President Paul Kagame earlier this week appeared on the BBC’s Hard Talk programme where he answered questions from Stephen Sackur the host of the station's political programme.

Kagame used the occasion to dismiss western arrogance when dealing with African countries. Sackur also fielded questions on the DRC and senior Rwandan officials indicted by French authorities and the issue of Laurent Nkunda.

Also this week, Kagame delivered a keynote address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Promise of Leadership Dialogue in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He according to press reports challenged Africans "to strive towards transforming and converting the abundant wealth the continent is endowed with into real prosperity”. He expounded on the topic ‘From Conflict to Reconstruction and Development: Rwanda’s Story’.

Journalists discuss media law

Journalists this week discussed the media bill recently passed by Parliament.

The journalists met with the Information Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, who appealed to them to comprehensively study the Media Law before coming up with any conclusive stand, according to press reports.

A number of journalists recently expressed reservations on certain sections in the proposed law. As a result, President Paul Kagame ordered for more discussions on the law before he could sign it.

Mushikiwabo told the media representatives that the  bill is not aimed at curtailing the work of journalists and that it is still undergoing a cleaning process before the President signs it. She told journalists that discussions on the law will continue until a common stand is reached.

Somali President Visits

The new Somali President Sheikh Ahmed Sharif visited the country early this week and held talks with President Paul Kagame. 

Sharif came to Rwanda after visiting Uganda and Burundi. The two leaders agreed to have areas of cooperation in order to help the transitional government in Somalia.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rosemary Museminali,  told journalists after the meeting that areas of cooperation between the two countries are likely to include training the Somali army and advising on setting up the country's different governance institutions.

Monuc denies FDLR retook lost positions

MONUC chief military spokesman Lt. Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich this week dismissed concerns, over the ability of the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) to reoccupy "earlier positions."

The military spokesman of the UN body in DRC said that ever since Rwandan troops left, eastern DRC, FDLR have tried to reoccupy some earlier positions but were "pushed back," sometimes with the help of MONUC forces.

There have been fears that with the departure of Rwanda forces who participated in Operation Umoja Wetu against the FDLR militia, the rebels would return to their positions.

Genocide to be commemorated at cell level

It emerged this week that the Genocide commemorations will be held at the cell level this year. This was announced by the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) with a view of involving all Rwandans.

The commemoration will begin on April 7. It was also revealed that CNLG has plans of taking the commemoration activities outside the Rwandan borders through the country’s Diaspora, Rwandan Embassies and students overseas.

This year’s national commemoration will be held in Nyanza in Kicukiro district.

Best students awarded
 
The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame through Imbuto Foundation this week rewarded the best performing students and exemplary foster parents in Gicumbi District, Northern Province. She thanked students of Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame du Bon Conseil in Gicumbi for their good performance.

Ends