auto-update week 43

africa/cf.json

@@ -1162,8 +1162,8 @@
   },
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
-      "text": "Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie (2023)",
-      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the National Gendarmerie is a paramilitary force with domestic law enforcement and security responsibilities; it is under the Ministry of Defense, but also reports to the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Interior also controls the National Police"
+      "text": "Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Police (2024)",
+      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the National Gendarmerie (GN) is a paramilitary force with domestic law enforcement and security responsibilities; it is under the Ministry of Defense, but also reports to the Ministry of Interior; the GN nominally includes the Republican Guard (GR), which is responsible for presidential security and has a separate command structure"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {
       "Military Expenditures 2023": {
@@ -1183,10 +1183,10 @@
       }
     },
     "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
-      "text": "approximately 12,000 active-duty troops (including 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2023)"
+      "text": "approximately 14,000 active-duty troops (including about 4,000 Gendarmerie) (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the FAC has mostly Soviet-era armaments, with a small mix of French and South African equipment (2023)"
+      "text": "the FAC has mostly Soviet-era armaments, with a small mix of Chinese, French, and South African equipment (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription ended in 1969 (2022)"

africa/cg.json

@@ -1217,8 +1217,8 @@
   },
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
-      "text": "Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Land Forces, National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC); Republican Guard (2024)",
-      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>the Congolese National Police are under the Ministry of Interior<br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>the Republican Guard is a division-size element with armored and infantry units; it is regarded as the country’s most capable unit and is under the direct control of the president"
+      "text": "Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Land Forces, National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC); Republican Guard<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Congolese National Police (2024)",
+      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>the Republican Guard is a division-size element with armored and infantry units; it is regarded as the country’s most capable unit and is under the direct control of the president"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {
       "Military Expenditures 2023": {
@@ -1241,14 +1241,14 @@
       "text": "estimates vary; up to 140,000 active troops, including approximately 10,000 Republican Guard (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the FARDC is equipped mostly with Soviet-era weapons systems and equipment (2023)"
+      "text": "the FARDC is equipped mostly with Soviet-era and older French weapons and equipment; in 2024, the DRC signed an agreement with China for the provision of military equipment (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18-45 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; it is unclear how much conscription is used (2023)",
       "note": "<strong>note: </strong>in eastern Congo, fighters from armed groups, including some associated with government security forces, have been accused of forced recruitment of child soldiers"
     },
     "Military - note": {
-      "text": "<p>the FARDC’s primary focus is internal security; while the FARDC is large on paper, with an estimated 18 operational infantry brigades, it has struggled to provide security in large portions of the country; the FARDC is widely assessed to suffer from insufficient training, low equipment readiness, poor morale and leadership, ill-discipline, and widespread corruption; it was created out of the armed factions of the Congo wars that ended in 2003, incorporating various militia, paramilitary, and rebel formations; the DRC’s most effective military force, the Republican Guard, is overseen by the office of the presidency rather than the FARDC and focuses largely on protecting the president and government institutions and enforcing internal security</p> <p>the FARDC is actively conducting operations against a variety of illegal armed groups (IOGs) operating in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 15 significant and cohesive IOGs operate; there is also IOG-related violence in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; some estimates place over 100 IOGs operating in the country, including organized militias, such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which controls a large portion of North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that operate variously as self-defense networks and criminal rackets); and foreign-origin groups seeking safe haven and resources, such as the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; aka Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), multiple groups originating from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the March 23 Movement (aka M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army), which the DRC has accused Rwanda of backing; the FARDC has been accused of collaborating with some IOGs, such as the NDC-R</p> the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; as of 2023, MONUSCO had around 14,000 personnel assigned, but it was drawing down its forces towards a complete withdrawal at the request of the DRC Government; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB; three infantry battalions, plus artillery and special forces), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian security (2023)"
+      "text": "<p>the FARDC’s primary focus is internal security and conducting operations against rebels and other illegal armed groups (IOGs); while it is large on paper, the FARDC is widely assessed to suffer from insufficient training, low equipment readiness, poor morale and leadership, ill-discipline, and widespread corruption; it was created out of the armed factions of the Congo wars that ended in 2003, incorporating various militia, paramilitary, and rebel formations; the DRC’s most effective military force, the Republican Guard, is overseen by the office of the presidency rather than the FARDC and focuses largely on protecting the president and government institutions and enforcing internal security</p> <p>the FARDC is actively conducting operations against a variety of IOGs operating in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 15 significant and cohesive IOGs operate; there is also IOG-related violence in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; some estimates place over 100 IOGs operating in the country, including organized militias, such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which controls a large portion of North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that operate variously as self-defense networks and criminal rackets); and foreign-origin groups seeking safe haven and resources, such as the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; aka Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), multiple groups originating from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the March 23 Movement (aka M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army), which the DRC has accused Rwanda of backing; the FARDC has been accused of collaborating with some IOGs, such as the NDC-R</p> the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; as of 2023, MONUSCO had around 14,000 personnel assigned, but it was drawing down its forces towards a complete withdrawal at the request of the DRC Government; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB; three infantry battalions, plus artillery and special forces), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian security (2024)"
     }
   },
   "Terrorism": {

africa/eg.json

@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@
       "text": "information varies; approximately 450,000 active-duty personnel (325,000 Army; 18,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force; 75,000 Air Defense Command); approximately 300,000 Central Security Forces personnel (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the EAF's inventory is comprised of a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern, particularly Western, weapons systems; in recent years, the EAF has embarked on an extensive equipment modernization program with significant purchases from foreign suppliers; major suppliers have included France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the US; Egypt has an established defense industry that produces a range of products from small arms to armored vehicles and naval vessels; it also has licensed and co-production agreements with several countries, including the US (2023)"
+      "text": "the EAF's inventory is comprised of a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern, particularly Western, weapons systems; in recent years, the EAF has embarked on an equipment modernization program with significant purchases from foreign suppliers; major suppliers have included China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the US; Egypt has an established defense industry that produces a range of products from small arms to armored vehicles and naval vessels; it also has licensed and co-production agreements with several countries, including Germany and the US (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 for men and 17 for women; 18-30 years of age for conscript service for men; service obligation 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-outs serve for the full 36 months, while college graduates serve for lesser periods of time, depending on their education level (2023)",

africa/ek.json

@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@
       "text": "approximately 1,500 active-duty troops; approximately 500 Gendarmerie (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and second-hand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory with purchases of vessels from several countries, including Bulgaria and Israel; China and Russia have also supplied some equipment to the FAGE (2023)"
+      "text": "the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and second-hand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory with purchases of vessels from several countries, including Bulgaria and Israel; China and Russia have also supplied some equipment to the FAGE (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 24-month service obligation (2023)"

africa/er.json

@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@
       "text": "limited available information; estimated 150,000-200,000 personnel (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the EDF inventory is comprised primarily of older Russian and Soviet-era systems; Eritrea was under a UN arms embargo from 2009 to 2018; from the 1990s to 2008, Russia was the leading supplier of arms to Eritrea, and in recent years, Eritrea has expressed interest in purchasing additional Russian equipment; in 2022, it reportedly received some UAVs from Russia (2023)"
+      "text": "the EDF inventory is comprised primarily of older Russian and Soviet-era systems; Eritrea was under a UN arms embargo from 2009 to 2018; from the 1990s to 2008, Russia was the leading supplier of arms to Eritrea, and in recent years, Eritrea has expressed interest in purchasing additional Russian equipment (2023)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "Eritrea mandates military service for all citizens between the ages of 18 and 40; 18-month conscript service obligation, which includes 4-6 months of military training and 12 months of military or other national service (military service is most common); in practice, military and national service is often extended indefinitely; citizens up to the age of 55 eligible for recall during mobilization (2023)"

africa/et.json

@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@
     },
     "Executive branch": {
       "chief of state": {
-        "text": "President SAHLE-WORK Zewde (since 25 October 2018)"
+        "text": "President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)"
       },
       "head of government": {
         "text": "Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)"
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
       "text": "Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces (Army), Ethiopian Air Force (Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl, ETAF) (2024)",
-      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>national and regional police forces are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order, with the ENDF sometimes providing internal security support; the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) report to the Prime Minister’s Office<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the regional governments control regional security forces, including \"special\" paramilitary forces, which generally operate independently from the federal government and in some cases operate as regional defense forces maintaining national borders; local militias also operate across the country in loose and varying coordination with these regional security and police forces, the ENDF, and the EFP; in April 2023, the federal government ordered the integration of these regional special forces into the EFP or ENDF; in some cases, the regional governments have maintained former members of the special forces for “crowd control/Adma Bitena” as a separate unit within their security structures<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> in 2020 the Ethiopian Government announced it had re-established a navy, which had been disbanded in 1996; in March 2019, Ethiopia signed a defense cooperation agreement with France which stipulated that France would support the establishment of an Ethiopian navy; in 2018, Ethiopia established a Republican Guard military unit responsible to the Prime Minister for protecting senior officials<br><br><br>"
+      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>national and regional police forces are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order, with the ENDF sometimes providing internal security support; the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) report to the Prime Minister’s Office<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the regional governments control regional security forces, including \"special\" paramilitary forces, which generally operate independently from the federal government and in some cases operate as regional defense forces maintaining national borders;  in April 2023, the federal government ordered the integration of these regional special forces into the EFP or ENDF; in some cases, the regional governments have maintained former members of the special forces for “crowd control/Adma Bitena” as a separate unit within their security structures; local militias also operate across the country in loose and varying coordination with regional security and police forces, the ENDF, and the EFP<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> in 2020 the Ethiopian Government announced it had re-established a navy, which had been disbanded in 1996; in March 2019, Ethiopia signed a defense cooperation agreement with France which stipulated that France would support the establishment of an Ethiopian navy<br><br><strong>note 4:</strong> in 2018, Ethiopia established a Republican Guard military unit as a separate command operationally under the Office of the Prime Minister and administratively accountable to the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for protecting senior officials and government institutions and conducting some military operations <br><br><br>"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {
       "Military Expenditures 2023": {
@@ -1201,7 +1201,7 @@
       "text": "information varies; prior to the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict, approximately 150,000 active-duty troops (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the ENDF's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; it suffered considerable equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; in recent years, the ENDF has received arms from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates; Ethiopia has a modest industrial defense base centered on small arms and production of armored vehicles (2023)"
+      "text": "the ENDF's inventory has traditionally been comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; it suffered considerable equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; in recent years, Ethiopia has diversified its arms sources to include weapons from China, Israel, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UAE; Ethiopia has a modest industrial defense base centered on small arms and production of armored vehicles&nbsp; (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18-22 years of age for voluntary military service (although the military may, when necessary, recruit a person more than 22 years old); no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2023)"

africa/ga.json

@@ -1088,8 +1088,8 @@
   },
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
-      "text": "Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (2024)",
-      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>the National Guard is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security; the Gambia Police Force under the Ministry of Interior maintains internal security"
+      "text": "Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (RNG)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Gambia Police Force (GPF) (2024)",
+      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>the RNG is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security, while the GPF maintains internal security"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {
       "Military Expenditures 2023": {
@@ -1112,7 +1112,7 @@
       "text": "estimated 3,000 military personnel (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the GAF has a limited and obsolescent or secondhand equipment inventory originating from several suppliers, including China, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2023)"
+      "text": "the military of Gambia has a limited inventory of mostly older or donated equipment originating from several suppliers, including China, Turkey, the UK, and the US&nbsp; (2023)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (18-22 for officers); no conscription; service obligation six months (2024)"

africa/gb.json

@@ -1127,8 +1127,8 @@
   },
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
-      "text": "Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka Gabonese Defense and Security Forces): Land Forces (Army), National Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie (includes Coast Guard), Corps of Firemen; Republican Guard (2024)",
-      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>the National Police Forces, under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Gendarmerie, under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for law enforcement and public security; elements of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, an elite unit that protects the president under his direct authority, sometimes perform internal security functions<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Gendarmerie is organized into regionally-based “legions,” mobile forces, a national parks security unit, and a special intervention group"
+      "text": "Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka Gabonese Defense and Security Forces or Forces de Défense et de Sécurité Gabonaises) : Army (Armée de Terre, AT), Navy (Marine Nationale, MN), Air Force (l'Armée de l'Air, AA), Light Aviation (L’Aviation Légère des Armées, ALA), Fire Brigade (du Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers); National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Gabonaise, GENA); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine,GEN GR); Military Health Service (Service de Santé Militaire, SSM); Military Engineering (Génie Militaire)  (2024)",
+      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>the National Police Forces, under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Gendarmerie (GENA), under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for law enforcement and public security; elements of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, an elite unit that protects the president under his direct authority, sometimes perform internal security functions<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the GENA is organized into regionally-based “legions,” mobile forces, a national parks security unit, and a special intervention group"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {
       "Military Expenditures 2023": {
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@
       "text": "approximately 6,500 active-duty troops including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the Gabonese military is lightly armed with a mix of equipment from a variety of suppliers including Brazil, China, France, Germany, and South Africa (2023)"
+      "text": "the Gabonese military has a mix of older and more modern weapons and equipment from a variety of suppliers including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, and South Africa (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2023)"

africa/gh.json

@@ -1212,7 +1212,7 @@
       "text": "approximately 16,000 active personnel (12,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2024)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the military's inventory is a mix older and some newer Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment; the government in recent years has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2023)"
+      "text": "the military's inventory is a mix of older and some newer Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment, including US; the government in recent years has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18-27 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2024)",

africa/gv.json

@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@
   },
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
-      "text": "Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2023)",
+      "text": "Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), National Gendarmerie (2023)",
       "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {

africa/ke.json

@@ -1210,7 +1210,7 @@
       "text": "approximately 24,000 personnel (20,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the KDF's inventory traditionally carried mostly older or second-hand Western weapons systems, particularly from France, the UK, and the US; however, since the 2000s it has sought to modernize and diversify its imports, and suppliers have included several countries including China, Italy, and the US (2023)"
+      "text": "the KDF's inventory is a mix of older, donated/secondhand, and some modern weapon systems from a variety of sources; major suppliers have included China, France, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US; in late 2023, the Kenyan Government unveiled a five-year spending plan to procure upgraded military equipment, including aerial surveillance drones, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems (2024)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "no conscription; 18-26 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams); 9-year service obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year re-enlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens (2024)"

africa/mr.json

@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@
         "text": "President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)"
       },
       "head of government": {
-        "text": "Prime Minister Mohamed Ould BILAL (since 6 August 2020)"
+        "text": "Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)"
       },
       "cabinet": {
         "text": "Council of Ministers - nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president"

africa/pu.json

@@ -1068,7 +1068,7 @@
       "text": "approximately 4,000 active troops, including a few hundred air and naval personnel (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the FARP is armed mostly with Soviet-era equipment, much of which is reportedly unserviceable (2023)"
+      "text": "the FARP is outfitted mostly with Soviet-era equipment (2023)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
       "text": "18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service for men and women (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2023)"

africa/rw.json

@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@
         "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president"
       },
       "elections/appointments": {
-        "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a constitutional amendment approved in December 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms; election last held on 4 August 2017 (next to be held on 15 July 2024); prime minister appointed by the president"
+        "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); note - a constitutional amendment approved in December 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms; election last held on 4 August 2017 (next to be held on 15 July 2029); prime minister appointed by the president"
       },
       "election results": {
         "text": "<em><br>2024: </em>Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 99.2%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR) 0.50%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.32%<br><br><em>2017:</em> Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent), other 1.2%<br><br> <p> </p>"

africa/su.json

@@ -1175,7 +1175,7 @@
       "note": "<strong>note:</strong> implementation of conscription is reportedly uneven"
     },
     "Military - note": {
-      "text": "<p>the primary responsibilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are internal security, border control, and countering potential external threats from its neighbors; SAF operations have traditionally been supported by militia and paramilitary forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); in the Spring of 2023, heavy fighting broke out between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF, particularly around the capital Khartoum and in the western region of Darfur, amid disputes over an internationally-backed plan for a transition towards civilian rule; fighting has since spread and continued into 2024 with reports of atrocities, ethnic cleansing, food insecurity, heavy civilian casualties, and millions of internally displaced persons<br><br>the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the military has a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports</p> the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of 2024, UNISFA had approximately 3,200 personnel assigned<br><br>the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a Joint Security Keeping Forces (JSKF) comprised of 12,000 personnel tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of the UN African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force that operated in the war-torn region between 2007 and the end of its mandate in December 2020; in June 2021, Sudan's transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations; in September 2022, the first 2,000 members of the JSKF completed training; the status of the JSKF since the start of the civil war is unclear (2024)"
+      "text": "<p>the primary responsibilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are internal security, border control, and countering potential external threats from its neighbors; SAF operations have traditionally been supported by militia and paramilitary forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); in the Spring of 2023, heavy fighting broke out between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF, particularly around the capital Khartoum and in the western region of Darfur, amid disputes over an internationally-backed plan for a transition towards civilian rule; fighting has since spread and continued into 2024 with reports of atrocities, ethnic cleansing, food insecurity, heavy civilian casualties, and millions of internally displaced persons<br><br>the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the military has a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports</p> the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of 2024, UNISFA had approximately 3,200 personnel assigned<br><br>the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a Joint Security Keeping Forces (JSKF) comprised of 12,000 personnel tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of the UN African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force that operated in the war-torn region between 2007 and the end of its mandate in December 2020; in June 2021, Sudan's transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations; in September 2022, the first 2,000 members of the JSKF completed training; the status of the JSKF since the start of the civil war is not available (2024)"
     }
   },
   "Terrorism": {

africa/uv.json

@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@
     },
     "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
       "chief of mission": {
-        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jean-Baptiste GAGRE (since 31 July 2023)"
+        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Edouard BOUDA (since 1 February 2024)"
       },
       "chancery": {
         "text": "2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"

africa/wz.json

@@ -1056,7 +1056,7 @@
   },
   "Military and Security": {
     "Military and security forces": {
-      "text": "Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2023)"
+      "text": "Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2024)"
     },
     "Military expenditures": {
       "Military Expenditures 2023": {
@@ -1076,13 +1076,13 @@
       }
     },
     "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
-      "text": "approximately 3,000 active-duty personnel (2022)"
+      "text": "approximately 3,000 active-duty personnel (2023)"
     },
     "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
-      "text": "the UEDF is lightly armed with mostly older equipment from Europe, South Africa, and the US (2023)"
+      "text": "the UEDF has a light and small inventory of mostly older equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, and the US (2023)"
     },
     "Military service age and obligation": {
-      "text": "18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)"
+      "text": "18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)"
     },
     "Military - note": {
       "text": "the UEDF’s primary mission is external security but it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2023)"