Photo HRNJ Uganda

Photo The New Times

President Paul Kagame and his Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan have exchanged messages intent on enhancing the two countries' bilateral cooperation.

On Thursday, June 3, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Vincent Biruta was received by the President of Tanzania at State House Chamwino, in the capital, Dodoma, as he delivered President Kagame's message to his counterpart.

Shortly afterwards, Gerson Msigwa, the Director of Information Services and Chief Government Spokesperson of Tanzania, released a statement indicating that Kagame, among others, assured Suluhu who took oath on March 19, as the sixth President of her country that Rwanda is ready to further enhance the already good bilateral ties.

SGR, Rusumo power project

Kagame said Rwanda is especially ready to take earlier initiated joint projects including the Rusumo hydropower project and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project linking Kigali to Isaka in Tanzania.

The Rusumo Hydropower Project was supposed to have been completed last year but it remains a work in progress.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Rwanda and Tanzania ministers held regular meetings as they looked to fast-track the 521-kilometre Isaka-Kigali SGR project to facilitate transport and trade.

Suluhu thanked Kagame for sending a special envoy who came with condolence and congratulatory messages, following the death of former President John Magufuli on March 17 and the former's subsequent swearing-in as the next Tanzanian leader, respectively.

She promised Tanzania’s readiness to further strengthening its relations and cooperation with Rwanda.

With regards to the implementation of the joint projects, President Suluhu directed that a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting between Tanzania and Rwanda be convened to push the implementation of the projects and propose new areas of cooperation that are beneficial to both sides.

Other areas she wants the JPC to work on include improving the transport of fish fillets from Mwanza by Rwanda's national carrier, RwandAir, and speeding up the construction of a dry port in Isaka, in northern Tanzania. - James Karuhanga, The New Times

Image via Radio Tamazuj

The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has denied that its soldiers were involved in the killing of a cleric and several other people in Lainya County of Central Equatoria on Tuesday, 1 June.

SSPDF spokesperson, Gen.  Lul Ruai Koang told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the National Salvation Front (NAS), led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, are to blame and said the latter were the ones in control of the area where the killings took place.

“We have to tell the truth here. The incident took place in Gandari which is located in the northern part of Lainya and a distance of two hours walking. There are no proper roads in that area. The area is controlled by NAS and there are no citizens there and no church building as well. This is where NAS forces are based and they normally ambush commuters,” Gen. Ruai said.

Reminded that the Bishop of Lianya Diocese, Dr. Paul Yugusuk, directly accused the SSPDF of the killings, Lul said: “What the Archbishop is saying is not correct. We didn’t kill anybody but our chief of staff has promised to carry out an investigation into this incident and it will include SSPDF, CTSAMMVM, the church, etc. They are supposed to tell us the exact location where these people were killed.”

The SSPDF mouthpiece said their forces fought with NAS elements and captured the latter’s tents, plastic sheeting for sleeping, and goats.

“So the incident did not take place in Lainya. The incident was in Gumberi. It is clear that it is NAS who began attacking our position. Their commander, who was putting on a Wild Life or Prison Service uniform, instructed his forces to attack us. He was killed and his uniform is in our procession now,” Gen. Ruai said.

He accused NAS of waylaying innocent travelers, ambushes, kidnap for ransom, and torching vehicles in the greater Yei area.

On Tuesday, Archbishop Dr. Paul Yugusuk announced the killing of a parish priest of Gumbiri in Lainya and categorically accused the SSPDF of murders in the area.

“I regret to inform all of you, that today 1st June 2021 the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSPDF) arrested and killed Rev. Cosmas Kwaje Matayo a parish priest of Gumbiri Parish, Loka Archdeaconry, Diocese of Lainya, Episcopal Church of South Sudan in a cold blood,” Archbishop Yugusuk said. “Rev. Cosmas Kwaje Matayo was arrested while  presiding over church service on Sunday 30th May 2021 together with four other church members Simon Taban Elekima, a 10 year Sunday schoolboy, church elder Moses Wani Daniel who is also Sub – Chief and Church elder Benjamin Laki Jibidayo who is also a Head man.”

The Archbishop also said that the SSPDF arrested one Mary Gaba Henry and her whereabouts are not known. He said the army looted goats, chicken, clothes, and cash in the Kuturjo residential area and burnt houses in Loka Round in Longera and areas of Darape, Lokirarat, Nyaporo, Kengwe, Rego, and Lomilikin.

“The SSPDF also arrested thirteen (13) youths in Rudu, eleven (11) of whom were released after serious beatings and they are even at the hospital. Businessmen David Bosco, Ojas Lokule Stuart, and Lomoro Lo-Bonjin of Lainya town have not been released to date,” Dr. Yugusuk said. “I call upon the chief of South Sudan People's Defense Forces, General Santino Deng Wol to immediately investigate the killing of cleric Cosmas Kwaje Matayo and other church members and arrest all those undisciplined soldiers who have committed the barbaric killings. I further call for the immediate release of all those who have been arrested.”

However, NAS, in a press release yesterday blamed the SSPDF for the killings in what is now becoming a blame game.

Suba Samuel Manase, the NAS spokesman said, “On 1 June 2021, the SSPDF, who are now operating under the orders of “shoot at sight”. In Gumberi Village of Lainya County, killed four (4), innocent civilians, in cold blood. Among those assassinated were Rev. Cosmas Kwaje Matayo, the parish priest of Gumberi parish, Simon Taban Elekima, a ten-year-old Sunday schoolboy, Moses Wani Daniel, a church elder and sub-chief and headman Benjamin Laki Jibidayo.”

He added, “These civilians were found in service in the church and dragged out and summarily killed because of their ethnicity. SSPDF are also committing the same atrocities in Kajo-Keji County.” - Radio Tamazuj

Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye (left) with his host Uhuru Kenyatta in Kisumu, Kenya on May 31, 2021. Photo PSCU

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has signed a deal with its Burundi counterparts that will increase trade and investments between the two countries.

The deal will see Kenyan traders take part in the annual Burundi trade fair and spur investments in sectors including energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and logistics.

KNCCI President Richard Ngatia said the agreement will ease access for traders, banking on the vast population that offer huge market opportunities.

Exports to the landlocked nation marginally grew to Ksh6.73 billion ($62.4 million) in 2019 from Ksh6.59 billion ($61.1 million) in 2015, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

“The private sector is the key to driving the growth that will deliver jobs, transform labour markets and open up opportunity. Kenya has the companies that can invest in and trade with Burundi to do just this,” Mr Ngatia said.

The deal will help the local private sector to increase and diversify their presence in Burundi— a nation that has not seen significant investments relative to Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

The deal comes at the back of bilateral agreements on trade and investment to strengthen economic ties between the two states signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Burundian counterpart, Evariste Ndayishimiye.

Under the agreement, KNCCI will also send a trade delegation to Burundi with the aim of opening up more opportunities as part of the two chambers to increase job opportunities.

KNCCI and the Burundi Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BFCCI) signed the deal during President Ndayishimiye’s two-day visit of the country.

President Ndayishimiye and Mr Kenyatta signed deals on agriculture, livestock and fisheries as part of opening up trade between the two countries.

The two heads of State directed their respective ministries to address barriers that have hindered use of use of Lake Victoria as a means of transportation between the two countries. - John Mutua, The EastAfrican