ActionSA: Independent Electoral Commission places cart before the horse (20.05.2021)

Somalia: Center for Policy Analysis – Press Statement (20.05.2021)

Opinion: The 27 guns vetted Museveni [Kadaga know this]

I want CEC to explain to me why Museveni is not subjected to the same. Why isn’t he also vetted? Nobody puts him under any vetting. He automatically qualifies and yet this is too undemocratic. Which kind of democracy is this?”Rebecca Kadaga (Emmanuel Busingye – ‘Kadaga to NRM CEC: Who vets Museveni?’ 19.05.2021, ekyooto.co.uk)

The two time speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga have no suddenly questioned the vetting of President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni. The sole-candidate and automatic chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). It is funny that she does this after skating through the General Election herself and following ordinary protocol of the NRM.

Kadaga knows perfectly well… that everyone else has to follow electoral stipulations, codes and regulations. The President, the High Above and the King over Kings. He doesn’t have too. That’s why the Electoral Commission can write a sentence or two, but never publicly drop his credentials for his education or anything else. While others can be sued and lose their seat over the same issues.

Kadaga has seen this and knows this very well. This isn’t a new issue. It is old and gotten old with all the elections happening every 5 years. Museveni is never touched and he never have to deliver anything. He can just do a walk-over and the due-process continues like always.

President Museveni is practically untouchable. His the Don of the Family, the one who has all power and everyone else is his court. Museveni is the king and the rest are his servants, one way or another. Kadaga should has seen this and it couldn’t be shocking to her.

It is just that entitlement and expectations are hitting the fan. She doesn’t like that she has to follow the party lines and be a loyal subject. While he can do whatever and doesn’t have worry about anything. That’s because everything is built around him. She might dislike that, but that is the mere fact in this.

Museveni has been allowed and ensured things are run this way. Everyone else is accountable to him, but his not accountable to anyone. He has been the master, the commander and the supreme leader without any question of authority. Kadaga maybe doesn’t abide by this, but she has played along these lines in her career.

Kadaga can be infuriated that her tenure and her role is fading. As Museveni is dealing with his petty politics and keeping his ducks in a row. We know that the only ones keeping Museveni to account was the 27 guns. It was the NRA getting him into power in 1986. Since then his been above it all and haven’t needed any help from anyone. His been the man and people have allowed him that.

It is the guns, the army, the police and the authorities that gives him power. It isn’t the likes of Kadaga or anyone else. They are just there to serve his wishes and be a loyal subject. She might hate that and dislike that she has to be accountable to the NRM CEC. However, she has accepted this so far, why are she blasting the system now? Is that because she’s worried that someone will muffle with the bag? That her pay-off will be less and she is accustomed to a favourable salary. Is that the reason for all of this?

Kadaga has been a token soldier in Parliament for years. It is seemingly a worry that she will fall and be just another MP. That’s why she acts like this. Even though she knows and we knows that it was only the NRA that have held Museveni accountable. The rest is just small players who entertains him within his spectrum of power. Peace.

Ghana: National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) – NCCE’s Statement on Alleged Attacks on Journalists and Other Issues (19.05.2021)

Niger: Communaute des Ivoiriens au Niger (CINI) – Communique No. 02 (19.05.2021)

Opinion: Nandala-Mafabi better question his own credibility before he questions others

We cannot work with people who are opposition in daytime but at night they are different. They sneak to state house and make deals with the junta”Nathan Nandala-Mafabi (20.05.2021)

The Secretary General of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Nathan Nandala-Mafabi better relax and gets his ducks in row before he goes after National Unity Platform (NUP). The former Leader of Opposition and trying to be front runner of FDC. Nandala-Mafabi who haven’t had the ability to become Party President. The man who nearly started his own farmers party, but saw no traction for it. So, he returned back to the FDC.

That man better check his own credibility before he addresses NUP MPs. The NUP haven’t even had a second in the Parliament. Before he throws them shade. This being a man who has had two terms at least in office and he should be careful. He has enough questionable attributes and actions in the past. This man should know better. However, pride and ego is a dangerous field.

Just these things says a lot about him.

President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), yesterday received and welcomed Mr. Moses Kisolo, a Personal Assistant to the leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, who crossed from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and joined the NRM Party” (Statehouse.go.ug – ‘Hon. Mafabi’s Aide crosses to NRM’ 10.04.2012).

Magurara in a series of email replies accuses Nandala Mafabi of liking to create ‘controversies’ to bring bad publicity to the party, which benefits the ruling NRM regime of President Museveni. The aging Mugarura also makes reference to the manner in which Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga who chaired Nandala’s anti-Muntu campaigns last time defected to NRM and implies there is a rumor Nandala may follow suit in case he loses to Muntu again. Mugarura warns Nandala to tread carefully “unless you want some of us to begin taking the rumor seriously.”” (Faridah Nassereka – ‘Nandala Mafabi ‘spying for Museveni’ FDC boss reveals’ 29.06.2017, thelocal.ug).

Members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) rapped their secretary general for attending Independence Day ceremonies in Sironko district. FDC say it passed a resolution barring its members from attending events presided over by President Museveni” (Independent.co.ug – ‘FDC blasts Nandala Mafabi over Museveni’ 20.10.2019).

This is just the little drip drops of things between NRM and the FDC Secretary General. Nandala-Mafabi should be more careful. Just like he should be careful getting into scandals over land, business-roles or even connections to Chinese Telecoms. This man has enough leverage and operating roles to become corrupt. He could easily be bought and lose his values over businesses-dealings.

The FDC man can throw shade and speak his peace, but a man of that stature should be more worried about his own standing. Than looking into the newcomer and the new opposition. Who happens to be the command party of the opposition in this term. The FDC has had their time to shine and make a difference on this. Now, there is a newcomer who has more power and seats in the 11th Parliament. That must hurt the pride of him. As well, as seeing former allies failing in Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). The ones he said he wouldn’t miss in the FDC.

Therefore, Nandala-Mafabi isn’t showing progress, but regress when he speaks ill of the ones he needs to work with. If he wants to be true opposition and not a possible tool of NRM within the opposition.

In August 2017, he said this about himself, which is what he directed at NUP today:

I have heard some people say that Nandala was bought by Museveni to kill FDC. Those saying that, even their mothers cannot vote FDC. They just play on our blood…. During day, they are FDC and at night they are NRM. Even the fuel they put in their cars is NRM. Even the money they eat is NRM. Some of them use others as conduits to get NRM money” (Nandala-Mafabi, 18.08.2017),

He uses the same narrative here. Therefore, what is his deal and what does he want to achieve? Why is he saying the same thing about others? When he has had the same issue for years? Shouldn’t he be supporting, instead of saying the same things about others?

Does he have the credibility to question the NUP before they are even getting through the door and getting into office. Shouldn’t he be more careful and more insightful. As he has been within reach of power and a MP for so long. Nandala-Mafabi should know better, but clearly he doesn’t. He could be a wise elder and be a man who enlighten the newcomers in opposition. Instead he goes into combat-mode and not trying to give them a olive branch.

Not that I expect Nandala-Mafabi to be expressive and friendly to the NUP. He could be cordial and try to talk. Not dismiss them before they even say a thing in the 11th Parliament. That is insincere and shows his discontent. That he cannot handle the changes of power and popularity. This shows the lack of character and trust in others. Because, they are not accountable to him or the FDC, but they are liable to NUP and their leadership. Therefore, the opposition leader should sit down and talk.

Especially, when he has all these issues of the past and throwing shade. Maybe his still sour that he never got appointed as the Chairman of Bank of Uganda (BoU). Who knows, but this isn’t it and he should know better. Peace.

Somaliland: Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) – Press Statement (19.05.2021)

United States Capitol Police: Open letter to Members of Congress – January 6th Commission (19.05.2021)

Republique Centrafricaine: Half of the population in the Central African Republic in the grip of dire food insecurity emergency, UN warns (19.05.2021)

Acute food insecurity on the rise as the Central African Republic reels from impacts of conflict and COVID-19

19 May 2021, Bangui – Nearly half of the population – 47 percent – suffers from high and surging acute food insecurity in the Central African Republic as the country reels from the impacts of ongoing conflict and COVID-19, and braces for another harsh May-August lean season, warn the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

This means over 2.2 million people – most of them living in rural areas – face severe levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and August and need urgent support to avert the loss of lives and livelihoods, finds the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released today.

One third of the population (over 1.6 million people) are in a Crisis situation (IPC Phase 3) – meaning, they may skip meals entirely or sell what little they own to buy food; and, more than one tenth (over 630 000 people) are in an Emergency situation (IPC Phase 4) – meaning, they may sell their last animal or last source of livelihood, pull their children out of school, or resort to begging.

“The people of the Central African Republic have been bearing the brunt of conflict for a decade, and food insecurity has been on the rise for the past years. Yet, never before has the food insecurity outlook been so dire. COVID-19 is keeping borders and markets closed or restricted, hampering the flow of food and driving its price up. Soon, the lean season will set in and rains will make the country’s dirt roads unusable. Delivering food, seeds for planting, and other essential supplies is only going to get tougher. It’s critical that we act fast,” said Perpetua Katepa-Kalala, FAO Representative in the Central African Republic.

In the Central African Republic, the lean season (May-August) coincides with the main crop and vegetable growing season, and is the season when food is typically scarce before the harvest comes in.

“We need to break the vicious cycle of conflict and hunger in the Central African Republic. Never before have we seen so many people pushed right to the edge of survival – more than half a million people are one step away from famine. We urgently need to act now to save lives before it’s too late,” said Aline Rumonge, WFP Deputy Country Director in the country.

A forgotten crisis that can no longer be ignored

Acute food insecurity has risen due to the impacts of renewed violence last December that occurred on the fringes of the presidential and legislative elections, sparking active fighting that spread across the country and cut off main transport corridors effectively blockading the capital Bangui and cutting off vital supply routes in the landlocked country, driving thousands from their homes. This latest uptick in violence comes after an almost decade-long conflict that has disrupted lives and livelihoods, uprooting over 740 000 people. Last year also saw a low output in terms of local food production.

This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has kept food prices high – the price of cassava rose by up to 60 percent between November 2020 and January 2021, for example. People’s movements and trade were also limited, and families were pushed to the brink as they struggled to keep their jobs and incomes.

In addition, the blocking of the Bouar-Garoua Boulai corridor near the Cameroonian border by armed groups at the end of last year disrupted the supply of vital goods and humanitarian services for several months.

FAO and WFP are concerned that insecurity will continue blocking much needed assistance reaching those in need and call for unhindered access to populations who so desperately rely on humanitarian assistance to survive.

FAO’s and WFP’s response in 2021

FAO needs USD 31.5 million to assist 970 000 vulnerable people in 2021 with life-saving support. FAO will distribute seeds and tools to help farmers make the most of the coming agricultural season; roll out a cash assistance programme; provide training in drought-resilient farming strategies and post-harvest loss reduction; and carry out vaccination campaigns to keep poultry, goats and sheep alive and support livestock production.

WFP needs USD 54.9 million through September 2021 to continue providing life-saving food and nutrition assistance to almost a million crisis-affected people in the country. Without new commitments, WFP will not have enough resources to respond to the increased needs and may be forced to reduce food rations or significantly scale down the number of people targeted for assistance in an already tense and volatile context.

Ethiopia: International Oromo Lawyers Association Calls on the United Nations Human Rights Commission to Investigate Extra-Judicial Killings, Illegal Arrests and Inhuman Treatment of Prisoners in Oromia, Ethiopia (18.05.2021)