Politics

Ugandan president’s son, Kainerugaba, announces retirement from army after 28 years

Published

3 years ago

March 9, 2022

Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Commander of Land Forces, on March 8, 2022, announced his retirement from the army after 28 years of service.

Gen Muhoozi made the announcement on micro blogging platform – Twitter.

“After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement. Me and my soldiers have achieved so much! I have only love and respect for all those great men and women that achieve greatness for Uganda every day,” he tweeted.

After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement. Me and my soldiers have achieved so much! I have only love and respect for all those great men and women that achieve greatness for Uganda everyday.

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) March 8, 2022

In 1999, Muhoozi joined the UPDF at the rank of officer cadet and graduated in 2000 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the British Army’s officer training school.

He quickly made a promotion within UPDF although many of Museveni’s former NRA comrades such as David Sejusa and Kizza Besigye opposed this.

Muhoozi was admitted to Egyptian Military Academy where he took both the company and battalion commanders courses.

He also attended the Kalama Armoured Warfare Training School. In 2007 he was admitted to a one-year course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating in June 2008.

Following that, he successfully completed the Executive National Security Programme at the South African National Defence College.

In September 2011 Muhoozi was promoted to Colonel. In early 2012 Col.

Muhoozi enrolled at the South African National Defence College for the Executive National Security Program.

In August 2012 he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Commander Special Forces Command.

In 2013 and 2014 Muhoozi was one of the senior UPDF commanders who deployed to South Sudan to support the Government of South Sudan after fighting broke out in Juba between rival factions of the SPLA. In 2017, Muhoozi was appointed Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties.

Last year, Gen Muhoozi was appointed Commander of UPDF Land Forces, months after being reappointed as Special Forces Command chief.

Social media services including Twitter and Facebook remain dominated by messages proclaiming First Son Muhoozi, as the next Ugandan president although the 47-year-old has not publicly declared interests.

There are rumours 47-year-old may be the successor to his 77-year-old father, who has been in power since 1986.

Politics

Barrick Gold, Mali govt resolve issues on Loulo and Gounkoto mines

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The government of Mali and Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO) have resolved their ongoing claims and disagreements about the Loulo and Gounkoto gold mines in that West African nation, the company announced on Monday.

Two days after four Barrick employees were detained by the Malian government, the second-largest miner in the world made a statement. A new mining agreement that would allow Mali’s military-led government more control over its resources has been negotiated by the two sides. Among Africa’s top producers of gold is Mali.

According to Barrick, once the terms of the settlement have been finalised, the agreement’s specifics will be made public.

“The current negotiations have proved challenging but we’re encouraged by the government’s recognition of the importance of securing the long-term viability of the Loulo-Gounkoto complex as a substantial contributor to the Malian economy,” Barrick’s CEO, Mark Bristow, said in a statement.

It was not immediately possible to reach the Mali government for comment.

Barrick announced in July that it has made over $10 billion in economic investments in Mali during the previous 29 years.

Politics

Equatorial Guinea wants Gabon’s claim on islands rejected by ICJ

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Equatorial Guinea requested on Monday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismiss Gabon’s claim to multiple islands situated in potentially oil-rich seas within the Gulf of Guinea.

The tiny island of Mbanié, which is located less than a kilometre (about 1,000 yards) off the coast of Gabon, is the centre of a dispute between the two major oil-producing countries of Africa. They have requested that the UN’s highest court resolve the case.

“Gabon’s position is factually and legally untenable,” said Equatorial Guinea’s representative at the court, Domingo Mba Esono.

Since Gabon’s army ousted Equatorial Guinean soldiers from Mbanié in 1972, there has been violence. Since then, Gabon has established its own military outpost on the 74-acre, nearly deserted island (30 hectares).

However, the conflict was forgotten until the early 2000s, when renewed interest in the Gulf of Guinea was sparked by the possibility of oil.

Following years of UN mediation, the nations inked a deal in 2016 that would eventually allow the International Court of Justice, or World Court, to resolve the conflict.

The convention that divided up French and Spanish colonial holdings in West Africa in 1900 serves as the foundation for Equatorial Guinea’s claim to the islands.

In the meantime, Gabon asserts that the 1974 accord ought to serve as the foundation for the ICJ’s ruling. Gabon’s 1974 agreement evidence document, according to Equatorial Guinea, is not an original and is not signed.

Hearings will last a week. Gabon presents its case on Wednesday. Next year is anticipated to see the court’s definitive and binding decision.