United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees calls on Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect refugees after tragic killings (19.09.2017)

So far, some 57 people with critical injuries were evacuated to Goma and the nearest city of Bukavu, while another 37 are being treated in Kamanyola.

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 19, 2017 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is urging the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure protection for refugees and asylum-seekers after a shocking shooting incident in Kamanyola on September 15 in which at least 39 people were killed and another 94 injured.

The incident took place after Congolese soldiers fired live rounds at Burundian protestors in the eastern part of the country, many of whom UNHCR believes were refugees and asylum-seekers. The protest, reported to be initially peaceful, allegedly started after a small group of Burundians were detained by Congolese authorities, creating fears they were going to be deported to Burundi.

The dead included Burundian men, women and one child. The incident also resulted in the death of one Congolese soldier, with six others wounded.

“This is a devastating tragedy. It should never have happened,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. He welcomed the announcement from Congolese officials to launch an inquiry into the incident and called for it to be detailed. “We need to establish facts and determine responsibility and make sure that such an incident never happens again.”

UNHCR immediately deployed a team to the area on Saturday where it is working with the medical staff of a partner organization in the local hospital to provide life-saving medical assistance to the injured.

So far, some 57 people with critical injuries were evacuated to Goma and the nearest city of Bukavu, while another 37 are being treated in Kamanyola.

The UNHCR team on the ground reports a tense situation with over 2,400 Burundians seeking protection next to the small MONUSCO (the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo) base in Kamanyola. They are too afraid to go back to the locations where they have been staying. Some refugees have expressed the wish to move elsewhere in Congo. UNHCR is working with local authorities to find a suitable location.

DRC hosts more than 43,700 refugees who have arrived from Burundi since 2015.

WHO and partners respond to flood crises in the former Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States of South Sudan (19.09.2017)

As part of the health cluster response, WHO delivered lifesaving medical supplies to the communities affected by the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, September 19, 2017 – The World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and partners are scaling up the emergency response in the flood affected areas of Aweil West and Aweil North Counties of former Norther Bahr el Ghazal State, and Maban County of former Upper Nile State.

As part of the health cluster response, WHO delivered lifesaving medical supplies to the communities affected by the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding. The lifesaving health supplies will benefit 10 000 people living in areas deeply affected by the heavy rainfall in parts Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States of South Sudan for the next three months.

The supplies include 10 basic unit kits and 10 pneumonia kits for management of common illness. The supplies were deployed along with Medical Mobile Team (MMT) to support other health partners in management of common illnesses to reduce excess mortality and morbidity and build the capacity of partners in early case detection of outbreak prone diseases.“Building the capacity of partners, increasing human resource and medical supplies are vital in such acute emergencies since it increases access to quality health care services to the affected population” said Mr Evans Liyosi, WHO Representative a.i to South Sudan.

According to the State Ministry of Health, it is estimated that over 119 000 people have been affected due to flooding triggered by the heavy rainfall in 11 payams of Aweil North and Aweil West of former Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. More flooding also caused some deaths and injuries and has deeply affected the daily lives of over 650 households in eight villages of Bunj payam, Maban County, Upper Nile State.

The risk of water-borne disease in the wake of the floods is real; a cholera epidemic has already affected thousands of people, causing over 355 reported deaths said Dr Allan Mpairwe, WHO Health Security and Emergency Officer. We have to act very fast to avoid the spread of water-borne diseases and the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Dr Mpairwe underscored.
The floods have also destroyed roads, schools, homes, crops and vegetables all over the affected areas. This means the situation will get worse, with more people needing temporary housing and urgent humanitarian help.

WHO will continue to strengthen its humanitarian support in coordination with the Ministry of Health and partners to save the lives of the vulnerable community, Mr Liyosi added.

My letter to President Magufuli: seems like you need some love 3.0

Dear Sir, His Excellency (H.E.) President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli of the United Republic of Tanzania.

I am sad, I have to write to you again on this sort of affair. It is not like you are cheating on your wife. If your going to trade war with fellow East African Countries. Not like you trying to stifle fellow counterparts of the TAZARA Railway. That would have interesting and been shocking.

I am not writing about the added taxes or the trying to earn bigger parts of the mineral wealth in Tanzania. That is something you should be saluted for and I understand your grievances against the International Mining Companies who earn massive profits on the minerals on your lands.

Well, I am writing because someone hurt your feelings. Someone wrote something that hit your little heart. Something that you cannot muster to understand and escape away from. The powers of Presidency should get under-fire and get criticism for the acts and regulations done by the high power. If cannot muster just resentment and arguments against your critics, you should step H.E. Magufuli.

I am not saying that with ease, because I am a nobody, I would wash your car, clear your garden, maybe carry your mail or be someone who worked in an office, doing demeaning clerical work. Still, I tell you, you cannot always get love and praise. I have told you what you deserve praise for, before going into this. Since if you cannot muster resentments and arguments, or being an honest big-man to let a paper named Mwanahalisi, write what they like.

Instead, your are a heartless person, who has silenced the paper for two years. You have silenced yet another part of the press. Since they call you a hypocrite. Is that all it takes to hurt you? Are you that small, Mr. President? Hypocrite? Really? Are you not more powerful and greater, are you not braver or are you just a figment of imagination of actual opposition against you?

It is like you expect love and praise, for the earth your walking on. That you cannot be told or be questioned by the local media. Now they cannot say anything without fearing losing license, suspensions or direct crack-down leading to the bankruptcy. Clearly, this is your tale Mr. President. I wish it was different. I wish you had heart and could manage to be put in question.

What would Magufuli do? He would have hated my letters and asked for my blog to be closed down. If I was in Tanzania, you would have detained me or even put me to Court. But I all want is for you to see how belittling you are. Instead of the character you could have. Brush it off and know you would get love for the actual good things you do and wants to achieve. That you will have adversaries is natural, your in public office. Not everyone will accept your policies and your statements. If you we’re saint and not an ordinary person. Which by heart you are, since your so offended by being called “hypocrite”, that you suspend a paper.

It would be necessary to give you love, but it is time for tough love and learn some humility Mr. President, His Excellency!

I know I ask a lot by saying it, but I think you need to hear it!

Best Regards

Writer of Minbane

The Order:

Kenya: SC. MBS. Fred Ojiambo Statement regarding the current attacks on the Independence of the Judiciary (19.09.2017)

Mwenda’s Political Voodoo Part II: The Saga of the Age-Limit!

Dwight Schrute: Voodoo Mama Juju, explain your dalliance with the dark arts.

Angela Martin: It’s not my fault. I was exposed to “Harry Potter.”

Dwight Schrute: I know you did it!

Dwight Schrute: [to the camera crew] I know she didn’t do it. It’s never the person you most suspect. It’s also never the person you least suspect, since anyone with half a brain would suspect them the most. Therefore, I know the killer to be Phyllis, a.k.a. Beatrix Bourbon, the person I most medium suspect” (The Office U.S. Version – ‘Murder’ 2009).

Andrew Mwenda is using his pen again and need to be analyzed, since the arguments he gives has to be destroyed and not validated. Since the reasoning is only to benefit his new partner in crime and his Modus Operandi, is to be National Resistance Movement friendly. Mwenda isn’t that independent or free spirited, therefore, he has to attack the opposition. That is why he now uses his political voodoo, to overcome the ones who goes against the abolishing or revoking the Article 102(b) of the 1995 Constitution. Which, shouldn’t be strange is all within reason. Just take a look!

I want to ask all these bellicose MPs and opposition activists opposing the amendment of the constitution to remove age limits: what is wrong with a person of 75 years and above running for president? Do you really believe Amama Mbabazi or Ruhakana Rugunda should be blocked from running for president in 2025, or Kizza Besigye in 2031? It seems to me that your argument is the amendment is being pushed to help President Yoweri Museveni run again. I agree. So your opposition is not to the principle (allowing citizens aged 75 years and above to run for president) but to the individual (Museveni) who is going to be the first beneficiary of it. If this is the case, why expend your energies in a constitutional fight over an individual if you don’t disagree with the principle?” (Andrew M. Mwenda, 19.09.2017).

It is something rare and wonderful by this statement. That he talks about using energies to fight over a constitutional amendment for one person, but ironically does it for his master. He spends time to make sure people agrees with his reasoning, because it fits Museveni. Not because it makes it more righteous. Than he has to mention Mbabazi and Besigye, just to twist the needle, but not because he cares. Like running in Uganda matters at this point. When the Electoral Commission will let Museveni win anyway. So he uses energies to express his concern for other people to mask that it all isn’t for anyone else than Museveni.

The biggest loser in this misguided opposition to removing age limits is Besigye, but he cannot see it. Museveni will remove age limits. Therefore Besigye is undermining his credibility now when he seeks to run for president in 2031. He will face the fact that he has campaigned vigorously against lifting age limits. Then he will claim it was because he wanted to stop Museveni. Why place an individual above a principle in a major constitutional struggle? It is hard to educate people who are emotional about issues and never see beyond a few years ahead. This was the whole problem with the constitution making process in the 1990s. Museveni and his confederates did not put age limits in the constitution out of principle. Rather they did so to block Milton Obote from returning and running for president. They did not foresee that it would actually turn out to block Museveni” (Andrew M. Mwenda, 19.09.2017).

The reasons why Museveni didn’t for-see this was that he was about to step-down from running several times. He has promised that on many different occasions and even said he wouldn’t run for the next term. Or giving himself a deadline to step-down as the President. The same President that didn’t plan to have more than two terms, also abolished that part of the Constitution. Therefore, it is not the first time the rewriting of laws fitting Museveni. It has happen over time and when in need. Maybe it was for Obote, maybe it was for looking to foreign donors. Who knows at this point?

The reason why an individual are over a Constitutional Question in this matter, is because they are trying to make the Constitutional Amendment fit one single individual. This is not for the future of Besigye. That is something the NRM and the Presidency couldn’t care less about, unless they are planning more House-Arrest and Phony-Charges on his head. That is more believable at this point. This isn’t about emotions, it is about the mere fact, that there was a Uganda before Museveni and will be one after him. So why makes rule that fit his life and breathing-space? Why not make laws that are making sense, Mr. Mwenda? You are using Besigye as a Pawn, as long as the King, stays the King!

Besigye’s supporters may not realize that they are making a similar mistake. I actually think this amendment is very good for Besigye because he can wait Museveni out until he dies. Then he can make his grab at power as well. Did Besigye in 2000 imagine that he would still be running for president in 2016? Well, think again: 2031 or even 2035 is not very far” (Andrew M. Mwenda, 19.09.2017).

You just celebrated ten-years of Independent Magazine, was that a big-deal right? That is two terms of the President. Which is a long time in charge and gives massive amount of powers. The decisions and the Executive role, guiding a nation for a decade is very long time. Just like have to remember your starting ground for your magazine, until today how you are needing funding from Kagame and other well-wishers. Clearly, you think Besigye who hasn’t gotten the Presidency will run forever and be like opposition figure to the end. That is only the FDC delegates and the FDC organizations let him. Not like he is the sole-candidate like in the NRM, where there no other men or woman with a vision.

Mwenda, did you envision that you would be so different from your views in 2005? Did your intellect evolve from a free-spirit and critic of the state, to be the one praising and defending them? I am just wondering, if you ever saw yourself as a NRM, when you we’re detained for your talk-show on KFM Radio? The same can be said about Besigye, it is about opportunity and putting down the work. Just like you built a name, the same has Besigye done. Besigye has campaigned and continued to campaign. Just like you have continued with your “Last Words”, but not that they sound the same. You changed and other changed as well.

Mwenda, if you think it is nice argument “he can wait Museveni out until he dies”, that is insulting to the citizens of Uganda and to your brain. Would you have waited for anyone else to start your shop and organization? Are you saying as long as Museveni lives, he owns the Constitution and the Law? Do you think when you write this? That is why I call your writing political voodoo. It is amazing and insane. That someone can wait for Museveni, but Museveni cannot step-down, that because it is Museveni. The Sole Candidate, the one man with the vision. That has eaten your mind, Mr. Mwenda.

I think Museveni now resides inside your brain and that you are interconnected to him. Your vision is actually his vision. If not, could you have waited for someone to stop as editor of New Vision before working there? Since, you are writing like them and has the same reasoning now. Therefore, it is like it is a token to let Museveni die and than be kind to give Besigye power. Like Janet Museveni and that the son Maj. Gen. David Muhoozi Kaneirugaba, who is educated in politics planning to step aside and let FDC/Besigye get power. That most likely not. They will keep it, because they know when they loose it, there wealth, farms and business might be taken by the state. Their records and their fortunes might be frozen in the banks. Not like Museveni is not afraid of this and wants to stay in power long enough, that his family is safe and his legacy can be left for his son to rule.

If you have already stayed in power for 31 years, there are no other reason for anyone else to wait. There is no reason to let the ruler get more power for longer time, unless your a king and the kingship goes through the veins. But a Presidency isn’t a kingdom, it is a republic and supposed to be able to change leadership. That has been impossible and people like Mwenda thinks it is fine now. Since it’s been like that since 1986. Like that is normal and good. Well, it’s not and the opposition knows this. This isn’t about Besigye, this is about the Republic. Respecting the republic and building laws for all citizens. Not just fitting the President when it’s needed. Like the revoking or abolishing the Article 102(b).

It is the same thing, but Mwenda cannot not see. I am sorry to say so, but the political voodoo is playing tricks on him. Peace.

Opinion: The Kenyan Police Service has confirmed there are two kind of people, the ones supporting Jubilee and the rest!

That supporters of Jubilee Party, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other within the ruling regime was out in the streets demonstrating. They we’re burning tires and also being rowdy around the Supreme Court in Nairboi. We now know there are two kinds of people in Kenya. In the Republic of Kenya, there are the supporters of Jubilee, who are allowed to demonstrate and actually show their grievances against the nullification of the Presidential Election of 8th August 2017.

We have seen during the last two years what has happen when Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) or the now named National Super Alliance (NASA) has demonstrated on the streets. The police has come with anti-riot gear, come with water-cannons and bullets. At one point there was even footage of Police Officers beating civilians into pulp. That was because of the need of reforms within in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commisison (IEBC). So the killings, people going to hospital for their hurt and all of them who gotten detained. Clearly, nothing of that has happen today.

I am disappointing, I am disgusted, because if someone should demonstrate in Kenya. You should expect the tear-gas, the police brutality and other blue shields going all in on the people. But since their where one of a kind. Not like all the others who has demonstrated the last two years together with CORD/NASA. They we’re just seeing Police Cars on stand-by as the burning tires and other equipment we’re burnt in middle of the road.

That Jubilee supporters are allowed to close-off the Supreme Court and walk in marches in the streets, while the CORD/NASA was seeing the Police all out with water-canons and bullets for walking to the IEBC offices at the Anniversary Tower. Proves the double standard, that there are two kinds of people now.

IGP Joseph Boinett has showed the world there are two kinds of people. He should be proud of his work. Some has the Constitutional Rights to demonstrate and show their grievances to the State Institutions. But if you belong to the other political affiliation, your voice doesn’t matter! Kudos, Boinett, this proves your political stance and your place in the hierarchy, his loyalty isn’t to the Constitution, even if he gives leeway to Jubilee, but he shows his place when drilling Police Brutality to civilians demonstrating under leadership of CORD/NASA. Peace.

Kenya National Police Service: “Security of Judicial Officers and Court Houses” (19.09.2017)

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu MP letter to the Electoral Commission: “Citizens’ Demand for a Referendum on Entrenching Article 102(b) of the Constitution and Restoration of Term Limits in the Constitution of Uganda” (16.09.2017)

Kenya: Statement by the Judicial Service Commission on attacks on the Judiciary (19.09.2017)

IEBC Internal Memo from Chairman Chebukati to CEO Chiloba: “Re: SC PET NO 1 of 2017, Raila Odinga & Another VS IEBC & 2 Others” (18.09.2017)