Employed by Ocean Heights Aviation Training Centre, an aviation school based in Entebbe, the pilots had been sent to South Kivu to evacuate personnel of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Kampala.
According to Daily Monitor, the pilots were flying aboard an American-registered Cessna Caravan aircraft. As they approached Kavumu Airport in Bukavu at dusk, unknown assailants opened fire on the aircraft.
Despite the attack, the pilots managed to land the plane but were subsequently captured and taken to an undisclosed location.
The kidnappers later contacted the pilots’ handlers in Kampala, demanding an undisclosed ransom for their release.
Reports indicate that one of the pilots, a South Sudanese national, succumbed to his gunshot wounds over the weekend, while the Ugandan pilot sustained injuries but was successfully repatriated for treatment.
On March 31, Colonel Chris Magezi, the acting spokesperson for the Ugandan military, clarified that the pilots were civilians, refuting the earlier claims that suggested they were soldiers.
“These are civilians operating commercial charter services. The government of Uganda is following up on this matter through relevant diplomatic channels but the UPDF is not involved at all. However, we are concerned that our fellow citiens have been harmed in some place and we will do eveyrthing required if we are asked to provide any assistance,” he noted.
Addressing the press on Monday, March 31, 2025, David Amuor Majur, the President’s Press Secretary, termed the reports as unfounded.
Teny, a key political figure in South Sudan, was reportedly detained alongside her husband, Machar, who has been under house arrest following a deadly attack in the Upper Nile region.
Majur called the rumors “misleading” and urged the public to rely on official statements rather than unverified reports.
“This claim is false and does not accurately reflect the situation. The government of South Sudan respectfully refutes the assertion that Minister Angelina Teny is under house arrest,” Majur said.
Machar’s detention is related to ongoing investigations into the attack on March 7 that resulted in the deaths of General Majur Dak and several other individuals.
The South Sudanese government has faced significant scrutiny after Machar was placed under house arrest in the wake of the Nasir incident. The attack targeted a group attempting to board a United Nations helicopter for evacuation, prompting authorities to initiate investigations into potential militia involvement linked to Machar’s supporters.
During the Monday press briefing, the President’s Press Secretary also accused Kenya’s Special Envoy to South Sudan, Raila Odinga, of misrepresenting some facts following his recent visit to Juba.
Majur strongly refuted the claim that the South Sudanese government directed Raila to meet Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni after being denied a chance to meet Machar.
Majur insisted that Raila’s journey to Uganda was pre-arranged and not recommended by President Salva Kiir’s administration, as Odinga had stated during his interview upon landing back in Nairobi.
“Furthermore, the suggestion that His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, requested the Right Honourable Raila Odinga to meet with the President of Uganda is misrepresenting diplomatic norms and principles,” Majur told the media.
“It is essential to clarify that the Right Honourable Odinga’s mission to Uganda was pre-arranged and not directly from the government of South Sudan,” he added.
The Kenyan government appointed Odinga as its special envoy to South Sudan amid rising tensions following Machar’s arrest on March 26.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who has been actively involved in mediation efforts within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region, made the appointment after consulting with regional leaders, including Kiir, Museveni, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Ruto stated that Odinga was tasked with engaging all parties to de-escalate the conflict and provide feedback on the situation.
The two leaders held an “open and cordial” discussion about the state of bilateral ties and the tensions that have accumulated in recent months, and reiterated their willingness to resume the fruitful dialogue established in August 2022, read a statement published by the Algerian Presidency on Facebook.
They agreed on the need for returning to an equal dialogue between the two countries, and for “the immediate resumption of cooperation on migration in a credible, smooth and effective manner,” read the statement.
“The Joint Commission of Historians will resume its work immediately and will meet soon in France,” with the outputs of its work and concrete proposals expected by this summer, read the statement.
The joint commission is what the two countries agreed to establish in 2022 in order to settle “the memory issue,” which refers to the French colonial rule starting from 1830 before Algeria won the eight-year independence war in 1962.
Bilateral judicial cooperation will also be resumed, with French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin expected to visit Algeria in the near future, read the statement.
The two leaders stressed the importance of developing bilateral economic cooperation in future fields, read the statement, noting that Macron confirmed France’s support for revising the Algeria-EU partnership agreement, which Algiers has long criticized as unbalanced and serving primarily European interests.
During the call, Macron again urged Tebboune “to grant pardon” to jailed French-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, an 80-year-old who is sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of “undermining national unity,” citing his age and health.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will visit Algiers on April 6 to solidify progress, read the statement, adding that the two presidents agreed in principle to hold an in-person meeting in the near future.
The phone conversation came as the diplomatic rift between Algiers and Paris has deepened in recent months due to disagreements over immigration issues and policies, historical grievances, and France’s backing of Morocco in disputes over Western Sahara, among others.
Algeria has been urging the French government to recognize crimes conducted during the 132-year French colonial rule, a step seen by Algiers as essential for both nations to move beyond past grievances and establish stable and constructive ties.
On March 23, Algeria’s parliament established a commission to draft a law criminalizing the French colonial rule, a move deemed “historical” and backed by local lawmakers, historians, and legal experts.
Makolo was responding to DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, who, on March 31, 2025, accused “neighboring countries, including Rwanda,” and armed groups of contributing to the deaths of “over a million” Congolese people, claiming that these killings were targeted at a specific ethnic group.
“For all those who have died and continue to die in the DRC, the responsibility lies with the leaders of the DRC first and foremost. These leaders are the cause, and they must not look for pretexts or problems elsewhere. They are the problem,” Makolo said in a post shared on X on Monday, March 31, 2025.
The Rwandan government spokesperson emphasized that any change or solution in the DRC must come from within, stressing that the real issue is the leaders’ lack of will to address it.
“Any change or solution will also only come from within. The dead, the displaced, and the refugees in their millions can only be blamed on these Congolese leaders who to this day show no effort to address the issues, but persist in delusions of grandeur,” she added.
While Tshisekedi claims that Rwanda and other countries played a role in the deaths of over 10 million Congolese people, the spokesperson for the DRC forces, Major General Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa, has previously refuted these claims.
In an interview broadcast on state television on April 15, 2024, Major General Ekenge stated that the FDLR terrorist group was responsible for many of the Congolese deaths over the past 30 years.
“The FDLR attacks and kills Congolese people. Among the more than 10 million people who have died in the last 30 years, the FDLR has played a significant role in causing these deaths,” he said.
Various reports, including those from United Nations experts, indicate that the FDLR continued its killings in eastern DRC after its fighters participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
This terrorist group collaborates with the DRC government forces in fighting against the AFC/M23 coalition, which controls large areas in the east of the country. Tshisekedi even promised to support the FDLR in its mission to overthrow the Rwandan government.
When questioned about this collaboration, Tshisekedi claims that the FDLR is a weak group made up of elderly individuals with few fighters who do not pose a real threat to Rwanda. However, it has been repeatedly observed that some of those captured by AFC/M23 include young recruits.
For all those who have died and continue to die in the DRC, the responsibility lies with the leaders of the DRC first and foremost. These leaders are THE cause and they must not look for pretexts or problems elsewhere. They are the problem.
“Three U.S. Army soldiers (…) were found deceased in Lithuania today,” the statement reads, adding that their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has extended condolences over the deaths of the soldiers, Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.
Search and recovery operations continue for the remaining fourth soldier.
The search and recovery operation was launched on March 25 to locate four U.S. servicemen and a tracked vehicle that went missing during a training exercise in the General Silvestras Zukauskas Training Area in Pabrade. Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene confirmed on Monday that the armored vehicle had been recovered. It had sunk into a swamp and become deeply lodged in the mud.
The large-scale rescue operation has involved both Lithuanian and U.S. forces, along with other Lithuanian authorities. Several dozen Polish troops equipped with specialized equipment have also joined the effort.
Traor announced an “amnesty pardon” in December last year for several people convicted over the 2015 attempt to overthrow the transitional government in place after the fall of former president Blaise Compaor.
“The following persons, who have been convicted or prosecuted before the courts for acts committed on September 15 and 16, 2015, are granted amnesty,” stated the decree, issued last week, listing the 21 soldiers.
Six officers, including two former unit commanders of the former presidential guard, are on the list alongside 15 non-commissioned officers and rank and file soldiers. They were convicted at a military tribunal in Ouagadougou in 2019 for “harming state security,” murder or treason.
Two generals considered the masterminds of the failed coup, Compaor’s former chief of staff Gilbert Diendr and head of diplomacy Djibril Bassol, were sentenced to 20 and 10 years in prison respectively. They were not part of the amnesty.
Burkina Faso has extended amnesty to those involved in failed 2015 coup and those convicted have until June this year to request a pardon.
To do so, they have to “demonstrate a patriotic commitment to the reconquest of the territory” and “express their willingness to actively participate in the fight against terrorism.”
The 21 soldiers pardoned will rejoin the army, which has been fighting jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group for more than 10 years. But the decree stipulates that they will not be eligible for compensation or career progression.
Diendr and Bassol tried to oust the transitional government put in place after Compaor was forced out of office in October 2014 by apopular uprising, after 27 years in power. Loyalist forces put down the attempted coup within two weeks. A total of 14 people died and 270 were wounded.
The justice ministry in December said that some 1,200 people convicted in connection with the coup attempt would be pardoned from 1 January. Burkina Faso’s ruling president announced last May that he will remain in power for another five years under an accord adopted during national consultations.
The deadline for transition to civilian rule was originally set for 1 July 2025. According to the charter, signed by Traor, elections may be organized before the deadline “if the security situation so permits.”
The mass action, informally dubbed the Geza revolution after war veteran leader Blessed Geza, saw urban centres largely deserted as businesses, shops, schools, and public institutions remained closed.
From Chirundu in the north to Beitbridge in the south, and across major cities such as Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, and Mutare, citizens heeded the call to protest by staying home.
The demonstration, spearheaded by war veterans aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s faction within Zanu-PF, is widely seen as Mnangagwa’s most significant political test since the January 2019 fuel protests, which were met with a violent crackdown that left at least 17 people dead.
While the stayaway remained largely peaceful, there were reports of minor skirmishes in Harare, particularly at Robert Mugabe Square, where police dispersed small groups of people attempting to march.
Security forces maintained a heavy presence in urban areas, but notably, the military, often regarded as Zimbabwe’s ultimate power broker, was absent from the streets.
The protests come amid intensifying factional battles within Zanu-PF, as rival camps loyal to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga clash over the party’s leadership succession. Mnangagwa’s allies have been pushing for a constitutional amendment to extend his rule beyond 2028, a move that has sparked outrage even within his own party.
War veterans, once staunch allies of the ruling party, have now turned against Mnangagwa, calling for his resignation and throwing their weight behind Chiwenga’s camp.
Although their mobilisation efforts appeared weak, the overwhelming public participation in the stayaway signaled deep-seated discontent with Mnangagwa’s rule.
Some political analysts argue that, while war veterans may have their own political motives, the people are sending a clear message. They agree that Mnangagwa has failed,” hence the convergence of frustration, possibly warning of bigger unrest ahead.
Notably absent from today’s protests was Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa. Sources close to Chamisa suggest he is wary of aligning with a factional Zanu-PF power struggle, preferring instead to push for a broad-based national movement demanding democratic change.
Chamisa’s allies reportedly fear a repeat of November 2017, when public frustration was leveraged by the military to remove long-time leader Robert Mugabe, only to replace him with Mnangagwa, another Zanu-PF figure.
The stayaway delivered a significant blow to Zimbabwe’s already fragile economy, bringing commercial activity to a standstill. Many businesses shut their doors, while the informal sector, on which millions of Zimbabweans rely, was largely inactive.
At the core of the economic crisis is the instability of the Zimbabwean dollar, which continues to lose value amid soaring inflation and declining public confidence. Under Mnangagwa’s leadership, unemployment has surged, and an increasing number of Zimbabweans are leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
In response to the growing pressure, Mnangagwa has taken a series of preemptive security measures, including the recent dismissal of key military and security officials, among them Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lt-Gen Anselem Sanyatwe, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, and CIO Director-General Isaac Moyo.
These shake-ups are widely viewed as efforts to consolidate power and neutralize internal threats. Despite the crackdown, war veterans have vowed to press on. “We fought for democracy, not for one man’s rule,” said a spokesperson for the group.
As tensions simmer, the question remains: Is this the beginning of a broader movement against Mnangagwa, or merely a momentary flare-up? What is certain is that Zimbabwe’s political landscape is becoming increasingly volatile, and Mnangagwa faces his biggest challenge ahead.
The Make Way programme, a consortium of 14 organizations, with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is working to dismantle these barriers by applying an intersectional approach to policy advocacy and implementation.
“We advocate for better sexual protection, health, and rights for everyone. There are challenges when vulnerable individuals try to access SRHR services, and we aim to remove those obstacles.” said Aliane Dusenge, Country Coordinator of the Make Way consortium.
People with disabilities, those living in extreme poverty, and individuals in remote areas often struggle to obtain vital health information and services. Make Way seeks to address these disparities through the development and dissemination of intersectional tools that analyze policies and identify gaps in inclusivity.
At a recent event, stakeholders gathered to explore the impact of these tools. “The event was about disseminating the tools we use in the programme. These tools help us analyze policies to determine whether they include everyone, particularly marginalized communities. We then provide recommendations for making these policies more inclusive,” Dusenge explained.
One such tool is the Intersectional-Based Policy Analysis (IBPA), which examines policies to identify gaps that may exclude vulnerable populations. Another is the Meaningful Youth Engagement tool, which ensures young people are not just participants in discussions but active contributors to decisions that affect them.
The Budget Analysis tool assesses financial allocations within the health sector to determine whether adequate resources are directed toward reproductive health services.
“These tools enable us to critically analyze how some populations are left behind. More importantly, they help us propose solutions and recommendations,” Dusenge noted.
The programme’s work extends beyond policy analysis to advocacy and capacity building. The tools are designed to be adopted by other organizations, ensuring broader reach and impact. “We want other organizations to borrow a leaf from our work and implement inclusive approaches in their advocacy,” she added.
Franklin Murangira, Chief of Party at Volunteering Services Overseas (VSO), emphasized the importance of intersectionality in addressing the needs of different vulnerable groups.
“The people we work with have multiple vulnerabilities, for example, someone might have a disability and also be a teenage mother. These tools help us assess whether policies are designed to accommodate such intersecting identities,” he explained.
Revealed that VSO’s mission aligns with Make Way’s objectives, ensuring that no one is left behind. “We must ensure that all voices are heard and that policies reflect the real needs of diverse populations,” Murangira stated.
Dr. Beth Mukarwego, Chairperson of the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), highlighted the importance of societal attitude shifts.
“People with disabilities often face exclusion, even in religious spaces and healthcare facilities. The tools developed by Make Way help communities recognize these challenges and advocate for change,” she said.
The tools are now being introduced at the community level, where trained individuals will champion their use. “Some people are already trained, and they can advocate for the broader adoption of these tools. The goal is to ensure that policies and practices evolve to be more inclusive, Mukarwego explained.
By addressing overlapping vulnerabilities, Make Way is pioneering a holistic approach to SRHR advocacy. Their intersectional tools not only highlight systemic inequalities but also provide actionable solutions, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, can exercise their sexual and reproductive rights without barriers.
With growing awareness and adoption of these tools, the hope is that policymakers, organizations, and communities will work together to create a more equitable and just society.
In a post shared on X, renowned Ugandan journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga, who is also said to be a distant relative of the late Ssali, wrote, “He had requested to be cremated and his ashes sent back home and to other countries in Africa.”
He further stated that the family will honor his request, with details of his sendoff services in Washington, D.C., and Uganda to be announced soon.
“We shall respect his wish, and soon, a date for his sendoff service in Washington, D.C., and Uganda will be communicated. #RIPShakaSsali,” Byaruhanga wrote.
For over two decades, his show, Straight Talk Africa, provided a vital platform for critical discourse, engaging African leaders and intellectuals while bridging the gap between the continent and the global stage.
His signature introduction, “I’m profoundly honored and exceedingly humbled,” along with his famous phrase, “Let’s keep the African hope alive,” became defining elements of his enduring legacy.
The appointment follows the conclusion of the term of office for the previous Commissioner, H.E. Amb. Albert Muchanga, and serves as a transitional measure to ensure continuity in the department’s strategic and operational responsibilities.
The decision was made in accordance with Article 18(4) of the AU statute on the procedure for election of commissioners and after consultations with the Chairperson of the Executive Council.
“In this regard, I hereby appoint you as the Acting Commissioner for economic development, trade, tourism, industry, and minerals.… until the assumption of duty of the substantive commissioner,” the official AU memorandum reads.
H.E. Vilakati brings a strong background in both public service and regional economic development. He previously served as Eswatini’s Minister of tourism and environmental affairs from 2018 to 2023, during which he championed sustainable tourism, conservation, and regional trade integration.
His leadership is widely credited with positioning Eswatini as a key destination in Southern Africa and promoting green economic policies. The African Tourism Board (ATB) has lauded his appointment, describing it as a symbolic and transformative moment.
In a congratulatory message, ATB Executive Chairman Hon. Cuthbert Ncube wrote: “You have walked with us over the years as a trusted leader and ally, always grounded in purpose and committed to Africa’s collective advancement. Your leadership across these key sectors is not only a blessing to the continent but also an inspiration to all who believe in Africa’s promise.”
Although the appointment is temporary, it comes at a time when the AU is ramping up efforts under Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development.
The substantive ETTIM Commissioner position has been allocated to the Central African Republic (CAR), and once elected, H.E. Vilakati is expected to step down within 48 hours, per AU regulations.
Until then, he will oversee key portfolios vital to the continent’s economic resilience, trade liberalization, and industrial transformation. His dual role positions him to strengthen synergies across agriculture, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.
