Tag: GreatLakesNews

{{Officials in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo accuse a rebel force of replacing traditional leaders and extorting heavy taxes from the people, while peace talks take place in Uganda under a ceasefire.}}

The rebel Movement of March 23 (M23) controls part of the Rutshuru region, a unstable territory rich in minerals and agricultural produce, which borders on Rwanda and Uganda. Both countries are accused by the United Nations of backing M23, but they deny it.

Since taking control of the territory in North Kivu province, the rebels have begun raising taxes and, according to recent accusations by civic leaders, naming their own tribal chiefs in place of the legal traditional leaders, some of whom have fled.

“In the Buhamba sector (…), Mr Makombe, the traditional chief recognised in law, has been replaced by Mr Rusisi, who escaped from the Munzenze prison in Goma”, the provincial capital occupied by M23 for 11 days at the end of November, said Etienne Kambale, of the federation of civil society non-governmental organisations in North Kivu.

“Do you believe that people who place a criminal at the head of a sector are (…) serious?” he asked.

A source close to Makombe gave a different slant on the handover. “Makombe, for security reasons, chose not to remain in a zone under rebel control. There are people thirsty for power who are looking for us,” he added, blaming M23 and asking not to be named.

The divisional chief responsible for the interior of North Kivu, Aloys Majune, declined to comment. “This is a rebellion. We can’t say anything,” he said.

“These tribal chiefs do their work and we do our own,” replied Jean-Marie Runiga, the political leader of M23. “We can’t leave a population without leaders. To say that M23 is shifting traditional power is propaganda (…) these are things that we would never do.”

Benjamin Bonimpa was named administrator of Rutshuru after the rebels seized their part of the territory last July 25.

The legal administrator, Justin Mukanya, for his part runs a “free” part of Rutshuru, bordering on the Lubero territory.

The main demand of M23, which has bases close to Goma, is the implementation of a peace accord signed on March 23, 2009, which provided for the integration of its men into the army, when they were part of a previous rebel movement.

Negotiations to end the crisis began at the start of December in the Ugandan capital Kampala and clashes with the army have finished, but M23 has not put an end to the raising of taxes.

The movement even uses official forms of the General Tax Directorate, to which it has added its own insignia, a local businessman said.

“In security terms, we say that M23 is doing its best (to improve the situation), but what we detest is the payment of customs duties on our merchandise. How do you expect us to pay customs on goods that come from Goma? In the DR Congo? This is a joke and it discourages us,” a trader named Janvier said.

“We pay 40 percent of our income to M23 every day. (…) For our vehicle, there’s a toll fee of five dollars (3.7 euros) and for free passage, we pay five dollars to M23′s traffic police,” said an official in the Association of Road Haulage Drivers of the Congo (ACCO) in Rutshuru.

“There’s no lack of other hassles,” he added. “In all, the driver pays 15 dollars for a bus. For a lorry, it’s bad – you need 320 dollars (240 euros) per vehicle, of which 20 pays the toll and 300 pays the tax on the goods.”

“These taxes do not help us. You see, Ugandan truckers who came to buy our soja no longer come and a bag of soya is now worth 18 dollars. What are we expected to earn as farmers?” said an official in charge of a Rutshuru food market.

“We take ordinary customs duties and taxes. It’s just the same as in the time of the government,” Runiga said in defence of M23. “The same taxes are still received by us for three reasons – security, the upkeep of the administration and road repairs.”

{{Armed groups and Mayi-Mayi Yakutumba Action Party and the reconstruction of Congo Armed Force Hallelujah (PARC-FAAL), who visited the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), began on January 19 began sensitising other Mayi-Mayi groups operating in South Kivu to convince them to join the Congolese army.}}

According to the spokesman of the group Mai-Mai Yakutumba, Pacific Mutiki, the provincial government has made available to policymakers movement PARK FAAL “means necessary to educate the Mayi-Mayi elements still in bush.”

“We started with awareness and then we will direct [those who are willing to go] to collection centers. We were given three weeks [to carry out this mission], “he said.

{{In Kenya, a 23-year old woman was killed after being thrown off a moving Commuter bus (matatu) over a Sh10 fare dispute in Nairobi’s Kawangware estate.}}

The incident sparked protests from locals who burnt the matatu.

The woman was thrown off a matatu after a Sh10 fare dispute and was ran over by an oncoming one at around 7am Monday.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman had Sh20 that she intended to pay as her fare to the city centre, but the tout told her the she had to pay Sh30.

This prompted an argument before the tout reportedly pushed her out of the moving vehicle. She fell on the road and was run over by an oncoming matatu.

The driver sped off leaving the one that ran over her at the scene.

The crowd that had gathered at the scene started protesting and set the mini-bus on fire.

Police arrived at the scene after the crowd turned rowdy. Business was paralysed for hours as the youth engaged police in running battles.

Police said the driver of the matatu was arrested after he went to report the incident.

Dagoretti DC Cornelius Wamalwa who arrived at the scene appealed for calm saying they were tracing the matatu whose tout pushed the woman off.

The body of the unidentified woman was taken to the City mortuary.

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{{In their failure to withdraw 20 kilometers outside Goma city, Kinshasa has expressed doubt about the M23 rebel commitment to its unilateral ceasefire.}}

The regional Heads of State directive demanded the rebels to withdraw 20km out of Goma.

Recently, the rebels announced a unilateral ceasefire, but the DRC government preferred the matter be addressed by the military chiefs under the regional Joint Verification Mechanism.

The M23 rebels captured Goma on November 20 last year, but withdrew from Goma two weeks later after the intervention of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) headed by President Museveni.

Rev. Fr. Apollinaire Malu Malu, the deputy chief negotiator for the DRC government said, “Those are false statements.

The M23 does not respect fully the decision of Heads of State. They have not gone 20 kilometers outside Goma. At the moment they are one kilometer and not 20 kilometers.”

Malu Malu told journalists, “The M23 has no respect for the relevant decision of the Summit of Heads of State that it should withdraw at 20 kms north of Goma, which M23 has not done.”

The Congolese government delegation also scoffed at the rebel demands for cancellation of results of November 2011 presidential election, dissolution of the Senate, Provincial Assemblies, and resignation of Governors and establishment of a National Transitional Council to manage the transitional period.

Malu Malu also questioned how the procedure to grant amnesty to the rebels will be initiated if the rebels want the concerned State institutions such as the National Assembly, Senate and Presidency to be dissolved.

Malu Malu who is also the head of the expert group of the government delegation said that the Government is not ready to compromise with what will undermine the Constitution and institutional order of DR Congo.

On the agenda item to grant amnesty to M23 rebels, Malu Malu questioned the appropriateness of granting amnesty to those who have benefited from amnesty in the past.

“This will be the second or third time that amnesty will be granted. To do so, would not it be interpreted as an incitement to commit offences again?” asked Malu Malu.

NV

{{In Kenya, 2 Nation Media Group journalists were on Sunday night assaulted by General Service Unit officers as they covered riots in Kibera.}}

The officers confiscated their cameras’ memory cards and other valuables despite the journalists identifying themselves.

Mr Dennis Okeyo, a Nation photographer and Mr John Otanga, an NTV cameraman, were attacked at an area known as Karanja.

The two had been assigned to cover demonstrations by youths in connection with the political parties’ nominations last week.

According to Mr Fred Mukinda, a Nation reporter who accompanied the two, when they arrived at the scene, they found the GSU officers ordering everybody passing by to raise their hands.

Mr Okeyo identified himself to the officers and showed them his press card.

However, the officers beat him, grabbed his camera, confiscated the memory card and took more than Sh2,000 from the photographer.

Mr Otanga was hit on the head as he attempted to help his colleague. Both were taken to Coptic Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Police boss David Kimaiyo directed the officer in charge of Nairobi to investigate the incident.

NMG

A vehicle belonging to a senior military official has been seized on allegations of ferrying ivory after a road chase that involved Manyara National park rangers on Friday evening.

The event happens only weeks after police officers were caught with ivory in Serengeti National park and two others lynched a few days later in an incidence related to poaching, shows how complex poaching is in the country, with a network spanning rouge elements in the security and defense forces.

In the Lake Manyara incident last Friday four soldiers were alleged to be in the vehicle and one of them (name withheld) who was driving the vehicle was caught by the rangers after the vehicle had overturned at Kigongoni village near Mto wa Mbu township in Manyara district at 9pm. He was being held for questioning by the Police.

The Arusha Regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas said he was not in a position to speak to the media on the issue because he did not have details.

When contacted for comment yesterday morning he said he was driving and could not talk for long over the phone.

When called later in the day he said he still has not details on the issue but he brief the media today.

“I always want to gather all the details before I speak to the media. I will do so tomorrow,” Mr Sabas said.Sources from the Police said the three passengers of the vehicle escaped with three pieces of ivory. Two ivory pieces remained in the vehicle.

The director of the Tanzania National Parks Authority Allan Kijazi confirmed the event took place but could also not offer more details.

“I am in Tanga travelling with the Parliament Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment. I have not details to give you though I have heard about the incident, please contact the Police for more details,” he told The Citizen in a telephone interview.

The unprecedented escalation of poaching in the country has caught the country unawares. Poaching has already frustrated the coutnry’s bid to sell its ivory stockpile.

Last month the government withdrew an application to sell to China and Japan over 100 tonnes of ivory valued at over $55.5million (about Sh88.8billion).

The request had been submitted in early October last year and was due to be discussed at the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) meeting in March in Bangkok. 


The situation is so dire that the Iringa urban legislator (Chadema), Rev Peter Msigwa wants to table a private motion on anti-poaching in the upcoming Bunge sessions commencing in Dodoma next week.

Mr Msigwa says it is unacceptable that 67 elephants are killed every day, or 23,000 annually or quarter of them in Tanzania.

He said his research showed that the war against anti poaching lacked political will amoung decision makers, public officials, politicians, businessmen and other stakeholders due to conflict of interest that surround the whole business.

Rev Msigwa told reporters at the weekend that he was grateful that his notification letter met speaker’s approval and that his private motion would be tabled in the up coming bunge sessions.

“Tanzanians should pray that no bizarre incidents that happens to an extent of postponing or subjecting to rejection of the topic” he said.

But the ministry also wants to act to tame poaching. One way to reduce poaching is trough the creation of the Wildlife Management Authority.

Briefing reporters after attending the Land, Tourism and Environment committee’s meeting at the weekend that discussed the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) report, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu said the government was in the final efforts of forming the Tanzania Wildlife Authority, (TWA) as a measure of curbing the problem poaching.

According to Mr Nyalandu, TWA is founded to tackle identified challenges that contribute to the increased poaching trend in the country such as inadequate manpower and poachers change in technological approaches.

He said contrary to old poaching days, the present poaching is done through use of up to dated weapons such as short guns or machine guns something that demanded a new approach in combating the problem.

“TWA will be empowered to undertake employment decisions to curb the manpower shortages and practice other strategic plans that will finally help in containing the situation which is obvious critical” he said.

According to Mr Nyalandu the intensified poaching incidences in the country were caused by attraction brought by the Asian market that raised ivory the demand for ivory and therefore required for more supply.

Another reason outlined by Mr Nyalandu was the overcrowding of imported cheap and small weapons in the country’s markets something that increased accessibility to natural resources poachers.

“Our responsibility will be to help TWA address these challenges to ensure natural resources in Tanzania benefited the general public” he emphasized.

{Thecitizen}

{{The Kenyan government has ordered authorities in Nyanza to immediately quell rising tensions and violence arising from disputed Orange Democratic Movement nominations.}}

Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia directed the Provincial Security Intelligence Committee (PSIC) “to do whatever it takes to ensure stoppage of arson, violence and criminality.”

“The government urges leaders of political parties to fast track nominations disputes resolution, following appeals by aspirants. This will end tension in affected areas especially those most prone to violence and insecurity. The government also urges wananchi to exercise restraint and patience.”

The sentiments follow sporadic violence that engulfed the area over disputes in the ODM nominations especially in Kisumu and Siaya counties.

“Those who take the law into their hands and destroy property must be arrested. PSIC Nyanza and other areas must and should do whatever it takes to ensure stoppage of arson, violence and criminality,” Kimemia said.

“Violence can never be a solution or option for a mature democratic culture and peoples. The world is watching and we applaud leaders who appealed results peacefully, lost honourably and now seek to build this nation in different, equally important sectors.”

Protests rocked the lakeside town of Kisumu and its environs to denounce an alleged announcement that Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s sister Ruth Adhiambo had won the ODM Kisumu gubernatorial nomination.

The demonstrations were simultaneous in Kisumu, Nyando and Maseno where roads leading to Kisumu town were blocked and transport paralysed.

At Kondele in Kisumu town, the demonstrators lit bonfires blocking the Kisumu-Kakamega road as police officers led by the Kondele police chief Johnston Wanyama watched from a distance.

Ruth was ‘declared’ winner at the Tom Mboya Labour College Hall by someone who was not the returning officer.

The demonstrators said there was a plot to rig out Jack Ranguma who was the frontrunner for the position.

Carrying banners saying “No Ranguma, No Raila” the demonstrators vowed not to let go the nomination to Ruth whom they have accused of using her brother’s name to clinch the party nomination.

The standoff came barely a day after Siaya County residents staged demonstrations to protest against former Bondo MP Oburu Odinga who is an elder brother to the PM after he was announced the winner for the gubernatorial position there.

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{{The Uganda Army has announced that it shot and killed Brig. Binani, a member of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel high command and chief bodyguard of leader Joseph Kony.}}

Army spokesperson Col. Felix Kulayigye told journalists on Sunday that Binani was also in charge of logistics, movement of food and abductions for the LRA.

Binani was shot and killed on Friday following a clash with a UPDF squad 280km north of Djema in the Central African Republic.

“For the chief escort to die in combat means you are close to the bone marrow. It is an encouragement; we are decimating the command structure of the LRA. We are making arrangements to bring his body to Gulu,” Kulayigye said.

He added that the army has rescued over 200 children and women from the LRA over the last six months.

Describing the circumstances that led to the killing, Kulayigye said the UPDF deployed following intelligence about a group of LRA in the area.

“We had not known he (Binani) was there, but we knew that it was Kony’s group,” he added.

The killing of Binani comes days after US President Barack Obama assented to an amended law, which offer a cash reward for whoever arrests Kony and his top commanders.

The amendment updates the Rewards Programme to target those indicted by international, hybrid or mixed tribunals for genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Kony and his commanders are wanted by International Criminal Court to answer charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

NV

{{Political party primaries to select candidates for Kenya’s March national elections have been fraught with irregularities, disorganization and disgruntled losers, increasing the chances of conflict during the upcoming vote, analysts said Friday.}}

That’s bad news for those trying to avoid a repeat of what happened after Kenya’s 2007 elections, when a dispute over who won the presidency led to weeks of violence that left more than 1,000 people dead.

The primary voting this week did little to instill confidence that officials are ready for another national vote.

The voting began Thursday, but most political parties were forced to extend it to Friday because of problems at the polls such as a lack of ballots.

“This has been a sham largely because you clearly see that the political parties did not want to prepare to hold a credible nomination exercise,” said Cyprian Nyamwamu, a political analyst and consultant for local observer groups. “Once you have credible primaries then the areas of conflict or disputes in the elections reduce.”

Scores of Kenyans were disappointed when they turned up at the crack of dawn Thursday at polling stations and waited for hours only to be told that the process was stalled.

A lack of ballot papers, a lack of polling clerks and incomplete ballots were among the reasons voters were given.

Nyamwamu said political party chiefs had at least six months to plan and prepare for the primaries but failed to do so deliberately in order to find a way to later directly nominate their allies, family, friends, and rich unpopular candidates who do not want to go through the primary process.

He said another motive behind the failure was money: Political parties chiefs do not want to spend money they’ve made from charging candidates nomination fees, which can add up to millions of dollars across the country.

He predicted that a great number of legislators would have lost their election bid in fairly run primaries owing to their poor performance in parliament.

Kennedy Masine, an official of the local Election Observer Group, described Thursday’s attempt to hold nominations as a “phenomenal failure.”

Two political parties have emerged as the strong contenders to win most of the parliamentary seats in March.

One is the Jubilee Alliance, a coalition of parties led by two politicians facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court for allegedly orchestrating the 2007-08 post-election violence.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former government minister William Ruto are presidential and vice presidential candidates in the coalition.

The second party is the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy. The key parties are led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Odinga was second during the 2007 election for president, which he and international observers said were flawed.

Odinga came to a power-sharing deal with the winner of the 2007 race, Mwai Kibaki, who is finishing his second term as president and who is constitutionally barred from running again for a third term.

The agreement helped end the political crisis that had left so many dead.

Kenya’s elections this year should turn the page on the bloodshed of five years ago, but the risk of political violence is still unacceptably high, the International Crisis Group said in a report Thursday.

Politicians must stop ignoring rules, exploiting grievances and stoking divisions through ethnically targeted campaigning, the group said.