- Rwandan President Paul Kagame declared on Wednesday his personal and family assets to the state ombudsman, as part of efforts to promote transparency and curb corruption in the central African nation.
In doing so, President Kagame becomes one of the first senior Rwandan government officials to declare his wealth, an event that is to be carried out annually.
However, under Rwandan law, details of Mr Kagame's assets cannot be made public unless the ombudsman finds discrepancies between what is officially declared and what President Kagame possesses.
- We have received the president's declaration but we are prohibited from revealing the contents, Tito Rutaremara, the ombudsman, said at a news conference in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
The ombudsman's office is an independent national body that investigates citizens' complaints against public officials, their government or its administration. In many countries it has no powers of prosecution. However, under Rwanda's constitution, the ombudsman's office is charged with "fighting injustice, corruption and related malpractice in public and private entities."
- Though the level of corruption in the country is not high compared to other countries in the region, we want to ensure that corruption does not take root in this country, Mr Rutaremara said.
In August 2003, President Joseph Kabila of neighbouring Congo Kinshasa (DRC) declared his wealth as part of a similar nationwide effort to fight corruption. Members of the Congo's transitional government subsequently vowed to submit their declarations of wealth.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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