Politics

France President Macron meets Paul Kagame, Felix Tshisekedi, over Rwanda, DRC conflict

Published

1 year ago

September 22, 2022

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has met with the Presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi respectively, over the lingering conflict between the two neighbouring African countries which has flared in recent months.

At the meeting which took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Macron on invited Kagame to lunch with Tshisekedi, who had accused Rwanda of backing rebel attacks in his country while addressing the Assembly on Tuesday.

The French Presidency which confirmed the meeting of the three leaders, said in a statement that they all “noted their concerns about the resurgence of violence in the east of the DRC.”

The statement said both Kagame and Tshisekedi agreed on the need for the pullout of M23 rebels from the strategic town of Bunagana on the Ugandan border.

“The three leaders want to intensify lasting cooperation to fight impunity and put an end to activities of armed groups in the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR,” the statement said.

In his address to the General Assembly, Tshisekedi had alleged that Rwanda was providing backing and massive support to the M23 rebel group that has been fighting government troops in the Eastern DRC for several years.

“Rwanda’s involvement and responsibility is no longer debatable,” Tshisekedi had said.

But while reacting to Tshisekedi’s accusations in his address on Wednesday, Kagame called for calm, saying “there is an urgent need to find a political need to find and address the root cause of instability in eastern DRC.”

“The blame game does not solve the problems. These challenges are not insurmountable and solutions can be found. This would ultimately be much less costly in terms of both money and human lives,” he added.

Related Topics:Democratic Republic of Congo Featured Felix Tshisekedi France Paul Kagame President Emmanuel Macron Rwanda

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Politics

Zambian govt says no plan to remove Christian nation clause from constitution

Published

17 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango has maintained that the ruling party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), has adopted an inclusive approach to constitutional amendments.

Nalmango made the reiteration while answering questions before the National Assembly following concerns raised by Bwacha Member of Parliament, Sydney Mushanga, who questioned the government’s alleged intentions to tamper with constitutional provisions without engaging stakeholders.

Vice President Nalumango emphasised that the government’s guiding principles were firmly rooted in Christian values, and clarified that the government had no plans to remove clauses like the Christian nation clause.

She declared, “The government espouses Christian values, and we want to make that clear,” calling for an end to discussions based on false claims. “Christianity serves as the foundation for our values”.

She also confirmed her commitment to consultative decision-making. She stated, “Government has made it clear that it will first amend non-contentious clauses of the constitution in consultation with the stakeholders.”

In response to mounting pressures within the country following years as one- and later two-party states, the Zambian constitution was changed in 1991 to allow the reintroduction of a multiparty system.

Under the terms of the constitution, the president appoints the vice president, the chief justice, and members of the High Court on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission.

Politics

Uganda begins withdrawal of troops from eastern Congo DR

Published

18 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Uganda has started the withdrawal of 1,000 troops deployed for a regional peacekeeping mission in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to a statement released by the military, Uganda’s decision not to extend the mandate of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) past December 8 prompted the withdrawal.

At its meetings in Arusha, Tanzania, the CDF affirmed the DRC’s decision and advised the defence ministers of the East African Community (EAC) to formally terminate the EACRF’s operations in the country’s vast eastern region, effective December 8.

UPDF’s contingent spokesperson, Capt. Ahmad Hassan Kato, “UPDF will ensure to expedite the pull-out of its forces and equipment within the approved timelines as enshrined in the extraordinary meeting of EAC CDFS (Chief of Defense Forces) held on December 6.”

“The Uganda contingent urges all armed groups (in the Eastern DRC) to facilitate the withdrawal of the UPDF troops by observing a total ceasefire to allow the forces to exit the mission area safely,” said Kato.

Aside from EAC forces, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as (MONUSCO), has around 12,400 troops in the Congo, with a cost of over $1 billion per year.

Lately, there has been an upsurge in violence in Congo, DR. High rates of civilian casualties and displacement have been caused by hostilities with neighbouring countries, political violence, extrajudicial killings by security forces, and conflicts between militant groups over territory and natural resources.

According to the United Nations, more than 100 armed groups and local militias operate in the eastern DRC.