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The government of Rwanda through Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) is set to make a study on telecommunications interconnection charges in order to ensure reduction in calling rates across different telephone networks.

In telecommunications, interconnection is the physical linking of a carrier’s network with equipment or facilities not belonging to that network.

The announcement was made by Beata Mukangabo, the Director of Legal Affairs in RURA during a public discussion about mobile banking and electronic transactions in an event held at Telecom House in Kigali.

The discussion targeted all mobile banking and electronic transaction providers including banks, telecom companies and regulators.

“Interconnection charges are still high and this is a big challenge because you find a person holding over one telephone I order to avoid high call charges from one network to another,” Mukangabo pointed out.

She added RURA was dedicated to reducing interconnection charges ensuring that citizens enjoy favorable calling rates across all networks.
Mukangabo also challenged telecom providers to share infrastructure like towers in order to reduce costs on taxes so that calling rates can also be reduced and become favorable to all users.

Patrick Nyirishema, Head of IT in RDB said that at least 90% of households have mobile phones. He said it was a good step taken compared to the past years.

According to the statistics presented by the Minister in the Presidents’ office in charge of ICT, Dr. Inyansi Gatare said in 2009, Rwanda had a total of 2.4 million telecom users and had since increased to 4.3 million.

Dr. Gatare recommended the statistics saying there has been a great step forward by telephone users adding that as the number increases, better services should be increased and accessible to all Rwandans as well.

He challenged mobile banking and electronic transactions providers to increase awareness of the public as their ultimate objective for the increase of services.

The minister called upon for the proper partnership between service providers to make the initiative reach its target.

Gender Monitoring Office chief Oda Gasinzigwa has noted that political will is a key factor in the promotion of gender equality.

Gasinzigwa was at the conclusion of the two day conference that gender related experts from 22 countries, African Union, and United Nations agencies as well as from regional blocs.

The conference involved dialogues to manage diversity and achieving gender equality in political arena.

“Political will has been a major driving force in our country. Where political will exists, necessary measures needed will translate into tangible results,” Gasinzigwa said.

Gasinzigwa also noted that it was crucial to have gender equality financial support such as gender responsive budgeting.

She added that gender equality and empowerment constitutes a core element of managing diversity in the democratic process.

Participants also called for the enhancement of women’s participation in electoral processes in Africa.

Aurelien A. Agbenonci, UN Resident Coordinator to Rwanda, said that it was possible to use elections as a vehicle towards promotion of gender equality.

Participants together believe that the achievement of gender equality is the ultimate provision of inclusive democratization and sustainable development in Africa.

Joseph Chilengi from AU, said that to have an impact, gender equality require coordinated collective action from national, regional and continental.

The meeting was organized prior the Eighth Africa Governance Forum that will take place in 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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The newly formed state of South Sudan is rapidly building herself in all corners from national to international interests.

In a just concluded 80th General assembly which Rwanda’s Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K Gasana was elected to international police body (INTERPOL)’s executive, South Sudan was accepted into the body.

Two other countries Curaçao and Sint Maarten’s applications were accepted into INTERPOL, the world’s largest police organization adding up to 190 member states.

The assembly took place in the Vietnam’s capital Hanoi for four days with delegates endorsing a series of measures which will give the organization a stronger platform from which it can build partnerships and develop innovative solutions in combating 21st century crimes.

The conference was graced with a number of high profile dignitaries, including INTERPOL President Khoo Boon Hui who said the conference had seen “a deep and broad commitment to the principles of enhancing international police cooperation.”

“At this General Assembly we manifested our collective resolve to confront present and emerging security threats. The various discussions and debates reflect our commitment and our strong desire to make our Organization ready and well placed to face the challenges of 21st century policing” said President Khoo.
Below is the Khoo Boon Hui’s speech

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Secretary General Ronald K. Noble told the assembled senior law enforcement officials that innovation was what had made INTERPOL stronger and would maintain its role of global security in the future.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in law enforcement is the sophisticated criminal anonymity on the horizon before us. Our successes in the past have been made possible by our willingness to innovate, and we will continue to identify and meet new challenges by constantly securing, constantly innovating and constantly improving,” said Noble.

“As we move with confidence towards this innovative future, it is vital that we do so from a firm base, and the decisions taken during this General Assembly have reinforced our already strong foundations,” Noble added.

Highlighting the benefit of partnerships with both the public and private sectors, the General Assembly also supported cooperation agreements between INTERPOL and three other organizations: the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore, the Southern African Development Community and the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre.

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The Government of Rwanda, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the U.N. Peace Building Commission(PBC) will host a high level event on post-conflict peace building.

The meeting will draw Rwanda’s experience in addressing some of the critical challenges the country faced following the genocide in 1994.

Expected to participate in the meeting on November 8 to 9, 2011, is the leadership of the six countries currently on the UN Peace Building Commission (PBC) agenda.

Countries will include Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Others include four countries emerging from conflict Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, South Sudan and Timor Leste as well as the Chairs of the UN Peace building Commission (PBC) Country Configurations.

Countries whose top leadership is confirmed so far at the Kigali meeting are South Sudan, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, and Timor Leste.

Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the upcoming meeting was aimed at enhancing the ongoing global dialogue on peace building, and getting Africa to be a more important contributor to the process.

“We look forward to sharing innovations that have delivered good results for Rwanda in building lasting peace and development, as well as some of the challenges we have faced in the last 17 years”

“We are also very eager to hear about the experiences of other countries, in order to make our modest contribution in support of global nation building,”Mushikiwabo said.

The meeting will reflect on Rwanda’s journey towards reconciliation, reconstruction and development, with a focus on leadership and national ownership; innovative approaches to reconciliation and socioeconomic development; and the strategic use of aid, as the key drivers.

Rwanda is the current Chair of the PBC, represented by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

This comes at a time when Rwanda has accumulated a wide range of experience in peace building from the perspective of a post-conflict country as well as contributor to UN peace building missions.

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Rwanda Prisons authorities have refuted claims by families of eight Sierra Leonean war crimes Prisoners that they are being mistreated in a Rwandan prison.

The Sierra Leonean war criminals serving their sentence in Rwanda have complained about their mistreatment in prison and want to be transferred back home.

Paul Rwarakabije, the Commissioner General of the Rwanda Correctional Service, told the press that the Rwandan government was not only respecting its MOU with the Special Court but also providing extra incentives for the prisoners.

He also said that a team from the Special Court was in Rwanda and would be visiting the prisoners soon.

“Prisoners will always complain, but the fact is we have accorded them more than what we are required.”

“They are frequently visited by their relatives and are also accorded conjugal rights. These are international prisoners and we treat them in a special manner.” RCS Rwarakabije pointed out.

Two family sources, who asked not to be named, told Sierra Leone based press that they had called on government to intervene and have the prisoners back to complete their sentences in Sierra Leone.

According to Sierra Leone Press, the Government spokesman Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said that the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, set up to probe atrocities during the country’s 1991-2002 civil war, had warned the government not to interfere in the matter.

“We have been asked by the court to stay off from the matter as any such act will be interpreted as contempt,” said Kargbo.

In a nine-page petition handed by the families to the government on September 7, the men alleged that since their arrival in Kigali in October 2009 they had suffered poor nourishment and a lack of access to medical facilities.

The prisoners are three ex-leaders of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon and Augustine Gbao and three former leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Alex Tamba Brima, Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu.

The other two are former leaders of the Civil Defense Forces (CDF), Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa.

The men, serving terms of between 15 and 52 years, were sent to Rwanda under a special arrangement as Sierra Leone does not have proper facilities for their detention.

Pioneers of Fashion and Design trained by Synergy International (SIR) Ltd, will be graduating next month, igihe.com has learnt.

Synergy International (SIR) Ltd is a Kenyan based textile industry that opened its branch in Rwanda and has expanded to a vocational training institute that trains mostly in fashion design.

The institute that now targets to ensure the promotion of quality technical skills, equips Rwandans with entrepreneurial knowledge.

Additionally, the institute train in entrepreneurship skills, business English and computer skills. It is also intending to expand to other areas of training like in carpentry, leather work, plumbing, wielding among others.

Recently SIR Ltd announced that it was offering its technical skills in relevance to the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy.

Esther Nduta Chege its Managing Director said many Rwandans do not believe in themselves and also they fear to take risks in doing business.

“We looked to the needs of the society and tried to see how to bridge that illiteracy gap and therefore decided to import the trainer to train the local people and equip them with market skills most especially in designing department also teach them English that can help them to communicate easily with their regional clients who may not know local languages,” Chege added.

She said that the institution is aiming at producing people who can be entrepreneurs adding that, one of the primary challenges faced by African youth is unemployment.

Chege also said that SIR Ltd is also set to open up employment opportunities for some of its brightest students.

“From my students there are some that I will absorb and retain them in my textile industry, and for those ones I can’t afford, still we are looking for other possible means to help them start small businesses because most of them are financially crippled,” Chege pointed out.

However the emerging challenge many people turning for training and cannot afford the little money requested as tuition fees.

Saloma Wamachii Ngabi a professional in clothing and textiles and fashion design and also a trainer at the institution pointed out if someone starts a opens up a related business with the starting capital worth Rwf350.000, he or she can be in the position of earning up to Rwf1M per month.

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Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana has been elected as a delegate in the standing executive committee of International Criminal Police Organization(INTERPOL).

INTERPOL is an organization facilitating international police cooperation. It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission in 1923.

The elected Rwanda’s IGP, was attending INTERPOL’s 80th annual general assembly in the Vietnam capital city of Hanoi.

In a four-day assembly Rwanda’s IGP will serve a three year term of office.

According to Police spokesman Supt Theos Badege the appointment of IGP Emmanuel Gasana will contribute towards enhancing further cooperation and collaboration in combating emerging transnational organized crimes within international system.

“This representation to INTERPOL executive committee is a pride to Rwanda as a member country which shows recognition of Rwanda’s role and contribution to the International Police cooperation in addition to partnership in combating cross border crimes.” Badege said.

The executive committee on which Rwanda was elected is comprised of 14 members who include the president of the organization, Secretary General, three vice presidents and nine delegates all from different continents.

Another African elected during the meeting was Adamu Mohammed, the Deputy Commissioner of Nigerian Police as the new vice president for Africa.

Interpol General Assembly is the supreme governing body of the institution.

It is composed of delegates appointed by governments of 190 member countries.

It meets once a year and takes all the major decisions affecting general policy, the resources needed for international cooperation, working methods, finances, programs and activities.

In addition to the appointment, Rwanda currently chairs the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization EAPCCO which it hosted in September.

It has also hosted several key regional and international conferences on security issues such as the Regional center on small arms conference, the African contact officers meeting and the International conference of gender based violence among others.

In an effort to ensure a safer and secure world for all, Rwanda has pursued a policy of international cooperation and has hence contributed both Army and Police contingents to peace keeping missions in Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, Chad and Liberia.

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Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) alerts the General Public on demolition of unexploded ordinances and ammunition to take place at GABIRO barracks.

The exercise which will also include detonating mines will take place from this Friday November 4, to 7, 2011.

In a press release from RDF, the demolition of these unexploded ordinances(UXOs) and ammunitions was in the framework of implementing National Action Plan to fight against proliferation of illegal small arms and ammunition.

“We alert residents because it is in our mandate to deal with security; we care about the security of the residents and their animals around the vicinity of our military activities in the baracks,”

“There are several times resident around the barracks have tendency of grazing their animals in the military land and we have also talked grassroot leaders in addition to announcements in the media,” Col Joseph Nzabamwita the army spokesman has told igihe.com.

Col. Nzabamwita said RDF was to destroy 40 tones unexploded ordinances and ammunition

In previous months over 600 cattle were impounded grazing within the zones of Gabiro military barracks.

It is believed that over 10,000 heads of cattle have reportedly been encroaching into the barracks in recent years.

The population around Gabiro which is also a home of Gabiro military school of infantry, are called upon not to be frightened by this operation.

The RDF also calls the population to keep away from where the exercise will be conducted to avoid incidents.

The destruction will see 1,270 mines and 53,357 unexploded ordinances (UXOs) from 1994 -2011.

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