IGIHE

Tag: GreatLakesNews

  • Ethiopia Warns of “Regional Conflict”

    Ethiopia Warns of “Regional Conflict”

    {{Ethiopian government has issued a strong warning of a threat of a “regional conflict” in South Sudan unless the Ugandan troops withdraw from the area and avoid the trend.}}

    officials in the past weeks expressed their frustration over Ugandan involvement in the inter South Sudanese conflict, However in his first direct statement against Ugandan role the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Monday called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from South Sudan.

    “Because of this intervention, the conflict might end up as a regional conflict because there are other interests also from other sides,” Desalegn said, emphasising “I hope for the cessation of hostilities…, Ugandan forces and all other external forces must withdraw from that area phase by phase”.

    Sudan and Kenya also called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from South Sudan saying it hampers IGAD efforts to settle the conflict. However, Juba said it has the sovereign right to demand “friends” to support its efforts to maintain political stability in the country.

    The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition accused also the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of fighting them alongside the South Sudanese government forces.

    The Sudanese media in Khartoum also reported that JEM rebels looted South Sudanese banks and stole vehicles and other private belongings, but did not mention their alleged fighting against the SPLM-In- Opposition rebels.

    JEM spokesperson Gibril Bilal in a statement released on Monday denied the accusation, and reiterated that they have no any presence inside the South Sudanese territory.

    The deadly violence in South Sudan erupted since mid-December when clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar.

    Ethiopia has a long tie with the people of South Sudan in which it supported and hosted the South Sudanese rebellion against Sudan in the 1970s through 1980s.

    A chunk of its populations particularly in the Gambella region share cultures and languages with the neighbouring states of Upper Nile and Jonglei in South Sudan.

    Ethiopia also has security and economic interests as well to safeguard and would not want to see the conflict flaring up and becoming more protracted at its borders through the interference of other regional countries such as Uganda.

    (ST)

  • Report Says Kony Benefits from Chaos in CAR

    Report Says Kony Benefits from Chaos in CAR

    {{A new report says the fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony may be getting a “lifeline” from chaos in Central African Republic, where sectarian violence has displaced nearly one million people.}}

    The report released on Tuesday by groups that monitor the Lord’s Resistance Army — Invisible Children and The Resolve —said rebel attacks increased in 2013 and rebels may be using looting raids in eastern Central African Republic to resupply commanders.

    Kony, an infamous warlord who abducts children, is believed to be hiding in Central African Republic. The groups say instability is making it more difficult for African troops and US advisers to target rebels.

    The Enough Project also said recently that violence in Central African Republic and South Sudan provides “a dream scenario for LRA rebels to hide and avoid capture”.

    – AP

  • Congolese National Airline Announces First Operation to Middle East

    Congolese National Airline Announces First Operation to Middle East

    {{Equatorial Congo Airlines (ECAir) is seeking to launch its first commercial flight from Congo-Brazzaville to Dubai by the 31 March 2014}}

    The flight will be operational three times a week, between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Maya-Maya Airport in Congo-Brazzaville.

    The new route will operate a Boeing 757 aircraft configured with 16 business class and
    132 economy class seats.

    According to the annual traffic report released recently by Dubai Airports, the world’s second busiest hub for international passengers showed a 13 per cent increase in 2013 in passenger traffic arriving from Africa.

    “This is a historic event for ECAir because this will strengthen our Middle East network through one of the most important hubs in the world. This flight is the first direct connection from Congo-Brazzaville to the UAE,” said EC Air chairman Jean Louis Osso.

    Helen Woodrow, vice president of forecasting and research at Dubai Airports also remarked, “Africa is a fast growing market with huge potential and we are happy to welcome ECAir as an important link between the DR Congo and Dubai that is sure to further boost tourism, trade and commerce between both markets.”

    Currently, Dubai International offers connectivity to more than 284 destinations across six continents through more than 125 airlines.

    {africanreview}

  • Floods Kill Atleast 50 in Bujumbura

    Floods Kill Atleast 50 in Bujumbura

    {{At least 50 people are reported to have died after floods and landslides hit the Burundi capital, Bujumbura.}}

    The reporters in Bujumbura city says it is not yet possible to give accurate figures because bodies may be hidden in the mud or under debris.

    One man said he had lost nine relatives.

    Our correspondent says the main hospital’s morgue is full, and that people are being treated outside.

    Local hospitals are unable to cope with the numbers of wounded.

    Water and mud flooding down from hills outside the city have washed away hundreds of houses, according to police.

    “The rain that fell in torrents overnight on the capital caused a disaster,” Security Minister Gabriel Nizigama told reporters.

    “We have already found the bodies of 51 people killed when their houses collapsed or were swept away,” he said.

    Media reports that torrential rain fell for 10 hours overnight and caused widespread power cuts.

    Roads and crops have also been destroyed.

    Bujumbura is on a plain that lies between a range of hills and Lake Tanganyika.

    {Buterere is one of the worst affected districts of Bujumbura}
    {agencies}

  • Summit to Consider Import tax to Finance EAC Secretariat

    Summit to Consider Import tax to Finance EAC Secretariat

    {{The cost of goods imported from outside the East African Community could rise from June this year as the regional bloc plans to introduce a new import levy to finance the Secretariat’s growing budget.}}

    The proposed one per cent levy will be an additional charge on the existing import taxes. This could raise the prices of goods shipped from outside the bloc’s five countries — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.

    The prices of commodities such as fuel, food, cars, machinery and second-hand clothes — the most common goods sourced outside EAC — are likely to go up.

    The total value of EAC member states’ imports from outside the region amounted to $34.29 billion in 2012, therefore the Secretariat could collect up to $342.9 million from the levy.

    The proposal, which was approved by the EAC Council of Ministers and recommended to the Heads of State Summit in November last year, is expected to be considered during the Ordinary Summit scheduled in Nairobi this April.

    The Council of Ministers is said to be working on rollout details, as the bloc seeks to wean the Secretariat of heavy reliance on contributions from member states, donations and donor funding.

    Inconsistent and inadequate flow of contributions from member states has constrained many crucial activities of the EAC executive arm, including the negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.

    The new funding mechanism is expected to enable the EAC to meet its budget, largely funded by donors. For example, of the $117.5 million 2013/2014 budget, partner states contributed $37.2 million while donors gave $79.8 million.

    The proposed 2014/2015 budgets stands at $134 million — 2.4 per cent higher than the previous year’s. Each EAC partner state will be required to contribute $45 million, a 19.0 per cent increment from last year’s contribution.

    However, the EAC development partners will in the 2014/2015 budget contribute a total of $83.8 million, a drop of 4.8 per cent.

    The donors, who include Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, DfID-UK, the European Union, the World Bank and Norway, however, finance their programmes directly instead of giving the grants to the Community.

    After it became apparent that fundraising remains the Community’s biggest challenge, early last year, a team of experts was appointed from all the partner states to explore sustainable funding mechanisms that would guarantee that the bloc is able to raise adequate resources, and ensure that equitable funding and remittances are made on time to the Secretariat.

    Among the proposals was one that contributions be based on the member states’ gross domestic product and introduction of an airline tax.

    {EastAfrican}

  • 3,000 Buses with Internet for Dar es Salaam

    3,000 Buses with Internet for Dar es Salaam

    {{Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, will have 3,000 modern buses that are furnished with an Internet café, wireless Internet and a mini-restaurant by the end of this year local media reports.}}

    Public transport in Dar es Salaam—home to about 4.5 million people and which has been in a shambles for years, is awash with sub-standard buses owned by desparate transporters and operated by mainly irresponsible, reckless drivers and touts.

    With demand exceeding supply, using public transport in the city especially during the peak hours, is normally chaotic and sometimes dangerous to commuters.

    Currently, there are 9,541 mini-buses, famously known as daladala, licensed to provide public transport, but 20% of these are often grounded due to mechanical faults, according to data obtained by local media.

    However, the Dar-es-Salaam Regional Transport Licensing Authority (DRTLA) says the number of privately owned buses is estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,500.

    Bus service accounts for about 70% of public transport in Dar es Salaam, according to latest statistics.

    At least 40% of these vehicles are substandard, meaning they aren’t fit to carry passengers.

  • Kenya Refuses 7 SPLM Leaders From Heading for Addis Ababa Talks

    Kenya Refuses 7 SPLM Leaders From Heading for Addis Ababa Talks

    {{The government of Kenya refused to allow the seven freed Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-In-Opposition) leaders leave Kenya to Ethiopia to attend the second round peace talks with the South Sudanese government, a rebel official said on Sunday.}}

    Nonetheless, rebel sources from Nairobi say the freed political leaders would eventually fly to Addis Ababa on Monday to join the talks after clearing a misunderstanding with Ugandan authorities.

    A member of the rebel negotiating team in Addis Ababa, who preferred anonymity, late on Sunday told reporters that Kenya declined to allow them leave for Ethiopia claiming their bail terms demanded that they stay within Kenyan territory.

    The official opening of the next round of talks is slated to resume on Monday, February 10, 2014 despite the decision taken by the Kenyan government.

    The rebel official said his negotiating team is demanding that they come to Addis Ababa and attend the peace talks.

    He further warned the SPLM-In-Opposition negotiating team would not engage in the talks opening Monday unless the seven political figures arrive in Addis Ababa at least Monday morning.

    “This is because that they [the seven leaders] are the only delegation we have so far,” he added.

    The seven political figures were freed on 29 January and arrived in the Kenyan capital the same day following a ceasefire agreement signed in Addis Ababa on January 23.

    Following their release, South Sudan’s minister of Justice, Paulino Wanawilla Unago, told reporters that the seven leader were moved to Kenya for safety reasons.

    He however added, “presidents from our neighbouring countries had promised (…)” to bring them back to Juba “when there is a need for further investigation, especially if they are found later to have participated in the failed coup attempt”, he said.

    {Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, center, receives seven of the 11 leaders accused of plotting a failed military coup in South Sudan in December on 29 January 2014}

    {sudantribune}

  • Arsenal fan Kills Liverpool Counterpart

    Arsenal fan Kills Liverpool Counterpart

    {{An ardent Liverpool fan from Meru in Kenya was last Sunday stabbed to death by an Arsenal fan, after the gunners suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of their Liverpool hosts.}}

    Anthony Muteitha, said to be a passionate Liverpool supporter died while being treated at the Meru Level Five hospital, after allegedly being stabbed by an enraged Arsenal fan.

    The two soccer fans had strolled into Marete’s bar in Meru town, to watch the highly publicised match between the two teams, taunted as favourite league contenders of the season.

    Tension was high as the match kicked off, with Manchester United and Chelsea fans ganging up behind Liverpool against Arsenal.

    Trouble is said to have started after it became apparent that the Arsenal side was playing a losing game.

    The Arsenal fan is said to have been angered by the Liverpool fan, who was celebrating at every goof the Arsenal side suffered.

    The tension reached its peak as the referee blew the final whistle, by which time, Arsenal had already been hammered five goals by their hosts.

    Unable to contain his anger, the Arsenal fan is said to have stabbed the Liverpool supporter, leaving him for the dead outside the bar.

    Area police boss Tom Odero, said the assailant is still at large, adding that a manhunt has been launched to bring him to book.

    Mr Odero said locals had impounded a motorbike that the assailant was seen riding before the match, and taken it to Meru police station.

    This is the second time this season that soccer fan has lost his life as a result of disappointing soccer results.

    {standard}

  • African Swine Fever Reported in Tanzania

    African Swine Fever Reported in Tanzania

    {{About 166 Pigs in Tanzania have succumbed to a deadly African Swine Fever causing panick among Pig keepers in the East African country.}}

    The break out of the disease was confirmed by the regional chief veterinary officer, Dr James Kawamala, as he declared a quarantine to prevent transporting pigs’ in and out of the city.

    According to notices posted at various locations in the city, it is strictly prohibited for any person to slaughter, distribute or even give as gift pig meat without the approval of the city veterinary officer.

    Dr Kawamala said he received reports about the disease from Mbeya Rural and Rungwe districts, saying that the regional office was considering taking further measures.

    “For whatever reasons pig meat will now be required to be verified and approved by specialists before being eaten,” he said.

    African Swine Fever, for the first time, broke out in Mbeya in 2011 where many pigs died causing millions in loss to keepers. According to Dr Kawamala, Mbeya City alone lost over 1,500 pigs.

    {The Citizen}

  • Suspected Ugandan Gay Couple Jailed

    Suspected Ugandan Gay Couple Jailed

    {{Reports from Uganda indicate that two men who have been accused of living as husband and wife have been remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of engaging in sex against the order of nature.}}

    Mr Kim Mukisa and Mr Jackson Mukasa denied the charges before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. They were remanded for lack of sureties to apply for release on bail.

    The prosecution told court that investigations were still incomplete and the suspected gay couple will reappear in court on February 21 for mention of their case.

    Mr Mukisa, 24, a businessman in St Balikuddembe Market (Owino) was charged with having sexual knowledge of a person against the order of nature contrary to the Penal Code Act.

    His long-time companion Mr Mukasa was charged with permitting a person to have sexual knowledge of him against the order of nature.

    NMG