Uganda-Rwanda Tensions XXVII: Final Communique – Fourth Quadripartite Summit between Heads of State and Government of the Republic of Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Uganda and the Republic Rwanda (21.02.2020)

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions XXVII: Comunique Final – Quatrieme Sommet Quadripartite entre les Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernment de la Republique d’Angola, la Republique Democratique du Congo, La Republique de l’Ouganda et la Republique du Rwanda (21.02.2020)

Opinion: Gnassingbe, it is not about your feelings, but your actions!

“Sometimes these statements and opinions are exaggerated — in any case, I don’t feel like a dictator”Faure Gnassingbe to Le Monde in February 2020

I hate to say it Mr. President, but this is not about how you feel, but how THEY feel. How the public really feel and why address you as if they do. It is hard not to call you a dictator or a tyrant. Because, your actions speaks much louder than your words.

The way you got into power after your father. Second Generation Gnassingbe, the man who’s holding a tight grip on the Republic and family affairs, which means the Togolaise government. That is you, Mr. President.

That you started your reign with killing 50 people with 2500 soldiers in civilian clothes. That you has persisted in-office, using all means to stay there. Blocking opposition, scaring activists to exile or arresting their leaders. There is no bounds to what you do.

You are now blocking foreign observers, while CENI is suspending electronic transmissions of the election results. As well, as warning of a internet blockade and social media blackout ahead of the polls. Reports is that WhatsApp is already blocked before the polls, as of today. While the activists and organizers behind the uprising in 2017 is in either jail, exile or dead. Therefore, your words are somewhat pointless, when your actions is deafening.

Mr. President you can act a fool and think you can get away with it. As you are running for your fourth term after a shoddy referendum. Which is all based on you continued reign, not on the betterment of the Republic. We all know that, even the ghosts of Christmas Past knows that.

If you didn’t send soldiers to quell demonstrations, arrest the leaders and kill innocent civilians. Maybe, people wouldn’t address you as a dictator. If you didn’t block concerts and rallies on beaches. Maybe, the people the people wouldn’t call you an dictator. Maybe, if you didn’t act with swift death and destruction every time someone challenge you. Maybe, if you acted right, they wouldn’t call you names. However, the problems is that you do all of this, repeatedly.

So, when you need extensive rigging, everything done in darkness. Expect the results to be thereafter. Expect more bloodshed, more pain and suffering of the Republic. Because, one man and his family feels entitle to run it by any means necessary. This is the same family that has ruled the Republic for 53 years now. While extending it yet another term tomorrow.

There will be no election tomorrow, only a pre-fixed selection. The President wouldn’t back-down, this is his anyway. If someone stands in his way, they will be gone, either by the book, by crook or by the hook. Feel me?

So, if they address you as a tyrant, as a dictator, Mr. President it’s not because of your words, but your actions. They are loud and clear, one unison message, the Gnassignbe before country. Peace.

Togo: Communique de la CENI (20.02.2020)

RSA: Mrs Mantoa Malema’s Statement Accepting President Ramaphosa Apology (21.02.2020)

Zimbabwe: Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) – Press Release (20.02.2020)

Malawi: Joint Press Statement by MAJAM and AMA on Attacks on Judges and the Judiciary (20.02.2020)

Sudan: Fresh protests escalates as the TMC promotes itself, while revolutionary officers get dismissed!

In Khartoum today, the people again went to the streets to demonstrate. Because, the Sovereign Council has decided to retire the army officials who was in support of the revolution last year. The Transitional Military Council (TMC), the armed wing of the transitional government have decided to purge the army and also elevate itself. This causes outrage, as this is yet another soft takeover and not a promising step towards a civilian government, which was the whole idea behind the revolution in the first place.

Today, the authorities have used live bullets, violence and massive amount tear-gas to rid of the new surge of revolutionaries in the streets. Also, injuries are being made to the civilians and again random arrests of the ones protesting. Surely, this is back ot the old days.

The news that sparked this:

In a statement released on Tuesday, the army spokesman Amer Mohamed al-Hassan said the retirees’ list has been done with high professionalism” His statement was published after the circulation in the social media of three separate lists seen by Sudan Tribune with “top secret” including 15 sub lieutenants, 29 lieutenant commanders and 35 colonels. Among the 15 sub-lieutenants appears the name of Mohamed Siddiq Ibrahim Ahmed, who was the first military officer to join the protesters outside the army headquarter during the first week of April before al-Bashir’s ouster” (Sudan Tribune – ‘Sudanese army retires junior-rank officers’ 18.02.2020).

While that has happen. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) of the Sovereign Council has promoted themselves. On the 19th February 2020, this was reported:

Former head of General Intelligence Agency (GIS) Abubaker Damblad has been promoted to Lieutenant General.

Member of the Sovereignty Council, Yassir Al-Atta has been promoted to Lieutenant General.

Member of the Sovereignty Council, Shams El-Deen Al-Kabashi has been promoted to Lieutenant General.

Head of the General Intelligence Agency (GIS) Jamal Abdelmajeed has been promoted to Lieutenant General.

Head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdulfatah Al-Burhan has been promoted to Marshal.

This is surely again a sign of troubling time ahead. As the TMC wing of the Sovereign Council have been working to consolidate power. They wouldn’t have done that this way, if they didn’t believe they could sustain it now. The agreement of the trial period of three years would give the TMC time to change and also get more power by softly making decisions. Which they have now done by getting rid of the ones who supported the revolution. While promoting the ones whose loyal to the new leadership and who will follow Al-Burhan. That is the message of the acts made.

This is why people are going into the streets, as the revolution wasn’t made for the army and their ranks, but for the public and their will for a civilian government. Seems like the TMC forgot that piece of information or neglected it. Because, power is enticing and rewarding. Peace.

EFF: CIC Julius Malema’s Statement of Apology to President Ramaphosa and his Family (20.02.2020)

Togo: Forces Democratiques pour l’Alternance pacifique en 2020 – Communique No. 2 – Halte a la violence d’etat et au hold up electoral (19.02.2020)