Niger: Mouvement Politique “Tous pour la Republique” (TPLR) – Communique de Presse du Movement tous Pour la Republique (TPLR Al-Qibla) – (10.08.2022)

Kenya: Media Council of Kenya – Media Transmission of Presidential Election Results (10.08.2022)

Opinion: Mutabazi only thinks about his own needs…

Joshua Mutabazi whose candidature for Bukimbiri County (Kisoro) seat was withdrawn by his party, NUP in favor of FDC candidate James Owebeyi has crossed to NRM” (NTV Uganda, 10.08.2022).

It wasn’t long ago that the National Unity Platform (NUP) withdrew their candidate in the up-coming by-election in Bukimbiri county in Kisoro district. It is just mere days since the effects of the Unity Statement came into affect and made the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) the “sole” candidate of the opposition in the by-election. However, as things are turning, the words of the 19 year old student surely turned bitter.

The not so seasoned politician who showed finesse character. Has had a change of heart. We don’t know what swayed him or what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) offered the young man. Whatever it was… it wasn’t serving the nation or the struggle for liberation. No it was most likely for his own needs and not what the country needed.

Just read his statement as he withdrew his candidacy just the other day…

Joshua Mutabazi statement:

But if, its for the people, but if it was for liberation, but had it been for us then why wait long. We cant keep claiming condemning and consoling. I choose to bridge the struggle but most importantly draw lines between what one needs and what the country needs. What the country needed a decade back was our leaders to be one, we are late. Its my turn, I wont delay therefore announce my withdrawal from the parliamentary seat by-election of the latter mentioned jurisdiction in favor and full support for united struggle. As the country’s need to have united forces of Change ages daily, I and my party decided to take it upon ourselves. If you have ever experienced injustice and by the ungodliness, then you are a candidate to stand against the same. “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. Matthew 23:11-12-11-12 MSG If you are unwilling to make an early sacrifice in life, you’ll be beggars and slaves to the men who did” (Joshua Mutabazi – STATEMENT ON MY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BUKIMBIRI COUNTY PARLIAMENT SEAT BY-ELECTION, 06.08.2022).

The young man knew perfectly well the deal and what sort of struggle it is out there. The path that his chosen is a road for himself. That is with whatever cherries or dealings the NRM has offered. This is short-term benefits, but in the long-run… his not useful or anything of value for the NRM. No, his just another bought cadre who they were able to corrupt ahead of a by-election. He will be useful as Ashburg Katto or anyone else taken from the NUP. The associates of Bobi Wine who turned the other way.

Mutabazi haven’t even carried himself in a whole campaign. He did the right thing and said the words that was wisely written in the statement. As the party in their efforts of solidarity and planned joint-ventures had to drop-out of certain races to show unified front against the NRM. That’s just a mere fact and Mutabazi isn’t the only one who had to withdraw and won’t be the last either. Especially, if the parties continues with this practice and belief of joint-campaigning to show a vast difference from the NRM.

Mutabazi is unwillingly to sacrifice and will become a beggar or a slave to the system. That’s the choice he made… when he decided not to follow the struggle, but took a choice for his own ends. The young man is in his rights to do so, but he abandoned the struggle and the life of sacrifices. He has chosen the life of cronyism and becoming corrupted by the regime itself. That’s why he gave up on trying to be part of change, but instead joining with the status quo. It is tragic, but that’s the path he has chosen.

When you have opened this door, there is no turning back. People know what you do and who you are. You weren’t the man you made to believe. Instead you sold out and that will forever be a stain on your name. That’s the choice he made and now he has to deal with it. Peace.

Kenya: Elections Observation Group (ELOG) – ELOG Press Statement on the Voting and Closing of Polling Stations for the 9th August 2022 General Elections (10.08.2022)

Opinion: The maturity of the Kenyan election is commendable

I believe the candidates conceding have received their results, this is a very transparent process” Wafula Chebukati (10.08.2022).

The happenings since the polls of the 2022 elections in Kenya is just positive. Yes, there been misgivings, some candidates who has acted out and should be punished for it. However, the bigger picture is a good one. The candidates, incumbents and whatnot has been showing restraint, but also just been sincere.

This could have gone either, which way. The representatives could have acted all out after losses. Career politicians could gone on a rampage and been violent. However, they have instead conceded and showed a peaceful manner of transition. The Governors, MCAs, MPs or Senators has all taken into account the will of the people and seen it wasn’t their time. That should be commended. Because, these has been in the spotlight and been able to win before. However, this time around they are either silent or conceding with honour.

There are giants and big-men who has fallen prey in this elections. People who are part of dynasties and the long time serving politicians. It has been people who are associated with former political rising parties and now losing out. This is all happening and the people has chosen another path this time around.

We are seeing Moses Kuria, Gideon Moi, Jeremiah Kioni, Amos Kimunya, Alfred Keter, Nixon Korir and William Chepkut all losing their seats. They wasn’t able to win their campaigns and other took it. This is why they will not be Governors, MPs or Senators. They will go back to become private citizens and outside of representing government at various stages. That shows something about this election.

We don’t know who will be the winner or get the huge benefit across the Republic. We can only speculate, but the results of the Presidential and the total picture across the political landscape isn’t yet clear. The Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Alliance will both work to look the best and confident, as the balance sheet is not filled out just yet.

This anxious awaiting the tally and pronounced results can be hectic for anyone. The unknown, but hopefully the elections locally will come out. The map of parties and alliance winners will be more clear. As we are awaiting the full verdict of the announcement of the Presidential elections. Because, all eyes goes there and both sides are trying to make seem like they are winning.

Time will really tell. What we do know is that the public is awaiting the results. The leaders themselves wants to know and the new leadership is on the horizon. The current administration is turning over to a new one, no matter what. Kenyatta’s two terms are over, but we don’t know who his turning over too.

The public did their duty and now the machine has to ensure and safeguard the results. That is what is clear. We can just eagerly await and hope for a better tomorrow. The era of Jubilee and Kenyatta is soon over. There will be another day, a day we don’t know. If it is Blue or Yellow. We clearly don’t know yet. It will be either, because the two other candidates has no chance and they can just reside at home. They are going nowhere. Peace.

Burma: National Unity Government (NUG) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Statement on the outcomes of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (09.08.2022)

South Sudan: South Sudan National Alliance (SSuNA) – Condemnation of the extrajudicial murder in Mayom County (09.08.2022)

South Sudan: South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) – Press Statement on Extrajudicial Killings in Mayom County (09.08.2022)

Kenya: National Police Service – Security Status during the Ongoing General Election of 9/8/2022 (09.08.2022)

Sudan: Sudanese Bar Association – Steering Committee – Declaration on the continuation of the dialogue activities on the transitional constitutional framework (09.08.2022)

For the second day, the activities of the dialogue workshop on the transitional constitutional framework, organized by the Sudanese Bar Association, continued. with the wide participation of political, professional, civil, revolutionary and societal forces and armed struggle movements.

The workshop aims to find foundations for political consensus and democratic consolidation on issues of constitutional arrangements, this is in recognition of the importance of constitutional dialogue and broad participation in the making of the transitional constitution and its protection from the abuse of power and the disruption of its provisions.

The first session of the second day was initiated by Counselor Tariq Mubarak Majzoub, Head of the Constitution and Research Department at the Ministry of Justice, on the axis of the transitional authority institutions, their levels and who constitutes them. For her part, Ms. Safaa Al-Aqib, a human rights activist in the field of peace and gender and head of the Darfur Women’s Forum, initiated the second session on the axis of peace in the transitional constitution.

Professor Kamal Muhammad Al-Amin, lawyer and legal expert, initiated the dialogue in the third session on basic rights and freedoms. The participants’ interventions in the three axes dealt with visions and positions on the institutions of the transitional authority, their levels and how they were formed, and about the peace agreement and its completion, and the document of rights and freedoms in the transitional constitution.

August 9, 2022