Statement attributable to the Principal Public Information Officer, UNMISS, on Increased Incidents of Violence in South Sudan (12.10.2016)

yei-juba-road-attack

JUBA, South Sudan, October 12, 2016The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is extremely concerned over increased reports of violence and armed conflict in various parts of the country in the last few weeks.

UNMISS Force in Leer town have reported heavy artillery and gunfire exchanges between SPLA and  SPLA in Opposition leading to several reported deaths and the continued displacement of the civilian population in the area into the bush and swamps.

We have also received continued reports of clashes in the Equatorias, and we are verifying accounts of attacks by unidentified armed men on a civilian convoy travelling from Yei to Juba, which led to the deaths of over 20 people, including women and children, and retaliatory actions by responding military personnel, which led to the deaths of a further five civilians. The Mission is yet to be granted access to these areas to place us in a position to independently verify the reports on the ground. UNMISS has attempted to launch a number of patrols to the scene of the incident, and have been stopped on each occasion. We are in direct communication with several government agencies, including the SPLA, in order to have these restrictions to our movement lifted, as yet without success.

The Mission condemns in no uncertain terms these acts of violence and attacks against non-combatant civilians, and reiterates its urgent call for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities, and more particularly, an end to any form of violence perpetrated against unarmed civilians, reminding all parties that such attacks may constitute serious human rights violations, including crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Mission further calls on all parties to immediately end the fighting throughout South Sudan, and further demands that they ensure that their commanders control their forces and protect civilians and their property, cease all hostilities, and work together for the good of the people of this country.

UNMISS condemns in the strongest possible terms, any calls for a return to the violence that has plagued this country, and urges all parties to cease the rhetoric of incitement, which is not the answer to South Sudan’s problems.

We encourage all parties to put the people of South Sudan first, and work to bring an end to suffering of the people of this country.

The 631st Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on the Situation in Burundi (12.10.2016)

UN Burundi

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 12, 2016 -The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 631st meeting, held on 6 October 2016, adopted the following decision on the situation in Burundi:

Council,

1.    Takes note of the briefing made by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for the Great Lakes region, Professor Ibrahima Fall, as well as the statements by the representatives of the Republic of Angola, as  member of the African Member in the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations (UN), the European Union and the permanent members of the Security Council namely France, United Kingdom and the United States of America;

2.    Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in Burundi, in particular, Communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(DLXXXI) adopted at its 581stmeeting held on 9 March 2016;

3.    Acknowledges that   the security situation in the country has improved, especially in the capital city Bujumbura and its surrounding areas. In this respect, Council urges the Government of Burundi to continue enhance security and safety, ensuring fundamental freedoms and civil liberties for all Burundians, including through reopening the space for the media;

4.    Strongly condemns all incidents of violations of human rights, arbitrary arrests and targeted killings by whomsoever in the country and urges the Government to take further stern and urgent measures to put these actions to a definite end;

5.    Reiterates the imperative of urgent resumption of the Inter-Burundian Dialogue under the aegis of the East African Community (EAC) as the only practical way forward to resolve the crisis in the country. In this regard, Council reaffirms the need fora consensual approach among all the Burundian stakeholders to address and resolve contentious issues relating to the situation in the country, and in so doing, to uphold the Constitution and the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement of August 2000;

6.    Underscores the need for the deployment of additional the AU human rights observers and military experts in line with the relevant decisions of Council, to monitor and report on the human rights and security situation in Burundi. In this respect, Council calls for full cooperation of the Burundian authorities and other concerned stakeholders in the country;

7.    Urges the Government of Burundi to speed up the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the AU Commission for the smooth deployment of the AU human rights observers and military experts in Burundi, as well as to start discussion with the UN on the modalities to deploy 228 UN police officers as adopted by the UN Security Council resolution 2303 (2016) of 29 July 2016;

8.    Further urges the Government of Burundi, in consultation with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the countries hosting Burundian refugees, to promote and ensure safe conditions for the return of refugees into the country and their resumption of normal life;

9.    Requests the AU Commission to continue to closely monitoring the situation in Burundi and to brief Council on a regular basis, in order for it to take appropriate decisions;

10.    Requests the Commission to take the necessary measures to invite the EAC Facilitator of the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, former President Benjamin Mkapa to brief Council on the status of the Dialogue;

11.    Further requests the Chairperson of the Commission to transmit this communique to the United Nations Secretary-General, for it to be circulated as an official working document to members of the UN Security Council in time for their meeting on Burundi scheduled for 13 October 2016;

12.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

The Worsening Crisis in South Sudan (11.10.2016)

splm-11-10-2016

3 Uganda bound buses attacked on Juba-Nimule highway in South Sudan (Youtube-Clip)

“Three Ugandan bound buses were attacked this morning along the Juba-Nimule highway in South Sudan. The UPDF 4th Division Spokesman, Maj. Caesar Olweny confirmed the attack in the restive young nation. Passengers of one of the buses were abducted and later released by the attackers” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

UNMISS Statement on Yei; Call for immediate Cessation of Hostilities (10.10.2016)

yei-juba-road-attack

Statement attributable to the Principal Public Information Officer, UNMISS.

JUBA, South Sudan, October 10, 2016 – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is extremely concerned by the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Yei, Central Equatoria, where the Mission continues to be denied access.

The Mission is alarmed that deadly attacks on civilians and looting of private property on 11 and 13 September, and the displacement of several thousand others from nearby Lainya County since mid-July, has affected over 100,000 South Sudanese in Yei, despite their civilian noncombatant status.

The Mission has received deeply disturbing reports of horrific violence perpetrated against innocent and vulnerable civilians, including women and infants.

UNMISS is also concerned at the humanitarian crisis unfolding, with a population unable to move freely, tend to their farms, or feed themselves, due to various restrictions on their movement, and the inability of humanitarian partners to freely access the area and provide much needed assistance. 

UNMISS calls on all parties to refrain from further violence, ensure that commanders control their forces and protect civilians and their property and to cease all hostilities. We also call on the authorities to grant immediate and unfettered access to UNMISS and humanitarian actors, and to work together for the good of the people of this country. We further reiterate that there can be no military solution to the situation in South Sudan.

RDC: Communiquede l’UDPS alors qu’il partait à Bruxelles pour une mission officielle du Parti, l’ANR a arreté BRUNO TSHIBALA à l’aéroport (09.10.2016)

udps-09-10-2016

The Ethiopian protests in the provinces end in ‘State of Emergency’ another way to oppress the Amhara and Oromo regions!

oromo-protest

Just as the months of demonstrations in Amhara, Oromo and Ogaden regions the Ethiopian Government under the Tigray Central Government under Prime Ministre Hailemariam Desalegne has order a State of Emergency. This happens as several foreign businesses are either pulling out of the regions or feeling the fear of being burned down by protestors. The reality is that the Government have already set in the Agazi Squad of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) under the Ethiopian People’s Revolution Democratic Front (EPRDF).

The Amhara demonstrations and Ogaden demonstrations has been in general peaceful, but with some reactions towards the government has given land to foreign companies instead of giving the needed support to the locals. 

PM Hailemariam Desalegne said on TV:

“A state of emergency  has been declared  because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country” Hailemariam said on state run tv” (Reuters, 09.10.2016).

ethiopia-state-of-emergency-09-10-2016

State of Emergency:

“The Council of Ministers has declared a state of emergency that will be effective as of Saturday evening so as to deal with anti-peace elements that have allied with foreign forces and are jeopardizing the peace and security of the country,” the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation announced Sunday morning” (FaroukFahima, 2016).

Breaking News: The minority and most hated regime in #Ethiopia declares state of emergency. The regime is in war against the people” (ERITREA Hadelibi, 09.10.2016).

There has also been reported on Friday that both Dutch Flowering companies working in Oromia and Amhara are planning to shut-down production in the area. This being Esmeralda Farms, Africa Juice and other 11 companies has been or trying to close their operation in Ethiopia. Other businesses have been burned down by the demonstrators as they are feeding the government with tax monies and do it weakening the authorities. This company has also been reported being behind the land-grabs in the regions, something that are escalating the anger towards the Central Government and their policies towards the citizens.

Zewya Prison have been set a blazed by demonstrators as the government are using their army. There been heard of gun shootings as well.

There been reported that the TPLF are keeping their loyal henchman in Amhara, as the regional president Hon. Ato Gedu Andargachew are to stay in power. Even with all the problems and demonstrations he is still trusted by the Addis Ababa government.

The army and Agazi Sqaud have been reported being responsible for the killings amounting up to 700 people, because the #OromoProtests are violating the control and insecurity of the Central Government. The Oromo people are fighting for their justice as the Central Government are keeping them under control now with surveillance, army and curfew in the region. Since November 2015, the amount of fallen people during the Oromo Protest has been calculated to 2500. That is extreme numbers to die under protests in peace-time.

That is happening as the Army has also sent brigades to the Amhara region where towns has been attacked and taken over by the Agazi squad. They have had assassins on the roof tops of Bahar Dir and Gonder/Gondar.

There also been reports that the TPLF and the EPRDF has moved all ammunitions and heavy artillery to the Tigray district. As they have sent major armies that we’re reported a month ago or so to be in the levels of 25,000 soldiers to Amhara alone. That is not setting the levels of army presence in the Oromo region.

In Addis Ababa the roads are now blocked by the government as the locals and demonstrations are throwing rocks at the cars moving in the area.

china-ethiopia-09-10-2016

This here proves the vital problems of the State of Emergency created by the Central Government as they are trying to kill their way into silencing the Amhara, Oromo and Ogaden, this is happening the same week as the Government supposed to celebrate a feet of having a new railway between Addis Ababa and Djibouti where the Chinese are operating and training Ethiopians to run it.

The Central Government are now using excessive force as they are not even happy with the martial laws set in regions, therefore added their repressive behaviour and killing squads of the Agazi Squad of the ENDF. The ENDF are there to stop the burning of foreign businesses, because that hurt the pocket of the controlling TPLF government.

There will be more, when the reports are coming, this is a worry and the world should care that the country that has the African Union and seemingly are in-charge of the  Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). So with that in mind the Government should care more for their citizens as their responsibility to be a example is now far-gone because of the ways the silencing and killings of their citizens are happening in Oromo and Amhara regions. They are continuing as the government are not only having issues in Ogaden, as they are acting questionable in Somali Region as well. Peace.

Reference:

Faroukfahima – ‘Ethiopia Declares State of Emergency’ (09.10.2016) link: http://www.forumspotz.ng/ethiopia-declares-state-of-emergency/

Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Independence Day Celebration Message on the 54th Independence Day (09.10.2016)

besigye-09-10-2016

Under a normal political situation, a nation’s day of independence should be euphoric: citizens and leaders alike join together to celebrate their triumph overcolonialism, remembering the day when they became a nation led and governed by their own with their mandate.

Frankly, Uganda’s independence heroes had a natural and legitimate right to free Uganda from a century of British dominance. Colonialism had many unacceptable effects that took away many citizenship rights; political rights to determine who governs them, economic rights to determine who controls their resources and use them equitably and have control over state institutions that served the rulers than the people. The most pernicious effect of colonialism was the control of the mind and distortion of our culture creating in the people a slave mentality.

In 1962 however, we inherited a functioning, though enclave, economy with an effective transport (road and rail) system, sufficient hydro electric power supply, a sizeable extractive and manufacturing industry, a strong agricultural sector and functioning social services.

Post colonial Uganda has however not only maintained the inherited political system that denies citizens the fundamental rights and freedoms and maintained the slavery mentality maintaining a master – slave relationship , it has also destroyed the enclave economy, destroyed agricultural production , infrastructure, social services and the extractive and manufacturing industry. It also introduced and entrenched corruption, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism etc. As a result, Uganda’s 54 years have been marked by : Political instability (no leader has handed power to another leader), violence, a failed economy and social strife. The duty of our people now therefore to reclaim the country to get back our rights, freedoms and resources through struggle and hence the DEFIANCE CAMPAIGN; the people’s non violent struggle. This will lead to a post NRM transition in which we shall carry out Constitutional Reforms, Rebuild State Institutions, engage in Truth Telling, Accountability and Reconciliation followed by Free and Fair elections.

As Ugandans, we have a solemn duty to reverse the plunder and destruction of our country. We must realise though that this call to national duty is not a call to an easy task. It has to start with changing people’s mindset and perceptions about national and state power relationships. The process can only be difficult if people submit. We have to defy and refuse to cooperate with the dictator. The more we cooperate, the more he enjoys the use of tools of coercion and maintains the illegitimate rule over us.

Luckily, like it has been in all societies where people have had a demand for standing up for their rights to defy and defeat dictatorship, Ugandans are resiliently focusing their energies on dismantling NRM and Mr. Museveni dictatorship. I see many organised groups of Ugandans that have taken on the call to bring about change in our country. We can only join them. Then Ugandans will truly celebrate independence.

Col.(Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye
People’s President

Redefining the history of “freedom”: Detainment Spree!

hope-magazine-54th-independence

Happy 54th Independence celebrations. I salute all Ugandans and congratulate you on this auspicious occasion” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Today, the National Resistance Movement and their junta regime under President Musveni is supposed to celebrate 54 years of Freedom and Liberty from the British Empire. Today there are supposed to be both Celebration Parties from the Government, but also the Opposition Party Forum for Democratic Change, something they even asked permission from the Police Authorities. Instead they are either behind house-arrest or like Dr. Kizza Besigye who tried to leave his home in Kasangati, Wakiso District; where taken from his gates and the put in the notorious “black van” or “torture van” and reported to spend the day at the Naggalama Police Station in Mukono. Something that has happen frequently in the recent months.

luuka-09-10-2016

Just as the NRM and their President are celebrating giving away awards to the Uganda Cranes and other dignitaries on this day in Luuka District. The Police are house-arresting several leaders in the FDC, because they fear the level of popularity and their connection with the people that will make the current leadership look weak.

The ironic about this is that Independence Day are celebrated by the Authorities using active colonial laws to oppress citizens who doesn’t validate the ruling regime and their methods of staying in power. This happens as Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago and Hon. Allan Ssewanyana has been arrested as well.

katwe-09-10-2016

In Katwe, Kampala the FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe and Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya we’re arrested by the Police as they started to have their own independent Celebration in the area.

But the President himself is priding himself with the army and Police in Luuka, because it’s not like he can get a lot of people to surround himself anymore because of popularity as the fatigue of his greed and depleting state of affairs.

besigye-09-10-2016

So the freedom that President Museveni provides is just if he is given loyalty or offers it, either because the citizen doesn’t matter or the person is not a threat to his existence of power. That proves the limited vision of liberty and justice under the current NRM regime and their force of aggravated assaults on the true independence of Uganda. Uganda should celebrate their liberation from the giant empire of United Kingdom. They might got rid of the control from London, but the control of Okello House of Entebbe or State House in Kampala isn’t that much better. They are still monitoring and controlling the civil society and impunity towards their own citizens… acting and using laws that we’re made under colonial times to silence the voices who wanted liberty back then from Whitehall.

Medals are given to these men it’s reported from the Uganda Media Centre: 

uganda-cranes-medals-1978-p1uganda-cranes-medals-1978-p2

The President shouldn’t congratulate, he is late and he doesn’t care of liberties and freedoms of his own, only about himself and his elite that has risen while he took power. Peace.