

RDC: Leadership et Gouvernance pour le Developpment (LGD) – Communique de Presse No. 008 (12.07.2023)





From the World Food Programme (WFP), Chad Country Director Pierre Honnorat said that 20,000 people crossed into Chad just last week.
NEW YORK, United States of America, July 12, 2023 – As conflict continues to rage in Sudan, UN humanitarians expressed alarm on Tuesday at a surge in the number of people fleeing across the border to Chad.
From the World Food Programme (WFP), Chad Country Director Pierre Honnorat said that 20,000 people crossed into Chad just last week.
Speaking to journalists via Zoom from the Zabout refugee camp in Goz Beida, Mr. Honnorat described desperate scenes: “We can see that they have suffered, many lost family members, and we don’t even dare ask them, ‘Where are the men?’ The answer from the mothers is often that they were killed. So, you just see many women, many children.”
The new arrivals are among the more than 230,000 refugees and 38,000 returnees who’ve been uprooted by deadly clashes in west Sudan’s Darfur states.
‘We need support, not hope’
Many are seriously wounded and have harrowing stories of the violence they have experienced, Mr. Honnorat said, as he appealed for financial support to help the victims of Sudan’s conflict, which began on 15 April and has been marked by the use of heavy weaponry and airstrikes involving rival military forces.
“This is not over at all,” the WFP official said. “We really need support. It’s no longer about hope. We give them hope, safety, but they really need to eat every day. The situation is really critical.”
In order to scale up WFP’s response on the Chad-Sudan border, the UN agency needs a minimum of $13 million every month.
Dying at nutrition centres
Urgent priorities include treating the wounded and helping dangerously malnourished children crossing from Darfur into Chad. According to WFP, one in 10 displaced youngsters from Sudan is malnourished.
“Every week children are dying at the nutrition centres; this is a reality,” Mr. Honnorat said. “The malnutrition rate for children now is just too high, and we need to be extremely quick in prevention to make sure that those who are under what we call moderate to acute malnutrition can urgently get what they need so they don’t fall into the severe malnutrition.”
According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, the conflict has displaced more than 2.5 million people inside Sudan and across borders into neighbouring countries. Before the crisis erupted, there were 1.1 million refugees in Sudan, mainly from South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Syria.
The latest data from UNHCR indicates that Chad has opened its borders to more than 190,000 refugees, second only to Egypt, which shelters more than 250,000.
‘So little funding’
In recent weeks, WFP has constructed six temporary health units, including two now used as a makeshift hospital and for medical logistics, and four as transit points for new refugees crossing into Chad.
“I’ve rarely seen such an important crisis with so little funding,” said the WFP country director. “I was also at the border, on the bridge, what’s left as a bridge. It’s a constant flow and the ones that are coming now are in much worse situations than those who arrived in the first days.”
Many of those arriving in Chad from Darfur are seriously wounded amid reports that fleeing civilians have been deliberated targeted with an increasing ethnic dimension to the violence.


“I accept this investiture with humility and determination! I accept the challenge!
And I tell you I’m ready as ever!
We win ! For Gabon!
This victory we will get! We will get it because the Gabonese men and women want it!” – President Ali Bongo (10.07.2023).
I hate to say it and it isn’t breaking news, but Ali Bongo will never leave office. He will rule as the Head of State or the President, as long as his breathing. The Gabonese President has no intention to leave and it would be of biblical proportions if he left.
The son Ali only took over the reigns of his father in 2009. The father ruled the Republic since 1967 and he himself only left office because of death. Therefore, to think that Ali will leave in a different way than Omar. Are you kidding me?
We are in 2023 and this is his “third” term, but he will persist and prolong the agony. Don’t matter what sort of people the opposition has or how qualified they are. These will never “win” and never be announced winners. Not as long as the Bongo’s are in-charge and hold power.
Ali Bongo can have trouble walking, dancing or even think straight. Still, his henchmen and handlers will figure things out. President Bongo will be able to get treatment in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else for that matter. While his true opposition have to flee to exile or face legal jeopardy in the Republic. That’s how these rulers stay in office for so long…
Ali Bong will never leave. No, he will only stop ruling when his laying in a casket. Until then, we all just have to wait. There will be no soft landing or planned succession. No, that will happen in haste and without a forewarning. The state won’t have a planned successor or someone to takeover. No, that’s just someone in close association and with influence within the ranks of the President. Heck, even one of his kids like Noureddin Bongo Valentin or Bilal Bongo for that matter. One of these kids could be old enough and eligible to continue the “family enterprise” of running Gabon.
Ali followed Omar. Nourreddin following Ali. That’s how the saga goes… well, that will only be speculation from my part. However, no one should expect that Ali Bongo leaves in silence or with fanfare. No, this man will linger and stay until his last breath. There is no reason for him to stop and he is just doing what his father did. Two men who is just ruling with impunity until death. The same will be done by Ali.
Ali can have a stroke, be in doubt and be weakened, but he will never ever stop being President. No, he will just continue and later be a medical tourist abroad. That’s just what big-men like his does… because he knows he cannot get satisfactory services at home. Even if he has ruled for decades upon decades, and so did his father.
The ones that is writing and is shocked that Ali Bongo would run a new term… Well, that is nonsense. Everyone with two marbles could connect the dots and know that Bongo wouldn’t risk leaving office. No, he would fear the repercussions and possible retribution. That’s the reality here and he knows it too. His whole family rely on him and his office. If that disappears. He and his family has to flee and live in exile too. Just like the people who dared to challenge him. Peace.

“The nation is futher advised that in recognition of the roles played by Cde Robert .G. Mugabe and Dr Joshua M.N.Nkomo , who selflessly dedicated their lives for the Liberation of Zimbabwe, Cabinet approved the erection of statues in Harare. The statue of Cde R.G Mugabe will be erected at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while Dr.J.M.N. Nkomo statue will be erected at the trumpet Interchange at the intersection of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Glenara Roads. In honor of the late nationalist and First black medical doctor and physician and first Vice President of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), the late Dr. Tichafa Parirenyatwa, a statue will be erected at an appropriate entrance to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals” (Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, 11.07.2023).
You know a state by what its messages. We know that the President and his elites are steady eating. They are living lavish and large. These people have estates, farms and whatnot while others cannot afford transportation or the basics, as inflation and lack of currency bites. That’s just a mere fact, but it doesn’t stop there.
The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is gearing up for elections. That is on the horizon and its important to look good ahead of it. Like in the past, the predecessor also made statutes and other public rallies surrounding some patriotic installation. Now in the 2nd republic things haven’t really changed.
Yes, Emmerson Mnangagwa wears a scarf and allows the flag to be everywhere. However, that’s the only reform he did and it shows. His promises ahead of previous elections is forgotten and the ZANU-PF party is busy re-issuing them. Hoping the villagers and everyone has forgotten them too.
That’s why they are now making statutes of the fallen comrades. Mugabe who went from a hero to a zero and Mnangagwa came back from exile to topple him. Alas, we are supposed to forget that part and call him a hero now. The goblin of ages is now praised by the crocodile. You cannot make this one up. The Lacoste is showing G-40 some love. All love aren’t lost, apparently…
We are just seeing how busy-bodies are kept pre-occupied these days. This is surely to make nice publicity and also “galvanize” the troops. Regardless, the ZANU-PF should look into the incapacitation of civil servants and other government workers. They find policies and measures that helps people in their daily lives. Instead they are doling away funds on pretentious nonsense, which isn’t helping anyone. Well, it will help the brother or sister who gets the government tenders to build or design these. Alas, those are a chosen few and not the plenty. The ZANU-PF should think of the plenty and not of the few. However, we know the priority… Peace.





“Also in attendance was Mr. Yousif Izzat representing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)” (…) “Notes the regrettable absence of the delegation of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in spite of the invitation and confirmation of attendance” (IGAD Communique, 10.07.2023).
The IGAD Quartet Group of Countries meeting in Addis Ababa on the 10th July 2023 was a positive engagement, but it has little substance for the conflict of Sudan when only one of the stakeholders showed up and the other boycotted it.
It doesn’t matter if IGAD has all the well-meaning ideals and policies for the conflict. The IGAD can have the best mechanisms and oversight for the conflict in Sudan. However, it is pointless and meaningless… when the SAF isn’t participating or even being there. It doesn’t help the cause that only the RSF was there.
This is a conflict and a war between the SAF and Rapid Support Forces (Janjaweed/RSF). That is the gist of things. A conflict between Al-Burhan and Hemeti. These two generals are fighting for supremacy and overcome the other. This was the supposed third coup d’etat after Al-Bashir, but it went south, which is why the conflict and war persist in Sudan.
These two are fighting for their own future and control of the state. Hemeti wanted to overthrow and conquer the SAF. He wanted to trick and takeover from Al-Burhan. While Al-Burhan and his henchmen wanted to continue to be in office. These unelected and unselected military commanders wanted to ensure longevity of the junta government in Khartoum.
That’s what is happening now, and the civilian transition has been stalled and with perfection. While the International Community has looked idly by or ushered it in. They have accepted the military and militia involvement in the Transitional Sovereign Council. These entities has given way and trusted in the army commanders to ensure positive change. We can see that is futile now, but warlords are lords of war for a reason. They are not puppets of peace or peacekeepers, no they are warriors who thrives in conflict. That’s why they are continuing the bloodshed and earning fortunes on the demise of others.
With this knowledge and knowhow, the IGAD should have been worried that one party of the conflict didn’t show up. Nobody from the Transitional Sovereign Council showed up or the SAF. They had one member of the RSF (Janjaweed) at the meeting. However, that isn’t the whole picture and makes the meeting less useful. It is more a busy body than something making substantial change.
If the IGAD wanted to be sincere. They should have listened to the SAF and their wants. The SAF doesn’t trust Ruto and thinks his connected to the Janjaweed. However, there is no proof of this, but until its dismissed with proof. It is hard to tell if it is so… Ruto must address this and so has his government. Because it doesn’t help to bushwhack yourself into something and one party don’t want to see you. That’s not how you create better atmosphere or ability to mediate in a conflict. No, that a way to undermine the efforts and stop any sort of progress. That’s why the South Sudanese sent a random person as a delegate too.
The SAF wanted the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit to mediate. That would be a friendly face and also someone who knows the regime, and stakeholders in the conflict. He would be useful and he has used the regime in Khartoum to lay down the arms himself. Therefore, that would make sense, but Ruto’s ego won’t allow that.
IGAD could have been useful, and it could have created mechanisms that could make sense. However, it is a waste of time, and they didn’t listen to the ones with grievances. Peace.



