Opinion: Does the EOM’s have any relevance anymore?

The ones who knows me, knows how I follow elections and the stakes at any election. I will follow and see the campaigns, the political framework and the polls itself. This is seeing how all stakeholders, all parties and state institutions hopefully goes in harmony. They are all working for separate goals, but still for a common goal to get the proper representation within the National Assembly, the Parliament or the highest office, Prime Minister/President. However, that might be.

That is why I look up to election and follow them. Because the elections, usually show the dire truth, the reality of how people and how the leadership handles its people. How, the state and how the parties are addressing each other. The real is coming out. You cannot fake the actions and have just one instance of impartiality over the months of campaigns before any polls. You just cannot muster that fakeness. No one has that ability. That is why I follow elections, to see and to know the leaders, the ideals and the prospects of reigniting the leadership or renewal of it.

With this in mind, with the years from 2015 until the fresh start of 2019. I have follow directly enough. To ask, does the foreign and multi-national Election Observation Missions (EOM) still have relevance in out time?

Yes, if it is rubber-stamping and accepting fraudulent polls, they does that properly. They are saying it is some misgivings. The votes was peaceful, the ques at the polling stations was showing public interest for the votes, but there are legal questions and problematic attachment of the Electoral Commissions or Electoral Bodies. Which has to addressed at a further date, to ensure impartial activity or independent acts of the ones responsible of the counting and announcing the results.

However, that sort of activity from an EOM gets old. Get old really quick. As the Foreign Envoys and the Ambassadors are acting as stepping stones, instead of aliens with a free mind. They are acting as Noble’s of the elites and accepting the inevitable. They are together with the EOM just ensuring the frauds happening. They are looking and seeing, but at the same distancing themselves. Not taking action or really saying the truth.

That is why the EOMs are losing value. They are coming as tourists, who just write long reports. Showing some misgivings, but not really telling the reality. They are condemning some default problems, coming with recommendations to the government. However, lots of times, there is no follow up or no acts of the donors who pays for these EOMs to be there even. Therefore, the value of the aftermath, isn’t even there. If there is no legal reform or electoral laws change after the recommended statements. Than, their visit and popping by the polls is totally pointless. Unless, they are just there as a gift of legitimacy. Surely, that is the only thing they give.

They are giving no bounds of questions or even trying to prove, if there are any problems within the polls. Surely, it must be mandate of the missions, the operations and the lack of resources. If not, the respect of the sovereign nations. That is fine and dandy, but if there is there to observe and state, what so many are seeing elsewhere. When, the evident of a rigged elections, why not say it publicly?

That is why I don’t see them as relevant. When the public are saying the votes are rigged, the local media are saying it, but the EOM says its with misgivings and needs some electoral reforms. That is when I see a red-flag.

So, maybe it is time to stop funding these operations. Unless, the partners have an objective, to keep dictators, their fraudulent elections sensitized and ensure legitimacy for their man/party in-charge, yet another term. Peace.

Foreign Embassies in Sudan – Memo to the African Union: “Status: Important and Urgent” (23.12.2018)

Sudan: Riots continues on its fourth day!

In Khartoum and elsewhere in the Republic, the riots against the state continues. This being against President Omar Al-Bashir and his party, which has controlled the state for over 30 years. The government have lacked financial control, as the bread prices are souring, the lack of fuel and also empty ATMs.

The dictatorship of thirty years, has during its recent four days shown it oppressive behavior. With leaked videos of the live-bullets against citizens. Today, there are even soldiers with machine guns doing shooting against the public. All of this shows again, that President Al-Bashir doesn’t care about other people’s lives. As he orders total destruction. Just to stay in power.

The official death number of today is 9, while other claims to 22 people who lost their lives.

We also know that the state is afraid of this riots, as the Universities are getting closed indefinitely as a result. The closure is to stop the youth and disembark them from the cities where the Universities are. However, the share size of the demonstrations and the people assembled, is from all walks of life, even police officers have dropped their uniforms to join in. As they are tired of the dictatorship itself.

We don’t know to much about the riots and demonstrations, as the state has slowed down internet, blocked social media sites and the biggest telecommunication company Zain has been blocked earlier in the week.

Still, with doze measures done by the state, still some vital information are leaked about the state activity and repressive acts against own citizens. However, this is not new, as the state under Al-Bashir has been violated human rights and crimes against humanity in Darfur, South Sudan and within South Kordofan. Therefore, that he would do such things to stay in power. Isn’t exactly new.

There is also reports of opposition leaders being arrested as a result of the continued riots, but that hasn’t been verified at this point. But that wouldn’t be dramatic or out of question. As the same state is shooting directly with machine guns against the demonstrators.

Time will tell how this one goes, but what we do know is that the people are rising and not accepting to be silenced. By the regime that has taken them for granted and thought they could spark fear in them. They are speaking up on the streets and saying what they feel is justified. It is about time.

President Al-Bashir, your time is up. Peace.

Sudan: The people are revolting against the government!

The Republic of Sudan is in flames, as the public is tired of the Omer Al-Bashir regime and his reign. As the lack of economic progress or stagnation as it is. The bread-prices are rising and the Sudanese Pound is weakening towards the US Dollar. Therefore, the public has had enough this week, as demonstrations and protest has erupted through the Republic.

We know the government is alerted, as they have killed just during the last 24 hours at least eight demonstrators in Khartoum alone. Who knows the real numbers or fatal occurrences, as the state has blocked social media and internet through ZAIN Sudan and other companies.

We know the situation is dire, when not only the bread prices are sky-rocketing, but the fuel prices too. While the government has not given higher salaries or secured the public for the added costs of living. The soldiers are also lacking basic salaries, therefore, the whole system from the top is defunct.

We know the state is serious, when the state has blocked WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, in a game of trying to black-out information from the Republic to the world. As the world has to anticipate the next moves.

While the death has occurred, thanks to the Authorities cracking down on the ground. The Spokesperson and Minister of Information Bushara Aror claims the Police Force have been civil in their duties. Surely, the public outcry says something else.

The demonstrations, protests or riots are not only in Khartoum, but all over the republic. Its been in Nuhood, Post Sudan, Atbara, Damar and Hasaheesa. That was on the 19^th December, but yesterday, it spread to Dongola, Kareema, Beber, Gadarif and beyond. Therefore, this a national protest against the state, not just the ones suffering in the capital, but in general.

This has to known, that the Sudanese are demonstrating against the decades after decades of reign for Al-Bashir, his cronyism and corruption, that his lack of respect for justice and rule of law. Is not under stated. That the man who has ruled with an iron fist. Is know seeing that the people are revolting against him. They have had enough. Peace.

Sudan: Pre-Negotiation Agreement for the Resumption of the Peace Process in Darfur (06.12.2018)

The US Midterms Elections 2018 are missing one thing: Some EOM’s from abroad!

As the United States Midterms are going to the polls, I am disappointed the world around me. That there are no Election Observer Mission from the African Union (AU), European Union (EU), Union of South American Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Not to mention the Commonwealth, they should have also participated with some of mission there too, because the United States of America is a previous colony of United Kingdom. It should be necessary for them to participate and ensure these elections.

Alas, this is not the case, in the midst of voter oppression, disenfranchised voters, lack coherent ID laws, possible misuse of incumbents power and investigations into opponents. There would be a space for these EOM to bring scruitiny and tell where the US System lacks. Because clearly it lacks certain fundamentals.

This is a Republic, where people are automatically enlisted to the army and the citizens are monitored and having the information in the Department of State and within the Department of Defence (DoD). But these same outlets cannot let this information go directly to the Federal Election Commission, so they follow the advice of these bodies. To ensure that everyone votes are respected and also counted for. That the laws are justified and that they are for the betterment of the democratic values, the Republic is supposed to have.

We know it varies from state to state, but the media output, the usage of state resource from the Republican Party. Like the use of Air Force One for the President to travel to any rally of his choice. The way the state is paying for the GOP in the campaigns and the possible violations of both electoral law, but also of government resources should be looked into by outside entities.

When the United States can send the Carter Center to look over the Kenyan Election. Why shouldn’t NGOs from the other continents come to the US and do a study. Observer the events in Ohio or Iowa and write up reports of the ques, the lack of openness of the counting and other possible aspects. Where these NGOs could see something to point out and say that the these elections are lacking certain aspects and needs to be configured to be credible.

Because, that is what the foreign NGOs does elsewhere. It is time for them to go and look into the United States too, as the US system cannot be perfect, when the winner of the popular vote are still losing. There got to be a better way and who knows what that is.

I would have faith in the elections, if there was EOM from EU, AU, ASEAN USAN and other bodies, writing preliminary reports and coming with warnings of hate-speech and terrorism before the polls. That would have been sign of health, as the US cannot live alone in Supreme, as they are not that anymore. That has been proven again and again. It is time, that they get outside forces overlooking their acts and questioned their behaviour. Their Election Laws and their attitude towards their citizens. So, the balanced perspective, could be fruitful.

These sort of bodies shouldn’t just come to Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone. No, they should go to the United States, until everything is all and the above. It is needed so the public know they can trust the process and the laws of the elections. As the 2016 was marred with foreign interference and ploys from Russian agents. That is why it is more needed then ever. Peace.

Joint United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) – Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) team deployed to assist families affected by mudslides in East Jebel Marra (20.09.2018)

Today, a joint team comprising United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) civilian staff and the Humanitarian Country Team, as well as 70 peacekeepers, including 30 Special Forces and six doctors, reached the affected area.

EL FASHER, Sudan, September 20, 2018 – The African Union – United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), have deployed a joint mission to provide emergency assistance to people affected by mudslides in East Jebel Marra, South Darfur.

Heavy rains in the area last week caused mudslides in Wadi Tuliba and Tagulei villages, resulting in the reported deaths of at least 19 people and the injury of 25 others, while an unspecified number remain unaccounted for and some families have lost their homes, according to official local sources.

Today, a joint team comprising UNAMID civilian staff and the Humanitarian Country Team, as well as 70 peacekeepers, including 30 Special Forces and six doctors, reached the affected area.

The team will conduct an assessment of the humanitarian situation and provide medical assistance, as well as non-food items such as tents and plastic sheets for shelter, kitchen sets, blankets and mosquito nets to the affected community.

UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR), Jeremiah Mamabolo and the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Gwi-Yeop Son expressed their deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones during the disaster and pledged to assist the survivors within their organizations’ limited resources.

UNMISS condemns attack on peacekeeping convoy in South Sudan (15.09.2018)

SSUF: Statement on the recently signed South Sudan Peace Accord (14.09.2018)

SSOA: The Revitalized Peace Agreement is Unsustainable for South Sudan (13.09.2018)