Around Fifty Dead after an Attack by Militiamen against the Army in the DRC
In the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mobondo militias attacked army positions in the village of Kinsele. Authorities report a death toll of about fifty dead, including 42 militiamen, in the clashes with the army. Intercommunity tensions in the territory of Kwamouth in Maï-Ndombe, in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo, persist. The militiamen, described as members of the Yaka community, first attempted an attack on Friday before being routed by the army. They returned with reinforcements on Saturday at dawn but were poorly equipped against the army. “It seems the Mobondo militia attacked the Teke people,” David Bisaka, provincial deputy for Maï-Ndombe, told RFI’s correspondent in the country. … The militiamen accuse government forces of siding with the Teke. In response to these accusations, a senior army official firmly refused to identify ethnic groups, stating that only the protection of civilians and the reestablishment of state authority matter. RFI
UN Peacekeeper Withdrawal Paused in DR Congo
The foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has said the UN peacekeeping mission in the country is unlikely to leave while Rwandan troops remain present on the ground supporting an insurgency by the M23 armed group. The peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym MONUSCO, was asked by the Congolese government to accelerate its withdrawal last year after two difficult decades of deployment. But the foreign minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, told Reuters on 14 July that the pullout of some 11,000 peacekeepers is now difficult to envisage because of “aggression by Rwanda”. … MONUSCO recently completed the first phase of its withdrawal, departing from the war-scarred South Kivu province, which has seen more than 100,000 blue helmets rotate through it since the early 2000s. A MONUSCO spokesperson said the withdrawal in South Kivu took place amid a concerning security environment marked by “an overall remobilisation of armed actors” and “high regional tensions”. Though MONUSCO has tried to hand over bases in South Kivu to the Congolese security forces, deployments have been limited because the army has other security priorities and few resources, according to a recent UN report. New Humanitarian
Rwanda’s Kagame Cruises to Crushing Election Victory
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame scored a crushing election victory that will extend his iron-fisted rule by another five years, according to partial results issued Monday, July 15. De facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide and president since 2000, Kagame scored 99.15% of the vote, the National Election Commission announced after 79% of ballots had been counted. It tops the 98.79% Kagame won in the last election in 2017 and is streets ahead of Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza with 0.53% and independent Philippe Mpayimana with 0.32%. The outcome of Monday’s poll was never in doubt, with Kagame accused of muzzling the opposition and several prominent critics barred from the race. With 65% of the population aged under 30, Kagame – who has secured a fourth term – is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known. The 66-year-old is credited with rebuilding a traumatized nation after the genocide but he is also accused of ruling in a climate of fear at home, and fomenting instability in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. … Kagame won with more than 93% of the vote in 2003, 2010 and in 2017, when he again easily defeated the same challengers. Le Monde
One Killed as Kenyan Anti-government Protests Intensify Again
At least one person was killed in renewed anti-government protests across Kenya on Tuesday, a Reuters reporter said, as police clashed with demonstrators demanding that President William Ruto step down. Youth-led nationwide protests that broke out a month ago against proposed tax hikes have continued even after Ruto withdrew the legislation and fired almost all of his cabinet. Activists say they want Ruto to resign and are calling for systemic changes to clean up corruption and address poor governance. … In Kitengela, a town on the southern outskirts of the capital Nairobi, police fired repeatedly in the direction of hundreds of protesters, some of whom were throwing rocks, Reuters TV footage showed. The protesters also burned tyres, waved Kenyan flags and chanted “Ruto must go!” … Tuesday’s protests appeared to be some of the biggest since Ruto withdrew the tax increases on June 26. The Nation newspaper reported demonstrations in at least 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties. Reuters
Sudanese Preparatory Meeting Bans Former Ruling Party, Prioritizes Peace and Humanitarian Aid
In a significant development, participants in the African Union and IGAD-facilitated preparatory meeting for an inter-Sudanese political dialogue have officially excluded the former ruling National Congress Party (NCP) from participating in the post-war political process. This decision was reached during the conclusion of the first preparatory meeting, attended by approximately 20 diverse groups representing political blocs, parties, civil society, and youth. The participants agreed that the first phase of dialogue would focus on crucial issues such as achieving a ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian aid delivery, and establishing a transitional framework. A second phase is planned to delve into broader state-building concerns, including establishing a state founded on principles of citizenship, democracy, justice, and sustainable peace. Ensuring human rights for all citizens and reforming state institutions are also key priorities. Sudan Tribune
Chad Declares Humanitarian Crisis, Pleads for International Help
Officials in Chad say urgent international help is needed to save the lives of more than 2 million people caught in a severe humanitarian crisis caused by conflicts and climate shocks. Officials say the country is among the poorest nations in the world, and food is particularly scarce now, as hunger peaks in the June-to-August lean season between harvests. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, Chad’s minister of public health, said he is pleading with all international partners to help Chad during a severe humanitarian crisis affecting over 2 million civilians in the country of about 18 million people. Abderahim said flooding, an influx of refugees, increasing numbers of displaced persons, and armed conflicts between communities are inflicting suffering on civilians that Chad’s government alone cannot meet. … Chad hosts over 600,000 refugees displaced from conflict-ridden Sudan, and their numbers and humanitarian needs are growing. Chad is also home to tens of thousands of civilians fleeing violence between rebels and government troops in the Central African Republic. Several hundred thousand civilians displaced in Chad by Boko Haram terrorism are also in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Added to that are the millions of people affected by floods and drought that hit Chad over the past year. VOA
Tigray Opposition Raises Concern on IDP Return Process, Calls for International Pressure
Salsay Woyane Tigray, an opposition party in the Tigray region, has issued a statement raising concern that the return of displaced Tigrayans “remains shrouded in uncertainty.” The party suggests that recent statements by what they term “occupying forces” may be undermining the peace process. The opposition party reports that “millions of Tigrayans remain in dire conditions at IDP camps amidst intense rain and flooding.” They argue that the current administration in Western Tigray, which they describe as “unlawful,” complicates the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. The statement from the opposition follows a press briefing on 13 July 2024 by Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede, Vice President of Tigray’s interim administration. In his briefing, Lieutenant General Tadesse reported positive developments regarding the return of displaced persons from Western Tigray. … Salsay Woyane calls for international pressure on the Ethiopian government to facilitate the return of displaced Tigrayans and establish what they term a “legitimate Tigrayan administration according to the constitution.” Addis Standard
Uganda: Police Put Brakes on Bobi Wine Rallies
Police on Monday blocked another planned rally organised by the National Unity Platform (NUP) party president, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka, Bobi Wine, at the Boma Grounds of Bundibugyo District, citing prescheduled activities at the same venue. Mr Kyagulanyi, accompanied by party general secretary Lewis Rubongoya, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi, party mobiliser Fred Nyanzi, and other party dignitaries, arrived in Bundibugyo Town at 1pm to address their supporters. Upon arrival, they were greeted by a joint security deployment by UPDF and Police, which had sealed off access to the grounds at the heart of the town. Security officials only permitted Mr Kyagulanyi and his team to commission their party offices in the town. … The NUP leadership was later diverted to Kirumya Catholic Playground, which is about 5 kilometres away from the town to address their supporters. … “The police are trying to provoke us to be violent, but we are not. We want the whole world to see that we are non-violent. Eventually, people will get tired of this humiliation and abuse of office by police officers.” Daily Monitor
Somali Militiamen Seize Heavy Weapons after Looting Convoy
At least five people were killed when militiamen ambushed a convoy in central Somalia and seized heavy weapons, the local government and residents said on Tuesday, seven months after a decades-long arms embargo was lifted. The convoy was travelling on Monday with a security escort near the town of Abudwaq when militiamen from a local clan attacked and overpowered security forces, four residents told Reuters. They said the arms, which included machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, originated in neighbouring Ethiopia. … Rashid Abdi, an analyst with the Sahan Research think-tank, called the incident “the single most serious incident of arms proliferation in central Somalia” and said some of the weapons would likely be bought by al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate. The East African
South Sudanese Citizens Demand Clarity amidst Political Uncertainty
A cross-section of South Sudanese are voicing growing concerns over the intentions of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) as well as urging the leaders to provide clear guidance on the future direction of the country. The central issue revolves around whether the government will extend the transitional period, hence extending its tenure, or proceed with democratic elections slated for December 2024 as stipulated in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Mach Garang, a concerned citizen, said leaders should be straightforward and avoid confusing the civil population on the status of the government, saying clarity is essential during these critical times. “There is anticipation for elections to be conducted in the Republic of South Sudan so there should be clarity first on how elections can be conducted when some of the things have not been arranged appropriately,” Garang stated. “There is no security arrangement in place, there is no political space and there are no campaigns now. These are indicators of elections. The public should be given sufficient information about what is going on.” Daniel Majok, echoing a similar opinion, said he is concerned about extending the transitional period, asserting that such a move would not be in the best interest of the nation. Radio Tamazuj
Kidnappings Soar in Central Africa’s ‘Triangle of Death’
Tired of waiting for the authorities to come to their aid, young men in the Mayo-Kebbi Ouest region of south-west Chad are banding into vigilante groups, using bows, arrows and spears to fight gunmen who have turned kidnapping into a professional pastime. “We guide the gendarmes in the bush, but we are also the first to go after the criminals after a kidnapping,” said Amos Nangyo, head of one of the units in Pala, capital of the region, which borders Cameroon, told Agence France-Presse earlier this month. In the last decade, the Sahelian tri-border area of Liptako-Gourma – where Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger meet – has become a hotspot for booming jihadist activity. But another crisis is brewing in a nearby area that some have called “the triangle of death”: the area from Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Logone Oriental in Chad to Cameroon’s North Region and Lim-Pendé in the Central African Republic. … The rise in abductions is happening alongside small arms trafficking, cattle rustling and drug trafficking. Economic interests, rather than ethnic or religious grudges, are driving kidnappings, according to experts. The Guardian
Eswatini Pro-democracy MPs Sentenced to Long Jail Terms for Murder, ‘Terrorism’
A court in Eswatini sentenced two pro-democracy lawmakers to lengthy terms in jail on Monday for “terrorism” and murder related to 2021 protests in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. The former members of parliament had pleaded innocent to all counts ahead of their conviction last year, almost two years after they were arrested on accusations of having incited unrest. A judge at the High Court in the capital Mbabane sentenced Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza to 25 years and Mthandeni Dube to 18 years in jail. Mabuza and Dube were arrested in July 2021 during pro-democracy protests that were violently quashed by security forces, leaving dozens dead. They had advocated for reforms to a complex system of non-party elections that effectively ensures King Mswati III faces no meaningful dissent. … The South African-based pro-democracy Swaziland Solidarity Network said the sentences against Mabuza and Dube were “ridiculous” and praised the men as “freedom fighters”. The Swaziland Liberation Movement said it was appalled by the sentences which appeared to “silence” members of parliament. News24
A ‘New Era’ in Malaria Control Has Begun with a Vaccination Campaign for Children in Ivory Coast
Health workers in Ivory Coast began giving children the latest malaria vaccine on Monday, the beginning of a regional campaign that experts hope might curb the impact of one of Africa’s top killers. The West African country became the first to start rolling out the newest shot targeting malaria in an effort that aims to cover about 250,000 children under two. The three-dose vaccine known as R21/Matrix-M was developed by Britain’s Oxford University and was authorized by the World Health Organization last October. Research suggests it is more than 75% effective at preventing severe disease and death in the first year and that protection is extended for at least another year with a booster. … In 2021, WHO endorsed the first malaria vaccine, known as Mosquirix, made by GSK. But that vaccine requires four doses and protection fades within months. GSK also previously said it would only be able to make about 15 million doses. AP
Malawi Declares End of Country’s Deadliest Cholera Outbreak
Malawi has declared the end of the country’s worst cholera outbreak, which began in March 2022 and killed nearly 2,000 people. In a statement Monday, the Ministry of Health said the country had registered no cases or deaths from cholera in 26 of Malawi’s 29 health districts in the past four weeks. Some health experts, however, said the outbreak could resurface if the country failed to address sanitation problems that caused it. Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera launched a national campaign to end the cholera outbreak in February 2023. The “Tithetse Kolera” or “Let’s End Cholera” campaign came three months after he declared the disease to be a public health emergency in Malawi. The campaign aimed to interrupt cholera transmission in all districts and reduce the fatality rate from 3.2% to below 1%, which the World Health Organization considers a controlled cholera outbreak. Dr. Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma, co-chairperson for the presidential task force on COVID-19 and cholera in Malawi, told VOA the disease had now been defeated largely because of the campaign. VOA
A Bench and a Grandmother’s Ear: Zimbabwe’s Novel Mental Health Therapy Spreads Overseas
After her son, the family’s shining light and only breadwinner, was arrested last year, Tambudzai Tembo went into meltdown. In Zimbabwe, where clinical mental health services are scarce, her chances of getting professional help were next to zero. She contemplated suicide. “I didn’t want to live anymore. People who saw me would think everything was okay. But inside, my head was spinning,” the 57-year-old said. “I was on my own.” A wooden bench and an empathetic grandmother saved her. Older people are at the center of a homegrown form of mental health therapy in Zimbabwe that is now being adopted in places like the United States. The approach involves setting up benches in quiet, discreet corners of community clinics and in some churches, poor neighborhoods and at a university. An older woman with basic training in problem-solving therapy patiently sits there, ready to listen and engage in a one-on-one conversation. The therapy is inspired by traditional practice in Zimbabwe in which grandmothers were the go-to people for wisdom in rough times. It had been abandoned with urbanization, the breakdown of tight-knit extended families and modern technology. Now it is proving useful again as mental health needs grow. “Grandmothers are the custodians of local culture and wisdom. They are rooted in their communities,” said Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatry professor and founder of the initiative. “They don’t leave, and in addition, they have an amazing ability to use what we call ‘expressed empathy’… to make people feel respected and understood.” AP