Tag: MainSlideNews

President Kagame made the remarks on Saturday, at Intare Conference Arena where he chaired the Political Bureau Meeting bringing together about 2500 party delegates.

RPF Political Bureau has attracted delegates including those from Diaspora and representatives of party structures right from the grassroots.

This meeting aims at discussing how the development of the country can be based on Rwandan citizens by building the capacity of Rwandans in various areas to enable them to contribute to national development.

“We have two neighbors who don’t wish us well and two with whom we have no problems. But we will find a way to remedy that situation. Our priority is good relations but it does not prevent us from being ready if things do not turn out as we hope,” said President Kagame and RPF Chairman.

He said that 2018 has done well in all sectors because the country had ‘good production of all kinds’.

He further stated that the RPF Inkotanyi played an important role in maintaining good relations between Rwanda and other countries, although it was not easy, especially due to the history of the country.

He said that currently, Rwanda has two neighbors who are not friendly enough but will continue to look for ways to normalize its relations with them.

“Some issues calmed down giving us time to work, but we are still far, there are still a lot of things to do. It seems like they are alternating. Those who are far away used to cause problems, while we lived at peace with our neighbors. Now we are friends with them (those from far) […] so, we are going to find a remedy for that too,” he said.

“Living with a neighbor who wants to set fire at your things is not good. We have two neighbors in the region who do not wish us good, but we live at peace with two other people,” he said.

“We will also find ways to appease those two neighbors who do not wish us well. That’s on one side, you find ways to appease people and live with them peacefully, but when you do so, you cannot also forget to build the capacity to say what if it does not work out ? ” he added.

President Kagame talked about people who, with the help of neighboring countries, have been trying to disrupt Rwanda’s security by changing their names and disguising themselves as Christians but with other intentions.

President Kagame said that what needs to be done is building capacity for the people themselves because ‘when they do not doubt about you, they maintain security, others may come later or not’.

The last RPF Political Bureau meeting was held in July this year when the final list of candidates that ran as members of parliament was approved for elections that took place in September 2018.

In the elections, FPR Inkotanyi and its affiliated parties came on the top, won 40 out of 53 seats.

Col. Simba was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for 25 years after finding him guilty of leading different Interahamwe raids which targeted and killed the Tutsis in former prefectures of Butare and Gikongoro, as well as crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda convicted Simba of genocide and the crime against humanity of extermination, and it sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment.

In 2016, he wrote to the court asking for release because he had completed his 2/3 sentence and Judge Theodor Meron President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) expressed his desire to release him.

He should serve his entire prison term

The statement by the Government of Rwanda on Friday, states that at a meeting between Valentine Rugwabiza, the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations and Judge Meron, on 14 December 2018, Rwanda knew that the latter had the desire to release Simba.

This unilateral action by Judge Meron comes over the objections of the Government of Rwanda and despite the dire consequences of Simba’s release for the survivors of his crimes, his lack of remorse, and his failure to cooperate with authorities.

In the midst of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Aloys Simba converted what should have been places of refuge into human slaughterhouses.

At Kaduha Parish, Simba put traditional weapons, guns, and grenades into the hands of mass murderers and ordered them to “get rid of this filth.”

Simba likewise handed out weapons to militias surrounding the Murambi Technical School and instructed them to massacre the thousands of Tutsi civilians seeking shelter there.

According to the statement, one might legitimately question whether the deliberate massacre of more than 1,000 innocent civilians is adequately punished by a term of 25 years imprisonment – in other words, whether imprisonment for three months or less for each helpless victim adequately reflects the severity of the crime.

But Judge Meron somehow believes that greater leniency is due and has decided to set Simba free eight years before the end of his sentence.

Under these dire circumstances, inasmuch as Judge Meron is ordering Simba’s release subject to conditions, such as a prohibition on genocide denial, the Mechanism should release him to Rwanda to help ensure compliance with these conditions and to help advance his demobilization and integration, as has been the case for countless individuals in Rwanda.

Under Judge Meron’s presidency, Rwanda and the world have watched as he reversed convictions, reduced sentences, and released criminals long before they served their duly imposed prison terms.

Rwanda also observes that his plan to release Simba is not the result of a statutory requirement or the facts.

Rather, Judge Meron alone has created an arbitrary and automatic rule, not required by statute and unburdened by individualized considerations and assessments, to release any prisoner after service of two-thirds of the sentence. That is not justice.

As a matter of international law, the Mechanism must take into account the gravity of the offense, the interests of the victim survivors, the prisoner’s demonstration of repentance and rehabilitation, and his cooperation with the prosecution.

Simba orchestrated the brutal massacre of his victims in order to advance the genocidal destruction of an entire group.

In its submission to the Mechanism, Rwanda provided a detailed opinion from an expert in the trauma of genocide victims, who personally interviewed some survivors and reviewed statements from others.

She described how Simba’s release would cause untold trauma for survivors of Kaduha Parish and the Murambi Technical School, where children saw their parents murdered, and parents saw their children murdered.

In the face of this devastation, Simba has shown no remorse and has not cooperated, in any way, with investigators and prosecutors.

“We urge the next President to take more seriously the law and the facts when reviewing applications for early release,” the statement further reads.

It says that with due consideration to appropriate and established legal and factual considerations, the Mechanism can review and act upon an application for release prior to completion of the sentence.

But, it says, such decisions must be viewed as the exception, reserved for special cases and backed by compelling justifications.

International law does not confer unfettered discretion to the Mechanism or its President.

He is not at liberty to undermine what was found and upheld by courts of law, following multi-year investigations and months-long prosecutions, where the sentence captured the fullness of the events and considered all relevant arguments.

In the end, the statement says that going forward, the United Nations, member states, and those who have agreed to these processes must understand that Judge Meron’s approach threatens to undermine the international criminal justice system.

Statistics by the Ministry of Health indicate that the Rwandan Government annually spends $100 million for antiretroviral drugs to people with HIV/AIDS and $50 million for treatments done to regularly check how their health statuses stand.

The Ministry of Health says that only 83% of people with HIV infections take antiretroviral drugs as of June this year.

The HIV National Strategic Adviser at Rwanda Biomedical Center, RBC, Semakula Mohammed says that, “it would be a pleasure for us if all the infected took antiretroviral drugs because these drugs lengthen lives of the infected with HIV/AIDS.”

The HIV/AIDS and STIs Diseases Division at RBC indicates that life expectancy for people living with HIV on antiretroviral drugs is more than 60 years, one year less than those who are HIV negative.

It says that ”a person living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Therapy medications lower the viral load, fight infections, and improve the quality of life. They can lower your chances of transmitting the HIV to others.”

According to Demographic Health Survey ,DHS, 2015, AIDS related deaths reduced by 82% while the viral load among people with HIV on ART reduced by 91%.

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In Rwanda, HIV prevalence has been stable since 2005 and remains at 3% in general. The DHS 2015 indicates that HIV prevalence is 6.3% in Kigali City being 2.6% in Southern Province, being 2.4% in Eastern and Western Provinces while it is 2.3% in the North.

Prevalence among sex workers is at 45.8%, being it is 4% in male sex workers while all people living with HIV count between 250,000 and 300,000 people in Rwanda.

With Regard to the Insurance sector, the licensing regulation introduced in 2009 set the minimum capital for both Life and General Insurers at a minimum capital of Rwf1 Billion.

Since then, the banking and insurance sectors have evolved significantly with regards to size, risks and complexity. Sufficient Capital is critical to enable financial institutions deal with the above developments as well as for the safety and soundness of the financial sector and sustainable financing of the economy.

On this basis, the Board of the National Bank of Rwanda has reviewed the existing licensing regulations mainly with regard to the minimum required paid-up capital as well as categories of banks and insurers.

The revised Regulations establish new categories of Banks which are Cooperative Banks and Mortgage Banks while for Insurers, these are Re-insurers and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Microfinance Banks will shift from the Banking Regulatory framework to the Microfinance one to ensure proportionality in regulation and supervision.

The new paid-up capital for Commercial Banks is Rwf20 Billion and Rwf50 Billion for Development Banks. The Paid-up Capital for the new categories of cooperative and Mortgage Banks is set at Rwf10 Billion.

The new minimum paid-up capital for commercial banks is Rwf3 Billion and Rwf2 Billion for Life Insurance. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) shall have a minimum paid-up capital of Rwf500 Million while Re-insurers shall have a minimum paid-up capital of Rwf5 Billion

Banks have a 5 year transition period to build up the capital with a target to reach Rwf15 Billion in 3 years and the full Rwf20 Billion by year 5. General Insurers have 3 years and Life Insurers, 2 years to meet the required paid-up capital. The transition period will start running after the publication of the regulations in the Official Gazette of the Republic Of Rwanda.

The new entrants will be required to comply with the new paid-up capital requirements at the onset.

Loosely translated as ‘The National Order of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the honorary title was created in 1960 to reward personal merit and outstanding service to the Nation. This is the highest in the country.

This follows their official visit to Côte d’Ivoire on 19 and 20 December 2018, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

President Kagame thanked his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouatara, and the people of Côte d’Ivoire, for the great honor they have bestowed on them.

“We dedicate this distinction to the people of Rwanda, with whom we share the journey to build a united, prosperous country,” he said.

President Kagame also said that Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire may be at opposite ends of the African continent, but they share more than their African heritage.

“Like Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire has lived through extremely difficult circumstances. But we also have in common the drive to break with the past, and create a brighter future for our people,” Kagame noted.

He congratulated his Ivorian counterpart, and the people of Côte d’Ivoire, for overcoming many obstacles and the ongoing work to restore Côte d’Ivoire as an economic powerhouse in the region.

President Kagame said that they want to build on the friendship and solidarity, between Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire, for the benefit of their two peoples.

Meanwhile, the two countries some agreements earlier yesterday, following which, RwandAir will be executing flights from Kigali to Abidjan.

Kagame said they look forward to an even more productive partnership.

“The regular RwandAir flights from Kigali to Abidjan, are a good starting point. Rwandans and Ivorians should visit each other more,” said Kagame.

President Kagame also thanked Ouattara for his support of the new Secretary General of the Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo.

“The success of her candidacy is proof that nothing is impossible when Africa comes together,” he noted.

President Kagame pledged that Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire will continue to work together for a stronger and more united continent, particularly through the ongoing reform of the African Union.

President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara was last in Rwanda in April 2018 for a three-day visit.

He too also took part in the presentation of Mo Ibrahim Prize that was given to the former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

President Paul Kagame was last in Ivory Coast in November 2017 when he attended the 5th African Union-European Union (AU-EU) summit.

“As part of the strengthening of bilateral relations between Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda, President Paul Kagame will pay an official visit to Côte d’Ivoire on 19 and 20 December 2018,” said Sidi Touré, spokesman for the Ivorian Government.

President Kagame’s visit takes place eight months after that of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Rwanda. In April 2018, Alassane Ouattara made a visit to Rwanda. At the end of this visit, the decision was decided by the two personalities, for an official visit of the Rwandan President to Abidjan.

Welcomed at FHB Airport today, the two personalities had a tête-à-tête at the end of which several cooperation agreements were signed.

The agenda of President Kagame, who is also the current President of the African Union (AU), is very busy. After a dinner in his honor, as well as his delegation at the Palace of the Presidency, he will be given the keys of the city of Abidjan and the parchment of the honorary citizen by the Governor Robert Beugré Mambé in the District of Abidjan. He will also have a working session with the Ivorian employers to establish business relations between companies from both countries.

First Lady Jeannette Kagame, will visit the mother-child hospital in Bingerville this Thursday with the first lady Dominique Ouattara. The First Ladies are strongly involved in social actions in their respective countries as well as on the continent.

It should be noted that the exchange between Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda has so far been very low. But with this double visit, Ivorian-Rwandan cooperation will see a real boom. This is the vision of Presidents Ouattara and Kagame.

This will be the second arrival of President Kagame in Ivory Coast, under the mandate of Alassane Ouattara.

Bazeye was arrested back from Uganda on Sunday, December 16 this year.
Radio Okapi reported that according to Major Ndjike, Bazeye was arrested with one of FDLR spies, an outfit whose members took part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis.

He further stated that they are both under the custody of the DRC military intelligence department and that they may soon be extradited to Rwanda.

He announced this on Tuesday when he held a joint press conference with Sebastian Kurz, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, AU Commission chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament.

President Kagame who is also Chairman of the African Union said the development of the two continents will be achieved in collaboration with the private sector.

He said that for the co-operation to be strong, it will require that each side reforms itself and make some corrections.

“There are some reforms that should be undertaken on our part, but it should also go in line with the side of those working with Africa or those Africa works with. Africa has a wealthy contribution to its integration with Europe and contributes to the benefit of everyone,” he said.

He further said that Europe is also required to change the relationship with Africa.

” Europeans should view Africans as partners and not beneficiaries of their generosity. People of Africa have to be able to look after themselves and look at what is required to meet global demands and the expectations of our people,” he said.

He highlighted that on the African side, many reforms have been underway including the reform of the African Union Commission, the signing of the Continental Free Trade Area and the re-launch of the Peace Fund mark a turning point in the continent’s ability to relate effectively to its partners, among others.

When he opened the forum, President Kagame explained that Africa should not continue being considered a continent of problems.

He said Africa wishes to promote technology and the private sector to generate work for young people, emphasizing that it is a challenging, yet possible journey.

“Partnership would be more rewarding than doing things as usual. For a long time, Africa has been the source of opportunities, not challenges. All potential constraints can be addressed collaboration,” he noted.

President Kagame also talked about the problem of migrants who have been drowning in the sea for a better life in Europe.

He said that if both sides discussed the matter, they would be able to remedy it and prevent it from delaying other cooperation programs.

The Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz, said he believes this forum contributes to the strong partnership based on bilateral benefits between Africa and Europe.

“It also has an impact on the strong economic cooperation between our continents,” he noted.

Africa – Europe High-Level Forum has in attendance leaders of the two continental blocs, the African Union, AU, and the European Union, EU.

In 2017, Europe exported to Africa commodities worth140 billion euros and imported goods worth 131 billion euros.

Among the commodities exported to Africa, 70% were manufactured, while over 60% of Africa’s exports to Europe was comprised of food commodities, beverages and other crude products.

The High-Level Forum Africa-Europe is scheduled for December 18, 2018. It will focus on the development of technology as a pillar to the economies of the two continents.

The forum will be attended by African and European heads of state or government, CEOs of major global companies as well as innovative entrepreneurs and stakeholders to the High-Level Forum Africa-Europe.

Corporates, as well as startups, will have the opportunity to interact with high-level government representatives, potential investors and cooperation partners.

Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz, chairman of the European Union, was last in Kigali on December 7, where he spoke on the preparations for the forum and the relations between the two countries.

At that time, President Paul Kagame said that in this forum, there will be a wide range of topics including investment and cooperation that can continue to integrate Africa and Europe, so that the continents can continue developing without anyone left behind.

He talked about the history of the issue of migrants, saying that it should not be missing in the discussions of both sides and how bilateral co-operation may focus on resolving it because it is still possible despite the fact that it is late.

“Our partnership between Africa and Europe should have been well-utilized and motivated our youth to hope that if they stay on our continent or in their respective countries they may be safe and find jobs,” he said.

“What we do today is what should have been done that time, which is an investment and understanding the reasons why people leave their homeland and go elsewhere and see what we can do to make people happy in their countries,” he added.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz welcomed the co-operation between Rwanda and Austria, the economic development it has been achieving, and being the second best place to do business in Africa and its achievements for the continent since Kagame has been AU chairman.

He pledged bilateral profitable cooperation, and empowerment of the private sector so that it becomes the pillar to economic development, the core of welfare of the African population.

ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi nationwide talent search competition was held for the first time this year with the aim of developing creative talents. It is a project organized by the Ministry of Sports and Culture, the Ministry for Youth and implemented by Imbuto Foundation.

The competition started in August 2018 looking for talented youths around the country’s four provinces and the City of Kigali and it saw 2400 young men and women participating with 587 were selected at the Preselection.

70 were selected for the final and trained as they were tipped on how they can improve their projects through their talents.

This year’s Edition ended with a flourish on December 15 with all the finalists given occasion to showcase their talents.

The panel of judges was made of experienced and well-known people in the creative industry including Jacques Muligande [Mighty Popo], Jones Kennedy Mazimpaka, Masamba Intore, and Pascal Busheja.

Talented youths competed in six categories including art, songs and dances, theatre and comedy, photography, fashion and literature.

Those who competed in the theatre category started playing the theatre entitled “Ubuzima si Ubuzima” [Life is not Life] showing consequences of poor family planning.

Most of the messages in plays showcased were about problems facing the Rwandan society mostly unplanned pregnancies.

Competitors in photography and cinematography presented their artworks explaining the messages behind them.

The category of music and dances also had many competitors with amazing talents.

Besides showing their different talents, finalists in the same category sat together and studied profitable projects that can also help create jobs for the youths. Three groups were to be awarded for the best projects.

Maximillien Muhawenimana emerged as the winner in the Plastic Arts Category with Jean Pierre Shyaka coming up as the winner in the music category while Jacqueline Mukamurigo won in the fashion category.

In theatre, Annuarite Uwumukiza was the winner while Jean Chretien Munezero won in the cinematography & Photography category with Carine Maniraguha winning in the literature category.

Each of the winners was handed a cheque of Rwf1,000,000 to help him/her nurture their talent.

In projects, the best project that won was of the Fashion Category who named it “Rwanda Fashion Art Centre’’. It will teach tailoring among youth and start a small cloth making factory in a bid to increase products Made-In-Rwanda.

The second is of the cinematography which is called ‘Reba Visual Limited’ which will deal with trade in the industry.

The third Best Project was from the literature category who pitched a project to start writing books to be used in the curriculum for nursery education.

Each group was awarded a Rwf10 million to help them start the project.

The Minister of Sports and Culture, Espérance Nyirasafari assured the winners and those who were not awarded of the support they would always have in nurturing talents.

“Some say they don’t have where to operate from. We are ready to offer places for developing businesses get able to showcase their activities with Ministries and stakeholders we worked together,” Minister Nyirasafari said.

The First Lady and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, Jeannette Kagame thanked all who participated in the project and assured them of her help, reminding them that their talents will get them decent lives if they use them well & professionally.

“It is true you have special talents which we want to expand and play a remarkable role in your individual development and that of the country in general. I assure you will not lack motivators, those who will listen to you, and support you but it requires you also to work hard and cherish your talent. You are the ones who will make us love your profession more,” she said.

ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi will be held on a yearly basis and it is expected to raise the number of jobs created in line with the government’s strategy to see 10,000 jobs created in the creative industry every year.