Allies of South Sudan militias must be held accountable: UN human rights report (15.03.2021)

More than 738 people were killed, and 320 wounded, during the reporting period, while at least 686 women and children were abducted, and 39 women were raped.

NEW YORK, United States of America, March 15, 2021 -Military and political officials in South Sudan supporting community-based militias in the Greater Jonglei region, must be held accountable for violence that killed more than 700 people over a six-month period last year, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Monday.

Between January and June 2020, organized and heavily-armed militias from the Dinka, Nuer and Muerle communities, carried out planned and coordinated attacks on villages across Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), according to a joint report issued on Monday by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and OHCHR.

“Six months after the last devastating attack in Greater Jonglei, it must be made clear that those key figures at both local and national levels, who deliberately fuelled and exploited localized tensions, will be held accountable”said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

“The risk that these community-based militias will reignite armed violence is too grave to ignore. It is of paramount importance that the Government takes effective steps to ensure that members of the security forces are prevented from supplying weapons from Government stocks to these militias,” she added.

The report underlines that the South Sudanese Government needs to take full responsibility for the harm inflicted on civilians.

Killings, abductions, rape 

More than 738 people were killed, and 320 wounded, during the reporting period, while at least 686 women and children were abducted, and 39 women were raped.

The violence also displaced tens of thousands of people. Civilian property and humanitarian facilities were looted or destroyed, and at least 86,000 cattle, worth over $35 million, were stolen.

Although grassroots efforts to reconcile the affected communities have been underway for months, the authorities have not taken meaningful action to investigate and prosecute those responsible, the authors said.

Support in high places 

The report found at least 50 traditional chiefs and spiritual leaders, as well as military and political elites, supported the attacks, whether directly or indirectly.  Members of Government and opposition forces actively participated in the fighting, according to their kinship, or as part of a calculated move to reinforce political alliances.

UNMISS peacekeepers were deployed to affected areas when the violence erupted, establishing temporary bases and conducting regular patrols in efforts to deter further attacks.

The UN Mission engaged with political and traditional leaders, both at the national and local level, to promote reconciliation and to support efforts to release the hundreds of women and children who were abducted.

The report calls for the Government to finalize the appointment of local administrators and assemblies throughout Jonglei and the GPAA.  The authorities are also urged to investigate all allegations of human rights abuses and to prosecute the perpetrators, and to ensure state-owned weapons are securely stored to prevent theft or supply to community-based militias.

The authors also called for immediate action to facilitate the release and reunification of abducted women and children with their families.

Kenya: The National Treasury & Planning – The Port of Mombasa is Safe – Clarification on SGR Loan story carried by The Star (15.03.2021)

Opinion: Where is Magufuli Part II?

On the 11th March the rumours around the whereabouts and the condition of Tanzanian President Joseph Magufuli had gone spiralling out of whack. There been even more striking rumours since then. Some has even stated that his in coma, cardiac arrest or succumbed to the COVID-19 disease and actually died. Therefore the lack of evidence and proof of his location puts it into more questioning.

There has already been rumours of his stay at the Nairobi Hospital in Kenya. Where he a day later was supposed to leave for India in a ventilator in a helicopter ambulance. While another rumour was that he was flying from Nairobi to Dubai and to final destination of Germany. However, nothing of that has been verified or proven. Not even his supposed stay and treatment in Kenya.

What we do know is that nobody has seen him since the end of February on the 27th February 2021. That is now weeks and its not getting better. The authorities are warning the general public of spreading “malicious” or “fake news” about President Magufuli’s current condition.

This all started with the supposed medical treatment for a possible “breathing problem”. We don’t even know about that, but that could be code for “COVID-19” as that is “extinct” in Tanzania. That is if the words of Magufuli have any value. Then the whole pandemic never hit the Republic and nobody got touched or spread of the virus there. Nevertheless, if the visitors or truck-drivers are spreading it across the borders in the East African Community (EAC).

So we are now 4 more days after the spiralling rumours… still no official verdict. His supposed to sit by a desk and do clerical work. Looking into cases and governmental questions behind closed doors. Nevertheless, the state isn’t delivering any news or proof of that either. They are only arresting people and warning people of speculating about the health condition of their President.

Well, we can only speculate as his incommunicado. The man who usually outspoken. Speaking in churches and on stages. The bulldozer is gone missing. His face should be on a milk-cartoon. Seriously, a man of his character shouldn’t be gone away from the public eye this long. Especially, when the man is the Head of State and its a constitutional question if his in jeopardy. Therefore, the need for proper resolution is dire.

Where is President Magufuli? Is he in Chato, Geita Region? Is he in Nairobi or anywhere else in the world?

The authorities shouldn’t arrest people for questioning or spreading possible rumours about their President. That just shows their lack of information and the lack of work done by the ones in-charge of government communications. The state could have just shown a video or a tape of the President. If not a recent picture and a written statement by the President. Alas, they are struggling to that. So, the minds starts wondering.

President Magufuli where are you and what are you doing? Tanzania Intelligence Security Service (TISS) either has taken detractors on rouse or the state playing a fiddle with everyone. If not they are in a power-struggle trying to figure out a successor. Whatever it is…

It is worrying how little that leaks or is proven. That a man can be gone this long in power. A man who has been so dismissing of the disease.

The truth will eventually come out. Now the rumours are running wild. However, at one point the state and the President have to show up. In one way or another. We just don’t have any idea of how. Peace.

Bobi Wine arrested as he leads a peaceful protest in Kampala

Today Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and fellow National Unity Platform (NUP) Members of Parliament held a peaceful protest in the Central Business District of Kampala. Unsurprisingly, they arrested them.

The latest update is this: “Update: Police has released Bobi Wine, 8 others and taken them to their specific homes. This follows their arrest during protests today in Kampala, KMP deputy spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire” (Africa Facts, 15.03.2021).

We knew this would happen when the NUP and the Opposition would demonstrate. They could have applied for it, but we know the application would be dismissed or denied. Bobi Wine wouldn’t have been allowed to do so.

Some has called the NUP all keyboard warriors, also that Bobi Wine is all talk. However, he proves he went to the front-line and tried. Now, his house-arrested and this might last a long time again. The same with the MPs who stood with him.

Ugandan politician Bobi Wine arrested today as he was taking part in a peaceful protest against the abduction, torture and murder of his supporters” (Switch Kenya TV, 15.03.2021).

We know that the rule of law is applied only to the opposition and not to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The NRM can steal, loot and do whatever they want. The SOPs of the COVID-19 regulation is only applied to the opposition and not the ruling regime. So, if they use this excuse. Then they are hypocrites, as we have seen processions, rallies and whatever in regard to this when the yellow bus is around.

That is why we know the law is one for the opposition and another for the ruling regime. It is two Republic’s at the moment. Where one is above the law and the other is oppressed by the same law. That is how the law enforcement is operated.

The opposition was trying to protest the oppression and the answer was actually more oppression. That is impressive and an action in the wrong manner. It shows how the state is run wrong. This was bad when they did it to Besigye and it is wrong when they do it to Bobi Wine.

What value does the Constitution of 1995 have, when some of the articles in it has practically no value? What values have the liberties and freedoms in it, when they can be abused and taken away from the public with no consequences?

We can expect the Military and Police Force to surrounding his home in Magere in Wakiso district. The other MPs who participated will be under surveillance too, if not they are house-arrested too. This last for a while now. Especially, when the President yesterday came with the empty claim of destroying the swearing-in in May 2021.

However, there is no proof of this. Only that Bobi Wine wants civil disobedience in general. Which proven by today’s action… will not be allowed and that was to be anticipated by how the state has acted towards the opposition in the past. It was to be expected and how the state acts towards the dissidents. Peace.

Opinion: Gen. Museveni will tell any story that benefits his agenda..

They have been planning that they will stop swearing in of the president. They won’t. They plan all sorts of things including killing their own opposition people to say it is the government”Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni national address on the 14th March 2021

The old man with the hat, the ageing general and self-styled President for Life Museveni told various of stories yesterday. Not that it will amount to anything. It is just more alleged things and allegations pointed in the other direction. That could easily be put towards him.

Museveni knows he couldn’t win this election without intimidation, fear and open bazaar rigging. That is a reality. He has been rigging elections since he lost in 1980. That is what he does and he uses the state machinery to help his cause. This is so evident.

You know your a sinister old man… when you claim the opposition kills itself to make you look bad. Your really the devil, when you who has the army, security agencies and using the state machinery to oppress opposition. Says they are doing suicides to make you look ugly. That is beyond comprehension, but that is what he said yesterday. How come this is a thing?

If you thought that was bad enough.

He put up the ante:

It was Kyagulanyi and the team that cheated massively. Especially here in Kampala , Mpigi, Kyotera and in some parts in the Eastern like Busoga where our agents were weak, a lot of ballot stuffing happened. Thank God we emerged winners. In his petition, Kyagulanyi said he had evidence showing how Ballot stuffing was conducted, intimidation of their voters but when asked of the evidence, he didn’t show anything”Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni (14.03.2021).

This sort of statement is really strange. If the National Unity Platform should rig an election. Why do it only in one region(s) and not the whole nation to get the upper hand in the Parliament and in the Presidential Elections. Therefore… the idea itself is really rich.

This election was far from free or fair. There was no indication of any sincere or truthful about the election. The polls was rigged and the numbers haven’t made sense. The state had the abilities just like the ruling party in 1980 to field candidates everywhere. While the opposition couldn’t manage to do the same, neither campaign or even try to assemble. That’s why its really a giant lie. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) was bound to win and get their majority by gerrymandering and by rigging the polls. While using the security organizations to intimidate and harass the opposition at the same time.

The General is really making it out of his way to make the opposition look bad and point at them everything he himself is ordering and doing. His even thanking God for rigging an election. That sort of God is not the almighty I believe in. My God isn’t a deity who supporters killers and robbers, but who will serve justice to the ones who trespasses others. Which is what Museveni has done…

He knows that he intimidated the voters. The general even arrested activists, poll agents and others in the night ahead of the polls. Therefore, the reality of this is really out of bound with reality. When his forces even passed through the streets of Kampala within hours before the polls. Who is he kidding here?

The self-styled President for Life only have a life-line … because of army and not because his “loved” by the people. Peace.

Burma: Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) – Daily Briefing in Relation to the Military Coup (14.03.2021)

Burma: SAC-M raises alarm over growing likelihood of major lethal crackdown in Myanmar and calls for immediate intervention (14.03.2021)

Tchad: Les medias prives du Tchad – Communique (14.03.2021)

Eritrea: Ministry of Foreign Affaris – EU’s Unwarranted Statement on Eritrea (14.03.2021)

Cameroon: The Ghost of Geneva plans to handover it all to his son!

The Cameroonian President of all the ages, Paul Biya seems to prepare this succession. After ruling steadily since 1982. A man who has reigned by decree in Geneva, Switzerland. Who have rarely convened Council of Ministers or been visible in the Republic. Paul Biya seems now to prepare his son to take over the reigns.

The son in question is Emmanuel Frank Oliver Biya. The son who was born on the 21st August 1971. The 49 years old man who has started his own political party named Mouvement Citoyens des Frankistes pour la paix et l’unite du Cameroun or the MCFP. We see that its all surrounding him, as the people are pledging allegiance to him. It’s The People for Frank, which happens to be him.

The son have already been in the spotlight… but not for the positive vibes or brining hope to nations. No, he was in hot press because there is alleged corruption scandals and looting the state coffers with impunity. Even back in 2006 he was supposed to have taken FCFA 100 billion. There was several of rackets, which was intending to secure the money to companies owned by Franck and getting the state pay premium prices on lower valued bonds, a shady deal with the National Sinking Fund and so fourth. Therefore, Frankie Boy know how to use the state as his private dominion already.

That is like father like son. They are both used of eating of the government plate. That is why Paul Biya and family have been living lavish in a hotel or at resorts in Geneva. Where he can spend like tomorrow, while his republic is burning. The Republic at war with itself in the Ambazonia region. Where the soldiers are killing civilians, burning villages and using extra judicial killings. The anglophone is set to suffer for their wish to have independence from Yaounde and the French Cameroon. Alas, the President and his men has no issues doing that and forcing them to obey him. Even as his life has been like a colonial master far away ordering the public by decree.

Now the colonial master and President-for-Life, Paul Biya plans to anoint his son Franck. The plan to secure the succession of Frank Biya. The timber tycoon owning ‘Ingénierie Forestaire’. He has clearly gotten wealth true the state coffers and built up his enterprises this way. The former corruption scandals and graft allegations is building up under this. Because, his the first son from a former marriage of the President is the reason why he was never seriously “probed”.

Therefore, we can just wonder, but it wouldn’t be shocking. As the state has been like a private estate for the Family of Biya. That is how things has been and this is why the President is absentee is ruling by decree.

We shouldn’t be shocked if the MCFP would swallow the whole Rassemblement Democratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC) and ‘unite’ everyone behind the next generational president. That would just be poetic. The injustice served in another generation. One family rules supreme and without any consideration. It isn’t even a monarchy, but the President’s ruling by decrees acting like it.

Paul Biya isn’t different there, than his counterparts in Togo or Gabon. They have done this with their sons too. He would do this in Cameroon as well. Where certain families considers it their rights to rule without having proper or fair elections. Because, if it was… the track-record wouldn’t speak in their favour.

Frank will be no different than Paul. The only difference will be the age. They have both looted and will continue to loot. They will continue to use armed forces on civilians and rule with no redeeming factors. Only that Paris will enjoy the perks of their reign shield their human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Because that is good business for the “colonial” French. Peace.