Rwanda and Uganda officials meet over Gatuna border crossing protocols

KIGALI, Rwanda

Rwandans and Ugandans intending to travel to either country using the just re-opened Gatuna/Katuna border will have to wait longer as officials of both countries work out modalities of managing travel in the context of Covid-19.

The border, which had been closed since February 2019 amid a diplomatic impasse, reopened Monday, but many who intended to travel could not do so as only cargo, returning Rwandan citizens, and a few Ugandans traveling for essential purposes were cleared to cross into Rwanda.

Immigration and customs officials of both countries held a closed-door meeting on the Rwandan side Monday morning, which is understood to have deliberated on necessary measures to facilitate movements in the context of Covid-19.

Rwanda government spokespeople had earlier indicated that the same Covid-19 protocols observed at other functional land borders will be applicable at the Gatuna/Katuna border.

“Trucks, Rwandan citizens and returning residents are crossing to Rwanda at Gatuna like at other border points, as per EAC Covid-19 protocols. As noted in the communiqué, Rwandan and Ugandan health officials are working on joint Covid-19 protocols, which will enable all to cross on both sides,” Rwanda government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a tweet Monday.

It was, however, unclear to those who intend to travel what the specific protocols are.

Rwandan health officials indicated that a team of medical personnel and equipment had been deployed to Gatuna ahead of its re-opening to facilitate with Covid-19 testing.

Rwanda last week announced the reopening of the Gatuna border effective January 31 after a series of meetings President Paul Kagame held with envoys from his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni.

A statement released by the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation a week after the visit and closed-door meeting with Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s son, stated that “there is a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitment made by the government of Uganda to address the remaining obstacles.”

Before the border closure, Kigali accused Kampala of hunting down Rwandan nationals in Uganda, and supporting groups working against the regime in Rwanda.

The issues sparked diplomatic tensions that, in February 2019, led to the closure of their common border of Gatuna, the busiest import and export corridor linking both countries and the region to the port of Mombasa.

Officials in Rwanda maintain the Gatuna border re-opening doesn’t imply that issues Rwanda raised have all been addressed, but it is a step forward in the process of resolving the remaining issues.

Mozambique: Terrorists attack five Cabo Delgado villages

MAPUTO, Mozambique

Several villages in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado came under renewed attack by islamist terrorists over the past week, according to a report in Monday’s issue of the independent newssheet, “Mediafax”.

The Nova Zambezia village in Macomia district was raided on Wednesday, and on Thursday Mitambo, in Meluco district, was attacked. At least one person was beheaded in Nova Zambezia and one in Mitambo.

The jihadists attacked Iba, also in Meluco, on Friday. They killed at least six people, burnt down homes and looted property. The same group moved on to attack Muiaguide village, where they murdered at least eight people.

Survivors fled from Iba and Muiaguide on Saturday and Sunday, and sought shelter in Macomia town. The head of the Iba administrative post was one of these displaced people, and he told “Mediafax” he had counted 12 bodies of the terrorists’ victims,

He also denounced “the lack of intervention and reaction by the defence and security forces”, although Iba is only 13 kilometres from Macomia town where military units are stationed.

Meanwhile Mozambican and Rwandan forces are reported to have killed two terrorists whom they ambushed in the area of Nankidunga, about six kilometres from the Mocimboa da Praia district capital.

One of the dead terrorists was identified as a Tanzanian citizen named Twahili Mwidini, who usually operated in Macomia. Two AK-47 assault rifles were recovered from the bodies.

In the neighbouring province of Niassa, the local police command has denied that the armed group that attacked a minibus in Maua district on Friday has anything to do with the Cabo Delgado terrorists. They said the minibus was ambushed “by a group of criminals”, who are now being pursued by the defence and security forces,

There were two masked attackers, one armed with an AK-47 and the other with a machete. They murdered the driver of the minibus and injured two of the passengers. They stole about 800,000 meticais (12,500 US dollars, at the current exchange rate) and various other possessions of the passengers.

African Union suspends Burkina Faso after coup last week

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso  

The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso until constitutional order is restored in the West African country, the organization announced in a tweet on Monday.          

The suspension of Burkina Faso comes a week after mutinous soldiers ousted democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore in a coup, citing his inability to stem jihadi violence.

The 15-nation West African group ECOWAS had already suspended Burkina Faso last week, making it the third nation in the regional bloc — after Mali and Guinea — to be punished for military takeovers in a year and a half. The suspensions mean the countries cannot participate in any meetings or decision-making, officials said.

While no sanctions have been imposed on Burkina Faso, a joint delegation with ECOWAS and the head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, arrived in the capital, Ouagadougou, Monday to assess the situation, according to the U.N.

An ECOWAS summit is also scheduled on Thursday in Ghana to discuss the situations in Burkina Faso and Mali, which is also under harsh economic and travel sanctions after its coup leader failed to organize elections within 18 months.

ALSO READ: ECOWAS suspends Burkina Faso after coup

On Monday afternoon Burkina Faso’s junta announced that the leader of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, is the country’s new president. Reading an announcement on state television, Lt. Col. Cyprien Kabore, a spokesman for the junta also said the head of the intelligence unit and the army’s chief of staff had been fired but didn’t say who was replacing them.

Talks with Damiba and ECOWAS began Saturday when a West African military delegation arrived. The junta has said that Kabore has not adequately addressed extremist violence in Burkina Faso, which has killed thousands and displaced more than 1.5 million people.

Speaking to the nation last week for the first since seizing power, Damiba said he would restore security and order and unite the country. He warned that the new regime would not tolerate betrayal.

Also Monday, the long-awaited trial on the killing of Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s influential leftist leader killed more than three decades ago, was suspended as a result of the coup.

Prosper Farama, one of the lawyers for the Sankara family, said the trial was paused until the constitution is reestablished, which could be a few days.

The president of the military tribunal said the trial would resume 24 hours after the constitution was reestablished.

Mali’s junta expels French ambassador as tensions mount

BAMAKO, Mali 

Mali’s ruling junta on Monday told the French ambassador to leave the West African country, according to a government statement, amid mounting tensions between Mali and its international partners.

The action puts into question a French-led anti-terrorist military operation present in Mali at the request of Malian leaders.

A French diplomat said the French government took note of Mali’s decision, and reiterated France’s commitment to the stabilization and development of the Sahel region, without elaborating. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic situation.

This latest episode in the diplomatic crisis between Mali and foreign partners comes days after the Malian government ordered Danish soldiers deployed in the French-led Takuba military operation to leave Mali. Also earlier this month, regional group ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali and Mali’s leaders expelled its representative from the country.

Tensions between Mali and its European and regional allies have been mounting in recent weeks, as Mali’s interim leader Col. Assimi Goita has delayed elections until 2026, solidified his control and showed reluctance to uphold Mali’s international agreements.

The Malian government summoned French Ambassador Joel Meyer on Monday and said he had 72 hours to leave the country, according to a Malian government statement announced on state television.

“This measure follows the hostile and outrageous comments made recently by the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the recurrence of such comments by the French authorities with regard to the Malian authorities, despite repeated protests,” the statement added.

The statement didn’t specify which French comments it was referring to.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said last week that Mali’s junta is “illegitimate and takes irresponsible measures.”

French government ministers have said in recent days they want to keep troops in Mali, but have called for new discussions with Mali’s leaders and regional powers on the conditions for them to stay.

Since a second coup in May 2021 and the arrival of Prime Minister Choguel Maiga, tension has grown between the transitional authorities in Mali and the French government. The situation worsened after some European countries, including France, expressed concern that Mali’s interim government has accepted the presence of Russian security contractors from the Wagner Group on its territory.Last month, the EU slapped sanctions on eight people and three oil companies linked to Wagner, which is accused of rights abuses in the Central African Republic, Libya and Syria.

Mali has been battling an Islamic insurgency in the north since 2012, and in 2013 France intervened in its former colony to stop jihadists who had seized swaths of the sprawling country, also at the request of Malian leaders.

Malawi's President swears in new ministers with a warning

LILONGWE, Malawi

Malawi's new government was sworn in on Sunday after President Lazarus Chakwera's surprise sacking of seven ministers last week over graft concerns.

“Do not accept a gift in exchange for using your office to give someone preferential treatment in the administration of a public service. That is corruption," Chakwera said at the swearing-in ceremony.

Civic and religious groups had pressured the president to rein in his cabinet after a number of his ministers were embroiled in corruption scandals.

In December, then minister of lands Kezzie Msukwa was arrested on allegations that he had received a bribe from a wealthy businessman to give him land.

Chakwera, elected in 2020 on a campaign to fight corruption in the poor southern African country, sacked his entire 33-member cabinet last Monday.

But most were reappointed two days later, and the new lineup includes only two new faces.

Chakwera named prominent businessman and politician Mark Katsonga Phiri to the trade ministry, while ruling party loyalist Sam Kawale takes over as lands minister, replacing Msukwa.

"If you do not follow the law, the law will follow you," Chakwera said Sunday. "And if you think that I will use my office to save you from facing a law you have broken, then you are gravely mistaken.”

In early December, Malawi police arrested a former finance minister and an ex-central bank chief for fabricating figures in a bid to impress the International Monetary Fund.

Joseph Mwanamveka and Reserve Bank of Malawi former governor Dalitso Kabambe were accused of cooking the books to secure a loan from the Washington-based development and crisis lender. - AFP

At least 10 killed in Kenya when vehicle runs over explosive

NAIROBI, Kenya

A local official in north-eastern Kenya says at least 10 people are dead after their vehicle ran over an explosive device on a highway Monday morning.

North Eastern regional commander George Seda said the blast occurred outside Mandera town. It was not clear how many people were in the vehicle. Witnesses said the toll could rise because others had serious injuries.

Police suspect the explosive device was placed by al-Shabab extremists operating in the area after crossing from nearby Somalia. The extremists are often blamed for such attacks in the border region, targeting both security forces and civilians.

A police report on Monday’s blast said the attackers fled toward the border.

One suspect has been arrested in connection with the explosion.

Confirming the arrest, North Eastern region police boss Bunei Rono said the unnamed individual was being questioned by detectives.

According to the police, the attack was carried out by a gang of six.

“On Monday January 31, 2022, around seven in the morning a civilian vehicle plying Mandera-Arabia road was attacked with an IED. It happened approximately 8kms from Mandera town. The attackers numbering around six then reinforced the IED attack with AK47 rifles. A GSU patrol team which was on foot and close to the area responded immediately,” reads a police report seen by the Nation.

A similar incident happened in the same location last year in March 2021, after a bus ran over an IED killing several people dead.

Senegal outsmart Equatorial Guinea to qualify for semifinal

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

Senegal’s Lions of Teranga have booked a place in the semi-final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021.

Coach Aliou Cissé’s side defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in the last quarter final match played this evening at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Famara Diedhiou, Cheikhou Kouyaté and Ismaïla Sarr netted the goals for Senegal, while Jannick Buyla Sam scored for the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea.

Senegal started the match on a high with Sadio Mane, Nampalys Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly all keeping the Equatorial Guinea defenders busy. But the Nzalanga Nacional team kept themselves in the game with good defending and few attacks upfront.

After 28 minutes Famara Diedhiou gave Senegal the lead when he capitalized on a well placed Sadio Mane cross to score past Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesus Lazaro Owono.

After missing the target seven minutes earlier, Diedhiou this time outpaced two Equatorial Guinea defenders and made no mistake giving Senegal the lead.

The Lions of Teranga continued to push forward as the Equatorial Guinea team also tried to close out the attacks.

Equatorial Guinea's got their best chance after 45 minutes with Pablo Ganet’s shot parried back into play by Senegal’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

In the second half the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea players thought they had got a penalty after 50 minutes, but it was not awarded after consultation with the VAR.

But coach Juan Micha's team did not give up and pushed forward in search of goals. Their efforts paid off after 57 minutes when Jannick Buyla Sam leveled matters after some good inter passing.

But after 68 minutes Senegal substitute Cheikhou Kouyaté put his team back into the lead with a flick past the Equatorial guinea goalkeeper. Kouyaté who had replaced Pape Gueye after 65 minutes capitalized on a poor clearance by defender Carlos Akapo Martinez flicked the ball past advancing goalkeeper Owono Ngua.

Another substitute for Senegal Ismaïla Sarr netted the third goal with a tap-in from close range after 79 minutes. Mane ran on the left flank and crossed in the box for Sarr to tap-in to make it 3-1.

Senegal had Saliou Ciss and Pape Gueye booked, while referee Victor Miguel De Freitas Gomes also cautioned Equatorial Guinea’s José Machín.

Egypt beat Morocco to move to the semis

Yaoundé, Cameroon

Egypt booked their place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Morocco at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Captain Mohamed Salah and substitute Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet scored for the Pharaohs who went behind after Boufal converted an early penalty for the Atlas Lions.

The derby lived up to its billing as Morocco won a penalty in the second minutes following a late on Hakimi by Egypt's Ayman Ashraf.

Soufiane Boufal made no mistake from 12 yards when he calmly slotted past stand in keeper Mohamed Kotb Gabal.

Despite going behind the Pharaohs settled into the match and came close to levelling the score after 19 minutes when Ashraf hit a fierce strike straight at Bounou.

The Atlas Lions keeper was again called to action to deny Marmoush as Egypt enjoy a good spell of dominance.

The second half saw a much more ambitious Egyptian side with the introduction of Trezequet helping the Pharaohs with more presence in the Moroccan box.

Salah equalised for Egypt with a close range tap in after Bounou had stopped Abdelmoneim's diving header 12 minutes after the restart.

Morocco captain Ghanem Saiss denied Omar Marmoush from scoring with an inch perfect last ditch tackle.

The Atlas Lions saw defender Nayef Aguerd's header turned against the woodwork by Gabal who filled in for the injured El Shenawy.

The two giants headed to extra time to settle the quarter final with Trezequet scoring the winner with a tap in from Salah's cross.

The Pharaohs will now play hosts Cameroon in the semi-finals in Yaounde.

Thousands displaced in Congo’s east amid rebel, army clashes

KIBUMBA, DR Congo 

Thousands of people in Congo have been displaced after they fled ongoing clashes between the Congolese army and rebel fighters this week.

On Tuesday, a fresh attack carried out by the March 23 Movement, or M23, targeted a Congolese army position in the territory of Rutshuru, just north of the city of Goma in eastern Congo. While authorities confirmed the attack, they did not provide details about it. Residents told The Associated Press that they saw gunfights and dead bodies.

Since the beginning of this week, inhabitants from six villages in the country’s east have fled the violence. At least 2,000 people are now living in improvised shelters, in churches, schools or with host families.

On Friday, the AP interviewed several eyewitnesses who fled to Kibumba and found shelter in a local church.

“The attack began in Nyesisi, Ngungo, Kanombe. When we were in the field on Wednesday, we heard bullets over the hills and we fled,” Baseme Mashukano, a resident of Nyesisi, one of the six villages caught in the crossfire, said. “We abandoned everything and now we are here in Kibumba. We spend the night in the church while others sleep outside, we have nothing to eat, no food, no water or medicine.”

Another person displaced by the conflict, Sarah Kasigwa, said she lost her three children and husband amid the chaos.

“We saw several dead people” she said. “We are sleeping here, in this school, on the ground. There is just cement, no blanket, we suffer a lot.”

Tumaini Anouarite, a 32-year-old mother of five, said that she saw soldiers firing bullets in the nearby hills, and gunfights between the army and M23 fighters.

On Friday, U.N. forces deployed in the area.

The M23, which also calls itself the “Revolutionary Army of Congo”, is a former rebel group of Congolese backed by Rwanda and Uganda that was defeated in 2013. Since November, the movement has been accused of being behind several attacks against the army.

The attacks took place in the vicinity of Virunga National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, renowned for its large gorilla population.

ECOWAS suspends Burkina Faso after coup

ACCRA, Ghana 

African neighbor states on Friday suspended Burkina Faso in the aftermath of this week’s coup, making it the third nation in the regional bloc to be punished for a military takeover in only 18 months, officials said.

The announcement from the bloc known as ECOWAS came days after more than a dozen mutinous soldiers went on state television in Burkina Faso to announce their military takeover of the country — that’s under siege from Islamic extremist attacks.

ECOWAS had suspended neighboring Mali after a coup there in August 2020 and then took similar action against Guinea after the president was overthrown last September.

Mali is also under punishing economic sanctions, including flight bans and asset freezes, after its coup leader failed to organize elections within 18 months as promised.

West African leaders met virtually Friday to discuss the Burkina Faso coup, and a delegation was expected to travel to Ouagadougou in the coming days.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the current ECOWAS chairman, called the recent spate of coups in West Africa “a direct violation of our democratic tenets.”

“The rest of the world is looking up to us to be firm on this matter,” he said.

ECOWAS has faced criticism for its handling of the coups, particularly in Mali where mediators negotiated with the junta on the 18-month deadline for holding democratic elections. Mali’s coup leader has said that won’t be met, citing security conditions, and has announced a vote four years from now instead. - AP

Cameroon stop Gambia to roar into semis

DOUALA, Cameroon

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are through to the semi final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021.

Cameroon stopped Gambia 2-0 in a quarter final match played this evening at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon.

After a goalless first half, the 5-time AFCON winners Cameroon returned charged and determined to get the goals.

The tournament’s leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar and Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu had their shots blocked for Cameroon, while Gambia’s James Gomez also had his attempts stopped in the first half.

But it was Karl Toko Ekambi who netted a brace early in the second half to make sure the Indomitable Lions roar into the semi final stage.

Ekambi made it 1-0 after 50 minutes with a well timed header. The Gambian defenders failed to react quickly to stop Ngran Suiru Fai Collins from crossing the ball for Ekambi to score.

The Gambian technical bench replaced star player Modou Barrow with Pa Modou Jagne after 55 minutes, but the Indomitable Lions instead pushed forward and made it 2-0 after 57 minutes. Ekambi again gave the Gambian goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye no chance.

Cameroon continued to dominate play in the midfield and on the wings causing problems for the Gambian team.

Coach António Conceição da Silva Oliveira's Cameroon team will now wait to face the winner between Egypt and Morocco at the semi final strge stage. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon remain in line chasing for a sixth AFCON title.

Ten-man Burkina Faso beat Tunisia to book the semifinals spot

GAROUA, Cameroon

Dango Aboubacar Ouattara's goal on the stroke of halftime was enough for Burkina Faso to beat Tunisia 1-0 and progress to the semifinals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021.

Dango Ouattara who was sent off in the closing stages scored on the stroke of halftime to give Kamou Malo's side the victory against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.

The Stallions who were without their talisman and captain Bertrand Traore started brightly at the Omnisports Roumde stadium in Garoua.

The Burkinabe controlled possession in the opening exchanges with Steeve Yago and Ibrahim Toure pulling the strings in midfield.

Cyrille Bayala had the first opening of the closely contested match when he found space on the left to shoot straight at Bechir Said in the Tunisian goal midway through the first half.

The Carthage Eagles were denied by Koffi on 26 minutes when he dived to his left to save Wahbi Khazri's fierce free kick.

The two sides continue to cancel each other in midfield while they try to break on the counter.

A defensive mistake in the Burkinabe box almost allowed Jaziri to score when he charged down Soumaila Ouattara.

Dango broke the deadlock with a neat finish from a swift counter attack. Ibrahim Toure played him through on goal and he cut inside before firing past Bechir.

The Tunisians returned after the break with more determination as they search for the equaliser.

Kouakou Koffi pulled another brilliant save from a set piece to keep his lead. Substitute Ali Maaloul struck a sumptuous strike but Koffi was equal to it.

The Stallions were reduced to ten men late on when goal scorer Dango was sent off for swinging an arm on a Tunisian defender.

The Burkinabe held on to progress to the semifinals of the tournament and they will meet the winner between Senegal and Equatorial Guinea.

US voices alarm as Tigray rebels push ahead in Ethiopia

WASHINGTON, USA

The United States voiced alarm Thursday January 27 after Ethiopia's Tigray rebels announced a military operation in the neighboring Afar region, but hailed moves by the government to ease a state of emergency.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front said Tuesday it was taking "robust actions" in Afar in response to pro-government forces, a month after the rebels' withdrawal had raised hopes of ending more than a year of war.

"Reports of renewed fighting in the region are very concerning and we repeat our calls to all actors to cease all offensive operations, which also hinder that humanitarian access that we all know is so crucial," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

He welcomed a push by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government to shorten a state of emergency imposed in November as the rebels seemed poised to threaten the capital.

Price voiced hope that the decision "will be approved soon" and urged the government to free all who were detained under the state of emergency.

The United States has heavily criticised Ethiopia, a longtime ally, over human rights concerns in the war against the Tigrayan rebels, including restrictions on aid delivery.

The United States on January 1 removed Africa's second most populous country from a major trade pact.

But President Joe Biden held an upbeat call with Abiy on January 10 with senior State Department officials visiting the Ethiopian leader earlier this week.

David Satterfield, the special envoy for the Horn of Africa, and Molly Phee, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, encouraged Abiy's government to "seize what we believe is a current opening for peace" including by reaching a ceasefire, Price said. - AFP

European embassies warn of possible terror attack in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya

Several European embassies in Nairobi, have issued terror alerts and urged their nationals living in Kenya to avoid public places.

The French Embassy on Thursday January 27 warned that the persistent threats against Western nationals in Kenya poses a real risk.

The embassy said that the terrorists are targeting public places frequented by foreign nationals including restaurants, hotels, places of leisure and shopping malls especially in Nairobi.

“People in Kenya are advised to exercise extreme vigilance and avoid frequenting these public places in the coming days, including this weekend,” the alert reads.

On its website, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO) advises against non-essential travel to areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border, Eastern Garissa County (up to 20km North-West of the A3).

Others are Mandera County (Excluding Mandera West Sub County), Lamu County (Excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island), areas of Tana River County North of the River Tana (up to 20km North West of the  A3) and within 15km of the Coast from the Tana River down to the Galana (Athi-Galana-Sabaki) river.

Dutch and German embassies have also issued similar advisories.

On Monday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i urged Kenyans to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to the police to prevent possible terror attacks.

Dr Matiang’i attributed past foiled attacks to information provided by patriotic Kenyans.

“Save for the challenge being experienced with terrorism in the country and the region, the country is largely peaceful and safe. The challenges we have in the region relating to terror are real and I have to be very frank with Kenyans and say that we have to be very cautious,” he warned.

Security has been beefed up in Lamu following an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists at Lango la Simba area near Nyongoro.

Five judiciary officials were shot at and injured by gunmen as they headed to Garsen town from Kipini Mobile court at around 5:50pm Wednesday.

According to the police, the officials had spent the day attending court matters at Kipini village in Tanana River County.

On Sunday, terrorists also attacked a Chinese Construction Company Parking lot and destroyed eight trucks.

The National Counter Terrorism Centre has urged Kenyans to avail any information that will help foil such attacks.

Head of Burkina Faso junta speaks ahead of ECOWAS leaders summit

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso

The leader of Burkina Faso's new military junta called for international support in his first major public intervention Thursday on the eve of a regional summit that could seek to sanction Ouagadougou.

Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba

"Burkina Faso more than ever needs its international partners," Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba said in televised comments days after leading the overthrow of president Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

"I call on the international community to support our country so it can exit this crisis as soon as possible."

Heads of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are to confer on Friday over how to respond to Monday's military coup.

Damiba, 41, is a rising star in the military who commands an eastern region that has been badly hit by jihadists.

On Wednesday, he met ministers of Kabore's government, which like the parliament has been dissolved.

The junta has also suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time".

"I will listen to all women and men," he said.

"I have begun consultations with certain components of the nation, including the personalities of the outgoing regime, in order to identify the main lines that will lead us, in the long term, to consensual and inclusive decisions for the refoundation and restoration of lasting peace."

Since taking over, the junta has spent the last few days trying to shore up support from religious and community leaders, security forces and unions.

During the twelve minutes speech, he explained the country was facing an unprecedented crisis and the junta's priority would be to restore security by renewing the will to fight among its soldiers and by listening to people to form a path forward.

Damiba asked ministers not to leave the country without authorisation, and also said he hoped to include all the country in the management of the transitional period, political sources told AFP.

The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked and poor state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960.

On Tuesday, ECOWAS issued a statement to say the bloc "firmly condemns" the coup, accusing the military of forcing Kabore to resign "under threat, intimidation and pressure".

Burkina Faso joins two other ECOWAS countries -- Mali and Guinea -- where there have been coups in the past 18 months.

Those two countries have been suspended by the 15-nation bloc, which has also imposed an array of sanctions on them, including measures against individuals.

Clement Sawadogo, deputy head of Kabore's People's Movement for Progress (MPP) party, said "the junta has to do its utmost to prevent international sanctions on Burkina Faso."

He called for a "wise solution, to prevent an ongoing security crisis... from intertwining with a socio-economic crisis".

Rwanda to reopen border with Uganda next week

KIGALI, Rwanda

The government of Rwanda has announced it will re-open its border with Uganda as part of the efforts to give a fresh momentum between the two countries.

According to a communique from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on Thursday, Rwanda will reopen Gatuna Border Post on Monday January 31 to allow easy movement between the two countries. 

Gatuna border, which is the busiest between the two country countries, has been inactive for nearly four years after Rwanda issued an advisory to her citizens that their safety in the neighbouring country could not be guaranteed.

According to the communique, the latest move follows the visit of Lt Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Senior Presidential advisor on special operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces to Rwanda.

“The Government of Rwanda has taken note that there is a progress to solve issues raised by Rwanda as well as commitments made by the Government of Uganda to address remaining obstacles.”

Muhoozi’s visit was widely perceived as a positive step towards reviving ties between the two countries.

Muhoozi is also Uganda’s first son.

It has not been officially communicated to be linked, but three days after he visited Rwanda, Uganda replaced former Chieftaincy Military Intelligence (CMI) Maj General Abel Kandiho.

Under Kandiho’s leadership, CMI was accused of torturing and killing Rwandans before being dumped at borders without due process. Others died in custody.

“In this regard and in line with the communique of the 4th Quadripartite summit held at Katuna/Gatuna on 21st February 2020, the Government of Rwanda wishes to inform the public that the Gatuna border post between Rwanda and Uganda will be reopened on 31st 2022.”

The communique noted that just like other land border posts with other countries, health authorities of Rwanda and Uganda will work together to put in place necessary measures to facilitate movement in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Rwanda remains committed to ongoing efforts to resolve pending issues between Rwanda and Uganda and believes that today’s announcement will contribute positively to the speedy normalization of relations between the two countries,” reads the communique.

EU mission chief wants troops to be allowed to go to Cabo Delgado

MAPUTO, Mozambique

The vice admiral in charge of the European Union military mission in Mozambique has called for a change to its mandate to allow the presence of EU personnel in Cabo Delgado, the province in the north of the country that has been the scene of an armed insurgency for more than two years.

Vice Admiral, Hervé Bléjean, who is head of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) and also of Military Planning Conduct Capability, was giving testimony to a hearing of the European Parliament’s security and defence subcommittee on Wednesday.

“The security situation remains stable, with no major challenges for the activities of the EUTM, which is, I remind you, far outside Cabo Delgado province,” he commented.

The EUTM mission is in Katembe, on the southern shore of Maputo bay, close to the capital, and in Chimoio, in central Mozambique.

On this aspect, the vice-admiral expressed frustration over the fact that the EU military was so far from the conflict zone.

“Currently, the mandate we have excludes strategic advice, unlike what we do elsewhere,” he noted. “Our ability to really understand the nature and effectiveness of operations in Cabo Delgado is limited and we have to find other means as we are not allowed to go there.”

He said that Mozambique’s president, Filipe Nyusi, “told me with a big smile: ‘you soldiers don’t want to go there; I’m going there next week, the MPs are going there, the ambassadors are going there'” – adding that “the image is not very good for the soldiers, who can be accused of being less brave than others.

“It is in our interest to have the possibility to travel there,” he said.

During the hearing, Bléjean said that “the security situation in Cabo Delgado province has improved considerably” of late.

“I am talking about the security situation, but not yet the humanitarian situation,” he stressed. However, he said that “despite positive developments, the situation requires special attention, as the insurgency is tending to dilute and spread not only to neighbouring provinces, especially Niassa, but also to Tanzania.”

Africa on course to vaccinate 70% this year - CDC

GENEVA, Switzerland

The African continent is on course to reach its target of vaccinating at least 70% of its population against COVID-19 by the end of 2022, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Thursday.

The continental public health agency said it has been encouraged by a surge in vaccinations in countries like Nigeria, where vaccine hesitancy appears to be waning with the destruction of expired doses and increased availability of vaccines.

About 11% of the continent’s 1.3 billion population is fully vaccinated.

Africa CDC director John Nkengasong said the continent’s vaccination target is achievable if current trends are maintained and vaccinations ramped up across countries.

“If those trends we have seen across several countries are maintained, then we remain hopeful that we should be going to that target,” he said.

Nkengasong said studies including those conducted by the Africa CDC “point to the fact that on average, about 80% of the population of countries that have been studied are ready to receive the vaccines.”

However, “each time there is noise about a vaccine, like expiration or things like AstraZeneca vaccines not arriving on time, it creates some sort of hesitation,” he added.

The Africa CDC says 580 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been received in Africa and 64% have been administered.