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The traders were angered that for a second time, President Yoweri Museveni called off a meeting he had scheduled to discuss their grievances. The July 31, 2024 date had been chosen after an earlier one that had been expected on June 20 was postponed.

The presidency explained that Kololo Ceremonial Grounds — the planned venue for the meeting — was being renovated.

But traders were unhappy that Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, had communicated President Museveni’s decision to call off the meeting via WhatsApp instead of issuing an official communication signed by the president.

Ahead of the shop shutdown strike, Kampala Capital City Traders Association (KACITA) spokesperson Issa Ssekitto was aware that there would be divided opinion on whether to go on strike again or not.

Thus, he urged those who see sense in closing their shops [to] remain peaceful' and not to 'cause chaos.

'Yes, the communication was an act of unprofessionalism and disrespect but we are responsible citizens. Just lock and go home. We shall not be responsible for anybody who causes problems to the rest,' Sekito said.

With this manner of communication, and unwilling to endure another postponement, the city traders resolved to close their shops in protest until the president has found time and an alternative venue or mechanism of addressing their concerns.

What are the traders’ grievances?

Mainly, the traders are opposed to three things:

Firstly, the taxes on imports which they say are high, especially as President Museveni and his government move to promote local industry in their import substitution strategy;
Secondly, the rollout of the EFRIS) by tax collector Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). And lastly, foreigners dominating local trade.

'People want answers to all the three issues: Efris, taxation and the foreign traders that are dealing in petty businesses at the detriment of Ugandans whereby they [foreigners] become the factory, manufactures, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers,' Ssekitto said.

The traders’ shutdown strike closes a tough month for Museveni and his government.

In the last weeks of July 2024, youth protesters started anti-corruption protests demanding for the resignation of Parliamentary Speaker, Hon Anita Among, which the president has now blamed on funding from foreign agents.

As they threatened, several city businessmen were seen outside their closed shops as the strike entered its first day. The strike remains peaceful.

The traders were angered that for a second time, President Yoweri Museveni called off a meeting he had scheduled to discuss their grievances.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/kampala-city-traders-close-shops-in-shutdown-strike-over-taxes

This initiative demonstrates the urgent need for humanitarian intervention and reaffirms the UAE’s steadfast commitment to supporting the people of Gaza amidst the catastrophic situation. The UAE’s various lines of communication continue to facilitate the humanitarian efforts to assist the people of Gaza, and extend a helping hand during their time of need.

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said: 'At this critical time, the urgency of our mission to evacuate injured Palestinians to Abu Dhabi cannot be overstated. This unprecedented route reflects the gravity of the situation and our resolute commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people of the Gaza Strip and to ensure the arrival and distribution of relief through all available means, including land, sea and air. This initiative stands as a testament to the UAE’s enduring and historic support for the Palestinian people, guided by our unwavering dedication to providing immediate relief and advancing peace in the face of immense adversity.'

She underlined that to date, the UAE has welcomed 709 patients from Gaza, along with 787 of their family members, to receive medical treatment. This follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, to provide care for 2,000 injured and cancer patients from Gaza.

'This significant scale-up in our efforts demonstrates our solidarity with the Palestinian people and our determination to alleviate their suffering and ensure urgent, sustainable, unhindered delivery of aid, at a wide scale and through all possible means. We remain resolute in our collaboration with international partners to ensure that our aid reaches those in desperate need,' she added.

'For his part, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, said: 'We are thankful to the UAE for supporting the evacuation of sick and injured people from Gaza to receive the urgent care they need. We hope this paves the way for the establishment of evacuation corridors via all possible routes, including the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings to Egypt and Jordan, and from there to other countries. We also call for evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be restored. Thousands of sick people are suffering needlessly. Above all, and as always, WHO calls for a ceasefire.'

Notably to date, the UAE has provided over 40,000 tonnes of crucial aid, including food, relief, and medical items, through 8 aid ships, 337 flights, 50 airdrops, and 1,271 trucks. The fourth UAE relief ship arrived in Al-Arish this week, marking the eighth shipment of aid, which carried 5,340 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, and is the largest shipment since the launch of the relief operations.

The UAE’s various lines of communication continue to facilitate the humanitarian efforts to assist the people of Gaza, and extend a helping hand during their time of need.

As part of its unwavering humanitarian commitment to the brotherly Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO), has announced an urgent initiative to evacuate 85 sick and severely injured Palestinians.

To date, the UAE has provided over 40,000 tonnes of crucial aid, including food, relief, and medical items, through 8 aid ships, 337 flights, 50 airdrops, and 1,271 trucks.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/uae-and-world-health-organisation-to-initiate-urgent-medical-evacuation-of-148

The Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) has earned widespread acclaim for its professionalism, discipline, and operational effectiveness, establishing itself as one of Africa's most respected military forces. This prestigious reputation is built on several key factors, including rigorous training programs, strategic leadership, successful peacekeeping missions, advanced technological integration, and strong civil-military relations.

One major element is the RDF's rigorous training programs. Soldiers receive extensive training focused on physical fitness, tactical skills, and mental resilience. This comprehensive preparation is often enhanced with international programs, providing valuable experience and exposure to global military standards.

Leadership within the RDF plays a critical role in its success. The force is led by highly skilled, strategically minded individuals who have been pivotal in Rwanda's history, especially during and after the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. These leaders emphasize duty, discipline, and national pride, fostering a cohesive and motivated military force.

The RDF's involvement in international peacekeeping missions also significantly boosts its reputation. As one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations, RDF troops are deployed in conflict zones across Africa and beyond. Their professionalism and dedication to protecting civilians have earned them international acclaim.

Technological advancement is another crucial factor in the RDF's development. Investments in modern equipment, communication systems, and surveillance technology have enhanced the RDF's operational efficiency and effectiveness. Continuous upgrades and the adoption of innovative technologies ensure the RDF remains at the forefront of modern warfare.

The RDF's approach to civil-military relations further sets it apart. By participating in community service projects, infrastructure development, and social programs, the RDF fosters trust and cooperation between the military and civilian populations. This integration reinforces the RDF's role as a protector and builder of the nation.

RDF's commitment to high ethical standards and respect for human rights underscores its professionalism. Stringent codes of conduct and accountability mechanisms ensure soldiers operate within the bounds of international humanitarian law, enhancing the RDF's reputation and setting a benchmark for other African militaries.

 

RDF's esteemed status as one of Africa's best militaries results from rigorous training, strategic leadership, international peacekeeping experience, technological advancement, strong civil-military relations, and adherence to ethical standards. These factors collectively contribute to the RDF's operational effectiveness, professionalism, and reputation on the continent and beyond. As Rwanda continues to evolve, the RDF's role in ensuring national security and contributing to global peace remains paramount.

The post Why Rwandan Defence Force is Considered Africa's Best Military appeared first on The Custom Reports.

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Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-s-credit-rating-remains-stable-at-b-s-p-global-reveals

Both Iran and Hamas have pointed blame towards Israel for the shocking assassination that could escalate the already existing conflict with Israeli leadership.

“Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president,” Hamas said in a statement.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran was “hit” and he was killed along with a bodyguard.

Haniyeh had travelled to Tehran to attend Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened 'harsh punishment' against Israel for the assassination' of Haniyeh.

“With this action, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime prepared the ground for harsh punishment for itself, and we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khamenei was quoted by the country’s official news agency, IRNA.

The strike comes against the backdrop of Iran’s support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggered Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu had earlier vowed to destroy Hamas and bring back all hostages taken during the October 7 attack, which sparked the war in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a predawn airstrike in the Iranian capital on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Iran and the militant group have announced.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/hamas-top-leader-s-death-in-iran-sparks-accusations-against-israel

On Tuesday, July 31, a pivotal meeting was held in Luanda, Angola, to address the ongoing regional security concerns with representatives from both Rwanda and the DRC in attendance.

Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, represented Rwanda while the DRC was represented by Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba. The meeting was mediated by Angola’s President João Lourenço.

Shortly after the meeting, Amb. Nduhungirehe revealed some of the resolutions made. “The 2nd Ministerial Meeting on the Security and Peace Situation in the Eastern DRC, held in Luanda, Angola, concluded successfully. The meeting agreed to a ceasefire between the warring parties in Eastern DRC starting August 4, under the supervision of an enhanced ad hoc mechanism,” he said in a statement, shared on his social media handle.

“Rwanda remains committed to achieving lasting peace in the region by addressing the root causes of the conflict,” Nduhungirehe emphasized.

He expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s outcome, noting that it was conducted with a constructive spirit.

Tensions between Rwanda and its western neighbor escalated in 2022 when the DRC government accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels in the ongoing military conflict with the Congolese Army.

Rwanda strongly denied the allegations and counter acted by blaming DRC of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group comprised of dissidents of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with intentions to destabilize the country.

Rwanda and DRC representatives met in Angola earlier this year in a move to help each other implement measures to restore security in North Kivu province.

In March 2024, it was anticipated that these talks would pave way for a landmark meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Félix Tshisekedi under Angola’s stewardship. Both leaders had expressed interest in a face-to-face meeting.

DRC had previously expressed commitment to eliminate the FDLR from the jungles of eastern DRC but recently Christophe Lutundula, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the media in Kinshasa that his government knows nothing regarding the rebels’ whereabouts.

Leaders who attended the Luanda talks aimed at resolving the security problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have unanimously agreed that the warring parties should halt their fighting with effect from August 4, 2024.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/eastern-drc-ceasefire-announced-after-successful-luanda-talks

Three weeks ago, the political commentariat was writing off Georgia and talking of narrow pathways for Joe Biden to hold the White House. Georgia was a desert. Tuesday evening, an Atlanta crowd greeted Kamala Harris like she backed up a truck full of sweet tea to that desert.

It's probably too early — nine days since the president's withdrawal and the vice-president's ascension — to know if sentiment in Georgia had shifted enough to justify jubilation. But the crowd in Atlanta treated the new presumptive presidential nominee as a reason to celebrate after months of her quieter campaigning in the city as the vice-presidential nominee.

'As many of you know, before I was elected vice-president … I was an elected attorney general and an elected district attorney,' Harris said after taking the stand. 'Hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type, and I have been dealing with people like him my entire career.'

This elicited chants of: 'Lock him up!'

Harris addressed a crowd of 10,000 who filled the Georgia State Convocation Center, with people waiting outside for a seat. She touted her prosecution record and referenced Trump's criminal convictions and the findings of fraud in his businesses.

'As an attorney general, I held big Wall Street banks accountable for fraud. Donald Trump was found guilty of fraud,' Harris said. 'In this campaign, I will proudly put my record against his any day, including on the issue of immigration.'

Harris spoke of walking underground tunnels at the California border and prosecuting traffickers, and pledged to bring back the border security bill that was tanked in Congress by Republicans to preserve the issue in the campaign.

Referencing a Migos song — popular as an Atlanta group — she said: 'He does not walk it as he talks it.'

Ahead of Harris's appearance on Tuesday, several Atlanta voices made the case for her. Mayor Andre Dickens noted that this was the vice-president's 15th time visiting the state since 2021. Harris has been in Atlanta so often that she may as well have rented a condo in Buckhead to save money.

Harris is expected back in the state next week, and will debut her running mate on a seven-stop swing state tour, according to details confirmed by her campaign. Politico reported Harris will hold the first rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Harris said she as of today has not yet picked the candidate yet.

For the last two years, Harris has been Joe Biden's chief campaign surrogate in Georgia, making deliberate connections with campaign organizers and Black community leaders, a weapon in the Democratic arsenal that Republicans have not been able to match.

'Georgia is on everybody's mind,' said Raphael Warnock, the senator and reverend, to a boisterous crowd. 'And there's a reason. Because of what you did in 2020, 2021, everybody knows that the road to the White House goes through Georgia.'

Donald Trump has been on his heels in recent polls, which show ground captured in the rust belt. The former president announced that he would refrain from committing to a debate against Harris until after the Democratic national convention, which the senator Jon Ossoff characterized as cowardice.

'I know about having an opponent who's too scared to debate,' Ossoff said, harkening back to his winning 2020 campaign against then senator David Perdue, in which he spent 90 minutes debating an empty chair. 'The candidate who is dodging debates is the candidate who is losing.'

Stacey Abrams took the stage at 5.33pm to thunderous chants of 'Stacey!', which Abrams immediately turned around into a chant for 'Kamala!'

'We are the ones who put our boots on the ground,' said the former gubernatorial candidate and voting rights advocate. She preached the virtues of a progressive presidency on infrastructure development in the Black community, on job creation and on the climate. She pointedly noted that Georgia's governor, Brian Kemp, who defeated her two years ago, took credit for new investment in solar panel manufacturing in Georgia even as the federal government has been spurring those investments.

'They started with Kamala Harris and Joe Biden believing in the environment,' she said.

Now that Harris has replaced Biden as the presumptive nominee, the question is whether there is time to capitalize on the administration's connections in a state that may still be difficult to win for Democrats.

'When we get deep into those communities, when we are hitting apartment complexes in the hood, when we're places we don't usually go, I'll know its real,' said state representative Imani Barnes, a Democrat representing a sprawling suburban district in DeKalb county near Atlanta.

Barnes' constituents range from CDC scientists to some of the poorest immigrant communities in the state, and she can see how campaigns have to change the language on flyers to reach some voters. 'That's how we know a campaign is making a difference.'

Previous appearances in Georgia by Biden and Harris have been closely vetted campaign events filled with a curated selection of activists, advocates and party leaders. Though the guest speakers on Tuesday were a selection of federal officials and local leaders — with Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor, stalking the edges of the press pit — that selectivity was less evident.

'Georgia saved the whole nation,' Warnock said. 'I have a feeling that Georgia is going to save the nation one more time.'

In her speech, Harris sought not only to attack her opponent but to refocus on top voter issues in Georgia, such as the economy.

'Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency,' she said. 'When our middle class is strong, America is strong. To keep our middle class strong, families need relief from the high cost of living so that they have a chance not to get by but to get ahead.'

She said she would go after price gouging and hidden fees by banks and other companies, and take on corporate landlords to cap unfair rent increases, and to cap prescription drug costs.

'There are signs Donald Trump is feeling' the competition, she says.

'You may have noticed he pulled out of the debate.'

She repeated the assertion made by her campaign in recent days that Trump is 'just plain weird'.

'I do hope Trump will agree to meet me on the debate stage, because as the saying goes — if you got something to say, say it to my face,' she said as the crowd exploded.

The convocation center at Georgia State University is a state-owned building. Election law requires the facility to offer its use on the same terms to the Trump campaign. Hence, Trump will appear here Saturday, offering a mark to compare their relative fortunes even as he refuses to accept debate

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Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in the Iranian capital Tehran, according to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hamas on Wednesday, a major escalation that deepens fears of an all-out war in the Middle East.

Haniyeh is the second leader of an Iran-backed militant group reported to have been assassinated in recent days. His death represents a significant blow to Hamas, eliminating its most public figure who headed up the group's political operations while living overseas.

In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of targeting Haniyeh and his bodyguard in a 'strike' on where he was staying in Tehran, following his participation in Tuesday's inauguration of the new Iranian president.

Israel's military said it does not respond to reports in foreign media, though senior officials have previously vowed to eliminate Hamas and its leadership in response to the group's October 7 attack on Israel. It later said it was 'conducting a situational assessment.'

In contrast, Israel did confirm it carried out a strike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday that killed Hezbollah's most senior military commander, who it blamed for a deadly attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The assassination of Fu'ad Shukr was the most serious Israeli escalation since confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel began on October 8.

It is not clear precisely when Haniyeh, a key interlocutor with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on the ongoing hostage and ceasefire talks in Gaza, was killed. The new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian was sworn in on Tuesday and Hamas released pictures the same day of Haniyeh meeting Iranian officials in Tehran.

State run media IRNA said the strike happened at around 2 a.m. local time involving an 'airborne guided projectile.' State-affiliated Fars said he was staying in one of the special residences for veterans in north Tehran.

The killing comes at an especially fraught time for the Middle East, with escalating confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah threatening to expand into a wider regional war and as Hamas continues to battle Israel's military in Gaza amid an unfolding and catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas' Political Bureau, said Haniyeh's death would 'not pass in vain,' while senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri called it a 'grave escalation.'

Impact on hostage talks?

The White House said it has seen the reports of Haniyeh's death but declined to immediately comment further, according to a spokesperson. While traveling in the Philippines, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he does not think war in the Middle East is inevitable, but if Israel were to be attacked the US would help defend it.

Haniyeh would be the second Hamas senior leader to be killed since the beginning of Israel's war in Gaza. In January, the group said its deputy head of the political bureau Saleh Al Arouri was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Arouri was considered one of the founding members of the Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

However, the group has been able to weather the death of other key leaders before, including slaying of its co-founders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi who were killed weeks apart in 2004.

CNN Political and Foreign Policy Analyst Barak Ravid said the Israeli government sees Haniyeh as one of those responsible for Hamas' October 7 attacks and while he is not militarily significant, his death 'will have significant influence' on the ongoing hostage and ceasefire negotiations.

'This assassination is, in a way, just a matter of when, not a matter of if,' Ravid said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite wing of the Iranian military, said Haniyeh's death was under investigation and results will be announced later Wednesday, according to Iranian state media.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Haniyeh's killing calling it 'a cowardly act and a dangerous development,' according to the WAFA news agency on Wednesday.

'His Excellency called on the masses and forces of our people to unite, be patient and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation,' WAFA reported.

Deaths of two Iran-backed leaders

The reported deaths of Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah's Shukr in Beirut — two leaders of different Iran-backed militant groups — in just a few days are significant in both their timing and location.

Brigadier General (Res.) Assaf Orion, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies said the two reported deaths 'increase the likelihood of an axis response, adding Iran and other proxy attacks to the menu.'

Iran has spent years investing in regional proxy groups, informally known as the 'Axis of Resistance' — an anti-Israel and anti-Western alliance — supplying them with money, weapons, and training as Tehran has sought to broaden its influence across the Middle East.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has brought that longstanding shadow war with Iran out into the open — and inflamed opinion globally.

Though Israel has not commented on Heniyah's death, it has vowed to eliminate Hamas leadership and has a history of carrying out assassinations in Iran as well as against Iranian targets.

In April, Iran accused Israel of bombing its embassy complex in Syria killing at least seven officials including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi. In response, Iran launched an unprecedented large-scale drone and missile attack at Israel.

Earlier this month, Israel targeted Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif in a strike on a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza which killed at least 90 Palestinians. An elusive and powerful figure, Deif is understood to be one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attacks though it remains unclear whether he is dead.

Who is Ismail Haniyeh?

Haniyeh, 62, was born in a refugee camp near Gaza City, and joined Hamas in the late 1980s during the First Intifada, or uprising.

As Hamas grew in power, Haniyeh rose through the ranks — being appointed part of a secret 'collective leadership' in 2004. By 2017 he had become chief of the group — and was named a 'specially designated global terrorist' by the United States soon after.

Over the years, he has participated in peace talks with former US President Jimmy Carter, and met with other world leaders including the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian earlier this year.

In April, Israeli airstrikes killed three of Haniyeh's sons and four of his grandchildren, according to Hamas.

At the time, Haniyeh — who was based in Qatar — insisted their deaths would not affect ongoing ceasefire and hostage talks.

'Whoever thinks that by targeting my kids during the negotiation talks and before a deal is agreed upon that it will force Hamas to back down on its demands, is delusional,' he said.

The post Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, group says appeared first on The Custom Reports.

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