Opinion: Obasanjo has an unforgiving mission in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 21, 2016 – Some of Africa’s leaders are responsible for instability on the continent because they have failed to manage diversity in their societies, the former Nigerian President, General Olusegun Obasanjo, has said” (TANA Forum – ‘Press Statement: “Some African leaders to blame for conflicts” – Obasanjo’ 21.03.2016).

Today Olusegun Obasanjo as the Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union for the Horn of Africa. One of his key objectives and mandate is to mediate in the Ethiopian conflict. Alas, he has a mountain to climb and it’s an unforgiving job. This is a position and a office, which isn’t for the kind-hearted. Since, the parties here are in the trenches and in a brutal war. They are not in this for a small token or to get global recognition.

Obasanjo is now meddling and intervening within a battle, which has become broader and wider than what the Tripartite Alliance anticipated. The alliance of FDRE, SOE and Amhara allies didn’t anticipate the formation of a broad alliance of nationalities to combat the Tripartite Alliance. Therefore, at this point, the war isn’t only Addis Ababa-Asmara versus Mekelle. No, it is much more wider and with the objective of rectifying the leadership structure of the nation.

This is why the African Union (AU) is late here and the talks is only stalling things. The mediator can drop a statement saying today: “I am optimistic that common ground towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict can be secured. The interlocutors I have engaged on all sides have stated their wish for peace, security, and stability in Ethiopia. The main point of difference between the actors is in the means by which they seek to achieve this essential objective. War represents a failure of politics. Thus dialogue remains the only reliable and sustainable avenue to peace. There is no military solution to the conflict and battlefield victory cannot guarantee political stability in Ethiopia. I, therefore, appeal to the leadership of all sides to halt their military offensives. This will allow an opportunity for dialogue to continue to progress. Such talks cannot deliver in an environment of escalated military hostilities” (African Union – ‘Statement on the Prospects for Peace in Ethiopia by H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo High representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the Horn of Africa’ 14.11.2021).

It is like Obasanjo haven’t learned from his own experience. Just 5 years ago as a Tana Forum speaker or delegate. He spoke of the reason why we are seeing a war within Ethiopia today. The diversity and marginalization of certain groups is the reason for the conflict in Ethiopia. That’s because one man wanted to consolidate all power and use old grievances to settle it. He wanted to overcome the TPLF and by doing so hurt the Tigrayan ethnic group. This he got done by getting allies who has suffered, because of the leadership in Mekelle.

Deep down, I think Obasanjo know the difference and the difficulties here. The parties are not willing to really talk. These are just cordial meetings to buy time. We know the United Front against Prosperity Party is running towards Addis Ababa. This is just common knowledge as they are aiming to use arms to change the leadership. They are not trusting or having faith in negotiations. That’s why the former President is to hopeful in this manner.

I don’t see Abiy or Afewerki talking to Debretsion. I wish I could, but these have already vilified and gone total genocide on the enemy. They are arresting people for being associated or allegedly associated with either Tigray Defence Force (TDF) or Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Therefore, seeing them talking or having a meeting seems unlikely. If the TPLF/OLF went to talk. I would be worried of arrests and authorities surrounding the venue. This is why the hope is very dishonest at this moment of time.

The talks Obasanjo was maybe positive and had a good vibe. However, those vibes will not change the matters on the ground. As the FDRE is going into a “survival campaign” mode and the TDF-OLA is slowly advancing towards their target. This is not a time or a moment of thinking these will give way. No party will earn on it and that would only salvage the reign of Abiy. A ruler, which is a warlord and someone who many wants gone. Therefore, if Obasanjo wants to save his term or if he wants peace. That is two difference objectives….

I don’t see the hope or the possibilities of quick or brief ceasing of military operations. That means an unilateral ceasefire, which means all parties would silence their guns. The Tripartite Alliance never did that and only played the facade of that. While they we’re still annexing Western Tigray and besieging the rest of Tigray region. Therefore, Obasanjo is too positive or naive. I doubt any of the parties will give way. These parties will fight to the death or until they have to go to exile. Peace.

RDC: Iracan Unen Gratien de Saint-Nicholas – Communique No. 005 (14.11.2021)

Somalia: AMISOM – Court Martial finds AMISOM soldiers guilty of killing civilians in Goloweyn (13.11.2021)

Maldives: Maldives Revolutionary Movement (MRM) – Press Release (13.11.2021)

Sudan: Sudanese Congress Party -A statement about the million anger (13.11.2021)

Get angry, for God did not create peoples who are calm

Get angry, the earth bows its head to the angry

Get angry, the earth will fall into a volcano

And your bloody voice becomes the anthem of the tired

the rebellious Sudanese people;

Today, the hordes of honorable revolutionaries and revolutionaries came out of every abyss and towards the direction in a million of anger, to announce their insistence on overthrowing the coup and the return of the stolen legitimacy. Peace and that his young revolution is irreversible, the masses proclaimed their firm, immutable and irreversible demands. And she moved with her feet, shaking the ends of the earth, and raising her chant the pillars of the sky.

Our steadfast people;

The millions of anger adhered to legitimacy and the civil state and rejected all decisions issued by the coup d’état from the twenty-fifth of last October until the decision to form the alleged coup council, and as usual for the coup d’etat breast-feeding dictatorship and totalitarianism, the coup force faced the bravery of the revolutionaries by firing live bullets and tear gas, and five martyrs rose until the date of this statement.

Dozens of people were wounded with varying injuries, and the cowardly coup forces were not satisfied with that, but also attacked doctors while performing their humanitarian duty and prevented ambulances from reaching the wounded, in clear violations of all human laws and norms, which confirms the isolation of this coup. And the clear fear of its leaders from the anger of the masses, which is growing in their confrontation day after day, and the party condemns the grave violations that occurred against the peaceful revolutionaries.

The masses of our victorious people;

The Sudanese Congress Party invites you to continue the escalation and the resistance movement and adherence to the unity of all the forces of the living revolution in the face of the brutal force of the coup, and all honorable people must take clear positions against the coup.

For the release of detainees and the return of the government of Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Hamdok to continue its work, and to work hard to protect peaceful demonstrators during their peaceful resistance movement and to express their rejection of this coup and its decisions and preventing the use of excessive force in confronting them, and we are fully confident that our people will rise to the ladder of glory with their acclaimed flogging until the clear victory is achieved.

Long live our people free and victorious

November 13, 2021 AD

Halalan 2022: Duterte Versus Duterte?

Today, it was revealed that some of the “holding” candidates dropped out and the real candidacies got on paper. Some was anticipated … and this isn’t that shocking, as the candidates in question did a last minute step to go into the ring and backing down makes sense. We can maybe expect some more or just reveal the final tickets. However, today reveals a real unique case, which isn’t that usual or even common anywhere.

The PDP-Laban ticket is getting back to what the party already made a memo or a resolution earlier in the year. So, Ronald “Bato” Del Rosa have revoked his candidacy and withdraws as a Presidential Candidate. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Tesoro Go or “Bong Go” is becoming the Presidential Candidate. While the current President Rodrigo Duterte is running as the Vice-President in the up-coming elections.

This means the PDP-Laban will be going with the Bong Go – Duterte ticket. While the PDP-Laban made the changes and the President is scheduled to field his candidacy over the weekend. A family member made change on her own.

The PFP and Ferdinand Marcos “Bong” Junior presidency got an boost as Lakas CMD have declared Sara Duterte Carpio as the Vice President on the same ticket. This mean the son of the Marco’s dictatorship and Duterte’s daughter is running mates. Which in the end means that Rodrigo and Sara is going head-to-head for the office.

This means father and daughter will be competing for the same office. Sara have already been the Davao City Mayor just like her father was. They have both had this office and now she’s also seeking a high ranking official space. What is striking is that she joins on the Marcos ticket and will with this accept the plundering ways of that family.

Sara Duterte Carpio might get the finances and the benefits of the agreements ahead of the race. While the father has the big-name and recognition. Heck, the father might have more popularity and get more favourable headlines. She has to prove herself nationally and cannot just ride on her family name.

Inday Sara have to show herself and not think she can walk into this without any issues. First, she has to address the elephant in the room. As she’s just there because of her father. Secondly, she has to address and be able to articulate her support for Marcos. These two things are just the beginning… before even asking about policies, plans or even use her skills for the high ranking office.

It will be a weird race to see father and daughter battling out for the same office. Both racing to become the VP. They are both willing to fight for the same office. I wonder if Rodrigo will be as brutal and sincere in concern to his daughter? Will Rodrigo go as hard or be as blunt, as he is with any other competitor?

Will Sara throw her father under the bus and bury his achievements? Will she sound like an opposition candidate and answer back with a fierce tone?

Or will these two be a friendly faces and act like nothing. Because, these two are family and in the end… blood is thicker than water. Time will tell…

But seeing Duterte versus Duterte… that’s a mess and I wonder what is the plan behind this. Because, they are not the only candidates and the risks of doing this. They both might loose and some other catch more interest. There might be a will and a foresight to pick someone else.

Now we only have time and wisdom. What we do however see is how PDP-Laban and the Marcos is playing these games. This will become hectic and at some time or another. We can await a erratic and a thunderstorm coming to the press. As both Duterte’s have to get the upper-hand and someone will unleash their vicious side. I just anticipate that. Since they wont to win and I don’t think any of them will leave anything to chance. Peace.

Sudan: Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change – Statement (13.11.2021)

Our great people

A new historical day; In the march of the glorious December revolution, our people made great millions in the cities and villages of the various countries in order to feed the revolutionaries and their tails from the elements of the former regime, and the luggage fell, a stone of shale.

Our revolutionaries and our glorious revolutionaries, who are biting their civil, democratic state in the morning.

The masses who took to the streets said their word to demand the achievement of a full civil state, and to hold the coup plotters and the peaceful killers of the revolutionaries accountable. Despite the peaceful movement, the security forces in all their various formations, it confronted them with excessive and unjustified violence that reflects the state of confusion and panic that the coup leaders suffer from from the street speech and its influence.

Attacking the injured and health personnel, firing live ammunition at peaceful demonstrators, closing roads and bridges, cutting off Internet service, deliberately disrupting communications, and campaigns of arrests and frantic pursuit of members of resistance committees and members of professional and union bodies.

In a series of shameful crimes for humanity, added to the brutal and criminal record of the putschists.

Our proud people

Our path towards restoring our civil and democratic state will not stop, and the bloody coup d’etat will not defeat the valour of our people, and we reiterate our support for the November 17 million, And all forms of peaceful civil struggle decided by the revolutionaries, and we demand the release of all political detainees, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Hamdok.

November 13, 2021

Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change

Sudan: Sudanese Professionals Association – A statement by the forces of the coup military council commits a new massacre (13.11.2021)

The occupation forces and the occupation forces of the military coup committed a new massacre against the Sudanese revolutionaries and revolutionaries today, November 13, 2021, in which they use snipers to kill with live bullets, storm neighbourhoods and homes and practice indiscriminate arrest, hospitals and medical centers are also besieged to prevent the wounded from arriving for treatment and medical services.

These practices are considered crimes against humanity and are punishable by Sudanese law and international conventions, and we assure all those involved in them that they are being observed and will be brought to prompt and prompt trials.

We call on revolutionaries in all neighbourhoods and Furqan in all cities and villages of Sudan to close public and internal roads with barricades to disrupt and paralyse the movement of the occupation and labour forces.

The mass tide and peaceful resistance with a variety of tools will continue until the overthrow of the military coup d’état.

Bringing the criminals to justice for what they committed against the peaceful defenceless, and establishing the full transitional civil national authority that stems from the living revolutionary forces that adhere to the line of radical change and the goals of the valiant December revolution.

The eyes of the cowardly criminal killers do not sleep.

November 13, 2021

Opinion: Bobi Wine is getting the whole Besigye-Treatment [in Lira and Mbale]

These days we are seeing the former Presidential Candidate and Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader is getting similar treatment to what Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr. Kizza Besigye gotten over the years.

What happened at the radio station at Mbale and Lira is common practice. That the regional appointed bureaucratic goons are doing to the opposition. The Residential District Commanders (RDCs) and District Police Commanders (DPCs) are following direct orders to block people like Bobi Wine and Besigye. That is just part of their protocol and what they do.

It is not fair or justified, but it is the mere reality. What is happening in these towns and places. We have all seen before… it is just a new generational leader, which the old man is blocking from moving and speaking. While the same party and President will say his nothing to fear. Which is really ironic, if you didn’t fear the man. Why don’t let him speak and operate like anyone else?

No, we know the Police Force is more busy scheming and finding ways of pinning crimes on opposition leaders and activists, instead of catching thieves, murders and blue-collar criminals. That’s just the mere reality and the Uganda Police Force (UPF) is embedded in partisan politics. They are so beholden to the throne and his decrees. These folks aren’t there to serve the general public or the needs of the people. No, they are there to uphold the reign of their king and that’s it.

This is why Bobi Wine will be in trouble. It doesn’t matter if his up-north, in the east or west. He can be in central (Buganda) but that doesn’t matter either. If he wants to be on a radio in Mukono or Busoga. Just forget about it. Bobi Wine won’t get access and the state will find all sorts of excuses. However, the President and his men can go on radio-tour anytime they want. This is because this is his kingdom and everyone is his servants. That’s why he prefers to sit in a high chair and dole away money to begging citizens. This is what he has become and his proud of it too.

It is not shocking that there is arrests, tear-gas and blocked radio-stations. This is what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) does to it’s enemies. Because, the NRM got nothing to prove or nothing to give. They have only monopoly on violence … and that’s what gives it additional life. The NRM surges on violence and secures the levels of fear is living within the population. That is what the NRM saying by doing over the years. It is not because the NRM values the 10 point programme or any promises made over the years. Nah, these are just empty pleas and to make some headlines. Since, the NRM and the President cannot keep up with them or even have the funding for any of it.

That’s why any serious challenger has to be silenced and stopped in their tracks. This is why Bobi Wine is getting the Besigye treatment. Bobi Wine haven’t been detained or arrested in such a way yet. However, Bobi Wine doesn’t have the years that Besigye have in the trenches. Bobi Wine needs years to be able to hit the numbers of charges, days behind bars and pending treason charges too. Therefore, Bobi Wine is only at the beginning of it. Even with the heartache of aftermath of Arua By-Election.

Bobi Wine now tasting the bitter fruits of popularity and being the voice of reason. Which is in the Republic, a voice of Treason. That’s the just the way things are… and it’s tragic. Freedom is limited and justice is only for the chosen few. The rest is prey waiting to taken by the predator. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Statement on the US Government Sanctions Imposed on the Eritrean Government (13.11.2021)