UN: No Evidence Rwanda Supported M23 Rebels in Congo

Citing what they termed is a “leaked” memo from the UN Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO), last week the BBC and the New York Times claimed that Rwanda is secretly supporting the M23 rebel movement in Eastern Congo.

Both media organizations reported that eleven deserters from the M23 showed up at a UN base claiming they had been recruited and trained in Rwanda. Neither publication produced an actual memo, nor did they quote sources. The memo was cited around the world as “fact,” with no supporting documentation. The result was a vehement denial by Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, who said claims that Rwandans were transferred to eastern Congo to fight for the rebels are “categorically false and dangerous.”

“M23 Congo” and it is obvious that accounts of the leaked report have gone viral. But is it correct? Does the report exist? What, exactly, does it say?

The latest comment from the UN says the BBC got it wrong.

U.N. spokesman Penangnini Toure told Voice of America (VOA) that the UN report resulted from a “routine interrogation of the 11 men who had presented themselves to the UN and asked to be repatriated to Rwanda.”

“That’s all we reported and that’s where it stops. The U.N. did not produce a report saying that Rwanda is directly involved in what is happening in eastern Congo,” said Toure.

SAPA also reported that there was no evidence Rwanda recruited the “mutineers.”

The United Nations on Wednesday confirmed 11 Rwandans had been recruited to join army mutineers in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, but said there was no evidence the Rwandan government played any role.

As the reports of the leaked memo spread exponentially via the internet and social media, an already strained relationship between The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda has been tested and tensions have spilled over into Congo’s Parliament. Opposition lawmakers want any discussion of relations with Rwanda to be debated in public, to avoid the appearance of any “secret deals.”

On Wednesday May 30, the president of the assembly ruled that debate would require a closed session. A number of opposition MPs walked out. On the same day as the walk-out, Radio Okapi (UN) reported that MONUSCO refused to confirm or refute the involvement of Rwanda  in the conflict in eastern DRC.

The “leaked memo” is beginning to look more and more like a propaganda trial balloon that has sprung a leak. It may have been MONUSCO’s attempt to cover its failures in eastern Congo by blaming Rwanda for the latest insurgencies. Or it may have been a low level staffer trying to curry favor with the international press.

In a press release, The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed concern about civilians targeted in fighting between the rebels and government forces that has displaced more than 100,000 people in eastern Congo since April.

Rwanda’s Minister Mushikiwabo accused MONUSCO of failure to implement its mandate and suggests that the “leaked memo” is an attempt to shift blame and justify MONUSCO’s “bloated budgets.”

This billion-dollar-a-year operation makes up one quarter of the UN’s entire peacekeeping budget, and yet it has been a failure from day one. Instead of pursuing its mandate to eradicate the FDLR menace and help stabilise the region, MONUSCO has become a destabilizing influence, primarily concerned with keeping hold of its bloated budgets and justifying its ongoing existence. Rwanda has received several refugees who are severely wounded and traumatised as a result of the UN’s failure to protect civilians in eastern DRC.

A source close to M23 told says that the persons presenting themselves as “deserters” and “defectors” from M23 “did not come from the front lines.” Instead it is more likely that individuals were bribed by Congolese commanders to go to MONUSCO and say they were defecting, said the source.

According to VOA, the United Nations has said categorically that it “did not produce a report saying that Rwanda is directly involved in what is happening in eastern Congo.”

http://itangazamakuru.com/index.php/2012/06/un-evidence-rwanda-supported-m23-rebels-congo/

Rwanda : Kayonza taxi Motorcyclists complain over Motors

Taxi motor is a mode of transport preferred by many in Rwandans, mostly due its low cost fee and fast maneuvers along streets jammed with vehicles.

The number of Karongi Taxi Motor cyclists has increased as their transport business grew but consequently now complaints of the business not paying as anticipated have rose.

Emmanuel Tuyizere a Tax Motorcyclist in Karongi says that “at first we used to earn enough money from this transport but currently we are not earning enough to pay off our bosses. Usually an owner of a motor cycle pays about Rwf70, 000 monthly but currently one finishes a month with savings of less than Rwf60, 000.”

Some of the cyclists attribute the cause for low turnover of the business to increased number of motors and a reduced number of customers but the reason could be the fact that the motor cycle owners demand more returns.

Callixte another cyclist from Karongi pleads for the government support in advocacy to the financial institutions to allocate loans to cyclists so that they can ride their own motor cycles.

Currently a number of Karongi youth are found working hard to pass the drive tests exams hoping that with the cycling permit they can earn a living out of it.http://rwandatransport.com/2012/06/rwanda-kayonza-taxi-motorcyclists-complain-motors/

Rwanda : Swiss and Dutch Investors to construct modern ports on Lake Kivu

Swiss and Dutch investors in collaboration with the Rwandan Office charged with shipping, land and air transport_ Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA) have signed an agreement for the construction of three modern ports on Lake Kivu.

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Elias Twagira, RTDA CEO, said the project was developed and that the next step will be setting up the equipments necessary for the construction of harbors.

Dr. Elias Twagira explained that the major ports will be built in the district of Rusizi, Karongi and Rubavu on Lake Kivu.
Dr. Twagira continued to say that seven ports are to be built, however indicated that four of them are of medium caliber.
Dr. Twagira mentioned that construction will be funded by the state budget adding that the construction will kick off in July.
Next to each port will be a building which will house the Office of Immigration, Customs, the counters of travel tickets, the police office and a place reserved for leisure in front of the lake.http://rwandatransport.com/2012/06/rwanda-swiss-dutch-investors-construct-modern-ports-lake-kivu/

Rwanda: U.S supports students in English language skills

The U.S Embassy launched a training known as English Access Micro Scholarship Program ,the launch took place at Lycee de Kigali School, on June 3, 2012 and was presided over by the U.S Ambassador to Rwanda, Donald Koran.

A two-year English training program was unveiled in four schools in Kigali such as Lycee Notre Dame de Citeaux, Lycee de Kigali, Groupe Rcolaire Rugunga and Groupe Scolaire Kacyiru 11.

Susan Falatko, the Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy, said the programme will cater for students from four schools, who will attend their lessons from at Lycee de Kigali, every Saturday from 8:00 am up to midday.

“Since Rwanda switched to entirely an English education system, the course will be very beneficial to the students to quickly adopting to the Anglophone sphere,” said Falatko.

“This will help students understand their notes and give the answers to the examinations accordingly,” Falatko said.

She added that apart from training the beneficiaries in various English skills, during the two year course, they will also organize field trips where the students will visit the embassy’s library where they will be taught several communication and leadership skills, for a better generation.

According to the headmaster of Lycee de Kigali, Martin Masabo, Rwanda became a member of East African Community (EAC) and the Commonwealth, and I believe this training will help the beneficiaries learn more English skills and know how best they can compete in the labour market in the country and beyond after completing their university studies.

Patrick Uwayisenga, a student from Groupe scolaire Kacyiru said the training will help us become broad minded in several communication skills as far as English language is concerned. I believe that this will equip us with more skills on how to interact with people in the region and internationally.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/06/rwanda-u-s-supports-students-in-english-language-skills/

Rwanda : Rhineland Palatinate officials support Nyabihu

Officials of the Holzeim State from the Federal State of Rhineland Palatinate in Germany have donated €1300 Euros to thirteen schools in Nyabihu district in the Northern of Rwanda.

The delegation handed the funds, on June 3, to the school which have special partnership with local schools in Rwanda, and have over the past years benefited from the twining programs of the German-Rwanda Jumelage.

The delegation also made a two day tour of the projects previously funded under this partnership. Some of the projects included schools, health activities in Rambura sector.

The head of the German delegation, Helmt Vaiima, said that the team was pleased to witness the impact of the support provided by the German province, which showed evidence that the support had been put in proper use.

Vaiima also handed over sports equipment to the women football team in the sector (Rambura womens football club) and stated that the German province will continue supporting other community initiatives in the future.

School heads in Nyabihu district said that the sponsored projects have impacted on lives of the youths in the area especially in providing life skills for the young generation.

The relationship between Rwanda and the German Province has now clocked 30 years. The partnership is base on four broad areas of co-operation that include exchange of knowledge; culture friendship and emotional bonding, humanitarian and developmental initiatives.

http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/06/rwanda-rhineland-palatinate-officials-support-nyabihu/

Rwanda : KARONGI: Lake Kivu waters rise by 20centimetres

Because of much rainfall that has been in western province, water level in Lake Kivu has increased by 20 centimetres, according to reports.
This is evidenced at how the sand at Golf hotel where people walk and play from is covered by water.
People could sit on concrete benches built in the sand near the water and have drinks but the benches are covered with the water.


Apart from people who come to swim, people wearing shoes stand in a distance because water covered sand where they could walk from.

Golf hotel beach side
However, it is very easy for swimming starters since water on the sand is very shallow at Golf Hotel.
When we talked to the people that had come to swim, they confirmed to have seen this for the first time but say they enjoy swimming in shallow waters especially for the beginners.http://sightsofrwanda.com/2012/06/rwanda-karongi-lake-kivu-waters-rise-20centimetres/

Rwanda : Burera, a district dripping with beauty

Mountain Muhabura as seen from a distance : It is one of the tourist attractions in Burera district
Burera district is divided into 17 sectors which are Bungwe, Butaro, Cyanika, Cyeru, Gahunga, Gatebe, Gitovu, Kagogo, Kinoni, Kinyababa, Kivuye, Nemba, Rugarama, Rugendabari, Ruhunde, Rusarabuge and Rwerere. It has 69 cells, 571 villages, 339,200 inhabitants and covers 644.5 square kilometers.
The district boarders the Republic of Uganda to the North, Gakenke and Rulindo districts to the South, Gicumbi district to the East and Musanze district in the West.
Burera has an agro bio climatic zone which is very productive. Its average altitude is 2100 meters above sea level.
On the infrastructure front, Burera District has a total of 268.6 Kilometers of road.  94 Kilometers are currently in good shape, 75.5 Kilometers are being rehabilitated and 89 Kilometers are still in a poor state.
Most bridges are being rehabilitated. This is a good sign o the tourism frontier because it eases access to the interior of the district.
Overall, Burera District has 35 nursery schools, 87 Primary schools, 42 Secondary schools. It has one hospital, 15 health centers and about 96% of the population has medical insurance.
Access to electricity is expanding and 540 homes, 12 trading centers and 27 schools have electricityhttp://sightsofrwanda.com/2012/06/rwanda-burera-district-dripping-beauty/