Tchad: Front pour l’Aternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) – Communique de Presse No. 0020 (12.05.2021)

Burma: Justice for Myanmar responds to Kirin’s 1Q 2021 results Myanmar Beer boycott hitting generals’ pockets with sales down 46% YoY (12.05.2021)

7th Time the “charm”: The 12th May 2021 ceremony is no real celebration

What is happening today on the 12th May 2021 is the seventh ceremony of this one man. He is celebrating himself “winning” for the 7th time. They are saying his 6th Term, but I say it’s his 8th term because of the decade without any election, which should be counted as well. That is only fair to the general public who had to live through the “transitional” period with President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni with no polls, election or awaiting a new Constitution.

He took power on the 26th January 1986 and he got sworn-in on the 29th January 1986. The 2nd time was after the “no” party election in 1996. When he was sworn-in on the 12th May 1996. The 3rd time started again on the 12th May 2001. The 4th time was on the 12th May 2006. The 5th time was on the 12th May 2011. The 6th Time was on the 12th May 2016 and now the final edition of this was in full effect.

That’s why this is his seventh time and it has been traditionally held at Kololo Independence Grounds. Which is happening today too. He has clearly scheduled the 12th May every five years since 1996. That is steady programming and the venue is the same too. The only difference is the guests and the year it’s happening in. The VIPs and the speeches might differ a little bit, but not much because its the same genie out of the bottle every time.

If you think this term will be any difference than before. You are out for a loss of words and proper conclusions. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the same President of the ages. Who never seems to get things done or able to fix his bottlenecks.

The same man who has said all the rights things, but that is all lies to keep himself in office. He knows perfectly well that he has betrayed those words and those policies too. This Presidency will not get better. It will only become more horrific and deprecating. There will be no nice silver-lining ahead. Only if you have some false hope that the oil money will be able to pay the rising debts. Than you are living on hope and not reality. As this President and his cronies eats everything else up and sends the bill to the next generation.

That is why you shouldn’t look forward or think he will make a difference. This man has produced fancy plans, policies and papers for development, but that can only happen if donors, aid organizations or multi-national organizations paying the bill of doing so. That’s why every piece of gravel or road is hugely overpriced to cover cronies and kickbacks for every single kilometre they cover. This will not … be better now and his been of the hook for so many years.

Just like with the militarization, impunity and anti-democratic actions, which is happening on the regular. Where the opposition and dissidents are hunted down. There is no wiggle room for their existence and the laws are applied to them. Sometimes on random and the state is detaining people without even charging them, abducting them and keeping them incommunicado. Therefore, this Presidency will not be better. He will only continue to unleash the beasts and drones to go after the ones who dares to support someone else than him.

So, today isn’t a day of celebration. It is a day of ceremonial burial of freedom, liberty and justice. The state and the President is celebrating a 1980 Election Victory, again!

He is repeating the same sins and not repenting anything. His just hoping its all water under the bridge. That we are supposed to forget all the lives taken so he can rule supreme. We are supposed forget all the lives kept without due process, the lives put on hold and the ones living in exile. That is all so one MAN can rule indefinitely. This is tragic, but the reality here. Peace.

Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) – Maldives: Regarding the 6 May 2021 terrorist attack on Speaker of Parliament former President Mmohamed Nasheed (12.05.2021)

RDC: Front Commun pour le Congo (FCC) – Declaration Politique (11.05.2021)

Ethiopia: Oromia Global Forum – Statement on the Upcoming Sham Election in Ethiopia (09.05.2021)

Date: May 9, 2021

To: The Oromo People

All Oromo Communities in the Diaspora

All Oromo Media Outlets

All Oromo Activists

All Friends of the Oromo people

Dhagahii dhageessisi, Iyyii iyya dabarsi

We, members of Oromia Global Forum (OGF) – a global coalition of Oromo Civic, Professional and Faith-based organizations, strongly advise our Oromo people to boycott Ethiopia’s upcoming sham election.

The Oromo people have paid a heavy price in the uprising that propelled Abiy Ahmed to the premiership in 2018. Abiy promised to facilitate a transition that could lead to free and fair elections. However, instead of transition to democracy, Abiy gave you tensions, conflicts, political arrests, deaths, rapes, displacements, destruction of property and exile. Particularly, he targeted the Oromo nation and carried the brunt of his cruel, neo-neftegna fascistic policies that have no room for reconciliation and redress of past injustices.

In the name of making peace through opening the political space, Abiy lured the Oromo Liberation Front into the country, poisoned its ex-fighters, imprisoned its leaders including Abdi Ragassa, Col. Gemechu Ayana, Mikael Boran, Kenesa Ayana and many more. Likewise, Abiy imprisoned leaders of the Oromo Federalist Congress including Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Garba, Dejene Tafa, Hamza Adane and others. He closed the offices of these parties all over the country, completely impaired their freedom of movement and disrupted their interactions with their constituents. All independent Oromo Media are closed. Their properties are illegally robbed. Their journalists, management and administrative staff members either imprisoned, or forced to exile.

For over three years, Oromia is suffering under the cruel martial rule (military rule), where Oromians are indiscriminately killed without due process of the law. Basic democratic rights such as freedom of expression, association and movement are severely curtailed. Free movement of people is completely impeded in Oromia, even between neighbors, let alone between villages, districts or zones. The Oromo have no right to express their views, nor do they have a party that represents them in the upcoming sham election.

THEREFORE, we members of Oromia Global Forum (OGF) call upon our people, NOT to take part in, and boycott the upcoming sham elections, because:

Abiy Ahmed has never addressed the fundamental questions that our children, the Qeerroo and Qarree, have died for in the years of protests before he came to power. You demanded equality, dignity, self-rule and control over your resources. Abiy promised to address all these and transition to a democratic process. Instead, during his three years in office, Abiy has imposed military command post on your cities and villages; converted historic sites and schools to prisons and military camps; declared war on you and your children; abused your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, brothers, husbands; and destroyed you livelihood, cattle and crops. He has condemned you to deaths and sufferings of historic proportion, unseen under any of his repressive predecessors, even excelled his mentors – the TPLF, who tormented you for the 27-years

Knowing that he would lose election in Oromia, Abiy Ahmed harassed, jailed and killed members of your parties, the OLF and OFC, which truly represent you and sacrificing their lives to protect you. He closed their offices and cut off their communications with you. This means that you have no representative parties to vote for in this election. This is not democratic election; it is a shameless effort where one man wants to crown himself and benefit his cronies. But you have the right and opportunity to reject it by dissociating your self from his senseless cruelty.

Abiy Ahmed and his neftegna lackeys killed, imprisoned and exiled your representatives and they are shamelessly asking you to vote for them, in complete absence (imprisonment) of your own representatives. For you, this is adding insult to an injury.

By participating in the sham election, you would give legitimacy to Abiy’s illegitimate party, the Prosperity Party, and its lackeys like Ezema, Baldaras, ABN and several other smaller parties to claim false victory in Oromia and enable them to continue to kill you.

Be warned, that all these neftegna parties aspire to restore, reimpose and instill Amhara supremacy and nafxanya interests as their parents and grandparents did in the past.

Given the opportunity, Abiy Ahmed and his neftagna supporters are aiming to dismantle Oromia and destroy Oromummaa and roll back the nafxanya-gabbar system that condemned your fathers and forefathers to landlessness and servitude.

The consequences of fake election and false victory by any neftegna party in Ethiopia would be most devastating for the Oromo people, because:

8.1 It poses an existential threat to the Oromo nation and Oromummaa as given to you by your Creator.

8.2 Using the fake elections and false victories, all neftegna parties would immediately declare genocidal war on the Oromo nation, take control over Oromia, take away your land and give it to settlers whom they will encourage to migrate to Oromia and kill you.

8.3 Most importantly, they will destroy the fundamentals of your identity (Oromummaa) including the use of your language and practice of your culture.

8.4 If these neftegna parties control the federal government, their new federal parliament would immediately convene and take the following measures, that would destroy your identity and threaten your very existence as a nation, at its core:

8.4.1 Remove the current multinational constitution, and replace it with pro-monarchy, system of one man rule

8.4.2 Abolish the federal structure by destroying Oromia and regional states of other nations

8.4.3 Declare the supremacy and domination of one ethnic group (the Amhara) and declare

Amharic as the national language of the empire, outlawing the use of Afaan Oromo for

official and educational purposes in Oromia.

Finally, we would like to request the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League, the United States and all other governments to seriously consider their stand regarding the sham election in Ethiopia, and urgently act to stop Abiy Ahmed’s clique from taking the country down to the path of violent disintegration and civil war, which shall have tremendous regional and international security and humanitarian consequences.

Reject this sham election outrightly and stay away from it. Voting in this

election is suicidal!

Sincerely,

Oromia Global Forum

Opinion: Museveni proves one thing “If you live by the gun … you will die by the gun too”

What is happening tomorrow on the 12th May 2021 is occurring because of what he did all the way to the 26th January 1986. That is the celebration of his “sixth” election victory. Though we all know he has used the same tricks as the ones toppled to stay in power. The elections are mirroring and copying the 1980 election, which was the reason for the civil war in the 1980s.

That is why it’s really special that the arrogance and entitlement of a big bash, 4,000 people at the Kololo Independence Grounds. In the end of a campaign and a year, which has made it nearly impossible for people to gather or campaign. Where the authorities have blocked rallies, campaign meetings, concerts and other public gatherings. Therefore, it is really a show of power to do it at this day.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni came into power by the gun. He didn’t come in as the elected fella. No, he had to topple and get rid of his opponents. Museveni didn’t win people’s heart, but was able to destroy, hurt and harm the leadership of Kampala over years. That was done in a “liberation” war, which only freed him and anointed allies. The rest have to accept the idea of a limited freedom, liberty and justice. They just have to bite the dust and live with the impunity and injustice served on the daily. That’s because they are not part of the clientele and the cronies who serves the President well.

At this point and time we can give up the idea of a peaceful transition. The dreams of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and National Unity Platform (NUP) isn’t happening with Museveni. No, he came in with the guns and will only leave with them. There are only three avenues to his end and it’s not through the ballot-box. Any election held within the spectrum of Museveni will be rigged and an run in a manner, which will resemble the 1980 fiasco.

So, there are just three ways out. These are the first and the obvious one is that he has to die. Death. That means his heartbeat stops and his last breathe is finally done. The natural death of ageing… and it is inevitable. Everyone living will at one point die and then there will be a battle to fill the power vacuum. That will be horrific days and possible new atrocities, if not another military takeover for a “Transitional” Government supported for “stability” sake. Which is just a mere lie and will only prolong the agony of the citizens wanting a true civilian government.

The second is an assassination or a coup d’etat. Neither how this is happening. They have to go against the militarization of the Presidency and Government will make this hard. Unless, there is getting people disgruntled and feeling disfranchised by the regime. If the armed forces, security organizations and such feels they are taken care off. As if the state stops paying them off and starving them. Then they might turn on the President, but that is all just mere speculation at this point. This is ruling by the bullet and dying by the bullet. This is a General falling for another General. That is the ultimate betrayal, but is one way out… and will cause even a more totalitarian state. As it will be less forgiving as well.

The third solution is the revolution. That has been described by Dr. Kizza Besigye on many occasions. He has deliberately tried to spark this off. He has tried to get the people to revolt and demonstrate. The defiant man has tried to get people organized and boycott. Besigye have tried to educate the public on how the dismantle the system. Hurt it where it matters and get the feet on the ground. However, he has been close and shown that he could boost the public. Nevertheless, the politician and opposition couldn’t get it passed the finishing-line. He couldn’t get the state loose its strength and control. It was hurt, but not totally damaged and weak.

The defiance and walk to work was forceful, but lacked the final push to end the curse of the misrule and mismanaged state of Museveni. It couldn’t stop his oppression and his atrocities.

Museveni has lasted because of relations to the guns. His clinging to power to arms and security organizations. He has armed personnel and police officers ready on the go. There are people able and ready to kidnap, abduct, torture and get rid of his enemies. The state is doing this willingly to keep Museveni in power.

That is why Museveni will be a warlord and continue this life of never begging, but carrying a canon. This is why you either have to end it the way it started or show the force of the whole general public against him. The whole population have to rise onto levels like the Sudanese did to Omar Al-Bashir. That’s what is needed to be done to get rid of him. The will haven’t been there, but if it happens.

It will be like lightning and the thunder will hurt him. He will loose everything. Because, even a tyrant and a dictator cannot hold everyone captive. The Head of State cannot kill, arrest and abduct everyone. He can do that to a minority and to levels of society, but not to the ranks of cities, towns and whole districts standing up against the state. That is what needed and they need to stand-up. It will cost. Just like the ones who are already paying for their activism and trying to campaign against him. There are so many victims already and families scorn for decades, because one needed to rule for life.

Those guns and those weapons will only keep you there for so long. When he looses all momentum and there is hope for proper fundamental change of guards. That has never happened with Museveni. His still keeping lingering without anything like the peasants he “freed” in the 1980s. There is still so many educated people not getting jobs and so fourth. The state Museveni will leave behind will have plenty of the same misgivings as the ones he promised to fix. That says more about Museveni, than it says about the Republic itself. This is because of how he became the personification of the state and never let go. The “high above” and the one deciding people’s fate from the State House.

Museveni will not be remembered for freeing the people, but keeping them hostage, because of his powerful guns. Peace.

Somalia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation letter to African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat (09.05.2021)

Nigeria: Southern Governors Forum – Communique Issued at the Conclusion of the Meeting of the Governors of Southern Nigeria in Government House, Asaba, Delta State, on Tuesday 11th May, 2021 (11.05.2021)

Opinion: Starmer got mountains to climb

Sir Keir Starmer became the leader to steady the ship after Jeremy Corbyn. Instead he has failed and continuing to tarnish the party. There are following the aftermath of the recent United Kingdom By-Election. Where several of strides went south.

Yes, Labour delivered in Wales, but that is thanks to the likes First Minister Mark Drakeford resilient leadership. Also the sinking ship of UKIP, which was the seats that Labour took in this one. Therefore, giving the party majority in Wales and in the Senedd.

However, Labour was only able to get some seats in Scotland because of the tactical voting of Unionists across the devolved nation. They got seats and was able to get some seats there. As they were able to gain, but the Scottish National Party (SNP) was the winner and with the Greens will control Holyrod.

Starmer isn’t the reason for the results here. It is other men and other reasons. Those results are not because he was wearing boxing gloves and tried to drink a pint. No, none of those publicity stunts helped the party a bit. His not showing what Labour could be, but instead its showing what it isn’t.

People said Labour was a weak and mediocre party under Corbyn. However, with him you didn’t have a megaphone and diet-Boris Johnson at the helm. Starmer is acting like a Red Tory and that cannot work. He is way over his league. Neither does he have the team to support him either. As he seemingly does the wrong thing. Instead of being a difference, showing the negligence and the problematic parts of the governing party. He is smiling to their indifference and not caring about the people falling out of favour with the Tories.

That is really amazing that Starmer is failing at this. He has experience and should know this game. Instead he looks like a novice and a nonchalant. Stramer isn’t unifying the party and neither getting support outside of the Labour base. Which is needed at this point. As the troubles ahead will be put on him. Especially, when he cannot swing voters away from the Tories. Something he should have capacity too and show that Labour is a viable party.

People went after Labour and Corbyn with any sort of fashion. However, Starmer isn’t a saving grace either. He is a more feasible candidate for a huger electorate, but his not showing the stamina or the force to be reckoned with. That for a man who has been in the public eye for so long and has a character before becoming the Labour leader. That’s depressing and disappointing.

What is striking that Corbyn lost 18 seats in the local elections in 2016 and it was an outcry. While Starmer in 2021 lost 326 seats in the local elections. That is not the seats who was gained in Senedd or sort of in Holyrod. That is different than in the counties and cities. So, the Labour party have lost the foothold and the levels of trust locally. Which is a big downfall for a general election when that comes.

If he couldn’t become more popular or create a message, which would resonate with the general public. He would have a chance, but at this point is lost at sea. The Labour leader should be stronger and viable. That was something Corbyn was and Starmer used fault-lines to bring him down. Now in the first try… Starmer has failed and facing a rebellion just around his office. Where he is targeting people around him. Instead of showing good leadership skills.

The ones calling him inept is maybe true. Starmer cannot handle pressure and promises made. His instead looking way above his league and personally more attached to the role than actually serving the party. That’s why his going after the ones in his inner-circle who aspire to his role.

While Starmer should focus on the losses, the reasons for that and why the ship is sinking. He should look and study the results. The reasons for the failure and not just spark rumours about other leaders within the party. That is just buying himself time and he should take pint.

Starmer needs to drink a bit for his sorrows. Because things only seems to get worse before they get better. Sturgeon and Drakeford is more respected and have the trust of the voters. Than Starmer can ever beg for. His the supposed leader of the opposition, but he doesn’t have the charisma or the finesse to carry it. If he doesn’t learn the ropes quick. The boat will not only continue to sink, but totally be a lost cause.

Labour party deserves better … Starmer needs to buckle-up and this failure is a stain that will last. Until he has succeeded and proven tat he can sell a political vision. At this point, I don’t see that at this stage. Unless, he revolutionize his presence, messaging and also his stances in Parliament. That got to change and he cannot be a diet-version of a Tory.

Starmer to be a non-sugar edition of the original one will not work.

Sir Keir Starmer got mountains to cross and he seems not to know what’s ahead of him on the horizon. Peace.