Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (07.12.2016)

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The Secretary-General expresses his support for the mediation led by CENCO. He calls on all political actors in the DRC to recommit themselves to this mediation.

NEW YORK, United States of America, December 7, 2016 -The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of the continuation of the mediation led by the Conférence épiscopale des églises du Congo (Catholic Church – CENCO), to achieve a more inclusive consensus on the holding of elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He takes note of President Kabila’s expressed support and encouragement to CENCO’s mediation, and of the stated readiness of The Rassemblement opposition platform to remain engaged in dialogue.
The Secretary-General expresses his support for the mediation led by CENCO. He calls on all political actors in the DRC to recommit themselves to this mediation.

Less than two weeks before the end of President Kabila’s second and final term in office, the Secretary-General underlines the need to pursue, in earnest, this Congolese-owned process to reach a consensual and peaceful solution to the current impasse.

Burundi: Ministrere des Relations Exteriures et de la Cooeration Internationale – Note Verbale: ” Le gouvernement burundais veut maintenant contrôler le mouvement de l’Organisation internationale!” (24.11.2016)

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Burundi: No. 204.05/145A/RE/2016 – Inter-Burundian Dialogue (06.12.2016)

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Note to Correspondents on the investigations into allegations ‎of sexual exploitation and abuse against peacekeepers deployed in the Central African Republic (05.12.2016)

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The Office of Internal Oversight Services has concluded its investigative process on the allegations ‎of sexual exploitation and abuse against Burundian and Gabonese contingents deployed in Dekoa, Kemo prefecture, in the Central African Republic. 

These allegations referred to incidents between 2014 and 2015. OIOS has conducted joint investigations with Burundian and Gabonese national investigative officers. Investigations started in April 2016, a few days after the allegations were brought to the attention of the United Nations and lasted for more than four months. The investigators relied primarily on the testimony of possible victims and witnesses given the lack of medical, forensic or any other physical evidence. This was due to the fact that the majority of the allegations referred to incidents that took place a year or more earlier. Everyone who came forward with claims, both minors and adults, were assisted by national and international partners.

Overall, 139 possible victims were interviewed and their accounts were investigated. By means of photo array and/or other corroborating evidence a total of 41 alleged perpetrators (16 from Gabon and 25 from Burundi) were identified by 45 interviewees; eight persons were unable to identify perpetrators through photo array or other corroborating evidence but were able to describe some distinctive traits; 83 were not able to identify perpetrators or provide corroborating evidence; and three accounts were considered unreliable. A total of 25 minors asserted they had been sexually abused. A total of eight paternity claims were filed, including by six minors.

The United Nations has shared the OIOS report with both Member States, including the names of the identified alleged perpetrators and has requested for appropriate judicial actions to ensure criminal accountability.

Responsibility for further investigations lies with Burundi and Gabon. The United Nations has requested from the Burundian and Gabonese authorities that they review the OIOS findings and conduct the interviews of the alleged perpetrators who had all been rotated out from Central African Republic before the allegations surfaced. The United Nations has asked for a copy of the final national investigation reports to be transmitted urgently.

The alleged perpetrators, if allegations against them are substantiated, and, if warranted, their commanding officers, will not be accepted again for deployment in peacekeeping operations.

MINUSCA has strengthened its prevention measures and reinforced its outreach among communities and peacekeepers across the country, especially in high-risk areas to improve awareness and reporting on sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of misconduct. The Mission is also regularly monitoring conditions and behaviour of mission’s personnel and has partnered with United Nations agencies and implementing partners in Central African Republic that provide psychosocial, medical and legal assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The United Nations condemns, in the strongest terms, all acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers or any other UN personnel and will maintain follow up so that perpetrators of these abhorrent acts are brought to justice.

RDC: Le Rassemblement se dit prêt pour les négociations directes proposées par la CENCO (02.12.2016)

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South Sudan: Horror and violence is rampant; civilians are in the cross-fire!

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Just as Radio Tamazuj has been through a scandalous closure after being reviewed by certain organizations for their coverage of the recent months of violence between the SPLM/A and the SPLM/A-IO, that have been. This proves the situation and the dire state of the South Sudan.

While this is happens the Catholic Radio Network reports:

Be friendly and exposed to media to reach your expectations and needs of your people, Managing Director of Hamming Bird Action for Peace and Development in Yambio advises. Minaida Peter Jamus says once people are flexible in carrying community work using media, there will be easy education and collection of feedback from the community, Radio Anisa reports. He urges workers to be creative and active in carrying their responsibilities” (CRN, 02.12.2016).

The UN Reported on possible situation similar to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, as the battles between the government and rebels continues sparking in different regions of the country. Days after this the Norwegian Government pops by Juba to congratulate the Police Officers that gone through their programme in the country.

While the UNMISS has enough work to keep the crowds and citizens fleeing the battles into the Protection of Civilians sites, just by October 2016 the 9 sites in the republic, that is in the states of Central Equatoria, Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Western Bahr El Ghazal. These PoC sites had 204,918 civilians, that we’re reported on 1st November 2016. These are staggering numbers are civilians fleeing from internal conflict and power-struggle between the big-men of the republic.

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Oxfam is reporting that the Uganda is accepting about 4,000 refugees daily from the South Sudan. This is happening while the Ugandan Government and big-men tries to keep their businesses alive in Juba. Together with the army has showed that they have sold weapons to SPLA, as even been reported in UN Reports been sold without valid records.

Human Rights Watch has been able to report that rebels and even government troops has recruited child soldiers inside the battles, this is happening while the reports of 4000 huts been burned in and around the Wau. How many more huts and villages that been attacked during the recent months. Can only the world wonder and even the soldiers themselves in the hunt of following orders of the big-men’s quest of either power or continuing to hold power. In Yei River State the government forces and the rebels have destroyed about 1900 huts, where the people used to live (Cathrine Molly McPhee, 02.12.2016).

The UNMISS will get more Bangladeshi Peacekeepers has they have promised more troops and the Japanese will extend their mandate in South Sudan. The Ethiopian Government has said they will banish the SPLM/A-IO from having bases inside the country, as they don’t accept Dr. Riek Machar presence anymore. While the SPLM/A-IO are reported to have bases inside Democratic Republic of Congo, where there said that MONUSCO is providing safety for certain parts of the SPLM/A-IO. Even as the DRC Government also said they do not need another guerrilla or militia inside their borders. As they want a friendly relationship with Juba government. Still, the fluid borders leave the possibility of the rebels to stay there.

The SPLM/A-IO have even been banished from Kenya and even their senior leadership and spokesperson has been deported to the capital of the republic without any for-warning as the Kenyatta Government trying to also have a friendly relationship with the Juba government as they want to in the future have a possibility of a crude-oil pipeline down to Lamu-Port and the LAPSSET. So the economic aspect means more than the actual peace, as the Kenyan Government also working on pulling out their forces inside the UNMISS mission as they feel disrespected for axing of the Lt. Gen. Ondieki after the July skirmishes inside Juba. While China has offered something new to the UNMISS today: “China will send an infantry battalion of 700 peacekeepers in South Sudan, including a 13-soldier female squad, the army unit dispatching them said Friday. It is the third batch of Chinese peacekeepers sent to South Sudan. From Sunday, they will take United Nations charter flights to the mission area, replacing the second batch of Chinese peacekeepers. The female infantry squad will carry out humanitarian relief and protect the rights of women and children, said Ding Hailong, battalion commander” (NF Online, 02.12.2016).

The United Nations Security Council is working on Arms Embargo, but nothing is really happening on the matter; the world is waiting on the shelving of it or making it soft so the arms rise can continue between the between the forces.

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This is happening while the reports yesterday prove that the neighbours help President Salva Kiir Mayardit with guns:

The reported said South Sudan embassy deputy attaché in Ethiopia Lt. Col. Solomon Tor Kang has sent a quotation of 55,000 US dollars to South Sudan army chief Gen. Paul Malong Awan in the light of dispatching the military packages. Ethiopia’s Defence Ministry supplied South Sudan embassy in Ethiopia with fifty five thousand US dollars quotation as charges for transport fees from Dukem/Daluta to Debrezeit Air Force Base, the amount is inclusive of air base handling, loading and offloading fees, says the document” (…) “This military hardware awaiting passage to Juba include 20,000 pieces of Rocket 107 MM, 7,964 quantities of 60 MM Mortar, 20,000 pieces of RGD-5 Hand Grenade and among other classifications of different kinds of military hardware” (Ethsat, 01.12.2016).

So the arms continues from the good friends to delivered, as the government and rebels are having harder and harder time to deliver aid and needed supplies to the civilians. We can wonder why the International Community isn’t answering with stronger mandate and acts on the rebellion that started yet again in July 2016.

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So the continues infighting in different areas together with the international support of the PoC sites and get the needed supplies. Together with the reports of drought and lacking systems of food security in many areas, that might even get hit worse in early 2017. This is happening while the reports of violence, possible genocide and epidemic of rapes. These reports are brutal and this could be our sisters and brothers that are living in crisis, forgotten and not seen as important by their own republic. A republic that does what they can to keep power for the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) who uses all sorts of army force and decrees to silence their own.

We cannot imagine the horrors and violence that the civilians endure, as they are going to unsecure situations and waiting in foreign nations like DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. As the neighbours is even selling weapons to the Juba Administration that will keep up the violence towards their own civilians, Peace!

South Sudan: Dr. Riek Machar Appoints Cde. Henry L. Odwar and Cde. Peter Regibigo Tingo into Central Leadership roles in SPLM/A-IO (01.12.2016)

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Burundi: MINUSCA Rotation Flights details for the Burundian Infantary (28.11.2016)

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Brexit: Davis Davis proposition today not such an exit after all; pre-Brexit has proven implications for Central Bank of Ireland and Ofcom!

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I am sure today that Yes Minister is fitting as the quotes in Parliament and the previous uttering words of Boris Johnson about free-movement that counter all the work of the Brexiteers during campaigning for the cause. The work that we’re to pretend that the separation from the continent would be peaceful and jolly; but the Brexiteers didn’t know and the Tories still doesn’t know.

Therefore I begin with this a re-cap of TV in 1981:

“Sir Humphrey Appleby: Well, Minister, I’m afraid that is the penalty we have to pay for trying to pretend that we’re Europeans. Believe me, I fully understand your hostility to Europe.

James Hacker: I’m not like you, Humphrey. I’m pro-Europe, I’m just anti-Brussels. I sometimes think you’re anti-Europe and pro-Brussels” (Yes Minister – ‘The Devil You Know (#2.5)” (1981).

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Today the Brexit-Minister Hon. Davis Davis uttered these wonderful words in Parliament:

“The simple answer we have given to this before is, and it’s very important because there is a distinction between picking off an individual policy and setting out a major criteria, and the major criteria here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market. If that is included in what you are talking about then of course we would consider it.” (Watts, 2016).

So the ones leaving is now changing terms, they want to set standards that opens the market. While still being outside the Union, so the Brexiteers wants now to get the full benefit while being outside. This doesn’t fit with the hazardous statements from Martin Schulz and Jean-Claude Juncker who has said their peace about an easy transition!

Certainly the European Union wants to make an example of the United Kingdom and their markets; they have to pay dearly to be part of it, while wanting to secure their borders and movement. Now, the Davis Davis wants its simplified.

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Irish Central Bank sees this already:

“He said the Central Bank’s workforce planning for next year reflects the additional resource needed to deal with applications and contingency has been built in as it is expected that the financial sector will grow materially” (…) “Mr Roux told reporters after the Dublin event today that the Central Bank was seeing applications for new business and the licensing of firms who are not present here” (…) “He also said it was seeing very significant indications from “regulated firms that are small today but want to be big tomorrow” (…) “We see the whole gamut of firms enquiring for establishing or growing in Ireland, it is MIFID (markets in financial instruments directive) firms, insurance companies, CSDs (central securities depositories) and payments institutions,” he added” (Rte, 2016).

So when businesses are looking towards Dublin, which is in EU and already part of the European Single Market; the London based firms might move to Dublin to secure their profit-lines and such. Even the Central Bank of Ireland is seeing this. This must really hurt the Brexiteers who fought well, but didn’t think of the implications. Davis Davis sees this now and wants to be able to go out of being EU Member State, but still being part of EU Single Market.

That is really the Norwegian EFTA model, but they will have hard time and pay lots of funds to get what they have now and would also betray the democratic values of majority vote that wanted a true separation, which this isn’t. Then the Tories will do the same trick as the Norwegian Government did to their public, when they signed the EFTA and made agreements to join the EU Single Market, but not having the EU Member State privileges. Something the United Kingdom is losing with triggering the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

This is so special and so weird. That Hon. Davis Davis are acting and flip-flopping like this. Surely the warning from Ofcom must say something as well:

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“Chief executive Sharon White said that the industries her organisation oversees are “inextricably European” and could be badly hit if they are not taken into consideration when arranging the UK’s exit for the EU” (…) “Making Brexit a success matters for communications – because these services are fundamental to our lives,” she told the Institute for Government in London” (…) “She said: “The country of origin rule is a good example of an EU law that benefits member states and supports broadcasters – providing a mass audience, and promoting cultural exchange by transcending borders” (…) “But keeping this principle after Brexit will demand constructive discussions with European neighbours. Country of origin cannot endure merely by virtue of existing in UK law.” (Sky News, 2016).

So with this the broadcasters like Ofcom and Central Bank of Ireland sees the implications of the Brexit with their bare eyes. The indications are not put in light of joy and positive future, as the Irish might get more business, this means that corporations moving to Dublin instead London, because of the safety of EU Single Market that the Hon. Davis Davis wish to keep and pay Brussels, but if the EU will accept it is mere speculation.

The Tories government has decides as the Prime Minister Theresa May has to make decisions that makes the Brexit successful. But early November 2016 a leaked memo showed that the government hadn’t done due diligence or check and balance for the industries. Which is evident with the corporations planning to move and Ofcom are sceptic to the Brexit itself.

Therefore the reactions to the Brexit will continue to come for businesses and for the Parliament; the House of Commons would surely be a bit shocked by the proposition from the Brexit Minister. We all are, not like Irish paying for Welsh roads, but still spectacular thinking about how the Brexit Campaign celebrated the idea of total freedom from EU. Now they want the perks, as long as the EU accepts the fixed payments for the entry to the Single Market. Peace.

Reference:

Rte – ‘Central Bank not seeking to dissuade UK financial firms from moving to Ireland – Roux’ (01.12.2016) link: http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2016/1201/835805-central-bank-says-not-dissuading-brexit-moves/

Sky News – ‘Ofcom boss warns of Brexit impact on UK communications sector’ (01.12.2016) link: http://news.sky.com/story/ofcom-boss-warns-of-brexit-impact-on-uk-communications-sector-10679371

Watts, Joe – ‘Brexit: David Davis says UK Government could pay money to EU for single market access’ (01.12.2016) link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-single-market-access-david-davis-eu-money-uk-a7449416.html

Ana Gomes MEP letter to the EU Parliament: “Detention of Dr. Merera Gudina in Ethiopia” (01.12.2016)

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