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Campaign against drugs taken to Eastern Province

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Francis Kaboneka, Local Government Minister speaks during the meeting.
The national campaign to fight and prevent trafficking, making, selling and use of illicit drugs continued in Kirehe District, yesterday, one of the major transit routes used by traffickers.

Thousands of Kirehe residents converged in Gatore Sector as senior government and law enforcement officials continued the call for ownership to make the district impassable for drug dealers.
At least illicit drugs worth about Rwf25 million including one ton of cannabis and 10, 000 liters of illicit brew, have been seized in Kirehe in the past six months.
The psychologic substances were disposed of during the outreach exercise presided over by the ministers; Francis Kaboneka of Local Government and Rosemary Mbabazi of Youth as well as senior officers in Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF).
“We cannot allow seeing Kirehe being used by criminals as a getway for narcotic drugs into the country and poisoning the people; it’s a criminal business that the country will fight to save its people especially the young generation. We are here to call for your cooperation and ownership to fight drug dealers,” Minister Kaboneka said.
“It is high time you stand up to put an end on drug abuse. It is your duty to overcome this challenge and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of our country,” he added.
He asked parents to take a primary responsibility to protect their children from drug abuse and ensure they are well brought up, taken to school and nurtured into competent citizens relevant to drive the development agenda of their country.
Minister Mbabazi, on her part, commended the collective efforts of both government institutions and members of the general public in the fight against drug abuse.
“We cannot expect sustainable security and development while some people especially the youth are being ruined by drug abuse, we have to stand up against this criminal activity through sharing information with law enforcement agencies to ensure those involves are arrested,” she added.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) Theos Badege, said: “Consumption or sale of illicit drugs is not only a crime but has other ill effects on human health and Police won’t tolerate anyone dealing in these acts.”
Drug related crimes are still rated him in the country, with the youth both majority involved and affected.
Last year alone, about 18 percent of all the 4470 crimes recorded by the police, are related to narcotic drugs.
About 71 percent of over 4100 drug dealers arrested last year were also aged between 18 and and 35.
The Ministries of Health, Local Government and Youth as well as security organs are currently engaged in countrywide campaign to bring different groups on board to break both the market and chains of supply.
Faith-based organizations, owners of hospitality facilities as well as different youth groups, former drug dealers and grassroots leaders are among those that have so far held discussions on how to effectively combat the vice.

World Economic Forum: Kagame targeting more fruitful talks with different world dignitaries

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On the second day of the World Economic Forum that is underway in Davos, Switzerland, the president of the Republic of Rwanda has met different leaders and dignitaries from around the world including David Cameroon the former UK Prime Minister.

President Kagame has, on the first day of the meeting met with Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg, South Africa Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Alibaba Group chairman, Jack Ma and IFAD president Gilbert Houngbo where the president Kagame said to have had insightful talks with them.
The 48th World Economic Forum continued today on its second day where President of the Republic Paul Kagame delivered his statement on Peace-Building in Africa discussion which were attended by President Alpha Condé of Guinea, Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, President of World Economic Forum BørgeBrende, Tony Blair and John Kerry.
President Kagame called for countries that it is still critical to own their challenges to get to effective solutions and to build their capacity an instance of the case to Rwanda.
“You cannot import solutions from outside and impose them on people and expect them to work. It cannot. I’m speaking from my experience. We owned our solutions and were opened minded to others but there is absolutely need to own the process. People were telling us we need to divide our country into different states but we laughed it off. We told them we are having a conversation as Rwandans so who and how are you telling us to do?” said Kagame
Kagame concluded the statement by reiterating the need to own challenges as a certain way for people to cope with challenges and to build their own capacity.
Kagame has later today, attended Africa Agricultural Transformation roundtable discussions that were chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister HailemariamDesalegn with Bill Gates, founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
With two more days to go for World Economic Forum, President Kagameis expected to meet the United States President Donald Trump to discuss various issues on African Continent as the White House has informed.

Davos: Paul Kagame to meet different leaders including Trump of USA

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On his first day, President Paul Kagame who is in Davos, Switzerland for the 48th World Economic Forum, meet with different people including leaders like Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway.

According to the Rwanda presidency’s Twitter handle, His Excellency Paul Kagame confirms that he had discussions wih Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, SA Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ma Yun, known professionally as Jack Ma, a Chinese business magnate, philanthropist, internet and technology entrepreneur, who is the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, a conglomerate of Internet-based businesses, and IFAD President Gilbert Houngbo.

On Tuesday, the ANC president Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with Rwanda President Paul Kagame on the margins of the WEF 2018 Annual Meeting.

Twitter handle of Rwanda Presidency

According to National Treasury Ramaphosa will be participating in various discussion platforms at the WEF with the goal of developing a response to new strategies for changing governance in different parts of the world.

Daily Mail said that President Donald Trump will also meet with the president of Rwanda when he visits one of the world’s wealthiest countries, weeks after reports that he railed against immigration from ‘s***hole’ countries in Africa.

Trump will meet with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who is chair of the African Union when he jets to Davos, where billionaires and world leaders are gathering in the Swiss Alps.

World Economic Forum: Kagame targeting more fruitful talks with different world dignitaries

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On the second day of the World Economic Forum that is underway in Davos, Switzerland, the president of the Republic of Rwanda has met different leaders and dignitaries from around the world including David Cameroon the former UK Prime Minister.

President Kagame has, on the first day of the meeting met with Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg, South Africa Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Alibaba Group chairman, Jack Ma and IFAD president Gilbert Houngbo where the president Kagame said to have had insightful talks with them.
The 48th World Economic Forum continued today on its second day where President of the Republic Paul Kagame delivered his statement on Peace-Building in Africa discussion which were attended by President Alpha Condé of Guinea, Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, President of World Economic Forum BørgeBrende, Tony Blair and John Kerry.
President Kagame called for countries that it is still critical to own their challenges to get to effective solutions and to build their capacity an instance of the case to Rwanda.
“You cannot import solutions from outside and impose them on people and expect them to work. It cannot. I’m speaking from my experience. We owned our solutions and were opened minded to others but there is absolutely need to own the process. People were telling us we need to divide our country into different states but we laughed it off. We told them we are having a conversation as Rwandans so who and how are you telling us to do?” said Kagame
Kagame concluded the statement by reiterating the need to own challenges as a certain way for people to cope with challenges and to build their own capacity.
Kagame has later today, attended Africa Agricultural Transformation roundtable discussions that were chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister HailemariamDesalegn with Bill Gates, founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
With two more days to go for World Economic Forum, President Kagameis expected to meet the United States President Donald Trump to discuss various issues on African Continent as the White House has informed.

Netanyahu agrees to Rwandan demand to only deport migrants there lawfully

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DAVOS, Switzerland — Rwandan President Paul Kagame told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu his country would only accept asylum-seekers Israel is looking to deport if the move was made in accordance with international law.

The comment came as the two met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to Netanyahu’s office.
Netanyahu agreed to Kagame’s assertion, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office read, and the pair were said to discuss expanding cooperation between their two countries.

The PMO statement did not elaborate on the details of Israel’s plan to expel over 38,000 African migrants and asylum seekers, nor did it relate to what Rwanda would be getting in return for its cooperation.

“Netanyahu agreed with President Kagame, who made clear that he would only accept a process that fully complies with international law,” the statement read.

On Tuesday, Rwanda denied that the country had ever signed a “secret deal” with Israel under which Israel could forcibly deport African asylum seekers to Kigali, following a protest outside the Rwandan Embassy in Herzilya a day earlier.

The statement following the Wednesday meeting seemed to confirm that Rwanda would not accept forcibly deported migrants, reflecting Kigali’s unease over the sensitive issue.

Kagame tweeted that his meetings with Netanyahu and other leaders were “very productive,” but did not issue any other statement on the talks.

Netanyahu and Kagame have strengthened ties in the past few years, with Netanyahu becoming the first prime minister to visit Rwanda and two visits from Kagame in the past two years.

After the two met again in Kenya at President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration, Netanyahu announced that Israel would begin forcibly deporting migrants to third countries, which have been widely reported to be Uganda and Rwanda.

African migrants take part at a protest in Tel Aviv on June 10, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

There are approximately 38,000 African migrants and asylum seekers in Israel, according to the Interior Ministry. About 72 percent are Eritrean and 20 percent are Sudanese, and the vast majority arrived between 2006 and 2012. Many live in south Tel Aviv, and some residents and activists blame them for rising crime rates and have lobbied the government for deportation.

Last month, the Knesset approved an amendment to the so-called Infiltrator’s Law mandating the closure of the Holot detention facility and the forced deportations of Eritrean and Sudanese migrants and asylum seekers starting in March.

In November, Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said the country could accept approximately 10,000 asylum seekers from Israel. Israel will reportedly pay $5,000 to the Rwandan government for each deported migrant, plus a $3,500 “leaving grant” directly to the person being deported.

Previously, Rwanda and Uganda accepted about 4,000 migrants and asylum seekers who signed a document saying they had “willingly left” Israel, but until now the countries have not accepted any asylum seekers who were deported against their will.

Uganda has also denied that there was an agreement with Israel regarding asylum seekers. “There is no written agreement or any form of agreement between the government of Uganda and Israeli government to accept refugees from Israel,” Henry Oryem Okello, Uganda’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters. He said any suggestion the migrants would be deported to his country was “fake news … absolute rubbish.”

Netanyahu has dismissed criticism of his government’s controversial plan to send migrants back to Africa, arguing that the people slated for deportation are not actual refugees.

Netanyahu said Sunday that he had “heard the many claims,” but that the arrangements “guarantee personal safety for those who exit Israel. They receive approvals allowing them to live, work and integrate into the country. If they want, they can also return to their home countries. They are receiving significant financial aid from us.”

Netanyahu added then that he heard the criticism of the plan but that the arrangements “guarantee personal safety for those who exit Israel. They receive approvals allowing them to live, work and integrate into the country. If they want, they can also return to their home countries. They are receiving significant financial aid from us.”

Separately, Netanyahu congratulated Kagame on his assumption of the post of Chairman of the African Union, according to the PMO.

Also on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu met with Guatemalan Finance Minister Julio Hector Estrada and thanked him for his country’s decision to follow the US in announcing its intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

Guatemala was also one of nine countries that voted against a UN resolution condemning US President Donald Trump’s original December 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“We very, very much appreciate what you did.” Netanyahu told Hector. source The Time of Islael

ECONOMY : Richest 1 % Bagged 82 % of Wealth Created Last Year – Poorest Half of Humanity Got Nothing

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Eighty-two percent of the wealth generated last year went to the richest one percent of the global population, while the 3.7 billion people who make up the poorest half of the world saw no increase in their wealth, according to a new Oxfam report released today. By Oxfam

The report is being launched as political and business elites gather for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
‘Reward Work, Not Wealth’ reveals how the global economy enables a wealthy elite to accumulate vast fortunes while hundreds of millions of people are struggling to survive on poverty pay.
Billionaire wealth has risen by an annual average of 13 percent since 2010 – six times faster than the wages of ordinary workers, which have risen by a yearly average of just 2 percent. The number of billionaires rose at an unprecedented rate of one every two days between March 2016 and March 2017.
It takes just four days for a CEO from one of the top five global fashion brands to earn what a Bangladeshi garment worker will earn in her lifetime. In the US, it takes slightly over one working day for a CEO to earn what an ordinary worker makes in a year.
It would cost $2.2 billion a year to increase the wages of all 2.5 million Vietnamese garment workers to a living wage. This is about a third of the amount paid out to wealthy shareholders by the top 5 companies in the garment sector in 2016.
Oxfam’s report outlines the key factors driving up rewards for shareholders and corporate bosses at the expense of workers’ pay and conditions. These include the erosion of workers’ rights; the excessive influence of big business over government policy-making; and the relentless corporate drive to minimize costs in order to maximize returns to shareholders.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International said: “The billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy but a symptom of a failing economic system. The people who make our clothes, assemble our phones and grow our food are being exploited to ensure a steady supply of cheap goods, and swell the profits of corporations and billionaire investors.”
Women workers often find themselves off at the bottom of the heap. Across the world, women consistently earn less than men and are usually in the lowest paid and least secure forms of work. By comparison, 9 out of 10 billionaires are men.
“Oxfam has spoken to women across the world whose lives are blighted by inequality. Women in Vietnamese garment factories who work far from home for poverty pay and don’t get to see their children for months at a time. Women working in the US poultry industry who are forced to wear nappies because they are denied toilet breaks,” said Byanyima.
Oxfam is calling for governments to ensure our economies work for everyone and not just the fortunate few:
Limit returns to shareholders and top executives, and ensure all workers receive a minimum ‘living’ wage that would enable them to have a decent quality of life. For example, in Nigeria, the legal minimum wage would need to be tripled to ensure decent living standards.
Eliminate the gender pay gap and protect the rights of women workers. At current rates of change, it will take 217 years to close the gap in pay and employment opportunities between women and men.
Ensure the wealthy pay their fair share of tax through higher taxes and a crackdown on tax avoidance, and increased spending on public services such as healthcare and education. Oxfam estimates a global tax of 1.5 percent on billionaires’ wealth could pay for every child to go to school.
Results of a new global survey commissioned by Oxfam demonstrate a groundswell of support for action on inequality. Of the 70,000 people surveyed in 10 countries, nearly two-thirds of all respondents think the gap between the rich and the poor needs to be urgently addressed.
“It’s hard to find a political or business leader who doesn’t say they are worried about inequality. It’s even harder to find one who is doing something about it. Many are actively making things worse by slashing taxes and scrapping labor rights,” said Byanyima.
“People are ready for change. They want to see workers paid a living wage; they want corporations and the super-rich to pay more tax; they want women workers to enjoy the same rights as men; they want a limit on the power and the wealth which sits in the hands of so few. They want action.”
Notes to editors
Download ‘Reward Work, Not Wealth’ and a methodology document that outlines how Oxfam arrived at the key statistics in the report.
Broadcast quality footage and photographs are available here featuring Lan, who works in a garment factory in Vietnam, supplying many global fashion brands. Long hours and poverty pay mean Lan has not been able to get home to see her son for 9 months.
New data from Credit Suisse reveals that 42 people now own the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity. This figure cannot be compared to figures from previous years – including the 2016/17 statistic that eight men owned the same wealth as half the world – because it is based on an updated and expanded data set published by Credit Suisse in November 2017. When Oxfam recalculated last year’s figures using the latest data we found that 61 people owned the same wealth as half the world in 2016 – and not eight.
Oxfam’s calculations are based on global wealth distribution data provided by the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook published in November 2017. The wealth of billionaires was calculated using Forbes’ billionaire’s list last published in March 2017.
RIWI and YouGov conducted the online survey for Oxfam in ten countries: India, Nigeria, United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Morocco, Netherlands, and Denmark. For details on the methodology and the full results see here.

Israel Joins Rwanda to Demand France Acts on Genocide Suspects

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Nyamata Genocide Memorial Site

France’s human rights record came under scrutiny on Monday at the UN Human Rights Councils’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva – as France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy visits Rwanda.

Seven countries filed the same recommendation asking France to “take active steps” that would bring justice for the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda. The countries are Israel, Kenya, Iran, Mozambique, Namibia, Guyana and Rwanda.

Apart from issuing blanket statements through the UN system, it is the first time a bloc of nations has joined Rwanda to push for extradition to Rwanda or arrest and prosecution of genocide suspects by France.

France provided ammunitions for the Rwandan government before and during the genocide, eventually granting asylum for many of the suspects. Years of international pressure have only led to a negligible number of suspects being prosecuted.

Only those it handed over to the International criminal tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) have been conclusively convicted. Those still within the French courts have dragged on with no closure in sight.

Last year, Rwanda opened a new probe which singled out 22 French military and political leaders for direct involvement in the genocide. France has refused to let the officials be questioned by Rwandan prosecutors.

At the UN review today, four recommendations were made to France.

The states want Paris to “take active steps to either prosecute or extradite suspected genocide perpetrators residing on its territories.” They want France to “take immediate steps to cooperate with the ICTR by prosecuting Wenceslas Munyeshyaka and Laurent Bucyibaruta or, alternatively ensure their immediate return to the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals”.

The bloc is also demanding that Paris “take active steps to declassify and make public all documents that contain government and military information related to the pre, during and post genocide period”.

The review panel also asks the French government to “take steps to investigate allegations emanating from various sources of France’s role and involvement in the Genocide against Tutsi”.

In June last year, genocide survivors umbrella group Ibuka and the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR) submitted their concerns to the UN review process urging the panel to examine France’s role in the Genocide against Tutsi. The National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) welcomed the submission of CPCR and Ibuka.

Meanwhile, as the UN review was ongoing in Geneva, Rwanda was hosting former President Nicolas Sarkozy. He met President Kagame on Monday afternoon.

Sarkozy came to Rwanda in 2010 when he was still president. At the time, he expressed regret for “errors” committed by France, but fell short of issuing an outright apology.

Kagame receives UN Secretary General personal envoy for Western Sahara conflicts

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President Paul Kagame has received the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, António Guterres’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler. Horst requested Kagame for opportunity to seek ideas from other African leaders on ways to solve Western Sahara conflicts.

Speaking to the media after the discussion between both officials, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said that Horst’s visit was meaningful as Kagame will take over African Union leadership later this month.

“He came here so that they can share ideas and agree on ways African Union Commission leaders and African countries’ Heads of States in general will give him opportunity to share with them the progress in seeking solutions for Western Sahara conflicts,” she explained.

“Western Sahara problem is under UN in New York since 40 years ago, they are dealing with it, and the solution will come from there. But, African leaders’ ideas are necessary on how the problem could be handled, they cooperate with the envoy on that matter and share him with ideas,” Mushikiwabo added.

The UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy and former Germany President, Horst came in Rwanda from Addis Ababa in the Ethiopia where he had discussions with Current African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Horst was appointed on the matter in August last year succeeding Christopher Ross from the United States of America who completed his assignment in April.

About Western Sahara conflicts

The Western Sahara conflict is an ongoing conflict between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco.

Polisario Front is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement aiming to end Moroccan presence in the Western Sahara.

Meanwhile, the ‘Sahrawi’ are people living in the Western part of Sahara desert which includes Western Sahara (claimed by the Polisario and mostly controlled by Morocco)

It means that current conflicts is the continuation of the past insurgency by Polisario against the Spanish Colonial forces in 1973-1975 and the subsequent Western Sahara War between the Polisario and Morocco between 1975 and 1991.

Today the conflict is dominated by unarmed civil campaigns of the Polisario Front and their self-proclaimed SADR state to gain fully recognized independence for Western Sahara.src Igihe

Kagame receives UN Secretary General personal envoy for Western Sahara conflicts

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President Paul Kagame has received the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, António Guterres’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler. Horst requested Kagame for opportunity to seek ideas from other African leaders on ways to solve Western Sahara conflicts.

Speaking to the media after the discussion between both officials, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said that Horst’s visit was meaningful as Kagame will take over African Union leadership later this month.

“He came here so that they can share ideas and agree on ways African Union Commission leaders and African countries’ Heads of States in general will give him opportunity to share with them the progress in seeking solutions for Western Sahara conflicts,” she explained.

“Western Sahara problem is under UN in New York since 40 years ago, they are dealing with it, and the solution will come from there. But, African leaders’ ideas are necessary on how the problem could be handled, they cooperate with the envoy on that matter and share him with ideas,” Mushikiwabo added.

The UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy and former Germany President, Horst came in Rwanda from Addis Ababa in the Ethiopia where he had discussions with Current African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Horst was appointed on the matter in August last year succeeding Christopher Ross from the United States of America who completed his assignment in April.

About Western Sahara conflicts

The Western Sahara conflict is an ongoing conflict between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco.

Polisario Front is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement aiming to end Moroccan presence in the Western Sahara.

Meanwhile, the ‘Sahrawi’ are people living in the Western part of Sahara desert which includes Western Sahara (claimed by the Polisario and mostly controlled by Morocco)

It means that current conflicts is the continuation of the past insurgency by Polisario against the Spanish Colonial forces in 1973-1975 and the subsequent Western Sahara War between the Polisario and Morocco between 1975 and 1991.

Today the conflict is dominated by unarmed civil campaigns of the Polisario Front and their self-proclaimed SADR state to gain fully recognized independence for Western Sahara.src Igihe

PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME PROMOTED AND RETIRED RWANDA NATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS

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H.E The President Paul Kagame has promoted 1015 and retired 111 Rwanda National Police Officers

Promoted Offices

a. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to Commissioner of Police (CP) – 10

(1) ACP Faustin Ntirushwa

(2) ACP Theos Badege

(3) ACP Jean Marie Twagirayezu

(4) ACP Rogers Rutikanga

(5) ACP William Kayitare

(6) ACP Denis Basabose

(7) ACP Vincent Sano

(8) ACP Robert Niyonshuti

(9) ACP Egide Ruzigamanzi

(10) ACP Rafiki Mujiji

b. Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) – 31

c. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) – 18

d. Superintendent of Police (SP) promoted to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) – 43

e. Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP) – 110

f. Inspector of Police (IP) promoted to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) – 403

g. Chief Sergeant promoted to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) – 01

h. Sergeant promoted to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) – 02

i. Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) promoted to Inspector of Police (IP) – 391

j. Chief Sergeant promoted to Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) – 02

k. Senior Sergeant promoted to Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) – 01

l. Sergeant promoted to Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) – 03

Retired offices

a. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) – 02

b. Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) – 04

c. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) – 06

d. Superintendent of Police (SP) – 17

e. Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) – 19

f. Inspector of Police (IP) – 62

g. Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) – 01

The Rwanda National Police leadership congratulates all those who have been promoted and thanks all those who have been retired for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring safety and security of our country.