President Kagame End of Year Address | Kigali, 1 January 2016 (Youtube-Clip)

“You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept.  What remains is to follow the normal laws and procedures when the time comes. But I do not think our aim is to have a President for life, nor is it what I would want. Sooner rather than later, this office will be transferred from one person to another in a manner that will serve a purpose, not merely set an example, whether for ourselves or others. That is why we need to remain fully engaged on Rwanda’s journey of transformation.” 

President Kagame

How Mzee pledge to fix the problems in every campaign rally; as he has done since 1986; nothing new just polished pledges

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The issue is here, I don’t have to be to specific about the campaign promises from Mzee. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his National Resistance Movement have their own way of repeating themselves. YKM or Mzee have the class-act of a tiring Tata model. You know what he going to promise.

He will promise new roads from the central towns in the area and towards other main centers under 50 kilometers away. They will be tarmacked and built in the next period. If there is harbor or forest nearby him will help investment and build a paper-mill or functioning industry fitting the area. The same happens in other areas where it is more fitting for metal-industry, tea-factory or a sugar-factory. To prove that NRM will get jobs to the areas finally after 29 years of reign.

JinjaRoad Roundabout Kampala

Mzee does not only promise industry and infrastructure. That would not be to fun. He will promise after 29 years to fix or build health-care facilities in every district or furnish them. This while his police force will close them down when the opposition passes by, he fears that they can actually see the #SteadyProgress on the matter.

NAADS Piggery Enterprise Ibanda

Mzee will also promise the use of NAADs money. For those who don’t know – NAADS is short for: National Agricultural Advisory Services. NAADS funds are to set up functions to use cash crops and educate the Ugandan small plot farmers into profitable produce. He will promise more of this and offer specific funds for a set of fixed funds that are for one group of people in the district like Micro-Finance for hard-working woman in Busia. They are promised extra millions if they vote for you.

Mzee will promise the youth more work not industrial, but in general without saying the solution to the matter. You will point out the #SteadyProgress and the greatest program ever since the Ten-Point Program – Operation Wealth Creation; where you have made a few small steps and funds to fix the issues of poverty. And you promise that more people in that district will be included into the Wealth Creation scheme and have district youth being supported through it.

Mzee will promise more security and ask the people of the district to be grateful for the decent performance of the NRM on this point. That they will continue to serve the districts and the public, both the army and police will only be there for them if they promise to vote for him and NRM, because nobody else keeps them cool.

EducationUgandaLogo

Mzee will promise the district and the people school equipment and have a technical school in every district. So that he can prove that he takes the education of the children of the country seriously. As they will be promised to get schoolbooks and notebooks for their studies!

Mzee will promise more districts and sub-counties to secure loyalty and in the end more government funds to support these new districts and hire more loyal people in the area in a new functioning of the movement-program of the 1980s (the last piece is just refreshing the memories of the voters).

Mzee will again promise to become a middle-income country and earn enough on its own. So that the country will go into a new term and make sure to the steady progress started in 1986; that he have to continue because he couldn’t finish it last term since he have all the time worked to secure peace in the country fighting ADF and LRA an such instead of building the land. But now that they are fought back he can now promise to secure the country and become a middle-income country.

I think that is enough of him for now. There will be more since he is still the President of Uganda. Running the country and using the government institutions against the opposition as done so systematically. There will be more things to come, but I hope that the people and voters don’t buy into these promises. It is 29 years of the same kind of promises and respectably we can see that Mzee haven’t kept the promises of old, why should he keep the new ones now?

Peace.

The Calvary follows the People’s President in Nakasongola district; Besigye tests the water quality and other reports from the district!

Nakasongala FDC Convoy 3.1.2015 P1

Today the Uganda Police Force in Nakasongola district has followed the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) convoy for the presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye. He we’re not allowed to watch the situations of the schools or other public buildings. They we’re shut down by Police. The Highway Police force we’re following the FDC Convoy. DPC Charles Nsamba have been busy ordering his troops around and following the FDC men and their campaign trail, as they are seemingly committed to attend and follow the public rallies they have.

Nakasongala FDC Convoy 3.1.2015 P2

He was visiting water-wells to check the water quality and the police didn’t stop him. Where he we’re proving the point that water the people of Nakasongala is drinking, are the same as the ones that animals drinking. And it doesn’t look to clean or sanitized. This was a stop near Migyera town in the district.

Nakasongala FDC Convoy 3.1.2015 P3

In Migerya town the NRM People couldn’t help themselves, they tried to get the boda-boda drivers to shun the rallies and public event of the FDC convoy. They we’re getting paid if they didn’t ride around and gotten people to the event. Also a free yellow t-shirt by the NRM organizer; when the money didn’t come from the NRM organizer! They pleaded with FDC leaders to get paid… while tucking away the yellow t-shirts. Because they needed money for fuel, but the plea didn’t leave to anything and they left the plot in Migerya town. So they we’re trying to be doubled paid that day and still do ordinary work.

Nakasongala FDC Convoy 3.1.2015 P4 Water Well

He also visited the Kitalaganya landing site where it’s visible that the state of the water is not good and far from clean.

Kitalaganya 3.1.2015 KB P1

Kitalaganya 3.1.2015 KB P2

Reports from this district earlier last year in 7th October 2015:

“Nakasongola district is struggling to attract and retain teachers as the staff turnover persists leaving the education sector in turmoil. Records from Nakasongola District Education Department show that there are only 133 out of the 285 required secondary school teachers in the district” (Radio Buddu 98,8 and 95,5).

Nakasongola 2015 Oil - Waste 3.2.2016

And a report that is to interesting not address while we’re in Nakasongola district:

That this trucks that drives from Hoima through Nakasongola where a helicopter comes and picks it up! This a business done by President to sell oil-blocks shaded in transports saying – “hazardous waste” and amidst broad day light. A truck like this have 20 blocks of oil or more. The company who earns on the business is Great Lakes Company (From a great source).

We can see that this is an interesting district. All the projects that I have looked through in the Nakasongola have been subsidized from foreign donors. So if the Government of Uganda have done anything in the area, they have been funded by donor money and not by own tax-base. That is something to think about, especially with the water-crisis and steady issues with drought in Nakasongola. Time for the Nakasongola District to get enough teachers’ so there people can learn from the past and make a better future. Peace.

Mzee claims oppostions lies; a presidential candidate can’t lie he says; meanwhile his political history are built on lies!

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When you have been in-charge since 1986 it’s hard to remember those days where yourself we’re luckily picked into positions of government and had real elections. Since Mzee have had total control since the bush-war! Which is a statement in itself; here yesterday he claims superstitious power and Devine right to rule. That is inspiring and terrifying. Take a look yourself!

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Mzee said this about his opposition recently:

“A president is next to God. You don’t tell lies when you are a president or aspiring to be one. You cannot have a president or somebody aspiring to be a president telling lies. That is a disaster for the country. You would rather say I don’t want to comment, but to tell lies when you want to be a president?” (…)”I want people who are engaged in the elections to stop bad politics, telling lies, trying to use violence because we are not going to tolerate those mistakes, in particular the use of violence and bad politics will be resisted and defeated. This should be clear to all and sundry” (Kiggundu, 2016).

He can argue that other candidates isn’t fit, that is what politicians do and point out flaws in plans in the way they want to run their station. This isn’t that, this is calling out and saying no-body except him can. The thing that bothers me is how he talks about lies and truth as “the President is next to God” means that there is a Devine order setting the standard on his behest. Mzee the man who caught the power with the gun, claims that God have given him the right.

MuseveniandIdiAmin

The lying is just wrong in many ways, he has been telling stories for thirty years, promised to retire more than twice and changed his mind about the constitution more than any kind of totalitarian leaders world-wide. So that he talks about leaders lying is like throwing stones in a glass-house, aye?

That he is messed up with the engagement into politics is meaning that it’s okay if it is on his terms. Something that is common now this days or facilitated to Mzee wishes. Like it is amazing “I don’t want to comment”. Than displaying his thoughts anyway: “but to tell lies when you want to be a president?” Well, he should know the answer to this, because he has forgotten the history of losing the rigged 18th September 1980 Parliamentary Election as the leader of the newly founded Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) and got only one seat and a meager display. As disaffection with the Electoral Commission of the time he went into the bush and started the National Resistance Army (NRA). Because he couldn’t stand the Obote II government he had ushered in together with help of Tanzanian forces that we’re God-sent to end the Idi Amin Dada dictatorship. Something many people are grateful for!

So let me point out the lie in the matter of hand as he says the Opposition lies. They claim the same as he did in the 1980s of fraudulent and rigged elections. There have been proofs of that ever since the Electoral Commission has run multi-party elections since 2001. Because the numbers towards the changed NRA into the political party National Resistiance Movement (NRM) shows startling numbers that only can be beaten by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and now political party Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) who have run the country with nearly no obvious opposition. There been proof of stronger opposition in Uganda, so there is definite a lie. A lie that the world knows and the election observers since 2001 could tell or read through reports on these elections tells of malfunctions and frauds done by the ruling-party. Just like the lies of the political freedom and genuine candidates for the general election February 2016 from the NRM.

Kabaka in the Bush with NRA P2

 

The man who made himself a hero because a lost election and have ever since rigged elections. First by not opening for multi-party systems meaning he neglected the oldest parties of the land Uganda People’s Congress and Democratic Party. The Buganda Kingdom party Kabaka Yekka (KY) we’re long gone since Obote, Mzee former running mate who he needed to get closer to power disfranchised the kingdoms and banished them. That is while you we’re in the bush we’re doing secret deals with Kabaka and his men. Because your needed their support to regain strength for the future dealings and strong leadership. That is another lie Mzee now deflects and tries to avoid since he try at any cost to add more kingdoms and fiefdoms to regain more loyal cronies that will not be political henchmen, but loyal subjects to his will since they will get a cultural position in their respected region.

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Mzee, your claiming that opposition is making bad politics. That is way for you’re to lie, since you’re the guy who has set the standard for the politics done in the land in the recent decades. So if somebodies does bad politics in the land it’s because for the simple matter the executive have made it happen that way and rubberstamped it. The opposition which is still marginal in seats and places of power and with a shadow government doesn’t have the force to make that change, they can at least stifle business, but the NRM and their loyal paid cronies can decided the basic business.

Mzee I could go on and on. There is enough footprints in the sand been made since you started your political walk since you left University of Dar Es Salam in 1970s and started his political journey from there. Where he also went into wars and made civil war for his own gain and kept it ever since. That is not Devine powers next to God, that is the power invested in guns and alliance with necessary people to gain it, and then never leave.

Mzee, have enough lies on his own and to claim things on the opposition is just foul play, but at this rate it’s business as usual. Peace.

Reference:

Kiggundu, Edris – ‘Besigye not presidential material – Museveni’ (01.01.2016) link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/41889-besigye-not-presidential-material-museveni

Inter-Burundian Dialague happens on wrong terms with the off-target ” Ugandan Mediation Team” as the Power-Hungry President Nkurunziza lingers on

Burundi Cartoon

This years ending is in a bit of limbo when it comes to Burundi. It started earlier in the year with the court ruling accepting the third term for the second term president Pierre Nkurunziza. He had an election that was without major opposition, they didn’t except the terms that we’re set for the elections. The inauguration we’re done in secret and secrecy. The incoming we’re written in stone.

There we’re massive protest, even a coup d’état attempt by certain army figures that dwindled into water and dust and trace. Some of the main men in central government flee the country with the estimated 220.000 people following them. 22.000 of them alone in Uganda and big numbers in major refugee camps in Tanzania. This is worrying for the 2016.

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The fragile state and build-up of a military state again in Burundi; where the army and politics is mended together to oppress those who does not fit the regimes power-structure. We can see that with the instances of the opposition leaders who have been assassinated or killed during recent months. That is worrying and the world leaders are mostly silent.

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Recent day’s actions by the African Union where they wish for peace operation in the country and that will be served by other African nations. That is argued by President Museveni of Uganda and President Nkurunziza that it is a breach of sovereignty of the state. Since the Burundi is a sovereign and can’t accept to be attacked by that principal. The Burundian president has even promised to attack the armies who enter the country. There was rumors when the coup d’état we’re occurring that he got help from Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and their helicopters to get him back into power. So if it helps him and his foes then it is okay to bring the power structure. The African Union forces would not serve under the President Nkurunziza therefore he fears this and would attack them.

The Burundian President has fought against his fellow countrymen since March and now the realization of the African brothers happens. Just as we enters a new year than they start to do something! The Belgium foreign minister have complained for a while in the darkness and the American have stopped their participation in the AGOA and put sanctions on the top officials of the country.

So certain movements have happen. There we’re in this week a second try of mediation between the Government of Burundi, certain opposition parties, four former presidents of the country, civil society of Burundi and the mediation team appointed by President Museveni. Who have told the media that the Government of Burundi can’t set the terms, though they are the ones going after the opposition leaders and harassing those who believes their power is not righteous. While the country turns into more turmoil and distress. Burundi doesn’t turn to the better, instead the violence and aggression continues and more people will flee or die in the hands of the army and the security organizations controlled by the President Nkurunziza. That is happening while the world is turning the blind eye.

Burundi ZediFeruzi

Agathon Rwasa the FNL leader we’re assassinated this year and can’t be in the mediation. It is with sadness that main opposition leader is gone. That proves to what extent the President Nkurunziza goes to secure power. Gervais Rufyikiri the second vice-president fled the country this year. Also Zedi Feruzi was assassinated by government forces this year! 

The worry is the reports of torture, death-squads and military operations forcing people to flee while cholera outbreaks in refugee camps in Tanzania. The mediation and Inter-Burundian Dialogue is supposed to find a peaceful path for the people of Burundi, but that will not take away the crimes committed by the Government against their own people and the breeches of justice that has happen. The fear that is spread and the unjustified violence against the protesters against a illegitimate government who forces themselves to a third term. This here is all about the matter of a power-hungry President who won’t leave power and he is seeking advice and mediation through African Union from another President Museveni who have kept himself in power since 1986. That the African Union is rubberstamping this mediation from a government who have done precisely what President Nkurunziza wishes to achieve. Domination and control of his fellow countrymen; this either by law or by force for him at this point it doesn’t matter. The intimidation and killings should not be happening in the shadows and mist of darkness.

Kagame Nkurunziza 2011

The talks in Kampala right now is more formalities for the Government of Burundi to scan their opposition then actual talks and the former presidents is more puppets then actually initial force of changes to the better. Inter-Burundian Dialogue by the rouge regime of NRM and Uganda will just justify the Burundian governments stance and they will get time to learn from their masters and friends in country. Rwandan President Paul Kagame who just won a right to a new rounds of election and a third term possibility will not interfere in Burundi unless he have to, because the wounds and closeness to Burundi is to near. President Kagame also doesn’t want international interference or questions to his power. Since he himself will do what he can to stay in power, as President Nkurunziza does. The only difference it’s that President Kagame might not need to use as much force since he has silenced the critics since 1994 and kept the lid on the opposition ever since. Something President Nkurunziza didn’t have the time to do since the civil war that ended in 2005.

Therefore the 2016 will bring more violence and more fleeing refugees to Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The Burundian people will continue to be oppressed. The African Union will struggle to breech the sovereignty in the country as they did in Rwanda in 1994. Back in the day in Rwanda where even the United Nations Peacekeepers looked like tin-soldiers and not like men of honor; if the world doesn’t do anything fruitful and knows about the actions happening in Burundi. The world and it’s bodies of peace will be responsible for acting towards justice for the people since its own leaders have gone against them, instead of serving them, they are serving their own will and own wish to keep power. That have to be some ways of keeping this at bay, if not the ideals and dreams of fruitful peace be more in the wind. The blood and the loss of lives will be redeemed in eternity while we living will remember those lives in sorrow, as they died for nothing while the powers to be ate their souls to keep power. That is not something we can let happen in 2016 in Burundi, as the mediation talks lingers and the actions lingers, while the forces of Burundian army and security outfits continues, the deaths, the tortured, the jailed and the forgotten would need your support in the new year to come. Peace!

Zimbabwe amends indigenization law (Youtube-clip 26.12.15)

“Zimbabwe has eased the terms of a controversial law that forces foreign companies to cede a majority stake to local investors. The move now signals an attempt to shore up the country’s moribund economy that has been on a downturn for more than a decade now.The amendments now allow foreign entities to hold majority stock in business up to five years with an exception of up to 20 years in the energy sector. Existing foreign-owned companies may also continue to operate in all sectors of the economy but shall be required to pay an indigenisation compliance levy as a trade-off for non-compliance. The Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act of 2007 law was an initiative by President Robert Mugabe to benefit Zimbabwe’s majority black population disadvantaged by colonial rule” (CCTV Africa, 2015).

What NRM’s #Steady Progress really is…

KCCA at work

We all know that the election is going on and that NRM have a campaign slogan as such: “Steady Progress”. This is the time when NRM is telling in each district they visit about the 29 years of “steady progress”. Well, I will not, I am not NRM. And not a great fan of the NRM. As those of you who read my page/blog should understand by now. I will show another story of the #Steady Progress have been under the NRM and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s presidency.

#Steady Progress under the NRM-Regime is that there been violence and arresting the opposition leaders with different claims. And have rhetoric that attacks others then look into their own missteps. Especially when Mzee hear the reports of the violence were from NRM-Supporters together with the Police in an area (Ntungamo clashes for instance). There isn’t the first time the President Museveni spreads fear in the name of democracy and not the last. He can put his words into a leopard’s mouth and see if the animal bites.

#Steady Progress is to have close hospitals in the weekends and having no nurses at the referral hospital in the districts. #SteadyProgess is to suspend health workers after showing the terrible working condition of the Health Care facility.

Burundi Report Police

#Steady Progress is to use the colonial law of preventative arrest when it fits the NRM-Regime and if it fits the new law Public Order Management Act then the Police will take care off or silence Political Opposition leader, Human Rights Activist or even random pedestrians.

#Steady Progress is that the police tells the world and journalist on how to conduct themselves and how to be a part of campaign convoys of the opposition leaders.

Jinja Police 10915 P1

#Steady Progress is that the Police are interfering in Opposition leader’s rallies instead of securing them.

#Steady Progress is to give a higher pay-rise to the Electoral Commission chairman from 6 million shillings a month to 35 million shillings each month.

#Steady Progress is first to lose the money to sustain and make the National ID cards, and not give them to the citizens. Then later deliver this to the Internal Displaced People in the camps and also immigrants from neighbor countries then the initial voters and citizens of the country.

#Steady Progress is to have terrible roads in and around the villages. #Steady Progress is to finally have rail system working between Kampala – Namanve, but not for the rest of the country, and it had to happen right before the election.

cadets10 UPDF

#Steady Progress is to go into neighbor countries with the army without international mandate for securing the friends and caretakers of nations around to secure loyalty to the President of Uganda, not to secure Uganda.

#Steady Progress is to make the currency weaker and weaker. #Steady Progress is to make the Bank of Uganda a personal visa card for the government because of the new amendments to the Public Finance Bill of 2015.

#Steady Progress is to make the nomination of candidates for elections more expensive so only the ones that are friends and cronies of the President will be sure of having the funding and support to stay on as candidates.

#Steady Progress is to bankrupt the national airliner and still only have on international airport in the country, also to get British Airways to cancel their flights to Entebbe and stopping fly to it after the set date of contract with the Airport.

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#Steady Progress is to give away expensive cars to Regional District Commanders to ensure the safety of NRM and not the people of the northern regions.

#Steady Progress is to promise loyal cronies more districts and sub-counties to secure loyal men in charge over areas and make the opposition unsure of the new constituency.

Kable NRM Primaries P1

#Steady Progress is to have a chaotic internal elections with pre-ticked ballots, late ballot delivery, wrong names on the ballot, stealing the forms for final counting, winners jailed for misconduct, bribing voters in villages to vote for candidates, letting members of other parties vote in the internal ones, sole candidacy in many constituencies and also clear indication of rigged for loyal Mzee men and woman.

#Steady Progress is to land as hunting-grounds or for services rendered for the government either to the likes of Aga Khan or other foreigners, even trade of forests and mineral rich land, to get it pocketed while the Government of Uganda can.

#Steady Progress is to borrow more and more money to fund the aid deficit created by the “Anti-Gay-Bill” fiasco. That left a vacuum from foreign interest together with the strategic loss of partners to sustain their aid to the country and picking other feasible projects there.

#Steady Progress is give money to religious leaders to secure their congregation who their God has picked as leader and who their lord has anointed to the position.

#Steady Progress is to get a bigger government and more ministries so that all the ones closes and most loyal get a place in the central government.

Uganda Parliament Museveni

#Steady Progress is to give a person the role of ministry without a portfolio or office

#Steady Progress is to use more on private plans and military equipment then on basic school kits, school buildings or even medical supplies.

#Steady Progress is for the President to claim again and again that he is the only Mzee who can keep the country safe and keep control of the army.

#Steady Progress is to have old medicine or copy medication instead of having extra supplies through the NMS.

#Steady Progress is to have ghost-workers, ghost-voters, ghost-schools, ghost-roads or ghost-expenditure.

#Steady progress is to fire all of the UNRA workers and getting the funding for bigger projects through the World Bank cancelled.

#Steady Progress is to see that Uganda Human Rights Commission loses it funding from it’s donors.

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#Steady Progress is to hire “Crime Preventers” as securing votes and create havoc in other candidate’s rallies to make sure that people stay loyal to the Mzee, and also ship them from NRM rally to NRM rally to make the party look more popular.

#Steady Progress is to have more and more car accidents on the bad roads, even lose the lives of more Members of Parliament due to bad roads in the districts.

#Steady Progress is for the rich and for the wealthy to take their family members or themselves to health facilities abroad to heal and prosper.

#Steady Progress is to borrow money on the future-oil monies and trade of the oil refinery from Russian state-owned company to buy military equipment.

#Steady Progress is to lose battalions and soldiers in Somalia and leave new recruits with little or no supply. The army in Somalia has to sell equipment for food and necessities; instead of fighting the terrorist group Al-Shabab.

#Steady Progress is that landslides after heavy rains and floods have no covering or security funds from the government nor any restrictions or helping agents to save lives on that matter.

#Steady Progress is given funds of 51 billion to the post-election violence for the Police and army for the “excuse” to secure the safety and peace in the country.

#Steady Progress is to tear down other candidates posters while sealing off and securing with Police force the incumbent presidential candidates ones on the walls.

Ready to Move with Sevo Music Campaign for 2016 P5

#Steady Progress is to use a tiny fortune to make a gig-song and have singers on the campaign trail.

#Steady Progress is to pay boda-boda men in town and villages to not drive to opposition rallies.

#Steady Progress is to have a rising inflation and devalue the currency before and after every election time, leading the results for more expensive fuel, food and living prices in general. 

#Steady Progress is to send SMS’s to everybody to tell them to VOTE MZEE, even if they don’t are NRM members or belongs with the Party, instead he sends to all Ugandans in the companies to gain support.

#Steady Progress is to pay boda-boda drivers to drive people to Mzee’s venues, give away t-shirts, give away free fuel, feed the public food and give money to the attendance of the crowd.

#Steady Progress is to use 500 billion shillings for campaigning for the presidential candidate, to give out handouts to loyal men and woman in the districts, cars to chiefs and other gifts of that nature to feed the loyal NRM people in up-country and the rest of the country.

#Steady Progress is to close off transmitter of radios who send messages opposing the NRM-Regime.

#Steady Progress is to deliver a campaign package of 20 million shillings to NRM Parliamentary candidates.

We can all see and this a gist of the actions and events leading up to the 29 years of #Steady Progress from Mzee and his NRM party. This was certainly not the things he fought for in the bush-war or the idea he sold at the time. It has surely changed. I could have displayed all the corruption cases, embezzlements and such, but as I said this gist of the actions from the NRM party and Mzee. We have not taken in account his foreign adventures and military actions, or all the people that have been left behind. Peace.

Press Release: El Nino impact in Eastern Africa continues to require highest level of investment in preparedness and response (23.12.2015)

IGAD El Nino 23.12.15

Press Release: EU provides €5 million in humanitarian aid for the Burundian crisis (17.12.2015)

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The European Commission has today released €5 million in new humanitarian assistance to help the increasing number of Burundians affected by the ongoing instability in the country.

The European Commission has today released €5 million in new humanitarian assistance to help the increasing number of Burundians affected by the ongoing instability in the country. The additional support brings total Commission humanitarian aid to help the Burundian people to €14 million in 2015.

More than 220 000 people, over half of whom are children, are estimated to have left the country since April this year to neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

“The humanitarian situation affecting Burundians is worsening. The refugee numbers are rising, with almost a quarter of a million people having now fled their homes. This is extremely worrying – both for Burundi, and for the neighbouring countries whose hosting capabilities have been stretched to the limit. Hosting government’s efforts in welcoming those who fled the violence are commendable. This additional EU funding will help address the refugees’ most pressing needs, notably in Tanzania. It will also contribute to humanitarian protection activities inside Burundi.” said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.

The most urgent humanitarian needs to address remain shelter, water and sanitation, as well as health assistance to stop the possible surge of diseases and epidemics, notably cholera.

Background:

Following the announcement on 25 April 2015 that President Pierre Nkurunziza would seek a third mandate, provoking serious political division, Burundi has undergone a sustained political and security crisis  – this crisis brought with it a surge in the number of refugees.

Tanzania has received the highest number of Burundian refugees so far (nearly 117 000) mostly to the Nyarugusu refugee camp, which was already hosting some 60 000 Congolese refugees. Nyarugusu has consequently become one of the largest and most overcrowded refugee camps in the world. While two news camps are under construction to decongest Nyarugusu, living conditions there continue to be dire. Hundreds of people still live in overcrowded mass shelters months after their arrival, while wet floors and cramped conditions increase risks of respiratory infections and waterborne diseases.

Press release: UNHRC Should Suspend Burundi from Membership (16.12.2015)

BurundiNTVNews

In response to Burundi joining the United Nations Human Rights Council for a three year term beginning January 1, 2016, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“Burundi should be suspended rather than be allowed to formally join the UNHRC, given the flagrant human rights abuses committed by the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza,” said Mark P. Lagon, president of Freedom House. “Suspending Burundi from the UNHRC, as the Council did with Libya in 2011, sends a strong message to the government that violent tactics are not acceptable, and may pressure the government to participate in an internationally mediated dialogue on neutral soil.  We welcome the Council’s special session on Burundi, scheduled for this Thursday, and the Council’s intention to send an investigative team there in January.”

Background:

The UN has received reports that as many as 200 people died December 11-12, when rebel forces attacked three military installations and Burundian security forces responded with door-to-door searches. Burundi’s military maintains the death toll was about 80.

Since April, when President Pierre Nkurunziza violated the Arusha Peace Accords by deciding to run for a third term, more than 300 people have been killed and over 240,000 have been forced to flee the country. In November, the Burundian government ordered the suspension of more than 10 local human rights organizations.

Burundi is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2015, and Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2015.

Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of freedom around the world, and advocates for democracy and human rights.