


Botswana: Joint Press Statement by the Heads of State of the Republic of Botswana and the Republic of Namibia (30.12.2020)











On 16th December the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and Amhara Paramilitary Group (Fano) ambushed border patrol points in and around the Jabal Abutiour inside Sudanese territory. That was reported by Sudanese authorities.
There been talks since then. This was after Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok visited Addis Ababa for a few hours holding talks with Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy on the 13th December 2020.
Therefore, the new reports of shelling of border-points. On Wednesday 23rd December 2020 Ethiopian army and same Amhara paramilitary group attacked Sudanese army points in Jebel Abu Tuyor in Eastern El Gedaref.
This is the second time in the same month the Ethiopian forces are attacking the region and creating tensions. The Sudanese is at defence and have moved more soldiers to region because of it. That is public knowledge too. As after the first attack earlier in the month. Days after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) moved troops there.
The talks seems to futile… what is really staggering that the Nations agreed on the border and the disputed area back in April 2020. The Al-Fashqa region became officially Sudanese. However, with the current warfare. Maybe Addis thinks they can annex another region too?
This here is really worrying as the escalation is furthered. The prevalence of armed forces. The true usage of armed forces to prove a point. What is also striking is how you in one minute calls the Sudanese your brothers and the nano-seconds after the positive headlines. Your forces is attacking the brothers again. Not like the Sudanese has attacked Ethiopians or crossed into Ethiopian territory here. They have only fortified areas, which is theirs.
Just to prove the tragedy. Here is two excerpts from news sources on both attacks. First 16th December and then 23rd December 2020.
“Sudan’s armed forces said on Wednesday that a number of its officers had been ambushed by “Ethiopian forces and militias” during a security patrol of the border region. “During the return of our forces from combing the area around Jabal Abutiour inside our territory, they were ambushed by Ethiopian forces and militias inside Sudanese territory, as a result of which lives and equipment were lost,” the army said, adding the attack took place on Tuesday” (Asharq Al-Awsat – ‘Sudan Says Officers Ambushed by Ethiopian ‘Forces and Militias’ during Patrol’ 16.12.2020).
“On Wednesday evening, Ethiopian army and militia forces shelled the site of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Jebel Abu Tuyour in eastern El Gedaref. Sudanese army forces clashed with Ethiopian reconnaissance forces near Wad Kouli” (Radio Dabanga – ‘New Ethiopian attack on Sudanese army forces in El Gedaref’ 25.12.2020).
If you see a pattern, I do. Both attacks was on a Wednesday and seems planned now. It isn’t just a coincidence that the ENDF and Fano suddenly ambush and attacks Sudanese border points. Neither is the weird outskirts of battlefields in Tigray region. No, these seems suspiciously planned. You don’t stumble on the humble a border point of a neighbouring nation.
If it was a one time thing and a boo-boo, but when you use heavy machinery and coordinate two military groups. Then it starts to seemed planned. The Sudanese better be prepared. It is like the Ethiopian authorities are testing the waters and seeing how far they can get.
While the Sudanese needs not only to fortify the area. They need to be mentally prepared. That the same folks that is hunting their own. Can easily come here for the same blood-thirst. Prime Minister Abiy isn’t a man of peace, but a warlord. That is what 2020 have told me. Peace.

Well, Douglas Adams didn’t write this piece. Neither was this hitch-hiking in a galaxy far-far away with a towel. However, it has been a long journey from the referendum to re-issued elections. Changes of Prime Minister’s and a whole lot of organizational mess. So many sackings and letters of resignations. The whole Brexit will go down as a hectic blunder and mess.
The Tories and Boris Johnson can claim victory yesterday. The Prime Minister got too. Because this is all he has. Not like the man has a superb result or anything. The disputed withdrawal agreement of the past versus this one will be icky subject no matter what. The Brexiteers got their will, but maybe not considering the costs. The bills and the extra payments on everything will be billed to the ones who voted this thing. The businesses and the enterprises trading will forfeit that burden on the consumer i.e. the citizens.
The wealthy will not feel so touched by this. The global funds and banks have already moved. Even the ones owned by Tory officials and Tory MPs. These have moved the HQ to Dublin or Frankfurt way before the deal was settled yesterday. They wouldn’t risk losing profits or having EU Single Market to trade in.
The UK are still part of the market with a shoddy trade deal. They have lost all the perks of being a member state. The UK is a Third Country and will be that from now on. Not having benefits or having access as before. There will be more red-tape, more customs issues and standards to figure out.
The UK will really be hit, as the European Commission stated yesterday even with their agreement: “Even with the new EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place, there will be big changes on 1 January 2021. On that date, the UK will leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union, as well as all EU policies and international agreements. The free movement of persons, goods, services and capital between the UK and the EU will end. The EU and the UK will form two separate markets; two distinct regulatory and legal spaces. This will create barriers to trade in goods and services and to cross-border mobility and exchanges that do not exist today – in both directions” (European Commission, 24.12.2020).
So, the oven-baked deal and ready set cooking offering of the Tories was never there. Still, to this day there will be an aftermath and effects, which both parties wasn’t prepared for. The promises and pledges of an easy transition was a lie. If it was that easy. It wouldn’t have costed the UK so much already.
Boris celebrating yesterday is because he has too. The publicity stunt of a victory have to look like that. The political gambit of the whole enterprise lives on it. Not like the Brexit will deliver anything substantial in the end. Only more costs and more problems for all. These changes will cause logistical problems, bottle-necks and lorries awaiting their turn in Kent. That is just how things are going and not for the better. Not like Boris is out there ensuring the care or paperwork is prepared for all exports or imports to the UK. No, his enjoy the spoils of his previous victory in Downing Street No. 10.
And you know the UK want to be alone, when the European Commission stated this as well: “Foreign policy, external security and defence cooperation is not covered by the Agreement as the UK did not want to negotiate this matter. As of 1 January 2021, there will therefore be no framework in place between the UK and the EU to develop and coordinate joint responses to foreign policy challenges, for instance the imposition of sanctions on third country nationals or economies” (European Commission, 24.12.2020).
The UK want to do everything on their own as a sovereign. Why bother have alliances or agreements that can be beneficial for all the neighbours and European nations in the first place? When you can solve everything and all threats alone. That is what the Tories are working for and doing. They clearly thinks Whitehall, Downing Street and City of London can cruise on its own without help. That says a lot. They didn’t even want to negotiate or talk about it. As it could be of mutual interests to be partners and co-operate on international security and intelligence. However, the MI-6, MI-5 and Scotland Yard is clearly more operative than the 27 Member States combined.
This shows how some principals are bonkers. The ideal of sovereign is self-destructive. At one point the UK will call for their friends in Europe and seek for co-operation on these matters. Now it seems like a time to cease. However, when the buck stops and they need friends. They will call Brussels and Paris for help. Now it seems like bad timing as they are leaving the EU. However, these sorts of things only make the UK fragile and less measures to secure itself. The needs for cooperation on these matters are vital for all. Therefore, very striking that they wouldn’t even consider it.
Prime Minister Johnson lives on his own hubris. That is shown again. Boris the Blade is back-at-it. A red herring and NHS to the rescue. The UK should expect more austerity and lack of financial growth for the foreseeable future. An self-inflicted recession on top of nationalism, which only will back-fire. Because, the poorest will be further hit and have even less options. While the rich finds new ways to trick the system. That is just the way of the Tories. Peace.







There been diplomatic spats between Nairobi and Mogadishu before, as the ones in power have either favoured the relations or felt used. The elites in both Republic’s have usually earned coins on the relations. As the cross country trade have been swell and border districts have moved goods. Therefore, the recent escalation is worrying.
Last month it was already getting ugly, when the Kenyan Ambassador went back to Nairobi. After the Somalian government claimed the Kenyan government was interfering in their elections. President Faramaajo have been playing into this narrative and used it ahead of the up-coming elections. Since he gotten friendly with Addis Ababa. He needs a new enemy and currently that Nairobi.
They have already International Court battle over the ownership over certain sea and possible “territory” to drill oil outside their borders. That is a case that is pending and still not settled in the courts. It has been a prolonged dispute. This has however not been the issue for the current spat.
Which is based on the election in Somalia. As the President trying to show his power and his strength ahead of that. That Somalia is cutting its ties. Is now happening because the Kenyan counterparts wanted to show their force as well. They went and had a two day talks with the President of Somaliland Muse Bihi in Nairobi. Also opened up an Consulate for Somaliland in Nairobi and a Kenyan one in Haregeisa. This is in stark contrast to the views of Mogadishu. As the semi-autonomous state and declared independence on the 18th May 1991. Which haven’t been recognized by all states and multi-national organizations. As the Federal Government in Somalia (FGS) will feel these actions made is a betrayal of their sovereign interests. However, that can also be disputed and if they even have a say in Somaliland at all…
This is why this dispute between Mogadishu and Nairobi is happening. Nairobi answered to the attacks and the actions made by Mogadishu. That is why the Kenyan went and made diplomatic efforts with Hargeisa. Just to prove a point. While the Somali elite in Mogadishu and in Nairobi knows it needs Kenyan support. Their army is within their borders. The Kenyan elite is shielding and having a Somali elite in Nairobi. That is why even some Presidential Candidates are campaigning there to get the votes from important figures there. Therefore, this is a futile enterprise.
It is not like the Kenyan will back down now. The FGS in Mogadishu have even ordered for their diplomats to return home within a few days. This means they are clearly shutting down all ordinary means of communication. A neighbour nation who has worked with and is participating in the battle against Al-Shabaab and also harbour the biggest amount of Somali refugees in the Dadaab refugee camp. Therefore, the Kenyan government can make life much worse for Farmaajo, than what he can do to the ones in Nairobi.
This can only be seen as a stunt ahead of the elections. United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) should react to all of this and also IGAD. The AMISOM mission can also loose out on this. As the Kenyan are mandated and are participating in that. So, if this further escalates. The Mogadishu based politicians are playing with fire. While amping up their “sovereign” interests, which is only losing out and weakening themselves. Not like Mogadishu have some friends to call and get things fixed. Even the US is moving their soldiers from Somalia in 2021. They don’t need more weakness in their battle against the Al-Shabaab.
Farmaajo is trying to live up to the hype and show some resilience. In a manner to buy to populist believes ahead of the polls. He needs an enemy and especially an outside one. That is why Kenya is a fitting one. What he maybe didn’t think was that they would invite and entertain Bihi in Nairobi. That must have hurt his pride and therefore, ended in the late night ceasing of ties. This is the reality of it all.
Somaliland is the pawn here. The semi-autonomous state and non-recognized state, which is trying to get vouched for. Right now the importance of Kenya is huge. Especially, that Raila Odinga is speaking of recognition of it. That would spark fury in Mogadishu. This is why the separatists are vocal about it and celebrating the recent events. While Farmaajo should feel shooked. He played high, but didn’t stack his card correctly.
Right now it’s all in the hands of Farmaajo. The “Cheese” have to act now. This will have repercussions and we can wonder how he will play this one out. His the one that gone an election coming up and he got all to loose here. Somaliland and Bihi got what he wanted. Kenya have shown their moves and can easily manoeuvrer from here. It is the leadership of Mogadishu that is loosing out. Peace.

Today President Donald J. Trump through the “deal” or “agreement” made between the Kingdom of Morocco and Israel. Have ensured that the Kingdom can annex the “Southern” provinces or Western Sahara or the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Because of the support of the Polisario Front, the government in-exile have claimed the independence and own state. However, the Kingdom of Morocco have claimed it after Mauritania “left it”.
This is why it’s really unfortunate that the Trump Administration in its final stages are arranging a “legal annexation” of Western Sahara. This will further escalate the “cold-war” between the neighbours of Algeria and Morocco. Who already fought the Sand Wars over the same territory. As the Algerian government is supporting the Polisario Front. While Morocco wants to keep a bigger territory. Where they can also enforce its control, extract its resources and sell the fish abroad. Which it does and have done.
This Israel-Morocco deal is surely to give another “victory” in the supposed legacy of Trump. However, this might be remembered for further escalation and cause more problems for the UN Mission in Western Sahara (MINUSRO). A UN Mission which will in trouble and cause issues about brokered peace deal of 1991. This will most likely hurt these endeavourers and cause more harm.
The Government-in-Exile will surely be hit by this and the Algerian allies will react to this. The support from all across the continent will react too. As there been a long history of solidarity across the African liberation movements in support of the independence of SADR. Therefore, today’s actions thwart that.
It is a sad day. As this is throwing a Molotov cocktail into the conflict and probably causing more frictions, tensions and escalations between Algeria-Morocco. Since both parties are invested in it and has their pride in this.
The United Nations needs to mediate. The African Union needs to get active before Algeria, Polisario Front or Morocco annexes it officially. Not only “holding” the territory, but taking full ownership. That would cause such harm and we would have a cross border battle. Also, possibly involve more Republics. As the surge for support of the cause and secure its benefactors.
The Kingdom of Morocco might cheer today. However, that is all false celebrations. As they are colonizing an area, which isn’t their to have. It is the SADR and not “Southern provinces”. Let’s that be clear.
There is a need for solidarity on this and the people of SADR. The Sahrawi deserves recognition. It is their birthright. It is not for Morocco too take. Trump is an erratic bullshitter and ego-maniac. That man doesn’t care about the consequences as long as he gets a cut or pay-off. We can wonder what that is here, but with time the price will eventually leak.
The SADR isn’t something you bargain for cheap. It isn’t a commodity you sell. It is a Republic that shouldn’t be for sale. However, Trump easily sold the Kurds out too. So, this follows a pattern. Peace.
