South Sudan: SPLM/A-(IO) – Press Statement (14.10.2018)

Ethiopia: Should we worry about the Growing Violence during the short tenure of PM Abiy Ahmed?

The Ethiopian government continues their crackdown on demonstrations and protesters, even if there are positive steps towards better governance within the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF). Still, the government have not stopped using the army and there has still be lots of fatalities since the appointment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in April 2018.

Though Abiy’s tenure has been heralded as a pacifying influence, the number of violent events and protests have actually increased by over 8% in the 6 months since he has taken office, relative to the 6 months prior (from 388 to 420 events). This has corresponded to an increase of over 48% in the number of reported fatalities from 644 fatalities in the 6 months before Abiy took office to 954 fatalities from April to October” (ACLED – ‘CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN PROTESTS AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE PM ABIY’S ETHIOPIA’ 13.10.2018).

This is from someone who follows conflicts and violence has not stopped, but surged a bit. The positive vibes and the diplomatic steps within the Horn of Africa haven’t helped internally. As the sins of the past and the seemingly revenge of the Oromo’s has happen too.

This was also proven further in the report from ACLED: “There has been a marked increase in intercommunal violence since April 2018, concentrated largely in Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ (SNNP) Region, and Amhara. Between April and October 2018, there were 43 violent interactions between communal militias (an increase of over 168%); over that time period, such intercommunal violence accounted for 10% of the overall number of violent events. Violent events between communal militias and civilians have also been on the rise since Abiy took office, rising from 1% of events in the six month period prior to Abiy’s swearing in to 5%.The prevalence of this violence suggests that local flashpoints over access to resources and mobilization around ethnic lines is on the rise since Abiy took office. Mobilization along ethnic lines during this period of political change may be a result of the Ethiopian government’s system of ethno-federal regionalism; emphasizing ethnic identity may be a way for ethnic groups and ethno-regional politicians to signal their strength and jockey for influence” (ACLED – ‘CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN PROTESTS AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE PM ABIY’S ETHIOPIA’ 13.10.2018).

We should really worry with the risign communal militias that has sky-rocketed, this has happen in the Ogaden Region or Somali Region. The Oromo and Queero and Liyu Police has really taken it in their own hands and held the ethnic Somali people down. This is worrying, as the Djibouti government even became worried about the escalated violence in the region, but there have been nothing from Villa Somalia on the matter. Maybe, because the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) is part of AMSIOM.

I am worried about this and the consequences, as the Oromo are doing what the Tigray did to them. But instead of retaliating, they are acting supreme elsewhere. Amhara is also played around with, as the former terrorist organizations are now allowed to return from Eritrea, as the peace between the neighbors are making it more possible to work together. This being Ginabot 7 and Oromo Liberation Front. These will also add possible local conflicts and surge mobilization, which is now combined with the return of other heroes. Could either create a better regime or more hostility, which have already seen.

These numbers are really worrying. This is not positive news, also the grand amount of fatal deaths during protest isn’t winding down, but become worse.

PM Abiy has work to do and clearly change even more within the ethical borderlines, but also the need for dialogue. This dialogue has to happen internally, PM Abiy have been busy with the neighbors, but not within region since he quit his national tour early in his tenure. 

Should we worry if this persist or change, as the numbers of mobilization and fatalities, are showing signs of not hope, but of death. The EPRDF and the PM needs to focus on what the internal issues and the concerns of these numbers. However, we should also know these numbers of fatalities are people, not just mere statistics. That is why the PM should take action and not see the surge, but a healthy decline. As the public should worry about this too. Since the appointment of the PM gave us much hope, but the reality of his reign isn’t as positive as it could have been. Peace.

Cameroon: Various Presidential Election Results (3 Unverified Results)

First Version:

Second Version:

Third Version:

Side-Note: 

By what it seems, the ELECAM plans to say the incumbent President won by about 70%. Let see what happens. This is the documents leaked today. None is verified, but they give waves and the currents of what is up. Peace.

Bududa Landslide: Bosco’s Empty Promises to help the district since 2010!

With age and time, you can see how a government returns with same empty promises and pledges. It is like President Yoweri Kaguta Musveni and his allies comes every time after a disaster. However, they are not planning to do anything. They are talking of making differences, that is why they had made a District Development Plan in April 2011. Where the district planned both tree-planting and building the road, which was promised the year before. Also, in National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management in 2010, which stated who had responsibilities concerning landslide. Therefore, the state has worked on plans and securing the area, but they have not acted upon it.

Today, I am just compiling a few promises over the years to the district, to prove the lack of act and lack of following up on promises. If this was a district the government cared about, they would have acknowledge the dangers and the landslides. As the death-toll is happening nearly yearly after the rainfall and the knowledge of this common. It is not like this is new problem. The state could have built the roads and could have ensured the earth erosion wouldn’t worsen, but never cared for doing so. Therefore, I have listed the promises since 2010 until today.

Promised a road in 2010:

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed for the immediate construction of a road leading up to Nametsi village in Bududa, the scene of the landslide disaster which claimed more than 300 people last week. The Lack of access roads to Nametsi village has severely affected the rescue efforts as earth moving equipments can not be transported to the disaster scene. The village which is located on Mt. Elgon can only be reached on foot as vehicles stop more than ten kilometers away” (Joseph Elunya – ‘President Museveni Orders for Construction of Road to Landslide Scene in Bududa’ 08.03.2010, link: https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/president-museveni-orders-for-construction-of-road-to-landslide-scene-in-bududa).

Presidential Directive in 2012:

The directive by President Yoweri Museveni to have survivors of Monday’s landslides in Bududa district relocated to other places within the country has drawn mixed reactions among the locals in the area. President Museveni through a message by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, on Wednesday directed that all those living in high risk slopes of Mount Elgon should be unconditionally relocated. The President suggested that the government could also construct urban settlements within the district to have them settled there. The directive followed the June 25 landslides that buried at least two villages in Bulucheke Sub County, Bududa district. It is still not clear how many people have died, with government putting the figure at about 18 while local leaders saying the dead could be over 100. Some of the survivors welcome the idea of having urban centers constructed within the district, but many equally say they would not move to any place outside Bududa” (Michael Wambi – ‘Mixed Reactions to Museveni’s Bududa Directive’ 29.07.2012, link: https://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=43316).

Promise of a road in 2015:

The President announced that the road from Magodesi to Lwakhakha will be tarmac and adding that the work is slated to begin in February 2016. He also said that Manafwa road will be extended to Bududa but called for patience as the government implements these projects in phases according to the availability of financial resources. “Money is not like the sun. We do government work step by step because not all programmes can be undertaken at the same time,” he explained” (Uganda Media Centre – ‘“Mass Industrialization to Solve Youth Unemployment”- President Museveni’ 27.08.2015, link: http://www.mediacentre.go.ug/press-release/%E2%80%9Cmass-industrialization-solve-youth-unemployment%E2%80%9D-president-museveni).

Promise of a road in 2017:

“There are very many stones on this mountain waiting to kill you people, but instead of these stones being a problem, we are going to blast them to make good tarmac roads,” he said, adding that government has also for funds to tarmac the Mbale-Sironko road” (…) “In September, this year, at least 10 people were reportedly buried alive after the mudslide occurred in Sironko and several houses were also left buried in Bududa district” (Max Patrick Ocaido – ‘President Museveni Visits Landslide Victims’ 22.11.2017, link: https://kampalapost.com/content/news/president-museveni-visits-landslide-victims).

Today:

On government’s behalf I apologize for the delayed resettlement of those living in landslide-prone areas to safer places, and commit that this process will be fast-tracked to avoid any further casualities. I was let down by my people. I apologize on their behalf. A plan was made and the people had agreed to move but it seems there was lack of coordination in government. I apologise for this, we are now going to move very fast” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 14.10.2018).

We can really see how the President promises and doesn’t keep them. That is why the Bududa District Plan of 2010 wasn’t even followed, neither the National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management of 2011, both wasn’t followed. That shows the contempt of the district and their needs.

That is why it is special that the President comes with the same promise after a landslide in 2018, as he did in 2012 and until last year he promised a road to help out the area. Clearly, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are not prioritizing the needs or the costs of lives that is happening here. As it is happening yearly and still the state doesn’t act upon it.

That is time to stop and actually follow up on the pledges, the promises and the needs of the District. That he also have visited several times of AK 47 and military fatigue, shows how he acts concerning the pains of the citizens. He didn’t do that today, but has done that in the past.

When, he promise quick progress and apologize for lateness, that is at least 6 years ago since he written a directive on relocation that the state haven’t been able to follow upon or allocate the funds. Peace.

Høyresiden burde stille spørsmål til seg selv: Hvorfor anser Hareide det viktig med et linjeskifte nå?

I disse dager etter at Knut Arild Hareide stilte spørsmål om Kristelig Folkeparti enten skulle fortsatt støtte en borgerlig regjering med Høyre og Fremskrittspartiet eller om de posisjonere seg på den sosialistiske siden. Jeg har aldri sett så mange prøver å legitimere all den forferdelige retorikken til FrP og deres største støttespillere. De slutter ikke og gjør Hareide til den verste politiske figuren. Fordi han ser at man må ta et verdivalg.

Skal Norge bli et kaldere samfunn? Eller skal det jobbes mot et varmere og mer inkluderende samfunn?

Fordi det er kjernen, at det er mange innen KrF som ønsker å fortsatt være på den borgerlige siden er naturlig. Med tanke på de historiske bindinger, men også at de har vært i regjering med Høyre før, også skal det sies at de har vært i regjering med Senterpartiet som også nå er på den sosialistiske siden. Derfor, viser KrF for å være sentrumsparti som kan gå til begge blokkene. Noe som er også en naturlig del av politikken, men høyresiden har problem med å godta.

Den samme høyresiden hadde ingen problem at Venstre gikk fra Sentrum og til inn i regjeringen. Etter å ha lovet sine velgere å ikke inngå i en regjering med FrP. Dette er helt greit. Siden dette passer Høyresiden og de Blå-Blå. Men nå er det et problem hvis KrF og deres delegater velger å bytte siden i november.

Derfor er det spesielt at Høyresiden er så aggressiv og lite villige til å se sitt snitt. Se hvorfor Hareide ville se etter kjerneverdier og de spørsmål han anser som viktige. Der han stiller spørsmål til de verdivalg som de Blå-Blå regjeringen har tatt. Derfor, er det en nyttig prosess for de for å finne sin rette vei og hva som betyr noe.

Vi vet at dette er krevende for Høyre, fordi de trenger KrF for å ha flertall rundt statsbudsjettet og støtten. Slik som KrF var støtteparti i forrige periode, da i sammen med Venstre. Som har bestemt seg for å få minister poster og være tredje-hjul i denne regjeringen.

Det er likevel slik at mange på Høyresiden kaller KrF med alle mulige navn. Sier konsekvent at de vil ha all skyld om de feller regjeringen. Da skulle høyresiden kanskje stilt seg selv spørsmålet, hvorfor gikk det slik og hva gjorde de for at det skulle gå slik? Hvilke verdier krysset de og hvilket grunnlag var det for KrF å bytte side? Hvorfor ville de ikke lenger støtte Høyre og FrP?

Det er det de burde gjøre, ettersom KrF’s leder sier at dette er kamp om verdier og hva som skal bety noe. Dette sier han med hjerte både i sentrum og de kjerneverdier som hans parti har. Skal det være kapitalisme eller soldidaritet?

Istedenfor å være brutal og kalle KrF for alle mulige ting. Burde Høyre, Venstre og Fremskrittspartiet burde stille spørsmål selv om hvorfor Hareide sier dette og det grunnlaget han har. Fordi Hareide ville ikke gjøre dette, uten at han ser noen skillelinjer og grenser som er brutt. Som gjør det vanskelig for han å respektere sine velger og de verdier de har stemt på.

Dette er å ta ansvar og være klok. Venstre tok det samme valget og motsto sine egne løfter til sine velgere, når de valgte å gå inn i regjeringen med Høyre og FrP. Dette betydde ikke noe, når de kunne få makt. Nå viser det seg at KrF stiller samme spørsmål. De gikk til valg på Solberg-Regjerning uten FrP, men Solberg valgte FrP.

Derfor, er det sunt for et parti å ta internt oppgjør om hva som betyr noe og ta et vei-valg. Dette fordi de skal anse hva som betyr noe. Dette burde høyresiden forstå. Ikke at de gjør det. Fordi de har tenkt at sentrumspartiene er naturlige allianse og evig brikke i det politiske spillet. Det er akkurat som glemmer at Senterpartiet var ikke alltid på den sosialistiske siden. Å viss vi går lengre tilbake i tid, da ville det aldri vært aktuelt for (moderate) Venstre å samarbeide med fienden i Høyre. Dette er før 1900-tallet, mens vi var i union med Sverige. Dette viser at intet varer evig i politikken og dette bør også de borgerlige partiene innse.

Ikke minst også stille spørsmål til seg selv. Hva er grunnlaget for Hareides skifte og hva kunne de ha gjort med sin politikk for å lage et varmere samfunn? Siden de ikke når opp til dette i følge Hareide?

For hvis de Blå-Blå hadde gjort dette. Da hadde kanskje ikke han stilt disse spørsmålene og ønsket et linjeskifte. Istedenfor, leser jeg daglig der Hareide er en vandal og et problem. Uten at de Blå-Blå og høyresiden kikker på seg selv. Å stiller spørsmål til hvorfor han anser det som nødvendig. Dette kunne gjort ting bedre. Istedenfor, går man ned i skyttergravene og kaster granater. Det skaper ikke bedre politisk klima, men mer polarisering. Noe som ingen er tjent med. Peace.

Cameroon: Centre Region – Communique Radio (13.10.2018)

Opinion: Don’t let Ezra Chiloba be the fall guy for the rigging machine of IEBC!

Some are giddy and happy about the termination of employment of IEBC’s Ezra Chiloba this week. However, people shouldn’t jump of joy, as there have been changes in the leadership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Just as the newly appointed IEBC leadership of 2011 with Chairman Hassan Isaack and change in 2016. When Wafula Chebukati got appointed in his stead in 2016. Still, inside the IEBC as before was Chiloba just working in the background as before.

That he got terminated over tenders and contracts are foolish at this point. As we all know the questionable behavior of the IEBC during the Presidential Elections in 2017. We can also wonder what Chiloba did with the previous leadership and elections of 2013, as there was speculations then also of rigging too. Therefore, the relevance of position and of what he did during his tenure there.

However, Chiloba shouldn’t be the fall guy. Chiloba didn’t do this acts alone and did answer to someone above. He didn’t go like an empty drone into this and do this only on his own merry. That wouldn’t believe, as someone ordered him around and asked him to fix. This was known by his previous boss and the current one.

That Chebukati and the rest of the Commissioners should be put in doubt too. Because all of them was in-charge and fixed the contracts with OT-Morpho, Cambridge Analytica and the printing companies. This wasn’t just done by one, neither was the assassination of ICT Expert and Manager Chris Msando and the assassination of CS Joseph Nkaissery. All of this happen days before the elections and even in relation to the polls. That is why these memories will still linger on, as the questions of what happen and who ordered it. The Ghost of Jacob Juma will also follow the organization and the ruling regime, as his words has happen as he said and what he expected from the authorities. Therefore, the IEBC are not alone in this and the truth of the matter, is that Chiloba wouldn’t able to all of this on his own.

Chiloba is one of many to blame, it was organized and was done with a purpose, it was all done to secure the tenure of Kenyatta and Ruto. It was done to secure the Jubilee and their established power. It wasn’t done to secure the votes of the people and neither legitimacy of a supposed credible vote. That went down the storm-drain with the rain-water.

So, the ones thinking the termination of Chiloba will fix it all. I doubt it. It didn’t change with the changes of chairmen either. If it was Hassan Isaack or Wafula Chebukati. The Kenyan election experience was as hostile and lack of transparency as usual. For the single purpose of securing the elite and their need of all power.

Chiloba did that, but not alone. He did it as per orders and per request. By both all Commissioners did so. Not only single individual. If it was only his way and his methods was behind this, than the change of Chairmen should have mattered, but it didn’t. That is why there is a need of change within the IEBC and also reforms of the organization. Not just make Chiloba jump on the sword, he is far from innocent, but he didn’t act alone. Peace.

UPDF: Arrest of Four Suspected Armed Criminals in Areas of Buziga-Kampala (13.10.2018)

Burundi: Presidence de la Republique – Communique du Gouvernemental l’Occasion de la Commemoration du 57ene Anniversaire de l’Assassinat du Prince Louis Rwagasore (13.10.2018)

Woman Bloc of South Sudan: Woman Bloc1 Position (12.10.2018)