Rwanda Rugby Union (https://www.RwandaRugby.com/), in collaboration with Rugby Africa and World Rugby, recently conducted a Coaching Course for Rugby Sevens, facilitated by esteemed World Rugby Educator, Robert Bwali. The two-day event, held from May 23rd to May 24th, 2024, saw the participation of ten coaches comprising Rugby Development Officers, club coaches, and the Technical Director, all possessing a Level One coaching certification, who gathered to enhance their expertise in coaching Rugby Sevens.

The coaching course unfolded at the Kigali View Hotel, located in Nyarugenge district. The agenda for the first day was predominantly focused on classroom activities and discussions, delving into essential topics such as the aims and values of Rugby Sevens, game format, principles of play, coachable components, functional roles, and key factor analysis.

Day two was dedicated to practical coaching tasks, including sessions on reviewing, individual and team profiling, devising game plans, maintaining coaching diaries, and engaging in practical coaching assignments. These activities were designed to reinforce learning and skill application. The day concluded in coaching assessments and the initiation of transcript completion.

The coaching course received commendations from all participants, who lauded the effective methodology employed by the trainer and expressed their eagerness to integrate the newfound knowledge into their daily coaching endeavors. In a closing ceremony graced by Florent Habyarimana, the representative from the Ministry of Sports, alongside Kamanda Tharcisse, President of Rwanda Rugby Federation, the significance of this initiative was underscored.

President Tharcisse highlighted the transformative impact of the course, emphasizing its role in elevating the coaches’ capabilities to a level where they can effectively train the national Rugby Sevens team. He noted that prior to this course, Rwanda lacked individuals with Level Two coaching qualifications for Rugby Sevens and hopeful this will increase the  sustainability of the game.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Habyarimana, representing the Ministry of Sports, encouraged the coaches to apply their newfound expertise diligently, assuring continued support from the ministry for their future endeavors. Certificates of Participation were conferred, marking the conclusion of the event. Successful completion of assigned tasks will lead to the issuance of Level Two coaching certificates for Rugby Sevens by World Rugby.

Furthermore, Educator Robert Bwali continued his engagement with the Rwanda Rugby Union by conducting a Union Review session at the Office of Rwanda Rugby Federation on Saturday. On Sunday, he attended the interschools Sevens Kagame Cup at Ruhango district’s Byimana playground, offering valuable feedback and guidance to coaches and referees alike. Concluding the weekend, on Monday, Mr. Bwali with Rwanda Rugby Federation CEO Donatien UFITIMFURA visited the Executive Director of Rwanda National Olympic Solidarity Committee Mr. Jean Claude RUGIGANA discussed to explore potential avenues for further training collaboration with Rwanda Rugby Union.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rwanda Rugby Federation (RRF).

African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) has availed Horizons Clinic (Gambia) Limited a tailored US$16.8 million (Sixteen million, Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) Construction and Medical Tourism Relay Facility (“CONMED”). The facility will support the construction of Horizons Clinic, a 60-bed, international standard, medical facility set to significantly improve the healthcare system in The Gambia.

Sponsored by Horizons Clinic (Gambia) Limited and located in Kerr Serign, Kombo district, the establishment of Horizons Clinic marks a major milestone in delivering world-class healthcare services to The Gambia and neighbouring countries.

The project will create over 150 temporary jobs during the construction phase in addition to about 300 permanent jobs upon completion — for clinical and non-clinical staff, and 30 indirect jobs for suppliers of hospital consumables, technical spare parts, cleaning services, and other local businesses.

This transaction represents Afreximbank’s largest private sector investment in The Gambia. The project is also supported by Guangxi International Construction Engineering Corporation (Gambia) Limited and Bloom Bank (Gambia) Limited.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development Bank (“IAED”), Afreximbank said: “We are proud to support the construction of Horizon Clinic, a project that will revolutionize the healthcare landscape in The Gambia and create job opportunities for the local community.  By investing in specialist medical services, Horizons Clinic will provide high quality healthcare to Gambians and other nationals, addressing the significant gap in available healthcare services. This investment underscores our dedication to fostering private sector growth and improving healthcare infrastructure across Africa while ensuring that we promote medical tourism in Africa.”

Horizons Clinic Gambia Limited Board Chairman, Mr. Alpha Barry, noted: “Today heralds a new era in healthcare for The Gambia. The establishment of the Horizons Clinic, through the unprecedented support of Afreximbank and other esteemed partners, is a testament to our collective vision of transforming The Gambian health sector. This will not just be a building, it will be a beacon of hope and a promise of quality healthcare for all Gambians, as well as a model for other African countries. As we reflect on the remarkable journey of the Horizons Clinic and its transformative impact on healthcare in The Gambia, it is imperative to salute the extraordinary tenacity of Professor James N’Dow. His unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and relentless pursuit of excellence have been the driving force behind this monumental project.”

According to The World Health Organisation (WHO), Gambia’s current bed-to-population ratio stands at 1.1 per 1,000 people as against the WHO’s recommendation of 5 per 1,000 people.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
Tel: +20 2 24564100 /1/2/3

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, together with Alstom, a pioneer in sustainable mobility, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to propel the development of the MetroKin rail project Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. This significant partnership was announced alongside the recent state visit of His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to France.

The partnership builds on AFC’s prior agreement with Trans Connexion Congo (TCC) to develop a mass transit system that extends over 300km of railroad in Kinshasa, the most populous city in Africa. The project will unfold in four phases, starting with the overhaul of a 25km stretch from Kinshasa’s central station to N’Djili International Airport, completely upgrading the existing railway.

AFC has committed an initial investment of US$3 million to advance the project development phase, leading to financial closure. As the Mandated Lead Arranger, AFC is spearheading this transformative urban project.

Alstom’s involvement as a strategic industrial partner supports the broader goal of enhancing urban mobility across Africa. Drawing from its experience in South Africa’s urban train systems and regional projects like Dakar’s express train and Abidjan’s first metro line, Alstom is set to significantly contribute to Kinshasa’s transit overhaul.

Kinshasa faces critical transport infrastructure challenges, exacerbated by rapid population growth and inadequate development. The current transportation system meets less than half of the daily demand, according to the city’s urban transport master plan. This project aims to expand and modernize the existing rail network, improving connectivity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly cutting transportation times between the suburbs and city center.

Amadou Wadda, Senior Director of Project Development&Technical Solutions at AFC, said: “We are pleased to welcome a global institution of high repute like Alstom to the project. Their expertise will be crucial as we push forward with this project, which promises to reshape Kinshasa’s economic landscape, create numerous jobs, and transform lives.”

Erick Onepunga Yongo, Managing Director of MetroKin said: “Under the lead of AFC, with the support of Alstom and the Congolese government, the materialisation of this project becomes effective through the project company MetroKin.SA”.

Bernard Peille, Managing Director at Alstom for Africa stated: “Through our enhanced presence in the region, Alstom is committed to partnering with MetroKin to support the development of an effective mass urban transit solution for Kinshasa. We aim to contribute to the city’s development ambitions by leveraging our global expertise and supporting its citizens in their mobility needs.

The project has reached significant milestones, with Alstom joining at a crucial time when detailed technical designs are being finalized. The combined strengths and shared vision of AFC, Metrokin, and Alstom are set to ensure the successful completion of the development phase by the end of 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

For media inquiries, please contact:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Phone: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

Charlyne Garcias
Alstom – Northern and Central Africa
Phone: + 33 6 58 64 19 31
Email: charlyne.garcias@alstomgroup.com

Samantha Kamba
Head of Communications
Metrokin S.A
Phone:+243859094050
Email: mandungu.samantha@tcc-metrokin.com

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for private sector-led infrastructure investment across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

About Alstom:
Alstom commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 80,000 people from 175 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated revenues of €16.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2023.

For more information, please visit www.Alstom.com.

About Metrokin S.A:
Metrokin is a limited company under Congolese law, with 3 main shareholders: Trans  Connexion Congo (TCC), the SCTP and the City of Kinshasa. With its 4 phases in a city of over 17 million inhabitants, it is the ideal response to the short- and long-term problem of mobility in Kinshasa.

– The central station at N’djili international airport is the 1st phase, 25km long,

– The Kinsahsa plain (“maillage”) is the 2nd, 75km long,

– The Kinshasa city loop, 90km, is the 3rd phase,

– From the airport to Malaku 80km is the 4th.

www.TCC-Metrokin.com

TotalEnergies has reached a milestone of 2 GW of installed green electricity in France, having invested $400 million towards the domestic supply of green energy in 2023. According to a company statement, the French supermajor generated up to 90% of its total income from the sale of oil and gas in 2023, showcasing the critical role of hydrocarbons in diversifying the global energy mix and increasing renewable energy penetration.

In Africa, TotalEnergies is a key advocate for sustainable energy development, spearheading a multi-energy approach that targets energy security and distribution to local and regional markets. The company continues to invest heavily in Africa’s oil and gas resources – through large-scale projects like the Akpo West Field Development in Nigeria and planned Mozambique LNG facility – while accelerating renewable penetration in Egypt, Burkina Faso, Uganda, South Africa and Angola, among many other markets.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC), as the voice of the African energy sector, commends TotalEnergies for its renewable energy milestone in France and its efforts to address energy poverty through the integration of oil, natural and renewables in Africa. Strategies for advancing Africa’s energy security and industrialization, while promoting a just energy transition, will be unpacked at this year’s edition of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference in Cape Town.

In 2023, TotalEnergies allocated $16.8 billion across its global operations, with 35% directed towards low-carbon energies. This investment led to a rise in the company’s renewable energy capacity by 6 GW, contributing to a total generation of 33 TWh of electricity, of which 19 TWh came from renewables. Looking ahead, TotalEnergies plans to invest over $4 billion annually in renewable energy, targeting 35% of total power generation from renewables by 2025. Additionally, the firm reduced its emissions by 24% in 2023 compared to 2015 levels, demonstrating its tangible commitment to deploying sustainable practices.

In Africa, TotalEnergies is leading its flagship Solarization project, with over 1,000 service stations powered by solar technology in the project’s first phase and plans to power over 4,200 service stations across the continent. In South Africa, TotalEnergies is developing a combined 260 MW solar and wind project in Northern Cape Province, as well as a transformative hybrid renewables project that integrates a 216 MW solar plant with a 500 MWh battery storage system. In Mozambique, the company is leading a landmark 1,500 MW hydropower project on the Zambezi River, while co-developing a 120 MW solar PV plant in Uganda.  

Beyond traditional renewables, TotalEnergies is investing in a multi-phase green hydrogen project in Mauritania, in partnership with Chariot Energy, leveraging over 10 GW of solar and wind capacity. The major also recently announced it is partnering with the Tunisian Government to study the implementation of a large-scale green hydrogen project – “H2 Notos” – for export to Central Europe through pipeline. Furthermore, TotalEnergies is contributing to the Morocco-UK Power Project, which aims to develop 11.5 GW of renewable energy in Morocco for both local and European markets.

To support global renewable penetration and enhanced energy security in Africa, TotalEnergies’ sustained investments in African oil and gas are essential. In Angola, the company and its partners recently approved a $6-billion investment for the development of the Cameia and Golfinho fields, set to boost the country’s oil production and GDP, generating capital for the development of renewable energy projects like the 35 MWp Quilemba Solar PV plant. TotalEnergies is also investing $600 million to enhance exploration and production in the Republic of Congo’s Moho Nord field, while driving environmental sustainability through projects like the BaCasi initiative, which will plant a 40,000-hectare forest on the Batéké Plateaux and eliminate more than 10 million tons of CO2 over 20 years.

“A diversified, integrated energy future is crucial for the development of Africa’s economy and energy security. TotalEnergies continues to play a vital role in advancing the continent’s oil and gas sector, in tandem with accelerated renewable deployment, to ensure a just transition. We commend TotalEnergies on its efforts to diversify the global power mix while investing and believing in the magnitude of Africa’s energy resources,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.