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UNESCO to commemorate 30th anniversary of Rwanda Genocide on Sunday

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will on Sunday, April 7th, be part of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide where an estimated 800,000 people, mainly ethnic Tutsis, were killed by the Hutu extremist-led government.

The Rwandan genocide which took place between April to June, 1994, has been variously described as the darkest time for the country, especially the Tutsis and moderate Hutus who were targeted and killed in the most gruesome manner imaginable.

The genocide started after the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu, which was blamed on then Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) rebels commanded by incumbent President Paul Kagame, who has consistently denied any involvement.

Over the next three months starting from April 7, 1994, the Hutus perpetrated what is now regarded as one of the worst genocides in the world and within the following 100 days, more than 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority were systematically murdered, while moderate Hutus and others who opposed the killings were also killed during that period.

In a statement by UNESCO on Saturday, the body has decided to commemorate the “International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda,” to mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide.

The United Nations General Assembly had, in 2003,
officially proclaimed April 7 the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

“Commemorating this important anniversary and honoring the many victims and survivors of the genocide, UNESCO will organize a ceremony on 7 April, 2024, at UNESCO Headquarters,” the statement reads.

“The event will be opened by the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms Stefania Giannini, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Mr François Nkulikiyimfura.

“The event will further include survivor testimonies as well as a performance under the direction of Rwandan artist Yannick Ndoli.

“The ceremony is organized in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO and Ibuka France,” it added.

Culture

Ghanaians react angrily as American video vixen Rubi Rose tours Jubilee House

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Some Ghanaians have been outraged following a tour of the Jubilee House, the country’s seat of government, by American entertainer and video vixen, Rubi Rose.

The visit and tour of the Jubilee House by the controversial vixen, rapper, and OnlyFans content creator who arrived in Ghana on Thursday, October 31, 2024, sparked outrage and angry reactions among Ghanaians on social media who questioned the rationale behind the visit.

The American star was a special guest for a Halloween party in Accra and during her stay, was granted access to the Jubilee House, where she met with Nadia Adongo Musah, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, and was given a tour of the premises.

Photos of Rose’s visit to the Jubilee House circulated on social media, prompting discontent among Ghanaians, who questioned why someone with her background was allowed into the Jubilee House, also known as Flagstaff House, which holds significant historical and symbolic value as the seat of Ghana’s presidency.

Some angry Ghanaians took to social media to voice out their discontents.

A X user with the handle @fanti_boy wrote:

“Is this really Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana?”

Another user, @_blacksnow09, said:

“Foreigners have more access to the presidential residence than citizens.”

@CopsonClaude commented:

“The Jubilee House is now Oasis Lounge.”

@PositiveAt59011 said:

“Please, is the place a hotel where Americans do lodge in?”

@DanQuaye22 said:

“They told the citizens Flagstaff House is a security zone, but see who has easy access.”

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Culture

Mauritius bans access to social media until after elections

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The Mauritius government has placed a blanket ban on access to social media websites ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled to hold on November 10.

The ban, which was announced on Friday by the country’s national communications regulator, will be in force until November 11, the day after the election.

“The ICT Authority wishes to inform the public that in response to concerns regarding illegal postings that constitute a serious threat to national security and public safety, it has received directives in the evening of 31 October 2024, to direct all Internet Service Providers to temporarily suspend access to all social media platforms until 11 November 2024”, the Information and Communication Technology Authority said on Friday.

The move which came amid a wiretapping scandal in the Indian Ocean nation, has however, raised concerns as opposition parties and prominent figures have a ploy by the governing party to avoid defeat at the polls.

Local media say the unprecedented social media ban follows a wiretapping scandal which rocked the country last month when recorded conversations of politicians, business people, and members of civil society were leaked on social media.

According to media freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the recorded conversations of five well-known journalists were leaked published on social media, prompting the ban.

“The government of the Indian Ocean Island country, which has a population of 1.2 million, has claimed that these leaks are a threat to national security and instructed the communications authority to suspend all access to social media,” the RWB said in a statement.

In response to the bank, network service provider, EMTEL, said it would comply with the directive and user experience will be “progressively disrupted”.

“EMTEL understands the inconvenience that this action shall cause to its customers but reiterates that it has no alternative other than to comply with ICTA directive,” the company said.

Local media also quoted a statement from the office of the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, who is seeking a second term in power, as saying that the suspension of social media was essential to protect national security and the country’s integrity.

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