Latest news with #Entebbe
News24
2 days ago
- General
- News24
Rwanda joins criticism of M23 'parallel administrations' in eastern DRC
Twelve African countries, including Rwanda, condemned M23's 'parallel administrations' in eastern DRC. The Entebbe statement calls for all foreign armed groups to disarm unconditionally. Rwanda reconsiders M23 support; Burundi sent 10 000+ troops to aid DRC. Twelve African countries, including Rwanda, on Wednesday condemned the M23 armed group for setting up 'parallel administrations' in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Kigali's condemnation of a group that it supports militarily comes as the M23 stands accused of human rights violations in the region, where it has seized large areas since January. The United Nations has notably denounced the M23 for summary executions of suspects, some of them minors, while on Tuesday, Amnesty International accused it of killing and torturing civilians that it was holding illegally. The group denies the charges. In a joint statement, the 12 African countries said they 'condemn the territorial advances and installation of parallel administrations' by the M23 and the Congo River Alliance (AFC) of which it is a part. The DRC also signed the declaration at a regional meeting in Entebbe, Uganda. Two analysts recently told AFP that Rwanda had begun to question its support for the M23 because of the financial and diplomatic cost. Belgium, the former colonial power in the DRC and Rwanda, has been vocal in the international community in criticising Kigali for its support of the M23. The text signed in Entebbe also calls for all other 'foreign armed groups' active in restive eastern DRC to be dismantled and to 'lay down their weapons without conditions'. They include the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which was founded by former Rwandan Hutu leaders of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. The M23 accuses Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR and maintains that its offensive in the mineral-rich region is justified to neutralise the group. Another group is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) of Ugandan-origin rebels, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State and are behind massacres that have killed thousands. Congolese troops are fighting the ADF, backed by Ugandan troops, who are also helping the DRC against the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), a community-based militia. Also urged to lay down its arms is the Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi (RED-Tabara), which has been less active in recent years but has conducted attacks on Burundian soil. Burundi has sent more than 10 000 soldiers since October 2023 to help the Congolese army fight the M23 and other armed groups.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Leaders meet in Uganda to Push Back Against Foreign Influence on Family
Top political leaders, parliamentarians and faith-based actors from across Africa and beyond have this week convened at State House, Entebbe for the Third African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family and Sovereignty, issuing a strong call for an African Charter that defends traditional values, strengthens national sovereignty and resists external ideological pressure. The high-level meeting, hosted by State House and the Parliament of Uganda in partnership with several African and global organisations, was opened by President Yoweri Museveni and Uganda's First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni on Friday, 09 May 2025. In the meeting, Janet Museveni warned of growing global influences that threaten to erode African cultural identity and family structures under the guise of aid and development. 'Too often, aid is not offered freely, it now comes with conditions that threaten to redefine our societies according to foreign standards, thereby eroding the values we hold sacred and undermining our right to govern ourselves,' she said. Mrs. Museveni, speaking with the conviction of a wife, mother, and grandmother, emphasised the urgency of reclaiming the continent's educational, cultural and spiritual foundations from foreign interests. 'Africa stands today at a crossroads. We face unprecedented global pressures that challenge not just our economies but our beliefs and institutions that hold our nations together, especially the family,' she said. AUDIO: Mrs. Museveni She cited ongoing reforms in Uganda's education sector aimed at instilling patriotism, moral grounding and reverence for family and God, noting that these initiatives are fully government-funded to avoid external ideological strings. She also highlighted Uganda's commitment to the 2020 Geneva Consensus Declaration, which affirms national sovereignty in policy decisions on life, family and gender. President Yoweri Museveni, addressing the gathering, voiced strong support for the cause, warning against what he called 'disorientation' being pushed on African societies. 'Now, for some of the people to want to spread this disorientation to the whole world is really criminal. But it will not work. It will fail,' he said. President Museveni also dismissed comprehensive sexual education for children as 'madness,' arguing that African traditions offer appropriate, age-based moral instruction. He warned that Uganda may withdraw from the Samoa Agreement if it is found to contain ideologically coercive clauses under the label of reproductive rights. 'I appeal to you, now that you are here, all of you, and our lawyers are here, study that Samoa document. If it really contains all those things you are talking about, the reproductive rights, what have you, then we shall have to pull out from that nonsense, and tell the European Union that we cannot be part of that criminality. Because comprehensive sexual education, in the Bible, it says there is time for everything,' he said. AUDIO: President Museveni Speaker Anita Among reaffirmed Uganda's commitment to protecting family values, citing the country's recent anti-homosexuality legislation as an example of standing firm under international pressure. She equally warned of increasing threats to African family structures from both local and foreign forces. 'The struggle towards preservation of family is not without challenges. The forces against the foundational values of family have agents both locally and internationally. They will try to divide us so as to defeat us,' she said. Among hailed Parliament's resolve during the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, saying Uganda resisted blackmail and sanctions to defend traditional values. 'The combination of blackmail, sanctions and manipulations did not deter our spirit. We legislated in the best interests of our families and society' she said. AUDIO: Speaker Anita Among Among praised the President, the first lady and Members of Parliament for their courage and role in protecting Uganda's cultural foundations. Other notable voices at the conference included Mohamed Ghayate, Deputy Speaker of Morocco, who reaffirmed his country's commitment to an African renaissance grounded in sovereignty and shared cultural heritage. 'Sovereignty is the living expression of the will of our peoples to freely define their destiny, protect their resources, and preserve their culture,' he said, pledging Morocco's support for a continental charter. Henk Jan van Schothorst of Christian Council International, a Dutch-based advocacy group, praised Africa as the 'last man standing' in the global battle for family values. 'You are threatened by the policies of the West, especially from the part of the world where I come from. But I want to encourage you to stay strong — not only for your children but also for ours,' he said. The conference, organized by the Inter-parliamentary Network on Family Values, Family Watch Africa, African Bar Association, and the Foundation for African Heritage, marked the continuation of a growing African-led initiative to frame a Charter of Values and Sovereignty. As deliberations continue, participants called for the outcomes of the gathering to be mainstreamed through African legislatures, the African Union, and the Organization of African First Ladies. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
The National
08-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Sheikh Abdullah meets Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe on Thursday. At the meeting, part of Sheikh Abdullah's working visit to the African nation, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, state news agency Wam reported. They also discussed joint efforts to expand and develop co-operation across sectors, particularly economic, trade, investment and energy. Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE's relationship with Uganda offers promising opportunities and growth potential. He also highlighted the UAE's commitment to establishing sustainable development partnerships with friendly African countries. Six agreements were signed after the meeting. The first covered investment co-operation between the two nations. The second was a deal between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The third was between the UAE Ministry of Energy and the Ugandan government. A mutual visa waiver was also agreed, as was a deal between Etihad Rail and the Ugandan government. Lastly, a deal was struck between Presight, an Emirati company specialising in big data analysis powered by artificial intelligence, and Uganda's National Information Technology Authority. The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan, Minister of State; Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Commercial Affairs; and Abdullah Hassan Obaid Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Uganda.
