Opinion: Under Bobi Wine’s umbrella

“Now that it’s raining more than ever

 Know that we’ll still have each other

 You can stand under my umbrella

 You can stand under my umbrella

(Ella ella, eh eh eh)

 Under my umbrella

 (Ella ella, eh eh eh)

 Under my umbrella

 (Ella ella, eh eh eh)

 Under my umbrella

 (Ella ella, eh eh eh, eh eh eh)” – Rihanna on ‘Umbrella’ (2007)

Today in a move to outsmart the Electoral Commission and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) he launched the official party – National Unity Platform (NUP). This is clearly in a move, if the regime plans to stifle or stop the People Power Movment (PPM) as a pressure group. There been speculation of this and even TVO has hinted about that lately.

So, this was a move to outsmart that. However, saying the NUP is the political wing of the PPM seems a bit ridiculous. Let me address this briefly, the PPM is a political movement and not just an empty vessel. It is where many has registered and is associated as a vehicle for change. However, the NUP will be a political party that some of the ones associating with PPM will aligned itself with. Just like the DP candidates will be part of that party, but also associated with PPM.

Now, the PPM can have both independent candidates, but also own party candidates that stands for both the pressure group and the party itself. Just like in the previous election in 2016, when some DP stood for the party and was aligned with TDA. It is the same thing.

That is why both things are political, just one registered as a party and the other a pressure group. To entities, which is branching off its other and still aligned. It is very simple. It is under the same umbrella.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine shows again how savvy he is. Just like he went into dialogue and talks with Besigye. Again, he shows that he can think ahead and plan. To branch out and create his own is just the right move. It is maybe late in the cycle, but the PPM has already more relevance then other parties. More candidates and more nominations than ever. Therefore, some can be fielded by just the party and others can be associated with the pressure group.

This gives Bobi Wine and his associates two swords in one battle. Both the ability to have partners across the political landscape, but also create his unique party. That is really conning and also maybe the tools you need to address the public. Now, they cannot say his just a political club, a not serious politician. His maybe launching this late and just in time for the elections. However, the party is official and his not 100% independent anymore. His under the umbrella of People Power and NUP.

That’s the game of Bobi Wine. The PPM and NUP will challenge for real. The name is generic. National Unity Platform is as standard as can be. Bobi Wine didn’t go all out revolutionary or extra-ordinary on the name sake. However, that is not important. The cause is and the game plan too.

Now, he has to show his flex, even when it rains, when its sunshine and the in-coming tear-gas. It is coming, but he can always bring an “umbrella ella ella eh eh eh”. Peace.

Security Council Committee Concerning Sudan Considers Final Report by Panel of Experts (09.01.2017)

On 5 January 2017, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan held informal consultations to consider the final report of the Panel of Experts, submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 2265 (2016).

The Committee heard a presentation by the Panel of Experts on the findings and recommendations contained in the final report. The presentation was followed by an interactive discussion between Committee members and the Panel.

The Panel of Experts informed the Committee about the intention to travel to Sudan to continue carrying out its tasks as envisaged by the Panel’s mandate.

Subsequently, the Committee discussed the three recommendations contained in the final report and is currently considering follow-up actions on the two recommendations that were addressed to the Committee.

Joint Statement on the Roadmap Agreement for Sudan (21.11.2016)

Norway joins international partners in welcoming signatures of the AU Roadmap for peace talks in Sudan.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, November 21, 2016 – “The representatives of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States), Germany and the European Union welcome the signing of the Roadmap Agreement by the Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), and the National Umma Party. In signing the Roadmap Agreement, these groups have taken an important first step in ending the conflicts in Sudan and moving towards a process of dialogue as a basis for lasting peace in their country. We welcome the support of the Roadmap by other members of the Sudan Call alliance of opposition groups.

We also commend the Government of Sudan for signing the Roadmap Agreement on 16 March 2016, and subsequently clarifying its commitments regarding the inclusion of other relevant stakeholders in the National Dialogue and to continue to uphold any decisions reached between the opposition signatories and the 7+7 Mechanism, the steering committee of the National Dialogue.

We recognize that the opposition expressed valid concerns which have been noted by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP). We believe these constitute legitimate agenda items for any preparatory meetings.

The Roadmap Agreement constitutes a valuable step towards ending the wars in Sudan. We urge the signatories to lose no further time in agreeing to a cessation of hostilities and modalities for humanitarian access in Darfur and the Two Areas.

In parallel, we encourage opposition parties in Sudan to seize this opportunity to come together inside a process of dialogue to achieve a political settlement addressing the challenges that continue to face their people. And we appeal to the Government of Sudan to take all necessary steps to ensure a conducive environment for this process to succeed.

We wish to underscore the significant efforts of the AUHIP in helping to achieve this Roadmap Agreement, and we call on the signatories to engage constructively and sincerely to build on the Roadmap in order to realize a peaceful and stable Sudan.”

The Secretary-General is disappointed that the Sudanese parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur and the Two Areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan States (18.08.2016)

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Sudan.

EL FASHER, Sudan, August 18, 2016 – The Secretary-General is disappointed that the Sudanese parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur and the Two Areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan States, during the last round of negotiations from 9 to 14 August 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Secretary-General strongly urges all the parties to resume negotiations, abide by the Roadmap Agreement, and refrain from any attempt to escalate the conflict in Darfur and the Two Areas. He reiterates that there can be no lasting alternative to a negotiated settlement and stresses that a cessation of hostilities is the first, indispensable step towards achieving this goal.

The Secretary-General appreciates the vital role played by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and his Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan to bring about a lasting peace in Sudan.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the signing on August 8 of the Roadmap Agreement (12.08.2016)

They welcomed the support of the Roadmap by other members of the Sudan Call.

GENEVA, Switzerland, August 12, 2016 – The members of the Security Council welcomed the signing on August 8 of the Roadmap Agreement by the Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), and the National Umma Party.  They welcomed the support of the Roadmap by other members of the Sudan Call.

The members of the Security Council commended the Government of Sudan for signing the Roadmap Agreement on March 16, 2016, subsequently clarifying its commitments regarding the inclusion of other relevant stakeholders in the National Dialogue initiated by the government, and continuing to uphold any decisions reached between the opposition signatories and in the 7+7 Mechanism.

The members of the Security Council paid tribute to the efforts of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel in helping to achieve the Roadmap Agreement.

The members of the Security Council urged all signatories to continue the momentum to agree upon a cessation of hostilities, modalities for expanding humanitarian access in Darfur and the Two Areas, and the process for reaching a final political settlement through an inclusive national dialogue, and in this regard welcomed the commencement of negotiations on August 9 in two parallel tracks.

The members of the Security Council recognized that in signing the Roadmap Agreement, all parties have demonstrated a commitment to ending the conflicts in Sudan and moving towards a process of dialogue as a basis for lasting peace.