Kagames appoints new sport minister as Vincent Karega struggles to get a proper ambassadorial posting

  Paul Kagames,President of the Republic of Rwanda has appointed new officials including Nelly Mukazayire who has been appointed Minister of Sports, and Rwego Ngarambe who has been appointed Secretary of State at MINISPORTS

Russian hackers XakNet gave a powerful blow to Ukraine, attacking and "breaking" the national information system, responsible for all databases in the country!!!

 

The blow was dealt to the "National Information Systems" - the operator of all government data in Ukraine.

Unified State Register of all organizations and individuals, all types of property, courts, debtors, convicts, powers of attorney, inheritances, notarial acts, documents of the Ministry of Justice, acts of civil status of citizens, mortgages, transactions, media, personal databases, etc.

All databases were carefully downloaded.

Moreover, as a result of the attack on NAIS, hackers penetrated the infrastructure with all the data of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine , downloading a huge amount of data.

The total volume of data is more than 1,000,000,000 (billion) lines!

Then it was decided to delete all available information. And not only there, but also on servers in Poland (it is very important to store government data on foreign storage facilities, by the way. This is apparently what independence looks like in Ukraine, where backup copies were stored.

President Tshisekedi makes reshuffles in army

Ndaywel

Chiko Tshitambwe

jules Banzai Mwilambwe

Pacifique Masunzu

Lieutenant General Jules Banza Mwilambwe has been appointed Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to replace Army General Tshiwewe Christian who as been given a role as the military adviser to the president. 

Brigadier General B.Kimbalambala Bataauli has been appointed as head of Military intelligence.

The Head of State has decided to keep Lieutenant General Jacques Itshangoliza Nduru in his post as Deputy Chief of General Staff in charge of operations and intelligence. 

For his part, Lieutenant General Léon Richard Kasonga has lost his post to Lieutenant General Kabamba wa Kasanda François.

Major Gen Christian Ndaywel will head the FARDC land forces.

Changes have also been made in military zones:

Pacific Masunzu a bitter critique of Kagame's advances in DRC has been appointed as head of the 3rd defence zone and deputies byBiangalo Anthony andd Brigadier general Mpanga modeste

Tchitambwe Chico ha been appointed as head of first defence zone ad will be deputized by  Kabundi Etienne and Punza Ngoma who will be in charge of administration in this zone 

2nd defence zone to be headed by Bitangalo Clement and deputised by Sadik Maboko

Major Gen Makombo Jean Rodger appointed as deputy chief off staff in charge of intelligence within FARDC.

This change within the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo comes in a context of rising violence in the east of the country and the advance of the M23, particularly in the Lubero territory, in North Kivu. Despite the ceasefire in effect since August 4, 2024, clashes between the M23 and other armed groups continue. The M23 has extended its territorial control, particularly towards Pinga, in the Walikale territory, and has even established a parallel administration in the areas it controls, according to recent statements from the group's political president, Bertrand Bisimwa.

The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), for their part, have called for direct dialogue with the Rwandan government in a letter addressed to Angolan President João Lourenço, who plays a mediating role in the region. With this new dynamic within the military apparatus, the FARDC will have to respond to major challenges, including the fight against armed groups, the stabilization of tense areas and the restoration of state authority in the east of the country.

General Banza Mwilambwe Jules takes office in a context where the government faces demands for direct dialogue from the Congo River Alliance (AFC)/M23 and other armed groups, while the international community, notably through MONUSCO, continues to document the scale of human rights violations.

Summary:

-Lieutenant General Banza Mwilanié Jules appointed Chief of General Staff of the FARDC;

- Army General Christian Chiwewe appointed military advisor to the Head of State, after having been Chief of General Staff;

- Major General Christia Ndaywel who leaves DEMIAP for the Land Force, where he is appointed Chief of General Staff;

- General Chico Tshitambwe

appointed commander of the first defense zone;

- Major General Makombo Jean-Roger appointed deputy chief of staff in charge of military intelligence;

- General Pacifique Masunzu appointed commander of the third defense zone.

There are also some military officers who have been promoted in rank for their bravery and service to the nation.

Lieutenant General

1. Banza Jules 

2. Kabamba François 

3. Kasongo kabwik Jean-Pierre

Major General

1. Malubuni Martin 

2. Makombo jean Roger 

3. Biagolo Antoine

Brigadier General

1. Katende Benjamin Batubadila 

2. Maloba Mwila Éric 

3. Monga bongo Remond 

4. Mpanga Muamba Modeste

5. Muteteke Jules

In addition, the Head of State also appointed a new head of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRC). This is Jean de Dieu Ntanga Nkita.

Despite some changes made within the command of the Republican Guard (GR), the Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has decided to renew his confidence in Major General Kabi Kiriza Ephraim as Commander of this special unit of presidential security, a position he has held since October 2022.

Following a series of orders read on Thursday, December 19 on the national channel, Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi appointed Brigadier General Katende Batubadila Benjamin to the post of Deputy Commander in charge of operations and intelligence, replacing Brigadier General Inengeli Baka Thierryson. 

Brigadier General Mulumba Kabanangi Désiré has been retained as Deputy Commander in charge of administration and logistics. This will be the case for the GR General Staff, which will still be led by Maloba Mwila Éric, now elevated to the rank of Brigadier General, who was a colonel before this elevation in rank.

In another similar order, the Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi proceeded to the appointment within the specified commands of the Republican Guard. According to the same order, he appointed in particular:

• Colonel Tshala Kalambayi Dédé: T2 Republican Guard 

• Colonel Lumu Kateba Alidor: T3 Republican Guard

• Colonel Katanga Mubikayi Dieudonné Commander 14th security regiment

• Lieutenant Colonel Makoko Bwanamoya Serge Commander 141st high security protection.

In addition to the common missions assigned to the army, the GR has specific missions, under the terms of order no. 13-063 on the organization and operation of the Republican Guard, of June 22, 2013, to ensure: the guard and protection of the President of the Republic and his family as well as distinguished guests; the security of presidential property and installations; escorts and honors at the level of the Presidency of the Republic.

In case of emergency or necessity, the GR can be requisitioned and engaged in combat (at the front) or in operations to maintain or restore public order. Its commander reports to the President of the Republic in terms of operations; he is his right-hand man. But in terms of administration and logistics, he reports to the Chief of General Staff of the FARDC.

You can read more about these officers and zones in this post by clicking on this link

Will DRC an Rwanda again meets in Angola?

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda, announced that the message received by President Paul Kagame was sent by the Mediator for the Rwanda-DRC issues, with the aim of resuming talks between the two countries, and that the talks between the President and the envoy he had suspended were successful.

This message was received by President Kagame on the evening of Wednesday, December 18, 2024, when he received the Special Envoy of the President of Angola, João Laurenço, who was assigned the task of mediating the issues between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It was a message brought by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Tete António, who was received by President Kagame, accompanied by his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe.

In an interview with TV 5 Monde after the event, Nduhungirehe was asked by a journalist about the outcome of the talks between President Paul Kagame and the special envoy of his Angolan counterpart, who he said had brought him a message.

He said, “The Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs brought a message of mediation, in terms of the will to resume the talks, and the talks they held were fruitful. But of course, I can’t say much about it.”

The journalist also asked him if people believed that the talks between Rwanda and the DRC were going to continue, and he replied that Rwanda has always been willing to do so and that it is not going anywhere.

He said, “We have always wanted and prepared for the talks, and we have continued to support the talks in Luanda, and although the meeting was postponed, we will continue to work with whoever wants to do so to try to ensure that the talks continue.”

One of the reasons why the meeting that was supposed to bring together President Paul Kagame and Tshisekedi was postponed was that Congo had already announced that it would not negotiate with M23, despite having previously agreed to it.

Minister Nduhungirehe, in this interview with TV 5 Monde, reiterated that no matter what happens, Congo must negotiate with M23 in order to find a permanent solution to the problems that led to the emergence of this group.

He reiterated that there is no other reason why Rwanda continues to request these talks, except that the M23 problems also affect Rwanda's security, because the DRC uses them as an excuse to work with those who want to destabilize it, including the FDLR, and it also affects regional security, given that the Congolese government is currently increasing the number of European contractors in the long-running conflict in the east of the country.

DRC minister of foreign affairs summoned Mr Matata Twaha of Uganda embassy in DRC as Sudan too demanded explanation over Muhoozi's tweets

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Congolese diplomacy, summoned Mr. Matata Twa Magara, A.I. Affairs of Uganda in the DRC. The latter gave some explanations on the recent remarks of Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander -in -chief of the Ugandan defense forces concerning President Tshilombo. From the tension between the DRC and Rwanda: "Uganda has no position, it is a matter between two countries and our position is very clear since the start of the security crisis".

Twaha Magara, who holds the position of Chargé d’Affaires [who has the same responsibilities as an Ambassador when that country does not have one living] of Uganda in the DRC, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

A message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the DRC states that “Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner summoned Matata Twaha Magara” to “provide clarification on the recent announcements by the Chief of Staff of the Ugandan Armed Forces regarding President Tshisekedi.”

The DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues: “The Minister requested accurate information on the position of the Ugandan leadership on these announcements, and they also discussed the state of relations between the two countries.”

The Ugandan Chargé d’Affaires in the DRC was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to explain Gen. Muhoozi

The Chief of Staff of the Ugandan Armed Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been tweeting on X [Twitter] for a few days, recently speaking about the long-standing issues between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, where he also spoke about the Heads of State of the two countries who were supposed to meet for talks in Luanda but were postponed.

Gen Muhoozi had said that he planned to visit President Tshisekedi and ask for peace, knowing that his counterpart President Paul Kagame always prioritizes it.

In a message published by Muhoozi on the X website the day, December 17, but later removed, he had said that “President Kagame is always a man of peace and I know that he seeks the welfare of the DRC. I will go to see my brother President Tshisekedi and ask for peace.”

Meanwhile, on Monday of this week, Gen Muhoozi had sent another message to X, warning white settlers in eastern DRC that in January of next year, his UPDF troops would launch a full-scale attack on them.

Watch the video below:

CDF Muhoozi ha since deleted the tweets!

Sudan!

Sudan demands official apology from Ugandan government.

Sudan calls Afande kainerugaba's statements threatening to invade Khartoum as soon as US President Donald Trump takes office reckless and irresponsible.

Gen Sheikh Dembele and Dr.Donald Kaberuka in Mogadishu

 

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday welcomed an AU delegation in Mogadishu led by Gen. Cheick Dembele, Head of the AU Peace Support Operations Division, and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, AU High Representative for the Peace Fund, during their one-day visit to Somalia.

The visit comes two weeks before the ATMIS mission ends on Dec. 31, 2024. While the Somali government and ATMIS have yet to outline the transition to AUSSOM, observers suggest current troops may continue under the new AU mission.

Tanzania foreign minister in Mogadishu

 

Tanzanian delegation led by Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday, where they were welcomed by Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Ambassador to Tanzania Ilyas Ali, and other senior officials at Adan Abdulle International Airport.

 The delegation’s visit focuses on signing agreements to strengthen bilateral ties in defence, tourism, health, aviation (including establishing direct flights), and other areas of cooperation.