Regional military chiefs meet in Kigali

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) member states are meeting in Kigali to among other tasks draft a concept on countering security threats that have regional and international dimensions.

The 28th Ordinary Policy Organs Meetings, which started earlier this week with a meeting of experts, has attracted defence chiefs and later convene the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security.

Opening the session of Chiefs of Defence and Security, on Wednesday, December 16, Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi, the Chief of Staff of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), admitted that the region continues to face challenges of conflict that impact peace and stability in some of our member states.

Acts of violence, terrorism, and violent extremism, especially in the horn of Africa region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said, continue impacting the region and call for concerted effort.

"The EASF had made several achievements during the last thirteen years, including attaining full operational capability and contributing to capacity building of our forces in terms of training. It is important that these achievements are maintained and consolidated," Mupenzi said.

 The EASF is a regional organisation whose mandate is to enhance peace and security in the Eastern Africa region. It comprises 10 active member states:  Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

All partner states are represented at the meeting apart from Burundi and Seychelles.

"It is therefore in our interest that we move forward speedily but in a pragmatic and professional manner in order to reinforce the larger efforts of our continental organisation, the AU," Mupenzi said.

In the spirit of shared responsibility and in recognition of the fact that the security of one state is inextricably linked to that of the other, Mupenzi said, "we must spare no effort to collectively address the problems" related to peace and security.

The regional Standby Force is one of the five regional multidimensional forces of the African Standby Force (ASF) comprising military, police and civilian components. The components stay on standby for rapid deployment at appropriate notice as provided for in the peace support operations scenarios of the ASF.

 In an August 2014 pledging conference, held in Kigali, countries committed to raise a military fighting force of 5,000 troops.

 EASF declared full operational capability in December 2014 with an equipped multidimensional and multinational force of 5,200 personnel - military, police and civilian components.

 Wednesday's session was the start of the CDFs' policy organ meeting.

 Ministers will meet on Friday.

 

Financial constraints

 According to Brig Gen Fayisa Getachew, the EASF Director said they have been able to achieve several objectives including maintaining force readiness for deployment, but "the financial status of the organisation is currently poor."

 

Each member state is required to contribute an annual assessed contribution. Lately, Rwanda’s assessed contribution is 9.3 percent of the total annual assessed contribution by all countries.

"Only two member states have so far submitted their annual assessed contributions for 2020. However, I am glad to have received information that the Republic of Rwanda has dispatched their contribution and is expected in our accounts soon," Getachew said.

"We understand the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on our economies. However, as we allocate the little resources we have, I kindly request that we also consider EASF."

 According to the EASF's 2019 annual report, the approved budget for the financial year 2019 was $7.4 million.

But member states' actual remittances for the same financial year totalled $4.5 million.

On September 25, military, police and civilian personnel from seven member states completed a two-week training course that integrated mission planning at the Rwanda Peace Academy in Musanze District.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Rwanda hands over body of slain Ugandan

 

A casket bearing the body of Ndagijimana. Courtesy photo

Rwandan officials Wednesday handed over the body of Teojen Ndagijimana, a Ugandan national who was shot dead by Rwandan security forces in Kumugu Trading Centre in Musanze District, inside Rwanda, about three kilometres from the Uganda-Rwanda border, on Saturday.  

The body was received by a Ugandan delegation that was led by Rtd Capt Peter Mugisha, the Kisoro District Resident Commissioner, at   Chanika border.

Mr James Nsaba Buturo, the former Ethics and Integrity Minister and Bufumbira East Member of Parliament, attended the event.

The Rwandan delegation was led by Ms Marie Chantal Uwanyirigira, the mayor of Burera District.

The body was taken to Chahafi Health Centre IV, where another post mortem was scheduled to be carried out before a burial at Kabingo village, Chahafi Parish.

Ndagijimana is the fourth Ugandan to be shot dead inside Rwanda by Rwandan forces since the Kigali government closed its border with Uganda at Katuna in February last year, stopping the movement of goods and people from either country.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Second Rwanda, Uganda meeting fails to take off

Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of East African Community Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe greets Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa in Kigali on September 16, 2019, before the opening session of a meeting between officials of the two countries. PHOTO BY CYRIL NDEGEYA

A meeting between Uganda and Rwanda that should have taken place on Thursday as a follow up to the September 16 one in Kigali to ease tension between the neighbouring countries did not take place.

Following mediation by Angola’s President Joao Lourenco and a first meeting in Kigali where top government officials from both sides spent half a day locked in talks negotiating a path to normal diplomatic relations, Uganda agreed to organise the second meeting within 30 days, which elapsed on Thursday.

On Thursday, Rwandan officials said they had not been contacted by their Ugandan counterparts for the second bilateral meeting.

The meetings are meant to fast-track the implementation of an agreement signed in August by both President Paul Kagame and President Museveni in Angola, to end two-year long hostilities between the neighbours.

Key on the agenda for the now missed Kampala meeting was further discussions on the reopening of their common border for goods and people.

The border has been closed since late February, and Rwanda stopped its citizens from crossing into Uganda and restricted the entry of Ugandan goods into the country.
Business community and communities in both countries have suffered effects of the impasse over the border closure.

Ugandan exporters are desperate to access their Rwandan and Burundian markets, while Rwandan markets have run out of stock of popular Ugandan products especially beverages and foodstuffs, cement and consumables, with no adequate or in certain cases expensive alternatives.

And with the meeting now uncertain, it is unclear whether the situation will change any time soon.

But Ugandan officials who spoke on condition of anonymity told the media that the bilateral meeting “is in the offing” and that Rwandan officials will be “informed in due course.”

Last week, Rwandan companies complained of increased cost of doing business due to closed border through which they imported packaging materials for their products.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Nobel Peace Prize: Has Abiy brought peace to East Africa?

By Reality Check team

What has Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed achieved for him to be awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize?

The Nobel committee said he had been chosen for his role in resolving the border conflict with Eritrea, and promoting peace and reconciliation both in his own country and in the wider East African region.

Mr Abiy's supporters hail his achievements as a triumph, but he does also have strident critics who point to the current situation in his own country, beset by ethnic tensions.

We look at his record.

A huge challenge

In 2018 Mr Abiy inherited a country with unresolved conflict across its northern border, in a region where instability had drastically held back economic development.

Within a few months, he had signed a peace deal with Eritrea.

To achieve this Mr Abiy promised to hand over fiercely contested border territories, in particular the town of Badme, the focus of heavy fighting from 1998-2000, in which tens of thousands had lost their lives.

Mr Abiy has also been praised for bringing important democratic reforms to Ethiopia and for his conflict resolution efforts elsewhere in the region.

But let's start with the outcome of his peace deal with Eritrea.

Has the peace with Eritrea lasted?

At first, border towns opened up and goods and people were able to move relatively freely across the border which had previously remained closed and militarised.

However, following widespread euphoria in the country at reaching an agreement, there have been frustrations about the progress of the peace deal on the ground.

The town of Badme effectively remains under Ethiopian control, as the two governments tease out details of the agreement, and all the borders posts which were initially opened are now shut. Some businesses in the border towns, which initially prospered, are now struggling.

Flights between the two capital cities, Addis Ababa and Asmara, have resumed.

Some Tigrayans, the ethnic group in the north-east region that borders Eritrea, had protested at the opening of the border posts.

The dominant political group in the north-east region, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), was against the process and has terse relations with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

When the peace deal was signed, Mr Isaias was highly critical of the TPLF - his nemesis when the countries were officially at war.

When the Ethiopian government attempted to remove military equipment from the border, it was blocked by residents of Tigray who feared future conflict with their neighbour.

Some analysts also blame the slow progress towards peace on Eritrea's President Isaias.

He has resisted opening up his country, considered to be one of the most oppressive on the continent, so he is not pushed into making reforms at home, his critics say.

Have there been democratic improvements?

When Mr Abiy came to power, he freed thousands of political prisoners, ended a state of emergency and unbanned numerous political parties.

He appointed the country's first female president, gave half the seats in his cabinet to women, and committed the country to full multi-party elections in 2020.

These are all measurable democratic gains, but his critics say his leadership style has relied on a cult of personality, while he has sidelined important government ministries from the decision-making process.

Have Ethiopia's internal ethnic tensions got worse?

Tensions between Ethiopia's numerous ethnic communities have always been a matter of serious contention but the authoritarian state had kept a lid on the issue.

When Mr Abiy came to power in April 2018, he introduced wider political freedoms.

In some areas, this has led to open conflict and led some 2.5 millions people to flee their homes in these unstable regions.

A report by Refugees International in November last year criticised the government for encouraging premature returns to regions not yet safe and for not doing enough to protect civilians.

What is Abiy's role as a regional peace mediator?

In his short time in office, Mr Abiy has also played a significant mediation role in other regional hot spots.

He was instrumental in bringing the military regime in Sudan to the negotiating table with the opposition following widespread protests in Khartoum and elsewhere.

The talk led to the formation of a transitional power-sharing government.

In addition, he has tried to help normalise diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Djibouti after years of political hostility.

Mr Abiy has also sought to mediate between Kenya and Somalia in a protracted conflict over the maritime border between the two countries.

And he has been actively involved in peace talks between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and the rebel leader Riek Machar.

He facilitated a meeting between the two leaders in June last year in Addis Ababa although a peace deal signed last August has yet to be fully implemented.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Demand slumps in Burundi, Rwanda for Kenya’s exports

Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency CEO Peter Biwott (left) with Trade PS Chris Kiptoo at a past event. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NMG 

Demand for Kenyan products has slumped in Rwanda and Burundi amid competition from China, India and Saudi Arabia, a study by Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (Keproba) shows.

Kenya, which mainly exports iron sheets, steel, oils, perfumes, paints, paper and cigarettes to the two landlocked States, has recorded slow export growth as other players come into their turf.

Rwanda and Burundi officially joined the East African Community trading bloc in 2009 where they are able to trade with Kenyans without tariff and import quota restrictions.

“There is a notable trend in the abandonment of the Kenyan brands in Rwanda and Burundi due to increasing prices, unavailability of products, competition from substitute products and counterfeiting,” says the study released yesterday.

Kenya commands three percent share of the import market in the two countries, valued at about Sh6.5 billion in Burundi and Sh17.8 billion for Rwanda.

“Kenya needs to improve competiveness of its export commodities, better the export penetration strategies to grow its market share vis-à-vis competing countries,” the agency chief executive Peter Biwott told the Business Daily.

The research shows that Burundian household spends mostly on household items such as clothes and footwear (32 percent), cereals (18 percent), meat and groceries (14 percent, oils (10 percent) and cooking energy (five percent).

Similarly, Rwandan households’ budget is dominated by clothes and footwear (up to 34 percent) and food items (cereals, groceries, mea, cooking oil, and dairy) making up to 52 percent of the budget.

“New opportunities for Kenyan exports products should target household items such as clothes, cereals (rice) and groceries,” states the study, adding opportunities also exist to deepen market penetration for confectionery, footwear, toiletries and plastics.

“The survey of consumers in Burundi established that price was the most important driver influencing their purchase decision for most products,” says the agency.

Kenya can compete with local industries in Rwanda, where consumers value quality, to get a share of the 78 percent domestic supply, it said.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Burundi-Rwanda trade resumes

By IVAN R. MUGISHA

More by this Author

A street in Bujumbura, Burundi. Imports from Burundi—mainly foodstuffs—declined sharply to below the $1 million mark, and represent only 0.8 per cent of Rwanda’s total imports from the region. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

Formal trade between Kigali and Bujumbura is slowly picking up after a political spat in Burundi that led to violence disrupted the movement of goods and people between the two countries four years ago.

Exports from Rwanda to Burundi rose to $5.2 million in the first quarter of this year from $1.1 million over the same period in 2018, according to the Rwanda Institute of Statistics. However, the revenue generated is beefed up by re-exports, mainly fuel, as a number of Rwandan manufacturers including cement, beverages and packed foods are yet to resume exports over the fear of violence.

Imports from Burundi — mainly foodstuffs — declined sharply to below the $1 million mark, and represent only 0.8 per cent of Rwanda’s total imports from the region.

Informal trade — especially foodstuffs — remains heavily restricted following a directive in 2017 by Bujumbura ordering Burundians to stop trading with “the enemy.”

Residents of border towns in both countries have felt the impact the most. There is little activity at the two main border posts at Akanyaru and Nemba, which once blossomed before the 2015 violence. However, cross-border movement of people is largely unhampered on either side. Burundian officials still block non-passport holders who reside within border communities from crossing into Rwanda. Cross-border transporters also stop at the border points as they are not authorised to operate inside Burundi.

Entries at the Akanyaru border rose slightly to more than 110,000 people in 2018, from over 100,000 in 2017. At the Nemba border, entries rose to 54,000 from 48,000 people, according to statistics by the Rwandan Directorate-General of Immigration and Emigration.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

‘Burundi’s integration into the EAC bearing good results’, Minister Ndahayo

‘Burundi’s integration into the EAC bearing good results’, Minister Ndahayo

The minister in charge of the integration of Burundi into the East African Community (EAC), Ms. Isabelle Ndahayo, in the Kigobe Congress House on Thursday September 5, 2019, gave answers to the oral questions mainly focused on the state of the integration of Burundi into that community and the position of Burundi in relation to the policy of the political federation of the EAC member countries.



Among the questions asked by the representatives of the people are the benefits that Burundi has already enjoyed since its integration into the EAC, the use of the single currency, and whether Burundi’s willingness to join the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) is possible.

To those questions, Minister Ndahayo said that Burundi has already benefited a lot from the integration, including infrastructures, health institutions and others that are being built.

Minister Ndahayo said that Burundi supports the policy of the political federation of EAC member countries because it has many advantages, including a common vision that leads to economic development, but also the protection and defense of common interests.

As for the state of affairs in the use of the single currency, Ms. Ndahayo said that preparedness is underway and she hopes that in 2024, member countries will start using the single currency.

As for the advantages that Burundi intends to gain from the integration into other regional communities such as SADC or if it is possible to integrate into several organizations at the same time, the minister pointed out that Burundi is a landlocked country and that to be part of several organizations will allow it access to the sea.

To the concern that Burundi cannot belong to both EAC and SADC, Minister Ndahayo tranquilizes by saying that even Tanzania belongs to the two organizations.

The participants also wanted to know the progress of the construction of the Rusumo dam, which would normally start operating in 2020.

The minister said that the construction of the dam was disrupted by the problem of compensation of people, but that by March 2021, the dam will be operational.
They also wanted to know why Burundi contributes the same amount as other countries, such as Tanzania and Kenya, while the profits would not be the same.

Minister Ndahayo said that at present, the situation is in that way, but claims have been submitted while hoping that the answer will be favorable.

Asked about when French will be used as a communication tool in the EAC in the same way as English and Kiswahili, the minister said that Burundians have an interest in continuing to learn English while waiting for the French to be approved as the language of communication within the EAC.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Rwanda-Uganda: Ministers to meet over Luanda agreement

By IVAN R. MUGISHA

More by this Author

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (left) shakes hand with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame after signing an agreement to end the hostility between the two countries in Luanda, Angola, on August 21, 2019. PHOTO | URUGWIRO 

A delegation of Rwanda and Ugandan officials and ministers are “working on” a joint meeting to discuss the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Angola by Rwanda and Uganda leaders to end months of tensions which have gone on for over two years now.

A highly placed source told The EastAfrican that the first high-level official meeting could happen in “the next few weeks.”

“Both parties are confident that the agreement will be ‘fully implemented’”, said the source without giving details on the date and venue for the meeting.

The planned convention serves a clause in the Luanda agreement which calls both countries to establish an Adhoc committee for the implementation of the MoU headed by the ministries of foreign affairs and composed of the ministers responsible for internal administration and intelligence chiefs.

No update has been provided as of this week regarding what has so far been implemented from the agreement.

President Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni embarked on busy schedules since signing the agreement last Wednesday and have not publicly commented anything regarding its implementation.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

UN opposes forced repatriation of refugees to Burundi

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — The United Nations refugee agency is urging the governments of Tanzania and Burundi not to forcibly repatriate Burundians sheltering in Tanzania.

In an emailed statement UNHCR says “conditions in Burundi are not currently conducive to promote returns,” although security generally has improved since violence erupted in the country after the 2015 presidential polls.

About 400,000 Burundians have sought asylum elsewhere in the region, according to UNHCR. An estimated 200,000 of them are sheltering in Burundi.

Tanzanian authorities said Tuesday they had reached an agreement with Burundi to send all Burundians back home by October 1.

Burundi’s government has long insisted the country is now safe for all Burundians.

Yet hundreds still flee Burundi each month, according to UHHCR, which is urging governments in the region to keep borders open.

Associated Press, The Associated Press

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Tanzania to send back all Burundian refugees from October

Tanzanian and Burundian officials announce deal but UNHCR says Burundi conditions are not conducive to promote returns.

According to Tanzanian government figures, there are approximately 200,000 Burundian refugees in Tanzania [File: Sala Lewis/Reuters]

Tanzania says it has reached an agreement with neighbouring Burundi to begin sending back all Burundian refugees from October, adding that the repatriation will take place in collaboration with the United Nations.

However, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a statement on Tuesday that the conditions in Burundi, which was plunged into a political crisis four years ago, are not "conducive to promote returns" and noted that it is assisting refugees who indicate they have made a voluntary choice to return home.

Hundreds of people were killed and more than 400,000 fled to neighbouring countries due to violence the UN says was mostly carried out by state security forces following President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision in April 2015 to run for a third, disputed, term in office. 

Nkurunziza won re-election and, the following year, Burundi suspended all cooperation with the UN human rights office in the country after a UN-commissioned report accused the Bujumbura government and its supporters of being responsible for crimes against humanity.

Currently, some 200,000 Burundians are in Tanzania, according to government figures.

Speaking to the AFP news agency, Tanzanian Interior Minister Kangi Lugola said: "In agreement with the Burundian government and in collaboration with the High Commissioner for Refugees, we will start the repatriation of all Burundian refugees on October 1."

"Under this agreement, it will be 2,000 refugees who will be repatriated every week until there are no more Burundian refugees in Tanzania," he said.

'Returns should be voluntary'

Lugola said that Burundi is currently at peace, adding that he had "information whereby people, international organisations, are deceiving people, telling them there is no peace in Burundi".

He was speaking after he and Burundian Interior Minister Pascal Barandagiye on Sunday visited a camp where they annouced the return to the refugees themselves.

In an emailed statement to Al Jazeera, Dana Hughes, the UNHCR spokesperson for East Horn and Great Lakes, said around 75,000 Burundians had returned home in the past two years. She added, however, that hundreds still flee Burundi each month and urged governments in the region to maintain open borders and access to asylum for those who need it.

UNHCR also called upon the governments of Tanzania and Burundi "to uphold international obligations and ensure that any returns are voluntary in line with the tripartite agreement signed in March of 2018", referring to a deal covering refugees who wish to return on a voluntary basis.

"The UNHCR urges states to ensure that no refugee is returned to Burundi against their will, and that measures are taken to make conditions in Burundi more conducive for refugees returns, including confidence-building efforts and incentives for those who have chosen to go home," Hughes said.

One Burundian refugee, a man in his 40s who crossed over with his family and now lives in Tanzania's Nduta camp, said he would not be returning home.

"We heard that the governments agreed on forced repatriation ... There is no way we can go to Burundi, there is no security there at all," the man, who declined to be named, told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch says Burundi's government does not tolerate criticism, and security services carry out summary executions, rapes, abductions and intimidation of suspected political opponents.

Burundi's ruling party denies it carries out systematic human rights violations.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Uganda Runs Out of Condoms

By Emmanuel Okogba

Uganda may just be having an increased number of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases related cases after a report revealed that the East African nation is running short in the availability of condoms. 

According to the report, although the country’s ministry of health is denying it, people cannot get condoms easily when they need it. The scarcity results from the withdrawal of donor aid funding to the sector.

Uganda needs about 240 units of condoms in a year but have only 132 units available this year. 

Watch full video of the report below:

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Researchers bring HIV vaccine discussions to Rwanda

By Hudson Kuteesa

A participant during a recent conference that discussed AIDS prevention wears a T-shirt calling on people to get tested for HIV. / Sam Ngendahimana

Global experts are going to share research on HIV vaccines and cures in a meeting that will bring together over ten thousand delegates in Kigali in December.

Since 1987, more than 30 HIV candidate vaccines have been tested. Most of these trials have been conducted in the United States and Europe, but several have also been conducted in developing countries (Brazil, China, Cuba, Haiti, Kenya, Peru, Thailand, Trinidad, and Uganda).

The results have provided important scientific information to develop newer generations of candidate vaccines with a better ability to induce anti-HIV specific immune responses.

The meeting dubbed the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) will bring together the world’s leading scientists, policymakers, activists, people living with HIV, government leaders – as well as a number of heads of state and civil society representatives.

Running under the theme “AIDS-free Africa- Innovation, Community, and Political Leadership”, the conference will look to engage stakeholders to join efforts in committing to achieve an AIDS-free Africa.

Speaking to journalists in Kigali, Prof. John Idoko, a clinician and President of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) said that there are a number of trials that are taking place in the world for HIV vaccines and information about what has been happening will be discussed in Kigali during the meeting,

“Over a decade ago, there was a vaccine trial that was done in Thailand and it gave us some hope since they found it to be thirty percent effective. Since then, there has been a lot of work going on, trying to ensure that we can get other candidates that will perform better,” he said.

“There are some large trials that are going on - even around Africa. And one of the things that have come out is that the effectiveness has been raised to 39 percent. We need 60 percent effectiveness to say that the vaccine can be used by everybody,” he added.

Among other things, the meet will also discuss advancements in pre-exposure prophylaxis. Pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP is the use of an antiretroviral medication to prevent the acquisition of HIV infection by uninfected persons.

About HIV vaccine

According to information from the World Health Organisation, HIV vaccine development is complicated by the incredible variability of the virus, and in particular its envelope protein at both the individual and population level.

The evolving number of virus subtypes and recombination renders vaccine development targeting the viral envelope constituents very difficult.

Encouragingly, data from the first HIV vaccine trial to show a positive protective signal were released in 2009.

Analysis of this trial that was performed in Thailand showed 30 percent effectiveness. Although this result is not enough to qualify the vaccine for licensing, yet, according to the WHO, the trial provided very useful pointers for a way forward.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Kenya Census: Country becomes 1st in Africa to recognise intersex people

BY VICTOR OGUNYINKA

Kenya retired president, Daniel Moi (PHOTO: Kenya Standard MEdia)

As president says exercise is geared towards future planning Saturday and Sunday have been scheduled by the Kenyan government for the general headcount of its citizens. For the first time, the intersex people will also be counted by the government officials making it the first African country to recognise such gender.

Intersex people are born with physical characteristics that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female, Aljazeera described.

A Kenya news media reported the census operation officially started at 6 pm with many Saturday with many Kenyans taking to the social media to describe the questions asked: “were not making sense.”. The governor of Migori in Kenya, Okoth Obado, advised the government to deploy security officers in Lake Victoria’s Migingo Island so that Kenyans residing in the island can take part in the 2019 national population census. “With the ongoing harassments, Kenyans living in these areas will be fearful and might opt to skip the census altogether,” Obado said adding that the government must take charge and ensure they are enlisted. Kenya president, Uhuru Kenyatta, however, noted the exercise will help the government to efficiently plan the future of the citizens. 


Mr Kenyatta is quoted by the Kenya Star News to have said; “Mine is to say that I have formally gone through the process. We’ve completed that exercise with my family,” “Once again I reiterate that this is an exercise that’s is geared towards helping us plan for your future. It is an exercise that is geared towards better utilization of your taxes to ensure that they get to the people. You cannot plan if you do not have the right statistics,” he added. The census conducted by Kenyan team of enumerators is expected to be completed by the end of today Sunday.


Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Tanzanian journalist released after arrest over 'false' news: lawyer

By AFP
More by this Author

Journalist Joseph Gandye who has been arrested in Tanzania for allegedly publishing 'fake news'. PHOTO | FILE 

A Tanzanian journalist arrested for "publishing false information" after broadcasting a story about police brutality was released on Saturday, his lawyer said.

Joseph Gandye, who works for local station Watetezi TV, was arrested in the financial capital Dar es Salaam on Thursday after airing a story on August 9 about police in the central city of Iringa forcing six young detainees to sodomise each other.

"He has just been released on bail by the police in Iringa," his lawyer Jones Sendodo told AFP.

The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which founded Watetezi TV last year, defended its journalist, saying the report gave all sides involved a chance to respond, including the police officers.

Gandye's arrest comes less than a month after another Tanzanian journalist, Erick Kabendera, was detained in circumstances condemned by rights groups.

Accusations of "sedition" and other vague offences have been levelled against journalists and media houses under President John Magufuli, who has been criticised for his authoritarian leadership style.

Related news:

Tanzania journalist arrested over 'fake news'

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Rwanda says Uganda agrees to unblock news sites

By IVAN R. MUGISHA
More by this Author

Patrick Nyirishema, Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (Rura). Mr Nyirishema on August 23,2019 said Uganda had agreed to unblock online access to each Rwandan publications. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

Rwanda on Friday said it had agreed with Uganda to unblock online access to each other’s publications after some websites in both countries were targeted for censorship.

Patrick Nyirishema, Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (Rura) told The EastAfrican that consultations were ongoing with their Ugandan counterparts to resolve the issue “within a few days’’.

“We are on a positive footing and are having good discussions. Actually they [Uganda Communications Commission] were the first to say let us resolve this and get it over with. And we are in total agreement,” said Mr Nyirishema.

On Thursday UCC ordered internet service providers to block access to Rwanda’s state-owned daily New Times and Kinyarwanda tabloid Igihe citing national security concerns.

On Friday, Rwanda countered the move and blocked Ugandan news sites including state-owned The New Vision, Daily Monitor, Observer and The Independent.

Mr Nyirishema added that Rura reciprocated after seeking clarifications on why Kampala had blocked Rwandan sites.

“When I spoke to UCC, they made it clear that they blocked sites which they considered hostile...I told them that we were going to take the same action.”

Rwanda and Uganda leaders on Wednesday signed an agreement in Angola to end months of tensions which have gone on for over two years now.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Tanzania journalist arrested over 'fake news'

Tanzanian journalist Joseph Gandye. He has been arrested for publishing news about alleged police abuse of suspects in custody. PHOTO | COURTESY | WATETEZI TV

A journalist has been arrested in Tanzania accused of publishing fake news about alleged police abuse of suspects in custody.

Joseph Gandye works for Watetezi TV, a station established last year by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC).

THRDC issued a statement condemning Gandye’s arrest, saying he was being held at a police station in the main city of Dar es Salaam.

Watetezi TV tweeted Friday morning that he was being taken to Iringa in central Tanzania.

Iringa is where he did a report earlier in August for Watetezi TV about alleged police maltreatment of suspects in custody.

THRDC said the police in Iringa had responded to the report with a warning that “issue false and misleading reports that aim at degrading the Tanzanian police force and the government as a whole” would not be tolerated.

“I have ordered the chief intelligence officer to follow up on people who are misleading and reporting false information. Once they are caught legal action should be taken,” THRDC quotes Juma Bwire, the regional police commander of Iringa, as saying.

A month ago, top investigate journalist Erick Kabendera was arrested.

He remains in custody and his treatment has been raised as an issue of concern by the US and UK embassies in Tanzania.

Since President John Magafuli, nicknamed “The Bulldozer”, came to office in 2015, laws overseeing the media have been toughened and a number of newspapers and radio stations have been suspended for "incitement".

He has often warned about fake news in the wake of articles critical of the government, saying there are limits to press freedom.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.

Kenya and Somalia’s maritime border spat risks degenerating

By Morris Kiruga, in Nairobi

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses a news conference after attending the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, September 13, 2016. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

As the Somalia-Kenya maritime dispute escalates into a legal and diplomatic spat, peace and security concerns take centre stage.

From September 9 to 13, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the The Hague will hear submissions from Somalia and Kenya over their maritime territorial dispute.

• Somalia contends that its maritime boundary with Kenya should run on a diagonal, extending from its land border and not in the current flow parallel to the line of latitude.
• The contentious triangle measures about 100, 000 square kilometres; for Kenya, it places 51, 000 sq km of its Exclusive Economic Zone and 95, 000 sq km of its continental shelf in jeopardy.

While the main resource issue has been the potential hydrocarbon deposits in the contested area, the dispute has the potential to escalate security issues in the region, especially as it encourages brinksmanship.

Both countries have officially accused the other of auctioning oil blocs in the disputed waters.

• In the Kenyan media, Somalia’s claim has been referred to as a ‘land grab’  and Somalia has been accused of “sticking a finger up the nose of [its] benefactors’ .
• President Mohammed Farmajo has been accused of using the conflict to shore up his position ahead of next year’s elections, the first universal suffrage in Somalia since 1969.

They have also been engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat, which escalated this year.

• In February, Kenya recalled its ambassador to Somalia and expelled Somalia’s envoy in Nairobi.
• In May, Kenya suspended direct flights from Somalia to Nairobi. Then it denied entry to three top Somali officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
• In response, Somalia said its officials would no longer attend meetings in Nairobi, and banned all Kenya-based NGOs working in the country.
• In June, Kenya closed its border crossing with Somalia in Lamu citing security concerns.

Somalia first filed the case with the ICJ in August 2014, with Kenya raising preliminary objections on the court’s jurisdiction over the matter. Although the ICJ threw out the jurisdiction issue in February 2017, there will be other other issues at play when the case is heard.

A key one is that the current President of the court, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, is a Somali national.

• Yusuf has served in the court since 2009, and as Vice President from 2015 until 2018, when he was elected President.
• Another is that a decision for Somalia would have a ripple effect on Kenya (it has another maritime boundary with Tanzania) and other countries along the Indian Ocean coastline.

Protests to the UN and military deployment

A bipartisan motion now before Kenya’s parliament seeks to compel the executive to do more to resolve the issue. One proposed solution is an official letter to the United Nations protesting Somalia’s “aggressive legalistic stance” to file with the ICJ without first using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. As a last resort, the motion calls for the government to deploy the military in the disputed waters.

• Kenya would rather the dispute is first considered by the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the East African Community. A 2009 memorandum of understanding had provided for alternative dispute resolution.
• A mediation attempt by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earlier this year also failed.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

✔@MofaSomalia

The #Arab Parliament calls on #Kenya to stop its hands on #Somali territorial waters, which are an integral part of the Arab waters, and rejects its false pretensions to draw up a new, unfounded map while rejecting its threats to interfere in #Somalia's internal affairs.

639

10:05 AM - Jun 20, 2019

Twitter Ads info and privacy

565 people are talking about this

Among the security concerns is that the escalating diplomatic spat threatens Somalia’s peace and stability, and with it, the security of the entire region as well as international shipping routes.

It would also, according to Kenyan legislators, hamper the ongoing construction of a land border wall between the two countries and the fight against al-Shabaab.

• Kenya has been battling the terror group in Somalia since 2011, and is now a core part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces holding Somalia’s fragile peace together. In the front lines, cooperation between Kenya’s and Somalia’s security forces is essential to combating terrorism.
• While there are fears that Kenya could leverage this to force Somalia’s hand, its presence in Somalia is primarily for its own security. Ceding its gains against al-Shabaab to force the territorial dispute would be as costly for Kenya as it would be for Somalia, which has been rocked by multiple terror attacks this year. In late July, the mayor of Mogadishu was killed in one such attack.
• While coordinated efforts by several navies managed to stop piracy off the coast of Somalia, pirates attacked two shipping vessels in April, raising concerns of a likely resurgence.

Thanks for reading. Follow the page and Share it.