GEM Sites Bi-Weekly Updates

                                                   February 26 - March 06, 2024

Rwanda

Congolese refugees in Rwanda stage protests to denounce ’ongoing Genocide in DRC’

Congolese refugees, who have been residing in the Kiziba camp located in the Karongi District, staged a peaceful protest to denounce the ongoing genocide against their compatriots remaining in their home country, including members of the Tutsi, Banyamulenge, and Bahema ethnic groups. The protesters carried signs calling for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the international community to put an end to the genocide being perpetrated against their relatives. Some signs bore messages such as "We condemn the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, We condemn Burundi, we condemn SADC, we condemn FDLR."

JAPAN AND RWANDA SIGN LONG-TERM FINANCING AGREEMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

The Government of Rwanda and Japan today signed a long-term financing agreement worth 14 billion Japanese Yen (approximately Frw 118 billion to support the transformation of the education sector. The agreement in the form of a concessional loan marks a pivotal step towards driving digital transformation within education, enhancing operational efficiency across primary and secondary levels, and fostering an enriched learning environment within technical colleges. The overarching objective is to ensure equitable access to quality education for all.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Uzziel NDAGIJIMANA said: "The Government places paramount importance on a robust education sector, recognizing it as a fundamental catalyst for Rwanda's future development endeavors. This financing agreement exemplifies the bilateral cooperation between Japan and Rwanda, aligned with Rwanda’s development vision”.

Rwanda announces plan to establish specialized court for refugee and asylum seeker cases

Rwanda has announced the establishment of a specialized court that will specifically handle cases related to refugees and asylum seekers. The Minister of Justice and State Attorney General, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Clementine Mukeka, made the revelation before the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation in Lower House of Parliament. This initiative originates from the treaty signed between Rwanda and Britain, which outlines the reception of refugees in Britain in accordance with established laws. The court will be presided over by a chief judge who will collaborate with a counterpart from a Commonwealth country. Additionally, judges will be selected from various nations, ensuring a diverse range of expertise in humanitarian issues and human rights.

South Africa

NSFAS gets ball rolling, more than 1.24-million students provisionally funded The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has provisionally funded 1.2-million students and rejected about 240,000 bursary applications so far for the 2024 academic year. This was revealed by the scheme's acting chairperson of the board, Prof Lourens van Staden, on Monday. The scheme had received 1,936,330 applications as of February 16. Applications closed the previous day. By March 1, 1,244,854 students had been provisionally funded, 59,723 were awaiting evaluations, 94,816 required supporting documents, while 52,038 applications were still in progress. Other applications were withdrawn or “not started” as applicants created profiles but did not submit applications.

UCT Faces Backlash for Hosting Ex-Eskom Chief Linked to Corruption Scandal for 'Ethics' Lecture The University of Cape Town (UCT) has sparked controversy by inviting Matshela Koko, the former Eskom boss implicated in the Gupta family's capture of the power utility and a R2.2 billion corruption scandal, to lecture students on "ethics and professionalism," reports News24. Despite Koko's promotion of the invitation on social media, UCT clarified that it does not endorse him and that the lecture is part of a case study addressing ethical issues. Koko used the opportunity to boast about his record at Eskom, but an investigation revealed potential manipulation of statistics during his tenure. The invitation is the latest attempt by Koko to normalize his past actions, including involvement in state capture, as highlighted by the State Capture Commission of Inquiry.

Lebanon

Over 25,000 Palestinian women and children killed in Gaza, US defence secretary says During a congressional hearing on Thursday in Washington, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that since 7 October, over 25,000 Palestinian women and children have been killed by Israel in the war on Gaza.

The statement came as an answer to a question from Congressman Ro Khanna in a hearing called, "A Review of Defense Secretary Austin's Unannounced Absense", by the House Armed Services Committee. The hearing focused on the extended delay in Austin informing both legislators and President Joe Biden of his whereabouts after being admitted to hospital for treatment of prostate cancer in December. "About how many Palestinian women and children have been killed by Israel since October 7th?" Khanna asked.

2 Lebanese men ordered detained for bringing 146 Syrian refugees to Cyprus by boat A court in Cyprus on Saturday ordered two men to remain in police custody for six days on suspicion of people smuggling. The men were identified as the drivers of two boats that brought 146 Syrian refugees and one Lebanese migrant to the east Mediterranean island nation.

Police said the suspects are Lebanese nationals aged 19 and 21. According to police, the refugees said during questioning that they departed from the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, Feb. 22 and each paid $2,500 for a place aboard the boats. One boat carried 30 people, including 6 women and 11 minors. Aboard the second boat were 117 people, including 8 women and 17 minors. Police spotted both vessels Saturday afternoon off Cape Greco on the island’s southeastern tip.

US senior envoy in Beirut to press calm along Lebanon-Israel border as a truce in Gaza is pursued A senior U.S. envoy visiting Beirut Monday said if a truce is reached in the Gaza Strip it would not automatically translate to calm along the volatile Lebanon-Israel border which has witnessed a rise in tensions.

Since the Israel-Hamas war started, Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel almost daily, displacing thousands of people and spiking fear the conflict may spread in the region. Amos Hochstein ’s comments came hours after Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Kassem, reiterated that the only way to stop the war along the Lebanon-Israel border is to end the war in Gaza.

Kenya

Pain of students seeking to apply for varsity, college courses

Students applying for university and college slots have continued to experience pain and frustration following persistent delays and system hiccups that are now threatening the selection of dream courses of thousands of last year’s KCSE candidates.

The Standard has established that even after Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu gave an assurance to resolve the glitches, many students are still unable to successfully submit their applications. In some cases, students and parents said payment of the Sh1,500 application fees was not verifiable while in other cases they had made double payments.

Kakuma grapples with garbage crisis amid growing population

Sights of heaps of garbage scattered all over are common as one walks or drives through Kakuma town, Kakuma refugee camp, and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Turkana West. Plastic bottles of water and soft drinks are littered on roads and in seasonal rivers like Nabek, Kalobeyei, Nakoyo and Tarach.With plans still at an advanced stage to fully operationalise Kakuma as the second municipality in Turkana County, authorities in the town are grappling with a waste management crisis amid a rising population.

Following news of conferring the town with a municipality status and an improved road network linking Kenya and South Sudan via Lodwar, Kakuma has been witnessing a rapid population growth, resulting in undesignated dumpsites.

Malawi

UNIMA stops students from paying fees via National Bank

The University of Malawi (UNIMA) has advised its students to stop paying fees through National Bank citing delays in reflection of fees in students’ portals. In an email to students, Director of Students affairs at UNIMA Jonas Mwatseteza, the university has for several times received queries from students on reflection of fees in their respective portals when they pay fees via National Bank contrary to the expectation that the fees would take no longer than five days thus highlighting the Bank’s technical issue. The University says it has notified the Bank officials on the matter on the delay of fees reflection in students’ accounts which also affects students looking to access exam results quickly.

Unemployed teachers demand employment

Unemployed teachers under Initial Primary Teacher Education (IPTE) 14,15,16 and 17 have questioned why they are not employed up to date after being promised employment by the Malawi Government. Representative of the grouping named unemployed teachers, Hastings Ndunya, has told this publication that about 10,000 teachers are tired of waiting for employment from the government hence they want a solution as soon as possible. Ndunya said the teachers are from IPTE  14, 15, 16 and 17. He added that the government should make a public statement about the budget in relation to primary teachers.

End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!