RDC: Memorandum de la Jeunesse Katumbiste du Nord Kivu au Representant Special du Secretaire General des Nations Unies en RD Congo – “Obtension de l’Abandon des Poursuites Judiciaires Contre l’Honnorable Moise Katumbi Shapwe et Son Retour au Pays” (26.04.2017)

Apparently, Mzee needs counsel from 163 appointed individuals!

It is just one of these days that the souring networks of brown-enveloped friendly figures in Uganda gets to level that is certainly, only one thing, and one thing only: “Bonkers”. That the Republic of Uganda, has such a giant cabinet already, should be a warning sign, but now with the extended Presidential Advisors, the levels of cronyism, isn’t funny, but a sincere apology to anyone who thought President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni cared about Steady Progress. The progression, apparently, meaning him giving favors and creating jobs for loyalty.

“The move is in keeping with the president’s tradition of shoring up the numbers of his presidential advisors after every election cycle or cabinet reshuffle. However, the request, which would raise the number of presidential advisors from 145 to 163, has met strong opposition from members of Parliament. According to the 2017/18 ministerial policy statement for the Presidency, the appointment of the 18 presidential advisors will push the wage budget for the advisors up by Shs 28.5bn. By the time he was sworn-in last year for his fifth elective presidential term, Museveni had 141 advisors. He drafted in four former ministers who lost the February 2016 elections. The 18 new advisors will be appointed on ministerial terms, joining another 12 who were previously appointed on similar terms” (Kaaya, 2017).

If progression only means massive amount of cronies put into his sphere of influence, than the Republic should be booming. With the patronage and the extended surplus civil servants with portfolios, that does not even know the agencies beneath or the toil of their reach. That the Presidential Advisors are former MPs, former Permanent Secretaries or just people who has an old promise from the old man with the hat. Who knows really?

Certainly, he should be the most enlighten president and the one who should have the most balanced approach to the state, if all of the Presidential Advisors was educated professionals in their respected fields. Well, we know it is not so, or cannot be so, since he has not appointed 145 specialists. Rather it being cronies who are there for their paycheck and their brown envelope before returning home for their daily bread.

President Museveni is either a genius or gone bonkers. Why? Well, if he is wise, than it is because let all of his advisors spit poetry of knowledge into his earholes and that in-depth understand of the subject are understood by the old man, before his decisions are made. I doubt it is so, more like his own arrogance and struggle to find suitable positions for his cronies. He creates more positions instead of building institutions or departments, even agencies who actually are technical and advance. Because why bother? They might undermine the intelligence of the President and his merry counsel.

That President Museveni has no quarrel or any issues concerning this growing amount of advisors is mere a reflection of his patronage and wish to control. Not to listen or gain knowledge, if so the 145 already appointed should or could give the man a moment or two with brilliance. Neither is happening and the status quo, is that this sort is mismanagement and waste of state resources is only to keep the loyal subjects close to Museveni, not to build a better state. Peace.

Reference:

Kaaya, Sadab Kitatta – ‘MPs protest as Museveni asks for more advisors’ (26.04.2017) link: http://observer.ug/news/headlines/52550-mps-protest-as-museveni-asks-for-more-advisors.html

RDC: Communication du Bureau Politique de la Majorite Presidentielle (22.04.2017)

RDC: Declaration de la Conference Episcopale Nationale du Congo sur la Situation Socio-Politique Actuelle en RD Congo (20.04.2017)

Kasai violence drives over 11,000 Congolese to seek refuge in Angola (21.04.20017)

The brutal conflict in Congo’s previously peaceful Kasai region has already displaced more than one million civilians within the country since it began in mid-2016.

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 21, 2017 – A spike of violence in the Kasai Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has now forced over 11,000 refugees to seek safety in Angola. Border points and villages inside the Southern African nation have seen a sharp increase in refugee arrivals with over 9,000 arriving so far in April. The brutal conflict in Congo’s previously peaceful Kasai region has already displaced more than one million civilians within the country since it began in mid-2016.

Those fleeing into Angola continue to arrive mainly in Dundo, the capital of north-eastern Luanda Norte Province.

Refugees reported fleeing attacks from militia groups, who are targeting police, military officials, and civilians who they believe are supporting or representing the Government. After running away from fighting rebel and Government forces, some refugees had to hide in the forest for several days before fleeing to Angola. Refugees are arriving in desperate conditions, without access to clean water, food or shelter.

The situation among children is dire, as many arriving malnourished and sick – suffering from diarrhea, fever and malaria. Two children are reported to have already died from severe malnutrition. UNHCR is concerned for the fate of others suffering from worrying levels of food insecurity and illnesses.

The new arrivals are terrified and still fear for their lives and mentioned they do not have any immediate plans to return home. Some parents have reportedly sent their children across the border, worrying they would be forcibly recruited by the militias if they had stayed in the DRC.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is currently coordinating refugee response with the Government, local authorities and partners on the ground. We are also negotiating with the Government for proper hosting sites as the current border locations are overcrowded and not suitable. UNHCR is sending an additional emergency team to Dundo this Saturday to support relief efforts.

UNHCR is in the process of shipping family tents, kitchens sets, blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats and other essential relief items to the area.

Further aid is urgently needed, as refugees are forced to stay in makeshift buildings in the border villages. Angola’s wet season peaks in April, and UNHCR is especially worried about the ongoing rains –– which could further complicate living conditions and the health of refugees, especially the most vulnerable such as women, children, the elderly and the disabled.

UNHCR welcomes the response of the Government of Angola in keeping its borders open for continued refugee arrivals. We hope that this gesture of goodwill will continue as the situation remains dire in DRC’s Kasai region. UNHCR is also underlining the importance of not returning people in need of international protection to the DRC.

Rwanda 1994: Gen. Paul Kagame letter of 10. August 1994 (Confidentiel)

RDC: “Une presse instrumentalisee, mal orientee et sous-informee diffuse une rumeur relayee par les reseaux sociaux sur une recontre a minuit entre Mr Bruno THSIBALA et moi” (20.04.2017)

DRC: “Further mass graves and killings discovered in Kasais” says Zeid (19.04.2017)

This brings to 40 the number of mass graves documented by the UN in Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental Provinces since August 2016.

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 19, 2017 – UN investigators in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have confirmed the existence of at least 17 further mass graves in Kasai Central Province, which has been the scene of clashes between soldiers and members of a local militia known as Kamuina Nsapu. This brings to 40 the number of mass graves documented by the UN in Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental Provinces since August 2016.

The presence of the additional graves was confirmed during an investigation mission to Kasai Central between 5 and 7 April by staff from the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) and UN Police (UNPOL).

Fifteen of the mass graves were in a cemetery in the town of Tshimbulu and two in the locality of Tshienke. The UN team gathered information that soldiers from the Forces armées de la Republique démocratique du Congo (FARDC) had reportedly dug the graves, after clashing with presumed elements of the Kamuina Nsapu militia between 26 and 28 March. At least 74 people, including 30 children, were reported to have been killed by soldiers as a result of these clashes.

The UN team also visited Kananga to gather information about alleged abuses and violations there. Between 28 and 30 March, FARDC soldiers were reported to have shot dead at least 40 people, including 11 children and 12 women, in the Nganza commune of Kananga, and injured at least 21 others. The majority of the victims were said to have been killed in their homes as soldiers went door to door looking for militia members.

Two of the victims died in hospital, while the remaining 38 were reportedly buried by the local population in three mass graves. FARDC soldiers were also reported to have buried an unknown number of bodies in a fourth mass grave in Nganza cemetery.

UNJHRO also received reports that at least two women and three girls had been raped by FARDC soldiers during the same operation in Nganza. Defence and security forces were alleged to have arrested and detained 27 people, including 10 boys and a 15-year-old girl.

The UN investigators, who also visited the Katoka commune of Kananga, heard reports that during search operations by officers from the Police nationale congolaise (PNC) on 28 March, a 23-year-old man, a 17-year-old boy and a one-month-old baby had been killed. The UN team was told that the baby had been fatally injured after being trampled on by police officers searching their house.

The Kamuina Nsapu militia, which is loyal to a local customary chief killed by the army on 12 August last year, has been accused of recruiting hundreds of children into its ranks, and targeting state agents and symbols, including government premises, schools, hospitals, police stations, as well as churches. An example of such violence happened on 30 March when about 30 alleged Kamuina Nsapu militiamen attacked the parish church of Saint-Jean de Masuika in Luiza territory, where they ill-treated at least three nuns and a priest, threatening to kill them. In addition, the priest and one of the nuns were reportedly abducted and then released the next day after money was paid. The militiamen also vandalized the church, breaking doors and windows, and burning the priest’s chasubles.

“The discovery of yet more mass graves and the reports of continued violations and abuses highlight the horror that has been unfolding in the Kasais over the last nine months,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

“It is absolutely vital that the Government of the DRC takes meaningful steps, which to date have been lacking,  to ensure that there is a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation to establish the facts and circumstances of alleged human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by all parties, and other abuses of justice. My Office has offered its assistance in conducting such a credible investigation. We reiterate our request for access to all sites of mass graves, as well as to all witnesses, including those in detention, and other relevant information necessary to determine responsibility at all levels,” Zeid said.

“The scale and nature of the violence increasingly underscore the need to monitor the situation closely. Should there be no effective national investigation, I will not hesitate to urge the international community to support an investigation by an international mechanism, including the International Criminal Court, which recently reminded the DRC authorities of their primary responsibility under the Rome Statute to investigate and prosecute the alleged acts of violence in the Kasais,” the High Commissioner said.

RDC: Communique du Rassemblement des Forces Politiques et Sociales Acquises au Changement (15.04.2017)

RDC: Declaration Politique de la Jeunesse du Rassemblement Grand Katanga (14.04.2017)