South Sudan: The TGoNU hires a US Lobbying firm to block the establishment of the Hybrid Court!

Paulino Diing Madol Atak, the Deputy Chief Protocol of the Office of the President have signed an lobbyist agreement with Gainful Solutions INC for the Government of South Sudan through the Office of the President of South Sudan. This is now know, after the Gainful Solutions Inc registered itself as a Foreign Agent for the Republic. Where they lay ahead what is the agreement and planned efforts between the parties. This agreement was signed on the 2nd April 2019 and registered in the FARA register on the 18th April 2019.

Certainly, this is interesting, as the United States Lobbying Firm is run by Michael Ranneberger, whose previous been an ambassador to Mali, Kenya and Somalia. He was also a Special Representative to the Secretary of State, where he was part of the diplomatic mission who helped to craft the Sudan Peace Agreement of 2005. However, in Kenya he had a controversial stint as an Envoy, as had leaked communiques by WikiLeaks, that showed his unfavourable view of public officials. Also, that he at one point went to Rift Valley and asked the public to not show support for William Ruto. Therefore, this is a man who plays with high-stakes. So, he knows what he does, when he takes the money from Juba to lobbying. He knows this, because surely he seen how the South Sudanese elite is spending funds in Nairobi, where he resided for years as Envoy from 2006 to 2011.

So, the South Sudanese counterparts have put their money into crafty hands, to someone who really knows how to wave a storm. Ranneberger and company will surely feel the pressure, not only from Juba because of the questionable sources of funding, but from the Washington D.C. because of their associates.

Clearly, the mission they got combined show something sinister is going on. Especially these parts are worrying: “4. Delay and ultimately block establishment of the hybrid court envisaged in the R-ARCISS.

5. Mobilize American companies to invest in the oil, natural resources, and other sectors.

6. Persuade the Trump administration to open a military relationship with South Sudan in order to enhance the fight against terrorism and promote regional stability”.

By doing this and other tasks for the South Sudanese, the lobbying firm get a retainer of $1,2m and direct payment for services as of $3,7m. This surely will be done to hopeful fulfil the mission and ensure, that the US Government doesn’t put pressure on the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) to establish the Hybrid Court. This shows signs, that the current leadership doesn’t want to be able to answer for its crimes and answer for all the people hurt in the civil war. This is showing weakness, but also lack of responsibility.

UNMISS reported on the 27th January 2017: ““The victims will also feel relieved when their voices are heard,” said Romano, adding that the aspect of justice and accountability is key for reconciliation and realizing sustainable peace. The hybrid court, characterized by a blend of international and national judicial mechanisms, will have jurisdiction with respect to the crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious crimes committed under national and international law” (UNMISS/Patricia Okoed – ‘ADVOCATE ROMANO: HYBRID COURT KEY FOR EFFECTIVE JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY’ 27.01.2017).

Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect reported on the 31st October 2018: “Without any further delay, the government should work with the African Union to establish the long overdue Hybrid Court for South Sudan. War criminals and perpetrators of crimes against humanity, regardless of their position or affiliation, should not be granted amnesty. South Sudan has experienced recurring armed conflict and atrocities for the majority of the country’s seven years of independence. Accountability and justice would show the people of South Sudan and the world that this peace agreement is a genuine break with the past” (Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect – ‘Statement on Peace Celebrations in South Sudan’ 31.10.2018).

This is just two pieces of plenty on the international community supporting a hybrid court for South Sudan, as accepted upon in the R-ARCSS in Chapter V. However, this deal between the parties and stakeholders in South Sudan doesn’t totally matter to the TGoNU. As they are willing to bend on this and stifle the introduction of it. That seems like an attempt to dig over the possible war-crimes and evidence of crimes against humanity. As there is no-one innocent in war. That is why the ones who was in-charge and had responsibility for the actions done. Doesn’t want their work and their past checked in a court, as they have fought for power and doesn’t want to loose that over trial in a newly functional court.

Than its better to pay foreigners millions of dollars to try to stop the International community from putting pressure on building and operating one. That is better and cheaper, as this will buy time to continue to reign without questions of the past. A civil war and horrific acts, which is a reason for why the Republic has so many fled and why so many is Internally Displaced People. Risking the R-ARCSS while keeping power seems more feasible, than actually risking exposing the acts done in war. This seems the idea of the leadership of Juba.

Certainly, the king who ordered to send the pawns for slaughter, doesn’t want the public to know why he sent them there. He just knows they are now gone and hope the towers, the queen and other high-ranking players doesn’t tell the stories. Which would be told in a Hybrid Court. That would really damage the key-players and the ones who has the reign in the TGoNU. This is why they don’t want it out. Peace.

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Somalia: Early warning signs of severe drought and a major humanitarian crisis (DG ECHO, OCHA, FAO, WFP, IGAD) (ECHO Daily Flash of 27 April 2019)

  • “Analyses show that rainfall levels through mid-April will likely be amongst the driest on record (since 1981)…” (IGAD, 17/4/2019). Current conditions are worse than in the same period of 2017 and are only surpassed by the drought of 2011. Much of the Somali population affected in the 2017/18 drought has had no opportunity to recover.
  • Significant deficit in 2019 Gu rainfall is forecasted to continue in May, already resulting in water shortages, increased commodity prices, deterioration of livestock and agropastoral conditions, and displacement of people.
  • Food security situation and nutrition outlook are deteriorating, particularly in northern and central Somalia. 4.9 million Somalis are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, of which 1.5 million are in acute food insecurity. Should the forecasted deficit in rainfall persevere, the number of people in need of immediate assistance is expected to dramatically increase through 2019. Early action is needed to avert food security and nutrition crisis by scaling up immediate life-saving assistance. However, only 15% of the needs defined in the 2019 humanitarian response plan (HRP) seeking USD 1.08 billion are currently funded.

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40% Chance of Greed around Nile Avenue

“Members of Parliament have increased their allowances by 39 per cent and that of parliamentary staff by 15 per cent, citing rising costs of living.” (Yasiin Mugerwa – ‘MPs raise their allowances by 40%’ 26.04.2019, link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/MPs-raise-their-allowances-40-/688334-5088588-jg82dn/index.html)

There are a big chance you can meet some Very Important People (VIP) or Members of Parliament if you may. They are so special and unique, that they should have high over heels raise. Even when the budgets are already in deficit and every project between here and the moon is paid either on loans, domestic or from international entities.

Still this MPs can afford to give themselves favourable treatment, huge salaries, entitlements and pay, as the government institutions, civil servants lack salaries and general upkeep is on the down-low. Even with all that, it is still cool to get a raise.

The lawmakers who themselves secure a hefty portion of the spoils, while not delivering anything substantial to the citizens who they are supposed to govern over. No they are just hassle and a hefty mess. The MPs doesn’t have to bother with them, unless it is an election and they have to smooch the crowds.

If you believed they had the best interest of the people at heart. They would be more than content with their earnings. Alas, they are greedy and expect to be royal kings, just like the Executive, the President who lives lavish and large on the state. They are just learning from the top and he accepts this. As he knows they can be bought to follow his guidelines and his rule.

The National Resistance Movement, the ruling party are clearly showing their motives for ruling. It is eating, and eating by any means. Not sparing the cost or the thought of the price of it. It is all okay and nothing is to huge. Its cool, it is grand and surely the people can cough up the dough, because they deserve it.

This are the men, the people who are ruling, the ones who doesn’t care or just exposes their narrow-minded approach to life. Not considering the implications, the price or the deficit, not thinking of the loans, nor the possible overspending of the state. No, just thinking about your own pocket and move-on.

From now on. If you’re a teacher, the word MP equals to Greed. Even Greedy guts or buffoons, whose only sole purpose is to eat and blindly following the submissions of Bosco. Peace.

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Cameroon: Ministry of Secondary Education – Press Release (25.04.2019)