From: Judy Miriga

Are Kagame and Museveni bullies in the great lakes of East Africa in their persistance quest to destroy DRC Congo livelihood with take-over of Migingo Island???

Will the world just sit and watch when innocent are killed with pain and suffering on the faces of the innocent?

Advancing to Goma means, the organized terrorist Rebel group of Tutsi M23 are inciting people to war and are asking for full-fledged-war. The M23 is trouble and they must be wiped out from the Great Lakes region of East Africa.

Peace is important in this region, but if the two cannot behave themselves, the world leaders must unite to stop them from taking what does not belong to them by force of the gun. They must also be made to pay for the damages they have caused in their terrorism and invasions with crimes committed. They must not be let to get away with it.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director for
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
email: jbatec@yahoo.com

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DRC wants all rebel groups to disarm

Published on Jul 13, 2013

The DR Congo government has warned all rebel groups operating in the country to lay down weapons or face retaliation.Congolese Army spokesperson Olivier Amuli told CCTV that now is the time to disarm. This comes days after UN peacekeepers clashed with a group of unknown gunmen, killing four of the attackers, a few kilometers outside Goma. CCTV’s Hillary Ayesiga reports

M23:LE GENERAL SULTANI MAKENGA ET SES 100% M23

(speaking in Ki-Rwanda is confirmation these are Rwandese Rebel group)

Published on Mar 3, 2013

PASS OUT ( sortie d’une formation militaire) DES MEMBRES DU M23. OBSERVEZ L ‘ELEGANCE DU GENERAL DE BRIGADE SULTANI MAKENGA 100%. LE TACITURNE. L’HOMME FORT.

DRC refugees stream into Uganda

Congolese refugees flood into Uganda

Congolese government troops fight M23 rebels

Sudan: Tanzania to Investigate Killing of 7 Peacekeepers in Sudan

15 July 2013

Related Topics

Tanzania: Dar Seeks Peace Missions Review

Dar es Salaam — The Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF) on Sunday announced the appointment of a team of experts to investigate the killing of seven Tanzanian soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Unidentified armed assailants on Saturday ambushed a convoy composed of troops and police of the African Union and the United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) at Khor Abeche in southern Darfur, killing the seven Tanzanian soldiers.

Colonel Kapambala Mgawe, spokesman for TPDF, said the experts will travel to Khartoum and Darfur to have talks with authorities over the deadly attack, which also left 14 others injured.

However, Mgawe declined to mention the composition of the experts and the day the team will leave for Sudan.

In February, Tanzania sent 875 soldiers to Darfur on a peacekeeping mission according to a UN declaration.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday also expressed “outrage” over the deadly attack on peacekeepers in Darfur.

In a statement issued by the UN Information Center in Dar es Salaam, the UN chief expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, the government of Tanzania and all UNAMID personnel.

“The Secretary General condemns this heinous attack on UNAMID, the third in three weeks, and expects that the Government of Sudan will take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said the statement.

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Blue Helmets On ‘High Alert’ As M23 Rebels Advance Towards Goma

15 July 2013

United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are on high alert today and stand ready to use force to protect civilians in Goma from an advancing rebellion by the March 23 movement (M23), the top UN official in the country said, urging all parties to exercise restraint.

The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) expressed “deep concern” about the latest bout of fighting which broke out after a significant group of the M23 attacked the national forces (FARDC) on 14 July in Mutaho, eight kilometres northwest of Goma, in eastern DRC. According to the Mission, heavy artillery and a battle tank were used in the attack.

“Any attempt by the M23 to advance toward Goma will be considered a direct threat to civilians,” the Mission warned. It also noted that the UN blue helmets stand ready to take any necessary measures, including the use of lethal force, in order to protect civilians.

The acting Special Representative of the Secretary General in the country, Moustapha Soumaré, urged restraint to avoid a further escalation of the situation.

“I call on all to abide by the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement and to allow the political process towards peace to move forward,” Mr. Soumaré said, referring to the UN-brokered accord adopted in February with the support of 11 nations and four international organizations (11+4), with the aim of ending the cycles of conflict and crisis in the eastern DRC and to build peace in the long-troubled Great Lakes region.

“I urge all signatories of the PSC Framework to exercise their influence in order to avoid an escalation of the situation,” he added.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mary Robinson, the UN Special Envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes Region, along with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, visited the DRC in May to bolster support for the PSC Framework which Ms. Robinson dubbed a “framework for hope.”

Last month, there was talk of a possible resumption of peace talks between the Government of the DRC and the M23. At that time, Mrs. Robinson had urged both sides to engage in earnest discussion under the auspices of the Chairperson of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Mr. Robinson was convened in Burundi last week a conference to help develop a road map for women’s engagement in efforts to bring peace to Africa’s long-trouble Great Lakes countries.

Since March, tensions in the region have been heightened, leading to the Security Council to authorize in March the deployment of an intervention brigade within MONUSCO to carry out targeted offensive operations, with or without FARDC, against armed groups that threaten peace in eastern DRC.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Congo-Kinshasa: UNHCR Rushes Aid As 66,000 Congolese Refugees Stream Into Western Uganda

15 July 2013

Bundibugyo — The UN refugee agency is providing emergency shelter, blankets and other essential relief items to some 66,000 Congolese refugees who have fled fighting for the safety of western Uganda in the last five days.

Refugees began fleeing after a reported attack last week on the town of Kamango in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan Islamist rebel group said to be operating around the Ruwenzori Mountains of DRC’s North Kivu province.

By the early morning hours of last Thursday, the refugees had reached Bubandi sub-county in western Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, with 13,000 arriving on the first day alone. By mid-afternoon Sunday, the Uganda Red Cross Society said it had registered 66,139 people. Whole families have been carrying mattresses, pots and pans, and children were even carrying chickens.

“This is an extraordinarily swift and concerning influx of refugees into an area with very limited preparedness to extend humanitarian assistance to such a large number of people,” said Mohammed Adar, UNHCR’s representative in Uganda. “We are, however, moving to mount the initial response as quickly as possible while preparing at the same time for an enhanced operation.”

With no indication the refugees will go home soon, UNHCR joined the Office of the Prime Minister and other agencies in providing emergency aid. UNHCR sent plastic sheeting for shelter construction, plates and cups, and temporary latrine kits as well as soap. The agency has also provided fuel for transfers to a new transit centre, 23 kilometres from the DRC border, and the first 300 refugees were moved on Sunday.

Today, UNHCR plans an emergency shipment of tents, blankets and sleeping mats.

Bundibugyo is a mountainous and densely populated area about a seven-hour drive from the Ugandan capital Kampala. The new arrivals are being received in five primary schools, and other sites. Some are staying with families in the community.

The World Food Programme has delivered enough food to feed 20,000 people for five days, with more food due to arrive on Monday. The Ugandan Red Cross has organized communities to cook and serve hot meals, while the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners are providing water.

Even before the arrival of the newest refugees, Uganda was already home to more than 210,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers, 63 per cent of whom came from the DRC.

Uganda Police Deny Migingo Torture Claims

By Charles Etukuri, 3 July 2013

Ugandan police force has refuted reports appearing in a section of Kenyan media that its officers beat up their counterparts on Migingo Island, a piece of land that is the centre of a row between the two east African countries.

These reports indicate that Ugandan police beat up three Administration Police (AP) deployed at the controversial island, seriously injuring three others.

“There was no fight as it was being portrayed by the Kenyan media,” deputy police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said.

He termed the incident as a minor disagreement between the two sides.

“The Kenyans were beaten by Ugandans in public glare after they were stopped at Nyandiwa Islands in Kenyan waters. As per procedure, the Ugandans were told to register at Ugingo Island, and leave their weapons behind which angered them,” The Star newspaper quoted a Kenyan Government official.

Nyatike deputy county commissioner, Moses Ivuto was quoted by the paper saying Rashidi Agore – the new head of Ugandan police at the island – was not aware that when his officers cross over into Kenya they are supposed to leave their firearms behind.

“The officer was pushed, slipped and injured his leg and was taken to hospital. We have sent more officers on the ground to ascertain the situation,” Ivuto said.

On the contrary Onyango said some of the officials were blowing the matter out of proportion.

“Our boat had got spoilt and our officer Agore asked his Kenyan counterpart for permission to take it over across to Nyandiwa so that it could be repaired and he was granted permission. But then another officer who was leading the AP, which controls the rural border, stopped them.”

The regional police commander of Busoga East, Echodu Egapytus told New Vision that there was lack of communication between the officer in the communiqué between and their counterparts on the ground.

But even as the Ugandan authorities sought to claim that the officers slipped, The Star quoted Juma Ombori, the island Beach Management Unit (BMU) chairman as stating that the officer didn’t slip but was beaten up by the Ugandans who are more superior in ranks and better facilitated than Kenyans.

“The Ugandan contingent is led by Senior Superintendent of Police, have better pay and weapons with 18 officers while Kenya’s head Richard Omaya is just an inspector with about eight officers,” Ombori said.

The row over the one-acre island has simmered since 2004 when Ugandan security pitched camp at the island to fight piracy in Lake Victoria.

Uganda Police is controlling security in Migingo in line with an agreement signed in Arusha in April 2009 by President Yoweri Museveni and his former Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki to resolve the dispute.

In 2009, the two countries instituted a survey to determine who owns the island but the outcome of that survey has never been conclusive.

Echodu said both sides had met to try and calm any tensions in the area and that more meetings will be held over this weekend to calm down the tension.

Kenya, Uganda Police Clash At Migingo Island

By Manuel Odeny, 2 July 2013

Tension is high at Migingo Island after three Kenyan Administration Police (AP) officers were seriously beaten and hurt by a group of Ugandan police.

Officers from the two countries at the island have been keeping vigil with residents fearing that the tension may escalate if top official from the two countries don’t met.

The Kenyans were beaten by Ugandans in public glare after they were stopped at Nyandiwa Islands in Kenyan waters. As per procedure the Ugandans were told to register at Ugingo Island, and leave their weapons behind which angered them.

Nyatike deputy County Commissioner Moses Ivuto termed the incident unfortunate incident saying Rashidi Agore the new head of Ugandan police in the island was not aware that when his officers cross over into Kenya.

“The officer was pushed, slipped and injured his leg and was taken to hospital, we have sent more officers in the ground to ascertain the situation,” Ivuto said.

Yesterday senior officers in the county met in a security meeting and they planned to visit the island yesterday. But residents said tension has been building between Kenyan and Ugandan officers in the island and it was further fueled by President Uhuru Kenyatta recent visit in Uganda.

“When Uhuru visited Kampala the island was abuzz that the two presidents could find an amicable solution to the issue. Sadly it wasn’t mentioned to the delight of Ugandans,” Juma Ombori, the island Beach Management Unit chairman said.

Ombori said the officer didn’t slip but was beaten up by the Ugandans who are more superior in ranks and better facilitated than Kenyans.

“The Ugandan contingent is lead by Senior Superintendent of Police, have better pay and weapons with 18 officers while Kenya head Richard Omaya is just an inspector with about eight officers,” Ombori said.

According to agreement signed between the two countries, each was to have 12 officers but Ugandans have just ignored the agreement.

“These coupled with demoralization of the Kenyan officers as most are poorly paid and equipped has led to the problem,” he said.

Peacekeeping

United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (Kinshasa)

Congo-Kinshasa: Monusco Expresses Deep Concern Over M-23 Attack and Warns Against Any Action That Will Threaten Gom

Kinshasa — In the afternoon of 14 July, heavy fighting broke out in Mutaho, 8 km NW of Goma, after an FARDC position in the locality was attacked by a significant group of the M-23.

The attack occurred after the M23 had reinforced its positions around Kibati, close to Mutaho, earlier in the day, including with heavy artillery and a battle tank.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) expresses deep concern over this development and calls for restraint to avoid a further escalation of the situation.

“I call on all to abide by the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement and to allow the political process towards peace to move forward”, said the acting Special Representative of the Secretary General in the DRC, Moustapha Soumaré. ” I urge all signatories of the PSC Framework to exercise their influence in order to avoid an escalation of the situation”, he added.

MONUSCO has put its troops on high alert and stand ready to take any necessary measures, including the use of lethal force, in order to protect civilians. Any attempt by the M23 to advance toward Goma will be considered a direct threat to civilians.

I will Just Wait For You At the Right Place And I will Hit You, Rwandan General Paul Kagame Threatens Tanzanian Jakaya Kikwete

by AfroAmerica Network on July 3, 2013

“Those people [Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete] you just heard siding with Interahamwe and FDLR and urging negotiations… negotiations? Me, I do not even discuss this topic, because I will just wait for you [Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete] at the right place and I will hit you! He[Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete] did not deserve my answer. I did not waste my time answering him…It is well known. There is a line you cannot cross, there is a line, a line that you should never cross. It is impossible…”“

It is in these ominous terms that the Rwandan dictator General Paul Kagame threatened to get even with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, while addressing Rwandan Youth on June 30, 2013 during a summit called “Youth Konnect””, sponsored by his wife, Janet Kagame.

Relations between Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and Rwandan leaders have soured in the last weeks. On several occasions Rwandan leaders called the Tanzanian President “a genocide and terrorist sympathizer”, “ignorant”, “arrogant”, and “mediocre leader”. The relations have deteriorated following the recommendation by President Jakaya Kikwete of open negotiations between Rwandan, Ugandan and Congolese leaders and their respective armed opposition in order to bring durable peace and security in the African Great Lakes region.

First the Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo and Defense Minister, James Kabarebe, publicly cursed the Tanzanian President and called him a sympathizer of “genocidaires”, a “genocide denier”, and other names.

Then, General Paul Kagame, while addressing a closed door meeting with his close aides, called the Tanzanian President “4Bs”, which in Rwandan language means “an opportunist, attention seeker, arrogant and contemptible person.”

Then the Rwandan puppet Hutu Prime minister Prime Minister called the Tanzanian President a mediocre leader .

The latest public threats by General Paul Kagame against the physical person of the Tanzanian President are arguably the most serious sign of how worse the relations among the two countries and the their leaders have become. According to sources in Kigali, General Kagame has also been frustrated by the attention Tanzanian President has been receiving from World powers. Until a few years ago, Rwanda and its dictator was the darling of the West. The attention from the West has since dwindled.

The recent visit by US President Barack Obama to Tanzania may have further increased the frustration and perhaps led to the grave public threats by General Paul Kagame against the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.

The upcoming days and months promise to be full of anticipation and sursprises in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

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Tagged as: FDLR, General Kagame, Jakaya Kikwete, President Barack Obama, Rwanda, Tanzania