Ituri recorded the first COVID-19 death on 17/7/2020

The provincial minister in charge of health on Friday July 17, confirmed the first death of a patient tested positive for Covid-19 in Ituri.
According to the minister, the province has already registered 9 positive cases. In Bunia 3 cases plus 1 death and in Mahagi 3 cases.
“Since Thursday, we have had 3 positive cases in Bunia. We have 9 cases so in Ituri and around 100 contacts, that's how we have to pay a lot of attention. There was 1 death in downtown Bunia with positive signs of the coronavirus, ”said Patrick Karamura.
All patients are placed in the coronavirus treatment center in Bunia and Mahagi, he said.
In addition, Minister Karamura insisted on compliance with the barrier measures.
"The church, the mortuary, marriage etc, we strictly forbid any gathering of people."

Rebel leader Maï-Maï / Mazembe shot in Lubero

Kitete Bashu, self-proclaimed general and head of thread of the Mai-Mayi / Mazembe militia gathered in the Union of Patriots for the Defense of Innocents (UPDI), was shot early this Friday, July 17, 2020 in Miriki village, south of Lubero territory in North Kivu province.
According to cross-checked local sources, this warlord was reportedly shot by his companions following the differences observed to form a possible alliance with Shimiray Mwissa, recently fallen in command of the armed group Nduma Defense Of Congo Renové (NDC-R).
′′ The self-proclaimed general Kitete, was commander of UPDI / Mazembe. He had made an alliance with shimiray Mwissa at the expense of Kabido, after the NDC-R split,You can read more about it!. Kiteete wanted to join Kabido again and it was in this situation that he was murdered ", says Jean-Claude Buuma human rights activist in the region.
Joint by 7 SUR7 CD, Lubero Territory administrator, Richard Nyembo Wa Nyembo confirms this information and calls on the population of this village calmly following a psychosis that is observed. The inhabitants fear retaliation.
Mai-Mayi / Mazembe have several human rights violations including killing, looting, kidnapping and sexual violence, mainly in the territory of Lubero and other bodies in North Kivu.

THE HEAD OF STATE FELIX ANTOINE TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO MADE GREAT CHANGE IN THE CONGOLESE ARMY ADMIN

Nearly a week after the meeting of the Military High Command, the President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the FARDC, signed on evening of  Friday, July 17, 2020, a series of orders nominating general and senior command officers to the army.
Among the iconic loads are the appointment of Army General Gabriel AMISI KUMBA to replace General John NUMBI as Inspector General of FARDC.
General Major Tumba Frank is appointed head of the military house of the head of state.
Former Republican Guard No. 1, General Ilunga Kampete is appointed Head of the Kitona Training Centre.
The Chancery of National Orders will be led by Lieutenant General MATUTEZULUA André.
General Fall Sikabue is the new Chief of General Staff of Land Forces.
General Léon-Richard Kasonga retains his duties as FARDC communication manager and army spokesperson.General muhindo charles akili and general kasereka sindani stephen appointed by tshisekedi as deputy inspector generals of the army,lt general yav kabey jean claude has replaced general amisi tango foure as the new head of operations and intelligence,kahungu yankole isidole appointed secretary general of defence,andrew matutenza lewa as chancellor of the national heroes order,general ntumba frank as head of the miltary in charge of state house,pacifique masunzu has become the commandant of the 2nd army zone,general tango foure has replaced general numbi! South kivu and north kivu have got positions in the shake up changes made by president tshisekedi!However, CONGOLESE civil societies are not happy for an apparently infiltrated army by People they claim are Rwandese!
Until then Deputy Chief of General Staff in charge of operations and intelligence, General Gabriel Amisi (Tango Four) has been appointed Inspector General of FARDC.

He gives way to lieutenant general Yav Kabey Jean Claude. Gabriel Amisi replaces John Numbi.
Gabril Amisi was recently very involved in so-called large-scale operations in the provinces of North and South Kivu as well as Ituri.
According to the Organic Law which governs the Inspectorate General of the Armed Forces, the task of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces is to monitor the application of the law, directives and instructions concerning the operation of the Armed Forces.
This means, in particular, the control of the sound management of human and material resources made available to the various forces. It also ensures the control and execution of the budget allocations to the armed forces. It is also in charge of monitoring the adequacy and reliability of equipment and equipment; evaluation of unit performance and operational capacity. "
One of the strong men in the security system for about two decades, Tango Four is also charged with several cases of human rights abuses.
′′ General Gabriel Amisi is someone who worries a lot, we have documented his involvement in human rights violations for a long time and support for armed groups and is believed to be among the problematic officers who constitute the barrier to initiatives for the peace and stability. ", said Ida Sawyer, Deputy Director for Africa at Human Rights Watch (HRW) in September 2019, following a meeting with Félix Tshisekedi.
As a reminder, in December 2016, Gabriel Amisi Kumba had been sanctioned by the Council of the European Union for his role in ′′ obstacles to the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and related human rights violations ".
While he was deputy chief of staff in charge of RCD-Goma's troop logistics, Gabriel Amisi is accused by some NGOs including HRW of being at the head of troops which in September 2002 massacred at least 56 civilians and probably abducted many others, during an offensive against a Mai-Mayi militia allied to the Congolese government in Kisangani.

Llunga kampete kabamba ,the new commander of kitona military base.

General Rwabasira obed appointed as deputy chief of general staff

Muhindo akili Charles

Civil society and DRC NGOs denounce the claimed infiltration and domination of Rwandese in the Army(FARDC)

According to Freddy monanga, and alot of NGOs including VSV, regrets the occupation of strategic positions and functions in the army and police of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, well-identified Rwandan subjects, who, overall, suffocate the General sons of the country, this is the case General Bisengimana who plays an important role in the police of the country and since his arrival does not leave air to General Célestin Kanyama , complaint by civilians and some police officers in kinshasha.Police men in kinshasha still complain that ,the whole intelligence section in police is totally infiltrated to the extent that they nolonger feel it is  a Congolese department.There is a feeling that every information first goes to Kigali before even it gets implementation by kinshasha gorvenment.
Local wonder how the DRC can one day win the war against Rwanda. It's who's funny even Mzee had named the young Rwandan General, Kabarhebe, to head the national army, but oddly, even the former Congolese military have agreed to submit on this  Rwandan.
Mbuji Mayi and Kananga were led by General Obed, a blood Rwandan. It must be said that the Rwandan generals have infiltrated the army of the DRC for over 20 years, in the knowledge and experience of the President of the Republic, guaranteeing the proper functioning of the institutions. All these individuals have been appointed by decree of ′′ Joseph Kabila ′′ within the FARDC with the passive complicity of Congolese generals, who see nothing, say nothing, and the consequences are unfortunate.
Today the home son is subject to a sanction and yet Kanyama must enjoy privileges as Congolese. From London, our investigations reveal that Rwandan generals are in good control of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from East to West, from South to North. They have become very strong internally. They regularly have meetings on the phone during the week, to give each other the instructions. They stand in solidarity and know how to protect their own.
DRC NGO's deliver some names and functions:
01 General Jean BIVEGETE: Auditor General of the army (High Military Magistrate)
02 General MASUNZU: Cmd Deputy 10th Military Region / Bukavu
03 General MALICK KIJEGE: Inspector General of the Army (ex. G4-EMG) FARDC / KINSHASA
04 General OBED RWIBASIRA: Cmd 5th Military Region in Kananga / Western Kasai
05 General MUSTAPHA MUKIZA: Cmd Military Base of KITONA (Bas-Congo)
06 General Charles BISENGIMANA: Deputy Inspector General of National Police / Kinshasa
07 General JEROME GAKWAVU: EMG / FARDC-Kinshasa 08 General BOSCO NTAGANDA: Former CNDP Chief of Staff (Now At ICC, Lahaye, Holland)
09 General Laurent NKUNDA: Head of CNDP now M23 (now in Rwanda)
10 Colonel BONANE: Cmd 4th Brigade in Ituri
11 General MAKENGA SULTANI: leader of M23 rebellious in North Kivu
12 Colonel KAMANZI François
13 Colonel MUNYARUGERO Françoise: Cmd of the Childhood Police / North Kivu
14 Colonel MUHINDO François: Cmd from the Delta Brigade
15 Colonel François ZERO BRAVO: EMG-Mixed Army of
NKUNDA (81th FARDC Brigade)
16 Colonel MUTEBUTSI Jules In exile in Rwanda after Bukavu Rebellion, June 2004
17 Colonel ROHORIMBER: Available / EMG-FARDC 18 Colonel GISHONDO ELIE: Available / EMG-FARDC
19 Colonel PADIRI Jonas: Cmd EQUO Brigade in Kimoka-Sake / North Kivu
20 Colonel BOLINGO MATANE: 10th Military Region / Bukavu
21 Colonel BIRORI Benjamin: Military Advisor / Ruberwa (In Training In China)
22 Colonel BISOGO :  EMG-FARDC (rebellion in South Kivu: G47)
23 Colonel WILSON: Deputy Cmd of ALPHA Brigade in NYANZALE-MWESO
24 Lt Colonel MUNYAKAZI: NKUNDA Mixed Army (83th FARDC Brigade)
25 Lt Colonel Claude MUCHO ½: Cmd Brigade Charly in Mushaki / Masisi
26 Lt Colonel INNOCENT Ex ½: G4 AFDL / RCD today aujourd' E. M-NKUNDA Mixed Army
27 Lt Colonel KABUNDI ½: Cmd squad EQUO at KIKOMA SAKE / North Kivu
28 Lt Colonel BISAMAZA ½: Cmd Brigade Bravo / RUTSHURU in North Kivu
29 Lt Colonel NIYIBIZI: Cmd of Br. EQUO / North Kivu Brigade (Source: FARDC)
Local NGOs including VSV, ASADHO, ANMDH, specify the number of General and Superior officers of the only Tutsi  that exceeds the number of Generals and Colonels of all tribes gathered in North Kivu and South Kivu ...
On this list, the NGOs note the number of more or less 300 Rwandan captains Tutsi in the regular FARDC. And here are the actors of the crimes organized against the Democratic Republic of the Congo under Paul Kagame and his FPR, in these days at the command of a whole country. In a related discomfort, Congolese civil society are not happy about kagame's special envoy to CONGOLESE army.

Several sources confirm that General David Rugayi sengabo is Paul Kagame's special envoy to the Congolese Army, is in charge of destabilizing the EAST of Congo and leader of all Rwandan infiltrators in the Congolese Army.
With several investigations carried out by civil society, this Rwandan General infiltrated into the Congolese Army is at the base of everything that is happening in the EAST.
Here are some of his works:
- In 2014, this Rwandan captured officials and other notabilities in Uvira territory.
- Various cases of execution and human rights violations in the EAST.
- Cases of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment on an officer of the Congolese National Police in the territory of Djugu, province of ituri.
- support some communities at the expense of others.
- Illicit weapons traffics and the illicit exploitation of mining resources in North, South Kivu and ituri.
(cfr report of UN Security Council experts in November 2009)
- In view of the security environment in the 3 territories (fizi, Uvira and mwenga) the War in the high and medium plateau, the infiltration reported at the EAST of Congo, this Rwandan officer is at the base.
Another source has said that the so-called banyamulenges condemn this Rwandan officer to be the causal agent of conflict that reigns Today between these Tutsis and the autoctone population in the high and medium plateau (Minembwe and its surroundings).
The civil society pleads to President Felix Tshisekedi to arrest this criminal infiltrated in the Congolese Army.

The provincial authorities of Ituri in DRC have announced the tightening of their measures aimed at closing the borders with Tchopo, North Kivu and Haut-Uélé in order to fight the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The provincial authorities of Ituri have announced the tightening of their measures aimed at closing the borders with Tchopo, North Kivu and Haut-Uélé in order to fight the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of which positive cases continue to climb in these neighboring provinces.
In a press release made public on July 11, 2020, Governor Jean Bamanisa announced the following measures:
1. Strict health control at the limits between Ituri and Haut-Uele (at
PK51, Boli and Boo), North Kivu (at Luna and Makeke), Tchopo (at
Avakubi level) for vehicles transporting goods;
2. The travels of travelers remain suspended, except with authorization granted after
test;
3. Suspension of passenger flights from the Provinces of North Kivu, Tshopo
and Haut-Uele to the ulturi and vice versa;
4. The same rules apply at the borders with South Sudan and “with Uganda;
5. All travelers coming from these areas must be subject to strict health control measures at the various control points, by washing their hands with soap
or hydro alcoholic solutions and submit to the temperature measurement;
6. Any traveler entering lturi from the countries, cities or localities affected by the
Covid-19 must complete the travelers' health declaration form and specify to POC / POE providers its identity and full address for follow-up in isolation from
14 days ;
7. Travelers with a negative test result can travel within the province;
8. For all trips within the province, the number of passengers on a bus must be
reduced to 1 passenger per seat.
9. Wearing a mask is compulsory in offices, public places, bus
public transportation and airplanes, as well as for all crew members of the trucks carrying the goods.
10. With regard to religions, the wearing of masks, social distancing and the measures decided by the Head of State are compulsory.
Since last week, the province of Ituri has seen the number of its confirmed positive cases triple, from 2 to 6 cases, while its neighbors in particular North Kivu is at 137 cases, Tchopo at 12 and Haut -Uéé at 11.

What was Felix Tshisekede doing in Brazzaville?

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has been staying since evening of Wednesday, July 15, 2020 in Congo-Brazzaville. President Tshisekedi moved alone, without the Foreign Minister or any other member of the government.

According to the presidential press, the head of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Brazzaville travelled to Congo as part of a 24 hour work stay.

On the same Wednesday when he arrived, he was welcomed by his Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Right afterwards, both heads of state had one-on-one exchanges.

Although nothing has officially filtered the content of exchanges between the two personalities yet, it should be noted that this meeting takes place in a particular context characterized by the covid-19 pandemic, which is taking place in several countries around the world, including both Congo.

According to some diplomatic sources, the two heads of state spoke about the coronavirus pandemic and mentioned in particular the upcoming reopening of borders between the two countries, closed for about a quarter as part of the state of health emergency declared in the Worldwide.

According to the same sources, Félix Tshisekedi and Denis Sassou-Nguesso also mentioned the border dispute between the DRC and Zambia. For months now, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been denouncing the presence, in its territory of the Zambian army.

It should also be reminded that this is already the second trip of the head of state Félix Tshisekedi during this coronavirus health crisis. The first was the one in Belgium at the beginning of July.

Researchers in Israel are using a neural network to track down drone operators by analyzing the flight paths of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Two scientists from Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev in southern Israel recently presented a paper on their research into counter-drone operations that applies artificial intelligence to hunting down the operators of UAVs.
Dr. Gera Weiss, a professor of computer science at BGU, presented the research at the Fourth International Symposium on Cyber Security, Cryptography and Machine Learning in Be’er Sheva on July 3. The new method analyzes the way drones fly through an environment in order to figure out where their operators are located.
Finding a drone operator, instead of just jamming or shooting down a drone, can be far more effective, since a single operator is often flying multiple drones at once.
“Currently, drone operators are located using RF [radio frequency] techniques and require sensors around the flight area which can then be triangulated,” Eliyahu Mashhadi, a GBU computer science student and lead researcher on the project, told Israel Defense . “This is challenging due to the amount of other WiFi, Bluetooth and IoT [internet of things] signals in the air that obstruct drone signals.”
Mashhadi told Breaking Defense these older methods tend to be catered to specific brands of drones, making a generalized defensive system cumbersome to operate. However, the researchers’ new method looks for patterns in the drone’s route during its flight.
Their simulations provide “a realistic flight experience for the operator that includes sun gazes, obstructions, and other visual effects that produce the reactions of the operators that allow us to identify their location,” Mashhadi told Breaking Defense.
Israel already operates the Drone Guard counter-UAV system, which until recently could only detect incoming drones with man-portable radars. However, Jane’s reported late last month that interceptor systems were being incorporated into Drone Guard, such as jamming devices that make the UAV unable to receive signals from or send them to its operator, as well as kinetic weapons provided by ELTA Land Systems that have been dubbed “Iron Drone,” after the “Iron Dome” air defense system Israel uses to shoot down missiles.
The Pentagon, too, is focusing heavily on drone interception systems, especially in the
aftermath of the September 2019 attacks on two Saudi oil facilities carried out by swarms of suicide drones. In late December, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord told reporters that making between three and five counter-UAV systems in 2020 was a “top priority.”