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Rwanda Sisters ask Prince Charles for Help; puts President Kagame in negative spotlight

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By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

#Rwanda, June 25, 2022 – As the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting heads to Rwanda on June 20th two young women have an appeal for Prince Charles and the other heads of state. “Don’t shake hands with the tyrant who kidnapped our father.”

In an article of the same name published by CNN, Carina and Anaïse Kanimba urge the heads of state to hold Rwandan President Paul Kagame accountable for what they say is his record of human rights abuses and the kidnapping of their father, Paul Rusesabagina.  Rusesabagina is the real man behind the movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and is recognized as a hero of the Rwandan genocide of 1994 he saved more than 1200 lives by keeping them safe in his hotel.

He has been a longtime critic of Paul Kagame who has been accused of altering election results.  Then in August 2020, he disappeared. The girls explained how their father was, “Lured from our home in San Antonio, Texas, through Dubai, where he was tricked into boarding a flight to Kigali.  An agent of the Rwandan Government, posing as a Bishop, asked our father to come to Burundi and speak to church groups about reconciliation. Having boarded a plane in Dubai expecting to fly to Burundi, he was drugged, waking only to realize he had landed in Kigali, Rwanda — a place to which he would never voluntarily return.”

The girls say he was tortured forced to make a false confession and sentenced to 25 years in prison.  His daughters reject the accusations and they are backed by the United Nations, The United States, and several other high-profile human rights agencies and countries.  They describe the recent deal between the UK and Rwanda as heartbreaking.

Rusesabagina, a cancer survivor, has allegedly suffered untreated strokes while in detention and his daughters say they are desperate.

“The Prince of Wales and other CHOGM leaders can choose to focus on their shared values and principles and push those members who do not uphold those values in practice to do so. This includes Kagame & #39;s Rwanda. Although Prince Charles is not a political figure, he can seek dialogue behind closed doors, or even ask to visit our father…we urge the Prince of Wales and all of the other leaders assembled not to stay silent and to ask Kagame to provide our father with a compassionate release now, before it is too late.”

That Rusesabagina was kidnapped by Rwandans is not far-fetched. Human Rights Watch, a UN agency, says between 2010 and 2017, they found evidence that Rwanda’s military “frequently arbitrarily detained and tortured people, beating them, asphyxiating them, using electric shocks, and staging mock executions in military camps”. They also maintained that most of the detainees were “forcibly disappeared” and held without communication with their families for months on end in “deplorable conditions.”

Rwanda has hundreds of documented cases of human rights abuses and just last year 99 UN Member Countries during a review of its human rights records found so many irregularities that they made 284 recommendations to improve the state of human rights in the country.

The United Kingdom was one of the 99 countries that admitted Rwanda had serious gaps in its upholding of human rights, which makes the decision to ship refugees there nothing short of baffling.

In fact not only did the UK recommend fixes to shortcomings in how Rwanda handles human trafficking victims they also recommended the country.

“Conduct transparent, credible, and independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture, and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Rwanda did not accept these recommendations, merely marking them as ‘noted.’  So far Prince Charles has not responded to the girl’s letter and the world will have to wait until

June 20th to see the outcome of the visit.

Africa

What If Caribbean Dollars Flowed to Africa? A Trade Revolution Within Reach

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

What would happen if the Caribbean started spending more with Africa?

That question is no longer hypothetical. It’s the vision behind a growing movement that sees the Caribbean not just as a neighbor of the Americas, but as a key partner in the rise of a “Global Africa.” With shared history, deep cultural ties, and emerging trade frameworks, experts say the potential is enormous—if the will to act finally matches the passion of the speeches.

Billions on the Table

Today, trade between Africa and the Caribbean sits at just over US $729 million annually. But the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank project that number could balloon to US $1.8 billion per year by 2028—more than doubling in just a few years.

This boost is expected to come not just from commodities, but increasingly from services, particularly in transport, travel, food exports, and creative industries. Two-thirds of that growth, according to analysts, could come from services alone—sectors where the Caribbean is eager to expand. (afreximbank.com).

Meanwhile, Africa’s consumer and business spending is forecasted to skyrocket to US $6.66 trillion by 2030, driven by a population boom and rising middle class.

The Case for a New Trade Axis

The Caribbean imports 80% of its food, but many of those goods can be sourced from African markets. What we offer in return? World-class logistics, tourism know-how, financial services, and proximity to the U.S. market. It’s a natural fit—one that is currently underdeveloped.

The recent call by Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a “Global Africa Commission” underscores this urgency. He urged stakeholders at the Afreximbank Trade Expo to stop the cycle of empty talk and get to work: building shipping routes, finalizing trade agreements, and boosting knowledge of what each region actually has to offer.

“We will not leave here with another communiqué,” Mitchell continued. “We will leave here with a commitment to act, to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.”                                                                                                                                                                                                   The statement underscored a central theme of the summit — that both Africa and the Caribbean can no longer afford to admire the idea of unity; they must operationalize it.Pilot platforms like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) are already simplifying how cross-border payments work between African countries—and could extend to Caribbean partners. The system removes the need for U.S. dollars in trade between African nations, creating space for sovereign empowerment.

What’s the Hold-Up?

Let’s be blunt: political will, slow bureaucracies, and lack of coordination are stalling real action. Despite a decade of “Africa–Caribbean unity” talk, less than 3% of CARICOM trade currently involves the African continent. That fact continues to undermine these brave speeches and ambitious notions.

Where Caribbean Consumers Fit In

Caribbean consumers—especially the younger, tech-savvy generation—are already looking for affordable, ethical, and culturally relevant goods. African markets offer exactly that. Redirecting even a fraction of spending toward African-made clothing, beauty products, tech tools, or agro-processed foods could start a real trade revolution.

Bottom Line

If the political leaders won’t build the bridge fast enough, maybe Caribbean consumers will. The money is there. The interest is rising. Now it’s time to turn the “Global Africa” vision into a real economic shift—one shopping cart at a time.

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Africa

Rwanda and DRC Sign Historic Declaration of Principles in Washington

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Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2025 — In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda today signed a Declaration of Principles aimed at paving the way for peace, stability, and economic integration in eastern DRC. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a significant step forward in efforts to resolve longstanding tensions between the two neighboring countries.

Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner signed on behalf of the DRC, while Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe signed for Rwanda. They were joined by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos, and U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Troy Fitrell.

The signing ceremony builds on the efforts of the African Union and other regional leaders who have long sought to address the complex and often violent conflict in the Great Lakes region. The Declaration of Principles establishes a framework for restoring normal bilateral relations between Rwanda and the DRC, reinforcing commitments to sovereignty, territorial integrity, security cooperation, and regional economic development.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Secretary Rubio said. “The United States is honored to support Rwanda and the DRC as they take this courageous step toward lasting peace and shared prosperity.”

The Declaration outlines key areas of cooperation, including mutual recognition of each country’s sovereignty and established borders, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the prohibition of interference in internal affairs. It emphasizes the urgent need to address security threats posed by non-state armed groups operating along the shared border and commits both governments to refrain from providing support to such groups.

To enhance security, the two nations agreed to explore the creation of a joint security coordination mechanism aimed at combating armed groups and criminal organizations. This cooperation is viewed as essential not only for stability but also for expanding legitimate trade and broader economic collaboration across the region.

In an ambitious economic vision, Rwanda and the DRC pledged to develop a phased regional integration framework, building on organizations like the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the East African Community (EAC). They plan to link this framework with U.S.-supported investments in infrastructure, hydropower, mineral supply chain transparency, and national park management.

The Declaration also addresses the humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing conflict. Both countries committed to working with UN agencies to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.

In addition, the two countries reaffirmed their support for the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and other regional mechanisms, ensuring protection for civilians and facilitating the implementation of the principles outlined in the Declaration.

Finally, in alignment with ongoing initiatives such as the Nairobi and Luanda processes, the two governments committed to drafting an initial Peace Agreement by May 2, 2025. Any disputes arising from the draft will be addressed through a Foreign Minister-level meeting in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. State Department.

Signed in duplicate in English, today’s agreement marks a hopeful new chapter in Rwanda-DRC relations, offering a potential blueprint for peace and development across one of Africa’s most conflict-affected regions.

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Africa

Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) announces 2nd Edition of The Prize for Publishing in Africa  

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21 March 2025 – Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an intervention by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) invites African publishers of trade books to apply for the second edition of the CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa.

The initiative, developed in partnership with Narrative Landscape Press Limited, underscores the commitment of Afreximbank through the CANEX Book Factory to showcasing of the literary and publishing value chain in Africa, and developing literary talent across the continent and its diaspora. The inaugural edition saw Cassava Republic Press, win the Prize in 2024 for the “Female Fear Factory: Unveiling Patriarchy’s Culture of Violence,” by Pumla Dineo Gqola.

The CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa is designed to celebrate and recognise the outstanding contributions of African publishers and authors to the literary world. The total prize fund is $28,000, with $20,000 awarded to the winner and $2,000 distributed to each of the four finalists. The prize is open to trade books published by Africa-domiciled publishers in the year preceding the prize, in one or more of the official languages of the African Union: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and any other African language.

Submissions will be judged on the quality of writing, editing and production. Priority will be given to books printed and produced on the African continent, as well as to books published in indigenous African languages. Interested publishers should visit https://canex.africa/canex-book-factory to register, with entries open from 17 March – 30 April 2025.                                                                                                                                                                  The CANEX Book Factory is an annual programme of events under Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus initiative. This year’s programme will culminate in an awards ceremony at the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Africa’s premier trade and investment event, taking place in Algiers, Algeria from 4 – 10 September 2025.

During the week-long fair, more than 2,000 exhibitors, including businesses from the African continent and globally, will be showcasing their goods and services to the visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. This is projected to translate into over US$44 billion in trade and investment deals.

Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said, “We are delighted to announce the 2025 CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa. Building on last year’s successful edition, this landmark initiative celebrates African publishing excellence. Through the CANEX Book Factory, we aim to put a spotlight on the enormous contribution of African authors and publishers to Africa’s cultural identity and economy.”

Dr Eghosa Imasuen, co-founder of Narrative Landscape Press Limited and Programme Manager for the CANEX Book Factory, said, “The first edition of the Prize greatly underscored the necessity of this intervention in the publishing value chain in Africa. We are grateful to Afreximbank and CANEX for their ongoing support of African publishing. We are excited to launch this second edition, and we hope to see submissions from more publishers across the continent than in the inaugural edition.”

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