South Sudan: CTSAMM launces an investigation in Jonglei (17.01.2018)

RDC: Dynamique de l’Opposition Politique Congolaise – Communique en Rapport Avec La Marche Pacifique du 21 Janvier (16.01.2018)

Opinion: President Kabila uses insurgency as a bargain chip to stay in Power!

It is weird to write this again, but the last term of President Joseph Kabange Kabila lasted until a 16th December 2016. We are now on the 16th January 2018. That means the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has had a President without a term for a year and a month, or a total of 396 days. Kabila has been running the DRC without elections or stepped down for over a year.

He has himself been registered for elections twice without anything happening. There has also been insurgencies and all of them seems to be buying him time. The same can be said about what is happening as FARDC and UPDF are now together working to beat ADF in Southern Kivu. This has happen since December 2017, even if the UPDF went in before they had an official agreement.

Just like in early January 2017 former M-23 soldiers and leaders flee from Uganda and Kisoro into DRC. This also happen so the insurgency could be used for leverage. That was done and therefore, the same region needed more uncertainty and now the ADF is the new big-problem. Just as it has happen in the past. If it would be FDLR or Interahamwe, even if this would be mustered into new groups to create insecurity.

During the year, the FARDC General Akii Mundos is synonymous with the Beni Massacres, where he still inflict danger and violence in the region.

We can also question the sudden rise of the Mayi-Mayi attacks in May 2017 as well, since they we’re unofficially sponsored by Burundian government on wishes of Kinshasa. That happen also during the period of uncertainty created.

During the whole year, Kamunia Nsapu have during the year created hostility in Kasai-Oriental, where the state even wanted to hide their crimes and even UN Monitor’s was killed while following the evidence. There has been found dozens of mass graves in the region and still this hasn’t shocked the world and massive breaches of killings from the state. As the militia and FARDC has killed civilians and innocent people in general. While creating even more insecurity.

So the sudden changes of direct attacks on ADF seems like it follows the current paradigm of being insecurity managed to keep Kabila in power. I don’t wish this, but since he has hold himself without an official term for a year and month.

What we should know already is that he took power in January 2001, waited to be elected before 2006 and again 2011. This to the two presidential terms he could in the 3rd Republic. Well, in that figure, means that he had already bonus years that doesn’t count between 2001-2006. Meaning, he was able to postpone it back-then for 5 years before his first election. Now he is again using insurgency and violence to extend his term without an election. Even without changing the Constitution. That is the reason for the violence in insecurity. There is no other reason for it.

It isn’t anything beautiful, it is only more sinister activity in favor of the President Kabila. Kabila are using the military and insurgency to overstay. He uses his power, his leadership and his control until someone takes him away. I will never expect him to just step down. Then he would have done so over a year ago. He would have had an election during 2016. Something he never had, something he postponed for all sorts of reasons. There will come new reasons, CENI will find problems and lack of funding. Even if United States, United Kingdom and the EU offers funding for an election. This while Mineral Extraction continues, oil export and other profitable activity happens without proper taxation.

Kabila will not let this cash-cow go, he has had the control for over 16 years. He has had his terms and no plans of stepping down. Doesn’t matter if is his unpopular or insult the intelligence of his own people. Kabila will use insurgence and insecurity as a bargain chip to stay. Something he used to extend his first term until the first election. Now he is extending his last term with the same tactic. While it cost more and more people’s live for his to stay in power.

He will stay in power, no matter the cost. Kabila has proven that, he want to extend and not let it go. There is no proof that he wants to or has any significant plan of doing so. The army and the allies is still all around him. The important opposition is in the former colony safe-havens, while activists are either in jail or getting detained for standing up against him. Even the churches who march in protest are getting beaten, killed in the streets. Kabila will take anyone down who stands in his way. Just like he did in the previous times.

Kabila, will use the insurgency, insecurity and violence as bargain chip, as a method and use it for all its worth. Not caring for the innocent or the real cost of the action. But that it gives him to stay in Power and relinquish everything he hold dear, the money and the power. Peace.

South Sudan: SPLM Leaders FPD – “Press Statement – On Violation of COH Agreement of 21st December 2017” (15.01.2018)

RDC: Mouvement de Liberation du Congo (M.L.C) – Communique de Presse (15.01.2018)

Joint statement of the African Union and the United Nations on the situation in South Sudan (15.01.2018)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 15, 2018 – Joint statement of the African Union and the United Nations on the situation in South Sudan:

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, strongly condemn the recent violations of the 21 December 2017 Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access in South Sudan.

They call on all South Sudanese fighting parties to immediately cease all hostilities, desist from undertaking any further military operations, and uphold their commitments to the 21 December 2017 Agreement. They further call on the parties to uphold their primary responsibility to protect civilians, adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations underscore the determination of the international and regional community to ensure that the parties abide by their obligations and responsibilities. They affirm their intent to support the imposition of consequences, consistent with the African Union Peace and Security Council Communiqué of 20 September 2017, should the parties continue to violate their own Agreement.

They express their full support for the second phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) under the leadership of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). They call on the parties to participate in the Forum in good faith and with a view towards reaching a compromise and bringing South Sudan back to the path of sustainable peace.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations reaffirm their belief that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan, and the parties must demonstrate the political will to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and update the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) in order to end the appalling suffering inflicted on the South Sudanese population.

ZANU-PF preparing for Elections as in previous years – giving posh cars to Chiefs!

The are scheduled for General Election in September 2018. This has the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa after the ousting of 37 years of Robert Mugabe in November 2017. The new Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) government, which is installed with help of the army and has initial ministries run by important military leaders. Clearly, they are gearing up to secure their livelihood and their future.

So over the weekend there are reports that the Crocodile is planning to do what the Goblin used to do. Pay off the cultural leaders and tribal chiefs of the Republic. Since they have asked for the same benefits as the Cabinet Ministers and Principals Secretaries, who are all getting posh-cars for their service and being in government. The same sort of corrupt activity is something the chiefs wants too. Therefore, this January 2018, shows that ZANU-PF is still the same. Just another figurehead. ED is acting just like Mugabe did. Nothing changes, except the for the name of the Presidency. The act of giving away 280 posh cars is something good old Bob would have done if he still was in power.

In January 2018:

The President assured all other chiefs that they will get their cars before this year’s harmonised elections. There are 52 cars here today. 26 more will arrive next week and so on. All of you will get their cars before elections but today we will distribute 48 cars, six cars per province,” said Cde Mnangagwa” (…) “I am the one who invited you to this conference. I know that it was supposed to be me visiting each one of you but I realised that you are 280 and if I had to meet one of you every week, it would take me three years to complete. I know that you might be aware of what has happened to our country but I felt it was proper for me to officially brief you on the situation. Yes I am now the new President of Zimbabwe after former President [Robert] Mugabe resigned on 21 November 2017, paving way for my swearing in on 24 November,” he said.” (ZBC, 2018)

That is how ED has done it. Now we can see how Bob did it in his day. This is just in recent years. Not even digging deep into the scandals and the cars that has been given away. Here is some reports from 2012 and 2014. That shows what happen this weekend. Could easily happen in the past. Therefore, ED doesn’t do anything different from what Bob did in his day. That should concern Zimbabweans, who thought ED would bring something new, sorry brother, he brings more of the same.

In July 2012:

As if taking a cue from cabinet ministers, the force recently purchased the 2012 models of top of the range vehicles like the BMW 328i series saloon cars, Range Rover Sports, Nissan Navara LE double cabs to latest Ford Ranger LXT and double cab Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for senior officers. The delivery of vehicles comes hard on the heels of cabinet’s outrageous splash of over US$20 million for the purchase of Mercedes Benz E280s for ministers, Land Rover Discovery 4 TDis for deputy ministers, and Jeep Cherokees and Range Rovers for permanent secretaries late last year” (…) “Other senior civil servants like principal directors and directors now drive the latest Isuzu KB300Dtec double cabs while parliamentarians have received either Isuzu 300Dtec or Mazda BT50 double cabs. The police took delivery of the vehicles in the last six weeks but the cars have remained out of the public eye since they are unmarked and have no registration plates. The Zimbabwe Independent saw the new fleet parked at the designated senior officers’ parking bays at Police General Headquarters in Harare. Sources revealed that the saloon cars and SUVs were bought for senior officers from the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) to Commissioners and the Commissioner-General” (Zimbabwe Independent, 2012).

In December 2012:

The government is set to spend almost $9 million on an unbudgeted traditional chiefs’ vehicle scheme after a Parliamentary portfolio committee recommended that each of them receive $35 000 instead of $18 000 to buy vehicles. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government recommended that the 250 traditional chiefs should be allocated $35 000 each to procure vehicles of their choice, as their terms of office were much longer than those of MPs” (Zimbabwe Situation, 2012).

In October 2014:

Harare – President Robert Mugabe’s broke government is set to splash $ 11 million on off-road vehicles to appease the increasingly vocal chiefs who want to be feted like kings” (…) “On Tuesday, Finance Minster Patrick Chinamasa told Parliament that Treasury was seized with the cheifs’ request off-roader vehicles – 280 Ford Rangers – whose price averages $50,000 at local dealership” (Zvauya, 2014).

So as in 2012 and 2014, that the government are giving traditional chiefs cars for millions of US Dollars. They are doing the same in 2018. Just that its ED instead of Bob doing so. There is no difference in it and the reason behind it. The Traditional Chiefs are getting it months in advance of coming election. To make sure their loyalty to ZANU-PF is still there and taken care off. There is no gifts without a pink slip. The chiefs are getting it, because then they are in the debt of the ruling party. ED knows this and the chiefs knows this. Bob knew that too, when he was doing similar and promising similar gifts to them.

The are promises to be made and also policy changes, but this fit the ordinary pattern of Bob. Only under the new flagship sponsored also by the military leadership who toppled him. ED should be careful, but with this act during the weekend. He was just acting in the same way as Bob. For all the matters of the Traditional Chiefs, he could be Bob. If they get cars from ED or Bob is the same. They are still payed off and paid for loyalty. Not for service delivery, but for staying loyal to the ZANU-PF and the ruling regime as it is. Peace.

Reference:

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Company (ZBC) – ‘Chiefs receive cars’ (13.01.2017) link: http://www.zbc.co.zw/?p=71486

Zimbabwe Situation – ‘Chiefs cars to gobble $9 million’ (18.12.2012) link: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_w_chiefs-cars-to-gobble-9-million-newsday-zimbabwe/

Zimbabwe Independent – ‘ZRP splashes on luxury cars’ (07.06.2012) link: https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2012/06/07/zrp-splashes-on-luxury-cars/

Zvauya, Chengetai – ‘Govt to splash $11m on chiefs’ vehicles’ (04.10.2014) link: https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2014/10/04/govt-to-splash-11m-on-chiefs-vehicles

South Sudan: IGAD HLRF Power Sharing Proposal (January 2018)

RDC: CLC – “Appel du Comite Laic de Coordination Dimanche 21 Janvier 2018: Ensemble Marchons pour Prendre en Mains Notre Destin” (13.01.2018)

Joint statement of the African Union and the United Nations on the situation in South Sudan (12.01.2018)