Foreign

Rwanda Visa-Free for Africans

By Web News 406

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has declared that the country will grant visa-free travel to Africans to boost free movement of people and trade.

This decision positions Rwanda as the latest African nation to adopt such a measure, joining others in the pursuit of a more integrated continent to rival Europe’s Schengen zone.

The Schengen zone, consisting of 27 European countries, has successfully eliminated the need for passports and various border control measures at their shared borders.

Local media reports that Kagame revealed his plans on Thursday during a speech in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Kagame emphasised the immense potential of Africa as a unified tourism destination.

Currently, the continent heavily depends on tourists from outside Africa, accounting for 60% of its total visitors, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

“Any African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country,” said Kagame during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come,” he said.

Rwanda is poised to become the latest African nation to eliminate travel restrictions for fellow Africans, following in the footsteps of Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles.

Similarly, in a recent development, Kenya’s President William Ruto has revealed plans to allow visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31.

Punch / Titilayo Kupolyi

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Foreign

Rwanda President Retires 12 Generals, 1,013 Military Officers

By Web News 424

Rwanda President, Paul Kagame has approved the retirement of 12 military generals and 1,013 military officers in the country.

The decision comes barely 48 hours after a military coup in Gabon ousted President Ali Bongo from power.

According to a statement on the Rwanda Defense Force’s (RDF) official website on Wednesday, Kagame approved the retirement of 12 generals, including James Kabrebe, the senior presidential adviser on security matters.

“The president has also approved the retirement of 83 senior officials, 06 junior officers, 86 senior NCOS, 678 end-of-contract and 160 medical discharges,” the statement said.

The senior military officers also include Gen Fred Ibingira, Lt Gen Charles Kayonga, Lt Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, Maj Gen Martin Nzaramba, Maj Gen Eric Murokore, Maj Gen Augustin Turagara, Maj Gen Charles Karamba, Maj Gen Albert Murasira, Brig Gen Chris Murari, Brig Gen Didace Ndahiro, and Brig Gen Emmanuel Ndahiro.

In another statement on the RDF’s website, Kagame approved the promotion of 10 Lieutenant Colonels to the rank of Colonel and appointed them as Brigade Commanders. 

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Foreign

Gabon, Togo Admitted into the Commonwealth Family

By Web News 559

Gabon and Togo joined the Commonwealth on Saturday, becoming the latest nations with no historic ties to Britain to enter the English-speaking club headed by Queen Elizabeth II.

The 54-nation group of mostly former British colonies accepted Togo and Gabon’s application for membership on the final day of its leadership summit in Rwanda.

While speaking at the closing press conference of the summit, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said, “We have admitted Gabon and Togo as new members, and we all welcome them to the Commonwealth family”.

The French-speaking West African states are the first new members to join the Commonwealth since Rwanda in 2009.

Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said membership opened the door to 2.5 billion consumers in the Commonwealth realm and offered new education opportunities for his countrymen.

“Togo’s membership is motivated by the desire to expand its diplomatic, political, and economic network… as well as to get closer to the English-speaking world,” he told newsmen.

Mr Dussey added that this move also allowed the small and developing nation of 8.5 million to redefine bilateral relations with the UK outside the European Union in the aftermath of Brexit.

Togolese political scientist Mohamed Madi Djabakate said the move would prove popular as French influence in Togo was often blamed for its economic woes.

Gabonese President Ali Bongo said his country was “making history” by joining the group.

“Sixty-two years after its Independence, our country is getting ready to breakthrough with a new chapter,” Bongo said in a statement on Twitter.

Their admission is a boon for the Commonwealth at a time of renewed discussion over its relevance and purpose.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the interest from new members proved the organisation was alive and well.

But it could also raise questions about the Commonwealth’s espoused commitment to good governance and democracy as fundamental values of its charter.

Oil-rich Gabon, a former French colony, has been ruled by the Bongo family for 55 years.

Togo, a former German then French colony, has also been under dynastic rule for more than half a century.

Born out of the British Empire, the Commonwealth represents one-third of humanity and spans nations across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

It would be recalled that Mozambique — a former Portuguese colony — became the first Commonwealth member without historic links to Britain when it joined in 1995.

Punch/Maxwell Oyekunle