South Sudan: Clashes and killings continues between Kiir and Machar in Juba!

Tanks 10.07.2016 Juba

“Orders of the president must be respected in letter and spirit” – Taban Deng Gai

As the state of affairs are escalating, as the fifth celebration of Independence from the Sudan and Khartoum, the Juba government and the South Sudanese Authorities went back into their old ways, and picked up their guns and ammunition. This has escalated as the President Salva Kiir and VP Riek Machar have since early July 2016, have had forces and battles between them, as their guards have in the city of Juba shot at each other and killed soldiers.

Even as the Peace Agreement and the not so long ago return of Dr. Riek Machar to Juba to fulfil the agreement, the recent days shootings and killings let the cease-fire in jeopardy and the also the security into shambles, as the efforts from the Trioka and the International Community to mediate, must have not given the effect the South Sudanese wished or looked out for, if not the easier way to deal with Power-Struggle is to grab the gun and assassinate dissidents than actually dialogue for peace.

This forgotten analysis came into my eye today:

War started in South Sudan at 5:10pm and all Riek Machiar’s bodyguards killed.As we speak both Salva and Riek are held up at statehouse in Juba and general Paul Malong whos the chief of staff has deployed tanks surrounding statehouse and he’s believed that he’s the one that incited Salva’s bodyguards to kill all Riek’s bodyguards and even the mad Paul Malong ordered his soldiers to open fire at American CIA vehicle” (Taifa Takatifu-News, Opinon and Analysis, 08.07.2016).

Hard to know if this is true, as this will late be said not to be true, as the South Sudan News, will on the 10th July say something else. Reports from yesterday in Juba, are up to 400 have been killed in the skirmish in the city, as the SPLA/SPLM have attacked the base of SPLM-IO, the SPLA/SPLM are connected with the President the SPLM-IO is the ones behind the armies in the civil war between Machar and Kiir, and these are the ones fighting today.

In wake of this Kenya Airways have suspended their routes from Nairobi to Juba, as they do not want to risk casualties. The American Government through their mission in the country have given this warning today:

Message to American CitizensThe situation in Juba has significantly deteriorated. There is serious ongoing fighting between government and opposition forces, including near the airport, UNMISS locations, Jebel and elsewhere throughout Juba. U.S. citizens in Juba should remain vigilant. You should shelter in a safe location, preferably away from doors and windows, and avoid non-essential movements. The Embassy continues to monitor the situation and will update you as appropriate” (US Mission in Juba, 10.07.2016).

Jebel Juba 10.07.2016

The Health Ministry official numbers of killings in the battles in Juba are 300. Though differing from the reports reported yesterday, still proves there massive battles between the SPLM and SPLM-IO. The battles have for instance taken place between Eye Radio and a UN base on the Jebel Kujur, so the positions and the nearby locations for the violence don’t matter at this point. The Protected of Civilians (PoC) in the UN base might be the next in line as the escalations is not easy to know. There been reports of even army helicopter flying of Airport road and dropping missiles as the fighting are turning from single army men into full-fledged war, as there been seen tanks in middle of the streets dipping through traffic. There been also reports of two helicopters flying around in Jedel and Gudele, where they also where bombing, as locals have reported. SPLA Spokesperson has confirmed that fighting have broken out in Tong Ping close to the UN base.

While this have been also reported today:

“General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, the SPLA Liberation hero who due to some personal grievances, joined the IO in 2013 has now confirmed and have defected from IO back to the SPLA-IG where he is now with Paul Malongand Kuol Manyang. General Dau had bravery fought to liberate his people during Khartoum war. SPLA army have welcomed him back but on supervision under Chief of Staff hand. Talking to South Sudan News was a close person to the Chief of General staff and he had told us that he came by himself without army” (South Sudan News, 10.07.2016).

Some have reported that their not only between President Kiir and VP Machar, but also one force driven by Gen. Manyang, but the reports are not verifying those rumors as the evidence of the whole situation is hard to get by, as there we’re reports that Kiir had called his old friend Museveni, and hired the UPDF to deal with the newfound situation, as they have been a hired army for him before. There been reports that the Ugandan authorities telling the world that they are not involved now.

Another report is that NGOs are leaving their offices and evacuate from Juba into Kenya, though the ones doing so is not mentioned, as they live in amp speed from the violence. Like ICRC have stated they cannot work in this kind of state: “Fierce fighting going on in Juba, South Sudan in unclear circumstances. Our teams not able to work” (ICRC, 10.07.2016).

There are more to it, as this has been reported to the BBC Africa: “According to the BBC’s Africa Editor Mary Harper, the spokesman Colonel William Gatjiath said Mr Machar’s troops were advancing towards the centre of Juba from different directions. He said hundreds of soldiers from both sides had been killed in the several hours of fighting. What started as relatively minor clashes on Thursday have now escalated to something far more serious. South Sudan marked its fifth anniversary of independence on Saturday, but there was little to celebrate. It looks like Africa’s youngest country could be slipping back into civil war” (BBC Africa, 10.07.2016).

There been also reported that the house of Dr. Riek Machar have been raided, bombed by helicopter twice this Sunday. So the direct attacks are not only from the Government forces, or the SPLA/SPLM towards the base of the SPLM-IO. The SPLM-IO have later in the day closed off the roads in Yei and Luri roads, that are roads that are connecting South Sudan with Uganda. So the precautions for former helper UPDF have been done this time by Dr. Riek Machar’s soldiers. There been also reported that the SPLM-IO have been fleeing towards the Jebel Lado, as there been heavy fighting today on the Jebel Hill, as there been reports from local newscasters as Nyamilepedia.

This has also been reported:

“General Dau Aturjong have defected from Dr Riek camp with 1000 soldiers and he joined the National Army SPLA forces and Dr Riek left to Pagak” (Africa Security News, 10.07.2016).

This is the official reported numbers:

“A statement attributed to the Ministry of Health says the death toll from Friday’s fighting in Juba is 271. There were 32 civilians among the dead.“The SPLA lost 44 soldiers, South Sudan National Police 5, and the other 190 dead are believed to be SPLA-IO given their distinctive uniform. 34SPLA, civilians and police are being treated for their injuries at Juba Teaching Hospital (15), The Juba Military Hospital (15) and two (2) at Peace Hospital, a private Chinese health facility in Juba. More information will be made available as appropriate. The Ministry regrets loss of lives. Heath professionals are doing their best to ensure lives are saved and minimise the suffering,” the statement read. The death toll is expected to rise as these are preliminary figures” (South Sudan Today, 10.07.2016).

Machar Kiir

There will be more to come as this unfolds, as the death-toll and the staggering violence from both SPLA/SPLM and the SPLM-IO continues at speed, as the bullets, the army attacks from both sides, as the losses continue to pile up, the endless of fleeing civilians and the loss of hope for the facilitations of the recent peace-agreement of 2015 to be hold-on to. As the President Kiir and VP Machar does what they can to take grip of power, and use their fellow citizens and soldiers as shield for ambition, instead of bridging peace and progress for the youngest nation. The newly incorporated nation into the East African Community (EAC) and their Protocol, as the nation who has even works with Kenya as they are to settle to the pipelines and infrastructure plans with the rest of East Africa. Instead they go back to guns and ammunition, where the peace, turns into war, the cease-fire cease to exists and the tat-tat-tat continues until darkness. The assassinations and the plots to take down army leaders on both sides will be the next, as they want ‘headless chickens’ in battle and not men of leadership behind the barracks and barricades of the enemy. Instead of peace, there will be bloodshed, even as the United Nations, fellow neighbor countries President and PM, Kenya and Ethiopia condemns the actions, the violence is still happening. This was not how the 5th Year Anniversary should have happen, it should be with hope of progress and peace, instead it is the opposite. Peace.

Press Release: EU aid for African Great Lakes region getting through, but may be to expensive say auditor (04.07.2016)

EU Audits 04.07.2016 P1EU Audits 04.07.2016 P2

Talks on Course – Burundi Amabassador (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQ58wBXIhA

“Now Burundi celebrated its 54thindependence anniversary on Friday, in a low key event attended by representatives of several African countries. The venue for this year’s celebrations was semi-deserted as the public failed to turn up due to heightened insecurity in some parts of the capital, Bujumbura. In Kampala, the celebrations went as planned. Isabella Tugume, spoke to the Burundian Ambassador to Uganda Jean Bosco Barege about the current situation in Burundi and the progress of the peace talks” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)

#WhatWouldMagufuliDo; Lawyer and MP Singida Tindu Lissu arrested for calling President Magufuli a dictator!

“Prominent Lawyer from Dar and member of Parliament for Singida Tindu Lissu was arrested today for calling President Magufuli a Dictator or Dictator Uchwara” (Tanzania Human right Watch, 29.06.2016). 

Afterthought: #WhatWouldMagufuliDo?

Is it Yay? Or Nay?

The audio of what got him arrested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hfr5SkruI0

I never thought that President Magufuli would sink so low that he starting to act a fool, instead of being the cool President in Tanzania. Magufuli have been seen as a game-changer and also reformer in East African Community, but now he is acting like a royal king and baboon. If I was in Tanzania writing this and acting like a opposition, I might be behind bars. Recently another man got detained for writing ruthlessly on WhatsApp Group in Tanzania. So the reality of ‘Free Speech’ is dying in Tanzania. The central control and power toward Magufuli is certainly there now. With this second action, he proves his will to use power to silence critics! Peace.

Press Release: AMISOM confirms arrest of five of its troops (06.06.2016)

Amisom PR 06.06.2016

Remarks on Burundi by Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General (26.05.2016)

Burundi Violence

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 25, 2016Special Adviser Jamal Benomar is traveling to Bujumbura today following the conclusion of talks on Burundi that took place in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Special Adviser hopes that the talks in Arusha were a first step towards genuine and inclusive dialogue. He welcomed the meetings and stressed the undeniable challenge of starting a viable political process. He urged all of those involved to work diligently in order for that to happen as soon as possible.

Mr. Benomar has been consulting with various stakeholders who attended the talks and will continue to reach out to and consult with others who did not attend.  During his visit to Arusha, he reiterated to former President Benjamin Mkapa that he and his team are ready to assist and support the facilitator in moving the process forward.”

Opinion: The acts against the will of people, as the Opposition are under-fire in the Burundi, Rwanda, DRC, Uganda and Kenya. Impressive how the Opposition is burning while the government tries to get away with it!

niccolo-machiavelli-quotes-5

We live in a Post-Modern world they say, still our leaders acts like medieval times, they are forcing themselves on their nations, on their economies and use their knights to secure their kingdom, their republic and fiefdom. The Opposition who is not accepting the legitimacy of these medieval acts upon their nations are harassed and taken to court, by them who act like they are above the law, as they decree the laws and are the head of state. Therefore this pattern isn’t new; Machiavelli would be proud and wonder if these leaders had read his work “The Prince”.

ZediFeruzi

Just as the wreckage of the local laws and ushering in the third term for CNDD-FDD President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has used the Army and Police to control the country by all means, as the Opposition are dwindling away… like the assassination and killingsof Zedi Feruzi (Union for Peace and Democracy – UPD), Jean Paul Ngendakumana (Front for Democracy in Burundi – Frodebu), Patrice Gahungu (Union for Peace and Democracy – UPD) and Pontien Barutwanayo (National Liberation Forces). Are some men who are gone in the wind by the power-hungry president in Burundi, while Opposition leader who wanted to live like UPD Agathon Rwasa accepted the role as Deputy Speaker in Parliament; so the leadership of CNDD-FDD controls while the real dissidents are either dead or fled as the safety to be opposition in Burundi is not a safe position as the leadership have proven vigilant in getting rid of the ones who stands in the way of Nkurunziza.

foto-free-victoire

While in Rwanda, the neighbor who have had a government under the Rwandan Patriotic Front since 1994, where the current second term President Paul Kagame is consolidating his position while the opposition lingers or have no place in the landscape as the militarized politics there does accept anything else then the will of Paul Kagame. Therefore the leader of the FDU (Forces Democratiques Unifies) Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza is lingering in jail since 2013 and is sentenced to a 15 year jail time. While the fighting Democratic Green Party of Rwanda with their leader Frank Habineza have worked to stifle the abolishment for Presidential term limits, but before that it took the party four years to be verified through the lawful process of the country when it was allowed to exist in 2013. So it is not like the President Kagame is happy about having the DGPR and the FDU in the country. Today the Lawyer (20.05.2016) representing Victorie Ingaire Umuhoza has been expelled from the African Court of Human and People’s Rights, the African Union Courts in Gambia. So the case on human rights must have tanked or been dismissed by the court, but nothing is clarified on the situation on the matter and Victorie Ingabire Umuhoza (FDU) there!

Katumbi

In the Democratic Republic of Congo the leadership around the Second Kabila, or Second term President Joseph Kabila, where there are supposed to be an election later this year and the running up to it. As the MLC have lost their leader at the ICC with Jean-Pierre Bemba charged there recently, as he was part of the “unity” government together with Kabila until the ICC caught up with him. While the Opposition have been under fire as Felix Tshisekendi is even behind the main contender in the DRC. As the Opposition went behind Moïse Katumbi, the ones behind on the 4th May 2016 was the G-7, the Collectif des Nationalistes and also Alliance pour la Republique. So the Football Tycoon and former Governor of Katanga have gotten heavy loads behind him and his candidature, while Kabila have been driving together with the military in Lubumbashi and other places. While that intimidation have not been enough as the supporters of the opposition have felt the tear-gas and Police Force dispersing them. Moïse Katumbi is now charged with hiring mercenaries and threatening National Security, with an arrest warrant on him. Certainly an effective to silence main candidate before the Presidential Election later in the year, since the Kabila government have not lead to progress or any clear-cut development. Just to put some intelligence on it: “The Police has” embarked on the track of an operation called OP Congo whose objectives, human resources , logistics, finance and modus operandi , appear to be known today as Cow Boy “, the code name that refers to Moïse Katumbi ” (LE SOFT INTERNATIONAL, 19.05.2016). With this in mind we can see how the Police have planned to take down the candidacy of Hon. Katumbi in favor of Kabila and continue the supremacy of the Kabila Family over the Congolese Republic!

Besigye 18.05.2016 Nakawa

In Uganda after a hectic and shady election, with the Police involved directly in Opposition parties movement and also government control of the Electoral Commission that had to select the men that was decided by the Executive, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President since 1986 who have total control of National Resistance Movement and tries to crash the opposition. The way he does that is to get rid of strong leaders from Parliament like Dr. Olara Otunnu while paying loyalty to new Party Leader Hon. Jimmy Akena of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and also not allowing Norbert Mao from Democratic Party of Uganda, therefore weakening that party to. Finally to by decree of loyal judge Stephen Kavuma who banned the Defiance Campaign for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), that has made it “legal” for the authority for the Police to house-arrest, detain and siege the Headquarters, in general making all activities of the Opposition Party illegal. By that extent making the Presidential Candidate of FDC Dr. Kizza Besigye that had the support of the people while the Ruling Party rigged the election with amp-speed had a mock swearing-in the day before the “official” one towards the Seventh Term of Museveni. Since then has been taken airlifted from Kampala to Moroto, and after local unrest in Moroto, taken back to Kampala, and he is now charged with “Treason” as he has questioned the powers to be and the President, as the sham election that we’re held is righteous to ask the legitimacy of it. So now the People’s President Besigye is now behind bars, while Museveni does what he can to again consolidate all power and continue everything as usual, while the FDC is harassed, detained and silenced by the Court Order. Even JEEMA Fourm has had visits of Police Force and even artist of Bobi Wine have been detained because they speak up against the regime. So the Police Force and the Army is the strength behind Museveni, not loyalty or love from the People, that he has lost and dwindled away, therefore he pays MPs to get the votes he need, not because of his vision or wisdom of building the nation. Therefore he prosecutes and takes down the FDC as they are everything he is not…

Odinga 25.04.2016

In Kenya, where there are some kind of calm, though there is not criminalized the Opposition, as the Opposition parties are in a Coalition, the same as the ruling regime under the Jubilee, who will become one-party instead of Coalition into the General Election in 2017. Jubilee Alliance Party will soon be truly founded though existed without legal paperwork. While the Opposition in the Coalition of Democratic and Reform (CORD-Kenya) are demonstrating against a biased Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC); something IEBC are under fire by the Opposition coalition CORD-Kenya on three Mondays. The Nairobi Metropolitan Police have gone too far in dispersing the Opposition demonstrators, as the Police Brutality is not only water-cannons and the tear-gas against leaders or the people, together with the violence of fighting and kicking civilians, even shooting at Hon. Raila Odinga car at the last demonstrations. So the violent Police are now showing hatred against the Opposition. The Kenyan Government is not detaining or directly harassing the Opposition, but the tear-gas of demonstrations and not listening to claims, instead counter-claiming they are trying to use the laws and Electoral laws to shun them from power, while even making laws to fix and allow the Jubilee Coalition to become a legitimate party in the state. So the leadership of Jubilee allows them to fix as they need, but not see the questions of opposition and use tear-gas to silence them before the General Election 2017. There are worrying signs of oppressive behavior… and also Jubilee MPs who attacks the legitimate demonstrations and questionable acts from the IEBC in the past and in the coming future election. That shouldn’t be masked to the side as the dialogue and discussion between Jubilee and CORD-Kenya, should settle this early, so they could work initially for peaceful election in unison political climate, instead of creating a valley between the Coalitions. That is not something Kenya needs…

MelesElection3f

The Oppositions does not have it easy and the levels are proven, the worst are Rwanda and Burundi, even if the DGPR is allowed to exist as long as they don’t really challenge the presidency and their regime, because if they do they will be behind bars for National Security sake like FDU Victorie Ingabire Uhuhoza. While in Burundi the Opposition to the third term president Nkurunziza have been assassinated or killed, this while the government together with stakeholders have had peace-talks with stakeholders and also the remaining Opposition; the Opposition that has not already been killed or assassinated. In Uganda the FDC former Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye is charged with “Treason” and still many of the FDC leaders and supporters detained, while the headquarters are sieged by the Police. In Democratic Republic of Congo the Opposition Presidential Candidate Moïse Katumbi is charged for hiring mercenaries and causing problems for National Security, while the incumbent President tries to stifle the best candidate in the up-coming election by doing so, as the Opposition Parties have gone behind candidature of Katumbi. Also in Kenya, the place where it is the best in these countries to be a Opposition, as they are more free, but to an extent, if they question the government or the Electoral Reforms of the IEBC; that is not accepted by the Nairobi Police who brutally disperse the demonstrators of the Opposition and the Opposition leader Hon. Raila Odinga have been tear-gassed and his car been shot at. So there is time to settle down for the government and time for dialogue, so the escalated violence doesn’t continue into the elections, as the citizens of Kenya doesn’t deserve that and neither does the demonstrators who are being violated around the Anniversary Tower.

That’s enough for now. Peace.

KRA Public Notice: Motor Vehicles under Investigation with Outstanding Tax Issues!

KRA Cars 17052016

One Acre Fund expands Smallholders Farmer Services to Malawi and Uganda (05.05.2016)

When One Acre Fund requested Elumuka Margaret to provide a small portion of her farm for maize planting demonstration, she was reluctant at first. Now her farm has become a centre of attraction in Busota village, Uganda, and she says she receives atleast two visitors everyday to her farm interested in learning One Acre Fund's maize planting techniques.
When One Acre Fund requested Elumuka Margaret to provide a small portion of her farm for maize planting demonstration, she was reluctant at first. Now her farm has become a centre of attraction in Busota village, Uganda, and she says she receives atleast two visitors everyday to her farm interested in learning One Acre Fund’s maize planting techniques.

One Acre Fund, a nonprofit agriculture organization, today announced the official opening of its Malawi and Uganda operations. 

BUNGOMA, Kenya, May 5, 2016 –  One Acre Fund (OneAcreFund.org), a nonprofit agriculture organization that supplies smallholder farmers with the financing and training they need to increase their incomes and food security, today announced the official opening of its Malawi and Uganda operations. Malawi and Uganda began as pilots in 2013 and 2014 respectively. One Acre Fund now serves 400,000 smallholder farmers—with an estimated two million people in those households—across East and Southern Africa.

“The majority of the world’s poor are hard-working smallholder farmers who can reach their full potential with access to finance, training, and services,” said Andrew Youn, One Acre Fund’s founder and executive director. “I’m thrilled to announcethat One Acre Fund is now able to serve smallholder farmers in Malawi and Uganda and we will continue to grow our program until no farmer goes hungry.”

Participating farmersin the One Acre Fund program receive a complete bundle of agricultural inputs and services on credit, including the delivery of high-quality seeds and fertilizer, training on how to maximize crop yields, and education on how to minimize post-harvest losses. To accommodate clients, One Acre Fund offers a flexible repayment system: Farmers may make payments toward loans in any amount and at any time during the growing season as long as they complete repayment by the season’s end. In 2015, 99 percent of One Acre Fund farmers repaid their loans in full and on time.

One Acre Fund is currently working with 2,600 farmers in the Zomba, Mulanje, and Chiradzulu districts of Malawi and 3,700 farmers in the Jinja and Kamuli districts of Uganda. Loan packages vary depending on the size of land registered; farmers may enroll as little as half an acre of land. To be eligible for a loan, farmers are required to submit a small down payment of the total loan, meet regularly with a local One Acre Fund field officer, and attend in-person agricultural trainings.

Founded in 2006 in western Kenya, One Acre Fund works with more than 400,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda, and anticipates it will serveone million farmers by 2020.

Burundi’s crisis talks postponed (Youtube-Clip)

“The inter Burundian dialogue that was scheduled to take place from May 2 to 6 in Arusha, Tanzania has been postponed. This was announced on Friday by the office of former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa who is also the facilitator of the talks.”Following consultations between the facilitator in the Burundi dialogue, former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa and East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko, the resumption of the dialogue which was due on May 2-… READ MORE :  http://www.africanews.com/2016/04/30/…” (Africa News, 2016).