[After four rounds of voting, incumbent chairman Jean Ping failed to get two-thirds majority, after South Africa influenced countries from Central Africa such as Equatorial Guinea, Congo Brazzaville and Chad, plus French-speaking Mali, to support Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, South Africa’s former foreign minister.
Such was the lobbying and horse trading that instead of following the tradition of handing over the commission’s leadership to the next senior official in the commission, the deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha, the assembly decided to extend the term of Mr Ping’s team for six months.]
BURUNDI :
Insurer opens shop in Rwanda, Burundi
By BERNA NAMATA /www.theeastafrican.co.ke/Posted Sunday, February 5 2012
The African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) is seeking projects to finance in Rwanda and Burundi as it expands across the region.
The Nairobi-based multilateral financial institution that provides export credit, political risk and investment insurance officially opened its Rwanda office last week, which will also serve the Burundi market.
ATI facilitates exports, foreign direct investment into and trade flows on the continent.
With the deepening financial crisis in Europe, ATI said local banks seeking to fill the financing gap will need added security and international investors seeking opportunities in the region will be attracted to a country that can offer protection against political and non-payment risks.
ATI works closely with banks by providing insurance to the bank’s borrowers.
Last year, the agency spent $3.5 billion worth of transactions within the banking sector in the region while $900 million was spent on projects insured on behalf of the regional markets.
“Rwanda and Burundi, like other East African countries, are beginning to feel the effects of the Eurozone crisis. Groups that could benefit most from our products are the local banks, which are under pressure to fill the financing gap left by the international lenders,” said Julius Karuga, ATIs resident underwriter in Rwanda.
Mr Karuga said ATI is keen to grow a pipeline of business in energy, ICT, infrastructure, hotel, tourism and transport sectors.
“The new office will help attract capital and resources for critical infrastructure projects and help banks lend more and on better terms. It will also help companies to trade on open term basis,” he said.
ATI’s insured transactions in Rwanda are currently valued at $180 million since 2009 covering both reinsurance and political risk insurance.
In Burundi, ATI has insured projects valued at over $87 million covering political risk, terrorism and sabotage insurance.
“Small and medium sized business companies in Rwanda have traditionally had difficulty trading open terms or accessing bank financing at good rates.
With ATI’s insurance, banks will look more favourably at their loan requests,” said Robert Bayigamba, a Rwandan businessman.
The agency has so far covered over $7 billion worth of trade and investments into Africa since its launch in 2001.
USAid East Africa regional trade advisor Matthew Rees said ATI gives both countries a competitive edge particularly businesses venturing into new markets.
“As other countries develop and emerge, risk insurance will give them greater competitiveness including first exporters into new markets. As regional integration within the EAC and Comesa becomes deeper, regional trade is as important as export trade and the ability to insure will be a huge advantage,” Mr Rees said.
However, Mr Rees observed that ATI’s services will have more impact on economies if they begin supporting small businesses that are still dominant across the region.
“If they can continue to grow and target the small enterprises such as farmers who want to export, the benefits will be more.”
The Rwanda office is the agency’s fourth local office joining Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia/ Malawi.
11th CAPA Council opens in Burundi
February 5, 2012 / Posted By : Admin ACO/www.anglicancommunion.org
COUNCIL OF ANGLICAN PROVINCES OF AFRICA (CAPA)
11th CAPA COUNCIL
4th–8th February 2012 Bujumbura, Burundi
“Harnessing our unity to unlock our potential and secure our future”
Hosted by the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, the 11th CAPA Council meeting is bringing together Primates or their representatives, clergy and lay people from the 12 Anglican Provinces of Africa along with partners and other observers from around the world.
The Council of the Anglican Provinces of Africa, whose secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya, is a continental body that brings together the twelve Provinces of the Anglican Church in Africa.
CAPA exists to effectively co-ordinate and provide a platform for that part of the Anglican Communion in Africa to celebrate life and consult and address challenges in the continent. Through fellowship and partnerships, capacity building and the promotion of good governance and social development it seeks to realize God’s promise of abundant life.
The Council that is held every four years opened with a vibrant welcoming service of Holy Communion in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bujumbura at which the Dean of the Cathedral, Rev. Canon Paul Ntukamazina; the Bishop of Bujumbura, the Right Rev. Pie Ntukamazina and the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi welcomed the delegates and other guests.
The Minister of Home Affairs who represented the Government of Burundi also welcomed the delegates and extended good wishes for the conference. He commented on the fact that the meeting was being held in the year that Burundi is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Independence and establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and commended the Church’s contribution to Burund’s peace and sustainable development.
The Most Rev. Ian Ernest, Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean and chair of CAPA preached, basing his sermon on the Gospel reading from Mark 1v 29-39. He said it was the duty of CAPA to give this generation visible signs of God’s presence and nature as a caring, loving and saving God, pointing to the Incarnate Christ who heals and transforms humanity. As the Body of Christ in unity we must all reflect Christ in word and actions, through prayer and obedience as we proclaim the Gospel and reach out in service to the world.
Archbishop Ernest took the opportunity to congratulate the people of Burundi for rising to the challenge of consolidating a spirit of unity that will enable them to unlock their potential and thanked the Church of Burundi for its hospitality.
A sense of unity marked the service as Archbishops from different Provinces joined the Bishops of the Anglican Church of Burundi in prayer for the Church, the world and the CAPA Council meeting followed by the celebration of Holy Communion.
RWANDA :
Wall Street Comes to Rwanda
By TheStreet Guest Contributor/ By Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Richmond / 02/05/12 –
The following commentary comes from an independent investor or market observer as part of TheStreet’s guest contributor program, which is separate from the company’s news coverage.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) — In a conference room-turned-classroom, 70 professionals, ranging from junior analyst and mid-level manager to executive, worked at computers while a trainer explained the intricacies of financial modeling. What distinguished this program from any other financial training session, though, was not the content, but the setting: Kigali, Rwanda.
The Training The Street financial analyst program was recently brought to Rwanda, a tiny landlocked country in eastern Africa, which is in the midst of developing a professional workforce as it evolves from subsistence agriculture to an economy based on information and communication technology (ICT). Its goal is to raise per capita income to $1,000 or more by 2020, from $200 in 2000 and about $560 currently.
It is an ambitious, even audacious, plan for a country which, nearly 18 years ago, was the scene of a horrific genocide in which one million people were killed in 100 days. The country has launched a national campaign of unification and reconciliation since then, and economic revitalization and development of a middle class are keys to its future.
For Alex Lue, a New York City-based trainer for Training The Street, going to Rwanda was a fantastic opportunity for a well-regarded Wall Street program that was being offered for only the second time in Africa, the previous program being in Lagos, Nigeria. “The desire and ambition to learn was everything we asked for. It’s been fantastic,” Lue said.
The five-day training in Kigali, which was largely financed through a grant from JP Morgan Chase, had to be tailored to the various skill levels of participants. “Some people were at the pace of the instructors, and others were a little slower,” said Clay D. Parker, managing director, business development, for Bridge2Rwanda, an American NGO that seeks to help build businesses in Rwanda and promote servant leadership. Bridge2Rwanda was the local sponsor and organizer of the Training The Street program. “Several of the participants commented that it used to take two weeks to put together financial models that could be presented to a board of directors. Now, they are realizing that, with the efficiencies they learned, that can be done in two days,” Parker added.
The Training The Street program is a tangible example of the purposeful transformation in Rwanda, which espouse values of self-determination and self-sufficiency. On a recent visit, evidence of the country’s goals and progress could be found everywhere.
Nine years of compulsory education, which is now expanding to 12, for all children stresses instruction in English, which has replaced French as the official language. The Rwandan government has invested nearly $100 million to build a 2,300-kilometer fiber optic network in the country to improve broadband and attract e-commerce and business process outsourcing.
Rwanda has begun to attract some global brand names. For example, Marriott is there, with a 292-room hotel that is expected to open at the end of the year. Visa(V_) recently launched a venture in Rwanda to expand electronic payments and provide access to financial services to the underserved population.
The Rwanda Stock Exchange currently lists only four stocks, including Bank of Kigali and Bralirwa, a brewery. Cross-listing of other East African companies and additional IPOs in the future will help to turn the exchange’s white board that is currently handled an exchange employee, into a busier electronic one.
Big plans in a small country take people to execute. Rwanda, which is modeling much of its economic development on Singapore, understands the importance of human capital. “Rwanda recognizes that one of the early triggers for the Asian Tigers to attract foreign investment was to have well-trained local employees on the ground,” added J. Dale Dawson, founder and CEO of Bridge2Rwanda.
Seventy “Street-trained” financial analysts may not turn around the country in a day. But for those who participated in the program, it was a very good start.
Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Redmond are co-authors of the upcoming book Rwanda Inc. that is scheduled to published by Palgrave-Macmillan in the fall.
Rwanda petitions AU, UN over indictments
By GAAKI KIGAMBO and BERNA NAMATA /www.theeastafrican.co.ke/Posted Sunday, February 5 2012
Rwanda has petitioned the African Union and the United Nations for its officials who were indicted by French and Spanish judges to be relieved of what it perceives as politically motivated judicial decisions.
In 2006, French judge Louis Bruguière indicted nine government officials for complicity in the assassination of former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana.
In 2008, based on Bruguière’s investigations, Spanish judge Andreu Merelles indicted 40 high-ranking government officials for committing crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and terrorism, between 1990 and 2002.
Whereas the French indictments now lie in a shambles after Bruguière’s investigations were re-examined by his predecessor Marc Trévidic and found to have been false, they have not been officially withdrawn.
Similarly, while Rwanda was hoping Spain would follow France’s cue and review its indictments since they were based, in large part, on Bruguière’s investigations, Spain hasn’t said a thing in the wake of Trévidic’s findings, which exonerated the ruling RPF in the death of Habyarimana.
“The issue is not whether this is wrong… The issue is also about jurisdiction and how it is carried out and whether it applies with some countries and not with others,” President Paul Kagame told reporters in Kigali on Thursday.
“If one country is able to put other countries under its jurisdiction, in that sense if justice is to be universal, the reverse should be true,” Kagame argued. “We cannot have one-way traffic [in international law].
We cannot have some judges in some countries judging others in other countries and therefore subordinating them to their judicial system and then you tell me the other way round is not possible,” Kagame said.
“To a great extent, how the case in France has been managed has huge influence on what happens with the Spanish case because they are very closely related. You cannot dismiss one and retain the other unless they change many things,” added Kagame.
Rwanda’s current leadership has been critical of international jurisdiction since the early aftermath of the 1994 genocide following the inception of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to try the masterminds of the genocide.
It did not hide its frustration with what it perceived as political interference and the snail’s pace at which the Arusha-based court conducted its business.
While it has repeatedly demanded the court improves its work ethic, all such efforts have been in vain. But this is not all. In its backyard, Rwanda has squared off with mostly international NGOs that have criticised it for having a weak and ineffective judicial system incapable of delivering fair and impartial justice.
Part of this criticism has forced far-reaching reforms that included the scrapping of the death penalty, which has created positive perceptions of the country’s judicial system.
It explains why some genocide related cases have now begun being referred there.
Last month, Canada deported Leon Mugesera, accused of hate speech and inciting genocide, and the ICTR has agreed to transfer the case of Pastor Jean Uwinkindi from the Arusha-based court to Kigali this month.
RDC CONGO:
RDC : A quand donc l’installation de la prochaine Assemblée nationale ?
05/02/2012 / KongoTimes!
Charles MWANDO NSIMBA sera, selon toute vraisemblance, au perchoir. Ce vieux routier de la politique zaïro-congolaise pétri de sagesse, saura bien tenir le gouvernail. A l’ombre du géant Mwando, Patrick MUYAYA, peut se trouver au bureau provisoire.
Après la sentence finale de la Cour suprême de Justice (CSJ), viendra la toute première session extraordinaire de l’Assemblée nationale, consacrée à la validation des mandats. D’ores et déjà, le pedigree des élus renseigne que l’inusable Charles Mwando Nsimba sera, selon toute vraisemblance, au perchoir. Ce vieux routier de la politique zaïro-congolaise pétri de sagesse, saura bien tenir le gouvernail. Le patriarche de Moba et du Katanga en général, fait partie des monuments vivants de la scène politique congolaise.
A l’ombre du géant Mwando, peut bien se tenir un jeune loup qui marque déjà son territoire. Benjamin des élus, Patrick Muyaya, puisque c’est de lui qu’il s’agit, pourrait, à 29 ans, se trouver au bureau provisoire.
Aux âmes bien nées, la valeur n’attend point le nombre des années, dit-on. Ce dicton va comme un gant à Patrick Muyaya. A 29 ans, cet élu de la Funa est, jusqu’ici, le benjamin des députés. A ce titre, cette figure montante de la nouvelle classe politique a sa place au perchoir de la Chambre. Le règlement, les us et coutumes parlementaires, le doyen d’âge et le cadet des élus font partie du bureau provisoire.
Jeune turc, brillant , cultivé, et urbain Patrick Muyaya a tout pour transformer son coup d’essai en coup de maître. Ce militant du Palu de la nouvelle vague peut se targuer d’être le prototype même du Congolais. En “Patrick” vit le concentré du congolais. Ce kinois de naissance est issu d’un père du Kasaï et d’une mère de la diaspora kinoise du Katanga. Ce n’est pas tout. Il est marié à une femme de la lignée des nationalistes issus du Kwilu. Patrick Muyaya a tout pour incarner la nation dans toute sa diversité.
A quand donc l’installation de la prochaine Assemblée nationale?
Bien entendu, après la publuication de la liste définitive par la Cour suprême de justice. Car, à ce stade, on en est encore aux résultats provisoires publiés par la Commission électorale nationale indépendante sur lesquels devra statuer la haute Cour. Mais, il y a tout de même problème lorsqu’on sait que la Ceni n’a proclamé que 475 députés sur les 500 attendus de la chambre basse. D’où proviendront alors les 25 autres élus nationaux et par quel mécanisme? Cette question fondamentale taraude l’esprit de bon nombre d’observateurs. Tous les projecteurs sont désormais tournés vers la Cour suprême de justice. Car, il lui revient d’opter pour la proposition de la Ceni portant annulation des scrutins dans certaines circonscriptions ou de la rejeter carrément.
Au regard des derniers résultats provisoires rendus publics le mercredi 1er février dernier, la Ceni a proclamé les noms de 475 représentants nationaux qui constitueront la future Assemblée nationale congolaise. Un calcul rapide renseigne qu’il y a un déficit de 25 députés sur le quota de 500 imparti à la chambre basse. En fait, les résultats provisoires proclamés par la Centrale électorale en RD Congo ne prennent pas en compte les circonscriptions jugées à problème, c’est-à-dire là où il y a eu des actes de violence perpétrés contre les installations ou des agents de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante.
ENCORE 25 DEPUTES ATTENDUS POUR ATTEINDRE 500
Ainsi, les circonscriptions concernées par cette mesure de la Centrale électorale sont Kiri (Bandundu), Kole et Lomela (Kasaî Oriental), Ikela (Equateur), Punia (Province Orientale), Demba (Kasaï Occidental) et Masisi (Nord-Kivu). Les 25 autres députés manquant à l’appel devroint provenir de ces sept coins de la RDC. Pour sa part, la Ceni a soumis les résultats de toutes les circonscriptions incriminées à la Cour suprême de justice pour annulation, pour des cas cités ci-haut et en tenant aussi compte de cas avérés de substitution des résultats des candidats dans tous ces centres locaux de compilation des résultats.
Pour ce faire, la Ceni s’est réservée de proclamer les résultats provisoires de ces circonscriptions en proposant à la Cour suprême de justice l’annulation pure et simple des législatives dans ces zones électorales. Ce qui explique donc qu’on n’en soit, jusque-là, qu’à 475 députés nationaux proclamés par les résultats provisoires de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante. Mais, la composition de la chambre basse congolaise étant fixée à 500 membres, il faudra bien trouver les 25 autres élus.
LA BALLE DANS LE CAMP DE LA COUR SUPREME DE JUSTICE
Comment donc trouver les 25 députés restants? A en croire certains analystes, cette tâche revient ainsi, dans un premier temps, à la Cour suprême de justice. La Ceni ayant soumis le cas des sept circonscriptions à la haute Cour pour annulation, il revient désormais à cette juridiction de confirmer cette annulation ou de la rejeter. En cas d’annulation, il faudra alors procéder à d’autres scrutins dans les zones électorales incriminées par abus constatés par la Ceni. Ce qui nécessitera et du temps et des moyens, étant donné qu’il faut logiquement en finir totalement avec les législatives nationales avant d’entamer les provinciales.
Mais, au cas où, même si cette hypothèse paraît plutôt douteuse aux yeux de quelques observateurs, la haute Cour rejetterait la proposition de la Ceni, les 25 élus ainsi sacrifiés seraient aussitôt réhabilités. Dans un cas comme dans un autre, la réponse est attendue de la CSJ. Mais, il ne serait pas à écarter que, conformément à la volonté de la Centrale électorale qui a vu ses propres installations et ses agents faire les frais de certains candidats ou de leurs militants, la Cour suprême de justice décide carrément de l’annulation des scrutins dans les coins incriminbés.
[José NAWEJ, Rocco NKANGA]
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