



South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA): SSOA Position – IGAD Post Phase II Consultation (14.04.2018)





















If you we’re ever in doubt of favoritism from the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, he has again proved how much love he has for the Western Parts of Uganda. He has an obsession, not only with hiring and appointing fellow cronies from the region, but also dole as much of the state funds into the area. That was proven today.
It is happening as the certain parts of West Nile Region are asking for help, because of their dire needs. The state and with the meaning of state, Museveni decided that Rukungiri district deserved some favors. They deserved suddenly more 500 billions of shillings into the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and 193 millions of shillings on the Rukungiri Municipality Carpenters. This is a district with over 300,000 citizens, but it is big step giving this huge amount of money to significant projects.
He gave away trucks and dozens of boda-boda’s to the district. At least there was photo-ups of this and the wood machinery to the Carpenters of the town. Clearly, in a way of showing the use of government and spreading the message of his government. This is again, a proof of his mismanagement. Instead of letting the businesses grow naturally or letting people themselves make it possible. He has to come with gifts like any random NGO to Rukungiri. This isn’t sustainable practice, but a patching of the hurt.
To think that these millions of shillings and billions spent on the OWC will create a miracle, is very naive, it is very stupid to think so. It is in the best interest for Museveni took keep things cool and get the needs at low levels. So he can spare a few dimes here and there, but keep most of it for himself.
Nice that he gave boda-boda’s to the district. But why aren’t this happening in the Easter or Northern Districts for that matter? Why was it that Mbarara Urban Poor was getting rations of food during the last year, but the Isingiro, got breadcrumbs? When another region was starving… That is what doesn’t make sense, even if it partly does.
Because the Western Elite is gigantic, the men who has represented the district of Rukungiri, isn’t only Dr. Kizza Besigye, but Gen. Henry Tumukunde and the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, to mention a few of the gentlemen in the this area. Therefore, this district has significant factors and backers, still the Western shouldn’t overshadow the rest. Even if it does at this point.
That is what is so obvious, so vindictive, how the state and Museveni dole out this funds and gifts to this region. Just like it has done at others too. Dropping Tractors and needed agricultural gear, while other regions cannot even get the 2016 promised hoes. That is the level of impunity and lack of institutions, lack of governance and structure. Something the Museveni has created and is proud off. Since he is eating the biggest slice of the cake.
What was dropped on Rukungiri District today is pocket-change, small-fry and no big deal. It is for the ones getting a boda, a truck or even parts of the OWC grants. No doubt about it, but in the grand schemes of things, it is pocket change. Not significant and worth mentioning in the minds of the budget or the audit of it.
However, don’t tell me the West of Uganda, isn’t favored, the proof is the actions. That has been known for long. That is why the main roads there has been better the rest. Peace.

There are some leaders who has the need to control the media, to the levels of stupidity, some leaders cannot manage critics or even questions about their actions. That they continue to supress and silence the opposition. They get suspended the broadcasting licence, they get suspending from publishing their newspapers and even fellow politicians who comes with rhetorical questions can end behind bars. That is the truth of Tanzania under President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli.
He has now taken it further, he is now charging fees for people for signing up content online, if you’re a blogger, it will cost 930 United States dollars any given year to do it. They have to be registered and on file to be able to write online. That would have costed me and I have been doing this for years. Clearly, Magufuli doesn’t like free spirits, unless they are all praising his narrow mind.
If the blog even causes “annoyances”, meaning if it insults the presumed intelligence of Magufuli, then the blog page will be suspended and taken down. The blogger/writer will not allowed to be published. This is a way of the state to sanction and control all written word. Also all content online and seek the ones who can afford to think on their own!
That is high price for a service, that if you have the basic packages of blogs, it doesn’t cost, unless you are paying for address and other extra services on the blog itself. Therefore, this is to secure that the ones with lack of funds cannot write online. This is to know exactly who writes and operates within the state and make sure publishers follows government guidelines. Just like they forcefully does to other media.
The Tanzanian Government under Magufuli has been relentless and ruthless to the media. Therefore, this is just the next step; they have banned songs from famous pop-stars already. Therefore, this is just the next move, to alter the media and alter the freedom of oppression. Now, the state can also have oversight and total control of the blogs, just as if they do with radio, TV and Newspapers. This will likely make it harder for people to start writing and question the government. Since, it is a big hurdle to have 930 US Dollars to pay the government to do so.
The free mind, the thinking minds and the ones questioning authorities online, will now you have to be registered there and they have an oversight role over you. The state will decide and grant you the permission to blog, podcast, and whatnot online. The paternal state is there and they are not subtle about it.
If you would be wise, would be to use VPN and register in whatever republic, nation or dominion, where the state cannot control you, but then again. You have to remember to use that trick to not be caught with IP Address and whatnot. That is if you are a free thinker and defiant in the mode of an over-controlling state. Peace.



10th April 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, accompanied by representatives of the Office of the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, held consultations on 10th April 2018 with representatives of the South Sudanese Civil Society Stakeholders to the HLRF to discuss key outstanding issues at the Forum, including positions of the various parties and possible compromises. The consultations are pursuant to the decisions of the IGAD Council of Ministers at its 61stExtra-Ordinary Session on South Sudan held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26 March 2018 to reconvene the continuation of Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) to conduct consultations and undertake shuttle diplomacy with the parties and stakeholders to the HLRF to narrow the gaps between the Parties, prior to the next reconvening of the Forum.
The consultations focused on the key areas of disagreements on governance and security arrangements at the HLRF. Under governance, the following issues were discussed: the composition of the transitional government; structure of the government; responsibility sharing; number of states and size and composition of the Parliament.
On security arrangements, the following issues were discussed: timeframe for reintegration/unification of forces and approach to the formation of one national army; security for Juba during the Transition; demilitarization of civilian centers; cantonment of forces and Security sector reform or establishment of new security services.
Following extensive deliberations, the representatives of the Civil Society and stakeholders at the HLRF made recommendations for considerations by the Parties at the HLRF.

“a military leader of a nation or part of a nation, esp one who is accountable to nobody when the central government is weak” (Collins English Dictionary – ‘Warlord’).
There one of these days, something striking and so profound, that you lose your grip of reality. It will come one of these days, when all glass shatters and everything you believe in will vanish. That is not today, since the Juba administration, the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), which has led to another brutal civil war in South Sudan. Have evidently given an offer to one of their generals to assassinate Dr. Riek Machar, the former First Vice-President of South Sudan. If that doesn’t make the alarm-bell running, nothing does. I am sure the same offer came within the time the tanks was driving down the streets of Juba and the rebels of SPLM/A-IO went into the bush of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after failed peace-agreement and settlement between SPLM/A and SPLM/A-IO.
So yesterday’s revelations says a lot:
“South Sudan’s presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters in Juba today that the failed plot to pursue and kill the former first vice president turned rebel leader Riek Machar originated with Gen. Paul Malong. “The Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and $5 million was released for military operations against Riek Machar,” Ateny said. The government blamed Paul Malong for failing to kill the main opposition leader after receiving as much as $5 million for military operations after rebels forces had been driven out of the capital Juba. “Malong took the money but Riek Machar was not killed. He [Malong] failed to pursue Machar and Riek Machar did not face any difficulty. But he [Malong] took the money,” Ateny said, while accusing the former military chief of massive corruption, barely one day after he officially declared himself a rebel” (Radio Tamazuj, 10.04.2018).
That the government today, years after the brutal attack on Machar in Juba and left him fleeing, after the sacking of Gen. Malong last year and his sudden, but not strange new rebellion against the state. Then the state reveal their devious plan to kill Machar. Not like that would be surprising in some aspect, these are violent affairs and death follows. The SPLA and SPLM/A-IO has fought dozens of skirmishes and certainly not the last. Because, none of them seems to be willing to back down. While more rebels appear, more groups and some coalitions of rebels, also comes out of the dust.
That the state doesn’t think this implicate themselves and only tarnish Malong, that is really foolish. This shows how little lack of governance and will of institutions, that the central government, which was supposed to co-operate with Machar. Would actually hire someone, a fellow general and his troops to kill him. The problem isn’t directly that Malong would kill him, but that the government gave him money and a contract to do so.
The TGoNU has really with this story sold themselves short. They thought it was a brilliant way of tarnishing the efforts of Malong to start his rebellion. Well, it shows that he does whatever to get by and get wealthy, but it also shows how the state moves and tries to make people disappear, that they don’t like or don’t want to co-operate with. That is what this signals, that they are putting money on people’s head. If they start to test the structures and the people on-high.
We can just imagine who sanctioned this and who payed Malong, that is the big-deal and that shows who thought it would be a good arrangement. To settle the difference not with consensus, but by the guns. That is why this is War-Lord mentality. Peace.