South Sudan: Is the R-ARCSS extension only to buy time?

Today, I have to ask this question, because there been so many fault-lines, so many bothering revelations along the way. Since the Khartoum Declaration last year to the R-ARCSS agreement that was supposed to be initiated and finalized by May 12th 2019. However, this is not happening, as the stakeholders, parties and all sorts of functions are keeping pushing it away. If not the TGoNU is currently also paying lobbyist in the United States not to put pressure on them finalizing one piece of it, the Hybrid Court. Alas, there is the mere question from me today. Was it all built on the wrong foundation, on a false pretext and a false hope?

By all means, I wish it isn’t so. Because the Republic of South Sudan. Needs peace, needs diplomatic efforts and need to be rebuilt. This will be painful, as the suffering and time of warlords are in the veins of the current leadership. Where everyone who disagrees starts their own armed rebellion and besiege any given territory, instead of building up a function and institutionalized state. Maybe, the stakeholders wasn’t interested in that, if they were, maybe they wouldn’t have invested so much in guns and training of personnel, right?

This is what it all seems, that the ones steering the ship has been buying time. Establishing networks for trade of resources, to again secure the ability for more prosperous warfare. Because, why the hassle of talk, when you can get rid of the person your supposed to talk too. I know it is sinister, raw and brutal, but for a Republic to have such vast amounts of people in Refugee camps in the neighbour countries, for Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites and Peacekeepers. Surely, they are amass in issues, which needs to be resolved. Not only knit-picking illegal gold smuggling for the heist of the stakeholders at this current day. But the whole system created by the warlords, the ones who used their armies and their rebels. Who are all now nearly together, accept a few chosen groups who isn’t there or saying it is dying already.

I don’t know, but if this seems like buying time. It seems more likely now. That the ones who are getting their spears, their shields and the cash-flow for more possible violence later. Who knows right? But why didn’t the TGoNU work harder with the stakeholders like SPLM/A-IO, SPLM-FD, SSOA or anyone else.

Let me say this again. I hope I am dead wrong, that they are really serious and want to finalize the implementation of the R-ARCSS. Since, it seems like this. The only good is that they are together in Addis Ababa declaring the resolution today, but does it has any value? Or is the asking for money for implementation the key aspect of it all?

Because, the state was together with all parties was supposed to be finished next week, but now has postponed it six more months. This is really a sign to come, unless there are some signals and proofs of implementation, that is showing pure intent. Not just paying Gainful Solutions or anyone to stifle the process. Having illegal deployment of foreign forces in parts of the Republic. Therefore, there is enough warning signs, which isn’t only the lack of will to implement it.

So, lets hope this is not to buy time… not to buy time, but to actually do this correctly. Peace.

South Sudan: IGAD – Resolution – Meeting of the Parties to the R-ARCSS 2018 on the Status of Implementation of the Pre-Transitional Tasks and the Formation of the RTGoNU (03.05.2019)

South Sudan: IGAD – Draft Resolution – Meeting of the Parties to the R-ARCSS 2018 on the Status of Implementation of the Pre-Transitional Tasks and the Formation of the RTGoNU (May 2nd – 3rd 2019)

Joint local statement on restrictions to freedom of Expression and Assembly in Uganda (03.05.2019)

Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda (FCAU): Press Statement (03.05.2019)

The South Sudan Civil Society Forum: Civil Society Calls for Renewed Commitment and Allocation of meaningful National Resources for Implementation of R-ARCSS (01.05.2019)

Joint Statement: UCC’s Strangehold on Freedom of Expression is Illegitimate (02.05.2019)

National Asssociation Broadcasters letter to Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director Mutabazi: “RE: Repeated Breach of Minimum Broadcasting Standards” (02.05.2019)

Uganda Parliamentary Press Association: The Madness of Godfrey Mutabazi must be stopped (02.05.2019)

UCC goes rouge on 13 media houses on Labour Day!

Some days are supposed to be sleepy, nearly nothing happening. Your hearing crickets and birds chirping outside the window. Usually, the 1st of May, every year is a bit slow, if your not participating in marches, rallies or collective state sponsored gatherings, where-ever they are. However, today the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has gone rouge, they are really going all out on media. In a sense that isn’t to monitor their broadcast, but more to silence the ones who speaks up on behalf of the Opposition.

Earlier today, three employees at the NBS Television was suspended by the UCC, it is now later revealed, that this was just the beginning, as the state and UCC wanted to show no remorse or inaction. As their loyalty to the President goes beyond ordinary measures. They are just taking away people’s livelihoods without any question. Just suspending the ones in-charge of programmes and productions at 13 media houses of different capacity. Certainly, this a retaliation of some sort.

Some are saying the NBS Television was suspended because of their broadcasting of the trial of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine earlier this week. That is most likely the reason for all of this, since the leadership and regime at this current is very vindictive of the people, who are spreading the message of any serious opposition leader.

Here is the recent post from the UCC:

The Uganda Communications Commission (The Commission) has directed the suspension of Producers, Head of News and Head of Programmes in the following broadcasting stations; AKABOOZI FM, BBS TV, BEAT FM, BUKEDDE TV, CAPITAL FM, CBS FM, KINGDOM TV, NBS TV, NTV, PEARL FM, SALT TV, SAPIENTIA FM and SIMBA FM. This follows concerns over the nature of content aired on these broadcast stations particularly during live programmes, breaking news, and main news bulletins which do not comply with the Minimum broadcasting standards. The Commission observes that these programmes contain content that:- 1. Misrepresents information, views, facts and events in a manner likely to mislead or cause alarm to the public. 2. Has extremist or anarchic messages, including incitement of violence for political and/or other purposes. 3. Incites the public against other members of the public based on their political, religious, cultural and tribal affiliations which are likely to create public insecurity or violence” (Uganda Communications Commission – ‘SUSPENDED – REPEATED BREACH OF MINIMUM BROADCASTING STANDARDS’ 01.05.2019).

This is a very common pattern of the state, where the ones broadcasting the possible message or spreading their views to much. Now, that they did broadcast and spell out the acts against Bobi Wine on the 29th April 2019. They have clearly done to much of it. This has insulted the intelligence of the UCC and the President himself. Surely, his seen and heard this and haven’t enjoyed the broadcast. As they are supposed to spread his views and stories, not the ones of the opposition. Surely, they are so heartbroken, that they had to send this message more clearly to the Media Houses.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President wants his messages spread, not the ones of dissidents. That is why the state is doing this. To send a MEMO to the OWNERS, whose in control and what they can do. If they don’t sensitize the public the way they want it to be done. So, they now have to keep to this memo, if doing otherwise. Only the within the small measures, which is not taking it to far. Like they did on the 29th April 2019 and even after. Peace.