[Trois personnes, dont Augustin Katumba Mwanke, considéré comme l’éminence grise du président de la République démocratique du Congo et deux membres d’équipage américains, sont mortes dimanche dans l’accident de leur avion à Bukavu (est), a-t-on appris de source aéroportuaire.]
BURUNDI :
RWANDA :
East Africa: EAC Defence Experts in Kigali to Discuss Terrorism
By James Karuhanga/The New Times/13 February 2012
Defence experts from the East African Community (EAC) nations are scheduled to meet in Kigali today to lay strategies to fight piracy and terrorism in the region, according to Rwanda’s military spokesperson, Maj. Rene Ngendahimana.
“They will be discussing other issues as well,” disclosed Ngendahimana, who recently replaced Col. Joseph Nzabamwita.
The meeting will develop the EAC standing operating procedure on disaster management, counter-terrorism and peace support operations, he said. “The defence experts will also make an evaluation of Gabiro Military School that was identified as a centre of excellence for Non-Commissioned Officers’ training in EAC.”
Apart from terror militia groups, including the weakened Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), new emerging threats such as terrorism and piracy have become a major cause of concern for the past few years.
Countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have, so far, experienced the worst forms of terrorism threats and the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants, a Al Qaeda affiliate, is now considered a major threat to regional peace and security.
Ugandan and Burundian troops battling the Islamist Al-Shabaab in Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) were recently joined by Kenyan troops in the mission.
The Kenyan army launched Operation Linda Nchi (protect the country), in pursuit of Al-Shabaab militants after the latter allegedly kidnapped foreign tourists and aid workers in Kenya.
Kenya’s incursion into southern Somalia started after the kidnap of two Spanish women, working for Medecins Sans Frontières at the Dadaab refugee camp, in north eastern Kenya.
It is now reported that the UN has authorised Uganda and Burundi to raise their troop levels in Somalia to reach the 12,000 mark, up from their current strength of 9,500 troops.
Officials believe that the EAC region remains vulnerable due to its long and porous land and maritime borders, proximity with Somalia and other unstable countries.
Last year, the EAC Deputy Secretary General, Beatrice Kiraso, stressed that terror ists are indiscriminate, irrational and non-selective; for this reason, vulnerability is spread across the board, and this calls for extra vigilance by all persons in the region.
The Al-Shabaab was behind the twin bomb attacks that hit Kampala during the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, and killed at least 74 soccer fans.
Memories of a series of attacks that occurred on August 7, 1998, in which hundreds of people were killed in simultaneous truck bomb explosions at the US embassies in the capitals of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya, are also still fresh.
Further still, pirates seized hundreds of ships over the last couple of years, scaring potential investors and tourists away from the region. The bloc has suffered as importers passing through the East African coast are forced to pay higher insurance premiums, hence increasing the costs of doing business in the region.
The economic grouping is sharpening strategies to fight terrorism and ensure the region is safe for investments and tourism.
Defence experts have in the past met over the issue of small arms proliferation and arms’ trafficking that has continuously posed a major threat to peace, security and development to the region.
Since 2010, the five partner states – Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania – have moved to strengthen their defence ties.
Rwanda: Local Mourn Whitney Houston
13 February 2012 /The New Times
Rwanda joined the rest of the world to mourn one of the world’s greatest songbirds, Whitney Houston, who was found dead in her hotel room after a long battle with drug and alcohol abuse that blighted her career. She was 48.
The timing of her death, the eve of the Grammys, the biggest music event of the year, makes the horrible news even more tragic. Her death came on the eve of the Grammy awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Her death was revealed by her publicist Kristen Foster, according to various media reports.
In an industry flooded with artistes, who disappear after scoring one hit, Whitney’s longevity was unquestioned when she released her debut single called “You Give Good Love” in February 1985. The song’s soothing opening ad-libs displayed her soulful roots while also celebrating her pop sensibilities.
Rwanda mourns.
“RIP Whitney Houston!! I will never forget my favourite song from you: “I will always love you,” Rwanda’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Joseph Habineza posted on his Facebook account. “Some friends used to tell me that she mentions me in that song where she says: I wish you Joy (Joe) and Happiness (Habineza)!! It’s sad, she was still very young!”
“Was a little shocked but not so surprised because she has been not so well for a long time – but it’s sad because most of us were inspired by her music,” singer Austin Tosh Luwano.
“It was shocking news and I am feeling so bad! RIP Whitney, your beauty and grace and amazing voice will always shine. We will miss you, thank you for all the wonderful music,” commented singer-cum-actress Shanel.
“I heard the news in the morning and I was really terrified!” singer Kamichi said, “Whitney was a great musician and one of favourite songs ‘Bodyguard’ and I also loved her performance on MTV awards with Mariah Carey. RIP Whitney Houston.”
“My prayers go out to her family and friends. It’s not my job to judge her but to pray for her and her family. Everyone has issues. Her’s were just played out in front of the public eye. RIP Whitney,” said Jackson Muhire, one of the millions of Whitney’s fans in Rwanda.
Initial media reports said she was found by veteran music producer Clive Davis at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, US. She was in the Los Angeles area for a musical tribute to Davis. The singer had performed and spoken to reporters earlier in the week, according to reports.
The authorities are conducting an investigation into the cause of the death, the Los Angeles Times reported, quoting a law enforcement source.
No illegal drugs have been found in the hotel room where Whitney Houston died – at least not yet.
However, TMZ reported that Whitney may have drowned in a bathtub following an overdose of prescription drugs.
A number of singers and performing artists remembered one of America’s most popular singers on Twitter, lamenting the shocking death of the famed performer.
“Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston,” Mariah Carey said on her Twitter account. “My heartfelt condolences to Whitney’s family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.”
Houston was an award-winning singer, actress, producer and a former model, best known for her chart-topping single “I Will Always Love You” which led to the production of an award-nominated film “The Bodyguard” in 1992.
She was also known for musical hits including “How Will I Know” and “Saving All My Love for You.”
As one of the most successful pop singers in modern music history, Houston was remembered as the most awarded female artist of all time, garnering a total of 415 awards including six Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards and countless other accolades during her lifetime, according to Guinness Book of World Records.
Houston, who was often referred to as “Queen of Pop” or simply “the Voice,” is also one of the best-selling music artists in the world, having sold more than 170 million albums and singles before her death.
The singer had a history of drug abuse. In 2004, following years of rumoured drug abuse, Houston entered a rehab during her first stint. She returned for second sting in the following year. In March 2011, the singer checked in for the third treatment of the problem.
The singer’s voice sounded ragged and off-key when she appeared on “Good Morning” to promote her new album “I Look To You,” which triggered suspicions that she had lost her treasured gift as the drug and alcohol problem took its toll.
Houston was seen out partying earlier this week and looked worse for wear, according to media reports. She left behind her only child Bobbi Kristina, who she had during her marriage to singer Bobby Brown.
RDC CONGO:
RDC: mort d’un conseiller de Kabila et de deux Américains dans le crash d’un avion
(AFP) /12022012
KINSHASA — Trois personnes, dont Augustin Katumba Mwanke, considéré comme l’éminence grise du président de la République démocratique du Congo et deux membres d’équipage américains, sont mortes dimanche dans l’accident de leur avion à Bukavu (est), a-t-on appris de source aéroportuaire.
“Il y a trois morts: deux membres d’équipage américains et un passager”, M. Katumba Mwenke, a déclaré un responsable à l’aéroport de Bukavu, ajoutant que l’avion transportait 8 passagers.
Le ministre congolais des Finances Augustin Matata Ponyo, le gouverneur du Sud-Kivu (est) Marcelin Tshisambo et Antoine Ghonda, ancien “ambassadeur itinérant” du président Kabila, qui se trouvaient dans l’avion, ont été blessés, certains grièvement, a indiqué une source à la présidence.
Le conseiller du président Kabila et le pilote “ont été tués sur le coup”, avait indiqué auparavant la présidence.
L’appareil – un bi-réacteur Gulfstream 200 – venu de Kinshasa via Goma (est), a raté l’atterrissage, il s’est posé “au milieu de la piste et est allé terminer sa course dans un ravin après la piste. L’avion est endommagé”, selon le responsable de l’aéroport.
“La météo était bonne, je pense que c’était une mauvaise appréciation (de la piste) parce que c’est la première fois que ces pilotes arrivent ici à Bukavu”, a-t-il ajouté. L’accident s’est produit vers 14H00 locales (12H00 GMT).
Les blessés ont été hospitalisés. Le ministre des Finances se trouvait dans un état “grave”, selon une source à la présidence. Le gouverneur du Sud-Kivu a “les jambes fracturées”, selon le responsable de l’aéroport.
Ingénieur de formation, M. Katumba Mwanke, 48 ans (BIEN 48 ANS), avait été réélu fin 2011 au Katanga (sud-est) député du Parti du peuple pour la reconstruction et la démocratie (PPRD, au pouvoir), dont il a été l’un des membres cofondateurs.
Dans un rapport d’experts de l’ONU sur l’exploitation illégale des ressources naturelles et autres formes de richesses en RDC, publié en 2002, M. Katumba Mwanke était décrit comme membre d’un “réseau d?élite congolais et zimbabwéen ayant des intérêts politiques, militaires et commerciaux (qui) cherche à garder la mainmise sur les principales ressources naturelles (…) dans la zone (de la RDC) tenue par le gouvernement”.
Le rapport précisait alors que “ce réseau a transféré des actifs représentant au moins 5 milliards de dollars du secteur minier public à des entreprises privées qu?il contrôle, sans verser aucune indemnité ni prestation au Trésor public”.
Les experts avaient placé M. Katumbe Mwanke sur une liste de personnes contre lesquelles ils avaient recommandé une “interdiction de déplacement” hors du Congo, le “gel de leurs avoirs personnels” et une “interdiction d’accéder au système bancaire”.
A l’époque ministre délégué à la présidence, en charge du portefeuille de l’Etat, il avait été suspendu de ses fonctions fin 2002 par M. Kabila qui l’avait nommé en 2004 “ambassadeur itinérant” à la présidence.
M. Tshisambo, battu à la députation fin 2011, était conseiller politique du président Kabila jusqu’à son élection en 2010 à la tête de la province du Sud-Kivu.
M. Matata Ponyo est ministre des Finances depuis début 2010.
Les accidents d’avion sont fréquents en RDC, et toutes les compagnies aériennes du pays – une cinquantaine identifiées – figurent sur la liste noire de l’Union européenne, qui leur a interdit son espace aérien.
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