Category: Armed Forces

Retreating Congolese Army Leaves Child Soldiers in Bukavu

19Feb

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Armed Forces, Congo, News, Rwanda, Violence

Retreating Congolese Army Leaves Child Soldiers in Bukavu

BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo – In the ongoing crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Congolese army's retreat from the city of Bukavu has left a vacuum that not only M23 rebels but also children have filled, taking up arms amid the chaos. This development underscores the desperate security situation in the region as M23 rebels, with alleged support from Rwanda, continue their advance, challenging the sovereignty of Congo's eastern borderlands. A City Under Siege: Reports from the ground indicate the M23 rebels have entered Bukavu, a significant commercial and mining hub, following their capture of Goma, the largest city in the area, earlier this month. The Congolese army, known as FARDC, has reportedly withdrawn from strategic positions to avoid urban c...

AI Accuses Nigerian Military of Detaining, Abusing Boko Haram Escapees

11Jun

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Armed Forces, Child Abuse, Human Rights, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

AI Accuses Nigerian Military of Detaining, Abusing Boko Haram Escapees

Amnesty International has reported that dozens of women and young girls who escaped captivity by Boko Haram extremists have faced unlawful detention and abuse within Nigerian military facilities. The report, released on Monday, highlights ongoing human rights violations in the country’s northeast. The Amnesty International report is based on 126 interviews, mostly with survivors, conducted over the 14 years since Boko Haram launched its insurgency. It documents the harrowing experiences of women and girls who were detained, often along with their children, for extended periods due to their real or perceived associations with the extremist group. The report echoes longstanding concerns about the Nigerian military's human rights record, which has faced accusations of extrajudicial kill...

Nigerian Army Rescues Hundreds of Hostages from Boko Haram

22May

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Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Nigerian Army Rescues Hundreds of Hostages from Boko Haram

The Nigerian army announced that it has rescued 350 hostages, predominantly children and women, from the clutches of Boko Haram extremists in northeastern Nigeria. The rescue operation, which spanned several days, culminated in the liberation of the captives from the Sambisa Forest, a notorious hideout for the extremist group. Major General Ken Chigbu, a senior Nigerian army officer, presented the rescued hostages to authorities in Borno state late Monday. The hostages included 209 children, 135 women, and six men, all appearing exhausted and clad in worn-out clothes. Among the female hostages, some had babies believed to have been born from forced marriages, a grim reality for many girls and women subjected to sexual violence and forced unions during their captivity. Hajara Umara, o...

Tragic Massacre in Kwahaslalek Village, Plateau State: Over 30 Lives Lost

25Jan

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Armed Forces, Fulani Herdsmen, Justice, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Tragic Massacre in Kwahaslalek Village, Plateau State: Over 30 Lives Lost

In a horrific turn of events, Kwahaslalek village in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State became the scene of a brutal massacre in the early hours of Wednesday. Gunmen attacked the village, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 30 lives, many of whom were women and children. Details of the Attack The incident occurred following unrest in Mangu town earlier on Tuesday. Fearing for their safety, many villagers, predominantly women and children, sought refuge in the house of a community leader. Tragically, it was here that the gunmen surrounded and executed them. Community Leader's Confirmation Mark Haruna, a community leader in the area, confirmed the devastating death toll in a statement to PUNCH Online from Jos, the state capital. Haruna described the previous da...

Military Complicit in Killings of Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria

25Jan

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Armed Forces, Fulani Herdsmen, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism

Military Complicit in Killings of Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria

In a deeply troubling development from the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Reverend Timothy Daluk, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has leveled grave accusations against the Nigerian military. In a video circulated on social media platforms, Rev. Daluk alleges that the military is facilitating the killings of Christians in the region, leading to a tragic escalation of violence and property destruction. Accusations of Military Involvement Rev. Daluk passionately reports from the heart of the conflict in Mangu, asserting that the military is actively displacing Christian residents to pave the way for militia-led arson attacks. According to him, the military's imposition of a curfew is discriminatorily enforced, constraining Christian movements w...

Army Officers Announce Coup in Gabon, Overturn Election Results

30Aug

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Africa, African Development, Armed Forces, Breaking News, Elections, Gabon, News, Security

Army Officers Announce Coup in Gabon, Overturn Election Results

A group of army officers in Gabon has declared a coup, claiming to have taken power and annulling the results of the recent presidential election. The military takeover was announced on national television by twelve soldiers who appeared early on Wednesday morning. The officers disclosed that the election results were being cancelled, and all institutions of the republic were being dissolved. They also revealed that the country's borders had been closed "until further notice." The move comes after the opposition alleged that Saturday's election, which declared President Ali Bongo as the winner, was fraudulent. Bongo was reported to have won just under two-thirds of the votes, an outcome that was met with skepticism from the opposition. If this coup is successful, it will bring an end to...

ECOWAS Condemns Threats to Prosecute Ousted Niger President, Calls for Peaceful Resolution

14Aug

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Africa, African Development, Armed Forces, Mali, News, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone

ECOWAS Condemns Threats to Prosecute Ousted Niger President, Calls for Peaceful Resolution

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has strongly condemned the threats made by Niger's military rulers to prosecute the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. The military leaders, who staged a coup that led to the removal of Bazoum from power, announced their intention to prosecute him for "high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger." In response, ECOWAS issued a statement on Monday expressing its astonishment and concern over the threats. The regional bloc characterized the move as a form of provocation and highlighted its contradiction with the military authorities' stated willingness to restore constitutional order in Niger through peaceful means. See Also: ECOWAS Chair: No Option Off the Table in Niger Republic Crisis Resolution ECO...

ECOWAS Chair: No Option Off the Table in Niger Republic Crisis Resolution

11Aug

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Africa, African Development, Armed Forces, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, News, Niger, Security, Senegal, Sierra Leone

ECOWAS Chair: No Option Off the Table in Niger Republic Crisis Resolution

President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has asserted that no option is off the table, including the use of force as a last resort, in the efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic. The Chairman made these remarks during the closing of an ECOWAS summit held in Abuja, Nigeria. Tinubu, speaking after the summit, highlighted that the communiqué issued at the extraordinary summit explicitly outlines that all options, including the use of force as a last resort, are being considered. He emphasized the significance of ECOWAS taking the lead in finding a solution to the crisis and stated that if the bloc doesn't act decisively, no one else will. Tinubu underscored ECOWAS's unwavering commitment to supporting Niger in its pursuit o...

ECOWAS Calls for International Support, Deploys Standby Force to Restore Constitutional Order in Niger

11Aug

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Africa, Armed Forces, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone

ECOWAS Calls for International Support, Deploys Standby Force to Restore Constitutional Order in Niger

The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) has issued a call to the United Nations, partner countries, and other international institutions to back its efforts in swiftly restoring constitutional order in Niger Republic. This call comes in the wake of an extraordinary summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, where ECOWAS leaders convened to address the ongoing political crisis in the West African nation. During the summit, ECOWAS announced a series of resolutions aimed at resolving the crisis that ensued following the ouster and detention of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum by the military on July 26. The summit marked a follow-up to a previous meeting held on July 30, wherein the diplomatic efforts to address the situation were met with resistance by the military leadership of Niger. In ...

Former Rebel Leader Launches Resistance Movement Against Niger’s Military Junta

10Aug

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Africa, Armed Forces, News, Niger, Security

Former Rebel Leader Launches Resistance Movement Against Niger’s Military Junta

A former rebel leader and prominent political figure in Niger Republic has launched a new rebel movement, signaling the first internal opposition to the military government that came into power through a coup on July 26. The emergence of this resistance movement, known as the Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR), is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in this strategically important Sahel nation. The leader of the CRR, Rhissa Ag Boula, stated that the primary objective of the movement is to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power. President Bazoum, who was democratically elected, has been held under house arrest since the military takeover. Ag Boula's announcement underscores the increasing resistance to the junta's rule and sets the stage for potential c...