February 2020 – MinBane

Opinion: GERD negotiations without Ethiopia is an imperialistic move by the US…

The United States Administration holding meetings with the other parties of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). However, the main party was holding separate meetings with the ones whose touched by the GERD, but not the one operating nor owning the dam. That is question of sovereign. Something, the US should understand, but they only understand it when it inflicts themselves.

The two statements from both parties shows the indifference from the United States, while the Ethiopian are answering it with a respectable tone. Even when the US is acting rogue on the matter. They even used the US Treasury on this and not the US State Department, which is weird in itself. Secondly, it was Mnuchin who was involved and not Pompeo. Which is very weird and seems like someone whose not knowledgable or having the capacity to understand the questions remaining in this matter are indirectly trying to negotiate it.

Just look!

Ethiopian Statement:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia noted with disappointment the Statement issued by the United States Department of Treasury on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) released on 28 February 2020, following a meeting held without Ethiopia’s participation. Ethiopia had notified Egypt, Sudan, and the US that it needed more time to deliberate on the process” (…) “Ethiopia as the owner of the GERD will commence first filling of the GERD in parallel with the construction of the Dam in accordance with the principles of equitable and reasonable utilization and the causing of no significant harm as provided for under the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles (DoP)” (Amare Asrat – ‘Ethiopian Government Statement on GERD negotiations’ 29.02.2020).

United States of America Statement:

“Washington, DC – On February 27-28, 2020, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin participated in separate bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Ministers of Water Resources of Egypt and Sudan. The United States facilitated the preparation of an agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) based on provisions proposed by the legal and technical teams of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan and with the technical input of the World Bank” (…) “The United States reaffirms its commitment to remain engaged with the three countries until they sign the final agreement” (US Treasury – ‘Statement by the Secretary of the Treasury on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’ 28.02.2020).

With this final statement by the US, the observer role is dead. They are indirectly interfering and also using their financial powers to get the Ethiopian partners to succumb to a final agreement. Even when the Ethiopian are saying they need more time, the GERD is built by them and on their soil. It is their waters that is filling it up. They are not doing anything illegal by doing so, they are only friendly neighbours by trying to make sensible deals with Egypt and Sudan. That is what the US should understand.

I wonder if they we’re thinking of revamping the Nile Waters Agreement of 1929, a relic of the colonial era. If not, maybe the US thought they could push the 1959 treaty as well. Just because they have the power, but that was before the GERD and it was other regimes in place in Sudan and Egypt. The US shouldn’t push for this ones. Especially, when the US is not involving the owner and operator in talks. Which is disappointing, but also revealing their allies.

Egypt and Sudan needs to cooperate with Ethiopia. They should do so directly to seek their grievances, not work in direct tandem with Washington D.C. especially when Ethiopia is not part of it. That shows the three parties isn’t working together, but trying to score brownie points with the US.

This is not sincere. The approach not to be configured, if there shall be trust between Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Cairo. GERD need another approach by all parties. Especially the US should act sincere, because this talks with others are of no good. The Ethiopian side needs to be listen too, since they are the owner and operator. Not some fool with no vision.

Sudan and Egypt should play ball with Addis, not make love stories with Washington. That is not how these sort of diplomatic negotiations should go. They should know this, unless they wants to be puppets of the US. Peace.

Cameroon: Ambazonia Governing Council – The Ngarbuh Massacre and Cameroun’s Attempt to Distort Independent Human Rights Report (28.02.2020)

Burkina Faso: Ministere de la Securite – Communique (29.02.2020)

Burkina Faso: Communique du Ministre de la Securite (28.02.2020)

Togo: Front Citoyen « Togo Debout » – Communique (28.02.2020)

Part II: No ballot will beat Museveni, but a revolution would

We just have to patiently wait… since there is no sense to believe that the ballot will bring down Museveni. It will not… If you thought to, sorry, but not sorry. That is how I ended the last piece on this subject and therefore, I start from where I finished off last time.

Since, there is something that need to be stated here. Is that Dr. Kizza Besigye have given the needed guidelines for a public destruction of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and a peaceful transfer of power. However, this seems still to be forgotten. Like he never did or even tried to get it across.

He called it defiance or an awaking campaign, like in July 2017 he stated this:

“The following needs to be done to terminate the Junta’s control of our country:

1) Intensify the “awakening campaign”, for most Ugandans to become active in the processes of achieving a transition. Everyone has a role to play in achieving this.

2) Forming activist networks to make it possible to act together and to be coordinated.

3)Everyone seeking a democratic transition should take deliberate actions, individually or in concert with others to disempower and break down the Junta. Each one’s actions, however small, contribute significantly towards the desired change.

4) Public servants, including those in the security and military are called upon to join the struggle for democratic transition.

5) In coordination with other political and civil society formations, we’ll soon start various activities that will disempower and bring the, now fragile, Junta to an end” (Dr. Kizza Besigye, 11.07.2017).

This five points has to followed, it is a deliberate attempt of forming a people’s revolution against the government and the state. This is the action that needs to be done. Because, through the General Election of 2021. It doesn’t matter if the public are either voting for Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine or Kizza Besigye. The results will be in favour of President Museveni with a flick of his finger.

That is why, the ballot is worthless. The whole state is rigged in favour of man and his orders. There is no other way to change this. The people need to use their power, their feet and their voices. The army cannot contain them all, neither can all the police officers. All of them will be overpowered by the people, as long as they revolt and does it steadily.

They got to use their weapon of civil disobedience, their weapon isn’t compliance or trying to follow the rules. The rules are only made to stifle and hurt the voices of the public. That has been proven again and again. While Bobi Wine cannot do an consultation, neither can the FDC celebrate their 15 years. Today, Evelyn Anite could campaign with rallies in her Koboko today. The same week the President and his soldiers killed people leaving funerals in connection with the opposition leaders. That shows that these games are rigged and no mercy at all.

That is why an election is not real at this point. The public will not be listened too. The ballot is a waste, the polls are just for show and the results are just for validation of the President. There is nothing else too it.

Unless, there is a real will for change. Unless, there is a real structure and will, the status quo will continue. Unless, the state kills the wrong person, unless the state suffocates the public space to a level, which a small move will make it spark. These sort of things happens and suddenly the leadership looses control.

However, there is a need of will… that will power has to come from the public. That is a revolution. That is the will of a peaceful transition with a push to end the dictator and his regime. Unless, that happens. There will be more bloodshed, be more pain and hurt. There will be more tears and fear, more intimidation and also striking indifference to all the ones suffering. As the elite is eating, the foreign investors are looting and the armed forces are settling the score.

The only this will change is listening to the mind of Besigye. However, don’t anticipate it. They have been able to get away with it since 1986. So, the NRM seems to be able to pull it of yet another term. Unless, there is a will… Peace.