South Sudan: UNMISS – Violence against civilians and peacekeepers at UN protection site condemned by community leaders and UNMISS (25.11.2019)

RDC: Lucha – Communique relatif au meutre de notre Muhindo Obadi et a la situation dans la region de Beni (24.11.2019)

Opinion: Kakooza, if age is nothing but a number, what about a toddler as the President?

The strength of man is not determined by his age or the way he looks but on the way feels about himself. A man of 80 years can run 20 kilo meters a journey that a 30 year old can’t run! Therefore stop arguing about Museveni’s age” James Kakooza MP

Why has it to always be a certain age to allowed to run. That a youngin’ can never be flagbearer or run for the highest office. But someone of the advance age and whose fit for retirement is dandy? Why?

I know that the mental fitness varies with age, the same with the physical fitness too. Therefore, if the argument isn’t about Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s age and his abolishment of the Age Limit ahead of 2021. Than, what should we discuss?

Should everyone whose with a sound mind be capable of running for Presidency? Anyone breathing, whose born and raised in the Republic? That would be fair, right? Especially, considering, that age is just a number. What about a toddler from Lira, shouldn’t he be able to stand a chance? Or a teenager from Arua? As long as they have enough credentials, has enough funds to stand to pay the Electoral Commission. There are some academic levels needed too, but shouldn’t that forfeit, if the citizens believes these kids are viable candidates? Just like these old men whose in Parliament and are finishing A-Level, while being MPs. That would be fair and square.

Therefore, Kakooza, wouldn’t that be okay, I’m sure a 3-5 year old are more active and viable, than most of the MPs or the President at his current advanced age. The man of retirement age, as he is soon over 3 decades older than the retirement age of civil servants. As the civil servants are supposed to be retired at 50 years, instead of 60 years old. Museveni is 75 years old and will only naturally age more ahead of the 2021. By the end of 2026 it would be about 82 years old by then. That is by all means, an serious old man in-charge of “young” republic.

So, will the same Kakooza, accept revisions of the Constitution to let toddlers run for Parliament and the Presidency, because that would be fair. That is, if age is nothing but a number. Just mocking him with that too. Because, the older a man get, the lack of spirit and force a man has. The more the body weakens and the lack of memory comes forward too. This is the natural order of life, no one can beat that one.

Unless, a man is immortal or demi-gods, even as dictators act like that. However, in the end, they will end up in the same end as we do. Though they act like its a fanfare into heaven, while we work from the cradle to the grave. Peace.

Somalia: Forum for National Parties – Ethiopian Forces Abuses in Gedo Region (24.11.2019)

Burundi: CFOR-Arusha – Communique de Presse (24.11.2019)

RDC: Ministere des Transports et Voles de Communication – Communique Officiel (24.11.2019)

Sudan: UN humanitarian chief calls for urgent support to Sudan to address the most acute humanitarian needs (24.11.2019)

Opinion: Duterte’s own goal…

I don’t know about you, but in this instance I thought no matter what President Rodrigo Roa Duterte would be the winner, as he hired Leni Robredo as the Co-Chair of the ICAD three weeks ago on the 6th November 2019. Today we are clocking 24th November 2019. This means the Vice-President got 18 days at the ICAD.

In this matter, I thought she couldn’t win. She couldn’t manage with the mandate of ICAD and neither the strings of the ICAD to succeed in anything. But apparently, the President couldn’t manage to anyone questioning him and reporting to him. Who wasn’t “Yes Men” or the following his protocol to the T.

Because, this is only a loss for the President. Who couldn’t see Leni fulfilling her time or even manage to implement anything. Therefore, it isn’t Leni’s loss, but the President. However, before I dwell on that, let me show the weird timeline of this matter. Will show three pieces, of when she was announced, limiting her power and now the firing. Before addressing the matter on my own.

Hired:

MANILA — A day after accepting the challenge to lead the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has called for her first meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), Malacañang said on Thursday. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was told by Executive Secretary (ES) Salvador Medialdea through a phone call that Robredo and ICAD members would meet to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts to fight illegal drugs” (Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos – ‘Robredo to meet with ICAD members: Palace’ 07.11.2019, PNA).

Limited scope:

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday said Vice President Leni Robredo would remain as Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) co-chair but would have limited access to classified information in the fight against the proliferation of illegal narcotics. “Need to know lang siya. If she asks something, then you give her…you give her half of it. The other half, if it’s a classified information, there is no need for her to know,” President Duterte said during a press conference in Malacañang” (PCOO – ‘President Duterte clarifies VP Robredo’s role as ICAD co-chair’ 20.11.2019).

Fired:

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24) — President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Vice President Leni Robredo from her post as co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), less than three weeks after her appointment, his spokesperson told CNN Philippines. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Sunday that apart from her missteps, Duterte fired Robredo because she spoke with foreigners, was asking for the scope of her powers and was among those daring the President to fire her, along with Senator Francis Pangilinan. “So pagbibigyan niya (Duterte) na rin si Pangilinan,” Panelo said. [Translation: So the President is also giving in to Senator Kiko Pangilinan.]” (Ina Andolong and Xave Gregorio – ‘Duterte fires Robredo from anti-drug czar post’ 24.11.2019, CNN Philippines).

If the President and his close associates thinks this is wise. These three weeks will not be remembered as a tale of success or victory. This is not Build! Build! Build!, where you can show off a few bridges, pieces of roads and possible transit projects. No, this is actual changes on the drug-war and prove that its legit.

Because, the mandate of ICAD was already marginal as is, the powers of the ICAD and the Co-Chair isn’t that significant. The mandate alone together with the others is limited. That’s why in the end, its up to the President if he wants the police, the army and other agencies to act differently in concern of the drug-war.

That’s why, I thought Vice-President Robredo couldn’t win this one. But by firing her only after three weeks. Before, she even started. Even as she has talked to NGOs and ambassadors of foreign nations. She is still viable to do that, even as that hurts the pride of the President. Not like she was selling out or giving away islands or territory to the Chinese. No, she was just talking.

President Duterte was the loser here. He lost it and couldn’t manage to be asked what sort of mandate and possible tasks she could consider at the Co-Chair of ICAD. Like that is too much to dare? Even if she dared him to fire her. That was a trick and he went for it.

This doesn’t make him look wise nor brilliant. It makes him look stupid and that’s not a look any President want to have. As a Head of State, he should been more calm and given her time. That is if, he was sincere about appointing her. Not that I think he was a single second, but still he should been more easy. No matter how head-stirring it would be to work with her. Because, Leni should have gotten more than a hot-minute at ICAD.

She couldn’t even report, be apart or have any possible time to achieve squat. Not like he could have changed much in three weeks either. The ploy was to get her in and let her fail. Instead, he failed and shown that his temper cannot stomach another busy-bee, whose has the courage to question him. That was to much for Rodrigo. That’s why Leni had to get axed.

President Duterte, this make you look stupid, not smart. FYI: If you had kept Robredo at ICAD, she could have failed and not achieved much. Been a stalwart and loose canon on-ship, as she could only do minor tweaks and not significantly change anything. The results would be mediocre, but you could have pinned on her.

Still, with that, you didn’t see that and you now look dumb. Not a good move. Not a good move. This was built for her, so that she couldn’t win, but even with that in the cards. You still lost your gamble. You had the winning hand, but you folded. You couldn’t even bluff, you just had to give up and let the others win. Peace.

Mali: Association des Amis de la Culture Peule (AACP) – Communique (23.11.2019)

RDC: CELCOM – Communique Officiel (23.11.2019)