Burundi: Congres National pour la Liberte (CNL) – Communique de Presse (01.05.2022)

RDC: Red-Tabara – Communique (24.04.2022)

DRC: Communique – The Second Heads of State Conclave on the Democratic Republic of Congo (21.04.2022)

DRC: Red Tabara continues to ravage in the South Kivu Province

Our troops Red Tabara engaged in heavy fighting on Monday at Magunda to Sud-Kivu, RD Congo against the military Burundais of FDN. Balance sheet 12 dead & more than 25 wounded on the enemy side. Our valiant fighters Red Tabara launched a surprise attack this Friday at dawn against a military position Burundiais from FDN to Masango, Sud-Kivu, RD Congo. We still don’t know the enemy’s toll. On our side, we deplore an injured person” (Red Tabara, 16.04.2022).

The rebels who was created to beat the late Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza is now continuing to enforce impunity and extra judicial killings within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are doing that will alliances with other militias and with leaders who helps their cause. Clearly the FARDC isn’t able to stop it.

That’s why the Red-Tabara could come out today with a statement of killings in South Kivu. While it was only days ago there was reports of cattle rustling or thieving of livestock in South Kivu from the same militia. Therefore, something is up and they are very active.

Just read the recent report as well…

Stealing livestock in South Kivu Province:

Residents of the Kiziba village, in the Bijombo groupment, territory of Uvira (province of South Kivu in eastern DRC) say that rebels of the Red Tabara, a Burundian armed group, looted more than 500 cows on Wednesday. The rebel group has not yet reacted to the allegation. INFO SOS Médias Burundi – Heads of households confirmed to SOS Médias Burundi that “the rebels who looted our cows came from the village of Maheta (same groupment of Bijombo)”. The guards were stripped of everything they had on them, our sources say. Local civil society says it has documented several cases of cattle looting in the region. “We were told that some rebel leaders use the money from the sale of these cows to build or buy houses in Burundi,” said a local activist without giving evidence.

The looted animals, on April 6, were the Banyamulenge’s. This community has repeatedly accused the rebels, described by the Burundian authorities as a terrorist movement, of “having robbed us thousands of cows”. The Red Tabara spokesperson wasn’t available to comment on the allegation” (INFO SOS Médias Burundi, 12.04.2022).

So, things are not good and Red Tabara gets to continue to create havoc and injustice. They were created to fight the CNDD-FDD and late President Nkurunziza. Today, they are murderous group who ravages South Kivu for own spoils. That is how things are looking and these sorts of militias are creating more insecurity as the FARDC is overstretched with the amounts of militias operating in the Kivu regions alone. They are able to power-play and overcome the national army drive to have monopoly on violence in the region. That is evident since Red Tabara is just one of many who gets to operate and do these sinister things.

Here is some old reporting on it and a one piece from a UN report from last year in 2021.

Who is the Red Tabara:

This group emerged last year, and is believed to be composed of former soldiers, police and demobilised ex-rebels. Its “chief-of-staff”, Melchiade Biremba, says its goal is “to hunt Nkurunziza and his clique”. With his departure, a transitional government will be formed, leading to free and credible elections. RED-Tabara shares the “same goals” as the CNARED opposition alliance – but says, “the ways and means we take are different”. RED-Tabara has been referred to as the military wing of the Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (see above) led by Alex Sinduhije – an allegation denied by Biremba. The group is especially active in Bujumbura. It claims to only target the security forces, but civilians have also been victims of grenade attacks. Biremba says RED-Tabara is united with other anti-Nkurunziza insurgent groups, but “each has its own military strategy”” (Jean-Baptiste Nkurunziza & Obi Anyadike – ‘Briefing – who’s who in Burundi’s armed opposition’ 07.06.2016).

A UN Report from 2021:

In South Kivu, the Burundian armed group RED Tabara remained active and reportedly continued to cooperate with the Congolese Mai-Mai Ilunga, Mai-Mai René, Mai-Mai Yakutumba and Twirwaneho militias, which have been involved in abductions and kidnappings for ransom. On 15 July, RED Tabara released a communiqué denying any alliances with the aforementioned local armed groups or any involvement in attacks on FARDC” (United Nations Security Council – ‘Implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region’ 30.09.2021).

It is tragic that Red Tabara can continue and prolong the agony. Just like M23 could return to North Kivu. The Red Tabara gets to violate South Kivu. There is a never ending cycle of insecurity and militias creating death in these provinces. A silent war never ending and people are dying over mineral resources and illicit trade of wealth here. Peace.

East African Community (EAC): EAC Secretariat – The Democratic Republic of the Congo formally joins EAC after Signing the Treaty of Accession to the Community (08.04.2022)

Opinion: Some says War has returned to Europe [and I say it was exported but now came home to roost]

It been a long time since the Yugoslavian war in the 1990s. That was the last big-war and conflict, which the world powers came into play and fought on separate sides. As all the Slavic people of region fought for their statehood and such. Which in the end has ended up on in several of independent nations, but has since then been at peace.

Alas, there haven’t been a moment where the European powers haven’t been involved or participated elsewhere since then. They have either done that by proxy, by exporting military weapons or equipment or themselves participated in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations or invasion. If not, it has directly invaded or made itself impose it’s power onto a nation. Therefore, it has never ceased to use weapons and war. The only difference, it has happen far away and for other means.

The United States has supported wars, been the main aggressor or the initiator in several of conflicts. While United Kingdom has participated directly too. Other European nations has been parts of coalition of a willing. Therefore, we know they are willing wage war and has done so too. This been done over years and the conflict ever ceasing. Even after they are leaving. The parties are still unresolved and the conflicts persist.

So, when I hear again and again that the war returned to Europe. I am saying “yes it did, but it was already here”. What I mean by that… the Europeans has exported the wars. They have supported proxies, which has fought their wars. Europeans has sent brigades, operative armies elsewhere and done warfare. This being as part of United Nations Peacekeeping Missions or directly work for own interests in former colonies.

That’s why the European nations haven’t been all peaceful. They have used arms, weapons and military equipment all across the globe. They have traded and earned profits on wars. This has been done and these wars has only been bylines or parts of bulletins in the tabloids. While bloodshed, massacres and whatnot happens in these conflicts. That is just what’s going on. If it is in Yemen, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo or in the Central African Republic. These things can be prolonged and the conflict is a very valuable commodity. A commodity and a business, which is a never ending ride of profits, both in weaponry and resources, which becomes easily accessible when you have the right leader serving any given territory. Therefore, these sorts of moves has happened and the West has gladly joined the ride.

This is why the powers of the West, United States and others has supported the end of certain leaders. In such a fashion, that it get rid of a popular leader who intends to nationalize or reform the mineral extraction industries and instead get a puppet regime there. While using armies and support to keep it up. A war for the interests of the West and not for the nation at hand. Just like it accepted to use illegal means to overthrow Morales in Bolivia. That sort of play fitted the U.S. and Washington D.C. and it could have been much more bloody. However, that’s how it does it and we cannot deny this fact in 2022.

Yes, Russia’s imperialism in Ukraine is wrong. Nevertheless, that doesn’t justify the imperialism of United States or any of it’s NATO allies either. What the USA did in Iraq or Afghanistan should be addressed. Just like whatever war-crimes that all parties have possibly done in Syria. The same can be said about the parties involved Yemen or Ethiopia for that matter. All war-crimes should be punishable and be investigated by the same International Court. Not just go after Russia now. The other nations and the leadership of that time should be held accountable. That is only fair.

So, when saying all this. African Union has worked for a few years now to “silence the guns” which is an ideal programme. No matter how faulty and weak the AU is an organization. How the AU as an entity tends to favour tyrants and dictators, instead of the will of the people. Still, the ideals of that programme is something the European Union and United States should look into themselves. As it is a set of ethics, which could inspire them to think about the consequences of it’s actions elsewhere.

Right now it is justified to enlarge military budgets, expand spending on upgrading the military equipment and vehicles, ensure you have a decent air-force and whatnot. When the war-drums are happening so close to your own shores. It only makes sense, as the borders and the length of distance to Ukraine set the parameter of action of own self-defence. However, Europe has participated and been acting in accordance with war. Just not on their shores or in the near borders of own capitals. It hasn’t gotten close to comfort. Neither has the consequences of it or the ramifications of a war. No, that has been held at a distance…

Now, the conflicts of Europe is coming home. The weapons exports is happening to far-away hinterland or to any of their allies world-wide. Therefore, this war is more consuming to the West. Since, it involves them all and it’s a worry of escalation. Also, if Russia want to further it’s borders and annex even more countries after Ukraine. That is unknown and uncharted territory of Europe in this day and age. They have accepted and participated in conflicts outside of their home-bound regions. But now it’s happening there and it makes things more edgy.

That’s why people are speaking of the wars are coming home. I will say they were always here. That’s why we was busy making advanced weapons, exporting ammunition and selling artillery across the world. While also either being part or being parties in conflicts across the world after the 1990s Yugoslavian war.

There is time to recognize this and acknowledge this. Because, if we don’t, we are hypocrites and people who don’t reflect on our own actions. My own home country has exported weapons and participated in NATO missions across the world, which has inflicted insufferable damage and destruction. This is why we cannot act like we didn’t wage war or had no say in it. Our nations and participation had consequences, which is felt today in Libya and Afghanistan. These sorts of acts shouldn’t be forgotten. It is the act of cruelty to forget that… and we can’t if we are honest.

The wars wasn’t in Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Rome or in Warsaw, but we never know our future. Yesterday it was in Kabul and Baghdad. Now it is hitting Kyiv and we should stand in solidarity with Ukraine. However, at the same time, we need to reflect on the policies and actions, which lead the West and U.S. into similar conflicts anywhere else. Peace.

Association des Conferences des Ordinaires du Rwanda et du Burundi: Communique de Presse de l’ACOREB a l’Issue de son Assemblee Pleniere Ordinaire (17.03.2022)

Burundi: Radio Publique Africaine – Communique de Presse de la Radio Publique Africaine a l’Occasion de son 21eme Anniversaire en daate du 05/Mars/2022 (05.03.2022)

Burundi: Parti Sahwanya-Frodebu – Communique du Parti Sahwanya-Frodebu – Concerne: Mesures de limitation de l’escape de circulation des Motos, Tuk-tuk et Velos dans la ville de Bujumbura (03.03.2022)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Objet: Sulvi des conclusions de la reunion de Bruxelles tenue le 19 fevrier 2022 (02.03.2022)