The week begun with new developments in the joint operation between Rwanda and DR Congo armies to rout out the rebel Forces for the Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) from Eastern Congo.

The Public information Officer of MONUC Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg was quoted saying that the operation Umoja Wetu has forced many rebels to give up.

It was also reported that 500 people who were being held hostage by the FDLR have been rescued and returned home. This is also attributed to the operation Umoja Wetu.

Jean Sayinzoga the head of the demobilization commission was quoted saying that the returnees include women and children of the FDLR rebels. In a related development, North Kivu politicians have told the population in the region that the FDLR must leave.

It was reported that a delegation led by the North Kivu governor Eugen Serufuli had told the population to pass on the message to FDLR rebels who sometimes come into contact with the population. Operation Umoja Wetu has received encouragement from seventeen African countries according to press reports.

Emulating Heroes

It was also reported early in the week that President Paul Kagame called upon Rwandans to emulate the deeds of the Rwandan heroes. He was speaking at the 15th Heroes day celebrations at Amahoro stadium.

Kagame said that it is by liberating themselves and working hard that Rwandans will emulate the heroes.

War on corruption

Dr. Louis Munyakazi, the Director of the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) has been arrested over abuse of office.

The development was confirmed by the acting Commissioner General of police Mary Gahonzire.

The Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said that Munyakazi is being pursued for embezzlement, abuse of office, misuse of public funds and corruption.

Munyakazi becomes one of the several high ranking public officials to be arrested for corruption related issues in recent days.

Others who have been arrested include Vincent Gatwabuyenge, George Katurebe and Justin Nsengiyumva.

AU Summit condemns Kabuye arrest

African Union Heads of State and Government meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa this week condemned the arrest of Rose Kabuye.

Press reports had it that the AU, regretted that the arrest warrant was executed despite their previous call to freeze the warrants until talks between the AU and EU are concluded.

Another development this week was the upholding of the life sentence against Francois Karera by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda’s Appeals Chamber. 

This implies that the ageing former Prefect (Governor) of Kigali Rural during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Karera was convicted of killing many Tutsis who had sought refuge at Ntarama church, in Bugesera district.

Kagame awarded honorary degree

President Paul Kagame was on Friday presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Florida State University (FSU) in the United States at a ceremony held at Urugwiro Village.

According to Dr. Jim Pitts of FSU, the doctorate was in recognition of Kagame’s accomplishments as a leader.

Gaddafi is new AU boss

The Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddaffi was this week elected the new chairman of the African Union replacing Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete.

The Libyan leader who traveled to Addis Ababa with an entourage of African traditional leaders seeks to create a United States of Africa.

It remains to be seen how he will use his new position to advance his dream, which has met resistance from other leaders, who are apparently not in favour of his dream.

Gaddafi has in the past used his country’s wealth to advance his ideology and beliefs on the African continent.

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