Politics

DR Congo’s President Tshisekedi accuses Rwanda of waging economic war against his country

Published

3 years ago

June 18, 2022

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has accused neighours Rwanda of waging an economic war against his country by trying to occupy parts of the DRC, especially the eastern parts and take over the land because of its vast mineral wealth.

Tshisekedi who made the allegations on Friday in a nationwide broadcast, said the latest escalation in tensions between the two countries was started by Kigali in a bid to stoke up a war so its army could occupy the land.

He called on international leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step up the pressure on Rwanda to stop the war it is starting when it hosts the Commonwealth summit which will begin next week.

“The security situation in the east of the country continues to deteriorate, and fundamentally because Rwanda seeks to occupy our land, rich in gold, coltan and cobalt, for their own exploitation and profit.

“This is an economic war for the battle of resources, fought by Rwanda’s terrorist gangs.

“Eastern Congolese civilians are innocents under brutal attack from our neighbor,” the Congolese president said.

In the past two months, tensions have been building up between the two countries as each side has accused the other of incursions.

Kinshasha has accused Rwanda of lending support to the M23 rebels group operating in the eastern parts of the country while Kigali which has long denied the allegations, has also accused Congo of kidnapping its soldiers and shelling civilian settlements leading to the displacement of many people.

On Friday a Rwanda Defense Force statement said an unidentified Congolese soldier had crossed the border in Rubavu district and injured two Rwandan police officers before he was shot dead in self-defence.

The statement said a Rwanda National Police officer fired in self-defense and the Congolese soldier was killed, adding that the
Congolese authorities were informed and border officials from both countries were at the scene.

Related Topics:Accusation DR Congo Featured Rwanda

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.