UPF: Suspending Officers from duty for findings connected with the Land Probe (25.07.2017)

IGAD: Communique of the 58th Extra-Ordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers on the Situation in South Sudan (24.07.2017)

Troika and EU Joint Statement on South Sudan (25.07.2017)

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, July 25, 2017 – The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the European Union condemn the continuing violence in South Sudan, especially the Government of South Sudan’s current offensive against SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) forces near Pagak, as well as ongoing road ambushes and attacks by the SPLM-IO. The Pagak offensive is a clear violation of the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Salva Kiir on May 22, and calls into question the government’s commitment to reach peace through the National Dialogue, notwithstanding the sincere efforts undertaken by the leaders of the Steering Committee.

The Troika and EU repeat and endorse the June 12 call by the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for President Kiir to ensure that his forces respect the unilateral ceasefire, for the armed opposition groups to reciprocate the ceasefire, and for all groups to allow the unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need. We also welcome IGAD’s announcement of a High-Level Revitalization Forum for the South Sudan peace process. We call upon IGAD to expeditiously convene the Forum, and to include the current principal parties to the conflict. Likewise, we urge all parties to fully participate in the Forum. The Troika and EU agree with IGAD that the Forum should focus on achieving a ceasefire and resuming political dialogue that focuses on updating the agreement’s timelines and other provisions that are now obsolete in light of the expansion of conflict since 2015.

The proliferation of violence, displacement, and food insecurity renders any discussion of elections in the foreseeable future as an unnecessary diversion from the primary goals of achieving peace and reconciliation. South Sudan’s leaders, neighbors, and regional and international partners must first focus on achieving peace in order to create the conditions needed to hold credible elections. To achieve these urgent goals, we look forward to the prompt revitalization of an inclusive and credible peace process by IGAD; such progress would be required in order for the Troika and EU to commit further resources to institutions designed to implement the agreement.

South Sudan: Have little faith in reviving ARCSS or the Peace-Agreement 2015, which is the new effort started by IGAD in Juba today!

It’s been a while since the ‘Compromise Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan’ on the date 26th August 2015, where the different parts of the South Sudanese conflict together with Ethiopian diplomats and IGAD secretariat made an inclusive agreement for all parties. This peace-agreement was short lived, as the stay of Dr. Riek Machar and his SPLM-IO wasn’t long in Juba. The months after the IGAD-Plus mediation after the Peace-Agreement fall apart in 2016. He came back in July 2016 to implement the Peace Agreement with the SPLA/M and President Salva Kiir Mayardiit. It was the same month the fires between Kiir’s guards and Machar’s guards that flared the skirmishes and the whole civil war between these war-lords.

The moments of peace in the new Republic has been short… nearly glimpse of hope of a new journey as a nation. The IGAD, JMEC and UNMISS have all been involved together with Troika of Norway, United States of America and United Kingdom, they have all set their provisions and their mandates to make the place better. Still, with all these organizations, multi-national organization, all sort of dialogue and extra-ordinary meetings in Ethiopia, Ugandan and in Kenya. Still, the measures haven’t added-up.

SPLM-IO is split in two fractions, different opposition rebellious groups tied down to bring down SPLA/M, the SPLM-IG, the President Kiir fraction by force and by will of the guns. That wasn’t there when the latest Peace Agreement in 2015 was signed and supposed to be implemented in 2016. Still, the IGAD are meeting today and tomorrow for yet another extraordinary meeting in Juba. Its like the Ethiopian and IGAD Secretariat tries to make themselves important and revive a dead agreement. It is sad to say the 2015 Agreement gone to the wind, but the blazing rifles and massive amounts of refugees should be powerful statement of misguided policies towards the Nation. It might have been done in good-will and with good-purposes. However, the War-Lords have not put the guns and tactics of the bush-wars.

The deserters and opposition forces are maneuvering, while the National Dialogue meetings are not for anything more than making more people loyal to the President. Since it is not involving all parties or all parts of the SPLM. That shows the intent of the Ugandan President Museveni who knows how war-games and shadow games work in politics. Therefore when I read statement from the Ethiopian government on the meeting, I am not hopeful:

Dr Workneh Gebeyehu arrives at Juba Airport, South Sudan in the afternoon for talks on revitalization of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) as per the decesion reached by the 57th extraordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers. Up on arrival Foreign Minister of the Republic of South Sudan Deng Alor Kuol warmly recieved his Ethiopian counterpart. Ambassador Fisseha Shawol and Staff members of Ethiopian Embassy in Juba also joined the occassion. Foreign Ministers of the Sudan and Djibouti are also in the Republic of South Sudan for the revitalization talk. The delegation led by Dr Workneh included State Minister Mrs. Hirut Zemene and Ambassador Shamebo Fitamo among others. IGAD led by Dr Workneh will meet the president of South Sudan and will have discussion with AU, UN, EU, Troika and other partners on the revitalization process of the peace accord” (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, 23.07.2017).

So now two years after the 2015 agreement they want to breath life into the dead and after three days Jesus came-up from the dead, he walked out of the grave and walk into the desert. Well, the same will not happen for ARCSS, the rebels will not accept the power-structure and the possible interference from President Kiir. Seems like the foul play that has been done. Not that this only be the answer, all of the parties are not at the meeting in Juba. The foreign partners of the legit government SPLM-IG are sitting drinking coffee and tea, discussion provision and possible amendments passing the minutes and trying to figure out the troubling affairs. As the villages has been burned, the famines has hit areas and even corridors of food supplies has to come across the borders through Sudan to feed the hungry. This proves the volatile situation.

The IGAD meetings now, is in good spirit, but out of bound. Out of reach and doesn’t have the focus, just like the National Dialogue meetings at the Okello State in Entebbe, Uganda. They are with good intentions, but when all parties aren’t present, when all voices aren’t included and the rebels are running large, when the new groups are appearing will to risk it all to get rid of the Central Government. When reports that civilians are running and fleeing when government forces are coming, but giving food to rebels. Because the rebels shows more mercy than the forces supported by the President in Juba. You should know the are certain approaches and certain roads not taken…

There been many bridges burned, lot of water under the same bridge and even more more huts put on fire. The reality is these talks are not sincere, and will not been seen as honest efforts. When you have not engaged the whole specter of forces or voices, who uses guns and tactics to overthrow Kiir. There are not like in 2015, about SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO, now the situation are more complex and grown more dire. It isn’t just two elephants fighting and hurting the grass. So I am less than hopeful for the efforts done by IGAD, IGAD-Plus or any sort of body trying to intervene. Not because I don’t want peace.

If there is supposed to be real peace, there needs to be talk between all the ones who is hurt, all the ones who is someone and also the leadership of the rebels, armies and whatnot involved in the battles, done in the states, towns and villages. These ones cannot be silenced because the IGAD doesn’t recognize their effort to undermine international contribution, neither can National Dialogue if it is a sincere way of generating hope not include the SPLM-IO, but they don’t. It show lack of will and also wish of total control. Hope that the ones with biggest army and biggest fund will be able to sustain the warfare longer than the rebels. Peace.

My honest letter to the now lost Hon. Beti Kamya!

Dear Beti Kamya!

There are so many words to describe you right now, but I will be frank and honest. Since you have turned 360 around. It seems like in your lifetime you have gone from a fierce critic of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. To accept being a Minister in his bloated Royal Cabinet in the 10th Parliament in charge of the Ministry of Kampala. Where you are sanctioning your wisdom, controlling the City Hall and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). You seem to enjoy playing cards with Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Musisi and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. The role of Minister seems to fit you well, since you prefer ordering, not guiding or leading. That is why you suddenly have said this during the last two days, which is both flabbergasting!

Hon. Beti Kamya says Museveni is a gift from God who should rule beyond 75 years. She says age limit must be lifted” (NTV Uganda, 21.07.2017).

For the little time I have worked with the president, I find him, a very informed and tolerant leader. I sit in cabinet every Wednesday, but actually I think he is more intelligent than cabinet combined. Therefore, you just can’t do away with him,” Beti Kamya” (The New Vision, 22.07.2017).

You have in the past asked if President Museveni had a heart, she wrote a piece on that in 2008. I think you have forgotten that, aye? Also, you said this in 2011: “We must get rid of Museveni by all means because he has become a Monster”. Seem like heart has change and your mind at the same started to praise the man with no heart and who you said was a monster.

In the past you have worked against him, back in the day even been a part of the Reform Agenda and part of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) before joining your own struggle with the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA). With your recent statements you can wonder if you have forgotten this history. Since your statements now counter all what you worked for in the past. The 360 is to visible and unbelievable. Your like a political Mwenda. Andrew Mwenda was a starch critic against the NRM and Museveni at KFM Radio, but over the years he is sounding more like crony and a partisan support of the regime. Now the same has happen to you!

Beti Kamya, I wonder how does it feel to trade your values and political beliefs for the safety and being loyal to the regime despised. Seems like you traded away all of your belief of who the President was for something else. You were a critic with finesse and words. Now Beti, you are crony and praising him onto levels beyond reasoning. Since, you who knows his track-record and his past. Knows that your words aren’t true.

President Museveni is only using Honorable Kamya, you might not want to hear this, but that is the fact. He is using you and your former stances, to prove that he cannot be so bad after all. Since has given way and let you inside his cabinet and fold. You who was a fierce critic and said he had no heart and was monster. So when you this week says he is “gift from god”, “tolerant leader” and “I think he is more intelligent than cabinet combined”. We know something has changed you and busted your brains.

If he was a gift from god, would he need to rig the elections? Would he need to kill innocent people in Kasese? If he was a tolerant leader, why is the FDC leadership near prison sentences every time they conduct public meetings? If he is so intelligent, why does is his NAADs, SACCOs, Youth Livelihood Project and all other public schemes fail?

You should already know this, but your hooked on the power of your ministry and want to be a loyal subject. You want the good graces, you want the services provided and police security of your home. You want the paid SUV, the perks of an MP and become a giant in politics. An by doing so you had to align yourself with your enemy. That you have done Beti and very well. You now sing of praise and begs for his mercy. Your of joy of getting all of this. Therefore, you are praising him to make sure he doesn’t take it away.

That is his wisdom, he got you and your taken by him. He knows this since your in his hand and he knows as long as your there. You wouldn’t dare rebel or act all out. Even if that was your core belief. Since you are there, you have traded it all and given him, you as a platform and you let him use you. This is sad, very sad, it is astonishing that you have let him. Alas, there we are and this is what we see.

You have gone from being a true opposition, a fighter for justice and democratic values, to become a spineless crony of Museveni. How surely you must be proud of yourself! Peace.

 

Best Regard

Writer of Minbane

IGP Kale Kayihura orders all Public Meetings concerning the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2017 have to notify the Police (21.07.2017)

CEPO South Sudan: IGAD FMs to meet in Juba over peace agreement implementation (19.07.2017)

Troika and EU Joint Statement on South Sudan (21.07.2017)

The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the European Union.

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 21, 2017 – The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the European Union condemn the continuing violence in South Sudan, especially the Government of South Sudan’s current offensive against SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) forces near Pagak, as well as ongoing road ambushes and attacks by the SPLM-IO. The Pagak offensive is a clear violation of the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Salva Kiir on May 22, and calls into question the government’s commitment to reach peace through the National Dialogue, notwithstanding the sincere efforts undertaken by the leaders of the Steering Committee.

The Troika and EU repeat and endorse the June 12 call by the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for President Kiir to ensure that his forces respect the unilateral ceasefire, for the armed opposition groups to reciprocate the ceasefire, and for all groups to allow the unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need. We also welcome IGAD’s announcement of a High-Level Revitalization Forum for the South Sudan peace process. We call upon IGAD to expeditiously convene the Forum, and to include the current principal parties to the conflict. Likewise, we urge all parties to fully participate in the Forum. The Troika and EU agree with IGAD that the Forum should focus on achieving a ceasefire and resuming political dialogue that focuses on updating the agreement’s timelines and other provisions that are now obsolete in light of the expansion of conflict since 2015.

The proliferation of violence, displacement, and food insecurity renders any discussion of elections in the foreseeable future as an unnecessary diversion from the primary goals of achieving peace and reconciliation. South Sudan’s leaders, neighbors, and regional and international partners must first focus on achieving peace in order to create the conditions needed to hold credible elections. To achieve these urgent goals, we look forward to the prompt revitalization of an inclusive and credible peace process by IGAD; such progress would be required in order for the Troika and EU to commit further resources to institutions designed to implement the agreement.

Norbert Mao’s unique experience yesterday; how it opens up the question if it was a real arrest!

When I saw the Democratic Party President residing and discussing change on NBS Frontline, I was shocked, he were arrested in few hours before and the DP headquarters was supposed to be sealed off. What happen there from the morning and the start of the campaign against the abolishment of Article 102 (b) and it seemed fair that the Police did this. When knowing what it did to fellow opposition leaders in the Forum for Democratic Change.

“Arrested for launching campaign against Land And Age Limit Amendments. Our spirits and resolve are strong. The police should not manhandle our people who are constitutionally mandated to exercise their rights. Ugandans join us in the struggle” (Norbert Mao, 20.07.2017).

Well, what amaze me is that in the Police Station he was drinking Pepsi and waiting to be released, not looking bothered by the place he was in. The pictures speak for themselves; we have seen when others been arrested and how they feel. They look miserable and a bit fatigued. However, honorable Mao was just waiting for it soon to be over. There even been rumors that DP Youth and Activist came to his rescue and wanted him free. However, they were getting threats of arrests. So Mao told them to scatter and do not save him.

The whole in retrospect seems a bit strange, since the FDC leaders are still lingering together in the maximum prison of Nalufenya far from where they was arrested in and around Kasangati in Wakiso District. This clearly shows who the real opposition to the NRM are! Since the arranged detaining of Mao had no dire consequence. He could wash it off and spend time talking against Museveni again on NBS TV Frontline, like nothing happen earlier in the day.

Norbert Mao, the former harsh and real critic of Musevenism and the NRM, what have you done? How can this be, in one moment your acts and the parties acts get you into trouble, a few hours later your on stage discussing politics and debating on NBS. AIGP Asan Kasingye even said this: “we just accompanied him to police”. If it is so, then the whole ruckus was a forged and staged affair from both the authorities and the DP. This does not look good. To be clear it insightful to the place Mao has in the political landscape.

If a FDC leader and FDC President were to be detained, he would have been there to late night and any sort arrangement later in the day would have to be postponed, because the authorities would not care. They could even leave you behind bars so you do not get the opportunity to meet in court to answer for another of your crimes. That has happen and will surely happen again, especially since the NRM continues to use the Police Force for political gains!

So the play-play of the matter is still at large and how the outcome will be, if this was a façade or a real deal, I am not sure, because the interesting picture from the Police Station together with the Police Force spokesperson seems odd, in the sense that the fighting in the streets was real and the brutal arrests. However, the aftermath and the ease of getting out of there. Make the whole thing seem a bit strange. Not real, not genuine. The reality of the matter is very unclear.

Because the narrative is not that he got arrested, but the demonstration got squashed, he went on NBS TV and the FDC leaders are still lingering in jail for doing the same acts. This shows the double standard of the Police who with ease are throwing the FDC behind bars, but letting the DP President go. That is what is so rare and shows the reality of his position. The Good DP are so good and can therefore get away. However, if he was Bad DP he might have ended in the hospital.

These sorts of acts adds to the speculations and the arrangement of shadow deals done by the DP and the NRM. Since they are getting away and sipping soda at the Police Station, while the FDC are taken away in haste. Clearly, the reality and the perceived are playing games on you. The strangest of it is that the Police Force was not claiming it and brushing it off. While Mao was condemning the Police and hours later appearing with his usual grin on NBS Frontline. That is just rare and special. If this had happen to Besigye or even Muntu, the whole NRM would praise democracy, but alas it is not so.

This is just the state of affairs and what is beneath the surface is hard to know, but if it is rocks, dirt or oil. Who knows, but what we do know was this whole arrangement looks staged and sounds staged. It is just the matter of how deep the matter goes and who sanctioned it. Peace.

UPF Confirms the 56 FDC Leaders are arrested for “unlawful assembly” and detained at Nalufenya (20.07.2017)