Chinese Investments in Africa: It is not a free-lunch, the tab has to be paid!

African leaders should not turn the continent into a giant collector of donations and loans from wealthy nations—they must find other plausible means to help established their economic security so as to minimize poverty. This incoherent blunder on the mainland must be scrutinized.”Duop Chak Wuol

As The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is scheduled to happen on the 2nd and 3rd December 2018, there is time to remember how the Chinese is operating on the African Continent. The Chinese isn’t coming with empty giving hands of donations or even charity. They come with intent of interests and needs of resources from the continent, by offering loans, serving and building through state owned enterprises (SOE) in various of countries, whether it is roads, ports or railroads are built by Chinese Companies, by Chinese Workers and often on Chinese loans. Therefore, they might end up as Chinese owned enterprises, whose vital for transportation and export of needed minerals and whatnot from the continent.

Instead of coming with loans and direct-aid with strings like Western Powers has done over the last few decades, the Chinese are coming with friendly loans, but the Heads of State should know that the Chinese doesn’t play. They want value for money and expect a return, if it doesn’t they might snatch the new crown-jewel or anticipate to get perks from the state. If that is some sort of trade-off or licenses to extract mineral resources or even minor taxation like toll-roads, where the piece of cash will be sent to Beijing and not the capitol of the country where the road is built. That is how these people operate. They are not in it to play or be giving, but gain advantage and have the upper-hand.

This can be shown by what the State Media in China writes in Xinhua Net wrote today and what a CARI report on the same funds are saying. The Chinese portray the funding as investments on the Continent, as the funds are most likely pushed as loans, which burdens the states and that they have to repay. Loans are not given, but issued because of lack of direct funds to build those infrastructure and investments done. So, what I am saying isn’t mere speculation, but a narrative that has to sink in.

Chinese Investments:

China’s investments into Africa surged by more than 100 times from 2000 to 2017. In the past three years, annual Chinese direct investment into Africa was about 3 billion dollars on average. By the end of 2017, China’s investments of all kinds into Africa totaled 100 billion dollars, covering almost every country on the continent” (Li Xia – ‘Facts & Figures: China-Africa ties: cooperation for shared future’ 02.09.2018 link: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/02/c_137438845.htm).

Chinese Loans:

From 2000 to 2017, the Chinese government, banks and contractors extended US $136 billion in loans to African governments and their state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Angola is the top recipient of Chinese loans, with $42.2 billion disbursed over 17 years. Chinese loan finance is varied. Some government loans qualify as “official development aid.” But other Chinese loans are export credits, suppliers’ credits, or commercial, not concessional in nature. China is not Africa’s largest “donor”” (China Africa Research Initiative – ‘DATA: CHINESE LOANS TO AFRICA’ Version 1.1 August 2018).

They might try to conceal the reality, just like make-up is used on the face to fade the age or even marks that shows stress or pimples. However, the Chinese cannot be able to lie about their intent. They would not offer these sums of cash, without expecting a turnover or even profits. The Chinese wouldn’t allow all these billions of US Dollars spent on these nations to be spoiled and lost on the streets of Lome, Harare, Addis Ababa or Nairobi. They anticipate a return on the loans, either straight cash or getting pieces of the built infrastructure to advance the value of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

That the Heads of State in Africa should be concerned as they are getting in debt traps, instead of being in cycle of positive growth, they are getting new loans to pay the old ones. They are using the same creditor to secure new loans on top of the old-debt. That is how it will continue, until a point where they cannot pay the defaulted debt and the Chinese would then come to snatch something of value to recoup the failing debt. Because they don’t want to write-off the big money without having anything in return. That is what the Chinese has done in Sri Lanka and might start elsewhere. There might be soon more control of port in Djibouti or railroad of Kenya, even the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway line too. As they want their value of money.

They might be all smiles and photo-ops in Beijing these days, the smiles and added loans to dozens of countries. The added “investments” and deals struck, but the Chinese will not do so without getting something in return. To think otherwise, is to be naive and think they don’t have an agenda by doing it.

There is nothing like a free-lunch and the people will learn that, the Heads of State will not directly pay the debt, but the states will do so. Maybe not in this decade or next 5 years, but sooner or later. The bill for the coffee and biscuit will come. Than it is all eaten, but tab still has to be cleared. Peace.

RDC: Jean Pierra Bemba – “ICC – Certificat de Dententon” (27.08.2018)

Double Standard: IGP Kayihura is out on bail, but shouldn’t he linger in jail; While investigation goes on?

Since the 12th June 2018, former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura have been in the custody of the military, as he has been under investigation and arrested. This was until today the 28th August. As he was released on bailed after being detained at the Makindye Military Barracks awaiting trial for 3 charges. Now, today he was released and is out while awaiting possible more trials on the charges.

So, it is not like Gen. Kayihura is free or even close to freedom. He went over two months before his first trial and without direct charges. Now, he himself has tasted the system that he used against other people as the IGP. Therefore, I don’t have much sympathy for the man.

What we know with former IGPs under Museveni, as either they get other roles or end up in a demise. As they know to much and there are reasons why the President wants to get rid of them. We cannot know for sure, but the former loyal cadre of Museveni is surely not done with the Courts. As he is awaiting to answer the trials, as this is just a temporary release though.

What is ironic about today, is that back in the day. He was himself against the bail. Back in April 2015 for cases like himself and treason, the really serious cases against the state and with dire consequences. He wanted the bail abolished and the opportunity to release this charged persons behind bars indefinitely as they was a cause to interfere with the investigation itself if they was released. His argument was that this temporary freedom could undermine evidence gathering, therefore, that he is released on bail today. Is that a giant worry for the state or doesn’t the argument valid for him? Is he above his own argument as the three charges are serious? What if he can silence or even intimidate the ones who will testify against him?

That is what we should question today, if the rules changes when your in power and when your not. If the used argument while your in power are still valid when you have lost your title and station. As Kayihura is at this point a citizen without a position. He is a former cadre and loyal henchman of the state, who now is a target by the authorities he himself served for life. Therefore, his vision might be blurred now, as he is feeling a bit of pinch, as he knows what the state does to their enemies.

With knowledge of what he has done to the opposition and activists, how he has been a tool and used his time in power to suppress people. There is hard to wish his to meet the rule of law and justice. It is supposed to equal to law. That means also for Kayihura even with all kind of harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests.

He has to report to Court as required and cannot move wherever he wants, as this is partly freedom on state terms. He should know this and so the celebration of his family today. However, there are many of us, that wants him to answer for all the ills and the orders he has put, as people have died for attending rallies, lingering in jail without trials and so-on, that was all done by his orders and his watch. Therefore, people like me isn’t happy he is on bail. He doesn’t deserve it, he should pay for his sins, as he has been a loyal stooge of the tyrant and accepted to do dirt for him. Peace.

RDC: Communique de presse de la Synergie des Missions d’Observation Cioyenne des Elections (SYMCEL) No. 15/2018 du 27/08/2018 relatif a la publication de la liste provisoire candidats presidents de la Republique et Deputes Nationaux (27.08.2018)

RDC: Communique de l’Union Pour La Nation Congolaise relatif a la Publication de la liste Provisoire des Candidats President de la Republique (25.08.2018)

RDC: Declaration Commune de l’Opposition Politique et des Candidats a l’Election Presidentielle en Republique Democratique du Congo (24.08.2018)

Uganda: MoH Press release on the death at Naguru Hospital due to Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (24.08.2018)

Gen. Kazini’s nightmare could soon follow Gen. Kayihura!

Today, in Makindye General Court Martial, the former Inspector General of Police Kale Edward Kayihura was charges with three counts of criminal conspiracy. This was after 72 days in Military Detention at the Makindye Military Prison at the Barracks there. So, that Lt. Gen. Andrew Guti was saying the words and the conspired charges against him. Is just like other men who the President has built up, put on a pedestal and later dismantled into tiny pieces. We can soon await more trouble, as the twisted tale of Kayihura is not over, as the Court adjourned today.

I am expecting the same sort of ordeal of Gen. James Kazini, who rose the ranks, became a big-man and suddenly fallen dead at the home of his side-dish. The story of Gen. Kazini is relevant today, because both Kayihura and him has been vital parts of machinery of President Museveni at some point. Kayihura was the loyal IGP for two terms and now is a criminal. Therefore, because of how he lacked tact towards opposition and citizens in general. There is little sympathy for Kayihura. Because he knows what he has done, even if he had deserved fair justice, he served dozens of people and activists with less human respect in his time in office. He should get justice and get fail trail. However, he has himself let people through fire to be loyal to Museveni. Now he get to feel the side of the side stick himself.

Kayihura should worry that he would become the next Kazini. Because just like Gen. Kazini, he knew enough and the President didn’t want that out. The same might be similar to Kayihura. As they have both been close the President at their time. Now, he is paying for the loyalty with harsh charges. The same happen to Kazini, that was supposed to overthrow Museveni from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now, Kayihura are supposed to have brought weapons from Rwanda and supposed other misgivings. Both Kayihura and Kazini has been charged with neglect of official duty. Therefore, Museveni is returning old tricks against his own former henchmen.

Because both of these men has been hailed by Museveni at one point, before later stabbed in the back by the same man. It is just like Museveni likes to repeat himself. Another General is taken down. Because they both was fired swiftly and months later take to trial. We can just await what happens after the up-coming trials and collected evidence from the state towards Kayihura.

I don’t know how the last demise will be for Kayihura. But if he repeat himself, there will be love-triangle, maybe even at the Sky Blue Hotel in Lyantonde, Western Uganda. Where he liked to spend his time, when the former IGP wasn’t on his farm. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was found there and there was wide speculation of his sudden fall and loss of life. That is just me guessing, as the great Kazini suddenly was found with his side-dish and never returned.

The similar efforts done to Kazini could easily be done again. Museveni have the ability to order and do this. We shouldn’t be surprised by this.

Kayihura should worry himself and not feel safe, as the program is put into play and how this ends, might be fatal. Hopefully I am wrong. But Museveni doesn’t play around. He has had the power and ability to do it to the ones he knew in the past. Museveni could do it again.

Kayihura should pay for his sins. These sins should he answer for, but not possible extra-judicial killing. That is what I am implying, but with the history and acts of Museveni. There is the possibility. Not like the old-man is more tolerant with his age, more hostile and less caring about the environment around him. Peace.

RDC: ACAJ lettre du CENI – “Concerne: Interdire la Campagne Electorale Illegale” (22.08.2018)

Lucha – Apres la non-candidature de Kabila: les SEPT autres batailes du Peuple Congolais une vrale alternance democratique (21.08.2018)