Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Rwandan Peacekeepers Saluted

    On 29th May was the United Nations Peacekeepers day,an occasion to salute the 120,000 peacekeepers serving in 17 missions in some of the world’s most volatile and dangerous environments.

    Rwanda’s Violette Kabatesi serving under UN in East Timor (UNMIT), Private Samuel Ntakirutimana and Cpl. John Twahirwa formerly in Darfour(UNAMID), and Sgt. Serge Kamari in Haiti (MINUSTAH) were honoured.

    Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Unite Nations, Eugene-Richard Gasana accompanied by Col. Vincent Nyakarundi attended the medalion function dubbed Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.

    This Day is also a time to mourn fallen peacekeepers. In 2011, 112 men and women died devoting their lives to peace. In the first four months of this year, another 27 peacekeepers have died while serving the United Nations.

    In his message the UN secretary General Ban KiMoon said, “ we honour the memory of the more than 2,900 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty over the years, and we pledge to carry on their work to bring stability to war-ravaged countries.”

    The fallen peacekeepers came from many different troop-contributing countries, a poignant reminder of the global partnership that underpins United Nations peacekeeping.

    Currently,116 Member States contribute military and police personnel to our operations. This impressive number reflects growing global confidence in the value of United Nations peacekeeping as a tool for collective security.

    Moon noted that the new observer mission in Syria is the latest example that demonstrates how the international community looks to the United Nations for solutions to emerging challenges.

    The Mission is facing difficult challenges but serves bravely to help keep the parties, starting with the Government of Syria, to their commitments to cease the violence that has killed thousands of people.

    It is part of the larger UN efforts led by the Joint Special Envoy to end the violence and seek a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

    The ultimate goal of any UN peacekeeping mission is to no longer be necessary.Until we reach that objective, we make every effort for peacekeeping to be as effective and efficient as possible.

    “I am deeply grateful for every contribution of troops and police, as well as for the financial and material resources that make peacekeeping possible. I also thank all countries that provide political support and leadership.”

    Members of the Security Council, in particular, guide and strengthen our work by establishing mandates and updating our deployments to respond to changing conditions on the ground.

    Regional organizations play an increasingly important role. The African Union and the United Nations, for example, are working closely together in Darfur and Somalia while jointly addressing the threat posed by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army.

    These partnerships help give UN peacekeeping the flexibility it needs to address today’s wide-ranging challenges to international peace and security.

    Moon also said, “let us remember the sacrifice of those who have served, and let us pledge to strengthen the global partnerships that make our blue helmets a beacon of hope to millions of people around the world”.

  • Infrastructure Investments to Attract More FDI to Africa

    As Africa’s infrastructure development to the private sector catalyse economic growth and attract substantial foreign direct investment, the founder of Africa’s largest private equity firm said yesterday at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    “Africa today is where China was 30 years ago. It is a continent of 1 billion consumers, with the right demographics and abundant natural resources. Governance in Africa has been the catalyst of the positive change in investor interest,” said Ahmed Heikal, Chairman and Founder of Citadel Capital, the leading private equity firm in Africa and the Middle East with US$ 9.5 billion in investments under control.

    “Africa’s share of global FDI remains small at 4.35% of global activity. The infrastructure investments necessary to support what will become the world’s largest workforce by 2040 will see this figure climb substantially in the years ahead. Economists have demonstrated that over the last 30 years, infrastructure investments accelerated the annual growth convergence rate by over 13 percent in Africa.

    This has attracted foreign investment that has helped create 1.6 million new jobs in Africa in the last eight years alone,” Heikal said at a discussion entitled ‘Accelerating Infrastructure Investments.’

    He added, “Infrastructure spending in Africa currently clocks in at just over US$ 45 billion a year against needs of more than US$ 93 billion. Scaling private investment in regional infrastructure projects will help in facilitate trade and transport across national boundaries, create integrated energy markets, particularly power pools, support regional water resources management and spark national economic growth.”

    Across Africa, lack of investment in rail infrastructure means that transport costs are higher than anywhere else in the world. As a result, the cost of overland transport stands at as much as 50% of the sales price of goods in landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Malawi.

    Citadel Capital estimates that an efficient rail network could, in time, bring East African transport costs down by as much as 35% due to the operational and fuel efficiency of shipping by rail.

    “The result of under-investment in infrastructure is clear across Africa: Hundreds of millions of citizens and businesses do not have reliable access to electricity. Our road, rail and port infrastructure is not a continent-wide network, but a patchwork of isolated national and sub-regional assets.

    Intra-regional trade stands at just 9% of total trade in Africa versus nearly 50% in emerging Asia, and our global exports lag far behind our potential,” Heikal said.

    He pointed out that despite this stark brake on growth, six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world in the 10 years to 2010 were in Africa, and seven of the ten fastest growing in the period 2011-15 will be on this continent.

    He referenced IFC’s recent comments that 21 African nations were home to investable private equity opportunities in 2011 versus just one — South Africa — a decade ago.

    “Our infrastructure investments are about creating solutions,” Heikal pointed out. “They are revitalizing the national railway of Kenya and Uganda. They are eliminating Egypt’s reliance on diesel imports while simultaneously preventing the release of nearly 180,000 tons of sulfur dioxide each year.

    They are easing road congestion and reducing emissions by shifting transport off highways and onto un-used water ways and railways as part of a network that will link the Mediterranean port of Alexandria with the port of Mombasa.

    They are ensuring food security in South Sudan and Sudan. They are distributing natural gas and electricity to households and industry alike. They are turning waste into energy for industry. These are textbook examples of how private equity can both catalyze growth and help meet the aspirations of more than 1 billion Africans.”

    Citadel Capital raised equity and debt of nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in 2011 for its 19-platform companies. The lion’s share of this sum was raised from leading international institutional investors for investment in African infrastructure, including US$ 234 million in equity and debt raised for Rift Valley Railways (RVR), the national railway of Kenya and Uganda, as well as additional sums committed to Nile Logistics, the Egyptian Refining Company and solid-waste platform Tawazon.

    Two rounds of investment for RVR in 2011 helped Kenya close the year atop Deloitte’s league table of top destinations for private equity investment in East Africa.

    A private-sector led approach to structuring infrastructure investments, the Citadel Capital Chairman emphasised, provides governments with a unique opportunity to both revitalize existing assets and build new infrastructure.

    Citadel Capital was recently named the largest private equity firm in Africa by Private Equity International in its PEI 300, the annual benchmark ranking of global private equity firms, marking the fourth consecutive year that the firm has been named the largest in Africa.

  • MTN Mobile Money Extends to Diaspora

    MTN Rwanda and MFS Africa today announced the launch of an online money transfer service that enables MTN Mobile Money customers to receive international remittances directly on their mobile phones.

    The service referred to as MTNMMO.COM is an online facility that enables MTN Mobile Money customers in Rwanda to receive international remittances directly on their mobile phones from senders in the Diaspora.

    MTN Rwanda is among the first MTN operations to connect to this service. The service is also being rolled out across multiple MTN Mobile Money countries currently including Cote d’Ivoire. Other MTN Mobile Money operations including Cameroon and Ghana will join the service during the year,

    How does ‘MTNMMO.COM’ work?

    Senders from outside Rwanda can register on the website MTNMMO.COM and send funds from their debit card or bank transfer via the internet to Rwanda by simply entering a beneficiary’s mobile phone number.

    Funds are delivered immediately to the beneficiary’s Mobile Money account in Rwanda at attractive price levels. While Mobile Money customers today can already send and receive money from within Rwanda, the MTNMMO.COM service for the first time enables cross-border transfers into MTN Rwanda.

    The ‘MTNMMO.COM’ service in Rwanda is facilitated by MFS Africa, in partnership with BCR (Banque Commerciale du Rwanda Ltd).

    According to Albert Kinuma, Head of MTN Business, “Making the connection to MTNMMO.COM to enable international remittances together with MFS Africa was high priority for us to better serve our customers, understanding their need to use their Mobile Money accounts to receive money from abroad.

    We are thankful to the Central Bank of Rwanda for allowing us to launch this groundbreaking service for the benefit of the Rwanda population.”

    “We will continue to add new services to MTN Mobile Money, and grow our agent network, now standing at over 700 agents across Rwanda. With MFS Africa as a partner, we look forward to introducing additional products to Mobile Money in the near future, he added.

    Auke Algera, the General Manager East Africa at MFS Africa said MTNMMO.COM is the first product being launched in Rwanda by the company.

    “The service extends the benefits of Mobile Money to the Rwandan Diaspora. Long travelling times and uncompetitive remittance costs are now a thing of the past. We established ourselves in Rwanda because we are committed to deploying a range of innovative financial products for mobile money providers in the region,” Algera said.

  • Hon. Kantengwa Elected 4th Vice-President of Pan-African Parliament

    A Rwandan legislator Juliana Kantengwa has been elected the Fourth Vice-President of The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) based in South Africa.

    Hon. Kantengwa beat other contenders to take the post to represent the Eastern African Region, a Kenya Member of Parliament with 89 votes over 59.

    Rwanda’s high commissioner to South Africa, Vincent Karega, said Madame Kantengwa’s vote reflects the trust Rwanda has won overtime among countries.

    Together, other five Members will form the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament, during its Third Parliament, which will extend for a period of three years.

    The Pan-African Parliament was established in March 2004, by Article 17 of The Constitutive Act of the African Union, as one of the nine Organs provided for, in the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community signed in Abuja, Nigeria, in 1991.

  • Taylor to Remain in Jail for 50 Years

    Charles Taylor has been sentenced to 50 years in jail. A UN-backed war crimes court sentenced the former president of Liberia Wednesday for arming Sierra Leone rebels in return for “blood diamonds”.

    “The trial chamber unanimously sentences you to a single term of imprisonment for 50 years on all counts,” said Special Court for Sierra Leone judge Richard Lussick at the court based just outside The Hague.

    “The accused has been found responsible for aiding and abetting some of the most heinous crimes in human history,” said Lussick.

    Taylor, 64, dressed in a smart dark suit, white shirt and golden tie, listened with his eyes closed and a drawn face as the judge handed down the sentence, which Taylor can appeal.

    The former president was convicted on April 26 on all 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for aiding and abetting Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during the country’s 1991-2001 civil war.

  • Police Tells Population to Handover Illegal weapons

    Rwanda National Police has yet again called upon those who are still possessing arms illegally or who happen to know their whereabouts to hand them over to security organs or local authorities.

    Police urges people to voluntarily hand over illegal weapons as failure to do so may result in penalties ranging from five years in prison to life sentence, a fine or even both.

    The liberation war and genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 left grenades, unexploded ordnances (UXO’s) and other small arms on the surface of Rwanda.

    Undetonated UXO’s and recent series of grenade blasts across the country have claimed innocent lives including children who played with them are a clear indication that there are still firearms in illegal hands.

    As for those who are afraid of being identified, Police has put in place toll free line 112 where they can report the whereabouts of the illegal arms. It has also encouraged them to leave the fire arms in public places where the police can easily access them.

    Only security organs mandated by the law to possess fire arms. However, security companies are allowed to carry firearms but with express permission from relevant authorities.

    Individuals too may seek permission to possess a firearms but that too has to go through proper procedure.

    The law stipulates that a person living in Rwanda may request possession of weapon if he can convince beyond reasonable doubt why he or she needs it.

    They also have to pay up to Frw 500,000 annually for the service. Security companies are liable to pay Frw 100,000 every year.

    Rwanda National Police thanks citizens who have continued to voluntarily hand-in weapons to security organs. It continues to encourage those still keeping weapons in their homes to hand them over to Police.

  • Congolese Refugees Overwhelm Nkamira Camp

    A Rwandan based refugee camp at Nkamira in Rubavu district is reportedly stretched beyond capacity by a large influx of Congolese refugees fleeing fighting in the eastern DRCongo.

    There are about 9, 500 Congolese refugees from 8,700 registered last week. The influx of Congolese refugees has the rising day by day in Kanzenze sector.

    Nkamira transit camp was initially meant to accommodate 2, 000, now the number has hit 10, 000 refugees.

    Nkamira transit camp officials have expressed doubt over the capacity of the camp to accommodate all the refugees.

    Karigire Gonzage, the acting director of Nkamira temporary camp said, they receive at least 100 refugees daily.

    Some of the refugees giving account of the situation in their areas before fleeing, say they are tortured, raped, insulted and even killed.

    Refugees at Nkamira camp are given food to sustain them for a month. The children are immunized against different diseases including Measles and Polio.

    Karigire said if the numbers continue to rise; the camp would have no more space to accommodate them. He further said that the camp also houses Rwandan repatriates.

  • US Embassy to Launch Access Micro-scholarship Program in Rwanda

    The U.S. Embassy, in collaboration with Lycée de Kigali school will launch the third English Access Micro-scholarship program in Rwanda.

    The Access Program, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, provides a foundation in English language skills to talented 14- to 18 – year-olds from economically disadvantaged sectors through after-school classes and intensive summer learning activities over a two-year period.

    Access students gain an appreciation for American culture and democratic values, increase their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of the country, and gain the ability to compete for and participate in future U.S. exchange and study programs.

    This is the third Access program in Rwanda, and it will bring together 44 students from 4 secondary schools, including Lycée de Kigali, which will host the program, Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux, Groupe Scolaire Rugando and Groupe Scolaire Kacyiru II.

    The first program began in 2010 with 20 students from 3 secondary schools and was hosted by the Kigali Health Institute.

    The second group, which began in 2011 with 40 students, is hosted by the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi.

  • Hash Fuel Station at Gikondo Burnt

    Fire has partly burnt HASH petrol station at Gikondo trading center. The incidence happened on 29th evening hours.

    However, no causalities were reported in the incidence. Fuel pipes and other valuable equipment were destroyed.

    By press time, fire had been contained and renovation work was already ongoing. The proprietor of the petrol station refused to talk to our reporter.

  • Banyarwanda Day Concert to Rock Kampala City

    Rwanda popular artistes will join other East African artists in Kampala in a July 6, concert ‘Banyarwanda Day’, IGIHE reports.

    It’s the biggest Banyarwanda event ever held in Uganda and “will bring together Banyarwanda community in Uganda and neighboring countries”.

    Rwandan artist Kayiganwa Julienne aka BIG MAMA will perform alongside other artists who are the crème-de-la-crème in the East African region including; Uganda’s Jose Chameleon, Natacha from Belgium, Intore Masamba, Knowless, Dr. Claude, and Patrick Buta Sly among others all from Rwanda.

    Commenting about the significance of Banyarwanda Day in Uganda, Matsiko Isaac handling Public Relations at Great Promotions, the co-organizer of the event told IGIHE, “We realized there was a big gap in uniting Banyarwanda from all walks of life through music and especially cultural music.”

    “BIG MAMA launched her first album last year in October in Rwanda, so, it’s against that background that we approached her to consider performing in Uganda for the Banyarwanda community”.

    Matsiko emphasized it’s not a concert that concerns Rwandese alone. “It’s not Rwanda Day but Banyarwanda Day, meaning that anyone who considers himself a Munyarwanda whether by citizenship or by blood is welcome to the concert.”

    Furthermore, “friends and well-wishers are also welcome to have fun with us,” Matsiko added. We encourage all to come and witness the best of our culture, the beauty of our songs and the social nature that Banyarwanda exhibit.”

    According to posters which are already displayed on the social network (Face Book), the first show will be held at Theater La Bonita and will go for Shs 50,000 for V.I.P’s whereas Silver (ordinary) will be Shs 20,000.

    On the 8th July 2012, there is Banyarwanda Beach Party at Lido Beach which has a standard fee of Shs 5,000.