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The Group of Experts found out that the Darfurian Militias was even selling to Chadian Ones and to Central African Republic. These reports shows that there is so much trading of arms, which are done by violating the arms embargo, not only in Darfur, but also in the Central African Republic, Chad and Libya itself. That is why it is done by smugglers based in Darfur. This must surely be a way for the militias and state to get funding for their operations.
The Group of Experts explain it the best:
“The Libya-based Darfurian rebels source most of their weapons in Darfur, in particular 12.7mm, 14.5mm and Goronov machine guns, which they frequently use but which are rarely available in Libya. They purchase some of these weapons from Darfurian smugglers, often ex-members of Arab militias, who deliver the weapons to Chad or Libya, where the transaction takes place. For instance, in November 2018, according to a rebel source, some GSLF elements were arrested by the Chadian authorities on their way back to Libya after buying weapons (12.7mm machine guns) brought from Darfur to a refugee camp in eastern Chad. Some other rebels use their personal connections with the SLA/AW group led by Soliman Marajan in the Malha area (North Darfur) to come and purchase weapons in the Malha and Mellit areas” (P: 27, 2019).
“Security Council resolution 1591 (2005) requires that the Committee established pursuant to the resolution approve any movement of military equipment by the Government of the Sudan into Darfur. During the reporting period, the Government of the Sudan continued to transfer military equipment without seeking the Committee’s approval. In its travel to Darfur, the Panel on several occasions saw the offloading of military equipment from aircraft” (…) “As a further reason for the transfers of military equipment into Darfur, it cited Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations and the need to protect its international borders with Libya, Chad and the Central African Republic” (P: 36-27, 2019).
“Darfur continues to be a source of weapons for foreign belligerents in neighbouring countries. Some armed groups participating in the Libyan conflict purchase some of their weapons and ammunition (such as 12.7mm machine guns) in Darfur, in particular from Arab militia members in the Kutum/Kabkabiya area of North Darfur. For example, the Chadian authorities said to the Panel that in the second half of 2018, they had discovered an important arms cache in the Kariari refugee camp in eastern Chad (inhabited mostly by Darfurian Zaghawa refugees). These weapons originated from Darfur and were to be sent to Chadian rebels in Libya” (…) “Some ex-Séléka factions based in the north-eastern Central African Republic also sourced some weapons from militias of Darfur in 2018. Weapons smuggling from Darfur to neighbouring countries seems to have been accentuated by the weapons collection campaign in Darfur, as the campaign pushed some armed Darfurian elements to sell off their weapons surpluses rapidly” (P: 39, 2019).
So, unless Government of Sudan, their security forces want to handle this, unless the militias who fights for their rights and funding doesn’t get incentive to stop it. The volatile business going to continue. The militias of Darfur are getting their funding by trading weapons to the rest of the region, exporting it for cash. The state continues to drop weapons in violations to. Ensuring more are circulated there. Even as the state in the report has stated they are feeling they contain the militias in Darfur now and have made the Janjaweed aka RSF more professional. Still, there are questionable behaviour and that has to be addressed.
Even as there is riots, demonstrations and questioning the central leadership/dictatorship in Khartoum. Peace.
Reference:
United States Security Council – ‘Letter dated 10 January 2019 from the Panel of Experts on the Sudan established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) addressed to the President of the Security Council’ 10.01.2019










“Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.” – Thucydides
The march 9th 2018 handshake between Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, which cleared the air between the National Super Alliance (NASA) and government party Jubilee. This has ensured the parties act together and working towards common goals. Therefore, in some regards the handshake has been positive and ensured the political agenda has moved further.
However, the handshake has also rocked with the need of elections and questioning the Fresh Presidential Elections of 2017. Which have had enough of irregularities in that one. Certainly, the population had deserved the truth about the rigging, but the handshake has blown that away. As the state got cleared by making Building Bridges Initiative.
Therefore, instead of fixing the irregularities and showing good governance. The Jubilee government has made the debt grow, signed shady deals without transparency concerning infrastructure deals with China and also Grand Corruption is daily-life government business. That is why the two recent pieces in both the The Star and Daily Nation, which shows the forgetfulness and how the elite looks at itself.
First:
“A group of elders has proposed a holiday on March 9 for celebrations of the peace Kenya experienced following the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange party leader Raila Odinga. In a statement on Friday, Elders Association of Kenya noted that the day should be remembered for years to come” (Sam Kiplagat – ‘Elders call for holiday to celebrate Uhuru-Raila pact’ 12.01.2019, Daily Nation).
Second:
“Members of the Former Parliamentarians Association accused the politicians of disrespecting the President and opposing the handshake that has brought peace and tranquility in the country. “We demand respect for the President and the presidency, because they are a symbol of national unity and nationhood,” group chairman and former Gatanga MP Humphrey Njuguna said” (Julius Otieno – ‘Don’t disrespect Uhuru, critics told’ 12.01.2019, The Star).
That someone wants to make a handshake a holiday is just facade. It is not cool, as it is making the business of the Building Bridges Initiative, much bigger than it really is. This is making so called legacy out of Kenyatta. Instead of looking at the financial mess and the cycle of debt, the grand corruptions. The elites and the politicians wants to remember the Kenyatta legacy to be this. It is noble of them, but not righteous.
The second one states that people shouldn’t disrespect the President because he deserves to be a symbol of national unity. It is in the same regard as the holiday for the handshake. This is putting it further. As the battle for the legacy of Kenyatta is coming back. We are supposed to celebrate the handshake like the genius move it is supposed to be. That the Kenyatta action of reconcile with Odinga. Like it is the best agreement ever made in the Republic. That is how it seems from these folks, since it needs a Holiday and a symbol of National Unity.
Let me be clear, that these people are really putting so much into the handshake. That soon, they are asking for building statutes, writing hymns and own ministries in government. As the Building Bridges Initiative should be given the praise of the moon, the sun and be the beacon, the guiding star for all hope. That is how it sounds.
Lets also be clear, President Kenyatta gets disrespect after how he acts and the words he uses. When he lectures kids for protesting, when he sends army to kill civilians demonstrating in Kisumu or Kibira in Nairobi after the Fresh Presidential Elections. That is what he will be remembered for. He will be remembered for his foul language and his speeches in Turkana. Kenyatta will be remembered for the Eurobond, NYS Scandals, Maize Scandals and NHIF, and so on. These are the ones that will be remembered. Because that shown the governance and acts of government.
So, if the President wants to be remembered for something, than he should act upon it. It is disrespectful to expect respect from people. When the President acts like a overlord. He should show his true face and act like an Executive. This president is busy with PR Schemes instead of giving proper government services. That is what he will be remembered for, because the PR will go away, but what they really did will stick.
Kenyatta will be disrespected, if he acts disrespectful, if he acts with the cartels or with the elites and not serve the public. That is how he will be remembered. Not if he shook Odinga’s hand, because its not like anyone made anything out of 2008 Kibaki/Odinga Coalition Government. However, important that was at the time and how much dire need there was for a peace agreement.
That is why, the ones running wild on the Handshake. Should cool down, before giving the mantle and the praise for the Building Bridges Initiative. Maybe first remember the ones that initially changed the landscape, to where it is today. The importance of the power-sharing agreement made with mediation of Kofi Annan back-in-the-day. This should maybe be celebrated, but that is for me to as outside looking in. However, everyone is stuck on the new handshake. That is built on even more shaky ground, than the power-sharing deal.
That is why, I react and wrote this piece. Because I don’t get it, unless, all of these gentlemen tries to get political mileage and get some credits their way. Than it would all make sense. Peace.