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Indian business executives explore investment opportunities in Rwanda
Indian businesses and investors are in Rwanda to explore investment and trade opportunities, in line with strengthening existing economic ties between both countries.
During the India-Rwanda Business Forum held on December 13, Indian business leaders from various sectors were tipped on Rwanda’s investment climate and the ease of doing business in the country. They engaged in business-to-business sessions with their counterparts, as well as cultural exchange.
Rwanda showcased potential projects for investment including Green City Kigali, Kigali Health City, Kigali Innovation City, Gasmeth –Gas extraction from Lake Kivu, Telecoms, Glass manufacturing plant, and Gabiro agribusiness hub, among others.
Vinay Palaparthy, the representative of the Indian delegation, said that the era of setting up a company and exploiting natural resources is long gone, and today, the similarities between India and Rwanda can be beneficial by creating partnerships.
“It is also important that we understand that to build a country and progress is not just about a dream but building skills and technology of the new age. Today, developed countries no longer talk about manufacturing and trade advantages, but Artificial Intelligence,” he added.
He noted that while Rwanda made significant progress in human resource development through education, and now the potential to become a technology centre in Africa as well.
Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, the Minister of Trade and Commerce, noted that the strong ties between Rwanda and India have evolved over the years with partnerships based on mutual respect, shared values, and commitment to economic growth.
Investment from India to Rwanda has grown substantially with more than $500 million from 2018 to date, and it has materialized into more than 120 registered projects in sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, and real estate, contributing significantly to the development of the country, he added.
“As we continue to build on these foundations, there is significant potential for further collaboration, innovation, and shared success. Our commitment to creating an enabling business environment cultivated by political stability, skilled workforce, and progressive policies remains firm,” Ngabitsinze said.
For Allen Umulisa, the CEO of Expanders, a local company involved in the export of fruits and vegetables, the forum is a great opportunity to forge a new network with potential to expand her business to Asian countries in addition to her current market in the Middle East and Europe.
For someone who started from scratch after secondary school, in 2018, being able to export about 15 tonnes of her products per week has been a rewarding journey. And she emphasized that such platforms represent opportunities for young people to acquire knowledge and create long-lasting partnerships with potential traders or investors.
Karanveer Singh, the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of GYSK Energy Solutions, noted that he found great potential, as a businessman, in the infrastructure sector in Rwanda.
He said: “As a personal initiative, I will move with my family from Canada to Rwanda to set up my manufacturing plant after the government approves my proposal.
“We do appliances designed to generate electricity in rural areas from renewable energy while cooking.”
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New RDF soldiers showcase skills
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) on Saturday, December 9, officially enrolled newly trained soldiers into the Force following the completion of a seven-month military training programme at the Basic Military Training Centre - Nasho in Kirehe District.
The young men and women showcased their acquired skills in arms and drills to the RDF leadership before being formally embraced into the force, a statement indicates.
The ceremony was presided over by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga, on behalf of the Rwanda Defence Force Commander-in-Chief, President President Paul Kagame.
In his address, Muganga congratulated the new graduates and told them to use the knowledge gained to defend their country.
He said: "On behalf of the Commander-in-Chief and RDF at large I congratulate you for this milestone. The knowledge gained here will help you to perform and fulfill the RDF duties and also help you to keep your discipline.
"We thank you for choosing to join RDF in order to defend your country."
As noted, the recruitment and integration of new soldiers constitutes ongoing process aligned with the RDF's imperative operational readiness.
Some of the newly trained soldiers who completed a seven-month military training programme at the Basic Military Training Centre - Nasho in Kirehe District. Courtesy
Some of the newly trained soldiers who completed a seven-month military training programme at the Basic Military Training Centre - Nasho in Kirehe District. Courtesy
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The Presidential VIP Protection Unit of the Central African Republic president
Here is the breakdown of the Central African Republic presidential bodyguards in this picture : Firstly, there are three different armies involved:
the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), Russian soldiers, and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) All of these forces are trained as VIP protection squads. In Russia, they are known as the Presidential Security Service (SBP), while in Rwanda, they are called the Republican Guard.
The Rwanda Defence Force is responsible for H.E. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra's full security, and they are the ones who organize everything. The Russians and FACA provide support in this regard. In the photo marked in red, there are three different Rwandan VIP protection units.
The first is the rapid engagement unit, consisting of soldiers with guns and triggers ready to engage at any moment. The second unit is the evacuation guards, who are in uniform but do not have visible guns.
Their main task is to evacuate and shield the president in case of a threat or other direct danger. Lastly, there are the intelligence Presidential officers, who do not wear military uniforms. They can be anyone in the crowd, from a cameraman to a local motorcycle rider who came to watch no one knows where they are, but they are always present. The soldiers in green are FACA presidential guards, who are there to assist and learn from the Rwandans and Russians so that in future they can do it fully.
The Russian soldiers are in yellow. Behind the president is what they call "Number one," the one on right who is also from Rwanda. Number one is responsible for holding the president's phone and opening doors for him.
They are the person the president can ask to do anything, like making a call to someone or other agent things while travelling. The president’s residential house is also protected by Rwandans, main facilities in CAR and borders are also protected by Rwanda Defence Force directly or indirectly.
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Rwandan actress Alliah Cool awarded ‘Great Achievers Award’ in Nigeria
Rwandan actress Alliance Isimbi, popularly known in cinema as Alliah Cool has won the prestigious ‘Great Achievers Award’ in Nigeria, the recognition which celebrates human and community development as well as incredible talent and dedication of individuals in the entertainment industry.
Best Achiever’s Award is often awarded in recognition of one’s life experiences and their exceptional contributions to the society or lifetime achievement in their field.
Notably, she was recognised among young United Nations peace ambassadors who have achieved remarkable things including empowering women for a better tomorrow. The initiative brings together incredible women to inspire and empower each other.
She is also a partner and Director of Ishusho Arts Center, a film school dedicated to boost young talented individuals who aspire to be movie stars in the creative industry.
It is with such background that the ‘Good Book, Bad Cover’ actress was among the esteemed recipients, stood as a young entrepreneur whose contributions to the art and entertainment sector have been recognised significantly on November 26.
Over the moon with the distinction of being named, this passionate humanitarian expressed profound gratitude for the honor bestowed upon her.
“It is the most exceptional honor to be introduced as Ambassador Isimbi Alliance. As a young Rwandan entrepreneur, and humanitarian, actively making giant strides in the art and entertainment industry,” she said.
“I want you to know that, this award also recognizes the efforts of my country men and women, working very hard to bring honor and glory to Rwanda. Thank you for recognising my little effort in promoting art and the movie industry on the African continent and beyond,” she exclaimed.
“Equally, the award is unique and special to me," she said, "because it comes from Nigeria, a country with a rich pool of talented entertainers, actors and actresses, and the most populous black country in the world.”
“I am overjoyed and truly grateful to the organizers of this event, the Great Achievers Award,” she added.
She added: “I dedicate this Award to the movie industry and to the greatness of the future of Africa.”
‘Alliah the Movie' actress further said her presence is a call to action for policymakers, influencers, dreamers, and industry participants to keep innovating the entertainment sector, making it appealing for the upcoming generation to thrive.
“I recommend my fellow celebrities to go beyond entertaining. we need to give back to our community and contribute positively towards a prosperous society,” she added.
Alliah Cool has built a name for herself in the cinema industry not only in Rwanda but also on the international scene with her movies ‘Alliah the Movie’, ‘Good Book, Bad Cover’ and many other local movies she featured in.
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“Wiping Gaza Off The Map”: Big Money Agenda. Confiscating Palestine’s Maritime Natural Gas Reserves
That's the title of an article published by Felicity Arbuthnot and Michel Chossudovsky on http://globalresearch.ca (read full version and watch the video interview with Michel Chossudovsky here). Here are the key points the authors make:
Israel has launched an invasion (October 7, 2023) of the Gaza Strip. As outlined by Felicity Arbuthnot with foresight 10 years ago in a December, 30 2013 article: “Israel is set to become a major exporter of gas and some oil, “If All Goes to Plan”. The ultimate objective is not only to exclude Palestinians from their homeland, it consists in confiscating the multi-billion dollar Gaza offshore Natural Gas reserves, namely those pertaining to the BG (BG Group) in 1999, as well the Levant discoveries of 2013.
An official “secret” memorandum authored by Israel’s Ministry of Intelligence “is recommending the forcible and permanent transfer of the Gaza Strip’s 2.2 million Palestinian residents to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula”. There are indications of Israel-Egypt negotiations as well as consultations with the U.S. The timeline resulting from those is “the beginning of 2024”.
The Israeli government is responsible not only for crimes against humanity beyond description against the People of Palestine, but also for crimes committed against the People of Israel who are the victims of the Hamas “False Flag Attack” carefully engineered by Mossad-IDF. Netanyahu was on Record for Supporting and Financing a faction within Hamas: “Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas … This is part of our strategy – to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank.” The authors also quote the United Nations Assessment on the issue. An important United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2019) report describes Palestine’s predicament as follows:
Geologists and natural resources economists have confirmed that the Occupied Palestinian Territory lies above sizeable reservoirs of oil and natural gas wealth, in Area C of the occupied West Bank and the Mediterranean coast off the Gaza Strip. However, occupation continues to prevent Palestinians from developing their energy fields so as to exploit and benefit from such assets. As such, the Palestinian people have been denied the benefits of using this natural resource to finance socioeconomic development and meet their need for energy.
The accumulated losses are estimated in the billions of dollars. The longer Israel prevents Palestinians from exploiting their own oil and natural gas reserves, the greater the opportunity costs and the greater the total costs of the occupation borne by Palestinians become.
This study identifies and assesses existing and potential Palestinian oil and natural gas reserves that could be exploited for the benefit of the Palestinian people, which Israel is either preventing them from exploiting or is exploiting without due regard for international law.
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Fire guts commercial building in Musanze
A fire outbreak gutted a commercial building adjacent to Musanze taxi park on the morning of November 20, The New Times has learnt.
Hamiss Bizimana, the Mayor of Musanze District, confirmed the incident, noting that the commercial building suffered damage, but the fire has been successfully extinguished by the Police Fire Brigade.
"The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are yet to be determined as the investigation is still ongoing," he added.
Bizimana further noted that the authorities are conducting post-fire recovery efforts to support the affected individuals.
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TIME100 Summit: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Danai Gurira on breaking barriers, bridging gender gaps
Happening for the first time in Africa, the much-awaited TIME100 Summit and Impact Awards kicked off on November 17 at the Kigali Convention Centre. It has convened international and regional leaders, influencers, and visionaries alongside members of the global TIME100 community to celebrate the recipients of the first-ever TIME100 Impact Awards Africa.
From the captivating traditional dances to being addressed by Africa’s first female president, and the impactful panel discussions, TIME’s celebration of 100 years in print is as remarkable as it sounds.
To mark the momentous occasion, TIME’s editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs expressed deep appreciation for what the publication’s achievement has accomplished over the years, and deliberately commended Africa’s progression, citing it as one of the reasons the summit is happening on the continent.
“It is an honour to be celebrating TIME’s 100th birthday and to have the summit in Africa for the first time. Africa may be the youngest continent but African youth are set to dominate the global workforce,” said Jacobs.
Following the opening address, a panel discussion was led by Aryn Barker, a TIME correspondent, with former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Zimbabwean-American actress Danai Gurira, and South African social entrepreneur Sindy Zemura Bernard. The discussion was tailored around the theme “From Barriers to Breakthroughs”.
Sirleaf utilised the platform to share that despite the projection that universal gender equality will be achieved in the next 140 years if the community were to join forces and collectively work towards that goal, the target would be achieved sooner than the projected date and give way for other progressive goals to be set.
“In 2022 a report was made indicating that it will take 140 years to achieve gender equality to the fullest. I have seen things change this decade and I believe if we come together collectively, we can make that prediction happen sooner and set new goals,” Sirleaf said.
Furthermore, Sirleaf highlighted the need for more women to take up positions in power and elaborated that if men were to be more supportive, the equality gap would be bridged faster.
“I think male perspectives need to change and we should all empower one another to maintain the progress we have already made. I’ve dedicated the rest of my life to working for the promotion of women to higher positions of power in Africa and beyond,” she said.
One of the most outstanding contributions to the panel came from Gurira, the actress most known for her portrayal of Okoye in the Blank Panther movies. Gurira raised the issue that while the power of storytelling is inadvertently used for impact, tailoring the narrative along with what the West would like to consume takes away how authentic African stories are, and she urged storytellers to proudly own their stories.
“How we are perceived by the West affects how we perceive ourselves. I was shocked by how much playing a woman in Black Panther was perceived. I think confident people need to be surrounded by those who support them and not go to the West for assistance. We need to take ownership of our own narratives and be unapologetic about it. The answers are with the women on the continent and we need to amplify their voices more,” said Gurira.
With this summit, TIME has debuted the TIME100 franchise to Africa convening international and regional leaders for open discussions intent on finding solutions to some of the continent’s challenges.
The TIME100 Summit and Impact Awards Africa were developed with founding partner Rwanda Development Board.
Zimbabwean-American actress Danai Gurira speaks at the event in Kigali. Courtesy
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West failed to ‘cancel’ Russia – Putin
Attempts by the West to “cancel” Russia with economic and cultural sanctions have failed and were always doomed to fail, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Speaking at the International Culture Forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian leader accused the collective West of seeking to “cross out” everything that does not fit into its “falsified history.”
“Entire layers of history – the art of Western Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America – are being silenced, as if they never happened, and lately they have been trying to cancel our culture in general,” Putin declared.
“I say ‘trying’ because we understand that this is by definition impossible,” the president added. “But still, they are trying to abolish culture, which is based on true freedom, mercy, love of fellow man and spirituality. The policy of canceling Russia is by itself inherently anti-cultural, neo-colonial, and racist.”
In reality, Putin argued, the attempt to cancel Russia's culture and destroy its economy with “so-called sanctions” did not work out as its authors intended.
“One of many examples of this is the huge interest in the Tchaikovsky Competition, for example,” the Russian president said. “Its online audience has exceeded 50 million people. In the modern world, it is impossible to undo such things, simply impossible. It's strange that people who try to do this don't understand it. By the way, of these 50 million people, more than half are Europeans who do not want anyone to decide for them what music to listen to, what to watch and what to read.”
According to Putin, some of the principal reasons for the current tensions in the world are “the claims of certain forces to exclusivity – including cultural exclusivity – their disdain for other customs, spiritual values, the desire to subject everyone and everything to unification, and according to their own template, which they consider the best and most universal.”
He described this as “vulgar globalization” and “cultural conquest,” which has resulted in the suppression and impoverishment of cultures and “multiplied the potential for conflict many times over.”
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Buganda Kingdom mourns Amb Sebudandi
The Kingdom of Buganda has mourned former Rwandan diplomat Venatie Sebudandi, who passed away on Monday, November 13.
The deceased was the mother of Jjunju Kiweewa, one of the Princes of the Kingdom of Buganda. Sebudandi was born in Gahini, in eastern Rwanda, on October 29, 1954.
A statement by the office of Buganda’s Katikkiro (Prime Minister) read in part: “All of Buganda mourns with the King and Prince Kiweewa as well as the entire royal family on the death of the servant (Sebudandi), which has left a big gap.”
The office of Buganda’s Katikkiro eulogized her as a kind person who, despite her honours, was humble, respected everyone, “and loved to help everyone who approached her.”
The late diplomat will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 18, at the Rusororo public cemetery.
A seasoned diplomat, Sebudandi started her political career in 1996, working as the Chief of Protocol and Director of State Protocol at Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda, a position she held until 2001.
Later, she served as Rwanda’s ambassador to Japan in addition to a number of assignments that she held in her political career, including as the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
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Spittler not ruling Rwanda out of 2026 World Cup
Amavubi head coach Torsten Frank Spittler admits his team will find it tough to make it to the 2026 World Cup considering their position on the FIFA ranking but he still believes it is not something that can’t be achieved.
The German gaffer is of view that teams at the lower ranks on the FIFA ranking hardly make it to big football tournaments of the World Cup caliber but he still hopes Rwanda can defy the odds and write a new history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.
"Our main target is to win every game and be competitive. If those wins secure the team the ticket, we will take it," Spittler told journalists in a press conference on Thursday.
"We have to be realistic; Rwanda is lying 147th in the world. Teams at that position qualifying for world cup is rare but we have to win all our games and see what happens," he added.
Spittler’s Rwanda begins 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign on November 15 when they take on Zimbabwe before facing South Africa on November 21. Both games will take place at Huye Stadium.
The German coach indicated that he will work with the players at his disposal for the next two games against Zimababwe and South Africa before investing ample time in scouting players on his own for future assignments.
"I have to work with the players I have now. The technical director and the assistant coaches know the players more than I do. I only made some inputs and, after the two games, I will be able to look and scout players," he added.
Rwanda's biggest achievement in football in terms of the senior national team was qualifying for the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
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Burundi can still make the right choice in the DRC
As fighting continues in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between government forces (FARDC) – in coalition with various local and foreign militias, including the genocidal FDLR, Burundian troops and European mercenaries – and the M23 rebels, there is an urgent need for African leaders in the Great Lakes region and beyond to reflect on the catastrophic consequences of a prolonged conflict for the continent’s collective security and integration prospects. In this regard, President Ndayishimiye of Burundi, who chairs the East African Community still has the opportunity to play a crucial role in saving the peace process led by the same EAC. There are compelling reasons for prioritizing the EAC’s interests over President Tshisekedi’s ambitions for a military victory against the M23 rebels.
To begin with, Burundi should avoid the risk of diplomatic isolation, which is likely to happen if his government continues to supply troops to its DRC counterpart, thereby undermining the regional consensus on achieving peace in that country. While in 2012 there was a widespread desire to single out the M23 among the numerous armed groups in Eastern DRC and to blame Rwanda for Congo’s governance failures, the situation is different now. It is now widely understood that achieving sustainable peace requires addressing the root causes of this recurring conflict. They include discrimination, killings, ethnic cleansing that targets Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, and attempts to exterminate Congolese Tutsi.
It was this understanding that led the EAC heads of state to craft a conflict resolution framework that successfully imposed a ceasefire and the partial withdrawal of M23 rebels from territories they had captured. The intervention by President Lourenço of Angola six months ago, where he, as the African Union mediator, indicated that the M23 rebels had complied with regional demands, should have signaled the region’s strong support for the EAC-led peace process. Both Angola’s decision to commit troops to oversee M23’s cantonment (but only after the success of the Nairobi political process) and the reluctance by SADC leaders to specify a precise timeline for deployment of a regional force, further reinforced this support. Unfortunately, Burundi’s leaders missed these cues. Their decision to intervene militarily in support of Kinshasa’s refusal to negotiate peace has reversed the EAC’s modest gains, sending the region back to square one.
Secondly, with Burundian troops fighting not only alongside the DRC’s national army (FARDC) but also the genocidal group FDLR, there is a risk that Burundi’s actions could lead to tensions with neighboring Rwanda. This would further divide the East African community. It is the alliance between the DRC army and FDLR that is fueling similar tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. These tensions must be avoided at all costs, as they undermine the remarkable political rapprochement observed between Kigali and Gitega since President Ndayishimiye ascended to power. The commendable normalization process undertaken by the leaders of both countries has allowed Burundians and Rwandans to move across their borders without fear of persecution or harassment. It would be disastrous if these gains went to waste.
Thirdly, there is little for Gitega to gain from its alliance with Kinshasa. Immediate financial gains may be appealing to some sections of Burundi’s political establishment, but these are not worth their weight in gold. Unlike the situation in 2012, this time round it is unlikely the DRC government and its supporters will achieve the ambition of defeating M23 militarily. Not only are the rebels well-armed, trained, and motivated, but they are also better prepared for war. The military setbacks the Congolese army and its allies have suffered and the capture by M23 of over a hundred Burundian troops in combat, according to reliable sources, testify to this fact. Further, in North Kivu, Burundian troops are far from their home bases and can only depend on the FARDC for logistics and supplies. Given the rampant corruption in the DRC’s state institutions, the FARDC is not a reliable partner. One of Burundi’s natural routes for supplies would have been Rwanda, through the city of Goma. However, Rwanda is unlikely to cooperate with a regional actor whose collaboration with its nemesis, the FDLR, is undeniable.
Also, by overextending its reach, Burundi is creating a security vacuum in South Kivu, where it has a more immediate and legitimate interest in neutralizing armed groups that threaten its own security and political stability, such as Red Tabara and FNL. For all these reasons, Burundi’s leaders must weigh the risks of widespread insecurity in the region and choose wisely between pursuing financial gains and working for collective security. Bilateral security agreements, like those between Uganda and the DRC or Burundi and the DRC, address legitimate security threats faced by Kampala and Gitega. They should not serve as a cover to undermine the EAC’s military intervention and peace process in the DRC. Therefore, becoming involved in Kinshasa’s military adventurism and threatening Rwanda’s security in the process should not be on the agenda of political leaders in the region.
The EAC peace process had instilled hope in many Congolese, including the internally displaced and those in refugee camps in Rwanda and Uganda. African leaders had distanced themselves from the self-serving narratives of Western actors on Congo’s crisis who fueled the conflict by supporting Kinshasa’s desperate attempts to find a scapegoat and repeatedly chose to ignore discrimination against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese as one of the root causes of Congo’s crisis. Burundi’s decision to break ranks and participate in actions that further undermine peace and stability in the DRC has extinguished this hope. It may not be too late for the Ndayishimiye government to change course, reaffirm its neutrality, order its troops to resume their peacekeeping mandate, and attempt to salvage the block’s credibility. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult for the EAC chair to call the next heads of state summit to discuss solutions to the DRC crisis if Burundi is seen by the region as part of the problem.
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How DR Congo chose to externalize its internal problems, scapegoat Rwanda
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vincent Biruta has deplored and refuted the unfounded accusations continuously being made by representatives of the DR Congo government against Rwanda.
At the just-concluded Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Biruta took the floor to deplore and refute the unfounded accusations which had just been made by the representative of the DR Congo government. The two-day Francophonie inter-ministerial conference that concluded on November 5 was also attended by OIF Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo.
The Congolese government has often claimed that Rwanda is supporting the M23 rebels, an accusation which Kigali dismissed.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vincent Biruta speaks at the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Courtesy
Despite their Rwandese heritage or culture, the M23 rebels are Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese oppressed by their own government for decades.
Successive Congolese governments sought to expel them, branding them Rwandans, and subjecting them to discrimination and targeted ethnic violence, a major factor behind the emergence of their rebel movement.
Contrary to DR Congo’s claims, Kigali has noted that it is Kinshasa that works with and continues to arm the FDLR militia, enabling them to cross the border and launch attacks on Rwandan territory.
Reports indicate that the DR Congo is cooperating with the genocidal FDLR militia, a blacklisted terrorist group created by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda which claimed the lives of more than a million people. The genocidal militia has in the past launched cross-border attacks against Rwanda, backed by the Congolese armed forces, FARDC. In July, Kigali warned against DR Congo’s use of pretexts to justify attacks on Rwanda. The DR Congo-based FDLR has launched attacks on Rwandan territory for more than 20 years. Kigali believes the genocidal militia group is emboldened by the support it gets from Kinshasa.
Biruta explained that it has now become a ritual in all international forums as the Congolese government “has gotten into the habit of accusing Rwanda for the notorious governance failures that characterize this country which has decided to externalize its internal problems and chosen Rwanda as the scapegoat” who must be blamed for everything that goes wrong.
Biruta said: “He forgot to tell you that there are more than 200 armed groups in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including genocidal armed groups like the FDLR.”
The M23 rebels on November 6 announced that they had recaptured strategic positions in eastern DR Congo that they previously handed over to the East African Regional Force (EACRF) after the security situation there deteriorated. The situation worsened after the rebels’ withdrawal from various captured areas was followed by sporadic clashes involving the Congolese coalition of Wazalendo, European mercenaries, and FDLR militia, against the M23.
Since July 2022, talks have been held between the two countries, with the mediation of Kenya, under the East African Community-led Nairobi peace process, and Angola, under the Luanda peace process. Kigali is, growingly, “deeply concerned about the ongoing collaboration and arming of FDLR and indigenous armed groups” by the government in Kinshasa.
Notorious governance problems
Biruta added: “Notorious governance problems which are expressed by discrimination against certain communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that in the East, ethnic cleansing is taking place. He forgot to tell you all this. He mentioned the problem of internally displaced persons, he forgot to tell you that Rwanda is sheltering more than 90,000 Congolese refugees and that Uganda is probably facing a larger number.”
Biruta also noted that the representative of the DR Congo government “forgot to tell you” that the DR Congo army joined forces with genocidal armed groups and various militias and with European mercenaries to wage war against part of the Congolese population.
“Even before the resurgence of this armed group the M23, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo had decreed a state of siege in the province of North Kivu, and Ituri; that was in May 2021. This means that these problems existed well and truly before the resurgence of the armed group he cited.”
The Congolese government labelled the M23 as a terrorist movement and excluded them from the Nairobi talks.
He stressed that the allegations against Rwanda which Kinshasa continues to make are all “a diversion from problems and policies” gone wrong back home. It is an internal problem and the Congolese government, Biruta said, should take the courage to accept the political solution which is proposed by the various regional mechanisms and the African Union.
“The question of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a question of governance. It is a political question. A political solution is necessary, and continuing to accuse Rwanda of everything that is wrong with the Democratic Republic of Congo will certainly not provide a solution to these problems.”
On November 4, Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held an extra-ordinary summit where they discussed a number of issues including the bloc’s military deployment to eastern DR Congo.
In November 2022, the Luanda summit on the security crisis in eastern DR Congo ordered the FDLR to disarm immediately and embark on an “unconditional repatriation” but nothing was ever done.
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Rwanda Could Host First African Grammy Awards
Kigali has been selected as the first music centre for the Recording Academy, an American learned academy of musicians, producers, sound engineers and other music professionals, famous for its Grammy Awards, a move that could see Rwanda hosting the first African edition of the Grammy Awards in 2025, The New Times has learnt.
This follows the visit of Harvey Mason Jr, CEO of the Recording Academy, to Rwanda in 2022, where he met with officials from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to discuss potential areas of partnership in the music industry and other related fields on the continent.
According to Africa Intelligence, a French online media outlet, Kigali was chosen as the first centre of the music academy as part of the institution's decision to make Africa its next destination, selecting five cities as regional hubs for the prestigious academy.
The five cities selected to act as regional hubs for the Academy's future pan-African headquarters include Kigali, which is also the first city chosen as a music centre, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Nigeria's economic capital, Lagos, as well as Abidjan, which has been selected as the Academy's French-speaking hub.
This, according to Africa Intelligence, is the result of several meetings that academy representatives held with influential African leaders such as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto when they were in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
RDB officials confirm that Kigali has been chosen as the centre for the music academy, but negotiations to host the Grammy Awards in Kigali are still ongoing.
the Recording Academy also wants to ensure that musicians receive royalties when their songs are broadcast. The regional offices will host the first African Grammy Awards in 2025 or 2026.
The Grammy Awards -the single most coveted accolade in the music industry recognises the contributions of all creators from across the world throughout the year. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the music industry worldwide.
In 2023, the latest GRAMMYs had a collective viewership of 12.5 million people.
The awards are given in four categories in the general field -not restricted by music genres, including the album of the year, the record of the year, the song of the year, and the best new artist.
As of 2024, starting with the 66th Grammy Award edition, two awards will be added to the general field, namely, the Producer of the year, non-classical, and the Songwriter of the year, non-classical.
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Rwanda is Becoming Africa’s Most Active Security Provider
On the surface, Rwanda is not an obvious security provider, having endured one of the worst genocides in recent history just three decades ago. However, in recent years, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has emerged as one of the most capable militaries in Africa with a wide operational footprint across the continent. Rwandan forces have engaged rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR), conducted counterinsurgency operations against Jihadists in Mozambique, and if speculation is accurate, may soon be deployed to Benin, also.
These deployments are part of President Paul Kagame’s energetic strategy of military diplomacy which has positioned Rwanda to become one of Africa’s most active security providers. By adopting such a strategy, Kagame is able to build stronger ties with regional and international actors, increase Rwandan diplomatic influence, and secure lucrative economic partnerships for Rwandan companies.
The RDF consists of only about 33,000 regular soldiers but they are kept active with various peacekeeping and security provision tasks. In fact, Rwanda is the fourth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in the world, with between 4,500 and 6,000 Rwandan soldiers donning blue helmets.
Rwandan personnel currently operate in CAR both as a part of the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) and as a result of a bilateral agreement between the Central African and Rwandan governments. Rwanda contributes the most personnel to the UN mission, with about 2,148 military personnel and 690 police officers. At the Central African government’s request, Rwanda sent additional troops in 2020 to provide security against rebels ahead of the presidential elections.
Rwanda likewise maintains an important military presence in Mozambique, which has struggled with a jihadist insurgency since 2017 posed by Ansar al-Sunna, mostly in the Cabo Delgado province. The RDF dispatched 1,000 troops in July 2021 at the request of Mozambican President Felipe Nyusi. Since then, they have reportedly thinned out the 2,500 strong insurgency to just 300 fighters and retaken key areas such as Mocímboa da Praia during joint missions with the Mozambican army as well as troops from the South African Development Community (SADC) taskforce and Tanzanian forces.
Now, the RDF looks set to expand its area of operations to Benin, which has faced incursions on its northern borders by jihadists from Niger and Burkino Faso. The Rwandan military’s future role in Benin remains unclear, although following a meeting with Kagame in April this year, Beninese President Patrice Talon said that the RDF could assist with ‘supervision, coaching, training, joint deployment.’
@moderndiplomacy
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Former MP Mbonimana to publish book on sobriety
Dr Gamariel Mbonimana, a former Member of Parliament, has announced the upcoming release of his book titled ‘Embracing the Power of Sobriety’, which aims to discourage drug addiction and alcohol abuse, particularly among the youth.
He said, in an X post, “Breaking the silence! My book ‘Embracing the Power of Sobriety’ is making its way to Kinyarwanda translation. Join us in exploring President Paul Kagame’s impactful path towards personal and collective growth, inspiring youth for a conscious and empowered future. Stay tuned!”
He said that his decision to write the book was influenced by his own struggle with alcoholism, which ultimately led to his resignation from parliament last year.
Mbonimana’s resignation from parliament came after President Kagame expressed concerns about a member of parliament repeatedly appearing in police reports for drunk driving.
The offender, who enjoyed immunity as a lawmaker, evaded legal consequences despite being found drunk driving on multiple occasions. President Kagame emphasised that those in power should never use it to endanger their own lives or the lives of others.
Almost a year after his resignation, Mbonimana, who is also the Director of Research, Consultancy, and Innovation at East African University Rwanda, is set to release a book highlighting the detrimental effects of alcohol abuse.
“I want to contribute to raise awareness and educate young people about the dangers of drug addiction,” he said.
Furthermore, he explained that his book encourages personal growth and collective responsibility, drawing inspiration from President Kagame’s impactful journey towards a conscious and empowered future.
Shortly after the resignation, Mbonimana publicly apologised to the President and the general public. He expressed remorse for his actions, specifically his violation of traffic rules while under the influence of alcohol.
He said in a post, “It was wrong of me to drive under the influence of alcohol. I have decided to quit drinking in this regard.” The tweet added, “Accept my plea. If entrusted, I am committed to fulfilling any other duties.”
Mbonimana’s book comes at a time when the government is in the midst of a nationwide campaign called ‘Tunyweless’ (‘Let's drink less’).
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health have revealed a concerning increase in alcohol consumption over the past decade. The survey showed a rise in alcohol consumption from 41.3 per cent in 2012 to 48.1 per cent in recent years, with youth identified as the most vulnerable group, necessitating urgent measures to prevent the negative impact of alcohol abuse on national development.
Notably, alcohol consumption is reported to be higher in rural areas compared to urban regions like Kigali, with the proliferation of potent alcoholic beverages in countryside communities raising concerns about the health of the population.
“Addressing this issue at its roots is essential to ensure the well-being and productivity of the most at-risk segment of society—the youth,” commented Mbonimana.
He is set to publish the book on November 12, in an event that will take place at Hilltop Hotel.
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Israel ‘expanding’ operations in Gaza – IDF
Israeli ground forces will “expand” their activity in Gaza on Friday night, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has told reporters. Warplanes are currently subjecting the enclave to some of the heaviest bombardment to date ahead of the ground operation.
“The air force is striking underground targets very significantly,” Hagari said at a briefing on Friday evening, adding that ground troops will “expand” their raids into Gaza later in the night.
Israeli soldiers have conducted several limited raids into the strip over the last two days but no major offensive has been announced. Hagari’s statement is the clearest sign since the beginning of the conflict on October 7 that an invasion – which the IDF has been preparing to launch for almost three weeks – is imminent.
In a statement on Friday morning, the IDF said that its tanks and infantry had moved into central Gaza the previous day and destroyed “dozens of terrorist targets, including positions for launching anti-tank missiles and operational headquarters,” as well as Hamas fighters. Israeli forces withdrew after the raid with no casualties, the IDF added.
A video posted to X (formerly Twitter) by the IDF showed helicopter gunships destroying buildings as troops and tanks fired their weapons below.
Hamas claimed that its militants engaged the Israelis with gunfire and anti-tank missiles, forcing them to flee back to Israeli territory.
Hagari and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have warned for several weeks that the IDF is ready to launch an invasion of Gaza, with Gallant declaring on Sunday that “there will be no Hamas” left after the operation. However, the Israeli government has not given the order to invade, and media reports have suggested that the US is pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay the operation so that Qatari-brokered talks aimed at freeing some of the roughly 200 hostages in Hamas captivity can proceed.
American officials are “also concerned… that the Israel Defense Forces do not yet have a clear military pathway to achieve…Netanyahu’s goal of eradicating Hamas,” the New York Times reported on Monday. With the risk to civilians high, the Pentagon has urged the Israeli prime minister to give “careful consideration” to how the operation will be conducted.
Some 7,028 people, including 2,913 children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since October 7, according to the most recent figures from the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the same period, with most slain by Hamas militants in the initial days of the conflict.
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DR Congo: Regional force calls for cessation of hostilities
The ceasefire agreement between the DR Congo armed forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebels was again breached on Tuesday, October 24, according to the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).
In a statement, the regional force indicated that the resultant hostile clashes fatally wounded a Kenyan Peacekeeper stationed at Kanyamahoro, near Kibumba, 15 kilometers northeast of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province.
The EACRF statement reads: “Consequently, investigations to establish circumstances under which this incident occurred have commenced.
“The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) calls for the return to the ceasefire agreement and cessation of hostilities between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 Armed Group. EACRF remains committed to the Protection of Civilians in line with its mandate.”
There was a fragile ceasefire since November 2022 as the M23 rebels withdrew from swathes of territories they earlier captured, handing them over to the regional force, as set by the Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace and stability in eastern DR Congo and the November 2022 Luanda Summit. But fighting erupted on October 1, in eastern DR Congo’s North Kivu Province.
In December 2022, the M23 rebels embarked on a gradual withdrawal from their positions, handing them over control to EACRF.
Propaganda against the regional force is on the increase in eastern DR Congo and the latest incident comes after two soldiers of a Ugandan EACRF contingent were injured in an ambush by armed men in the conflict-ridden eastern DR Congo, on October 16, along the Bunagana-Rutshuru road in North Kivu Province.
On October 10, the facilitator of the EAC-led peace process for DR Congo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta again urged for a “non-military solution” to the conflict between Kinshasa and the M23 rebels but the fighting did not stop.
At the time, M23 spokesperson Laurence Kanyuka accused the Congolese armed forces of launching “genocide-motivated attacks” in Kitshanga, and said that the Congolese government wanted “to jeopardise the peace process.”
The resumption of hostilities between the M23 rebels and a DR Congo government coalition that comprises militias such as the Rwandan genocidal group, FDLR, as well as Congolese Mai-Mai Nyatura, European mercenaries, and Wazalendo youth groups, and others, raised concern among regional leaders and peace facilitators.
Based in eastern DR Congo, the FDLR is a genocidal force formed by the masterminds of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
On October 25, Kanyuka issued a statement and, again, called on the region and the international community to “swiftly break their silence over the ongoing massacres” perpetrated by the Congolese government coalition. According to the rebels, the “continued cowardly attacks perpetrated against the civilian population and on M23’s positions” in Kibumba, Buhumba, and surrounding areas on October 24, by the DR Congo government coalition “were purposely planned to cause extensive harm to the civilian population.”
The rebels vowed to continue to defend themselves “and would not hesitate to protect the civilian population subjected to ethnic cleansing or hatred-motivated massacres.”
The East African Community has indicated that it is “proud of the work” so far accomplished by its troops in eastern DR Congo but the newest escalation in the conflict creates more challenges, or worsens already tense security situation.
The regional force has emphasised that it remains committed to the protection of civilians in line with its mandate while upholding professionalism. It has stressed that it has the right to force protection guided by the rules of engagement should EACRF troops be threatened in the course of discharging their duties within the joint operation area in North Kivu Province.
On October 6, military leaders from four regional communities met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss the crisis in eastern DR Congo. They supported the idea of a political solution and urged the parties to come to the negotiating table. Kinshasa has ruled out any possibility of peace talks with the M23 rebels, calling them terrorists.
The Congolese army’s alliance with a host of blacklisted militias, including the FDLR, threatens regional security, Rwanda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Robert Kayinamura, told the Security Council on October 17.
“The agreements made in Luanda and Nairobi have not been implemented in word and spirit, emphasising a persistent and significant absence of political will to uphold the commitments that were signed,” Kayinamura said.
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