South Sudan: MSF staff member killed in intercommunal violence in Agok (16.02.2022)

MSF has been forced to temporarily suspend operations at the hospital, with the 24 patients that were receiving medical treatment transferred to a hospital in Abyei.

JUBA, South Sudan, February 16, 2022 – It is with great sadness that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) confirms the death of David Deng Aleu, a South Sudanese nurse that worked in the MSF hospital in Agok. David was killed inside his home on Thursday 10 February when intercommunal fighting broke out in Agok, a town 38km south of Abyei in South Sudan.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague and express our heartfelt condolences to David’s family and friends”, said Gouranga Manna, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan. “We strongly condemn this act of violence which has led to the tragic loss of lives in the community.”

As fighting broke out, locals have fled to the surrounding bush and other towns for safety. Among them were several members of our staff that work at the MSF Hospital. As a result, MSF has been forced to temporarily suspend operations at the hospital, with the 24 patients that were receiving medical treatment transferred to a hospital in Abyei.

MSF remains committed to delivering medical assistance to the people of Agok. We are continuing to maintain a presence in the community to ensure access to essential medical care.

“MSF’s principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality means that we provide medical care to any person in urgent need, regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliations or any other factor”, said Gouranga Manna. “We call for respect and safety of our medical teams so that we can continue to provide these life-saving services”.

Somalia: Elections must be finalized amid worsening drought, Security Council hears (16.02.2022)

James Swan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, briefed ambassadors on recent political developments.

NEW YORK, United States of America, February 16, 2022 – Somalia’s leaders must put aside their differences and urgently conclude a credible election process, the UN’s senior official in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday, noting that national elections are now more than a year behind schedule and women’s representation remains significantly off-track.

James Swan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed ambassadors on recent political developments – including the conclusion of Upper House of Parliament elections, and the ongoing House of the People election – as well as increasing attacks by the Al-Shabaab militant group and a deepening humanitarian crisis triggered by one of the region’s worst droughts in decades.

Critical election

The Special Representative said that, since his last briefing in November 2021, election plans – first agreed earlier that year – have progressed considerably.

“While this is a welcome development, this pace needs to be further accelerated,” he said, noting that only 130 of 275 seats of the House of the People have been filled to date.

Pointing out that 23 of those seats have so far gone to women, about 22 per cent of the total, he said that number fell well short of the 30 per cent agreed women’s quota for the country’s political leaders, and urged all actors to redouble their efforts to meet that target.

While political tensions among some Somali leaders continue to flare up sporadically – largely the result of “posturing and brinkmanship” – he reported that they have so far been quickly contained.

“Yet, a real risk remains that a miscalculation could lead these tensions to spill over into conflict,” he warned.

Militant attacks 

In the security arena, the Al-Shabaab militant group continues to pose a major security threat to Somalia, with Banadir region and South West states, serving as its centre of operations.

Recent months have also seen an increase in the use of improvised explosive devices and rising numbers of attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, with civilian casualties.

Noting that the future configuration of the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, is currently under review, Mr. Swan said the UN is engaged in discussions with the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union and key donors, on various technical aspects of its future mandate and configuration.

Progress has also been registered in implementing the Somali Transition Plan, which is key both for the Mission’s reconfiguration and for determining how quickly it will transfer responsibilities to the Somali security forces.

‘Extremely dire’ humanitarian outlook

Meanwhile, Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region is facing one of the most severe droughts in decades.

Mr. Swan warned the Council that some 7.7 million Somalis require humanitarian assistance this year, with 4.3 million impacted by drought and more than 270,000 displaced.

According to the recently released Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Assessment, published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 1.4 million children in Somalia – nearly half of the country’s under-five population – are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition due to the ongoing drought.

A critical shortage of water has forced families to migrate to urban and peri-urban centres, adding to the 2.9 million people who were already displaced by conflict and climate change.  Since November 2021, water prices in some of the worst-affected areas have risen by as much as 72 per cent.

Warning the Council that the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia currently stands at only 2 per cent funded, the Special Representative reiterated his call on donors to increase their support.

South Sudan: Save the Children suspends work in Agok and relocates staff (16.02.2022)

Tchad: Front pour l’Aternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) – Communique de Presse No. 005 (15.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – OLLAA Condemns recent Attacks against Civilians throughout Ethiopia (15.02.2022)

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF): EFF calls on Ramaphosa to deliver his reply to SONA debate physically (15.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Eritrean Political Forces & Eritrean Global Yiaki Movement – An Urgent Appeal for the Protection of Eritrean Refugees in Barahle camp of Ethiopia (12.02.2022)

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (15.02.2022)

Djibouti: A foiled coup d’etat today

Djiboutian Military and Police commanders placed under house arrest over “coup plot” – Reports Maj. Gen. Zakaria Sheikh and Col. Abdullahi Abdi are reportedly suspected of planning a coup against President Ismail Omar Guelleh who has been in office since 1999” (Morad News, 15.02.2022).

Sources say that the President ordered certain sect of the army officers be placed under house arrest, while jailing others citing suspicious illegal military activities around the country” (Somali News Network, 15.02.2022).

Ex-Djibouti minister Booda Roble was also placed under house arrest. Government is yet to comment on the matter” (Radio Dalsan, 15.02.2022).

The President of 23 years, Ismail Omar Guelleh who was elected for his 5th Term just a year ago in a questionable election, which the opposition boycotted. Where the regime have controlled everything and used violence against the Afar people of late. While the state has also sponsored the Issa-Somali militia, which has attacked the Ethiopian regions of Afar and Ogaden. Therefore, this regime isn’t unknown with using violence and sponsor conflict for it’s own interests.

President Guelleh who has been in power for over two decades should worry about his “popularity” and his general standing in Djibouti. As he has imposed himself on the republic. That’s why things like these happens, because everyone knows that no election will be free or fair. As it is all controlled by the President and his loyal cadres. This is why someone plotted his demise and they are now arrested.

There will be more news in concern to this. The authorities are silent about the matter, but sooner or later it must address it. We know the same authorities has arrested and silenced it’s critics. Therefore, these who plotted to overthrow Guelleh will now share the same type of room and board as these ones. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ogaden region will burn because of it’s federal-imposed leadership

Addis Ababa, February 15, 2022 (FBC) – The Somali Regional State has announced zero tolerance policy for any anti-peace activity against peace and security in the region. The regional government vowed to take serious legal measures against forces engaged in hostile activities to disrupt peace and cause violence to the region” (Fana Broadcasting Company – ‘Somali Regional State Announces Zero Tolerance Policy For Anti-Peace Activities’ 15.02.2022).

The Somali Region or the Ogaden region will be set on fire, as the Federal Government and Regional State Government will crack down in the youth and the opposition voices there. They will claim that these are trying to overthrow or a coup d’etat against Somali Region President Mustafa Omar Agjar. However, he was never elected or a representative of the people of the region. He is an unelected regional capo-regime of the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

The Prosperity Party isn’t popular and neither is Liyu Police Force trusted either. That’s why there is reports of additional brigades of Amhara Para-Military group Fano in the region. This is done to quell or silence the voices of opposition there. These are the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and Congress for Somali Cause (CSC) who will be silenced there. As the Prosperity Party know these two organizations are more closer to the general public. The only way the PP can be relevant is by imposing itself and setting fear into the population. Which it is starting to do now.

The starting of killing youths and activists… there will be arrests of the leadership in the mentioned organizations. It is reported of two youths killed in the last 24 hours in the region and 100 youths being detained. That is so everyone is following the Regional President and his orders. His the chief and anyone isn’t supposed to challenge him.

The Addis Ababa regime will claim or alleged the Oromo Liberation Front/Army (OLF/A) behind the violence. While the true nature of extremists are from the deployed “Fano” which has come to the region on behalf of the Regional President. Therefore, the use of ethnic violence is the “policy” or the “unity” values of the Federal Government.

The Medemer Terror has arrived to the Ogden region. If you know, now you know. Peace.