The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front/ Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (TPLF/ EPRDF) regime of Ethiopia is in a futile attempt to breathe life in to its dying regime. The regime is trying to do everything possible to restore their supremacy destabilised by popular struggle for freedom and democracy. Under auspices of the state of emergency, the regime’s armed forces assassinate, kidnap and mistreat innocent civilians. In an aim to divert the attention of the peoples from the current crises in the country and deter them from continuing wide spread protests, the regime is trying to sow seeds of mistrust among century long lived brotherly nations. It is in our recent memory that the TPLF/ EPRDF has instigated conflict between Oromo and Ogaden Somalis that costed many lives and displaced a million from both sides. The TPLF/ EPRDF regime committed and will continue to commit such heinous crime against humanity on a regular basis. The Afar Liberation Front Party (ALFP) and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) noted the recent attempt of the EPRDF force camouflaging itself in eastern and northeast border between Oromia and Afar regions in attacking peaceful civilians on both sides. This recent act of TPLF/EPRDF that was witnessed by local peoples is a direct replica of the drama which they were playing to instigate war among other nations and nationalities throughout the country.
Ethiopian regime has been doing every means possible to divide nations and nationalities in Ethiopia to weaken their liberation struggle for freedom, peace and democracy. To execute its diabolical objectives it is using all means to divide and rule. Both ALFP and OLF strongly condemn and vigorously fight all fiendish attempts that target the unity of both peoples. Both organizations reaffirm their commitment to fight any tendency that weakens both people’s unity.
Hence, the ALFP and OLF want to make the Afar, Oromo and other peoples of Ethiopia to be aware of the intended evil plan of TPLF/EPRDF regime. This dying regime is desperate that it cannot refrain itself from doing all kinds of crime to stay in power.
We ask the international community to a pressure upon TPLF/EPRDF regime instead of replicating conflicts to find all-inclusive solution that enable the empowerment of peoples.
Finally, we call the Afar, the Oromo and other peoples of Ethiopia to be vigilant and cooperate in solving peacefully any conflict that the TPLF/EPRDF instigates among them. We also call all political organisations to play a major role in making peoples aware of these anti-brotherly relations of TPLF and struggle in unison to remove this brutal regime from power.
The ones like Devin Nunes we’re yesterday in fundraising e-mails saying liberal democrats are making the Russian collusion up to his supporters. While Special Counsel Robert Mueller are continuing working on the case, that the kind of so-called patriots are undermining. Nunes are like a weasel, who run around pointing liar, liar, but he should look into himself. That can be said, as a European lawyer, who has already been indicted gotten his sentencing memorandum yesterday. It is viable and shows how many people at play, within the running Russian scandal. Nunes knows this, but he wants to obstruct justice, instead of being a patriot and see where the breadcrumbs are leading him. That is the proof of the recent events.
So, why do I say all that, because in the memorandum from Mueller. It has certain statements, that is not only interesting, but true fire under any investigation. The defendant Alex Van Der Zwaan, lied deliberately to the Special Counsel and also directly destroyed evidence. Even as the investigation knew about it. That shows how much and how good at digging these fellow FBI Agents are and the prosecutors within his team.
You know that you have a pickle, not just in the United States, but also in Ukraine, when these sort of stories get unleashed: “As referenced in the indictment, the law firm had been paid over $5 million for its work, largely through third-party payments by a Ukrainian oligarch, funneled through a Manafort and Gates Cypriot account. The Ukraine potential criminal matter concerned the allegation that in 2012-13 the then-government of Ukraine had disclosed that the firm was being paid only about $12,000 (an amount above which Ukraine law would have required a different procurement process)” (Mueller, 27.03.2018).
So he has lied, destroyed evidence and been paid vastly by Ukrainian oligarch through the known former Trump Campaign Manager Manafort and former Trump Aide Gates. Clearly, the scope is leading in a nice direction and the breadcrumbs are not so small. Soon they are getting into a slice of bread.
Further on, this is really enlightening: “That Gates and Person A were directly communicating in September and October 2016 was pertinent to the investigation. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents assisting the Special Counsel’s Office assess that Person A has ties to a Russian intelligence service and had such ties in 2016. During his first interview with the Special Counsel’s Office, van der Zwaan admitted that he knew of that connection, stating that Gates told him Person A was a former Russian Intelligence Officer with the GRU” (Mueller, 27.03.2018).
So because of the unknown Russian mentioned in the memorandum of Mueller, we can clearly state the work of Van Der Zwaan and with the Trump Associates, who also are working directly with Ukrainian oligarchs, but also spies from Kremlin within GRU. If that isn’t a warning sign of your affairs, nothing is. That Gates knew this and was doing that, shows how they we’re working, what happen behind the seen other than money laundering for Ukrainian oligarchs is hard to know.
Still, it shows signs of how Mueller operates, as he has the information and wants to see if you will reveal or if you will lie. It isn’t that the defendant is lying, it is that Mueller is knowledge and can use it against the ones he building a case against. There isn’t any foul play, but good work and collection of evidence. That is why he had it covered. He can also with this implicate and build timeline with Manafort and Gates, which is telling.
This should be warning, a starch warning, that if he can do this with Van Der Zwaan, who lied, tried to deceive and destroy evidence. That Mueller already knew and that there was no escape. There really is. Nothing left. Don’t try to play Mueller, at this point him and his team will outsmart you. Peace.
“Democracy is not simply a license to indulge individual whims and proclivities. It is also holding oneself accountable to some reasonable degree for the conditions of peace and chaos that impact the lives of those who inhabit one’s beloved extended community.” – Aberjhani, (Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays).
After the hectic usage of the Crime Preventers in the run-up for the General Election in 2016, they are suddenly relevant again. Even after the state are failing with funds and such. The National Resistance Movement, still seems to need several more guns and soldiers out there walking in the streets of Uganda. That is how it seems, but however now it has changed from being part of the Uganda Police Force, into a brigade from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). That means the Generals will control it and order it, not the Police. That is very different animal if this happens.
Reported by 411UG today: ““I now regard you as a reserve army for UPDF. My idea is to have a small army which is equipped but with a big reserve”, Museveni stated in his address at Lugogo Arena. However, before saying so, President Museveni refuted rumours surrounding ‘who owns them’ he said; “Anybody who had an idea that this was a Kayihura project, please, get it out of your head. But Kayihura was an active cadre who executed that aspect and I congratulate him.” (411UG – ‘I now regard you as a reserve army for UPDF — Museveni tells crime preventers’ 28.03.2018).
What President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is distancing himself from the statements the Uganda Police Force did during campaigns of 2015, when the UPF stated this: “Uganda Police Force has learnt with profound disappointment that a Facebook group called Team JPAM 2016 has referred to ‘Crime Preventers’ as a militia force, as if that was not enough, they have also drawn comparisons of it with the infamous Rwandan genocidaire group called The Interahamwe who were responsible for some of the most heinous crimes against humanity in the history of mankind. Amid this outrageous ill-motivated accusations, we thought it was important that Ugandans understand that the concept of community policing has always been there and contemplated for implementation, as way back as 1990. It is a metamorphose of the ‘Nyumba Kumi’. Those who are old enough will remember that Nyumba Kumi works on the premise that each community must be able to be self-reliant on security matters. In fact though Nyumba Kumi means ‘ten houses’ in Swahili, the concept is not rigid in its implementation. Again those of pertinent age will remember that visitors and or any new person in a given community was required to register and deposit their IDs with the chairman or the police” (Uganda Police Force – ‘CRIME PREVENTERS ARE NOT A MILITIA FORCE’ 22.03.2018).
So if they are reserves to the UPDF, that means Amama Mbabazi was actual going forward, because the accusation is now true. That means the Crime Preventers will become a brigade, another force under the UPDF. They are militia under the army, they are secondary army and brigades when in need. That means they shouldn’t be involved in policing, but national security. That is if the difference between the police and army is respected. This also means, that the Police Force getting less extra officers, since the changes of program should come swiftly, also the change in mandate of the Crime Preventers.
This is also not in line what he himself said in 2016: ““In all modern countries, there is an Army and Police Reserve. Crime Preventers are a Police Reserve. They do not have any political affiliation. Anyone who wants to become a Crime Preventer should join,” he said. Mr. Museveni reassured the country that there will be no violence during elections. “The law guarantees a peaceful election. It says what is wrong and should not be done during elections. If you do what should not be done, we will arrest you. Soldiers are not yet deployed but they will soon be,” he said” (PPU – ‘ President Museveni: Crime preventers are a Police Reserve Force’ 14.02.2016).
So two years ago, they we’re a Police Reserve, now it has changed, the army needs reserves, the army needs to be bolstered for apparent reasons unknown to mankind. The UPDF needs the extra personnel, that the UPF cannot pay for, the UPDF has budgets for extended personnel and firepower. Certainly, there is something underlining the will of the President. That he is willingly using the Crime Preventers as military reserves. That means, they will follow orders from the military and not from the new leadership of UPF. Meaning they are going from one security organization into another, where the mandate and meaning is different.
This means the Police are now having less people associated with it, this is winging the organization and establishing another norm. We can wonder if the brigade and that the National Crime Preventers Forum (NCPF), that was established in 2013, meaning that the mandate and will of this organization too, needs to change if it supposed to make sense. The Community Policing will not make sense, if they are a military brigade, unless he want to show military force and spread fear. That tehe soldiers will be with guns and ammunition in the streets, to show that the NRM has big enough force to continue their rule, therefore, you never know when you meet a UPDF Crime Preventer. The former Community Policing officer who coordinating directly with the Police. Should now be in direct line with the military. That is because their mission changed.
We can wonder what the need for a military reserve, how come? Is there a war brewing the world doesn’t know about? Does Museveni plans to invade the Democratic Republic of Congo, again? Does Museveni plan to intervene with soldiers in South Sudan, again? What is the use of extra and more soldiers in reserve, that was previous community police officers through the Crime Preventers Program.
Because, it doesn’t make sense to conduct fighting internal policing and being military at the same time. They are two vast different approach to both organizations within the community, the army to secure the borders and people from outsider invading, also being a securing element. That stops the neighbors from wanting to cross the borders. While the police who has the allowed space of investigating and combating crime within the territory, they are also securing the safety directly in the territory. Therefore, seeing the Crime Preventers becoming part of the army, means that the mandate change.
This means that Museveni is up to something. I don’t know what, but it smells fishy. I just don’t know what. Peace.
Just as the releases has appeared, today and yesterday the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front with their State of Emergency and Command Post. Has again started to arrest both opposition leaders and activists. In both Oromia and in Amhara.
Also, just days ago, the state arrested again Seyoum Teshome, since the journalist is such a man, that the state fares his written word. That it might infest the public with hope and not despair.
In Bahir Dir, the state has arrested 19 political activists, because they we’re planning to form a political party, that is illegal by the State of Emergency, because all political activity is suspended. Except for the Central Government, that has for days struggled to find the next Prime Minister, as the Council of Minsters hasn’t been able to find anyone suitable or one that can be a puppet Prime Minister for the TPLF government.
The reason for this that is leaked for the arrests in Addis was this: “Update: Police undergoing investigation, accused Temesgen Desalegn of killing attempt on Police officers. Police also inquired Temesgen why they haven’t requested permission to have gathering: Temesgen in response, there is no need to do that for a private gathering” (Ethiopian Press, 25.03.2018).
These arrest is happening, while the EPRDF has planned to publish more motivational quotes online, just to build up the spirit of the people. While there are detaining the voices of the people. Its is a miss-match of what they want to accomplish. Since they are not building fruitful changes, but just oppressing the people even more. Just like they did in the past. They are not trying to move forward. More going backwards, with some motivational quotes online.
Just to prove how foolish the EPRDF is this days, the state broadcaster Fana stated this yesterday: “In yesterday’s session, it also discussed on ways to address these challenges and bring about better understanding among the parties. The Council also underscored the need to protect the federal system from any threat, the statement added” (FANA BC – ‘EPRDF Council continued its meeting with sense of unity: Office’ 24.03.2018).
So because of the threat they see, they are now re-arresting the activists, writers and opposition leaders. Because they cannot do anything else.
We know now the State of Emergency is really making the state insane, they are fearing people meeting up together. Just like they have put the aggressive rules, and we know that if it is in the provinces, it is dangerous to even crash on motorcycles like in Moyale. This state makes everything spiral into a crisis. Instead of fixing things, they are creating new wounds and new battles. Not talking, not finding solutions, but silencing and oppressing the people.
That is why there are people who are dissenting in Oromia and Amhara, they are tired of being muffled by this regime, the Woyane, who doesn’t listen, but only shoots or detains. Peace.
Just as the International Community, the United Nations and African Union Mission are holding a tight grip, while the Mogadishu political scene is in full squabble and in-fighting. The neighbors are setting their sights on more land, Somali land to take control over. Over the last 24 hours, there are reports that Ethiopia has taken control over Aato District of Bakool province, where the Ethiopian government has built a hospital and a Police Station. They have annexed it without any forewarning.
Just like that the Kenyan government has started to building a border wall at Beled-hawo Town, the Kenyans are extending their border and their land with the building of the wall. It is a trick to grab some more land away from Somalia. Just like Ethiopia just have built themselves as a state in Aato District. That is the province closest to the Ethiopian border. So, it is fitting, the same as the Kenyan.
This is happening as the Berbera Port deal between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World has gotten into issues, as the Mogadishu politicians are trying to stop it and also the connection with Ethiopia. Who has already had a Berbera Corridor, that has been a project since October 2014 and has involved both IGAD, World Bank and other international development banks. All to secure a transport hub between Addis Ababa and Berbera port. That is fitting that the added pressure and lack of transparency between the regional government and the central government in Mogadishu, gets into question. That led to issues between Speaker Mohamad Osman Jawari and Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire. Money talks and also adds guns.
That is why the whole play of the international community, while the Mogadishu government lacks control and oversight. While most of the family members of the cabinet are living abroad, while the leaders themselves, are eating for bad deals. And they don’t have the security or training to secure the borders. That is why Kenya and Ethiopia are taking charge on the porous borders, they are invading and annexing land. Because it has no consequence to the sovereignty of Somalia.
AMISOM, who has foreign soldiers on mandate cannot even keep Mogadishu totally safe, as the escalation of car-bombs and fatalities of civilians are a sign of troubles ahead. The President hasn’t attacked or asked for reasons for the neighbors annexation of land. Even if he cares or afraid of doing so. While the PM isn’t acting on it either. Even UN’s Micheal Keating hasn’t addressed it, he who loves to be the face of the Republic. Now he is gone missing on the map. Just like President Farmajo, who should fight for his borders and his state, instead he is busy elsewhere.
This is worrying, that the Kenyans can take this land, that Ethiopia does too. That them all are doing this, that the DP Deal with Ethiopia, while the secrecy of the Berbera Corridor deal is showing it was planned a long while ago, since Ethiopia is landlocked and wants more safe ports than only in Djibouti. That is the sign, it is the Ethiopian power-play, while Kenya just showing power to take more land in self-defense. Still, it is not right to do that to a sovereign.
I am not even Somali and I am worried about the porous borders, the lack of manpower, the Somali National Army and the Police Service, when the foreign states can just do this. You take a breadcrumb, another breadcrumb and next time slice of bread, with time you take the whole bread. That is how we are as people, state is not different from that. As a weak state, that is taken advantage by its neighbor. They know this, because the AMISOM and UN Mission is not training or trying to achieve a secure state. The ones in Central Government want to live on donor funds and rampant corruption, instead of building institutions and stronger army to secure the borders. Because if they do, then they cannot beg for aid. A pledge they can eat without doing any work for it. Peace.
The White House changing heads and hats is going at a rampant speed, this time we now have in 14 months the third National Security Advisor, the first was Michael Flynn, who now has pleaded guilty in the Russian Probe of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Therefore, President Trump appointed Gen. H.R. McMaster. Who lasted until this week, when the Bush-hack and conspiracy theorist John Bolton. So the erratic behavior is not stopping. To count the members of senior staff and people leaving is a longer list, than the yearly drafts to talents to the NBA.
We can anticipate this changes as the Super-PAC of Bolton has been in connection with the Trump biggest donors, the Mercer family and the Cambridge Analytica. Therefore, this is the swamp eating the Presidency and also showing how political funding makes you pick the senior staff. And the Trump Presidency is one that does the blatant way and not really caring about the evidence.
That H.R. McMaster haven’t done much or done much to create more havoc, still the policies and the intelligence officials should worry now. Since McMaster at least had their back and trusted their judgment, now Bolton will come with an iron-fist and proclaim that war is the best defense. Like going in without forewarning and disregard to evidence. That is why he fits like glove into the erratic President like Trump. But the world should worry, because Bolton will narrate stories that fits his paradigm and create enemies, because he needs it.
You know that Bolton is trouble when the Economist reported this in 2005: “Democrats have expressed outrage. They had wanted to see more documents related to Mr Bolton’s involvement in several controversies. One allegation is that, in his previous job as undersecretary of state for arms control, he tried to fire a mid-level official who disagreed with his assessment of Cuba’s weapons capacity. There have been other reports of bullying and shouting at junior staffers. He is also accused of publicly inflating the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Syria. And Democrats want to know why he requested to see the classified, blacked-out names of some of his State Department colleagues that appeared in intelligence intercepts” (The Economist – ‘Bush stands by his controversial man’ 01.08.2005).
So its not like the most stable genius has hired the best man existing for the post. Just like Trump didn’t listen to advice about Flynn, he hired McMaster that didn’t work out, because he has a backbone and some sort understanding for his role in the cabinet. However, Bolton will light fire into anything and might create more controversy. That is needed so the news and indications of trouble for Trump can be put on Bolton, instead of Trump. Because Trump has problems with former affairs, Russian Probe and whatever else scandals he creates. Plus a trade-war and making a mess of Washington. There is nothing that is going smooth, because of Trump.
Just to prove further the madness of Bolton, Jonathan Stein wrote this in 2009: “One man that Bolton feels has plenty of backbone is the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, who Bolton believes can sense Obama’s weakness and is already finding ways to test it. In Bolton’s view, the problem isn’t merely that Obama isn’t man enough to take on Putin; it’s that Obama desires the United States to become a second-class nation. “The administration wants to return to an arms control relation with Russia that will put us in a greatly weakened position,” Bolton maintained. Russia isn’t the only threat that Obama will fail to confront, Bolton said. North Korea, he claimed, is testing a missile that can hit Alaska and “possibly” Hawaii. With “further development,” he added, that missile could someday be used to attack the continental United States. And North Korea is small potatoes compared to Iran. “We have lost the race with Iran on the nuclear front,” said Bolton. “They now have complete mastery over the nuclear fuel cycle. And while in the long-term, the preferred outcome would be to change the regime in Tehran and get rid of the Islamic revolution of 1979, we don’t have time to do that before they get nuclear weapons capability.” Bolton expressed disappointment that the Bush administration did not use force against Iran. Judging from the enthusiastic crowd reaction, there are plenty of conservatives who think that Bush’s foreign policy failing was not preemptively attacking enough Middle Eastern countries” (Jonathan Stein – ‘John Bolton at CPAC: The Benefits of Nuking Chicago’ 26.02.2009, Mother Jones).
So seeing what sort of man he hired now, is even more out of line and out of bound, than Flynn was. Flynn was compromised by being a foreign agent without disclosing it. McMaster didn’t have the mind-state of Trump, but no-one who is sane wants that. Bolton got the same crazy solutions and the fanatic ideas that can destroy all the decades of negotiations and diplomacy in a heartbeat. Bolton, has the ideas and could make things worse. Because he will be as erratic as Trump.
We cannot expect the world to better with this sort of hack involved. We can just see how Attorney General Sessions and his use of the Judicial powers. The shameful era is there, the DoD is attacking its own soldiers, while President Trump is golfing half of the time. This will not be better, but only worse. Bolton, will not create a better world. I doubt that, the NSA is now a hack, a Bush-Hack. I never thought that would be thing to bring back. We just Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. Just to put the spinning the wheels in favor of Lockheed Martin and Halliburton of the old-days.
We should hope McMaster lasted longer, it would be less damage, but now it will be more. The NSA has his third person in that role. That isn’t consistency, but nothing is consistent in the White House. The only thing is Pence, but he cannot be fired. Peace.
Minister of Interior Jeje Odongo own Ministerial Policy Statement of 15th March 2018 are very standard sort of document, but certain statements from there is telling. Especially on the Vote 120 on National Citizenship and Immigration Control, what it is, is apparently, reasons for why it need to be addressed, because it is a real lack transparency and not taking care of the Republic.
The NCIC is compromised of: “Deployed 300 Immigration Officers and Immigration Assistants at the borders and regional offices. This recruitment and deployment has improved border control and post entry management of aliens. This has improved representation of the ethnic groups of Ugandan and staff gender ratios” (…) “Insufficient funds to undertake constructions: Immigration offices are in very small single room measuring less than 8ftX8ft which accommodates more than 5 immigration staff. Furthermore, the Headquarters is housed in what was formerly a warehouse with some services provided under tents. Limited Staff accommodation. Some borders operate in wee hours which necessitates presence of accommodation for staff. This limits space for offices, e-services and board meetings. The Directorate requires UGX25.8bn for constructions. Porous Borders:Uganda has 52 gazetted border points along 2729 km borderline operationalized through the cluster approach. This leaves part of the borderline unmanned which compromise security and revenue generation. The Directorate requires extra UGX1.9bn for border operations” (MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS – MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2017/2018, P: 62, 71, 2018).
It really is showing that something is lacking when you have 52 borders and staffed three hundred officers. That means that each border post would have about average 5 officers. Just think about that, when the border needs to be open 24/7 and there would be more on certain border-posts, also at Entebbe Airport as well. Since lots of the ones entering Uganda come by planes, not only by foot. Therefore, the NCIC is underfunded, but also understaffed.
The 300 officers are not only keeping track of the foreign workers, visitors of the Republic, but also issuing passports. Therefore, the NCIC is even more important to be staffed, because of the need of control of the borders. The republic cannot have open borders and have control of the revenue and neither also population control. It is seemingly bad planning and at random. But the porous borders and the gazetted borders should have officers. Since they are issuing in the last year over 65,000 passports last year. The Officers are really busy doing and not only looking into the ones moving across the borders.
If this body is supposed to control the migration, register and secure that no-one overstays their welcome. They need bigger funding, more officers and more training. Since that must be lacking, when the borders are seen as porous. Peace.
The IGAD Council of Ministers (CoM) recalls its statement of 25th January 2018 titled “Statement on The Reports of Violations of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in the Republic of South Sudan”, regarding serious violations of cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) which called on the Government of South Sudan and SPLM-IO (RM) to undertake the necessary investigation and ensure accountability of Violators.
The Council also recalls its demand on the Parties to provide information of the responsible individual(s)/groups(s) to CTSAMM within one month from the issuance of the 25th January, 2018 Statement. However, the council notes with regrets that no party has submitted its report to CTSAMM as of the issuance of this Statement.
The council is dismayed to learn that in some parts of the Country the violations of the Agreement continued with impunity.
The failure to comply with the duty to investigate and report the accountability measures taken against perpetrators of violations of the COHA can be considered as non-compliance to Article 13 of the COHA.
The Council of Ministers, once again, calls on all the Parties to the conflict to fully observe their obligation under the COHA. It also expresses firm determination to take appropriate actions on the non-compliance to its Statement.