Kenya

Propaganda System Court Case Exposes State House Infighting

Court filings have exposed internal strife among President William Ruto’s top aides, revealing a chaotic communications strategy and a secretive effort to acquire controversial spyware in response to growing public discontent with the government. Mary Wachuka, who has sued the State over the spyware deal, claims the President’s digital strategist, Denis Itumbi, “hijacked the government messaging apparatus”, centralising control around himself. She further alleges that a man identifying himself as a presidential emissary, Ng’eno, assured her the project would be funded through the National Treasury’s confidential vote. The filings suggest a presidency scrambling to regain narrative control, with potentially troubling implications for transparency, internal governance, and civil liberties.

(Daily Nation)

Tanzania

Govt Vows Peaceful Elections, Enhanced Police Mobility

With Tanzania preparing for its general election in October, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a peaceful and orderly electoral process. Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Minister for Home Affairs Innocent Bashungwa assured the public that authorities are fully prepared to deal decisively with any individuals or groups attempting to disrupt the proceedings. To bolster law enforcement capacity across the country, the minister announced a major initiative to enhance police mobility. Starting in August, the government will distribute vehicles nationwide to Officers Commanding Criminal Investigation Departments (OC-CIDs). This strategic deployment is expected to significantly improve the police force’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging security concerns during the election period.

(The Daily News)

Uganda

YES: Parliament Okays Military Court to Try Civilians

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Amendment Bill, 2025, is poised to pass through Parliament, with legislators approving a controversial provision allowing civilians to be tried in military courts. The bill aims to amend the UPDF Act to streamline the structure and functions of the defence forces, define terms such as “service offence,” “court martial,” “military court,” and “reserve force,” and to restructure and reestablish military courts in line with constitutional requirements. This legislative move comes despite the January 31 Supreme Court ruling that deemed the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional. That landmark decision prompted the withdrawal of an earlier version of the UPDF Amendment Bill, which had been tabled in December 2024. The ruling reportedly frustrated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who has long supported military involvement in prosecuting certain civilian cases, particularly those involving security threats.

(The Independent)

Rwanda

What’s Next After French Judge Closes Investigation into Agathe Habyarimana?

A French court of appeal has ruled that the investigation into Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana, Rwanda’s former First Lady, will not proceed. The investigating judge cited “insufficient evidence” to prosecute the 82-year-old widow of former President Juvénal Habyarimana for her alleged involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which began on April 7, 1994. The case against Kanziga dates to February 2007, when the French human rights organisation Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR) filed a complaint accusing her of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity. A trial could have offered critical insights into the role of the French state during the genocide. Critics argue that the decision not to proceed risks allowing a dark chapter in Rwanda’s history to remain obscured. Gilbert Gakwenzire, president of the genocide survivors’ organisation Ibuka, expressed hope that there will still be opportunities to appeal and ultimately achieve justice.

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethiopia & Russia Military and Technical Cooperations

Military and technical cooperation between Ethiopia and the Russian Federation is a key pillar of the long-standing and strategic partnership of the two countries. The 14th Meeting of the Ethiopia-Russian Intergovernmental Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation began on 21st May 2025 in Moscow. The Ethiopian delegation, led by the State Minister of Defence and co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group, stated that the Working Group serves as an appropriate platform to review military collaboration between the two countries and to enhance Ethiopia’s defence capabilities through capacity-building initiatives and opportunities for technology transfer.

(Ethiopia News Agency)