The allegations, attributed to a Reuters report, claimed that nearly 20 officers had submitted letters of resignation over the past two months.
In a statement released by MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge, the mission refuted the claims, terming them as “inaccurate and malicious.”
Otunge stated that all MSS personnel have received their salaries and allowances, adding that no officer has resigned or submitted resignation letters.
“Reuters News did not reach out to the MSS for clarification, and the information being disseminated is both inaccurate and malicious. All MSS personnel have received their salaries, including monthly allowances, and no MSS officer has tendered their resignation as alleged,” the statement read.
The MSS reiterated that its officers remain motivated and dedicated to their mission of supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in combating gang violence and restoring stability to the nation.
Reuters had reported that three anonymous Kenyan officers claimed they had not been paid since September and had submitted resignation letters without receiving a response.
Kenyan National Police Chief Douglas Kanja had earlier addressed the issue during a news conference, stating that officers had been paid up to the end of October.
Kenya deployed 400 police officers to Haiti in June as part of a United Nations-backed initiative to stabilize the Caribbean nation, which has been plagued by gang violence. The MSS, expected to comprise 2,500 personnel from about 10 countries, has faced some challenges, including funding and staffing shortfalls.
Despite these hurdles, the MSS reaffirmed its commitment to helping Haiti restore peace and security.
“The MSS remains resolute in its mission to help Haiti reclaim its glory and restore peace and security for its people,” Otunge said.
The match, a rescheduled Day 3 fixture, marked the first Rwanda Premier League (RPL) game to be held at the newly renovated 45,000-seater stadium since its official reopening in July.
From the first whistle, both teams approached the game with caution, knowing the significance of this clash in the Rwandan football calendar. Rayon Sports, the league leaders, and defending champions APR FC, showcased their tactical prowess, with both sides creating a flurry of chances but unable to break the deadlock.
In the opening minutes, Rayon Sports’ Fall Ngagne had the first shot on goal, but his effort was easily collected by APR’s goalkeeper, Pavelh Ndzila.
The Blues dominated possession early on and were threatening with a series of crosses and set pieces. In the 18th minute, Ngagne found himself in a promising position after a clever pass from Olivier Niyonzima but could only shoot wide of goal with the goalkeeper at his mercy.
APR, on the other hand, responded with a dangerous free kick in the 19th minute when Bugingo Hakim fouled their striker near the penalty box. Ramadhan Niyibizi’s powerful strike hit the crossbar, with both teams unable to capitalize on such opportunities in the opening half.
The first half saw both teams miss golden chances. In the 24th minute, fans at Amahoro Stadium showed their appreciation for the stadium’s renovation, applauding President Paul Kagame.
By the half-hour mark, Rayon’s Ombalenga Fitina made a brilliant run on the right flank, crossing for Ngagne, whose header was saved by Ndzila. Just moments later, APR’s Mamadou Sy had a close-range shot blocked by Rayon’s Khadime Ndiaye, with the rebound denied by the defense.
The second half saw both teams intensify their efforts to secure a goal. APR began making attacking substitutions, bringing on Arsene Tuyisenge and Jean Bosco Ruboneka in the 61st minute.
Rayon responded by introducing Serumogo Ally and Adama Bagayogo to keep the pressure on the army side. However, despite the tactical changes and increased attacking play, neither side could find the elusive goal.
Both teams were awarded free kicks in dangerous positions, but Rayon’s Hakim Bugingo and APR’s Niyibizi saw their respective shots blocked by defenders or go off target. As the match entered its final stages, the intensity continued to rise, but with no breakthrough.
A free kick in the 80th minute for Rayon Sports, following a handball by Clement Niyigena, failed to yield a goal, with Bugingo’s effort hitting the wall.
APR’s last substitution came in the 87th minute, with Johnson Nwobodo Chidiebere replacing Lamine Bah, while Rayon brought on Junior Elenga for Aziz Bassane a minute later. Despite the late drama and three minutes of added time, the match ended with both sides sharing the spoils.
The draw leaves Rayon Sports at the top of the league with 30 points, while APR remains in 4th place with 19 points. While both teams showed resilience, it was APR’s disciplined defense and strategic play that ensured they held their rivals to a goalless draw in what was a hard-fought encounter.
This historic match at the newly refurbished Amahoro Stadium will be remembered not only for its competitive nature but also for the sportsmanship displayed by both teams. As the league progresses, this result sets the stage for an exciting remainder of the season.
Speaking at the opening of the East Africa Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa on Saturday, December 7, 2024, President Ruto highlighted the significant impact this expansion would have on the movement of goods and people within East Africa.
“We have now agreed with Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC that the Standard Gauge Railway will be extended from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC so that we both can use the SGR whenever we are going to these places,” he said.
The SGR extension is expected to strengthen the transportation network within the East African Community (EAC), a move that will greatly boost intra-regional trade, which currently stands at 28%.
Furthermore, the expansion is seen as a stepping stone toward greater continental integration, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Work has already begun on the SGR project in Uganda, with the first phase covering a 272 km stretch from Malaba to Kampala. This phase is slated for completion in four years. In Kenya, plans to develop the Naivasha to Kisumu line are in top gear.
The SGR extension is poised to revolutionize sectors such as agriculture, trade, tourism, and transport in the regions it serves.
“This project will not only benefit the countries directly involved but will also enhance economic cooperation throughout East Africa,” said Kenya’s Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar.
The development is part of a broader initiative under the East African Railway Master Plan, which aims to replace the region’s aging meter-gauge railways. The plan includes integrating the rail systems of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with further links planned to Rwanda and the DRC.
Ruto’s remarks come months after officials from the neighbouring countries signed a new agreement to expedite the SGR extension to Rwanda.
The agreement, reached during a meeting in Mombasa in May 2024, aims to overcome funding challenges that had previously delayed the project. The meeting included representatives from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, attended the meeting.
Then Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who has since been transferred to the Ministry of Sports, expressed confidence in the project’s success.
“This historic agreement will facilitate joint resource mobilization and fast-track the completion of the SGR sections from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC,” he stated.
“It’s a crucial step toward creating economic hubs along the corridor, transforming regions with stop stations into centers of commerce.”
The construction of Kenya’s SGR cost $3.6 billion, financed by a loan from China’s Exim Bank. The SGR has significantly reduced the cost of transporting cargo from the Port of Mombasa to the hinterlands.
The Head of State was speaking on a panel co-hosted by the Doha Forum and the Center for China and Globalization, on “China’s Role in a Rising Global South: Redefining the Future World Order”, discussing the impact of deepening ties between the global south and China.
Kagame highlighted the long-standing historical relationship between China and Africa, noting that it predates the independence of many African nations.
He emphasized that China’s involvement in Africa has evolved, particularly in terms of trade and investment, which now hold significant value with tangible benefits for countries like Rwanda.
Rwanda’s exports to China grew from $39 million in 2018 to $131.2 million in 2023. Over the past five years, China has been Rwanda’s largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), further strengthening bilateral trade relations.
The two nations also saw a bilateral trade volume of $550 million in 2023, with China’s imports from Rwanda increasing by 86.2% from last year.
China’s investments in Rwanda, which exceed $1.2 billion since 2019, span critical sectors like manufacturing, construction, real estate, and mining.
Notably, the upgrade of Masaka District Hospital to an 837-bed facility, which will form part of the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) and construction of Nyabarongo hydropower plant are among infrastructure projects demonstrating China’s significant contributions.
Kagame highlighted that the impact has not only been felt in Rwanda but also across various African countries, including larger economies.
While many critics, particularly from Western countries, have raised concerns about Africa falling into a “debt trap” due to Chinese loans, Kagame was firm in defending China’s approach.
He attributed the risks associated with debt to governance and management, rather than the nature of the loans themselves.
The President pointed out that African countries must be more diligent in engaging with their partners to ensure that loans are deployed effectively in projects that deliver mutual benefits.
The debt trap narrative, largely pushed by Western critics, often casts China’s loans to African nations in a negative light, suggesting that Beijing is deliberately setting up countries for failure.
However, many African leaders argue that the West’s history of imposing harsh conditions on aid and trade has left many African countries seeking more reliable and flexible partners.
China’s non-interference policy and willingness to engage without imposing restrictive terms has become an attractive alternative for many nations.
According to the China-Africa Research Initiative, as of 2023, African countries owe approximately $160 billion in debt to China, a significant portion of their external debt.
However, these loans are generally linked to infrastructure projects, such as roads, hospitals, and power plants, that have the potential to drive economic growth and improve living standards across the continent.
Kagame also addressed the broader global context in which China’s role in Africa is situated.
He spoke of the need for a new, more stable global order that includes the voices and interests of the Global South.
“The purpose of a global order is to have global stability, which we do not have,” he stated, emphasizing that true global stability can only be achieved when countries from the Global South work together.
“We need to realize that there is a lot we can do that benefits us in the Global South, but we need to come together.”
He noted that cooperation between the Global South and Global North could also be beneficial, but the Global North has often been unwilling to foster such collaboration in a way that feels equitable for all parties.
Kagame acknowledged that global geopolitical competition, in which China plays a significant role, is inevitable.
However, he argued that China’s approach to international competition has been more balanced and fair than that of the Global North.
“We don’t see anything in history that suggests that China has misused its strength. Rather, we have been benefitting from the cooperation and the attitude of bringing everybody to the table where everyone feels they are winning in the process,” he said.
Kagame also stressed the importance of the Global South working together to contribute to global stability.
“We just need to work together and make sure that we are contributing our fair share to this global stability that the world wants,” he said.
President Kagame participated in the panel discussion along with other panelists including Nangolo Mbumba, President of Namibia, Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, Dr. Eduardo Enrique Garcia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras, and Dr. Henry Wang, President of the Center for China and Globalization.
Under the banner “Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity”, Doha Forum promotes the interchange of ideas and discourse towards policymaking and action-oriented recommendations.
The latest formal external trade in goods report revealed a 15.7% decrease in the value of Rwanda’s domestic exports in October 2024 compared to September 2024. However, exports grew by 61.8% compared to October 2023.
By October 2024, the trade deficit stood at $363 million, driven by a 23.9% increase in the value of imports compared to October 2023.
Key imports included machinery and transport equipment worth over $103 million and manufactured goods valued at $100 million.
Overall, imports rose from $507.9 million in October 2023 to $629.7 million in October 2024, marking a 23.9% increase.
The Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda recently told the Parliament that the growing import bill is worsening the trade deficit due to declining prices for Rwanda’s key exports.
“Our main exports—minerals, coffee, and tea—have experienced price drops, reducing foreign earnings. This has widened the trade deficit, affecting the foreign exchange market,” he said.
Governor Rwangombwa explained that the demand for foreign currency needed for imports has increased, while export earnings have declined.
He noted that reducing the trade deficit would require favorable conditions, such as discovering high-value minerals, but emphasized that addressing the trade imbalance would take time due to the changing dynamics of the global economy.
The Government’s development plan targets a 13% annual growth in exports and aims to boost private sector investment from $2.2 billion to $4.6 billion by 2029.
He is expected to attened the meeting along with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Angolan President João Lourenço in an effort to address regional security challenges.
This confirmation was announced by President Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, on December 6, 2024, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI).
The talks follow a November 25, 2024, ministerial agreement outlining steps to dismantle the FDLR terror group and ease security measures imposed by Rwanda along its border.
The December 15 discussions are expected to focus on finding a lasting solution to the M23 rebel group crisis, which was not addressed during the earlier meeting.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, recently stressed that resolving the root causes behind M23’s armed rebellion requires direct talks between the DRC government and the group.
In an interview with Top Congo FM on December 6, 2024, DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, dismissed the possibility of such negotiations.
This milestone places Rwanda among 18 top regulatory authorities globally and one of the first eight in Africa to reach this level, underscoring its commitment to ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality medical products for its population.
This designation follows formal benchmarking by WHO, marking significant progress toward strengthening regulatory systems across the continent. The WHO benchmark, conducted with its Global Benchmarking Tool, evaluates regulatory systems against more than 250 indicators.
Maturity Level 4, the highest level, signifies an advanced regulatory system committed to ongoing improvement, while Maturity Level 3 indicates a stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system.
The WHO global benchmarking process is part of WHO’s program to strengthen regulatory systems, evaluating core functions such as product authorization, market surveillance, and adverse event detection.
Regulatory authorities that reach ML3 and ML4 may qualify as WHO-listed Authorities after additional performance assessments.
Rwanda has attained ML3 level alongside Senegal, joining other African nations including Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
According to WHO, both Rwanda and Senegal achieved ML3 through an assessment finalized in October 2024, in close collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) and the WHO country offices in Rwanda and Senegal.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said: “Achieving Maturity Level 3 is a remarkable achievement for both Senegal and Rwanda, underscoring their commitment to improving public health and regulatory excellence.”
“This milestone marks a step forward in Africa’s journey toward stronger, more resilient health systems that prioritize the safety and efficacy of medical products. Both countries serve as models for the continent and contribute to the collective vision of a healthier Africa,” she added.
Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said that this achievement for Senegal and Rwanda reflects the strong commitment of both countries to regulatory excellence.
“Senegal’s achievement also marks a first for a francophone country in Africa to reach ML3, underscoring the momentum toward the future operationalization of the African Medicines Agency. Rwanda’s achievement represents another milestone for the East African Region, being the second country after Tanzania, which became ML3 in 2018,” she noted.
Rwanda’s recognition followed a detailed evaluation conducted by WHO between December 2022 and October 2024. The assessment reviewed Rwanda FDA’s regulatory processes, systems, and compliance with international standards.
Achieving ML3 often takes more than five years, but Rwanda accomplished it in just two, reflecting its strong health sector reforms.
This certification allows Rwanda FDA to oversee the quality of locally manufactured vaccines, enabling them to be exported and recognized internationally. In contrast, medicines produced in countries without ML3 status are restricted from international marketing.
Prof. Emile Bienvenu, Director General of Rwanda FDA, expressed pride in the accomplishment, saying it reinforces Rwanda’s dedication to fostering sustainable investment and development in the health sector.
He also emphasized that while celebrating this milestone, Rwanda FDA will continue striving to maintain high-quality standards in medicines and vaccine regulation to safeguard public health.
Dr. Ngirente addressed the issue on December 6, 2024, during a press briefing on the country’s current state of affairs.
Recently, the government announced a decision to raise pension contributions.
Starting January 2025, pension contributions will rise to 12%, with employees and employers each contributing 6%. This marks an increase from the current combined rate of 6%, where both parties contribute 3%. By 2027, contributions will incrementally reach 20%, achieved through annual 2% increases until 2030.
The Prime Minister attributed the reform to Rwanda’s increasing life expectancy, now averaging 69 years and steadily rising. He noted that this progress means retirees could live as many years in retirement as they spent working, necessitating financial preparedness.
“It is commendable that Rwandans are living longer. However, we must ensure they do not live their later years in hardship,” Dr. Ngirente remarked. “A Rwandan deserves to live a long life and live it well.”
He stressed that the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) manages pension funds to secure citizens’ futures, describing contributions as essential savings.
“When people face challenging times, we return their savings,” Dr. Ngirente explained adding that this reform ensures that retirees can maintain a standard of living similar to when they were employed.
The Prime Minister emphasized that these changes are intended to benefit Rwandans by ensuring that retirees can afford essential needs such as housing and education for their children.
Addressing concerns from those who feel the adjustments may be abrupt or challenging for some employers to implement immediately, Dr. Ngirente assured that the government would support them in the transition.
“For companies that can implement the changes starting January, they should proceed. For those facing difficulties, we will require them to declare their situation transparently. Based on their requests, we will provide guidance and support,” he said.
“We are a government that accompanies its citizens. We will not abandon institutions that may struggle to meet the new requirements in January. There will be no crises. We have also engaged employers, and no employer wants to see an employee who worked for 20 or 30 years unable to afford basic needs like soap,” he added.
The Prime Minister urged all Rwandans to support the decision, emphasizing that it was made with their future well-being in mind.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the closure is meant to ensure the integrity of the polls.
“The Ministry of the Interior has ordered the temporary closure of all land borders as part of measures to ensure the integrity of the Dec. 7 general elections,” said the statement.
The statement said the temporary closure is effective immediately and will end at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The ministry urged all citizens and travelers to and from Ghana to cooperate with the security agencies in the course of enforcing the directive.
Ghana shares borders with Togo in the east, Cote d’Ivoire in the west, and Burkina Faso in the north.
Ghanaian voters will cast their ballots on Saturday to elect a new president and 276 parliamentarians.
As part of his visit, CG Murenzi attended the graduation ceremony for the second intake of the Senior Management Development Course in Corrections (SMDCC) on December 6, 2024, at Chikurubi Dam View.
Among the 44 graduates were five senior RCS officers who completed the first-ever intake of this course for Rwanda.
The event, graced by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, brought together high-ranking government officials and other dignitaries, including Rwanda’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James Musoni.
The SMDCC, which began in January 2024, equipped Rwandan officers with skills in senior leadership and prison management. They earned diplomas in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from the Zimbabwe Open University, certificates in prison administration and management from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Staff College, and a certificate in ideology from the Chitepo School of Ideology.
“This milestone reflects Rwanda’s commitment to enhancing correctional best practices through regional and international collaboration,” CG Murenzi said.
During the visit, the Rwandan delegation is also scheduled to visit Marondera Female Open Correctional Institution and Mazoe Farm Prison. The facilities serve as models for inmate rehabilitation, reformation, and reintegration, particularly through open prison systems. The benchmarking will inform the establishment of halfway social reintegration centres in Rwanda, aimed at easing inmates’ transition back into society.
The collaboration between Rwanda and Zimbabwe in corrections is anchored in a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Harare. The MoU outlines areas of cooperation, including joint projects, staff training exchange programs, and shared correctional innovations.
In March 2023, Zimbabwe’s Commissioner General of Prisons, CG Dr. Moses Chihobvu, visited Rwanda for a benchmarking mission.
Among the highlights of the visit was Rwanda’s use of biogas technology in correctional facilities, which significantly reduces operational costs. Dr. Chihobvu expressed interest in adopting this innovation in Zimbabwe as part of the ongoing bilateral engagements.
