Burundi: No. 204.05/145A/RE/2016 – Inter-Burundian Dialogue (06.12.2016)

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Note to Correspondents on the investigations into allegations ‎of sexual exploitation and abuse against peacekeepers deployed in the Central African Republic (05.12.2016)

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The Office of Internal Oversight Services has concluded its investigative process on the allegations ‎of sexual exploitation and abuse against Burundian and Gabonese contingents deployed in Dekoa, Kemo prefecture, in the Central African Republic. 

These allegations referred to incidents between 2014 and 2015. OIOS has conducted joint investigations with Burundian and Gabonese national investigative officers. Investigations started in April 2016, a few days after the allegations were brought to the attention of the United Nations and lasted for more than four months. The investigators relied primarily on the testimony of possible victims and witnesses given the lack of medical, forensic or any other physical evidence. This was due to the fact that the majority of the allegations referred to incidents that took place a year or more earlier. Everyone who came forward with claims, both minors and adults, were assisted by national and international partners.

Overall, 139 possible victims were interviewed and their accounts were investigated. By means of photo array and/or other corroborating evidence a total of 41 alleged perpetrators (16 from Gabon and 25 from Burundi) were identified by 45 interviewees; eight persons were unable to identify perpetrators through photo array or other corroborating evidence but were able to describe some distinctive traits; 83 were not able to identify perpetrators or provide corroborating evidence; and three accounts were considered unreliable. A total of 25 minors asserted they had been sexually abused. A total of eight paternity claims were filed, including by six minors.

The United Nations has shared the OIOS report with both Member States, including the names of the identified alleged perpetrators and has requested for appropriate judicial actions to ensure criminal accountability.

Responsibility for further investigations lies with Burundi and Gabon. The United Nations has requested from the Burundian and Gabonese authorities that they review the OIOS findings and conduct the interviews of the alleged perpetrators who had all been rotated out from Central African Republic before the allegations surfaced. The United Nations has asked for a copy of the final national investigation reports to be transmitted urgently.

The alleged perpetrators, if allegations against them are substantiated, and, if warranted, their commanding officers, will not be accepted again for deployment in peacekeeping operations.

MINUSCA has strengthened its prevention measures and reinforced its outreach among communities and peacekeepers across the country, especially in high-risk areas to improve awareness and reporting on sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of misconduct. The Mission is also regularly monitoring conditions and behaviour of mission’s personnel and has partnered with United Nations agencies and implementing partners in Central African Republic that provide psychosocial, medical and legal assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The United Nations condemns, in the strongest terms, all acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers or any other UN personnel and will maintain follow up so that perpetrators of these abhorrent acts are brought to justice.

Burundi: Strengthning of Security Measures at Bujumbura International Airport – All Airlines Operating at Bujumbura International Airport (05.12.2016)

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UNSC Special Envoy statement on the Electoral Process of the Somalia election (05.12.2016)

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Burundi: Declaration de L’Assemblee Nationale Relative au Rapport de la FIDH Parlant de la Repression aux Dynamiques Genocidaires (02.12.2016)

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Zimbabwe: Correcting a Statement in the Sunday Mail Article “Government to continue importing US Dollars” (04.12.2016)

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Burundi: MINUSCA Rotation Flights details for the Burundian Infantary (28.11.2016)

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Brexit: Davis Davis proposition today not such an exit after all; pre-Brexit has proven implications for Central Bank of Ireland and Ofcom!

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I am sure today that Yes Minister is fitting as the quotes in Parliament and the previous uttering words of Boris Johnson about free-movement that counter all the work of the Brexiteers during campaigning for the cause. The work that we’re to pretend that the separation from the continent would be peaceful and jolly; but the Brexiteers didn’t know and the Tories still doesn’t know.

Therefore I begin with this a re-cap of TV in 1981:

“Sir Humphrey Appleby: Well, Minister, I’m afraid that is the penalty we have to pay for trying to pretend that we’re Europeans. Believe me, I fully understand your hostility to Europe.

James Hacker: I’m not like you, Humphrey. I’m pro-Europe, I’m just anti-Brussels. I sometimes think you’re anti-Europe and pro-Brussels” (Yes Minister – ‘The Devil You Know (#2.5)” (1981).

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Today the Brexit-Minister Hon. Davis Davis uttered these wonderful words in Parliament:

“The simple answer we have given to this before is, and it’s very important because there is a distinction between picking off an individual policy and setting out a major criteria, and the major criteria here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market. If that is included in what you are talking about then of course we would consider it.” (Watts, 2016).

So the ones leaving is now changing terms, they want to set standards that opens the market. While still being outside the Union, so the Brexiteers wants now to get the full benefit while being outside. This doesn’t fit with the hazardous statements from Martin Schulz and Jean-Claude Juncker who has said their peace about an easy transition!

Certainly the European Union wants to make an example of the United Kingdom and their markets; they have to pay dearly to be part of it, while wanting to secure their borders and movement. Now, the Davis Davis wants its simplified.

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Irish Central Bank sees this already:

“He said the Central Bank’s workforce planning for next year reflects the additional resource needed to deal with applications and contingency has been built in as it is expected that the financial sector will grow materially” (…) “Mr Roux told reporters after the Dublin event today that the Central Bank was seeing applications for new business and the licensing of firms who are not present here” (…) “He also said it was seeing very significant indications from “regulated firms that are small today but want to be big tomorrow” (…) “We see the whole gamut of firms enquiring for establishing or growing in Ireland, it is MIFID (markets in financial instruments directive) firms, insurance companies, CSDs (central securities depositories) and payments institutions,” he added” (Rte, 2016).

So when businesses are looking towards Dublin, which is in EU and already part of the European Single Market; the London based firms might move to Dublin to secure their profit-lines and such. Even the Central Bank of Ireland is seeing this. This must really hurt the Brexiteers who fought well, but didn’t think of the implications. Davis Davis sees this now and wants to be able to go out of being EU Member State, but still being part of EU Single Market.

That is really the Norwegian EFTA model, but they will have hard time and pay lots of funds to get what they have now and would also betray the democratic values of majority vote that wanted a true separation, which this isn’t. Then the Tories will do the same trick as the Norwegian Government did to their public, when they signed the EFTA and made agreements to join the EU Single Market, but not having the EU Member State privileges. Something the United Kingdom is losing with triggering the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

This is so special and so weird. That Hon. Davis Davis are acting and flip-flopping like this. Surely the warning from Ofcom must say something as well:

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“Chief executive Sharon White said that the industries her organisation oversees are “inextricably European” and could be badly hit if they are not taken into consideration when arranging the UK’s exit for the EU” (…) “Making Brexit a success matters for communications – because these services are fundamental to our lives,” she told the Institute for Government in London” (…) “She said: “The country of origin rule is a good example of an EU law that benefits member states and supports broadcasters – providing a mass audience, and promoting cultural exchange by transcending borders” (…) “But keeping this principle after Brexit will demand constructive discussions with European neighbours. Country of origin cannot endure merely by virtue of existing in UK law.” (Sky News, 2016).

So with this the broadcasters like Ofcom and Central Bank of Ireland sees the implications of the Brexit with their bare eyes. The indications are not put in light of joy and positive future, as the Irish might get more business, this means that corporations moving to Dublin instead London, because of the safety of EU Single Market that the Hon. Davis Davis wish to keep and pay Brussels, but if the EU will accept it is mere speculation.

The Tories government has decides as the Prime Minister Theresa May has to make decisions that makes the Brexit successful. But early November 2016 a leaked memo showed that the government hadn’t done due diligence or check and balance for the industries. Which is evident with the corporations planning to move and Ofcom are sceptic to the Brexit itself.

Therefore the reactions to the Brexit will continue to come for businesses and for the Parliament; the House of Commons would surely be a bit shocked by the proposition from the Brexit Minister. We all are, not like Irish paying for Welsh roads, but still spectacular thinking about how the Brexit Campaign celebrated the idea of total freedom from EU. Now they want the perks, as long as the EU accepts the fixed payments for the entry to the Single Market. Peace.

Reference:

Rte – ‘Central Bank not seeking to dissuade UK financial firms from moving to Ireland – Roux’ (01.12.2016) link: http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2016/1201/835805-central-bank-says-not-dissuading-brexit-moves/

Sky News – ‘Ofcom boss warns of Brexit impact on UK communications sector’ (01.12.2016) link: http://news.sky.com/story/ofcom-boss-warns-of-brexit-impact-on-uk-communications-sector-10679371

Watts, Joe – ‘Brexit: David Davis says UK Government could pay money to EU for single market access’ (01.12.2016) link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-single-market-access-david-davis-eu-money-uk-a7449416.html

Zimbabwe: Bond Notes causing stirring issues days after launch!

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Not only that the Harare Central Police are using their water-canons on the demonstrators today in the main streets of the capital. The pictures of Bond Notes coming from South Africa have not been enough with the leaked photos online. Therefore the Parliament and Hon. Mnangagwa and Hon. Chinamasa wouldn’t’ answer fellow MPs on their questions about the production of the currency. Secondly a big mining corporation will not start to sell their exported gold from Zimbabwe with bond notes, but continue to trade them with US Currency.

Disclose the Printing:

“Mnangagwa was responding to a question in the National Assembly from Binga North MP, Prince Dubeko Sibanda (MDC-T), who wanted to know if the government would not end up printing bond notes in excess of the $200 million Afrexim Bank facility” (…) “MPs should not be worried because government will restrict itself to the amount of bond notes anchored on the $200 million facility,” he said” (…) “Those of us who feel uncomfortable using bond notes should continue using the United States dollar because bond notes and US dollars are interchangeable. If you have no faith in bond notes, why not continue using the currency that you have faith in?” (…) “Mnangagwa said whenever the RBZ governor deals with monetary policy issues, he has legal authority to transact with other central banks in the world for the benefit of the country” (Langa, 2016).

Still selling gold with US Currency:

“Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (LON:CMCL TSE:CAL) said there will no effect on its payment arrangements following the  recent introduction of bond notes by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe” (…) “Since the start of 2014, Caledonia has had to sell all gold produced from its 49%-owned Blanket mine to Fidelity Printers and Refiners Limited, a subsidiary of the RBZ” (…) “ So far all sale proceeds have been received within 48 hours of delivery to Fidelity in US dollars at a price which is 98.75% of the London afternoon “fix” on the day after delivery” (Whiterow, 2016).

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Current events as well:

It was also supposed to be One United States Dollar to One Zimbabwe Bond Note (1:1). But only days after the price on the black-market because of the lacking funds in the capital and in the nation of the new currency, the trading value is 1.25 to 1 Bond Notes. Together with the allowed taking out 300$ at the ATMs in Harare, but during today the limit where 150$, so the cash-strapped society continues even as the unleashed new currency hitting the streets. At Stanbic Branches outside you could get max 40$ Bond Notes and inside 25$ Bond Notes. So the issues of clearing the economy has apparently not hit yet. The lacking funds and coins are truly a phenomenon that Zimbabwe doesn’t easily shake out of.

So the easy launch and creating trust after the failing economic climate has showed to be hard on the Zanu-PF regime who has been vultures and eating heavy of the plate. That is something they still do and continues with, therefore the public distrust is genuine and expected. President Mugabe tricks cannot salvage this if the Public has no faith in the currency and not even the big bread-winners doesn’t change their cash-flow. The proof is if the major mining corporations and supermarkets don’t use or accept the Bond Notes. If so then the issue of Bond Notes is flawed. That we can hope, because the Bond Notes is just adding debt and giving the economy a fake push that the citizens would pay and not the government themselves. Peace.

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Reference:

Langa, Veneranda – ‘We won’t disclose where bond notes are printed: Mnangagwa’ (01.12.2016) link: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/12/01/wont-disclose-bond-notes-printed-mnangagwa/

Whiterow, Phillip – ‘Caledonia Mining says no impact from Zimbabwe’s new bond notes’ (01.12.2016) link: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/169819/caledonia-mining-says-no-impact-from-zimbabwe-s-new-bond-notes-169819.html

Burundi: Update on Inter-Burundi Dialogue (01.12.2016)

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