SPLM/A-IO: Press Release – Joint Communique on the Occasion of the State Visit to the Republic of Uganda by His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (09.06.2018)

Joint Communique on the Occasion of the State Visit to the Republic of Uganda by His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (08.06.2018)

Kenya National Police Service Press Release on the Al Shabab (07.06.2018)

South Sudan: The SPLM/SPLA (IO) Position on Sudan’s Foreign Minister’s Visit to Juba (06.06.2018)

Opinion: Could Meles Zenawi’s 5 Point Plan be the solution for the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea?

The most fundamental problem is not that we don’t have a system to run but those with knowledge are cynically manipulating the system for petty personal desires.”Nilantha Ilangamuwa

The late Meles Zenawi, wrote a small 5 Point Plan in 2004, which he delivered to in a letter to the United Nations. This back dates to 25th November 2004. Since yesterday, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) was talking again about respecting the Algiers Agreement of 2000. Which states that certain colonial boarders should be respected and meaning that Ethiopia should pull back their forces from the contested territories.

But if the Council of Ministers, the Executive Committee of the EPRDF are serious about the news of respecting and following the Algiers Agreement. That means movement of troops and stop the time of certain annex land, which Eritrea claims as theirs.

However, to that smooth after all the transgressions, prolonged skirmishes and distrust between the brother-lands, the Eritrean and Ethiopian counterparts could maybe use some of the wise words of Zenawi. Who made a formula, that could be useful today. It is 14 years since he wrote it and sent his preposition to the UN. Still, the words can still carry its weight.

Has hereby adopted the following five-point peace proposal.

1. Resolve the dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea only and only through peaceful means.

2. Resolve the root causes of the conflict through dialogue with the view to normalizing relations between the two countries.

3. Ethiopia accepts, in principle, the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission decision.

4. Ethiopia agrees to pay its dues to the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission and to appoint field liaison officers.

5. Start dialogue immediately with the view to implementing the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission’s decision in a manner consistent with the promotion of sustainable peace and brotherly ties between the two peoples” (Meles Zenawi, 24.11.2004).

This here would put them all at the table and be sincere, as a closure of the pro-longed conflict. The long standing issues between the nations. That would be healthy, as the state would resolve the matter in a peaceful manner and conduct it with some finesse. No one loses with sort arrangement. It will would be helpful, as the distrust between them are there. Both parties has reasons for it, as ever since the agreement and agreed boundaries. Both parties has taken to arms now and then. That is why the ideas of Zenawi might make sense. So that the nations can settle it and actually respect each.

That is needed, especially if this isn’t another PR Stunt from the EPRDF. Then they need to take the positive steps and show signs of improvement. Also, actually talk with the Eritrean counterparts. If not, this is all just a mess. To try to gain sympathy for a positive cause. That would be really disgraceful. Peace.

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemns attack on peacekeepers in South Sudan’s Unity region (06.06.2018)

The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago.

JUBA, South Sudan, June 6, 2018 –  The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemns an armed attack that directly targeted its peacekeepers in the country’s Unity region, on the morning of 4 June 2018.

A convoy consisting of peacekeepers and civilians came under fire when it stopped briefly to interact with a civilian in Rubkway, about 20 kilometers north of Leer town. The team was on a short patrol from the Mission’s Leer Temporary Operations Base to Thaker, in Mayendit County.

No one was injured in the incident, and so far, no damage to the vehicles has been identified.

UNMISS strongly condemns this attack against its personnel and calls on all parties to respect the freedom of movement of UN personnel carrying out their mandate, and to cooperate with the peacekeepers as they work to protect civilians; monitor human rights; create a conducive environment for delivery of humanitarian aid, and support efforts to restore peace.

The Leer area has been the scene of heightened insecurity in recent weeks, as humanitarian agencies working in the area continue to report that more people are still fleeing for their lives amid sharp escalation in fighting and attacks on civilians.

UNMISS has boosted its peacekeeping contingent into the area, flying in additional soldiers and airlifting in armoured personnel carriers to assist with patrolling in affected villages to better protect civilians.

The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago.

EPRDF leak that the TPLF is shaken by Dr. Abiy Ahmed as PM: It doesn’t make sense!

Today I read something that boggled my mind. It didn’t make, sense because this counter everything we known about the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF), a political coalition made by the Tigray People’s Liberation Party and their allies. To forge ethnic parties in Ethiopia, but at the same time keep the power at the center. Meaning the TPLF is the ones that is the strongest and in control. Therefore, it is hard to believe reading this, that the other parties are suddenly crossing their feathers. That just puzzles me, but then again. I didn’t drop the dossier on social media. Someone else did.

The EPRDF establishment is no doubt shaken by the sudden turn of events and faces a changing party. TPLF chairman has already expressed his displeasure with multiple issues, inc. release of certain prisoners and PM Abiy’s speech in Ambo where he thanked the Oromo youth—Qeerroo” (…) “EPRDF’s democratic centralism means the PM and his side (inc. Lemma, Demeke and Gedu Andargachew) will face deep criticism (Gimgema in Amharic). The TPLF chief has said the process that led to Abiy’s election was outside the norm of Revolutionary Democracy. Mistrust is rife” (…) “TPLFites say OPDO is flaunting party culture by not strictly adhering to revolutionary democacy and democratic centralism. The forced retirement of TPLF old guard has become a sore issue. TPLF boss has questioned the wisdom of replacing party elders who did not wish to retire” (…) “Other issues likely to be deliberated upon at the Exec committee meeting: The continued displacement of Amhara civilians from Oromia and Benishangul; Abdi Illey and the Liyu Police onslaught in Eastern Oromia. The EPRDF bosses will also outline plans for party Congress in August” (Mohammed Ademo, 05.06.2018).

That TPLF are saying this seems like drama. Seems like away of playing to the gallery. Have a hard time believing they feel sidelined. If they did, then Dr. Abiy Ahmed should really replace hardliners from TPLF. I don’t think he dares. He wouldn’t do that, he knows the party organizations, he knows the play. This is shadow play.

This is just making a fuzz, the TPLF will continue to control. They just don’t like that Dr. Abiy went outside their parameter and took them off guard. They want a puppet, they want someone who is like Hailemariam Desalegne. Who can be muffled and controlled. A full fledged puppeteer, who will whisk every time they need it and cheer when they need that too. Because the TPLF will not be questioned. The TPLF need their rights and their basic principals. Since everyone else in the “alliance” is there because of them. They are created and elevated because of them.

We know that there is some parts who are struggling with the new PM as this was written recently: “The new Ethiopian prime minister is doing too much and too fast probably he is eager to please everyone in all sides. Prime Minister Abiy’s actions for the first weeks after he took office must have been exiting for many Ethiopians, however as time goes on the euphoria that swept across Ethiopia is fading faster than morning fog” (Tigrai Online – ‘Lift the state of emergency in Ethiopia, and lose the country’ 02.06.2018).

Clearly, he is doing something to piss them off. He speaks in away they are not used. They cannot manage that everyone is not following the program. Everyone is supposed to follow the program. Even the PM. Because that is the way of TPLF. They are just using the EPRDF coalition as a front. That is known. That is why I wonder about this leak and for what purpose. Seems like they are trying to forge issues. When there is most likely not. As they really made other plans or PR stunts later in the day. Peace.

Kenyatta’s Corruption Drive goes after low-level civil servants, but will not touch high ranking officials!

Today the Press Statement released by Government Spokesperson Mwenda Njoka ‘Presidential Proclamation On Fresh Vetting of Public Interest’. This is in regard to the Heads of the Procurement and Accounting Unites within the Ministries, Agencies and State Corporations. Therefore, it is the lower level heads and accountants that is battle against the corruption now. Instead of questioning the Cabinet Secretaries, the Deputies and the boards, the close stakeholders of the State Corporations. They are all scotch free from these.

This is the reality of the Kenyan affairs, they are cleaning house sort off. When I say sort of, it is that they are going after lower levels. They are taking the bottom-feeders and not the high-level people who are really involved. Possibly they would find someone who has cheated on tenders and skimmed minor funds within their budget. That is bad as well, but they are not the reason for the scandals of day. They are not the reason behind the Maize, KHIF, NYS, Afay House and so on. There are so many government scandals and so much grand corruption. That this is the CS, Deputy President and the President whose major reason for the scandals. They have accept it and surely topped off on it.

It is hard to believe that all these major funds, all these state corporations and the ministries are losing money, have so much unaccounted funds, paying services to ghost companies and ghost tenders. So the list goes on. The open heist of funds that was supposed to go to the citizens and their needs. Are instead pocketed by the leaders on top and the ones running the state corporations. That is how they have gone from mediocre businessmen to wealthy owners of conglomerates.

This is just what they do, they skim of the funds on top and play around with the accounting. That is all really evident on the matter of the grand corruption scandals that has hit the Jubilee Administration. They are just continuing their thieving. The latest is just another show to prove that they fight it, but as long as the big-fish. As long as the Cabinet Secretaries, the CEOs, the Directors and the Chairmen are not taken. Not litigated, not detained, then they are not serious in the battle.

However, that will not happen as long as the President and Deputy President are eating themselves. They have gotten quickly vast wealth since getting into office. That is not just a coincidence. This is calculated by the Jubilee. Something this move is as well since they are going for the lower levels. It is a nice signal. But have little faith that it will go really further. Since then they are going into the pockets on the top of the food-chain.

Would they arrest and detain the Deputy President and even the President? Would they arrest and get rid of corrupt Cabinet Secretaries? Would they?

If they did, then their might be change, but as long as the people who are on top get away. Then there is less incentive to really stop it. Really make a difference. Then your just working to get to the top. Because, then you can eat yourself without fear of prosecution. Peace.

Kenya: Press Statement on Presidential Proclamation on Fresh Vetting of Public Officers (04.06.2018)

Opinion: Appointing Museveni to mediate anywhere, was bound to go nowhere!

The situation in Burundi, just like the one in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan can’t be dealt with overnight. Anybody expecting a quick fix is dreaming” – Dr. Okello Oryem

Recently during this week, the Minister of State for International Affairs Okello Oryem has said this. It is very revealing of the arrogance and the stature of the talks, the dialogue and the works done by the Ugandans in the conflicts where the East African Community (EAC) has appointed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to be the mediator. I never had faith in Museveni and to this day, I haven’t been wrong about that. Nothing has changed in South Sudan or Burundi, where Museveni is suppose to help changing it and get into a peaceful process. Instead it is more and more volatile.

What the grandest problem with having Museveni as mediator in South Sudan, is that his army is delivering weapons and ammunitions to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the SPLA and the SPLM/A-IG. They are serving the government with weapons and the technical training, while they are supposed to be there and secure the negotiations to a peaceful place. That is playing with fire and expecting to have the ability to drown it too. Your providing the opportunity for the government to continue to battle the opposition, while being a party at the table negotiating the possible peace agreement. That sounds like a bad mix of sources and interests at play. Museveni should clearly, just be a weapon brother and not a mediator. Someone who isn’t involved in delivering weapons to South Sudan, should mediate and not someone who serves guns to President Salva Kiir Mayardit. That is just wrong and has self interests in prolonging the conflict. He get to trade more weapons and ammo to the government there.

While in Burundi, the Inter-Burundian Dialogue has been directed by the President. A President that helped his fellow President to return in 2015 after a tried Coup d’etat and demonstrations against his third term. That led into bloodshed and also continued oppression of the dissidents inside Burundi. Where the dialogue haven’t materialized into anything, while the ruling regime has held a new referendum and now secured legality of Pierre Nkurunziza to to rule into 2034. Which is insane, when he entered into power, he was only allowed to have two terms, but he has changed the laws just like Museveni.

President Museveni hasn’t stopped the Burundian President and his control of the dialogue, deciding who could participate and when it could happen. Nkurunziza and his administration has totally muffled the Tanzanian chief talker Mpaka. Therefore, now that he has been part of this since 2015, as the African Union, United Nations and East African Commission have all said Museveni should do this. But they never gave him a proper mandate or done anything if Nkurunziza didn’t listen. They sent some police officers and observers at some point after 2015, but nothing has materialized.

Therefore, seems more like Museveni has been appointed and is lucky to shield his friends. Looking like he makes talks, but stalling for times. While both parties in South Sudan and Burundi are allowed to get rid of opposition, they are allowed to get weapons and use scare tactics to get rid of enemies. While he looks at in sometimes blaze some strong words. But Museveni will not act upon it, as they will do talks in secret and secure that Burundi and South Sudan get what they need. To keep the leadership, which is friendly to Museveni. Not to its people, but loyal to him. So he can be the big-man in East Africa. Peace.