RDC: Front Commun pour le Congo – Declaration Politique du FCC (13.06.2020)

UN Report: 95% of Ugandan Gold Exports with other Origin [AGR registered in Seychelles]

gold is gold, and they simply need gold” – Gold Smugglers (UN, 2020, P: 19).

The newest UN Group of Experts Report on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was just recently published. This article here will focus on the gold smuggling operation and the amount of smuggled gold to Uganda from the DRC. This report really states the amount and the way the Ugandan exporters are trading the gold from there. The direct connection between these Republics are clear. This has been stated before, but not to these levels.

If your thinking this sort of business is clean and done after protocol. Then this report will shatter and break the glass. This report is explaining and showing more intelligence on how its done. We can easily see that the Ugandan authorities and the Entebbe Gold Refinery are only having its ability to be trading and minting the gold on the basis of gold smuggling from the DRC.

Just look:

The Group estimated, using information published by the Ugandan authorities, that over 95 per cent of gold exports from Uganda were of non-Ugandan origin for 2019” (UN, 2020, P: 20).

The next part is a proof of a way of illegal export and gold smuggling. Where there is one company operating doing so and how they are registered. While other bodies are claiming they are fraud. This shows what sort of ways the traders, smugglers and exporters are doing to be able to deal with the gold. What is really striking is the way the supposed fraudulent corporation are using all sorts of means to operate. They are even using bank accounts for other companies, which in the end might be a sign of illegal activity. As they are keeping everything of the books.

Vaya Forex Bureau forgery:

The Group found however that during the reporting period, sanctioned entity Uganda Commercial Impex (UCI) Ltd (CDe.009) retained an active business registration according to publicly available Uganda Registration Service Bureau information. The Group also noted that, according to an official ICGLR gold export certificate, Vaya Forex Bureau in Uganda acted as an intermediary in an official gold export (see para. 87 of this report). Incorporated in 2007, the two shareholders of Vaya Forex Bureau were Vaya Kiran Rajendra and Vaya Vipal Kumar Maganlal, family members of Rajendra “Raju” Vaya, owner of sanctioned entity of Machanga Ltd (CDe.007) (see S/2015/19, annex 63). The Group wrote to Vaya Forex Bureau but did not receive a response by the time of writing this report. Finally, the Group noted that, according to publicly available Uganda Registration Service Bureau information, Sameer Bhimji was a signatory on the bank accounts of The Bullion Refinery Ltd (see S/2018/1133, para. 97) until 23 April 2019” (UN, 2020, P: 72).

AGR told the Group that “a so called Vaya Forex Bureau” was unknown to the company and did not hold an account with AGR. The company further stated that they considered that the ICGLR document may be a “forgery” or “fraud” and that the company had already been the target of several such attacks. The company further committed to preventing forgery or fraud, and to reporting such activities to relevant Ugandan authorities and to relevant authorities abroad, as well as “instituting criminal and civil proceedings against the perpetrators”” (UN, 2020, P: 101).

What is more interesting is that the AGR in Entebbe has switched owners and is also registered in the Seychelles. What is known about the Seychelles in this manner is that they usually is confidential and tax-exempt to a degree. This means the AGR is run most likely in a tax-haven by its owners. While they are earning their profits. That is how I crack this one down. They wouldn’t have registered the company there after selling its stakes. If there wasn’t any benefits in doing so. Right?

Here is the information about AGR:

The Group established that, on 9 February 2018, African Gold Refinery Ltd sold its shares to AGR International Ltd, a company registered in the Seychelles at Global Gateway, 8 rue de la Perle, Providence, Mahe, Seychelles (see screenshot below). The Group wrote to the authorities of the Seychelles, who confirmed that AGR International Ltd was registered in the Seychelles at the address listed in the Uganda Registration Services Bureau documents” (UN, 2020, P: 107).

We already know the AGR has connections to the President and his family. Therefore, the move of liabilities to Seychelles is to safeguard the profits in a tax-haven. There is no other way to see it. This is so the future state will be in more trouble to follow the money and also get the accounts frozen by authorities.

This is it for today. Peace.

Tchad: Communique No. 58 du Ministere de la Sante Publique (13.06.2020)

Burkina Faso: Service d’Information du Gouvernement – Communique – Coronavirus (COVID-19) au Burkina Faso (13.06.2020)

Mali: Alliance pour la Solidarite au Mali (ASMA) – Communique (13.06.2020)

Ethiopia: Notification Note on COVID-19 Situational Update (13.06.2020)

Opinion: Kampala is hectic [because the “high above” want it like that]

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has a new leadership again after the President has appointed new Executives. This is yet another big change directly by him. At this point there is nobody who can run it smoothly or correctly. The President could appoint Steve Jobs or someone else with exceptional leadership skills. However, they will never do enough or have the capacity to make a difference. That is because of the system the President has made for Kampala.

It is a reason why there are issues in Kampala. KCCA isn’t the issue. It is part of the problem. You have the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, which has its mandate in the city. Then you have the KCCA, which has their place. After that you have the Lord Mayor, the Division Mayors and Councillors.

Lastly, you have the Presidential Advisors for Kampala, Ghetto and such. So, when you know about all of these. There got to be a hectic mess. There is a levels to this and that has been made by the President. He has appointed them all, except for the elected leadership, which he cannot touch in a way. That is why he has made like this to stifle and ensure his total control over them.

The KCCA, the Ministry and the Presidential Advisors are all increasing tensions and ensuring that there are to many cooks in Kampala. Because, you have the elected leadership too. There are so many players, everyone supposed to act and do things. Still, they are all in the midst of the same pot with the same problems and the same lack of results.

Kampala is a political farce. That has been made by Museveni and his cadres over the years. He has made this system. He has amended it and changed it. Because, he knows he cannot win this City. The President knows that he doesn’t have the characters or believable politicians to overpower the opposition in Kampala. That is why he has made the KCCA, the Ministry and the other appointments.

That is why the KCCA are struggling to deliver too. Yes, they have made new laws and regulations. It is still not happening. The President can butcher, axe and sack the leadership of KCCA at any given day. The President can appoint a new Minister and State Minister for Kampala. Still of all of that will not change the issues on the ground.

I don’t believe the new leadership will make a difference. They could be Gods among Men. However, they still have to configure, work and adjust within the means of the KCCA in combination with all the other players of Kampala. It is not like the KCCA is working a vacuum, but its in the midst of fire. They just have to await their time to get burned.

No one can save the KCCA. Because there isn’t anything to save. It is a mechanism to break, shred and trying to destroy the elected leadership from within. They are there to overpower and outsmart the Lord Mayor and Division Mayors. To make them as ceremonial as the Kings. The Ministry is there to oversee the KCCA and elected officials. While God knows what the Presidential Advisors do, except for cashing in checks. Still, they will blast out anyone who doesn’t act right.

That is why the President has made this system. He should carry the blame. It’s been all done on his watch. He can re-appoint, change the Executive Director as much as he please. However, that doesn’t change the structure or the problems from within. It only amplifies it and shows it again.

It is easy to pin the blame on the appointed leadership. As everyone should, but the ones that has created this mess. Should carry the most of it. That is only fair. Peace.

Republique Centrafricaine: Ministere de la Sante et de la Population – Communique de Presse (12.06.2020)

Niger: Communique du Ministere de la Sante Publique (12.06.2020)

Tchad: Communique No. 57 du Ministere de la Sante Publique (12.06.2020)