week review

Rwanda ranked third in global business reportRwanda remains the third easiest place to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa, after Mauritius and South Africa, a new World Bank Doing Business Report shows. The 2013 doing business report, released this Tuesday , ranked Rwanda 52nd out of 185 countries, retaining its reputation as the best business destination in east and central Africa region. But the country slipped four places in the global rankings, although officials in Kigali said that had more to do with the performance of other countries than with the local business dynamics.Overall, the country registered significant improvement, particularly with regard to enforcing contracts (39th) and access to electricity (49th).DRC suspends 24-hr border operations The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reopened the two border posts with Rwanda but imposed new restrictions regulating their services.Usually, operations would go on for 24 hours to ease movement of people and goods, but they will cease at 6pm until further notice, according to the new directive. The two border posts known as Petite Barriere and Grande Barriere (La Corniche) are normally used by thousands, mainly cross-border traders operating in both towns of Goma (eastern DRC) and Gisenyi in Rubavu District on the Rwandan side. Rubavu District Mayor, Sheikh Hassan Bahame, told The New Times early this week that residents in his district have resolved to adjust to the time regulations that have been imposed by the DRC government. Kagame, Djibouti president hold talks President Paul Kagame on Tuesday met and held talks with the President of Djibouti, Ismael Omar Guelleh, on the sidelines of the third World Energy Forum 2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Forum, held in line with the 2012 United Nationals theme of “Clean, safe and sustainable energy for all”, began with the signing of the World Energy Day Proclamation dedicating October 22 as a day to raise awareness about energy issues and stimulate political will to support sustainable energy. The two leaders had a wide range of discussions regarding the bilateral relations between Rwanda and Djibouti.Speaking at the high level event on Monday, Kagame said that the world is concerned about several energy-related questions. His counterpart, President Guelleh talked to Djibouti’s plans to switch completely to clean and renewable energy by 2020, dispensing all conventional energy sources. Rwanda has a 20 hectare piece of land at the port of Djibouti that was offered to the country by Djibouti.The plot presents a big opportunity for the private sector from Rwanda to exploit through setting up their industrial units and will act as a transit point for Rwandan imports and exports. Russia welcomes Rwanda’s election on UN Security Council The government of the Russian Federation has congratulated Rwanda upon her election last week to the United Nations Security Council.In a message to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, said Russia is sure that close cooperation between Russia and Rwanda in the Security Council will have a positive impact on their bilateral relations.He expressed his “most warm and sincere congratulations on the occasion of election of the Republic of Rwanda as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2013-2014”. Lavrov stressed his belief that Rwanda will actively contribute to reinforcing the central role of the UN in the world, enhancing its effectiveness and authority in realisation of the global agenda, as well as to search for collective response of states to the challenges and threats on a wide range of issues. Other countries which have welcomed Rwanda’s election, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, include the US, China and Italy. Genocide suspect arrested in DRCInterpol has arrested a key suspect of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who has been on the run for the last 18 years. Vedaste Banguwiha, a former prominent figure in the genocidal regime and a member of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), was arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During and before the Genocide, Banguwiha was a famous businessman in western Rwanda and was awarded a tender to purchase and supply weapons that were used to massacre Tutsis.He is also alleged to have incited the Interahamwe militia to erect a roadblock in the former Cyangugu town (now Rusizi), near Hotel des Chutte with an aim of stopping and killing the Tutsi. Information acquired by The New Times indicates that Banguwiha was arrested in Katanga and later transferred to the capital Kinshasa.Errant driver knocks Police officerThree people, including a traffic officer, were on Tuesday knocked down by an errant driver in Kamonyi District.The driver allegedly refused to comply with traffic police’s directive to stop. The suspect, Philbert Hitimana, who was driving vehicle registration number RAB 637R, Toyota Coaster, according to police, hit Corporal Patrick Akumuyange, while trying to speed off. Other victims were identified as Deo Niyonzima and a cyclist, Fabien Hagenimana, who were on the roadside. All the victims were evacuated to University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). Kigali to host continental economic conferenceLeaders and scholars from around the world will converge in Kigali next week to explore the continent’s prospects for sustainable and inclusive growth in the wake of the global economic crisis.The seventh edition of the African Economic Conference, slated for October 30 to November 2, is organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The forum will be held under the theme: “Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Age of Global Uncertainty”. Hundreds of high-level participants, including eminent academics, political leaders, representatives of international organisations, chief executive officers, civil society organisations and the media will take part. President Paul Kagame is expected to open the high-level meeting. Notable among other expected dignitaries are UNDP Administrator, Helen Clark, and President of the AfDB, Dr Donald Kaberuka and Executive Secretary, ECA, Carlos Lopes.