Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ): Response to CZI Paper on Currency Situation (23.04.2022)

Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL): ANFREL Launches International Election Observation Mission to the 2022 Philippine National And Local Elections (23.04.2022)

World Health Organization (WHO): Democratic Republic of Congo declares new Ebola outbreak in north-western province (23.04.2022)

The current outbreak is the sixth since 2018 alone – the most frequent occurrence in the country’s Ebola history.

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), April 23, 2022 – The health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today declared an outbreak of Ebola after a case was confirmed in Mbandaka, a city in the north-western Equateur Province. This is the third outbreak in the province since 2018.

So far, just one case has been confirmed. The patient, a 31-year-old man, began experiencing symptoms on 5 April and after more than a week of care at home, sought treatment at a local health facility. On 21 April, the patient was admitted to an Ebola treatment centre for intensive care but died later that day. Having recognized the symptoms, health workers immediately submitted samples to test for Ebola virus disease. Investigations to determine the source of the outbreak are ongoing.

“Time is not on our side,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “The disease has had a two-week head start and we are now playing catch-up. The positive news is that health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have more experience than anyone else in the world at controlling Ebola outbreaks quickly.”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing its fourteenth Ebola outbreaks since 1976. The current outbreak is the sixth since 2018 alone – the most frequent occurrence in the country’s Ebola history. Previous outbreaks in Equateur Province were in 2020 and 2018, with 130 and 54 recorded cases respectively.

Efforts to stem the current outbreak are already underway. The deceased patient received a safe and dignified burial, which involves modifying traditional funeral ceremonies in a way that minimizes the risk of contagious fluids infecting attendees. Anyone who came in contact with the patient are also being identified and their health will be monitored. The health facility where the patient received care has been decontaminated.

WHO experts based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are supporting the national authorities to ramp up key outbreak response areas including testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, treatment as well as working with communities to support the public health measures to prevent infections.

Vaccination is set to kick off in the coming days. The country already has stockpiles of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine available in the cities of Goma and Kinshasa. Vaccines will be sent to Mbandaka and administered through ‘ring vaccination’ strategy—where contacts and contacts of contacts are vaccinated to curb the spread of the virus and protect lives.

“Many people in Mbandaka are already vaccinated against Ebola, which should help reduce the impact of the disease,” said Dr Moeti. “All those who were vaccinated during the 2020 outbreak will be revaccinated.”

Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. There is now effective treatment available and if patients receive treatment early, as well as supportive care, their chances of survival improve significantly.

Guinee: Comite National Rassemblement pour le Developpement (CNRD) – Communique No. 011 (21.04.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Regarding the Ongoing Military Operation in Oromia, and Audio Conversation between Jaal Marroo and Jaal Sanyii (22.04.2022)

Opinion: 36 years as the First Son… [The 48th Year Birthday Bash]

Today was supposed to be the day of greatness and Kampala was supposed to be turned on it head. The streets was supposed to be filled with people celebrating and cheering as Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba celebrated his 48th Birthday bash. There was a marathon planned and birthday concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval.

All the stops was made. Roads was blocked and venues cleared. The state spared no mind and the greatness was supposed to be shown. However, the marathon was a major blow to the self-esteem of the first son. There was only a few people running in it and they where running on sealed of roads in silence. Must have been a tragic site. The birthday run is the definition of flop.

While there maybe be a few thousands at the Lugogo Cricket Grounds. That’s because thestate and the First Son has a free entry to a massive concert with dozens of artists. At today’s birthday celebration it will have Cindy, Bebe Cool, Jose Chamelone, Fik Famica, John Blaq, Azawi, Afrigo Band, Kalifa Aganaga, Quexx, Romeo Odong and Bruce Martins Masaba. While there are socialities, celebrities and high ranking officials in attendance. The ones who are in close association with the state and with the National Resistance Movement are sitting at the VIP tables eating good.

That’s why the free tickets and to such an event is getting people there. They are getting to see musicians and people who are on the radio. It is easy to see why people are gathering and showing up for that. Not because the Lt. Gen. is popular or have a massive following.

If the Lt. Gen. he would have had people following his every move. In other parts of Kampala today people followed and gathered around Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine as he went for an interview with BBS Television today. The boda-boda’s was encircling him and people was cheering him along. That shows true popularity and honest support, which the Lt. Gen. cannot buy.

Today was the big gig. Today is the day he needed to prove his worth. As he made this bash into a national event and of vast importance. While it is only his 48th year of living as the first son. It is a celebration of him being the son of the President. There is no other reason for today’s gatherings and birthday bash.

We should wonder where the money for this bash is coming from. This isn’t the only one either. There been celebrations earlier in the week in the Greater Bushenyi. So, the state has outspent itself here. I doubt all of the event organizers and the procurements made will be for free. This is not a donation or a charity event even. It was an a series of events to boost the ego of a 48 year old man who has forever lived in the shadow of his father.

Muhoozi wants to become the big-shot. The Lt. Gen. wants to have all relevance and be the next in line. This is to officiate his public persona beyond his UPDF title and Twitter handle. He wants to be more the errand-boy and avenger of his father. His ego wants so much more and we wants the love other leaders are getting. However, his not getting that and his learning the hard way. If he has learned anything from today even.

The Lt. Gen. has hired plenty for this gig and expected a full-blown party from Kololo to Lugogo. But this man only getting chicken-wings and very little meat. His not getting the praise or the love that he anticipated. This isn’t how the public went around Besigye when he nominated himself ahead of the 2016 elections. Neither anywhere near the love and compassion the public shows Bobi Wine. That’s why today is a depressing day.

Fake Love and gigs can only take you so far. There is no where in a realistic world that he will be able to gain real popularity and rise to power. However, his whole career and lifestyle has been infused artificially. His only known because of his father and cannot avoid that shadow now. That his trying to get out of it is making sense, but that’s impossible.

So, today he celebrated that he has been the First Son for 36 years with a big bang, but also with a blow. His not the Kabaka and neither is he a beloved character. Neither does he have any personality or broader spectrum of brilliance, which would get people to gather around him. His just the big ego of a man who is soon turning 50 years old and has achieved little to nothing on his own. He wants to be grand, great and the next big-man. Right now his just toying around and acting a fool.

This will end in tears. It will not be as he anticipated. If it had been that… it wouldn’t be lonely fellow running in the closed off streets of Kampala today. No, there would be people encircling his convoy and boda-boda’s showing him love. Which didn’t happen, but happened elsewhere in town. Peace.

Ethiopia: United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces (UFEFCF) – Denouncing the intensified war waged by the Abiy Ahmed regime and its allies in Oromia (22.04.2022)

Mali: Ministere de la Defense et des Anciens Combattants – DIRPA – Communique No. 033 de l’Etat-Major General des Armees (22.04.2022)

Somalia: Villa Somalia – President Farmajo issues decree on Parallel Elections in Gedo Region (22.04.2022)

Opinion: The gig stays the gig, Mr. Muhoozi

The Commander of Land Forces in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), the third ranking commander in the Republic, the first son and senior Presidential Advisor, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba can believe his own hype around his lavish and big enterprise of a birthday bash.

The 48th Birthday will surely be a memorable event and with a lot of high ranking officials participating. The socialities, the elite and the ones who wants a favour from the state will show up. The hired brigade of singers, dancers, hookers and whatnot will all sing songs of praise and dance until the Sun-down. However, it won’t be genuine and neither should you think so either.

The Lt. Gen. is hiring Balaam, Ashburg Katto and whoever else he can to boost his ego. He has peddlers on social media calling him a “visionary leader and the future President”. They are all bootlickers of him and he should see it. Alas, I don’t think his that bright or reflective. No, he needs handlers with a vision and with finesse. His a brutal, torture and a depressing man. That’s why he comes with the guns and bible while re-colonizing Karamoja in 2022.

This man will not know real love. He either knows fear or only knows how money can influence men. The Lt. Gen. knows maybe how to corrupt and get people dancing. He knows how to spring the steps of power and get into chambers of power. These doors has all been opened because of his father. If it wasn’t for his father. He would be a lost soul, either on a battlefield or on a shamba grazing some goats. He wouldn’t be near the State House in Entebbe, eating on the hills of Nakasero or enjoying all the perks of the Republic.

No, he would just be another fella trying his luck and possibly struggle at it. Since, his social media isn’t that awesome and neither is his hot-takes. Those takes could have caused a stir, if a Minister or MP dropped these tweets. However, because of his blood and vanity. His able to get off the hook and continue business like nothing. Even when he offends people in Addis Ababa, Kigali or anywhere else for that matter.

The Lt. Gen. can hire the people for the gig. Have his huge bash and get the whole social media team. He can create traffic-jams and issues all through Kampala tomorrow. The headlines and the stories can run large. Just like the stories of his conquests as a soldier and flamboyant ladies-man. However, we know both comes with huge ego and possible over exaggerated…. which shouldn’t shock anyone and particular not the general public.

Muhoozi might take the public for fools, but this will be his loss. He is underestimating the value of his pockets and guns. The guns and glamour can only take you that far. You cannot torture, silence the opposition and pay for small gigs. While expecting that is enough to usher yourself in as the next cringe-lord or baby dictator for that matter.

You will only be a glass half-full or half-empty. Lt. Gen. will only get that fake-love, as there is no reason to really love him. He is not a man of solidarity, hope or change. His the second generation of a dictatorship and a son of the current one. Why should be people be behind a man like that? A man who comes as the avenger and acts as his guard dog? Why would people want more of that?

It is only fools and ignorant people who believes Muhoozi is any good. His not and the ones who believes the people hired for the gig. You have been fooled and should reconsider your sources of information. It is not good and the deceased people of Kasese and Karamoja can attest to that. The people who has suffered because of the Special Forces Command (SFC) should be heard. These are the people who has gotten harmed and is damaged for life. Just so he could flex his title, his rank and his balls for dissidents and the likes. That’s what he does and he enjoys the pain of others.

That is why tomorrow isn’t a real celebration. It is the ushering in of the second coming of the son of Kaguta. The next in line and the one who aspires to be like his father. Another bloodthirsty goon with a title. That’s what it is… and it’s despicable. It is a charade and a big feast of nothingness. A story built on sand and the waves will take it all away.

When the money and power is gone. This man will have no respect. He will have nothing to chew and will be begging for mercy like the kids of Karamoja have done in the streets of Kampala. The orphans of war and the conflicts that he has caused too. He will be no different.

Right now his a Lt. Gen. and a man who hires people to dance to his tunes. He will think they enjoys and have fun. However, it is only a day-job and when the money dries out. They will not return or be beside him. No, they will find another master and another Lt. Gen. to play for. These aren’t the people who loves him or appreciate him. No, these IG Models, socialities and musicians will find other venues and glamorous events to attend too.

One Brother will say: “Muhoozi? Who?”, another brother says: “That’s so old-school. That’s the baby dictator. I only went because I got paid”, a sister: “his pockets was fat and he impregnated my bank-account, but I didn’t care for the brother”. That’s what will happen and he should know it. However, I don’t think he can see it or reflect in this way.

Well… why do I say that? Well… it isn’t in his character and the ways he operates. It is not in him and he wants everyone to drum along. And drum along they will, as long as he pays for the gig. Peace.