Benedicte Vagner
August 22nd, 2022

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Rwanda is still getting a lot of mentions, but not as much as inflation and the energy problems (photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Int’l Cooperation, Rwanda)

In order to promote the expansion of new projects in Rwanda, the Foreign Ministry will be opening up an official government office in the Kigali.

Denmark seeks to focus on projects with mutual interest such as green collaboration, equality, immigration and fighting corruption.

The office will open in the second half of 2022, and two Danish diplomats will be stationed there.

READ ALSO: World reacts as Denmark passes law to process asylum-seekers outside Europe

Asylum steps?
Denmark turned heads last year when it passed a law that enables the country to send asylum-seekers outside Europe while they are under review.

Rwanda was named as a potential destination for the asylum-seekers.

“Denmark and Rwanda share a desire to better help more refugees in order to tackle the irregular and perilous migration, such as across the Mediterranean. Our joint goal is to do away with the current failed asylum system and ensure a worthy and sustainable future for refugees and migrants,” said the immigration and integration minister, Kaare Dybvad Bek.

Development minister visits Ukraine
The development minister, Flemming Møller Mortensen, is set to visit Ukraine to discuss the rebuilding of the country due to the effects of the war. The Ukrainian government estimates it will cost 750 billion dollars to rebuild their country and economy, and the UN contends that 18 million people are in need of immediate help. Mortensen stated that “Ukraine’s need for support is immense. Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion has had huge humanitarian and economic consequences. Due to this, Ukraine is the largest receiver of Danish development support.”

Copenhagen Capacity becomes a member of UN Global Compact
Copenhagen Capacity, which works to attract international companies to Denmark, has been working on improving sustainability within its organisation. It has now joined UN Global Compact, which will link it up with a business network that focuses on creating a more sustainable future. Last year, Copenhagen Capacity secured a record 1,601 direct jobs along with 4,439 indirect jobs, while focusing on helping Denmark’s sustainable ecosystems.

Ukrainian war-crime witnesses urged to go to police
The Justice Ministry has urged Ukrainian refugees who have been victims or witnesses to war-related crimes in Ukraine to go to the police. The justice minister, Mattias Tesfaye, also encourages anyone with documentation of war crimes – such as photos or videos – to come forward to the authorities. The police offer support to Ukrainian refugees in Danish, English, Russian and Ukrainian. Those working with refugees are also being told to contact the police if they have any concerns or suspicions that a client might be a victim or witness to a war crime.

Kofod wants to limit Russian tourists
The foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod, is hoping that other EU countries will support him in limiting the number of Russian tourists in Europe. If a joint decision cannot be made, Denmark will look into limiting the number of Russian tourists entering the country. Kofod told TV2 that he sees Russian tourists as “provocative” and is in communication with his European colleagues on what can be done about the situation. “It would be a clear signal to Putin and Russia that their actions are deeply unacceptable, and that this will have consequences,” said Kofod.

Danish fighter jets to patrol Iceland
Danish Defence has announced that Danish fighter jets have been deployed to Iceland until mid-September in order to help maintain Iceland’s sovereignty. The deployment, which will counter Iceland’s lack of an air force, consists of four F-16s and 60 accompanying personnel. Within NATO, the operation is known as Iceland Peacetime Preparedness Needs (IPPN).

Traffic on Øresund Dridge on the rise
The traffic on Øresund Bridge increased by 85 percent in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period of time last year. However, the number of vehicles crossing the bridge was 15 percent lower this year than in 2019. The decrease in flights at Copenhagen Airport is believed to have contributed to the lower number of vehicles crossing the bridge for business trips. Instead, there is a higher frequency of leisure traffic.

Denmark among sustainable development leaders
The Sustainable Development Report, which shows how far countries are with reaching the UN Sustainability Goals, reveals that the Nordic countries lead the way when it comes to sustainability. The report ranked Finland first ahead of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It also showed that sustainable development has stagnated globally since 2019 – largely due to the pandemic. Despite this, from 2020 to 2021 the index number for Denmark rose from 85.4 to 85.83.

Wild boar kills Dane in Sweden
A Danish man in his 60s is dead after being attacked by a wild boar while hunting in the Eksö area in Sweden, according to the Swedish police. The man was found last week on Wednesday morning in a hunting tower and it is believed he was injured by the boar before finding refuge in the tower. After a forensic technician was sent to analyse the scene, it was determined that the attack was an accident.

Rwandan refugees heading for Denmark
Some 200 Rwandans have been accepted to come to Denmark under the national refugee resettlement quota scheme. The focus will mainly be on women and children, according the immigration minister, Kaare Dybvad Bek. Denmark has accepted 200 refugees from Rwanda over the past two years – a figure that has now doubled in wake of co-operation between the two nations.