

African Union: Press Statement of the 829th meeting of the AU PSC on the draft resolution on silencing the guns in Africa (26.02.2019)





“I’m in the club, bottle in hand doing my two step
While I got my gun in my pants, call it the hammer dance
Bitches dancing on a nigga, when they feel the gun
I tell ’em we’re doing the hammer dance
Two steppin’ with my weapon on me” – Royce Da 5’9” (Slaughterhouse – Hammer Dance, 13.03.2012).
For the ones thinking that President Omar Al-Bashir would go softly, would be a smooth jazz-singer and dance of stage. That would never happen, surely, he never was much of dancer anyway. He was and is a War-Lord, he makes the hammers dance. There are already reports that after he announced the State of Emergency, there been more fatalities and more vengeance from the Security Organizations, as the President has sworn-in a cabinet in army fatigue, because that shows his “temporary” measures.
However, today, as it isn’t enough that the army, the Janjaweed (Rapid Support Forces) and NISS is attacking civilians at Universities, in their homes and on the streets. The President are putting up the ante with the new decrees today. Showing no remorse and no slowing down. Only showing his ability to stick around and trying to bleed out the discontent against him.
First part on “uniformed units are now authorized to:
– enter any building & search any persons
– monitor any property or buildings
– confiscate money or properties or goods suspected of violating law till investigations are done
– restrict movements of people or their activities” (Wasil Ali on Twitter, 25.02.2019)
This is clearly a measure done to quell all planned demonstrations and riots, this is to ensure that public are living in fear and also can lose all their freedoms, all liberties, as even their homes and they are not allowed to trespass, if the government says its illegal to go out. They are under curfew like children, who cannot move without permission from the President and the National Congress Party.
Further Measures:
“-Restrict movement of anything including transportation means.
– Arrest anyone suspected of violating emergency rule.
– Any other powers conferred by the president.
– Attorney General empowered to lift immunity on certain people suspected of violating emergency
– Attorney General is to establish emergency courts
– Gatherings and demonstrations not given permits are banned
– Blocking roads or movement of people is banned
– Undermining the prestige of state or any of its officials or its agencies or its employees is banned
– Strikes or suspending work is banned
– Attacking public or private properties or people or endangering public safety is banned
– Public events or activities without permits are banned
– Any news that are produced or disseminated that harm state or people or call for undermining state or incite hatred or racism through any medium visual or audio or social media is banned” (Wasil Ali on Twitter, 25.02.2019).
If this isn’t saying enough. The 30 year long rule under Al-Bashir is clearly on thin-ice. As he comes with these measures after 69 days of demonstrations across the Republic. Now, its illegal to demonstrate, strike and even block roads. The voices of the streets, the actions made by the various associations and unions in the Republic is now forbidden. The Commander in Chief and President have suspended the will of the people, their voices and made it illegal to riot against him. In a final nail in the coffin, not to secure the betterment of Sudan, but to try to salve his on fate.
Omar Al-Bashir is so weak, a giant WAR-LORD, a TYRANT, who cannot rule by popular opinion, but by decree, by taking away all liberties, freedoms and the free speech. What is worse, this isn’t the only measures done, but enough to prove what sort of a failure of a leader, Al-Bashir is. Since, nothing can done without permits and surely, the President and his Attorney General will not give that freely away. If so, he wouldn’t have created the National Emergency and taken the steps to form these draconian laws, which interprets the reality into a full fledged military dictatorship, where the President can micro-manage everyone and even arrest them at any point.
Not that this is so much more different than before, but now it is by decree. Not only by actions of impunity and inactive laws. Now, its official that gatherings, blocking of the roads, strikes, demonstrations, writing in social media and restrictions of movement. Is all steps to stop the continuation of demonstrations. Stop the momentum and the opportunity for the activists and revolutionaries to gain strength. This is done, to little by little take a lid on the fire. Stop it from getting oxygen and kill it off. Instead of letting the fire burn, letting the air brush the flame and give it more strength. Now, the lid is put over and the President hopes the trick works. As he has taken all power in his hands.
However, the public, the organizers and the activists who has fought, taken to the streets, the citizens and everyone who has participated in the last 69 days. Has shown bravery, courage and even risked their lives in the streets of Sudan. They have shown the world the power of the feet, the power of collective actions against an oppressive state. Which now is taking it further. Using the State of Emergency as a tool to try to destroy the movement and the will of the people. To stand up against the President of 30 years.
He is showing no mercy, he is showing no grace, only merciless and sinister acts of deliberate decapitating the voice of the people, their liberties and their freedoms. Nothing is there for them, they are just the servants, the slaves of the President and they are there to follow his command. Like he anticipate them to do. Not because they love him or support him, but because he wants them to fear him and his laws. That is who Al-Bashir is and always been. The War-Lord ruling by the sword and will only die by the sword. There is no diplomatic backbone in his body or threshold to pass into freedom for the public.
No, only more blood to spill, only more violence and harassment, only more sinister acts of a deluded Head of State, who doesn’t know what time it is. He thinks its the time for his Hammer Dance, instead of the time to “gracefully” retire. Peace.

Well, I don’t have any of my hopes up, when concerning the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. Who has ruled the Republic of Sudan since 30th June 1989. The National Congress Party (NCP) was already preparing the elections for 2020 with him as the President as it has been done again and again. He planned it again, until the stark uprising started in December and has persisted ever since.
With today’s demonstrations in Sudan, there been demos since 18th December 2018 and with my calculations, that is 66 days with demonstrations. Which is long time of demos, showing the weakness and lack of support the President has.
Today on the 22nd February 2019 a good year before the next elections, the President is anticipated to promise that he steps down as the President of the NCP and not run as the President. Also gone total bananas, by announcing a state of emergency, which means that he will have total power; while also dissolving the Parliament. That gives him absolute power and can do whatever he likes. Without consent, as people are supposed to trust him on his promise to step down.
However, the reason why I don’t trust him on that, is that this man has done similar moves before. In 2013, he promised in march 2013, that he wouldn’t run again in 2015. However, as we all know he didn’t step down. If he had followed the words of 19th March 2013, which was published in the Qatar’s Al Shraq Newspaper. Nevertheless, these words and pledges wasn’t kept.
So, that President Al-Bashir promises again to step down is a false flag, a false hope, this is stalling for time. It is nothing else. Those who believed him in the past. Can surely be tricked again, but he cannot hoodwink them again. That ship has sailed.
Whatever the President is saying in his address will not taking stock of locally, as the Sudan Professional Association are planning more demonstrations in the coming week too. Therefore, the address of the President today. Will either show that he takes more power by force, suspending the Parliament, create a state of emergency. An act done to secure power indefinitely.
Al-Bashir took power by force, keeps it by force. He uses the security forces to quell the demonstrations, by all means, tear-gassing, detaining and killing. Therefore, whatever he says or proclaims today will be only one thing.
STALLING TACTICS 101. Don’t believe a man like this steps down before he has to step down. He wouldn’t have ruled for 30 years without a successor. Only with empty promises of that someday, there will be Sudan without Al-Bashir as their Head of State. However, that day has never come. Because, the man doesn’t have it in him to stop. His greed is to overstay and indefinitely. Peace.

The detainees include members of opposition political parties, human rights defenders, journalists, teachers and doctors.
PARIS, France, February 20, 2019 – The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) and FIDH are deeply concerned about the safety of 30 women detained without access to lawyers or family members by the Sudanese National Security Intelligence Services (NISS) in Omdurman women’s prison. The detainees were targeted for their participation or suspected involvement in the ongoing protests calling for the resignation of president Omar al-Bashir. ACJPS and FIDH have gathered disturbing information about the detention conditions of these women, all of whom have been subjected to invasive strip searches, amounting to acts of sexual violence.
The detainees include members of opposition political parties, human rights defenders, journalists, teachers and doctors. Of the 30 women currently held at Omdurman, 18 were arrested during protests held between December 20, 2018 and February 2, 2019. They were forced to climb into NISS pickup trucks and to face downward so that they could not recognize where they were being taken. The other detainees were arrested over the same time period during NISS raids of their private residences and political party offices. The oldest detainee is in her late 70’s whilst the youngest is 24 years old. At least one is suffering from asthma.
“Sudanese authorities must preserve the safety of the 30 women detained in Omdurman prison and ensure they have immediate and unequivocal access to their family members, medical services and to lawyers of their own choosing. Those arbitrarily detained must be released and for those charged, authorities must ensure due process of law and a fair trial including the right to promptly access courts and to review the legality of their detention”, declared Mossaad Mohamed Ali, ACJPS Executive Director.
ACJPS and FIDH have received reliable information indicating that the 30 women were made to sit for hours while facing the wall as they waited for admission into the prison. After having their phones confiscated and inspected, all of the women were subjected to body searches by NISS agents including in their private parts, amounting to acts of sexual violence. While in detention, they have not had access to sanitary towels, thus exposing them to risks of infection. Many have been subjected to verbal abuse including calling them prostitutes. At least eight women are obliged to share a single cell measuring approximately 5×5 meters.
NISS authorities have used detainees’ family members to pressure them to reveal information. The husband of at least one detainee was brought to the prison by NISS agents to force her reveal the identity of members of the Sudanese Professionals Association. Before the arrest of another detainee, her nephew was arrested by NISS to force her to report to their offices. Her nephew was eventually released.
“The information we have received suggests that the 30 women detainees may have been subjected to various forms of acts of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, including acts of sexual violence. Authorities must take immediate action to end these violations, to carry a prompt investigation into these acts and to hold those responsible to account”, declared Sheila Nabachwa, FIDH Vice President.
At least 816 people have been arrested and detained and 40 others killed since protests broke out across Sudan on 19 December 2018. While protests initially focused on denouncing increases in prices of basic commodities, they quickly developed into calling for the resignation of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, leading to a violent response from security agencies. On 29 January 2019, the Director of NISS ordered the release of all detainees but only a few of those detained were released. Security agencies have continued to arrest protesters and disperse rallies. Most recently, on 10 February 2019, police used teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters participating in a march organized by the Sudanese Professionals Association calling for the release of all women detained since the December 2018 protests. Police intercepted the protesters as they marched towards Omdurman women’s prison and arrested several people.
ACJPS and FIDH are deeply concerned about the detention conditions of all those who have been arrested and detained in relation to the protests, considering NISS’s well-documented record of acts of torture against detainees. Our organisations urge authorities to guarantee the safety of all detainees, in compliance with provisions of the Sudanese 2005 Interim Constitution and with regional and international treaties to which Sudan is party.
ACJPS and FIDH further reiterate their call upon Sudanese authorities to end all acts of harassment and intimidation of citizens who seek to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.








China Merchants Port Holdings controls the controversial 1,150-hectare Port of Hambantota, which Sri Lanka handed over to China on a 99-year lease.
HONG KONG, China, February 13, 2019 – One of the world’s largest port operators has sued a Chinese state enterprise in Hong Kong over infringement of its exclusive port agreement with a strategically located African nation, in the city’s first court case involving China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
FactWire (www.FactWire.org) has obtained a legal filing by United Arab Emirates’ DP World (FRA: 3DW) at the Hong Kong High Court against China Merchants Port Holdings Company Ltd (HKEX 0144), accusing it of causing the Djibouti government to revoke the firm’s exclusive right to run the country’s ports.
Hong Kong-based China Merchants Port Holdings, a subsidiary of state enterprise China Merchants Group, deals mainly in the construction of ports, marine container logistics and operating container terminals.
It has actively participated in large-scale port infrastructure projects in multiple countries under China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative in recent years.
China Merchants Port Holdings controls the controversial 1,150-hectare Port of Hambantota, which Sri Lanka handed over to China on a 99-year lease.
Its inroads into Djibouti, located strategically between the Arabian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, has for years been at the centre of legal disputes between the African nation and the UAE state enterprise.
In the writ of summons filed to the Hong Kong court in August last year, DP World accused the company for causing the Djibouti government to nationalise the Doraleh Container Terminal, despite the 30-year concession agreement that allowed DP World to exclusively run the terminal.
DP World, which operates 78 ports in 42 countries including Terminal 3 in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, said under its agreement with the Djibouti government, it would have “full and exclusive right to establish, develop, and operate the Doraleh site”.
The concession agreement also said Djiboutian authorities cannot grant concessions for any other port capable of handling ocean-going vessels or free zone facilities within the country for the duration of the agreement.
The concession agreement took effect in February 2004 for a period of 30 years with the option for two 10-year renewals.
Joint-venture company Doraleh Container Terminal S.A. (DCT) was created to develop and operate the terminal.
The Djibouti government held 66.66 percent of DCT’s shares under state enterprise Port Autonome International de Djibouti (PAID), while DP World held 33.34 percent through its subsidiary Dubai (International) Djibouti FZE (DID).
Despite being a minority shareholder, DP World had the right to appoint most board members of DCT, thereby retaining control of the company’s operations and management.
Two years later, both parties signed a 2006 Concession Agreement in which DID relinquished their role in the development of the Doraleh Container Terminal.
However, DID’s exclusivity right over other port and free zone projects remained in full force.
Economic hindrance
Doraleh Container Terminal commenced operations on February 2009 but the Djibouti government began expressing dissatisfaction with its agreement with DP World.
It said the concession agreement “gave a foreign company the opportunity to oppose the fundamental interests of the Republic of Djibouti by hindering its economic and social development process”.
Three years later in 2012, China Merchants Port Holdings began negotiating a partnership with Djiboutian authorities over the development of ports and free-trade zone projects in the nation. In July that year, they signed a strategic partnership agreement.
The Chinese firm is a direct competitor of DP World and was actively looking to invest in ports to strengthen its position in East Africa.
Djiboutian authorities sold 23.5 percent of its shares in DCT to China Merchants Port Holdings, effectively allowing the Chinese firm to hold 15.67 percent of the shares, contradicting the concession agreement, the legal filing said.
With China Merchants Port Holdings acquiring an indirect shareholding in DCT, Djibouti was bypassing its contractual obligations and implementing its partnership with the Chinese firm, the filing said.
In 2014, China Merchants Port Holdings and Djibouti decided to build Doraleh Multipurpose Port next to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti.
Chinese firms China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd and China State Construction Engineering Corporation began construction on the multipurpose port in the same year.
Operations at this port began in mid-2017, also in contradiction of the agreement between Djibouti and DP World, the UAE firm said.
At the multipurpose port’s launching ceremony, the Djibouti government signed a deal with China Merchants Port Holdings to build a new Doraleh International Container Terminal, to be located between the Doraleh Container Terminal and the multipurpose port.
New Shekou
According to the official Belt and Road Initiative website, the then Executive Director and Vice Chairman of China Merchants Port Holdings Hu Jianhua suggested plans to build a new port to Djibouti president Ismail Omar Guelleh in 2013.
Hu’s proposal was to build a new Shekou, part of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, complete with a new port, a free trade area and to transform an old port terminal into a business and residential centre.
The website said China Merchants Port Holdings invited Guelleh and other Djibouti stakeholders to inspect the “thriving” Shekou port. It said by learning about the history of Shekou, Djibouti will decide to cooperate with China Merchants.
According to DP World’s legal filing, Djibouti attempted to revoke DP World’s exclusive agreement by using allegations of corruption, while it developed its partnership with China Merchants Port Holdings on various projects.
In 2012, Djibouti sued Abdourahman Boreh, a former presidential confidante who was involved in the negotiation and execution of the agreement between DP World and Djibouti, for corruption at the High Court of England and Wales. The case was thrown out.
Djibouti again sued Boreh in 2017 at the London Court of International Arbitration for bribery and those charges were again dismissed. The court found no corruption was involved.
Nevertheless, Djiboutian authorities seized control of the Doraleh Container Terminal on February 22, 2018 and transferred concession staff and assets to Societe de Gestion du Terminal (SGTD), a public company created to manage the terminal.
“SGTD, whose sole shareholder is the State of Djibouti, has successfully taken over the operations of the Doraleh container terminal,” the Djibouti government had said in a press release, which highlighted the unfairness of its concession agreement with DP World.
“The implementation of this concession agreement was severely prejudicial to the fundamental interests of the Republic of Djibouti, to the development of the country and to the control of its most strategic infrastructure asset.”
DP World in February last year sued Djibouti at the London Court of International Arbitration over the takeover of the terminal.
Seven months later, the court ruled in favour of DP World and stated that its agreement with Djiboutian authorities is still valid and binding.
DP World, China Merchants Port Holdings and Djiboutian authorities did not respond to FactWire’s questions.
Strategic placement
An International Monetary Fund report said Djibouti’s external public debt to GDP ratio has already reached 85 percent.
At the end of 2016, 32 percent of this debt was owed by the central government. Sixty-eight percent consisted of government-guaranteed debt of public enterprises, 77 percent of which was owed to China’s EximBank, which is directly under China’s State Council.
In other words, the debt that Djibouti owes China is about 44 percent of its GDP.
Located on the Horn of Africa, Djibouti’s strategic location by the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which acts as a gateway between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea and the adjacent Suez Canal, makes it a desirable location for foreign military bases.
China’s first overseas military base was set up there in 2017.
The US established their base in Djibouti following the attacks on Sept 11, 2001.
It is also home to French and Japanese military bases.
Read More Here: factwire.org/single-post/2019/02/10/Legal-battle-for-control-of-Djibouti-ports-comes-to-Hong-Kong (https://bit.ly/2E2ecns)
Video: https://www.facebook.com/factwireworld/videos/2306575722708744/ (https://bit.ly/2S0TjwR)

Their visit focused on the transition of the UN’s engagement in Darfur in the context of the drawdown of the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur, known as UNAMID.
KHARTOUM, Sudan, February 12, 2019 – On 12 February 2019, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Bintou Keita; the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Development Programme, Mourad Wahba; and the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco concluded a three-day visit to Sudan. Their visit focused on the transition of the UN’s engagement in Darfur in the context of the drawdown of the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur, known as UNAMID.
From 9 to 11 February, they visited Darfur where they engaged with local and State authorities, native administration, IDPs and Civil Society among others in order to ensure a smooth transition of peace-building tasks from UNAMID to UN Agencies, Programmes and Funds and the relevant authorities of the Government of Sudan (GOS). On 11 February, the delegation returned to Khartoum where they met with the Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elham Ahmed and a high level delegation from all Government bodies working with UNAMID.
The discussion revolved around issues related to the transition and eventual exit of UNAMID by June 2020.
The high level UN delegation held a broader meeting between UNAMID, the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the Government of Sudan in order to coordinate efforts to facilitate a smooth transition.
During these engagements the three Assistant Secretaries -Generals emphasized that the responsibility of achieving peace, stability and development for the people of Darfur lies with the Government of Sudan while all other entities can play a supporting role.
This joint mission reflected the United Nations’ commitment to supporting this important process and ensuring national ownership for sustaining Peace.








