Burundi: The Ministry of Labor adds stoppage on the civil servants salaries from January to secure funds for the 2020 Elections!

As the Burundian Government, the CNDD-FDD (The National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy), the ruling regime under President Pierre Nkurunziza are clearly gearing up for the Constitutional Change for securing a fourth term and also elections in 2020. Since he had a controlled election in 2015, that ushered in his official third term, which was questionable already. Therefore, creating insecurity and protest. That has led to refugees and to crisis, which is still until today. The Burundian government are really grasping everything and also stopping the any possible progress in the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, since it would mean that Nkurunziza had to step down. Something he is clearly not intending to do.

Today, on the 18th January 2018, the Ministry of Labor or “State Functions” has announced that every single state employee will be submitting their contribution through their salary from this month (January 2018), which will automatically be taken from their salary as a tax. The tax can be called “Contribution for 2020 Election”.

The Minister says this is their patriotic duty in a sense, that this can be seen as stoppage from the payment on the salary, since the Ministry of Labor is making this patriotic duty to secure funding for the coming election and changes of Constitution so that the President can run in 2020. This proves how messed up the Burundian government is. When the Minister for Labor Félix Mpozeriniga have announced this to all public servants, civil servants or government officials.

So we can officially know that Pierre Nkurunziza plans a fourth term, as his party and regime is even adding taxes on the state employees, through the stoppage in patriotic view, as the “Contribution for 2020 Election”, which this is and they are doing it because they know they will not be questioned or have anyone who discuss this internally.

The levy, the added tax and the stoppage is a proof of the plan and we can just await the days of a change of the constitution, so that the Nkurunziza government can continue to rule without any doubt. For the doubters that he would ever leave, should know question their own brilliant mind. Nkurunziza has no interest in stepping down. He will only leave if someone ends his life. Nkurunziza will keep this post until someone do a coup d’etat against him. Because he will change the laws and use the position until he stops breathing. Anything else, is a lie against the narrative he has already created.

That is why CNDD-FDD and Nkurunziza will pursuit anyway necessary to stay in power. This is yet another proof of that, not only interfering and controlling the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, so that the real opposition and the ones who is seen as enemies will be detained, assassinated or flee to exile. That is the state of affairs.

This is what Nkurunziza does and what he wants to continue by any means. Now adding extra taxes to make sure that happens. Peace.

South Sudan: SSNMC – “News of a thwarted kidnapping attempt on SSNMC Chairman Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro (18.01.2018)

Sudan: Urgent call for investigation into the custodial death of a Pharmacist whilst National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) detention in South Darfur (17.01.2018)

Mr. Ahmed’s family rejected the findings of the report and insisted that he died as a result of torture suffered whilst in NISS custody.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, January 17, 2018 – Sudanese authorities should urgently investigate the torture and custodial death of a Pharmacist and alleged ill-treatment and torture of five others accused of misusing emergency drugs at Giraida hospital and selling them to private pharmacies.

On 10 January 2018 at 9 AM, six medical professionals attached to Giraida hospital were arrested by NISS of Giraida, South Darfur and detained without charge for their alleged involvement in the illegal sale of emergency drugs from Giraida hospital, a government hospital, to private pharmacies. Five of the six detainees were released the following day, 11 January.  Available information suggests that the detainees were beaten and verbally assaulted by the NISS on their first day in custody.

The individuals who were released include:

  1. Adam Jar Elnabi, physician , Giraida hospital
  2. Salam Ahmed Adam , male, Medical Assistant, Giraida hospital
  3. Mubarek Hassan Osman , male ,Nurse, Giraida hospital
  4. Nor Aldeen Adam Hassan, male, Nurse, Giraida hospital
  5. Mohamed Yagoub Adam, male, Nurse, Giraida hospital

Following their release, the five personnel were ordered to report to the NISS office every day.

Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, a pharmacist at Giraida hospital was held longer in custody and died on 12 January, after spending two days in custody.  According to information received, Mr. Ahmed was detained longer on account of his presumed affiliation with the Sudanese Congress Party. Mr. Ahmed is thought to have been severely tortured whilst in custody as his body showed signs of torture, including wounds sustained from a solid object.

On 12 January at 7 PM, the NISS took his body to Giraida Hospital. The Director of Graida hospital contacted Mr. Ahmed’s family to come and receive his body. The family refused to receive the body unless an autopsy was carried out by the hospital. The family reported that they were denied access to criminal form 8, a medical evidence form used in criminal proceedings related to death or grievous hurt.

On 13 January 2018 at 4 AM, the NISS transferred the body of the deceased to Nyala hospital, the main hospital in South Darfur state, under orders from the Commissioner of Giraida municipality. At Nyala hospital a medical report was issued and the findings indicated that Mr. Ahmed died of natural causes. However Mr. Ahmed’s family rejected the findings of the report and insisted that he died as a result of torture suffered whilst in NISS custody.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) calls on the Government of Sudan to immediately investigate the grave allegations and hold those responsible to account. The reported allegations of torture and the circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Ahmed should be the subject of an immediate, thorough, impartial, public and transparent investigation by the Sudanese authorities

The authorities should also guarantee the safety of Adam Jar Elnabi, Salam Ahmed Adam, Mubarek Hassan Osman, Nor Aldeen Adam Hassan and Mohamed Yagoub Adam and cease the harassment of the medical personnel. An investigation should be conducted into the allegations of torture or ill-treatment they faced whilst in custody.

ACJPS reiterates its call for law reform and calls on the Government of Sudan to adopt legislation that defines and criminalises torture in line with international standards including the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), provide effective access to justice and adequate reparation to victims of torture, and ensure that confessions obtained under torture are not used or accepted by courts under any circumstances. The Government should expressly denounce the use of torture by security agents to intimidate or extract confessions from persons in their custody.

Background

Sudanese authorities have been consistently implicated in the use of torture as a means of intimidation and to extract confessions. Despite the prohibition of torture in Sudan’s 2005 Interim National Constitution, other legislation, such as the 2010 National Security Act and 1994 Evidence Act, creates conditions rendering detainees extremely vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment. The 2007 Armed Forces Act, 2008 Police Act, and 2010 National Security Act each grant immunities to state actors.

The government of Sudan has repeatedly failed to ensure prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigations into allegations of torture, ill-treatment and has failed to ensure effective remedies or provide reparation to the victims. Even in cases where the immunities mentioned above have been lifted, victims of torture have faced various barriers that make it extremely hard to report cases of torture. ACJPS is not aware of a single case where an alleged perpetrator of torture has been held to account. The ACHPR found in case 379/09 against Sudan that remedies are not available to people tortured by the NISS because the power to lift immunities is at the discretion of the director of the NISS and is not subject to judicial oversight.

South Sudan: CTSAMM Report 2018/03 – SGBV in the Juba Area, Central Equatoria (15.01.2018)

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

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

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

Burundi: Mysterious cases of dying goats that was given by LVEMP II in Kirundo, Mwaro and Gitega!

There are sometimes some coincidences and others are just to rare to not comment. That in three districts in Burundi, this being Gitega, Mwaro and Kirundo. That within two weeks 3044 goats died. This has been verified by the Ministry of Agriculture in a Press Release made by Dr. Deogratias Nsanganlyumwami on the 12 January 2018.

This is all goats imported from Uganda through a scheme made by the World Bank. This deaths are the reported within the 28th December 2017. These goats came as a part of the AFCC2/RI-Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project. Clearly, they didn’t survive their landing and intent potential.

In the Kirundo District, the LVEMP ceremony of delivery of goats was on 7th November 2017, the project gave to that district about 6659 goats. This was goats that was promised earlier in the year and before Christmas. They reached on their promise as they pledged in September 2017. So the World Bank project did deliver the goats. However, close to half of the them is now dead.

There is something that must be wrong with the project, with the feeding of these goats or if it deliberately destroyed. Since it didn’t take long time from November until the reported deaths of them in and around 28th December. The Local Government, the governors and the officials who was there as the project and give away to farmers. Must have known or seen the death themselves. Since the numbers of dead goats by mysterious virus/sickness/illness. Should be investigated and also give reason for sudden deaths.

That the Burundian government should care is that this was donations given to them and for their people. These goats was part of LVEMP II, which ended on 31st December 2017. That leader Jian Xie should be questioned and the procurement of the goats, should be looked into. Since its weird that 3000 goats die in such short span and part by one WB Project. That Veterinarians have given the living goats some sort of medicine, but if that is the remedy to stops the deaths is uncertainty. The government itself also want to isolate the ones in these districts. That meaning to narrowing who has the sickness and stop the spreading of it.

What is special if the reports of importing Ugandan goats that has created this through the WB Project in November 2017. That ended in massive deaths in the stock in December. That is now reported in January,. That this isn’t big news, is that the WB Project ended on the 31st December and the Burundian government, know they cannot push funding out a stopped project. Unless, the government will try to find blame from the procurement and the imports of it. Then, the Burundian government has a case, since its a big number compared to the numbers officially given by LCEMP II in Kirundo District in November. That means close to half has died since they was given.

It is all mysterious, we will certainly not know why until investigations are done or someone actually talk. Peace.

The African Group of Ambassadors to the United Nations met in Emergency Session on 12 January 2018 to Consider the Remarks made by the President of the United States (12.01.2018)