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East Africa

  • An image of President William Ruto (left) and ODM leader Raila Odinga (right). KENYANS.CO.KE 
  • Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga ostensibly called for a rally at the famous Kamukunji Grounds on Monday, January 23, after a dossier by a whistleblower on August 9, 2022, presidential election.

    On Saturday, January 21, Odinga’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango, in a statement to newsrooms, announced that the Azimio leader would land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday, January 23 at 11 am.

    “Mr Odinga appeals to Kenyans to show up in large numbers at the Kamukunji Baraza, in the interest of the country,” Onyango stated. 

    On Friday, January 20, the Azimio leadership challenged the electoral commission (IEBC) to allow a forensic audit of its servers to dispel claims by a whistleblower that Raila Odinga won.

    Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (centre) with other Azimio leaders during a media briefing at his Karen office on January 19, 2023.
    Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (centre) with other Azimio leaders during a media briefing at his Karen office on January 19, 2023. TWITTER
    KALONZO MUSYOKA

    Led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Narc Kenya counterpart Martha Karua, Azimio alluded that it had demanded full access to the servers during the presidential petition but this was denied by both the court and IEBC. 

    Azimio cited a document provided by a whistleblower allegedly working at IEBC that indicated Odinga garnered 8,170,353 votes (57.3 per cent) against Ruto’s 5,915,973 (41.66 per cent). 

    However, speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Political Analyst Martin Andati termed the push back by Odinga as lethargic and uninspiring.

    “Raila is looking for relevance after Ruto announced that the previous administration was after kidnapping Chebukati, recently, they released unbelievable figures alluding to an Odinga win which was unrealistic.

    They do all this because they have to react to Ruto’s attacks in order to maintain their support base,” he added.

    Andati further remarked that political dynamics had changed in the country and that Ruto had started making inroads in opposition bases.

    “Ruto has done three months already, and he has already reached out to Odinga’s bases. Further, the Supreme Court ruled on the August 9 elections and its decision was final." 

    According to Andati, Raila can only do rallies as long as they do not end up destroying people's properties.

    “Ruto will clamp down on the opposition if they are to hold rallies that would destroy people's properties. They can however hold their rallies as Ruto has been advocating for a robust opposition in the country,” he opined.

    Odinga has been in South Africa since January 13, where he held meetings as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

    He also held meetings with government leaders, NGOs and business leaders.  By ANZUGIRA PEREZ, Kenyans.co.ke

  • Five suspects are thought to have links to a genocide killing 800,000 Rwandans 
  • The War Crimes Unit was given a referral from Rwandan authorities last January
  • The men are currently living in London, Essex, Bedford, Kent and Manchester 
  • 100 days of slaughter and ethnic cleansing in Rwanda took place 25 years ago 

The suspects are thought to be behind the deaths of 800,000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis but including some moderate Hutus, who died in 100 days of slaughter and ethnic cleansing

 

The suspects are Celestin Mutabaruka, 63, from Kent; Vincent Brown, also known as Vincent Bajinya, 59, from Islington, north London; Celestin Ugirashebuja, 66, from Essex; Charles Munyaneza, 61, from Bedford; and Emmanuel Nteziryayo, from Manchester, the Daily Mirror reported.

All of the suspects have denied the allegations. 

The war crimes unit, part of the counter-terrorism command, received a referral from Rwandan authorities in January last year.

The Mirror tracked the suspects down in 2019, when one, Celestin Mutabaruka, 67, who lives in Kent, said he had 'nothing to hide and welcomed the chance to clear his name.

Speaking at his flat in Islington, North London, he said two years ago: 'I am not a criminal and I never did those things.'

The second suspect is Vincent Brown, also known as Vincent Bajinya, 59, living in Islington, north London, who is a doctor with British citizenship and changed his name to Brown. 

Third, Celestin Ugirashebuja, 66, from Essex 69, who is now a care worker. 

The fourth suspect is Charles Munyaneza, 61, living in Bedford, and fifth Emmanuel Nteziryayo, who now lives in Manchester, the Daily Mirror reported. 

The suspects were interviewed by police voluntarily in 2020, and the Metropolitan Police has taken dozens of witness statements from victims of the 1994 atrocities

 

The war crimes unit, part of the counter-terrorism command, received a referral from Rwandan authorities in January last year

Human remains on display at the Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial of victims of the 1994 genocide which resulted in the deaths of 800,000 Rwandans
Human remains on display at the Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial of victims of the 1994 genocide which resulted in the deaths of 800,000 Rwandans

All five deny the allegations against them and involvement in the genocide.

In July 2017, five men with the same names, all of Hutu ethnicity, were ordered to be extradited in a bid to have them returned to Rwanda, which was blocked by the UK High Court.

At the time judges agreed there was a real risk they would be denied a fair trial if they were returned.

The controversial UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership scheme, introduced by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, was set up to send some asylum seekers who arrived from safe countries, many on small boats, to Rwanda, without the possibility of return. 

The scheme has so far cost the UK taxpayer £140m in development funding to Rwanda, but as of yet nobody has yet been sent there amid ongoing legal challenges.

The Rwanda scheme has so far cost the UK taxpayer £140m in development funding to Rwanda, but as of yet nobody has yet been sent there amid ongoing legal challenges
 

The Rwanda scheme has so far cost the UK taxpayer £140m in development funding to Rwanda, but as of yet nobody has yet been sent there amid ongoing legal challenges

A ruling this week has meant that there is no prospect of flights leaving immediately while the scheme goes to the Court of Appeal.

During a High Court Hearing on Monday, Lord Justice Lewis and Mr Justice Swift said that 11 migrants could ask the Court of Appeal to consider whether Rwanda's assurances to the UK amounted to sufficient guarantees of safe and fair treatment.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson, speaking about the five suspects, said: 'Relevant documentation to this was assessed by the war crimes unit and officers were also deployed to Rwanda as part of our initial work to scope the allegations,' 

The spokeswoman added: 'As a result, we have subsequently commenced an investigation which will initially involve a review of all the documentation transferred from Rwanda.

'Given the complexities involved, this is expected to be a protracted and lengthy process. Inquiries continue.' By SUKHMANI SETHI FOR MAILONLINE

 Uganda approves $3.5bn EACOP pipeline. (Credit: SELİM ARDA ERYILMAZ on Unsplash)
 

Museveni said that the project will be a major economic boost for the landlocked country, where many live in poverty.

Uganda’s cabinet has approved the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company (EACOP), an affiliate of French energy and petroleum company TotalEnergies to build the pipeline that will run 1,445kms, from oilfields in Uganda to a Tanzanian port

The government of Uganda has granted a final approval for the construction of a $3.5bn pipeline that transports crude oil through Tanzania.

Uganda’s cabinet has approved the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company (EACOP), an affiliate of French energy and petroleum company TotalEnergies to build the pipeline

TotalEnergies is the largest shareholder in EACOP with a 62% stake, while Uganda’s National Oil Company and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp own 15% each

China’s China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) owns 8% stake in EACOP.

In Uganda, commercial petroleum production has been delayed for nearly two decades, due to lack of infrastructure and disagreements between the government and oil companies.

EACOP will build the pipeline that will run 1,445kms, from the oilfields in the landlocked Uganda to a port on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast.

The project aims to extract the huge crude reserves under Lake Albert, a 160kms natural border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It will transport the crude oil produced inside the country to the international markets, and will become the world’s longest heated pipeline.

The approval follows an agreement between Tanzania and Uganda, and a $10bn deal between TotalEnergies and CNOOC to develop oilfields and build the oil pipeline in Uganda.

The EACOP pipeline involves drilling in Uganda’s national park, Murchison Falls.

Environmental groups and activists said that the project harms the ecosystem in the region and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni promised to proceed with the project regardless of the EU resolution, and would consider other partners if TotalEnergies stands by EU resolution. By NS Energy Staff Writer

Firefighters put up a spirited effort to put off the fire.[Courtesy Amulele]

Hundreds of traders and revelers at Maringo shopping centre in Nairobi’s Makadara Constituency are counting losses after fire gutted several business premises.

The 1pm incident is said to have happened after strong wind blew fire from a burning bush to one of the Makuti buildings before it spread out to the entire shopping centre. 

Henderson Amulele, Ward coordinator in area MP George Aladwa’s office said although firefighters tried their best to put off the fire, it had spread to a large area damaging property. 

“We were just standing beside the road when a strong wind blew the fire which fell on the Makuti bar. Before we could realise what damage it could cause, the entire shopping centre was on fire,” Amulele said. 

According to him, a contractor was burning some bushes that he had cut on a school fence just adjacent to the place.

“The contractor has been pruning the school fence in preparation of opening next week. So today he had collected the bushes he had pruned and decided to burn them just next to the fence which is so close to some mabati structures. There are some dry vines that had grown on top of trees that caught the fire before the wind blew it,” he said.

Amulele said the fire spread out to some residential buildings but residents moved swiftly and salvaged a good number of properties. 

Jogoo Road police came in handy and prevented rowdy youth from looting what had been salvaged.

He said several residential houses, shops and entertainment premises had bee affected in the incident.

“Right now we are just assessing the damage before a comprehensive report is filed and handed to the authorities,” he said. By Patrick Vidija |, The Standard

There are more than 500 UN volunteers deployed in the DRC, including 300 in the UN Peacekeeping Mission

BONN, Germany

Volunteers from around the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) commemorated the International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2022 through a range of activities mirroring the theme of IVD, 'Solidarity through volunteering - Together, Act Now.'  

To mark IVD 2022, UN Volunteers lend support to APROJED under the Actions and Projects for Sustainable Development, an organization in Turunga, a Nyiragongo municipality on the outskirts of Goma. 

This organization houses a training facility formed in 2006. Here, former child soldiers and vulnerable children are taught practical life skills, such as carpentry. So far, this training facility has trained and imparted vocational training to more than 600 children. UNV in the DRC provided advanced construction tools including hammer drills and generators, thus switching from traditional to modern tools. 

In previous decades, the Eastern Province of the DRC witnessed fighting, which has recently intensified. Volunteers in the region are aware that they are the ones who can bring about some positive contributions, and that is the reason that volunteer efforts continue despite the ongoing challenges to peace.

Seventeen year-old, Angel, is a student at the APROJED center.

I want to thank all the volunteers from across the world who had these young people from armed groups on their mind this IVD

"I am training in carpentry. Coming from armed groups, it was difficult for me to arrive here. I aim to make the most of this opportunity I've been given. To give back to my community and never go back to my past life. I thank UNV for contributing to our learning," he says.

The support from UNV makes sure that APROJED has a positive influence on the training of these young people.  

"I want to thank all the volunteers from across the world who had these young people from armed groups on their mind this IVD. These children, who had previously been traumatized by armed groups and using weapons, now have smiles on their faces thanks to United Nations Volunteers. We appreciate your donation of machines and construction equipment. You support these former child soldiers to integrate into society and improve the economy. Your donation will increase the quality of training and inspire the workers. Previously, we only utilized traditional tools." -- Guillain Punzu, APROJED Director. 

Also on IVD 2022, UN Volunteers from Bunia provided over 500 boxes of medicines to Saint Kizito orphanage in Ituri province. In addition, a town hall meeting was held with Khasim Diagne, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations in United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the DRC. 

"Volunteers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the large workforce that make a vital contribution to the operations of the Funds, Agencies, and Programmes, as well as the mission's mandate." -- Khasim Diagne, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations in MONUSCO, DRC. 

The underpinning message of volunteers making a difference through SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions was given by Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO in the DRC. 

"The celebration of International Volunteer Day reminds us of the positive impact everyone can have in the pursuit of peace and development. We pay tribute to the many volunteers of the UN system in the DRC and elsewhere in the world." -- Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO in the DRC.  

Today, there are more than 500 UN volunteers deployed in the DRC, including 300 in the UN Peacekeeping Mission

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Volunteer.

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