Brexit: Sajid Javid MP resignation letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (13.02.2020)

RDC: Mise a jour – Republique democratique du Congo: Detention prolongee de cinq defenseurs des groits fonciers dans la province de Tshopo (13.02.2020)

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe: Press Statement on the Liberalization of Foreign Exchange Market (13.02.2020)

Opinion: Abiy’s Anti-‘Medemer’ Law Approved

There are sometimes ironies in life. Today that comes from Addis Ababa and Ethiopia. Where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was supposed to reform things. However, with time that isn’t sincere and today the nail in coffin of that was with a disingenuous law. Laws like these aren’t to save the nations from certain speech, but to muffle critics and opposition.

The Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister are really showing that there is no difference in them compared to the previous regimes, which it came from. This is happening in the months ahead of elections. So, expect the leadership of opposition and journalists to be arrested because of this law. As there are easy steps to be hit by this sort of law. Because of this, I am first dropping the key news about the law, before a simple explanation of the “Medemer” and after that breaking it quickly down.

The State own report on it:
“Addis Ababa, February 13, 2020 (FBC) –Ethiopian parliament today approved a hate speech and disinformation prevention and suppression law. The law was approved with a majority vote, 23 against and 2 abstentions” (…) “It is also intended to control and suppress the dissemination and proliferation of hate speech, disinformation and other related false and misleading information.
The law prohibits disseminating hate speech by means of broadcasting, print or social media using text, image, audio or video” (Fana Broadcasting Company – ‘House approves hate speech and disinformation prevention law’ 13.02.2020).

What is Medemer:

Since reformist Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed came into office, his concept ‘Medemer’ has become a phrase of common currency within Ethiopia’s political landscape. ‘Medemer’ literally means ‘adding’ or ‘being added’ based on how its read, and contextually means to come together. According to the Prime Minister, ‘Medemer’ is a homegrown approach that aims to solve the country’s challenges by bringing together polar views, and finding compromise” (Ethiopian Press Agency – ‘Inside ‘Medemer’’ 13.01.2020).

This law is clearly aimed at the ones not speaking their language or their rhetoric, as they can charge and make their expression illegal. As they will control the media, the public online and elsewhere. That is why this is totally opposite of the ideals of ‘Medemer’, as that was to bring together polar views and find compromises.

Now, the state is instead made way to stifle the voices, instead of listening they can ban and make voices illegal. Even if there are ethnic hate-speech, if there is tribal sentiment growing. This law will be most likely hit the dissidents and opposition.

This is the opposite of finding compromise and it’s actually silencing them. If this would target Mohammad Jawar’s Oromo Media Network or Eskinder Nega for that matter. I wouldn’t shocked, if they got into trouble for something they wrote or stated online. Neither, if some media forums like Tigrai Online or Aiga Forum for that matter. Don’t be shocked, if these would be banned or seen as illegal by the authorities ahead of the elections. Because, they just need to write or state something online, which is deemed as disinformation, hate-speech and you got it cracking.

This wasn’t a move of reform, but of going back. They might renamed themselves the Prosperity Party, but this is the old-EPRDF oppressive style of move. Peace.

RDC: Daldewolf – Communique de Presse – Mesures Restrictives de l’Union Europenne (12.02.2020)

Togo: Forces Democratiques pour l’Alternance pacifique en 2020 – Communique de Presse – Presidentielle du 22 Fevrier 2020 au Togo: Violences Recurrentes et Peril en la Demeure (13.02.2020)

Somalia: Federal Government of Somalia Strongly and Categorically rejects Amnesty International Report on Freedom and Expression in Somalia (13.02.2020)

Brexit: Geoffrey Cox MP letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (13.02.2020)

South Sudan: Important Urgent Annocement! (12.02.2020)

Opinion: Roger Stone reminds us that power corrupts

We are learning by the minute for all the four resigned government prosecutors and the ones whose working with Attorney General William Barr are all corruptible to give a lenient charge to a friend of the President, Roger Stone. That is what we are learning.

We are not learning the value of rule of law or justice, neither that the Courts or the Department of Justice is independent from the White House. No, they are entangled and co-operating as a joint force for their friends and partners. Therefore, the enemies of the White House might be targeted, while friends will walk-off easy. Even if the friends have worked against the law, conspired to breach of public trust and not obligated their role as a person who should have been labelled a foreign agent for instance.

As long as that person works for the Trump Organization or the White House. That doesn’t matter, AG Barr got your back and so does Trump. They don’t care if they are involving foreign powers to leak internal documents from the campaign of another presidential candidate. If they are conspiring to tarnish another candidates opportunities and family relations. That doesn’t matter, as long as they are working for the grander cause, which just happens to be the Trump’s own winning.

That is the reality of it all. That is the truth in this moment. Roger Stone, the man who was connected with WikiLeaks, who talked with central people in the Trump Campaign and who knew more than what he told the authorities. The man who obstructed justice and who intimidated witnesses for the Special Counsel Robert Mueller. That man is getting lenient jail time, because his a loyal man to Trump.

AG Barr is doing what Jeff Sessions couldn’t do. He recused himself and gave way, so the Deputy AG had to do something. Both of them are gone now. Others has resigned or been sacked by this Presidency. So, only the loyalists are there, the ones not caring about rule of law or justice. Just the ones loyal to the President and his cause. The cause which is to please the President by any means and use the office to enlarge his rule.

Roger Stone is a hack, but his Trump’s own personal hack. His the Nixonian  character in the chambers of the President’s men. A man who will use all means to further both himself politically, but also the President. That is the sort of man Stone is, this is why he was useful and been a part of Trump’s Presidency.

Now his facing time, 4 prosecutors have resigned because of Stone and the DOJ’s actions. They are not caring about the implications, but moving along. These men doesn’t value the Constitution and neither the law. Only blind submission to one man. That is what it has gone down too. The statutes, the legislation or anything is far-sided. What matters is the will of Trump.

So, now this is what America is and how it operates. There is nothing to learn here, just another tin-pot dictator in the flesh. No difference between the acts of Trump and other half-baked President’s for life. Using the office to help friends and allies, while letting their enemies burn. That is what this man does and its evident.

We can just point at the Penguin aka Roger Stone. His the proof. Peace.