Ethiopia: After being arrested and detained for close to 1,5 year the PP plans to use them as shield [Jawar & Gerba]

The continued warfare in the North of Ethiopia continues. As the frontlines are changing day-by-day. While the Tigray Defence Force is moving ahead and the Tripartite Alliance is using all means, which has been reported that Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” have used several of World Food Programme trucks to move their troops. An allegation the ENDF and Abiy regime have used against the TDF. Another proof of the projections of allegations in this war, which have become too common and reveals their shady tricks.

Now… in Ogaden there is plan of conference, because the Federal Government wants to look legit and have support. This a government which haven’t even tried or acted within dialogue. So, this report shows how insincere this government is and hopes they can use political prisoners as shield for their mischief. That says it all…

Somali Regional President Mustafe Cagjar, who was in Djibouti for a heritage meeting, spoke as if he were unconscious without answering a number of questions. Mustafe does not have the consent or confidence to speak out on Ethiopia’s covert politics, nor does he have a political role in Ethiopia, only representing the region. On heritage conference Mustafe said that “in the last three years, Ethiopia has achieved stable economic development. In the past, the West used exaggeration to lie about the Ethiopian poor economy.” Musafe Cagjar’s speech is not intertwined and is off the agenda of the heritage meeting. Somali Heritage is a research institute that addresses issues related to the political interests of the Somali people. In his speech at the Djibouti Heritage Summit, President Mustafa Cagjar, in particular, explained that in the National Inclusive Dialogue announced by Abiy, it is understandable that the Prosperity Party has decided that the leaders of the Oromo opposition (Jawar and Bekele Gerba) will be released from prison to serve as a shield and to prevent the TPLF from invading Addis Ababa” (Ogaden Freedom – ‘Inviting Ethiopians and Kenyans to the Somali Heritage Conference is not worth it’ 14.12.2021).

After my calculation, the fellow Oromo leaders was arrested around 30th June 2020. Today which happens to be the 14th December 2021. This means that the opposition leaders from Oromia have been behind bars and charged with terrorism for about 533 days. They have been in custody for over 1 year and 5 months, close to 1 and half year.

This here is insulting and show how sinister the regime is. They hope to use these leaders to stop the gains of the TDF-OLA if they enter or are at the gates of Addis Ababa. Yes, at the moment the TDF and OLA is a bit far fetched, but the TDF have claimed thousands of troops from the ENDF have fallen at the front-lines in the recent days.

We know it’s hard to impossible to know the validity of that. However, what Cagjar is saying is the party line, unless Government Communication Service suddenly says this is “fake news”. Since, they usually tend to dismiss and distort all international reports on matter concerning the FDRE. Therefore, if they are silent and not saying anything. This most likely has some truth to it.

Just imagine, if the Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy frees these two and other Oromo Political Prisoners, which have been detained indefinitely. We didn’t expect them to see the light of day until Abiy era was over. However, that is maybe an offer now.

Nevertheless, the qeerro and the people shouldn’t buy into this. Neither should any of the TDF-OLA alliances either. Since, this is just a trick and the public shouldn’t be fooled. They will just be released and return back the moment the momentum changes. This a strategic move for the long-con.

Where the professed leaders, which couldn’t stand or be eligible for elections. Suddenly, are powerful enough to stop strong armies from entering the capital. That is saying something about the popularity and the will to use any means to stay in power. First keeping them behind bars for own benefit and re-entering them to society to shield against other adversaries. That’s some spiteful actions and should be rebuked by everyone involved.

Jawar and Gerba shouldn’t accept this. The people should take it for what it is and this shows what sort of “dialogue” the PM and PP intends to have. It will only go skin deep and be for the benefit of Abiy. Everyone else is just toys at his disposal and in his time of need. That’s really it.

This warlord will not hold honest dialogue or peace talks. No, he just wants to be supreme and consolidate all powers by any means possible. Peace.

RDC: Eveil de la Conscience pour le Travail et le Developpement (E.C.T.) – Communique de Presse (14.12.2021)

Somalia: the compound impact of drought and conflict pushes people to the brink (14.12.2021)

Last month the Federal Government declared a state of emergency, as thousands leave their homes in search of food, water and pasture.

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 14, 2021 – More than 300,000 people have been affected by the worsening drought in Somalia’s Galgaduud region. Last month the Federal Government declared a state of emergency, as thousands leave their homes in search of food, water and pasture. In addition to the worsening drought, Guriel, a town of some 100,000 inhabitants in central Galgaduud, has seen an intensification of conflict. At the end of October, heavy fighting broke out between Somali National Army and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a group, killing dozens and forcing some 100,000 people to flee to the neighboring villages.

“This drought is more severe than the ones I used to see. The clashes have forced people to run away and become displaced. The drought and lack of rainfall has also caused displacement. These things have all come at once,” said Hashim, a 50 year old resident of Guriel.

Intense shelling damaged several buildings in Guriel, including its main hospital. The Kulmiye Community hospital, the second largest in town, was destroyed in a fire.  Kulmiye hospital was a referral hospital that offered outpatient, inpatient, maternity and immunization services to people from surrounding villages within the range of over 100 km. “This morning, a number of people arrived at the hospital thinking it still exists. They had not heard the news,” said Dr. Ali Omar Tarabi – Chairman, Kulmiye Hospital Board. The pressure on the remaining health facilities has considerably increased.

Hundreds of thousands of people are staying in makeshift settlements on the outskirts of Guriel town. Some of them were displaced by the recent fighting, while others came to the area seeking pasture, as drought became more severe. All the displaced people live in extremely difficult conditions, lacking access to the essential services, like food, water and healthcare. “To respond to these needs, we provided water trucking to displaced people in 17 villages”, said Mohamed Sheikh Ahmed, Head of ICRC office in Galmudug.  “Together with the Somali Red Crescent Society, we deployed a mobile health team that is providing essential health care services to six villages”.

Life is slowly returning to Guriel, but many small businesses remain closed and it will take time and effort to repair the damage, especially while the region is grappling with the consequences of the drought.

ICRC in Somalia – Key Facts

  • A mobile health clinic consisting of 2 nurses, 2 health promoters, a vaccinator and a pharmacy assistant run by the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is providing health care services to four villages and two displacement camps in Galgaduud region.
  • Over 39,000 people received access to water through rehabilitation of 9 boreholes
  • The ICRC has been delivering 90 liters of water per day to some 6,600 for four weeks, as part of its emergency response.
  • 20 water tanks have been delivered to 17 affected villages in Guriel.
  • Over 70,000 people affected by the drought received cash grants in 17 villages in Galmudug region.

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – OLLAA expresses concern over Ethiopia’s targeting of journalists and activists (13.12.2021)

Tanzania: Alliance for Change for Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) – Stakeholders meeting on political situation in Tanzania 15th – 17th December 2021 (14.12.2021)

Guinee: Comite National du Rasssemblement pour le Developpement (CNRD) – Communique No. 48 (13.12.2021)

Bobi Wine house-arrested over a by-election of LCV chairman ….

More deployment by the Police and Military moves towards Bobi Wine’ s home in Magere. The NUP leader has been condoned off from his home ahead of his visit to Kayunga District and only Pedestrians allowed past the police barricades at Freedom Drive” (John Cliff Wamala, 13.12.2021).

Today, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was scheduled to travel to Kayunga District to support his party and flagbearer for the Kayunga District for the LC5 Chairman by-election there.

The military has increased deployment around my home. No one is allowed to leave or enter. Our security guard and gardener have been violently arrested, beaten and bundled into ‘drones’ outside our gate. Their phones confiscated” (Bobi Wine, 13.12.2021).

This by-election is scheduled to be happening on the 16th December 2021. However, we are seeing very clear signs that the opposition and the ones who are dissidents silenced. Bobi Wine is blocked from supporting his own party.

That is the tragic here. Just as we know the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is sending the President Museveni to galvanize support. While we know the state has been busy to abduct journalists and the ones following the NUP candidate during the weekend too. Therefore, the government is putting a lot of stakes in this by-election.

They are violating people’s rights just to win a LC5 councillor. The state is really continuing to serve injustice and impunity. Peace.

Ghana: #FixTheCountry – EFL as Conveners (13.12.2021)

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Press Release (13.12.2021)

Maldives: Transparency Maldives – TM expresses concern over the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee vote to Initiate the process of dismissal of all members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (13.12.2021)