Togo: Fatal Crackdown on the Demonstrations as Gnassingbe seeks to rule until 2030!

Eyadama Gnassingbe took power of Togo in 1967, since then he ruled until he stopped breathing. Than, his son Faure Gnassingbe took power on the 5th February 2005. Now on the 20th December 2018, the President and his Party is planning to hold a Referendum giving him endless power until the 2030. If Faure would rule that long, his family would have ruled the Togolaise Republic for 63 years. Today in 2018, they have already been in power for 52 years. If that isn’t long enough.

That is why people are demonstrating and speaking out against the injustice, the lack of respect and the government who are clearly self-seeking, family business enterprise, not there to serve the Togolese. With all of that in mind, the Republic have banned demonstrations up to the Referendum and elections both on the 16th December 2018 and 20th December 2018. On the 20th it is the legislative elections, which the opposition says shouldn’t happen during this political crisis. However, the Republic and the President doesn’t mind. They are securing another fake mandate for their power. They are also anticipating that the French and Chinese will support their siege of power. As it has done in the past.

In the mid-1980s the French sent troops to save Eyadama and they did. Because, he is part of their Françafrique. Part of the French Empire and their influence in Lome. As they would be beneficial economically for Paris and also another place to secure loyalty from. That is what the Gnassingbe family has done. Therefore, when in need, they can always call for soldiers from the French to save them in need. Just like in mid-1980s. They could ask for that again, to secure the ballots their way in 2018. Don’t be shocked if Faure does like his father, he learned it all from him.

That is why Gnassingbe and his police officers, his soldiers are killing civilians who demonstrate, the death-count does matter, each of these fallen men and woman, are blood on the hands of the President. Every one of them are causalities, because they are now openly shooting them and executing them. This is really showing the world of the tyranny of Gnassingbe.

Gnassingbe are using soldiers to kill civilians on the streets, as they are throwing tear-gas and shot at protesters, not only in Lome, but across the Republic. This is a crackdown against the opposition in the days ahead of the Referendum to seal the Presidency for Life and also legislative success for the President. As the Opposition has boycotted the elections and haven’t registered themselves for the votes.

Therefore, Gnassingbe are clearly not listening and using illegitimate force, he is sending soldiers and killing people on the street, as they are voicing out their frustration against him and his rule.

Also, the last few days have proven the lack of value of ECOWAS, who let Gnassingbe go off the chains and militarized the streets. As he is planning to rule until 2030. That means he will have had himself 25 years in power. Trying to compete with his father who ruled for 38 years. This because he is changing the Constitution and giving way for 3 more terms this month.

This is really something else and show how Faure plans to grab it all and not give way. That he isn’t the justified ruler or President. He is just the figurehead who orders the military to silence his population. That is what he does.

The Constitutional Amendment shouldn’t be voted over and Faure should resign. Not that either wil happen, but for everyone he kills. Their souls will be forever connected with Gnassingbe, they are his remains and his legacy. They are the stains that pours out every time he writes with his pen. The stains of blood that drips from his hands and blurs his vision. Because their souls will forever cast misfortune over his reign. Peace.

Opinion: How many authorities does Bosco need to fight himself and corruption?

Today is the day, that the State House is launching the Anti Corruption Unit, which will be based at the State House. This is a State House project and meaning that it is officiated and controlled directly by the President and the Office of the President. That means that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are pulling the strings.

What is strange about it all, is that there are already plenty of government organizations working against corruption, first and foremost the Law Enforcement of the Police Force. Second, it is the Judiciary. Third, its the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Fourth, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), fifth the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) and sixth the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA). A sideshow that could accomplish and also recognized as organization who could inform the other authorities is the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), that is if they cared about illicit funds.

Well, when we know, the Republic has already, the UPF, Judiciary, OAG, IGG, FIA and the PPDA. They should all have the capacity to fight the corruption if the President and the state cared. There shouldn’t be a need for an another State House – Anti Corruption Unit, which we can ask about mandate and does it go into the ones that is already there?

Because, what will be the different between what the IGG or OAG are reporting to the Judiciary/Police Force? Will there be a different between what the FIA and PPDA are reporting about?

There are already so many chefs, but so little mandate or lack of institutionalizing, as the President haven’t given any of these the space or the ability to do their work. If they had, then the State House wouldn’t stop the OAG or IGG reports, as they have to be leaked or insiders has done it to destroy other big-men’s career.

I have little faith in the Anti Corruption Unit, from the same man that solicit deals from foreign investors and get the cash through customs without any questions at Entebbe Airport. Not like that man, will not continue to get Kickbacks or Presidential Handshakes for that matter.

He will clearly silence the arrangement done to facilitate deals at the State House. That is why the Unit will be an in-house thing. Who knows what it will do, other than take down smaller cases, but they will not go after the Untouchables. As the plenty of organizations isn’t doing today. They are even leaving the big-men behind and letting them go. You can steal a road from UNRA, but if your part of the cronies, they will let you go.

Therefore, this is a PR Ploy, another scheme and another way of getting more people involved. But not deliver anything significant, because then they have to take family members of the President, even the President answering for grand-corruption, that he himself has done. Peace.

Brexit: Court of Justice of the European Union – The United Kingdom is free to revoke unilaterally the notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU (10.12.2018)

Justice For Burundi: Communique – Reaction au Documentaire de la BBC Concernant les centres de Detention, de Torture er d’extermination au Burundi en ce jour Anniversaire de la Declaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme (10.12.2018)

Somalia: Another Showdown Awaits in Parliament!

This week there been plenty of political movement in the Federal Somali Parliament in Mogadishu. As the Lower House and Members of Parliament are reacting to the acts of the Duo of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire.

As there been reports of economic mismanagement, also massive corruption scandal as the Ministry of Finance cannot prove vast amount of funds gone missing. Deputy Speaker of the Lower House, Abdiweli Ibrahim Muudey disbanded the Lower House Oversight Committee of Finance, while the Speaker Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman has receded that decision.

Today, there we’re 96 Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) has filed in a Motion to the Lower House of Impeachment of the President, because of lack of transparency with the agreements with Eritrea and Ethiopia without any Parliament oversight.

There are unverified report, that before the tabled motion was accepted by the Speaker Mursal, two of his deputies, that there was a lunch meeting between Kheire, where they discussed the motion and registered the motion of impeachment.

Just like last time, when Jawari was taken out as the Speaker in the Lower-House. The showdown was with Kheire and him. Now, it seems that Kheire … is trying to take out Farmaajo to take control of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and own the Vila Somalia. That seems like the case.

There are also support for the impeachment of the President from the Council of Inter-State Cooperation (CIC) who in a Press Release today supported the Motion itself. That is why, there are powerful forces in play. Who knows who are moving and for what real reasons. But this is happening quickly.

Who knows what is next up in-line as MPs will come out and play it out in every which way. The other speakers will react to the recognition of the Motion. The uncertainty and the next acts will be important.

This is if there is plans from Kheire to takeover or if someone else has plans. As it was Kheire who took out Jawari and since he succeeded. He might use Mursal to impeach Farmaajo, but that is just hearsay at this point. Some say this is a normal corrupt shakedown of the President and Prime Minister. As the Parliament are using these techniques to solicit money from the Villa Somalia and Villa Hargeisa.

We have to see how this goes. If this is PM playing games again like someone has reported, or if this is foreign forces influencing the Parliament, lastly if this is a way of soliciting more money from the PM and President to keep them. We don’t know right now, if they are really against the agreements with Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Surely, the Somali Parliament and Political Operatives will be in turmoil until this is settled. We have to wonder if Kheire is scheming or not. If Farmaajo thinks he can win over this or anyone else is feeding the dragon. Peace.

Opinion: Nkurunziza is playing with fire… but only burning himself!

Someone has lit the matches in Bujumbura, Burundi, as President Pierre Nkurunziza haven’t only been a cowardly not attending the recent 20th Heads of State Meeting in Arusha, Tanzania of the East African Community (EAC). This is as the Inclusive Inter-Burundian Dialogue have been stalled, as the Burundi Crisis of 2015 doesn’t die down and Nkurunziza haven’t gotten rid of all his enemies of the state yet.

He has suspended several of Non-Governmental Organizations, recently closed the UN Human Rights Office there. Nkurunziza has closed both local media houses, but also international from having possibility to report from Burundi. Therefore, the amount of reports are dwindling. Also the civic space and liberty to assemble, as the State has put on news laws, which the NGOs and other acquires to follow to be able to work there.

Therefore, the reality is that Nkurunziza and the authorities are not only stifling own people by any means, he is now trying to do it on a bigger stage. He has already done what he can get rid of FNL and other opposition leaders. That is why there been Burundian people who has fled the Republic to get safe-haven in Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and in Rwanda. This cannot be forgotten, that because one man wanted to create a Constitutional Crisis by having a Third Term.

The 2015 Third Term Coup, the Constitutional Court judgment is the reason for all the problems today. That the President lingers on and does whatever he cans to stay. Nkurunziza are forging fires elsewhere, he has even sent soldiers into the DRC to fight insurgency there too. That has been reported in the recent months.

While he is escalating tensions and making his own issues regional, as he blames Rwanda for trying to topple him. Paul Kagame has helped topple leaders in the DRC in the past, also topple the previous leadership in Rwanda, too. But at this very moment, it seems more like making a foreign enemy to save face internally. Nkurunziza has enough problems at home, that the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) doesn’t have to intervene. Not that Kagame is gentle nad humble, but he would have done it with perfection if had really tried. He wouldn’t have played around with toy-soldiers. He would have sent brigades, had RPGs and blown the border-regions into pieces.

However, that isn’t the case, the CNDD-FDD and Nkurunziza are playing with fire. That is maybe why he has invested such vast amount of time in the Imbonerakura, which he has even promoted the previous leader of into his cabinet. While they are joining together with soldiers and police officers, ghosting oppositions and activists. They are either detained, kidnapped or killed.

That is why, the President is trying again to make Rwanda the giant trouble, as an Enemy. As he cannot make more of his people his enemies. There aren’t enough Burundians to do so after 3 years of turmoil. He has used the Rwandan people as pawns before and said so, as there has been bad-blood between the neighbors. But at this point of time, Nkurunziza are fishing for sympathy and also leverage. As he has none in elsewhere.

That is why he had to abstain and boycott the EAC Summit of late. Because, Nkurunziza isn’t that brilliant and he needs something to sustain himself and his lack of integrity. As he cannot stall or play foolish with the dialogue anymore. We all know why, he is not interested in anything else than running himself in 2020. He wants to be President for Life. He is just doing the dialogue to up-ease and secure foreign support. However, that is dwindling and lackluster because of his own activity within his own borders.

Therefore, he needs blood and bad-blood from the neighbor to look good. Even if that makes him look stupid. As we know the motives behind it. Shield himself from local criticism, because he is fighting a foreign adversary, who he needed to retaliate against to save himself. That would be self-defense. Alas, it isn’t really, because the adversary … aren’t fighting him.

Nkurunziza is playing with fire, using matches, but not burning the hut. Pierre is only burning his fingers on the matches. Peace.

Kenya: Government and Communication Authority statements on M-PESA Outage (09.12.2018)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Communique de Presse – Portant Sur La Journee Internationale de Lutte Contre la Corruption Celebree le 09 Decembre de Chaque Annee (08.12.2018)

Another Corruption Scandal: President Kenyatta office has 2,7bn unaccounted for!

There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.”Joseph Pulitzer

In Kenya it is ordinary that the Jubilee Administration of the President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. This administration has had so many scandals and corruption cases, that this is too common. It is a rare occasion if there isn’t some scheme, some funds missing or some development project funding siphoned away. That is so common, that the amounts of funds or state reserves eaten would be a hectic calculation. This has been steadily going on since 2013 and continues until the next term.

The President has promised to tackle corruption and corrupt officials, but now his own direct office has mismanaged funds for years. Therefore, it is deliberately and done with purpose, as they didn’t anticipate it backfiring or even being leaked. They worked directly with the President and at this point, he is sort of untouchable, as well as his cronies who have also done illicit acts within the administration. Therefore, this sort of scandal fits a bit to perfectly.

Presidential Office spent 2,7bn unaccounted for:

A report by the Auditor General revealed that the President’s office cannot satisfactorily account for over Sh2.7 billion spent over three years. An examination of records shows the Presidency spent Sh2,729,192,010 on ‘confidential expenditure’ in three financial years. The Presidency provided certificates to support the expenditure and said the purpose and particulars of the expenditure cannot be made public. However, the report by Auditor General Edward Ouko indicates that unsatisfactory matters regarding the confidential expenditure between 2014 and 2016 financial years remain unresolved” (Patrick Vidija – ‘Uhuru’s office fails to account for Sh2.7bn spent in three years – Auditor General’ 07.12.2018, link: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/12/07/uhurus-office-fails-to-account-for-sh27bn-spent-in-three-years-auditor_c1862734).

This is not the biggest eating challenge. That the Office of the President have now spent Sh. 2,7bn which they cannot account for. In USD this is $26,678,305 or $26,6m. That is a big amount of money, which could have been used to do what they where supposed to. Instead, they might have gone to side-dishes, own President on fancy cars and houses. If not his real-estate or any of his businesses to expand them. Because, they cannot show where the money really went.

That is just the mere observation of what the Auditor General are saying. That the AG cannot find the proof of spending of $26m between 2014 to 2016. Clearly, these funds was spent on whatever the President saw fit. Whoever knows where it went, as the Office of President are calling it confidential.

President Kenyatta has to answer for this, as the Life Style Audit should start here, if it isn’t mere words or PR.

He and his PR team can cook-up whatever, the President and his Team cannot run away from this. Kenyatta is again proving his acts of graft. Kenyatta is proving how corrupt he is. Uhuru knows this. But he will play that he doesn’t know.

Time to put to rest the fight against corruption. Unless the President wants to fight himself and the Presidents Men. However, that will not happen, because he will reveal all the thieving and that will not be something grand, but instead something sinister. Peace.

White House Sack-Race Contines: John Kelly ousted, the enabler is now blocked!

John Kelly was hired as new Chief of Staff in the Trump Administration on the 27th July 2017. He was first the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, to become the clean-up boy within the Administration. Not that it has worked, as the man couldn’t bring stability or any sort of coherent acts together. More like another enabler of the President. That is who General Kelly will be remembered as now.

There been so many sacked or replaced in the White House since the November 2016, that the Trump Administration has a long sheet getting closer to a pamphlet. That is why this sort of sacking isn’t surprising, as he is supposed to leave by end of the year. That means by 2019, the administration will have their third Chief of Staff.

It was first Reince Priebus and now John Kelly. Whoever takes the post after these two, knows the issues within the Administration and it starts with the head. It is the Commander-In-Chief, the Executive or the President who is wasting people and using them like skittles.

I do not feel for sorry for any individual getting fired. They knew what they went into. They wanted power and get appointed to high offices. By a nonchalant and self-serving man, who has no care for anyone else, than himself. Just like is now hiring a former Fox News Hostess as the UN Ambassador after Nikki Haley. So, if he would hire someone from there wouldn’t be surprising at this point. He is having more of a game-show approach, than finding people out of merit for the positions. Even Ivanka or Kushner could get this one as he wants to keep the state in the family.

We know also now thanks to his statements what sort of man, Kelly really is, this was reported by Paul Waldman: “What all this adds up to is the insistence that immigrants are not us, and that they will never become truly American. Kelly might or might not be aware that it is precisely how his Irish ancestors were portrayed a century and a half ago, as uneducated brutes who brought nothing but crime and violence to America. Kelly is also of Italian descent; his maternal grandfather “never spoke a word of English and made his living peddling a fruit cart in East Boston,” according to an article last month in Politico. Yet he seems to have turned out okay” (…) “Finally, we should understand that while Kelly’s rhetoric might not be as inflammatory as that of the president, he has essentially the same perspective, and that perspective is now being put into action through the administration’s policies” (Paul Waldman – ‘The Plum Line – John Kelly’s terrible immigration lies’ 11.05.2018, link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/05/11/john-kellys-terrible-immigration-lies/?utm_term=.de15880d97b1).

Kelly is just following a long line of people who has shown their vicious side in the White House. Not that it is something new, but this Administration is really getting it out of people. If you want to loose your respect and people acknowledging you. Than, you are enabler who take a job at this White House. Trump will use you and take your pledges. There will be nothing left to remember or redeem, as your legacy will be stained. Just like Kelly has.

Not only has he been the General that kept Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility open and working directly to undermine the efforts of Obama to close it. He was the General in-charge of it. Therefore, we should understand, why he is such an ignorant man, whose preferences politically would be aligned with Trump. Just saying it more calmly, but having the same meaning.

We also saw his bad judgment when he described and lied about Frederica Wilson, which he did in October 2017, as he said this about her:

And a congresswoman stood up, and in the long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there and all of that and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building, and how she took care of her constituents because she got the money, and she just called up President Obama, and on that phone call he gave the money — the $20 million — to build the building. And she sat down, and we were stunned. Stunned that she had done it. Even for someone that is that empty a barrel, we were stunned” – John Kelly (Ledyard King – ‘Video debunks John Kelly’s claim that Frederica Wilson took credit for FBI building funds’ 20.10.2017, link: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/10/20/chief-staff-kelly-falsely-accuses-rep-wilson-taking-credit-funding-fbi-building/784456001/).

So with him saying that about Congresswoman Wilson, the further reporting from Ledyard King states: “A video of the ceremony released Friday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel shows that Wilson never took credit for getting the money, which was appropriated before she came to office. To the contrary, she gives a speech praising the FBI and the dead agents for which the building is named. She does take credit for, at the request of the FBI, rushing through in four weeks the naming of the building for the agents in time for the dedication ceremony: Benjamin P. Grogan and Jerry L. Dove” (Ledyard King – ‘Video debunks John Kelly’s claim that Frederica Wilson took credit for FBI building funds’ 20.10.2017, link: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/10/20/chief-staff-kelly-falsely-accuses-rep-wilson-taking-credit-funding-fbi-building/784456001/ ).

So, we see what the Oval Office and the President does to a man. He makes them little and disgraceful, lying and not apologizing for it. He went out and attacked Wilson, but he didn’t cover his story. As it wasn’t true, he did that with an open critic of the President. As a token of loyalty attacking her, but not with truth, but empty rhetoric. Just like his boss.

Who is up next, to take the job and become another piranha for Trump? Someone who doesn’t care about their legacy and want to show their true despicable attitude for a moment of power. Because, clearly, that is what this administration does to people. It is just inevitable.

John Kelly has proven that, he was supposed to be the adult in the room, instead he was the enabler of all the madness, the insincerity and deception done by this Administration. He didn’t soften or make things better, he didn’t make it worse either. It was just more of the same, the same rhetoric, the same policies and actions, which everyone see.

Kelly cannot run away from it, he can hope people forget, but not bank on it. Peace.