and international judicial processes
-Preserving memory of the Genocide in the face of negationism.

{{Youths from different families including youths from genocide convicts, are ready to give out their testimonies meant to testify exactly what took place during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.}}

This was announced by Nzamukwereka Albert, executive director of NEVER GAIN, noting that once Genocide survivors know what really happened to their killed relatives, they will be relieved.

“However, these youths are frowned on by their parents,’’ Says,Nzamukuwereka.

Youths will privately give out their testimonies, accompanied by counselors specialized in traumatic experiences, and finally be given out publicly at the 18th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Some of the youths who haven’t had the chance of completing their education, are gathered in groups ‘’NEVER AGAIN’ intended to fight against genocide ideology and other prejudices.

{{About 200 households at Rusumo Border have been connected to electricity. Rusumo border connects Rwanda and Tanzania.

Previously residents in the area used solar power and diesel powered generators.}}

This was carried out by a Tunisian electricity and gas company STEG in partnership with EWASA.

Ngizwenayo Dieudonne in charge of the water and electrification project in the country said that 5300 households have been connected and they are planning to extend to the western province where 50000 households will be supplied.

Rwanda revenue authority has applauded the project fulfillment, saying that they were burdened by expenses on the fuel previously used as power sources, which hampered many activities due to lack of electricity.

Murayire Protais, The Mayor of Kirehe District said that lack of electricity had been a major obstacle to development in the District.

{{Pascal Bizimana, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice and deputy attorney general has announced that Justice sector has recorded 50% success in prospective goals set six months ago.}}

Bizimana revealed to the ministry of justice joint sector review that was held in Kigali.

The joint sector review meeting looked at different areas of performance of the justice sector including the percentage of the population with regular access to legal advice and representation at the sector level.

Commenting on Gacaca as traditional justice mechanism including the processing of complaints, it was revealed that the official date for the closure of the Gacaca will be May/June 2012.

This article also revealed a 50% reduction of caseload which was estimated at 500 cases.

On corruption cases processed by the prosecution, it was indicated that during the reporting period, the national public prosecution authority dealt with 139 corruption cases among which 77 have been transmitted to courts.

12 cases were classified, and 12 declassified and 62 cases are pending. 62% of all cases received were processed compared to a target of 82%.

Bizimana observed that the key challenge remains in commissioning of the studies and analytical work for the sector, especially hiring of consultants.

This meeting convenes every three months and brings together all organizations and development partners affiliated to the justice, reconciliation, law and order sector.

{{Celebrated Africa’s music legend Youssou Ndour has been appointed to head Senegal’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.}}

The announcement of President Macky Sall’s new government was made late Wednesday, two days after his inauguration ceremony.

Earlier this year, Ndour himself launched a failed bid for the presidency and later threw his support behind Sall.

Senegal’s new president won a runoff election by a large margin, ousting an incumbent of 12 years.

Ndour, a Grammy-winning singer who is enormously popular in his home country, had turned in an application to run for president but was disqualified due to a lack of valid signatures.

{{On Wednesday, 04 April 2012, a Cabinet Meeting, chaired by the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul KAGAME, was convened in URUGWIRO Village.}}

1. The Cabinet Meeting approved decisions taken in its earlier meeting of 16/03/2012, after some amendments.

2. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on disasters caused by rains and requested improvement and speeding up of the strategies adopted to address the situation.

3. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on Season 2012 A achievements and the plans ahead for Season 2012 B and requested to adopt strategies to address the situation as rains are likely to be insufficient during this season.

4. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on the National Strategic Reserves to ensure food security in case of shortage of harvest for various reasons.

5. The Cabinet Meeting heard a progress report on land registration exercise and strategies devised to avoid increased cost of land lease.

6. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on oil and mineral research in Rwanda and requested all those concerned to closely monitor the progress.

7. Cabinet approved the following draft laws:

– Draft Organic law determining allowances and other fringe benefits to be allocated to State Top Political Leaders.

– Draft law reviewing the law No 16/2006 of 03/04/2006 establishing the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and Determining its Mission, Organization and Functioning.

– Draft law authorizing ratification of Loan agreement no844 signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 20 March 2012between the Republic of Rwanda and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development relating to the loan of four million Kuwaiti Dinars (4,000,000 KD) for the Rubengera-Gisiza Road;

– Draft Law authorizing ratification Loan agreement No 5064-RW signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 26 March 2012, between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA), relating to the loan of Fifty two million two hundred Special Drawing Rights (52,200,000 SDR) for the Rural Sector Support Project Phase III

– Draft law authorizing ratification of the Grant agreement No H759-RW signed in Kigali, Rwanda, on 26 March 2012, between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA), relating to the grant of twenty six million one hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (26,100,000 SDR) for the Support to the Social Protection System.

– Draft law authorizing ratification of the Grant agreement No TF011927, signed in Kigali, Rwanda, between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA) acting as administrator of the SRF-CF Trust Fund, relating to the grant of ten million American Dollars (10,000,000 USD) for the Statistics for Results Project.

8. Cabinet approved the following Orders:

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the organizational structure and summary of job positions for the Institute of Rwanda National Museum (INMR);

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the organizational structure and summary of job positions for a Military Medical Insurance (MMI);

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the mission,functions, organizational structure and summary of job positions of the Ministry of Infrastructure.

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the organizational structure and summary of job positions for Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

– Prime Minister’s Order Granting a Leave of Absence for a non specific period to Mr. NZIRAGUTINYA Jean Pierre Aristote, the Bills and Policy Researcher in the Chamber of Deputies.

– Prime Minister’s Order granting a Leave of Absence for a non specific period to Mr. MUHIRE Modeste, the Director of Finance in the Workforce Development Authority (WDA);

– Prime Minister’s Order granting an Automatic Resignation to Mr. GATARI Emmanuel, of Director of Procurement Operations in Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA), because of freeze on employment;

– Ministerial Order regulating the appointment of personnel in health sector.

9. The Cabinet Meeting appointed staff as follows:

IN THE SENATE

• Mr. BAHIZI Marcel, Director of Budget and Public Accountability Researcher

IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
• Mr. MICO Augustin, Legislative Drafter and Advisor

IN MINICOM

• Mr. HARELIMANA Zacharie, Director of ICT)

IN MINEAC

• Ms. SALAFINA Flavia, Director of Communication, Information and Education in MINEAC.

IN MININFRA

• Mr. KAYITABA Emmanuel Amani, Director of ICT

IN MINALOC

• Mr. MUGABO Jean Claude, Director of ICT

IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE

• Mr. MBABAZI Mathias, Regional Internal Auditor of the Eastern Province

• Mr. RUGAJU RUBERWA Alexis, Director of Districts Development Programs

IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE

• Mr. KABERA Vedaste, Specific Programs Coordinator

IN THE REHABILITATION AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

• Mr. BIZIMANA Servilien, Deputy Director in charge of Training

IN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (WDA)

• Mr. MUNEZERO Didier, Director of Partnership Building Unit

• Mr. MUKULIRA Olivier, Director of TVET Accreditation and Quality Assurance Unit

• Mr. HABIMANA Théodore, Director of TVET Training Unit

IN THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST GENOCIDE (CNLG)

• Mr. BIDERI Diogene, Principal Legal Advisor;

• Mr. NZAYIKORERA G. Christophe, Director of Administration and Finance

10. In A.O.B.:

a) The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion informed the Cabinet Meeting that, the Women and Girls’ Month, which started on 8th March, will end on 5th April 2012. This month long campaign focused on four themes: the fight against malnutrition, economic empowerment for women,girls’ education, as well as women and good governance. We focused on several activities of each theme per week.

b) The Minister of Health informed the Cabinet Meeting of the “Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) Program” which aims at strengthening the health education infrastructure and the health workforce for a high quality and sustainable health care system in Rwanda.

This programme will focus on building the capacity of Rwanda’s health professionals in Surgical and Paediatric and Pre-natal Care; Women’s Health; Anaesthesia and Internal Medicine and Specialty; Radiology and Health Management. The budget for this program, starting August 2012 and ending September 2013, is $33.5M of which $27.2M come from USG PEPFAR and Global Fund reallocation.

c) The Minister of Public Service and Labour informed the Cabinet Meeting that as usual Rwanda will celebrate the annual Labour Day on 01/05/2012. This year’s theme is “Let’s promote employment by supporting job creation”.

Activities to mark this day are grouped into three phases:

– Phase I will focus on selecting best SMEs, BDC/BDS that excelled in supporting people to create jobs and innovations in improving and marketing harvests;

– Phase II will focus on exhibition and services; with exhibition targeting handicrafts; SMEs and large enterprises and large Industries;

– Phase III will focus on proper celebrations marking the International Labour Day. On this very day awards will be distributed at national level at Small Amahoro Stadium of REMERA where exhibitions will take place.

{{This statement is signed by

Hon. MUSONI Protais

Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs}}

{{New Houses have been constructed to accommodate poor families in Rubavu district, Western province. 31 houses were built in Kanama sector, 10 houses in Nyundo sector and one house in Rugerero sector.}}

The remaining 111 families were also assisted by providing them with construction materials so that they can build new houses, out of the river protection zone.

This was Subject to Organic Law no 04/2005 of the 08/04/2005, which states that a distance of ten (10) meters away from the banks of rivers should be respected.

Officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA) with funders, when visiting the constructed houses for the vulnerable families on 3 April were told complete settlement will be made soon.

Caroline Kayonga, the permanent secretary of MINIRENA said that the activity aimed at protecting the river and the community from natural disasters such as floods that occur periodically with the Sebeya watershed.

Blandine Icyimanimpaye, one of the relocated habitant, said that they no longer fear the floods that used to occur and that they are safer than they were at sebeya bank.

“The population at first did not comprehend well the benefits of their relocation and the protection of the environment.However, they later realized it was in their own interest and well being of the community,’’ said Honore Mugisha, executive secretary of Kanama sector.

They later paid visit to the project of relocating the population on Mount Rubavu, intended to be turned into a tourist attraction site.

Sebeya River spans over three Districts, which are Rutsiro, Ngororero and Rubavu and falls in Lake Kivu.