Press release: Red Cross responds to growing need for regional assistance following Burundi pre-election violence (23.05.2015)

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Nairobi/Geneva 23 May 2015 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is deeply concerned about the current situation in Burundi and its humanitarian consequences in the country and region.

Pre-election tension and violence have intensified in recent weeks in Burundi, resulting in a number of casualties in the capital of Bujumbura. More than 100,000 Burundians have fled across the country’s borders into neighbouring Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania.

The Rwandan Red Cross reports that 26,756 Burundians have crossed its border over the past three weeks, while UNHCR reports at least 76,520 Burundians have fled to Tanzania.

In Tanzania, the men, women and children, who fled their homes only with what they could carry, are also now facing a cholera outbreak. According to health officials, 33 people have died so far. The outbreak is feared to be worsening with more than 2,000 suspected cases now reported, increasing at the rate of 300 to 400 new cases per day, particularly in Kagunga and nearby areas. At least 15 suspected cases have been reported on the Burundi side of the border. Many cases of acute watery diarrhoea have also been reported.

“Over half of the refugees from Burundi who seek refuge in Tanzania are children who are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases like cholera. Many of the families arriving are female-led which makes them even more vulnerable to violence and insecurity,” said Finn Jarle Rode, IFRC regional representative, East Africa. “There are urgent needs in water and sanitation, health, first aid and shelter.”

IFRC is supporting National Red Cross Societies in Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania in responding to the urgent and rising humanitarian needs, especially those of woman and children who are the most affected in the current crisis, and to ensure close collaboration and coordination between the three National Societies.

On 20 May, IFRC launched an emergency appeal for 1 million Swiss francs to support the Tanzanian Red Cross Society in delivering assistance to 20,000 Burundian refugees with a focus on emergency health, water, sanitation, hygiene promotion, emergency shelter, and relief. Since the beginning of the crisis, staff and volunteers of the Tanzania Red Cross Society have been on the frontline of the response, providing people in need with immediate humanitarian assistance. A Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT) has also been deployed to further evaluate the needs of the refugees and update the Red Cross response plan accordingly.

In Burundi, the Red Cross deployed three first aid mobile response teams in Bujumbura. They are offering onsite first aid treatment, evacuation of the injured to hospitals, and referrals of pregnant women caught up in the violence. Burundi Red Cross is monitoring the situation closely in all provinces and has pre-positioned stocks to be able to adapt its response to the fast changing context.

In Rwanda, the National Society has been supporting refugees at different entry points, in two transit camps and in one permanent camp with registration, first aid, psychosocial support, distribution of non-food items and helping separated family members regain contact with their loved ones.

“The Red Cross is on the front lines of this response, and currently, a lot remains unknown,” said Jarle Rode. “As the needs of those affected become clearer through our on-going assessments, we will undoubtedly have to seek significant additional resources to ensure affected people and families in Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania receive the humanitarian support they deserve.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 189 member National Societies. Together, the IFRC acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. For more information, please visit www.ifrc.org/africa. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Address by His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II Kabaka of Buganda at a Special Prayer Service held on 24th May 1996 in remembrance of the 1966 attack on the Lubiri

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Your Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of The Republic of Uganda; Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps; My Lord Bishops; Obuganda:

We are greatly honoured to have in our midst, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of The Republic of Uganda; and all the guests from inside and outside Buganda and Uganda to remember the storming of the Lubiri by Uganda Army troops on the morning of 24th May, 1966.

Let me begin by once again congratulating President Museveni on his victory in the presidential elections which were concluded recently. Mr. President, may the Lord guide you as you steer the ship of state to greater peace, stability and development.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I decided to remember the 24th May because it is of great significance to my family, Buganda and Uganda. The events of that fateful day changed our lives as a family and the lives of the Baganda and Ugandans in a fundamental way and many of us are still trying to come to terms with the changes the events of 24th May 1966 brought about.

I thank the Lord for having enabled my father, the late Ssekabaka Mutesa II and some of his aides, for having successfully fought their way from the burning palace to safety. We should remember the clergy at Lubaga for the hospitality they offered my father at his greatest hour of need and for assisting him to escape to safety. I thank his loyal subjects who assisted him on his long march to freedom. I thank the British government who agreed to accept him as a refugee and all those who supported him and comforted him in the loneliness of his London exile.

Let us remember all those who stood by him and fought by his side and died at the hands of the Uganda Army of which he was Commander-in-Chief; Let us remember all those who were imprisoned and tortured; Let us remember all those who lost their loved ones and those that had to live in constant fear of the authorities and those who were traumatised by the violence unleashed by the authorities.

This is a very sad chapter in the history of our country but we cannot skip it, because there are lessons to be learned from it that can greatly contribute to the building of a peaceful and united Uganda.

On that fateful day the Lubiri, embodiment of Kiganda culture and traditions and the very soul of Buganda went up in flames and brought to a halt almost 1000 years of history. For once in her long history Buganda was without a King. She became an ant-hill without the queen ant. We never lost hope that one day our cultural integrity as Baganda would be restored and we thank God that, that integrity which we craved and cherish was restored in 1993.

The Baganda cannot continue to mourn indefinitely for what was lost. We should not continue to labour under the burden of self pity because this self pity will destroy our soul and, therefore, our resolve to rebuild Buganda. Let me in this connection draw the attention of our people to the book of Nehemiah in the Holy Bible for inspiration. In chapter 2 verses 17-18 and I quote “Then I said to them ‘You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer disgrace’. ….and they said ‘Let us rise up and build’. So they strengthened their hands for the good work”.

Instead of lamenting the sorry state to which Jerusalem had been reduced and stopping there, the children of Israel rebuilt Jerusalem. I would like to tell the Baganda that 30 years of mourning are enough. Now is the time to begin rebuilding Buganda with our brains and hands. No greater tribute can be paid by us to the memory of those who suffered and died at the hands of tyrants than the rebuilding of Buganda in all respects.

The place to begin the building of Buganda is the discipline of our youth. Buganda was built on discipline and I, therefore, charge parents and opinion leaders in Buganda to inculcate discipline amongst our youth. They are the ones who are going to build the New Buganda of our dreams and they must, therefore, have the discipline to do so. I ask all the leaders in this crusade to lead by example. That is the only way our youth will learn to lead disciplined lives.

It is sweat and toil that makes countries prosperous. The Baganda must, therefore, sweat and toil to make the land of their ancestors a great place to live in once again. The Baganda should stop running away from Buganda in the hope that somehow miraculously somebody else will develop the land for them to come back to when it begins to flow with milk and honey. Nobody will develop the land for you but yourselves, and this is the greatest challenge that you face. Baganda derived great pride and satisfaction in the payment of taxes in the past. Baganda were very proud of their good manners. Let us rediscover that pride and use it to rebuild Buganda and Uganda. Buganda was built on accomodation and the palaces of the Kabakas were the melting pots of nationalities and talents. Buganda still stands on her record of accomodation but what we ask for is reciprocity. Indeed Uganda would become a very strong and united nation if there was reciprocity all around.

Lastly let me make this pledge – the Mutebi reign will be one of reconciliation, unity, peace and development.

I thank all the celebrants and all those who have graced this occasion with their presence.

Press release: The Ethiopian sham election serves only the dictatorial government (23.05.2015)

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The Tigray dictatorial ruling class was built on excessive military power. The regime indulged the country into extreme poverty. The corruption of the ruling class was one of the main machinery that put the country into the highest level of economic inequalities where the few members of the ruling class became the richest and the majority of the citizens are unable to even earn their daily bread. This high level of inequality resulted into absolute poverty, migration and loss of lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Today hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian people are living in hunger and insecurity in their own country. Some are cherished in Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea while they were trying to escape from unfair and abusive government.

For the last 24 years, since the Tigray ruling class came to power, the corruption, displacement of people and human rights abuses have increased with the tremendous speed. This misery darken the political space and eradicated people’s hope for democracy. The Ethiopian people have been denied political freedom and rights of expression of their opinions. In this current regime, it is a crime to have different political opinion rather than supporting the Tigray ruling class’s party. The Ethiopian regime recorded highest level of Human rights abuses, killings, and intimidations not only in African continent but also in the world.

The Tigray ruling class came to power with military force; it has built its dictatorial regime on military power and will continue to do so. One party dictatorship rule was the vision they had from the very beginning. They proved their vision within the last 24 years. In the future, they want to rule Ethiopia under one party dictatorship rule. The Tigray ruling class never listened to the Ethiopian people, nor willing to listen in the future. The responses to peoples’ questions were imprisonments, tortures and killings.

The main priority for the Tigray ruling class is to stay on power. One of the strategy they designed to stay on power is to carry out fake election every five years. The last four elections proved that the ruling class is the most dictatorial regime on the planet. This 5th election that will take place on May 24, 2015 is not different from the previous elections. This election will not make any change to the political system and democracy in the country but it is only to renew the power of the ruling class for the next 5 years. This election is not democratic and not expected to fulfil the interest of the Ethiopian people. The election board is established by the current ruling class; the so called participating political parties are not treated fairly; the members of the opposition parties are arrested, harassed and beaten; the election process do not follow the democratic principle. Therefore, one can easily to judge the outcome of such unfair and sham election.

The Ethiopian people was struggling for peace and democracy for several years. Among the people struggling for their rights the Oromo people was on the forefront. The Oromo people was struggling for many years and made huge sacrifices to regain their freedom and democracy. The Oromo people is not struggling to gain nominal seats in dictatorial government system but to become free from a century long political, economic and social domination. This objective cannot be achieved through participating in the election organised by the dictatorial ruling class.

Particularly to the Oromo youngsters and students, you have made significant sacrifices to move the Oromo struggle forward. In order to make your sacrifices yield a fruit, you must continue your struggle for freedom and democracy. Participating in this fake election means that you forget the sacrifices your brothers and sisters made. Participating in this election means that you’re building the power of your perpetrators. From many years’ experience, the OLF knows the plan and behaviour the Tigray ruling class. The OLF knows that this regime is not prepared to leave its position even if they lose the election, which is unlikely within the current election process.

Therefore, the OLF wants to inform the Ethiopian people in general and the Oromo people in particular, that this election stands only to serve the Tigray ruling class and to keep them in power for the next 5 years. This election does not fulfils the interest the Ethiopian people and do not lead to peace, stability and economic development of the country. The OLF wants to remind the Oromo and other people in Ethiopia that it should not mislead by this sham election.

Particularly to the Oromo people, you are the first target of the Tigray ruling class. The power and strength of this regime works against you. So the OLF remind you to stay away from any activity, including the current election that build the Tigray regime and keep them in power.

Victory to the Oromo people!

Oromo Liberation Front

May 23rd 2015

Opposistion leader (UPD-Zigamibanga) Zedi Feruzi assassainated in Burundi

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Zedi Feruzi, the leader of Burundian party Union for Peace and Democracy (UPD) have today (Saturday evening 23.05.2015) been assassainated by a drive by shooting in district of Ngagara, located in the center of the capital Bujumbura. When he was on his way home. Also two more persons has lost their lives in the attack on Zedi Feruzi, they we’re his guards. No reports or indication on who is behind the assassaination (this is what my sources know).

Press Release: UNHCR and partners appeal for US$207 million for Burundi Emergency (23.05.2015)

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Press Releases, 22 May 2015

Today the UN Refugee Agency and 17 partners launched the Regional Refugee Response Plan to protect and assist up to 200,000 Burundian refugees in the neighbouring countries.

Since early April, nearly 100,000 Burundians have fled political turmoil, violence and intimidation and sought safety in neighbouring Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As the situation in Burundi remains tense and violence continues to be reported, aid agencies fear that the number of refugees may double over the next six months.

“Burundi does not need another crisis”, High Commissioner Guterres said, referring to Burundi’s civil war that lasted from 1993 2005 and sent hundreds of thousands of Burundians into exile. “After the progress that had been made under the Arusha peace accords, it is heart-breaking that people have to flee their country again.”

Guterres praised the neighbouring countries for keeping their borders open and called on the international donor community to support the Regional Refugee Response Plan. “The authorities and host communities have been very generous in welcoming the refugees and allowing them to share local resources. I hope that the international community will match this generosity”.

Under the plan, participating agencies appeal for USD 207 million for basic protection and assistance activities until September 2015, when the plan will be reviewed. Arriving refugees will be registered and documented, undergo immediate health screening and receive food assistance and basic relief item such as blankets, mosquito nets, soap and plastic sheeting. In Tanzania and Rwanda, the refugees will be transferred to refugee camps, where they will receive shelter material, domestic items and have access to basic health and sanitation services. In South Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, many of the new arrivals found shelter with long-staying Burundian refugees who had fled the civil war. The arriving refugees will eventually also move to a site, and UNHCR and its partners plan to reinforce local services and facilities to benefit both refugees and the host community. Providing clean water, sanitation and health services as well as shelter are the main priorities of the Regional Refugee Response Plan.

FDC PARTY’s message to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal.(Exec.summary), 19.05.2015

ELECTORAL REFORMS TO ESTABLISH A CREDIBLE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN UGANDA

A.            Preamble

1.            Thank you Chairman and Members of the Committee for inviting the FDC to interface with you with regard to your ongoing work on constitutional reforms. As a Party, FDC is part of the non-partisan coalition – the Free and Fair Elections Campaign – whose goal is to advocate for the establishment of a credible electoral management system in Uganda. It is therefore in this context that we address this Committee today.

B.            Our Messages to the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

2.            As the Forum for Democratic Change, we are obliged to submit the views that are shared across by the citizens of Uganda, organizations and citizens’ formations that subscribe to the Free and Fair Elections Campaign. We are therefore here to deliver three specific messages:

i)             Upon careful review of the Bill, we have resisted every temptation to characterize it as “stupid” like several members of this Committee have aptly characterized it. However, the purported Bill represents the growing arrogance and impunity that has come to characterize the Government under the NRMO regime. Consequently, in considering it during these public hearings and the plenary, your task is not so much to consider a bill that is both empty and devoid of substance but also to have the courage and confidence to cut through this arrogance and impunity.

ii)            Secondly, the Free and Fair Elections Campaign has been mobilizing citizens across this country to demand for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that a credible electoral management system is established. We have previously delivered the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, as well as all the mandated Governmental of Uganda ministries and agencies. All these agencies have chosen to ignore us and present to you a Bill that does not contain any of our views. We are therefore here to, once again, on behalf of thousands of Ugandans who participated in the Free and Fair Elections Campaign process and thousands others that are signing in support of the Compact, to deliver to you our electoral reform proposals.

iii)           Our third message is about the place of the 9th Parliament with regard to the reform process. We recognize that this Parliament is, itself, a result of electoral processes that had fundamental defects, which our proposals seek to address. This Parliament is still a vestige of the “Movement Political System” and the proposed reforms are, in a large part, intended to complete the transition to “Multiparty Political System”. That’s why a “National Dialogue” by citizens, in their most diverse formations, as was attempted in the process that generated the “Uganda Citizens’ Compact on Free and Fair Elections” is a vital and more legitimate source of getting the genuine views of Ugandans on these fundamental political issues.

iv)           Finally, the tenure of the 9th Parliament is coming to an end in less than 10 months. For almost 5 years, the 9th Parliament has either by commission or omission failed to respond to the loud voices of the citizens of Uganda to ensure that the Executive introduces appropriate electoral reforms well in time before the scheduled elections in February 2016. Like the Government has done in 2005 and 2010, electoral reforms are brought late to Parliament and you are stampeded to enact peripheral reforms that do not address the structural problems inherent in our electoral system. We are therefore here to implore you not to be stampeded by the Executive once again and through this Committee, to invite the 9th Parliament to join us in demanding for elections after comprehensive reforms have been put in place.

C.            About the Free and Fair Elections Campaign

3.            The Free and Fair Elections Campaign (FFE Campaign) is a non-partisan effort by Ugandans Citizens in their various formations: political parties, civil society, religious organizations, professional associations, women’s and youth organizations, pro-democracy pressure groups and eminent Ugandans committed to fight for reforms that will result into the establishment of a credible electoral management system to guarantee free and fair elections in our country.

4.            The FFE Campaign is a product of the failure by the Parliament of Uganda to do its fundamental constitutional duty and power to legislate for the good governance of our country as it is commended by article 79 of our Constitution. Like the 7th and the 8th Parliament, the 9th Parliament will go down in the annals of our history as abdicating this duty because of its failure to invest in reforming our electoral laws over its 5 year tenure and then scampering and pleading for time during these last days towards the general elections scheduled for 2016. Mr. Chairman and Members, you very well know that you have been around for 5 years and therefore the apparent stampeding of the reform process is your making and hence unwarranted.

D.            The Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections

5.            As you may be fully aware, the FFE Campaign started three years ago and has been focused on mobilizing citizens to push both the Executive and Parliament to their job and enact appropriate laws to establish a credible electoral management system for our country. The campaign moved with significant momentum in 2014 when numerous public rallies jointly organized by political leaders and civil society were organized across the country.

6.            In the second half of 2014, 14 regional forums on free and fair elections were held in:

i)             Karamoja

ii)            West Nile

iii)           Acholi

iv)           Lango

v)            Teso

vi)           Busoga

vii)          Bukedi

viii)         Bunyoro

ix)           Buganda

x)            Ankole

xi)           Toro

xii)          Kigezi

xiii)         Sebei

xiv)         Bugisu

7.            Each of these forums was attended by 200-400 political, religious, business and civic leaders representing a wide cross section of our society. An estimated 4,700 citizens directly participated in these forums while thousands engaged through popular radio talk shows. The FFE Campaign process culminated into the National Consultation on Free and Fair Elections, which took place on November 24, 2014. Over 1,300 participants representing political parties, professional and civic organizations, religious leaders and eminent Ugandans attended the National Consultation. Although the National Resistance Movement Organization (NRMO) did not send an official delegation, NRMO leaders (at least 17% of all representation from political parties) from across the country attended and participated fully in the deliberations.

8.            The Free and Fair Elections Campaign also took into account fairly comprehensive proposals prepared and submitted by:

i)             The Inter-Party Organizations for Dialogue (IPOD)

ii)            The Citizens Coalition on Electoral Democracy (CCEDU)

iii)           The National Consultative Forum (NCF)

iv)           The Electoral Commission (EC), and

v)            The Cabinet proposals contained in a matrix published in June 2014.

9.            The National Consultation on Free and Fair Elections adopted the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections containing 17 electoral reform proposals and 1 proposals regarding its implementation. We believe that given the nature of the FFE Campaign process, the Citizens Compact reflects a national consensus on the fundamental reforms needed to create a credible electoral management system in the country. Accordingly, we are asking this Committee to recommend to the plenary to enact comprehensive electoral reforms covering the following:

i)             Establishment of a new and independent electoral commission.

ii)            Ensuring the integrity of the voting process.

iii)           Clearly delineating the roles of security agencies in the electoral process and prohibiting the use of Government trained and political party led militia groups.

iv)           Securing the integrity of the campaign process.

v)            Addressing and dismantling the current system of patronage.

vi)           Separating the state from the current ruling party and developing safeguards to ensure that this does not happen in future.

vii)          Prohibiting gerrymandering through the creation of new administrative units and electoral constituencies.

viii)         Restoring and securing the freedoms to organize and assemble that are continuously being eroded through legislative and administrative actions.

ix)           Reforming the system of selecting presiding officers.

x)            Securing the process of processing electoral materials.

xi)           Ensuring the integrity of the tallying process.

xii)          Securing the independence and boosting the integrity of the judiciary as an arbiter for election disputes.

xiii)         Strengthen the internal democracy of political parties.

xiv)         Preserving the mandate of the electorate regarding their elected representatives.

xv)          Reviewing the representation of special interest groups with a view to ending special representation by the UPDF and workers.

xvi)         Establishing a more reliable funding architecture for local governments to enhance their autonomy and capacity to deliver public services.

xvii)        Restoring and entrenching presidential term limits.

10.          Mr. Chairman and Members, on behalf of the thousands of Ugandans who participated in the public rallies, the regional consultation forums and the National Consultation on Free and Fair Elections, and the thousands of Ugandans that continue to sign up in support of the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections, we lay this Compact before you as the legitimate expression of growing national consensus on electoral reforms.

E.            The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015

11.          As we have already stated, the purported Bill represents the highest degree of arrogance and impunity with which Government under the NRMO regime approaches matters of importance to our country. This Bill is both empty and devoid of substance. It ignores every common-sense electoral reform proposal contained in the numerous submissions by the Electoral Commission (EC), the Inter-Party Organizations for Dialogue (IPOD), the Citizens Coalition of Electoral Democracy (CCEDU), the National Consultative Forum (NCF) and the Free and Fair Elections Campaign (FFE Campaign). Indeed, it is unfortunate that parliament has to spend Ugandan taxpayers money to enable you spend valuable time to conduct public hearings on this empty Bill. That is why we have chosen not to address any specific aspects of this purported Bill because we find it unwarranted.

F.            Our Call to the 9th Parliament

12.          We wish to implore this parliament to do everything possible to resist the current course that the Executive has put you on, to drive our country to yet another cliff. As Members may recall, our country has suffered numerous episodes of violence and conflict in the majority of cases triggered by contested elections. In 1980, the current president took up arms and subjected our country to a protracted military conflict leading to the death of an estimated 500,000 people and the decimation of state and civic institutions and the destruction of our economy. Since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, which sought to reset the governance button and return our country to sanity and good governance, the results of the elections held in 1996 and 2011 were highly contested because of disputes over a level playing field, which is rooted in our current electoral system and the absence of an independent electoral commission.

13.          We end by reminding you and ourselves that this Committee and the Parliament of Uganda does not legislate for the Executive that gave you the purported Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Both the Executive and the Parliament legislate for the Citizens of Ugandan. The Bill before you seeks to disenfranchise us, concentrate power in the office of the President and render this Parliament peripheral in the governance of our country. We therefore implore you to reject the purported bill, use your inherent legislative powers to enact and ensure full implementation of electoral reforms before elections are held. You are our representatives. Listen to us and the sense of reason as contained in the Citizens Compact on Free and Fair Elections and other reform proposals submitted by various citizens platforms as already stated above. And when the history of this country is written again, it can be put on record that when that historical moment as to whether to move backward or forward, the 9th Parliament chose going to the future against going to the past.

For God and My Country

May 19, 2015

Kampala-Uganda

Burundi – Under the Rainbow

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There isn’t everyday are Rare Earth Mineral site get a different companies from all over the globe into action. This didn’t happen today. Still it’s worth researching and doing background checking. I wish I had all the pieces to the puzzle. I miss the contract or agreement between the Government of Burundi (GoB) and Rainbow Rare Earth Limited. Not that had seen the one between Southern Crown and GoB. This story will be what I have had the ability to uncover at this point. Hope you will enjoy.

Pre-Rainbow:

In 2011 February update from the Australian based mining company was awaiting cabinet approving in the Burundian Parliament, even with being approved by the minister at the time. The Australian company was Southern Crown. The license was to be for the area called Garaka Project in the Garaka and Karonge. The area is a area filled with REE (Rare-Earth Minerals). By the 2010 prices they estimated that the Ore in the area with carbonated REE was valued up to $5169M (Southern Crown). Two years later on the same company Southern Crown did release on 27. April 2012 they shut down the Garaka Project because of cooling of the rare earth market and also funding (Southern Crown2).

So this happen and the business on the ground of Garak Project went sour when Southern Crown went through with business in mining in Zambia instead of Burundi. To give an issue on how business deals are set in Burundi. After that I will tell you the timeline for the new companies on the ground. Look under timeline:

International Crisis Group reported in March 2012 how the agreements were between companies and the Burundian government:

“The allocation of mining and oil concessions also poses a problem. Under previous regimes, consideration of applications for mining exploration permits was entrusted to experts and an inter-ministerial committee, which reported to the Council of Ministers. However, this committee has not met since the CNDD-FDD came to power. The contract to exploit the rich nickel deposits in Musongati in eastern Burundi,71 which could amount to 5 per cent of world reserves, was negotiated at the highest level and in the greatest secrecy.72 Permits have since been granted in a non-transparent way: although licenses are granted by presidential decree on the proposal of the appropriate ministry, as in many countries, applications for exploration and exploitation are handled by a committee restricted to the presidency before being presented to the Council of Ministers” (International Crisis Group).

Timeline – Under the Rainbow:

President Pierre Nkurunziza was the Chairman under the Cabinet Meeting the 25th February 2015 where this was the outcome on the matter:

“The Rainbow Company has received the exploration permit for REE and related ores in May 2011 on Gakara perimeter and that permit was renewed in July 2014. After three and a half years of research, the company filed a feasibility study containing the entire technical and economic requirements for the exploitation of reserves located in an area of 39 square kilometers contained in its prospect perimeter measuring 135 square kilometers” (…)“The exploitation agreement was the result of a consensus between the Burundian technicians and those of Rainbow. The company plans to produce 5,000 tons of rare earth ores per year, with an investment of 7.7 million US dollars” (Council of Ministers).

On the 8th April Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd. could announce that they got funding from Pala Investment Limited to do develop the Gakara project. The financing they got to was up to $12M. The first stage of the project is use $6M in a 6 month period to get the trial mining starting. Second stage is to get the capital and get more effective mining. The Pala Investment Limited has an option if the phasing up more loan to another $6M to build and facilitate infrastructure on the site of Gakara Project. Martin Eales commented on this saying: “We are very pleased to have secured this investment from Pala, who will provide both financial and technical advice and will be a valued partner going forward. Their detailed due diligence and subsequent participation provides significant third party endorsement of the potential and quality of our project.” (…)“With the recent approval of the Mining Licence and Mining Convention from the Burundian government, we can now make rapid progress, and I look forward to reporting on further developments in due course” (Rainbow Rare Earths Limited).

If you wonder where the monies for the loan is from it’s from the independent London based Chrystal Capital Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). “The financing agreement is for an investment of up to US$12m, subject to the completion of certain milestones, which will fund the project through to full production” (Chrystal Capital).

So for you who can read can see that the funding from Chrystal Capital Partners is the initial loaner of $12M who will be used on the 2 first phase, that supposed to be spent by Pala Investment Company. Pala Investment Company is financing Rainbow Rare Earth Limited who also happens to be a subsidiary of Pella Resources Limited, who also happens to be a subsidiary of Pella Resources Limited, who is actually the mining-company on the Gakara Project. So the Monies are going from London (Chrystal Capital) – Switzerland (Pala) – Guernsey, UK (Pella Resources Ltd) who happens to run the subsidiary Guernsey, UK (Rainbow Rare Earth Limited). Well this story has not ended.

On 14th April 2015 the German Company of ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Products signed an agreement with Rainbow Rare Earth Limited to sell their resources and future production to the German counterparts. Kai-Norman Knötsch who is a Chairman in the Management Board of the company commented: “We look forward to successful cooperation with Rainbow Rare Earths. As the exclusive marketer of these high-quality products, we will have the opportunity to strengthen our customer relationships long term and gain further market share around the world” (ThyssenKrupp). This will secure the economic and the future of the Garaka Project. Since the Germans will buy the RRE from Rainbow (Pella) who then can pay the loans for the funding to Pala and Chrystal Capital. Do you follow me?

This is how it is so far. I wonder how it will go and how reports on the ground will be. And if the agreement between Rainbow Rare Earth Limited and the Government of Burundi will ever surface and come into light again. If so a brother wants to read that one. In the meantime we have to wait on reports on the earnings on the mining and how that will be spent in the country. That can be exiting read as well. Peace.  

Reference:

ThyssenKrupp – ‘ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Products signs offtake agreement for rare earth elements’ (14.04.2015) Link:  https://www.thyssenkrupp.com/en/presse/art_detail.html&eid=TKBase_1428993710593_117572636

Chrystal Capital – ‘Chrystal Capital raises $12 million for Rainbow Rare Earths’ Link: http://www.chrystalcapital.com/chrystal-capital-raises-12-million-for-rainbow-rare-earths/

Rainbow Rare Earths Limited – ‘Funding secured for the development of the Gakara Rare Earth Project in Burundi’ (08.03.2015) Link: http://www.pala.com/images/media/44_Funding%20agreement%20with%20Pala%20-%20Final%20-%2008.04.15.pdf

Republic of Burundi-Council of Ministers – ‘MEDIA RELEASE CONSECUTIVE TO THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 25TH OF FEBRUARY 2015’ (26.02.2015) Link: http://www.burundi-gov.bi/IMG/pdf/cabinet_meeting_three-1.pdf

Southern Crown – ‘February Company Update’ (02.2010) Link: http://southerncrown.com.au/joomla/images/announcements/pp.pdf

Southern Crown – ‘MARCH 2012 QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT’ (27.04.2012) Link:  http://www.infomine.com/index/pr/PB503217.PDF

International Crisis Group – ‘Burundi: A Deepening Corruption Crisis ‘(21.03.2012) Link: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/central-africa/burundi/185-burundi-la-crise-de-corruption-english.pdf

Press release: Kenyan Treasury Announces Clearance of VAT refund backlog (19.05.2015)

Tax Kenya

Uganda: Dr. Kizza Besigye and Lord Mayor Lukwago under house arrest and more.

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Police siege Besigye and Lukwago’s homes.
Police are currently surrounding the houses of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kansangati, a Kampala suburb and embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago in Wakaligga on assumptions that they will cause chaos. Besigye is trying to find his way out but in vain. He is supposed to be at parliament to present reform proposals upon the speaker’s invitation. Last week the two were arrested as they tried to hold a public meeting on electoral reforms at Nsambya Youth Sharing Center.

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There is reports that as she was leaving the City Hall Ms. Ingrid Turinawe was taken to custody today. And that fellow activist Hamidah Nalongo Nassimbwa was serverly wonded and left at Mulago hospital.

Before this happen:

The 10 Electoral Reform Activists who were remanded last week have been given a non-cash-bail here at KCCA court.

Here is the Youtube clip on the matter:

Professor PLO Lumumba on “A pan-African perspective…Decolonising the Mind of Africans” (Youtube-Clip) – (04.11.2014)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfOFcjMRlgo

Well, I know that I’m as European man, and never the less, I am very moved by this speech! Hope you are as well my brother. If not, I don’t know what gives! Listen to the wise words of Professor PLO Lumumba! Peace!