Security Council Decides against Imposing Arms Embargo on South Sudan, Designating Key Figures for Targeted Sanctions (23.12.2016)

splma

Adoption Fails by 7 Votes in Favour, 8 Abstentions amid Doubt over Wisdom of Punitive Steps as Government Reports Progress on Ground

The Security Council voted this morning against imposing an arms embargo on South Sudan and targeted sanctions on three key Government and opposition figures whose dispute has spiralled into widespread violence in the young nation.

Defeated by a vote of 7 in favour to none against, with 8 abstentions, the draft would have instituted a ban on arms sales to South Sudan as well as designating three officials as subject to an asset freeze and travel ban: Paul Malong, Chief of Staff of the Government’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA); Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister for Information; and former First Vice-President Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLAM/A-IO).

Voting in favour of the draft resolution were representatives of France, New Zealand, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay. Speaking after the vote, they recalled that United Nations officials had sounded multiple warnings about an impending deterioration of the carnage in South Sudan, and about long-term non-cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on the part of parties to conflict. They said that although the measures proposed in the text would not have been a panacea, they would have reduced the violence, addressed impunity, kept the country from spending precious resources on arms, and created momentum for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Delegations that abstained were China, Russian Federation, Angola, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela. China’s representative said his country was committed to restoring peace and stability in South Sudan as soon as possible. Describing the Government’s announcement of an inclusive national dialogue and the approved deployment of the Regional Protection Force as positive steps, he emphasized that the international community should support them instead of taking counter-productive actions. It should also support full implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (the Peace Agreement) and the mediation efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), he added.

The Russian Federation’s representative and others who abstained criticized the readiness of those who had voted in the draft’s favour to impose sanctions, maintaining that such measures had failed to have a positive effect in other situations of a similar nature.

South Sudan’s representative, described the tabling of today’s draft as unfortunate, given that President Salva Kiir had ordered the formation of the National Dialogue Steering Committee just a few days ago. Such a commitment pointed to a more encouraging direction. Those targeted for sanctions were critical to implementation of all agreements, he said, emphasizing that the draft had revealed a lack of good faith. It could have invited controversy, disagreement and hostility, rather than the necessary cooperation, he said, warning that punitive measures could only harden positions.

The meeting began at 9:33 a.m. and ended at 10:39 a.m.

DRC: OHCHR press briefing notes (23.12.2016)

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Over the past week, the UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC (UNJHRO) has documented at least 40 killings of civilians in Kinshasa, Lumbumbashi, Boma and Matadi. 

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 23, 2016 –

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell

Location:      Geneva

Subject:        DRC

Reports that dozens of people have been killed by police and soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past few days are deeply troubling and point to growing instability in the country, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Friday.

Over the past week, the UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC (UNJHRO) has documented at least 40 killings of civilians in Kinshasa, Lumbumbashi, Boma and Matadi, mainly of people protesting against President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down at the official end of his mandate on 19 December. Some 107 people have been injured or ill-treated and there have been at least 460 arrests.

Opinion: I respect President Duterte for his answer to the American pressure!

duterte

I have been thinking about this for a while and I made up my mind. President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines President are by many controversial and his acts are not ordinary in society as we’re used to, but partly they work and many feels safer, though the violent police force gets rid of violent and dangerous drug-trade that has at its peak even corrupted Members of Parliament. Therefore his cabinet and his acts made both enemies locally and abroad.

His tone and demeanour is also striking, a hot-headed man who speaks his peace and war before he tries to mend the wounds created, because he figures out that the striking isn’t always the way to go and to create dialogue. But he seems like a leader who wants to be respected for being him and for his country.

Here is what happen lately and made fuzz worldwide. Because the MCC again made a decision, but without giving reasons for their suspensions that we’re for infrastructure projects, that they are now finding other funding for instead of the American funding. Duterte has gotten grand support in other Asian powers over the recent months and even gotten friendly with the Chinese, which has even respected the courts over well-resourceful islands that China has claimed.

China has offered the Philippines credit worth USD500 million to procure Chinese-made military products, Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on 20 December. In comments published by the Philippine government’s news and information bureau, Lorenzana said the funds would be made available through soft loans and would support the procurement of unspecified “big-ticket military items”. Under an initial part of the aid package, Lorenzana also confirmed that China has agreed to provide the Philippines with CNY100 million (USD14.4 million), which will support the Southeast Asian country’s acquisition of “small arms, speed boats, or night-vision goggles” (Grevatt, 2016).

Together with a big grant of monies has also come to the nation under Duterte. As this has happen after the American pressure has risen and they don’t see how this aggressive attitude doesn’t help the relationship between the Philippines and the American counterparts.

MCC cancelling grants for infrastructure projects in Philippines:

“The US-led Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) has suspended a funding grant for the Philippines over “concerns around rule of law and civil liberties” under the Duterte administration. In a statement last Wednesday, the MCC said it has “deferred a vote on the re-selection” of the country for another compact grant, “subject to a further review.” No other details about the Philippines were released” (Magtulis, 2016).

Duterte’s response:

“I understand that we have been stricken out of the Millennium Challenge. Well, good, I welcome it,” Duterte said with apparent sarcasm. “We can survive without American money,” he said. “But you know, America, you might also be put to notice. Prepare to leave the Philippines, prepare for the eventual repeal or the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement,” he said, referring to a 1998 accord that governs American forces visiting the Philippines for joint combat exercises. Speaking with reporters Friday, Duterte also told U.S. workers or troops to “start packing.” (Penzenstadler, 2016).

“For the past previous months since Duterte took office, the United States has reiterated several times its concern over the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings related to the Philippine government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs” (…) “America is a land of hypocrisy. There are 40,000 Americans killed every year, drug-related,” Duterte said in a speech before a group of exemplary government employees” (Sioson, 2016).

We can wonder how this is to be and how this will go. Certainly the killings can be questioned in the Philippines, as much the United States should question their own misgivings on this matter. The Duterte government are striking hard and trying to force it out. Though certainly the killings can be seen as causing havoc, it can also create a safer environment; as long as this is a temporary matter where the drug monies and society has been under fear because the drug-gangs in Philippines.

The United States can by all means suspend their aid to the Philippines, but they are not their lapdog and their puppet to control. As they will be muffled to be controlled and if they listen they get their candy. The MCC might review it and address the matter, but a President Duterte is right reacting and showing courtesy to the American government who does this to his administration. Instead of looking at in silence and pounding on the lost funds. Instead his proof of power comes with the strategic need of alliances that U.S. Government needs in the South China Sea.

President Trump and his nominee Secretary of State Tillerson will not have a cake-walk in Asia. President Duterte will not make it easy for somebody like them to trade the waters. Duterte has his pride and wants to make the best effort in power. The rare instance was that the international community didn’t care when the communities we’re attacked by drug-gangs and drug related

We can wonder how this will go, but one thing is for sure President Duterte will not be muffled by the American Government as his predecessor. They have followed the party line of the US foreign policy, but Duterte are acting as President on his own merry. Something the world should recognize and respect. I understand why some policies and some acts might offend and even boggle your mind, but him standing up to the U.S. shows his pride and also his vigour not be controlled and told how to be. Duterte deserves credit for that, though we can question the purpose, longevity and the current policy against the drug-lords and drug-gangs.

It might have consequences right now for the funding of certain projects that has to get funding from elsewhere, but what we can now is that Duterte will not an underling to the American Empire, but be his own and change affiliations if it benefits the Philippines, which is something he should do without any scrutiny; unless he did it without any transparent objectives and with no concern for the ramifications on his own population. Peace.

Reference:

Magtulis, Prinz – ‘US defers Philippine grant amid rule of law, rights issues’ (16.12.2016) link: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/12/16/1653963/us-defers-philippine-grant-amid-rule-law-rights-issues

Grevatt, Jon – ‘China offers USD500 million in military aid to Philippines’ (21.12.2016) link: http://www.janes.com/article/66457/china-offers-usd500-million-in-military-aid-to-philippines

Penzenstadler, Nick – ‘Philippines’ Duterte to U.S. over aid: ‘Bye-bye America’ (18.12.2016) link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/12/17/philippines-duterte-us-over-aid-bye-bye-america/95557384/

Sioson, Dana – ‘Duterte: ‘US a land of hypocrisy’ (20.12.2016) link: http://asianjournal.com/news/duterte-us-a-land-of-hypocrisy/

Gambian leaders must ensure peaceful transfer of power to President-elect, says Security Council (22.12.2016)

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“The Security Council reiterates its request to outgoing President Jammeh and the relevant Gambian Authorities to fully respect the results of the presidential election of 1 December 2016”.

NEW YORK, United States of America, December 22, 2016 – Welcoming the African Union’s decision to recognize Adama Barrow as President-Elect of Gambia, the United Nations Security Council reiterated its call on outgoing President Yayha Jammeh to transfer power to the President-Elect in peaceful and orderly manner.

“The Security Council reiterates its request to outgoing President Jammeh and the relevant Gambian Authorities to fully respect the results of the presidential election of 1 December 2016, to respect the will of the Gambian people and to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process, and to transfer power to President-elect Adama Barrow by 19 January 2017 in accordance with the Gambian constitution,” said a Presidential Statement read out at a formal meeting of the 15-member body today.

“[The Council] further welcomes the decision of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State to attend the 19 January inauguration of President-elect Barrow in Banjul (Gambia’s capital),” it added.

In the statement, the Council also underlined the need to ensure the security of President-elect Barrow and that of all Gambians, and called on the country’s defence and security forces to demonstrate maximum restraint and maintain an atmosphere of calm in Banjul.

Further, commending ECOWAS efforts aimed at diffusing the situation in the west African country, the Council welcomed the appointment of Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria as the Mediator in Gambia and that of John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana as Co-chair.

Last week, an ECOWAS/UN high level delegation, led by the President of the Liberia and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, visited Banjul and undertook discussions aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition.

Senior UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein have spoken out on the situation in Gambia, urging outgoing President Jammeh to respect the outcome of the results and to transfer power to the incoming President.

Gabon: Le communiqué du président Jean Ping adressé au peuple (21.12.2016)

gabon-dialogue-21-12-2016

Uganda: Announcement of the Resumption of the Burundi Dialogue (18.12.2016)

burundi-dialouge-18-12-2016

Opinion: Kabila will not go silently!

Patrice Lumumba

President Patrice Lumumba addressed the Congolese Youth in August 1960:

“Today I am addressing the youth, the young men and women of the Republic of the Congo. In speaking to them, I am addressing these words to future generations because the future of our beloved country belongs to them. We are fighting our enemies in order to prepare a better and happier life for our youth. If we had been egoists, if we had thought only about ourselves we would not have made the innumerable sacrifices we are making. I am aware that our country can completely liberate herself from the chains of colonialism politically, economically and spiritually only at the price of a relentless and sometimes dangerous struggle. Together with the youth of the country, we have waged this struggle against foreign rule, against mercantile exploitation, against injustice and pressure” (Patrice Lumumba: Fighter for Africa’s Freedom, Moscow, Progress Publishers, 1961, pp 33-36).

Joseph Kabila, the president since 2001 after his father was assassinated will not leave silently from the Executive, from the commander-in-chief of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He will go into a fourth term without any direct amendments of the constitution of the Third Republic. He has been now in powers for over 15 years!

“Although Mr Kabila almost certainly died within minutes or hours of his shooting, his body was flown to Harare, ostensibly for treatment but probably merely to give the government time to reorganise and agree on a successor. Orders were issued in his name and the death was kept secret for 50 hours. As a result, Kinshasa remained calm and factions in the army that might have risen up were disarmed. But if Mr Kabila’s killing was planned—and it may well have arisen just from discontent among the palace guard—it is still not clear what it was meant to achieve” (The Economist, 2001).

Kabila has worked in the FARDC and even we’re in command of the army when the Ugandan and Rwandan armies we’re taking Kisangani in the past. He we’re in command of the Northern Contingent as the Operational Commander. So he has army experience and knows military tactics.

Kabila have worked with allies in United States and in Belgium, as they both have served each other well, even as the mandate of MONUSCO has been strengthen as the FARDC haven’t had the will to get rid of all the different guerrillas that are in the nation. The Republic has over a dozens of guerrillas and militias controlling mines and natural resources as the illegal mining, illegal exports through Uganda and Rwanda is happening in broad daylight. That has happen for two decades and not that Kabila government has tried to stop it. Neither has the industries that need these minerals that sheds the blood and uses the children to create future soldiers.

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Just as Kabila continued the line of his father, he still cleared the shop and made sure he got loyal people to him and not to the deceased father, like a year after he was sworn-in the first time as President in the transition government, he changed the ministers and put in Evariste Boshe, Samba Kaputo, Mulegwa Zihidula and Pierre Lumbi became close allies in personal cabinet in 2002. Some of them are still key figures in the regime to this day.

As of today the pictures surfacing online before the VPN and shutdown that the regime has promised where all of social media like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook so on. Because Kabila doesn’t want the world to know about the oppressive behaviour of the FARDC and authorities; we know about some because of LUCHA and other political organizations has already in total behind bars over 130 known activists. So the Kabila government doesn’t really want change or political freedoms for their citizens.

Gloria Sengha, youth activist in Kinshasa and member of Lucha was kidnapped yesterday by Congolese security forces in Kinshasa. She is among the latest Congolese youth who have been kidnapped this past week. We still do not have the details of where Congolese lawyer and member of Compte a Rebours, Chris Shematsi is as well since his kidnapping earlier this week” (Kambale Musavuli, 18.12.2016).

Kabila a military man who became second generation president, doesn’t have not had the will to generate freedom, his armies haven’t even made peace in regions like South Kivu or North Kivu, as the militias and own army has created massacres in the villages around mines and valuable resources to export. There been incidents in Beni, Bukavu and Goma where the violence has happen and people have fled the area.

Kabila took power in 2001 after his father, got elected in a positive election in 2006, more contested and more questionable 2011. When Kabila we’re supposed to step-down now it would be miracle for a man who has ruled for 15 years. Since he has power since his father died, though he could have learned from the past, which the innocent dies when power corrupts the President.

We can expect that the army is stationed in the major towns and cities over the next few days to quell the displeased crowds who feels that there is coup d’état silently going-on. Kabila plans to silently take control over the nation again, as he did in 2001, as he needed to postpone elections and stay as commander-in-chief as long as he can. Kabila owns businesses, businesses that have contracts with the state and others that are licensed by government authority.

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So the son of former president Kabila knows the problem of leaving and knows that certainly leaving in peace would be something new, a succession that hasn’t occurred in the giant central African nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Patrice Lumumba we’re assassinated by the Belgium post-colonial forces, Mobutu Sese Seko died in exile in Rabat Morocco, Laurent-Desire Kabila killed by assassination by alleged royal guards. Now Joseph Kabila can decide his fate.

President Kabila from 2001-2016 can make a decision, if he haven’t already; he has been eating of the government plate and also with the surrounding mineral exports and trading agreement as the Third Republic Executive. The family is tangled and involved in all sectors of the economy and if he unleash himself from the throne. If he releases himself he fears and his family fears for the business and their future. This is something they have taken over from the previous ones in power, which are Mobutu and Laurent Kabila. The connected businesses are all there because of the connection with the state.

The State isn’t a big-government, it’s a militarized single-person based government that are only what it is, depending on the one that is the President, the executive at the time, because the government isn’t full with procedure or with institutions, it’s based on the appointments from the President and with the state corporations that can be partly owned by the family of Kabila.

Kabila has been and still is the President, even as hasn’t been any election, as the fourth term is coming to him. Like so many other Presidents coming before him, they haven’t counted the transition period, even as he wasn’t elected; he was handpicked and selected by the kingmakers in 2001. To make sure the army and population got a popular figure. Certainly Kabila got the two terms after the transition. Now he is in the wind and keeping the people in shackles, because he is not caring about legal proposition of his affairs.

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The problem now, the dialogue with the opposition has been dragged out and even the CENCO, the religious forum hasn’t created a space where the general election has taken place, even as the United Kingdom doling out fortunes for the election, but nothing happens. We could all wonder if Edem Kodjo really wanted the regime under Kabila to change or if the whole thing was fraud?

The silence, the little sanctions from the European Union and United States happen in December, as the republic couldn’t feel a fret from the mediocre actions of the international community, as the Rwandan and Ugandan guerrillas are still inside the republic, together with the soft borders that has even had MONUSCO helped the SLPM-IO to Khartoum in Sudan after the rebellion in July 2016. The South Sudanese rebels fled after skirmishes in the Juba. After that the UN peacekeepers helped the rebels as they fled again to safety in Sudan.

So when Kabila now is still in power, will continue to stay in power and hold on to power without any consideration of the Congolese people and their justice. The Kabila clan doesn’t own the country, they we’re supposed to run it on their behalf. Now Joseph Kabila acts like he owns them and they owns him a favour, which isn’t true.

#Telema or #Yelema have been youth and civil activists who work for development and change as of getting a new president in the Republic. They have been stopped by tear-gas, violence and being detained. The reason is that Kabila wants to safe on the throne.

“As announced, the discussions have failed. Now, Congolese people, the ball is in your camp! Now arrived at the end of our efforts” – Felix Tshisekendi.

As Tshisekendi announce this today on Twitter shows the world how Kabila has silenced the opposition, as Moise Katumbi has been under monitoring by the authorities, even detained in Lubumbashi and had to flee for South Africa for health check after Kabila’s security organization throws tear-gas and brutalized supporters as well as Katumbi himself.

It hasn’t been the will of the Kabila to leave power or even try to fix the dialogue between the parties; he has the army and the businesses in his pocket. Kabila are now taking the Congolese citizens as hostage as he doesn’t deliver an election or a succession to himself as he stays in power. The Congolese authorities are now and have been in the hands of Kabila. Certainly Kabila proves that he never wanted to deliver democratic change.

The militarized leadership of the past are still in the midst of the leadership of Kabila, nothing different to ones of the Mobutu dictatorship or of the puppet-regime of Laurent Kabila. The Military, the Police and Special Forces as much as the Royal Guards are still following orders from above high. They are doing it now as they are guarding the cities like Goma, Kinshasa and others.

Kabila even warned of major violence if he had to stepdown, because he will use the military to silence the opposition and the citizens. Therefore the violence will come as a result of Kabila using force to quell the people into his will. The non-acts of the President are elementary of the will of keeping power.

President Kabila will not let go, not letting go silent and seemingly have had no plan of leaving office, as the keys, the guns and ammunition is in his hands. The army and police together with the banning of social media are elements of taking total control and not letting go. Just like President Museveni, President Nkurunziza and President Kagame. Kabila wants to copy them, but without the legal fuzz of Burundi and without Museveni’s bickering and changes of laws over 3 decades. As Kabila doesn’t have a totalitarian control like Kagame in Rwanda.

Kabila now shows his cards without playing, that is way of playing, though the silence, the non-existing plans and the dodging the ordinary parts of the Parliament and amending laws or even the constitution to secure legality of the third official term. But also the non-existing election and campaigning, as the Kabila regime is holding on without taking in consideration of the citizens of the Congolese state.

We should hope he would step down to respect his own people, but the Congolese people aren’t respected, as they haven’t been by the authorities for so long time. Kabila follows the tradition of Mobutu who used the military and the support of United States to control the Republic.

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We know that the Third Republic is in the image of the Kabila and total control is because of him and the appointed men who he trusts. Kabila are now seeking to overstay and to make the citizens hostage. #Telema can address the deficiency and show the truth, but the citizens have to demonstrate and besiege the Parliament, make noise on the radio and also protect the constitution.

Third Republic cannot be at the current, the Democratic Republic of Congo doesn’t owe anything to Kabila and his clan. They have eaten for a long while and let many people starve, therefore the clan fears that the citizens will take that away. The Congolese people deserve a democratic, transparent and fiscal responsible government who cares for the citizens and not only the riches of Kabila and his elite.

Kabila are now 15 years in and not leaving, we can hope civil disobedience and #Telema has power to make a difference, which the civil activists in LUCHA can change, the powers. What is more important is that citizen’s act against Kabila and the Congolese authorities, because the citizen deserves a government who represent them.

Now the Kabila government have shackled the society and taken the people for granted. Prepare that the Rassamblement, the Telema and all the other efforts will end up with more people in prison, more death as the soldiers will kill demonstrators and the army will besiege the cities. Peace.

Reference:

The Economist – ‘Kabila is dead, long live Kabila’ (25.01.2001) link: http://www.economist.com/node/486713

You are not forgotten Sam Mugumya!

Sam M

I cannot and as I am together with others, who stand for justice, rule of law and freedom cannot forget the brave men like Sam Mugumya, who has been detained in Democratic Republic of Congo, as he was traded for the release of M23 soldiers and deported to the Congo. Something that is disgusting enough as he has been portrayed by the Ugandan authorities as an Allied Defence Force (ADF-NALU) which is a guerrilla that cause havoc in the DRC.

With that all in mind his been detained since 2014, today is his birthday, certainly he will not able to celebrate it or even enjoy it. He is innocent and rotting in prison because of the exchange that was between DRC Authorities and Ugandan counterparts. Certainly that deal was made with some perks.

In August 2016 there we’re reported that 300 Ugandan citizens we’re detained and in prison in the neighbour country, many of who is said to be connected with the guerrilla – ADF-NALU, but some of them are certainly framed for that as proven with Sam Mugumya, who has been parts of Activist 4 Change with the Walk to Work protest in 2011 and also been a pivotal political force inside the Forum for Democratic Change. Therefore the NRM Regime wants him away and silences him, the best way in a foreign prison where his voice doesn’t matter.

With this recent report isn’t positive considering his case: “In a government statement to parliament last evening, the State minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem revealed that the authorities had declined to have Mugumya released since the matter was under the military establishment in the DRC” (…) “Okello also says that Mugumya may not be extradited soon due to absence of enabling policies between the two governments despite several interventions” (Kyeyune, 2016). So the case has become military after the extradition and prisoner exchange in 2014, therefore the fate of Mugumya is in the hands of Congolese Authorities. The Ugandan ones are towing their fingers as the former Besigye aide is dwindling away and not has the ability to get freedom as he is a political activist and not a terrorist. That is big difference!

In 2015 he said this to the press:

Ivan: “How did you know they were CMI operatives? Were they clad in uniform?” Sam: “They had army uniform and they introduced themselves to me as such. On the first day, they were two. They asked if I had links with ADF then shortly after said I was coming to link up with the People’s Redemption Army.  I told them I was just running away from your brutal regime. On the second day, another set of three CMI operatives came. I remained in Beni for three weeks before I was called for a joint interrogation between Congolese authorities and CMI.  They debated if to bring us back to Uganda or hold us in Congo” (Okuda, 2015).

“Ivan: “The regime back home accuses you of involvement in subversion, terrorism to be precise and government spokesman Ofwono Opondo and UPDF spokesman Paddy Ankunda both stand by this claim. What is your take?” Sam: “It is not true I was involved in subversive activities. I have been involved in legitimate activism which is a fundamental right, to support or oppose a regime. But Mr Museveni and his henchmen like all tyrants mistake principled Opposition for subversion. There is a history to this. In 2011, Ingrid Turinawe, Francis Mwijukye and I were charged with terrorism and the case fell flat because it had no legal limbs and was built on falsehoods. Repeating these same allegations is essentially putting into perspective why we are here. Museveni has always made his position clear; that he is not comfortable with courts granting bail to capital offence suspects.  Of course, he is not interested in the rapists and murderers; he is simply clothing it as capital offences to net political activists. We are the real target” (Okuda, 2015).

When you hear his story that he flee from Uganda because of the possible prosecution and the indicated issues with the brutal regime, that means that the courts and indictment we’re predicated to take him down. The Congolese Authorities just used that and reprimanded him, while they still had been served with Ugandan intelligence to pick-up the activist and take him to prison. Something that is vicious and shows the collaborate effort to harass fellow citizens and also use the military together with security operatives to make sure the people like Sam Mugumya get behind bars, where he still is without question.

His is lingering in jail, but he is not forgotten, as much as the other activist both Ugandan and Congolese who is still behind bars. As the Authorities are keeping them silent behind bars instead of being free to challenge the ones in power. Peace.

Reference:

Kyeyune, Moses – ‘Mugumya Extradition Not Possible, Says Government’ (02.12.2016) link: http://kfm.co.ug/news/mugumya-extradition-not-possible-says-government.html

Okuda, Ivan – ‘I was arrested while fleeing to exile, says Mugumya’ (20.12.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/I-was-arrested-while-fleeing-to-exile–says-Mugumya/689844-3002812-11msrhrz/index.html

Outtake: UN Weapons transfer to the SPLM-IO (December 2016 Small Arms Survey report)

un-weapon-transfer-des-2016-p1un-weapon-transfer-des-2016-p2un-weapon-transfer-des-2016-p3

Reference: 

Craze, James & Tubiana, Jerome – ‘A State of Disunity: Conflict Dynamics in Unity State, South Sudan, 2013–15’ (December 2016) Published in Switzerland by the Small Arms Survey

EU Statement on the situation in Kasese District (16.12.2016)

eu-kasese-16-12-2016