Burundi: The Ministry of Labor adds stoppage on the civil servants salaries from January to secure funds for the 2020 Elections!

As the Burundian Government, the CNDD-FDD (The National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy), the ruling regime under President Pierre Nkurunziza are clearly gearing up for the Constitutional Change for securing a fourth term and also elections in 2020. Since he had a controlled election in 2015, that ushered in his official third term, which was questionable already. Therefore, creating insecurity and protest. That has led to refugees and to crisis, which is still until today. The Burundian government are really grasping everything and also stopping the any possible progress in the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, since it would mean that Nkurunziza had to step down. Something he is clearly not intending to do.

Today, on the 18th January 2018, the Ministry of Labor or “State Functions” has announced that every single state employee will be submitting their contribution through their salary from this month (January 2018), which will automatically be taken from their salary as a tax. The tax can be called “Contribution for 2020 Election”.

The Minister says this is their patriotic duty in a sense, that this can be seen as stoppage from the payment on the salary, since the Ministry of Labor is making this patriotic duty to secure funding for the coming election and changes of Constitution so that the President can run in 2020. This proves how messed up the Burundian government is. When the Minister for Labor Félix Mpozeriniga have announced this to all public servants, civil servants or government officials.

So we can officially know that Pierre Nkurunziza plans a fourth term, as his party and regime is even adding taxes on the state employees, through the stoppage in patriotic view, as the “Contribution for 2020 Election”, which this is and they are doing it because they know they will not be questioned or have anyone who discuss this internally.

The levy, the added tax and the stoppage is a proof of the plan and we can just await the days of a change of the constitution, so that the Nkurunziza government can continue to rule without any doubt. For the doubters that he would ever leave, should know question their own brilliant mind. Nkurunziza has no interest in stepping down. He will only leave if someone ends his life. Nkurunziza will keep this post until someone do a coup d’etat against him. Because he will change the laws and use the position until he stops breathing. Anything else, is a lie against the narrative he has already created.

That is why CNDD-FDD and Nkurunziza will pursuit anyway necessary to stay in power. This is yet another proof of that, not only interfering and controlling the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, so that the real opposition and the ones who is seen as enemies will be detained, assassinated or flee to exile. That is the state of affairs.

This is what Nkurunziza does and what he wants to continue by any means. Now adding extra taxes to make sure that happens. Peace.

RDC: Comite Laic de Coordination (CLC) – Mise au Point du Comite Laic de Coordination (18.01.2018)

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni: “Don’t Preserve Terrorism in DRC” (17.01.2018)

 

Kenya: EU suspends its support for Water Towers in view of Reported Human Rights Abuses (17.01.2018)

NASA Statement: Electoral Justice is Non-Negotiable! (17.01.2018)

RDC: Dynamique de l’Opposition Politique Congolaise – Communique en Rapport Avec La Marche Pacifique du 21 Janvier (16.01.2018)

Opinion: President Kabila uses insurgency as a bargain chip to stay in Power!

It is weird to write this again, but the last term of President Joseph Kabange Kabila lasted until a 16th December 2016. We are now on the 16th January 2018. That means the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has had a President without a term for a year and a month, or a total of 396 days. Kabila has been running the DRC without elections or stepped down for over a year.

He has himself been registered for elections twice without anything happening. There has also been insurgencies and all of them seems to be buying him time. The same can be said about what is happening as FARDC and UPDF are now together working to beat ADF in Southern Kivu. This has happen since December 2017, even if the UPDF went in before they had an official agreement.

Just like in early January 2017 former M-23 soldiers and leaders flee from Uganda and Kisoro into DRC. This also happen so the insurgency could be used for leverage. That was done and therefore, the same region needed more uncertainty and now the ADF is the new big-problem. Just as it has happen in the past. If it would be FDLR or Interahamwe, even if this would be mustered into new groups to create insecurity.

During the year, the FARDC General Akii Mundos is synonymous with the Beni Massacres, where he still inflict danger and violence in the region.

We can also question the sudden rise of the Mayi-Mayi attacks in May 2017 as well, since they we’re unofficially sponsored by Burundian government on wishes of Kinshasa. That happen also during the period of uncertainty created.

During the whole year, Kamunia Nsapu have during the year created hostility in Kasai-Oriental, where the state even wanted to hide their crimes and even UN Monitor’s was killed while following the evidence. There has been found dozens of mass graves in the region and still this hasn’t shocked the world and massive breaches of killings from the state. As the militia and FARDC has killed civilians and innocent people in general. While creating even more insecurity.

So the sudden changes of direct attacks on ADF seems like it follows the current paradigm of being insecurity managed to keep Kabila in power. I don’t wish this, but since he has hold himself without an official term for a year and month.

What we should know already is that he took power in January 2001, waited to be elected before 2006 and again 2011. This to the two presidential terms he could in the 3rd Republic. Well, in that figure, means that he had already bonus years that doesn’t count between 2001-2006. Meaning, he was able to postpone it back-then for 5 years before his first election. Now he is again using insurgency and violence to extend his term without an election. Even without changing the Constitution. That is the reason for the violence in insecurity. There is no other reason for it.

It isn’t anything beautiful, it is only more sinister activity in favor of the President Kabila. Kabila are using the military and insurgency to overstay. He uses his power, his leadership and his control until someone takes him away. I will never expect him to just step down. Then he would have done so over a year ago. He would have had an election during 2016. Something he never had, something he postponed for all sorts of reasons. There will come new reasons, CENI will find problems and lack of funding. Even if United States, United Kingdom and the EU offers funding for an election. This while Mineral Extraction continues, oil export and other profitable activity happens without proper taxation.

Kabila will not let this cash-cow go, he has had the control for over 16 years. He has had his terms and no plans of stepping down. Doesn’t matter if is his unpopular or insult the intelligence of his own people. Kabila will use insurgence and insecurity as a bargain chip to stay. Something he used to extend his first term until the first election. Now he is extending his last term with the same tactic. While it cost more and more people’s live for his to stay in power.

He will stay in power, no matter the cost. Kabila has proven that, he want to extend and not let it go. There is no proof that he wants to or has any significant plan of doing so. The army and the allies is still all around him. The important opposition is in the former colony safe-havens, while activists are either in jail or getting detained for standing up against him. Even the churches who march in protest are getting beaten, killed in the streets. Kabila will take anyone down who stands in his way. Just like he did in the previous times.

Kabila, will use the insurgency, insecurity and violence as bargain chip, as a method and use it for all its worth. Not caring for the innocent or the real cost of the action. But that it gives him to stay in Power and relinquish everything he hold dear, the money and the power. Peace.

RDC: Mouvement de Liberation du Congo (M.L.C) – Communique de Presse (15.01.2018)

Opinion: Jubilee is ready to skin you now that the elections are over!

Let it be known that the State Coffers and the Government isn’t a well-oiled machine, the Kenyan government is taking up debt to cover old debt, which is all created by the current administration and the current President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Both of them have taken up expensive loans for both running the government, but also development projects. However, they have run their tab and is struggling.

They have subsidized lots of things people needs, they have paid providers and importers, they have made sure the costs of importing and producing has been lower. Especially in the months in advance of the Presidential Elections in 2017 and also a little after. However, they don’t need the votes and public goodwill anymore. Therefore, the subsidizes are now ceasing to exist.

The prices of gasoline and similar products are going up now in January. The prices of electricity has already been rising. The eminent rise of prices on UNGA is also coming. All of this is coming, as the subsidizes are ceased. The Jubilee Government cannot afford the billing and the tab, they have gained so much debt, that they cannot muster enough money to pay for this too.

Expect sugar and cooking oil to go up. If the airtime for the phone companies and the charges on M-Pesa would go up as well. All the Mobile Money and Airtime could also rise. The inflation and the current instability in the economy will hit all parts of the economy. The signs are there and the government need to tax and get more fresh funds. Easiest is to charge every single costumer and citizens through what they are already needing and spending on. That is all of this.

Make sure that the needed products, the food, the electricity and the gas cost more. So that the charcoal and other ways of heating will cost more. There will be more blackouts and less businesses can afford to hold the generators working.

Parents are also feeling growing school-fees combined with payment for uniforms and extra curricular activities. All of this is adding cost and making it harder for people to send their kids to school. This all combined means that there is a higher cost of living, while the salaries are not following. Meaning that the citizens are getting poorer, by just existing and breathing in the same space as the politicians.

That the Jubilee Alliance Party have tricked the public is clear, that they are trying to earn money on the public and find ways to fix their ill-gained debt spiral with added taxes and higher cost of living. The expenses of ordinary and needed products are rising. It is worrying, the signal of a falling economy and problematic investor space. Where cartels are controlling sugar, flour-milling and imports. Where the cronies and families of the political circle are owner and involved in key businesses.

We can wonder why it had to happen just small months after the elections and the swearing-in in November 2017. That Kenyatta and Ruto have planned this for a while. That is why the Forex Levy is now being changed and making things more costly. The UNGA and Sugar subsidy are also gone, as it was just a temporary relief. The gasoline and the electricity are controlled by the state and special levy, which is now taken away.

The ones paying this is the public, its the citizens and the politicians, the government know why it happens and let it happen. We can wonder, why they are accepting making life harder for their citizens. Peace.

Kenya: Energy Regulatory Commission – Press Release – “Maximum Retail Pump Prices in Kenya for the Period 15th January 2018 – 14th February 2018” (14.01.2018)