Kenya

State agents are following me, says Gachagua

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused State agents of stalking and monitoring his movements. He claims that security personnel in unmarked vehicles have been following him around and have even parked their vehicles at the entrance of his residential home. He claims that such surveillance tactics are akin to those that were applied during President Daniel arap Moi’s era as a form of intimidation. Gachagua, who was impeached on October 17, 2024, only asked to be able to live his life in peace as a private citizen. 

(Standard Group)

Tanzania

Death toll in Kariakoo building collapse rises to 20

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced that 20 people lost their lives in the Kariakoo building collapse as of Wednesday morning. The Head of State landed in Dar es Salaam on Thursday where she visited the site of the collapsed building. President Samia expressed optimism that, with divine intervention, some victims might still be found alive despite the standard 72-hour timeframe for rescue operations having elapsed. The rescue operations began immediately on Saturday when the building collapsed in the bustling business centre.

(Daily News)

Uganda 

Besigye taken to court and remanded

Dr. Kizza Besigye and his companion Haji Lutaale were arraigned in the Ugandan Military Court on November 20, 2024, after having been abducted while in Nairobi, Kenya, where he had gone to meet a Ugandan official. The chargesheet presented by the prosecution charged the two with being in unlawful possession of firearms contrary to the UPDF Act while in Nairobi. The legal representation for Dr. Besigye, Erias Lukwago, made the argument that the allegations were a sham as the Court Martial in Uganda would have no jurisdiction to hear such a matter as the alleged crime had taken place in Kenya.  He also stated that his client had been abducted from Kenya, where he had legally entered, and no alarm had been raised. 

The court had failed to demonstrate that he had been extradited or that the Kenyan Government had initiated any form of deportation against Dr. Besigye. The possession of firearms did not violate laws in the alleged country, and the UPDF Act does not hold water outside the jurisdiction of Uganda. Thus, the matter should be dismissed and his clients released. The Court Martial stated it would hold Dr. Besigye and Lutaale in remand until December 2, 2024, when investigations are concluded. 

(The Independent) 

Ethiopia

Rehabilitation training for former combatants in Tigray region commences

The Ethiopian government is making efforts to ensure the sustainable reintegration of former combatants from the Tigray region. It began on Thursday by enrolling them into rehabilitation training centres. These centres aim to provide the necessary support to transition former fighters into civilian life. The initiative requires former combatants to hand over their arms, including heavy and medium weaponry, as part of their entry into the rehabilitation process. The programme envisions former combatants completing their training and reintegrating into their communities with the necessary financial and material support to lead stable civilian lives, including access to livelihood programmes and social services. The programme will focus on providing skills training and fostering sustainable reintegration into society.  This initiative underscores Ethiopia’s commitment to lasting peace and stability by transforming former combatants into productive members of society and strengthening national cohesion.

( ENA)

Rwanda

Eight held over illegal mining, violence

Eight men have been detained in Kamonyi District over illegal mining and causing insecurity, according to the Police. The Spokesperson for the Southern Region Police Unit told The New Times that the arrests were made during operations conducted in the early hours of November 18 and 19. Among those arrested is a 24-year-old man suspected of involvement in other serious security breaches, including assaulting and injuring someone with a machete, in addition to illegal mining. The remaining suspects were working as labourers in the illegal operations, while involved in security destabilisation in different activities. The police also seized various tools including shovels and a weighing scale used in the illegal mining activities. The operation followed a similar one in early November in which over 50 people were detained in Southern Province over illegal mining activities.

(The New Times)

South Sudan

Gunfire erupts in Juba 

Heavy gunfire erupted in Juba on Thursday evening when security forces attempted to arrest Akol Koor Kuc, the former head of the intelligence security service. The gunfire opened at around 7 pm and continued sporadically for an hour before finally dying down. Sources in the area stated that the gunshots were in relation to the arrest of Kuc, who had led the National Security Service (NSS) since the country’s independence from Sudan in 2011. 

Prior to his attempted arrest, Kuc had since been dismissed from his post in early October 2024, with President Salvar Kiir opting to replace him with one of his close confidants. Army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said Kuc had not been arrested and had stayed in his house throughout the shooting. Koang said he would address reporters after a meeting with other security officials. Analysts said the sacking of Kuc reflected a power struggle at the highest level of government. It came weeks after the transitional government that President Salva Kiir leads announced that elections expected in December would be postponed for a second time.

(Reuters)

Somalia

International partners call for dialogue amid Somalia-Jubaland tensions

International partners expressed deep concern over the escalating dispute between Somalia’s Federal Government and the Jubaland State following the recent National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting. The statement released urged stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue regarding the electoral process. The call for dialogue comes after Jubaland severed ties with the Federal Government, a move that has heightened tensions. The international community has voiced support for Somalia’s state-building efforts, particularly the move towards one-person, one-vote elections. The statement comes at a critical time as Somalia navigates its complex political landscape with the aim of fostering unity and democratic processes across its federal member states.

(Shabelle  Media Network)