Sudan: Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo aka Hemeti letter to Djibouti President Guelleh (29.01.2024)

Dokolo By-Election: Hereditary politics is the tone of the nation…

“Cecilia Ogwal’s family has fronted her daughter Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal to replace her as Dokolo Woman MP. Alwoc Ogwal has been living in the UK and is not well versed with Dokolo. Her brother however says she has been briefed on the issues and is ready to stand” (News 24/7, 31.01.2024).

“Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal, first born daughter to the late Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal and Mzee Lamech Ogwal seek public opinion regarding pending projects the legislature left behind. This was during the Joint Regional council session Dokolo” (94.3 QFM Lira, 31.01.2024).

We have now seen this sort of story play out elsewhere when someone dies in office. This happened with Jacob Oulanyah and others like him. Where the sons are inheriting the offices of their fathers. Now a daughter is running to continue the legacy of her mother. There is no difference here other than the gender.

In Omoro County it was like this in 2022. Oyam North By-Election in 2023 was the same and so was Serere County By-Election in the same year. It was all inherited and family members taking over from the late Members of Parliament. This will be the fourth in this 11^th Parliament alone and this practice is going back to 2012 and when Prosvocia Alengot got elected as the MP for Usuk County in Katekwi district. She got the office and the opportunity after her father passed away. Therefore, this is now a practice dating back to this.

While that all be true, and we have seen this as common practice. It surely is questionable and a form of nepotism. As families are now fencing in offices and ensuring their control of elected roles. That’s what they are doing by fielding family members.

This is surely questionable at best, as the citizens and the constituents are tricked to vote out of compassion or based on the narrative that the representative’s family is the righteous to leadership roles. While others in the same districts and counties are left behind. Were only handpicked individuals are getting ahead of the rest. That’s what is happening, and no one is shocked that the family of the late Cecilia Ogwal wants a continuation of her role.

We are just seeing a pattern of behavior and a common practice at this point. Because, if a family member dies in office. The family itself wants to ensure someone within the family takes over from them. This is the justification and pure hereditary politics. Where blood and kin matter more than stature, experience or even character. Heck, pledges or promises, even the so-called ethos of work is gone in the wind. Since the only thing matters is who was your father or mother. Not if you are qualified or not.

This isn’t Rosemary Ogwal’s fault, but she is a part of the same problem as the others. She is picked by family members who wants their family to have this privilege. That is the obvious path here. They want to eat of the plate and ensure their family wealth through representing Dokolo like her mother. Therefore, things are more of the same and someone who inherits office.

There will be other contestants and candidates who will linger. However, if the previous by-elections are telling. Than Rosemary will be first in line and get elected. That we saw in Serere, Oyam North and Omoro. It wouldn’t be out of order, if the same happens in Dokolo. Peace.

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Haïti: Les Engagés pour le Développement (EDE) – Communique de Presse (30.01.2024)

Burundi: Burundi Democracy Liberation Force (BDLF-Abisezerano) – Communique du Mouvement BDLF-Abisezerano (30.01.2024)

Opinion: The Sahel is changing and ECOWAS cannot keep up…

The Sahel region is not to be recognized. As the current regimes in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey have changed significantly over time. The military regimes, the juntas has decided new paths and created alliances within the region, which alter the old ways.

The rest of world is maybe not catching up to the sentiments of Burkina Faso, Mali or Niger. Neither Guinea for that matter, but they haven’t followed the nations of the Allied of Sahel States (AES). That’s surprising, but maybe Conakry is waiting for the “right” moment to withdraw from ECOWAS as well.

While the AES states does this. There has already been a massive shift. These nations has gone out of the neo-colonial order and challenged France heads on. They haven’t done the ordinary banter and called for reform. Neither have they accepted the old agreements, codes or bilateral trading practices, which has been favourable to Paris. No, they have ceased operations with the French army and with practices that was inherited since independence.

Alas, now the juntas has gone even further and not surprisingly so. They are now weakening the ECOWAS. The CEDEAO of the Western African hemisphere. The trading block that was built to build harmony between the nations. Also, it was supposed to create an economic zone and borderless movement between them. The promises of ECOWAS has been huge, but it haven’t lived up it’s mandate. There are principals involved, but these has also been violated from time to time. Which isn’t new of any sort of organization, but it has to be stated.

The ECOWAS haven’t always been acting in good faith or for the “good neighbourliness” either. The ECOWAS supposed to act upon “non-aggression” between the member states. While foreign interference with organization and pressure from the outside has been reported. That’s why the Sahel region is moving away from it. As they wants to stay sovereign and alone without the possibility of seeing allies turning against them.

The junta’s of our day is maybe pushing things far. Too far without knowing the consequences. They are doing so out a need to show a difference from the past governments. It is also very populist moves to gain support at home. That’s done without much action and need for changes internally. While the external forces has to change accordingly. Because, the three states are now weakening the ECOWAS and making it less significant. Even if they are not the most well off or the biggest markets for trade of any kind there. Still, the loss will be felt and the ECOWAS leadership will have less of influence as a cause of it.

The AES becomes a more singular unit, as it is already sanctioned and tested by the outside. That will continue, as “interests” of others gets into play. This would have happened regardless of who was running these nations. It is how diplomacy and how trade goes. We have seen leaders come and go, but the minerals has to be sold. That’s what is happening and some will be alert. Some of the previous “interests” will ask for more and wonder what is up.

Paris is a loser and been so for months now. The AES is more aligned with Moscow, which hurts the old hegemony. That’s why other European nations are asking the AES to disassociate with the Russians. Alas, the AES are showing their own independence and sovereignty by aligning with who they pleases. However, their choice will have another reaction in other capitals. When you open up one door, another door closes. That is life…

Now that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger is choosing this path. There is maybe no amicable solution on the horizon. However, if ECOWAS was sincere and open. They would have sent envoys and tried to mediate with the nations who are withdrawing. Just so they can try to find a way to keep them in the Commission. Nevertheless, that might be a foolish enterprise and another loss.

Still, ECOWAS would show finesse by doing so. As the state has addressed grievances and reasons for leaving. They aren’t doing it out of nowhere and for no apparent reason. That’s why the tides are turning.

ECOWAS couldn’t keep up with the times. The times are changing. Junta’s are residing and they are moving with haste. They running and we can wonder when their marathon is over. Peace.

Opinion: Job Sikhala is finally free

The man, a maverick and a living legend like Job Wiwa Sikhala doesn’t get released on a whim. Neither is it done out of pity or out of concern of his well being. No, there is a plot going on to use the popular opposition leader and further cause friction within the ranks of the opposition.

Job Sikhala wasn’t freed out of mercy or the goodwill of the state. They had him there as a political prisoner for 595 days and his freedom was fought over for nearly two years. That man needs credit and respect for the time served. However, he was never alone in the quagmire and there are plenty more like him behind bars to this day. They are there lingering and awaiting their turn for justice and freedom.

Sikhala, the former MP and renegade legislator is now off the hook. He is out and can bounce back. We know the state will try to find ways to compromise and use him. That is what they do. I doubt there was any subtly or reassuring words coming through his ears earlier in the day. There has only been doubt and expectations of furthering his time in the pen.

What we do know is that Sikhala will not stop. He has shown that over the years and his resilience is remarkable. His one of a kind and that’s why plenty of folks admire him. This is who he is and I doubt a stint behind bars will stop him from continuing the fight for liberty and justice for all. That’s who he is and what he works for.

We can wonder what his next plan is or where he will go from here. He won’t be silent, as he showed in the letters released from jail. Where he wrote with compassion and sincerity, as he was struggling and lacked normalcy.

Alas, that journey has now ended and another chapter begins. There is lots of speculation going on. If he will be a pawn in the CCC or not. If he will suddenly change tune and become a state agent. The two last pieces I doubt. He has already sacrificed so much time and energy for the cause. His not the sort of fella to trade away his integrity and ethics over a few coins of silver. Nah, that isn’t Job Sikhala…

We can celebrate that Job Wiwa Sikhala is out of prison. He is out and free again. Nevertheless, they can easily make up new charges and apprehend him again. That will most likely happen, sooner or later. Not that I want it too happen, but it is in the cards. It is the card that Sikhala is dealt by operating the way he does.

If Sikhala didn’t operate that way. He wouldn’t be true to the cause or the character that he has shown for years. We can just wonder what he will do and what choices he makes. Because, he will do for the cause and the continued struggle. That what I know he will do.

We can wonder if he joins the CCC or follows Chamisa. He maybe starts his own pressure group or party. It is hard to know. Whatever it is… It won’t be done in silence or without fanfare. That will come and it is well deserved. Peace.

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