Leon Mugesera was formally charged with “planning genocide, inciting the masses to participate in genocide and distribution of arms” at Nyamirambo court in Kigali on 2nd February.

The case is adjourned until April 2 to give the defendant time to find a lawyer and prepare his defence.

Mugesera moved to Canada in early 1993. He’s been fighting extradition for the last sixteen years. He was finally deported on 24 January, 2012.

He arrived at the court in a regular police pick-up. There were no escort vehicles and there was no extraordinary security inside or outside the courtroom. He was handcuffed at the front, wore a grey suit, looked in good health and remained placid throughout.

Roughly fifteen journalists awaited his arrival. There were three video cameramen. The muzungu count was a total of three – all journalists.

The benches in the courtroom slowly filled. I counted 80 – 90 people inside the court, plus 4 or 5 police officers. However, there were still seats for more and no-one was left standing squashed in at the back.

The court was very quiet. The proceedings started at 9AM, were in Kinyarwanda and lasted thirty minutes. There were no microphones and speakers making it very difficult for those near the back to hear anything.

This case, and others set to start soon, is a major turning point and a major test for Rwanda’s justice system. A successful, smooth trial could mean more genocide suspects are sent back to Rwanda.

As Carina Tertsakian, of Human Rights Watch, told me recently – “we are likely to see a sort of snowball effect”. It’s a question I put to President Paul Kagame at a press conference in Kigali yesterday,

“Long overdue… It should have happened long ago… It’s a very good thing, I’ll go with that.”

“And, of course, it’s in a sense a breakthrough… There have been all sorts of debates with human rights groups, with all kinds of people. People who even don’t want to see some of these genocidaire tried at all. There are all kinds of people who, one way or the other, make things difficult for Rwanda to see justice done…”

“…The justice system in Rwanda has registered very significant progress…”

“…I’ve no doubt that they’ll be handled to everybody’s satisfaction to see that justice is properly done. Then, I’ve no doubt that it eases the possibility of having more cases coming over to Rwanda. For me, which is a good thing as far as seeing justice being done.”

For more on the case of Leon Mugesera, have a look through these story links. And below is a brief slideshow of images from his first appearance in a Rwandan court.

This is a bit of a landmark moment for Rwanda. Almost eighteen years after the genocide, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has formally transferred its first case to Rwanda for prosecution in Rwanda.

The case of Jean Uwinkindi – “a pastor arrested in Uganda in 2010 and indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity” – will be a major test for Rwanda’s justice system. If they don’t mess up, it’s likely that we’ll see more cases moving from Arusha to Kigali in the near future.

In a prepared statement, ICTR prosecutor Hassan B. Jallow said,

“The referral reflects our acknowledgement of the important advancements Rwanda hasmade in terms of law reform and capacity building within the justicesystem. With the assistance of donors , as well as the ICTR, these measures ensure that the legal system is consistent with international standards. With this renewed confidence in the capacityand robustness of Rwandan justice, we will encourage more cases to bereferred by the ICTR to Rwanda for trial”. link

Here is my report on the handover for Reuters,

Previous Rwandan attempts to have the court hand it some of the cases were unsuccessful. Rwanda’s parliament scrapped the death penalty for genocide suspects in 2007, and has introduced a number of legal reforms required by the court.

“Our justice system has come of age,” Rwanda’s Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said. “For us, this is more than just transferring one case.”

“It is opening doors for many other cases to flow in. It is time to bring Rwandan cases home to Rwanda.” link

Many will see the transfer of Uwinkindi as, in a way, legitimizing the Rwandan judicial system from an international, as well as national, perspective. However, some analysts have concerns about the reality on the ground.

I spoke with Carina Tertsakian, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, about the case and what it means going forward for Rwanda.

Here are some snippets from our conversation, some of which didn’t make it into the finished story,

“There have been a number of legal reforms in Rwanda some of which have been quite positive and have maybe encouraged such a transfer.”

“Despite those positive reforms we still have concerns about the lack of independence of the judiciary and we don’t believe that there are guarantees that Rwanda can provide a fair trial.”

“The government of Rwanda does have the ability to influence what goes on in the courts, especially on political or sensitive cases. The judiciary can’t always act independently, even if there are independently minded judges operating there.”

“In a broad sense, it’s our view that there isn’t a guarantee of a fair trial in Rwanda.”

Photograph taken at the press conference in Lemigo Hotel, Kigali.

The key findings of a French report into the downing of the plane carrying President Habyarimana in April, 1994 were made public through lawyers in Paris yesterday.

I spent 25 minutes with Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Kigali this morning to discuss the report, Franco-Rwanda relations, press freedom, political space and regional diplomatic relations.

A small portion of what was discussed appears in this report for Reuters. The Minister said the findings of the Trevidic report were a big issue for Rwanda,

“This a big issue in this country. Certainly, in terms of public perception the fact that there was a French judge who messed up. And now, there is another French judge who is working in a professional manner,” Mushikiwabo said in an interview. “This is a small part of the repair that has to be done on the relationship, but it certainly helps.” link

If and when I get the time – and if there’s any interest – I will transcribe and blog the entire interview. However, in brief, I got a sense from the interview that the report might now allow Rwanda, and France, to turn an important page and move on.

There is still a great deal of animosity between the French Foreign Minister – Alain Juppé – and Rwanda. Indeed, the current French Ambassador to Rwanda was, allegedly, given his marching orders by the Elysee after comments he made in Jeune Afrique about Franco-Rwanda relations. We have yet to see how his replacement – “Juppé’s woman” – they’re old friends from Montreal – will step into Laurent Contini’s ambassadorial shoes in Kigali.

For more reaction and reportage following the Trevidic report, take a look through these links. Here is my colleague Themis’ report for Reuters TV (in French).

Photo taken on my phone on the sixth floor, waiting to interview the Minister, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kigali.

Update: Here’s a video summary from Euronews of the findings of the report and the history of Franco-Rwanda relations.

A grenade exploded at a small, dirt road intersection in Nyabisindu, Gasabo district, near Amahoro Stadium in Kigali tonight. The shaky image above shows the cordoned off area where the grenade exploded. As I blog, twenty people are confirmed wounded. I saw several victims at nearby Kibagabaga hospital who had lost limbs.

I filed a quick report for Reuters over phone and via SMS after visiting the scene of the attack, speaking to eyewitnesses, the police spokesman and then visiting the hospital,

A grenade attack wounded 20 people near an open-air fruit and vegetable market in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, police said on Tuesday.

A Reuters witness said some of the victims lost their legs and arms when the grenade exploded as night fell in the Gasabo district of the capital.

“A grenade blast injured around 20 people. We think there was only one grenade,” Police Spokesman Theos Badege told Reuters at the scene of the blast. link for full report

Nyabisindu is like many non-descript, dirt track areas of Kigali. The kind of place where local folk sell fruit and vegetables in front of shops and houses and workers sit outside for a Primus or a Fanta in the evening.

There have been more than ten grenade attacks in Kigali in nearly two years – see the map below. There have been arrests, a number of people have admitted to throwing grenades and the case is ongoing.

This latest attack comes after a long period of calm. The last grenade attack in Rwanda was not in Kigali, but in Rusizi district in western Rwanda in July, 2010.

View Kigali grenade attacks 2010 – 2011 in a larger map

Update: 4 January, 2012 – Rwanda police now confirm 18 people in total were wounded and of those two died of their injuries in the Nyabisindu grenade attack. Here’s my update for Reuters. My colleague at Reuters TV also has a short video report from the scene.

Update: The U.S. Embassy published a Warden’s message about the attack

Update: Paris-based journalist Daniel Finnan speaks with Theos Badege, Rwanda police spokesman about the attack (audio file).

Update: The BBC quotes the Rwanda National Congress in a report on the attack,

“Either the government is implicated in these periodic grenade attacks, so as to find pretext to crack down on the political opposition at a time of dwindling internal and foreign support, or the regime has lost the ability to protect its citizens,” Theogene Rudasingwa, of the opposition Rwanda National Congress (RNC), said in a statement.

Mr Rudasingwa, who was once a close adviser to President Paul Kagame and ex-secretary general of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the rebel army that put a stop to the 1994 genocide, called it a “cowardly act”. link

Update: Rwanda Police update on the attack,

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) calls upon the general public to remain calm and vigilant following the grenade explosion on Tuesday evening in Gasabo district, City of Kigali, which injured 18 people.

The explosion happened at about 6:40PM in Marembo Village, Nyabisindu Cell, Remera Sector, in a populated area where people were selling fruits and vegetables.

Two people died, 15 have so far been treated and discharged, while one remains under medical treatment at Kanombe hospital.

As investigations continue, Rwanda National Police assures the public that whoever is behind the blast will be brought to book to answer the criminal charges, like has been the case in the past.

We urge the public to continue to cooperate and share timely information, through community policing channels, by reporting anything suspicious to the nearest police station or other security organs and concerned authorities.

Rwanda National Police extends our sympathy to those affected by this criminal incident. We remain committed to working for a crime free Rwanda. link

Update: 5 January, 2012 – Rwanda’s Minister of Health visited victims of the attack at Kibagabaga hosptial,

The Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, yesterday visited victims of Tuesday’s grenade attack who are admitted at Kibagabaga and Rwanda Military hospitals. The explosion occurred at about 6:40pm in Marembo Village, Nyabisindu Cell, Remera Sector.

During her visit, the minister condemned the act saying it was inhuman.

“I am very angry and disappointed that such a thing happened. Everyone should stand against such inhumane acts,” urged the minister, adding that the victims will get the necessary medical treatment required to recuperate. She commended the medical teams for acting swiftly to help the victims. link

Update: Radio Netherlands Worldwide has a good, short report following up on events with some of the victims of the attack,

In the aftermath of the tragedy, survivors of the explosion are still struggling to recall the events. Everything happened so fast, Eugène Niyibizi explains: “I was about to go to the shoemaker when I was burnt on the forehead by a sudden blast. Before I knew it, I was being transported to the Kibagabaga hospital by soldiers who were assisting the victims”…

…“We’ve taken 18 injured victims to various hospitals, namely in Kibagabaga and Kanombe. Two of the three critically injured victims died on the way to the hospital”, declared police spokesperson Theos Badege.

However, according to Christian Umuhoza, a doctor at the Kibagabaga hospital, there were more casualties. “We received 32 injury cases, 25 were able to return to their families and seven were kept here for observation. One critically injured patient was transferred to the Kanombe hospital. We are currently treating six injury cases here in Kibagabaga”. link

Smuggling of minerals between DR Congo and Rwanda has “risen substantially during 2011” according to a report published by the United Nations Group of Experts on DR Congo today. Here is my feature for Reuters on the UN report written with Jonny Hogg, Reuters Kinshasa-based correspondent. The report, which also covers rebel groups, arms dealing and human rights issues, states,

“The level of recorded domestic production of tin, tungsten and tantalum ores continues to be higher than industry analysts consider the real level of production to be… suggesting that material from the DRC is being smuggled into Rwanda, and then tagged as of Rwandan origin.”

This claim is disputed by the Stanislav Kamanzi, the Minister of Natural Resources in Rwanda in an interview in Kigali earlier today,

“For sure attempts of minerals illegal boarder crossing have been observed in the past, but stringent measures were also taken to discourage that,” said Kamanzi.

“The return to DRC by the Government of Rwanda, of 90 tonnes of impounded fraudulent minerals is testimony to that. In the same vein our security and customs institutions have put in place adequate mechanisms to prevent such occurrences. If any that succeed to leak across the border, our mineral traceability system, which Rwanda is the only country to implement in the whole region, prevents them from entering the legal mineral trading circuits.”

“The alleged widespread fraudulent mineral entries in Rwanda is really more of exaggeration. Mining in Rwanda is benefiting consistent foreign and domestic investment which has made it the principal national export earner. As Government, we are committed to ensuring the sector is not interfered with by any unregulated practices from outside.”

“Finally, as Rwanda we would like to see other Countries embrace the mineral traceability system, which would provide an open framework for legal minerals trading, and an opportunity for the our respective Countries to effectively use those resources they are endowed with, to support their socio-economic development.”

However,  the extensive UN report details alleged smuggling across legal and illegal border crossings,

“Smuggling is a widespread problem. Minerals can pass unrecorded through official crossings but most smugglers use illegal border crossings. The Group of Experts identified a number of such crossings, including a street controlled by General Ntaganda in Goma and a small Lake Kivu port north of Bukavu run by elements of the FARDC Navy. Smugglers sometimes try to launder untagged material into the ITRI tin supply chain initiative (iTSCi) in Rwanda, threatening the credibility of the system.”

In addition to the smuggling allegations, the report suggests there is no conclusive link between exiled political opponents based in South Africa and the FDLR in DR Congo,

“There is widespread interest amongst rebel groups, including within the FDLR, in an alliance with South Africa-based political opponents, Patrick Karegeya and Kayumba Nyamwasa. However, to date, the Group did not find conclusive evidence indicating that the dissidents themselves have provided either financial or material support to the FDLR or any other group in the eastern DRC.”

An allegation that Rwanda has previously contested and is likely to contest once the report has been digested.

There is plenty more of interest within the report that is likely to spark plenty of debate both within the Great Lakes region and elsewhere. Not least, the allegations against Bosco Ntaganda, who is still a general in the army despite being subject to the ICC arrest warrant,

Border police officers in Goma complained to the Group that Ntaganda’s soldiers deny access to the border between the two official crossings. The same sources informed the Group that in June 2011, the police attempted to intercept an estimated three tonnes of material being smuggled through the illegal border crossing. Ntaganda’s troops arrested the police officer in charge and detained him for the duration of the operation. The Group visited the streets adjacent both sides of the border and witnessed that Ntaganda’s soldiers were positioned in a tent on the DRC side, in full view of RDF soldiers deployed along the Rwandan side. Congolese frontier police and intelligence services, as well as Rwandan officials, confirmed that RDF soldiers have sentry posts all along the border and that nothing can cross without their knowledge.

Photo of artisinal miner in Gicumbi district, Rwanda taken from my Flickr account.

Following on from the story I did for Reuters on the use of biogas in Rwanda’s prison system, I put together a nine photo slideshow for the BBC. It tells much the same story, but… in pictures. I was pleased to hear from the BBC this morning that the piece had “120,000 hits on Sunday” and that the story was the “biggest hitting african story – of any kind – yesterday + biggest for a week or so” Plus, a couple of days later, “another 50,000 yesterday – again top-hitting african story. So we can assume at least 200,000 altogether.”*

Good for the ego, and good for Rwanda – it’s a great human interest story about things that have been done in the name of “development”and that appear to work well.

Often, in Rwanda, the chatter around development is more about plans, policies, reports, workshops, presentations, seminars and seemingly endless action plans, than any actual “doing”. Hence, I was more than happy to follow up on the prison biogas story when, in late August, 2011, I read that

“We have finished installing biogas plants in all the prisons, which accounts to 75 percent of the energy needs. The rest is covered by peat energy and a small amount of firewood” – Deputy Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), Mary Gahonzire – link

I ended up having to visit Nsinda prison in Rwamagana province, eastern Rwanda on two occasions. On the first visit we – Reuters – didn’t have the right permission, so we couldn’t film anything at all. Neither could I take the photographs I wanted to.

It took a further six weeks or so to finally get the right signature from the right person on the right piece of paper. This allowed us to go back to the prison, interview everyone we wanted to and film and photograph everything we needed to file our story across text, TV and photographs.

With that one piece of paper secure in our hands, we got unimpeded access to film and photograph whatever we wanted – related to the biogas project.

We also got to see inside the prisoner’s living quarters, although we were not allowed to film or photograph in there. Almost eight thousand prisoners live in rows of large tents inside the walled compound. I’m told Nsinda is a “model prison”. Even so, it was no holiday camp in there, believe me.

If you’re interested in learning how the biogas system works and the environmental and financial benefits associated with it, do please look at the BBC photostory.

* updated 20 December, 2011

There are two ways to hunt for gold in the hills of Rwanda. The traditional method – pictured above – requires little more than a sturdy pan to sift the dirt and gravel found in the many, murky streams that snake Rwanda’s thousand hills. These “artisinal miners” are not strictly legal. The pursuit for a few specks of precious metal – look closely for those in the image below – generally leads to a Rwandan buyer, somewhere in Kigali, and a below-market-price for the hard gotten mineral gains.

The second method is far less romantic, far more organised, more regulated, with a very keen eye on the bottom line. There are two companies exploring for gold in Rwanda at the moment. I went to visit one of them – TransAfrika – at their concession in Gicumbi province, northern Rwanda. It’s a far cry from the artisinal gold panner, a kilometre or two downstream.

Hi-tech, portable drilling equipment, imported from Chile – another hilly country with a developed mining industry – is used to drill down as far as 250 metres, at a rate of up to 20 metres per day, for core samples across the concession. The samples are all sent for analysis in Kigali and Cape Town.

This is early days for gold exploration in Rwanda – TransAfrika only started soil sampling in 2008/2009. However, if the results are good enough – (in mineralspeak) that means the explorers will need to find 1 million ounces of “inferred gold” – then the “pioneer/exploration” phase could move into the mining phase in the near future. I’ll have more on this story in a week or two.

Here are some more photographs from the gold exploration area in Gicumbi province.

Four noticeable things from Ambassador Susan Rice’s speech at Kigali Institute of Technology (KIST) in the Rwandan capital this evening. The first was the activity on Twitter. I admit, I got distracted during the first part of her speech, as the now familiar praise for Rwanda’s impressive development on multiple fronts was heaped upon the audience by Ambassador Rice. Distracted, I turned to Twitter, and was pleased, and surprised to see a lot of people tweeting from within the room at KIST.

The second thing I noticed is that I was the only one to tweet the first quote mentioning the political situation in Rwanda. No-one else in the room tweeted it, retweeted it, or even went close to it.

The third thing I noticed was that Ambassador Rice’s speech ended with a fairly strong appraisal of Rwanda’s successes with warnings that these successes were not mirrored in politics, the media, human rights and freedom of expression.

The fourth and final thing I noticed in Kigali tonight was that when one, very well-spoken, member of the audience, asked a question about democracy in Rwanda, there was a very audible hummm… throughout the audience. You very rarely hear these questions in Rwanda being asked by Rwandans, let alone in a public forum like the one at KIST tonight.

I was there for Reuters, who needed to hear what the Ambassador had to say on the latest news from Libya. However, for the sake of the blog, here are some key quotes from her speech in Kigali this evening transcribed below. For the full speech, you can listen in to this less than perfect recording, (UPDATE: There is now a transcript of her entire speech.) And here is the audio of the Q&A with the KIST students.

“Rwanda has not just moved beyond its own genocide. It has consistently led by example. From Darfur to Libya and standing up against those who would commit genocide or mass atrocities.”

“I’ve visited Rwanda now several times and as always I come here as a friend. This time, for the first time, I’ll be joined by my family. I want them to see your beautiful country and to learn what can be accomplished when a proud people unite in common cause.”

“I want them also to witness and take inspiration from your achievements. I believe as well that friends should speak frankly to friends.”

“Rwanda’s economic vitality has moved the country forward. Social progress has been substantial, yet the political culture in Rwanda remains comparatively closed. Press restrictions persist, civil society activists, journalists and political opponents of the government often fear organising peacefully and speaking out. Some have been harassed, some have been intimidated by late night callers, some have simply disappeared.”

“Yet, the world is moving rapidly in a different direction. Across the globe, including in societies where a common system rose that freedom would never arise, we’re seeing people demand the right to chart their own future. To organise peaceful demonstrations and to criticise their own governments. From… Tunisia, the demand to be heard has spread across North Africa and the Middle East…”

“…They will keep speaking out because they have a universal right to do so. And they know it. These rights: freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom to organise peacefully, are just as valid, just as inherent in Asia, in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa as they are in Europe, America or the Middle East.”

“As President Kagame said, I quote, “The uprising in Libya has already sent a message to leaders in Africa and beyond. It is that if we lose touch with our people, if we do not serve them as they deserve and address their needs, there will be consequences. Their grievances will accumulate — and no matter how much time passes, they can turn against you.” End quote.”

“The deepening and broadening of democracy can be the next great achievement of this great country and its remarkable people. In Rwanda, economic development and political openness can reinforce… this is Rwanda’s next great developmental challenge.”

“And with all that you have achieved ove the past seventeen years, I am confident that you will pass this milestone as well.”

The Associated Press has more. The photo of Ambassador Rice at the post-speech press conference is taken from my Flickr account. The photo from the KIST lecture is also on Flickr.

The concept is simple; Prisoners go to the toilet, their waste is collected, it makes gas, the gas goes to the kitchen, prisoners cook using the gas, eat the food they cook, go to the toilet… and the whole process starts again. I have visited Nsinda Prison in Rwamagana district in eastern Rwanda twice in the past couple of months to put together a story for Reuters on biogas in the prison and renewable energy throughout Rwanda. There’s a taster below. More photographs will follow in a week or so.

NSINDA PRISON, Rwanda, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A prisoner ignites a faint blue flame under one of 10 massive stoves in a prison kitchen in eastern Rwanda to start preparing a maize and bean lunch for the inmates.

Once powered by costly, environmentally-damaging firewood, the kitchen in Nsinda prison now runs on a free, renewable resource – the waste from nearly 8,000 inmates, many jailed for their part in the 1994 genocide, and manure from cows.

Rwanda has installed biogas plants in all 14 of its prisons, one small part of the central African nation’s plan to use renewable energy rather than the charcoal and firewood that provides 85 percent of its energy needs.

It plans to take biogas into Rwandan homes, where just 14 percent of the population currently has access to electricity, the Energy Ministry says.

“Before using biogas, we were using 1 billion Rwandan francs ($1.7 million) to buy firewood each year. After using biogas, we have reduced that amount by 85 percent.” Emmanuel Ndori, director of biogas production in Rwanda’s prisons, told Reuters. read more

UPDATE 18 December, 2011: I produced a slideshow about the biogas system in Nsinda Prison for the BBC.

Rwanda is in the process of reforming the media law. Should the law become enacted, print media will self-regulate. Rwanda is regularly criticised by organisations such as Reporters without Borders and the Committee to Protect journalists for a lack of press freedom. However, some Rwandan journalists, emboldened by the proposed new law, believe the time is now right to enter the newspaper market.

The latest player is The Chronicles, a weekly English language newspaper, launched this week by MGC Consult. The first edition is available for free in Kigali in Nakumatt supermarket and other locations. I spoke with Christopher Kayumba, Consulting Editor to The Chronicles who is also a lecturer, and spokesperson, at the National University of Rwanda, about the launch.

Why launch a new newspaper in Rwanda now?

The new newspaper is called The Chronicles. It’s a weekly. It has been a long time in coming. Me and my colleagues have been in the media sector since 1996. We have been wanting to start a professional Rwandan newspaper, a newspaper that would report all points of view, a newspaper that would do investigative and interpretive journalism and a newspaper that would not be interested in promoting this political ideology or the other.

Why did you decide to publish in English, have you got a Kinyarwanda edition?

Yes, we will be starting a Kinyarwanda edition. It will be called Umuturage. We could not start both of them at the same time. We are in the process of that and probably in two or three months, we should have that one up and running.

The first edition is free, but what price will it retail at?

800 Rwanda Francs for retail and then 600 Francs for subscription.

What about the competition in Rwanda. How do you expect to fare?

In terms of competition, we don’t think there is that much competition – if by competition we mean in terms of content and news produced. Maybe in terms of getting the adverts, that might be the challenge. I don’t think adverts are given depending on the quality of the paper or not.

I noticed in your first edition the only adverts are for your own newspaper. Isn’t it difficult to get advertising in Rwanda?

From my colleagues who have been publishing they tell me that it is difficult, but for us we have a different marketing strategy. Ours is based on the idea that good journalism brings good business. We think that if we are able to operate between three months and one year, with good journalism, we will be able to attract business.

What are your projected sales?

We think we should be able to sell anything between five thousand and twenty thousand because that is the number of “elites”, according to our survey, who are able to buy English newspapers.

Will you be selling it all over Rwanda or only in Kigali?

All over Rwanda. Absolutely. We are also targeting the Burundi market and the Ugandan market. We have sent four hundred copies to Burundi and one thousand copies in Uganda of the first edition. The newspaper’s market is not just Rwanda, we are looking at the East African market, even in terms of advertising.

Your competition is really newspapers like The East African then?

Yes, The East African, The Monitor and New Vision.

Nation Media are supposed to be opening in Rwanda quite soon, do you see them as competition as well?

Nation Media is a big media company. It’s the biggest in this region. I think they have certain advantages, especially to do with expertise and finance, in terms of capital. But, we also have our own advantages because we understand this market, we have the context better than Nation Media. We know, because of their financial muscle, they are a serious company.

What about the draft new media law which is supposed to go through, I believe, in November. Will that affect how you work?

Actually, one of the reasons we started the newspaper at this time is because we believe that there is an increasing political will to open up the political space for newspapers properly. That also means that the media law, as we know it, is under review and it is before cabinet. Certain clauses that are not good for a free media are being removed, including clauses on the powers of the Media High Council to be able to close down newspapers. One of the reasons we are beginning at this time is because the changes, the reform that is taking place, is positive, is good for the private press to grow.

You had to register The Chronicles under the present system with the Media High Council, was that a fairly straightforward thing to do?

All the people involved, because we had all the requirements, it wasn’t a problem registering even under these laws. The people involved all have degrees in journalism. We had some back up capital. Normally, these two are the biggest challenges.

About the design of the newspaper. I’ve noticed another newspaper – Isonga – which started quite recently. Have you see that?

Yes, I have seen Isonga. It’s owned by the people write Rwanda Dispatch (a monthly news magazine). It was started by assistance by Rwanda governance advisory council.

It’s a government mouthpiece really?

Well, it’s privately owned, but I think it has that kind of editorial bent.

From an observer’s point of view, The Chronicles and Isonga both look like professional newspapers, just in the design. Is that something you’re trying to push because it’s not very common in Rwanda newspapers?

Exactly, both the structure, design and content. We are very interested in having a more professionally designed newspaper, but also in content.

How many journalists do you have working?

At the moment, we have about seven. But these have also been working with MGC Consult for quite some time. They work in both areas.

Are they all based in Kigali or around the country?

All of them are based here, but because we have other projects up country, we often go up country.

Rwanda has quite a difficult reputation around the world with Reporters sans frontiers, Committee to Protect Journalists about press freedom. What’s your view on that? Starting a new newspaper, it must be a worry, surely?

Like I told you, what Reporters without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists or Amnesty International have been writing about (Rwanda), is something that is in the past. As I told you, there is a media reform that is going on. And as someone who lectures in media, who is a consultant, I have been participating since the beginning, so I think there is a positive development that should be exploited now.

For a first edition, with the reputation Rwanda has, The Chronicles shows a lot of promise. There are in depth features and commentary on the new media law, Franco-Rwanda relations, political reshuffles, sports and lifestyle pieces and an editorial explaining the newspaper’s mission. Here’s a snippet,

The founding philosophy of The Chronicles is that human beings, including Rwandans, have an inalienable right to think and self-express freely. For this right to be meaningful, Rwandans, like any other human beings need a trusted forum to mediate the exchange of ideas, views and information. We believe that it is through this kind of interaction that Rwanda can pursue sustainable development, happiness and peaceful co-existence as well as entrench a democratic culture.

To entrench a democratic culture watered by a shared future and peaceful co-existence, Rwandans need not only to openly and freely express themselves, but also to hear the views of others; know the truth of what is going on in their society; read and hear about what is being done in their name by public officials, and how it is being done. It is through access to such news and information that Rwandans take and will continue to take informed decisions about their lives and their country. The Chronicles comes and promises to play this role, acting as a trusted platform for open, free and reasoned debate.

This does not mean that there are no newspapers in Rwanda contributing to this. Indeed, there are about 27 registered newspapers and magazines in the country today. However, even with the contribution of these media outlets, there are specific, identifiable and critical information gaps that The Chronicles comes to fill. link

If we are to take Christopher at his word, it will be a newspaper worth watching, if only to see what dirt the investigative desk manages to dig up.

One concern must be the business model. The Chronicles needs advertising and to get it in Rwanda has historically meant towing a certain editorial line. Success won’t just be measured in the occasional scoop, but in finding advertising francs that don’t mind being associated with a potentially “critical” newspaper.

As for sales, the target is the five to twenty thousand “elites” which may be enough to sustain it, but Rwanda is not really a newspaper buying country. People prefer to get their news from the radio. The Chronicles will have to crack that culture with quality, interesting content, in Kinyarwanda too, to get enough people to stump up 800 Francs a week – in a country where 800 Francs is still more than a day’s wages for most people.

Update: January 3, 2012 – Rwandan radio station Contact FM held a discussion in late 2011 about the state of the media. Christopher Kayumba took part. It’s quite long, a bit rambling and unfocussed, but it’s a good listen if you want to hear from Rwandans what they think about their own media.

CROSSFIRE ON EDUCATION ISSUES IN RWANDA FEAT DG OF REB RUTAYISIRE 4/12/2011 by CrossfireCFM