Makerere University: Parliament Report strikes hard at the authorities

The Parliament made a report into last year’s violence and demonstrations at the Makerere University. The Report was made in December 2019, but only released in public now in February 2020. Therefore, I got it in hand today and will dwell on some aspects of it. As it shows what sort of fashion that went down and what the MPs see as vital information for the public to know after the deeds was done at the campus.

As the report states: “the demonstration led by the 85t1, Female Caucus was legitimate in nature [Article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda] and did not merit the brutal conduct of the University administration and the security operatives in managing the protests” (..) “there was lack of evidence to suggest that the University Students’ Disciplinary Committee headed by Justice Precious Ngabirano had convened meetings to hear and determine allegations levelled against the affected students. The Committee notes that it is now coming to two months without any report from the University Disciplinary Committee” (Parliament Report, 2019).

Just by these simple paragraphs shows the extent of force used to a demonstrations that had merit, which the University combined with the authorities escalated. As we known by following the events to a violent path.

As it further states: “The Committee observes that the deployment of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces [UPDF] to participate in the management of the protests at the University were not justifiable” (Parliament Report, 2019). With these words in mind, it is not strange that the UPDF and the authorities, which was not justified, misused their means on civilians and students alike. The acts of ill towards citizens and students demonstrating at unfair raise of student fees. Which is a natural reaction to sudden change of livelihood.

While the minority report stated this for instance: “the senior Minister of Education and Sports makes a public apology in light of the statement she made depicting Makerere University as a drug infested institution. We presume the statement is an indictment to the students and the university at large, and her apology would restore confidence and trust on Makerere University” (Parliament report, 2019).

Also, states a reason why there was no evidence in the majority report of sexual harassment: “The Committee on Education and Sports did not spare time to specifically inquire and interface with alleged victims of sexual harassment at the Campus of Makerere University” (…) “One female student [names uithheld] testified that she was subjected to verbal sexual insults inside the hostel and at Wandegeya Police Station after her arrest. Among the insults, a uniformed security officer threatened called her a prostitute and threatened to put his genitalia in her mouth” (Parliament Report, 2019). Therefore, the concerns of these actions made by security personnel, neither police nor soldiers on the ground. Show, that there was no actions being done to ensure their hurt nor their stories to collaborate with the alleged sexual harassment. This could have further shown the ills that were done and the amount of pain the students went through those weeks of last year.

Let me end with a final statement from the Minority report: “The recent students’ demonstration at Makerere was indicative of the fact that some interests were ignored by the University authorities” (Parliament Report, 2019). That is enough. Peace.

Mali: Communique du Gouvernement de la Republique du Mali (10.02.2020)

RDC: Observatoire de la Depense Publique (ODEP) – Communique de Press – L’EPOPEE des Sauts-De-Mouton: Pas de Nouveau Decaissement avnt l’Audit de l’Inspection General des Finances (10.02.2020)

Opinion: Prime Minister Abiy’s hope went up in smoke

The picture isn’t as rosy or hopeful as when he took power. Prime Minister Abiy Ali Ahmed has spoiled his opportunity to make significant changes. Instead he has focused on consolidating power. Ensuring his men is in-charge in Amhara. Continuing to use force and Command Post in Oromia. Still persistent violence in the Ogaden. While, he still has flex and popularity abroad. Which is only there because of the PR and positive press surrounding him.

PM Abiy have reformed the Ethiopian People’s Defence Front (EPRDF), first making it Oromia based and taking away power from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). To now start it as one entity, the Prosperity Party (PP) without the TPLF. The other parties has joined into the one party, but it shows frictions. Not only has the Oromo Liberation Front and other Oromo parties gone into an alliance. Even in Oromia, Mohammad Jawar is ahead and has a grand standing.

That means, both Oromia and Tigray are areas where the Prime Minister standing is weak. As he can only survive there on fear and intimidation. He can only get traction, if he suppress the voters and silence the voices of these regions. While Amhara whose been in conflict too, will cause issues as well. It is like the lid is open to several of places, instead of the man of peace mending these. He amplifying them to gain an advantage. Just like his using the violence of Ogaden to export oil too.

The PM has had the opportunity, but he has squandered the momentum. The killings in Addis Ababa, the horrific affairs in Oromia and Ogaden is a sign of what to come. There is no ending and the Command Post and the Liyu Police are both controlling the regions with fierce force. While the Queerro of Jawar is answering these. All of this doesn’t cease the conflict, but enhancing it. Its like he wants this to ensure enough chaos to rule supreme.

The PM could have found other ways ahead of the elections, but he seems to want it like this. That he wants to usher in new public projects every week ahead of elections. Now deals in the sphere of the horn of Africa. Look good with Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea. While that will overlook the internal problems, which the PM is not solving. His only undermining it and not doing the bidding of the local leaders. The ones whose supposed to follow his medemer.

It seems his making things liberal in the sense of pleasing donors, instead of truly believing in it himself. Doing it to state enterprises to ensure donor support. Some might even call it all a “hijacked revolution”. But at this point, we cannot know.

What we do know is that the elections in August 2020 will either be free and fair or rigged to the smallest detail. Don’t expect PM Abiy to play totally fair, even if he opens up to plenty parties, but that will be for the facade, because he will not loose himself. Then he will loose the power his gained and consolidated in office.

Two years is a mighty long time in office. A lot has happen, a lot of promise and pledges, but not acted upon. The coming months will show, if it was all a play or if it can be a reality. If the PP and Abiy cares about the people or using them as pawns. We can just await, but don’t expect magic, but expect a hard reality. As the forces are still in the fields. The atrocities are still happening and the escalation of it. Is only a few small steps away and that can ordered directly from the PM.

It’s easy to speak of unity and peace, but it’s harder to actually make it happen. When the PM himself hasn’t acted upon those words, but instead amplified it in certain regions. The Ethno-politics are not over, but at a stage where the PM and his folk better be cautious and not reckless.

However, who knows what path he picks, but don’t expect it all to be fair. Instead, expect it to be fanfare and filled with empty promises. As it is not like he has delivered to the hope he spread in the beginning of his term. Peace.

Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government: Communique (09.02.2020)

South Sudan: Communique of the 34th Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government (09.02.2020)

Sudan: Prime Minister Abdalla Hamadok letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (27.01.2020)

Cameroon: Expect all the President’s Men to get elected

The double elections happening the Republic of Cameroon. Could only be described as a sham. As the civil war in the South-West and North-West Regions or the Anglophone region. This here is just a validating exercise for the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) and President Paul Biya to look proper, while their actions elsewhere is open looting, self-destruction and killing citizens.

That is why there are several of things that is wrong. The anglophone regions will have low turnout out of fear from the secessionist, but most likely also because of the strong presence of armed forces in and around the polling stations. The CPDM isn’t winning this way, instead they are just forcing themselves on the public.

They can call this an election, but with the boycott of Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) and former Presidential Candidate Maurice Kamto. All, shows how this election is made for the CPDM. Just like the state have also falsely accused the Social Democratic Front (SDF) of boycott and manipulating their supporters. However, that is not true.

Therefore, in this regard. Biya and his loyal cadres are only winning on fake premises. If they will salute this and call this a victory. They will stuff the ballot-boxes and surely rig these election into an art-form. That’s why in some polling stations soldiers are directed to vote and in some divisions, the civil servants are ordered to vote. That’s why don’t expect any fair result, but an act of fraud called a manifestation of democracy. When really very little about is democratic nor free.

Biya might bash in glory, while parts of his Republic is burning on his orders. His folks might cheer into this enterprise and be poetic about it. His people will be “elected” and get into office, but don’t expect it to by a legitimate affair. As the polls will lack the popular support.

However, that doesn’t change the pattern, the execution and the real travesty this all is. The innocent are dying, while the President is living like a glorified monarch. Peace.

Cameroon: South West Region – Ndian Division – Mundemba – The Senior Divisional Officer Forndian – Subject: Effective presence at post (05.02.2020)

Cameroon: Social Democratic Front (SDF) – Communique de Presse (07.02.2020)