Metro

Eastern DR Congo residents reject East African regional force

Published

2 years ago

June 22, 2022

Some residents in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where the M23 rebels groups have been holding sway for over six months have rejected the deployment of a regional peacekeeping force by the Eastern African regional body.

On Monday, the East African Community (EAC) leaders in a meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, had endorsed the deployment of a regional force to help stabilise eastern DRC, in a move that had also earlier been discussed by military chiefs in the regional bloc.

But opponents of the troop deployment have also pointed to the chequered history that some of DR Congo’s neighbours have had in the war-torn east of the country, and rather called for reforms and reinforcements in the Congolese armed forces.

In a letter to President Felix Tshisekedi by a group known as a citizen movement called Lucha (Fight for Change), the group said the country should reject the regional force citing security, economic or geopolitical reasons for the objections.

Lucha which was founded in 2012 in Goma, the capital of the troubled eastern DRC’s North Kivu province, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, is one of the strongest voices in the country.

“We vigorously reject the EAC project and call on you to give it up because of the security, economic and geopolitical integrity of the DRC,” the movement said.

“At least three of the seven member states of the East African Community — Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi — have been involved for more than two decades in the destabilisation of our country, through interventions directly from their armies or through armed groups,” the letter added.

According to the group, all the three countries which are DR Congo’s eastern neighbours, were involved in the two civil wars that wracked the vast mineral-rich country between 1996 and 2003.

Kinshasa has also made it already made it clear it opposes Rwanda’s participation in any regional force, accusing it of backing the resurgent M23 rebels. Kigali denies the charge.

But even without Rwandan involvement, some residents in Goma are not convinced by the idea of such a regional force.

For many in the region, it was not clear how any new regional force could succeed where the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the MONUSCO, had failed.

Raphael Wekenge, the coordinator of the Congolese Coalition for Transitional Justice (CCJT) who also rejected the deployment, said:

“I am sceptical about the operational side of a force made up of countries that have interests in our own,” he said.

Paulin Mulume, from the Amka Congo collective of citizens’ movements, also kicked against the EAC forces

“We have already had several joint operations in the east of the country, which have not borne fruit.

“We don’t know what prompted our president to get involved in this affair. It should have gone through parliament. I doubt the effectiveness of this force,” Mulume added.

DRC’s Nobel laureate, Denis Mukwege, also voiced out against a “regional force including countries at the root of destabilization, atrocities and the plunder of our resources”.

“This will bring neither stability nor peace and risks worsening the situation,” he warned, also calling for a reform of the country’s armed forces.

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Metro

Nigerian troops neutralise 216 terrorists, arrest 332 in one week— Official

Published

4 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Nigerian Army Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops from different operation theaters across the country neutralised 216 terrorists and arrested 332 persons in the past one week.

A report released on Sunday morning by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed that troops also succeeded in arresting 24 “perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 161 kidnapped hostages across the country” in the week under review.

Buba noted that troops in the Niger Delta region denied oil thieves crude estimated to be worth the sum of Four Hundred and Forty Eight Million Five Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety Naira.

According to the Army spokesman, troops in the oil rich region also discovered and destroyed 97 dugout pits, six boats, 20 storage tanks, two receivers, 16 drums and seven vehicles used in oil bunkering activities.

“Other items recovered incl 174 cooking ovens, one pumping machine and 8 illegal refining sites,” the report noted.

“Troops recovered 533,127 litres of stolen crude oil and 24,520 litres of illegally refined AGO,” he said.

Gen. Buba said that in other operation theatres, troops recovered 234 assorted weapons and 5,994 assorted ammunition.

“A breakdown of the discoveries include 131 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT guns, one M16 rifle, 43 locally fabricated gun, 21 dane guns, one 105mm gun, 2 automatic pump action guns, 18 locally fabricated pistols, 8 single barrel guns, 2 automatic pump action guns, one LG4 bomb, one MG skeleton, 3 explosive IED case, one MOWAG APC, one 81mm mortar tripod stand

“Others are; 3,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 211 rounds of 9mm ammo, 99 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 467 live cartridges, one rifle butt, 15 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 10 vehicles, 38 motorcycles, 43 mobile phones and the sum of N871,500.00 amongst other items.”

He reiterated that the military is going to continue to be very kinetic and strong against terrorists in ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country.

“Indeed, we will banish and defeat terrorism from the nation rather than bow to it.

“Troops are maintaining the momentum in neutralizing the terrorist leaders and commanders. Indeed, we remain focused in fighting for the basic safety and security of citizens of this country,” he added.

Metro

Mapanza traditional council shares positive outlook on media rights, freedom of expression

Published

24 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Jonathan Muchindu, a representative of the Traditional Council of Mapanza Chiefdom in Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia, asserts that the media in Zambia currently enjoys “total” freedom of expression.

Muchindu attributed this position to the advancement of civilization, which he identified as a significant factor in ensuring media freedom.

He emphasized the role of the media in providing citizens with the necessary information to make informed decisions.

In an exclusive interview with Zambia Monitor in Choma, Muchindu, who also serves as the Director of the Zambia Corruption Prevention Watchdog, described the media and its content as essential elements akin to “food on the table.”

“We are truly privileged to witness the advancements in civilization. Previously, the media was confined to the hands of a few individuals, and its reach was limited.

“However, with the advent of technology, accessing news through various platforms such as radio and television has become commonplace.

“The media has evolved into an indispensable source of information, and its participation is now integral to our daily lives,” he remarked.

When questioned about the operational landscape of the media, Muchindu expressed confidence that no media entity currently faces undue interference or censorship.

“From our perspective, both in rural villages and urban centers, we have not encountered instances where journalists or media outlets have been subjected to harassment or undue influence.

“This collaborative effort had ushered in a sense of enlightenment among the populace, allowing for open discourse on governance matters, particularly in the realm of politics.

“The media enjoyed the same freedoms as ordinary citizens, and there is unequivocal liberty in its expression,” Muchindu concluded.

The declaration by the Traditional Council of Mapanza Chiefdom underscored a positive outlook on media freedom in Zambia and reaffirmed the critical role of the media in fostering informed public discourse.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.