M23 SAYS HUNDREDS OF BURUNDI SOLDIERS CAPTURED IN LATEST CONGO OFFENSIVE. (PHOTO).

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 M23 says hundreds of Burundi soldiers captured in latest Congo offensive The Rwanda-backed M23 group has captured hundreds of Burundian soldiers during its latest offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a rebel official said, as clashes continued despite a warning from the Trump administration. Last week M23 entered the strategic town of Uvira near the border with Burundi, less than a week after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda met in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump and affirmed their commitment to a peace deal known as the Washington Accords. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Rwanda's actions in eastern Congo violated the Washington Accords and vowed to "take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept". Rwanda denies supporting M23 and has blamed Congolese and Burundian forces for the renewed fighting. A United Nations group of experts report published in July said Rwanda exercised command and control over t...

EARLY VOTING KICKS OFF IN CHAD'S ELECTION BOYCOTTED BY OPPOSITION. (PHOTO).


 Early voting kicks off in Chad's election boycotted by opposition


Chad's military and nomads voted on Saturday in general elections that are portrayed by the president as a key step in a transition to democracy but are boycotted by opposition parties, AFP reported.


For most people in the Sahel nation, the elections to select a national parliament, regional assemblies and local councils will take place on Sunday from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.


But members of the armed forces and nomadic tribes were summoned to vote on Saturday for logistical reasons.


The opposition has dismissed the elections as a sham.


"No campaign, no vote on December 29. Stay at home and ask others to do the same," the main opposition Transformers party urged voters via Facebook.


Nevertheless, around 45 percent of the country's 200,000 nomads and 45,000 soldiers had cast their ballots by midday, according to initial estimates.


Military personnel began arriving early at a polling station in Koundoul barracks near the capital N'Djamena, AFP saw.


"Voting is proceeding normally. The military are voting freely," senior election management official Ousmane Houzibe said.


There was a similar turnout at a nearby nomad camp along a transhumance route.


"The nomads came to ask the people who will be elected tomorrow to improve their living conditions," said sheikh Djibrine Hassabakarim, one of their representatives.


He said climate change had made life hard for his community, killing livestock, triggering clashes with sedentary farmers and making it hard for them to feed their families.


Voting is taking place against a backdrop of recurring attacks by militant group Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region, the ending of a military accord with former colonial master France, and accusations that Chad is interfering in the conflict ravaging neighbouring Sudan.


The government of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has presented the weekend elections as a key stage in the transition to democratic rule.


The 40-year-old Mahamat Deby took power in 2021 after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the Sahel country for three decades.


Deby junior won a five-year presidential mandate last May.


The last legislative elections date back to 2011.

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