Opinion: IGAD wants sanctions revoked against Sudan, the Employee wants to deliver for its Member!

Ambassador Mahboub Malim said this in August: ““First of all, I am an employee of President Kiir, among other presidents. So, to ask me what I can tell him, is like asking your house helper to tell you to change something in your house. But this is on a light note” (Lumu, 2017).

Again, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) had their meeting in Khartoum, holding their Inter-Parliament Union there. So to show their loyalty between the IGAD Parliamentarians, they have decided that in good faith and also their support of the Republic of Sudan. Member States are clearly now getting positive service and to the government inside the IGAD. Therefore, the supporting effect of the IGAD is dwindling down, since it is more a big microphone, than actually being there for strengthening the nations themselves.

The final communique has called for revolting the unjust economic sanctions imposed against the Sudan so that the country would take its natural position at the regional and international arenas. The conference has meanwhile called for boosting the roles of the government in achieving peace and raising awareness on issues related to environmental questions. The conference also stressed the need to put in place legislations that encourage agricultural investment, urging government to exert more efforts for the stability at home and to refrain from intervention in the domestic affairs of others” (SUNA, 2017).

Khartoum, Sep. 18 (SUNA) – Meetings of the 12th session of the Executive Council and Ninth Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments of the IGAD Member States were Monday concluded at the Friendship Hall. The conference recommended lifting of the American sanctions being imposed on Sudan to enable it restore its normal position at the regional and international levels” (SUNA, 2017).

That IGAD wants the Sudanese government to get their sanctioned ceased. This while the arms are getting distributed in Darfur. Also the troubles in Blue Nile State. The Sudanese State are clearly involved with crimes against humanity and the vicious violence against their own citizens. Therefore, the IGAD proposing to end sanctions should have made more progress. As even militias and state army has inflicted hurt to UN PoC Camps in Darfur. If they want the moral high-ground they should actually make sure one of their states are in peace. That Sudanese government can work with SPLM-N and other opposition parties in the Republic.

IGAD are now acting indifference to the situation, as the government has troubles with their domestic affairs. Since they have civil-war in Darfur. There is also trouble in other states, as well as the relationship and the border states of South Sudan. IGAD should try to make sure the Sudan government had made sure for peace, not to build-up their confidence and think they could get away with violence in Darfur, that continues for years upon end. And still continuing! Peace.

Reference:

Lumu, David – ‘IGAD boss applauds Uganda on South Sudan’ (23.08.2017) – New Vision Article

Sudan News Agency – ‘IGAD Parliamentarians Call for Revoking Economic Sanctions against the Sudan’ (18.09.2017) link: http://suna-sd.net/suna/showNews/354065/en?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Sudan News Agency – ‘Ninth Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments of the IGAD Member States Concluded in Khartoum’ (18.09.2017) link: http://suna-sd.net/suna/showNews/354068/en?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

U.S. DoD Interim Guidance on Military Service for Transgender Individuals (14.09.2017)

Did you know? That President Adama Barrow of The Gambia pardoned Yahya Jammeh!

There are some men of Nobel character out there, but they are usually hidden and in silence. Today, I will have to write of one of them. This has actually happen back-in-January of 2017, but only gotten a whiff of it this week.

The world knows of the democratically elected opposition leader and Presidential Candidate Adama Barrow of the Republic of The Gambia. That in the midst of January 2017 he was sworn-in on the 19th January, as President Yayha Jammeh fled to Equatorial Guinea. It didn’t look like he would leave, but international pressure and also resignation of his own cabinet members forced this. That ECOWAS sending forces from Senegal into Gambia, also gave the former President no-hope of a longevity of his presidency. Jammeh had a dictatorship for 22 years, even killed his opposition and harassed them.

But this is all well-known facts about the state of affairs in Gambia. That the one winning election and the who had to sworn-in in Senegal and needed Ecowas troops to get rid of the 1994 Coup d’etat General Jammeh who never wanted to leave his post. Even if someone else won over him with a coalition victory years after.

Now today after months in-charge and the dictator disposed. The act that the new president did, shows his character and his real quest to power. It shows that he can actually prove his manhood and bravery. Adama Barrow should never be underestimated. Because he came to Gambia after fleeing on the 26th January after swearing-in on 19th January 2017 in Dakar, Senegal.

So what was so noble and great happen on 30th January 2017, when Gambia Gazette No. 4. on 31st January says this:

Whereas by Section82(1)(a) of the 1997 of the Republic of The Gambia, the President may exercise his Prerogative of Mercy in respect of any person convicted of any offence” (…) “And Whereas His Excellency the President considers the circumstances of the convicted prisoners named in the schedule, as warranting the exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy” (…) “Now Therefore, I Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section of 82(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, do hereby grant pardon to the persons named in the schedule hereto” (…) “Done at Banjul this 30th Day of January 2017” (Gambia Gazzette No. 4, 31.01.2017).

This here proves that someone was pardoned by the newly elected President, just days after he was returned and sworn-in. Just starting his rule and his first term in power. The peacefully elected President decided to pardon 39 people. Of these 39 people, one person is a standout, one person who has looted the Republic and been a torn in the flesh of the people. The one they couldn’t stand or be the head of state anymore. The 25th Person who was pardoned by Barrow, was no other than Yahya Jammeh!

Barrow who has nothing to win by doing this, who has nothing to gain, still gave way for Jammeh and even as he is in exile in Equatorial Guinea with his wealth. He still hasn’t have to fear the law or repercussions from law-officials and law-officers of Gambia. Since he is pardoned. He is a free and rich man in exile, that is the gift Barrow gave him, just days in power and as Commander-in-Chief. Barrow had no need to do this. He could have prosecuted him and tried every single way of freezing the accounts and get the tax-funds looted back to Gambia. Instead he pardoned him and let him go. So that Jammeh should have less grievances against the now ruler of Gambia. There shouldn’t be anything personal or anything that creates friction between them.

The one in exile should kiss his pinky-ring. He should watch over his estate and his wealth in joy. The people of Gambia should know what sort of man they have elected. There we’re no need to act this swift and give this pardon. But he did for his reasons. Clearly, the wise man forgives, but never forget. Barrow seems smart, but hopefully will not be conned. He was saved by ECOWAS and the International Pressure on Jammeh. Now he has showed his character and it deserves praise. Not because Jammeh deserved it. He didn’t he should been behind bars and paid-in-full. But Barrow gives way and shows hope of a better future. Since the leadership of this way. Gives hope for a tomorrow. Peace.

Documents:

IGAD lnternal Memo: “Re: IGAD Special Mission to Somalia” (13.09.2017)

Arms proliferation continues in Darfur, but area remains largely calm, Security Council told (14.09.2017)

NEW YORK – The situation in Darfur has been largely calm in recent months, but there is continued violence fuelled by a proliferation of weapons and competition over natural resources, a senior United Nations official today told the Security Council.

“Most of the insecurity currently experienced in Darfur can be attributed to the tensions originating from the underlying causes of the conflict, exacerbated by the proliferation of arms in the hands of civilians and militia groups,” said Jeremiah Mamabolo, Special Representative and Head of the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

“Inter-communal disputes usually triggered by competition over land, water, livestock and mineral resources, have become increasingly violent due to the availability of weapons,” added Mr. Mamabolo.

The Government is carrying out an arms control campaign but reactions to the arms collection campaign “vary,” according to Mr. Mamabolo, who noted that the opposition and groups who did not sign the peace agreement are opposed to it.

Briefing the 15-member Council in New York on quarterly developments in the region of Sudan, Mr. Mamabolo noted progress on the implementation of the peace agreement is “limited.”

That agreement was signed in 2012 by the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), based on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), which calls for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive peace agreement to end the fighting.

Progress is particularly limited on issues such as “durable solutions to displacement, the administration of land, water, and other scarce resources, and the issue of armed militias,” Mr. Mamabolo said.

He also noted that efforts on an inclusive peace agreement by the AU High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), with support of UNAMID, remain “inconclusive” due to a stalemate between the Government and one of the parties.

“We call upon the Council and those with influence on the parties to stress the importance of a political settlement and desist from bringing more suffering to the very people that they profess to represent,” said Mr. Mamabolo.

Among other issues raised, Mr. Mamabolo said that cooperation between the UN and the Government of Sudan has “noticeably improved” with a more open humanitarian environment and faster approval of movements within Darfur and clearance of visas, except for human rights staff.

UNAMID expresses concern over allegations of improper team site handovers (11.09.2017)

In line with the mandate, the Mission is reducing the number of military, police and civilian personnel, and has earmarked 11 team sites for closure across Darfur.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, September 11, 2017 – UNAMID is concerned about recent allegations of improper handover of team sites in North Darfur as part of its mandated reconfiguration.

The Mission would like to reiterate that as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2363, of 29 June, 2017, extending UNAMID’s mandate until 30 June 2018, its strategic priorities in Darfur remain the same—protecting civilians, facilitating access and security for humanitarian actors and working to ameliorate the root causes of communal conflict.

Furthermore, moving forward, UNAMID will take a two-pronged approach incorporating both peacekeeping and stabilization.

In line with the mandate, the Mission is reducing the number of military, police and civilian personnel, and has earmarked 11 team sites for closure across Darfur.

Four team sites have been closed to date: Malha, Mellit and Um Kadada, North Darfur, and Muhajeria, East Darfur. Seven team sites are yet to be closed. These are Abu Shouk, Tine, Habila, Forobaranga, Tulus, Eid Al Fursan and Zam Zam.

Closed team sites have been handed over to the Government of Sudan or appropriate private parties as per lease agreements signed by the Mission.

South Sudan: ICRC condems killing of staff member (09.09.2017)

Law Society of Kenya – “The attempted assasination of the Pres of the Tanganyika Law Society is an act of cowardice which can never silence the voice of justice” (07.09.2017)

Somalia: Al-Shabaab are trading Uranium from Galmudug State!

In Mudugh Province or in Galmudug State in Somalia, there are clear reports that the Al-Shabaab, the terrorist organization in Somalia are using the mineral rich Galdumug state or the Mudugh Province, Federation Republic of Somalia reputation is on the line. There is also a letter from Yusuf Garad Omar to Stephen Schwartz in August 2017 is compelling. The story it tells is dire, but also shows the Federal Republic of Somalia loyalty to the United States. Its need a loyal state on the Horn of Africa. The letter explicit says it only can beat Al-Shabaab with the support of the US and not alone. That means the Somali government don’t believe in their own capacity or own strength. As the AMISOM mission are under review and more training of the Somali National Army are progressing.

However, the Uranium extraction and exporting are proving that the mineral resources could be for the benefit of the Somali people, but instead is for the militia causing havoc. So for the Federal Government to get more taxation and resources, these sort of industry has to be taxed and be under control of the central government. Now it is being used by militia and exported so the Al-Shabaab can afford expensive weapons to fight AMISOM and SNA. Take a look!

IAEA report in 1984:

Surficial uranium deposits in Somalia are of the valley-fill calcrete type and occur in the arid Mudugh Province of the Dusa Mareb-EI Bur region. They are located in a belt about 240 km in length which is orientated parallel to the north-south regional tectonic framework. The uranium resources of the region amount to about 5 000 t U308 at an average grade of 0.1 % U308. Basement rocks constitute a 7 000 m thick succession of Jurassic to Quaternary ediments of the Somalian Basin. Uranium mineralization in the form of carnotite occurs in the uppermost Mercia Series. The origin of the uranium and vanadium is unclear due to a shortage of the favourable source rocks” (…) “The valley-fill calcretes of the Dusa Mareb-EI Bur region have formed in the Mercia Series of Miocene age. Collectively, the uranium resources are about 5 000 t at a grade of 0.1 % U308. Carnotite is the only uranium mineral present but the sources of both uranium and vanadium are largely speculative because accessible granite source rocks are situated several hundred kilometres to the north in Ethiopia. The geochemistry of the groundwater and the arid climate favours the precipitation of the carnotite in a manner similar to these fluviatile surficial uranium deposits in Namibia and Western Australia” (IAEA, P: 217, 220 1984).

Minerals of 2013:

Uranium: Documented uranium deposits are found in three areas of Galgaduud-Mudug and in Alio Ghelle in Bur Massif. These deposits need further exploration and evaluation, though in 1984 work began to develop them. The Alio Ghelle deposit is small carnotite deposit, with a reported indicated resource varying between 10-25 Mt at 0.07-0.08% U₃O₈” (Hussain, P: 3, 2013)

Al-Shabaab trading Uranium to Iran:

The letter, sent by Foreign Minister Yusuf Garad Omar, was addressed to U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz. Somalia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ahmed Awad confirmed on Thursday that the letter “has indeed been issued” by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Garaad Omar, whose signature is on the document. The Aug. 11-dated letter delivered an urgent warning to the U.S. that the Al-Shabaab terror network has linked up with the regional Islamic State (ISIS) faction and is “capturing territory” in the central part of the country. “Unlike past situations that required external intervention, the issue communicated today presents a problem for the larger global community and will not be constrained within the borders or our recovering country.” the Somali Foreign Minister’s letter said. Somalia and Iran had no diplomatic ties since January 2016, when Mogadishu officially severed Tehran relations and expelled its Mogadishu-based Ambassador accusing of spreading Shiism in Somalia. Nuclear weapons “This issue can be summed up in a single word: uranium,” the letter added. “Al-Shabaab forces have captured critical surface exposed uranium deposits in the Galmudug region and are strip mining triuranium octoxide for transport to Iran.” (Radio Simba, 2017).

This here should be interesting and also compelling, since the amounts of Uranium in the region and the powers it gives the Al-Shabaab. That the Al-Shabaab gets funding and shows they have the ability to trade uranium. Reports like that should worry anyone, and with that in mind, with the funding and resources of that trade. You understand why do not struggle to get enough money to buy ammunition and guns on the black-market. Since, the trades of lucrative uranium must be a splendid trade-off for some AK-47 and other weaponry. Peace.

Reference:

IAEA – ‘SURFICIAL URANIUM DEPOSITS’ (December 1984), SURFICIAL URANIUM DEPOSITS, IAEA, VIENNA, 1984 IAEA-TECDOC-322

Hussain, Abdulkadir Abiikar – ‘Minerals of Somalia: – From exploration to artisanal production to export’ (25.01.2013) link: http://somaliatalk.com/2013/minerals_of_somalia.pdf

Radio Simba – ‘(FULL DOCUMENT) Al-Shabaab Mining Uranium in Central Somalia to Send to Iran’ (02.09.2017) link: https://www.simbanews.net/full-document-al-shabaab-mining-uranium-in-central-somalia-to-send-to-iran/

Yet another lie from Trump: Trump Tower wasn’t wiretapped!

Another lie from President Donald J. Trump are now officially tested and verified. This is not the first or the last. Because Trump has is world-view and alternative reality, this is proven by his own statement on Twitter on the 4th March 2017:

Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my “wires tapped” in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” (Donald J. Trump, 04.03.2017). These words will now forever go into the catalog of lies made by the American President. The Department of Justice together with their Security Organizations, this being National Security Division (NSD) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who both are clear in their evidence and reasoning. Saying there was no wiretapping of the Trump Tower and the Trump Organization. Therefore, the lying-in-chief in the White House. Reflects his stature and his own acts of deviousness.

So on the 1st September 2017, the FOIA case against the Department of Justice clarifies the situation and also states the facts. This isn’t mere opinions, but verified through court documents. Here is the statements from the court!

Both FBI and NSD confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets. Hardy Decl. ¶ 15; Weinsheimer Decl. ¶ 8. FBI again confirmed that they do not have any such records by consulting with personnel knowledgeable about Director Comey’s statements and the surveillance activities of the FBI. Hardy Decl. ¶ 15” (US District Court, 2017).

The NSD Verifies:

As the preceding demonstrates, the Department of Justice – including NSD – has no records responsive to Plaintiff’s request inasmuch as it seeks records of alleged wiretapping of then-Candidate Trump in Trump Tower by President Obama prior to the election, as referenced in the march 4, 2017, tweet. See id” (US District Court, 2017).

The FBI Verifies:

As the preceding demonstrates, the FBI has no records responsive to Plaintiff’s request inasmuch as it seeks records of alleged wiretapping of Trump Tower by President Obama prior to the election, as reference in the March 4th tweet. See id. Out of an abundance of caution, FBI personnel confirmed this by consulting with personnel knowledgeable about Director Comey’s statements and the surveillance activities of the FBI and confirmed that no such records exists” (US District Court, 2017).

So with this in mind, the Trump Tower wasn’t wiretapped by the authorities as alleged by the President himself. The Department of Justice has now clarified it and it is 100 % Pinocchio or a big lie. President Trump has served this to the public, certainly at some point to deflect an issue during march. Both NSD and FBI has now explained to the public what really happen.

What happen at Trump Tower was nothing, none, the DoJ and their agencies was not involved. Trump has overstepped and go back on his words. Not that he will do so. But the American people should know that this is just one lie. Out of plenty before his presidency and during his presidency. The White House should have character and stand-up for their wrong statements. Not that Trump has this, he is just wrong, because Trump will rather double down.

Even if the agencies that has the capacity to wiretap the Tower says that didn’t happen. So this lie from the Trump Administration should vanish. Peace.

Reference:

United States District Court for the District of Columbia – ‘ American Oversight, Plaintiff V. United States Department of Justice, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, defendants’ – Case No. 17-718-RL, 01.09.2017.