
Somalia: NGO Consortium – NGOs call upon the government to take stern measures to protect woman and girls in Somalia (02.03.2019)







The 15th Djibouti-Ethiopian Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was held at the end of last month (January 30-31) in Djibouti.
LONDON, United Kingdom, February 18, 2019 – The meeting was held in a spirit of brotherhood that reflected the excellent relations between the two countries. At the same time, it also provided a unique platform for both countries, to serve as a venue for the determination of both governments to demonstrate a renewed resolution to continue to play a pivotal role in the progress of the Horn of Africa and of Africa. Both governments are, after all, engaged in a process of reform aimed, inter alia, to encourage their nationals to engage fully and practically in the creation of employment opportunity for youth, expand the structures of democracy, buttress ongoing economic progress, and respect the rights of the people.
This Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was an opportune occasion to showcase the renewed commitment of both countries to resolve all pressing issues, and underline their determination to work closely together on peace and stability in the region and to support economic development and regional integration.
The Ethiopian side commended the Government of Djibouti for taking steps to improve relations with Eritrea. Djibouti appreciated Prime Minister Dr Abiy’s bold moves to encourage tranquility in the region. The initiatives for peace provided a firm jumping off point to encourage youth to participate in the current wind of hope, change and confidence. The agreements reached clearly demonstrated the deep-seated commitment of both governments to encourage prosperity of their peoples. They included bolstering cooperation on criminal matters, formulating plans for ensuring regular, safe and orderly migration on the basis of the spirit of the Marrakech Agreement, and producing a new comprehensive agreement on labor issues, as well as enhancing existing cooperation on peace and security issues bilaterally and within the frame work of IGAD, the African Union and the United Nations.
The Joint Ministerial Commission in fact provided an important venue to underline the need to work closely together to revive the economy of areas that shared a common border and improve the conditions and ways of life of the populations on both sides of the border. There was strong awareness that this would give further impetus towards reinforcing already deep-rooted people-to-people ties. Similarly, aiming to further concretize the ties, a new level of cooperation was reached to exchange instructors and youth experts in such areas of logistics and transport, forestry, engineering, and language teaching.
The second distinctive feature of the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was that it served as a venue to navigate the future of this symbolic cooperation and make clear the way forward for moving towards the dream of the “Africa we want in 2063.” Important milestones like the Continental Free Trade Area brokered by the African Union and signed up to by 44 of its 55 member states, in Kigali last year, can best be materialized if meaningful efforts are undertaken at regional level. Allowing free access to commodities, goods, and services across the continent are prerequisites to African unity. This was clearly shown by Ethiopia and Djibouti, both signatories to the CFTA, in expediting implementation of their bilateral Border Trade Protocol and General Trade Agreement at the JMC meeting.
Both sides have scaled up the gains achieved in port operation and transportation. They have made great efforts to remove impediments to enhance the efficiency of the port and ensure effective utilization of transport links. Enhancement of the quality of operations as well as completing interconnection projects, and initiating new phases of railway projects to augment integration, were discussed in detail. Joint mechanisms have been put in place. Both sides agreed that completion of infrastructure projects was essential to fast-tracking economic integration. They agreed to work to launch the natural gas pipeline project by fast-tracking technical issues.
Overall, the 15th Djibouti-Ethiopia Joint Ministerial Commission meeting clearly provided the opportunity for an important dialogue and a realistic working platform to further speed up the pace of cooperation and economic integration. It called for credible steps to resolve any outstanding issues, agreeing to implement solutions to encourage the continued upward spiral of economic links and joint peace and stability. It emphasized the need to forge closer follow-up of agreements, and to hone capacity to manage the systems underpinning prosperity and security. The meeting strongly underlined the value of holding bilateral dialogues regularly to encourage the advancement of the joint common agenda for the greater common good.


The Somali people in the Somali regional state(Ogaden) have a legal right to manage their political affairs and full self-rule upheld both by the Ethiopian constitution and international law. The most fundamental tenet of these entitlements is the right to choose their own leaders. Furthermore, Premier Abiy has promised to all peoples in Ethiopia to respect their democratic rights and open the political space.
ONLF calls for both the ruling party and the federal government to respect the wishes and dignity of the Somali people and desist from any acts that could jeopardise the stability and the wellbeing of the Somali regional state and the people.
Any political differences shall be resolved in a transparent manners where all stakeholders are consulted.
ONLF is committed to peace and democratic governance in the Somali state and Ethiopia in general and calls upon all stakeholders to adhere to the same principles.
Finally, ONLF calls upon the ruling party in the Somali state to resolve any difference internally in an amicable and transparent manner.
ONLF
23/01/2019


“You are blacks, no blacks can stay here, and no black can stay in Sudan…The power of Al BASHIR belong to the Arabs and we will kill you until the end” – Omar Hassan Al Bashir
There is very little peaceful ways in the ways of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir, who for all strange reasons was getting an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy. The same guy that has been violently oppressing his own people. The man that has caused massive bloodshed in Darfur, Kordofan and the Blue Nile. Also, supporting proxy-war inside of South Sudan. Even keeping the Civil War with South Sudan as long as he could. To have the whole Republic as his and not have parts of it seeding from Khartoum.
Will show that some proof, but first lets shows the utter nonsense!
“Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Juba on Wednesday in recognition for his role in bringing South Sudanese warring parties to sign a peace deal. University of Juba Vice Chancellor Proffessor John Akech while presenting the award said the university’s Senate decided to honor President Bashir with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy from the Institute of Peace, Development and Security studies” (Radio Tamazuj – ‘President Bashir awarded an honorary degree at University of Juba’ 31.10.2018).
Now, that we have seen what the University of Juba did on the Peace Celebration in South Sudan today. As they celebrated the newly minted peace deal and even gotten SPLM/A-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar to return the capital from exile. Clearly, there are hope in the air and we can hope. Even as many parts of the party today, haven’t been all truthful and even following the cease-fire. As the CTSAMM have shown violations in Wau and other parts of the Republic since the latest peace agreement.
However, this is more about the Doctorate of Peace, that first took over his Republic by armed coup d’etat in 1989. Al Bashir have been in-charge since then and that is soon 30 years. That the man given this doctorate are in-charge of the massive killings and creating prolonged war-zones. This isn’t just words, but the civil war, which started before he took power in 1983, but he kept it going until 2005.
The reports of the costs of lives was 2.5 millions who died either by the Sudan Government Forces or by Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. This is the numbers of what was lives taken within today’s South Sudan. However, there are also studies into the cost of live within today’s Sudan, which: “Burr published a second working document in 1998,[xvi] following similar methodology, and adding information about government aerial assaults, and attacks on the Nuba Mountains, in Equatoria, Upper Nile and Bahr al-Ghazal, which, he wrote, ‘suggests that no fewer than 600,000 people have lost their lives since 1993” (Mass Atrocity Endings – ‘Sudan: 1985 – 2005’ 07.08.2015).
This is not mentioning the reported numbers of 38,000 died because of his conflict in Darfur, 2,8 million displaced by this. That is why it is hard for me to take University of Juba seriously, when they offer someone of the stature of Al Bashir a doctorate in ‘Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy’. If it was practical joke or satire. I would have understood. But this man is legendary war-lord, who has blood on his hand. He has ordered direct killing and destruction of communities. Just because he could and had the ability to it.
No one that has caused this much bloodshed, to stay in power deserves a doctorate of this kind. If it was doctorate in warfare and combat, even in militia training. It would have made sense. But right now, it is just foolish and a mockery of the University of Juba. The Professors there cannot think in their right mind.
They have made a butcher and meat-lover, saying that he is vegan for the day. Let’s get real, if the Sudanese President had the option, he would continue the proxy war to secure the profits of the oil-fields in South Sudan. We know that and that is why he back-in-the-day sponsored the Nasir Rebellion. Peace.


The peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia has raised hopes that improving human rights will be front and centre on Eritrea’s path forward, according to a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Tuesday.
DAKAR, Senegal, September 19, 2018 -On 9 July, leaders of both countries signed a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship, raising expectations that the end of the “no war, no peace” stalemate between them, would positively impact Eritrea’s internal human rights situation.
The thaw in relations between the neighbouring countries, who fought a bloody, unresolved war in the late 1990s, began earnestly in June, when Ethiopia’s newly-elected leader, Abiy Ahmed, made peace overtures to his counterpart.
Eritrean authorities must urgently embrace and implement bold measures to strengthen protection of and respect for human rights, justice and accountability – UN Rapporteur
Yet, repression reportedly continues within Eritrea.
“During the past 17 years, the Government of Eritrea has maintained tight control over the country, stifling any form of public debate and participation,” said Sheila B. Keetharuth, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.
Eleven government officials who had criticised the President in an open letter, along with 10 independent journalists, were arrested in 2001 – silencing public political discourse an
“I have received reports that the former Minister of Finance,” Ms. Keetharuth continued, “who recently wrote two books on the current state of affairs in the country, including the rule of law, has been arrested in Asmara during the morning of 17 September.”
If confirmed, the arrest, on the eve of the 2001 clampdown anniversary, would question the will for genuine reform, “especially regarding respect for fundamental rights and freedoms,” the expert asserted.
According to Ms. Keetharuth, while comprehensive domestic reforms would be required for a free, fair, democratic society with all human rights entitlements, the Government can take immediate action towards that end in three concrete, urgent areas.
Firstly, the families of prisoners who have disappeared in Eritrean jails should be informed about the fate of their loved ones. Secondly, implementing the 1997 Constitution would provide a natural basis for a national legal framework and a society governed by the rule of law. And thirdly, the Government could inform new military conscripts that they would not have to serve beyond the 18 months stipulated by Eritrean law.
“The achievement of peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia must be duly celebrated,” stated Ms. Keetharuth. “However, Eritrean authorities must urgently embrace and implement bold measures to strengthen protection of and respect for human rights, justice and accountability,” she concluded.
Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The unpaid positions are honorary, and independent from any government or organization.