₦airaland Forum

M23 rebels say Rwanda-DR Congo ceasefire deal does not affect them

The M23 rebel group said Thursday that a ceasefire announced a day earlier "doesn't really concern us," while calling for "direct dialogue" with Democratic Republic of Congo's government.

"M23 has seen the document on social media... There was nobody in the summit (from M23) so it doesn't really concern us," Lawrence Kanyuka, political spokesman for the M23 (March 23) movement said.

"Normally when there is a ceasefire it is between the two warring sides," he added.



DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta attended a mini-summit in the Angolan capital on Wednesday.  

At a media briefing in Kinshasa on Thursday, Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula said: "Tomorrow, 6:00 pm, the M23 must stop all its attacks."

M23 rebels had been dormant for years, but took up arms again late last year and have been seen from the start by Kinshasa as actively supported by Rwanda, which denies the charges.

The rebels recently seized large portions of territory north of Goma, the provincial capital of DRC's Nord-Kivu province. 

The Luanda mini-summit concluded with a deal on the cessation of hostilities in eastern DRC from Friday evening, followed by the withdrawal of M23 rebels from "occupied zones" and their "withdrawal to their initial positions". 

If the rebels refuse, the east African regional force being deployed in Goma "will use force" to push them out, the deal said.

Kanyuka said the rebels declared a "unilateral ceasefire" in April and believed it was still in force.

"If tomorrow at 6pm (1600 GMT), or in the morning, the government doesn't attack us, we will still be there," he said. 

Otherwise, "we are defending ourselves," he said. 

"We are always ready for a direct dialogue with the Congolese government to resolve the root causes of conflicts," he added.

The government in Kinshasa has refused to engage with the M23 group, which it calls a "terrorist movement", as long as it occupies territory in DRC.

In response to a question, Lutundula ruled out direct negotiations with the M23 group.

https://nation.africa/africa/news/m23-rebels-say-rwanda-dr-congo-ceasefire-deal-does-not-affect-them-4032434

Nigerian gunmen kidnap 60 in latest attack in the northwest

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Nigerian gunmen kidnapped at least 60 people in a remote community in northwestern Zamfara state who were mostly women observing Prophet Muhammad's birthday, residents said on Thursday in the latest wave of abductions to hit the state.

Armed gangs are rife across the country's northwest where they rob or kidnap for ransom, and violence has been increasing as thinly stretched security forces often fail to stop attacks.

That has raised concern about whether residents in the region will be able to vote in the February presidential poll to choose a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is constitutionally barred from running again.

wo residents said gunmen on motorbikes arrived in the Magami Tandu community of the Kaura Namoda local government area on Wednesday evening and shot sporadically.

They took mostly women who were observing Mawlid - a celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday, which is held between the end of September to the end of November in Nigeria's mainly northern Muslim states, the residents said

"On a daily basis there is killing or abduction, which is leaving us homeless. Please (tell) the government to act and bring justice to us," said Abdulkarim Haruna, whose wife was kidnapped.

The residents said 19 people were killed on Tuesday when gunmen attacked Ryuji community in Zamfara's Zurmi local government area, which is adjacent to Kaura Namoda.

Zamfara police spokesperson Mohammed Shehu could not be reached for comment.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-gunmen-kidnap-60-latest-attack-northwest-2022-11-24/

Sao Tome and Principe government thwarts overnight coup attempt

SAO TOME, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Authorities in the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe thwarted a coup attempt overnight, the prime minister and West Africa's regional bloc said on Friday.

The Gulf of Guinea nation's military barracks came under attack shortly after midnight, Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada told a press briefing aired on private broadcaster Radio Somos Todos Primos.

"We were targeted by an attempted coup, which began around 00:40 and was completed... shortly after 06:00," he said.

Four attackers were "neutralized" and detained, and the National Assembly's ex-president Delfin Neves was arrested on Friday morning, Trovoada added.

"Everything indicates (that the coup occurred under) the command of some personalities", he added.

A former soldier, Arlecio Costa, has also been detained in relation to the coup.

The head of West Africa's main regional bloc ECOWAS, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, condemned the coup attempt on Friday.

"Sao Tome and Principe is a country considered a model of parliamentary democracy in Africa," he tweeted.

The former Portuguese colony, located off the western equatorial coast of central Africa, has been relatively stable since an attempted military coup against the government of President Fradique de Menezes in 2003.

Coup leaders at the time said they tried to topple the regime due to widespread poverty.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sao-tome-principe-government-thwarts-overnight-coup-attempt-2022-11-25/

Mozambique acquires transport aircraft from Paramount Group

Mozambique’s armed forces have taken delivery of two refurbished transport aircraft acquired from Paramount Group.

A Let-410 and a CN235M were recently handed over to the Mozambican military (FADM), with publication Noticias quoting Air Force chief Major General Candido Tirano as saying they will be used for cargo and troop transport as well as special forces/paratrooper deployment.

He added that Paramount supplied the aircraft as well as training and maintenance. He thanked the Mozambican government for its partnership with Paramount and for equipping the Mozambican Air Force.

The CN235M-10 is registered FA-801 (cn C008) and was operated by the Botswana Defence Force until 2011 (as OG1) after being manufactured in 1987. It was then sold to Rampart Aviation (N820CA) before being sold but never delivered to the Togolese Air Force (as 5V-MBM). In 2013 ownership changed to Avcorp US Registrations LLC/Fayard Enterprises (N124CL) before it was registered as ZS-SOO in South Africa in 2014. Between 2019 and 2021 it was seen in Madagascar Air Force markings. It seems the Togolese and Madagascan sales fell through, and the aircraft is now in FADM service.

Paramount has supplied a variety of equipment to Mozambique’s military, including Marauder armoured personnel carriers and Mi-8/17, Mi-24 and Gazelle helicopters. Six Marauders fitted with heavy machinegun turrets were seen taking part in a September 2021 parade in Pemba, along with a single Mi-24 attack helicopter (FA-117), an armed Mi-8/17 (FA-093) transport helicopter and a Gazelle light helicopter.

Marauders were first seen in Mozambique in late 2020 while the helicopters appear to have been delivered in 2021.

Journalist Nuno Rogeiro in 2021 reported that Mozambique would be getting several upgraded Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters from Paramount, fitted with weapons, sensors and other equipment. While Mozambique has its own Mi-24 and Mi-17 helicopters, they are all understood to be grounded/unserviceable and the new acquisitions are refurbished second hand models.

At least two ex-UK Army Gazelles were delivered to Mozambique by Paramount, with further deliveries a possibility.

Fifteen Mozambican pilots are believed to have been trained at the Paramount Technical Training Academy. Burnham Global has provided training in the operation of the armoured vehicles on the ground in Mozambique.

In February 2021, Paramount and Burnham Global announced a multimillion dollar contract with an African government to provide a range of military training and advisory services. This country is believed to be Mozambique.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/mozambique-acquires-transport-aircraft-from-paramount-group/

First Milkor UAVs destined for South African use

Milkor’s 18.6 metre wingspan Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is the largest such aircraft to be developed in Africa and will enter production next year. As part of an agreement with the Department of Defence, the first aircraft produced will be used exclusively by South Africa.

The Milkor 380 will soon make its maiden flight, with production of the first five aircraft set to take place next year. The aircraft was first unveiled in 2018, and more recently took pride of place at the most recent Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, where it was displayed with Al Tariq X-series precision guided munitions, Halcon Desert Sting DS-16 guided bombs, FZ602 laser-guided rocket launchers, and Airborne Technologies’ Self Contained Aerial Reconnaissance (SCAR) Pod.

“Following a successful presentation of the Milkor 380 at the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in September of this year, international recognition on the Milkor 380 and its capabilities has been garnered from countries across eastern Europe and Asia,” Milkor said. “During AAD, Milkor signed an MOU with the Department of Defence, Armscor and the South African Air Force illustrating their continued commitment to supply these systems and will manufacture five units during 2023 dedicated for South African use.”

With the company’s 10 000 square metre manufacturing facility in Cape Town, Milkor will further build on local defence capabilities and continue to avail the Milkor 380 to the South African government, the company added, as it is “fully committed to building the capabilities required by various branches in the South African government by making the Milkor 380 available for use in South Africa.”

“Developing such a sophisticated platform in South Africa is a significant achievement for the defence industry,” said Daniel du Plessis, Business Development Manager at Milkor. “Milkor has created an opportunity for the South African defence, security and intelligence sectors to source key equipment locally, eliminating the need to seek them elsewhere. It enables the South African government to reduce its reliance on foreign procurement and allows them to collaborate closely with local companies that can help build stronger defence and security capabilities, especially in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector.”

Milkor said the Milkor 380 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV is the largest UAV to be manufactured in South Africa and on the African continent. It has an endurance of up to 35 hours of flight time and a payload capacity of 210 kg. “These features make the Milkor 380 ideal for integrating various sensors and performing surveillance operations and intelligence gathering missions across the South African border and within the military intelligence realm,” Milkor said, with UAVs able to combat issues like maritime crime, poaching, terrorism etc.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/first-milkor-uavs-destined-for-south-african-use/

MAN1960:
Someone here believes that South African makes better weapons than turkey


Made in turkey

That's not what he said. So, either this is some really weak trolling, or comprehension isn't your strongest suit.

...

Heli and SF interception, Exercise Vukuhlome.

kabe1:
Great. I hadn't seen them before.

I think it's the first time they are releasing photos of them.

kabe1:
Swedish.

New procurement?

Thanks.

Bought in 2018 for the SF. Simulators followed in 2020.

Exnavyboy62:
Wow, all this preparation just because of me and my boys . I'm impressed

Not leaving anything to chance!

kabe1:
Excellent pictures, are these Milan ATGM systems?

Carl Gustav. Pic below is Milan.

...last.

...8...

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...6...

...5...

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...2...

Divisional Exercise Vukuhlome, currently underway at Lohatla Combat Training Area...

iblawi:
10 (TEN) hours? Just 357km?

That shouldn't be more than 3 hours

By Congolese standards, the Route Nationale 2 from Goma to Beni is a good road!
I remember reading an SANDF company with 35 vehicles drove 10 hours from Sake to Masisi, a distance of 70km! Even then, they had to abandon the vehicles and march the rest of the way on foot.

The DRC's roads are poor by design. During Mobutu's 30 years in power, only the trusted Presidential Guard was allowed anywhere near the capital, Kinshasa. He would disperse the other military units all over the country, and deliberately didn't maintain or build roads so that those units could not link up with each other, nor travel to the capital Kinshasa to overthrow him. And with no supplies reaching them, they preyed on the local communities, a practice which then became entrenched.
Both Kabilas who succeeded him did little to improve road infrastructure, for the same reason as Mobutu.

GreenandGold:
Black Friday sales start in a few hours... I need to stay up until midnight... I decided to entertain myself with Naija joke military that runs away from engagements

You're probably one of those guys who sit there with 4/5 computers waiting for midnight to snap up everything available.
Please use 1 of those devices to play a long strategy game or something, and give peace a chance.
No good ever comes from punching down!

NTSA:
Just googled the distance from Beni to Goma congo is really huge.

Congo is huge. But Beni to Goma traveling time of 10 hours has to do with the atrocious roads than distance. 357km on a normal highway with a max speed of 120km/hour is 4 hours.

GreenandGold:
Meanwhile in the land of the Igbos and Fulanis

No man, why are you dragging us back to this shit?

Exnavyboy62:
YYYEEESSS!!!, That's exactly what we want, VAWULENCE
7days make a week, but 7days without vawulence makes one weak.
Bring it on, the trolling, dishing out, whatever.
Thread is boring without vawulence and argument

Bring on the invasion plans and you'll see Vawulence!

QuietMynd:
Mofvckers can't take a quarter of what they dish out.
See them in pains nd agony.
Y'all making me miss Henry120 days

What pains? If you get off your knees and take a break from sucking Kabe's cock, you'd see who's been trolling here.
If we wanted to dish it out, this thread would explode.

STD destroys whatever small thinking capacity there was!

Days ans days of BS about South Africa. The inferiority complex required to keep this up!

NTSA:
Not that I want to take sides but south African defense industry is almost self-sufficient.

Every military head who visits SA on an official visit gets shown around various defence companies. Doesn't mean we should get excited and claim they're shopping. Turkey and other countries with defence industries do the same when receiving official military visits.
Nothing in Dean's tweet supports the nonsense that STD-ravaged Kabe bloviates.

Jl115, GreenandGold, why do you keep feeding the trolls?
You've both been here long enough to know to ignore the periodic bouts of STDs (Saffer Traducing Derangement).
It is unsporting to punch down. One really ought to leave brawling to peers.