IGIHE

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  • French General Wants EU Mali mission Extended

    {{The French commander of a European Union mission to train Mali’s army, routed by rebels last year, said on Wednesday he believed the mission should be expanded and go on for at least a year longer than planned.}}

    The EU trainers, dispatched to Mali in the wake of a French-led military intervention in January that drove al Qaeda-allied Islamist insurgents out of the main northern towns, face a big challenge in turning Mali’s rag-tag army into a capable force.

    Years of corruption and neglect led the army to a string of defeats against the militants last year and then a military coup by disgruntled officers in the capital, Bamako.

    The EU mission, given the task of training four battalions each consisting of 700 soldiers, is scheduled to end by March next year.

    But Brigadier-General Francois Lecointre, the commander of the EU mission, in Brussels to brief ambassadors and EU officials, said he thought more time would be needed.

    “I think that clearly we shouldn’t stop at the training of half the Malian army but that we should be able to train the other half – not four battalions which today make up half the Malian army, but more,” he told a news conference.

    Training four extra battalions would mean the mission would have to be extended by at least a year, he said.

    Lecointre, who is due to step down from his post at the start of August, stressed that these were his personal views.

    EU planners will carry out a strategic review from September that will look at the future of the mission.

    “We can’t claim to help a nation to rebuild its army in a lasting way in one year, knowing how long it takes to do that and knowing the trauma that Mali has experienced and the extent of the collapse of its army,” Lecointre said.

    He said the equipment most urgently needed by the Malian army was trucks.

    Twenty-three EU member states are contributing personnel to the mission, which has a total staff of around 550 and a budget of around 12.3 million euros ($16.10 million).

    {reuters}

  • 17 killed in Guinea Ethnic Clashes

    {{Guinea deployed security forces to towns in the southeast on Wednesday in a bid to stem three days of ethnic violence in the West African country in which at least 17 people have been killed, officials said.}}

    Guinea’s second city of Nzerekore and the surrounding region near the border with Ivory Coast have been gripped by clashes between local communities after a man accused of being a thief was lynched on Sunday.

    Government spokesman Damantang Albert Camara said the toll rose to 17 after a death was reported on Wednesday in Beyla, a town near Nzerekore. About 90 people have been injured, he said.

    “We fear that this toll will rise,” Camara added.

    After several days of fighting between ethnic gangs, residents said security forces arrived in Nzerekore, Beyla and nearby Koule, where the initial killing took place.

    “The soldiers are trying to stop people from leaving their homes so they can try to control the situation,” Nzerekore resident Ousmane Balde told Reuters.

    The violence came shortly after Guinea’s rival political parties agreed to hold legislative elections on Sept. 24 after months of deadlock and street protests, which often degenerated into ethnic clashes.

    The poll is meant to be the final step in the return to civilian rule after a 2008 coup.

    President Alpha Conde won a 2010 presidential election but his rivals accuse him of seeking to rig the legislative vote. Conde draws support from Guinea’s second-largest ethnic group, the Malinke, while the opposition is backed by the Peul, who account for around 40 percent of the population.

    Mineral-rich Guinea is the world’s largest bauxite exporter, and mining firms have signed multi-billion dollar deals in a bid to secure untapped mineral riches, especially iron ore. However, political instability has led to some investment being frozen.

    {reuters}

  • Panama Asks U.N. to advise on North Korean arms ship

    Panama’s Security Minister said on Wednesday the Central American country had asked the United Nations to advice on how to proceed in the case of the North Korean ship caught smuggling arms from Cuba through its canal.

    Jose Raul Mulino said he expects Panama to hand over the ship and its contents to the United Nations, noting that Panamanian officials had discovered two more containers with suspected arms, adding to the two already found.

  • MONUSCO Denial of Bombings on Rwanda Territory Poses Danger to Civilians

    {{MONUSCO, in a Press conference held today 17 July 2013 in Kinshasa, “rejected allegations of ‘deliberate bombings’ of Rwanda territory that would have originated from DRC”. }}

    The gratuitous denial by MONUSCO, without prior investigations constitutes a dangerous pattern. This is not the first time MONUSCO is denying verifiable attacks on Rwanda territory.

    The Ministry of Defence issued a statement indicating that Rwanda was bombed from DRC territory controlled by FARDC and MONUSCO on 15 July 2013. This has been verified by Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM). It is a fact that MONUSCO deploys in Goma areas where the bombs came from. MONUSCO is collocated with FARDC.

    The encouragement to Government of Rwanda to work with EJVM is uncalled for as Government knows the mechanism and the procedures. EJVM is an International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) which Rwanda is an active member.

    As a matter of fact, EJVM was invited immediately when the provocation occurred, and has been on the ground. Their preliminary findings prove what Government declared in the 15 July 2013 Press release.

    Further facts prove that the two bombs were shelled on Rwanda territory from BM 21 located at Carriere, in Mugunga 12 kms from Goma.

    The BM 21 is manned by gunners of 41 Commando Bn of Col Didier, Commando Bde commanded by Col Mamadou Ndala. The Commando Bde is collocated with MONUSCO.

    Col Olivier Hamuri, The FARDC spokesman has stated how MONUSCO is supporting them. “The MONUSCO supports us in logistics. It assists us with combat rations, fuel … It supports us with its aviation when we need to fight the enemy. It also acts to evacuate our wounded at the front, even for moving the military, “Said Colonel Olivier Hamuli.

    MONUSCO to engage in such denial and misinformation campaign akin to DRC Propaganda machine without verification constitutes an obvious incentive to authors to repeat such acts, and a recipe for destabilizing the region.

    It should be recalled that in November 2012, FARDC fired on Rwanda territory 15 bombs killing innocent civilians and MONUSCO was silent and defending them even when DRC apologized for firing at Rubavu, saying it was undisciplined officers that fired without orders.

    MOD

  • Conference to highlight Enhancement of ICT in Agriculture

    {{Promotion of ICT in Agriculture would be substantial in empowering producers and consumers along entire value chain.}}

    Its upon this background that Rwanda is scheduled to host (November 4 – 8) ,an international conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for agriculture.

    Dr Agnes Kalibata, the Minister for Agriculture said the conference will also discuss issues related to ICT trends and their impact on agriculture and rural development capacity building, enabling environments and sustainability.

    The Minister said, “Rwanda has different programmes in place to address agricultural challenges using ICTs but this is not enough, we have to learn from others but also come up with new ideas to have more ICT innovations in agriculture.’’

    In providing solutions to Youth Unemployment, the minister has encouraged engagement of the youth in bringing new ideas on how ICT can address agricultural challenges to increase employment opportunities for the youth.

  • Uganda Says Ready for Peacetalks with ADF Rebels

    {{Uganda has said its ready to hold peacetalks with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels to put an end to the conflict that has destabilised parts of East Africa.}}

    The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hillary Onek, said Uganda would consider such talks if the rebel group proposed dialogue.

    “The Government is ready to talk to anybody who has grievances, including the ADF. If there is any genuine political group that wants dialogue, we are ready to talk because war is not an option,” he said.

    The ADF on Thursday night attacked parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), leading to an influx of refugees into the western district of Bundibugyo in Uganda.

    Uganda is hosting more than 65,000 Congolese refugees who have fled the conflict.

    Monitor

  • Police Warns taxi-motor Operators

    {{Police in Muhanga District has warned taxi-motor drivers to respect traffic rules or thier motorcycles be seazed.}}

    The call was mde by the District Police Commander, Superintendent Célestin GATAMBA, yesterday in a meeting with all taxi-motors associations (STRAMORWA, COTAMOMU SUD, COTRAVEMEMU and RWANDA TAX MOTO ltd COMPANY).

    He said Police has empounded over 90 motorcycles in Muhanga town. Most drivers had no driving licences.

    Other drivers were caught breaking other traffic rules. CP Gatamba said Police will continie cracking down on all offenders including those who drive after taking drugs.

    For example, two drivers Noel Mushimiyimana and Xavier Nkurikiyimana kurunywa, were arrested after Police found them with marijuana.

    Such drivers cause accidents. However, during the meeting, the associations of taxi-motorcycles promised their memebers will be vetted and advised to obey the law.

    RNP

  • 4 TZ Peacekeepers in Darfur Now in Critical Condition

    {{Four of the 14 Tanzanian soldiers who were wounded in Saturday’s deadly ambush in Darfur, Sudan, are in critical condition.}}

    One of them has been airlifted to Khartoum for specialised treatment and is in intensive care, according to UN-Africa Mission in Darfur (Unamid) spokesperson Chris Cycmanick.

    Cycmanick said that the names of the critically ill soldiers would remain undisclosed.

    “At this time, Unamid cannot release these names, but you can contact your foreign minister to have them if they are that much in need,” he said.

    {Acting Force Commander, Lieutenant General Paul Ignace Mella from Tanzania, addresses troops based in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, after Saturday’s ambush that killed seven African Union-United Nations Mission peacekeepers and wounded 17 others. PHOTO | UNAMID }

  • Police signs MoU with KCC & insurers

    {{Rwanda National Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Kigali and insurers as part of the efforts to solidify safty in Kigali City.}}

    The partnership entered into requires the three partners to increase infrustructure, legal tools and creating a condusive environemnt for city dwellers to ensurer their properties.

    KCC promised to install water taps for fire extinguishers around the city and finantially support Police to purcahse fire extinguishers and other relevent infrastructure such as traffic lights and traffic signs.

    Insurerers agreed to developing affordable products such as fire insurance, and also intensifying public awareness about the importance of insurance.

    Police cimmited to maintaing its primary mandate and scalling up efforts of keeping law and order as well as senstising the public on road safty and crime prevention.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana, said the City is growing and developing so fast thus the partnership is vital and timely.

    The IGP said Police is investing in various capacities to ensure efficiency.

    For example, he said, Police will launch a mobile motor inspection lane in Huye District to relieve the Remera motor inspection center from the overwhelming demand. This will help increase the number of vehicles inspected in Kigali City.

    Motor inspection helps phase out mecahnically defaulted vehicles off the road and reduces road accidents and cut down air pollution from gas emissions.

    Meanwhile all parties to the signed MoU made commitments to ensure their role played makes Kigali a safe and secure place to live in.

    RNP

  • Kenya Selected to host EAC October forum

    {{Kenya has been selected to host the second East African Community (EAC) Secretary General’s Forum in October.}}

    This was among issues deliberated during the three-day meeting of experts on the implementation of the consultative dialogue framework for the private sector, civil society and other interest groups in the EAC integration process held in Kampala.

    The meeting also picked this year’s theme: “The EAC we want. Focusing on the Quick Wins,” according to a press statement.

    The first EAC-SG forum was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last weekend.

    The forum is meant to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the private sector and civil society on how to improve the EAC integration process.

    The experts also deliberated on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the National and Regional Dialogue Committees and considered the draft Rules of Procedure for the EAC-SG Forum.

    “The main objective of the Forum is to allow selected stakeholders and the EAC to consult and work towards realising the Community’s objectives and promote a people-centred integration process,” said Mary Makoffu, EAC Director of Social Sectors.

    She said the Regional Dialogue Committee for the 2nd EAC-SG Forum would meet in September to put final touches to the Nairobi conference.

    In her opening remarks, the chairperson of the meeting Ronah Serwadda, a commissioner in the Uganda EAC Ministry, said that the annual SG’s forum was crucial in the deepening of regional integration.

    “It enables stakeholders to hold direct dialogue with the EAC Chief Executive in pushing ahead our regional agenda,’’ she told the experts from the Partner States.

    The meeting, which was facilitated by the German International Development Agency (GIZ), was attended by Partner States representatives for EAC Affairs, private sector and civil society organisations and the EAC Secretariat.