RDC: Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) – Mise au point sur certains mouvements de recrutement (21.02.2019)

Opinion: Nothing is more endearing than NRM Rebels!

No matter how you look at it, it is just sweet and cuddly, the ideas of National Resistance Movement (NRM) rebels. They are just a rare breed of people. Their persistence on the ethical backbone, the narrative, that they are fighting a just cause, while still being tied directly to the oppressor. Is just unique, it is just amazing. That they are supposed to be cherished and become so special.

What is always so striking about the rebels in this party, which was based on rebellion and even a bush-war. Is that, they will be hunt down and strike back hard, against the ones that counters party line. It is so novel in their approach. It is deep and the surge usually uses all the tricks in the book. There is nothing left to chance, they are getting demoted, kicked out of the party and sometimes if lucky. If they repent, they can enter again. That is the road ahead, which is far from open to anyone. Who has already crossed the army-fatigued party line.

Why am I writing this? Today and in the coming days, there will be some NRM rebels coming forward for reasons of disloyalty or even trying to gain popularity, as the NRM CEC have endorsed the President. Not that it was a shocker or a misconception that he would run in 2021. It is just that, the NRM rebels would think the process should be done differently and they should have a voice. Not just the highest body in the party delegating whose the main candidate. However, Museveni wouldn’t do that, he leaves nothing to chance when it comes to his livelihood. That is just well known facts and the insiders, these rebels should know it best.

That is why it just seems like a play for the stage, they are just playing out their grievances, like married men who still not being laid. They have to complain and get annoyed, that their wife isn’t doing it anymore. Not that their breath doesn’t stink or their pockets are empty. That the wife is tired after working. No, it is all the wife’s fault, because they have done nothing wrong. The wifey will think otherwise.

It is the same sentiment I get out a NRM rebel. They knew this going in. The main rebel, the resistance captain, the chairman and the supposed liberator is not someone you should challenge. That is known since 1980, because he couldn’t manage to loose, even back then.

Therefore, NRM Rebels might defy, they might resist, even go in with words of fire and fury. However, they knew when they became flag-bearers and honourables, that they would play a secondary role to the Master.

That is why the rebels who went against the abolishment of the Age Limit lost the privilege of the trips to the State House, to be part of the NRM Caucus before the voting of vital bills. Some has been outcast and become “independent” MPs whose sole cause is themselves and own agenda. Even if they still are voting with the NRM on most things. That is why, the rebellions are quickly squashed.

Not only because the NRM rebels are fighting themselves, but because they are needing the pay-check and making their ends meet. They are really trying to figure out ways to get into the fold and kiss the ring. That is why these rebels are so endearing. Because, at one moment, they are defying the king. In the next moment, they are invited to the king and bowing their knees in loyalty. It is just a matter of time.

Unless, they are some resilient fellows, who got balls of steel and is ready to push the envelope. If so, they got some character, but usually, they give way and give in. They just tried to play to the popular stance, but in the end had to give up. They gave up because knew their fight was ill conceived and wouldn’t bear fruits.

That why I salute their hustle, but don’t anticipate a revolution or a true rebellion, because they will in the end. Give way to their master, yet again. Peace.

The Electoral Commission: Press Release – Lifting of the Suspension of Accreditation of CCEDU for Election-related Activities (21.02.2019)

Urgent support needed to respond to Humanitarian Needs in Cameroon (20.02.2019)

Renewed armed attacks have driven tens of thousands more Nigerians into Cameroon’s Far-North region, which already hosts 138,000 refugees.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, February 20, 2019 – Humanitarian needs in Cameroon have risen by a third this year owing to an upsurge in insecurity and violence, leaving one in six people – mostly women and children – requiring assistance. Today we launch the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan appealing for US$299 million to provide support to 2.3 million people.

“The humanitarian emergency in Cameroon must remain high on our agenda. We must step up efforts to meet the needs of the affected population, many of whom are surviving in deplorable conditions without assistance,” said Ms. Allegra Baiocchi. the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon.

“In recent years, funding for humanitarian response has not kept pace with the needs. This means that we have been unable to provide enough food, water or medicine to vulnerable people, treat malnutrition or assist displaced families. This is very worrying as humanitarian needs are likely to continue growing in the coming months,” Ms. Baiocchi said.

In 2018, only 40 per cent of the $320 million needed for humanitarian assistance was received.

This year, around 4.3 million people need urgent assistance. Displacement has risen by 82 per cent compared with 2018. Renewed armed attacks have driven tens of thousands more Nigerians into Cameroon’s Far-North region, which already hosts 138,000 refugees. In North-West and South-West regions, worsening violence has uprooted 437,000 people and forced over 32,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring Nigeria. The East, Adamaoua and North regions host 275,000 Central African refugees.

“We acknowledge the scale of the humanitarian emergency and urge all actors to work with the Government to address the rising needs,” said MINAT. “We must also work together to not only ease the suffering of vulnerable populations, but to seek lasting solution for communities to withstand adversity.”

The crises arising from armed violence add to existing chronic vulnerabilities, including inadequate basic services, epidemics, food insecurity and malnutrition as well as the impact of climate change.

The 2019 humanitarian response plan focuses on providing immediate assistance to save lives, bolstering the protection of affected civilians, identifying risks and vulnerabilities to support the resilience of communities to shocks.

Brexit: Joan Ryan MP resignation letter from Labour to join the Independent Group (19.02.2019)

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Kenya Pipeline Company: Press Statement – KPC Management is Fully Committed to the Fight against Corruption (20.02.2019)

Russian Probe: Paul J. Manafort Jr’s Unopposed Motion for an Extension of Time to file his Sentencing Memorandum (20.02.2019)

Brexit: Joint statement on behalf of President Juncker and Prime Minister May (20.02.2019)

Opinion: RTGS Dollars are Bond-Notes on steroids!

Today on the 20th February, the Governor John Mangudya of Zimbabwe Reserve Bank have launched a new currency in the Republic. This is the second time within the amount of three years, that the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) have launched a currency.

Because on the 26 November 2016, the same authorities launched the Bond-Notes. As that currency been struggling ever since. As the promise of 1:1 Forex Exchange between the Bond-Notes and US. Dollars. However, that haven’t been the issue, as the Bond-Notes been weaker than that. Significantly weaker, but the authorities have played around like it has the same value.

The RBZ have launched the RTGS Dollars, which are fully named Real-Time Gross Settlement Dollars. In all means of the name is real long name for a currency. Even the RTGS Dollars sounds like insignificant transaction. Because, the RTGS is like a crypto currency, a digital one, where the amount of RTGS Balances + Bond-Notes = RTGS Dollars.

Therefore, the RTGS is based on the liquidity of RTGS Balances, which means the Mobile Money Transactions plus the Bond-Notes. That is showing the lack of value in the currency before even starting.

What is showing the nightmare of the whole Bond-Notes of 2016 is relaunched today in 2018. It is just repacked and they hope this will maintain stability of the exchange rate. However, it is now the whole multi-currency system in a boiling pot and they hope it becomes a tasty stew, by blending in a new feature. Which seemingly is built on a transactions system, instead of a assets and liquidity built into a stable financial market. As the currency is supposed to be trusted and be a state instrument for transactions. Instead, here it is built on shaky grounds and just awaiting to sink.

The governor of the bank has in 2017 called the economy an albatross. Certainly with the RTGS Dollars, that is not changing. As the unfortunate ideas continues arising and they think these will solve the lack of foreign exchange and the lack of input into the system. However, they are not thinking straight and unlocking new scary scenarios. As they are now trying to shield the Bond-Notes, get them into the digital transactions of the RTGS Dollars, which would hopefully get more funds into the system. It might infuse more funds, as these are returning and become taxed by the RTGS taxes. That is surely securing the values and lack of trust in the Bond-Notes, which now will be transferred to the RTGS combined with the RTGS Dollars. That later can be changed again into the US Dollars. That shows the weakness of the whole system. Just like it was with the Bond-Notes alone.

The RTGS Dollars will be devastating as the launch of Bond-Notes. This is just another storm in a glass. Now, the state and republic can just await another hurdle. The RTGS Dollars will be as hectic or maybe even more than Bond-Notes. Even if people are familiar, the reality is that US Dollars have been the saving grace and even civil servants wanted their salaries paid in that.

Therefore, the current future is the new digital currency, the RTGS Dollars will be a rocky road. How it will be? Who knows? But the launch of Bond-Notes was a mess, this will surely be no different… Peace.