Niger: Cour Constitutionnelle – Communique de Presse (17.12.2020)

RDC: Message du Camarade Rapporteur du Bureau Politique du PPRD a l’Attention des Camarades du Parti (17.12.2020)

Ethiopia: Is the Law Enforcement Operation entering Sudan?

Sudan’s armed forces said on Wednesday that a number of its officers had been ambushed by “Ethiopian forces and militias” during a security patrol of the border region. “During the return of our forces from combing the area around Jabal Abutiour inside our territory, they were ambushed by Ethiopian forces and militias inside Sudanese territory, as a result of which lives and equipment were lost,” the army said, adding the attack took place on Tuesday” (Asharq Al-Awsat – ‘Sudan Says Officers Ambushed by Ethiopian ‘Forces and Militias’ during Patrol’ 16.12.2020).

These reports have also been verified by Prime Minster Abdalla Hamdok on Twitter today. What these reports are saying is that the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and Amhara militia (Fano) has entered Sudan. That is escalating the conflict. Just after the three hours of meeting and talks between Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy and PM Hamdok in Addis Ababa on the 13th December 2020.

Seemingly Prime Minister Abiy is more in favour of continuing warfare. Just like he involved Eritrean forces on his soil to punish the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the regional state itself. Which it did start on the 3rd November 2020.

The Sudanese authorities have already shielded refugees from the region and also stopped arms from crossing the borders. Therefore, the Sudanese was naturally a proxy as its borders are directly to the new war-torn region of Tigray. Where two armies and one militia have attacked civilians and the enemy of the Federal Government.

Now, the same militia Fano is attacking in coordinated attacks on Sudanese soil. It is not longer back that in April 2020 that the Ethiopia and Sudan came to an understanding about the agricultural region of Al-Fashqa to the Sudanese state. However, by the time of the agreement the Ethiopian government hadn’t demarcated the area. Now, they are retuning with forces just months after.

Does Prime Minister Abiy wants more enemies? Does he want to the cordial and friendly neighbours in Khartoum? Is his ego speaking to loudly, as he has celebrated a too early victory in Tigray?

Because, this was an direct attack on Sudanese soil. This wasn’t Sudanese troops crossing into Tigray or Ethiopian soil. Therefore, the ones acting deliberately was ENDF and Fano as they entered Sudanese soil. This is escalating and a possible renewed border conflict. As the latest agreement is tarnished by skirmishes on the border.

Does PM Abiy has such ambition that he wants to Abyssinia Emperor or something? Because why does he do this? Before he has even ended his first war within “his” own territory. That is reckless and he needs the goodwill of Khartoum in the negotiations of GERD and with the witness of refugees from the conflict in Tigray. Therefore, Abiy is really stepping out of line here and needs rethink his strategies. Peace.

Opinion: Museveni continues to tarnish the #FreeBobiWine demos and intimidate Police Officers…

I congratulate the UPDF for defeating the insurrection that the traitors, with the foreign backers, attempted to stage a few weeks back. The Police Force must be made to do its duty of defending Ugandans from lawlessness, threat to life and property, any police person, that does not do this, must leave the Police. There are thousands ready to replace them” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – New Appointments memo to the UPDF & UPF, 16.12.2020).

Today the new appointments and changes within the leadership in Uganda People’s Defence Force aka National Army and Uganda Police Force was official. As the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made swift changes and moved around personnel. This is not new, but something he does irregularly.

What was more striking than the actual changes was the way he ended it. As the old man with the hat. Was proud of the killings of the plain-clothed soldiers and armed personnel who did the extra judicial killings, which was promised to be investigated, but nothing has happened. That is not strange when the President is proud of it and continues to push unsubstantial claims without any evidence. As he is backed by foreigners and his budgets has been for years. So, him saying that is nonsense until any proof is delivered. Which will never happened. Just like we never got any evidence of the Arua stone.

It is tragic that the President is like this, but he lives and thrives on fear. President Museveni needs that to be in office. That is why his using these means and saying it this way. That he states it like this about the #FreeBobiWine riots or demonstrations. Where he cannot prove anything and neither can any of “his” security organizations. Calling citizens traitors, but not proving the treachery. That is a huge charge on citizens without any evidence.

The way the Police Force is addressed is also striking. That he says its easily to change the personnel and the police officers. This means for him that anyone else is replaceable, but not himself ironically. The Police can easily be replaced by someone else. They are told they are not doing their job good enough. Which is also intimidating them and inciting fear of their job. That their work is on the line and someone else can come in their place. To say that is challenging them to deliver.

That is what the President does and he does it a month ahead of the polls. This is clearly a message to them. To ensure the Police Officers acts accordingly and be vigilant towards the demonstrators and possible riots. The ones that doesn’t follow can leave the Force.

This says how much the President values the most important reasons for his prolonged time in power. The ones that is on the frontline for him He clearly doesn’t value them and sends them threats too. The Afande, Kifeesi and everyone else should know this. Peace.

RDC: Gouvernement Provincial du Nord-Kivu – Communique Oficiel (16.12.2020)

Electoral Commission: Press Release – Electoral Commission Directs Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu to Comply with Election Guidelines and Respect Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (15.12.2020)

Republique Centrafricaine: Communique du Gouvernement (16.12.2020)

Lt. Gen. Muhoozi commands the SFC again [and expect a vicious operation by the SFC during the polls]

JUST IN: First son Muhoozi Kainerugaba has been re-appointed as SFC commander while Gen Sabiti Muzeyi has been sacked as Deputy IGP and sent back for redeployment. The army is set to release a statement explaining the changes shortly” (NTV Uganda, 16.12.2020).

President son and Presidential Advisor for Special Operations have been redeployed to Special Force Command (SFC). The literal Presidential Guards to operate and be their commander ahead of the polls in 2021. Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba wouldn’t be there and at this position if he wasn’t part of the first family.

This isn’t the first time his the commander of SFC… this is something that he has had control over since 2008 or so. Only a short stint with someone else, until his now reassigned. This a family affair and only giving him back the command and control of these soldiers.

As the commander of this outfit he has ordered them to the Kasase massacre and ambush on the Parliament ahead of the Age Limit. Therefore, this man has no issues to answer with violence and do it without any consequences.

So, this man gets that ability in the end of the year and in the up-coming election. Expect him to answer the pleas of his father and do his bidding. Be brutal and violent ahead of the polls in January 2021. This here will not make things better, but expect it to be worse.

To give way and make it possible for a man like this and with his huge ego. We can just wonder what he will do. If the Special Force Command suddenly intervened in rallies of Bobi Wine and POA. That would make sense. If the SFC blocks roads and ambush hotels. That would be natural at this point and then shift the blame on the victims. Who the SFC attacked and did unwarranted operations too.

Therefore, this redeployment is an direct move to intimidate and show fierce force ahead of the polls. Because, the Lt. Gen have no quarrels to send troops and attack civilians. Instead of securing the territory from outside alien forces. This man goes after self-created enemies and create havoc. The SFC will continue to be known for things like this.

A man that would operate the SFC soldiers in plain clothes within the chambers of Parliament in favour of his father. That’s why this move is a dangerous one. He wants to incite fear and uses a known man and loyal to son to serve that. The President does this to prove a point and the timing is perfect for this.

In this regard, expect the SFC to wreck havoc and intimidate as well. The SFC will be operational and used in favour of the President. They will not act for peace, but to brutalize anyone standing in the way of the President and his party. That is why they are prepared and has Muhoozi at the helm just a month ahead of the polls.

If the Special Force Command suddenly does a brutal and gets violent on the opposition or the citizens who gathers around them. If not they are abducting and arresting someone associated without any warrant or charge. That could easily happen too. Especially, when someone like Lt. Gen. Muhoozi is in control.

This does not deem well. The SFC have already been used viciously and with him commanding it. I can only expect more of it. Peace.

Msambweni By-Election: Ruto won [and Feisal Bader took the seat]

Today is a day of reckoning as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Omar Boga was beaten in the polls by Feisal Abdallah Bader run as an independent. As the Jubilee Party, the ruling party didn’t field anyone in respect to the ODM fielding their candidate. However, this move has backfired and Deputy President William Ruto have played both President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

This was the battle between the Handshake and Ruto. It was a political gambit of Kenyatta to risk his party own standing and give way to ODM to carry on. While Ruto wanted another loyal ally. Some says this is a pre-referendum before the actual referendum. The whole BBI shindig who is all pushed forward by Kenyatta and Odinga. While Ruto until recently have been vocally against it. He switched sides on that, but still people say people chose this way to say “no” against the ruling regime in itself.

What we can easily see that the ODM haven’t won here and that an Independent supported by Ruto got this. For some that is shocking… but everything that has an affect. The BBI and the whole acts of the duo Kenyatta-Odinga would cause some stir. As they are pushing forward their agenda without really doing anything else. They are busy eating and selling BBI. While not governing without a functioning opposition. That’s why Kenyatta has so lazy days, as he has no real opposition against him. Even Ruto cannot be opposition in reality, as his part of the government himself.

While this was Kenyatta-Odinga Versus Ruto … it shows how power games might come ahead. That the Jubilee-KANU-ODM pact isn’t a winning strategy. They don’t have an monopoly as the public can chose other candidates then theirs.

Some might proclaim the greatness of the Wheelbarrow Movement or Hustler Nation. However, this is maybe a direct answer that the citizens doesn’t agree with the BBI referendum. Secondly, that they are not pawns of the dynasties and cartels. That’s why they picked Ruto’s man. It seems like a lucky strike in midst of it.

Even I thought this was sealed for the ODM and Jubilee didn’t field Sharlet Mariam. That was clearly more risky than the duo thought of. Thinking back in time and the humiliation of losing this one. Surely in the next race. The Jubilee will field someone, even if the ODM has someone there. As they cannot live on the supposed popularity of Odinga.

Baba clearly doesn’t have all the suction or natural drive in the voters. If he did this seat should have been solid. Nevertheless, the citizens of the constituency has spoken and given their verdict. ODM doesn’t own this and isn’t automatic. Even with the supposed stronghold of the party. Clearly, that can be wiped out too.

If it was a clear sale this one wouldn’t been like this and it is some signs of what is ahead. That Baba and ODM isn’t all Teflon. There are possibility to trick the game and win.

The BBI and the whole adventure there is clearly not a good selling point. When they are even going for the candidates of Ruto to just some other faces. That says it all. The public should never be taken for granted, but right here the ODM did. The Jubilee did and Ruto played them all.

This isn’t because of some wheelbarrows, but a sign that change is coming. We just don’t know what. Because ODM and Jubilee haven’t got the gist of it yet. Peace.

Somalia: Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS Net) – Somalia Seasonal Monitor (15.12.2020)