[The 18th African Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, which officially opened last Monday, has assigned Ghana’s President John Evans Atta Mills major roles during the session of heads of State and Government.]
BURUNDI :
Burundi : lancement de l’Observatoire national des ressources humaines pour la santé
Jeudi 26 janvier 2012 /Xinhua
BUJUMBURA (Xinhua) – Le ministère burundais de la Santé publique et de la Lutte contre le sida a procédé jeudi au lancement officiel de l’Observatoire national des ressources humaines pour la santé du Burundi (ONRHSB).
Le Burundi est ainsi devenu le troisième pays en Afrique centrale à se doter d’une telle plateforme après le Cameroun et la République centrafricaine.
L’ONRHSB est un organe technique de production, de partage et de promotion de l’utilisation de l’information et des connaissances sur les ressources humaines en santé pour orienter la prise de décisions et la planification.
S’appuyant sur des structures et des acteurs existants, l’observatoire constitue une plateforme de concertation, d’ échanges et de dialogue entre les parties prenantes sur les questions majeures en ressources humaines pour la santé sur la base des preuves factuelles.
“Avec cette plateforme, on va contribuer à rassembler et synthétiser les données disponibles du pays. Cela inclut la validation des données disponibles, l’identification des futurs besoins non satisfaits. L’ONRHSB devra suivre et évaluer la dynamique de la population active et le milieu du travail dans le secteur de la santé et identifier les changements et les tendances qui sont pertinents à la politique sanitaire et à la planification “, a déclaré dans son discours de lancement le secrétaire permanent audit ministère, le Dr Norbert Birintanya.
Il a ajouté qu’avec cette nouvelle plateforme, on contribuera à améliorer les connaissances sur les ressources humaines en santé en menant des recherches et en élaborant des notes de politique et d’analyse des évaluations des interventions afin de mieux en informer le politique.
En Afrique, 14 pays se dotent d’un tel organe depuis que l’OMS a lancé en 2007 l’Observatoire Africain des Ressources Humaines pour la Santé, organe qui constitue un réseau de collaboration composé de tels observatoires nationaux et constitué d’un secrétaire régional dans lequel se retrouvent différents partenaires de la région, selon le représentant de l’OMS au Burundi, le Dr Tarande Constant Manzila.
Burundi : le fiasco politico-diplomatique de la libération de l’opposant Alexis Sinduhije
www.pressafrik.com/26012012
L’un des principaux opposants burundais, Alexis Sinduhije, a été libéré mardi 24 janvier, après 14 jours passés dans un commissariat de police de Dar es-Salaam en Tanzanie, puis il a été expulsé vers l’Ouganda, alors qu’il était sous le coup d’un mandat d’arrêt international de la justice du Burundi. Comment cet ancien journaliste, désigné parmi les 100 personnalités les plus influentes du monde par le magazine américain Times en 2008, a-t-il échappé à l’extradition? A Bujumbura, cette affaire apparaît, en tout cas, comme un fiasco politico-diplomatique.
Alexis Sinduhije est arrêté le soir du 11 janvier, juste à la sortie de son avion qui vient d’atterrir à l’aéroport de Dar es-Salaam, et l’affaire prend tout de suite des proportions considérables, au vu de la personnalité de cet opposant burundais. Selon des sources concordantes, Bujumbura va alors mettre discrètement tout son poids dans la balance pour obtenir son extradition, des courriers auraient même été échangés au plus haut sommet de l’Etat, sans résultats.
Il faut bien dire que les erreurs se sont accumulées dès le premier jour. L’opposant burundais est arrêté sans mandat, on ne lui notifie pas le motif de son arrestation et il n’est pas présenté à un juge dans les 48 heures, comme le prévoit la loi tanzanienne, selon ses avocats.
Le pouvoir burundais, qui vient d’appeler l’opposition au dialogue, ne veut pas, à ce moment, endosser la responsabilité de cette arrestation. Le gouvernement assure donc dans un premier temps qu’il n’a rien à reprocher à Alexis Sinduhije, mais le procureur est obligé de reconnaître, dix jours tard, qu’il est à l’origine de cette arrestation.
C’est cette gestion qualifiée de catastrophique, plus de fortes pressions internationales, qui ont poussé les autorités tanzaniennes à faire le choix de mécontenter le pouvoir burundais, selon des sources à Dar es-Salaam.
Source: RFI
RWANDA :
Rwanda: Locals React to Mugesera’s Deportation
Jean Pierre Bucyensenge & Stephen Rwembeho/The New Times/26 January 2012
Hagenimana Ndabamenye, Huye resident
It is good news to Rwandans because when Genocide suspects are brought back to be tried where they committed the crimes, it helps in the healing and reconciliation process. People get to know the truth of what really happened. It is also good for Genocide survivors to see that justice is prevailing.
The process of Mugesera deportation has taken a long time. But what we should appreciate is that it finally took place. This is another achievement for the Rwandan justice.
Francois Xavier Nzamuye, Watchman, Huye town
Anyone who played a role in the 1994 Genocide must be held responsible. All those that have chosen to run across the globe should own up. I would rather advise them to come back and ask for forgiveness and then let justice take its course.
Egide Mugabo, student at ULK and genocide survivor
The decision by the Canadian government cements the fact that Rwanda’s quality of justice is excellent. I commend Canada for doing what was needed…I however would love to see Mugesera tried in Gacaca-like courts in every sector of Rwanda-he virtually wronged all Rwandans and they would like to see him at close range.
Benjamin Igiraneza, Student-National University of Rwanda
As a Rwandan, I think this sends a very important message to the world, and especially to those countries that are not willing to bring genocide suspects to justice. They should learn from Canada’s decision to deport Mugesera.
Uganda honours Kagame, Nguema
Jan 27, 2012/By Vision Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has awarded the visiting Presidents of Rwanda Paul Kagame and Theodore Obiang Nguema Obasago of Equatorial Guinea with the most excellent 0rder of the Pearl of Africa, the Grand Master in recognition of their selfless contribution to peace and stability not only in their own countries but also in their respective regions.
The ceremony took place on Thursday during the ceremonies marking 26thNRA/NRM anniversary held at Sebei College Tegres in Kapchorwa district. The ceremonies of the awards were also witnessed by the spouses of the visiting leaders.
President Kagame, who joined FRONASA movement to fight against the dictatorial regime of Idi Amin in the 70s, further received the Kagera and Luwero Medals.
The former gender minister and current RDC of Kapchorwa Jane Frances Kuka received a civilian medal “the Distinguished Order of the Nile – Class 4 in recognition of her current fight against Female Genital Mutilation.
President Museveni, who congratulated Ugandans upon reaching the 26th anniversary of the NRM victory, said contrary to false information peddled by some media houses that NRM has not caused any fundamental development changes in Uganda, told the nation that a lot of achievements have been registered in all spheres of life.
He cited the freedom of speech that he described as unbeatable in the world. The President pointed out that this freedom that would be better used constructively had been abused by peddlers of lies.
Museveni also mentioned the size of the economy as another area where the NRM has registered fundamental changes making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
He disclosed that in 1986, the annual GDP of Uganda was only sh3.4 trillion compared today’s size of the economy that has grown 12 times to sh 39 trillion.
The President said the economy would have done better had it been for the slow pace that is engineered by political indiscipline that frustrated the development of Bujagali hydro power station and the sugar projects.
He, however, assured the nation that with the discovery of petroleum resource, the sky is the limit in terms of development.
He explained that the oil that the NRM government discovered will enable the country fund the development of the infrastructure.
President Museveni also cited human resource development as one of the fundamental changes brought about by the NRM; innovations by scientists, like the Kiira Electric vehicle and value addition to food stuffs.
He added that security of person and property are also guaranteed adding that a person who can’t see these glaring developmental changes must be that sick.
The President noted that the only challenge today is that of corruption over which he assured the people of Uganda that it will be solved the way the NRM tackled other problems.
President Museveni thanked the people of Sebei for supporting NRM and assured them that their road to Bukwo will be worked on. He said a barracks will soon be built in Bukwo to check the neighbouring Kenya Pokot community disturbances that often cross the border to raid animals from them.
He strongly encouraged the people of Sebei sub-region to embrace commercial agriculture that, he said, will liberate them from poverty in their families.
Earlier, the visiting President of Equatorial Guinea, Theodore Obiang Nguema thanked President Museveni for the prestigious award and the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.
He noted that the award shows the great love President Museveni has for the people of Equatorial Guinea and himself. He, however, noted that as the current Chairman of the African Union, the continent must be recognized as an independent body that is capable of solving her problems without the interference of western powers.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, on his part, expressed gratitude and appreciation for having been honored with the distinguished medal for the humble contribution to the freedom of Uganda.
He dedicated the medals to the people of Rwanda and Uganda who, he said, committed their lives to fight for the freedom that they are all enjoying today.
He added that the strong ties that exist between the people of Rwanda and those of Uganda, are manifested by the way President Museveni stood by the people of Rwanda during their struggle.
President Kagame noted that today, the major challenge is the transformation of the societies of the two countries. He said the only way forward is to struggle together like the peoples of the 2 countries fought for freedom together. He said the medals should also spur the current generation to work hard for prosperity.
The colourful NRM anniversary celebrations were also attended, among others, by Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, the Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, the Chief Justice, Justice Benjamin Odoki, cultural leaders, Members of Parliament and the diplomatic corps.
Trending: Arsène Wenger should leave says the Rwandan president
www.telegraph.co.uk/ Friday 27 January 2012
Arsenal manager loses a key international ally. He really shouldn’t have brought on Andrei Arsharvin against Manchester United.
TRENDING NOW
#wenger #rwanda #thanksbuddy
There comes a time in every top-level sportsperson’s life when the realisation hits: it’s time to gracefully step aside.
For Gary Neville, to give a recent example with a bad attempt at a moustache, it came last season after being repeatedly embarrassed when playing teams from the Midlands wose named begin with a “W”.
United could have drawn Walsall in the cup and Neville getting skinned by a League One winger was a prospect no-one inside Old Trafford (but everyone everywhere else) wanted to see.
For Arsène Wenger the sad moment has surely arrived today, with the news that the president of Rwanda wants him to leave the club.
“I very much support Arsenal – but to be honest Wenger needs to coach another team now and Arsenal needs another coach,” said Paul Kagame on Twitter following Arsenal’s defeat against Manchester United.
“When a good team (players) and a good coach fail for long to deliver, one of them has to change, or even both!!
“The real/main danger is for anyone to get used to mediocre/lacklustre performance and/or results and accepts to live with it … or keeps finding excuses for it!!!”
What makes the whole thing worse for Wenger is that him and Kagame were supposed to be pals.
The Arsenal manager wrote him a letter for his 50th birthday in 2007, speaking of his pride that an African statesmen was a dedicated Gooner. Wenger even arranged for his squad to sign a banner for the one-time rebel leader.
The thanks you get for a sending a world leader a banner signed by Jérémie Aliadière these days, eh?
That’s what you get for not letting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain play for an extra 10 minutes.
Rwanda: Health Officials Quell MPs’ Fears Over Counterfeit Drugs
James Karuhanga/The New Times/27 January 2012
Health officials on Wednesday assured the Lower Chamber’s Committee on Social Affairs that Rwandans have very little reason to worry about an influx of counterfeit medicines.
Reports in the Ugandan and Kenyan Press reveal that the two countries are grappling with the danger of counterfeit and unregistered medicines.
MP Liberata Kayitesi, a member of the Committee, said she had heard of similar complaints from the general public.
“I seek clarity on this. We often hear people say that there are medicines that enter, perhaps from India, that are probably cheap. Some of such complaints are even made by pharmacists. So, how do they enter? What process does a drug go through in order to be approved for the market?” she wondered.
These concerns were raised as the Committee began examining the draft law establishing regulations on medicines, medical devices, poisons, cosmetics, herbal medicines and other related health commodities.
Health Minister, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, and the Pharmacy Task Force Coordinator in the Ministry, John Patrick Mwesigye, told MPs that there should be no cause for worry since the ministry is vigilant.
Binagwaho assured MPs that drugs must pass the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards before they are allowed into the country.
“When there are any side effects, we collect a sample of the drug and send it to an international laboratory for assessing, because this [substandard drug] can happen even with the best factory,” said Dr. Binagwaho.
“And the other thing is regulations; not everybody can import, not everybody can store, and not everybody can sell, to guarantee the [safe] channel.”
The Minister stressed that Interpol is also an active partner in tackling related crimes, globally.
“We know that it is possible a drug may come from Europe, or America, or India, or Brazil, and enter the country and cause problems, like it can happen elsewhere. But those responsible have a right to ask for the drug to be put off the market. When we learn that a bad drug is in the country, we immediately halt its sale,” Mwesigye said.
“The Ministry has mechanisms to do this, right from health centres, to the extent that if such a drug is identified, or if a patient notices unusual side effects, however minor, a report is given to the Ministry and we follow up. Whenever it’s necessary, we inquire from the manufacturer about the problem”.
In September, last year, Kenyan newspaper reports said authorities there scrambled to get rid of thousands of batches of counterfeit antiretrovirals (ARVs) from circulation after patients and nurses reported irregularities in the appearance and texture of a widely used drug, Zidolam-N.
It had been discovered that the ARVs were falsified versions of a WHO-certified generic drug purchased through a distributor endorsed by the country’s drug regulatory authority the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (KPPB).
Earlier, in December, the Ugandan National Drug Authority (DNA) described the influx of counterfeit medicines in the country as “very worrying.”
It announced that the fake medicines intercepted included Quinine Bisulphate 300mg tablets claimed to be manufactured by Laboratory and Allied Limited of Kenya, Quinine Sulphate 300mg tablets claimed to be from Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited in India, Metakelfin 500mg tablets from Pharmacia Italy and the Maxaquin 4% injection 30ml manufactured by Mac’s Pharmaceuticals in Kenya.
Meanwhile, according to the WHO’s world reports of counterfeit medicines, in 2005, in Kenya, a random survey by the National Quality Control Laboratories (NQCL) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board found that almost 30 percent of the drugs in Kenya were counterfeit.
“Some of the drugs were no more than just chalk or water marketed as legitimate pharmaceutical products. According to figures from the Kenyan Association of Pharmaceutical Industry, counterfeit pharmaceutical products account for approximately US$130 million annually in sales in the country,” says the WHO.
Africa: Rwanda Among Top Users of Twitter in the Continent
Edwin Musoni/The New Times/27 January 2012
A new report places Rwandans as the seventh top users of Twitter in Africa with close to 10,000 tweets in the last three months of 2011, according to a study.
The study was released yesterday by Portland Communications, a political consultancy and public relations agency that provides communications and public affairs advice to top brands and high-profile individuals.
The survey dubbed “How Africa Tweets” indicates that, in the last quarter of 2011, Portland Communications and Tweetminster conducted a unique study into the use of Twitter in Africa.
Analysis of over 11.5 million geo-located tweets originating on the continent and a survey of 500 of Africa’s most active tweeters showed that the seventh most active country was Rwanda with 92,880.
“The first survey of its kind in this region, How Africa Tweets, will serve as a benchmark for measuring the evolution of Twitter on the continent,” reads part of Portland Communications’ report.
South Africa led the table with 5,030,226 tweets, followed by Kenya (2,476,800). Nigeria (1,646,212), Egypt (1,214,062) and Morocco (745,620), while Algeria emerged sixth with 103,200 tweets.
The study also found that 57 percent of tweets from Africa were sent from mobile devices, 60 percent of Africa’s most active tweeters are between 20 to 29 years old and that 81 percent of those polled mainly used it for communicating with friends.
“Sixty eight percent said they use Twitter to monitor news and 22 percent to search for job opportunities,” reads the survey.
President Paul Kagame is among the Heads of State who have taken the microblogging site to directly engage or respond to people inside and outside Rwanda.
The Head of State has previously said he finds time in between his busy schedule to attend to his Twitter account @PaulKagame and answer questions, if any, or comment on current issues around the world.
Commenting on the ranking, Lucy Mbabazi, a public policy and IT specialist, who is also an ardent Tweep (moniker for people who tweet), said that Twitter had managed to contribute highly in the social affairs sector in Rwanda.
“If I can tweet police and ask them to ensure more safety at some junctions and they do it, I think the potential is massive. Also, the Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho’s Monday sessions on twitter are interactive and informative, this has made the ministry very responsive to feedback,” Mbabazi wrote in her tweets.
Jacqueline Ndinda, a Kenyan Freelance journalist, said that Rwanda deserved to come among the best countries in Africa considering the fact that President Kagame has taken the lead in motivating his citizens to use the social media platform.
“Rwandan President gives all other African countries a run. He engages in conversation. Which other African President does that? But I don’t see a big number of tweeps from Rwanda engaging him, it’s an opportunity Rwandans should exploit,” said Ndinda
A hash-tag of #Africatweets was suggested for debate on the findings. Twitters offers 140 characters to microblog and paste links from websites.
RDC CONGO:
Législatives en RDC: le camp Kabila en tête dans les résultats partiels
Publié le 27.01.2012/www.leparisien.fr
Le parti du président de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) Joseph Kabila et ses alliés devancent nettement l’opposition aux élections législatives du 28 novembre 2011, selon les résultats donnés dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi par la Commission électorale et portant sur près de 87% des 500 sièges à attribuer.
Le Parti du peuple pour la reconstruction et la démocratie (PPRD), du président Kabila, obtient 58 des 432 sièges pour lesquels les résultats ont été annoncés par circonscription par la Commission électorale nationale indépendante (Céni) et totalisés par l’AFP. Le PPRD avait obtenu 111 sièges lors des précédentes législatives de 2006.
En deuxième position arrive le parti de l’opposant Etienne Tshisekedi, l’Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS), avec 34 sièges. L’UDPS avait boycotté les élections de 2006 et son leader a récemment considéré “comme nulles” celle de 2011.
Parmi les partis alliés à M. Kabila, quatre se détachent et obtiennent entre une douzaine et plus d’une vingtaine de sièges, alors que du côté de l’opposition deux partis seulement arrivent à des résultats similaires, dont le Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC), qui recueille 20 sièges. Le MLC était le principal parti d’opposition à l’Assemblée en 2006, avec 64 sièges.
Une centaine de partis devraient être représentés à l’Assemblée, avec un ou deux sièges.
Sur les 432 députés donnés élus par la Céni figurent 44 femmes.
Le reste des chiffres sera livré lundi par la Céni qui a reporté à plusieurs reprises l’annonce -initialement prévue le 13 janvier- des résultats de ce scrutin après la multiplication des critiques sur le processus de compilation et des contestations de candidats.
La Commission électorale a annoncé avoir demandé à la cour suprême de justice -qui proclamera les résultats définitifs d’ici deux mois après examen des probables recours- l’annulation du scrutin dans 7 des 169 circonscriptions à cause de violences ou incidents lors du vote, de même que des poursuites judiciaires pour une quinzaine de candidats accusés de violences.
La Céni avait déjà été critiquée après la publication en décembre des résultats de la présidentielle -couplée aux législatives-, attribuant la victoire au sortant Joseph Kabila mais contestés par Etienne Tshisekedi.
Ce dernier, arrivé deuxième, s’est autoproclamé “président élu” après avoir dénoncé de nombreuses irrégularités lors du scrutin, constatées également par des missions d’observation nationale et internationale
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Lire suite du document : bur27012012.doc
