Africa Intel
🇨🇫 Rebels in Central African Republic release 19 soldiers kidnapped in February A total of 19 Central African soldiers, taken hostage in February by an alliance of rebel groups in the north of the Central African Republic, were released on Tuesday, announced…
🇨🇫 The First group of released soldiers arrive in Bangui
10 members of the Central African Armed Forces who spent several months in captivity arrived on Wednesday at the Bangui Mpoko airport.
They were welcomed by ministers and the chief of staff. According to officials, 9 others will soon be freed. The last one was injured and is undergoing treatment at the Red Cross. He will be sent to the capital of the Central African Republic once he recovers.
Their abduction took place after heavy fighting in the northern village of Sikikede between the governmental forces and the rebels. The government had said that battle inflicted "considerable losses" on its forces.
Negotiations between the government, the CPC, the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations' peacekeeping mission in the country reportedly enabled this release.
#CAR
@africaintel
10 members of the Central African Armed Forces who spent several months in captivity arrived on Wednesday at the Bangui Mpoko airport.
They were welcomed by ministers and the chief of staff. According to officials, 9 others will soon be freed. The last one was injured and is undergoing treatment at the Red Cross. He will be sent to the capital of the Central African Republic once he recovers.
Their abduction took place after heavy fighting in the northern village of Sikikede between the governmental forces and the rebels. The government had said that battle inflicted "considerable losses" on its forces.
Negotiations between the government, the CPC, the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations' peacekeeping mission in the country reportedly enabled this release.
#CAR
@africaintel
🇲🇷 Former Mauritanian President pleads not guilty on illicit enrichment charges
Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of illicit enrichment on which he began to be questioned by a Nouakchott court.
The court was resuming hearings after a two-week recess and reading out the charges against him.
Aziz faces charges of "abuse of office", "influence peddling", illicit enrichment" and "money laundering" along with two former prime ministers, former ministers and businessmen.
The former president claims he is " the victim of a plot" hatched by people who opposed him during his tenure.
#Mauritania
@africaintel
Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of illicit enrichment on which he began to be questioned by a Nouakchott court.
The court was resuming hearings after a two-week recess and reading out the charges against him.
Aziz faces charges of "abuse of office", "influence peddling", illicit enrichment" and "money laundering" along with two former prime ministers, former ministers and businessmen.
The former president claims he is " the victim of a plot" hatched by people who opposed him during his tenure.
#Mauritania
@africaintel
🇰🇪🇷🇼 Kenya President on two-day visit to Rwanda
Kenyan President William Ruto has met with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to discuss the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the protests in Nairobi.
The meeting on Tuesday was part of Ruto's official two day visit to Kigali on the invitation of President Paul Kagame in what is also the Kenyan leader's first visit to Rwanda since he came to power last year September.
"The last month has seen a lot of positive developments around the challenge of security in eastern DRC," Ruto told.
According to a statement from the Kenyan State House in Nairobi, the agenda of the trip is to deliberate on areas of “mutual interest and cooperation” including the integration projects on the Northern Corridor, the main supply line for imports out of the region to Rwanda, through Kenya.
#Kenya #Rwanda
@africaintel
Kenyan President William Ruto has met with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to discuss the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the protests in Nairobi.
The meeting on Tuesday was part of Ruto's official two day visit to Kigali on the invitation of President Paul Kagame in what is also the Kenyan leader's first visit to Rwanda since he came to power last year September.
"The last month has seen a lot of positive developments around the challenge of security in eastern DRC," Ruto told.
According to a statement from the Kenyan State House in Nairobi, the agenda of the trip is to deliberate on areas of “mutual interest and cooperation” including the integration projects on the Northern Corridor, the main supply line for imports out of the region to Rwanda, through Kenya.
#Kenya #Rwanda
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇪🇺🇪🇹 EU says that Tigray success vital to restore Ethiopia-Europe ties The European Union says any decision to normalise relations with the Ethiopian government will depend on how successful efforts are at resolving the conflict in the northern Tigray region.…
🇪🇺🇺🇸🇪🇹 EU and US monitoring implementation of peace in Ethiopia's Tigray
On Tuesday, during the meeting with the US Secretary of State, the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said that the EU and the US were monitoring the implementation of the peace agreement in Ethiopia and will only gradually restore their relations with Addis Ababa.
"First of all, in Ethiopia, this was a major crisis and now, fortunately, things start to move toward solving it. That's one of the rare good news that we have in the world. And to sustain the current progress, the EU and the US must continue working hand in hand," he said.
"The message to both the government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayans is to make them understand that we are watching the settling of the conflict and will only normalize our relation in a gradual way, step by step", Borell added.
#EU #USA #Ethiopia
@africaintel
On Tuesday, during the meeting with the US Secretary of State, the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said that the EU and the US were monitoring the implementation of the peace agreement in Ethiopia and will only gradually restore their relations with Addis Ababa.
"First of all, in Ethiopia, this was a major crisis and now, fortunately, things start to move toward solving it. That's one of the rare good news that we have in the world. And to sustain the current progress, the EU and the US must continue working hand in hand," he said.
"The message to both the government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayans is to make them understand that we are watching the settling of the conflict and will only normalize our relation in a gradual way, step by step", Borell added.
#EU #USA #Ethiopia
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇺🇬 Ugandan minister to be charged over iron sheets scandal Uganda's Director of Public Prosecutions has approved corruption charges against Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu over her role in an iron sheets scandal in the north-eastern region.…
🇺🇬 Uganda minister pleads not guilty over graft scandal
A Ugandan government minister who has been remanded in custody in connection with a corruption scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets has pleaded not guilty in court.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister of the north-eastern Karamoja region, was denied bail and will spent Easter weekend in jail. Her brother was charged with receiving stolen property. Her brother was charged with receiving stolen property.
Officials say at least 10 other government figures including the vice-president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament received some of the stolen roofing sheets. The prime minister has apologised and urged other officials to return the sheets. One minister was recently forced to remove some from the roof of his goat shed.
President Yoweri Museveni has called for the prosecution of all those involved.
#Uganda
@africaintel
A Ugandan government minister who has been remanded in custody in connection with a corruption scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets has pleaded not guilty in court.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister of the north-eastern Karamoja region, was denied bail and will spent Easter weekend in jail. Her brother was charged with receiving stolen property. Her brother was charged with receiving stolen property.
Officials say at least 10 other government figures including the vice-president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament received some of the stolen roofing sheets. The prime minister has apologised and urged other officials to return the sheets. One minister was recently forced to remove some from the roof of his goat shed.
President Yoweri Museveni has called for the prosecution of all those involved.
#Uganda
@africaintel
🇪🇹 Ethiopia to dismantle regional special forces in favour of "centralized army"
The Ethiopian government said on Thursday it intends to integrate all regional special forces either into the national army, or the federal or regional police, a move likely to be perceived as an attempt to diminish the autonomy of individual regions.
"The government has set a direction to build one strong and centralized army. It has started practical steps that will allow special forces of every region to be integrated into different security structures," the government said.
Hours before the announcement, local media from the Amhara region, Ethiopia's second largest, reported clashes between national and regional forces brought about by a refusal among Amhara Special Forces' units to surrender weapons as part of the integration process.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
The Ethiopian government said on Thursday it intends to integrate all regional special forces either into the national army, or the federal or regional police, a move likely to be perceived as an attempt to diminish the autonomy of individual regions.
"The government has set a direction to build one strong and centralized army. It has started practical steps that will allow special forces of every region to be integrated into different security structures," the government said.
Hours before the announcement, local media from the Amhara region, Ethiopia's second largest, reported clashes between national and regional forces brought about by a refusal among Amhara Special Forces' units to surrender weapons as part of the integration process.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇳🇬 Dozens of villagers gunned down in central Nigeria
Reports say at least 51 corpses of l villagers have been recovered from a rural community in Benue state in central Nigeria. The deaths were a result of an armed gang attacking the village of Umogidi. A number of villagers are still reported to be missing.
Community youth leader told that residents, including youth groups, were still combing the surrounding bushes for more bodies.
Reports say armed men invaded the community in large numbers on Wednesday. They started from the village market, shooting at anyone on sight.
Residents say many of those who ran into the bush were cut down by bullets and their bodies decapitated.
Although the security forces have been deployed to the area, their presence has not stopped the deadly attacks.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Reports say at least 51 corpses of l villagers have been recovered from a rural community in Benue state in central Nigeria. The deaths were a result of an armed gang attacking the village of Umogidi. A number of villagers are still reported to be missing.
Community youth leader told that residents, including youth groups, were still combing the surrounding bushes for more bodies.
Reports say armed men invaded the community in large numbers on Wednesday. They started from the village market, shooting at anyone on sight.
Residents say many of those who ran into the bush were cut down by bullets and their bodies decapitated.
Although the security forces have been deployed to the area, their presence has not stopped the deadly attacks.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇨🇩 Prosecution demands death penalty for five men in the DR Congo for murdering Italy's ambassador Five of the six men charged with murdering Italy's ambassador to the DRC in 2021 requested acquittal on Saturday, during a hearing in the capital, Kinshasa.…
🇨🇩🇮🇹 DR Congo tribunal sentences six to life in prison over death of Italian envoy
A Democratic Republic of Congo military court sentenced six men to life in prison over the death of the Italian ambassador, his bodyguard and driver, a lawyer said.
Envoy Luca Attanasio, Italian bodyguard Vittorio Iacovacci and their Congolese driver Mustapha Milambo were killed on Feb. 22, 2021, during a botched kidnapping as they drove to a World Food Programme project from the eastern city of Goma.
A lawyer representing Italy, Boniface Balamage, told Reuters that five of the people sentenced to life were already in prison while one was at large and tried in absentia.
"On the day when justice took its course, we celebrate the shining example and commitment of Luca, Vittorio and Moussa," the Italian embassy in Kinshasa said
#DRC #Italy
@africaintel
A Democratic Republic of Congo military court sentenced six men to life in prison over the death of the Italian ambassador, his bodyguard and driver, a lawyer said.
Envoy Luca Attanasio, Italian bodyguard Vittorio Iacovacci and their Congolese driver Mustapha Milambo were killed on Feb. 22, 2021, during a botched kidnapping as they drove to a World Food Programme project from the eastern city of Goma.
A lawyer representing Italy, Boniface Balamage, told Reuters that five of the people sentenced to life were already in prison while one was at large and tried in absentia.
"On the day when justice took its course, we celebrate the shining example and commitment of Luca, Vittorio and Moussa," the Italian embassy in Kinshasa said
#DRC #Italy
@africaintel
🇸🇴 At least 21 dead in Somalia's flash floods
At least 21 people including six children have died in Somalia’s flash flooding over the last week, according to the U.N. humanitarian agency.
Nearly 100,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains and flash floods that hit the previously drought-stricken area in the Bardhere district of the Gedo region of southern Somalia, according to the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The flooded region is near Ethiopia which has been hit by heavy rains that are causing water levels to rise in the Shabelle and Juba rivers.
Health facilities have been destroyed by the flash flooding, the Somalia National Disaster Management Agency said.
#Somalia
@africaintel
At least 21 people including six children have died in Somalia’s flash flooding over the last week, according to the U.N. humanitarian agency.
Nearly 100,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains and flash floods that hit the previously drought-stricken area in the Bardhere district of the Gedo region of southern Somalia, according to the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The flooded region is near Ethiopia which has been hit by heavy rains that are causing water levels to rise in the Shabelle and Juba rivers.
Health facilities have been destroyed by the flash flooding, the Somalia National Disaster Management Agency said.
#Somalia
@africaintel
🇹🇬 Togo extends state of security emergency in north
Togo's parliament voted to extend for 12 months the state of security emergency in the Savanes region. The authorities aim to help prevent incursions by jihadist groups across the border with Burkina Faso, in the country's far north.
The state of emergency ended a few weeks ago after a first extension of six months in September. It was initially decreed in June 2022 by President Faure Gnassingbé.
A state of security emergency allows security forces and local authorities more flexibility to take urgent measures to combat threats from militant groups.
Minister of Security General Damehame Yark said that "the situation remains worrying" in the far north of the country, "in view of the persistence of new attempts, most of them valiantly repelled by our defense and security forces".
#Togo
@africaintel
Togo's parliament voted to extend for 12 months the state of security emergency in the Savanes region. The authorities aim to help prevent incursions by jihadist groups across the border with Burkina Faso, in the country's far north.
The state of emergency ended a few weeks ago after a first extension of six months in September. It was initially decreed in June 2022 by President Faure Gnassingbé.
A state of security emergency allows security forces and local authorities more flexibility to take urgent measures to combat threats from militant groups.
Minister of Security General Damehame Yark said that "the situation remains worrying" in the far north of the country, "in view of the persistence of new attempts, most of them valiantly repelled by our defense and security forces".
#Togo
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇬🇦 Gabon arrests 33 after ferry disaster 33 people have been arrested under a criminal investigation into a ferry accident off Gabon last week that claimed 24 lives, rescue coordinators said Sunday. Those detained include officials at the ministry of transport…
🇬🇦 Gabon calls off search mission for missing ferry passengers
7 passengers were still missing on April 5 when the spokesperson for Gabon's government announced the end of the search mission.
The spokesperson for Gabon's government told the media that the authorities decided to end the search for the shipwreck, in accordance with the technical advice of the research unit.
The privately-owned Esther Miracle was carrying 161 passengers and crew from the capital Libreville to Port-Gentil when it sank in calm waters in the middle of the night on March 9.
Citing the Emergency Operations Command, local media Gabon Media Time reported that authorities would continue to carefully watch the shipwreck area even if underwater search operation has stopped.
#Gabon
@africaintel
7 passengers were still missing on April 5 when the spokesperson for Gabon's government announced the end of the search mission.
The spokesperson for Gabon's government told the media that the authorities decided to end the search for the shipwreck, in accordance with the technical advice of the research unit.
The privately-owned Esther Miracle was carrying 161 passengers and crew from the capital Libreville to Port-Gentil when it sank in calm waters in the middle of the night on March 9.
Citing the Emergency Operations Command, local media Gabon Media Time reported that authorities would continue to carefully watch the shipwreck area even if underwater search operation has stopped.
#Gabon
@africaintel
🇬🇦 Presidential term reduced from seven to five years in Gabon
The Gabonese National Assembly and Senate met in Congress on Thursday to revise the country's constitution, reducing the term of office of the President of the Republic from seven to five years, and the election from two to one round. A change denounced by part of the opposition.
With the most recent Constitutional revisions in 2018, which instituted a two-round voting process, the amendments align all mandates at five years and return all elections to single-round balloting. 85 percent of votes in a combined session of the national assembly and senate in the capital Libreville supported the proposal.
These changes have been denounced by part of the opposition as a means of "facilitating the re-election" of the head of state Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been ruling the country for over 13 years.
#Gabon
@africaintel
The Gabonese National Assembly and Senate met in Congress on Thursday to revise the country's constitution, reducing the term of office of the President of the Republic from seven to five years, and the election from two to one round. A change denounced by part of the opposition.
With the most recent Constitutional revisions in 2018, which instituted a two-round voting process, the amendments align all mandates at five years and return all elections to single-round balloting. 85 percent of votes in a combined session of the national assembly and senate in the capital Libreville supported the proposal.
These changes have been denounced by part of the opposition as a means of "facilitating the re-election" of the head of state Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been ruling the country for over 13 years.
#Gabon
@africaintel
🇪🇹💰 IMF talks with Ethiopia to continue after progress made
The International Monetary Fund and Ethiopia made progress in talks on the fund's support for the country's economic reform programme and discussions will continue in Washington next week, the fund said on Friday.
Officials from the IMF have been in Ethiopia since late March, when a fund spokesperson said they were doing technical work to prepare for a potential IMF-supported programme.
"We made progress in discussing the scope for IMF support for this reform programme," Alvaro Piris, who led the IMF mission visit, said. "Discussions will continue in Washington, DC, next week, in the context of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, and in coming weeks."
#Ethiopia #IMF
@africaintel
The International Monetary Fund and Ethiopia made progress in talks on the fund's support for the country's economic reform programme and discussions will continue in Washington next week, the fund said on Friday.
Officials from the IMF have been in Ethiopia since late March, when a fund spokesperson said they were doing technical work to prepare for a potential IMF-supported programme.
"We made progress in discussing the scope for IMF support for this reform programme," Alvaro Piris, who led the IMF mission visit, said. "Discussions will continue in Washington, DC, next week, in the context of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, and in coming weeks."
#Ethiopia #IMF
@africaintel
🇦🇪🇿🇦 UAE dismisses South African request to extradite Gupta brothers
A United Arab Emirates court has dismissed South Africa's request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, brothers who face charges of political corruption, but the UAE said the extradition request could be resubmitted.
The Guptas are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, to win contracts, influence cabinet appointments and siphon off state funds. Zuma and the Guptas have denied all wrongdoing.
The UAE said the extradition request did not meet the "strict standards for legal documentation" contained in an extradition treaty ratified with South Africa in April 2021.
South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance party said the failed extradition bid was a "national embarrassment" and called for the justice ministry and National Prosecuting Authority to appear before Parliament's portfolio committee on justice over the development.
#UAE #SouthAfrica
@africaintel
A United Arab Emirates court has dismissed South Africa's request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, brothers who face charges of political corruption, but the UAE said the extradition request could be resubmitted.
The Guptas are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, to win contracts, influence cabinet appointments and siphon off state funds. Zuma and the Guptas have denied all wrongdoing.
The UAE said the extradition request did not meet the "strict standards for legal documentation" contained in an extradition treaty ratified with South Africa in April 2021.
South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance party said the failed extradition bid was a "national embarrassment" and called for the justice ministry and National Prosecuting Authority to appear before Parliament's portfolio committee on justice over the development.
#UAE #SouthAfrica
@africaintel