
Kenya: Operational Update – Failed Al Shabaab Terrorist Attack at Kuday (08.04.2017)





Response:


“The people back home wouldn’t buy a ring if they knew it cost someone else their hand” – Maddy Brown (Blood Diamond, 2006).
The European Union are acting out of care and thinking of transparency for the industrial imports and mineral exporters. This is happening just a little month after the United States opened up their legislation for importing more from conflict zones. While the European Union plans to close the gate from areas and from sources that export Conflict minerals.
So the EU laws are becoming more stricter than the United States, even if the law they have enacted in the European Parliament and Council of the European Union, will be effective from 2021. So it is 4 years until it has giant effect and gives time to refinery and importers to change behavior. Something that is necessary, as well as the public have to grow concern of the affects of buying conflict minerals. Even as the conflict minerals still come into the market of Europe and into the refineries so the consumers doesn’t know and cannot follow where their products who contain minerals comes from war-zones.
That the European Union takes this serious and acts upon this Nobel, and proves that they does not want to support militias and guerrillas that keeps control of mineral rich areas and their exports to supply weapons and continue warfare in for instance the African Great Lakes Region. Take a look!
Background of new rule:
“This Regulation, by controlling trade in minerals from conflict areas, is one of the ways of eliminating the financing of armed groups. The Union’s foreign and development policy action also contributes to fighting local corruption, to the strengthening of borders and to providing training for local populations and their representatives in order to help them highlight abuses” (EU, P: 8, 2017).
Conflict Minerals from Great Lakes Region:
“The Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy should regularly review their financial assistance to and political commitments with regard to conflict-affected and high-risk areas where tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold are mined, in particular in the African Great Lakes Region, in order to ensure policy coherence, and in order to incentivise and strengthen the respect for good governance, the rule of law and ethical mining” (EU, P: 16, 2017).
Trade of Minerals funds armed conflicts:
“Preventing the profits from the trade in minerals and metals being used to fund armed conflict through due diligence and transparency will promote good governance and sustainable economic development. Therefore, this Regulation incidentally covers areas falling within the Union policy in the field of development cooperation in addition to the predominant area covered which falls under the common commercial policy of the Union” (EU, P:17, 2017).
Important Article:
“Article 3: Compliance of Union importers with supply chain due diligence obligations
1. Union importers of minerals or metals shall comply with the supply chain due diligence obligations set out in this Regulation and shall keep documentation demonstrating their respective compliance with those obligations, including the results of the independent third-party audits” (EU, P: 23, 2017).
Date of Application:
“Articles 1(5), 3(1), 3(2), Articles 4 to 7, Articles 8(6), 8(7), 10(3), 11(1), 11(2), 11(3), 11(4), Articles 12 and 13, Article 16(3), and Article 17 shall apply from 1 January 2021” (EU, P: 51, 2017).
What the statements on the law:
“The Commission will consider making additional legislative proposals targeted at EU companies with products containing tin, tantalum, and tungsten and gold in their supply chain should it conclude that the aggregate efforts of the EU market on the responsible global supply chain of minerals are insufficient to leverage responsible supply behaviour in producer countries, or should it assess that the buy-in of downstream operators that have in place supply chain due diligence systems in line with the OECD guidance is insufficient” (…) “In the exercise of its empowerment to adopt delegated acts pursuant to Article 1(5), the Commission will take due account of the objectives of this Regulation, notably as set out in recitals (1), (7), (10) and (17). In doing so, the Commission will, in particular, consider the specific risks associated with the operation of upstream gold supply chains in conflict affected and high-risk areas and taking into account the position of Union micro and small enterprises importing gold in the EU” (…) “In response to the request of the European Parliament for specific guidelines, the Commission is willing to develop performance indicators specific to the responsible sourcing of conflict minerals. By means of such guidelines, relevant companies with more than 500 employees that are required to disclose non-financial information in conformity with Directive 2014/95/EU would be encouraged to disclose specific information in relation to products containing tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold” (EU, P: 57-58, 2017).
The European Union is doing something positive with this. That they show effort and care for the imports and what affects the export has locally, so if the minerals export is shady, the export will cease. So if the due diligence regulation works and the industry complies, the effect can be enormous. The consumer will also know that there are not supporting by third party purchase to pay for ammunition rebels, warlords or guerrillas in far away lands. This should all be seen as step of making a better world and honorable society. Where the money is where the mouth is! Peace.
Reference:
Council of the European Union – ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas – Outcome of the European Parliament’s first reading (Strasbourg, 13 to 16 March 2017) – (20.03.2017).

“Why are you fighting President Museveni? What has he done to you? This man just have served his first year of the new term and you’re now talking about succession. Why are you looking for who will succeed him? Has he died? If we decided to reward him for a job well done, will you still talk about succession? We have numbers to in Parliament to…. Anyway that is not why I’m here. If we reward him for a job well done, will you commit “Suicide”? Remember where we were, how far we’re come… Justice centres, Electricity, water connections, what exactly do you want? Let’s be careful with the change we want” – Kahinda Otafiire (NTV Uganda, 04.04.2017).
Let’s start first, we are fighting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his clan who thinks they own Uganda, Secondly, who acts entitled on UBC, NBS and NTV as they did yesterday. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) have run the government since 1986. It is not like during the General Election 2016 was the first moment President Museveni entered the scene.
He has been a Defense Minster as far back as under President Dr. Milton Obote second term after they both got rid of dictator Idi Amin. This was written about his rise to rebellion in 1985: “Tito Okello, the commander of the army, reportedly met with his top officers during much of the day Saturday. Radio announcements appealed to rebel forces headed by former Defense Minister Yoweri Museveni, who has waged a long-running guerrilla war against the Obote government, to lay down their arms and join forces with the army officers” (…) “(United Press International reported from Stockholm that Museveni welcomed Obote’s overthrow but warned that his forces will have to be included in any solution to the nation’s ongoing state of crisis” (…) “(“The guerrilla force will be part of any solution,” he said on a Swedish radio broadcast. “If anyone tries to block that, we shall smash him, like that which smashed Obote.”)” (Powers, 2017).
So he again planned to bring down another government so he could be sure to gain power. That is a sentiment that he has kept. A reason why he still is in power and doesn’t want to let go. President Museveni believes he is the only one who can run the country, since he in the past was the man tricked the other big-men and the public to believe he was the best man. So when you listen to Gen. Kahinda Otafiire proves he still is in the 1980s state of mind, thinks that the world and Ugandans haven’t seen President Museveni during the three decades. The year between February 2016 to February 2017.
As another journalist wrote in 1985: “Friday, at his first press conference as the new prime minister, he cited his efforts “to build a Ugandan nation.” A key part of that effort is scheduled to begin today in Tanzania between the new military government and former defense minister Yoweri Museveni, leader of the National Resistance Army guerrilla group” (…) “On Friday, Muwanga referred to Museveni, whose participation in the new government is regarded as a key element in national reconciliation, as “a personal friend.” (…) “[Monday, reports from Uganda indicated that Museveni’s guerrillas were on the move — marching toward Masaka, the country’s third largest town, according to witnesses quoted by Reuter, and making other advances in the southwest of the country and north of Kampala, according to unofficial reports cited by The Associated Press.]” (Fitzgerald, 2017).
Even in 1985 as ever he proved his conning ways to use the position he had, while finding ways to spin his control from the others. Therefore, we all know that months later the NRA took charge and overthrow the new government post-Obote. It is sad that I have write about this again and recharge history, it is like Gen. Otafiire has a short memory. Surely, the blessings of being Minister when losing the Primary in the National Resistance Movement during the October 2015. He even went into the general elections in 2016 as an Independent Candidate, but the loyalty to Museveni gave him a place in the 10th Parliament. This official 5th Term of Museveni, which I have claimed that he is in his 7th term. Since he has ruled the Republic ever since 1986. I have giant issues with this being his first YEAR in charge. What about the years before 2016?
So in Kahinda Otafiire the years between 1986 and 2016 has vanished, so therefore, why debate the need for fresh blood? Well, the same rebel with one vision has run the game and rigged it for decades, that is why. I don’t know why that is so hard to understand, surely Muwanga, Ssemogerere, Otunnu, Besigye and Mbabazi feels that somebody else could run a government in Uganda. But Museveni feels the entitlement after the Bush War of the 1980s to run it for life. No-one else have sacrificed as much as him or deserves to run it more than him. Even, if that is not true.
The Ugandans shouldn’t care if Coca-Cola came out of the taps inside their buildings, if the President had provided them with free laptops and secured them all with government jobs. Still, it shouldn’t be natural for a brother to run a nation for 3 decades unopposed. Than, there are wrong with the governance and with the inner-party organization. But with the knowledge of the conning man that is the Museveni, it is not surprising to know that he has been the sole candidate for so long!
Gen. Otafiire are blind as bat, it is like he is completely blind and need surgery. If not he is not able to see well, that he needs to fix his glasses or his vision. If not he is unwilling to recognize the problems that is at hand. Since he is eating of the NRM and the government, he is again appointed by the President, even has he failed to get local support in his district and sub-county. However, Museveni knew that he would have loyal lap-dog in Parliament who would stay behind the President. Therefore, he gave him a Ministerial Post for his loyalty.
In return he will claim this obnoxious lies, the deceit and try to deceive the citizens with this sort of rhetoric. The NRA/M General wants to pull a ploy and try to devalue the terms that the President has had before. Like President Museveni, have run a Republic for decades, it is far from his first year as the Executive, as the President or the Commander-in-Chief!
NRM and Museveni has run the nation and not for the short period. There are all sorts of reasons for discussing the succession, it should have been from 1995 or latest 2000, as his time in charge has lingered for way to long. Therefore, the devolution of state institutions, importance of Okello House and the Presidential Handshakes become main factors in the regime.
So if you learned anything today, General Kahinda Otafiire is blind as a bat! Peace.
Reference:
Fitzgerald, Mary Anne – ‘Ugandans Sweep Up After Coup Politics’ (13.08.1985) link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1985/08/13/ugandans-sweep-up-after-coup-politics/8c2e9eed-48a9-4442-ad16-116a49b9c425/?utm_term=.e7ba7d44b638
Powers, Charles T. -’Army Ousts Uganda’s President : Mutiny in North Spreads to Capital; Obote, Aides Flee’ (28.07.1985) link: http://articles.latimes.com/1985-07-28/news/mn-5387_1_uganda-army


UK, US and Norway call on all parties in South Sudan to commit to a ceasefire immediately.
LONDON, United Kingdom, March 31, 2017 – The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) reiterate their strong support for the combined efforts of the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and United Nations to end the conflict in South Sudan, and join in their recent calls on all armed parties, including the Government of South Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition, and other armed groups, to commit to a ceasefire. The Troika welcomes the recent commitment by President Kiir to IGAD leaders to announce a unilateral ceasefire by government forces, and it calls upon him to ensure that his order is carried out immediately and in full effect.
The Troika underlines that the dire humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is the direct result of the conflict and demands that all parties cease violence against humanitarian workers and obstruction of humanitarian assistance. Military offensives and the obstruction of lifesaving assistance must stop immediately in order to end the suffering and severe food shortages inflicted upon millions across South Sudan.
The Troika reiterates that there is no military solution to this conflict and that a durable end to the conflict will require a political process involving all the principal parties. An inclusive national dialogue, deemed credible by the South Sudanese people, could provide a means to redress root causes of conflict and build a true national consensus. As President Kiir committed in announcing the planned national dialogue, it should supplement, and not replace, the core elements of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
The Troika endorses the ongoing efforts of AU High Representative Alpha Konarée and UN Special Envoy Nicholas Haysom to encourage all parties to end fighting and engage in peaceful dialogue. It also fully supports Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Chairperson Festus Mogae’s work towards a truly inclusive and effective process to implement the Agreement. In addition, the Troika endorses the work of the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan, and the deployment of its Regional Protection Force. Lastly, the Troika notes the importance of breaking the cycle of impunity, and encourages further progress by the AU toward the rapid establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.



Dear Mr. President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli!
I think you need some love, some special sort of love, but let me explain!
“Some politicians have been lying that nobody shall die of hunger, promising to provide relief food, these are liars….in my leadership, frankly speaking, I will not provide food to lazy people. Let me assure you that if don’t work, you will surely die of hunger” – John Pombe Magufuli (Daily News, Friday, March 3, 2017).
This is weird as you seemed like a likable character, a man with flair and with the wish of just behavior. Still, there are reports that not to good. It is okay that you work against corruption, blast ministers who doesn’t listen to your orders. That you order no export of specialized sand and the week after the government export of sand gets found on the port at Dar Es Salaam.
Well, there are other things that are worrying, that you have in recent months detained a fellow politician for calling you a dictator. You have recently detained a musician for his lyrics. Sent armed guards to a TV Station and fired the Minister of Information Nape Nnauye after the media aired questionable press about him.
“Magufuli made the remarks during the swearing in of new Information Minister Harrison Mwakyembe, who was appointed in a reshuffle. Critics said Mwakyembe’s predecessor Nape Nnauye was sacked as retribution for ordering a probe into an alleged raid on a private television station by a senior government official. “I would like to tell media owners – be careful, watch it. If you think you have that kind of freedom, (it is) not to that extent,” Magufuli said. He ordered Mwakyembe to clamp down on media organisations that publish or broadcast material deemed to incite unrest, saying his government would not allow a few individuals to destabilise east Africa’s second-biggest economy, which is home to 50 million people” (CPJ Africa – Committee to Protect Journalists, 24.03.2017).
So with all of this and his harsh words against anyone and anybody. Time for the you as the President, to take a chill pill and enjoy a mango lassi or even a chapati. Not stress, take it easy and open your ear-holes Mr. President!
John Pombe! You need some love, maybe even an escort or a side-dish? Since your anger towards the ones that speaks up against you and your regime, gets tiring, it destroys your image as the screaming bulldozer who stops containers with questionable content, who blames Indian contractors and whisks off foreign lazy workers in the United Republic of Tanzania. Instead we will remember you for detaining an opposition MP for his words, a rapper for his song and TV Station for their reporting.
President Magufuli, it isn’t easy being in the spotlight and expected being the Noble creature of East Africa. Surely, among strongmen and big-men you have to flex. Still, your ways of late are not of the men who will be remembered as democratic leaders.
Mr. President, when you don’t believe in free-press, free-speech or freedom of expression. That people, the media and others not allowed to express their view, than your creating a dictatorship under your bulldozer rule. Is that what you want? Is that why you direct orders are coming instead of consensus in Parliament?
So can somebody please give Mr. President some love, so he can show some love and be more gentle to him. Maybe that can make him into a gentleman, instead of a bulldozer that soon deconstruction dissenters and the ones who doesn’t directly obey the President. So please show him some love and take care of the little man. If you talk against him, you can lose your job at the Radio Station, TV Station or the Newspaper. If you are musician watch your language and be more soft-spoken. If your a opposition MP, beware that the President might take you to court. And to the citizens, praise your man and love him, he cannot bare people questioning his powers and intellect.
Mr. President needs love and only love. The sort of love the songs of Diamond Platnumz can bring, that sort of bongo flavor. With verses of sweet caring love and offering to spend all your monies on Mr. President, take him away from corrupt politicians and lazy workers. If the world can do so, maybe he will allow a free press and true liberty, until then, the bitter old Mr. President will have a hizzy-fit! Peace.



Since the 1986 overthrow of the Second Obote government and the ones that we’re running the government in the midst of civil war, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his NRA came into power with guns and glamour. That has since then turned the power and eaten all of the state coffers. This has lead to many fallen soldiers, foreign affairs squabbles and foreign adventures of both mercenaries, armies and hired guns for other regents. The latest is sending battalions to the Equatorial Guinea on the merry of President Teodoro Obiang.
At this junction in 2017, there are talk of Age-Limit bill and ruling for life, like it matters. Like it is a viable concept and the truth to aspire to. That President Museveni been a wise man and used force, with brutal masterminding the escape from being one of the heroes of Obote’s return through FRONASA and into his own rebellion (NRA). Show’s the lack of integrity and will to sustain power by any means. Therefore, laws can be amended and adjusted to fit the paradigm of Museveni. That is the harsh realities of Uganda today, that laws are made to fit the ideas of Museveni and not of what could be the best for Ugandan prosperity. We could wish otherwise, but saying so is a lie!
In 1995 after 10 years in transitional government and one-party rule, as the former rebellious outfit and winners, made a pact with the people and such gave the President Museveni a legitimate rule. He gave a more honest and grander promise with a Constitution that even told the people how much longer he could rule, which the Article 105(2) said: “A person shall not be elected under this Constitution to hold office as President for more than two terms as prescribed by this article” (Constitution of 1995, 8 October 1995).
So after already been in power about 10 years, he was amending so he could legally rule another decade, the rebel and the former Defense Minister proved his skills of trading his water to gain more trust. Therefore, still at this time he was seen as a hero, even if he wasn’t believing in Multi-Party Democracy or in anything else then the Movement System and the National Resistance Movement own agenda that worked after his drum.
Even as deflections and decay of power came and the added promises of 10 Points Program and others, should have showed that the President had limits to his will to give to the public. The promises of wealth, of welfare and of educated citizenship was a pipe-dream. It sounded splendid in the woods, but when the gravy-train hit the State House, when the cronyism and family matters into the government, than the promises while carrying guns dwindled away.
President Museveni and the NRM, only gave the public Multi-Party democracy because the people voted for it twice, and with that in mind, the Constitution of 1995 had to be amended. The 2005 Amendments we’re also made so legally the President could stand again, as the 105(2) of 2005 states:
“A person may be elected under this Constitution to hold office as President for one or more terms as prescribed by this article” (THE CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT)ACT, 2005, 30th September 2005).
This was just done in the nick of time before the 2006 election, so he could have his official 3 term, even as he had ruled for 20 years by then. Before could go-on without anyone stopping him. The President amended not the laws for the betterment of the republic, but for his own greed for power. That people find it insulting to now have the age-limit discussion, has forgotten the path to power and the way the President used people to gain what he has today.
President Museveni has used anyone’s skill and anyone’s possibilities to his advantage, that he has has done since he left the University, since he joined the second Obote government. Therefore,
“I teach [but not] about those things like age limit and I don’t know what – all those small topics of yours. I talk about the future of Africa. What should be done, not who. Because for you, you spend all the time on the who, the who, the who. For me, my issue is [the] what. So, because the age limit is; you are talking about the who now. NRM is not an anarchy group. Right now, am concentrating on alleviating poverty. That is my mission now. After poverty then we shall talk about those other topics that you are interested in” (The Observer – ‘President Museveni told journalists at Kawumu State Lodge in Luweero district yesterday’, 22.03.2017).
However, we have to talk about who and in particular Museveni, who has imposed himself on the citizens of Uganda for decades upon end. That is because he used all sorts or tactics and thinks people are stupid, as the NRM Kyankwanzi Conference of 2016 we’re working on ditching the age-limit, so that the President can be older than 75 years old. So that the current President can run again and be over 75 years.
Those who wants to be duped by the old man and live in ignorance. President Museveni, who has used all sorts of tactics to overstay, by both force and also laws. This has now been done over decades and by all means he will not leave. He will continue to use the Ugandan citizens as pawns, as he stays the king. He turns slowly tries to out maneuver the next of kin or the next Besigye. Since Museveni only believes in his vision, nobody else. Therefore, Museveni will not act differently, he will be more of the same.
There isn’t anything in his past that shows otherwise, unless your ignorant and is a Musevenist. Peace.