Opinion: President Barrow follows a long-standing tradition along his fellow peers

It has been announced recently that Gambian President Adama Barrow will stand for a third term in 2026. This is in stark contrast to the promises made when he took power and run for elections in 2016. He had to get help from ECOWAS to get rid of the predecessor who is now living in exile, former President Yahya Jammeh who had been the President of the Republic since a coup d’état in 1994.

Now in 2023 and in his second term the current President is planning and announcing that his standing again in 2026. It is years in advance but very telling. That the man who promised a change and “democracy” is now turning into the one he fought. He is also getting hooked on power and doesn’t want to leave.

This sort of story isn’t new and it’s happening across the continent. President after President, Head of State after Head of State are coming in and promising a swift change. However, when they get in office and get power they never want to leave. They alter the laws and the constitutions. While they saying they have more things to achieve or haven’t finished their “project”.

Whatever it is… it’s disingenuous and insincere. It is a mockery of the people and the will of the people. That they think solely they are only ones fit to be President. Barrow is continuing where so many of his peers left off. It is for those reasons why the only way to “win” elections or get a new head of state is by coup d’état. Because the elections and the campaigns are made in favour of the incumbent and his party.

It isn’t long ago that Alpha Conde was ousted after pressing for a longer stint after a “popular” and a “majority” vote. We have seen that Alassane Ouattara went for his third term in 2020 after he fought for his victory in 2010 to oust Laurent Gbagbo who had been in office since 2000 and was ousted in 2011. Therefore, Ouattara has now been longer in office than Gbagbo ever was and one of the sticking points was the Gbagbo was “overstaying” in office.

Why do I mention these? Well, it is just how these things goes. There have been several others and I could have used examples of late Presidents in Burundi and Tanzania. While also could mention the likes of Museveni (Uganda), Guelleh (Djibouti), Al-Bashir (Sudan), Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Sassou Nguesso (Congo-Brazzaville), Obiang (Equatorial Guinea), Biya (Cameroon), Afewerki (Eritrea), Gnassingbé (Togo) and Kagame (Rwanda). That’s just to mention a few who has stood for a third term and is currently still in office.

Barrow will just be on this list. Join fellow Heads of State who is willing to overstay and never leave office. That’s what they do and his one of them. What is striking is how he went off and did a lot of promises in opposition. However, when the push came to shove his just like all of them.

The sweet juices and perks of being a high ranking official is to endearing to give up. There are mere few who dares and lives long on it. That being Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) or Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya). Others pushes and pursuits another term by any means. They are willing to postpone and ensure another term. Therefore, Barrow might end up like on of them.

It would be poetic if he ends up like Jammeh. Sooner or later gravity will fall on him too. He might feel Teflon and righteous right now. Nevertheless, nothing is lasting forever. Even if he wants it too. That’s why the predecessor had to flee and leave when Barrow got help from Senegal and ECOWAS. It is so easy to forget.

Sooner or later a new opposition leader could gain popularity and notoriety, which could endanger the hegemony of Barrow. He would then face the dilemma of Jammeh and how to handle that one. Especially, when he was supposed to be different. He was supposed to issue “democracy” and unify the nation. It is just so compelling when his now planning to run in 2026. That his getting closer and closer to the years of Jammeh. Those sorts of facts should worry him, but I doubt he cares.

Barrow has become the king on the throne, and he don’t want to be a statement an retire in peace. Peace.

Somaliland: SSC-Khaatumo – Consultative Council – Press Release by the Committee of thirthy-three of SSC-Khatumo of Somalia (14.06.2023)

A look into the Final Report on “Parte-After-Parte” or Partygate

“We have concluded above that in deliberately misleading the House Mr Johnson committed a serious contempt. The contempt was all the more serious because it was committed by the Prime Minister, the most senior member of the government. There is no precedent for a Prime Minister having been found to have deliberately misled the House. He misled the House on an issue of the greatest importance to the House and to the public, and did so repeatedly. He declined our invitation to reconsider his assertions that what he said to the House was truthful. His defence to the allegation that he misled was an ex post facto justification and no more than an artifice. He misled the Committee in the presentation of his evidence” (Committee of Privileges, 15.06.2023).

The former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is finally getting a reckoning, which he has never seen or heard of before. The House of Commons and the Committee of Privileges has today published the report titled: “Matter referred on 21 April 2022 (conduct of Rt Hon Boris Johnson): Final Report”. It might not sound like much, but the content is pure fire.

It is only mere days since the former PM resigned as an MP. That was an deliberate act to sway away from accountability and have consequences of his previous actions. He like Trump calling it a “witch hunt” or whatnot just to avoid taking any blame. Because Boris like Trump are allergic to consequences of their own actions.

“With regard to the Rules: the gathering had to be essential or reasonably necessary for work purposes. A workplace ‘thank you’, leaving drink, birthday celebration or motivational event is obviously neither essential or reasonably necessary. Mr Johnson is adamant that he believed all of the events which he attended and of which he had direct knowledge were essential. That belief, which he continues to assert, has no reasonable basis in the Rules or on the facts. A reasonable person looking at the events and the Rules would not have the belief that Mr Johnson has professed. That is plain from the fact that around the UK during the period of pandemic restrictions these events did not take place” (Committee of Privileges, 15.06.2023).

When reading these lines in hindsight. It is obvious to the naked eye that the PM and his staff breached the covid-lockdown rules. That’s clear and there is no way he could think otherwise. In the same span as all the parties, people weren’t allowed to gather, meet or even say their final goodbyes to their loved ones. While he and his company held parties at the Downing Street no. 10. Just this paragraph alone is damning for Boris Johnson. It is an astonishing way of describing events. When you know how things where and how the COVID-19 Rules and Regulations was for the public at large. Therefore, as the PM he should have known better, but he didn’t care and acted reckless. While later lying about it and holding the House of Commons in contempt.

“I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no covid Rules were broken. That is what I have been repeatedly assured” (Boris Johnson answer at PMQ on the 8th December 2021).

Well, we all know that these words was a lie and there was several parties at Downing Street No. 10. He cannot run away from the fact and these bottles of wines are now haunting him. The enjoyment and amusement of parties are now his downfall. He decided to squander his reputation and his office with holding parties during a lockdown. That’s what he did and his now trying to run away from the fact.

The privilege committee did only the right thing and this final report is showing the disgrace and disgusting ways Johnson manoeuvres. The ones who back him or defends him now. Is just allies who isn’t concerned with the rule of law or with public perception. They are just wanting power and hope that Boris Johnson can save them in the next election. Even if he is a lying and manipulative prick. Peace.

Revisiting the 1984 Proposal of the 10-Point Programme in 2023

The 10-Point Programme that was first published in 1984 and been the “change of guard” or the reforms that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) promised the Republic. The National Resistance Army (NRA) which became the NRM did this to sell their ideals, dogmas, and political ideology.

Just looking at their own pledges in regard to the 10-point programme in 2023… you can say the President and the NRM have disregarded or not been concerned about these promises. The 10-point programme was a manifesto and a document that’s been like holy scripture from the Luweero Triangle.

The NRM knows the remedies and even spelled it out in 1984 but haven’t followed it up themselves. I will take some quotations from the 10-Point Programme and not dwell too deep. Since, well, the programme itself isn’t that relevant. However, we need to revisit it to prove what the NRM haven’t done since 1986…

Let’s start with: “Democracy, as defined by one political thinker, means “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. The only problem is that rarely do we get governments that are really all these three. There are lot of mockeries of “democracy” around the globe. In our case, for democracy to be meaningful and not a mockery, it must contain three elements: parliamentary democracy, popular democracy and a decent level of living for every Ugandan. In other words, there should be an elected parliament, elected at regular intervals and such elections must be free of corruption and manipulation of the population” (TPP, 1984).

Reading this today, it’s a bit insulting and infuriating knowing what knowledge the NRA/M posses and how they operate. These words could describe them and how they are making a mockery of democracy. They are holding elections rampant with corruption and manipulations. Therefore, the remedies and what the NRM promised are totally different from what they have delivered

It continues: “As soon as NRM takes government, not only will the state inspired violences disappear but so will even criminal violence. Given democracy at the local level, a politicized army and police and absence of corruption at the top as well as interaction with the people, even criminal violence can disappear. Thereby, security of persons will be restored and so will security of legitimately earned property” (TPP, 1984).

When digesting this today… it isn’t a good look. This is what the NRA or NRM promised to end. While they are now thriving on the monopoly of violence and intimidation. The state security apparatus isn’t any better and they are serving injustice on the regular. The dissidents, the activists, opposition leaders and anyone associated with them can easily vanish, be kept incommunicado and even extra judicially killed. Therefore, these lofty promises are empty and shows what the NRM has become.

It continues: “We are convinced that some of the post-independent African leaders are the ones that are just hopelessly out of depth and have got to look for scapegoats. Africa, since independence, has been being tossed between, on the one hand idiotic quislings that are mere “caricatures” of the worst aspects of the European middle class and, on the other hand, muddle-headed “revolutionary” ideologies of Fabians, murderers and a variety of other opportunists, who spend more time putting people in preventive detention, when they are not murdering them, and spew out policies and papers that are not within a thousand miles of the real dynamics of the situation than solving the problems of the continent” (TPP, 1984).

Here they are speaking about themselves and what they have become. The NRA/M promised to be different, but they are practically everything they fought not to be. The TPP itself is a document that proves this. Especially, the explanatory reasons for the 10-point programme. These are just paragraphs from it and still it is so prevalent in the ways that the NRM is running the government today. These words could be used against them, and you couldn’t spot any difference. That’s the tragedy, because as I have stated many times over the years. The NRM and Museveni knows the remedies but has decided to look the other way. It is more profitable to run it like the predecessors.

It continues: “Apart from seeking co-operation with other African countries, Uganda, having suffered so greatly at the hands of primitive dictators ought to play an active part in defending the human and democratic rights of the African people in general. Dictatorships impede progress because they stop debates on development and allow nincompoops to remaining power doing whatever damage they are capable of. Without democracy and the human dignity of the African people Africa will never develop if, even mere debate about, let alone the actuality of, development is hardly taking place. The people are too frightened to comment on the actions of the omnipotent rulers that have got powers of live and death over every citizen of their countries, Rulers can squander resources with impunity, they can violate human rights of the people with impunity. Democracy, therefore, becomes a sinequanon of development. We ought to oppose dictatorship in Africa” (TPP, 1984).

These words can be used to describe the NRM and Museveni today. He is the primitive dictator who appoints the nincompoops to stay in power. That’s exactly what he does, and this paragraph is so fitting for his reign. It is tragic that the words and the ideals of the TPP has been lost. This document with the proposal is very telling all these years after. Because, the NRM has forgotten these words and not adhering to it. It was used as a steppingstone to get into office.

I am just amazed that NRA (now NRM) could write these words in the middle of the bush-war, but when they entered office. They became the same as the ones they fought. That is what is tragic and interesting at the same time. Power corrupts and power evolves. This is why the NRM is what it is today. They might not reconcile towards this fact, but the 1984 document proves they were wrong.

The proposal and reasons for the 10-Point Programme is valid today. Now it is valid, because they are the culprits and the ones that haven’t followed up on their promises to the Republic. Peace.

Sudan: The Revolutionary Charter for People’s Power – A report on the humanitarian and security situation in West Darfur state (14.06.2023)

 

Unfortunately, we inform you that the city of El Geneina and its countryside in the state of West Darfur are still besieged and occupied by the Janjaweed militia, the “Rapid Support Militia”, and are committing massacres, violations and crimes therein. War against civilians and defenseless citizens.

So far, there are no accurate statistics on the number of victims, but reports and observations indicate that hundreds of dead and wounded have fallen since the escalation of the war and the ethnic targeting of citizens by the Janjaweed militia.

In addition to killing citizens; It’s still being looted and the burning of homes and property by the Janjaweed militia, especially in the southern direction of the city of El Geneina.

Also, all communication networks are still cut off, and all organizations that provide humanitarian services flee and exit, which means the absence of humanitarian and health services and the absence of any medical care or aid provided to citizens.

The displacement of citizens to the border region of Adre of the State of Chad, and the surrounding areas inside and outside the state of West Darfur, for some families who managed to survive and get out of the heart of these massacres and genocide practiced by the Janjaweed militia against civilians.

As we have now received the news of the killing of the governor of West Darfur state, after he was captured today by before the rapid support militia “Janjaweed militia” and liquidated him after captivity.

The sluggish and steadfast position remains the role of the security and regular services, as the army continued to take shelter within its command and military garrisons and abandoned the protection of the citizens, while continuing to bomb the Danat towards residential areas whenever it sensed the militia approaching towards it. To defend his generals who are hidden inside his military garrisons.

There is no mention of any form of police forces, as all the security and executive agencies have abandoned their duties to protect citizens and left them defenseless in the face of the violence of the Janjaweed militia.

What is happening and what is practiced by the Janjaweed militia, the Rapid Support Militia, in all from El Geneina, Zalingei, and some cities and villages in the Darfur region, it rises to describe it as a process of ethnic cleansing and genocide to bring about demographic change against the Sudanese population and citizens who live in these areas and an occupation of land and resources that should not be tolerated or ignored, for the whole country is Sudan.

We are in the revolutionary pact to establish the power of the people; We see the failure to condemn these crimes, violations and massacres as a disgrace to the face and history of all humanity, and it is a condemnation of all the international, regional and local community that did not lift a finger to save these lives and condemn the crimes of the Janjaweed militia.

And the failure of the security and executive agencies of the de facto government. All this should not be tolerated despite the media blackout.

June 14, 2023 AD

Somalia: Puntland State of Somalia – Punland Humanitarian Committee for the Conflict in Laascaanood (14.06.2023)

Sudan: United Nations Special Adviser Alice Wairimu Nderitu – Protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law, says UN Special Adviser as she raises alarm on Sudan conflict (13.06.2023)

Uganda: Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) – Bukedea By-Election: Democratic Fraud and Withdrawal from sham “Election” (14.06.2023)

Uganda: The Parliament of Uganda – Press Statement by Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kampala, Following Issuance of Level 3, Travel Advisory for Uganda, Dated June 12/2023 by United States of America / International Community Concerns (14.06.2023)

Sudan: IGAD has a dreamy Roadmap to end the conflict…

I don’t know about you but the IGAD Summit on the 12th June 2023 had high hopes and earth-shattering dreams in concern to the conflict in Sudan. It is within reason why the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called them out. Earlier I thought it was something said in the official release from the Executive Director of IGAD.

However, I might think they were not agreeing on the timeline or the roadmap that was discussed at the IGAD Summit. The warlords are not even able to convene or adjust their warfare in accordance with several of cease-fires or the Jeddah Declaration. Therefore, the IGAD has dreams that will turn into nightmares.

Just read this one here…. Its hard to believe they are serious after two months of war.

“Adopted the IGAD Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of Sudan with the following action points:

Include the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as the fourth member of the IGAD High-Level Delegation for the Peace Process in the Republic of Sudan; and for H.E. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, to Chair the Quartet Countries of the Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan and for the Quartet to work in close coordination with the African Union Commission;

Within ten (10) days, the Quartet to arrange face-to-face meeting between H.E. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the Chairperson of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, and Gen. Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo in one of the regional capitals;

Within two (2) weeks secure a commitment from the leadership of SAF and RSF to establish a humanitarian corridor;

Within three (3) weeks initiate an inclusive political process towards a political settlement of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan” (IGAD – ‘FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ of the 14th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government – June 12, 2023 Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti, 14.06.2023).

There is nothing wrong with allies, neighbours and stakeholders to negotiate, talk or even try to hold dialogue between the parties of the war. That is a necessity and especially after the United Nations Envoy have been deemed “person non-grata” by the Sudanese authorities. There are less eyes and ears on the ground. Therefore, an initiative by IGAD is welcomed.

Nevertheless, they should make this roadmap in accordance with the grieving parties in Khartoum. Not make it with heads of state and their delegates in Djibouti. That’s why IGAD is at the cross-roads. Yes, this communique and summit seems like it was successful. However, the truth is more sinister.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF – Janjaweed) where not invited or at the table. This was a made up timeline and a roadmap with no justification. IGAD already know how these two are operating and should keep their heads cool. Yes, the Presidents and the leaders of IGAD wants to look golden. It still doesn’t change the facts on the ground.

Al-Burhan and Hemeti wasn’t involved in this and they are the ones that needs to be listened too. In this regard, the IGAD has failed and only looking stupid. Because, IGAD can easily access or be in communication with the parties. Nevertheless, they didn’t do so in advance and didn’t inform the Sudanese delegation in advance either. Meaning they where bamboozled with this and didn’t know how to navigate.

The SAF and RSF needs to sit down by a table and iron things out. However, right now they are busying trying to control and weaken the other party. That’s what they are doing and hoping to find a way to be supreme. This is why the cease-fires aren’t working or being implemented either. It is all in the hope of overcoming the enemy….

IGAD can come with wishes, hopes and dreams. They can write a roadmap but doing so without consultation or planned meetings with the Sudanese is flabbergasting. Especially, if IGAD thought they would achieve anything here. IGAD is maybe looking better for the donors and the ones supporting the organization. However, they are not listening too or trying to understand the parties at war in Sudan. Peace.