Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week signed a final agreement on the joint operation against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The Defence ministers of the two countries have put ink to paper providing a framework for joint deployment, pooling of resources and also extending the mandate of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to not only pursue ADF, but all armed groups operating within the conflict-riddled eastern Congo.
Upon signing the agreement in Bunia, Ituri Province in the troubled country, DRC Defence Minister Gilbert Kabanda stated; “It is a general agreement, but a framework for pooling our armed forces that is underway, particularly in the fight against the ADF. As you know, the ADF is an enemy of both DRC and Uganda, it is normal that we can fight it on a mutual basis.” Uganda’s Defence Minister, Vincent Ssempijja, who represented Uganda, described the agreement as “very important” for the operations against armed groups in eastern DRC.
On November 30, the UPDF and Forces Armees de la Republique du Congo (FARDC) launched joint operations against ADF, specifically shelling four terrorist bases, Kambi Ya Yua, Tondoli, Belu 1 and Belu 2 in eastern DRC. The bombardments forced ADF remnants to re-locate to nearby forests as the search and battle for control of their territories was intensified by the joint operation forces.
On Friday, top military officials from Uganda and DRC agreed on a joint staff command for the operation code-named Shujaa (bravery). Under the framework, the operations will jointly be led by UPDF’s Maj. Gen. Muhanga Kayunga and FARDC top commander Maj. Gen. Camille Bombele Lohola.
Giving an overview of the operation, DRC Information Minister and spokesperson of the government said on Saturday, that over 30 ADF terrorists and commanders were arrested, and 31 Congolese hostages rescued from the terrorists. A subsequent joint statement signed by Uganda Defence spokesperson Brig. Gen. Flavia Byekwaso and Gen. Major Kansonga Cibangu of FARDC also said 34 ADF were captured, and several hostages released.
Last week, the joint forces also started opening up security roads in North Kivu and across River Semliki Bridge, which military officers said will ease operations against ADF. UPDF and FARDC on Friday confirmed their attack on ADF had destroyed its four camps.
Commenting about Operation Shujaa, Uganda’s Commander of Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said: “To ADF combatants. You have seen what we (the joint UPDF/FARDC forces) are capable of. Operation Shujaa will continue until your terrorism ends. Many of your ‘leaders’ have already fled the bush and abandoned you to your fate… surrender now before it’s too late. The joint forces will receive you and give you a second chance.”
The conflict in Ethiopia last week continued its twists and turns as Tigray rebels on Sunday recaptured the north Ethiopian town of Lalibela. The town is famous for the UNESCO world heritage site. The recapture of the town comes only 11 days after Ethiopian forces said they had re-taken control.
Thousands have been reported killed in the 13-month-old conflict. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group’s military leadership said in a statement shared with pro-TPLF media they had launched ‘comprehensive counter-offensives’ in numerous locations including along the road linking Gashena and Lalibela.nLalibela, 645 kilometres (400 miles) north of Addis Ababa, is home to 11 medieval monolithic cave churches hewn into the red rock and is a key pilgrimage site for Ethiopian Christians.
In Uganda, striking Medics have caught the attention of the international community, with the BBC reporting Sunday that the interns have announced an escalation of their strike for better pay. The interns began their industrial action on 6 November, but they continued to work on emergencies and support some staff on hospital wards.
However, the strike received a bitter blow last week as a letter from the Health Ministry on Saturday ordered all the striking medical interns to leave the health facilities where they are based, within a week.
In response, all interns in public hospitals countrywide announced that from midnight on Sunday, they would cease all work.
Dr Lillian Nabwire, the president of the association of medical interns, told the BBC that medical interns had been taking industrial action since 2017. The Government has made promises to increase pay, but salaries have not increased, she said.
Senior doctors are now covering critical care and emergencies, but have scaled down on out-patient services, a senior specialist told the BBC.
A new cohort of interns is meant to start their training in two months.
Interns need to complete a year-long placement in order to be licensed as qualified health workers. They are paid 750,000 Uganda shillings (about $200; £150) per month during this period.
While the crisis in Sudan seems to have quietened down, the country’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has replaced all the acting state governors who were appointed by the country’s military leader following a coup in October. Mr Hamdok was returned to his post less than a month after being ousted, under a deal with the coup leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The Prime Minister also recently replaced several ministers who had been appointed by the military – some were closely linked to the former oppressive ruler, President Omar al-Bashir.
The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, has expressed ‘’strong concerns’’ over delays in Mali’s transition to civilian rule. It warned of additional economic sanctions if “no concrete progress” was made to hold fresh elections scheduled for late February. Mali witnessed military coups in August 2020 and May 2021, with the most recent leading to the overthrow of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.
An investigation by South Sudan’s Government has found that senior officials may not have been tested properly for Covid-19 before travelling overseas.
President Salva Kiir was forced to cancel a trip to Qatar in November after several members of his staff who went ahead of him tested positive for the virus when they arrived.
An investigation by the South Sudan government revealed that many senior officials were directing the lab technicians to only do an oral swab and not the intended combination of oral and nasal swabs. This could result in a false negative reading. South Sudan is deemed to be one of the world’s five least developed countries, according to the Human Development Index, with vaccine programmes in the country facing many challenges including cost and accessibility.
As a result the country has one of the lowest rates of vaccination against Covid-19 in the world, with just 1.2% of the population fully vaccinated.
The South Sudanese Government has pledged to continue efforts in its campaign to ensure that at least half the population is fully vaccinated by June 2022, a representative told the BBC.
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