Sierra Leone: Council of Churches in Sierra Leone – Statement on the Events of the Past Few Days (11.08.2022)

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Police (SLP) – Preliminary Report – Destruction to property and loss of lives occassioned by violent protests on August 10, 2022, in Sierra Leone (11.08.2022)

A brief look into the Committee on Human Rights Report on Human Rights Violations in the Country from January 2020 to date

Today I will look into the Parliamentary report named: “REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA, FROM JANUARY 2020 TO-DATE” which is dated in July 2022 and received by the Clerk of the Parliament during August 2022. This report is important, as we know the usage of the authorities against dissidents, activists and others during the campaigns and after it too. So, that should be reflected in the report.

I will take out the quotes and statements, which is showing the true character of the oppression and how the state operates. It would be shocking if there wasn’t some sinister actions reported or information about. The news about these acts and the common knowledge of it should be mirrored here.

The report is bluntly very long and could be taken into plenty of pieces. As there are enough pain and suffering to speak about. I am only taking a little part of the greater picture. Just to show what sort of things the state does to the citizens during the election period. Because, focusing on to big parts it will be becoming erratic. There are so many stakeholders who supplemented the Report as well.

So there could be taken out so much material. However, here is just a small fragment and it still prints a bleak picture. I believe this is only the top of the ice-berg and we don’t know what is underneath the surface. The state would never release the whole picture, but only the cliff-notes. That is obvious here….

A brief overview of human rights violations:

It starts with: “the highest number of complaints reported to UHRC was torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (443), followed by deprivation of personal liberty/detention beyond 48 hours (378)” (…) “The Commission reported to the Committee that some of the law enforcement or security agencies wear civilian clothes, sometimes with their faces covered

in masks, while those in uniforms lack name tags. The identification of perpetrators is further compounded when there are joint operations by the Uganda Police Force, UPDF, CMI and ISO” (…) “The Committee notes that there was arbitrary deprivation of the right to liberty because of wrongful procedure of airest by Police and security agencies. Most suspects were held incommunicado and were not informed of the cases against them” (…) “The Committee noted that UHRC reported 90 cases of alleged deprivation of the right to life. However, the report did not contain any additional information on how each case was handled and the status of said the cases” (Report, July 2022).

Abductions during campaign season:

The Committee was informed that between the months of January 2020 and March 2021, the Uganda Human Rights Commission received 65 complaints of alleged disappearances of persons in the districts of Kyotera, Mukono, Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Pallisa, Bundibugyo and Mityana” (…) “Some of the released persons allege to have been freed from the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka, Wakiso district while others contend they were produced in court and remanded to Kitalya Prison” (Report, July 2022).

HURIPEC reported that from the start of the official presidential and parliamentary election campaigns in November 2O2O, not less than 500 Ugandans were abducted, kidnapped, held in custody without trial or in military facilities and “safe houses”, or killed extra-judicially. HURIPEC

alleged that on November 18 and 191h 2020 alone, it was estimated that over 100 Ugardans were executed on the streets of Kampala in a bid to contain protests that were triggered by the arrest of NUP Party flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu” (…) “They further claimed that while a few of the citizens arrested in this onslaught were arraigned before courts of law, an unknown number were found dumped in jungles and other remote places; often in poor health, bearing torture marks. Some women reported to have been sexually violated- These acts have gone hand in hand with a growing practice of trying Ugandan citizens in military tribunals. HURIPEC expres concern that this is against the letter and spirit of Uganda s constitution” (Report, July 2022)

Rt Hon. Speaker, UJA reported to the Committee that several journalists were injured by security during the course of their work; covering the 2021 elections. A survey conducted by UJA, for the period November 2nd 2020 and May 12th 2021, they recorded violations of rights for over 50 journalists in form of physical attacks, confiscation of work tools, vandalism, tear gas and

pepper sprays, unwarranted arrests, detention and intimidation by the security forces and private citizens” (Report, July 2022).

Violations of the LDUs:

Local Defence Unit (LDUS) personnel were reported to have used excessive force, including beatings and extortion of money from Boda boda riders, food vendors and taxi drivers in Kampala, Wakiso, Entebbe and Jinja purportedly to enforce Presidential Guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021” (Report, July 2022).

This is grim, but sadly not shattering. We have heard and read similar before… it is sinister that a state can act like this and only show a little of it. They are drip-dropping about it, but never revealing the whole picture. That’s why we know… that there is so much more to it all and so many more cases, which has never been told. This is the real trick of it all.

No one should have gone through this, but there are plenty of more that never gets into print. Peace.

RDC: Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) – Droit de Reponse – Dementi (10.08.2022)

Guinee: Front National pour la Defense de la Constitution (FNDC) –Communique No. 221 (10.08.2022)

Guinee: Alliance Nationale pour l’Alternance et la Démocratie (ANAD) – Declaration (11.08.2022)

Somaliland: Reports of fatalities and injured civilians after protest against the delayed presidential election

Update: One protestor killed and 5 others injured after security agents used live bullets to disperse an opposition demonstration in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The opposition leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi aka Irro had called for a protest against the delay of presidential election” (Dalsan TV, 11.08.2022).

Police officers in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa filmed opening fire on protesters at close range. At least two protesters were killed in the city with more than 16 others wounded” (Somali Guardian, 11.08.2022).

Faysal Cali Waraabe, chairman of UCID party says to protestaors “we shall arm ourselves against the administration!” Commander of Hargeisa Central Police Station to policemen “fire at the people at low flying angles” Tensed situation in Hargeisa with fires in many places” (The Daily Jubba, 11.08.2022).

Press conference by the Police confirms the death of three civilians and many others injured. We do not know or have further information. Human Rights Centre condemns the violence that took place today during the protests. This is a crisis that needs peace and dialogue. However, the act of shutting down the internet by the government has blindsided the public and their right to access to information. We condemn this and require that telecommunication companies stay impartial in this crisis” (Human Rights Centre Somaliland, 11.08.2022).

The Government of Somaliland has brutally cracked down on the opposition in the capital of Hargeisa today. This has been done on the watch of the President Muse Bihi Abdi. Who was elected to the Presidency in 2017 and there would be a re-election this year. As his mandate as President would be over. That’s why the opposition are calling for elections, because the term of President Bihi is soon over.

The authorities and government is clearly using brutal means to silence and oppress the dissidents. The calls for an early elections is fallen on death ears. The opposition has been able to get the public on the streets, but we see the answers from the authorities themselves. They are in contempt of the public rights to demonstrate and call out their grievances.

We should now expect opposition parties to call the Kulmiye Party and it’s government illegitimate. The calls of tyranny and dictatorship is already being heard, which is fair as the people are dying on the streets after the orders of lethal fire against innocent civilians. No party or government should see the need of lethal force against unarmed civilians who are demonstrating. Loyalist of the President has already used arms and killed civilians. That shows what sort of leadership that is in-charge of it all in the Hargeisa.

Time will tell how this will go from here. However, things will be rocky and the tensions will not be over fast. The tides are changing and the opposition is daring to challenge the President. Certainly far from over.

Eyes should be on Somaliland in the days ahead. Because, the true character of Bihi is out and everyone should acknowledge that. Peace.

Updates from Gogonyo County and Bukimbiri County By-Elections

Today is the day of the polls in the by-elections that is running simultaneously. Gogonyo County in Pallisa district is sort of over before the polls. As there are no real opposition or candidates against the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Flag-Bearer. This is why the real score is on the Bukimbiri County By-Elections in Kisoro district.

The Gogonyo County has had low voter turnout and it’s really an uninteresting affair. The only bothersome thing is that the Electoral Commission didn’t change the ballots after the withdrawal of candidates. So, the Polling agents has to enlighten the voters about if they vote for any of the candidates who pulled out. Their ballots becomes invalided one and will be counted as a spoilt one. Instead of casting a vote that really matters…

In Bukimbiri County is a whole other ball-game. There is already reports of abductions and arrests of the polling agents of the independent candidate, Asigaro Turyagendya. They are now detained at various of police stations. In addition to that… A team led by the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Minister Sarah Mateke and Moses Kamuntu is traversing the county arresting the polling agents and supporters of Asigaro Turyagendya. So, the acts of Soroti East has come to Kisoro for sure.

It is also reported: “Voters in Bukimbiri County By-election are being given between 2000 and 5000 Ugandan shillings to vote either Asigario Turyagenda (independent) or Eddie Kwizera (NRM). This has led to physical fights” (Voice of Muhabura FM, 11.08.2022).

The amount of voters in Bukimbiri is said to be moderate. While drones and heavy security detail in the district. As reported earlier there are alleged voting bribery in the district. However, it is also stated that there have been ballot stuffing going on in Nyanamo Town Council. The source for this was Julius Nkunda from the Voice of Muhabura FM.

We can assess the circumstances here and the outcome is most likely a resounding victory for the NRM. Not because they have the best candidates or the flag-bearers. No, because they have rigged the elections and ensured safe-landing for their anointed ones. They have invested, intimidated and bribed to make it happen. It is just formalities and awaiting the Return Form for Transmission of Results.

Derrick Orone (Gogonyo County) and Eddie Kwizera (Bukimbiri County) is scheduled to be sworn-in and be the next MPs of the 11th Parliament. To think otherwise and naive. This is why the population isn’t eager to show up or participate. Because, everyone knows the drill and it’s close to pointless or derivative at this point. When everyone knows what will go down and who will be announced.

The rest is just publicity, smack-daddy posturing and open blindfolding of the population. Hoping they don’t understand the gimmicks and the games. These weren’t elected MPs, but selected ones. The NRM didn’t need to do much, but they did enough to secure the poll position. That’s very obvious. Yet, another few hallow “victories” for the Movement.

It can celebrate, but everyone knows what’s up and the reality will sooner or later hit them. They cannot do this forever and the public will not accept either. They are made fools off and everyone knows. Peace.

Sierra Leone: All Peoples Congress (APC) – Immediate Release (10.08.2022)

Sierra Leone: Association of Sierra Leone (ASIL) – Open Letter – Letter of Protest by Association of Sierra Leone (ASIL) Against Foreign Governments who issued Citizenship & Residency to individuals who threaten the National Security & Sustainable Development of Sierra Leone (10.08.2022)