RDC: Twirwaneho – Communique de Presse No. 2 (21.02.2025)

South Sudan: South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) – Press Statement on SSPDF Forces enroute to Nasir town (20.02.2025)

Ethiopia: Salsay Weyane Tigray – Salsay Tigray Statement Statement on Unlawful Actions and Human Rights Abuses in Tigray (20.02.2025)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Two Main Narratives around the OLF-OFC Meetings with the Regime (20.02.2025)

Burundi: Ministere de l’Interieur du Developpement Communautaire et de la Securite Publique – Communique en Rapport avec le Flux de Refugies en Provenance de la RDC (19.02.2025)

Opinion: Museveni wants to try civilians in the GCM [and willing to amend laws to make it legal]

“Why would anybody say to be tried in a military court is wrong? So that why Supreme Court said “no”. It can happen. Can be done.  But the court itself, the military court should have one, two, three, four, five. To, to have fair constitution. We are very happy with that. This was correct. We didn’t know those gaps. Me I didn’t know. I thought there was no gap. I didn’t even know that somebody had removed the people, had changed the military court from subordinate court to be a parallel court. Apparently, somebody had made amendments saying that they are fine, the decision was not appealable. That’s not correct. Let it be initial centre of handling the matter, of course efficiency and focus, they are focusing on the discipline of the army, but also on the misuse of guns and weapons normally belonging to the army. So they are a bit focused. Why don’t you allow them to focus? Then you can, if somebody not satisfied, they can appeal to the superior courts. For us we don’t see anything” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (19.01.2025).

Surprise. Surprise.

The General, the liberator and freedom fighter wants to try civilians in his military courts. His Excellency, the Fountain of Honour, the grandeur and the statesman himself wants civilians and citizens being tried in a General Court Martial. That’s the message his spreading.

President Museveni is now following the ideals of Idi Amin who made an decree about Military Tribunals in January 24th 1973 which empowered the tribunal to try any person, whether civilian or soldier, for a capital offense and provided that the Defence Council to prescribe the method by which the sentences should be carried out, and if stated the person might petition the President for mercy.

It is a friendly reminder of the liberator who has made Amin and Obote the villain. His using the same metrics and methods for his own reign. That’s who Museveni is and his using the Military Tribunals or General Court Martials (GCM) as a mean of controlling the proceedings and keeping dissidents behind bars. This is why Museveni wants this, as he can control and order the acts of the courts, and they won’t act in defiance of him.

We are hearing that the gun and weapons cases are now supposed to be only tried in the GCM. That is just like the Amin decree, which was made for capital offenses. This is to deliberately decide the fate and keep people under the wings of the army. Because the President only trusts the army and not the other institutions of the government. That’s why he aims for trying civilians in the GCM and not elsewhere.

This is why he will amend the UPDF Act and other legislation to ensure he has the rights to continue the practice of Amin. The man who fought for the liberation of the nation and supposed to liberate or give people freedom. Instead, his using the same means and instruments of the state to take away the liberty and freedom of the people. That’s just interesting. Whoever who fought with him in the 1980s should feel dismayed and feel betrayed by the President.

This isn’t what he promised, but it shows what he become because of the hubris of power. The President didn’t learn from history but instead repeats the past. Just like Amin had illiterate or people not well versed in law in-charge of the Tribunals. The ones Museveni has there is to convene and adhere to his orders. Therefore, the civilians tried in the GCM are under mercy of the President and his will. So, that’s why the President wants to use the GCM…. Peace.

Burundi: Front Burundais de Liberation (F.B.L) – Communique Officiel (17.02.2025)

Dr. Kizza Besigye is in critical condition [on his 91st day behind bars as his ordered back to prison by the High Court]

“Veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, appeared before the High Court in Kampala for a habeas corpus hearing seeking their release. The two have been in remand since November after being abducted from Nairobi and charged with security offenses and treachery at the General Court Martial. Last month, the Supreme Court halted the trial of civilians in military courts” (NTV Uganda, 19.02.2025).

“Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale have been sent back to prison by Judge Douglas Singiza, who adjourned the court session to take care of some internal matters. The judge also asked journalists to leave the courtroom for the time being” (Baba TV Uganda, 19.02.2025).

If you thought they intended to free him or bail him out. You were wrong. There is no intention of stopping the process or the case surrounding Dr. Kizza Besigye. They intend to detain him and keep him behind bars. That is the gist of things.

This is vengeance of the state against Besigye. That isn’t shocking…

It is just what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) stands for and what it defends. This sort of misuse of power and rule of law to silence dissent. That’s what this is all about. The NRM and their allies speaks of the law and the process. However, they didn’t use process or such when apprehending and kidnapping Besigye in Nairobi, Kenya. Neither has they proved any of the allegations and keeping him on remand for over 90 days in prison. Therefore, they can just lie and the lie is only endangering Besigye.

If you believe the messaging of the state. That they have the goodness of their heart and concern about Besigye. This isn’t true, as they are just playing ping-pong with him between the courts, and they aren’t producing a proper trial. Neither is they giving him relief and release to help him with medical treatment. Therefore, who believes the tyrants who are delivering the tyranny?

The ones believing the state cares or is concerned with the condition of Besigye. That isn’t true and they are just furthering the torment of him. They have decided to send a message to the population… that if you dares the state this is how they will treat you. These people don’t mind the possibility of death or demise. As long as … the population understands they could be in his stead. That’s the message and memo the state is sending.

Besigye is just the victim of his own popular rise. He is a victim of being a voice of reason and is targeted because of that. This is why his behind bars and they create manufactured and fictional charges to keep him detained. As there is no proof or witnesses that will prove the allegations or criminal conspiracy. This is why he is behind bars on remand and not released back in public. Peace.

The Silent War: M23 has soon conquered Uvira

Now that AFC/M23 has conquered Goma and Bukavu. The next goal seems to be Uvira. As they want to solidify its role in the Kivu Provinces. The M23/AFC have even gotten an ally and are now in a grand coalition with Twirwaneho. So, they now having another militia supporting its mission and operation.

They are now gaining grounds, as the FARDC/Wazalendo is losing it. They are retreating and even the Burundian forces have fled back across the borders. As they are seeing the strategical and tactical advances of M23/AFC, which was a reason why the M23 could takeover Bukavu so quickly.

Now they are steaming ahead and now will have control of the Kivu Provinces in totality. This is just one move at the time. The warfare done is deliberate and is clear. They have not only outmanoeuvred, but they are outflanking the FARDC/Wazalendo.

The leaks surrounding General Makenga proved they have drones and other connections to satellites, which means they have an advantage by air and can get an aerial oversight of the frontlines, which is far from what the FARDC/Wazalendo can. That means the sophistication of the warfare is giving M23 an edge.

This is hurting the Kinshasa government and their forces in Eastern Congo. As they are scrambling and are outplayed on a regular basis. That’s why the M23 is moving ahead and able to conquer such vast territories in a short amount of time.

The M23 will now have Uvira, Bukavu and Goma. That is significant and telling. They are now controlling vast areas and urban areas too. Cities and centres of trade, which will benefit the war-economy and the militia itself. The backers will get their profits and get their wealth extracted as a part of it.

Uvira is at a standstill and awaiting the M23 today. That’s really telling and worrisome. Yet another city fallen to M23. Now we can wonder what is their next step and where they want to continue the battle. As the frontlines has moved at such a phase.

FARDC/Wazalendo needs more support, logistical and arms, which can compete with the M23. As they are now continuing to outsmart them, and it is losing their territorial integrity. The FARDC isn’t able to combat it. That shows, as the last few weeks of warfare has proven.

Kinshasa needs to change its stripes. There is a need for a new strategy and new ways of defending the territories. Because M23/AFC and their allies are now taken it with ease. That shouldn’t be the case, but it is. The fastness of the troops and the ability to takeover strategic locations. Just shows how the FARDC/Wazalendo has failed their mission. Certainly, there is a need for emergency meetings, but also new army commanders that can compete with the militia’s ways of manoeuvring. Peace.

Israel: Chancellery Armenian Patriachate of Jerusalem – Foreclosure Process against Properties of the Armenian Patriachate of Jerusalem (18.02.2025)