RDC: Ventora Development – Communique de Presse (26.12.2019)

Maldives: Dissolution of the Maldivian Democracy Network is violation of fundamental human rights (25.12.2019)

RDC: L’ACAJ etablit les contreverites de Gecamines et Ventora, distillees a travers leurs communiques du 23 decembre 2014 et qui demontrent a siffisance le blanchiment de 200,000,000 d’euros (26.12.2019)

Christmas ‘cancelled’ in Burkina Faso, in aftermath of extremist attacks (26.12.2019)

 

President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has declared 48 hours of national mourning, and all Christmas celebrations have been cancelled.

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 26, 2019 – Simultaneous attacks by extremist insurgents on a military base and Arbinda town in Soum province in the north of Burkina Faso resulted in the deaths of 35 civilians – almost all of them women – as well as seven soldiers. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has declared 48 hours of national mourning, and all Christmas celebrations have been cancelled.

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit lamented the death and suffering caused by these attacks, the deadliest in five years of escalating violence in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in the Sahel region.

“Even in the midst of our celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace, such appalling attacks remind us that conflict and violence remain the daily reality for many communities”, said Tveit. “We pray for the victims of these attacks and their families, and for all the people of Burkina Faso and of the Sahel region, that they might be preserved from such brutality and freed from fear.”

Since 2015 when violence began to spread across the Sahel, Burkina Faso has experienced increasingly frequent and lethal attacks by extremist groups, with hundreds of people killed and an estimated 560,000 displaced. A predominantly Muslim country, Burkina Faso also has a significant Christian population of approximately 20%.

In early November WCC, jointly with ACT Alliance, wrote a letter to President Kabore, based on communications received from Rev. Tegwende Leonard Kinda of the Association des Eglises évangéliques réformées du Burkina Faso which presented an alarming picture of the humanitarian and security situation in the region of Kongoussi town following a spate of attacks in the area. The letter appealed to the Government of Burkina Faso to do its utmost to protect people of that area against an advancing wave of extremist attacks, to preserve all Burkinabé people from sectarian violence and divisions, and to arrest the worsening humanitarian emergency resulting from these attacks.

“We extend our appeal to the whole international community to support the governments of Burkina Faso and its neighbours in addressing this crisis impacting so many lives in the region”, concluded Tveit.

Congo Brazzeville: Communiqué du Collectif Sassoufit (26.12.2019)

South Sudan: SPLM/A-(IO) – Dr. Riek Machar – Christmas 2019 and New Years Message (24.12.2019)

Opinion: The year Gen. Hemeti got forgiven for his sins

El Burhan pointed to the importance of working towards a culture of peace among the RSF militiamen. “They are to be messengers of peace and love until a comprehensive peace is achieved in a new Sudan in which all Sudanese will have equal rights”.In this ‘new Sudan’ the paramilitaries can protect the revolution and fight terrorism and illegal immigration, he said” (Radio Dabanga – ‘El Burhan: ‘Rapid Support Forces are an integral part of the Sudanese army’ 23.12.2019).

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo aka Hemeti has gotten of the hook. As the Sovereign Council are doing swift changes are more accepted world-wide. Getting international loans, sufficient help from aid organizations and even negotiate with former advisories all across the border.

Hemiti is now an integral part of the Sovereign Council, he has vast power and also seems to have a continued hold over the Rapid Support Force aka Janjaweed. Which was an militia who has caused havoc, massacres and destruction in Darfur and the Blue Nile State. While there are also reports of illegal arms trade to other combat-zone. Still, the General have never been taken to court or charged, just caught in the act and collected evidence in United Nations Experts Reports over the years.

What is striking to me, as he goes abroad for international functions, as a representative of the Sudanese government. It is like all of his sins is passed away, that his action as a militia commander and war-lord in Darfur is forgotten. Just like the state is only pinning crimes on Omar Al-Bashir and Salah Gosh. There was several more who was part of the elite and the military state of the former dictator, but they are just pinning these two it seems. While the ones in Sovereign Council with a past connections are now “safe”.

Seemingly, the world has moved on. As the demonstrations and the crisis has gone. The troubles of yesterday are now a mere fad. While the destruction and killings of the past will seemingly not matter now. Since, the possible of a peaceful transition with so many former henchmen are supposed to move softly. The steps ahead all depends on goodwill, but will the Sudanese and the ones living in Darfur forgive him? Will they? After all the years of violence, fear and warfare created by the Janjaweed with Hemeti at the helm?

That what I wonder about, as well as all the other close associated with the ills of the previous regime. It is easy to pin crimes and charges on Al-Bashir, now that his incarcerated and behind bars. That is just playing law and order, while not stopping him for decades. Neither, many of the high ranking officials who are in power today. Would have even dared to face up to the previous President. But easy to do that now.

Hemiti is right now, the proof that doing crime pays. He has done crimes and still he looms in the rooms of power without any fear or consideration of the victims he has hurt. Hemeti has power and resources at his disposal. Nobody will really stop him. Even in the time of everything, the revelation of his illegal arms trade came out, but nothing has materialized in those regards.

That’s because his a untouchable. He can touch others, but no one can point at him without getting into trouble. That is how the worlds move. Right now its his and all his past aggressions are swiped off his plate. However, the day his not in office or in command, he will be in the same trap Al-Bashir is in just right now. Peace.

Burkina Faso: Ministere de la Communication et des Relations avec le Parlement – Communique (24.12.2019)

Cote d’Ivoire: Mouvement Ivoirien des Droits Humains (MIDH) – Communique de Presse (25.12.2019)

Zambia: Ministry of Finance – Statement on Application of Sanctions for Arrears on African Development Bank Group Bill due on 15th November 2019 (24.12.2019)