Members of the Rwanda Diaspora Global Network (RDGN) on Wednesday elected new leaders.

The elections were conducted during a Diaspora convention in Gatsibo District.

The RDGN is a non-profit organisation which aims at cementing unity among Diaspora members, establishing strong global networks, and promoting Rwandan culture in Diaspora.

Its new executive committee now comprises Alice Cyusa (USA) as president, Norbert Haguma (China) as vice-president, and Ephraim Mutashya (Tanzania) as secretary general.

The outgoing team include Dr David Ruhago (Tanzania, president), Chantal Umuraza (France, vice-president) and Jean Nganji (US, secretary general).

Claudine Uwasakindi, one of the participants who lives in Spain, told The New Times that focus was put on understanding, embracing and buttressing the Ndi Umunyarwanda initiative which has continued to play a role in the country’s search for lasting unity.

"The history of our country formed part of the discussion as it clearly explains the essence of the Ndi Umunyarwanda,” Uwasakindi said.

The three-day meeting, she added, considered other important issues such as the Diaspora community continuing to be good ambassadors in their respective locations and contributing toward the country’s development.

Last December, members of the RDGN executive committee, among others, considered modalities of how best to revive their investments in the country.

One such element was the Rwanda Diaspora Mutual Fund (RDMF), a pool for collective investment by the Diaspora community, which initially got the blessing of the central bank in 2009 but never materialised.

Poor planning and marketing as well as lack of committed stakeholders was blamed for the delay of the Mutual Fund.

At the time, Dr Egide Karuranga, a member of the Diaspora network, said they were trying to come up with better strategies.

Diaspora remittances continue to be a key foreign exchange earner for Africa with more than $5 billion released annually.

The central bank’s annual report for the July 2012–June 2013 period showed a gradual increase in net current transfers.

Net remittances from the Diaspora were $65.07 million in 2010, $110.18 million in 2011, $118.25 million in 2012 and $114.67 million in 2012/2013. In 2006, $8.22 million was recorded.

The RDGN’s pet project, One Dollar Campaign (ODC), an initiative aimed at mobilising Rwandans to contribute funds to construct houses for Genocide orphans, is arguably one of the

successful initiatives undertaken by the association.