Opinion: The Special Forces Command got an upgrade

President Museveni today elevated the Commando Battalion of Special Forces Command into a Brigade after passing out over 1,000 commandos who have been undergoing specialised training. The Brigade is in charge of special operations. Let nobody think of messing up with Uganda” (Duncan Abigaba, 08.05.2021)

Yesterday the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni upgraded the Special Forces Command (SFC). It has gone from being a Command Battalion to a Brigade. The SFC passing out 1256 commando soldiers too. This meaning the SFC will be more important for the President.

The SFC is already commanded by the Presidential Advisor for Special Operations and Commander of the SFC being Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga. Who happens to be the son of the President. This is why it’s suspicious, but giving him more power.

The Son of the President is getting more people to command and order around. This is upgrading his role and also stature in the army. Muhoozi has already gotten titles and roles because of the lineage. Not because his so special or have other abilities.

The SFC have already had more power and participated in the inner-works of the current regime. The SFC was part of the massacre in Kasese. The SFC was the armed forces who invaded the chambers of Parliament. The same forces who has also abducted, kidnapped and even extra judicial killed civilian dissidents in the recent elections.

Therefore, the upgrade and the boosting of SFC is to give Muhoozi more power. A man who already been able to serve injustice and have no accountability for it.

The SFC have violated people, killed civilians and still there been not aftermath. Now the Special Operations under the UPDF is bigger. Giving the son more armed men to follow his lead. They have the ability to do more damage and cause more harm. This isn’t a positive. The pain and suffering served in the recent term. Could turn even worse.

As Muhoozi have now a brigade behind him. These will follow his orders and his words. If he see it fit or righteous. These soldiers can now not only knock-on doors, but brutally attack opposition. These soldiers are trained killers and could easily be used to thwart anyone opposing or trying to demonstrate.

Muhoozi has now been given a huger portfolio. This is a blessing for him and a validation of what he has done to serve his father. The General is giving his Lt. Gen. more men. A clear proposition to continue what he does and approach people the way he does.

This isn’t good news, but worrying news. As the rise of power and usage of military power shows the true vicious signs of this regime. There isn’t anything positive here. The public will suffer and the dissidents especially.

If there will be another Kasese or something similar wouldn’t shock me. When they have promoted and given the Lt. Gen such a role after all of this. This is happening because his the son and the heir. He is rising and getting stronger. Though that is all through the military and not true the support of the people. Peace.

Ghana: Statement by the Ministry of National Security (09.05.2021)

African National Congress (ANC): ANC concerned about leaking of its internal discussions (09.05.2021)

Nigeria: Tinubu Support Group (TSG) – Stop Lying – TSG Cautions Bode George (09.05.2021)

Ethiopia: Press Release from Tigray National Political Parties Forum – Anti-terrorism law: Another tool for Genocide in Tigray (09.05.2021)

India: Indian Medical Association (HQs) – IMA Demands Health Ministry to Wake Up from Slumber and Responds to Mitigate the Growing Challenges in COVID Pandemic (08.05.2021)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) letter to OCHCR – A call for transparency as regards the work of United Nations particularly the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in the civil wars in Ethiopia (04.05.2021)

Somalia: Somali National Salvation Forum letter to African Union (AU) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat (08.05.2021)

Somalia: Council of Presidential Candidates (C.P.C) – Press Statement (05.08.2021)

Opinion: Abiy cannot save himself from the tragedies he ordered in the Republic

If we had looked back three years ago or so. We would have seen hope and positivity. There would be brigades of people cherishing on the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. He seemed like the real deal and would be someone who would make a difference. However, that was clearly all just a lie and deceit from his part. He has just consolidated all power and now wants to bury anyone opposing him.

Prime Minister Abiy have not only tarnished his name. He has destroyed the hope of him being a collective leader for all the people of Ethiopia. Abiy is a man for a selective group and plans to use this power to control everyone. The Prime Minister have rebranded and restructured the former Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) coalition into the Prosperity Party. A party run by him and his “Yes-Men”.

The Addis Ababa clique is now running wild. They are detaining anyone who opposes it. If they have a big issue, the ones are high ranking officials are targeted with treason-charges or terrorism. That is what they also do with two groups in the nation. This is furthering the battle-cries and not ensuring a possible option for a national dialogue between all groups. Instead, his playing to his elite and the ones who support his reign.

Abiy is now a warlord. He is creating warfare in Tigray. Using “Command Post” ways in Oromia. He is not stopping conflict in Afar or in Ogaden. The Prime Minister will be remembered for his use of force, use of the state to strangle the opposition and take all power in his hands. That’s why thousands of political prisoners, a region filled with people starving and looting. The state is clearly not serving everyone, but a selected few.

The Prime Minister is promising everything, but only showing fierce force. He is using his Tripartite Alliance to destroy Tigray. While claiming to redevelop the region he burned, silenced and used a civil war to get his way. Therefore, he will not be remembered for signing a peace agreement, but causing war in his own Republic.

Abiy will be remembered for the warfare, the destruction and the genocide in Tigray. The bloody murders, the innocent lives taken and all the people who was taken for granted. This in combination of the people who are already oppressed in other regions like Oromia and Ogaden. These have been muffled with years and their leaders are struggling to participate in the state of affairs. They are either behind bars or not allowed to do political work. Therefore, this will not end well…

Prime Minister Abiy has blood on his hands. His working in tandem with the Amhara and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki who has no trouble causing these extra judicial killings, murders and tragic demise of civilians. They are causing hunger, a new refugee crisis and remotely tarnishing families for decades. That is what is happening.

Everyone who dares to question, ask for transparency or realism with Abiy will be detained, crucified and stop breathing if possible. That is what he does and what his known for now. This is a man that came in with the talks of negotiations, dialogue and peace. However, he will be known for civil war, a modern day tyrant and being a ‘Mad King’.

Surely, Abiy didn’t anticipate this, because his ego is higher than the sky. Just like the state is supposed to be able to create artificial rain. While living on budgets supported by World Bank and International Monetary Funds. A state that has dwindled much funds into war and wasting some on a Ministry of Peace at the same time.

Abiy can use publicity stunts planting trees, but its the bullets he will be remembered for. That is hat affected people not only that moment they went out of the barrel, but for what damage it caused. The shelling, the bullets and the missiles will linger in people mind. The starvation, the tactics of burning planes and burning villages. The attacks and usage of public domain, the manner of distorting media reporting and blaming journalists who are on the front-lines. If not arrest the ones who are translating for the international media as well…

Neither can he salvage the up-coming election. He wants it to look credible, free and fair. However, how can it be fair… when his enemies and opponents are all behind bars? If their parties are not able to compete or have the ability to rally its supporters? How is that become a real election?

It is a selection and a private enterprise to give himself the legitimacy to continue as the ‘Mad King’. So, he can swear himself in and be the big-man he assumes he is. Though everyone knows a warlord when they see one. Abiy is one of them…. and that’s his legacy whether he likes it or not.

The blood is on his hands and he cannot wash this way. The rivers of blood, the tears of the innocent and the horrific actions of the state towards them. That is how people will remember him. He will not be remembered for his speeches, slogans or whatever he does to look magnificent.

That’s why his a ‘Mad King’ … and he cannot run away from it. He wants PR to save his image and his legacy. Though that will not work. When the dust is settled the general public will see the damage, see the pain and suffering that he caused. The deaths, the sickness and the pain he gave others. Just so he could reign and be the big-man. Was it worth it though? Is his life worth so many people demise? What makes Abiy so special and reasons to take others people lives?

I don’t have the answer, but I don’t get how people like him can rule and see people die on his watch. Without any care of the world… and without any sort of regret. They died so he could rule and we are just supposed to praise him for it. However, I want him to be accountable for the actions made and the costs of it too. He should beside every casket and participate in every burial. As he ordered their death by default. If he was there and had seen all the lives taken. He would maybe be more humble and not been as brutal towards the ones who oppose him. Peace.