The Minister of Defence, Gen. James Kabarebe, and his Internal Security counterpart, Musa Fazil Harelimana, on Tuesday opened a new facility that will host the Joint Operations Centre (JOC).

The event also marked two years since its establishment to respond to threats through coordinated information sharing. The new facility is located at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru. 

JOC has enabled security forces to easily share security-related information from around the country, improve timely response and ensure that illegal arms continue to be recovered.  

It is composed of Rwanda Defense Forces, Rwanda National Police, National Intelligence and Security Service, and Rwanda Correctional Services. Kabarebe hailed the role JOC has played in national security initiatives, urging continued collaboration amongst all stakeholders to maintain security.Franco-Rwanda ties firm – GovernmentThe Government, early this week, moved to clarify media reports that Rwanda and France were involved in a diplomatic row, noting that bilateral relations are still firm and intact.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement in response to media speculation that France recalled its outgoing Ambassador to Kigali, Laurent Contini, after Rwanda refused to approve Hellen Le Gal as the new envoy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Government Spokesperson, Louise Mushikiwabo, on Tuesday said that the Government has reaffirmed its continued good relations with France, as underlined by President Paul Kagame’s official visit to Paris in September last year.Contini was appointed French envoy to Kigali following the renewal of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and France in 2009.Environmental watchdog to move HQs to Kigali The Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ACROS) will soon set up a regional information and training centre in Kigali for NGO`s and other institutions to acquire skills concerning environment protection.

ARCOS is a regional organisation dedicated to conserve the Albertine Rift biodiversity, which stretches from the north of Lake Albert in Uganda to the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika. Dr Sam Kanyamibwa , ACROS Executive Secretary,  said the proposed $350,000 facility will also house the organization’s headquarters and regional office.

He noted that the organization is in talks with the government, and that construction works will start as soon as the two reach an agreement. Meanwhile, ARCOS was last week awarded by MacArthur Foundation for being creative in responding to pressing problems, especially the rapid loss of habitat and genetic diversity.Israeli envoy bids farewell to Kagame President Paul Kagame, on Tuesday, received the outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Rwanda, Oded Ben-Haim, after close to fours years as emissary to Rwanda. Ben-Haim who has been based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ends his tour of duty both in Rwanda and Ethiopia.

Present at the farewell that was held at Village Urugwiro, was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo.  Mushikiwabo noted that the relationship between the two countries has always been good and remains stable and strong. Rwanda, Uganda to renovate border points Rwanda and Uganda have agreed to renovate two entry points at Rwempasha, Nyagatare District and Buhita, Burera District, in order to facilitate trade and cooperation between the two countries. A survey carried out by a joint team from both countries realized that the two points serve as trading routes for low scale businesses, especially by the surrounding communities, and yet could pose a security threat to both countries if they are not well regulated.

The findings were discussed during the Rwanda-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting in Kigali called to address issues related to trade, justice, security, livestock movement as well as voluntary return of refugees The meeting resolved that the respective immigration offices and the mayors of the relevant districts take the lead in the process to conduct environmental impact assessments, as well as budgetary requirements for the posts. ICTR refers another Genocide suspect to Rwandan courtsProsecutors in Kigali on Thursday welcomed a decision by the Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to refer the case against Fulgence Kayishema to Rwanda. On Wednesday; the Tribunal ruled that in case he is arrested, he should be returned to Rwanda to face trial.

Kayishema is the former head of the judicial police in Kibuye. The court order came after the Prosecution convinced the tribunal that the fugitive would get a fair trial since Rwanda has made the presumption of innocence part of its statutory criminal law and that the accused would be detained in conditions that comply with required international standards.

In another case, the defence for former Rwandan Planning Minister Augustin Ngirabatware on Wednesday closed its case after calling 35 witnesses before the ICTR.His trial started on September 22, 2009.Five arrested over La Colombiere theft Robbers, who on Tuesday night broke into a computer laboratory at a local school, La Colombiere, and stole 16 computers worth Rwf5.3 million, were arrested this week. Five people suspected to be behind the burglary have so far been arrested. They include two guards.The suspects, who are currently held at Remera Police Station, are Theoneste Nizeyimana, 23, the brain behind the burglary, Eric Kaneza 26, Emmanuel Nshyimiyimana, Jean Pierre Munzege, 40, and Augustin Nzaragira, 43.

They were picked from Kigali in an operation carried out Wednesday night after a tip-off from one of the suspects, Nshyimiyimana, who is said to have fallen out with the group after some misunderstandings. Also recovered were 16 monitors, 11 Central Processing Units (CPU) and 11 keyboards.

They were recovered from Kaneza’s house in Batsinda, Gasabo District. Augustin Nyirinkwaya, the Director of Studies at the Kacyiru-based popular school, said that in the morning, they found the doors of the computer laboratory broken and some computers missing.Land fees reduced on titles Rwanda Natural Resource Authority (RNRA) has announced it plans to slash lease fees for 19,386 land title holders in Kigali in line with the land taxation policy. Lease fees and taxes have sparked a public outcry with most land owners saying they were expensive.

The confusion forced the government to act with the Prime Minister, Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, issuing directives to concerned institutions to address the irregularities cited by land owners.The taxes levied on land under the tenure system of 2005, whose implementation began last month, has been a subject of controversy with landowners crying foul over the disparities involved in the payment and the limited time given to pay.

The head of Land Technical Operations division at RNRA, Thierry Hoza Ngoga, said the problem came as a result of wrong information provided by landowners during the land registration exercise..