The Miseducation of Jajja!

Do not support the opposition…They want to take you into riots which is dangerous and wastage of your time. They want you to riot but what if you die from there? That Bobie Wine is a singer, leadership issues are not about music”Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to Kampala Youth Delegation at the State House on the 14th March 2019

Well, a man whose overstayed his welcome, a man whose has gone back on all his words and pledges. Who is a self-serving, self-styled for life dictator should be careful about addressing, whose a leader or not. Because, he is not leading as much as it is micro-managing, being a walking ATM or even indirectly directing things. His not guiding, his not inspiring or even creating a new generation of leadership.

If he had been so great in leadership or with creating institutions or organizations, been a statesman of sorts. Than, this President would have been gone from office and one of his successors would have taken-off and become even greater than him. It isn’t leadership to linger long, especially not buy fear, intimidation and direct forceful attempts to silence the opposition. If the President was so great and had a good message and leadership, he wouldn’t need the usage of the police and military to silence and stop the opposition from campaigning. Alas, that is not the case. That is who this President is.

Museveni, have little proof of greatness or even good leadership. The President knows how to wreck the economy, hurt the public and takes to arms if he feels challenged. If not use the laws, restrict and silence the ones who stands up to him. While people are supposed to kiss his behind, they are supposed to be obliged and be grateful to be in his presence. Therefore, he should be praised, while not really delivering.

If the President was a great leader, he would have known when his time was up, he would have groomed a successor to steady the ship and continue to pursuit the Ten Point Programme. He would have ensured the state infrastructure, the state owned enterprises and secured the financial foundation. Not borrowed like no tomorrow, paid of cronies, created a giant entourage of a patronage and supreme clientele politicians, whose all depreciating the state and its functions. Alas, that is what he has done to the T and to perfection.

If Museveni acted like his words. He wouldn’t be today at the State House. There would be someone he groomed there and resided there. Which would have benefited not only the public, but also the legacy of Museveni. Which has been tormented and destroyed by own activity and hypocrisy. The gun-taunting, militarised politics of Museveni haven’t brought salvation, neither the progress many envisioned, but more deprecating and self-inflicting wounds on the state and the ones who dares to challenge him. Peace.

Burundi: PPD-Girijambo – Retrait du PPD-Girijambo de la Platforme CNARED-Giriteka (14.03.2019)

RDC: Muyangi Kokow Cox lettre de President de la Commission Electorale Nationale Indenpendante (CENI) – “Concerne: Retrait de ma Candidature a l’Election de Province du Kwango” (14.03.2019)

RSA: DA leader Mmusi Maimane letter to NDPP Batohi – Request ANC to be put on trial as a criminal syndicate (13.03.2019)

Philippines: Implementing the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action the Philippine Anti-Drug Strategy (14.03.2019)

NRM Kyankwanzi Summit: Only shows again, that the party is a bunch of minions of Jajja!

Well, it is that of year, that time of the prequel before the next General Election. This time, its the National Resistance Movement (NRM) gathering at Kyankwanzi, where they are having a retreat to find their way and show their tokens of loyalty to their master. Especially when his around, when he comes in army fatigue and is prepared to sensitize them. Which will happen eventually. Because, nothing is left to chance.

Just like earlier in this year, the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorsed Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for sole Presidential Candidate in 2021. The MPs and the Delegates at the NRM Kyankwanzi retreat, is doing the same. It is just like clockwork.

What is more striking and vindictive, but in mercy of their almighty leader, is that the Caucus at the Summit are planning another constitutional change, just to fit the Program of their leader. This time a newly minted age limit on the youth. In a way to close of the Presidency for the youngest citizens of the state. This time, you cannot run until your of 45 year old. That means you not eligible before turned 46 years old.

What is more striking, in a Republic where about 95 % of the population is under 54 years. Under 24 years of age is about 69 % of the Population. Therefore, the NRM is proposing to ban the average Ugandan for eligibility to stand as President. Not that everyone and everybody is able to run or neither fit to do so. But not even having a head start, but being blocked because of the average age says a lot. Because the estimated population above 54 years is about 5 % and really isn’t much, considering that is biggest part of the pool of the candidates. That is if the NRM Kyankwanzi idea gets put into law.

This is to definitely strike at Robert Kyagulanyi and his candidature, also if others like Joseph Mabarizi or anyone else of youthful stature seeks the highest office. However, we all know this game. We knew the previous age limit was cancelled because it fit the Presidency. If the President see this as a fitting request. He will get it through Parliament as well. That is just the way he is and operates.

Just as the loyalty of the NRM CEC, the NRM at Kyankwanzi has to shows token of loyalty and pay homage to the old man with the hat, the only man with a vision, the almighty Bosco and his clan. They have to show grace and hope for mercy. Even if they only get a yellow t-shirt or jersey for their work and dedication.

You couldn’t expect anything else, the sessions and plans ahead of 2021 are all there. There is nothing new under sun. The sun is shining, but the light its shining is clearly not enlightening all of us. Since, they are following the pattern of submission. Not thinking on their own and not even trying to show any committed to better judgement. Peace.

RDC: ACAJ – Concerne: Tentative de spoilation des parcelles d’un particular (07.03.2019)

UNDSS Communique: Recommendation regarding the travel of UN Staff on the Boeing 737 Max Series Aircraft (13.03.2019)

Cameroon: North-West Region – Mezam Division – Prefectoral Order no. 69 (12.03.2019)

OHCHR: South Sudanese individuals can be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity even in other countries, say UN human rights experts (12.03.2019)

“Impunity cannot be allowed to continue.”

Geneva (12 March 2019) – The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has identified 23 individuals over the past year who bear command or superior responsibility under international criminal law for serious crimes related to the conflict in South Sudan. Members of the Commission, mandated by the Human Rights Council to investigate human rights in South Sudan, told the Council this morning that these individuals, along with previously identified alleged perpetrators, could face justice in courts around the world, not just in South Sudan.

“We have not placed all of our eggs in one basket,” Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, Yasmin Sooka, told the Human Rights Council this morning as she and her colleagues presented their more than 200 page report. “We have framed these crimes in multiple ways to allow future prosecutions to take place in jurisdictions inside and outside South Sudan,” she explained. “This allows for the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity in states that are parties to relevant treaties on torture, enforced disappearance and attacks on UN personnel, for example.

In its third report to the Human Rights Council, the Commission noted that while the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan in September 2018 had seen improvements in the overall situation in terms of security, peace, and economy, the situation in the Equatorias, in the southern part of the country, was extremely volatile with ongoing fighting in the Yei River Area between forces of the government and the National Salvation Front (NAS), which had not signed the Agreement. Thousands of civilians, the Commission told the Council, were still being forcibly displaced.

In this report, the Commission focused on incidents occurring between May and June 2018 in Unity State, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Central Equatoria State, concluding that such incidents may amount to serious violations of human rights and of humanitarian law.

The Commission documented sexual violence, including brutal rapes including multiple gang rapes, sexual slavery, abductions, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, and mutilation of sexual organs as well as killings, at the hands of both government forces and those belonging to the opposition. The Commission noted UNICEF statements that in more than 25 per cent of all reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence, the victims were children.

“It has become commonplace to say that these crimes take place because impunity has become entrenched,” noted Ms. Sooka, “But that impunity cannot be allowed to continue.”

The Commission also noted increases in arbitrary detentions, torture, executions and enforced disappearances. These generated paranoia and fear in South Sudan, with civil society activists reporting they felt afraid to speak out. The Commission documented cases where prisoners had been held in shipping containers with no fresh air or toilets. Witnesses also described torture, including beating and whipping, pulling out of toenails, cutting, burning and electrocution.

The Commissioners said the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement had not delivered immediate improvement in the desperate humanitarian situation for the people of South Sudan. Due in large part to the conflict, 60 per cent of the South Sudanese population is severely food insecure, and there remain 2.2 million refugees and 1.9 million Internally Displaced Persons. The humanitarian situation is exacerbated by the deliberate obstruction of the work of humanitarian actors, the Commission noted, adding that South Sudan has been ranked the most dangerous place in the world for humanitarian workers for the third consecutive year.

The Commission reiterated its continued concern about the lack of progress in establishing the Transitional Justice mechanisms that were adopted in the2015 Peace Agreement and re-confirmed in the Revitalized Agreement of September 2018. “These mechanisms are essential for dealing with the past, preventing fresh violations, ensuring accountability and constructing a cohesive society,” said Commission member Barney Afako. Little or no progress had been made on establishing these mechanisms, said Commission members, calling on the Government of South Sudan to take urgent steps towards establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, and the Compensation and Reparation Authority, and on both the Government of South Sudan and the African Union to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

“Despite these delays in the establishment of justice mechanisms within South Sudan,” underlined Commission member Andrew Clapham, “Perpetrators of violent crimes in South Sudan should not think they can escape justice, as they could be prosecuted in international courts or domestic courts in other countries.”

The Commission called on the region and the wider international community to invest politically and materially in the Transitional Justice mechanisms in South Sudan. “These are essential for building sustainable peace,” said Ms. Sooka, “As well as supporting the people of South Sudan in rebuilding all aspects of national life, especially the rule of law.”
ENDS

The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan was established by the Human Rights Council in March 2016 and extended in March 2017 and for a further year in March 2018, with a mandate to determine and report the facts and circumstances of, collect and preserve evidence of, and clarify responsibility for alleged gross violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, with a view to ending impunity and providing accountability.

For media queries, please contact: 
Doune Porter, Media Advisor, chrssmedia@ohchr.org /at +41 79 752 0486 or 
Rolando Gómez on rgomez@ohchr.org/+41 79 477 4411