Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi arrived in Uganda on Wednesday afternoon for a three-day official visit.

He was received at Entebbe International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo and other Ugandan officials.

Mr Nyusi received a 21-gun salute on arrival at the airport and will hold bilateral talks with his host President Yoweri Museveni in the afternoon.

President Nyusi and President Museveni are set to hold discussions on strengthening historical ties, and political, economic, social and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Mozambique and Uganda have enjoyed good relations of friendship, solidarity, cooperation and camaraderie since the national liberation struggle stemming from the 1970s during the days of Frelimo, as the country fought for independence.

According to President Yoweri Museveni, 28 of the soldiers who formed the Front for National Salvation, which later became the National Resistance Army before it became the Uganda People’s Defence Force, were trained at Montepuez, the second largest city in the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique.

Only four—Gen. Yoweri Museveni, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, Gen. Ivan Koreta and Brig. Bosco Omure—out of this team are still alive.

The same group comprised of a number of trainees, such as the late Fred Rwigyema, the founder of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, a group that later fought and captured power in 1994 in Rwanda.

In 2018, President Nyusi hosted Museveni in Maputo for official talks during a three-day visit, during which a general cooperation agreement on defence, tourism, diplomacy and trade was inked.

During that visit, Museveni said the Ugandan army had its roots in Mozambique.

The Mozambique Presidency says both Heads of State will assess the stage of bilateral cooperation, with emphasis on the decisions taken during Museveni’s last State visit to Mozambique.

Mozambique exports to Uganda mainly sea food, cashew nuts, sugar and coal, while Kampala exports maize, beans, timber, fruits, beef, and coffee to Maputo. - NELSON NATURINDA, The EastAfrican, Additional reporting by Arnaldo Vieira

UNMISS has strongly condemned the violations committed by armed youth from Koch and Mayendit counties, located in neighouring Unity state, which have forced thousands to flee to safety. 

Between 17 February and 7 April, some 72 civilians were killed, at least 11 injured, and 64 cases of sexual violence recorded, according to UNMISS human rights teams, which have conducted 10 verification missions to the area.  

Ensure justice for victims 

Two survivors reported that they were repeatedly raped and gang-raped after they came out of hiding to find food for their children. Another woman who had recently given birth recounted that she was raped and severely beaten for three days. 

“I am strongly appalled by these horrific attacks on civilians in Leer. We must all do everything we can to ensure that victims and survivors get the justice they deserve and receive the care and support they need,” said Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and head of UNMISS. 

Displacement and looting 

Initial reports from Leer county, located in Upper Nile state, indicate that some 40,000 people have fled the violence, with thousands reportedly crossing the Nile to Fangak, a community in Jonglei state. 

Thousands of cattle were raided during the attacks, while homes, humanitarian facilities and warehouses were looted and burned to the ground. 

Meanwhile, the wet season has already begun, along with risks of floods, making conditions dangerous for thousands of displaced families.  UNMISS is also investigating violence in Mayendit and Koch counties, including Mirmir Payam. 

The Mission has deployed additional peacekeepers to conduct regular patrols, including night patrols in Leer town, to avert further loss of life. 

Authorities urged to act 

While UN ‘blue helmets’ are providing protection to displaced people, and the humanitarians serving them, UNMISS emphasized that civilian protection “is first and foremost the responsibility of the Government.”  

The Mission has welcomed initial steps taken by the authorities, including the formation of an investigation committee and the deployment of troops to restore security. 

UNMISS is engaging with leadership at the capital and state level to mitigate violence. Civil affairs teams are also meeting with communities to conduct focus group discussions in conflict-affected areas. 

“The Mission urges national and local authorities to take immediate measures to reduce tensions and prevent further escalations and retaliatory attacks,” said Mr. Haysom.  

“Impunity on violations of human rights must end and perpetrators held accountable for these horrible crimes.” 

Kenya has announced that it will host a meeting between rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the government in Kinshasa.

The announcement was made on Thursday after a meeting of leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC that met in Nairobi to discuss violence by armed groups in the DRC.

The meeting takes place after the DRC joined the Community of East African States at the end of March.

According to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during Thursday's meeting the leaders sought to establish a regional force to neutralise armed groups in the region.

Recent fighting in eastern DRC has pitted government forces against rebels from the M23 movement, a group that emerged from the Congolese Tutsi rebellion.

Two weeks ago the group announced that it was withdrawing from villages under its control saying it wanted "peaceful settlement of the crisis".

Another rebel group active in eastern DRC, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is accused of carrying out attacks that have cost thousands of lives as well as planting bombs in Uganda's capital, Kampala. - Africanews