Young Rwandans sing at the Kwibuka flame country tour: The Rwandan spirit instills heroism into the young

At the Kibeho parish ground in Nyaruguru district, Southern Rwanda, over 1,000 men, women and children met on Thursday to receive the Kwibuka Flame of remembrance, in the build-up to the 20^th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.

Among them is 16-year-old Régis Hirwa, who is also already reflecting ont the National Heroes’ Day that falls on February 1, every year.

Hirwa who is dressed in a white shirt and black trousers school uniform, is a senior five student at the nearby Marie Merci high school in the option of Math, Physics, and Geography – a year shy of his high school education certificate.

And apart from being busy with his science studies at the moment, he also seems to keep in touch with the country’s political happenings (an informed citizen, to put it plainly).

“The National Heroes’ Day is a great day”, he said with a broad smile.

“There are many heroes we remember on that day and who even set a good example for us. For instance, Fred Rwigema. I feel like I am obliged to march in his footsteps and be a hero as well one day”, Hirwa hastened to add.

Indeed late Major General Fred Gisa Rwigema – the man Hirwa was referring to – is considered the architect of Rwanda’s 1990-1994 liberation struggle that was fought by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), now the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF). He comes top on the National Heroes’ list.

Some students just like Hirwa do appear on the National Heroes’ list, too.

On the night of March 18, 1997, killers who were elements from the Interahamwe militia and ex-FAR – managed to infiltrate through Mukura Forest from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and, at the Western Province-based Nyange high school, they attacked the school and reportedly asked students to get separated along ethnic lines.

Apparently, the students refused, arguing that they were all Rwandans − only to be shot at indiscriminately and sprayed with rounds of bullets and grenades.

The death of those students, especially their extraordinary bravery when faced with a do-or-die scenario, was later rewarded and the Nyange school students now feature among the National Heroes.

Among the Nyange high school students were senior five students, just like Hirwa. He may or not be a hero, but in Hirwa, you get the sense of something extra-ordinary: setting a good example for others.

66-year-old Drocella Mukangoga echoes the same feeling. A widow as result of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis during which she lost her husband and two of her six children, Mukangoga believes that she survived thanks to the heroes who put their lives at stake to make Rwanda a better and safe place.

“I feel very happy during the National Heroes’ Day. When I look back from where I came from, and see where I am today, it’s just amazing”, said Mukangoga, a resident of Mubuga cell in Kibeho sector.

This year’s National Heroes Day is organized under the theme “The Rwandan spirit, pillar of heroism”.

The ceremonies to celebrate this day will take place at the village level (imidugudugu) and every Rwandan has been called to actively participate and honor the heroes who gave their lives for their country.

On this occasion, the dignitaries will lay wreaths of flowers at the Heroes’ Square located in Remera, where many heroes are buried. These include Major General Fred Gisa Rwigema pioneer of the war of liberation, students of Nyange.

Others are former Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana murdered in 1994 in the early days of the genocide, King Rudahigwa who abolished all forms of slavery and advocated for unity and independence of Rwanda and the Unknown Soldier who represents all the soldiers who fell during the liberation struggle.

The heroes and heroines of Rwanda are classified into the following three categories: “Imanzi “supreme hero known as exceptional and unprecedented achievements, “Imena” which are known to the sacrifice they made for their country and “INGENZI” which are recognized for their exemplary actions.

Prisoners pose with their handi-work as their wardens look on

Rwanda has been named the 6^th country globally in prisons rehabilitation programmes, going by the re-offender rates.

A report released by the African Journal of Criminology and Justice named Rwanda the 6^th country globally and 3^rd in Africa to have the best prisons rehabilitation programmes.

According to the report, Rwanda follows Uganda and Zambia on the African continent, while on the global arena; Netherlands tops as the place with the least criminals. The country plans to close its detention facilities because there are no criminals there currently, the report says.

The report, which mainly based on each country’s ‘recidivism’ (Re-offending) indicated that Switzerland ranks second with recidivism of 22% followed by Norway 30%, Uganda 32%; Zambia 33% and Rwanda on the 6^th place with 36% followed by Kenya and Tanzania at a rate of 47% respectively.

Re-offending (recidivism) refers to the number of times the same person is jailed in a year.
As at December 2013, the report showed the United States as the country with the worst crime record in the world with recidivism 90%. It was followed by South Africa, Germany and Asia tying at 74%.

Rwanda plans to reduce Prison Facilities

According to Rwanda Correctional Service, plans are underway to reduce prison facilities from fourteen to nine and relocate prisons to more spacious facilities.

The prisons body says it has also involved in relocating the prisons from urban centres to rural areas with large space where they can even have land to grow some crops.

The new plan, according to RCS, is estimated to cost about Rwf1billion francs and construction works already kicked off at some facilities.

Kigali’s famous 1930 prison to be relocated

The Kigali Prison, commonly known as ’1930′, will be relocated to Butamwa in the outskirts of Nyarugenge District, to pave way for development of the land where it is currently located. The new facility will also accommodate inmates from Remera Prison, another facility in Gasabo District. About Rwf1billion has been earmarked for construction of the new facility.

RCS’s rehabilitation programmes

Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) has tremendously increased production through various income generating programs and activities. The above activities have mainly centred on government social and economic policies.

As part of achieving the objective of becoming a self-sustaining institution, Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) has engaged inmates in agricultural production. According to RCS officials, the programme has tremendously increased production through various income generating programs and activities.

In Agriculture, RCS facilities have plantations of food crops to supplement the inmates’diet, provide additional feeding routines for children in prison with their mothers and increasing the dietary needs of sick inmates. Among the crops grown include beans, maize, cassava, rice, coffee, potatoes, vegetables, millet, among others. In other farming activities, RCS has invested in Cattle breeding, goats, piggery, poultry as well as other domestic animals.

Reducing re-offending rates

As part of reducing the rate of re-offenders, RCS has educated inmates on different social things like guiding them on moral standards that govern them once returned to their societies.

The prisons body involves its inmates in construction activities in a programme that relies on the skills of many inmates who are architects and engineers. A part from generating revenue, this section doubles as a form of social responsibility programme in which RCS constructs houses for vulnerable people such as orphans and genocide survivors.

As a result of the programme, man power has been provided for construction classrooms as part of the Nine and Twelve Year Basic Education (9YBE) programmes to support education sector in the country.

Minisitiri w’uburezi mu Rwanda, Dr Vincent Biruta, atangaza ko icyo Intwali z’u Rwanda zarushije abandi banyarwanda ari uko zemeye kuba Abanyarwanda no mu bihe bikomeye zamagana amacakubiri ndetse n’urwango.

Ubwo tariki ya 01/02/ 2014, mu karere ka Burera bizihizaga umunsi w’intwali, Minisitiri Biruta wari witabiriye uwo muhango yabwiye abaturage ko ubutwali butagombera imyaka cyangwa se ubushobozi bw’igitangaza.

Agira ati “Buriya intwali tuvuga icyo zaturushije ni ukuba Abanyarwanda. Bakaba Abanyarwanda no mu bihe bikomeye. Mu gihe bakanguriye abandi amacakubiri n’urwango, umunyarwanda akavamo akavuga ati ‘jye simbyemera kuko turi Abanyarwanda, tuva inda imwe…

“Umunyarwanda akavamo akavuga ati ‘igihugu cyacu ni u Rwanda, turagikunda, tugomba kucyubaka,tugomba kukigiramo uruhare, tugomba kugiharanira ababitubuza ntidushobora kubibemerera, tugomba kukirwanirira. Akabikora atyo azi neza ko ashobora no kubigwamo.”

Akomeza avuga ko Intwali z’u Rwanda, zirimo Fred Gisa Rwigema, Abana b’i Nyange n’abandi…, zazize Ubunyarwanda.

Minisitiri Biruta akomeza avuga ko iyo mu gihe cya Politiki y’amacakubiri mu Rwanda haboneka amajwi menshi nk’ay’Intwali, Jenoside yakorewe abatutsi mu Rwanda mu mwaka wa 1994 ntabwo yari gushoboka.

Agira ati “Iyo muri kiriya gihe cya Politiki y’amacakubiri, mu gihe hategurwaga Jenoside hatangwa inyigisho z’urwango, z’amacakubiri. Iyo amajwi aza kuba menshi, hakagira abavuga nka bariya bana b’i Nyange…

“iyo tuza kugira abayobozi b’Intwali benshi kurenza abo twabonye…bakavuga bati ibi ntwabwo ari byo, ntabwo tubyemera, ntabwo Jenoside yari gushoboka, n’ibi bikomere tuvuga mu muryango Nyarwanda ntabyo tuba tuvuga.”

Minisitiri w’uburezi akomeza asaba abanyaburera gukomeza guharanira Ubunyarwanda kugira ngo bazasigire abana babo igihugu kizira amacakubiri bityo nabo bazagire imbaraga zo kuba intwali.

Insanganyamatsiko y’umunsi w’intwali mu mwaka wa 2014 igira iti “ Ndi Umunyarwanda inkingi y’ubutwali.” Kuri uwo munsi kandi nibwo hatangijwe ibiganiro kuri ghunda ya “Ndi Umunyarwanda” ku rwego rw’umudugudu.

Ubwo hizihizwaga umunsi w’intwali ku nshuro ya 20 mu Rwanda nta Ntwali nshya zerekanwe ngo kuko ubushakashatsi bugikomeza; nk’uko urwego rw’igihugu rushinzwe intwali, imidali n’impeta by’ishimwe rubitangaza.

Intwali z’u Rwanda zigabanyijemo ibyiciro bitatu ari byo Imanzi, Imena n’ingenzi.

Minisitiri w’urubyiruko n’ikoranabuhanga Nsengimana Jean Philibert avuga ko kumva neza ndi umunyarwanda ari intambwe yo kugera ku butwari.

Minisitiri w’urubyiruko aganira n’abaturage bo mu karere ka Rubavu umujyi wa Gisenyi akagari ka Kivumu, taliki ya 1/2/2014 yagaragaje ko Ndi umunyarwanda bitavuga kugira ubwenegihugu ahubwo ngo ivuga kugira indangagaciro z’umunyarwanda zirimo ubupfura, ubutwari na kirazira.

Minisitiri Nsengimana avuga ko iyo abanyarwanda bagira ubunyarwanda muri 1994 Jenoside itari kuba kuko bari kuba bubahana, bakundana, bashyira hamwe, bityo ntihagire umunyarwanda wica mugenzi we nkuko byagenze.

Bamwe mubitabiriye ikiganiro cya Minisitiri bakurikira Film y’amateka yaranze u Rwanda

Cyakora ngo nubwo Jenoside yabaye ntibikwiriye ko abantu barebera, ahubwo hari uburyo bwo gusana imitima no kubaka ubumwe, Minisitiri Nsengimana akaba yaratangarije abanyarubavu ko ubutwari bucyenewe kandi ubutwari atari ugufata imbunda no kumena amaraso, ahubwo ubutwari bucyenewe ari guhindura imyumvire n’ibikorwa biteza imbere igihugu.

“abanyarwanda twagize amateka mabi ariko igisubizo si ukuyahakana, ahubwo dukwiye kuyemera bikadufasha gukosora amakosa yakozwe kandi bikajyana no guhinduka, kugira ukuri hamwe no gutanga imbabazi.”

Bamwe mubayobozi bakurikira ikiganiro cyatanzwe na Minisitiri Nsengimana

Ndi umunyarwanda izafasha abanyarwanda kuganira no kuvugisha ukuri bitume habaho ubutwari bwo gusaba imbabazi kubakoze ibyaha hamwe no kuzitanga kubahemukiwe kandi bitume habaho no kugiranira icyizere.

Mu karere ka Rubavu umunsi wo kwizihiza intwari ntiwitabiriwe mu mirenge itandukanye uretse mu mujyi wa Gisenyi ahagiye Minisitiri Nsengimana n’abayobozi batandukanye bibukije abaturage ko Ndi umunyarwanda ari inkingi y’ubutwari.

Umunyamabanga wa Leta muri Minisiteri y’Uburezi ushinzwe Amashuri Abanza n’Ayisumbuye, Dr Harebamungu Mathias arasaba abaturage kubaka Ubunyarwanda bahereye mu bana bato kugirango bazakure bakunda igihugu kandi baharanira ubutwari.

Ibi byasabwe n’Umunyamabanga wa Leta muri Minisiteri y’Uburezi ushinzwe Amashuri Abanza n’Ayisumbuye, Dr Harebamungu Mathias, ubwo kuri uyu wa 1 Gashyantare 2014 yari mu mudugudu wa Runyinya mu kagari k’Impala, umurenge wa Bushenge wo mu karere ka Nyamasheke aho yifatanyaga n’aba baturage mu kwizihiza Umunsi w’Intwari z’u Rwanda.

Dr Harebamungu Mathias yasabye abaturage b’akagari k’Impala kwimakaza Ubunyarwanda kugira ngo biyubakire Igihugu babamo bagifitiye ishema kandi kitavogerwa.

Agaruka ku mateka y’ubutwari bw’Abanyarwanda, Dr Harebamungu yagaragaje ko Intwari z’u Rwanda zagaragaje umutima wo gukunda Igihugu kandi zikaba zararangwaga n’umuco wo guharanira Ubunyarwanda ku buryo zabyitangiye zikabura ubuzima ariko intego y’Ubunyarwanda ikaba ari yo yatumye u Rwanda rwibohora ndetse ubu rukaba rutekanye.

Dr Harebamungu yabwiye abaturage b’akagari k’Impala ko kubaka Ubunyarwanda ari uguharanira ubutwari. Ku bw’ibyo, ngo bakwiriye kurangwa n’urukundo rw’igihugu rukunda Abanyarwanda kandi buri Munyarwanda wese agaharanira kurwanya ikintu cyose cyagirira nabi igihugu ndetse n’uwavuga nabi undi Munyarwanda.

Dr Harebamungu yabwiye abaturage ko bakwiriye kwizihiza Umunsi w’Intwari ariko muri byose bakazirikana ko bishingira ku Bunyarwanda.

Umuyobozi w’akarere ka Nyamasheke, Habyarimana Jean Baptiste yabwiye abaturage b’akagari k’Impala ko kuba Intwari bidasaba kuba umuyobozi ahubwo ko buri cyiciro cyose umuntu arimo yaharanira ubutwari.

Habyarimana yasabye ko umuturage wese mu cyiciro arimo yaharanira ubutwari mu buzima bwe, yubakira ku mihigo igamije kugana ku ntego, maze bakazirikana ko imibereho yabo ya buri munsi ndetse n’imibanire yabo n’abandi bikwiriye kubafasha kugana mu cyerekezo cy’Intwari zababanjirije.

Habyarimana yavuze ko mu gihe u Rwanda rwizihiza Intwari z’u Rwanda, buri muturage wese akwiriye kuzirikana Intwari zaharaniye u Rwanda batuyemo rutekanye, ndetse zikaba zaritanze ku buryo zemeye no kurumenera amaraso.

Habyarimana yavuze ko ubutwari bushimangira gahunda yo gukunda Igihugu kandi ko kwizihiza uyu munsi ari n’umuco wo gutoza abato ubutwari, kugira ngo bazakure baharanira ibikorwa by’indashyikirwa kandi bifite akamaro k’ikirenga ku muryango w’abantu.

Mu birori byo kwizihiza Umunsi w’Intwari z’u Rwanda mu kagari k’Impala, hatanzwe ubuhamya bw’abantu bari mu matsinda aharanira ubumwe n’ubwiyunge harimo abakoze ibyaha bya jenoside bakabisabira imbabazi bakanazihabwa ndetse n’abarokotse jenoside bemeye gutanga imbabazi. Bose bahamije ko guharanira ubumwe no kubaka Ubunyarwanda ari byo byabafashije kubana neza, bityo bakaba bashishikariza n’abandi gushyigikira gahunda ya Ndi Umunyarwanda.

Mu kwizihiza uyu munsi w’Intwari, bagarutse ku mateka ndetse n’ibyiciro by’Intwari z’u Rwanda.

La construction d’un poste de douane commun sur la frontière Rwando-Tanzanienne de Rusumo va bon train. La fin des travaux de construction est prévue vers la fin 2014, le mois de Novembre. Cette frontière sera alors opérationnelle 24 h/24 et permettra l’augmentation de mouvements des biens, des services et des capitaux entre les pays de l’EAC.

 Après que la frontière entre le Rwanda et l’Ouganda (Gatuna) est opérationnelle 24h/24, suivie de celle du Rwanda et de la RDC (Grande et petite barrière), et celle du Rwanda et du Burundi (Gasenyi) qui est en service jusqu’à 22h seulement, celle de Rusomo va bientôt emboîter le pas.

Rappelons que frontière Rwando-Congolaise ne fonctionne plus 24h/24 suite au climat d’insécurité. Actuellement c’est seulement de 6h du matin jusqu’à 18h. Mais la population espère qu’avec la fin des hostilités des groupes armés, la frontière sera encore une fois ouverte 24h/24.

Dans le cadre d’inspection des travaux à Rusumo et dans le District de Ngara, le vice-ministre tanzanien des Finances et des Affaires économiques, M. Adam Malima, a déclaré que ces bâtiments devraient être achevés en Novembre 2014.

Le vice-ministre n’a pas caché ses sentiments quant au nombre d’heures de service à cette frontière. « Actuellement, le poste fonctionne seulement seulement 16 h/24 ».

Les 68% de ce projet de construction d’un pont ultra moderne et d’un poste de douane commun dont une partie a été financée par le gouvernement du Japon, l’autre par les deux bénéficiaires, sont terminés d’ici la fin de ce mois.

M. Adam Malima est revenu sur les heures de travail de ce nouveau poste une fois terminé en 2014. « Quand le bâtiment des douanes sera terminé en Novembre 2014, il sera ouvert pour les services 24 h/24 ».

Non seulement cette frontière est utilisée par les pays de l’EAC comme le Rwanda, la Tanzanie et le Burundi mais aussi la RDC, avec ses Provinces du Nord et du Sud dont la plupart des marchandises passent par le port de Dar-Es Salam. Ce qui va faciliter davantage l’intégration régionale et le développement économique des pays de la région par le commerce transfrontalier rapide.

Ce pont qui est construit sur la rivière Akagera était vieux de 40ans. Ce projet qui est financé par l’Agence japonaise de coopération internationale (JIC) comprend la construction du nouveau pont de chariot, une route bitumée deux kilomètres reliant les deux bureaux de douane ainsi que l’équipement avec les outils nécessaires ainsi qu’un parking spacieux pour les camions et autres véhicules.

Non seulement la population environnante des deux pays bénéficie de ce projet en matière de création d’emploi mais aussi bénéficiera de l’eau et d’électricité à partir d’une centrale hydroélectrique de Rusumo en cours de construction.

Rwanda Army has been described world class peacekeepers

The Director of United States Army’s Africa Contingency Operations Training & Assistance (ACOTA), Col.Timothy Rainey has said that Rwanda army is the most capable World’s peacekeepers.

Col.Rainey said this during the launch of a two-day workshop that brought together officials from Rwanda Defence Forces, US Embassy in Kigali as well as delegates from Washington D.C.

The two-day workshop which kicked off yesterday is aimed at reviewing the lessons learnt in Peace Support Operations (PSO).

The workshop takes stock of the last years’ experience for the RDF Forces who served in missions abroad.

Speaking to journalists, Col.Rainey said that: “USA is happy to partner with Rwanda Defence Forces, one of the most Professional Defence Forces in Africa that has performed very well in restoring peace and security in various Peacekeeping Missions.

The RDF swift deployment in Central African Republic and the way they are restoring order in that troubled country makes Rwanda a very good partner with USA in the interest of Regional Security.”

He added that: “In just six days after arriving in CAR, it didn’t take RDF peacekeepers to demonstrate their brave experience in peacekeeping operations.”

While opening the workshop, RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba stressed the importance of incorporating the lessons learnt from Rwanda’s experience in various peacekeeping missions, calling on participants to take the opportunity of the workshop to learn a lot.

Rwanda among the biggest contributors in peacekeeping missions

RDF spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita said that Rwanda Defence Forces has been involved in different peacekeeping missions.

“Since May 2004, Rwanda participates in different peacekeeping missions under African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Rwanda currently maintains more than 5,200 peacekeepers in various missions and is presently ranked the 6th biggest troop contributor in peacekeeping operations in the world,” he said.

The Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program is funded and managed by the U.S. Department of State.

The initiative is designed to improve African militaries’ capabilities by providing selected training and equipment necessary for multinational peace support operations.

U.S. Africa Command supports the ACOTA program by providing military mentors, trainers, and advisors at the request of the State Department.

ACOTA provides a full range of peacekeeping training and instruction tailored to match a country’s needs and capabilities. The program focuses on 25 sub-Saharan African countries who are scheduled to participate in peace support operation or who are designated to be in a standby mode to do so.

Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Portal Welby with students during
the a visit to Sonrise High School

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Portal Welby has lauded development projects championed by the Anglican Church of Rwanda.

Archbishop Welby and his wife Caroline Eaton Welby have been in the country for a five-day tour, where they visited different development projects championed by Shyira Diocese in Musanze District, Northern Province.

Some of the projects inspected by the head of Anglican Communion in the world include a commercial building -NOVA MARKET COMPLEX, a yet-to-be commissioned Muhabura Integrated Technical College, Sonrise High School as well as St. John Baptist Cathedral.

Archbishop Welby praised Shyira Diocese for the work they have accomplished.

While at Sonrise High School, the Archbishop prayed for students and acknowledged the cleanliness around the school.

“I have travelled to Africa for the last 40 years, but I have never seen neat students like you,” he said.

Shyira Diocese Bishop, Rev. Dr. Laurent Mbanda said that Sonrise High School is one of the success projects that have contributed towards education in the country.

Archbishop Welby was in the country on the invitation of Rwanda’s Anglican Church Archbishop, Onesphore Rwaje.

Last Sunday, the Canterbury Archbishop presided over a prayer service St. Etienne Cathedral in Kigali, which was attended by top government officials including the prime Minister.

Mugihe hari hashize amezi 3 imirenge ya Nyakarenzo na Nkombo itagira abajyanama bayihagarariye muri jyanama y’akarere ka Rusizi, komosiyo y’igihugu y’amatora yatangije igikorwa cy’amatora kuri abo bajyanama kuwa 03/02/2013, ni mugihe hari hashize iminsi igera kuri 5 abakandida biyamamariza iyi myanya.

Aho twabashije kugera ni mu murenge wa Nyakarenzo  tuganira n’abaturage batandukanye bavuye mu tugari tw’uwo murenge bavuga ko amatora ari kugenda neza ntamuvundo kuko ngo bari kwitorera umujyanama bishakiye kandi babona uzabagirira akamaro

Aya matora yatangiye saa moya arangira saa cyenda z’umugoroba , nyuma yaya, ubwo aba bajyanama rusange b’iyi mirenge bazaba bamaze kuboneka  biteganyijwe ko abazaba batsinze barara bamenyekanye nyuma yo kubarura amajwi ,tariki ya 06 Gashyantare aba bajyanama bazitoramo komite nyobozi  y’inama jyanama y’akarere ka Rusizi izatorwamo abayobozi bungirije b’aka karere ushinzwe ubukungu n’imibereho myiza y’abaturage  baherutse kwegura kunshingano za Leta bari bafite.

Abakandida 14 nibo bari guhatanira iyo myanya y’ubukandida rusange ku mirenge ya Nkombo na Nyakarenzo gusa mu murenge wa nyakarenzo hakaba hari hiyamamaje abakandida 9 aho umwe witwa Iyakaremye Dapferose yaje kwikuramo ariko kumarisiti y’itora akaba yaje kuri urwo rutonde, abaturage bamwe twaganiriye bavuga ko batasobanuriwe ko uwo mukandida yavuyemo abandi bakavuga ko babisobanuriwe .

Aho twabisanze ni kucyumba cy’itora kiyobowe na Bonifaci Habimana  akaba ari nawe ukuriye amatora kuri site yahuriyeho utugari 2 twa Karangiro na Rusambu aho avuga ko ngo uwo muturage Atari ahari igihe basobanuriye abandi Nyamara abaturage baza gutora mubihe bitandukanye gusa ngo ijwi ry’uyu mu kandida kubamutoye riba Imfabusa ariko nanone kikaba igihombo kubari kuritorwaho.

Icyakora aba baturage bavuga ko ngo basobanukiwe n’impamvu y’aya matora y’umwihariko ku mirenge yabo dore ko ngo hari hashize iminsi itari myinshi bavuye muyandi y’intumwa za rubanda.

Imirenge ya Nyakarenzo na Nkombo ifite amasite 9 ari gukorerwaho amatora aho Nyakarenzo ifite amasite 4 naho Nkombo ikagira amasite 5.

Mardi le 04/02/2014, le Grand Hôtel de Kinshasa en RDC, a été honoré d’accueillir la flamme pour  marquer le 20^e anniversaire du génocide contre les Tutsi. C’est dans ce même ordre d’idées que la flamme est entrain de faire le tour du Rwanda, depuis le 7 janvier 2014 jusqu’au 7  Avril. A partir de cette date, c’est le moment de faire le deuil national d’une semaine.

Hier, c’était le tour de la RDC, dans sa capitale, Kinshasa de recevoir cette flamme. Parmi les distingués invités qui ont allumé la flamme figure le patron de la Monusco, l’Allemand Martin Klober, le Ministre congolais Bahati Lukwebo, Ministre de l’Emploi, Travail et Prévoyance Sociale ainsi que d’autres hauts dignitaires.

« Aujourd’hui je participe au lancement de l’initiative ‘Kwibuka’ en souvenir du Génocide contre les Tutsi » a déclaré Martin Klober sur son compte twitter avant le début des activités.

Comme les cérémonies ont débuté à 11h, heure de Kigali, Rugira Amandin, Ambassadeur du Rwanda en RDC  a profité de l’occasion pour appeler tout le monde de se joindre au Rwanda. « J’en appelle tout un chacun, tous les Représentants des pays, institutions internationales pour se joindre au Rwanda en cette période, de lancement de l’initiative Kwibuka20 ».

L’Ambassadeur Rugira a dans discours essayé d’expliquer la signification de cette flamme. « La dite flamme symbolise le devoir d’entretenir la mémoire du passé sans pour autant en rester prisonnier. La flamme symbolise aussi l’espoir et les perspectives d’un avenir meilleur du peuple rwandais sorti des ténèbres ».

Selon l’Ambassadeur Rugira Amandin, « il faut élaborer de moyens adéquats de prévention et de répression contre toute tentative de génocide ou de négation de celui-ci. Les génocidaires veulent que les victimes disparaissent dans le temps et dans l’espace ».

Rugira Amandin est revenu sur la nécessité des sites mémoriaux. « Le fait d’ériger des mémoriaux incarne une forme de résistance à cette utopie exterminatrice. Mémoire & Mémorial sont essentiels, ils s’opposent à la destruction radicale de toute trace d’existence marquant la singularité d’un génocide ».

Dans son discours, Rugira Amandin n’a pas oublié de mentionner la justice, les victimes et les survivants. « Un accent sera mis aussi sur la justice et la requête de réparation pour les victimes et les survivants ».

Le cas des FDLR qui continuent leur idiologie a été évoqué. «  Certains menacent même de récidiver et s’appliquent à transmettre l’idéologie du génocide à leurs enfants. Le cas des FDLR est éloquent ».

Avant de clôturer son allocution, Rugira est revenu sur la politique du Rwanda sous le leadership du Président Kagame. «  L’unité nationale, le développement socio-économique des Rwandais est un projet que s’est fixé le gouvernement actuel ».

L’on a évoqué la détermination des Rwandais ainsi que la vision de leur vision société.  «Aujourd’hui les Rwandais sont déterminés à construire ensemble une société nouvelle, égalitaire, unitaire, prospère et cohésive ».

Rappelons que les relations diplomatiques entre la RDC et le Rwanda avaient été rompues en août 1998, au lendemain du déclenchement de la 2e guerre dans l’est de la RDC. Le gouvernement rwandais avait nommé Rugira Amandin le 07/05/2009, comme son Ambassadeur à Kinshasa.

Clémentine Nakure, one of the key witnesses in Simbikangwa trial (Photo by FRANCE 24)

 Twenty years after the Genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda, the first historic trial of a former top Rwandan intelligence officer started on Tuesday at Paris court. FRANCE 24 went to meet up with two of the victims and a repented killer in Kigali who came face to face with the man who decided the fate of tens of thousands.

In the dock: 54 year-old Pascal Simbikangwa, former chief of intelligence services at the Rwandan presidency, has been paraplegic since a traffic accident in 1986. This former army officer stands accused of complicity in the genocide and crimes against humanity. He is accused of having incited, organized and helped the massacres that claimed more than a million lives in a hundred days between April and July 1994, namely by supplying arms to militiamen operating at checkpoints put up in downtown Kigali. The accused, who denies all the charges, risks serving a life imprisonment.

In Rwanda, few people have accepted to testify in this trial. Clémentine Nakure is one of the rare women to have accepted to speak of Pascal Simbikangwa’s role during the Genocide. In August 1993, this businesswoman was travelling to the North of the country. She affirms having been kidnapped without a reason by men under orders from the former Captain (Pascal Simbikangwa). Still shock-stricken, she affirms having been beaten up for about an hour.

“When I arrived in the office of Simbikangwa, he had a pistol and a club. He accused me of working for RPF intelligence services,” narrates Nakure in reference to the Rwanda Patriotic Front, rebel group at the time.

“I answered him, ‘I don’t even know what you are talking about’. After each answer, he hit me with a butt of the pistol. Every time that I repeated to him, ‘Forgive me, I am not a spy’, he continued to hit me again and again”.

“Death Squad”

At the time, journalists were also suffering the worst from the Hutu regime. Some of the hard-hitting (critical) articles are now kept in Kigali at the Center for Training and Cooperative Research, Iwacu. Sam Gody, a former editor-in-chief, is one of the key witnesses to the acts of the former Captain. He claims to have been imprisoned and tortured for four days for publishing an editorial that designated Simbikangwa as the chief of the death squad.

“On the fourth day, Captain Simbikangwa summoned me into his office for the fourth time,” said Gody.

“He then told me, ‘I forgive you, but with a condition. You can write whatever about the President of the Republic, you can write whatever about Ministers, about the MRND [National Revolutionary Movement for Development, party of former President Juvénal Habyarimana], but you must no longer ever talk about the death squad”.

“He was someone influential – a Captain”

Pascal Simbikangwa may have supervised the checkpoints at Kiyovu, in downtown Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, where Tutsis were either arrested or executed. Thousands of people were massacred at these spots.

“He was someone influential – a Captain. He used to move around in a car, giving orders, all instructions”, said Emmanuel, a former Interahamwe militiaman who affirms having obeyed orders from the former Captain. “He used to say that Tutsis had to die. He went through all the quarters of the town to give us his instructions”.

After nine years in prison, Emmanuel has come back to normal life. He is a driver of a Moto-taxi, but his memories of the massacres are now even fresher than ever (before), in the build-up to the 20^th commemoration of the Genocide.

L-R Senator Jim Inhofe, Senator Inhofe’s daughter, First Lady of Rwanda, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana at the Leadership Dinner

The first Lady, Jeannette Kagame, has said that Rwandans opted to “swallow the bitter pill” in order to heal themselves faster and get out of the  horrible consequences of a tragic 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The First Lady was speaking at a leadership dinner hosted by Sen. James Inhofe from Oklahama State. It was hosted in Washington DC.

Delivering a speech on the topic: “The Role of Prayer and the impact it has had on our success in Rwanda.” The First Lady told the audience that as the year 2014 marks the 20^th commemoration since the horrific Genocide against the Tutsi.

As a result of the tragic Genocide, First Lady said that Rwandans realized that Genocide did not benefit a single Rwandan; neither the masterminds and perpetrators and certainly not the victims, hence taking up the decision to “Swallow the bitter pill and heal faster.”

“2014 marks the 20^th commemoration since the horrific Genocide against the Tutsi. What Rwanda went through in 1994, was the culmination of over three decades of systematic classification, dehumanization, persecution and extermination of a targeted group of people.

When all was said and done, the Genocide did not benefit a single Rwandan; neither the masterminds and perpetrators and certainly not the victims. The net result was a complete collapse of family, church and state, as well as a society intoxicated with bitterness and mistrust.”

Mrs. Kagame said that families were torn apart; thousands of innocent people were brutally murdered, in so-called sacred places of worship; the state whose mandate it is to protect citizens, sponsored, planned and implemented the genocide.

“The numbers are shocking; Hundreds of thousands of women were systematically raped, 300,000 – 400,000 people survived the genocide; 50,000 widows and 75,000 inconsolable orphans, 650,000 internally displaced persons.

Two million refugees fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo after the Genocide, held as hostages and used as shields, by the extremist Genocide regime, bent on finishing their work,1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu men, women, and children who were supposed to be part of our future and not our past, were massacred in 100 dark days,” said the First Lady.

She added: “Our faith was tested. There is a saying in Kinyarwanda that goes “Imana yirirwa ahandi, igataha mu Rwanda.” Loosely translated to mean “God spends the day elsewhere and returns home to rest in Rwanda”.

In 1994, we lamented and often wondered where this God had gone. We questioned 1 Corinthians 10:13 which teaches us that: “God does not give us more than we can bear”.

“What our nation endured, was an overwhelming cross to bear. We bear a responsibility to reconcile people to God; we are called to reconcile people to each other. What choices could we make to restore the humanity and sanity that had vanished? Would people ever trust one another?

To mend this brokenness, to restore confidence and credibility in our institutions, we had to carry out deep soul searching. The leadership often had to make tough, unpopular decisions. We, however, understood, that it was in the best interest of our people and our country. We swallowed the bitter pill to help us heal faster, as opposed to going for the band aid therapy.”

Addressing the gathering, the First Lady highlighted some of the examples that were met with resistance.

“Let me share some examples of necessary choices that were met with resistance: Gacaca was a value based court system, that promoted restorative rather than punitive justice, for both Genocide survivors and perpetrators;

Restoration of property to families of genocide perpetrators, despite the urge to redistribute that property to survivors who were wronged and lost their families and property, due to the Genocide; 40,000 prisoners who committed genocide were released due to old age, under a compassionate plea; Laws were put in place to forbid revenge killings.

Those who exacted revenge; knew the fate that awaited them and some took their own lives. Capital punishment was abolished; this was unusual for a nation emerging from genocide.  In my view, going beyond personal suffering prevented Rwanda from becoming a failed state.

We opted instead to embark on a road to recovery.  As we began the journey towards nation building, we discovered that infrastructure could be fixed with enough resources and human capacity.”

With all the above resistance met while Rwandans forged a new way to reconciliation and development, the First Lady told the gathering that on the opposite end of the spectrum, healing hearts and building people’s psyche was a generational undertaking.

The first Lady said that Rwandans quickly realized that what unites them is far greater than what divides them.

“We challenged ourselves to be a voice of unity and reconciliation. We are working towards a collective consciousness of who we are as one people. We have transcended peaceful co-existence to becoming a truly integrated and cohesive community.

To foster social cohesion, last year we embarked on a national process that we called “Ndi Umunyarwanda” or “I am Rwandan”. The idea behind “Ndi Umunyarwanda” is to engage all Rwandans in a critical and truthful self-examination exercise, through open conversation.

 It is about understanding and strengthening the Rwandan spirit, with our dignity taking center stage. It is an important step in creating trust after what Rwandans went through. Ndi Umunyarwanda is about Rwandan’s taking responsibility for their destiny.

“I am reminded of Dr. Ben Carson’s remarks during the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast. In his speech Dr. Carson mentioned that we are getting too sensitive; and it is keeping people from expressing what they truly believe. Ndi Umunyarwanda is such a platform where political correctness and sensitivities are secondary to speaking the truth, value-sharing, and understanding our history.

Without social harmony, a nation cannot progress towards socio-economic transformation. This is what we are fighting for and we are determined to win. Rwandan unity is a source of energy for our development.

Last month, at the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship Prayer Breakfast, where the country’s leaders gather periodically to pray for the nation, President Kagame encouraged leaders ‘not to waste the tragedy,”

 His statement was in reference to the Genocide against Tutsi. Although, we cannot erase our tragic past, Ndi Umunyarwanda is about turning this tragedy into triumph based on 4 pillars: history, testimony, truth and trust and healing through forgiveness.

20 years marks tremendous progress  

The first Lady emphasized that despite the tragic genocide, Rwandans have worked together to build a new country.

“In just 20 short years, Rwanda has done well on several fronts such as Gender parity with 64 percent female representation in parliament; Ease of doing business, with a ranking of 3^rd easiest economy to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa where it takes 6 hours to register a business in Rwanda.

Globally, Rwanda is ranked 6^th for having the best prison rehabilitation programs. We respect the rule of law, even behind bars. This incredible rise from the ashes did not just happen by mistake. All credit goes to our citizens, who have engaged their hearts, heads and hands to work for and own the process of progress.

Our success comes from the vision of an informed leadership, and certainly the hand of God. I ask that we join hands in human solidarity. “May God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference”.

“This prayer, originally authored by an American Theologian, (Reinhold Neibuhr) speaks to God’s hand in Rwanda’s rebirth. We stand by the belief that God granted us the serenity, the courage and the wisdom to lift ourselves from the depths of evil, to the optimism of a new dawn.”

Umwe mu baturage bitunguranye yasabwe ikaye y’imihigo arayibura kandi yarayihawe

Bamwe mu baturage bavuga ko bataramenya neza akamaro k’ikaye y’imihigo, ibi bakaba babitangaza mu gihe akarere ka Ruhango kavuga ko kamaze kugura amakaye arenga ibihumbi 71 angana n’ingo zigize aka karere.

Gusa ubuyobozi bw’akarere ka Ruhango bukavuga ko aya makaye yatanzwe ariko ntihabeho ikoreshwa ryayo neza.

Umwe mu baturage twasuye Nyaminani Innocent utuye mu kagari ka Kirengeri umurenge wa Byimana, avuga ko aya makaye bayafite koko, ariko ngo akenshi usanga batazi icyo agomba kuyakoresha.

Bitunguranye asuwe n’abayobozi bamubajije byinshi byerekeranye n’iterambere ry’urugo rwe ndetse na gahunda ya Leta, bimwe muri ibi byarabonetse ariko abajijwe ikaye y’imihigo arayibura. Avuga ko ayifite ariko atazi aho yayibitse.

Mbabazi Francois Xavier, umuyobozi w’akarere ka Ruhango, avuga ko amakaye yatanzwe koko, gusa ngo ntihabayeho ikurikiranwa ryayo. Akavuga ko ubu barimo gushishikariza inzego z’ibanze gufasha abaturage kumva akamaro k’ikaye y’imihigo.

Ubusanzwe ikaye y’imihigo ihabwa umuturage kugirango ajye yandikamo ibikorwa bye, bishingiye ku mibereho myiza, ibyo atunze, iterambere rye n’ibindi.

Gusa umuyobozi w’aka karere, avuga ko abaturage bashoboye kumva akamaro k’iyi kaye y’imihigo, ngo yabagiriye akamaro cyane, kuko ibafasha kwesa imihigo yabo neza uko baba barayihize.

Repatriated FDLR fighters undergoing re-integration at Mutobo camp

A contradiction has emerged on reports of the exact number of FDLR combatants being repatriated to Rwanda by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and those given by Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC).

According to MONUSCO, about 31 combatants from different rebel groups operating in DRC were received in January, among them 19 FDLR fighters.

However, the available information shows that exact number of FDLR fighters reported to have been repatriated to Rwanda remains contrary to what MONUSCO provides.

In a press conference held on February 5, 2014, MONUSCO leadership told the media that 29 combatants from different rebel groups surrendered last month.

MONUSCO further said that among the rebels surrendered were 2 from Mayi-Mayi Nyatura, 4 from Mayi-Mayi Rahiya Mutomboki; 17 from FDLR, 5 from Mayi-Mayi Nziza and another fighter from APCLS rebel group. In addition to the above FDLR fighters were also two other fighters captured on February 1 in Minova on February 1.

MONUSCO added that all fighters who surrendered were operating in areas of Sake, Otobora, Kiwanja, Tongo, Nyanzale and Lubero and Kashebere.

Among the FDLR fighters who MONUSCO says surrendered, only 9 fighters were handed over to Rwanda on February 6, including one Mayi-Mayi fighter, leaving behind the question of where the remaining number of FDLR fighters branched.

In an interview with Kigali Today news website, a section of FDLR combatants who were repatriated to Rwanda said that there was no other fighter left in a transit camp where they were temporarily sheltered before coming to Rwanda. This information raises questions of where other 9 FDLR fighters could have vanished to.

MONUSCO-RDRC reports contradicting

While MONUSCO reports that it has reintegrated 1 2, 310 FDLR combatants and 11, 312 families since 2002, reports from Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) on numbers of former FDLR combatants repatriated is different.

According to Mutobo-based reintegration camp in Musanze District, Northern Province, the number of former FDLR combatants who laid down their weapons with the help of Monusco and returned home is only 11,000.

According to sources at Mutobo, all fighters who surrender to MONUSCO do not only belong to FDLR faction. There are other people who surrender on FDL ticket yet they are not. As well as other Congolese nationals who fake their Rwandan origin to profit opportunities given to Rwandans returning home.

Combatants blame MONUSCO’s disarmament strategy

According to members of FDLR faction, the way MONUSCO handles their weapons and ammunition is not productive.

“Though different groups decide to surrender and handover weapons to MONUSCO, they later (MONUSCO) send them (weapons) to FARDC who are their major customers for weapons and ammunition. FADRC soldiers are the ones who sell us weapons. This system by MONUSCO is not productive,” said a former FDLR combatant.

One of the FDLR-RUD repatriated fighters commanded by Gen. Musare who operates in Walikare said they that there has been ongoing trade of weapons and ammunitions between different rebel groups and Congolese National Army (FARDC).

“They (FARDC) sold weapons and ammunition to us (FDLR) two times. This trade is always carried out secretly between them and many rebel groups operating in DRC. The main players in this game are members of FDLR who are integrated in FARDC.

This illegal trade of weapons is mostly dominant in the areas of Ruhafu where FDLR-RUD recruitment is carried out by Col.Jean Michel and Col. Rugema who are Gen. Musare’s deputy commanders,”  said the fighter.

FDLR is a group of insurgents, largely made up of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and has been in eastern DRC for the last 15 years.

FDLR fighters have been blamed for committing atrocities against civilians (Photo BBC)

One fateful day, in 2011, Richard Mutarutinya, a young Rwandan who was living with his parents in the neighbouring Uganda received a strange call from an anonymous person.

Talking to the caller, the young man was requested by the person to meet him (caller) for a ‘productive’ conversation.

Without informing any of his family members, Mutarutinya had to rush to the agreed venue where he was supposed to meet the person.

“I could not resist meeting this person since I was in daring need of employment,” narrates Mutarutinya

When Mutarutanya who has since returned back to Rwanda finally reached at the meeting venue, he surprisingly landed on a group of his other village mates.

“They were excitedly seated with other people that I couldn’t recognize well. But since I was with them, I felt comfortable and ready for the meeting agenda,” says Mutarutinya.

A few minutes later, the official meeting started. Mutarutinya and his friends were assured of a possible wealth if they accepted to be taken to Democratic Republic of Congo for white color jobs.

“This is how I was convinced. I knew wealth was coming my way in the near future.”

How life turned sour

It took Mutarutinya only one day to cross the Ugandan border to DRC before facing a harsh and terrorising life style. All those who promised him miracles had turned into animals, he says.

“En route to DRC, after we crossed the Ugandan border, everyone started realizing something strange was going to happen. Those who formally seduced and promised us wonders turned against us. The new command was to join FDLR.”

Because of intense threats against them, some of Munyarutinya’s group members started shouting and wanted a return home. However, those who screamed a return home were instead killed as a sign of terrorizing those who could attempt to follow suit.

“When we reached DRC, we were forced to join FDLR-RUD rebel group. Most of my friends started demanding to be returned back home and many among them lost their lives.

The genesis of FDLR bush life and threats

Mutarutinya says he is a living testimony today, after escaping death several times in the hands of what he called his commanders.

“Being a Rwandan recruit in FDLR is risking your own life. You walk with death because anytime your commanders can kill you on suspicion of being a Rwandan spy. I witnessed many of my fellow recruits being killed with my own eyes,” says Mutarutinya.

According to him, being an FDLR soldier doesn’t mean your task is only on the battle field. His main job in the rebel group was to grow food crops that feed his commanders.

“Even though you get recruited in FDLR as a soldier, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be tasked to do other things. For instance, I was tasked to lead a team that would be charged with stealing food crops from nearby villages. I decided to grow them (food crops) myself instead of fighting with civilians to get food,” he says

Richard Mutarutinya is among the 9 former FDLR fighters who were repatriated to Rwanda this month (Photo S. Sebuharara)

Because of a new assignment, Mutarutinya was given the chance to stay close to his crops in Mashyuta area which was under the command of Capt. Kije Joseph.

Unfortunately, Mutarutinya was later redeployed and joined a group of FDLR soldiers charged with guarding FDLR-RUD commander, Gen. Musare after his former commander was killed by lightening.

Witnessing brutal killings of former Rwandan students

Mutarutinya recalls witnessing a big number of FDLR recruits who were accused of being Rwandan spies.

“A few days after joining Gen. Musare’s company, I witnessed horrible killings of fellow recruits. Out of 24 young men who were forcefully recruited into FDLR, 17 of them, formerly secondary students were killed before me on suspicion that they were Rwandan spies,” says a visibly regretting Mutarutinya.

He adds: “It is absurd to see a comfortably living secondary school boy being seduced and recruited into FDLR to live in those thick forests with hard life just because he wants to be a soldier. I take this opportunity to warn fellow youth that there is nothing good in joining FDLR apart from dedicating your life to permanent agony mixed with forced labour.”

Turning focus on return to Rwanda

After witnessing the brutal killing of his fellow recruits, Mutarutinya started a secret plan of returning back to his motherland.

“It is not an easy project to plan escaping FDLR leaders. You need to do it in a highly secretive way, otherwise they can immediately kill you in case they realize of your escape plans. They kill you to purposely give a clear message to anyone attempting to do the same,” he says.

The killing of FDLR suspected defectors is also testified by Jean Shyaka, another former combatant who witnessed the same killing in Sinayi sector, an area controlled by FDLR.

“I witnessed the killing of two FDLR fighters who had defected in 2009 and later returned back this year. They were killed on grounds that they were no longer trusted.”

Shyaka calls on fellow Rwandan youth especially those living near Ugandan borders to desist any form of persuasion by FDLR agents to recruit them.

Other main target of FDRL recruits, according to Shyaka, is Rwandans living in refugee camps in Uganda. He says that the camps are full of FDLR agents who persuade young men on promises to give them well paying jobs in DRC.

FDLR accused of rape, looting and killing civilians

Local residents living in Luofu village, just metres away from FDLR territory, accuse rebels of mass killings, rape and looting. The village has been dominated FDLR for the past decade.

Speaking to BBC, village residents said that FDLR rebels extort money from locals, pillaged farmers’ harvests and set up road blocks, demanding money or goods from anyone travelling through.

The residents also accuse the Congolese army (FARDC) of collaborating with FDLR, leaving locals to fend for themselves.

“At one point, they [FDLR] came to burn the villages… more than 200 houses,” Eric Kambale, a trainee priest at Luofu parish told BBC.

“People burned inside, can you imagine? It terrified people. The Congolese army was one kilometre away when that happened.” He added

TOGETHER AS NOT ONE: President Kikwete (centre) with TISS chief Rashid Othman (left) have maintained a public display of closeness, but behind the scenes, a bitter row is threatening Tanzania due to Othman’s refusal to back the FDLR agenda

At an urgent summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Kampala in late September 2012, Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete spoke passionately of how Tanzania was eager to end the conflict in DR Congo. President Kikwete informed other leaders that Tanzania was ready to use force. Months later, Tanzanian troops were deployed, but as News of Rwanda reports, the deployment is a personal project of President Kikwete after ignoring advice of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS).

Since the ICGLR authorized the deployment of 3,069 troops, including 1,283 Tanzanian Special Forces, the events moved so fast. In April, Tanzanian Brigadier General James Aloizi Mwakibolwa was named the commander of the so called Neutral Intervention Force (NIF). On 10^th May 2013, the first batch of 100 elite forces arrived in Goma.

Even as the world was celebrating the developments on the ground in eastern DRC, back in Tanzania however, tempers were at exploding point between President Kikwete on one side and the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS). News of Rwanda has established that around July 2013, President Kikwete unilaterally appointed a man we have only managed to identify as Mr Zongo to be the deputy director general of TISS.

The shocking appointment was retaliation against the director general of TISS, Mr. Rashid Othman, who had rigidly refused to endorse the deployment of Tanzanian troops in DR Congo. According to sources close to Mr. Othman, he accused President Kikwete of “mishandling the geopolitical situation” in the region at the expense of Tanzania.

The man who the Tanzania state was paying to plan for its security strategy, feared that President Kikwete’s “unilateral decision” would come back to haunt Tanzania. As the supreme leader, President Kikwete was not impressed, and moved to curb the powers of the intelligence chief. Our sources have intimated to News of Rwanda that Mr Zongo is the current defacto boss as TISS and is the one who liaises between the Presidency and TISS.

In comes President Kabila’s sister

The refusal of TISS chief Mr. Rashid Othman did not come from the blue. Information obtained by our investigations team shows that the deployment of Tanzania troops had been a personal pledge by President Kikwete to DRC President Joseph Kabila when he was in Tanzania for the SADC Troika summit on 5^th September 2012.

But how did the Kikwete pledge come? The two presidents have cultivated a very close relationship to the point that the two families are business partners. Tanzania’s First Lady fondly known as Mama Salma Kikwete and President Kabila’s twin sister Jaynet Kabila have a mineral export business operating from Dar es Salaam’s MIKOCHENI suburb.

News of Rwanda investigations have led us to two very luxurious “shops” in Dar es Salaam. One of them is named RENZO located within the upper class MIKOCHENI Shopping Mall opposite SAVERIOS Pizza. The other “shop” is VIRAGO, positioned opposite Baraka Plaza. Both these shops are located in the MIKOCHENI suburb of Dar es Salaam where Tanzania’s rich and good brash shoulders.

According to sources on the ground, these two Kikwete-Kabila shops sell the most luxurious clothing and jewelry in Tanzania. However, despite the size and expensive line of business, the “shops” are not registered with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). The two names are not found anywhere in the tax receipts of the TRA, which according to well-informed sources, means they do not pay taxes. However, nobody including the TRA commissioner general Harry Kitilya can say anything for fear of retribution.

According to people operating businesses within the MIKOCHENI suburb, these particular shops are a no-go zone for ordinary Tanzanians. Apart from seeing expensive cars packed within the vicinity, the shops are also common with foreigners who do not leave with any materials, and locals suspect strange businesses are taking place inside those buildings.

Could it be that the intelligence Chief Mr. Rashid Othman knew from day one that his boss’ insistence on sending troops to DRC was not back by any love for Tanzanian interests? Could it be that Mr Zongo was brought to TISS to keep an eye on Othman such that he does not search too far? Only time will tell.

Jaynet Kabila is the twin sister of President Kabila, and a very power force in the DRC parliament. Politicians in DRC see her as the powers-be that choose Congo’s fate

Then the FDLR militia emerges

First forward, on the morning of 26 May 2013, at a special and tense closed-door Africa Union heads of state summit on DRC, President Kikwete was seated across from Rwandan counter President Paul Kagame. The Tanzanian leader tells Kagame that he needs to sit at the same table with the democratic forces for the liberation of Rwanda rebels to talk peace. President Kikwete was reading from a prepared speech.

As News of Rwanda has reported ever since, Tanzania-Rwanda relations have since gone down the drain. Privately, President Kikwete’s closest advisors have confessed to friends that the FDLR issue as advanced by their boss to other African leaders was never discussed. The original speech prepared by the Presidency did not include a reference to peace talks for ending the FDLR problem in eastern Congo.

Publicly, many Tanzanian senior officials have kept quiet leaving only two people to deal with the expected consequences of Tanzania siding with the perpetrators of the genocide. President Kikwete and his foreign affairs minister Bernard Membe have been left to fight alone, reason why they are the only people who speak passionately about the Rwanda-Tanzania showdown. However, it is not accidental.

Dorcas Membe, the wife of the foreign affairs minister is a childhood friend of First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete. According to official data, Mama Salma was comes from Lindi, in Southern Tanzania. The First Lady and Dorcas Membe hail from the same village.

On 19^th August last year, News of Rwanda reported exclusively Shabyna Stillman, a senior diplomat at the US embassy in Dar es Salaam had sent a secret cable to Washington on Thursday May 5th, 2005 explaining how Mama Salma Kikwete was from the family of ex-Rwanda president Juvenal Habyarimana.

Could it be that President Kikwete’s sudden move in favour of the FDLR was influenced by the personal friendship with DRC counterpart Joseph Kabila or his wife’s ancestry to Rwanda? Only time will tell.

Repatriated FDLR fighters undergoing re-integration at Mutobo camp

A contradiction has emerged on reports of the exact number of FDRL combatants being repatriated to Rwanda by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and those given by Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC).

According to MONUSCO, about 31 combatants from different rebel groups operating in DRC were received in January, among them 19 FDRL fighters.

However, the available information shows that exact number of FDRL fighters reported to have been repatriated to Rwanda remains contrary to what MONUSCO provides.

In a press conference held on February 5, 2014, MONUSCO leadership told the media that 29 combatants from different rebel groups surrendered last month.

MONUSCO further said that among the rebels surrendered were 2 from Mayi-Mayi Nyatura, 4 from Mayi-Mayi Rahiya Mutomboki; 17 from FDLR, 5 from Mayi-Mayi Nziza and another fighter from APCLS rebel group. In addition to the above FDRL fighters were also two other fighters captured on February 1 in Minova on February 1.

MONUSCO added that all fighters who surrendered were operating in areas of Sake, Otobora, Kiwanja, Tongo, Nyanzale and Lubero and Kashebere.

Among the FDRL fighters who MONUSCO says surrendered, only 9 fighters were handed over to Rwanda on February 6, including one Mayi-Mayi fighter, leaving behind the question of where the remaining number of FDRL fighters branched.

In an interview with Kigali Today news website, a section of FDRL combatants who were repatriated to Rwanda said that there was no other fighter left in a transit camp where they were temporarily sheltered before coming to Rwanda. This information raises questions of where other 9 FDRL fighters could have vanished to.

MONUSCO-RDRC reports contradicting

While MONUSCO reports that it has reintegrated 1 2, 310 FDRL combatants and 11, 312 families since 2002, reports from Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) on numbers of former FDRL combatants repatriated is different.

According to Mutobo-based reintegration camp in Musanze District, Northern Province, the number of former FDLR combatants who laid down their weapons with the help of Monusco and returned home is only 11,000.

According to sources at Mutobo, all fighters who surrender to MONUSCO do not only belong to FDLR faction. There are other people who surrender on FDL ticket yet they are not. As well as other Congolese nationals who fake their Rwandan origin to profit opportunities given to Rwandans returning home.

Combatants blame MONUSCO’s disarmament strategy

According to members of FDRL faction, the way MONUSCO handles their weapons and ammunition is not productive.

“Though different groups decide to surrender and handover weapons to MONUSCO, they later (MONUSCO) send them (weapons) to FARDC who are their major customers for weapons and ammunition. FADRC soldiers are the ones who sell us weapons. This system by MONUSCO is not productive,” said a former FDRL combatant.

One of the FDRL-RUD repatriated fighters commanded by Gen. Musare who operates in Walikare said they that there has been ongoing trade of weapons and ammunitions between different rebel groups and Congolese National Army (FARDC).

“They (FARDC) sold weapons and ammunition to us (FDRL) two times. This trade is always carried out secretly between them and many rebel groups operating in DRC. The main players in this game are members of FDRL who are integrated in FARDC.

This illegal trade of weapons is mostly dominant in the areas of Ruhafu where FDRL-RUD recruitment is carried out by Col.Jean Michel and Col. Rugema who are Gen. Musare’s deputy commanders,”  said the fighter.

FDLR is a group of insurgents, largely made up of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and has been in eastern DRC for the last 15 years.

Joseph Nshyimyimana with his lawyer

Joseph Nshimiyimana, an FDLR terror suspect co-accused with Lt Joel Mutabazi, yesterday surprised military court Judges when he declined to speak during his trial.

The trial of Lt Joel Mutabazi, accused of treason and terrorism along with 15 others resumed yesterday at the Military High Court in Kanombe.

While being questioned by Judges on crimes against him, Nshimiyimana instead maintained silence. It took Judges several minutes trying to convince him to speak but the suspect stood by his decision by refusing to respond to some of the questions asked by Judges.

Nshimiyimana, a member of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), is accused, among other crimes, of coordinating grenade attack plots in Kigali, especially two grenade explosions that claimed one person and injured 14 others in Kicukiro market.

The suspect is allegedly accused of coordinating these grenade attacks under the command of Lt Joel Mutabazi.

Appearing before the Military High Court, Nshimiyimana who had initially pleaded guilty to all the charges took a dramatic move to plead not guilty to all of them.

“I am not guilty of anything; I did not commit any crime and I won’t stand trial until I get a clear explanation of why I am here,” Nshimiyimana surprisingly told court.

Among other crimes, Nshimiyimana is also charged with spreading rumours with intent to incite the public to rise up against the state, illegal possession of a firearm, terrorism, formation of an armed group, murder and crimes against the state.

Lawyer surprised by his client’s change of mind

Nshimiyimana’s lawyer, Herbert Rubasha, told court that he was shocked by his client’s hasty refusal to stand trial and requested the court to give him more time to speak to his client.

However, Nshimiyimana went on with surprises telling his lawyer to never waste time speaking to him.

“There is nothing you will do to make me speak. With or without a lawyer, I will not respond to the charges against me.”

New video surfaces against Mutabazi

In the meantime, court proceeded with the case of Lt Joel Mutabazi in which a video was displayed showing how Mutabazi personally pleaded guilty of stage managing his shooting in Uganda.

According to prosecutors, the video was captured during the interrogation of Lt Mutabazi.

The video shows Mutabazi narrating in detail how he acquired the gun, how he used it and disposed it off. Mutabazi has also maintained silence in court and refused to stand trial.

Mutabazi is charged with attempt to harm the person of the President, deserting the military, terrorism, formation of an armed group, spreading rumours with intent to incite the public to rise up against the state, murder, crimes against the state and illegal possession of a firearm.

Mrs. Jeannette Kagame left and president of Ghana John Mahama

Rwanda’s First Lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame is in London to attend the second UNAIDS and LANCET commission meeting. The commission is convening from 13-14 February 2014 to discuss the future of AIDS and global health.

The UNAIDS and Lancet Commission: Defeating AIDS — Advancing global health was established in May 2013, to draw lessons from the AIDS experience and find ways to move to sustainable health.

The Commission will deliberate on three central questions: What will it take to end AIDS?  How can lessons from the AIDS response inform global health? How must the global health and AIDS architecture be modernized to achieve sustainable global health?

The first Commission meeting was held in Lilongwe, Malawi in June 2013; hosted by Commission Co-Chair, President Joyce Banda. Mrs. Jeannette Kagame is one of the high-level commissioners who delivered remarks where she stated that: “We have managed to provide care and treatment to keep many HIV+ people alive. They are still immuno-compromised and becoming increasingly susceptible to non-communicable diseases. We must be responsive and adapt to the changing nature of the disease. Africa should be ready! The worst is behind us. Now we know how to prevent, how to treat and how to care. We should move to the next step and do it yesterday”.

There are 30 commissioners known for their significant contributions to and leadership in HIV/AIDS, including politicians, scientists, medical professionals, donors and members of civil society.

These include Presidents of Benin, Ghana, and Switzerland, Prime Minister of Jamaica, First Ladies of Gabon, Japan and Rwanda, Global Fund Executive Director, AfDB President, Ministers of health and Special advisors to the UN.

Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete speaks to Rev Christopher Mtikila at an event in Dar es Salaam

After hosting former premier Faustin Twagiramungu, then the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) the Tanzania’s elite establishment has linked up the FDLR rebels with convicts of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) including ex-army commander Brig Gen Gratien Kabiligi.

News of Rwanda has obtained more intriguing details of different meetings hosted in Dar es Salaam involving the Democratic forces for the liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group based in DR Congo with their former commanders in Europe and Tanzania. The meetings are not hosted by the State of Tanzania, but a network of political elites with vested interests in the FDLR.

While Faustin Twagiramungu had left Tanzania for Lyon, France on the 23^rd January, two FDLR senior leaders were in Dar es Salaam and stayed there during the days which followed. As News of Rwanda has reported before, the men who were in Tanzania are FDLR executive secretary Lt Col Wilson Irategeka and Col Hamadi, the operations commander.

Our investigations team is yet to find out when Brig Gen Gratien Kabiligi arrived in Tanzania, but have established that he had meetings at secret locations in Dar es Salaam with the above FDLR commanders. The meetings took place on Friday 24^th January, then Saturday and the days of the following week.

God’s man of carnage

Brig Gen Kabiligi was arrested in 1997 and his trial before the ICTR started in 2002. He was acquitted on December 18, 2008 by the controversial judge Theodor Meron who has been accused of deliberately releasing genocide suspects at ICTR and ICTY. Since then, Kabiligi lived in a safe house in Arusha, Tanzania, waiting for resettlement in another country. He eventually did however get allowed in by France.

The meetings between Kabiligi and the FDLR men were brokered, planned and hosted by Reverend Christophe Mtikila with the full blessing of the Tanzanian elite establishment. Brig Gen Kabiligi was the Chief of Military Operations within the High Command of the ex-Rwandan army which metamorphosised into the current FDLR.

Reverend Mtikila is no stranger to Rwandan affairs. He is a vocal Tanzanian evangelist-politician who has hosted FDLR commanders on several occasions. Rev Mtikila is the Chairman of Democratic Party (DP), a small political grouping with representation in parliament. News of Rwanda has established that he is the figure who facilitates the acquisition of Tanzanian passports for FDLR commanders to travel out of DR Congo jungles.

Major opposition parties have charged that the virulently vocal Mtikila is used by the ruling elite to disorganize them.  (News of Rwanda is preparing a separate investigation about Rev Mtikila’s network that has been hosting and facilitating FDLR and genocide suspects on the run).

ICTR convicts in Tanzania safe houses

These latest meetings are not isolated events, according to our investigation. The Tanzanian ruling elite has provided new homes with full police protection at the expense of the Tanzanian taxpayer, to about 6 Rwandan men who slaughtered Tutsis back home. What the ordinary Tanzanians have not been told is that all countries have declared these men persona non grata.

The man include: Andre Ntagerura, a member of the Interim government in 1994, as well as Justin Mugenzi and Prosper Mugiraneza – who were all ministers in the brief government which rolled out the genocide against Tutsis across the country as they themselves fled to Zaire.

The other men who have been provided safe houses by the Tanzanian ruling elite are Andre Rwamakuba, a minister in the same government, as well as Casmir Bizimungu and Jerome Bicamumpaka.

All these men were controversially acquitted by the ICTR at different times. As show of displeasure with the acquittals, the men have asked for visa from different countries, but have all been turned down. They are now famously known as the “unwanted” in the news media.

Who is Brig Gen Gratien Kabiligi?

Before the full-scale genocide against Tutsis was launched across the Rwanda, Brig Gen Gratien Kabiligi was the commanding general of military operations of the entire army. Units in Kigali and across all the hills of Rwanda, as well as the elite commandos were under his direct command. Kabiligi worked with Col Theoneste Bagosora, the man convicted and branded by the ICTR as the “brand of the genocide”.

Kabiligi had actual knowledge of the security situation in the whole country from weekly meetings which he attended, with convicted Aloys Ntabakuze, the para-military commander. As stated in the indictment, both Gratien Kabiligi and Aloys Ntabakuze described Tutsis as “the enemy”.

Kabiligi was given constant briefings by Aloys Ntabakuze whenever he ordered his units to reinforce units of the Presidential Guard involved in the systematic elimination of the main leaders of the political opposition and prominent figures of the Tutsi population. Among men who reported to Kabiligi is Maj Protais Mpiranya, who is yet to be apprehended.

On 28 January 1994, Kabiligi and André Ntagerura arrived by helicopter in Bugarama sector, Cyangugu prefecture and with Emmanuel Bagambiki distributed weapons to 2 000 Interahamwe militia at a rally held on a football field. In a speech, Kabiligi encouraged the youth to be vigilant and to fight “the enemy”, whom he identified as the Tutsis, wherever they were found. Many of such operations would happen over the coming months to different interahamwe training camps.

At a meeting held at Ruhengeri Military Camp on 15 February 1994 chaired by Gen Kabiligi, the high command set final touches to a plan to massacre Tutsis. Kabiligi ordered that each sector’s commander should organise clandestine commando operations. When speaking about killings of “the enemy”, Kabiligi used the French term “déraciner” (uproot). Many such meetings were held before and next months.

As the Arusha peace deal was being discussed, Gen kabiligi was preparing for war. In the recorded high command meetings, Kabiligi ordered all army units to “understand the situation and assume their responsibilities”. Kabiligi categorically ordered the units to be ready for war to resume resume on 23 February.