Thursday, March 28News That Matters

Tag: Rwanda

African free trade area launched after delays owing to Global Coronavirus Pandemic.

African free trade area launched after delays owing to Global Coronavirus Pandemic.

FEATURED, NEWS, SPORTS
African countries began officially trading under a new continent-wide free trade area on Friday, after months of delays caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. But experts view the New Year's Day launch as largely symbolic with full implementation of the deal expected to take years. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to bring together 1.3 billion people in a $3.4 trillion economic bloc that will be the largest free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization. Backers say it will boost trade among African neighbours while allowing the continent to develop its own value chains. The World Bank estimates it could lift tens of millions out of poverty by 2035. But obstacles - ranging from ubiquitous red tape and po...
Tutsi community in DR. Congo at Risk, being targeted by anti-Rwanda hostility

Tutsi community in DR. Congo at Risk, being targeted by anti-Rwanda hostility

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics, Rwanda
Gathered in the hollow of a remote valley in eastern DR Congo, women on one side and men on the other, around 500 people attended the funeral of Bonaventure Kinyegeria, a Congolese cattle raiser murdered by militiamen. The armed attackers killed Kinyegeria near the small territory of Minembwe in the highlands of South Kivu province on October 6, making off with his cows. The daylight raid may have been over cattle, but it was also tied in with a local conflict spurred by a reawakening of deep-seated distrust of Rwanda by many in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kinyegeria, 56, was one of the DRC's Banyamulenge community, which has distant origins among Rwanda's minority Tutsi people. But when it comes to their nationality, the Banyamulenge are categorical: "Congolese, and...
Rwanda to start Growing Cannabis, what it means to her Economy.

Rwanda to start Growing Cannabis, what it means to her Economy.

Business, FEATURED, NEWS, Rwanda
Some know it as cannabis, while others know it as marijuana or weed, especially because it has been trendy in pop-culture music and because it has been immortalized in western films. Whatever you call it, cannabis is the world’s most popular drug and is the highest value therapeutic crop known at the moment, despite being illegal in many parts of the world. It wasn’t until Monday, October 12, that a cabinet meeting approved guidelines that allow the growing of cannabis in Rwanda, which drew mixed opinions from people. Cannabis is a multi-billion dollar industry and it’s believed to be the world’s most valuable cash crop from the absolute value perspective. One study, which analysed data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation as well as UN World Drug reports, estimat...
Thousands flee ADF attacks in Eastern DR Congo

Thousands flee ADF attacks in Eastern DR Congo

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is rushing support to tens of thousands of people who have been recently displaced in the aftermath of brutal attacks and fighting by the armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces. More than 50,000 people have fled in the aftermath of a recent upsurge in fighting in North Kivu. The displaced include an overwhelming number of children – including many who are unaccompanied by either a parent or guardian. Brutal attacks blamed on the armed group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed at least 13 people at ...
IMF Gives Rwanda $16 million debt Relief

IMF Gives Rwanda $16 million debt Relief

FEATURED, Latest News, Rwanda
Rwanda is set to benefit from a $16.9 million debt service relief from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an initial period of six months, the Fund has said. This is the second debt service relief to Rwanda by IMF. It is part of the Fund’s efforts to pause collection of debts from a number of countries to help them deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.  By not servicing its debt obligation for several months, Rwanda will have more capital available to invest in affected sectors of the economy as well as improve capacity to respond to the pandemic. The $16.9 million would have been paid in servicing debt owed to the IMF for six months from October 14, 2020 to April 13, 2021. Subject to the availability of resources, debt service relief could ...
What was Discussed by Heads of State at Regional Virtual Summit?

What was Discussed by Heads of State at Regional Virtual Summit?

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics
Heads of State from Rwanda, DR Congo, Uganda and Angola on Wednesday October 7, held a regional virtual summit to discuss peace, security, diplomatic and political relations, among others. The summit which was hosted by President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo was attended by President Paul Kagame, João Lourenço of Angola and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. According to a post-summit communique, the summit offered the Heads of State the opportunity to discuss subjects of common interest seeking to strengthen relations and create stability in the Great Lakes sub-region. Among the key subjects that were discussed at the summit include: 1.   The security situation in the Great Lakes sub-region The Heads of State of the four countries reviewed t...
CAF Releases TOTAL Chan 2020 Dates

CAF Releases TOTAL Chan 2020 Dates

FEATURED, Latest News, SPORTS
Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has released the 2020 TOTAL African Nations Championship (CHAN) championship dates. Uganda Cranes opens up against Rwanda on 18th January 2021 at the Stade de Unification in Douala in a group C duel. This will be followed by a match against Togo on 22nd January 2021 at the same venue and the final group game will be on 26th January 2021 against Morocco.
Uganda to Help Build Roads Inside Congo, Citing Trade Goals

Uganda to Help Build Roads Inside Congo, Citing Trade Goals

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics, Rwanda
Uganda's government said Tuesday it would help finance projects to surface over 200 kilometers (124 miles) of road inside neighbouring Congo as part of plans to boost trade between the countries. Uganda will contribute about 20% of the project value while the rest will be met by Congo's government in an envisaged public-private partnership, Ugandan Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala told reporters. Such an arrangement is unheard of in a region where governments struggle to expand road networks within their borders. Despite its vast size and wealth of natural resources, Congo remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Eastern Congo is particularly plagued by rebel violence. "There is always a first time for everything," Wamala said. "This is a joint project b...
Kigali, Rwanda to host CHOGAM in June 2021

Kigali, Rwanda to host CHOGAM in June 2021

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics, Rwanda
The President of Rwanda HE Paul Kagame and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland today announced that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will now be held the week of June 21, 2021. The CHOGM meetings were previously scheduled for Kigali in June, 2020 but were postponed because of the impact of COVID-19. The new date was agreed with member countries. CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealth's highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for the next summit when they met in London in 2018.
Military leaders Mark End of U.S. Marines Engagement in Uganda

Military leaders Mark End of U.S. Marines Engagement in Uganda

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics
U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, and members of the Uganda People's Defense Force celebrate in Camp Singo, Uganda, in February. American and Ugandan military leaders held a virtual ceremony this week marking the end of a U.S. Marine engagement with Uganda as part of that nation's six-year participation in the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership. Major Gen. Stephen M. Neary, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa spoke by video teleconference with Brig. Gen. Peter Omola, the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center Commandant and his soldiers. While the overall APRRP effort is not ending, the event marked th...