IGIHE

Tag: GreatLakesNews

  • 500 UNMISS Staff Evacuated to Uganda

    500 UNMISS Staff Evacuated to Uganda

    {{Over 500 staff of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been relocated to Uganda over security fears.}}

    The staff are part of the UN team that was working in South Sudan where war guns are currently sounding.

    the UNMISS head Hilde Johnson says the growing hostility towards UNMISS staff in South Sudan has forced them to relocate over 500 staff that are non critical at the moment to the UN base in Entebbe.

    The relocation of the staff was started on 21st December last year with the relocation of 40 UN staff from battle grounds in Bentiu to Juba before finally bringing them to Entebbe.

    A day later, another 450 members of the UNMISS were relocated to Entebbe.

    Fighting in South Sudan has intensified with armed militia attacking UN bases in areas of Bor.

    The attack of UN bases forced the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces to take over control of the UN camp in Bor for two days.

    {agencies}

  • Uganda Accuses Bashir of Resuming Support for Kony

    Uganda Accuses Bashir of Resuming Support for Kony

    {{A senior Ugandan government official on Wednesday accused Sudan of resuming its support for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.}}

    Speaking on the seemingly wary relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said Uganda has filed a complaint with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) about Sudan’s alleged support for LRA.

    “We had hoped that we had put all this behind us, but sadly, Sudan has not stopped supporting Joseph Kony and the LRA,” Mbabazi reportedly said.

    “Sudan accused us of supporting rebellion in their country, which I denied. The OIC has taken note of our complaints and it has expressed willingness to mediate”, he added.

    Both Sudan and Uganda are members of the OIC, a 57-member body which safeguards and protect the vital interests of Muslims as well as work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving member states.

    Kampala and Khartoum have, in the past, traded accusations of supporting rebel groups. Sudan government says Uganda hosts Sudanese Revolutionary Front rebels.

    {{Sudan Recalls Envoy }}

    The strained relationship between Uganda and Sudan deteriorated further with Khartoum recently recalling its ambassador to Kampala Hussein Awad Ali, over long held suspicions that Uganda was harbouring Sudanese rebels.

    Diplomatic sources told The East African that Sudan’s ambassador to Uganda left the country on 17 April after he was recalled by the Khartoum government.

    Some sources, however, said the Sudanese diplomat was requested to leave Uganda after intelligence information reportedly linked him to espionage.

    Uganda’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson said it was within Khartoum’s prerogative to recall it envoy, adding that Uganda already explained its position to Sudan regarding the presence of its rebels in Kampala.

    “What Uganda has done is to give shelter to their [Sudanese rebel] families and of course they come in to visit their families, but are not allowed to launch any war from here”, Fred Opolot was quoted saying.

    Uganda expelled a Sudanese diplomat last year over alleged espionage. Kampala accused Jad-el-Seed Mohammed Elhag of involvement in “activities beyond the norm.”

    In January last year, Sudan lodged a complaint against Uganda with the African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, after the opposition political parties and Sudan rebels signed an agreement dubbed “New Dawn” in Kampala whose aim, Khartoum said, was to overthrow the regime.

    Uganda has, however, denied having any intentions of overthrowing the Khartoum regime or supporting any rebel group with the intention of regime change.

    {sudantribune}

  • Muslim Clerics Denounce Radicalisation

    Muslim Clerics Denounce Radicalisation

    {{Muslim clerics from around the world have urged local religious leaders to reach out to the youth and deter them from falling into the trap of radicalisation.}}

    At the first Annual Islamic Conference in Nairobi on Saturday attended by thousands of Muslim faithful, the clerics said the core message of Islam had been corrupted by a few individuals posing as Sheikhs with the intent of turning the youth to violence.

    “Many in the world have misunderstood and abused the message of Prophet Muhammad. That is why we call on all local teachers to refresh the people’s understanding of the lifestyle and teachings of the Prophet,” said Sheikh Ahmed Hameed.

    London based Muslim scholar and Imam Wasim Kempson said Prophet Muhammad is “the most misunderstood individual” in modern times but this is not a reason to respond with violence and say “off with the heads” of those who insult the Prophet.

    “We are emotional beings, and someone who insults the Prophet is seen as someone who has insulted your mother. But we should practice restraint and avoid knee-jerk reactions. We should respond in a way that reflects and demonstrates the good nature of the Prophet,” said Imam Hameed.

    National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale who also attended the conference said that a small group of false teachers had managed to grab media attention and propagate false stereotypes about the religion and those who practice it.

    “Islam stands for peace, tolerance and co-existence, and none of these radical Sheikhs seem to be preaching this message. It is really unfortunate that our sisters’ mode of dressing (the hijab) is now being seen as a security risk,” said Duale.

    The conference comes at a time when tensions are running high in the country after a series of terrorist attacks that led to heightened security and the arrest of hundreds of suspects.

    NMG

  • John Kerry Expected in Ethiopia, DRC & Angola Next Week

    John Kerry Expected in Ethiopia, DRC & Angola Next Week

    {{U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola from April 29 to May 5 to promote democracy and human rights, the State Department said on Friday.}}

    Kerry will meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom in Addis Ababa to discuss peace efforts in the region and strengthen ties with Ethiopia, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

    “In Kinshasa, Secretary Kerry will meet with President Joseph Kabila and will discuss how the DRC government’s progress in neutralizing some of the dozens of dangerous armed groups that victimize the Congolese people can be consolidated and how to best advance the DRC’s democratization and long-term stability, including through a timely and transparent electoral process,” she said.

    Kerry will meet Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos in Luanda to commend him on his engagement in the peace process in Africa’s Great Lakes region, Psaki added.

    {reuters}

  • UNSC Could Impose Sanctions on South Sudan

    UNSC Could Impose Sanctions on South Sudan

    {{The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) said on Thursday it was prepared to consider imposing sanctions on South Sudan’s warring parties if attacks against civilians continues.}}

    The statement follows an ethnically motivated massacre in Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state in which at least 200 people died and the killing of dozens of internally displaced people (IDPs) who were sheltering at a UN base in Jonglei state capital Bor.

    The violence has shattered a January ceasefire deal signed between both parties, aimed at ending hostilities which erupted in mid-December last year amid escalating political tensions between president Salva Kiir and his sacked former deputy Riek Machar.

    UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous and UN assistant secretary-general for human rights Ivan Šimonovic briefed the 15-member council on Wednesday on the situation in South Sudan.

    In a press statement issued from New York by UNSC president U. Joy Ogwu of Nigeria following the briefing, members said they were willing “to take additional measures should attacks on civilians and violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement continue”.

    “The members of the Security Council strongly reiterated their demand for an immediate end to all human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, and expressed their readiness to consider appropriate measures against those responsible,” the statement adds.

    Both the US and EU have already threatened South Sudan with sanctions, while French UN ambassador Gerard Araud has indicated that UNSC member states are likely “ready to go down the road of sanctions”.

    US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) this week also urged the UNSC to “act decisively” by imposing targeted sanctions on South Sudanese figures connected with human rights abuses.

    sudantribune

  • Kofi Olomide to Perform in Kampala

    Kofi Olomide to Perform in Kampala

    {{Congolese musician Koffi Olomide, is scheduled to perform in Kampala Friday night in a show aimed at raising funds for the establishment of Uganda’s first private blood bank.}}

    Olomide 57, is one of the many Congolese Soukous artistes whose music is popular in Uganda since the 90s.

    The France-based musician is a recipient of a couple of awards such as the Kora Award for “The Best African Artist of The Decade”.

  • Juba Frees Four Top Political Detainees

    Juba Frees Four Top Political Detainees

    {{South Sudan on Friday released four top leaders accused of rebellion and treason, dropping charges for attempting to overthrow the government in a move aimed at ending a four-month-old civil war.}}

    The court order said the men were released “in order to promote peace and reconciliation among our people”.

    A reporter at the court said the four men were greeted by cheering supporters, who lifted them up onto their shoulders into the crowd.

    The detention of the four had been a major sticking point in peace talks, and the gesture comes as the leaders on both sides of the conflict face the threat of UN sanctions amid worsening violence and atrocities.

    The four are Pagan Amum, former secretary-general of the ruling party, ex-national Security minister Oyai Deng Ajak, former ambassador to the US Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, and ex-deputy Defence minister Majak D’Agoot.

    The four leaders were arrested in Juba after fighting broke out between members of the presidential guard.

    The fighting rapidly escalated into all-out war between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors and ethnic militia loyal to sacked vice-president Riek Machar.

    President Kiir accused Dr Machar and his allies of attempting a coup, and initially 11 of his loyalists were put on trial.

    Dr Machar denied the allegation, and in turn has branded President Kiir a “genocidal leader” who started the war by carrying out a purge.

    Charges remain against Dr Machar, who fled the capital and is leading the rebellion, as well as other two key rebels, former governor of the oil-rich Unity state Taban Deng, and ex-minister Alfred Ladu Gore.

    However, charges were also dropped against seven leaders who were arrested shortly after fighting broke out but released in January into the care of neighbouring Kenya.

    {in photo above…former SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum}
    NMG

  • Australian Navy Impounds $290m Heroin off Kenyan Coast

    Australian Navy Impounds $290m Heroin off Kenyan Coast

    {{Australian Navy sailors have seized 46 sacks of heroin worth Sh24.9 billion ($290 million) from a boat off Kenyan coast.

    According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the heroin was hidden among bags of cement.}}

  • Savannah Cement Invests in new Clinker Facility

    Savannah Cement Invests in new Clinker Facility

    {{Nairobi-based Savannah Cement has announced it will invest US$97.7mn to set-up a clinker manufacturing base at its production facility in Kitengela, Kajiado County
    Savannah Cement aims to become less dependent on imported clinker to deliver finished cement products, the company said.}}

    More than US$100mn has been invested to develop its cement manufacturing plants in sub-Saharan Africa, which has a 1.5mn tonnes annual production capacity, Savannah Cement stated.

    “As you may be aware, the local cement industry tilts heavily on the grinding aspect of cement production and remains heavily reliant on clinker imports to deliver finished products,” said company chairman Benson Ndeta at the firm’s Diamond Mark of Quality certification by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

    The Diamond Mark of Quality certification entails a number of product tests being carried out, compliance to the scheme of supervision and control assessments by the KEBS, according to Savannah Cement.

    “Our attainment of a KEBS Diamond Mark of Quality certification is a clear affirmation that our products are uniquely formulated to assure superior performance,” Savannah Cement managing director Ronald Ndegwa said.

    {Africanreview}

  • Tanzania Listed Among Governments Sponsoring Poaching

    Tanzania Listed Among Governments Sponsoring Poaching

    {{A new report has listed Africa’s seven “corrupt governments” that support elephant poaching.}}

    On the list are Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sudan, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    The report, Ivory’s Curse: The Militarisation and Professionalisation of Poaching in Africa, released early this week, accuses public officials in the named countries of condoning or arming criminals who kill elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horns, respectively.

    The report is a joint effort by the conservation group Born Free USA and C4ADS, a non-profit organisation that analyses the drivers of conflict and insecurity.

    It says organised crime, government corruption and militias were all linked to elephant poaching and the illegal ivory trade.

    According to the report, poachers in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Sudan and Kenya moved across borders with near impunity.

    Mr Adam Roberts, the Born Free USA CEO, said: “For years, Born Free USA and other animal advocates have campaigned against the trade in elephant ivory, but on conservation and animal welfare concerns.

    And we wanted to find a little bit more detail about who was behind the ivory trade.

    It’s not just enough to say it’s criminal syndicates, nefarious profiteers. We wanted to know who is really behind it so that we can try and get governments around the world to do more to crackdown.”

    {{A defence analyst}}

    Mr Roberts said Born Free needed some help in gathering that kind of information.

    “That’s one of the reasons that we commissioned C4ADS to do the report for us. Because I think the breadth of our capabilities within the conservation community are pretty much limited to conservation.

    But having a defence analyst that looks at the militarism behind all of these poaching incidents gives them access to information that we wouldn’t otherwise have.”

    The latest report follows the one released by Interpol early in the year that also named Tanzania as among the leading sources of illegal ivory in the East African region last year, while Kenya and Uganda have become favourite transit routes, according to the international security agency.

    The Interpol report showed Tanzania’s elephant population plummeting in recent years and that in the largest Selous Game reserve, which boasted the world second largest elephant population at 70,000 s in 2006, had an estimated 39,000 in in 2009 and currently stands at 13,084.

    Ivory’s Curse: The Militarisation and Professionalisation of Poaching in Africa found unique problems in each country — though many of them were marked by conflict.

    It says, in Sudan, government-allied militias fund their operations by poaching elephants outside the borders.

    In the DR Congo, state security forces provide rebels with weapons and support in exchange for ivory.

    NMG