Albania: Ordinary tourists isn’t illegally trying to access an arms factory…

“In Albania, two Russians and a Ukrainian were detained while trying to break into a military factory near the town of Gramsh. One of the Russians resisted and wounded two soldiers guarding the plant. All of the detainees are suspected of espionage” (Nexta, 21.08.2022).

“The Albanian Ministry of Defence announced the arrest of two Russians and a Ukrainian, while trying to enter an arms factory. “Three citizens with Russian and Ukrainian passports tried to enter the plant. When trying to stop three foreign citizens, two of our soldiers were injured, ”the department noted. The Russian Embassy in Albania stated that it has not yet received information from the authorities of the republic about the detention of the Russians” (David Kime, 21.08.2022).

The suspects of espionage came to Albania, as tourists, claimed to be journalists, photographers and bloggers. They clearly had a mission of sorts, because who visits a military factory or arms production, unannounced?

Who carries chemicals on them that is life-endangering to the ones that inhales or gets it on their skin? Like the two soldiers who is wounded and in the hospital. Any ordinary tourists carries soft-drinks, snacks and possibly some souvenirs. However, most tourists isn’t carrying or having in case dangerous chemicals in their back-packs. That’s just a given…

This is why this story is of a spy-novel. It isn’t a tale of tourists or of tourism. This didn’t happen on the Albanian Riviera, walking around in the BulkArt or taking photos of the town of Gjirokastër. That’s what tourists would do. If not enjoy the other tourist sites in Tirana or elsewhere in the Albanian republic for that matter.

They are now claimed to connected to the FSB and the spy agency of the Russian federation. This seems likely. Since, it is a plot taken out of a spy-movie. The ones in the plot used the means of tourist visa and tried to access a military base/arms factory. That is really telling what the Russians are willing to do.

If this isn’t suspicious activity nothing is. We know certain parts of the internet is downplaying it. However, this sounds fishy and is questionable at best. Because, as a seldom tourist myself. I would visit historical sites, recommended by Lonely Planet or whatnot. I wouldn’t try to illegally enter or be anywhere near a military base/arms factory. I got nothing to do there and it wouldn’t be my place to be at. That’s why the story of just taking photographs or passing by doesn’t make sense.

This was a planned attempt of entry and because it failed. The soldiers who stopped them got the consequences of doing so. They got hurt and is suffering for whatever type of chemical the spies had on them. It just not common to carry or to even have it. That just shows what sort of mission they were a part of certainly they had tasks to fulfil in Albania.

If not… they wouldn’t have risked this mission and tried to access it. Because, the FSB and the Russians wants to know what is going on there. Peace.

Opinion: State Minister Kiwanda indirectly saying, the Republic got Curvy Woman for Sale!

“In his efforts to upheave Uganda’s Tourism , Minister Kiwanda Suubi has launched Miss curvaceous Pageant where Ugandan Hot Ladies will unleash what their Mama gave them. Women with Body Curves will get into competition in the name of Boasting Tourism in Uganda” (87.7 Kampala FM, 06.02.2019).

When, the State Minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda, whose been busy appointing different Tourism Ambassadors over the last 6 months. Has now fresh ideas to spark interest and create more tourism to the Republic. However, it is a bit worrying, the initiative and the idea itself.

“We have naturally endowed nice looking women that are amazing to look at. Why don’t we use these people as a strategy to promote our tourism industry?” – Godfrey Kiwanda.

What this really shows is how the State Minister objectifies the woman, the ones of his preferences, as he has proven that with who he appoints as Ambassadors under his ministry. That Kiwanda likes woman is now public. That he enjoys their company and hires them. That is more than proven. The reason why he changes and appoints new ambassadors for various of reasons.

Whatever that strikes his mind, that the Miss Curvy Pageant would be a good idea? Who knows really, but he is already in a Republic with Miss Tourism Uganda and other pageants for international shows of similar kind. What he has created is after his preference and what he looks for in woman.

But what is even more striking is that he is proclaiming, that Curvy woman is a product to sell the Republic. That the woman is a perk and speciality of the Republic. He is indirectly saying their sexiness and beauty is something that will attract tourist. So, is the State Minister indirectly saying, he is looking for Sex-Tourism and the ones going to the Red-Light Districts to solicit woman?

Because, when you make a person, a individual as a product, they usually tend to deliver a service and get paid for it. In this instance, it is disgusting, if that is the idea or the ideal of the Minister. That he wants to use the beauty of woman to allure people, who comes there to get laid. That is how it seems to me. That is if he really claims the curvy ladies should be a promotion tool to gain interest in tourism.

Woman are not tourism attractions, they are not objects for sale. That should be so simple and not hard to understand. Whatever way Kiwanda is looking at it. If he thinks this is smart move, he is foolish and makes his Ministry looking like an open-air bazaar.

Ugandan woman, woman in general deserves better. They deserves to handled and talked about in whole another manner. They are more valuable, than being a promotional tool. They are not for sale. That should be so easy to see and say.

Kiwanda should know this, because he is really out of bounds here. He should apologize and scrap the idea. This is chauvinism and also paternalism at its worst. Kiwanda isn’t honouring the culture or celebrating woman, but he is trading them away for some foreign exchange. That isn’t romantic or even noble, that is demeaning and disgraceful.

Time to step up and take a bow, Mr. Kiwanda. Peace.

Opinion: Rev. Lokodo need to look into Kiwanda’s business – Off hiring and firing Tourism Ambassadors!

Reverend Simon Lokodo, whose the Minister of Ethics and Integrity soon has to challenge and look into Godfrey Kiwanda, the Minister of Tourism. Because, this man is really into ladies. In a way that no other Minister in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is, except for Godfrey Bukenya whose leaked online photos with younger ladies all the time.

However, this more about how Kiwanda uses his position, not only to promote Uganda, but also handpicks a set of woman to titled and honourable work, like Tourism Ambassador of the Republic. That is what he has been working on lately.

There is already a yearly Miss Tourism Pageant, but none of them there has been hired for post. Which should be a natural thing. However, the Minister having been doling the Tourism Ambassador around. He has been hiring and firing for the last six months.

First, it was Zari Hassan, the socialite was hired and went all around with the Minister to Photo-Ops, even got a famous picture with guards with AK-47s as she was posing. That was just natural for the one and only Tourism Ambassador.

Second, in the middle of January 2019, as Miss World Africa of 2018 Quinn Abenakyo kicked Zari Hassan to the curb and became the newly appointed Tourism Ambassador.

However, that wasn’t as long or with anything memorable done. It was like a short-fling, nothing serious. Just puppy-love for the Minister, who lost interest very quick after the appointment.

As of today, it has been announced, that the busy-body of a Minister. The man, who always has a beauty on payroll. Has changed his mind. The Miss World Africa wasn’t up for the gig of Tourism Ambassador after all.

Therefore, he had to appoint the NBS Television Katch Up Host Anita Fabiola aka Fabiola as the newly minted Tourism Ambassador.

There has been more changes in this position as in any given other institution in Uganda. You would think that this is the most prestigious, the most honourable and best paid. That this what to aim for, as if you want to be somebody. You got to have on your CV, that you were the Tourism Ambassador. That is just it.

I’m wondering, when is Shanita Namuyimba aka “Bad Black” appointed, maybe by March 2019? Or anyone else for that matter?

Seriously, the Minister is too busy appointing these people for this one position. Is that the only thing he does? Haven’t he a Tourism Board and Wildlife to ensure? Doesn’t the Minister have enough Museums and Heritage sites to take care of?

We all know that those tasks cannot be as fun for a man, as the opportunity to bask in the glory of beautiful woman. That must be the reason why he does this and that is why Rev. Lokodo has to look into his ethics. Because, he has now passed through three ambassadors and for unknown reasons fired two of them. Therefore, Simon, you got a task to handle.

For the rest of us. Lets continue to watch the show. Peace.

Bosco, it isn’t UTB fault Tourists sway away, its yours actually!

If it was a different world, the Republic of Uganda could have been a haven for tourists and tourism. Where the wealth could have been generated and also shown the magnificent republic, which it is. It being the beautiful Kabale, the green valleys of Ibanda, the National Parks, the historical town of Jinja or bursting bubble of Capital City of Kampala. That is just for starters. However, the ruining this image isn’t Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), that is what the National Resistance Movement has done with the use of the army to quell riots, to meet opposition politicians and even lack of possible political associations without being arrested. This are the memo’s that get to the tourists.

They know that insecurity, the extra-judicial killings and the lack of trust between the state and its citizens are getting the world on worry. That scares away citizens, as well as the hardships against the Forum for Democratic Change and their Defiance Campaign, while now also using the army every time Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. These sort of activity will not make the Republic more marketable. As people are worried if these sort of activity will interfering in their vacation hot-spots and make their peaceful existence turned into a war-zone with road-blocks, soldiers on posts and possible police brutality as they visit Mengo or even The Square in Kampala.

“The president said Uganda has a lot of potential from its natural resources but there is a general lack of efficient marketing which falls directly under UTB. “The UTB has not been doing a good job, I don’t know why. You find other countries Which have nothing to show, attracting more tourists. Therefore, that area of promotion is still weak. If you hired me as promoter for just six months you will see the results,” he said. “The UTB and our embassies should market our country’s uniqueness. We must work towards increasing the numbers of tourists visiting Uganda from the current two million annually,” he added” (Nelson Bwire Kapo – ‘Uganda Tourism Board doing a bad job at promoting Uganda- Museveni’ (30.09.2018, link: http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/09/30/uganda-tourism-board-doing-a-bad-job-at-promoting-uganda-museveni/).

If the President and Bosco wanted it to be great tourist destination, why has the roads and the transport infrastructure been not invested properly in, as these projects are big borrowing operations, where the money has gone into cronies pockets instead of road-quality. Neither has there been well thought of planning of transport between the regions or towns. As there is hectic ways of traveling for the ones who doesn’t know or cannot afford to use specials across the Republic. Therefore, the expensive transport across from Entebbe to a National Park is huge cost for anyone. It doesn’t help with posters by Clear Channel across Europe, if it cost a dozens of bobs to travel and plan to do so.

The UTB is not in-charge of insecurity and the state of affairs. It is not their campaigns or their motivations fault for the situation on the ground. That is all Bosco, as he is the head and has run the Nation for so long. He should take charge and take blame. That would be new for him, because he always blames and says other people are not doing their job.

First. Generate trust abroad, than the people might come. If they know its safe and reads more positive stories. But the tourists will not come there, if the Entebbe International Airport is known for being the place, where the opposition leaders are arrested and detained after arriving. That is what the world knows now. Bosco has ordered this and his trying to destroy opposition is known. The torture and the preventative arrests is known. That is why people fear Uganda. They know that Bosco is a vindictive President, without any other cause, than promoting himself.

That is why this isn’t UTB fault. It is the NRM and Bosco’s fault, who has played this all wrong. He has neither made it easier to be tourist or gained their trust. That is why they pick other destinations like Botswana or Kenya for similar activity and safaris. Peace.

Ethiopia: PM Abiy Ahmed Ali letter to President Ismael Omar Gulleh of Djibouti on killings in Dire Dawa (07.08.2018)

Ethiopia: PM Abiy Ahmed announce the formation of the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund Advisory Council (09.08.2018)

ONLF: The Unilateral Intervention by the Federal Government of Ethiopia in the Somali Regional State is not a viable Solution (04.08.2018)

The Federal Government ordered its military Force in Jigjiga to attack and take over the Somali regional Administration. This unilateral act resulted in Loss of Life and has endangered the law and order of the Ogaden, creating chaos and uncertainty at a time the Somali people were expecting to get peace and their rights.

ONLF believes that any transitional change in the Somali region shall come through a peaceful negotiated process where all relevant stakeholders including ONLF, the Federal government, and all other relevant stakeholders. Any entity that take unilateral act, that could jeopardise the situation will be responsible for consequences such an act produces.

ONLF calls upon the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia to halt immediately any military activities and initiate a peaceful process, including direction negotiations with ONLF, which would lead to a national conference where a peaceful road map for change in the Somali region is charted and the future course of the Somali people’s cause is decided.

ONLF calls upon the Somali people in Ogaden to stand up for their rights and never allow external forces to decide their fate. However, religious shrines and the properties of civilians shall be protected against opportunist individuals.

ONLF also laments the continuing fighting alone the borders of the Somali Oromo borders. This will further exacerbate the future relations between these neighbourly communities.

All ONLF members in the Ogaden shall endeavour to stabilise the situation and call for calm and peaceful engagement with all authorities and educate the people to respect the lives of minority communities, state and private property and Religious institutions.

Issued by ONLF.

A Growing Crisis in the Ogaden Region of Ethiopia!

The Federal Government of Ethiopia, have ordered the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) to ceased the regional parliament building in Jigjiga, while also taking over others buildings too. This is happening while the market of the city has been put on fire and shops has closed. The ethnic tensions between the Oromo and Somali, which have been brewing for a long while and also seen in the rise of killings of Somali in the recent months. By the Quuerro and the Aghazi Squad, which has turned on these, instead of building a stronger community together.

The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) and Prime Minister Dr. Abyi Ahmed have not stopped or ceased the violence in the Ogaden Region. Neither done much, other than trying to conceal the growing violence. Today’s action only happen after the Somali’s have tried to stop the oil-flow going from the region and blocking that.

Abdi Illey have formed a youth group called Heego, which has caused extended havoc and looting, after the seizures of the banks, government buildings and the other important places of Jigjiga. The group has burned down churches as the anarchy contines.

There are two conflicting reports, one is that the PM sent the armed forces to protect the oil and gas production in the area. The other report is that this is an answer of a rebellion, where the authorities of the region planned to announce their independence from Ethiopia. Third report is that of the 5% the Somali Region get of the Oil Revenue, the leader Illey asked for 75% and that is reason for why the army came to take it over. They cannot afford or have the hassle to cough of more money for the resources there.

Which would mean a Ogaden State in itself. To this point, it is hard to verify, but both can be plausible, especially when there is money and Chinese investment involved in the oil-and-gas fields. The are unconfirmed reports that Abdi Mohamud Omar, the President of the Somali Region is under house, but nothing of that is certain yet. While Regional Parlaiment Speaker Mohamed Rashid Isaq have called on the public to defend Jigjiga from the army. Therefore, the growing tensions is escalating and the nerves are already touched.

The total death toll per now is 18. Which is a lot, as the army sent thousands of soldiers, as the Heego group have vandalized the city, as well as the soldiers have done a lot of harm to the public too. As the Federal Government is currently occupying this city with this force. This is not a good sign for the Addis Ababa leadership, nor a sign of goodwill from the Somali. Hopefully, all parties can come to their sense and use common sense. As the hopelessness and destruction will not benefit either party.

What is currently stated is that the machinery and army from EPRDF and the TPLF are in control, the PM and the regime there wants to takeover. That they have done, as the insecurity and the vandalization will cease. However, the scars and the issues there, will be as hurtful as the months of destruction and killings in Amhara and Oromia. Not like the state should forget that, now they are just targeting another group, because it is fitting to control and also the Oil Revenue.

Illey shouldn’t order his youth group and create the mass destruction, but neither should the possible government bleed the region down, because of the finding and the extraction of oil from the region. That just doesn’t make sense, unless the government want to continue to oppress and secure wealth on their behalf. Peace.

Ethiopia: Continued unrest in Amhara and in Moyale!

There are certain problems that doesn’t get solved with opening of an Eritrean Embassy in Addis Ababa. It is a good move to have dialogue and diplomatic ties with Eritrea for Ethiopia. What the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) and the Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali has done over the last two weeks have been special.

Since all his takeover, there are still spill-over of troubles ahead, where the government and army doesn’t have total control. Even as the Oromo are creating a bloodshed in Moyale in the Ogaden Region. This has been happening through the June and July month this year. As well, as there been skirmishes by the Sudanese Army in Metema part of Amhara Region. Where they killed about 16 farmers before the 5^th July and more in clashes on the 15^th July. Therefore, the sovereign state of Ethiopia needs help. They are been taken for a ride by the Sudanese Republic, also by internal forces killing in the Moyale area.

The amount of dead in Moyale during July is hard to verify, but the Oromo feels a new spirit after the new PM came to power and gave way to Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Queerro and other parties, that was before seen as terrorist organizations. Now they feel liberated, but their actions are possible as bad as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), as they are killing the Somali people in the Ogaden Region and that is the same as the Aghazi was doing to the Oromo for years. Certainly, their activity should be condemn. That after days of reports of massacres in Moyale, the PM reacted, but really slow, as the deaths have been piling up.

Both of these skirmishes needs to be addressed, the parties need to answer for their deaths, as much as the numbers are sketchy at best, but by 13^th July in Moyale, the Oromo had killed about 80 people. That is huge amount of people. Who knows how many that has lost their lives in both regions of Ethiopia this month.

It is sad as the progress under the PM is hopeful, but what is happening in Amhara and Ogaden is worrying, as the State of Emergency is still in effect and the actions of government is lackluster at best. When concerning the lives of the Somali ones living within the border regions of Ethiopia, as well, as the lack of condemnation and even stoppage of Sudanese troops entering Amhara and killing farmers in the Metema.

All of that needs actions, as the government need to take charge and show capability to take care of its citizens. That is if, they even care of this is a play from Tigray to show that Oromo is as violent as them. Also, that the Sudanese can toy-around because they want to challenge and weaken the Amhara spirit, because of their pro-longed protest against the EPRDF and the TPLF.

Who knows, but these vicious atrocities happens. As long as the continuing silence and lack of effort. We can wonder if these people are living in the wrong zip-code and in the wrong time. As they are not even valued by their own authorities, who are supposed to be there and defending them. The EPRDF should know this is their time. To act and make a difference.

The PM have proven it is possible, at this instance, he should too. If he cares about all these people losing their lives. It is on his watch. It will be on his hands if he doesn’t stop it. Not only remembered for the peace agreement with Eritrea, but the killed people of Amhara and Moyale. Peace.

Ethiopia: Human Peace Voice – Moyale Somali Ethnic Civilians Mascara (13.07.2018)