Category: Rubrique

Following reports that Congolese citizens are losing hope in their national army, Gen. Didier Etumba, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has called upon for public support and trust in the army.

In a statement in Goma (North Kivu) Tuesday, July 10, Gen. Etumba claims that the military has conducted victorious operations and remains determined to defeat the rebels of the Movement of March 23 (M23).

“People have confidence in the army. This is the only army that has done a good job, “said Gen.Etumba.

He explained that during exchange of fire with rebels, “the FARDC have experienced small problems but overall, the operations were rather great victory for the army.”

“The emphasis is perhaps on a few small problems that one or the other battalion of the Congolese army met in Bunagana or Ntamugenga Runyoni but we forget that the FARDC are trying to dismantle the rebels.”

M23 rebels took control of border town of Bunagana, in North Kivu on Thursday, July 5. They rose after this success to Rutshuru center also taking control of the towns of Kiwanja Rubare Ntamugenga, Tchengerero, Jomba parish, and Kitagoma Kabaya, in groups and Jomba Busanza in Rutshuru territory.

Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have called on the DRC government to open political talks after capturing key towns of Rutshuru and Bunagana at the DRC-Uganda border.

“The Congolese government knows what was committed with the then CNDP rebellion on March 23, 2009 in the city of Goma. Nothing was realised so far”, Col Vianney Kazarama, the M23 Spokesman declared on Sunday, July 8.

The newly sworn-in first civilian president of Egypt is at cross roads with Military council after the new leader ordered parliament to resume against court decision that had suspended it last month.

The order by President Mohammed Morsy has pushed his leadership into a conflict with the military council which has said the decision to dissolve the country’s parliament must be upheld.

The military closed parliament last month after a court ruling. Its latest intervention is seen by some as a challenge and warning to the president, sworn in barely a week ago.

On President Morsy’s orders, the speaker has convened a meeting of parliament on Tuesday.

Crowds were gathering in Tahrir Square ahead of the meeting called for 10:00 (08:00 GMT), in defiance of the military’s decision.

The Muslim Brotherhood – which has the biggest bloc of seats in parliament – said it would participate on Tuesday “in a million-man march in support of the president’s decision and reinstating parliament”.

The military council said it was confident “all state institutions” would respect the law and constitution.

Analysts say the political truce in Egypt appears over.

Reports from DRCongo indicate that a plenary assembly of bishops, members of the Congolese National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco) in Kinshasa have called upon Congolese citizens to say “No to the balkanization of the DRC”.

The statement was made July 9 by Father Leonard Santedi, general secretary of the Cenco at the end of the assembly.

Fr. Santedi also announced large-scale actions to be taken through all the Catholic parishes of DRCongo.

“The war in eastern Congo is killing peaceful citizens. We are conducting an awareness campaign so that people realize that our country is at war and defend every inch of our territory, “He said.

Meanwhile, Wednesday, Uganda will host an emergency meeting of eleven countries in the Great Lakes region aimed at discussing urgent measures of defusing the intensified fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uganda government is the current chair of the 11-member International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), to prevent conflicts with potential for cross-border ramifications, while promoting sustainable regional peace, security and development.

The urgent meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian because ICGLR members will convene there, beginning Tuesday for a scheduled Inter-Ministerial meeting of the African Union – ahead of the continental bloc’s Heads of States and Governments summit later at the weekend.

President Paul Kagame has said that United Nations allegations that Rwanda is interfering in the DRCongo are “fictitious”.

Kagame told Al Jazeera that Rwanda is not responsible for a mutiny in the DRC.
A recent United Nations report accused Rwanda of supporting a rebel group -M23 led by Bosco Ntaganda who is currently wanted by the international criminal court.

Since the mutiny in March, more than 200,000 people have been displaced in the north Kivu province of the DRC.

The UN report claims that the mutineers allegedly received money, political backing, manpower and weapons from Rwanda.

The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza has signed a decree pardoning thousands of prisoners that have been langusihing in different prisons in the country.

The pardon decree is a goodwill gesture by the Burundi Government to address overcrowing in Burundi prisons and letting prisoners free to celebrate Burundi’s 50th anniversary of independence from Belgium.

Meanwhile, on 50th independence day celebrations on June 2 held in Bujumbura city at Prince Louis Rwangasore Stadium, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was honoured with the National Order the Republic of Burundi for his efforts towards the pacification of Burundi.

The National Order the Republic is the highest order bestowed upon outstanding individuals for their distinguished contribution to various national socio- economic spheres of national significance.

President Nkurunziza commended Uganda and President Museveni, in particular, for his efforts in restoring peace and security in Burundi.

Iconic former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela and current president Jacob Zuma and the late former President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere were the other leaders who were recognized for their contribution to the Burundi peace process.

However, Museveni was not present at the glamarous ceremony but the Order was presented to the Vice President Edward Ssekandi by President Pierre Nkuruziza.

Burundi gained its independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962. However, this year’s anniversary was marked on July 2 since July 1 which fell on a Sunday is a public holiday on the Burundian calendar.

Present at the anniversary celebrations included; Presidents Mwai Kibaki (Kenya),Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Joseph Kabila (Democratic Republic of Congo), Teodoro Obiang (Equatorial Guinea) and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

President Nkurunziza said Burundi’s peace mission to Somalia is not aimed at achieving any personal benefit but it is a sacrifice in appreciation for the support Burundi got from countries that contributed to the peace in the country which is now more than ever needed by the people of Somalia.

He also called for faster tracking of the East African Community as one way of ensuring regional stability, security and development.

Congolese media has reported that Civil society in North Kivu is concerned and wondering about the presence of alleged foreign troops in territories of Rutshuru and Lubero in North Kivu province.

A statement released July 1, expressed fear of a possible attack by a coalition of Mai Mai militia and rebels of the M23, with the support of the foreign troops.

However, Provincial authorities have not confirmed the presence of the said foreign troops in the area.

The statement further emphasises that these foreign troops are present in communities of Katwiguru Kahunga, respectively in groups at Binza, Bwisha in Rutshuru.

Another battalion, the statement said, is stationed to Kasiki in the group of Tama in Lubero.

The document claims these foreign troops remained in the DRC after all joint operations against Rwandan rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The first military operations against the FDLR have been conducted by the Congolese and Rwandan armed forces in the Congo in 2009.

Meanwhile, the ambassador of the Netherlands in the DRC, Robert Van Embden has presented two newly built military Barracks in Bukavu (South Kivu) to the Congolese Government.

The two Barracks valued at US$ 11 Million are located on the outskirts of Bukavu, and Nyamunyunyi, near Kavumu airport.

They have accomodation capacity of nearly 1,400 officers and soldiers of the FARDC, as well as nearly 5,000 of their dependents.

DRC, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Alexander Luba Ntambo said, “only the military who have not committed crimes” will be housed in these barracks and that must be endorsed by Monusco.

During the offcial handed over of the two barracks, the minister said the FARDC barracks are a priority of the government plan to reform the army.

A few days ago it was reported that about 10 Iranian Oil tankers had been repainted with the Tanzanian flag aimed at evading the US sanctions.

However, a U.S. lawmaker Howard Berman has warned that Tanzania will face the threat of US sanctions and damage its ties with the Washington if it does not stop the practice of “re-flagging” Iranian oil tankers.

Berman a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, accused Tanzania of reflagging at least six and possibly as many at 10 tankers owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company.

“This action by your government has the effect of assisting the Iranian regime in evading US and EU sanctions and generating additional revenues for its nuclear enrichment and weapons research programme and its support for international terrorism,” Berman said in a letter to President Jakaya Kikwete.

Berman said Tanzania could face the sanctions that President Barack Obama signed into law if the tankers were allowed to continue sailing under the Tanzanian flag.

He said Congress would also have “no choice” but to consider whether to continue the range of bilateral US programmes with Tanzania.

Officials at Tanzania’s embassy in Washington were not immediately available to comment on Berman’s letter.

A reliable sourcesaid in Dar es Salaam yesterday that President Kikwete had summoned Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister Bernard Membe over the matter.

“The threat of US sanctions is likely to feature prominently in the discussions at State House between President Kikwete and Membe,” the source said.

Reached for comment, Membe told The Citizen on Sunday that the US government had not yet communicated directly with the Tanzanian government.

“Such weighty statements are usually supposed to be issued by foreign ministries, not lawmakers. If it’s not from the US Department of State, then it should not be regarded as a threat by the US government. Even here in Tanzania what MPs say is not necessarily the government’s official position,” he said.

However, Membe said he was not aware of the letter sent to President Kikwete by Berman, but added that he would meet the US ambassador, Alfonso Lenhardt, tomorrow.

“The government has been doing all in its power to resolve the matter… let me meet first meet the American ambassador on Monday and my ministry will give the government’s position on the issue,” Membe said.

Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue also said he had not seen the letter reportedly sent to President Kikwete by the American lawmaker.

“I haven’t received any such a communication. If it’s true that such a letter has been sent, then it must have been addressed to the Foreign Affairs Ministry or the authority responsible for ship registration in Zanzibar,” he said.

The Zanzibar government confirmed on Friday that it had granted registration to 11 oil tankers formerly registered in Malta and Cyprus, and accused the media of misleading the public.

Zanzibar’s minister for Infrastructure and Communication, Hamad Masoud Hamad, told the House of Representatives that the vessels were operated by firms owned by nationals of British Virgin Islands and Seychelles.

He named the ships as Daisy with a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 81479 registered in Malta, Justice (GRT 164241) registered in Cyprus, Magnolia (GRT 81479) also formerly registered in Malta.

Other ships are Courage (GRT 163660) owned by Courage Shipping Co. Ltd, Freedom (GRT 163660) also owned by Freedom shipping Co. Ltd, Valor (GRT 160930) owned by Valor Shipping Co. Ltd and Leadership (GRT 164241) owned by Leadership Shipping Co. Ltd. All these were formerly registered in Cyprus.

Hamad also named Companion (GRT 164241) owned by Companion Shipping Co. Ltd, Camellia (GRT 81479) owned by Camellia Shipping Co. Ltd, Clove (GRT 81479) owned by Clove Shipping Co. Ltd and Lantana (GRT 81479) owned by Lantana Shipping Co. Ltd, all were formerly registered in Malta.

On Wednesday, The Citizen reported that an Iranian oil-tanker company has renamed at least 10 of its vessels and switched them to Tanzania’s flag to get round international sanctions, sending shockwaves through the country’s leadership.

Government ministers and public officials went into overdrive following reports that the company had changed the registration of several of its ships and was now passing itself off as a Tanzanian firm. The vessels were apparently registered in Zanzibar.

The Minister for Transportation, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, said he was aware of the development and had taken action. But his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Bernard Membe, was in the dark about the saga.

The international news agency Bloomberg reported yesterday that the oil tanker company known as NITC, which is owned by the Iranian Pension Fund, has renamed at least 10 of its vessels and switched to the Tanzanian flag.

Membe, who described the news as “shocking, strange and irregular according to the governing laws”, said thorough investigations would be conducted to establish the truth.

Bloomberg reported that NITC renamed five of its very large crude carriers, each holding about two million barrels of oil, and five Suezmaxes with a capacity for one million barrels.

Quoting the Equasis shipping database maintained by the European Commission, the reports pointed out that ownership of the ships was switched from NITC to new companies operating from the same address in Tehran. NITC remains the operator, though. All the ships were previously registered in Malta or Cyprus.

This development comes a few days before the full European embargo on Iranian crude exports, which starts tomorrow, is extended to insuring vessels that carry the oil. Some 25 NITC tankers are being used to store crude, the Paris-based International Energy Agency said.

Egypt now has the first civilian head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the country’s modern Army.

Mohammed Mursi has been sworn in as the country’s first civilian, democratically elected president at a historic ceremony in Cairo.

Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, took the oath before the Supreme Constitutional Court.

He promised to respect the constitution and the rule of law, and to protect the people of Egypt.

He is now due to speak at Cairo University before going to an army base for the handover from military rule.

On Friday, he undertook a symbolic swearing-in before crowds gathered in Tahrir Square to protest against decrees issued by the country’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf).

Mursi said he would insist on being given the full powers of a president, and added: “The revolution must continue until all its objectives are met.”

His administration will try to ease the military out – knowing that in overt confrontation the military is the one with the guns, says regional analyst Magdi Abdelhadi.

But the Mubarak regime is still largely intact and many in it will not work with the president, he says.

Mursi took his oath of office about an hour later than scheduled at the constitutional court – not as originally planned at the parliament, which was dissolved by the Scaf last week.

The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has revealed that he would like to be Prime Minister again.

The former Labour premier, who left Downing Street in a huff in 2007, said he would now do a better job than during his 10 years in power because of what he has learned since leaving frontline politics.

However , this is not the first time that Blair, who is accused of war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, has confessed he would like to return to No 10.

Blair, (59) admitted his prospects of a comeback — which would be the first since Harold Wilson reclaimed Downing Street in 1974 after losing a general election in 1970 — were ‘not very likely’.

In an interview with the London Evening Standard: “I am seeing a lot of the world and I have learned an immense amount in the past five years.

“One of my regrets is that what I have learned in the last five years would have been so useful to me. Because when you see how the world is developing you get a far clearer picture of some of the issues our country is grappling with.”

Asked directly if he would do the job again, he said: “Yes, sure, but it’s not likely to happen is it.”

Blair also said his successor, Gordon Brown, had condemned Labour to defeat by ditching the New Labour policies that got him elected three times.

He accused Brown of having him ‘forced out’ of power, saying he would have liked to have stayed in the job but left to avoid a ‘bloody battle’ with Brown’s supporters.

Looking back to the day of his resignation, he said: “I didn’t want to go but I felt that I had to.

“The only choice would have been to have fought a very bloody battle internally which I thought would damage the country as well as the party.”

Blair suggested that in some ways he is better equipped now to be PM than he was during his time in Downing Street. “I have learned an immense amount in the past five years,” he said.

“One of my regrets is that what I have learned in the last five years would have been so useful to me.

“Because when you see how the world is developing you get a far clearer picture of some of the issues our country is grappling with.”

Blair said that it was ‘inevitable’ that Labour would go down to defeat in the 2010 general election after it became clear that, under his successor Gordon Brown, it did not know whether or not it wanted to stick to the New Labour agenda he had mapped out.

He predicted that the Liberal Democrats will struggle at the next election, scheduled for 2015, and urged Miliband to stick to the centre ground.

Despite the upheavals caused by the financial crash of 2008 — which he admits he did not foresee —Blair said Labour would be wrong to shift to the left.

In Nothern Sudan political tension is high as Protests broke out as planned following Friday prayer’s in different parts of Sudan’s capital Khartoum as well as two regional towns amid reports of severe crackdowns by police and security forces.

The demonstrations first brokeout in Wad Nubawi Mosque in Khartoum’s sister-city of Omdurman where around 300 protesters including members of the Ansar sect of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) started chanting slogans calling for the downfall of the government as soon as the prayer ended.

Witnesses said that police forces supported by plain clothed security agents fired heavy teargas and rubber bullets on the protesters inside the mosque.

Activists say that the protests are currently spreading across other parts of Omdurman, including Ombada area.

Simultaneously, protests erupted in Al-Haj Youssef and Shambat neighbourhoods in Khartoum North, also known as Bahri, where activists say police and security agents are firing heavy tear gas and arresting protesters.

Activists are also reporting that demonstrations erupted following Friday prayer in the central market in Kassala town in the eastern region as well as in Al-Obayid town in North Kordofan State.

The current protest movement in Sudan started two weeks ago as the government moved to implement a set of anti-austerity measures including cuts of fuel subsides in order to make up for what officials say is a budget deficit of $2.4 billion US.

Since then, the protests have been widening with protesters across several parts of the country burning tires, blocking roads and chanting slogans calling for the downfall of the government.