Zimbabwe: MDC-T Press Statement on the Doctors Strike (28.12.2018)

Déclaration de la haute représentante, au nom de l’Union européenne, sur les relations avec la République Démocratique du Congo à la veille des élections (28.12.2018)

Hier, le gouvernement de la République Démocratique du Congo a sommé l’ambassadeur représentant l’Union européenne de quitter le pays. Rien ne saurait justifier cet acte arbitraire.

Quant à la réciprocité invoquée suite aux sanctions individuelles adoptées à l’encontre de certains citoyens congolais, l’UE tient à rappeler que ces mesures sont liées aux violations des droits de l’homme et aux obstacles créés à une sortie pacifique de la crise en RDC. Elles ont été adoptées le 12 décembre 2016 et le 29 mai 2017 à l’unanimité des 28 Etats membres de l’UE, et seront examinées à nouveau compte tenu des élections en RDC, en les adaptant éventuellement en conséquence.

L’UE est un partenaire de premier plan de la RDC et de sa population, en y maintenant une coopération importante. A la veille d’élections cruciales pour le pays, elle estime que cette décision est totalement contre-productive, nuisant aux intérêts de la population.

Comme la Haute Représentante Federica Mogherini l’avait déclaré au nom de l’UE le 22 novembre, la tenue d’élections inclusives, transparentes, crédibles et pacifiques sera importante pour l’engagement futur de l’Union européenne en RDC. L’UE partage entièrement la préoccupation manifestée par les leaders de la région réunis en urgence à Brazzaville ce 26 décembre, et leur appel à l’apaisement et la retenue en vue de la tenue des scrutins dans la sérénité.

Secretary-General Calls upon All Actors in Democratic Republic of Congo to Ensure Violence-Free Environment for Upcoming Elections (28.12.2018)

SG/SM/19420

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

As the Democratic Republic of the Congo prepares for presidential, legislative and provincial elections on 30 December, the Secretary-General calls on the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, political leaders on all sides, the Commission électorale nationale indépendante and civil society to continue working together to ensure an environment free of violence so that all eligible voters can cast their ballots peacefully on election day.

The Secretary-General further encourages citizens to seize this historic opportunity to participate in the consolidation of the country’s democratic institutions.

The Secretary-General reminds all actors that they have a critical role to play in preventing electoral violence, by refraining from any form of provocation and showing maximum restraint in their words and actions. He also calls on everyone to protect and ensure safe access to health facilities in Ebola impacted areas.

The Secretary-General reiterates the continued commitment of the United Nations to support a peaceful transition of power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Opinion: Gen. Tumwine is speaking nonsense, when advising Bobi Wine!

There are some day, when the National Resistance Movement and the NRM Bush League people like General Elly Tumwine speaks nonsense. He is now again advising Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine on his career and his way as an artist. What is flabbergasting is how stupid this sounds.

We know, that the Firebase Crew and Entertainment are following all procedures and obligations, as a company and the same does MP Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. He can notify and explain the Musical Shows, the Campaign Rallies and whatever he tries to do. But at this point, everything he touches, he get blocked, soon he will be house-arrested in home like Dr. Kizza Besigye. That is why I am confused by NRM Bush General. He speaks of Bobi Wine following the orders, but he is complying with the law and Constitution. Still, the Authorities are still ambushing him and torturing him. Therefore, who is not abiding the laws, that is the authorities who has attacked him and kept him away from the public!

Tumwine speaking on Bobi Wine:

“If Bobi Wine follows what he’s told by security, there will be no problem. I advised him right from the beginning and I am willing to advise him every other time…”He needs to calm down and separate his political stance of defiance from his artistic stance. You know artists are objective, we think for everybody. But once you now start taking a sectarian line which is confrontational to others, then you meet the necessary resistance.” said Tumwine (URN – ‘ We’ll continue blocking Bobi Wine concerts – Gen Tumwine’ 28.12.2018, link: https://observer.ug/news/headlines/59543-we-ll-continue-blocking-bobi-wine-concerts-gen-tumwine?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter).

I am not shocked of Gen. Tumwine, this is his M.O as a loyal soldier under General and Commander in Chief, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He has always done this and continues as long as he is the ranks under the President. Even get dirty in favour of the President. That is who the Star-Trek Shades Man of Uganda aka Gen. Tumwine.

It doesn’t matter what advice you are giving Bobi Wine, as the authorities doesn’t favour him or cares about his career. They are not working with him. They are working against him. They are acting like people are blind. He cannot do anything nearly, it is just by luck if he can. Tumwine, says a lot and tries to undress the manner. But only showing the naked lies.

Tumwine knows that the authorities haven’t accepted prayers by opposition parties, consultation meetings or even just letting the leadership going out to vote. That is what this NRM are up to. Therefore, even if Bobi Wine would comply and act cool. The NRM and its Calvary would attack and monitor him. They would detain him and arrest him on phony charges. That is what the NRM does to real opposition. We know this and Tumwine knows this too.

So, he can play around the bush, but the General acts like if, the people are following the orders of the government. Everything will be dandy, but then I suppose, things would have been different for plenty.

Gen. Tumwine, acts like his righteous, while Bobi Wine is the bad criminal savvy pick-pocket. However, he is just a man… who tries to do his thing, but his blocked. This on orders from above high. This is planned and done by the government against him.

Even, if Bobi Wine filled all protocols and all measures put by the state, they would still block his ass. That is the truth about it all. Peace.

South Sudan: UNMISS – PoC Update (28.12.2018)

Statement on disruptions to the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (28.12.2018)

by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

28 December 2018
Statement | Geneva

WHO and partners are continuing to respond to the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite a deterioration of the security situation since yesterday morning.

Yesterday our teams in Beni were unable to carry out critical field work, including vaccinations, contact tracing, and following up on alerts of potential new cases. Protests at government buildings in Beni spilled over to an Ebola transit centre, frightening people waiting for Ebola test results and the staff who were caring for them. Staff at the centre temporarily withdrew and most suspected cases were transferred to a nearby treatment centre.

In Butembo, some alerts of potential cases were investigated and confirmed cases were referred to treatment centres but teams were unable to trace contacts or to conduct vaccinations.

Response activities have not been interrupted in other affected areas.

We have reached a critical point in the Ebola response. After an intensification of field activities, we were seeing hopeful signs in many areas, including a recent decrease in cases in Beni.

These gains could be lost if we suffer a period of prolonged insecurity, resulting in increased transmission. That would be a tragedy for the local population, who have already suffered too much.

Our teams in Beni and Butembo are doing everything possible to continue responding, despite the challenging security environment. For example, in Beni, contact tracing is being resumed with the support of local community relays, and WHO is supporting local health authorities to undertake other critical surveillance functions where possible.

In general, the communities in affected areas have been supportive of the response. We ask for everyone to protect health facilities and provide access for responders to the affected populations so that we can stop this outbreak. The population must also have safe access to transit and treatment centres that save lives and stop the spread of Ebola.

Working side by side with the Ministry of Health and our partners, our priority is to end the outbreak. We hope to return to full operations as soon as possible while remaining committed to ensuring the safety of all staff deployed. We cannot afford to take a step back at this critical point in the response.

Sudan: The 10th Day of Demonstrations against Al-Bashir!

Someone has ruled the Republic since 30th June 1989 after a bloodless coup against Prime Minister Sadiq Al-Mahdi. Since then the Colonel Omar Al-Bashir has ruled and been President of Sudan. This is why the people are in the streets against both the President and National Congress Party. They are ready for another leadership and not someone looting them, intimidating them and using them.

We have known for days, that the Rapid Support Force or Janjaweed have been on the streets shooting live bullets. The same has the soldiers done, who has been ordered across the Republic to squash the demonstrations. Also, the massive use of tear-gas, even throwing it into people’s houses, as well as all the deaths. Which the Republic doesn’t want to address or take credit for.

There are now after ten days official numbers. These are reported from Radio Dabanga:

Sudan’s Information Minister, Bushara Juma, said at a press conference in Khartoum that 19 people were killed during the demonstrations in the country that began on Wednesday last week. Juma asserts that 219 people were wounded, while the number of injured regular forces reached 187” (Dabanga – ‘Official Sudan protest casualty figures released’ 28.12.2018, link: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/official-sudan-protest-casualty-figures-released).

There are the official numbers of causalities, but independent sources are having bigger numbers. So, at this point it is hard to know what is what. Especially since the Republic has blocked Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. Also, the biggest Cellphone Company Zain has blocked the Internet through their lines. All of this is to make a possible black-out.

We know the NCP and President is striking all out. As there are reports of even aircraft’s used to intimidate the public, while they are demonstrating on the 10th day. We know the Janjaweed are patrolling the streets, even the Petrol Stations and guarding the banks of Khartoum. There is even the use of National Intelligence and Security Services, which is headed by Saleh Gosh. So, the acts of the Security Officials by the Regime.

We know how far they go, when while Friday Prayers in Omdurman, the Authorities threw tear-gas inside the mosque, as they were afraid of the public going out demonstrating after the prayers. That proves how far this regime takes it. This is what they do.

We know the seriousness, as the UN Human Rights Council states this:

The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, said the use of lethal force was unacceptable when controlling demonstrations. “Dissent must be tolerated and not restrained with excessive force which can lead to loss of life. I strongly urge the Sudanese security forces to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid the escalation of violence and take immediate measures to protect the right to life of the demonstrators,” Nononsi said. The experts said they were also concerned at reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions of unknown numbers of protesters, including students and political activists. “We call on the Sudanese authorities to release those detainees. We also urge the authorities to carry out independent and thorough investigations and to ensure that security forces handle protests in line with the country’s international human rights obligations.”” (UN Human Rights Council – ‘ Sudan: UN experts urge halt to excessive use of force against peaceful protesters’ 28.12.2018).

Al-Bashir and the NCP should know their time is up. The President should know this and his actions against the public, will only infuriate them, as they have seen their sinister acts over three decades done by the President. Even if the coup d’etat of 1989 had been this Presidency, then things would have been good. However, this Presidency was born out of civil war and that was prolonged in the South Sudan and with the internal conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile State.

President Al-Bashir have the chance to step down and man-up, but it seems like he will fight to the bitter end. It has already lasted for ten days. We don’t know how this will end and how far the President will take it. Seriously, we have to wonder, when the authorities feel they are losing the grip and cannot handle the pressure. Because at some point, the waves of people will make the wall of power lose. To the tide of people flooding over. However, when that happens, is not for me to speculate, but hope it will happen.

So, that the Power of the People are proven yet again and they hopefully get a just ruler. Who gives them their freedom, the liberties and the justice they deserve. Peace.

Uganda Law Society Statement on Blocking of Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi’s Music Shows (28.12.2018)

White House ends this year with more chaos and a prolonged shutdown!

If you ever thought Donald J. Trump was a great leaders. Always visit one of his profitable Casinos in Atlantic City, oh wait, they all went bankrupt. Just as that should have been a warning from the king of debt. The art of the Steal, sorry Deal. President Trump is showing his true horrific leadership skills, as the calender year of 2018.

There been people leaving the Cabinet since the appointments, the list is longer than a phone catalogue. Therefore, mentioning all of them… would be so long and futile, that the Trump Administration cannot keep people around or even be a little stable. That is why there has been Three White House Communication Directors. There are soon on the third or the forth Chief of Staff. Who remembers Reince Prebius from the start, right? We know, that Trump is creating a mess, but blaming the people around him.

That is why everyone around is acting, except for Jared Kusner and Ivanka Trump, who is playing Civil Servants, while getting paid. That is what nepotism does. They are advisors who survives, because they are connected by blood, not by skills or paid by lobbyists to get hired in his cabinet. That is why at the current moment this is the titles of plenty people: Acting Director of EPA, Acting Secretary of Defence, Acting Attorney General, Acting Chief of Staff and an Acting Pentagon Secretary.

That is why the White House is in chaos. The government is looking foolish and terrible. That is because the President cannot rule himself out. He just blame others and fires them. If not get other people to fire them for him. Trump has started a trade-wars with tariffs, that is hitting the market. There are even reports of no export of soybeans to China. Which is a key market for this commodity, however, because of the tariff war started with steel and aluminium, are now hurting the market. The Stock Exchange is crashing and getting blown, there is lack of confidence in the markets and the wealthy doesn’t want invest in the erratic market, which the state has created by the trade-wars.

Trump has made this mess, he has closed the government as the Senate and Congress had voted over it. Agreed so, that the civil servants and state officials would get paid. However, the President didn’t care, because he doesn’t want to look weak to Conservative Commentators Ann Coulter, who said he was weak for accepting a deal without funding for a wall. A wall Mexico was supposed to pay for somehow. However, the President expect now the US taxpayers to pay for a fictional wall to serve the Southern Border. Which, no one at the Capitol want to give the old man, whose busy watching Fox & Friend, while he drinks doing Diet Coke and bitch about democrats on Twitter. Such a statesman. Nah, not really, but we all knew that by now.

Lets be clear, the whirlwind the US is in, because their own mistakes. They made the system and crowned this man their President. That he took it for granted and doesn’t serve them. Trump does this because of his ego and mismanaged judgment. The White House Cabinet is crappie, because he appointed them and later fired them. If not they resigned for various reasons, but never for honourable ones. As they should have done it for Charlottesville, Children in Cages and Prisons, Zero Tolerance Policy or even Drone Strikes in Yemen and Somalia without any transparency. However, they leaves for other things, because they want to salvage their legacy. Nevertheless, that train has left that station, as they all was enabling the President to do his despicable acts and policies without anyone stopping him.

President Trump will blame others for the financial crashing by his taxes levies, tariffs, trade-wars and other policies, which is making the world more unstable and lack of good trade. Even if he is supposed to be a genius. Everything he touches because worse. He is revising everything Barrack Obama did, without seeing the consequences or even thinking about who it hits. That is why there are more pain to see. Just as the innocent children are dying behind bars in the United States. That is the President fault, as his policy and his orders made it happen. He is guilty for the dying innocent children. That is the mere reality of what the United States has become.

That the wealthy are feeling a pinch, the elites are getting hurt. As they all had faith in Trump is ironic. As they should have seen it coming. He has been the snake-oil salesman for decades. He is proving that with how he runs the government itself.

The Shutdown of the government is a week old now or about so. Where the Trump is doing it over a fictional wall, a requiem of a racist dream. The President are risking wages, added more cost to the government of fan-fiction from the hyperbole white supremacists and their fear. That is who the man seeks support from, that is what he will be remembered for and also his mismanagement. Because even his close allies are screwing up like Mnuchin and his calls with banks before Christmas Eve. But, they are trying to cover-up for the mad-man in the Oval Office. Who cannot deliver and creating havoc on his own. He doesn’t own up to he, he will just fire the Fed Chairman and have someone acting their too.

That is why the President has an acting cabinet, into the worst Stock Market in ages, where the government is in a Shutdown, which will be long-lasting into January somewhere, maybe longer. Depending on the wall and how hard Trump tantrums will last. However, he will look foolish and he continues to hurt civilians and the ones serving the Republic over a tragic Greek tragedy. Something he wouldn’t get or understand. That is the reality.

US is a laughing stock and made so by the President. Who cannot keep himself coherent for a day. Sooner or later, even more of his decisions will back-fire. We just don’t them yet. But he will not enriching the Republic. No, he is on self-destructive mode and many are awaiting the Robert Mueller Report on the Collusion and Obstruction of Justice made the President. As Individual One will have to answer for his actions, at one point, just not while he is in Office. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Government Press Release (28.12.2018)