Opinion: Taliban is suddenly “geniune”, what is up with that?

The United States and their current diplomatic style seems a bit erratic and foolish. The ones deeming it fit. It is short-sighted and not all that well thought through. Even if the Department of State, the White House and all their jesters are speaking greatly of their efforts.

This week second big blow from them was the peace deals in Afghanistan. It is like the United States want to forget the years of destruction, killings, drones and active support of a internal civil war to deplete a Republic out of terrorists. Suddenly, they have been talking and negotiating peace with the Taliban.

They have negotiated with the “seekers”, with the gentlemen who has dismantled the values of woman and who was for an Islamic revolution in Afghanistan. A group forged out of the Pashtuns of Kandahar. The Taliban who even had a “Department for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice” after their interpretations of the Sharia laws. Therefore, this is not the sort of gentlemen that US really usually associate themselves with or even make break bread with.

For me its strange after this long war, after all the tours and all the weapons pushed upon the republic. To fight the Taliban as their enemy to suddenly back off. That just sounds weird. Peace is in everyone’s interest. No doubt, to build up a republic shattered by a long prevailing war like Afghanistan.

However, the timeline of moving away. The negotiations between the state will persist. The deadlock will eventually come. The questions will remain, was this all justified? Yes, the NATO and the US did interfere in Afghanistan for years. This after the Taliban in connection with Al-Qa’ida attack New York on 9/11 2001. The Taliban was already established in 1994. Therefore, the group and their power was already rising there.

What we can wonder about is the timing now and the reasons for it. Is to have a grand deal ahead of the elections? Is this is the big deal for foreign policy ahead of Presidential Elections in 2020 in the United States? Is it that simple?

Since, the Taliban has been the enemy for ages. The US has collectively and with all power said they are terrorists. President after President has hunted them down and used all weapons to catch them. Now, suddenly the US will work to stop sanctions and erase that. That is a bit strange isn’t it?

Is that the Taliban is now just a local group of militants with political connections, therefore they can now be left alone? They are not dangerous, not armed through teeth’s and has a belief system that can crush western society anymore? So, what is up?

I know, we should be happy that it is possible peace in Afghanistan. That is supposed a good thing. However, I am sceptical and questioning it. I don’t have all the answers, but there are some remaining factors out there.

Taliban was deemed as trouble, as someone who festered in terrorist for so long. They where evil and characterized as destroyers of society. How come they are now people the US intend to talk too?

Have they suddenly paid for Ivanka’s handbags or something? I don’t know what magic wand they used, but it certainly did the trick. Taliban is off the hook. They are apparently, not a crook anymore. Who knows, maybe they were saints all along, but Washington deemed them as sinners? Peace.

Matilda Powers sings ‘Jajja Weraba’ to jail

Yesterday singer Matilda Powers was arrested after releasing the song “Jajja Weraba” which was uploaded onto Youtube on the 28th February 2020. It has now gone about 24 hours since people have seen or been in-contact. As the authorities has detained her without a warrant and an arrest order.

She has released to pro People Power songs. Which clearly has hurt the pride of the authorities. As the Edutainment is hurting the regime. This songs message of “Jajja Weraba” combined with the video must be painful for the regime to show to the world. Especially, if the activists are getting the lyrics translated into English as well. Than, an international crowd could get hooked on the message.

Right now, the message of song is only for locals, but it must be really damaging for the regime. When they got to arrest a person, only 24 hours after its release. That they are arresting the person singing the song and the uploading it for the world to see.

If they wanted to dismiss this message and discredit the singer. Then they would let it be dealt with in silence. Instead, with their approach, they are validating her concerns and her platform. They are letting the world know of Matilda Powers.

She could have been yet another People Power messenger, no one would have known about. However, with the arrest without any forewarning the state is initially spreading her message. Without even trying. Kudos for that. Now, the video and her name is synonymous with People Power.

Sure that wasn’t their initial plan, but that is what they have mastered to do. Peace.

Communique of the Sectoral Ministerial Meeting on the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region, 26th February 2020, Khartoum, Republic of Sudan (26.02.2020)

Guinee: Front National pour la Defense de la Constitution (FNDC) – Declaration No. 073 (29.02.2020)

Mali: Coalition du Peuple pour l’Azawad (CPA) – Declaration (29.02.2020)

Mali: Coordination des Mouvements de l’Entente (CME) – Communique No. 001 (29.02.2020)

Burundi: Declaration des organisations de la societe civile en rapport avec le contexte pre-electoral prevalant au Burundi (28.02.2020)

Opinion: GERD negotiations without Ethiopia is an imperialistic move by the US…

The United States Administration holding meetings with the other parties of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). However, the main party was holding separate meetings with the ones whose touched by the GERD, but not the one operating nor owning the dam. That is question of sovereign. Something, the US should understand, but they only understand it when it inflicts themselves.

The two statements from both parties shows the indifference from the United States, while the Ethiopian are answering it with a respectable tone. Even when the US is acting rogue on the matter. They even used the US Treasury on this and not the US State Department, which is weird in itself. Secondly, it was Mnuchin who was involved and not Pompeo. Which is very weird and seems like someone whose not knowledgable or having the capacity to understand the questions remaining in this matter are indirectly trying to negotiate it.

Just look!

Ethiopian Statement:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia noted with disappointment the Statement issued by the United States Department of Treasury on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) released on 28 February 2020, following a meeting held without Ethiopia’s participation. Ethiopia had notified Egypt, Sudan, and the US that it needed more time to deliberate on the process” (…) “Ethiopia as the owner of the GERD will commence first filling of the GERD in parallel with the construction of the Dam in accordance with the principles of equitable and reasonable utilization and the causing of no significant harm as provided for under the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles (DoP)” (Amare Asrat – ‘Ethiopian Government Statement on GERD negotiations’ 29.02.2020).

United States of America Statement:

Washington, DC – On February 27-28, 2020, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin participated in separate bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Ministers of Water Resources of Egypt and Sudan. The United States facilitated the preparation of an agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) based on provisions proposed by the legal and technical teams of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan and with the technical input of the World Bank” (…) “The United States reaffirms its commitment to remain engaged with the three countries until they sign the final agreement” (US Treasury – ‘Statement by the Secretary of the Treasury on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’ 28.02.2020).

With this final statement by the US, the observer role is dead. They are indirectly interfering and also using their financial powers to get the Ethiopian partners to succumb to a final agreement. Even when the Ethiopian are saying they need more time, the GERD is built by them and on their soil. It is their waters that is filling it up. They are not doing anything illegal by doing so, they are only friendly neighbours by trying to make sensible deals with Egypt and Sudan. That is what the US should understand.

I wonder if they we’re thinking of revamping the Nile Waters Agreement of 1929, a relic of the colonial era. If not, maybe the US thought they could push the 1959 treaty as well. Just because they have the power, but that was before the GERD and it was other regimes in place in Sudan and Egypt. The US shouldn’t push for this ones. Especially, when the US is not involving the owner and operator in talks. Which is disappointing, but also revealing their allies.

Egypt and Sudan needs to cooperate with Ethiopia. They should do so directly to seek their grievances, not work in direct tandem with Washington D.C. especially when Ethiopia is not part of it. That shows the three parties isn’t working together, but trying to score brownie points with the US.

This is not sincere. The approach not to be configured, if there shall be trust between Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Cairo. GERD need another approach by all parties. Especially the US should act sincere, because this talks with others are of no good. The Ethiopian side needs to be listen too, since they are the owner and operator. Not some fool with no vision.

Sudan and Egypt should play ball with Addis, not make love stories with Washington. That is not how these sort of diplomatic negotiations should go. They should know this, unless they wants to be puppets of the US. Peace.

Cameroon: Ambazonia Governing Council – The Ngarbuh Massacre and Cameroun’s Attempt to Distort Independent Human Rights Report (28.02.2020)

Burkina Faso: Ministere de la Securite – Communique (29.02.2020)