🔅 Uganda Reclaims Its Past
Sudan's Military Chief Survives Drone Attack
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Uganda Reclaims Its Past: 39 Artefacts Returned from Cambridge University
In a momentous victory for Uganda, 39 artefacts have been successfully reclaimed from Cambridge University, marking a significant step in the country's mission to repatriate its cultural heritage. These treasures, collected by British colonial administrators and anthropologists over a century ago, include human remains, a headdress made of human hair, and beautifully decorated pots.
As Martin Mugarra, State Minister for Tourism, put it, "While receiving these artefacts, we are reclaiming our history and cultural heritage. We are committed to reclaiming all artefacts taken from Uganda by colonial administrators between the mid-1800s and 1900s."
From Cambridge to Kampala: A Journey of Rediscovery
The artefacts, which belong to various regions of Uganda, including Buganda, Lango, Bunyoro, and Ankole, will be used to further enrich the country's cultural history and heritage. Jackline Nyiracyiza, Commissioner for Museums and Monuments, noted that the process of returning these artefacts began in 2019 but was rudely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derrick Peterson, a history professor from the University of Michigan, praised the repatriation effort, stating that these artefacts will help the Uganda Museum tell a more concrete Ugandan cultural history story, unlike the present narrative designed by a colonial mindset.Â
Looks like it’s time for Uganda to take back control of its own narrative!
Sudan's Military Chief Survives Drone Attack at Graduation Ceremony
Sudan's top military commander, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, survived a drone attack during a military graduation ceremony in Gebeit, eastern Sudan. The attack, carried out by two drones, killed five people but left Gen. Burhan unharmed.
This incident occurs amid ongoing conflict between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. The attack comes shortly after RSF leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo announced plans to attend cease-fire talks in Switzerland, arranged by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
The Sudanese government has responded to the U.S. invitation to these talks, stating their willingness to participate but the government accuses the RSF of continued aggression and calls for sanctions against them.
The conflict has resulted in significant displacement, with over 4.6 million people forced to flee their homes. This includes 3.6 million internally displaced within Sudan and 1 million who have crossed into neighboring countries.
The situation remains complex, with both sides showing tentative willingness to engage in peace talks while continuing military actions.
Mali Launches Air Strikes Against Insurgents Following Deadly Clashe
s
Recent developments in Mali's conflict have seen the country carry out air strikes on insurgent targets near the town of Tinzaouaten in its northern desert region. These strikes come in response to recent attacks by Tuareg rebels and Islamist fighters that resulted in significant casualties among Malian soldiers and their Russian allies from the Wagner Group.
The Malian army and Wagner Group both reported losses in the Tinzaouaten area between July 22 and 27, marking what appears to be Wagner's worst setback on African soil. Mali's military, which took power through coups in 2020 and 2021, had previously replaced French and U.N. troops with Wagner Group personnel in their fight against Islamist insurgents.
Mali says it has conducted joint air strikes with Burkina Faso, targeting what it calls "high-value" insurgent positions. However, the Tuareg rebel group CSP has condemned these air strikes, alleging that a Burkina Faso drone killed dozens of civilian migrant workers in the area.
Neither Mali nor Wagner have disclosed exact casualty figures, though Wagner confirmed the death of their local commander, Sergei Shevchenko. The CSP claims to have killed and injured dozens of Malians and Russians, while an al Qaeda-affiliated Islamist group says it killed 50 Russians and 10 Malian soldiers.
This conflict involves complex dynamics between Tuareg separatists, who have long sought an independent homeland called Azawad, Islamist groups, and the Malian government.
Food for Thought
“If you are building a house and a nail breaks, do you stop building or do you change the nail?"
— Rwandan Proverb