RegionWeek 22nd Edition

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BURUNDI AND EAST AFRICA WEEKLY BRIEFING

SEPTEMBER 14th 2019

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NEWS CAF reportedly struggles to pay 2019 AFCON winners due to broke state

AFRICA Rwanda to host African Green Revolution Forum next year

AFRICA

AFRICA Caster Semenya turns to football, but does she quit athletics?

BURUNDI Burundi-Peace: 13th caravan of peace ofďŹ cially launched in Karusi

by Head of State

AFRICA Rwanda to host African Green Revolution Forum next year

AFRICA DR Congo: Train derails and kills around 50

SPORTS Rwanda among SoccerIndependent Experts appointed to reform CAF

What farmers should know about the availability of agricultural products for 2020 A crop season

COVER STORY

Uganda Uganda deports deports dozens dozens of of Rwandans: Rwandans:

Is the Angola-brokered MoU ditched?

Ugandan has deported around 32 Rwandan nationals to Rwanda yesterday.

Local media in Rwanda say that these Rwandan nationals were made up mostly of the pastors.

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Uganda deports dozens of Rwandans:

Is the Angola-brokered MoU ditched?

Ugandan has deported around 32 Rwandan nationals to Rwanda yesterday. Local media in Rwanda say that these Rwandan nationals were made up mostly of the pastors.

Media reported that they were ‘illegally arrested and detained in Uganda for months” on July 23, 2019.

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THE BIG PICTURE: The deportation of these Rwanda nationals comes amid the ongoing implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both Rwanda’s Kagame and Uganda’s Museveni. They both agreed to solve the months-long standoff between these ‘sister countries’.

One of the deportees from Uganda told Rwanda’s state-run media that they were arrested while in Church praying in Uganda.

“They found us in a meeting at church, we were 40 of us. They came in with guns and handcuffs and sticks, they got us out of the church, handcuffed us, bundled us into cars, and took us to prison,” one deportee said

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DIG DEEPER: Some observers say that the implementation of the Angola-brokered Memorandum of Understanding may fall flat and not have any effect on the frosty ties between Kigali and Kampala.

The next day, the group was taken for interrogation at the head office of Uganda’s military intelligence service, CMI, in Mbuya, Kampala.

“We were interrogated with hoodies over our heads,” he said.

“It was so terrifying, we could not see the interrogators and thought we were going to die”, he added.

‘Angola-brokered MoU ditched?’

Rwanda accuses Uganda of arresting, detaining and torturing Rwanda nationals in Uganda. She also accuses her ‘sister country’ of fomenting plans to topple Paul Kagame’s administration.

WHY IT MATTERS: Uganda and Rwanda officials are expected to strike a deal in Kigali, Rwanda, on how to implement fully the Angola-brokered Memorandum of Understanding.

Rwanda media report regularly that Ugfanda administration is in cahoots with the opposition members of Kigali administration such as RNC and FDLR officials in order to oust Paul Kagame.

Uganda always denies these accusations and say that they are ‘mere lies’.

But it should be noted that the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Uganda said that Rwandan nationals enter Uganda illegally and that the trouble makers will be arrested and questioned regardless of their nationalities.

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Tanzania: President JP Magufuli sacks intelligence director Modestus Kipilimba was dismissed as director-general of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS), a move seen as indicating a shake-up of the intelligence network ahead of the upcoming elections.

Modestus Kipilimba had been serving as director-general of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS) for three years in the post.

No reason for his dismissal was given.

“ Tanzania head of state John Magufuli has sacked the head of the country’s intelligence service Modestus Kipilimba, the presidency announced on Thursday 12 , September 2019.

“President John Magufuli today appointed and swore in Diwani Athuman Msuya as director-general of national intelligence,” Tanzania presidency issued in a statement on its official website.

Under Tanzanian law, the spy chief serves for a five-year term, which is renewable.

Msuya, whose appointment takes immediate effect, was previously head of the anti-corruption agency and was at one time the director of criminal investigations in the police force.

The sacking makes Kipilimba the shortest-serving director-general of TISS. Prior to his appointment, Kipilimba served as acting director of Tanzania’s National Identification Authority (Nida).

Kipilimba will be assigned to other duties, the presidency said, without giving details.

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Rwanda among SoccerIndependent Experts appointed to reform CAF Rwanda has been selected among Soccer-Independent experts that were appointed by World Football body, FIFA on Tuesday 10 September 2019, to help reform the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Rwanda Martin Ngoga who is the Speaker of the EAC Parliament and also the deputy chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee in charge of the investigatory chamber is one of the soccer-Independent experts selected by FIFA ahead of the CAF Reform taskforce.

Martin Ngoga from Rwanda was appointed alongside Abdoulaye Diop (Mali), Hossam El Shafei (Egypt), Janet Katisya (Kenya), and Ghanaian judge Anin Yeboah.

The CAF/FIFA Reform task force was inaugurated on Tuesday 10 September 2019 in Cairo, Egypt by jointly the CAF President Ahmad Ahmad and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The mission of the Reform Taskforce is to strengthen and accelerate the ongoing reforms at CAF. The key topics discussed during the meeting were auditing, transparency, the necessity for the highest standards of compliance; effective organization of

competitions, growth, and development of African football as well as advancement and support for the body’s 54 member associations, said a CAF statement on Wednesday.

count on your support, your passion and innovation,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino after chairing its first meeting in Cairo on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, CAF President Ahmad thanked the members of the task force for accepting to help CAF to accelerate its reforms programme in addition to their professional activities.

The meeting also touched on football safety and security, African football governance and revenue generation for the continent’s competitions and events.

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“There are obstacles that we faced that resulted in our request for assistance. That’s why we also need you, the independent experts. Together we will move forward.” President Ahmad said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his full support to the work of the group.

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“You members of the task force are the foundation from which the future African football will be built. We

Meanwhile, the CAF-FIFA leadership and senior management will continue their activities today when they meet with the CEOs of some of Africa’s top football clubs to share ideas on improving the continental club competitions.

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What farmers should know about the availability of agricultural products for 2020 A crop season farmers, to benefit from the availability of these agricultural products or inputs, are required to pay by late October 2019.

Guide Rurema said that Burundian farmers are to pay money for these inputs from September 16, 2019, through October 31, 2019, to purchase these fertilizers.

The farmers who have not pre-ordered have the opportunity to pay the whole purchase price during the same period, i.e September 16, 2019, to October 31, 2019, the Minister added.

‘Availability of seasonal seeds’ Concerning seasonal seeds, through the national seed grant program, the price has been discounted to 60%; thus Burundi government will have contributed 40% for the seasonal seeds.

“ Preparations for Burundi 2020 A crop season are reported to be underway and in good terms for the availability of affordable agricultural products and imports, Minister of Agriculture, Deo Guide Rurema said during a press briefing on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

Deo Guide Rurema said that chemical fertilizers namely DAP, Urea Fertilizer, and KCL have been replaced by FOMIImbura, FOMI-Totahaza, and FOMIBagara.

of organo-mineral fertilizer are available. It was also reported that there are already over 21,000 tons that farmers have pre-ordered.

The minister said that these tonnes have been transported to The prices of FOMIImthe provinces. Even more, 7,800 bura is 29,000 BIF, FO- tons of agricultural lime is availMI-Totahaza 26,000 able in the provinces.

BIF, and FOMI-Bagara Guide Rurema added that ef26,500 BIF for 25 kg forts are being stepped up to bag. The price of agricul- transport these agricultural tural lime will go from inputs to administrative areas 11500 BIF to 5000 BIF. to mitigate the farmers’ cost of traveling.

‘Availability of agricultural ‘Farmers required to pay by late inputs’ As for availability, 27,000 tons October’

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Indeed, the price per kg of maize produced locally will go from 2000 BIF to 1200 BIF, whereas the price of imported maize will go from 6000 BIF to 3600 BIF. ‘Fight against plant pests and diseases’ For plant protection products, sufficient products stock to fight against plant pests and diseases is already available to the provincial environment, agriculture and livestock offices.

After the inspection of the houses selling these products, it was found out more than 300 are selling them.

Minister Rurema invites farmers to work in local co-operatives to have more facilities in management and access to agricultural inputs and credits.

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DR Congo: Train derails and kills around 50 In the Democratic Republic of Congo, precisely in the Province of Tanganyika, there occurred a train derailment and killed dozens of people.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity says that at least 50 people have been killed after a train derailed overnight in Congo’s southeast Tanganyika province.

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“Speaking for the government, I present my condolences to the families affected,” he said on Twitter.

WHY IT MATTERS: A major train derailment in DR Congo occurred in 2014 in the Katanga Province .

On 22 April 2014, a freight train derailed near Katongola, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Kamina in the HautLomami Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The derailment included the train’s two engines and 15 of 19 carriages.

Steve Mbikayi told The Associated

Press Thursday that the derailment also injured 23 others near the Mayibaridi locality and the toll may climb as people are still under the train and must be rescued. He said the government is sending rescue workers to the scene.

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Encore une catastrophe ! Déraillement à 3h du matin ds le Tanganyika aux environs de la localité Mayibaridi.

Bilan provisoire:50 morts et plusieurs blessés ! Au nom du gvt ,je présente les condoléances aux familles éprouvées. Réunion en cours pr des dispositions à prendre.

— STEVE MBIKAYI (@Cartesien243) September 12, 2019 Minister Steve Mbikayi said the accident happened around three in the morning local time in the town of Mayibaridi and the death toll was provisional, Reuters reported

As AP added, the cause of the accident is not yet known, but there are often derailments due to the cost of maintaining railways and trains. Workers from the national railway company say they have several years of unpaid wages.

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CAF reportedly struggles to pay 2019 AFCON winners due to broke state The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not yet paid the winners of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations due to broke state, various media reported.

The top three winners of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) including Algeria (the champions), Senegal and Nigeria are yet to get money over the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) broke state.

According to Brila FM, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is struggling to meet its financial obligations to the top three teams at the tournament months after the tournament in Cairo, Egypt .

From the reports gathered, Brila reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) only received $600 000 from CAF back in August, from the total sum of $1.4m for the third place that the team won in the continental tournament.

Bestchoicesports noted that in August CAF wrote to NFF conveying a release of $800, 000, explaining that $600, 000 was part of their 2019

AFCON prize money while $200,000 was their annual grant from CAF due for each member association.

“We have written to CAF, asking for clarifications on the money that was paid to us,” an official of NFF said.

“It is quite odd that it is getting close to two months since we played at the AFCON in Egypt and we are yet to receive our prize money.

“It is a rather unusual situation for which we require an explanation.”

It was expected that $14.2m will be shared between the best eight teams at the 2019 AFCON but the continental football body is yet to pay out the sum.

All the winners of the 2019 AFCON including champions Algeria and runners up, Teranga Lions of Senegal,

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and fourth-placed Carthage Eagles of Tunisia are also yet to receive the full payment.

According to Bestchoicesports, Algeria the defending champions were expected to get $4.5m for winning the football tournament while Nigeria, Tunisia, and Senegal were due to receive $2m each after reaching the last four stage of the tournament.

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However extracts from the minutes of CAF’s Executive Committee meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, September 10, which was obtained by Sports Extra, revealed that the continental football body’s present income does not match expenditure and its officials are dipping into its cash reserves to meet recurrent expenditure.

“It appears, from the analysis of the Finance Committee, that CAF has entered a cycle of structural deficit that will reach about six $6m at the end of this year if it is not reversed immediately,” CAF’s Finance Committee chairman, Fouzi Lekjaa was quoted as saying.

“There is a need to reverse this deficit trend by rationalising spending and making use of better revenue potential for CAF.” The situation also affected There are no further reports Esperance of Tunisia who on when CAF will fulfill all the are current CAF Champions payments to the winners of League holders. the 2019 AFCON. The ‘Blood and Yellow’ side are understood not to have received their $2.5m prize money from CAF, fuelling suggestion CAF finances are in red.

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Burundi-Peace: 13th caravan of peace officially launched in Karusi by Head of State

The President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza, officially launched, at the headquarters of Karusi province (east-central Burundi) on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, the 13th caravan of peace under the theme: “Our country Burundi first and foremost”.

Upon his arrival, President Nkurunziza greeted the parliamentarians, ministers and other executives who honored the ceremonies of the day with their presence.

After the prayer led respectively by a representative of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and Islam, people sang the national anthem and President Nkurunziza lit the torch of peace before cutting the ribbon of the launch.

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In his occasional speech, the Head of State announced that the 13th caravan of the torch of peace comes while the security situation is good throughout the country in general and in Karusi in particular.

The choice of the Karusi province for the launch was motivated by its first place in the 2018 constitutional referendum and its first place in the National Contest for students of

class 9 of basic school, 2018-2019 edition, President Nkurunziza said.

Returning to the theme of the caravan, the Head of State recalled that Burundi is a beautiful country that is full of human and natural wealth, he said.

Intelligent men and women who love work, a beautiful climate, a rich soil and a subsoil full of minerals, these are the advantages offered by God and which the Burundian people can boast, said the President of the Republic.

The 13th caravan of the torch of peace comes at the right time, he said. Burundians have built infrastructures of all kinds, offices, roads, and tracks, schools, health centers, and hospitals, he said.

After congratulating the torchbearers “Intwararumuri” for their

bravery regularly shown during the various caravans, he asked them to work in cooperatives. He prayed for that torch to illuminate the country and all government projects.

The President of the Republic led the torch of peace to the modern Stadium of Karusi under construction where he participated in the construction works before the governor of Karusi, Ms. Calinie Mbarushimana, offered him two heifers and other gifts on behalf of people.

Note that the President of the Republic inaugurated the central market of Bugenyuzi and a private building based in the headquarters of Karusi province.

At Bugenyuzi, the commune also offered him a heifer.

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Ugandan police granted Jose Chameleone permission to stage music shows after ban

Ugandan police have granted permission to the country’s celebrated musician Joseph Mayanja widely known as Jose Chameleon, to appear again on the stage around the country after a ban from July.

The Uganda mega star’s ban from staging music shows in the country was announced in July; just a week after the Badilisha hitmaker denounced the ruling party NRM and crossed over to the Democratic Party (DP) where he was appointed as National Chief Mobiliser. And declared his intention to contest for the Kampala Lord Mayoral city in the country’s General Election set for 2021.

According to Uganda local media reports, Chameleon was scheduled to stage three concerts in Mutukula and Kalisizo both in Kyotera District and another in Bukomansimbi District in July. Police later explained that they had no intentions of blocking the singer’s music shows as a person, but instead wanted the organizers to follow the set guidelines.

Critics issued that President Yoweri

Museveni’s regime was concerned that the singer would use such shows to preach politics to the masses.

But Uganda Police have now explained they have no intentions of blocking the singer’s music shows as a person, but instead wanted the organizers to follow the set guidelines.

Mr. Paul Kangave, the Masaka Regional Police spokesperson said on Monday that Chameleon is now free to sing during the shows as they had been planned before since his managers have fulfilled the requirements.

“Chameleon and his managers had not followed the set guidelines like telling us about the agreement they have with the organizers and the number of people expected at their shows. Since everything has been fulfilled, he’s free to sing now,” Mr. Kangave said.

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Mr. Kangave reiterated that organizers of music concerts have to seek clearance from police headquarters in Naguru and the District Police Commanders (DPCs) to ensure that planned venues are secure.

But Mr. Robert Nkuke alias Mutima, one of Chameleon’s managers, said the whole process of seeking approval of shows from Naguru is cumbersome, requesting the police authority to empower DPCs to do the approval. “We have led what they [police] want, but we request that DPCs be authorized to handle these small issues,” he said.

Jose Chameleone is yet to speak out on the issue.

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Kenya’s Equity Bank announces deal to buy DR Congo’s secondlargest bank

Kenya’s Equity Bank said it plans to acquire the second-largest lender in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the East African group’s strategy to expand across Africa, Reuters reported According to a Financial Times report(paywalled), the bank’s parent company, Equity Group Holdings , has entered into a non-binding agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Banque Commerciale du Congo, the company said in an emailed statement on Monday.

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“The proposed transaction is an opportunity for EGH to deliver the vision of building sub-Saharan Africa’s premier financial institution through delivering innovative products and services to customers, including, in particular, the effective use of technology,” the company said.

Founded as a provider of mortgage financing in the 1980s, Equity bank has expanded rapidly in the last 15 years by targeting previously unbanked, lowincome depositors and is now Kenya’s biggest lender by market

value and Africa’s largest bank by customer numbers.

Equity acquired Congo’s seventhbiggest bank, ProCredit Bank Congo, in 2015 and in April agreed to buy Atlas Mara’s banking operations in Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania, in a deal worth about $106m.

Equity now has operations in eight African countries.

It did not disclose how much it will pay for the stake in BCDC, which was founded in 1909. BCDC had total assets of $706m at the end of 2017. The Congolese government owns a 25 percent stake in the lender.

Although the value of the transaction has not been revealed, Equity Group announced that the deal will involve the exchange of cash for the controlling stake in Commercial Bank of Congo, African Markets reported.

The transaction is subject to shareholders and regulatory approval. All the due processes will be followed before the acquisition is finalized.

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Jack Ma steps down as Alibaba’s Chairman

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The Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma is expected to step down as Alibaba Chairman next. Alibaba is a Chinese online retailer founded by Jack Ma, which ultimately made him the first Chinese billionaire.

WHY IT MATTERS: Jack Ma officially leaves Alibaba on his 55th birthday but is expected to retain some advisory functions. The Co-founder plans on turning to initiatives in education, his first love.

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Jack Ma plans to put his vast fortune – among China’s biggest at $41 billion – into initiatives serving his first love, education, following the footsteps of a fellow tech innovator he admires such as Bill Gates.

Jack Ma, is a billionaire who steps down as Alibaba Chairman, with around 42 billion dollars fortune. This has put him in amongst the top world billionaire such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, etc,…

THE BIG PICTURE: The company is often compared to online retail giant Amazon, however the American company pales in comparison to Alibaba’s extravagant shopping event which last year included performances by Mariah Carey and Cirque du Soilel.

The company’s operational reins have for a couple of years now been in the hands of a respected team of executives who have kept it on e-commerce’s cutting-edge.

Ma was Alibaba’s driving force and a frequently irreverent ambassador for the company, known for stunts like a Michael Jackson-inspired dance at an Alibaba anniversary celebration two years ago, and starring in his own kung fu short film.

As reports say , Jack Ma is expected to retain some advisory functions.

But the transition to figures like CEO Daniel Zhang, and Co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman Joseph Tsai — announced exactly a year ago – may prove to be the “gold standard” for tech-company succession, said Jeffrey Towson, an equity investor, and professor at Peking University.

“He’s succeeded at what Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and (Yahoo Co-founder) Jerry Yang failed at, which is making themselves redundant,” said Towson, who has authored books on China’s leading companies.

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“He built a really robust culture at Alibaba, and they are still just innovating like crazy.” Ma was a cashstrapped Chinese entrepreneur when he convinced friends to give him $60,000 to start Alibaba in the eastern city of Hangzhou in 1999.

With monthly active users of more than 750 million today, Alibaba helped to unlock China’s massive consumer power, coincidentally a key objective of the government today as it seeks to fuel domestic demand to lessen the reliance on fickle foreign trade.

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Caster Semenya turns to football, but does she quit athletics?

The athletic star, Caster Semenya, is reported to have turned to football or soccer in order to try the new horizons and explore the other facets of the world life. training with the team last week, but won’t be registered to play league games until next year In a statement, Semenya said she was grateful for the opportunity.

“I appreciate the love and support I already get from the team. I am looking forward to this new journey and hopefully I can contribute as much as I can to the club,” she said.

“ But she later clarified that even if she has turned to soccer, he has quit being an athlete. Olympic and world 800m champion Caster Semenya says taking up soccer does not mean she is giving up running.

The athlete, who is currently banned from

Being a footballer doesn’t mean I’m no longer a track and field athlete.Just making things clear. pic.twitter.com/15G4u5P120 — Caster Semenya (@ caster800m) September 7, 2019

Caster Semenya signed for Janine van Wyk Football Club South African Football Association (Safa) acting chief executive Russell Paul says the signing of Olympic and world defending her world 800m title amidst a 800-meter champion Caster Semenlegal battle over taking testosterone-reya. ducing drugs, recently joined Johannes- Taking to Twitter, Semenya said: burg-based women’s club JVW FC. “Being a footballer doesn’t mean I’m The club, owned by Banyana Banyana cap- no longer a track and field athlete. tain Janine Van Wyk, said Semenya began Just making things clear.”

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Rwanda to host African Green Revolution Forum next year

Rwanda will host the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) next year and also serve as the seat of the organization going forward, a statement from AGRF Partners Group said in a statement.

The group made the announcement on September 6 in Accra, Ghana during the 2019 AGRF. The statement revealed that the move followed a competitive bidding process.

THE BIG PICTURE: The AGRF is considered the world’s most important and impactful forum for African agriculture, pulling together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward.

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AGRF is now well established as the premier platform for leaders from across Africa and the world to advance concrete plans and share knowledge to tap the enormous potential of agriculture to drive equitable and sustainable growth across the continent, according to its organizers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (in Rwanda) said that winning such a position was an indicator that Rwanda’s institutions are strong and have concerted and coordinated efforts.

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“Rwanda’s hosting of AGRF 2018 featured the largest attendance on record and the leadership of H.E. President Paul Kagame, both in presiding over that historic gathering and in his broader commitment to the transformational power of agriculture, has set a model for all to follow,” said Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minis-

ter of Ethiopia.

Desalegn was this month announced as the Board Chair for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and as chair of the AGRF Partners Group.

“The AGRF Partners look forward to working closely with the Republic of Rwanda in this new approach, particularly under the committed leadership of H.E. President Paul Kagame,” he observed.

The AGRF Partners noted that Rwanda’s partnership as the home country of AGRF will also increase accountability and commitment of the continent’s leaders to use the forum as a focal point for delivering on the goals laid out by African Heads of State and Government in the African Union’s Malabo Declaration, United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Africa Agenda 2063.

AGRF is a partnership of institutions that care about Africa’s agriculture transformation.

The AGRF Partners Group is made up of a coalition of 21 leading actors in African agriculture all focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economies.

AGRF has taken place in eight different countries over the last decade, ensuring that awareness, models, lessons, and the

political will required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa grow steadily across the continent.

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“We are honored to be the home country for AGRF and are committed to working closely and collaboratively with our many partners across Africa and around the world to ensure the continued growth and influence of AGRF as the voice of Africa’s smallholder farmers and agriculture businesses,” GerardineMukeshimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, told Rwanda’s state-run media, NewsTimes.

Talking about the implications of the move, Minister Mukeshimana said it will boost Rwanda’s agriculture sector, and become a leader in shaping the Africa agriculture transformation agenda.

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RegionWEEK is a Weekly News Briefing about Brurundi and East Africa.

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“It will attract the private sector in agriculture, and income to our tourism industry as the forum attracts close to 3000 participants,” Mukeshimana said.