Weekly Review

Former ambassador denied refugee status In the news this week, were reports that Maximin Segasayo, a former Rwandan Ambassador to Canada, has been denied refugee status by Canada’s federal court on grounds of violating human and international rights. Segasayo, served as ambassador in the early 1990s, and was initially granted refugee status with his family in 1996 and settled in Montreal. Press reports indicated that Federal Court Judge Sean Harrington said Canada’s Immigration Division of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Board “had found him inadmissible to Canada on grounds of violating human or international rights.” Kagame receives EA Business Council The East African Business Council (EABC) met with President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village and later members of the council told reporters that they want full involvement of the business community in all policy formulation and decisions that have an effect on business. It was reported that the EABC, says that total inclusion of the business community in policy formulation and implementation would improve investor confidence. The body says that frequent policy changes by regional governments, without due consultation with the relevant stakeholders negatively impacts on existing investments and also deters new investors. National Watchdog slams HRW report The National Human Rights Commission (NHCR) this week dismissed a report recently published by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in which the organisation claims that the government’s policy on land may lead to increased poverty amongst the population. Speaking to the press after meeting the rights body’s country representative, Carina Tertsakian, the commission’s chairperson, Zainab Kayitesi, said that on the contrary, the strategy which emphasizes land consolidation has enabled the population to realize high crop yields. AG’s Report presented to parliament The Deputy Auditor General, Obadiah Biraro, Wednesday presented his office’s report to members of both chambers of Parliament. According to the press, the report, “gave details of how a cross section of civil servants involved in issuing cheques had learnt new and sophisticated ways of swindling the government of millions of francs almost without being detected.” Biraro is reported to have said that his office had made great strides in rooting out such cases and a lot more. Coffee Export Earnings fall by 20 percent Also in the news were reports that earnings from coffee export dropped by 19.5 percent to $37m (Rwf21.9b) in 2009. Accordingly, this was occasioned by the global financial crisis that hit the crop’s prices on the international market. According to Ocir-café Rwanda, which generated $46.9m (Rwf26.2b) from coffee export in 2008, also saw a sharp decline in national coffee output from 22,000 tonnes in 2008 to 16,000 tonnes last year. 2009 A’ Level results 2009 A’Level results were announced this week by Minister Mathias Herebamungu showing that rural schools outperformed city schools. Groupe Scolaire de Janja in Gakenke District came first followed by Groupe Scolaire de Kaduha in the Southern Province while Groupe Scolaire de Mutura came in third place. According to the examination results, the schools from upcountry also performed better in science subjects where for the first time, candidates sat for practical science exams. Sarkozy arrives next week It was also reported that French President Nicholas Sarkozy will arrive in the country for a state visit next week on February 25. The Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo confirmed the development to the media saying that the French leader will visit en-route from Gabon. Sarkozy according to reports is expected to hold talks with President Paul Kagame and other Government officials, visit the newly opened French diplomatic mission in Kigali and several other French establishments before proceeding to other African countries. Ends