East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 23 October 2022; 700

The grounded Rwanda deportation flight EC-LZO Boeing 767 at Boscombe Down Air Base, on June 14, 2022, in Boscombe Down. The flight taking asylum seekers from the U.K. to Rwanda was grounded at the last minute after intervention of the European Court of Human Rights.DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE/Photo Courtesy

A charter airline contracted by the British government to transport asylum-seekers to Rwanda has pulled out of the deal following outside pressure, another blow to Britain’s hard-line immigration plan to send asylum-seekers to the small African nation.

The British deal with Rwanda came as Western nations are taking tougher stands against accepting refugees, and as thousands of people have crossed the English Channel in small boats this year seeking asylum. Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, is aiming to position his country as a solution to the migrant crisis, though critics see the country as trying to benefit financially from the arrangement.

Under the deal, Britain would pay 120 million pounds, or $135-million, to Rwanda to finance opportunities for the migrants, including education, job skills and language training. Those who are granted asylum would not be able to return to Britain, and would remain in Rwanda.

Privilege Style, the Spanish charter airline that pulled out of the arrangement, operated a deportation flight in June that became the centre of a legal and media firestorm and was halted after the European Court of Human Rights intervened.

The company’s pullout could present a potentially insurmountable hurdle to a plan that has so far failed to send a single asylum-seeker to Rwanda amid continuing legal battles. Charter airlines that have conducted deportation flights in the past to other countries have already distanced themselves from the plan.

Opponents of the policy praised the airline’s decision to scrap the flights.

“The pullout by Privilege Style is a cautionary tale for any other aviation company that even considers getting into bed with the British government on a scheme like this,” said Sonya Sceats, the chief executive of Freedom From Torture, a British charity that led the campaign to get the airline to withdraw from the effort. “Any company that wants to go down this route again now knows that it will come at an incredible cost to their brand.”

The British government has been warned repeatedly by its own advisers that sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda might not be a sensible policy because of concerns about Rwanda’s human rights record. By EUAN WARD, THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

Details: East Africa; 23 October 2022; 726

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba on the day of his promotion to the rank of Maj-General at Bombo Military Barracks in Uganda. File | Nation Media Group/Photo Courtesy

Former CEO of the Law Society of Kenya Apollo Mboya has filed a petition seeking to have a court summon Ugandan military General Muhoozi Kainerugaba over an alleged treason offence in relation to remarks of a military invasion in Nairobi.

Mr Mboya, in an application filed at the magistrate’s court in Milimani, Nairobi, is also seeking an order directing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Kenya’s Inspector-General of Police to furnish the court with an investigations report and charge sheet, if any, with respect to the alleged offence.

Read: General Muhoozi Kainerugaba stirs the hornet’s nest, again

"The inaction of the DPP and Inspector-General not only compromises national security of the Republic of Kenya but is also contrary to the national values of patriotism enunciated in Article 10 of the Constitution," says Mr Mboya.

The lawyer believes that Gen Muhoozi, who is also the Commander of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has committed an offence of treason based on the disputed tweets.

He argues that the alleged offence is a threat to the Kenya's territorial integrity.

Offensive tweets

The alleged offensive tweets by Gen Muhoozi were published on October 3 and 18, 2022.

On October 3, 2022 through his official twitter handle Gen Muhoozi tweeted: "It wouldn't take us, my army and me, 2 weeks to capture Nairobi. I'm happy that members of our district in Kenya, have responded enthusiastically to my tweet. It is still 2 weeks to Nairobi. After our army captures Nairobi, where should I live? Westlands? Riverside?"

On October 18 he further tweeted: "I hear some journalists from Kenya asked my father to ban me from Twitter? Is that some kind of a joke?? I am an adult and NO ONE will ban me from anything!"

Read: How Muhoozi’s ambition is putting Museveni-Ruto ties at risk

"Mr Muhoozi who is a senior military officer in Uganda has committed treasonable offences of threatening national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Kenya after expressing his intention to launch a military invasion to capture Nairobi, the capital city of the Republic of Kenya within two weeks," says Mr Mboya in his application. He wants the application certified urgent.

The lawyer is also concerned that after the disputed tweets, President Museveni promoted Gen Muhoozi to full military status.

"The Head of State of the Republic of Uganda, who is also the Commander of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces, has rewarded Lt. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba by promoting him to a full general of UPDF following his threats to invade Kenya, thereby conferring additional capabilities to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba," states the lawyer.

In urging court to allow his application, Mr Mboya says Section 45 of Kenya’s Penal Code provides that a person cannot be tried for treason unless the prosecution is commenced within two years after the offence is committed. By Joseph Wangui, Daily Nation

Details: East Africa; 22 October 2022; 662

Photo Courtesy New Times

Rwanda security forces involved in counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations in Mozambique’s northernmost province of Cabo Delgado on Friday, October 21, discovered another pile of hidden weapons abandoned by the Islamic State-linked terrorists.

The weapons were hidden in the terrorists’ former bases in Miloli in the general area of Limala forest, southeast of Mocimboa da Praia District. The areas in which these weapons were discovered were terrorist strongholds before they were dislodged by the Mozambican and Rwandan forces in August 2021.

A statement by the Ministry of Defence indicates that the terrorists have attempted “several times to return to recover the weapons to no avail.”

Operations in which the stockpiles are found are a pre-emptive move to deny the terrorists the opportunity of returning and re-arming for further insurgent actions. Rwanda security forces discovered the first stockpiles of weapons and ammunitions hidden by the terrorists, on October 15, in the thick forest region called Mbau, southeast of Mocimboa da Praia District.

The terrorists were fully defeated in Palma and Mocimboa da Praia Districts, the two districts under the charge of Rwandan security forces, but the terrorists are lurking around in neighbouring districts.

Rwandan and Mozambican security forces in these two districts are alert to ensure that the terrorists don’t return to disturb the peace.

How Rwanda deployed in Mozambique

On July 9, 2021, at the request of Maputo, Kigali deployed troops to the Province of Cabo Delgado to help fight the terrorists, stabilize the area and restore state authority.

Barely two weeks after landing, Rwandan and Mozambican forces were circling major bases of the terrorists, and capturing them.

On August 8, 2021, the joint forces captured Mocimboa da Praia, a port city that was headquarters of the terrorists for nearly five years. The capture of the port city dealt a heavy blow to the terrorists who had driven around 826,000 people from their homes and killed more than 2,000 others, in the Province.

Later, that month, Rwandan and Mozambican forces hemmed in the terrorist group's last major areas of operation, Siri I and Siri II, and Mbau, located in vast thick forests. A few weeks later, the joint forces started helping hundreds of people displaced by the terrorists in Cabo Delgado return to their homes.

The first and second phases of the Rwanda security forces operation were planning and movement of troops, respectively. During the decisive third phase, Rwandan and Mozambican forces, quickly defeated and dislodged the terrorists from their strongholds in Palma and Mocimboa da Praia Districts. The two districts are the Rwandan security forces’ area of responsibility.

In Palma and Mocimboa da Praia Districts where Rwandan security forces operate, more than 130,000 internally displaced persons returned to their villages. Currently, the Rwandan security forces in Cabo Delgado, are conducting the fourth phase – stabilisation – where, along with the host nation's forces, they help people to return to their villages and ensure that they get access to, among others, healthcare. By James Karuhanga, New Times

Details: East Africa; 23 October 2022; 623

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua during Azimio PG on September 16, 2022. TWITTER RAILA ODINGA

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will announce his own Cabinet after returning to the country from India, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka says.

While addressing mourners in Homa Bay on Saturday, October 22, Kalonzo stated that Azimio's parallel Cabinet will keep President William Ruto's cabinet secretaries in check.

The shadow secretaries will keep their opponents accountable by tracking their agenda and progress, which they will report to the opposition leaders for analysis.

"We are going to announce our shadow cabinet complete with their own budget," Kalonzo stated.

Kalonzo Musyoka address the media on Friday, September 30, 2022  TWITTER  KALONZO MUSYOKA

"We have only this country to call home. We have to be tolerant but fearful of God," he added.

The former Vice President further threw jabs at the president, arguing that Kenya Kwanza's victory in the August 9 election came as a surprise to Ruto.

He asked the president to respect Azimio la Umoja leaders in their role of keeping the government in check.

Kalonzo's sentiments came a day before President Ruto visits Kitui County to attend a church service at Africa Inland Church (AIC), Kitui Township.

The Wiper party leader urged the residents to be wary of Ruto's frequent visits to his Kitui backyard despite imploring the area leaders to accord him the respect he deserves as president.

"Tomorrow, he will be in Kitui, where I was baptized at AIC Township Kitui. Welcome him warmly.

"I have instructed Governors Julius Malombe (Kitui), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) and Mutula Kilonzo (Makueni) to attend the service if they are available," he stated.

In addition, Kalonzo urged the residents to remind the president of the challenges they are facing, from drought and insecurity stemming from inter-community conflict on scarce natural resources.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka attends the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on Thursday, October 20, 2022. WILLIAM RUTO By Robinson Ndungu, Kenyans.co.ke

Details: East Africa; 22 October 2022; 619

Kalonzo Musyoka address the media on Friday, September 30, 2022 TWITTER KALONZO MUSYOKA

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka accused President William Ruto of running a one-man show in his policies and decisions in his first month in office.

Kalonzo, who addressed the media after meeting Azimio La Umoja politicians on Friday, October 21, questioned the concreteness of Ruto’s declarations claiming that the head of state does not have the backing of an approved Cabinet.

Among the declarations highlighted by Kalonzo included the Mashujaa Day promise to construct 100 dams in his five-year tenure in office.

The Wiper leader attended the event held at Uhuru Gardens on Thursday, October 20.

President William Ruto (left) greets Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka during the Mashujaa Day Celebrations held on October 20, 2022, at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.

TWITTER

"The President, as the head of state and government, exercises the executive authority of the Republic with the assistance of the Deputy President and Cabinet Secretaries.

"Our Constitution does not give him the leeway to impose decisions on the country just because he is president," the statement read in part.

The former Vice President also highlighted Ruto's decision to disband the Special Service Unit (SSU) and creation of special funds for the Judiciary and the National Police Service, as well as the promise to manufacture fertilizer in collaboration with East African countries.

"Who prepared the report leading to the ongoing purge of the DCI? Who decided that we can manufacture fertilizers jointly with a neighbouring country or build dams on a PPP basis?" the Wiper Party Leader wondered.

According to Kalonzo, President Ruto's style of governance is reminiscent of past leaders in the world who cleared obstacles to their ambitions to establish dictatorial regimes.

In addition, Kalonzo noted that the move by President Ruto to reward his loyalists was part of the plans to establish an autocratic regime.

He warned that the trend risked pushing Kenya to the point of ratifying decisions that would prove costly, citing examples of dictatorial regimes in Kenya's neighbouring countries.

"But Kenyans should take a very early note that the personalized decision making, combined with what is clearly a tendency by Ruto to promote loyalists and other 'yes men and women', puts the country at great risk of miscalculation and misstep.

"We know it because we have been there before as a country, and we have also witnessed it cripple many of our neighbours," Kalonzo stated.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka attends the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

WILLIAM RUTO By Robinson Ndungu, Kenyans.co.ke