FBI director makes a rare visit to Africa.

Christopher A. Wray, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, paid a rare visit to sub-Saharan Africa this week to discuss counterterrorism strategies with regional partners at a time when both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda are gaining momentum on the continent.

Mr. Wray, who met with officials in Kenya and Nigeria, repeated his warning that the United States and its allies worldwide are “operating in a heightened threat environment” that has been energized by the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“The main reason for my visit to both countries was to raise awareness about threats on the continent that have serious implications for the U.S. homeland but that don’t get the attention they deserve,” Mr. Wray said in a telephone interview from Nigeria on Friday. “For several years now, groups like ISIS, like Al Qaeda, have considered Africa very fertile ground.”

Indeed, U.S. intelligence officials estimate that Al Shabab in Somalia has roughly 7,000 to 12,000 members and annual income — including from taxing or extorting civilians — of about $120 million, making it the largest and wealthiest Qaeda affiliate in the world.

“Shabab is in many ways one of the most menacing foreign terrorist organizations out there,” Mr. Wray said.

At the same time, groups in West Africa that have declared allegiance to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are on the march. Military coups have toppled civilian-led governments in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger. The new leaders have ordered U.S. and French troops to leave, and in some cases invited Russian mercenaries to take their place.

As a result, American officials are scrambling to work with a new set of countries in coastal West Africa to battle a violent extremist insurgency that they say is steadily spreading south.

The discussions in Kenya and Nigeria between U.S. and African officials this week, Mr. Wray said, centered on overlapping interests and ways to fight the common threats.

“Countering threats posed by groups like Shabab and ISIS is certainly more than any one agency or even any one government can tackle alone,” he said.

Mr. Wray’s visit to Kenya — the first by an F.B.I. director in 15 years, officials said — comes after President Biden last month hosted the Kenyan president, William Ruto, for a state dinner and pledged to designate the country as a “major non-NATO ally.” The move reflects the White House’s determination to deepen relations with the East African nation even as other countries — including Russia and China — are racing to do the same.

The F.B.I. has worked closely with the Kenyans since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to track down Qaeda operatives. In 2020, the F.B.I. and the State Department helped Kenya establish a terrorism task force modeled on the ones that the bureau relies on in cities across the United States. It was the bureau’s first joint terrorism task force outside the United States, according to the F.B.I.

The F.B.I. also has agents posted at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi who investigate terrorism cases and other crimes.

In the Sahel region of West Africa, U.S. officials say they are changing their approach to combat an insurgency that is rooted in local concerns. Competition for land, exclusion from politics and other local issues have swelled the ranks of the militants more than any particular commitment to extremist ideology.

“When you look at the region, the Western Africa region more broadly, we remain concerned about instability and how that could have an impact on terrorist groups’ ability to exploit that situation,” said Mr. Wray, the first F.B.I. director to visit Nigeria.

“That’s part of why we are very focused on working so closely with our partners in Nigeria and some of the other countries to try to stay as vigilant as we can be,” he said.

The ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliates in Africa have concentrated their attacks in the region, rather than in Europe or the United States. Mr. Wray noted, however, the case of a Shabab operative who was charged a few years ago with plotting to hijack an airplane and crash it into a building

in the United States in a Sept. 11-style attack.

“Beyond the threat to Westerners and our interests here in Africa, we’re very vigilant to the possibility that their plans and intentions could shift at any point,” Mr. Wray said. “So while yes, these are ‘foreign’ threats, people in the U.S. shouldn’t think of them as issues that are a world away.”

Wazalendo claims to have captured several M23 bases and field intelligence officer

 On Friday afternoon,two Rwandese army trucks fell in an ambush at kabasha after Rwindi.They were carrying reinforcements.These two army trucks were seized by Wazalendo and several M23 men were killed including a field intelligence officer in names of Theo Iriho,who said to be an RDF element.

Today morning ,the FARDC and Wazalendo had occupied several bases of the M23 along the Rwindi axis as indicated by the video above.

This Saturday afternoon,2:15pm central African time(3:15 pm east African time)the Wazalendo laid another ambush on the M23 vehicle that was ferrying reinforcements.This ambush happened along tongo-kalengera axis in Virunga national park.Those who know this area can clearly understand.The video below shows how  the ambush went!

The FARDC drone reduces an M23 base to ashes.

  

There was an attempted attack on kanyabayonga yesterday that was repulsed by Wazalendo and FARDC .Today At 11:50 a.m. this Friday, the M23_RDF position in Kanyangohe, in the locality of Katsiru in the Bukombo grouping, has was  reduced to ashes by a drone strike. Some M23 survivors from surrounding positions are in disarray, says our source in the area.The sources specify that the fighting was concentrated in Bulindi, Muona and Kahohwa, near Butalongola, about ten km from Kanyabayonga. Detonations of heavy weapons heard as far away as central Kanyabayonga caused new displacements of the population who had just returned to the city. These clashes come three days of a relative calm observed on almost all the front lines of Kanyabayonga. A week ago, the FARDC regained control of several localities in the area including Kikuku, Lusogha, Butalongola, Kilambo and others. In retaliation, the M23 rebels  dropped at least ten bombs on the town of Kanyabayonga over the past 72 hours, causing at least ten injuries and two deaths, including a FARDC soldier and a woman. The FARDC must pursue the enemy and allow this population to return to their already abandoned localities in the Kanyabayonga grouping and even in the commune of Kanyabayonga. Security sources speak of an attack launched early in the morning by the FARDC and its Wazalendo allies against the rebels with the aim of dislodging the aggressors who has occupied certain villages for around ten days. In the territory of Masisi, in the chiefdom of Bashali Kaembe, since early this morning, clashes have been reported in Kalonge between the wazalendo and rebels . Some M23 survivors from surrounding positions are in disarray, says our source in the area. In the territory of Masisi, in the chiefdom of Bashali Kaembe, since early this morning, clashes have been reported in Kalonge between the wazalendo and M23 rebels.Our team is on ground and soon we will have photos and videos of those young souls who perished in this kanyangohe drone fire.According to proven intelligence sources,In bid to consolidate their power and defence, WAZALENDO Leaders have decided to get together. The Self-proclaimed Generals, GUIDON_SHAMIRAY and KABIDO met in BULEUSA in the Territory of WALIKALE to reflect on Strategies to put in place in order to stop the advance of the Enemies in the Territories of LUBERO and WALIKALE.

 Uganda has sent a contingent of 293 personnel to the Republic of Rwanda to participate in a field training exercise dubbed Ushirikiano Imara under the East African Community.

The three weeks training shall enhance the capabilities of East African partner states' armed forces, Police, civilian components and other stakeholders in jointly combating complex security challenges.

The Ugandan contingent  flagged off by the deputy Commander of Land Forces Maj Gen Francis Takirwa at Jinja based garrison to participate in an exercise aimed at enhancing readiness in planning war, peace support operations, disaster management, counter terrorism and counter piracy.

Speaking during the function, Maj Gen Takirwa urged the contingent to exercise discipline during the exercise.

"Conduct yourselves professionally and maintain discipline at all times while in the Republic of Rwanda to achieve the desired outcomes of the field training exercise," Maj Gen Takirwa.

Brigadier General Alex Olupot, from the Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, highlighted the exercise's role in fostering EAC's commitment to "Promoting cooperation with African countries which share common political, economic, social and cultural values and interests."

Brigadier General Fred Twinamasiko, the head of the  Ugandan contingent and chief evaluator, noted that the country's  involvement focuses on training partner states in peace support operations, disaster management, counter-piracy, and counter-terrorism.

The head of delegation Brig Fred Twinamatsiko revealed that this training is part of efforts by the East African community to strengthen and enhance the member states' armed  forces, Police, civilian components and other stakeholders to handle complex and multidimensional security.

The East Africa Community exercise Ushirikiano Imara is a rotational exercise between member states and it happens every after two years, the last exercise was held in 2022 at Gaddafi barracks in Jinja.

It is part of the East Africa Community Protocol on cooperation in defence affairs.

M23's radio already airing from Bunagana

 

Like we reported last week,M23 rebels have already launched a radio UPENDO_FM which broadcasts from Bunagana in Rutchuru in the province of North Kivu in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The broadcasts take place and some politicians come to participate in the various debates. Belinda Osca member of the community department of this rebellion chaired these activities.

Rwanda dismisses state minister J.Munyeshuli

 

Five days of fight for Kanyabayonga..Many youth he died!

 

For five days the FARDC and the M23 have been fighting around the town of Kanyabayonga in the territory of Lubero in the province of North Kivu. According to local sources, the Congolese army maintains its control over this strategic area. Security sources confirm that the rebels have been strengthening their troops since last Saturday and have simultaneously opened two fronts on two axes leading to Kanyabayonga. These are the Rwindi-Kanyayonga and Birundule-kanyabayonga axes. The belligerents used heavy and light artillery during these combats. Some detonations were heard as far away as Kirumba, more than 40 kilometers from the combat zone. While the fighting raged last week, the town of Kanyabayonga was emptied of its population. Men, women, children and elderly people fled the area. Since last week, the M23 rebels and the FARDC/Wazalendo have been fighting to control the city. The M23 have reinforced their troops since last week and tried unsuccessfully on Sunday to advance towards the city of Kanyabayonga by opening fire on two axes. According to testimonies last Thursday, May 30, 2024 in Kanyabayonga confirm that the rebels corrupted certain FARDC officers so that they could take the city but the Wazalendo came and repelled and neutralized the enemy. Results: 26 M23 dead and 10 captured, among whom we have 2 rebels of Kenyan nationality

.More than 65 RDF terrorists were killed, including a lieutenant-colonel of the special forces of the Rwandan army, 75 injured by the bombings of the FARDC and the SADC around Saké For several days the presence of the Kenyan elements has been confirmed alongside M23 terrorists, Kenyan elements captured and others killed.At 3:20 p.m. the Fardc remotely bombed the M23_RDF elements who were meeting at the edge of JTN in the locality of Katsiru in the Bukombo grouping, Bwito chiefdom in the territory of Rutshuru. Details to follow... Calm is observed this evening in the town of Kanyabayonga which remains under FARDC control after intense fighting all day about 15km from this town.In another report,the Wazalendo are calling all civikians of the great north of north Kivu to join hands with the Wazalendo to fight against the rwandese infiltration.

In Rwanda,parents have been burying their beloved sons,mothers have become childless,children have become orphans and wives he becomes widows.There is great lamentation and sorrow all over the social media from Rwanda.

Kanyabayonga people flee,as youth is Lubero gets sensitized in readiness to join the offensive against the M23

 According to sources, the locality of Kanyabayonga was emptied of its population after army shooting yesterday Friday. The population fears an attack by the M23 rebels who have conquered villages to the south of this rural area located after 170 km north of

Butembo on the Butembo-Goma axis. Since Thursday, residents have been moving and heading towards Kayna, others to Kirumba and Kaseghe, localities located in the direction of Butembo. These residents are taking shelter following the incidents that occurred on the day of yesterday Friday. After a Thursday night agitated by psychosis following the movement of soldiers coming from the front line, the residents panicked because the Fardc soldiers fired bullets between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. an act which panicked many residents who believed in the rebels entered the city and immediately began to empty the locality. Until Friday, sources confirmed that the FARDC controls Kanyabayonga. The situation remains volatile, several human rights activists have abandoned this entity which provides access to the Far North from the territory of Lubéro. Like other inhabitants, they too feared the progression of the M23 who remain positioned around Butalongola, a village located in a groupement Kanyabayonga, Bwito chiefdom. Given the worrying situation in North Kivu, the youth of Libero are mobilizing together to face the Rwandan army and asking the population to remain calm, not abandoning the city to finally fight together with the FARDC.

MONUSCO present alongside FARDC in the defence of Kanyabayonga

 "As M23 has spent the whole day preparing for reinforcements, planning and reorganizing some of it commanders in  Rutshuru, specifically at Rumangabo"

Around 5 a.m. today, the M23_RDF carried out a cordon in the village of Ndumba, taking seven young people found in the houses to transport the corpses of their soldiers who died yesterday in the clashes. They transport these dead on stretchers to Kabase, where it seems that these rebels will bury theirs. 

Photos of M23 soldiers capture by SADC forces' drones before they bombed them to ashes.

In the territory of Rutshuru, since the morning, clashes have been reported in Lusogha and towards Armoiries between the rebels and the FARDC who are trying to regain control of the situation, which is deteriorating every day. The city of Kanyabayonga remains under the control of the FARDC. In the Sake hills, the situation has remained calm since the morning. As we reported yesterday,The M23 rebels lost many men, including senior officers, troopers and non-commissioned officers, during the SADC mission bombings on Thursday 29/05. Among them, Captain BIJUGIZA, whose name has just reached us, as well as a colonel whose photo we received, which is here.

Our intelligence  and confidants are working very hard possibly to have the name of this M23 colonel.our team is also working hard to get photos of all those young souls who perished in this sake crash ,many youth have died in this Sake crash of 28-31st May.That how Rwandese relatives are mourning for their beloved ones who perished in the fighting in DRC.,..Many are feared to have fallen down in the offensive to capture kanayabayonga.

MONUSCO is strengthening its presence in Kanyabayonga to support the FARDC against the M23. The MONUSCO brigade and the rapid intervention force were deployed on site to protect civilians and support the FARDC in the fight against the advance of the rebels in this commune. According to military sources, an operations coordination meeting between the two forces was held this Saturday, June 1 in the morning. A day later, the SADC mission  force recovered the two armored vehicles damaged on the front in the village of Luhonga near Sake in Masisi territory. "They did not capture our armored vehicles, these vehicles were damaged and our teams evacuated them to a safe location. The technology quickly got to work. These vehicles are now in our bases and ready for new service", said a military source close to the SAMIDRC force. In a press release, the M23_RDF_AFC coalition claimed on Friday May 31 to have captured two armored vehicles belonging to SAMIDRC. The South African army, for its part, clarified that its vehicles were not damaged during the clashes near Sake.

Tshisekedi appoints a new head of Domestic intelligence

 Daniel Lusadisu ousted, Justin Inzun Kakiak son returns to security affairs at the ANR! 31 05, 2024 Are the Belgians incapable? This Friday, by a presidential order, Justin Inzun Kakiak was appointed head of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kakiak, who had already led the ANR from March 2019 to December 2021, succeeds Daniel Lusadisu Kiambi. Kakiak is not unknown in the field of Congolese intelligence. After his first mandate at the head of the ANR, he was named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Congo, a position he held until his recent appointment. Before his first appointment in 2019, he had already been deputy administrator of the ANR, which gives him in-depth knowledge of the institution. Daniel Lusadisu Kiambi, Kakiak's predecessor, had replaced Jean Hervé Mbelu as head of the ANR. Lusadisu, a doctor specializing in cardiology and emergency medicine trained at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium, had also served within of the Zairian Armed Forces and the Special Presidential Division (DSP). His dismissal comes in a tense context, marked by recent events described as a failed coup attempt by the authorities. Justin Inzun Kakiak will be supported by Justin Mulumba Nsabua, lawyer at the Kongo Central bar, as deputy administrator. When he became president, Félix Tshilombo promised to reform the ANR by humanizing the institution and closing its many secret dungeons, places of detention for many opponents and anti-Kabila activists. The appointment of Kakiak could be seen as a step in the pursuit of this reform. The national and international community is now waiting to see how Kakiak will address the current intelligence challenges in the DRC, particularly in a still unstable political and security climate. Let's just go