Statement by the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) on talks with the Ethiopian Government (13.05.2018)

South Sudan: IGAD High Level Revitalization Forum – Summary of Consultation (12.05.2018)

Somalia: Somali National Armed Forces Letter of Agreement to Red Four Security Group (26.04.2018)

ONLF: The Lynching of 24 years old Ms Taysir Omar Food- the Beginning of the END of TPLF regime and its killing squads in the Somali Territory (12.05.2018)

On the Morning of May 10, 2018 the killing squads created by TPLF in the Somali Territory code named Liyu-police in order to terrorise them as special police abducted Ms Taysir Omar Food, a twenty four year old unmarried girl and Lynched her at the Qabridaharre police station in Ogaden. After two ours they called the relatives of the extra-judicially killed girl and asked them to sign a disclosure claiming that she killed herself. The relatives who immediately took the picture of the girl with marks of the wire used for lynching and nail scratch during her struggle, refused to sign the paper and run crying to the town centre.

After hearing what happened the town’s folk took to the streets and started an impromptu demonstration. The Ethiopian army and security forces tried to frighten the demonstrators firing life bullets. Later the head of security and army in Qabridaharre called the elders and asked them to calm the people but the elders refused. Hundreds of people were detained and the town was put under Curfew.

The Ethiopian Army and Liyu-police has been committing massive violations of human rights in the Somali territory under Ethiopia for the last twenty five years and has made the Somali territory(Ogaden) hell on Earth. Although the Somali people resisted and paid a heavy price for struggle for their right to self-determination, the new upheavals that started in other parts of Ethiopia has brought a measure of hope that at least the new Prime Minister will take action against the TPLF right hand henchman in Ogaden, who was the main instrument of TPLF pogrom in Ogaden, Abdi Ilay. However, after the status quo in Ogaden was kept as before, despite changes in the Ethiopia, the Somali people started agitating peacefully for their rights. Activists in Europe and America intensified their propagation of the crimes committed in Ogaden and demonstrations started in Siti (Shinile)Region, then spread to Fafan(Jigjiga) and parts of Degahbur, Godey and in the Whole of the Ogaden where the people started expressing the need for change and lifting of the undeclared marshall law in Ogaden that was imposed since 1994, when ONLF was banned and the territory put under undeclared military administration, using the Somali regional administration as proxy.

The Killing of Taysir by lynching is reminiscent of the lynching of Ms Ridwan by the Ethiopian army in 2007, is a new catalyst for the insurrection of Somali people to get rid of TPLF special rule that is based on war economy, using the Ogaden as cash cow to rebuilt Tigray region.

ONLF Categorically condemns the Ethiopian regime that allows the criminals in Ogaden to terrorise a whole nation and commit such heinous crimes as befell Taysir to continue and calls the Somali people to unite and stand together in order to liberate the Somali people from this criminal regime and achieve genuine self-determination.

ONLF calls upon the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government to stop the crimes it is coming against the Somali people using such people as Abdi Ilay and allow the Somali people to exercise their right to self-determination.

ONLF supports and stands by the Somali people in their struggle against occupation and tyranny.

Unity, Perseverance, Self-reliance and Victory to the People

Burundi: Is the Imbonerakure or an unknown militia behind the Buganda Commune massacre?

Just as we are in the final week before the Referendum vote, which is to make sure a secure, life Presidency for Pierre Nkrurunziza and for his party CNDD-FDD. On Friday there has been a massacre in the Cibitoke Province, Buganda Commune close to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they youth-militia has had extensive training of late. If that is escalated this weekend. That is just speculation, but the Imbonerakure, has been involved in violent activity, community policing and harassment of the ones opposing the regime.

Reports from Cibitoke in April 2018:

The first group composed mostly of those from the commune commune went on patrol to the rivière river, while the other group composed mostly of the commune went to patrol the border with Rwanda. Questioned by our source if these paramilitary activities are endorsed by the provincial administration of cibitoke, these imbonerakure have informed that they do nothing without the administration knowing. You will also know that on Tuesday, around 14 pm, the imbonerakure of the localité locality, mostly composés, made their entrance to the forêt forest by the commune commune. At the present time, according to our source, the head of the paramilitary training in mugira is a demobilized man named Jean Marie Ndayishimiye. The latter says that they are being prepared to counter imminent rebel attacks from Rwanda. The latest information collected by our source says that since 10 April 2018 these paramilitary training has been very intensive on a land of LA, Colline Hill, zone area of the commune commune. The names of those who take the lead in these training are: Edmond Maniragaba, Schadrack Nganyirimana, Delachance Mbonihankuye and Daniel Ndirakubagabo. The trainer in these paramilitary training exercises is a soldier from la province under the command of his superiors” (Agakemanyi, 13.04.2018).

We know that the truth will be hard to expose as the reports coming from VOA and other agencies are arrested on their way to travel there or even losing their equipment, as the government trying to seal it off. As they are claiming terrorist did the deed. However, that is uncertain, as this area has been a massive training-ground for the Imbonerakure, where the local authorities accepted their actions.

Some claims are these are from a group of para-military from the Democratic Republic of Congo, however, with no possibility of verifying that. At this point it can be either that or the Imbonerakure. Because, both parties are likely to do this. What is suspicious is that the authorities are not disclosing what sort of group that would be or what their mission in Burundi are. They not like insurgents from DRC who goes into Uganda, which has roots in Kisoro for instance. Therefore, the reasons for the sudden deaths and massacre. Is even more questionable. As to who did it and what the state is covering up.

It is not long ago, on the 5th May 2018, the imbonerakure tortured 5 men in the province for their willingness to vote now in the 17th May polls. These was opposition supporters who was taken by the militia and taught a lesson by the state sponsored youth-militia of the province. Therefore, they have already shown that they could hurt civilians. Therefore, could they go further?

I don’t have the answer, but that wouldn’t be impossible. That what is worrying, if the state financed militia, which has recently promoted the former leader into the Cabinet. He went from leading the militia into becoming the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that being Ezéchiel Nibigira. Therefore, we know that the Imbonerakure, is now vital. If it wasn’t so, the President wouldn’t have appointed the former leader from there. Peace.

Burundi: CNARED-Giriteka – Communique de Presse (12.05.2018)

Burundi: Moussa Faki Mahamat letter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the Inter-Burundi Dialogue and the Arusha Agreement ahead of the Referendum (09.05.2018)

United Nations Officials condemn targeted and widespread sexual violence in South Sudan and call for the immediate cessation of the attacks against civilians (11.05.2018)

Sexual violence as a widespread and systematic tactic of war continues in South Sudan, reportedly to punish civilians who are perceived to be associated with a particular political or ethnic group.

The United Nations has received reports of attackers demanding money, alcohol and cattle through threats of violence and intimidation, including sexual violence. Testimonies indicate that women and girls of all ages have been subjected to rape, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and girls as young as four years old. Information collected over the past week indicates that at least 66 women and girls have been raped since attacks began on 21 April, with the total number of cases likely to be much higher. In addition, dozens of women and girls are believed to have been abducted, with some having been released after enduring days in captivity.

In former Unity state, young armed soldiers, reportedly affiliated to the SPLA, allegedly attacked the island of Meer, where a number of civilians, including women, children and the elderly, were reportedly killed and injured, while others, including children, drowned as they tried to escape. Instances of abductions and sexual violence against women and girls, were also reported.

The three United Nations Officials call on all parties in South Sudan to immediately end the use of sexual violence, cease the commission of atrocities, and hold the perpetrators of these heinous acts accountable as a matter of priority. The three Officials urge the parties to the conflict to honor the commitments they have made to address conflict-related sexual violence and to protect the civilian population, and further call on the Government of South Sudan to abide by the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access they signed in 2017. In 2014, the Government of South Sudan signed a Joint Communiqué to end sexual violence and recommitted to an Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children and all other grave violations against children. In 2015, the SPLM-IO signed an Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use, as well as the killing and maiming, of children and in 2014 issued a Unilateral Communiqué on conflict-related sexual-violence. “The United Nations stands ready to support national efforts to end, prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan and to improve the protection of civilians, including children”, the three Officials stated.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Youth League – Uganda Chapter: “Youth League decries USA’s Diplomatic Overtones on Peace Process” (09.05.2018)

SPLM-IO: “Statement from the Press Statement on the Civil War in South Sudan” (10.05.2018)