
South Sudan: Ministry of Presidential Affairs – Press Statement (22.12.2020)



Geneva (22 December 2020) – Seven weeks after the conflict began in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the continuing lack of overall humanitarian access, coupled with an ongoing communications blackout in many areas, raises increasing concerns about the situation of civilians, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned on Tuesday.
“While we welcome the Ethiopian Government’s statement that there would be unimpeded humanitarian access, in line with the agreement with the UN signed on 29 November, this needs to be to all areas of Tigray where civilians have been affected by the fighting,” Bachelet said, noting that two humanitarian assessment missions were able to enter Tigray on Monday.
“We have received allegations concerning violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, including artillery strikes on populated areas, the deliberate targeting of civilians, extrajudicial killings and widespread looting,” said the High Commissioner.
“These reports point to failure by the parties to the conflict to protect civilians. This is all the more concerning given that fighting is said to be continuing, particularly in some areas of north, central and southern Tigray,” she said. Tens of thousands of civilians have already been displaced or have fled across the border to Sudan. Bachelet also echoed the concern expressed by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for the safety and wellbeing of some 96,000 Eritrean refugees registered in four camps in Tigray when fighting started.
Given the current restrictions, the UN Human Rights Office is not in a position to verify reports on the ground but it has received consistent information pointing to violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by all parties to the conflict.
Among the accounts, witnesses described artillery strikes on the town of Humera on the border with Eritrea between 9 and 11 November. The UN Human Rights Office interviewed several people from the town who alleged that shells launched from Eritrea had hit residential areas and the hospital. The Ethiopian army and regional Amhara forces and militia then reportedly took control of Humera, allegedly killing civilians and looting the hospital, banks, businesses, supermarkets and private houses.
Artillery strikes against the town of Adigrat in early November reportedly forced many families to flee to the mountains, where they were then trapped by heavy fighting between 20 and 24 November, with many people reported to have been killed.
One of the most shocking incidents reported to date was the alleged mass killing of several hundred people, mainly Amharans, in Mai Kadra, on 9 November.
“If civilians were deliberately killed by a party or parties to the conflict, these killings would amount to war crimes and there needs to be, as I have stressed previously, independent, impartial, thorough and transparent investigations to establish accountability and ensure justice,” Bachelet said.
“I urge the authorities to build on the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s preliminary findings into what happened in Mai Kadra. It is essential that there are investigations into allegations of human rights violations there against both Amharans and Tigrayans,” she said.
Based on multiple accounts, the Amhara “Fano” militia has reportedly committed human rights abuses, including killing civilians and carrying out looting. The UN Human Rights Office has also received information, which it has not been able to verify, concerning the presence of Eritrean troops in Tigray, their involvement in the hostilities and related serious violations of international law.
While telephone lines are beginning to be restored in some areas, the communications blackout that began on 4 November and restrictions on access raise significant concerns that the human rights and humanitarian situation is even more dire than feared. These reported allegations are likely only the tip of the iceberg regarding the extent and seriousness of the violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by all parties to the conflict.
For instance, while the Government of Ethiopia has repeatedly alleged that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces have been involved in violations of international law, without access it remains challenging to verify these allegations.
“This underscores the need for independent human rights monitors to be given access to Tigray to adequately assess the human suffering resulting from the conflict, verify allegations and to help ensure accountability for violations,” Bachelet said.
“What has happened in Tigray over these past seven weeks is as heart-breaking as it is appalling. Despite the Ethiopian Government’s initial efforts to provide humanitarian aid in some areas, it is vital that life-saving assistance is delivered to all civilian populations in need without further delay,” the High Commissioner said.
“To avoid continued conflict and loss of life, Ethiopia should address its longstanding ethnic divides through accountability, inclusive dialogue, reconciliation and respect for human rights,” she stressed.

“Don’t make politics your livelihood project. You should know that politics is a voluntary service. I have been in politics for 60 years but it is not my livelihood. Everyone should have something they do to earn a living. Politics is not a game or a joke, if handled badly, it can put the nation in danger” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 22nd December 2020
Someone who has established himself as the riches man in the Republic. The man who was poor before he came into office. A man who owns several of business and the same with his family. All of that wouldn’t have happened if the old man didn’t have the political office.
President Museveni wouldn’t be wealthy or have estates, if he wasn’t a president. This man wouldn’t have several of farms, hotels and businesses in general. If he wasn’t in office. So, for a man who got richer than GOD because of the political office. Is saying that you shouldn’t join politics for money.
Well, you are afraid of losing your wealth, money and titles, if you loose the office old man. You are afraid of the lose of power and amassed wealth. That is why is so defensive.
In theory the President is right. Politics should be voluntary and not be a paid position. However, if your elected and become a public official. Than, the ones running for office is getting a pay-off. Therefore, the locals and the activists on the front-lines isn’t getting paid. Nevertheless the ones on top of the food-chain will get salaries and perks from office. That is why people aims for it.
Not only salaries and office. The possible candidates are paying fees to contend. The candidates are risking big funds and huge fees plus campaigning. That they need to win to be able to repay their loans and what else it took to campaign. Therefore, this commercialization of politics have been created the old man and he shouldn’t act like it didn’t happen on his watch. He has ensured hungry politicians needs their meal-ticket and also office to be able to cover their debts.
President Museveni is saying politics is dangerous. That is because he has militarized the state and the policies itself. The army does everything from catching illegal fishers to deliver out mosquito-nets. Therefore, he can order them and get rid of the ones in his way. It is a way of signalling and again coming with threats. So, that only his loyal cronies are standing by and not the ones he despises.
The man who says this isn’t setting a good example. As he orders soldiers and military outfits to quell civilians from demonstrating. The man who doesn’t get things investigated and extra judicial killings dies in silence. A man who burns a Kings Palace and kills his guards, but doesn’t settle the score. His all for the momentum of fear, because he cannot get the love anymore.
President Museveni is speaking theories, but his isn’t living up to it himself. He has had the time in office to do so. The President could have been the honorary student and the example to look at. However, the old man has said everything and done nothing.
The political system of today… is a reflection of what he wanted and how it operates. It is all because he wanted it like this. He wanted to make the politics commercialized so he can corrupt meal-ticket politicians. The old man also militarized it to ensure the fear and intimidation could keep him in office.
The old man should look into himself before he entertains these ideas. As he is a hypocrite and insincere at best. If his supposed to give youth leaders a lesson. It is not becoming like him. Because, they will just loot, steal and rip-off a nation for years. That is what he has done and his been lucky to get away with it. Sooner or later the reason for all of his wealth will come out. The way he has enriched himself and gotten so much land. That should be investigated and told about for the coming years. Because, he had nothing and suddenly his one of the richest men on the continent. Peace.





Well, I’m not particularly shocked when the Communique from the recent Intergovenmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State Summit in Djibouti. This communique did practically do nothing and said nothing either. It was the definition of a nothing burger.
Neither does the African Union deliver anything substantial to the table. The AU is speaking in the words of “unity” and as a “sovereign”. They are looking shackled by the trouble that the headquarters of the AU is in Addis Ababa. Therefore, they cannot challenge the government that is housing them.
AU and IGAD has failed the Tigray and the ones suffering as a consequence of the conflict in the Tigray Region. All the refugees, the starving and the ones injured without proper health care in the middle of conflict. Can all be reminded that not only did their Federal Government not save them, help them and be their guardian. However, the big multi-national organizations supposed to support peace, human rights and shield the public isn’t their for them either.
These two bodies are now showing their uselessness. Not like the United Nations or any of its bodies are connecting the dots either. The region is suffering, the state is twisting the narrative and we can only imagine the troubles that are occurring. The levels of murders, assassinations and extra judicial killings happening on the watch of the authorities. The amount of damage and pain, which is served by state.
AU and IGAD are showing they are bound by the headquarters and their loyalty to the member state. In particular the loyalty towards the Head of State and their respective ideals at the time. They are shielding the regimes and the current leadership. These are not looking out for the citizens or questioning the human rights violations. Neither the graver or more worrying allegations of massacres or other mass killings in the region of Tigray. No, they are looking the other way and not challenging the Prosperity Party nor its leader Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy.
The way IGAD and AU is being the helpers and the ones buying Abiy time to do his indefensible actions as the Head of State. The man isn’t questioned or condemned. No, they are on his side and kiss his ass. They are together as a partner and buddy with a War-Lord and unelected tyrant. The man who uses the state to make his opposition arrested, detained and silenced. That man they are willing to take their bets on and defend his actions. Not even mediating or even trying to make a difference.
This here is just proving that they are the dictators club. A place to have a cigar, a laugh and enjoy the perks of being an executive. That all happens when they gather around with their entourages and cronies. They get to spend some times. Hold some pressers, decide and communique, but also eat expensive meals on other people’s dime. That is what they do and get away with it.
That is why this sort of ordeal only shows the maladministration of the AU and IGAD. The Tigray conflict, which have lasted since early November 2020 have undressed this. The IGAD and AU doesn’t work or have the heart to function to the needs. Maybe only the AU can come out with conferences about “silencing the guns”. However, actually silencing them by one member state seems impossible. Because, there is always a good reason for the killings and no reason to interfere too much. That is not the duty. Only some publicity stunts and hope the headlines moves on to another topic. If not to another crisis, which the AU and IGAD has no idea how to solve.
Since, they cannot ruffle the feathers with the heads of state of its members. That will not happen, because then they are daring to belittle a sovereign and make them accountable. This doesn’t fit with the program of a Dictators Club.
They are just supposed to sing and dance while looking Kings. Don’t matter who dies or what moral obligation they should have… that doesn’t matter and have no real values. Not as long as the AU and IGAD is a functional shield for the ones in power. Peace.



It is a reason why there haven’t been much movement of the recent agreed peace-agreement and ceasefire. Which is the reason for the current stalemate of Revitalized-Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) and their lacking of honouring the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Which to this day isn’t resolved and neither is many aspects of it.
None of the bodies which is supposed to monitor and help the TGoNU ahead isn’t putting enough pressure or even push it ahead in a good direction. It is worrying that so little are being done and the continued presence or inaction. As the R-ARCSS, the deadlines and the implementation it. The leaked report on the National Dialogue have this citation, which states a fact that says it all.
Citation from the Final Report:
“Power Struggle and Political Deadlock:” (…) “The Steering Committee of the South Sudan National Dialogue has opted in this final report to narrate these violent episodes of power struggle and political deadlock to make a broader point, which is that President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar have irreconcilable political differences and personal hatred towards one another. They have therefore created an unbreakable political deadlock in the country, and they no longer have the political will or moral leadership capacity to move beyond personal grudges and egos. Our country is stuck in the hands of these two leaders and both have proven beyond reasonable doubt that their joint leadership is no longer capable of getting the country out of its present predicament. It has become increasingly obvious that nothing is likely to improve or work in South Sudan unless this political deadlock is broken. The vicious cycle of the political deadlock is such that whenever President Kiir and Dr. Machar are brought together into one government, that government cannot move forward, because they endlessly disagree. And yet, if they are not in the government together, they are most likely to violently fight one another in a war that neither appears capable of winning. They then get forced to negotiate a formal end to the violence in another power sharing deal which immediately stalls as they cannot cooperate. South Sudan and its people are therefore caught in this tragic vicious cycle” (Sudans Post – ‘FULL-TEXT: Final report of South Sudan’s National Dialogue’ 17.12.2020).
These two are apparently forced to work together and got to work together too. This is two parties that got to start to work together. If the National Dialogue and the R-ARCSS to be deemed successful … the SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, SSOMA and every other stakeholder needs to cooperate. Unless, they are all planning to stall the operation and waste time before they have to make a new arrangement.
It is not shocking that the Machar and Kiir are not working well together. Last time they re-started the conflict and started fighting inside Juba. Therefore, these two have to work together and trust each other. However, if they want the agreement and get it implemented they need to cooperate.
The President and his FVP needs to work as a team to move things forward. Kiir and Machar needs bury their grudges and move-on. It is easy to say, but they have to do it. That has to be done not for themselves, but for the Republic of South Sudan.
These two leaders needs to get their act together and be professional as they are civil servants and running a transitional government. The President and FVP needs to do that. It is vital not only for themselves, but for the Republic itself. As they are unelected leader, but forever long duo who is in-charge
Machar and Kiir needs to revitalize their relations. They need to work and not be “war-lords”. These two needs become a trusted duo and implement the agreement. Not just create a deadlock, but actually achieve something.
They could have been a power duo and someone remembered for establishing a function government. Not just fully fledged cronyism and postponing the R-ARCSS. Which is the reason for them being together in government.
It is striking that the report says these two doesn’t have the ability or capacity to make difference. Kiir and Machar needs to properly sit down and iron things out. They have had the ceremonies and signing the agreements. Now its about time that they work together too.
The republic deserves that from the current President and FVP. They deserve nothing less… Peace.

The late Prime Minster Meles Zenawi’s daughter, Semhal Meles Zenawi, & late Major General Hayelom Araya’s son, Birhanemeskel Hayelom have both been arrested in Mekelle in Tigray state. This is a revenge act of the Federal Government. Even going after the sons of the previous Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) leadership, which was controlled by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
This is a civilian arrest without any precaution. They are only arrested because of their association and not for what they have done. This is the “reforms” of the Prosperity Party and the guided leadership of Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy. It shows the vengeance and revenge by the government in Addis Ababa.
Maybe, Meles Zenawi can distort the vision and the ideas of change that Abiy is supposed to do. As Zenawi wanted to be known as a statesman and a visionary leader. The former PM also wanted to be known for “the new Ethiopia” but also “the African renaissance”.
This must hurt the pride and ego of the current PM. He doesn’t wanted to be reminded of whatever accomplishments that Zenawi did. Even the legacy he left behind. Yes, the EPRDF and the TPLF under Zenawi was an dictatorship, but still it has some reflections of hope for a brighter future. Right now its a field day on anyone opposing or could be associated with the opposition in the Republic. In a manner, which is insane. Where daughters and sons of the previous generation can be arrested. Just because they were born and raised by their parents. That’s the extent of PM Abiy at this current moment.
PM Abiy must be so proud to live up to the idea that the children can be punished for the possible sins of their parents. That is such a Biblical and retaliation means. This cannot be constitutional or justified through law. However, this is only showing the ugly side of the regime today.
The 2020 Prosperity Party wants to go down as a One-Party dictatorship under the unelected PM. A man who is willing to bury, destroy and arbitrary arrest people. It is willing to muffle the media and citizens. Restrict and block people from speaking out. While they are even arresting people fro the possible sins of their fathers or mothers. Children of the previous generation can be arrested because of their name and not for what they did.
Citizens who happens to be related to previous EPRDF or TPLF leaders can be detained. Just because… apparently. That is how oppressive the authorities are at this moment. You cannot make this up. This shouldn’t be a thing, but sadly it is. Peace.