Category: Diaspora

Very soon Africa will produce more oil than the Middle East as the continent becomes a focal point in global business.

The remarks were made by Rwanda’s Commercial Attaché in DC, USA, Bonny Musefano while addressing students at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

“Africa offers the highest return on foreign direct investment in the world, far exceeding all other regions,’’Musefano remarked.

Musefano represented the Ambassador of Rwanda HE. Eng. James Kimonyo as the keynote speaker at the 7th Annual Symposium “Business of Africa” May 18-19, 2012 hosted by the African studies Center.

Citing various business success stories in Africa, he said, this is the decade for Africa to shine.

He passionately told of how Rwanda, a small, over populated country in the heart of Africa is the third easiest country in Africa to conduct business after South Africa and Mauritius and that Rwanda seeks to become a business hub for the wider great lakes region.

Bonny further argued that Africa offers the highest return on foreign direct investment in the world, far exceeding all other regions. While petroleum products are the driving force behind those returns, other sectors offer impressive growth.

“There is no reason why we should be the world’s suppliers of cheap commodities and yet remain a vast market dependent on the outside world for most of our consumable goods”.

He was confident that when African countries address the problem of insufficient energy, improve transport network, easy access to good quality internet, enhance the business environment by reducing beaurcracy and good governance, Africa will out compete many continents in business endeavors.

During the Question and answer session, Musefano attributed the success of Rwanda to the resiliency of the Rwandan people and the outstanding leadership of President Paul Kagame.

He noted that Rwandese chose to look forward and restore the pride of their country. Rwanda has zero tolerance to corruption, consistent accountability mechanisms have been put in place, and investors feel secure to do business at home.

He also attributed the success of Rwanda to vibrant domestic and foreign private sector which has steadily boosted Rwanda’s economy.

Dr.Francoise Lionnet, the Director of the African Studies UCLA was optimistic that time had come for Africans to spearhead development strategies of their own continent.

She acknowledged that part of Africa’s challenge was capacity development which has steadily improved and that Africa was now ready to compete on the global market.

The two day conference was opened by entertainment from the World Arts and Culture department UCLA as well as Rwandan Students dancing group of California Baptist University.

The African Studies Center at UCLA is one of the oldest and the biggest departments in USA with various academic disciplines that focus on Africa.

Rwandans and Germans from state Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP) jointly participated in the annual Mayence Marathon May 6th for the first time.

Participants in the race included; Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Christine Nkulikiyinka, RLP Minister of Economy, Hon. Eveline Lemke, five Secretary of States as well as Members of Parliament.

The Rwandan community abroad was also represented and joined the marathon.

The participants ran in couples of representatives from Rwanda and Rhineland-Palatinate through the city center of Mayence alongside the other 11.000 runners who had travelled from the entire region.

More than 50.000 viewers followed the marathon and cheered the runners up. They were especially delighted to see the Rwanda/Rhineland-Palatinate team.
Rwanda and the partnership also gained the attention of regional broadcasters who reported about the event.

The race provided a good opportunity of exchange between the participants and enabled the Rwandan runners to provide information about the partnership country.

The joy was great when majority of participants reached finishing line together.

The relay race is one of many activities organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the partnership between Rwanda and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Following the Saturday graduation ceremony Prime Minister Dr.Pierre Damien Habumuremyi met on Sunday Rwandan students’ community of California Baptist University in USA .

Dr. Habumuremyi was accompanied by Rwandan Ambassador in Washington Ambassador Kimonyo James.

Over 60 Rwandan students welcomed the Prime Minister with traditional dances as an expression of joy and pride to be where they are.

The students thanked Prime Minister for taking time to meet them as a testimony of support offered to all Rwandans by the good and dedicated leadership.

Students said, “We recognize that the outstanding leadership qualities of President Paul Kagame have delivered rwanda from the dark past.

They said, “we stand as a testimony of governments efforts in promoting equal and strong education opportunities for all Rwandans.

“We promise all Rwandans is that we shall always remember and work for our country. We shall honour Rwanda throughout all our experiences.”.

Addressing students, Dr. Habumuremyi said : “ whereby in the pre-genocide period, access to education was predicated on rank, privilege and ethnicity, today merit has taken the center stage.”

Dr. Habumuremyi congratulated 2 graduants and each one was offered a Rwanda national flag as a sign of the good job they have done being good ambassadors of Rwanda at CBU.

The Prime Minister noted that the country needs hardworking citizens to propel the country to development.

Dr. Habumuremyi urged graduants to contribute to national development encouraging them to specialise in domains lacking in Rwanda .

Graduants were encouraged to return home with projects that could be transformed into business opportunities and respond to needs of population.

The Education minister Dr. Vincent Biruta on 27 April 2012, attended a Graduation Ceremony held at Oklahoma Christian University.
In attendance were Rwanda’s Ambassador to US James Kimonyo and hundreds of Rwandans living in USA.

The Commencement ceremony that took place Friday morning had 11 Rwandan Students graduating in areas of Science and Engineering with one graduating with Masters in Engineering.

The 11 Students make up the third group of Rwandan Presidential Scholars (RPS) graduating from Oklahoma Christian since the inception of the program in 2006.

The Graduation ceremony was followed by a meeting of the OC Rwandan Students with the Ambassador and Minister of Education.

During the meeting, Rwandan students presented some of the innovative projects they had initiated to help develop Rwanda and themselves.

Yves Iradukunda (Junior at OC, and ELERwanda CEO) presented ELERwanda, a platform for Entrepreneurial Innovation by Rwandan students connecting them to investors.

“We are organizing a business Competition and a summit this June that will connect Innovative Rwandan Students from all over the USA to investors and advocates”, Iradukunda said.

Seven other students presented other innovative projects that they had initiated or were involved in. These included Rwandans4Water, NationalExaminations.com, Isaro Foundation to mention but a few.

Dr. Biruta commended the Students for working on side projects to help develop Rwanda while studying, “the ministry of Education recently started a Rwanda Innovation Endowment Fund specifically for the purpose of funding innovative projects”.

There was a blessing ceremony for the Graduating Students which was also attended by the Oklahoma Christian University Administration.

Pie Masomo, one of the Graduating students speaking on behalf of the Graduands said he was at a loss for words to describe how thankful he was for the support and guidance the Community had provided to them.

“To the host families, I thank you for having taken care of us as your own”, Pie added. John De Steiguer, President at OC made the concluding remarks during the ceremony and said a prayer for the Graduating Students.

Currently close to 60 Students are pursuing degrees in various courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. (STEM)This graduation ceremony is the first of many, this year that are taking place as Rwandan Presidential Scholars graduate in many universities across the USA.

Rwandan students in Poland in collaboration with the University of Lodz have showcased a commemorative film and held discussions aimed at highlighting the facts about the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi in Rwanda in which a million lives were lost.

The commemorative event was held on 26 April 2012 at Lodz (School of Polish Language, University of Lodz) for the 18th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

During the discussions hinted on the history of Rwanda including the colonialism period and the how genocide was planned and executed in 1994, the after effects and the current level of reconstruction progress.

Details were explained through films, commemorative songs and photography with the help of lecturers and other students hailing from East Africa and friends of Rwanda.

An opportunity for questions from people in attendance was provided and all questions were answered by Rwandan students moderating the discussions.

At the end of the commemoration event, People were more informed than before about Rwanda’s history and current reconstruction progress in Rwanda.

Rwandans and Friends of Rwanda in North America will gather in Washington D.C to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda and reiterate their commitment to the promise of Never Again.

This event will take place on 7th April and 8th April 2012, in Washington D.C to remember the lives of over one million people who were killed during the genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994.

Under this year’s theme “Let’s learn from our history to shape a bright future” participants will have the opportunity to learn through discussions ranging from the history of the genocide, the role of media and literature in the genocide, genocide denial and survivors’ needs today.

“The keynote speech will be delivered by Carl Wilkens, an acclaimed human rights activist and the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda as the genocide against Tutsi unfolded, risking his life to deliver food, water, and money to those in desperate need”, Said Yvette Rugasaguhunga the coordinator of the program.

Other notable speakers include the Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation, Dr. Stephen Smith; Genocide scholar, James Waller; Author, Dr. Margee Ensign; International law scholar, Dr. Zachary Kaufman; the Chief Executive Officer of Aegis Trust, Dr. James Smith, and the former spokesman for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Dr. Tim Gallimore.

Additionally, the program will feature survivors of the genocide against Tutsi including Console Nishimwe, Dr. Egide Karuranga and Ms. Immaculee Ilibagiza, as well as other Rwandan activists including Dr. Chrysologue Gakuba, Mathilda Mukantabana and Dr. Rangira Bea
Gallimore.

The program will conclude with a Walk to Remember at the Washington D.C Mall, in memory of those lost to genocide in Rwanda and worldwide.

This two-day special program is being organized by the Rwandan Community in North America in partnership with the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington D.C.

Rwandans living in Belgium and other Diaspora hailing from the Great Lakes Region have been violently attacked by angry supporters of defeated Congolese presidential candidate Etienne Tshisekedi.

The Congolese community in Belgium, in solidarity with opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rejected official results in a November 28 election that showed Joseph Kabila elected new president of Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Supreme Court in a ruling said Kabila won the election, rejecting opposition demands for the vote to be annulled over fraud allegations.

As votes were being counted in the DR-Congo, Congolese nationals living in Europe set into action violent demonstrations especially targeting Rwandan nationals.

However, the Rwandan Ambassador to Belgium, Robert Masozera has pledged protection and continuous visits to the Rwanda victims ensuring there are no more attacks.

IGIHE.com reporter visited Matonge area where there are lots of businesses run by Rwandans. The area is currently secured following collaboration between the Rwandan Embassy and local police.

At Matonge Rwandan owned properties including restaurants, window glasses, cars and buildings among others were destroyed.

Rwandan ambassador and Embassy officials visited the area and urged them to continue their business as usual as the authorities in charge takes action to ensure peace in the area.

Amb. Masozera further challenged Rwandans in the area to take part in providing protection for themselves.

There are over 40,000 Rwandan community living in Belgium.

Rwanda’s living in USA’s Indiana and Michigan states say they are impressed by some of the services provided by various government agencies.

The Rwanda embassy in US was highlighted as exemplary especially in the issuing of legal documents like passports and passing information about Rwanda’s progress especially on how diaspora members can invest back in Rwanda.

The remarks were made during a recent meeting involving diaspora and Ambassador James Kimonyo who advised them to tap into existing opportunities in Rwanda mostly in trade.

David Gasirabo and Edna Mbangukira hailed Amb. Kimonyo’s visit saying that it proved the government’s commitment to include the Diaspora in decision making and development of Rwanda.

Alice Cyusa from Indiana state who was also among the organizers thanked the governments initiative of visiting the Diaspora, she further hailed a similar visit by president Paul Kagame to Rwandans in Canada.

Appolinnaire Bamugire who resides close to Grand Rapids hotel where the meeting took place noted that the embassy helped her to process documents quickly when she was requested by a Gacaca court in Rwanda to come and answer allegations of involvement in crimes commited during the Tutsi genocide.

“At the end I was confirmed not guilty because I arrived on time to defend myself.”

On 11th December 2011 the Rwandan youth network “Ruanda Connection” which is based in the capital of Germany in Berlin invited the Rwandan community for Christmas celebration.

The festivity was attended by members of the Rwandan diaspora as well as friends of Rwanda. Guests included; the Rwandan Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Christine Nkulikiyinka and the Embassy’s First Secretary who attended to show their support for the event initiated by “Ruanda Connection”.

“Ruanda Connection” aims at bringing together young Rwandans living in Germany and connecting them to their home country Rwanda.

Ambassador Nkulikiyinka welcomed the initiative of the youth and said that she hoped that this was the beginning of intensive encounters of the Rwandan family in Germany.

The aim of the group is to promote networking among young Rwandans in Germany and friends of Rwanda, and to create an active exchange with other young people in Rwanda.

The group plans to promote the Rwandan culture through events and raising awareness about Rwandan projects in Germany.

“Ruanda Connection” was founded one month ago by young Rwandans studying and working in Germany and Rwanda.

Christmas is known as a family celebration, the group wanted Rwandans in
Germany to celebrate as one family together with friends. They emphasized that they are motivated and ambitious to work hard to connect Rwandans from Germany and Rwanda.

The chairperson, Elisabeth Kaneza and deputy chairperson, Charlotte Ndakorerwa, of “Ruanda Connection” hailed the guests for attending.

The Christmas Celebration was the group’s first event. The guests appreciated the initiative and commended the good organization of the event.

More information about the activities of “Ruanda Connection” can be found at the group facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruanda-Connection/246502885409971

Questions and remarks can be sent to their Mail-address: [email protected]

Supporters of the Congolese Presidential Candidate Etienne Tshisekedi in Belgium this Monday demonstrated against Rwandans claiming that their candidate should be announced as the winner in the last Presidential election.

This is not the first time for Congolese to attack Rwandans in Belgium, because when they’re fighting against President Joseph Kabila’s regime in the past years, they attacked Rwandans living there only by looking in their face and beat them.

The demonstration took place in Matonge area a host to a big African migrant population. During the protests, Congolese attacked Rwandan businessmen, and burnt their properties.

There are about 40,000 Rwandans living in Belgium.

The igihe.com reporter at the scene found glasses of Rwandan shops blocked and others scattered in the middle of the roads as Belgian Police calmed the situation.

Among the victims; Lambert Kalisa, the owner of Evasion 29 Restaurant told our Reporter that Congolese violent protestors destroyed his building.

In addition Kalisa said that he didn’t understand why Belgium Police couldn’t secure Rwandans and their properties during the protest.

“I’m very sad because always when Congolese are facing political challenges, they attack us(Rwandans), we are wondering why Police does not secure us,” said Kalisa.

Another Rwandan Jean Pierre owning a Car Parking company in Brussels said that his Parking area was also destroyed.

igihe.com talked to the Rwandan Ambassador in Belgium, Robert Masozera but the diplomat wasn’t aware of the protests.

He expressed shock that Congolese were actually attacking Rwandans.
In addition Masozera noted that he’s incquring about the matter before giving any statement to the media.