Somalia: Drought Emergency Response (27.02.2017)

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Trump’s Executive order on the ‘Muslim Ban’ countered by the newly produced DHS Intelligence Report!

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There is now a new Department of Homeland Security report that assesses the “Muslim Ban” that we’re put in place 27th January 2017. So the own state agency is putting the numbers down and show who ridiculous this Executive Order from President Donald J. Trump and his Alt-Right government. That the Bannon Inspired law and his fear of foreigners seem abysmal now, if the Trump administration cared about facts. Which I will show how little the United States has to fear, if they should impose some stronger laws it should be on their own citizens and the own native-born individuals, as they are more likely to act. This report states that there have been 82 individuals who have posed terrorist threats by all the indicators that Department of Justice and Department of State has delivered of late. Therefore when you have had 82 individuals, as imposed on 7 countries was sanction in the Executive Order. Of these there are significant few individuals who have created or possessed a threat to proud American republic. Take a look!

Scope Note: This paper was prepared at the request of the DHS Acting under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis. It assess the international terrorist threat to the United States and worldwide by citizens in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Citizens of these seven countries were impacted by Section 3 of Executive Order (E.O.) 13769 “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”. The Assessment relies on unclassified information from Department of Justice press releases on terrorism- related convictions and terrorist attack perpetrators killed in the act, Department of State visa statistics, the 2016 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, and the Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism 2015. This paper does not assess the threat of domestic reform” (DHS, 2017).

“DHS 1&A assess that country of citizenship is unlikely to be reliable indicator of potential terrorist activity. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, at least 82 primarily US-based individuals, who died in pursuit of or were convicted of any terrorism-related federal offence inspired by foreign terrorist organization, according to a DHS study of Department of Justice press release on convictions and terrorist attack perpetrators killed in the act. Of the 82 individuals we identified, slightly more than half were native-born in the United States citizens” (DHS, 2017).

Total individuals:

“Top seven origin countries of the foreign-based individuals are: Pakistan (5), Somalia (3), and Bangladesh, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iraq and Uzbekistan (2)” (…) “of the seven countries impacted by the E.O. 13769 that are not listed above, Iran, Sudan, and Yemen had 1 each, and there were no individuals from Syria” (DHS, 2017).

Simple math:

3+2+1+1+1 = 8 individuals, as I will explain it there is three fellow humans from Somalia, 2 other humans from Iraq, one single individual from these countries of Iran, Sudan and Yemen. Therefore the total amount of individuals who is concerned from the banned entry countries is 8 (eight). That of 82 individuals, as even the report states is that slightly more than half are native-born. Which means more than 41 individuals was a United States citizen, which means if by numbers, they should channel certain credit to their own state system and their own handle of American born citizens, instead of blaming Yemen, Iran and Sudan.

There are real issues, but the Trump Administration is not fixing the issue with doing this and banning entry from these nations, than Pakistan and other nations should also been part of this. Still, one of the nations that the United States even has on the list hasn’t had any terrorist threat to the American republic; that is from the Syrian Republic’s fleeing citizens from internal civil-war. Therefore the United States current government shows more belief in bias, than in ethical and truthful numbers.

So the Trump Administration has to continue to deflect the media and their reporting, because their own agencies and department are collecting information that is equally assessed by serious civil servants working for the common good and not just for a biased idea that Trump got on InfoWars, Fox News or by Breitbart. Therefore this intelligence report shows the lacking configuration and need for this sort of order. This will not create less of terrorism, unless the United States actually does something with their native-born terrorist, but that means harder guns-laws and stricter regulations on arms. With that in mind the National Rifle Association (NRA) support of Trump and his candidacy show’s that isn’t in the mind of this administration. Therefore, there will come more U.S. native-born lone-gun men who kills innocent in the United States for either themselves as a cause or a soldier for a foreign terrorist organization.

You should also wonder with the reactions this has created, that banning Iran is because of one fellow individual, just as they do as well with Yemen and Sudan. So three persons are the reason for the whole republics are not allowed to enter into the United States under Trump, so if one of the sons or daughters of Trump breaks the law abroad, means that United Arab Emirates, Vietnam or Botswana all of sudden banned all United States Citizens from entering because Donald Trump Junior tried to smuggle ivory from Botswana. Therefore if this scenario was true, than all the US Citizens are now banned from entering the African state. That is an example of the nonsense that the U.S. government under Trump administration is in charge of!  This is the precise wording and meaning behind this sort of law and executive order of Trump.

Peace.

Reference:

Department of Homeland Security – ‘Citizenship likely an Unreliable Indicator of Terrorist Threat to the United States’ (February 2017).

South Sudan: A look into the President Salva Kiir’s visit to Addis!

kiir-hailemariam-23-02-2017

If you wonder what the Central Government of South Sudan is doing the neighbour country of Ethiopia. There are certainly many different answers, as the reports of Egyptian Airplanes have even been verified by Sudanese Regime in Khartoum. The South Sudanese wrote under an agreement with the Ethiopian regime, there might also be another reason as well, as the refugees goes into Gambella region. There are certainly lots of views and intelligence on the travels this time, as the crisis and the battles internally has reactions in Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia. Now it is just lacking UPDF to turn their cards into the SPLM/A battles in South Sudan. Take a look!

Salva Kiir team to Ethiopia seeking for forgiveness from Ethiopia:

“Sudanese President coming from his visit answering the reporters after Egyptians Military took a huge loss in involving in South Sudan civil war. Since the beginning of Feb. 2017, the Egyptian Military participated in bombardment in Unity State Upper Nile and Central Equatoria in Equatoria” (…) “In Unity State the Egyptian air force lodges its bombardment from 8:00 PM-11:00 PM, and that was daily until Feb. 20, 2017, due to the accident that happened with Egyptian air force bomber in Yei that went missing on Feb. 19, 2017, before lodge it’s bombardment” (…) “In Unity State all the captured cities using the Egyptian air force are recaptured and Kiirs terrorist took a big lost after a promising military combat from Egyptians army. Egyptians are using Sudan president to help cover up their loses” (…) “Kiir have no choose, but to take it to Ethiopia for more support diplomatically seeking for acceptance again from Ethiopian military to be mild to his terrorist regime after accepting Egyptian idea off sponsoring Ethiopian rebels. Kiir’s team that went to Ethiopia was to lie to the Ethiopians to them to cool down after Kiir’s aggression against Ethiopia” (SSUDA, 24.02.2017).

Presidential Spokesperson speaks about the talks:

“It will be something good for us, South Sudanese and Ethiopians, should these two leaders put into action what they will agree on. It’s our hope that the two agree on security issues. We don’t want any negative force to use another country’s territory to launch hostile activities on the other. Borders are really important to a country and having a good relationship with the bordering country is always the goal for both countries to progress together,” said Presidential Spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny” (…) “South Sudan- Ethiopia borders are not safe and this is what has prompted the two to meet,” Ateny further stressed” (Sudan Tribune, 24.02.2017).

Answer from Foreign Affairs of South Sudan:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan has read with dismay the unfriendly statement alleged to have been made by the Sudanese President Omer Hassan El-Bashir, during the press briefing on his return from Abu Dhabi to Khartoum, on Tuesday 21st Feb. 2017, that the Egyptian Government continues to support South Sudan with arms and ammunitions” (…) “The Republic of South Sudan is disturbed by this unfortunate, unfounded and baseless statement, specially because it came at a time that the two Countries and the whole region have agreed to exert more collective efforts towards the realization of peace and stability in the IGAD region” (…) “The Ministry, therefore, calls on the leadership of the sisterly Country, Sudan, not to forget its responsibility to work with South Sudan in the spirit of the Cooperation agreement and to address any issue that may arise between the two neighboring Countries through dialogue and direct communications at leadership level and diplomatic channels. There is no way Sudan and South Sudan can abandon each other, because both countries share the longest border in the region, which needs special attention from their respective leaders” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs – South Sudan, 24.02.2017).

Signed Agreement:

“The signing ceremony took place in Addis Ababa today, following the bilateral talks held between Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and President Salva Kiir of South Sudan” (…) “The accords inked covered roads and bridges, communication, information and media, and preferential trade agreement as well as border trade protocol” (…) “The two countries have also signed memorandums of understandings on cooperation in the construction of roads, diesel off-take arrangement, health, and energy” (…) “The leaders have agreed to engage each other to implement the agreements and address any matter that may arise in the future” (…) “Acknowledging that free movement of people and goods are pre-requisites for enhancing economic ties and expeditious implementation of these agreements, the two leaders have decided with immediate effect to start the construction road projects” (…) “Noting with satisfaction the existing bilateral ties, they also agreed to continue to hold ministerial commission meetings led by respective foreign affairs ministers twice in a year” (…) “Agreement was also reached to form Joint Border Administrators/Governors Committee (JBAC) to further strengthen cooperation on issues of security, trade, development and infrastructure along the common borders” (ENA, 2017).

Hope that you got wiser as you have seen more of the state visit in Addis Ababa from the President Salva Kiir Mayardiit and his team. There are more to this and more not told, but this is what I could get of views on the matter. Unless, there showing more clear documentation of why the SPLM had to visit Ethiopia in this dire hour, where the famine and the civil-war continues. This is certainly not a visit in the hour of strength for the SPLM/A. There to many pieces of problems to be different. Peace.

Reference:

Ethiopian News Agency – ‘Ethiopia, South Sudan Sign Agreements, MoU that Forge Friendship’ (24.0.2.2017) link: http://www.ena.gov.et/en/index.php/politics/item/2795-ethiopia-south-sudan-sign-agreements-mou-that-forge-friendship

Ministry of Foreign Affairs – The Republic of South Sudan – ‘PRESS RELEASE:  South Sudan Disturbed By Sudan’s Bashir Baseless Statement of Egyptian Support’ (24.02.2016)

Sudan Tribune – ‘South Sudan president in Ethiopia for security talks’ (24.02.2017) link: https://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61727

Dagens politikere på Stortinget er så arrogante!

hoyre-sanner-hoie

«Min arroganse er helt ekte og absolutt. Den har ikke den lille nyansen som kommer av usikkerhet. Jeg vet jeg kan mye, og legger ikke skjul på det»Johan Galtung

Den dag, den tvil og den stormende vind over landet, der Stortinget hadde lyttet til lokalbefolkning og ønsker, ikke minst også sådd tvil om sine egne vurderinger. Så hadde kanskje låten hørtes annerledes ut. Vi har mange arrogante sjeler på tinget. De regjerer og råder over kongeriket. Der de setter standard for opptreden og for vår harmoni.

Stortinget skal representere oss, men sannelig slik de opptrer nå om dagen. Så må jeg presisere, de representerer snart bare seg selv. De er ikke en skikkelse av folket eller en del av oss.

Jeg er selv norsk statsborger og etnisk norsk, men snart tenker jeg må greie ut om livshistorie, slik at jeg er sikker på å få lov til å bo landet. Kongeriket er ikke lengre sikkert for noen. Før eller siden kommer UNE og UDI å sier at du må vike i fra oss og sende dere på dør. Uansett om de har vært her i 10, 15 eller 20 år. Det betyr ikke noe. Kongeriket regjerer med sine sterke klør og kvasse sverd. Der en over landet bare bryter vennskap, familier og arbeid. Det kan jo være neste gang meg som ikke opprettholder kravene ettersom jeg ikke har fulgt A4 modellen til partiet Høyre eller Fremskrittspartiet.

Vi vet heller ikke hvordan strukturen virkelig vil være, om det vil være fungerende sykehus. Lokale sykehus er snart saga blott. De er bare skur med treskemaskiner, mens legene må flykte til sentrale sykehus hvor det ikke er nok senger eller nok spesialavdelinger å hyre de til. Fordi å ha lokale akutt og beredskap er for dyrt, det billigere at distrikts Norge dør. Det er arrogansen. Det er Bent Høies ideal, så lenge Stavanger er konge, så er det ikke så nøye om folkene i Dalane eller Lister stryker med. De er ikke så viktige. Akkurat som i Møre hvor det er også problemer mellom byene om hvem som får beholde hva. Skal sykehuset ligge i Ålesund eller i Kristiansund?

Så er det Jan Tore Sanner. Som så gjerne vil beholde sin prestisje og presisere at reformen om sammenslåinger av kommuner har pågått over tid. Kommune og fylkes Norge skal skje, om så alle befalinger skjer fra det lukkede rom. Det er ikke viktig om lokalbefolkning har stemt eller ikke stemt. Om valg og kommunale organer er tvilende til om konklusjonen er korrekt. Ei heller om Christensens Frivillighetsprinsipp fra 1990-tallet blir sendt på dør. Det er ikke så nøye, så lenge som at Sanner har sannelig gjort noe. Så stolt han kan være at han har tvunget lokalkommuner og fylker i sammen. Der han ikke redegjort for de nye forordninger eller gitt tid for de ansatte eller representanter lokalt klar over de nye krav. Samtidig som staten og stortinget beholder all makt, mens nye organisering gir flere spørsmål og oppgaver uløste. Det er stoltheten og hovmodet.

Arrogansen og likegyldighet fra sentralt hold er så stort. Der en skal tvinge og legge ned, uten å komme med konkrete erstatning. Dette er det Høyre og Fremskrittspartiet holder på med. Denne overkjøring og unnlatende holdning til bygde Norge, distriktene og til lokalvalg. Der en uten seriøs vurdering av konsekvenser vil sende syke nyfødte i flere timer med helikopter og ambulanse for å spare usle penger. Hva om livet går tapt når det var mulighet for et år siden å bli reddet? Vil den Norske stat dekke for familiens tap av sin nyfødte? Vil Høie kondolere og be i ærbødighet for sin overtredelse?

Hva om det er meg neste gang eller noen andre som kjenner? Jeg kan ikke vite eller forstå hvordan saksgang eller ettersyn staten lenger har? Om noen ting i denne verden virkelig er foreldet eller om du tilhører en viss gruppe, så er du aldri sikker. Om du har gjort feil en gang, så vil aldri staten tilgi deg. Men hvis du er en av oss, så kan du gjerne jukse litt og slippe unna. Slik som visse politikere som ikke tør vise sin inhabilitet eller sine verv. Siden de vil ikke vise sine tilknytninger som gjør at deres valg bli annerledes enn om de ikke hadde venner i NHO eller har jobbet for større finansielle konsern. Fordi de er en del av oss, de representere oss bare. Da er det så greit. Det er dette som er så arrogant.

Jeg klarer ikke lenger å bare se på det kalde kyniske Norge, det falitte og dårene som styrer med jernhånd, uten å tenke konsekvens eller realiteten, akkurat som all privatisering er positiv. Annet for de som driver aksjeselskap og investerer i den form for bedrift som kan ta over staten. Gi styring til selskap som jobber for profitt istedenfor å levere dag ut og dag inn for de velferdsgoder vi i teorien skal ha. Der felleskapets skattepenger ikke skal ende i skatteparadis, men omfordeles slik at pleiehjemmet, sykehuset eller skolen være i okay stand og klar for de som trenger det. Ikke være der for at Hansen skal tjene seg søkk rik på nødvendig tjeneste som alle trenger.

Men, det er jo det Høyre og FrP ønsker, et kaldt lite inkluderende Norge som er skapt for store internasjonale selskaper, men ikke medmennesker. Der det er lengre til tillitsvalgte, til de folkevalgte og lengre til de tjenester, både du, jeg og alle trenger. Om det er på Kløfta, Torsken eller i Sirdal. Er ikke så veldig nøye, det du skal vite at med denne politikken, så bør du ha bra telefon-tid, kunne ringe staten og nye kommunen. Fordi det er for langt til nærmeste kontor. Til nærmeste sykehus er det cirka 2 timer eller kanskje 3 ettersom hvor du bor. Toget vil drevet av polske leilendinger som ikke kunne ha råd til bolig. Sykehjemmet er drevet av «Accus AS» som har innleid personal fra Adecco og drives av konsulenter. Kommunestyret vil være langt vekke og nesten ikke synlig i avisene. De blir borte på hovedsenter langt av sted ikke nær der de representerer. De får også mindre makt siden kommunene og slikt får totalt sett mest øremerkede midler.

Stortinget har vist lite tillit til lokaldemokrati, lokale kunnskaper ei eller tiltro til å desentraliserte institusjoner, det har kanskje med å gjøre at disse menneskene er helt i sentrum og ikke trenger å tenke på hva som måtte skje eller skulle skje. Så lenge de kan se tilbake at jeg hadde ansvaret og jeg reformerte noe. Det er slik det virker. At sentralisering skal være innsparende og at privatiseringen skal være sparende på staten er ideologien. Fordi disse menneskene vil ha en liten stat, men samtidig vil de ha all makt. Det er fascinerende og skremmende. Denne arrogante leder-stilen til dagens Stortingspolitikere. Fader, det er arrogant.

«’Du må ikke sitte trygt i ditt hjem og si: Det er sørgelig, stakkars dem! Du må ikke tåle så inderlig vel den urett som ikke rammer deg selv! Jeg roper med siste pust av min stemme: Du har ikke lov til å gå der å glemme!» (Arnulf Øverland – ‘Du Må ikke Sove’ – 1937).

Peace!

 

Mogadishu Declaration on Regional Cooperation on the Current Drought (22.02.2017)

East-Africa

Mogadishu – Wednesday, 22 February 2016The following joint declaration was made in Mogadishu by H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, and H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

1. We have come together as the heads of government of four countries in a region facing significant stress as a result of the current drought. Multiple seasons of failed rains and global weather patterns have, yet again, negatively affected the resilience mechanisms of millions of our people. This is evident in the immediate humanitarian crisis facing us today and will show up in longer term socio-economic vulnerability in communities that today are selling all their assets and uprooting their families for survival.

2. This situation, which may worsen in Somalia and result in a renewed famine over the coming months, could also have security and political implications in our region and beyond, as coping mechanisms are eroded and tensions over dwindling resources risks sparking conflict. Scores of people are moving both within countries and across borders in the hope of increasing their chances of survival. This upheaval is taking a particularly heavy toll on children and women, and makes people vulnerable to exploitation, human rights abuses and to criminal and terrorist networks. Drought-related disease outbreaks and inter-communal conflict are already on the rise.

3. While each of our governments is mobilising to respond, the dire situation calls for international collaboration and regional partnership between governments, civil society, aid organisations, business and international donors.

4. We commit ourselves to regional cooperation to facilitate a more comprehensive response and strong partnership.

5. We commit to strengthening our cross-border collaboration and our efforts to establish security and stability in Somalia to ensure an effective response to the drought and to enable further progress in peace building and state building in Somalia. We further commit to the provision of appropriate protection and assistance to those compelled to leave their areas of origin as a consequence of the drought, including those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

6. We will be consulting on a regular basis to review progress on these issues, and to agree upon any necessary collective action that will help our countries and region respond to this emergency. Furthermore, we have instructed our respective foreign ministers and drought response teams to work together and keep us briefed.

7. In the longer term, we commit to working together bilaterally and through existing regional bodies such as IGAD, the African Union as well as the United Nations to address the underlying structural issues that commonly affect our economies, environments and communities, including cross-border rangeland and water resource management.

END

Famine Hits Parts Of South Sudan (20.02.2017)

WFP South Sudan 2016

UN agencies warn that almost 5 million people urgently need food, agriculture and nutrition assistance.

JUBA, South Sudan, February 20, 2017 – War and a collapsing economy have left some 100,000 people facing starvation in parts of South Sudan where famine was declared today, three UN agencies warned. A further 1 million people are classified as being on the brink of famine.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) also warned that urgent action is needed to prevent more people from dying of hunger. If sustained and adequate assistance is delivered urgently, the hunger situation can be improved in the coming months and further suffering mitigated.

The total number of food insecure people is expected to rise to 5.5 million at the height of the lean season in July if nothing is done to curb the severity and spread of the food crisis.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update released today by the government, the three agencies and other humanitarian partners, 4.9 million people – more than 40 percent of South Sudan’s population – are in need of urgent food, agriculture and nutrition assistance.

Unimpeded humanitarian access to everyone facing famine, or at risk of famine, is urgently needed to reverse the escalating catastrophe, the UN agencies urged. Further spread of famine can only be prevented if humanitarian assistance is scaled up and reaches the most vulnerable.

Famine is currently affecting parts of Unity State in the northern-central part of the country. A formal famine declaration means people have already started dying of hunger. The situation is the worst hunger catastrophe since fighting erupted more than three years ago.

“Famine has become a tragic reality in parts of South Sudan and our worst fears have been realised. Many families have exhausted every means they have to survive,” said FAO Representative in South Sudan Serge Tissot. “The people are predominantly farmers and war has disrupted agriculture. They’ve lost their livestock, even their farming tools. For months there has been a total reliance on whatever plants they can find and fish they can catch.”

Malnutrition is a major public health emergency, exacerbated by the widespread fighting, displacement, poor access to health services and low coverage of sanitation facilities. The IPC report estimates that 14 of the 23 assessed counties have global acute malnutrition (GAM) at or above the emergency threshold of 15 percent, with some areas as high as 42 percent.

“More than one million children are currently estimated to be acutely malnourished across South Sudan; over a quarter of a million children are already severely malnourished. If we do not reach these children with urgent aid many of them will die,” said Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative a.i in South Sudan. “We urge all parties to allow humanitarian organizations unrestricted access to the affected populations, so we can assist the most vulnerable and prevent yet another humanitarian catastrophe.”

“This famine is man-made. WFP and the entire humanitarian community have been trying with all our might to avoid this catastrophe, mounting a humanitarian response of a scale that quite frankly would have seemed impossible three years ago. But we have also warned that there is only so much that humanitarian assistance can achieve in the absence of meaningful peace and security, both for relief workers and the crisis-affected people they serve,” said WFP Country Director Joyce Luma. “We will continue doing everything we possibly can to hold off and reverse the spread of famine.”

Across the country, three years of conflict have severely undermined crop production and rural livelihoods. The upsurge in violence since July 2016 has further devastated food production, including in previously stable areas. Soaring inflation – up to 800 percent year-on-year – and market failure have also hit areas that traditionally rely on markets to meet food needs. Urban populations are also struggling to cope with massive price rises on basic food items.

FAO, UNICEF and WFP, with other partners, have conducted massive relief operations since the conflict began, and intensified those efforts throughout 2016 to mitigate the worst effects of the humanitarian crisis. In Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, among others, the IPC assessment team found that humanitarian relief had lessened the risk of famine there.

FAO has provided emergency livelihood kits to more than 2.3 million people to help them fish or plant vegetables. FAO has also vaccinated more than 6 million livestock such as goats and sheep to prevent further loss.

WFP continues to scale up its support in South Sudan as humanitarian needs increase, and plans to provide food and nutrition assistance to 4.1 million people through the hunger season in South Sudan this year. This includes lifesaving emergency food, cash and nutrition assistance for people displaced and affected by conflict, as well as community-based recovery or resilience programs and school meals.

In 2016, WFP reached a record 4 million people in South Sudan with food assistance — including cash assistance amounting to US$13.8 million, and more than 265,000 metric tons of food and nutrition supplies. It is the largest number of people assisted by WFP in South Sudan since independence, despite problems resulting from the challenging context.

UNICEF aims to treat 207,000 children for severe acute malnutrition in 2017. Working with over 40 partners and in close collaboration with WFP, UNICEF is supporting 620 outpatient therapeutic programme sites and about 50 inpatient therapeutic sites across the country to provide children with urgently needed treatment. Through a rapid response mechanism carried out jointly with WFP, UNICEF continues to reach communities in the most remote locations. These rapid response missions treat thousands of children for malnutrition as well as provide them with immunization services, safe water and sanitation which also prevents recurring malnutrition.

Opinion: SPLM/A government has the wrong priorities with building Ramciel city!

South Sudan Cartoon

We can be sure that General Salva Kiir Mayardiit must be proud of the agreement done with the Kingdom of Morocco that has offered a fortune to build the new capital city of Ramciel. This is apparently very important for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) who is already mixed in a dozens of issues. That the movement of Juba capital shouldn’t be the focus, but here is the agreement made earlier in February!

The agreement between the nations:

“South Sudan and Morocco have signed four partnership agreements and five Memoranda of Understanding covering areas of health, education, mining and infrastructural development.

The deals include an agreement on the building of the South Sudan Capital in Ramciel which cabinet approved shortly after independence in 2011.

The agreements were on:

  • General Operation
  • The building of the Capital Ramciel
  • Promotion and protection of investment
  • Avoidance of double taxation and prevention of physical invasion with respect to taxes and income. The documents were signed by ministers from both countries in the presence of President Salva Kiir and King Mohamed VI” (Radio Miraya, 02.02.2017).

So the Kiir Government and Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) has focused on the wrong things these days, as even court justices, ministers and others are deflecting, as the fighting with rebels and other fractions are weakening the central leadership. So the news of this is absolutely bonkers:

“President Kiir appointed FVP Gen. Taban Deng Gai to head the Ramciel city project committee. The project is scheduled to start before May. Taban Deng Gai has been winning the trust of his career mate, His Excellency President Kiir” (South Sudan News, 17.02.2017).

So the man who took the place of Dr. Riek Machar who is fighting the SPLM/A government with his SPLM-IO fraction, the reality is that the Central Government is so fixated on the Ramciel building that they have continued to work on it:

“The order also named Nhial Deng Nhial, senior presidential advisor and special envoy for diplomatic affairs, as deputy chairperson of the committee. The committee members include the presidential advisor on legal affairs and constitutional development, Lawrence Korbandy, minister of finance, Stephen Dhieu Dau, minister in the office of the president, Mayiik Ayii Deng and minister of petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth” (South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, 19.02.2017).

So that President Kiir is using time forming a working committee to work on building a new capital, instead of securing peace and shielding the citizens. The government is not using funds or securing the inflation, they are not making sure the people who go without water, food or shelter. Instead they are fixated on building a new town to have the main buildings. A new administrational seat instead of the one they have had for a long time. So they are creating a new administrative seat, so they might have a commercial seat and the administrative in the South Sudan. Still, the issue is that nation is grappling with such giant issues that should not contain city or town building at the moment.

With over a million citizens abroad, with drought, with lack of food and armed battles with rebellion, as well as problems of raping soldiers and such, the administrative seat of government, should be the least of concern. The problem of getting petroleum export and pipelines sufficiently works, so the petro-dollars come’s safe in the state coffers too.

In 2011: “MP Andrew Acijok told Good News Radio that legislators representing Greater Yirol met on Saturday and they raised concerns about the governor’s appointment. He said an appointee from Greater Yirol would be more familiar with the background of the new capital and would be of greater assistance to the committee. Mr. Acijok stated that the communities around Ramciel have given the land for the development of the new South Sudan capital for free. Mr. Acijok said traditional songs show that Ramciel had local residents for close to two centuries. He added that Ramciel natives offered the land to Dr. John Garang be used by the national government. On September 2, 2011, South Sudanese ministers designated Ramciel as the site for a planned capital city. The place, an open space in Lakes state, is considered the geographic centre of South Sudan” (Catholic Radio Network, 14.09.2011).

So the modernization should be more than enough to focus on and to secure the current capital. Because the other dire issues and unfixed problems in the domain. All the people that are in the limbo, that is in refugee camps in Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. That the spies of South Sudan are following into these camps and nations to pick-out the rebels inside the neighbour nations. This been told by resigned officials that they even went this far. So the missing South Sudanese could easily been taken by South Sudanese officials and their friends in EAC nations. When we know that the United Nations blue-helmets, MONUSCO could safely transfer SPLM-IO into the republic of Sudan and to Khartoum during the month of July, 2017.

The knowledge of all of this, the dying need for food for so many with the drought, the instability of the arms and battles between forces, as the government army and rebels are trying to controls areas. The government should use the manpower and the arms to secure the population and not to use time to build a new capital. That is waste of the Kingdom of Morocco donor aid and also the spent man-hours that the South Sudanese authorities shouldn’t need to use. The building of the Ramciel instead of Juba is misusing the capacity and the structures that already there. Instead of building stronger institutions and using the time to focus on needed restructuring and negotiating peace with rebels. The Government are getting busy on a project instead of trying to build a lasting peace.

The South Sudanese authorities and government should focus on building the nation, building the institutions, building the legal framework and the civil society, instead their focusing on building a town and city. That is not a key issue or pressing demand; the demand is to show up and be there for the citizens that fleeing violence, killing and lacking shelter. Even lacks peaceful villages to grow food and sell it on the market. Now, it is time for something else than fancy projects, but instead being there for the people. Peace.

South Sudan: Resignation letter from Brig. Gen. Henry Oyay Nyago, Director for Military Justice in SPLA, Juba (18.02.2017)

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FAO reports on the souring food prices in the East African Countries!

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“In pastoral areas of Kenya, Somalia and southeastern Ethiopia, the widespread drought had a severe impact on pasture and water availability, and prices of livestock sharply decreased in recent months to very low levels, as livestock body conditions dramatically deteriorated. In these areas, the resulting sharp decline of terms of trade for pastoralists is severely constraining food access for large numbers of households” (FAO, P: 10, 2017).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has this month released a report that assessed the prices and the issues concerning food prices in the nations around the world. This is the droughts, lack of rain and the problems occurring after the El Nino that hit the African continent. Therefore, the sad reality with the influx of issues and variables, the food markets in different nations has hit a snag and they have gone up. At levels that are worrying, as the markets they haven’t had the same rise in added income compared to the prices of staple foods. This hits the poorest the most and gives them a harder day to day, as their added prices makes the cost of living even more turbulent and hazardous than it already is.

Like the Maize and Beans prices in Kenya:

“Maize prices increased in January by 9-14 percent in most monitored markets, as the output of the short rains harvest, currently underway in eastern and coastal lowlands, was sharply reduced due to insufficient rainfall. Prices of maize in January were 20-30 percent higher than 12 months earlier in several markets, also as a result of a below-average long rains harvest, recently completed in high potential western areas of the Rift Valley. Sustained imports from neighbouring Uganda contained the increased in maize prices. In drought affected coastal counties, sharper year-on-year price increases are recorded, and in December 2016 prices of maize in Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taraka Nithi and Embu counties were up to 40 percent higher than a year earlier. Prices of beans are also at high levels and in January they were up to 40 percent higher than their year-earlier levels. Most pastoral areas were affected by drought, and prices of livestock declined in recent months as animal body conditions deteriorated. For instance, in Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa and Tana River counties, prices of goats in December 2016 were 15-30 percent lower than 12 months earlier” (FAO, P: 3, 2017).

That the prices of maize had added about 20-30 percent in a year time is worrying for the region, as the Kenyan market and the current state before the elections. The Kenyan state is borrowing at a steady haste for bigger infrastructure investments, but isn’t using funds to secure the agricultural output. This is lacking initiative or use of government subsidises to secure enough production, as much as there are droughts that has hit areas, where the prices has risen as a cause of lacking output or none as the climate has deteriorating the soil. That not only Maize has risen on higher prices, also the hiking of prices of beans shows the incapacity of agricultural output in general and also securing cheap government imports.

Like the prices of Maize and Sorghum in Somalia:

“Prices of locally-produced maize and sorghum continued to soar in January as the output of the 2016/17 secondary deyr harvest was affected by a severe drought and is estimated at 25 percent of last five-year average. In Mogadishu, prices of coarse grains increased up to 35 percent. In most markets of key maize producing region of Lower Shabelle, maize prices surged in January by 32-41 percent. Overall, prices of coarse grains in January in key markets of central and southern Somalia were up to twice their levels of 12 months earlier. Prices are likely to further escalate in the coming months, as an earlier than usual stock depletion will be compounded by concerns over the performance of the 2017 gu harvest. In pastoral areas, drought caused shortages of grazing resources, with deterioration of livestock body conditions. Livestock prices sharply declined in recent months, especially in the south, and are at very low levels, up to 60 percent lower than 12 months earlier. As a result of declining livestock prices and increasing cereal prices, terms of trade for pastoralists sharply deteriorated over the last 12 months. The equivalent in maize of a medium size goat declined in Buale market from 114 kg January 2016 to just 30 kg in January 2017. The severe drought has also caused a sharp decline in milk production and surge in milk prices” (FAO, P: 5, 2017).

So Somalia who has just gone through an election, has had a heavy affected by the drought, as the grains and food production has been hit by it. As proven with the rising food prices in Mogadishu and the prices has doubled in Central and Southern Somalia, in only a year! That proves the dire food situation, as the fierce internal fighting, the federation food production combined with the military fighting together with a drought has the food markets and food productions. Therefore the citizens and farmers are the losers, as they cannot have peaceful production, lacking rains and also insecurity of their own safety. All these things combined with the uncertainty of the electorate and the new administration. The steady rise of food prices has surely hit a population that did not need another crisis.

Rising prices in South Sudan:

“In the capital, Juba, prices of sorghum and maize declined in January by 6 and 10 percent, respectively, partly as a result of the harvesting of 2016 second season crops in southern bi-modal rainfall areas, which improved the domestic supply situation. Prices of other staples, wheat flour, cassava and groundnuts, followed similar patterns. In markets located in central and northern uni-modal rainfall areas, prices of sorghum increased by 15-20 percent in December 2016 and January 2017, after having declined in previous months with the harvesting of 2016 crops. In January, food prices in nominal terms were between 2 and 4 times above their levels in January last year, due to insecurity, a tight supply situation, hyperinflation and a significant depreciation of the local currency” (FAO, P: 5, 2017).

In South Sudan the new crisis of internal battles hit, even after the long term peace-agreement was fresh and the battles that started in July 2016. The continued escalation has hit the country. South Sudan administration has been busy fighting the SPLM-IO. The SPLM-IO has also been busier fighting the SPLA/M. Therefore the engagement with trying to get people to live in peace and fresh produce to happen in the country has stopped. That together with the civil war the agricultural output has been lost with the fleeing civilians and burning villages. Therefore in this current state, the food prices rise as the lacking food stocks of internal produced are dwindling, as the state needs more import of foreign food. Not only the inflation rates of the currency, the food production has been unstable. Therefore the rising prices and the armed situation create the rise of food prices. So the stability of the nation will also secure the currency and also the agricultural output, as of now is more or less in need of food aid because of the current in-fighting and lack of government oversight. This is unhealthy and makes even the security of food into a limbo.

Rising prices of Maize in Uganda:

“Prices of maize followed a sustained upward trend in recent months, increasing in all monitored markets by 33-58 percent between August and December 2016. Subsequently, prices followed mixed trends in January, declining in the capital, Kampala, as the second season harvest increased supplies, remaining firm in Lira market, located in a major cereal producing area, and continuing to increase in Busia, a key cross-border hub with Kenya. Overall, maize prices in January were up to 75 percent higher than a year earlier and at near-record to record levels, as the upward pressure exerted on prices by a reduced second season harvest, affected by poor rainfall in southeastern parts bordering lake Victoria, was compounded by a reduced first season harvest gathered last June/July and by sustained export demand from neighbouring countries, mainly Kenya and South Sudan. In Kampala, prices of beans and cassava flour, important staples, are also at high levels, and in January they were about 25 percent higher than 12 months earlier” (FAO, P: 6, 2017).

Ugandan government has already showed lacking instruments to the current drought and the lesser output during the election and campaigning of the current leadership. This is proven now with the monetary issues that are in dire straight in republic. The proof of the rising prices as the export of maize and others to South Sudan, as the added refugees who also needs foods and are also supported aided food. The government needs to secure added food production and development of bigger yields of the staple foods. That the food prices have sky-rocketed as the region has all been hit in corridors and districts where the dried lands have killed of livestock and others. Government has showed lacking oversight and mechanism from the government has not helped the dry-lands and the aftermath. Because of this with the added strains of a cash-strapped government after a heavy-burden state after elections, has not stagnated or had initiatives to stop the growing prices of food.

Maize prices are rising also in Tanzania:

“Prices of maize continued to increase in January in all monitored markets, as production prospects for the vuli harvest, currently underway in northern and eastern bi-modal rainfall areas, are unfavourable due to poor and erratic rainfall. Further support to prices was provided by concerns over the performance of the msimu harvest, to be gathered from May in central and southern uni-modal rainfall areas, as early-season dryness affected planting operations and crop establishment. Prices of maize in January were almost twice their year-earlier levels in Arusha, located in the northeast, while they were about 25 percent higher than in January 2016 in Dar Es Salaam, the largest urban centre” (FAO, P: 6, 2017).

That President Magufuli and his party like to be the example of the East Africa. Here the Tanzanian government are delivering the same sort of levels of rising prices. The maize prices are affected by drought and the Tanzanian government also have had to take in the refugees from other nations of late. This together with the less rainfall has pushed the prices on maize in Tanzania. Certainly the prices that doubled shows signs of lacking agricultural output and less yields as the rains and drought has happen during the last 12 month.

The numbers of rising food prices together with the lacking yields shows the worrying signs of lesser rain and longer dry seasons. This all hurt the citizens and the customers in the central regions or in urban areas who buys the foods from the agricultural districts, as much as the violence and the crisis in South Sudan and long term effects of the civil war in Somalia. This happens after the drought and other political issues, together with little efforts to add the yields, shows in the rising prices of staple foods. So now the people have to pay more for the same food they would have bought last year, in some places not only 20% added, but up to double or tripled. This is certainly added strains on the personal economy of the citizens in these nations. Peace.

Reference:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – ‘Food Price Monitoring and Analysis – Bulletin’ (14.02.2017)

South Sudan: Col. LLB Khalid Ono Loki resigns from SPLA – “There may be times when are powerless to prevent injustice but here must never be a time when we fail to protest” (17.02.2017)

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