The US State Department said Saturday it is "deeply troubled" by reports of violence and irregularities surrounding Uganda's presidential election, which saw Yoweri Museveni win a sixth term in office.
which saw Yoweri Museveni win a sixth term in office.
"The Ugandan people turned out to vote in multiparty national elections on January 14 despite an environment of intimidation and fear," department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
"We are deeply troubled by the many credible reports of security force violence during the pre-election period and election irregularities during the polls," she said.
Museveni extended his 35-year rule after an election which his main rival said was marred by fraud.
He was accused of crushing the opposition and media ahead of one of the most violent election campaigns in recent years, which saw the deaths of at least 54 people.
Ortagus called for "independent, credible, impartial and thorough investigations" into the reports of violence and fraud, and for those responsible to face justice.
She condemned attacks on political candidates, and said the State Department is "gravely concerned by harassment of and continued threats to civil society."
Museveni won with 58.6 percent of the vote, seeing off a stiff battle from former ragga singer Bobi Wine.
Wine was under heavy guard at his home on the outskirts of Kampala as the results were announced, with his party saying he was under "effective house arrest."
The government said it was merely providing him with security.
Source: barrons.com
Angop/NET/CF
UN troops retake control of rebel-held Central African city
Rebels abandonded their positions in Bangassou, 750 kilometres east of the capital Bangui, and fled the city following an ultimatum on Friday from the UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA.
UN peacekeeping troops say they have retaken control of a city in the Central African Republic captured two weeks ago by armed groups waging an offensive against President Faustin Archange Touadera's regime.
Rebels abandonded their positions in Bangassou, 750 kilometres east of the capital Bangui, and fled the city following an ultimatum on Friday from the UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA, the force's spokesman Vladimir Monteiro said late Saturday.
"The city of Bangassou is under the complete control of MINUSCA," Monteiro added.
Armed groups waging a nationwide offensive captured the city on January 3, forcing many residents to flee to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"It's a great joy," Juan Jose Aguirre, the bishop of Bangassou, told AFP following the UN operation to regain control of the city.
"After thirteen days sleeping outdoors, people will be able to return to their homes," he added.
Lieutenant Colonel Abdoulaziz Fall, spokesman for MINUSCA's military component, said the UN force intervened to stop attempts at looting overnight Friday to Saturday.
"The situation is calm and under control and positions that had been occupied by armed groups are no longer," Fall said.
Six of the most powerful armed groups, who have occupied roughly two-thirds of the country for eight years, united a month ago to wage an offensive.
The coalition announced their offensive ahead of the December 27 presidential and legislative vote, aimed at preventing Touadera's re-election.
Landlocked CAR is one of the world's poorest nations and has seen a string of coups and wars since it gained independence from France in 1960. CNN
