M23 Rebels suffer heavy losses

M23 Rebels suffer heavy losses

Written by MASEMBE TAMBWE

M23 rebel forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have suffered heavy losses forcing Rwanda to send two battalions to rescue the rebels as the United Nations roundly condemn the latest bout of violence in the eastern part of that country.

Impeccable sources from Goma told the 'Daily News on Saturday' that Rwanda had sent over 1,500 soldiers in the past 24 hours and were stationed at Kibumba, some 25 km (14 miles) north of Goma waiting to advance.

"The sending of the troops is in response to the heavy fire that M23 came under on August 23 and August 27 this year in Kibati, but the Congolese military, the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) and Force International Brigade (DIB) forces are alert and ready," the sources said.

The source said that they have no doubt that the Rwandese forces that have come to help the M23 rebels are not sure what to do next and need prayers should they decide to proceed.

In a statement issued yesterday, UN – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the latest violence in the eastern DRC and called on all parties to engage in the political process that aims to address the causes of the conflict.

Wire services report that South Africa has warned rebels fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo not to try and retake the battleground city of Goma on Friday after a week of escalating violence.

"We're trying to send a message to the M23, this time around you're not going to see Goma," said Lieutenant General Derrick Mgwebi, South Africa National Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations.

Mr Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the eastern DRC” and in particular by the indiscriminate shelling by the armed group M23 which caused deaths, injuries and damage among the civilian population in the eastern provinces as well as the immediate border area in Rwanda.

Reports from the wire services also announced that rebel fighters have begun a retreat near Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after clashing with the Congolese army and UN troops. The rebel move follows accusations that they fired into neighbouring Rwanda.

Fighters of the rebel group M23, which has clashed repeatedly with the Congolese military for more than a year, said on Friday they were withdrawing from the forefront of their most recent skirmishes. The group's leader said the retreat was in response to alleged shelling of a town across the border in neighbouring Rwanda on the previous day.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe told this paper yesterday he had met with ambassadors from the five permanent UN Security Council for discussions.

Mr Membe said that during the discussions, he thanked them for the condemnation of the slaying of the Tanzania peacekeeper and he articulated that he wanted them to convince Rwanda to refrain from supporting the rebels in the DRC.

He said that the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had convened a Great Lakes Region emergency meeting in Kampala on September 4th for ministers and September 5th for Heads of State respectively.

Over the past year, the M23, along with other armed groups, has clashed repeatedly with the national DRC forces (FARDC) in the eastern DRC. As part of an effort to address the underlying causes of violence in the region, the Government of DRC along with 10 other countries and four regional and international institutions adopted a framework to consolidate peace in the country.

Source:  www.dailynews.co.tz

Mhe. Membe azungumza na Mabalozi kutoka nchi tano Wanachama wa Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu hali nchini DRC

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Mhe. Bernard K. Membe (Mb.) akizungumza na Mabalozi wanaowakilisha nchi zao hapa nchini ambao pia nchi zao ni Wanachama wa Kudumu wa Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa (Permanent 5) kuhusu  hali inayoendelea Mashariki mwa Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo (DRC). Mhe. Membe pia aliwapa taarifa za kuitishwa kwa Mkutano wa Dharura wa Wakuu wa Nchi na Serikali wa Nchi za Ukanda wa Maziwa Makuu (ICGLR) utakaofanyika mjini Kampala, Uganda tarehe 5 Septemba, 2013 kuhusu DRC. Nchi tano wanachama wa Baraza la Kudumu la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa ni China, Marekani, Ufaransa, Uingereza na Urusi. Mkutano na Mabalozi hao umefanyika Wizarani tarehe 30 Agosti, 2013.

Balozi wa China hapa nchini, Mhe. Lu Youqing (kushoto) akitafakari jambo wakati wa mazungumzo yao na Mhe. Membe (hayupo pichani). Wengine ni Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa katika Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje, Balozi Celestine Mushy (kulia) na Afisa kutoka Ubalozi wa China.

Balozi wa Uingereza hapa nchini, Mhe. Diana Melrose (wa tatu kushoto) akiwa na Wajumbe kutoka Urusi, Ufaransa na Marekani wakati wa Mkutano wao na Mhe. Membe (hayupo pichani) kuhusu hali nchini DRC.

Mhe. Membe akitoa shukrani kwa Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa kupitia Mabalozi hao kwa kulaani mauaji ya Mwanajeshi wa Tanzania yaliyotokea huko Mashariki mwa DRC tarehe 28 Agosti, 2013 kwa kushambuliwa na kundi la Waasi la M23  wakati Kikosi cha Kulinda Amani cha  Umoja wa Mataifa (MONUSCO)kwa kushirikiana na Majeshi ya Serikali ya DRC na Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) wakilinda amani. Anayesikiliza kwa makini ni Mhe. Alfonso Lenhardt, Balozi wa Marekani hapa nchini.

MAAZIMIO YA BARAZA LA KATIBA LA WIZARA

TAARIFA KWA UMMA

MAAZIMIO YA BARAZA LA KATIBA LA 

WIZARA YA MAMBO YA NJE NA

USHIRIKIANO WA KIMATAIFA

Baraza la Katiba la Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa lilikutana tarehe 26 Agosti, 2013 kujadili Rasimu ya Katiba mpya.  Mkutano huo ulifanyika kwenye Kituo cha Mikutano cha Kimataifa cha Julius Nyerere, Jijini Dar es Salaam.

Mkutano ulifanyika chini ya Uenyekiti wa Mhe. Bernard K. Membe (Mb), Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa na kufunguliwa na mgeni rasmi, Waziri Mkuu Mstaafu, Dkt. Salim Ahmed Salim ambaye pia ni Mjumbe wa Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba, aliyewahi kuwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Balozi wa Tanzania nchini Misri na Mwakilishi wa Kudumu wa Tanzania katika Umoja wa Mataifa. Mkutano huo ulihudhuriwa pia na Mabalozi Wastaafu, Wafanyakazi wa Wizara na Taasisi zilizo chini yake.

  

Wizara iliamua kuunda Baraza la Katiba kwa kuzingatia kuwa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa ni Wizara ya Muungano; Rasimu ya Katiba imependekeza masuala ya Sera ya Nje kuendelea kuwa miongoni mwa masuala ya Muungano; na kuwa yako masuala yaliyopendekezwa kwenye rasimu ya Katiba ikiwemo mipaka, uraia na muundo wa muungano ambayo yanagusa majukumu ya Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa.

Baraza la Katiba la Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, liliazimia mapendekezo yafuatayo katika maeneo ya Mipaka, Muundo wa Jamhuri, Uraia wa Jamhuri na Sera ya Mambo ya Nje:- 

1)             Mipaka ya nchi iwekwe wazi mwishoni mwa Ibara ya 2 ili isomeke kama ifuatavyo: “Eneo la Jamhuri ya Muungano ni eneo lote la Tanzania Bara na Zanzibar ikijumuisha ardhi, maziwa na sehemu yake ya bahari (Territorial Waters) pamoja na anga kwa mujibu wa sheria za kimataifa;

2)             Baraza pia lilipendekeza mabadiliko katika Muundo wa Jamhuri ya Muungano kwamba Muundo wa Serikali Mbili uliopo, uendelee na kuboreshwa kwa kuwekewa mifumo imara ya kisheria itakayoakisi maslahi ya pande zote mbili za Muungano ili kupunguza changamoto na manung’uniko kutoka kwa wadau wa Muungano. 

3)             Kuhusu suala la uraia katika Jamhuri ya Muungano; Baraza lilipendekeza kuwa suala la uraia wa nchi mbili kwa Mtanzania wa kuzaliwa litamkwe Kikatiba na Raia huyo asipoteze uraia wake wa kuzaliwa kwa sababu ya kupata uraia wa nchi nyingine. Uraia wa nchi mbili utatoa fursa kwa Taifa letu kufaidika kimaendeleo kutokana na kutumia rasilimali za Watanzania walioko nje ya nchi;

4)             Kuhusu Uraia, Ibara ya 55(4) inayozungumzia kumpa uraia wa kuzaliwa mtoto atakayekutwa ndani ya mipaka ya nchi yetu, ambaye wazazi wake hawajulikani ni raia wa nchi gani,  Baraza linapendekeza “….Uraia huo utasitishwa endapo uraia wa asili (wa nchi nyingine) wa mtoto huyo utagundulika na kuthibitishwa pasipo na shaka au kama itagundulika kuwa ulifanyika udanganyifu wa kumtupa kwa makusudi mtoto huyo kwa nia ya kupata uraia wa Jamhuri ya Muungano.”

5)             Kuhusu Uraia wa kuandikishwa, Ibara ya 56(2), mtu aliyefunga ndoa na raia wa Jamhuri ya Muungano anaweza kutuma maombi ya kuandikishwa kuwa raia wa Jamhuri ya Muungano baada ya kuomba uraia wa Muda wa kuishi nchini kama mwanafamilia wa ndoa (dependant) mpaka ndoa iwe imedumu kwa miaka kadhaa (miaka itamkwe na sheria)”.

6)             Kuhusu Sera ya Mambo ya Nje; Baraza linapendekeza mabadiliko katika Ibara ya 12 ya rasimu kwamba Misingi (Principles) ya Sera ya Mambo ya Nje ijumuishwe badala ya majukumu ya Wizara kwa kuwa majukumu hubadilika na nyakati. Aidha, Katiba ilielekeze Bunge litunge Sheria itakayosimamia utekelezaji wa Sera ya Mambo ya Nje ya Tanzania.

7)             Kuhusu Ibara ya 39 (3) inayohusu raia wa Tanzania kutokupelekwa nje ya nchi kujibu mashtaka au kufanyiwa mahojiano ya aina yoyote bila ya ridhaa yake, Baraza linapendekeza Kifungu hicho kifutwe, kwa sababu kuna ugumu wa haki inayotajwa kwenye Kipengele hiki kutekelezeka bila kuathiri wajibu ya kimataifa wa nchi (international obligations) katika makosa ya jinai, kwa kuwa ni vigumu sana kupata ridhaa ya mtuhumiwa kuhojiwa kwa makosa aliyoyatenda au anayotuhumiwa kuyatenda.

WIZARA YA MAMBO YA NJE NA USHIRIKIANO WA KIMATAIFA

28 AGOSTI, 2013

EU Members of Parliament visit Tanzania

Ambassador Rajabu Gamaha, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation welcomes Hon. Hannes Swoboda, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and President of the Social Democrats in the European Parliament.  Hon. Swoboda paid a courtesy visit earlier today to discuss matters of regional integrations, promotion of good governance and accountability, areas of cooperation that include piracy, oil and gas.

Ambassador Gamaha greets H.E. Filberto Cerian Sebregondi, Head of Delegation of the European Union. The EU delegation arrived in Dar es Salaam earlier today from Brussels, Belgium.

Ambassador Gamaha welcomes Hon. Norbert Neuser, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Social Democrats Coordinator.

Ambassador Gamaha welcomes Hon. Ricardo Cortes, Member of the European Parliament and Social Democrat Coordinator for Development. 

Ambassador Gamaha explains about the progress of the custom union in the East African Community (EAC) and the success of the free trade area in the Southern Africa Development Community. 

THe European Delegation during the meeting. 

Tanzania delegation that include Ambassador Dora Msechu, Director of the Department of Europe and Americas and Mr. Frank Mhina, Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. 

The meeting continues.

On a separate meeting, Ambassador Rajabu Gamaha, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation took time to meet with H.E. Filberto Cerian Sebregondi, Head of Delegation of the European Union.  

Ambassador Gamaha listens to Head of the EU Delegation Filberto Cerian Sebregondi during their meeting. Also in the photo is Ambassador Dora Msechu, Director of the Department of Europe and Americas in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. 

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago  

TANZIA

Uteuzi wa Balozi wa Tanzania nchini Nigeria

Mkurugenzi wa Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa akutana kwa mazungumzo na Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Ukaguzi ya Ufilipino

Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Balozi Celestine Mushy akimkaribisha Wizarani Bibi Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan, Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Ukaguzi ya Jamhuri ya Ufilipino alipofika kwa ajili ya mazungumzo. Bibi Pulido-Tan pia ni Mgombea wa Jamhuri ya Ufilipino kwenye Bodi ya Ukaguzi ya Umoja wa Mataifa. 

Bibi Pulido-Tan akimtambulisha kwa Balozi Mushy,  Bi. Donna Celeste Feliciano-Gatmaytan, Kaimu Balozi wa Ufilipino nchini Kenya.

Balozi Mushy akiwa katika mazungumzo na Bibi Pulido-Tan kuhusu masuala mbalimbali ya ushirikiano wa kimataifa.

Baadhi ya wajumbe kutoka Ufilipino waliofuatana na Bibi Pulido-Tan.

Balozi Mushy akiendelea na mazungumzo na Bibi Pulido-Tan huku Bi. Rose Kitandula (kulia), Afisa Mambo ya Nje akinukuu mazungumzo hayo.

Bibi Pulido-Tan akimweleza jambo Balozi Mushy wakati wa mazungumzo yao.

Mazungumzo yakiendelea.

Balozi Mushy katika picha ya pamoja na Bibi Pulido-Tan mara baada ya mazungumzo yao.

Picha ya pamoja.