Tanzania's intolerance of transnational activism – DW – 05/30/2025
05/30/2025
May 30, 2025
Tanzania's detention, alleged torture and deportation of two East African human rights defenders has sparked a storm. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned that there's no place for activists "invading and infiltrating", but critics of her government say the case involved simple acts of regional solidarity.
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3 days ago
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Tanzania's intolerance of transnational activism – DW – 05/30/2025
05/30/2025 May 30, 2025 Tanzania's detention, alleged torture and deportation of two East African human rights defenders has sparked a storm. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned that there's no place for activists "invading and infiltrating", but critics of her government say the case involved simple acts of regional solidarity.
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7 days ago
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Germany rejects Uganda's 'subversive activities' accusation – DW – 05/26/2025
Germany's Foreign Ministry has dismissed Uganda's accusations that the German ambassador to Kampala was involved in "subversive activities." Uganda's armed forces said they had suspended military cooperation with Berlin. The German Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissed Uganda's accusations that Berlin's ambassador, Mathias Schauer, had been involved in illicit meddling in the East African country's affairs. A ministry spokesperson said that Berlin "strongly condemned" the allegations, describing them as "absurd" and "baseless." What are Uganda's allegations against the German ambassador? In an X post published on Sunday, Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi said that Kampala had received "credible intelligence reports" that the German ambassador had been "actively engaged in subversive activities" in Uganda. He said that Uganda's army would suspend all cooperation with Germany. "The Uganda People's Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany," Magezi said. Ugandan troops participate in an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, a mission partially funded by the European Union. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the German ambassador was 'unqualified to be in Uganda' [FILE: May 7, 2022] Image: Hajarah Nalwadda/AP Photo/picture alliance What is the political situation in Uganda? Earlier in the month, Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba warned that the EU was "playing with fire" after a group of European diplomats met senior members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) opposition party, including leader Bobi Wine. Kainerugaba is the son of President Yoweri Museveni and is likely to succeed the 80-year-old strongman, who has been in power since 1986. Uganda: Is President Museveni's son 'above the law'? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Wine, who was a popular musician before launching his political career, has been put under house arrest by Ugandan authorities multiple times. Another major Ugandan opposition figure, Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), was jailed in November. Last August, 36 FDC members were charged with terrorism, an accusation rights groups argued was politically motivated. Uganda has also been criticized by Western governments and rights groups for a 2023 law imposing penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and containing provisions allowing the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality." Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
DW
23-05-2025
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South Sudan crisis: What if the UN lifts its arms embargo? – DW – 05/23/2025
The UN Security Council is due to vote in late May on whether to renew an arms embargo on South Sudan for another year. Amnesty International is warning that the conflict could worsen without it. Global concern is once again shifting to South Sudan, the world's youngest nation. The flare-up of a long-simmering conflict in the East African country has claimed thousands of lives. It has also displaced some 2.3 million people and pushed around 60,000 children into malnourishment . International efforts to end the conflict have included aUnited Nations (UN) embargo on arms transfers to the parties to the conflicts, which expires on May 31. UN Security Council members are set to vote on a draft resolution to extend the South Sudan sanctions regime. According to Amnesty International, the lives of civilians are at risk without an extension of the arms embargo. "We urge the [UN] Security Council to renew the embargo, enforce it and protect civilian lives," said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. How instability persists in South Sudan To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "While the UN arms embargo has not been a panacea, the human rights situation would almost certainly be worse without it," he added. Amnesty describes as an open violation of the embargo the "deployment of armed Ugandan soldiers and military equipment to South Sudan since March 11, 2025." Violations of UN sanctions The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan in 2018, and its sanctions regime on the country dates back to 2015. On May 30, 2024, the Council extended the sanctions for a year. In addition to the arms embargo, it also encompasses asset freezes and travel bans. At the time, the UN said it was open to reviewing the arms embargo through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting. In its estimation, arms shipments violated the UN resolution to end the conflict and further contributed to the instability in the country. However, a statement by International Crisis Group says that while the sanctions "appear to have made it harder for actors to deploy heavy weapons", the country's porous borders make it difficult to enforce a small arms and light weapons ban. In a letter to the UN in early 2024, South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar, accused Uganda of "grave violation" of the arms embargo following the deployment of its troops to South Sudan. The crisis in South Sudan has displaced more than 2 million people Image: Barry Iverson Photography/Newscom World/IMAGO Images Amnesty's Crisis Evidence Lab recently verified two videos featuring Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel and equipment. "The first shows dozens of UPDF soldiers arriving at Juba International Airport on March 11. The second shows armored personnel carriers and military trucks," Amnesty said. Amid the reported violations, there's growing concern over whether the UN can effectively intervene and what a renewal of the arms embargo could even mean. Is UN peacekeeping working? Recently, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for 12 months, expressing "deep concern" over thedeteriorating situation in the country. Amid these continued efforts, some citizens are questioning the impact of UN peacekeeping efforts. The UN Security Council has to decide by May 31 either to lift or maintain South Sudan's arms embargo Image: Lev Radin/Sipa USA/picture alliance "The UN is here in Juba or in other parts of South Sudan. They are there, they are roaming around the streets, but they cannot take an action," Abraham Maliet Mamer, Secretary General of the South Sudan Investment Authority, told DW. "I don't believe their mandate is clear. You cannot say you are peacekeeping, what peace are you keeping? People are fighting every day and you're not doing anything about it." The UN, however, insists that it is doing all it can to stop the conflict. Can UN efforts prevent civil war in South Sudan? To play this audio please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 audio "This country has suffered two civil wars before its independence and two after its independence. There is no appetite for more suffering in the population. They have suffered a lot due to civil wars. So, we have to stop the civil war at whatever cost," Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, UNMISS Force Commander, told DW. Josey Mahachi and Cai Nebe contributed to this report. Edited by: Benita van Eyssen
