SADC Organ Troika Plus Council Chairperson – Ministerial Meeting on the Political Situation in The Republic of Zimbabwe (16.11.2017)

Brexit: Joint Statement on the Meeting of the United Kingdom and the CARIFORUM States on Future Trade Relations (16.11.2017)

Opinion: What is the fate of the Exiled Dictator in Harare [Mengistu Haile Mariam]?

Well, as the day progress and the coup d’état in Harare. That has toppled President Robert Mugabe in the last 48 hours, as the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) power struggle has led to the demise of the 37 years of Mugabe. Why it is important is that the former Ethiopian dictator who left for exile was there on the accord of Mugabe. His powers and his control is out. Therefore, it now matters to the current leadership in Addis Ababa and the new in Harare. What will happen with this old-man, whose saving grace was the opening arms of Mugabe. But now that has no currency in any trade.

Almost five years since a civil war overthrew the Marxist military dictatorship of Lieut. Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam, the challenge for Ethiopia has been not only to create a new identity, but also to deal with its heritage” (…) “Colonel Mengistu’s rule tried to obliterate this heritage and create a Marxist state. In the process, tens of thousands of people were killed, including the Emperor, as many were tortured and more than a million peasants were relocated. In a war against guerrilla fighters, Colonel Mengistu’s military bombed entire regions, flattening towns and propagating a reign of terror” (Lorch, 1995)

The Dergue had been executing suspected EPRP members since 1976, but after Mengistu seized full control in 1977, the “Red Terror” was officially unleashed. During this two-year campaign, which has been divided into “three waves,” tens of thousands of Ethiopians were arrested, tortured, and summarily executed. To assist in exterminating the Dergue’s political opponents and “enemies of the revolution,” Mengistu employed the secret police and issued arms to local government, or kebele, officials (Mayfield 1995)” (USBCIS, 1999).

So a man who fled Ethiopia in 1991 and got to exile, are no an open question, as he was the guest of Mugabe. Will the new administration want his presence or do they want him gone? What is their thoughts after toppling on dictator, do they want to have the second one lingering, even if he isn’t their own?

An airport official said Colonel Mengistu was wearing green fatigues and looked “close to tears.” The Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, who invited Colonel Mengistu here as a way to resolve Ethiopia’s civil war, insisted that the arrival be kept as quiet as possible. Mr. Mugabe was at the airport just an hour earlier, but he left for London on a private visit, avoiding any public meeting with the Ethiopian. Mugabe Returns a Favor. The Zimbabwe Government has issued no statement on Colonel Mengistu, and given no confirmation or denial of his presence in the country. But Government officials have said that Colonel Mengistu is expected to settle here” (New York Times, 1991).

That means that the exiled dictator and the man behind the Red Terror of Ethiopia has been living in Harare since 1991, that means 26 years he has had in peaceful existence there. While this has happen in Ethiopian Supreme Court in January 2007, the exiled President was sentenced to death in his absence. That meaning, if he has to return to Ethiopia. It will he his direct demise and himself paying the price for his leadership in Ethiopia between 1976 and 1991. Clearly, the EPRDF the one party overthrowing the DERG want to retaliate, especially considering that he fled and has been sentenced since leaving.

So we can wonder what will be his fate, will the TPLF or the EPRDF ask for his Extradition from Zimbabwe? Or will they just let him be or will the new leadership ask him to leave and where should he go? Since he would in midst turmoil in Ethiopia and hard for someone sentenced to death in their homeland to become refugee on humanitarian grounds. Even if he wants to try to become political refugee, most likely very few countries wants his residence, except for Equatorial Guinea who recently accepted Yayha Jammeh from Gambia. Peace.

Reference:

New York Times – ‘EX-ETHIOPIA CHIEF REACHES ZIMBABWE’ (23.05.1991) link: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/23/world/ex-ethiopia-chief-reaches-zimbabwe.html

Lorch, Donatella – ‘ Ethiopia Deals With Legacy of Kings and Colonels’ (31.12.1995) link: http://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/31/world/ethiopia-deals-with-legacy-of-kings-and-colonels.html

United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USBCIS) – ‘Ethiopia: Background Information on the Mengistu Regime during the Red Terror’ (28.12.1999) link: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a6b414.html

EFF Statement on Political Developments in Zimbabwe (15.11.2017)

Republic of South Africa statement: “Update on the Zimbabwean Situation” (15.11.2017)

Kenya: Secession Bill by The Hon. Peter Kaluma. MP, Homabay Town (November 2017)

Brexit: Damaging Secret Memo by Gove and BoJo which was sent to PM May!

Clearly, this whole withdrawal from the European Union (EU) is becoming toxic for the Conservative Party and their Ally Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The Tories where clearly not prepared for the consequences of the EU exit, if so then the process would have been so much more smoother and transparent. Even Prime Minister Theresa May knows this, but will not accept the defeat or the abysmal acts of her government. Not that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has helped, neither has Department of EU Exit (DexEU) David Davis and now even help of Michael Gove to question her through secret memos. The good news is that its revealed in the media. Since it shows the bad political craft done by the Tories concerning the biggest change of foreign involvement in last century. Still, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove isn’t showing loyalty, more using the debacle for their own gain. It is sinister and demeaning, instead of supporting and showing clear path. They are running on their own, while being part of May’s cabinet.

EU Exit – Next Steps.

For your and Gavin’s eyes only.’

Your approach is governed by sensible pragmatism. That does not in any way dilute our ambition to be a fully independent self-governing country by the time of the next election.

If we are to counter those who wish to frustrate that end, there are ways of underlining your resolve.

We are profoundly worried that in some parts of Government the current preparations are not proceeding with anything like sufficient energy.

We have heard it argued by some that we cannot start preparations on the basis of ‘No Deal’ because that would undermine our obligation of ‘sincere co-operation’ with the EU. If taken seriously, that would leave us over a barrel in 2021.

We all want you to push your agenda forward with confidence and have your Government articulate the following…

Yours,

Boris and Michael” (Walters & Owen, 2017).

This Memo states they want a hard-Brexit, but not explaining how they will negotiate and how the United Kingdom will pay for the changes. How this will affect business or deep dive into ordinary people’s lives. That they just want to cut ties and hope the wounds doesn’t become severe or to damaging. That Johnson and Gove wants the United Kingdom to limp into the future is pretty clear by this memo. They are even defending even grander cut of ties, just to secure a majority within next election. Is more important than the possible impact of a hard-Brexit. That means if City of London sinks, if factories moves to cheaper tariffs and headquarters move to other business districts. It will clearly lose the taxes and be more severe cuts on the workforce within private business and several banking institutions. Who are now based in London, but might move to Dublin, Frankfurt and even Berlin. Who knows where they may leave. It is senseless to push for that, when the UK will pay more tariffs and more on the outside of the EU. The prices will go up and the economy will be hit. It is just a matter of how much. Clearly for Gove and Johnson the price the people have to pay, so the Tories can continue to rule and make sure the Conservative is still ruling by 2021. Not making sure people has jobs and can afford their daily meal. Instead, just making sure Gove and Johnson has a job as their representatives and the public being their subjects.

If this isn’t hurtful for the British, if this isn’t showing their disregard of the possible damages of a Hard-Brexit. Than who knows how far these two will go to stay in power. They have no conscience to the cost of the working-class and the industries who lives on exports. That will clearly go more down and lose the markets. As the profits are eaten up by the new tariffs as non-member nation imports to the Union. This is what is striking to me and they will clearly risk lots of industries from banking, steel-mills, car-factories to simply selling packaged tea to the rest of Europe. Peace.

Reference:

Walters, Simon & Owen, Glen – ‘Boris and Gove’s plot to ‘hijack’ Number 10 exposed: Menacing secret memo to Theresa May dictating terms for a hard Brexit triggers new Cabinet rift’ (11.11.2017) link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5073567/Boris-Gove-s-plot-hijack-Number-10-exposed.html#ixzz4yDj6syLR

My letter to H.E. Benjamin William Mpaka please give up the Inter-Burundian Dialogue!

Dear Sir, His Excellency Benjamin William Mpaka of Tanzania.

I am writing to you as the months since the third term of Pierre Nkurunziza happen in 2015. We are in the end of 2017 and nothing has changed for the better. The Inter-Burundian Dialogue and Peace Process has been flawed by your making and lack of legitimacy, as the dialogue has been controlled by the Ruling Regime or CNDD-FDD, the party of President Nkurunziza. Who is on his third term and planing to extend it. This has been proved by reports of possible rule for another three terms. As the IEBC of Kenya was behind the recent flawed elections of 2015.

Therefore with the total control of the state of CNDD-FDD isn’t minimizing as the partners of the East African Community (EAC), which is the Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whose has his stakes in Burundi as a mediator by proxy. Not that he is peaceful and with dialogue in his own republic. So there is nothing Nkurunziza can learn that is positive from him. Neither is there from Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli, who is becoming like his neighbors. He is detaining oppositions and closing papers who write bad about him. Therefore, his partners in crime to say, isn’t making the Inter-Burundian dialogue trustworthy.

You off all should know this Benjamin, you have been checked and controlled. The government has banished certain parties and civil society organizations (CSOs). This should tell enough for you, but still you have been mediator into this. The whole charade and non progress as time goes along and the CNDD-FDD get everything.

Nkurunziza has the control and the Inter-Burundian Dialogue is just a ploy for the international interests. Clearly, the Burundian government are trying to deflect trouble and with their violence within. As they have left the International Criminal Court (ICC), but surely it must hurt the government that they are still investigating crimes against humanity that occurred during the membership of the court.

Since your work to build a peaceful nation seems futile. Since the CNDD-FDD are assassinating, detaining and scaring people into exile. There countless refugees in Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Uganda. All of this because of the violence of 2015 and after. The political oppression and harassment, as well as senseless killings of its own. That should make you wonder why you are still involved. You are tarnishing your reputation and your legacy, by spoiling time on this mission.

Nkurunziza wont leave, he will kill you if tries to take his place away and leave someone else as President. Pierre has no intention of leaving, he will burn villages and spread fear to rule. He even has his own Imbonerakure, are the party youth wing who is militant together with the army and police, who are systematically targeting people who dissent. This has been done and people has disappeared.

Mr. Mpaka is your name and legacy worth losing over this? Is this job so well-paid and so honorable, that you will keep it? What is your motivation to stay put? As the progression and the stalemate continues. There is nothing left soon, as the constitutional amendment and real opposition is either deceased or in exile. Is that the dialogue you preserve and that you see as fruitful?

I just have to ask, because the time is going, the CNDD-FDD isn’t become better or changing. Neither is Nkurunziza who is using the state for his profit. There is nothing to give… nothing at all. You are on a pointless mission, a mission to sustain the draconian dictatorship and give it legitimacy as it is silencing its opposition. Is that your value? Is that what you want us to associate with your name?

Mpaka, the loyal stooge and nemesis of the Burundian democracy and freedom? Is that you Sir? It seems so, unless you leave and not tarnish your name anymore. Better to be in peace and work in quiet in Tanzania, than being used by Nkurunziza as a pawn for the international community. That is what you is, your role is worthless and a bother. But a needed stooge to keep up the facade of dialogue. Even when in reality, there is none and will be none.

Nkurunziza surely will pay you handsomely, even Museveni and Magufuli, but we will remember that you gave way for a leader who kill and destroy to stay there. That is who you are Benjamin, you might not like it, but you are. Remember that! Peace.

Best Regard.

Writer of Minbane

DRC: Ndolo Military Prison – Political Prisoners write to Minister of Justice of DRC: “Re: Detention Without Trial” (21.08.2017)

Ethiopian troops enters Somalia to reinforce offensive against the Al-Shabaab!

The Ethiopian Armed Forces has returned and arrived again on Somali soil. This after a call between EPRDF and the Transitional Government in Mogadishu. Clearly, the Al-Shabaab insurgency is out of control with the two recent bombings in the Republic. That the Somali President Faramaajo has to call on Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to send troops into Somalia. This is after even the mandate of AMISOM is strong and Kenyan presence is there. Certainly, the Somali government has weaken their position and the strengthen of own troops must be hurt by this. As the Ethiopian government sends 1000 troops into Somali territory.

The AMISOM apparently needs the support of Ethiopia and Kenya to achieve their goals of stopping Al-Shabaab, they cannot do it without, as the government haven’t the trained soldiers or the bullets to do so themselves. That is evident as the Ethiopian soldiers are pouring into Somalia. You can wonder who are paying the salaries and fixing the equipment of the armed combatants there. They are usually not fighting wars for free. Especially not from a broke state and with massive demonstrations as Ethiopia. At this moment, this must be giving funding to a broke state and also help them with diplomatic support to facilitate and help the Federation of Somalia. Clearly, it cannot be keep the horn peaceful, as the soldiers themselves has been used in Amhara and Oromia to quell demonstrators over the recent years, killing civilians and tormenting them. We will see what they will achieve and when the conference call for the operations is launched.

ESAT News (November 2, 2017) Hundreds of Ethiopian troops have crossed into Somalia help new offensive by the Somali government against Al-Shabaab militants. The VOA report quoted residents in the border town of Dolow, in Somalia’s Gedo region, as saying that they saw at least 30 vehicles carrying Ethiopian troops crossing into Somalia late Tuesday. The locals estimate that about 1000 Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia on Tuesday” (ESAT, 02.11.2017).

Regional authorities contacted by VOA on Wednesday confirmed the new Ethiopian military movements.“The Ethiopian troops as a part of AMISOM have already been in the region, and their current movement is part of the response to the Somali president’s call for a massive attack on al-Shabab militants,” said Mohamed Husein al-Qadi, the deputy governor of Gedo region” (DireTube, 02.11.2017).

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Border residents say thousands of Ethiopian troops have crossed into Somalia to accompany a large-scale offensive against al-Shabab extremists. The offensive comes after a truck bombing in Somalia’s capital last month killed more than 350 people. Somalia’s president has visited countries in the expanse to seek more military sustain. Abdullahi Yusuf, an elder in Luq town, says Ethiopian troops in tanks and armored vehicles passed by Thursday morning toward southwestern Somalia” (Uxcnc.com, 02.11.2017).

We can wonder if the United States or any other sponsor of AMISOM asked the President of Somalia to this call, to again call upon the Ethiopian troops to clear the streets as they have done in the past. As they did for instance in 2006, 2011 and 2016, and so on. This to get rid of Somali problems, but leaving power-vacuum and opening up for more violence. As long as they have come in either as invading force, supported by Americans like in 2006 or other times. They have not left Somalia better, but more wounded ready to taken by other warlords or other leaders who has had their selfishness instead of building government.

We can wonder if this will bring any hope or be used for greater Ethiopian pride, if he EPRDF are using this or the TPLF are using this as a deflection from the problems in their state. The Ethiopian state is not a great stage right now. The demonstrations and the killings of civilians continue as well as activists are detained together with opposition leaders. The Ethiopian leadership needs this conflict with Al-Shabaab to look good and also possibly make people forget their own actions against their own citizens.

We can wonder what the Somali President are considering and his motives behind getting Ethiopian forces as well, as the AMISOM and Kenyan forces on his soil. There are lots of foreign forces protecting the Somali life, they are there paid by foreign donors, therefore their loyalty isn’t to the Transitional Government, but to the donors. When the donors stop, they will leave and fight conflicts elsewhere. While the Somali government are also trying to change the regional leadership in the federation to make sure they are more Mogadishu friendly and not as independent to make agreement with foreign nations without the permission of Mogadishu, as the DP World contract is evident off.

We can just wonder how long the Ethiopian forces will be on Somali soil and to what extent their mandate is, as the AMISOM and the Al-Shabaab vows is not over. Peace.