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The official signing ceremony marked the beginning of this strategic initiative, which seeks to provide financial backing for SMEs in key sectors of the economy contributing to decent job creation and inclusive green growth.

Through this collaboration, the Embassy of Sweden in Kigali will cover 70% of the SME loan portfolio, ensuring that qualifying SMEs can access loans with flexible terms ranging from US$5,000 to US$350,000 for a period of 3 to 60 months. This 8-year coverage period will allow eligible businesses to scale their operations, contribute to economic development, and create employment opportunities.

Eligible sectors include Agriculture, Light manufacturing, Logistics, Renewable energy, Water and waste management, Export oriented SMEs, Tourism and Hospitality, Affordable Housing development and green building materials, Information and Communication Technology.

Commenting on the development; Dr. Diane Karusisi, the CEO of the Bank of Kigali, expressed excitement about this partnership and described it as a game-changer for SMEs in Rwanda.

'By providing a safety net that allows us to extend more flexible and accessible financing, we are enabling businesses to innovate, expand, and compete on a larger scale. At Bank of Kigali, we believe that empowering SMEs is crucial for driving inclusive growth, and this guarantee is a powerful step towards a more dynamic and resilient Rwandan economy,' she said.

Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR), as the strategic partner of the facility, will work closely with BK by providing technical assistance, supporting the optimal utilisation of the guarantee, and monitoring impact while capturing learnings. Their involvement will ensure that the facility achieves its objectives and that best practices are integrated throughout the implementation of the initiative.

Jean Bosco Iyacu, CEO of Access to Finance Rwanda, added that this partnership complements Bank of Kigali’s ongoing efforts to channel more capital into the SME sector.

'BK is a long-standing partner in AFR’s journey to drive innovation and support key sectors of the economy and rural areas. We are delighted to continue this relationship through this first SME-Centric Portfolio Guarantee Scheme. This initiative addresses the collateral constraints mainly faced by youth and women owned SMEs across Rwanda, and we anticipate it will play a crucial role in unlocking growth and creating dignified employment opportunities,' he noted.

Martina Fors Mohlin, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, noted, 'Our partnership with Bank of Kigali aligns with our mission to promote economic inclusive sustainable development in Rwanda. By providing the guarantee instrument, we strive to create a positive impact on job creation, gender equality and youth entrepreneurship.'

About Bank of Kigali Plc

Bank of Kigali, established in 1966, is Rwanda’s largest financial institution. As a leading commercial bank, it provides a wide range of services, including digital banking, to over 500,000 customers through an extensive branch network and digital platforms. BK is committed to fostering innovation and economic growth through targeted financial solutions for individuals, SMEs, and corporations.

Swedish development cooperation with Rwanda

The Swedish development cooperation with Rwanda is governed by a strategy for the period 2020 – 2024. The strategy focuses on human rights, democracy and gender equality; environment and climate; and more inclusive economic growth. In addition, support is provided for building up domestic research capacity in Rwanda.

With this strategy, Sweden will increase its commitment to contribute to an environmentally sustainable and including growth. The strategy also contributes to an inclusive economic development and growth, improved conditions for and increased access to productive employment and decent work, corporate social responsibility, and free and fair trade, including in rural areas.

About Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR)

AFR is a Rwandan not for Profit Company , established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development in Rwanda. AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access and usage of financial services by low-income people, particularly the unserved segments including young people, women, MSMEs, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), refugees and the informal sector.

The official signing ceremony marked the beginning of this strategic initiative, which seeks to provide financial backing for SMEs in key sectors of the economy contributing to decent job creation and inclusive green growth.

Dr. Diane Karusisi, the CEO of the Bank of Kigali, expressed excitement about this partnership and described it as a game-changer for SMEs in Rwanda.

Jean Bosco Iyacu, CEO of Access to Finance Rwanda said that this partnership complements Bank of Kigali’s ongoing efforts to channel more capital into the SME sector.

Martina Fors Mohlin, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/bank-of-kigali-embassy-of-sweden-in-kigali-partner-to-boost-sme-growth-with-us

This dedication was highlighted during the International Conference on Technological Advancement in Embedded and Mobile Systems, held from September 19-20, 2024.

The event brought together researchers from various universities across East Africa and Germany, aiming to promote mobile technology as a critical tool for progress.

UTAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Father Dr. Gilbert Munana, emphasized the significance of the conference as an opportunity for Rwanda to exchange ideas and ensure inclusivity in the digital age.

He explained that technological advancements, particularly in mobile systems, are increasingly central to modern life and education, making it important for everyone to understand their capabilities.

Dr. Munana highlighted how almost every sector now involves some form of computing, and noted that the foundation of this shift lies in understanding the intelligence behind both stationary and mobile technology.

He further pointed out that the conference aligns with UTAB’s objective of launching advanced computer science programs, and the knowledge gained will contribute to the improvement of these courses.

Looking ahead, UTAB intends to offer courses that are not limited to academic settings but also aim to benefit the general public.

Dr. Munana stressed the importance of helping citizens realize that their phones can be used for more than just entertainment, such as for practical tasks like ordering groceries remotely, no matter their location, even in smaller towns like Byumba.

Engineer Pascal Gatabazi, Chief Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Education, underscored how technology has already become an integral part of everyday life, necessitating a shift in traditional practices.

He mentioned that farming methods, for example, should be modernized with technological tools, and highlighted how technology, such as cameras, has played a role in reducing traffic accidents by monitoring speed violations.

Gatabazi added that technology also enables people to perform tasks like withdrawing money and making payments remotely, stressing that Rwanda is advancing in this area and that it is essential for all sectors to keep pace with technological progress.

He emphasized that when people come together to share ideas and collaborate, growth becomes inevitable.

Professor Kisangiri Michael, representing the Centre of Excellence for ICT in East Africa (CENIT@EA), shared that the institution has provided over 148 young people with education in mobile technology. He pointed out that mobile technology has significantly impacted daily life in East Africa, with phones now replacing the need to carry physical cash.

Kisangiri stressed that further development in mobile technology is needed to continue driving regional progress and promoting knowledge-sharing in countries like Rwanda and Tanzania.

The conference attracted participants from universities across East Africa, including Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana, as well as institutions from Europe and Asia, fostering an environment of knowledge-sharing and collaboration to support technological growth.

Participants of the conference during a panel discussions.

The conference was a good opportunity for researchers to exchange ideas.

UTAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Father Dr. Gilbert Munana, emphasized the significance of the conference as an opportunity for Rwanda to exchange ideas and ensure inclusivity in the digital age.

Engineer Pascal Gatabazi, Chief Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Education, underscored how technology has already become an integral part of everyday life, necessitating a shift in traditional practices.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/utab-in-drive-to-unlock-citizens-potential-through-mobile-technology

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), due in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 11-22, aims to facilitate 'high-level' negotiations around carbon trading, and its global potential.

According to the Azerbaijani government, carbon trading 'is the second major expected deliverable of COP29.'

'Current turnover in the carbon markets is about 2.2 to 2.5 billion dollars. If operationalized, as desired, this figure can be increased multiple times, providing additional contributions to global climate finance,' Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry said.

 

Rwanda's carbon market framework was launched in 2023, at the 28th UN Climate Summit (COP28) in UAE, Dubai.

 

At a climate conference held in Bonn, Germany in June, national delegations reconvened formal negotiations on carbon markets and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement for the first time since the failed talks at COP28, which was held in Dubai in late 2023.

'Tangible progress has been made during the Bonn session,' the Ministry added.

The challenges

Countries at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference failed to adopt key texts laid out under the Paris Agreement, though an agreement on non-market mechanisms was passed in December 2023. This has been seen as a major setback to international carbon trading.

Parties did not reach a consensus on either Article 6.2 or Article 6.4, for a variety of technical reasons, with many countries clashing on carbon removals and issues of transparency and climate ambition over the final text.

Many in the voluntary carbon market were disappointed that the lack of a deal would delay market-based and private-sector involvement.

However, those on the opposing side insisted that there were not enough safeguards and regulations in the texts to ensure a functioning and transparent market.

In Rwanda, the carbon trading framework was launched at COP28, but little to no activities have been witnessed.

However, the nascent market is increasingly attracting investments, thanks in large part to the recently announced regulations.

'We have an opportunity to expedite the operationalization of a crediting mechanism that will set a high bar on environmental integrity, and safeguards, among others,' said Joel Shyaka, who is a manager at CO2 Africa project.

This project is currently undergoing pilot phases between private landowners, despite the bottleneck of no existing policy that governs the sector due to how new these projects are on the continent and in Rwanda.

Reacting to the audit process, he said, 'So that auditing consists of seeing the tree species, the amount of carbon from a specific tree, let's say, per year, the soil quality, etc, then there is an exact amount of carbon that could be put in that specific forest.'

According to Shyaka, the current market is faced with major challenges including a lack of expertise in the field.

'We are stepping in to ensure that local communities are trained about conservation and the incentives that could come with it, and going with a people-centric approach is an advantage for us as a country.'

'In our case, we give a considerable percentage of the income to the landowners before we take out our costs as a way to improve the price of the credit in the first place and to give them an income so they can continue to conserve, and maintain and develop their land, and their community, but also to continue socio-economically develop.'

'It is more like pulling together all the bits and pieces. The piece that's missing is really having a common set of standards that were applied in the country. Other countries have such mechanisms and reporting requirements. We don't want to be in the gray market where we're selling these things abroad and not properly measuring the benefits or verifying it in the country.,' Shyaka reiterated.

At COP29, Shyaka highlighted that industry players and government institutions will deliberate how to ensure an equitable share of the market and fair returns to the communities that are using their resources.

He insisted on the need to convene the public and private sectors to be able to join efforts and build on the nascent knowledge and resources available.

What are the requirements?

Investors have been encouraged to operate within national policies, laws, and strategies as part of the requirements.

Also required is the need to indicate how the project shall contribute to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are emission reductions at the national level, as well as ownership of the property involved in the project, community development agreements or agreements with property owners and other relevant entities.

Rwanda has also prohibited double counting to ensure transparency and fairness in the carbon sector.

Juliet Kabera, Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) said that the government is committed to sustainability, enhancing previous initiatives and creating new opportunities for innovation in carbon market mechanisms.

'By aligning with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, we will strengthen our capacity to meet our NDCs and foster global cooperation in tackling climate change,' she added.

The post COP29: Will Rwanda's carbon market take off at UN climate change meeting? appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/cop29-will-rwandas-carbon-market-take-off-at-un-climate-change-meeting/

Donald Trump's sweeping threats if he wins the presidency again to name a special prosecutor to 'go after' Joe Biden and take legal action against other foes would subvert the rule of law in America and take the country towards authoritarianism, former justice department officials and scholars have warned.

Trump's escalating legal threats have targeted 'corrupt election officials' lawyers, donors and others he falsely deems out to steal November's presidential election, and have popped up variously on his Truth Social platform, at campaign events and at an elite police group he addressed this month in North Carolina.

Trump's menacing pledges to essentially weaponize the justice department against opponents would mark a sharp break with the Department of Justice's mission statement, which cites as core values 'independence and impartiality'.

'Donald Trump is making many public threats to use the legal system to punish his enemies, which seems to be anyone who opposes him,' said the former deputy attorney general Donald Ayer, who served in the George HW Bush administration. 'This conduct is utterly without precedent in campaign history, threatens all of our freedoms, and violates our basic rule of law.'

'Trump's escalating threats to pervert the criminal justice system need to be taken seriously,' said the former justice department inspector general Michael Bromwich. 'We have never had a presidential candidate state as one of his central goals mobilizing the levers of justice to punish enemies and reward friends. No one has ever been brazen enough to campaign on an agenda of retribution and retaliation.'

Critics note that Trump and top allies at the conservative Heritage Foundation, which produced a far-right blueprint for a new Trump administration dubbed Project 2025, have signaled plans to overhaul the justice department to give the president and loyalists more power in decisions about who to investigate and prosecute.

Not coincidentally, Trump's sweeping attacks and threats come as he faces multiple federal charges from special counsel Jack Smith of conspiring to overturn his loss in 2020 to Biden and improperly retaining hundreds of classified documents after he left office. While a Florida judge in a widely criticized move dismissed the documents case, Smith in August appealed that decision.

Trump this year was convicted on 34 counts of business fraud in New York for altering his company books to hide $130,000 in hush-money payments to the adult film star Stormy Daniels who had alleged an affair with Trump before he took office in 2016.

During his debate on 10 September with Kamala Harris, Trump derided all these charges and others as 'fake cases'. Previously, Trump has painted his conviction in New York and the federal charges as one sprawling political conspiracy stemming from the 'weaponization' of the justice department and has vowed Biden is 'going to pay a big price' for the various prosecutions Trump faces.

Former prosecutors and some ex-Republican members of Congress warn Trump's barrage of legal threats pose serious dangers of politicizing the justice department for his agenda of retribution.

'Trump will use the power of the federal government, and especially DoJ, to intimidate and possibly prosecute all sorts of political opponents he deems hostile to him,' said former Republican representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. 'That's one of the many reasons he's unfit to be president.'

Likewise, ex-federal prosecutor Paul Rosenzweig warned: 'Trump is threatening to prosecute those who stole the election from him in his warped reality,' adding that 'his threats to undermine the rule of law have escalated.

'Trump is no conservative, he's a radical. There's a reason why we have a long tradition of trying to isolate the attorney general from political influence.'

Ominously, Trump's threats of prosecuting foes now seems to dovetail with his new conspiratorial charges of election fraud this year, in a clear echo of his false claims that he lost in 2020 due to rampant voting fraud.

On Truth Social on 7 September, Trump starkly warned: 'WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again.'

To drive home his dark threat, Trump added: 'Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behaviour will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.'

Repeating debunked claims that Democrats played a role in sizable fraud in 2020, Trump vowed that he, legal scholars and attorneys were 'watching the Sanctity of the 2024 Presidential Election very closely'.

In a similar vein, Trump urged the national board of the Fraternal Order of Police that endorsed him this month to help 'watch for the voter fraud, because we win without voter fraud … We win so easily.'

Trump added that he thought police could help him 'just by watching, because, believe it or not, they're afraid of that badge'.

Such targeted threats raising the phoney spectre of election fraud to rob Trump of victory this year, are prompting some ex-prosecutors to worry that Trump may be able to intimidate non-partisan election workers.

'We often worry that the threat of criminal prosecution will chill appropriate conduct,' the Columbia law professor and ex-prosecutor Daniel Richman said. 'So I do fear that those who are charged with independent roles in elections will lean over backwards to accommodate Trump, at the cost of their actual neutrality.'

If Trump wins, Richman cautioned that he may not face serious congressional checks.

'Historically, Congress has played an important, although variable role, in preventing presidents from abusing their authority over prosecutions. But the Republican party right now can't be counted on to do that.'

In a related sign of Trump's disregard for legal norms, Trump has repeatedly extolled many of the convicted participants in the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6 as 'patriots' and 'hostages' and promised that he would seriously consider pardons for a number of them.

At a Wisconsin rally this month Trump pledged if he wins this fall to 'rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner unjustly imprisoned by the Harris regime'. Although four of his supporters died of various causes on January 6 and a police officer died within days, Trump last month falsely claimed at a news conference that no one died due to the insurrection.

Without mentioning Trump, the attorney general, Merrick Garland, on 12 September in a fiery speech to US attorneys nationally and justice department staff denounced any moves that would turn the department into a 'political weapon', and the 'escalation of attacks' against its career staff.

'Our norms are a promise that we will not allow this nation to become a country where law enforcement is treated as an apparatus of politics,' Garland added.

Taken together, Trump's nonstop threats to use the Department of Justice to go after his political foes and others he imagines are out to steal the election are at sharp variance with democratic principles, say legal experts.

'The essence of a justice system in a democracy is that it is responsive to the rule of law,' the former federal judge and Dickinson College president John Jones told the Guardian. 'Trump's fulminations are anything but. At bottom he means it to have a chilling effect on supporters of a rival.'

Trump's verbal assaults are 'unprecedented in the annals of American democracy and have hallmarks of authoritarianism'.

The post Trump's threats to 'go after' opponents will subvert rule of law, experts warn appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/trumps-threats-to-go-after-opponents-will-subvert-rule-of-law-experts-warn/

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian dissident freed in the biggest prisoner swap since the cold war, has appealed to Keir Starmer during a meeting in Downing Street to not let hundreds of political prisoners in Russia and Belarus quietly 'die off'.

Kara-Murza, who was released last month two years into a 25-year sentence after speaking out against the war in Ukraine, said he had told the prime minister on Friday that organising further such swaps was a matter of 'life and death'.

The 43-year-old Russian politician, who has British citizenship after moving to England as a child, was one of 16 westerners and Russians, including five German nationals, exchanged last month for 10 Russian nationals, including two minors.

The deal marked the first time in 40 years that Russian political prisoners had been released by the Kremlin as part of a swap.

The White House said that Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison camp last year, had been due to be part of the exchange.

Kara-Murza, a father of three, who survived two poisoning attempts in 2015 and 2017, said he had made the case for further swaps to Starmer and in all his recent meetings with senior politicians, including the US president, Joe Biden, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

The deal under which he had been released had been an 'unequal' arrangement, he said, involving murderers, spies and hackers being swapped for people who had committed no crimes, but there was no alternative, Kara-Murza insisted.

'There can be nothing more valuable, more important for democracy, than human life,' he said. 'I know what it's like just to wake up every morning in a cell two by three metres, four walls, a small window covered by bars, just essentially walking in a small circle all day, staring at walls. You have no one to speak to, nothing to do, no one to go to and this is how the rest of your life is going to continue … This is not just a question of unjust imprisonment, although that in itself would be unacceptable … it's a question, very literally, of life or death.'

Among the cases referenced by Kara-Murza were Alexei Gorinov, 63, an elected official of Moscow's Krasnoselsky district council, who was the first person in Russia to be arrested for his opposition to the war in Ukraine, and Maria Ponomarenko, 46, a journalist from Siberia imprisoned for accusing the Russian air force of bombing a theatre in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, who is on hunger strike.

'We need to be advocating, to be getting them out,' Kara-Murza said, adding that the argument that such deals encouraged Kremlin to take hostages was 'fallacious' as Putin was going to lock up his opponents anyway.

Kara-Murza, who had been held in a high security prison in Siberia, said he had also talked to Starmer about the need for a strategic plan for Russia after Vladimir Putin.

Authoritarian regimes appeared stable from the outside but change could happen in an instant, he said, and it was vital not to repeat the mistakes of the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

There would need to be a reckoning with those who committed crimes during Putin's 25 years in power and a plan to reintegrate Russia into the rules-based order, he said.

'One of the things that has occupied my mind for a long time, but especially these past few weeks that I've been out of prison, is that we have no right to miss the next opportunity for change in Russia,' he said.

The post Russian prisoner freed in swap urges UK not to let hundreds more 'die off' appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/russian-prisoner-freed-in-swap-urges-uk-not-to-let-hundreds-more-die-off/

The discussions were held on Friday, September 20, 2024 as confirmed by Rwanda’s Presidency.

President Kagame also held discussions with Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong.

According to the Presidency’s message shared on X account, the leaders 'renewed their commitment to a strong bilateral partnership and exchanged views on shared values of good governance and leadership aimed at transforming the lives of citizens.'

The two leaders also welcomed the signing of a renegotiated Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, which will help boost investment opportunities between the two countries.

Besides, President Kagame attended a luncheon hosted by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Istana, the office of the president of Singapore.

The two leaders discussed global affairs and the impact of technology on development, as well as the productive economic partnership between their countries and its tangible benefits.

Lee Hsien Loong, who served as Singapore’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2024, first visited Rwanda In 2022, marking his first trip to both Rwanda and Africa.

Rwanda and Singapore enjoy robust bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as investment, trade, education, rule of law, technology, and air transport services.

Both nations are members of FOSS, an organization established in 1992 by Singapore, which comprises small nations working together to address global challenges and promote development.

The bilateral relationship was further strengthened on September 29, 2023, when Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to renew and deepen cooperation.

Signed by Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore, and Wy Mun Kong, CEO of SCE, the five-year MoU focuses on key sectors such as ICT and cybersecurity, sustainability and climate change, urban planning, infrastructure development, and capacity building.

High-level visits continue to bolster ties between the two nations. President Kagame, who is on his fourth visit to Singapore, also attended the 11th Annual Asia Summit on September 19, where he participated in a fireside chat moderated by Richard Ditizio, CEO of the Milken Institute.

The discussion centered on Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation journey.

Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries globally, with a 2023 GDP of $501 billion, up from $0.70 billion in 1960. Its per capita GDP in 2023 stood at $84,600, reflecting its remarkable economic growth.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam welcomed President Kagame in Singapore.

President Paul Kagame has met with his counterpart of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore.

President Kagame and his delegation attended a luncheon hosted by Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Istana.

President Kagame and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Istana discussed global affairs and the impact of technology on development, as well as the productive economic partnership between their countries and its tangible benefits.

President Kagame and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong during discussions at the luncheon.

President Kagame also held discussions with Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong.

The agreemet is expected to boost investment opportunities between the two countries.

Rwanda and Singapore signed a renegotiated Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-singapore-discuss-key-areas-of-cooperation

The money was recovered on Thursday, September 19, from a 24-year suspect, who was working for the victim.

The suspect, who was handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), allegedly stole US$17,200 from his boss, on Wednesday, September 18, at about 9p.m.

“The victim reported the alleged theft that night in Kigali and the search for his employee, who was the prime suspect, commenced,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Jean Bosco Mwiseneza, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said.

“On Thursday, at about 9a.m, Police received information from a resident in Musanze town, about the prime suspect. He was arrested at a forex bureau, where he was exchanging the money. At the time, he had already wired Frw12, 680,000 to his bank account and had Frw1 million cash,” he added.

SP Mwiseneza thanked the resident, who provided information that led to the arrest of the prime suspect and recovery of the money.

Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.

The money was recovered on Thursday, September 19, from a 24-year suspect, who was working for the victim.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/musanze-police-recovers-over-frw13-million-stolen-from-kigali

In a message shared on its social media platforms on the evening of September 19, 2024, the Ministry of Health emphasized that this vaccination effort is part of Rwanda’s ongoing strategy to prevent and combat the spread of MPox, a virus that has affected many African countries, including Rwanda, where cases have already been reported.

Julien Mahoro Niyingabira, spokesperson for the Ministry, recently told IGIHE that Rwanda’s approach to preventing MPox focuses on vaccinating those at greatest risk. He clarified, 'We will not begin by vaccinating everyone. Certain groups are more vulnerable, and they will be prioritized based on vaccine availability. As the situation evolves, additional groups may also be considered for vaccination.'

The African Union is coordinating vaccine distribution across several African nations, assisting in the containment of MPox on the continent.

In Rwanda, all four individuals who contracted MPox in July have received treatment and been discharged. Health authorities have reassured the public that the country is well-equipped to manage and treat MPox cases, should more arise.

Meanwhile, the outbreak has significantly impacted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has recorded over 22,000 cases and more than 715 deaths in 2024.

The virus has now spread to 22 of DRC’s 26 provinces and is present in 13 other African countries. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated $600 million over six months to combat the virus globally.

Health officials continue to stress the importance of preventive measures such as frequent handwashing and avoiding sexual contact—both protected and unprotected—to prevent the virus’s transmission.

MPox symptoms typically manifest within three to fourteen days of infection and include a rash that primarily affects the face, hands, and genitals.

The rash begins as small fluid-filled blisters that dry out and form scabs as the patient heals. In addition to the rash, individuals may experience fever, fatigue, and weakness.

Recovery generally takes two to three weeks, and none of the patients treated in Rwanda have required prolonged hospitalization or succumbed to the virus.

Rwanda has reported cases of the less severe grade 1B strain of MPox, similar to that found in the DRC. In contrast, West Africa has seen cases of the more severe grade 2 strain.

Rwanda has officially launched the first phase of its MPox vaccination.

The first phase of MPox vaccination targets 10,000 individuals.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/health/article/rwanda-rolls-out-first-phase-of-mpox-vaccination

Russia's military command had anticipated Ukraine's incursion into its Kursk region and had been making plans to prevent it for several months, according to a cache of documents that the Ukrainian army said it had seized from abandoned Russian positions in the region.

The disclosure makes the disarray among Russian forces after Ukraine's attack in early August all the more embarrassing. The documents, shared with the Guardian, also reveal Russian concerns about morale in the ranks in Kursk, which intensified after the suicide of a soldier at the front who had reportedly been in a 'prolonged state of depression due to his service in the Russian army'.

Unit commanders are given instructions to ensure soldiers consume Russian state media daily to maintain their 'psychological condition'.

The Guardian could not independently verify the authenticity of the documents, though they bear the hallmarks of genuine Russian army communications. In late August, the Guardian met the Ukrainian special operations team who seized them, hours after they had left Russian territory. The team said they had taken Russian interior ministry, FSB and army documents from buildings in the Kursk region and later provided a selection to view and photograph.

Some of the documents are printed orders distributed to various units, while others are handwritten logs recording events and concerns at specific positions. The earliest entries are dated late in 2023, while the most recent documents are from just six weeks before Ukraine launched its incursion into the Kursk region on 6 August.

The documents mostly come from units of Russia's 488th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, and in particular the second company of its 17th Battalion.

Ukraine's incursion into Kursk took Kyiv's western partners and many in the Ukrainian elite by surprise, as planning had been restricted to a very small number of people. But Russian military documents contain months of warnings about a possible incursion into the area and an attempt to occupy Sudzha, a town of 5,000 residents that has now been under Ukrainian occupation for more than a month.

An entry from 4 January spoke of the 'potential for a breakthrough at the state border' by Ukrainian armed groups and ordered increased training to prepare to repel any attack. On 19 February, unit commanders were warned of Ukrainian plans for 'a rapid push from the Sumy region into Russian territory, up to a depth of 80km [50 miles], to establish a four-day 'corridor' ahead of the arrival of the main Ukrainian army units on armoured vehicles'.

In mid-March, units at the border were ordered to boost defensive lines and 'organise additional exercises for the leadership of units and strongpoints regarding the proper organisation of defences' in preparation for a Ukrainian cross-border attack.

In mid-June, there was a more specific warning of Ukrainian plans 'in the direction Yunakivka-Sudzha, with the goal of taking Sudzha under control', which did indeed happen in August. There was also a prediction that Ukraine would attempt to destroy a bridge over the Seym River to disrupt Russian supply lines in the region, which also later happened. The June document complained that Russian units stationed at the front 'are filled only 60-70% on average, and primarily made up of reserves with weak training'.

When the Ukrainian attack came on 6 August, many Russian soldiers abandoned their positions, and within a week Ukraine had taken full control of Sudzha. 'They ran away, without even evacuating or destroying their documents,' said a member of the special operations team who seized the files.

During Moscow's chaotic retreat, Ukrainian forces captured hundreds of Russian soldiers, many of whom were conscripts, who are not generally expected to face battle. The parents of one conscript soldier from the second company, featured in the documents, recorded a tearful video appeal in August, identifying him as their 22-year-old son Vadim Kopylov, saying he had been taken prisoner near Sudzha and calling on Russian authorities to exchange him.

The documents give an insight into Russian tactics over the past year, in one case speaking of the need to create decoy trenches and positions to confuse Ukrainian reconnaissance drones. 'Models of tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery launchers should be created as well as mannequins of soldiers, and they should be periodically moved around,' reads one order.

It adds that a few soldiers should be sent to the decoy positions to light fires at night and walk around with torches, and that Russia should create radio chatter about the decoy positions, with the aim of having it intercepted. It is unclear if such positions were ever created; members of a Ukrainian unit flying reconnaissance drones in the area in recent weeks told the Guardian they had seen no evidence of such positions.

In March, the Russian documents note that there were increasing incidents of Ukrainian sabotage groups disguising themselves for work behind Russian lines by wearing Russian uniforms. 'To prevent enemy infiltration into our combat formations … commanders are to implement the use of identification marker variant n6, made from materials 8cm wide, to be attached using invisible tape,' reads an order from that month.

Buried in the dry, meandering official language are signs of serious problems with morale at the front. 'The analysis of the current situation regarding suicides shows that the issue of servicemen dying as a result of suicidal incidents remains tense,' reads one entry. It recounts an incident that reportedly took place on 20 January this year, when a conscript soldier entered the summer washing area at a guard post and shot himself in the abdomen.

'The investigation into the incident determined that the cause of the suicide and death was a nervous and psychological breakdown, caused by his prolonged state of depression due to his service in the Russian army,' reads the handwritten report of the incident.

To prevent further such incidents, unit commanders are instructed to identify soldiers who 'are mentally unprepared to fulfil their duties or prone to deviant behaviour, and organise their reassignment and transfer to military medical facilities'.

Further instructions on keeping up morale come in an undated, typed document that explains that soldiers should get 5-10 minutes a day as well as an hour once a week of political instruction, 'aimed at maintaining and raising the political, moral and psychological condition of the personnel'.

The post Russia anticipated Kursk incursion months in advance, seized papers show appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/russia-anticipated-kursk-incursion-months-in-advance-seized-papers-show/

Israel committed a 'massacre' by detonating thousands of pagers across Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said, describing the operation, widely attributed to Israel's Mossad, as 'a declaration of war.'

In a highly anticipated speech following this week's attacks, Nasrallah accused Israel of committing a 'massacre' without regard for civilian casualties.

'This is sheer terrorism. We'll call them Tuesday's massacre and Wednesday's massacre. These are war crimes or at least a declaration of war,' Nasrallah said. Noting that some of the devices had detonated in schools, hospitals, and residential buildings, the Hezbollah chief said the operation had crossed 'all restrictions and red lines.'

'There is no doubt that we suffered a major security and humanitarian blow, unprecedented in the history of our resistance,' he conceded. 'We have been hit hard, but this is the state of war, and we understand that the enemy has technological superiority.'

Thousands of pagers — a low-tech and supposedly secure method of communication used by Hezbollah members — simultaneously detonated across Lebanon on Tuesday, killing a dozen people and injuring 3,000 more. A second wave of explosions took place on Wednesday, this time affecting handheld radios. As of Thursday, a total of 37 people had been killed, including at least two children, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

While Israel has not claimed responsibility for the blasts, American, Israeli, and Lebanese sources have identified Israel's Mossad intelligence agency as the culprit. Citing anonymous sources, the New York Times claimed on Thursday that Mossad had set up a fake company in Hungary to produce the devices under license from a Taiwanese firm. The pagers were stuffed with an explosive compound called PETN, which could be remotely triggered, and were shipped to Lebanon from 2022, the newspaper claimed.

American officials told Axios on Wednesday that Mossad had intended to trigger the pagers as the first blow in an all-out war with Hezbollah, but decided to detonate them early in case Hezbollah discovered the plot.

Immediately after Wednesday's explosions, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that 'a new phase' of Israel's almost year-long war was beginning, this one focused on Hezbollah rather than Hamas. 'The center of gravity is moving north. We are diverting forces, resources, and energy toward the north,' he said, according to a statement published on social media by his office.

The post Lebanon in 'state of war' — Hezbollah chief appeared first on The Custom Reports.

Source : https://thecustomreports.com/lebanon-in-state-of-war-hezbollah-chief/