South Sudan: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) – On the Arbitrary Dismissal of Paramount Chiefs in Unity State and Abyei Special Administrative Area (09.08.2021)

Burkina Faso: Ministere de la Communication et des Relations avec le Parlement – Communique (08.08.2021)

South Sudan: South Sudanese Organisations Against Gender Based Violence – Call for Dismissal of Hon. Peter Mayen Majondit, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Republic of South Sudan (09.08.2021)

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: The Forum Reflects on Heroes Day (09.08.2021)

Ethiopia: Statement of the Government of Tigrayan the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis (08.08.2021)

Ethiopia: Abiy will not have dialogue with anyone [because his the next emperor]

There been some diplomatic moves where the Sudanese has tried to hold talks or even send messages the leadership in Addis Ababa. However, the Ambassador and Diplomats of Khartoum haven’t gotten anything fruitful and the project should just get dismissed.

We know that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his allies within the Prosperity Party will not have talks or mediation with anyone. It doesn’t matter if it is his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok, who happens to be the current Chair of The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which he has had since February this year.

Hamdok and the Sovereign Council would like the political capital of participating and having direct mediation in Ethiopia. That would boost his role on international scene and make him look even better. As there are enough trouble brewing in Khartoum and in Darfur as is. Not like the transitional government in Sudan is over the hurdle. There is still revolutionaries and dissidents who wants to topple this current regime as well. They are not seeing the civilian transition they aspired too. So, a mediation success in Ethiopia would buy the Sovereign Council and Hamdok time.

However, Abiy and PP has no interests in talks. Their handlers, the close associates and everyone rather vilify anyone. If it is the United States, United Nations organizations, Civil Society Organizations or Humanitarian agencies. Anyone is an possible enemy, as long as they act independently and not following direct accords with majesty in Addis.

This is why Abiy will not talk to Hamdok. Last few times they been close to each other. It has been pleasantries, but short-lived meetings. Hamdok have travelled to Addis Ababa only for an hour or two, before the host dipped to Tigray. Neither was there any sincere talks in the IGAD meeting of head of states. Therefore, asking for Hamdok to invite and do this was a foolish enterprise.

The Ethiopian has already grievances and they will cry out loud. They will claim Sudanese territory and not take accountability for the skirmishes inside Sudan. Neither, will the Ethiopian pay amends for the killed soldiers or anyone else. They will just claim Sudanese is in the wrong and that this isn’t an extension on the conflict in Tigray.

So, we are here… and the Sudanese has already asked for the Ethiopian peacekeepers to leave the Abyei region. Where they are residing. There has also already been reports of arms confiscated from the Ethiopian army to Sudanese rebels. This is why the Sudanese doesn’t trust the Ethiopian consignment to the peacekeeping operation.

Hamdok and the Sudanese might have all the best reasons for the mediation or dialogue within Sudan. The Ethiopian parties might get served well with these outsiders looking in. However, the Sudanese has given up and even recalled the ambassador from Addis Ababa. That shows how fickle and why nothing will work.

Abiy just have to have his way, as his the anointed emperor and seventh king of Ethiopia. The warlord who will not negotiate or talk with anyone. His enemies either just have to die or linger as treasonous people behind bars. That’s what he does and the “peace agreement” with Eritrea seems more like a war-pact, than a peace agreement with each passing moment. This is why the Eritrean forces been so active and destructive in the months of warfare within Ethiopia.

While Abiy and PP speaks of sovereignty, but still let foreign forces invade and murder citizens. This is why the asking of a diplomatic mission and dialogue would make sense. However, then Abiy have to meet others halfway and he has to give up his consolidation of power. That is a “reform” he is not willing to loose. He has already invested everything. Even the death of the youth and the army to get his objective. This is why he will not give way and give-in. That is already long time gone. He needs to win this and by all cost. Doesn’t matter if it is genocide, hyper-inflation or possible shortages of basic commodities. No, it is all worth it for the throne and the rise to power.

Prime Minister Abiy as awaiting his coronation and swearing-in. He is awaiting the grandeur of his growing empire and everyone dancing to his tunes. That is what his goal and it doesn’t matter what it cost. It doesn’t matter how much blood that is sacrifices and many lives who was touched to get there. No, they are casualties for the greater good and his prestige. Everyone is supposed to sing psalms of glory and praise the king for his ways.

That is why Hamdok could never succeed. The Sudanese was on a fools mission and there was never hope of this succeeding. It was meant to fail and it was by no coincidence. Abiy wanted it this way and Khartoum shouldn’t worry about this failure. That was inevitable. Nobody would have made it through. When there is no will, there is no way. Peace.

Opinion: Pochettino got no excuses [and he got to win trophies now]

There is no more jokes anymore or open questions about the possible talent in the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) squad. This club got to conquer the Ligue 1 and possibly win the Champions League. The recent additions to an already great squad should be all the reasons for a cake-walk of a season. Not talking about the salaries and the spending on these players, which is vastly different from the rest of the French League.

This year, Mauricio Pochettino got to achieve greatness now. He better become a victor and not prolong the agony with another second place in the league. The manager better have a victory run unknown to men. This because the move of Lionel Messi should say it all. That the PSG is getting Messi should ensure the season and trophies.

However, the PSG have already gotten a world class recruits ahead of the season. They have gotten AC Milan’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (free transfer), Real Madrid’s centre-back Sergio Ramos (free transfer) , Inter Milan’s Right-Back Achraf Hakimi and Liverpool’s Central Midfield Georginio Wijnaldum (free transfer). All of these players are winners and been vital players in their teams. They have all been victors and been successful. While Lionel Messi also on free transfer from Barcelona.

Not like the PSG got lack of talent before all of these players arrived to the French Capital. No, the team had already Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Central Midfield Marco Verratti, Left Wing Neymar, Right Winger Ángel Di María, Centre Forward Kylian Mbappé and Mauro Icardi. This is just to mention a few and then leaving out Draxler and Gueye who is world-class as well.

Therefore, this team is packed and has a players who can change matches. The PSG should with all these player be superior in France and be able to challenge anyone in the Champions League. If they cannot do this with this squad. They never will succeed. Because, they have the stars, the experience and the possible goal-scorers to make a winning team.

The only question now with possibly Messi arriving in Paris. Will Pochettino be able to handle all this and the pressure put on him. He can skate away and linger on the lack of talent. It is not like he can complain that he doesn’t have a player or big enough squad to succeed. Because, this is the Football Manager or Champions Manager dream-team. It is the sort of trade-off and recruitment your dream of achieving in fantasy football. This is usually only happening in the virtual world. As the free transfers of PSG is so world-class. That you can wonder what happened to their teams and why they let these players go…

PSG has had the best transfer window any club can have. In a market and when other clubs are struggling financially. When European football is bleeding and lacking funds for salaries and transfers itself. At that time they are able to pick up stars for nothing and only paying additional sign-on fees and such. Which is something they would have if they had bought them as well. Therefore, the PSG has won this and now they got to win on the pitch too.

The Manager got to carry PSG and ensure the results are coming. He has a team to dream of and with such massive skills. That Pochettino has no excuses or say, if the results doesn’t goes his way. The Argentinian manager better show his tactical mind and use these player at full capacity. He has a defence, a magical midfield and strikers to end any opponent. Pochettino just got to execute and secure the win before the final whistle. Peace.

Somalia-Kenya: Joint Communique on Bilateral Cooperation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Kenya (08.08.2021)

Malawi: Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) – Tonse Government, Fading Hope amid Governance lapses: Where is the Political Promise? (08.08.2021)

South Sudan: Should we be worried about the SPLM-IO infighting? [and shouldn’t Machar have a sit-down with the rebel generals?]

Political Bureau of the SPLM-IO rejects the declaration of General Simon Gatwech Dual as the new interim leader of the SPLM/A-IO. The highest organ of the opposition group met to discuss the recent defection of Gatwech & removal of former sector 1 commander Gen. Johnson Olony” (Radio Miraya, 05.08.2021).

According the SPLM/A IO (Kitgwang) Spokesperson

– Two Generals loyal to Dr. Riek Machar Teny have been killed but their name will not be announce/identify due to security reason.

– Almost all heavy artilleries, tanks and vehicles from Machar IO have been captured in good condition.

– Dr. Riek Machar was the one who ordered his forces to attack and take Magenis, said Prisoners” (South Sudan TMZ, 07.08.2021).

All of this is happening as there is 30 people who is reported dead and 13 injured. The reports of the warfare and skirmishes between the parties of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO).

This is happening after Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual last month in a statement declared the end of the reign of Dr. Riek Machar in the party. However, the Political Bureau of the SPLM/A-IO rejected that and they have now openly rebelled.

Gen. Gatcwech Dual was the Chief of Staff, but has started to rebel with other allies in the Upper Nile. They are now doing in-fighting. This seems to become yet another rebel outfit. There are already others out there by Gen. Paul Malong and Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka. It would be yet another general creating his army. This is happening as the launch of another called South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A). Therefore, Gatwech Dual will have his loyal followers and fellow soldiers, which comes out from SPLM/A-IO. However, this is not a game of strength.

The peace agreement and R-ARCSS doesn’t need more men with arms. It needs people around the table and fix the mechanisms for a peaceful transition. This is just being in-fighting and not resolving things internally within the SPLM/A-IO. That is partly Dr. Machar’s fault, as he haven’t settled it or resolved the grudges. That’s why his generals are spiking it and suddenly turning violent.

The First Vice President (FVP) Machar needs to look at himself and what needs to be done. Everyone is triggering easily the guns, instead of going to the negotiation table. That isn’t what people should see. The mentality is out of whack and innocent is usually the ones who pays the ultimate price.

If Machar knew this was floated and had ideas of the possible brewing sentiments. Instead of letting it boil over. Everyone who follows saw the declaration and that should have been the moment he triggered some talks and fixed the issues the General had. However, Machar let it instead go a long time and now the blood has been spilled. All over a title and a rank within the SPLM/A-IO.

This here should be a humbling experience for Machar. That he has to act more directly and be with his leaders. It seems like something has gotten out his way and this is why the skirmishes has happened.

Machar needs to fix it and rapidly. This is his mess to begin with. It is his rebellion and they have targeted the SPLM/A-IO directly. They haven’t gone after the National Army or any other rebel outfit. No, they have gone for the head and to signal the throne.

This is why he has do something and not just expel them, but maybe even parley, as this shouldn’t be an incident, which can assault and destroy the R-ARCSS. Then its all Machar fault and he can be pointed at for a total failure. That is something I doubt he wants to be remembered for. Since this was his men and allies who went at him. This might hurt him and humiliate him. However, the deaths and the violence should be a reason to whatever he can to silence the guns. Peace.