Tanzania: Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) – Public Statement (02.07.2025)

Opinion: Mubarak Munyagwa must get his own butter

Mubarak Munyagwa is now officially starting his own political party. We don’t know the name, the headquarters, fellow allies or even who is part of it with him. That’s all in the dark. The former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Member of Parliament for Kawempe South. A man who lost the General Elections of 2021 and haven’t been able to galvanize his career ever since.

The man who was known for “Mugati gwa butter” and a funny renegade. A man who was vocal and stood on the barricades. A politician who has been arrested, charged and been in legal jeopardy. That man is now soon running his own gig.

Mubarak Munyagwa better be prepared now, as his joining several others into the General Elections 2026 with new formations. Not like his the most well-known character or has the best track-record even. Some might even say he betrayed Dr. Kizza Besigye and that’s why he has gone on this path. Therefore, who knows and the COSASE process was the final straw.

Who knows really, but there are questionable actions, as Besigye has come to his aide and helped him in the hour of need. This man should know better, but most likely his ego and ambition are in his way. Even when he can’t get re-elected in Kawempe South and the National Unity Platform (NUP) is too strong for him to compete with.

This man has self-kidnapped himself, been elected as the Mayor of Kawempe division in 2011 and in 2016 elected as the MP for Kawempe South, which he lost in 2021. A man who has a law degree and is capable of conveying a message. However, is that enough to build a credible momentum and a party?

When the likes of Mugisha Muntu haven’t built a huge party over the years. You can wonder, what can Mubarak Munyagwa do now?

It seems like he will create another briefcase party and a one-man band for his own political gains. Another way of finding his meal-ticket and on his own terms. Not being bound by other people or their party structures. As he can own it himself and be associated with it.

But, but, but will it be enough butter for him? Maybe he needs re-issue the idea of praying for Museveni’s downfall like he did in 2014. There are so much controversy and the price of being on the frontline in opposition politics.

This man knows the cost and has been a target of the authorities. That is well known and isn’t a secret. Therefore, who is funding his party and giving him an edge? Because, who wants to support it and make it possible. Since this man needed the saving of Besigye to pay for a plot or land back in the day. So, it is not like the former MP has been smart about money.

We can just wonder, who is buttering the bread and who has brought the former MP the butter. That’s what remains and maybe we will know in the future. Peace.

South Sudan: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Amongst the Members of the Coalition for South Sudan Opposition Movements (CSSOM) – (01.07.2025)

South Sudan: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) – National Committee on Foreign Relation – No Rift Within SPLM-IO – A Response to RJMEC’s Statement (01.07.2025)

South Sudan: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) – Urgent Resolution of the Current Political and Security Violations to Enable Resumption of Full Implementation of the R-ARCSS (02.07.2025)

Mali: Ministere de l’Administration Territoriale et de la Decentralisation – Communique No. 074 du Gouvernement de la Transition (02.07.2025)

Kenya: Katiba Institute, KHRC, IMLU, and Other Civil Society Organisations Petition against CS Murkomen’s remarks on Police use of Force (02.07.2025)

The «FDC»-Reunion: The ANT-PFF coalition

“The leaders of both the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and the newly formed People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) are meeting at Hotel Africana to witness the launch of a new political cooperation, a symbol of the unity in opposition ahead of the 2026 General Election” (Daily Monitor, 02.07.2025).

The parties that have been formed outside of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) are now coalition parties. The former allies are now coalition partners and fellow comrades are now seeing each other eye-to-eye. These are people that has worked together and been in the trenches. They are now returning in unification, and it’s needed.

The Alliance for National Transformation under the banner of Mugisha Muntu and People’s Front for Freedom under the banner of Dr. Kizza Besigye. These are leaders who knows each other very well. Just like Alice Alaaso, Amb. Wassawa Birigwa and Erias Lukwago. All of them has met each other and worked with each other in the past. These aren’t strangers and random political leaders. No, these are the friends of the same cause.

This isn’t surprising but shows a sign of what is ahead. These parties and political leaders need each other. ANT cannot do this alone and neither can the PFF. These two smaller parties need to galvanize the activists and the supporters, as they need to restructure and re-engage itself with the nation. Even if these people are familiar faces, they still need to prove their worth and that they can be an asset for the future.

We know the old FDC is in shambles and a lost cause. Now, the former cadres of that party in the ANT-PFF can re-engage and be a viable option. They can now as a joint force be a proven opposition and a voice of reason. That’s what we have to hope for and these two parties can also get the National Unity Platform (NUP) to join it. This would have the three serious opposition parties under one banner and with a unified message. Alas, being the ones who dares to challenge and wants change. However, that won’t happen easily…

We can be happy to see the ANT-PFF coalition and Memorandum of Understanding today. That’s a good sign and also a tale of old comrades unifying again. This is great news. We just have to hope for more.

I also hope the MoU will be leaked and we can see the stipulations of the agreement between the parties. That would tell how deep it goes and what sort of arrangements they do have. Just how deep the coalition goes and what they are willing to do for each other. That’s a tale anyone wants to tell and hopefully we will see it. Peace.

Sudan: Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasis) – Formation of the Leadership Council of the Sudan Founding Alliance (01.07.2025)

Ethiopia: Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF) – A call for protection of civilians including humanitarian workers in the Abiy regime’s genocidal war on the Amhara people of Ethiopia (30.06.2025)