The Deputy Prime Minister of Gabon vists Rwanda

Today, 5th September 2008, the Right Honorable Prime Minister welcomed in his office at Kimihurura, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Gabon, Mr Paul Mba Abessolo, who handed him a message from His Excellence Omar Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon, meant to his Rwandan Counterpart, His Excellence Paul Kagame.

The visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Gabon, also Minister of Culture, was in line with reviving activities of the International Centre for Bantu Civilizations (CICIBA) established in 1983 by Central African countries. In this connection, the Deputy Prime Minister of gabon had the oppoerunity to outline the new vision that should be given to this organization, giving priority to programme aimed at disseminating African culture and civilization.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda informed his guest that Rwanda is reviewing her place and role within international organizations before deciding on which organization to join and those to withdraw from, as may dictate the major interests of the Nation

Official opening of the conference on Human Rights in Africa

This conference has been organized by Konrad Adenauer foundation under the auspices of its Rule of Law Program for Sub Saharan Africa.

The conference is aimed at assessing the current human rights situation in Africa and the challenges that currently exist.

Important issues to be discussed in the conference are the review of the current situation in Africa, the roles of the African courts on human and people's rights and the Rwandan experience.

In his openining remarks, the Right Honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, Mr Bernard Makuza, emphasized that we all need to recognize our past and present errors that violated human rights and work together to overcome them. He added that despite the horror of 1994, Rwanda has risen to become a contry comitted to the dignity of its people, democracy, good governance and to the rule of law including promotion and protection of human rights.