El actual presidente de Uganda y candidato a su propia sucesión, Yoweri Museveni, de 81 años y desde 1986 en el poder, lidera el recuento de votos de las elecciones presidenciales celebradas este jueves con un 75% de los votos y un 59% de los colegios electorales escrutados. Su principal rival, el líder opositor Bobi Wine, de 43 años, quien ha denunciado fraude electoral y, según su partido, se encuentra bajo “arresto domiciliario de facto”, obtiene el 21% de las papeletas. Los comicios tuvieron lugar en un clima de “represión e intimidación”, dijo Naciones Unidas, con internet cortado, numerosos fallos del sistema biométrico y cientos de seguidores de Wine detenidos en los últimos días. las autoridades han confirmado que al menos siete personas han muerto en los disturbios de esta noche en diferentes puntos del país, mientras que la oposición eleva la cifra a diez.
Museveni, quien tras 40 años en el cargo opta a un séptimo mandato, se mostró convencido de su victoria “por un 80% de los votos” tras haber depositado su papeleta, informa Reuters. ”Sé que algunas personas de la oposición están intentando hacer trampa. Pero en esta ocasión estaremos muy vigilantes. Incluso si las máquinas no han funcionado bien hemos puesto en marcha otras medidas y seguiremos las cosas de cerca”, dijo el líder ugandés.
El propio museveni tuvo problemas para que sus huellas fueran reconocidas hasta que finalmente pudo introducir su papeleta gracias al reconocimiento facial, un problema generalizado en todo el país, según admitieron las autoridades. Miles de personas no pudieron votar, dijo la oposición.
El principal partido opositor, Plataforma de Unidad Nacional (NUP, según sus siglas en inglés), ha denunciado a través de la red social X“`html
The Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda have faced prolonged instability due to armed conflicts, including struggles against rebel groups and, more recently, the emergence of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadist group with links to the Islamic State.
Regional Cooperation to Counter Insurgency in DRC and Uganda
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The DRC and Uganda have a history of conflict and cooperation in addressing security challenges, particularly those stemming from armed groups operating across their shared border.These groups exploit porous borders and weak governance to destabilize both nations.
Cooperation between the DRC and Uganda intensified in late 2021 with a joint military operation, “Operation Shujaa,” aimed at neutralizing the ADF. This operation followed a series of attacks attributed to the ADF within both countries. The operation aimed to dislodge ADF fighters from their bases in the DRC’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Evidence: In November 2021, Uganda and the DRC launched “Operation Shujaa,” a joint military operation against the ADF. reuters reported on the launch, detailing the objectives and scope of the operation.
Conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Eastern DRC is a particularly volatile region, plagued by numerous armed groups vying for control of territory and resources. These groups include the M23 rebel group, the CODECO militia, and various Mai-Mai groups. The conflict is fueled by ethnic tensions, competition over mineral wealth, and political grievances.
The M23 rebel group,composed largely of Congolese Tutsi,has been a major source of instability in recent years,particularly in North Kivu province. The group has repeatedly clashed with the Congolese army (FARDC) and has been accused of human rights abuses. In 2022 and 2023, M23 made significant territorial gains, leading to a humanitarian crisis and increased regional tensions.
Evidence: The Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Conflict Tracker details the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC, noting the M23’s resurgence and it’s impact on the region. The CFR report provides a timeline of key events and analysis of the conflict dynamics.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is a Ugandan Islamist rebel group that has been operating in the DRC for decades.initially focused on Uganda, the ADF relocated to eastern DRC in the 1990s and has since become a significant security threat in the region. In recent years,the ADF has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and has carried out numerous attacks targeting civilians and security forces.
The ADF’s attacks have resulted in thousands of deaths and have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The group finances its operations through illegal activities, including timber trafficking, gold mining, and extortion. The ADF’s links to ISIS have raised concerns about the potential for increased terrorist activity in the region.
Evidence: The U.S. Department of State identifies the ADF as a terrorist organization and details its activities in the DRC. The State Department’s country page on the DRC provides information on the ADF’s history, tactics, and current status as of January 16, 2024.
Extension of Operation Shujaa
Despite initial successes, the ADF continues to pose a threat, and the joint operation between Uganda and the DRC has been extended multiple times. The extension reflects the challenges of wholly eliminating the ADF due to its dispersed nature and its ability to recruit new fighters.
As of December 2023, Uganda and the DRC agreed to extend operation Shujaa for another three months, citing the need to consolidate gains and pursue remaining ADF elements. The operation
