South Sudan: Firing Letter to Consultant Aminu Riasi Atekuru – “Sub: Termination of Consultancy Service” (26.03.2018)

South Sudan: Statement of the SSCSF on the Special Envoy’s Report on the HLRF (26.03.2018)

Joint Communique on the occasion of the Official Visit to Uganda by His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of Republic of Rwanda (25.03.2018)

1. At the invitation of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, paid a one-day Official Visit to Uganda on March 25, 2018. His Excellency President Paul Kagame was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community and other Senior Government Officials.

2. The two Heads of State held Official Talks at State House, Entebbe in a cordial and friendly atmosphere on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

3. Their Excellencies noted the existing bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and reiterated their commitment to strengthen them further. In this regard, they reviewed cooperation particularly in the sectors of railway and air transport as well as electricity interconnection.

4. The two Heads of States observed that the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) between the two countries provides a good mechanism for discussing matters of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation. They therefore directed their Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs to convene the next JPC within three months.

5. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni congratulated His Excellency President Paul Kagame, the Government and people of Rwanda on the successful hosting of the historic African Union Extra Ordinary Summit in Kigali on March 21, 2018 during which the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons were signed.

6. The two Heads of State reiterated their commitment to the economic integration of Africa, accelerating industrialization, development of regional and continental infrastructure to improve the livelihoods of the peoples of Africa. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni commended His Excellency President Paul Kagame, in his capacity as current Chair of the African Union, for his leadership.

7. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Paul Kagame for honouring his invitation and for the fruitful discussions they held. His Excellency President Paul Kagame, on his part, expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Government and people of the Republic of Uganda for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation during the visit.

8. His Excellency President Paul Kagame extended an invitation to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni to pay a State Visit to the Republic of Rwanda. The invitation was gladly accepted and the dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

Done on March 25, 2018, in Entebbe.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC
OF UGANDA

_____________________________
HON. SAM K. KUTESA
Minister of Foreign Affairs
FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC
OF RWANDA

_____________________________
HON. LOUISE MUSHIKIWABO
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community.

Fragile Somalia is now taken advantage of by its neighbors!

Just as the International Community, the United Nations and African Union Mission are holding a tight grip, while the Mogadishu political scene is in full squabble and in-fighting. The neighbors are setting their sights on more land, Somali land to take control over. Over the last 24 hours, there are reports that Ethiopia has taken control over Aato District of Bakool province, where the Ethiopian government has built a hospital and a Police Station. They have annexed it without any forewarning.

Just like that the Kenyan government has started to building a border wall at Beled-hawo Town, the Kenyans are extending their border and their land with the building of the wall. It is a trick to grab some more land away from Somalia. Just like Ethiopia just have built themselves as a state in Aato District. That is the province closest to the Ethiopian border. So, it is fitting, the same as the Kenyan.

This is happening as the Berbera Port deal between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World has gotten into issues, as the Mogadishu politicians are trying to stop it and also the connection with Ethiopia. Who has already had a Berbera Corridor, that has been a project since October 2014 and has involved both IGAD, World Bank and other international development banks. All to secure a transport hub between Addis Ababa and Berbera port. That is fitting that the added pressure and lack of transparency between the regional government and the central government in Mogadishu, gets into question. That led to issues between Speaker Mohamad Osman Jawari and Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire. Money talks and also adds guns.

That is why the whole play of the international community, while the Mogadishu government lacks control and oversight. While most of the family members of the cabinet are living abroad, while the leaders themselves, are eating for bad deals. And they don’t have the security or training to secure the borders. That is why Kenya and Ethiopia are taking charge on the porous borders, they are invading and annexing land. Because it has no consequence to the sovereignty of Somalia.

AMISOM, who has foreign soldiers on mandate cannot even keep Mogadishu totally safe, as the escalation of car-bombs and fatalities of civilians are a sign of troubles ahead. The President hasn’t attacked or asked for reasons for the neighbors annexation of land. Even if he cares or afraid of doing so. While the PM isn’t acting on it either. Even UN’s Micheal Keating hasn’t addressed it, he who loves to be the face of the Republic. Now he is gone missing on the map. Just like President Farmajo, who should fight for his borders and his state, instead he is busy elsewhere.

This is worrying, that the Kenyans can take this land, that Ethiopia does too. That them all are doing this, that the DP Deal with Ethiopia, while the secrecy of the Berbera Corridor deal is showing it was planned a long while ago, since Ethiopia is landlocked and wants more safe ports than only in Djibouti. That is the sign, it is the Ethiopian power-play, while Kenya just showing power to take more land in self-defense. Still, it is not right to do that to a sovereign.

I am not even Somali and I am worried about the porous borders, the lack of manpower, the Somali National Army and the Police Service, when the foreign states can just do this. You take a breadcrumb, another breadcrumb and next time slice of bread, with time you take the whole bread. That is how we are as people, state is not different from that. As a weak state, that is taken advantage by its neighbor. They know this, because the AMISOM and UN Mission is not training or trying to achieve a secure state. The ones in Central Government want to live on donor funds and rampant corruption, instead of building institutions and stronger army to secure the borders. Because if they do, then they cannot beg for aid. A pledge they can eat without doing any work for it. Peace.

Final Communique of the Nairobi Action Plan on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Reintegration of Returnees in Somalia (22.03.2018)

UPF want clarify about the closure of Nalufenya (23.03.2018)

IGAD, EU and Austrian Development Agency sign agreement on Peace and Security in Horn of Africa (23.03.2018)

Minister Jeje Odongo’s MPS on the NCIC is revealing!

Minister of Interior Jeje Odongo own Ministerial Policy Statement of 15th March 2018 are very standard sort of document, but certain statements from there is telling. Especially on the Vote 120 on National Citizenship and Immigration Control, what it is, is apparently, reasons for why it need to be addressed, because it is a real lack transparency and not taking care of the Republic.

The NCIC is compromised of: “Deployed 300 Immigration Officers and Immigration Assistants at the borders and regional offices. This recruitment and deployment has improved border control and post entry management of aliens. This has improved representation of the ethnic groups of Ugandan and staff gender ratios” (…) “Insufficient funds to undertake constructions: Immigration offices are in very small single room measuring less than 8ftX8ft which accommodates more than 5 immigration staff. Furthermore, the Headquarters is housed in what was formerly a warehouse with some services provided under tents. Limited Staff accommodation. Some borders operate in wee hours which necessitates presence of accommodation for staff. This limits space for offices, e-services and board meetings. The Directorate requires UGX25.8bn for constructions. Porous Borders: Uganda has 52 gazetted border points along 2729 km borderline operationalized through the cluster approach. This leaves part of the borderline unmanned which compromise security and revenue generation. The Directorate requires extra UGX1.9bn for border operations” (MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS – MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2017/2018, P: 62, 71, 2018).

It really is showing that something is lacking when you have 52 borders and staffed three hundred officers. That means that each border post would have about average 5 officers. Just think about that, when the border needs to be open 24/7 and there would be more on certain border-posts, also at Entebbe Airport as well. Since lots of the ones entering Uganda come by planes, not only by foot. Therefore, the NCIC is underfunded, but also understaffed.

The 300 officers are not only keeping track of the foreign workers, visitors of the Republic, but also issuing passports. Therefore, the NCIC is even more important to be staffed, because of the need of control of the borders. The republic cannot have open borders and have control of the revenue and neither also population control. It is seemingly bad planning and at random. But the porous borders and the gazetted borders should have officers. Since they are issuing in the last year over 65,000 passports last year. The Officers are really busy doing and not only looking into the ones moving across the borders.

If this body is supposed to control the migration, register and secure that no-one overstays their welcome. They need bigger funding, more officers and more training. Since that must be lacking, when the borders are seen as porous. Peace.

South Sudan: Government Rejects ‘Wild Rumours’ of Addis Ababa Peace Boycott (21.03.2018)

South Sudan: Arech Petroleum letter to President Salva Kiir Mayardit (15.03.2018)