Shots fired between Kiir’s and Machar’s men in Juba

Machar Kiir

There been reported a shooting and flaring up again after just few peaceful months between President Salva Kiir and VP Riek Machar. The long-dialogue and peace-agreement in the fragile state of affairs as the SPLA, SPLM and SPLA-IO and the all the fractions of the internal fighting, as even the escalated violence and killings Wau of recent have taken its toll… and strained some internal conflicts in the government.

The actions today happen as an Army man of the SPLA shot at a Toyota in Juba. Then SPLM-IO retaliated and actually reported to have scored back at the SPLA, but not verified. There are talks of an initial talk between the SPLM and SPLM-IO leaders tomorrow as the violence are terrifying for the weak bond of trust between the parties. But just as yesterday there we’re reports that even some of the bodyguards of the VP Machar have even stolen the Iphone of the daughter of Salva Kiir’s wedding, so certainly there are some recent grudges between the camps too, even as they have made an agreement.

Also this report: 

“heavy shooting has been reported this evening at around 8pm local time in South Sudan’s capital Juba, the shooting was heard at the site of Gudele. The cause of the shooting is yet clear as many civilians remained indoors in both Gudele and nearby areas. Tension between the former warring parties has been reported by local and international observers after security personnel from IO were gunned down by the govt military intelligent over the weekend” (Wangdunkon Media, 07.07.2016).

Second Report:

There was military clash between 10 of our soldiers (SPLA-IO) and forces of the SPLA at around 8pm this evening in Juba. SPLA forces attacked our soldiers from the protection unit who were traveling in a vehicle on Gudele road in the town. They were taking food to our soldiers who always sleep in the office of the First Vice President to guide it. A number of soldiers have been killed on the other side (SPLA). Two of our soldiers have sustained wounds. The clash which lasted for more than 10 minutes has however stopped and our soldiers have returned to their base at Jebel Kujur. They have however remained vigillant. The situation is tense, but we hope the other side will stop the provocations to resume war” (Juba Hot Pot, 07.07.2016). 

There been just days ago, since there we’re also a rumor of plot to assassinate Dr. Riek Machar of the SPLM-IO, but that is surely not denied or confirmed, as it was to happen from some of the Central Government in the SPLA/SPLM. But this could also be used as a way of securing reasons for their violence and thieving in Juba. As proven the days after. So there is hard to know definitely as the men of both sides, keep their intelligence close and their guns with even trigger fingers.

An in the beginning of July, the 2nd of July to be exact the Presidential Guards of Kiir shot one of the bodyguards of Machar, and for all we know, some of these men might bear grudges instead of talking.

The Report on that shooting on the 3rd of July:

“SPLA-IO sources say they believe the victim identified as Lt.Colonel George Gismala was killed by government security personnel.The killing led to a rise in tensions within some security forces yesterday evening in Juba” (Radio Tamazuj, 03.07.2016)

So we will see how this goes, and if it goes any further, as there is hard to indicate anything and validate the unrest and reports. Peace.  

Opinion: Mzee sounding like a drunken uncle proclaiming peace for Palestine while the PM Netanyahu laughed and grinned while listening to him at Entebbe! (transcripted major parts of it)

entebbe12

There isn’t every day the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commemorates fallen soldiers and hostages abroad. So, when he does President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is the host and the man honoring his fellow Executive, should by all means not embarrass himself or anybody else. Though certain quotes from this speech is to nice not to be told to the world; they need to be addressed. Something to honor the words from the long-serving President Museveni, who must have taken a few Nile Brews before jumping on stage after PM Netanyahu.

I have described much of the speech, until the ending when it was nonsense on unprecedented levels, the vanish of wise words together with the mixing of certain aspects of Israeli culture and scripture, the running of Palestine and the negotiations between Palestinian and Jewish people, where obvious, even I won’t discuss or try to comply with a valid argument for either groups for their arguments for their historical claim to set-area or set-space as the unbalanced and grand scale of the long-term conflict between the two parties are too hectic to touch. But please enjoy the madness from President Museveni. Certainly Don Wanyama must be shaking his hand in the State House, wondering if he needs to order a teleprompter for President Museveni.

Entebbe 04.07.2016 P2 M7

Here is what I cared for transcript of the speech:      

First: “wanted to thanks for making this sad story 40 years ago, into yet another instrument of bonding the holy land Israel-Palestine with the heartland of Uganda. In particular, Africa in general”

Secondly: “The sad event 40 years ago turned into another bond linking Palestine to Africa” (…) “I say this is yet another bond between Africa and Palestine, because there we’re earlier bonding events. The Story of Joseph and Moses between 1886 B.C. and 1446 B.C. You remember that story? The Story of Joseph, it was also a sad story, but it also get the bond. Just like this one here. At the end of the story of baby Jesus, being hidden in Egypt, I don’t know which year. Because they say: He was hidden there, in the book of Matthew chapter two verses 13-23. He was hidden there from Herrod, Herrod, Herrod was a bad gentleman or something like that. Not my people here wrote 4 AD, but I got reluctant to read it, because how could it be 4 AD, when you are just being born; there must be something wrong, I need to do more research on this here, but the story and the book of Matthew says: say that baby Jesus was hidden in Egypt from Herrod, so that is another bond, another bond between Africa and Palestine, but born out of sad circumstances”

Third: “Then there is the famous story Queen of Sheeba, which is found in the book of Kings Chapter 10 Verses 1-13, the Entebbe rescue operation of 1976 is therefore, yet another bond between the two areas growing out of adversity”.

Entebbe 04.07.2016

Fourth: “As you all know, our movement is a liberation movement, liberation movement only fight only, for just causes and never use terrorist methods. Therefore for us when it comes to which war to fight, it is both about the cause and the method. We must fight for a just cause, but also use civilized methods in fighting, even if a fighter has a just cause to fight for, he or she should distil his or her methods. In discriminate use in use of violence is criminal, why target civilians and non-combatants. Even soldiers when they are not armed should not be attacked, that’s our, our doctrine. Even if our enemy are not armed, we never attack him. That’s our doctrine. We are a liberation movement, we use violence to fight for the cause of Africa, but it is disciplined and purposeful violence not in discriminate violence. It is cowardice and criminal to do so. Targeting non-combatants, some people tried to confuse freedom fighters fighting with terrorism. No, you can be a freedom fighter without being a terrorist. Targeting non-combatants max the boundary between freedom fighters and terrorist. Even when the cause is justified”

Fifth: “In the broader matter of the Israel-Palestine area, we in Uganda are guided by the bible. In Chapter 11 of the book of Genesis Verse 31: Abraham came from Uri, don’t know how to pronounce it, it is written U R, I don’t know how to pronounce it, but I pronounce it in our language URI, Mesopotamia and settled in Harrang, Canaan, this is estimated for being in the year of 2081 B.C. There we’re other tribes in that area, such as the Caanites, Ca-na, Canasites, Cardemonites, what is not mention there in the bible”.

Operation Thunderbolt 40 Years

Sixth: “Besides the story of the stories of two wives of Abraham, than I pronounced him in our language, Shara and Hagara, I don’t know how you pronounce it the name in your language, but I am pronounce it in my language. When it is called Shara, in my language and the other one is called Hagara. Therefore we in Uganda cannot accept the bigotry that holds, that either of you does not belong to that area. When I meet my friend the Arabs, our the Iranians, this is what I tell them. The other time I, I went to Iran, then there was the, the man who was president of the that time, the one who was the president before this one. The one who is there now, Huh? Bokanamoto? Whaaat?” – ‘People answer, he says loud’ “Ahmadinejad”. Ahmadinejad, and I, I told him about this story, I said because he was saying that the Jews don’t belong to the Middle East, that they came from Europe. That what he was telling me, I said no, but a, I read the bible and here they are, the Jews are here, I showed it to you. I showed him where to, where it was talked about. I also asked him something, which he didn’t know at all, in the bible its talks about the Persians and the Mediants. So I asked him, Ahmadinejad where are the Medians, ‘we now know the Persians are you, are yourselves, but where are the Medians?’ He didn’t know, he didn’t know, he didn’t know the, nobody there knew. So they started asking each other: ‘who? Bodian? Bodian?’ They went on and got a very old man from the university. He the one who came and said: ‘oh, the Medians something something’, I could see that in some of the some of the situations there is a lot of ignorance. A lot of ignorance, and a so I normally tell my Arab friends and a our Iranian friends, that you are all you are all mentioned in the bible”.

Seventh: “The Story of Shara and Hagara, the book of Genesis, the two woman, in the book of Genesis Chapter 1 and Verse 9-13. Incidentally, you need to know, these Ugandans, doesn’t know that you are not Christians. Haha. They don’t know. They think you are Christian. Hahaha, but let them know that you are the grandchildren of Ibrahim and all that, so they that, they assume you are Christian. They don’t even know the Christian are here, I think the Priests are here, the Priest must be fully, the always talking about you, but they think you are Christians. They don’t know that you are, you are not Christian”.

M7 Netanyahu

Eight: “That Jews came from Shara and Arabs came from Hagara, therefore, we in Uganda cannot accept the bigotry that told the either of you as I have already said, that does not belong to that area. The Romans upset the equilibrium by dispassing the Jews in the year 66 AD. There after the Jews suffered endless privations, endless sufferings being victims, all sorts of hoodlums, such as Hitler and until they founding of the state of Israel 1948. That was what the Prime Minister was saying here. The Jewish leaders, why is it the avoiding the British nonsense, the British friends are for, sometimes are for, all nonsensical actions, the Jewish leaders, why is there avoiding the British nonsense? Proposing to bring you to Uganda because you have no historical claim here! This was just nonsense, there was this character called Balfour, Balfour something like that, there was a character called Balfour. I don’t know how they pronounce his name, but that gentleman 2000s something creation something that, and they fellow was talking about Uganda. As the home of the Jews, you can see how these fellows are really not serious. Now, fortunately the Jewish leaders rejected that nonsense, that rubbish! We have no historical claim on Uganda, we came from Palestine and want to go back! Those Jewish leaders where very very clever, otherwise we would be fighting you now. This man was called Balfour, that gentleman, that he was foreign minister, when you are so ignorant? Eh? You went to where you had a historical claim, Palestine, therefore rationally, historically and legitimately, the two of you belong to that area, the only way for you and for the world is for the two of you to agree. To live side by side, in two states, one Jewish state and the another one Arab in Peace and with recognized borders. I know there are some people who try to, you know western, waste a lot of time, these international committees, that is why sometimes when I go there I sleep, cause it helps me to survive. The meetings are a lot of energy expended on saying that Palestine is like South Africa. Palestine’s is not like South Africa. South Africa are now trying to say Mandela, the Whites, the South Africa, eeh! Non-Racial state, South Africa, but that is a difference story, cannot be equated, well I have never mediated in the issue of the Palestine. But if you invited me, there be very clear ideas and short time. Because the issues are very clear, a lot of times has been lost, a lot of trouble have been picket up, but I don’t think or do not see any other way. Because they spend some time on the right of the return of the refugees and all that other, but this is a not a, one day if they invite me, I would give them my views, by the time they Israel’s arrested the hostages, in 1976, we had been fighting Idi Amin for Six Years, we had no pause to Amin, right from the beginning, because as the issues, we knew that Amin would head in the wrong direction. It is actually some of the Western countries that we’re supporting the Idi Amin. Therefore Amin’s hobnobbing with the terrorist was a crime in itself. Fortunately his illiterate army had no discipline to deploy properly. Otherwise it would been impossible for the light armed rescue force successfully extracting the hostages. Amin was wrong keep the hostages and the Israelis we’re right to use the incapacity of the army rescue the innocent hostages. Terrorist methods are wrong and necessary complicating factor, even when the cause is just. I salute the moment of the memory of those who died on that occasion on the account, the cascade of mistakes by the different actors, I praise the Lord for the lives those that we’re rescued. Forty Years from the sad events of the 1976 that brought the bonding and adversity, should be time into opportunity”.

Jerusalem Post 1976

Nineth: The Constant hostility by neighbors, Israel has developed high technology center the huge and increasing populace continent of 1.25 billion people today, 980 million who live in Sub-Sahara Africa through new futurairy arrangements can take advantage of those that difficult achievement for rapid growth. Is why Israelis should come and invest in Africa, trade between Israel and Africa, and third party markets is also potentially beneficial”.

Today is not a day to readdress the speech and transcript, as just transcription of it is enough of honor for this speech. The ones that are shocked of this forgets that President Museveni is getting older and think he is the wise-man, the elder with advice not only the funny that even Arsen Ostrovsky wonder where he could pick it up?

The issues is the ways he is rising the issues through his mind, the way the ability of the arguments, the simplistic and character of the whole memorial. As the historical facts and fiction is mended together without any consideration, the bible are mixed into the stew of Entebbe raid of 1976, the establishment of the state, the Balfour agenda of early 1900s when he proposed to give way for the Jewish people to settle in Uganda. Even Hitler who was a hoodlum today, apparently, even had at one point ideas to send them to Madagascar, which was the only African point missing from this speech. But, that is a minor flaw in the other dismay of village attitude and elderly wisdom, while he cannot see the difference between Israel and Palestine, when he has the Prime Minister of Israel, where the Israel Defense Force sent a little group to free hostages in 1976. The other fractions of ages, dates and even tribes in Canaan proves that it was good he became a rebel and a politician and not Pastor, as he has claimed he had at one point to be.

Mugabe2

That he had to explain at the Memorial of the Terrorist action had to explain the difference between terrorism and liberation, proves that he have at any point to legitimize his own position and the rule of the Movement. As that was at one point a cornerstone of the speech. I was thinking at one point he would pin the difference between a British Enclave and todays Ugandan Republic, because of the foolish British people and their interests; but that did not pop-up in his mind today.

The speech was to little power and fitted the function, the age is really bearing on Museveni, people we’re smirking and laughing, while he was serious and looked rattled, most of unprepared and unsecure about the subject of the day. The tone and the placement of the ‘facts’ and opinions we’re not making much sense. The ability of keeping the crowd and being interesting is something have had, but now the age have captured the man, even some was sleeping and other murmuring. The best news was that a Israeli radio turned off the broadcast after a while as the speech was such nonsense they rather send something else then what a foreign president we’re speaking about the Israeli mission and respecting the Jewish historical claim to the ‘Palestine’.

This one is the Mugabe-Moment of President Museveni, I am soon seeing him falling in Parliament and also struggling in public. That is to come, as this shows his weakness, as the age is coming and visible. Get the man a teleprompter; teach him the words he is unsure of, isn’t that why he has a 100 Presidential Advisors. Where they can also has their own press-team under the Prime Minster and the State House. Peace.

OCHA – South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator condemns grave consequences for Civilians of fighting in Wau (02.07.2016)

OCHA 02.07.2016

Statement attributable to the Spokesman of the Secretary-General on South Sudan

Wau Municipal Council HOS, RT_2

NEW YORK, United States of America, June 27, 2016The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the current escalation of violence between the Sudan’s People Liberation Army (SPLA) and armed groups, in Wau town and surrounding areas, in South Sudan. He regrets the reported loss of lives.

The Secretary-General calls on all fighting forces to immediately suspend the hostilities, provide access to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and cooperate with humanitarian partners to facilitate the delivery of  assistance. He urges all parties to agree to dialogue to resolve their political disputes.

The Secretary-General commends UNMISS and the Humanitarian Country Team for taking pro-active steps to protect fleeing civilians outside their base in Wau. UNMISS is in the process of deploying additional capabilities to the area to be able to address possible contingencies.

Press Statement: UNMISS provides protection to civilians fleeing Violence in Wau (27.06.2016)

South Sudan Wau

JUBA, South Sudan, June 27, 2016UNMISS is continuing to provide protection to approximately 10,000 civilians in Wau, following the outbreak of violence. At this time, UNMISS military forces have created a security cordon around an area adjacent to the UN base and peacekeepers are conducting active patrolling to ensure the safety of the displaced civilians within this area. This area is currently secure and humanitarian partners are providing basic assistance to the displaced people. UNMISS is currently negotiating with the SPLA for access to Wau town to conduct additional patrols to protect the civilian population in the town.

UNMISS wishes to clarify that opening its gates are not a first line of response in the protection of civilians.  Opening the gates is an exceptional measure of last resort to be undertaken only when all other means of protection have been exhausted.  UN bases are not designed to serve as shelters for displaced populations. At this time, UNMISS is continuing to provide a secure environment for those displaced by the violence in Wau adjacent to its base. UNMISS will consider additional measures in line with its mandate should the security situation deteriorate further.

Press Statement: Government of Sudan’s Declaration of a Cessation of Hostilities (21.06.2016)

South Kordofan Sudan

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, June 22, 2016 – John Kirby, Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs, Washington, DC, June 21, 2016.

The United States welcomes the Government of Sudan’s declaration of a unilateral cessation of hostilities in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. We find this an important and welcome step towards a peaceful resolution to conflict in those states, which we would like to see extended to the Darfur region. An end to military offensives and fighting in these areas would bring much needed relief to thousands of Sudanese and create an improved environment for dialogue leading to a political solution.

We urge the Sudan Revolutionary Front to reciprocate by ceasing all military action against the Sudanese Armed Forces and recommit to the cessation of hostilities it declared nearly two months ago. We encourage bot‎h the Government of Sudan and the opposition to work under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel to translate their cessation of hostilities declarations, which must ultimately include the region of Darfur, into a sustainable end to this conflict. A negotiated solution that addresses the key political and security drivers of conflict in all areas of Sudan will be needed in order to establish a lasting peace.

We encourage all sides to commit to allowing unfettered access for humanitarian organizations to deliver lifesaving aid to all Sudanese citizens affected by the conflict.

DP Press Statement: ” If Ugandans expected something different from business as usual they were badly disappointed” (07.06.2016)

Norbert Mao NTV

Kampala June 7, 2016. 
The long awaited cabinet list is finally out. If Ugandans expected something different from business as usual they were badly disappointed. True to its dominant nature of putting partisan loyalty above the public spirit and competence, the cabinet is another dose of more of the same. Apart from the laudable gesture of retiring those who were long overdue for retirement like Henry Kajura, Tarsis Kabwegyere and Dr. Nyiira, the cabinet doesn’t represent any change in political path. The tendency to entrench family rule and hegemony in our polity is still visible no matter the efforts to disguise it.

To the politically gullible, the inclusion of some members of opposition parties in the cabinet may appear to represent a spirit of inclusion. However to the adept and keen observers, the inclusion of people like Betty Amongi (UPC), Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi (DP) and Beti Kamya (UFA) in the cabinet is nothing but despicable tokenism and falls far short of any expectation Ugandans may have had that following a disputed election marred with unprecedented rigging and post election brutality and continued repression, an inclusive government based on a consensus reached through a national dialogue process. In a dialogue process, the direction of the country would be negotiated. We reject tokenism because it simply means trading a few crumbs for a fair share of the loaf of political power. As the Igbo of Nigeria say “No one gets a mouthful of food by picking between another person’s teeth”.

Florence MP

Uganda is a country that is deeply divided and hurting. The nation is badly in need of healing. Museveni’s one man rule ensures that no alternative voice will be heard in cabinet, parliament, the judiciary or even the streets. In terms of democracy, Uganda in the next five years will be nothing more than a political graveyard.

We therefore denounce the new cabinet as yet another lever in Museveni’s power arsenal. Museveni and his cabal are presiding over a malevolent and capricious state capture which is clearly seen in the tyranny of the majority in parliament, the elevation of so called cadre judges in the judiciary and the suppression of civil dissent. This cabinet therefore doesn’t represent a new direction. You cannot make an omelette by shuffling around rotten eggs.

DP 07.06.2016

On the State of the Nation Address delivered on 31 May, 2016, we await the National Budget. That is when we will give a comprehensive response. But we have something to say in the meantime. As expected the address skirted around the issue of governance without acknowledging the political logjam we have in Uganda today with an illegitimate government in place led by a person whose victory will continue to be questioned for ages. With characteristic arrogance Mr. Museveni declared, “Having followed closely world and historical events over the last 50 years, I am not aware of any society anywhere in the world that is more democratic than Uganda as far as the forms and structures of democracy are concerned….Democracy is one area where we do not need aid”. We note that this is a qualified statement. It is an admission that Uganda Is democratic only in form. In essence and substance Uganda is a totalitarian state.

The heart of the address was the economy. Mr. Museveni assured Ugandans that by 2020, that is in four years time, Uganda will be a middle income country. This may be an impressive jargon but let’s unpack it. That term is based on the so called Atlas Method that the World Bank uses to rank the economy of countries. Low Income countries where Uganda falls have a Gross National Income per capita of US$1,045 or less. Middle income countries have a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of between US$1,045 and US$12,736. (Of course middle income countries are further subdivided into lower middle income and upper middle income countries. Lower middle income countries have a GNI per capita of between US$1,046 – US$4,125. Upper middle income countries have a GNI per capita of US$4,126 – 12,735). High income countries have a Gross National Income per capita above US$12,735.

Ugandan shillings

Even without waiting for the National Budget we can say for certain that the absurd proclamation that Uganda will be a middle income country by 2020 is a political hoax smacking of deception and gimmickry. With a balance of trade of minus US$164.6 million, global business confidence of only 54 percent, military expenditure of US$340 million, inflation of over 6 percent and growth at only less than 4 percent, Uganda’s ambition of attaining middle income status under the current NRM economic framework is a pathetic pipe dream that no one can take seriously. This is coupled with an unsustainably high external debt of over 14 Trillion Uganda shillings which costs Uganda a lot of money to service. Then there is the lack of fiscal discipline, high military expenditure, unattractive wages that fuel brain drain, high unemployment of over 60 percent and the run away corruption. This is what constitutes the hemorrhage that Museveni dwelt on during his dull and unimaginative address to a demoralized nation. It is this hemorrhage that is responsible for the heavy tax burden under which Ugandans agonize. What the Uganda Revenue Authority is attempting to do is thus akin to a person collecting water using a basket. Unless the leakages are plugged the whole thing is an exercise in futility. The strategy of fighting corruption using the methods he used to fight indiscipline in the army will not work against corruption. It will be like treating a cancer using Vaseline. While indiscipline in the army is not profitable, corruption has grown into an institutionalized and highly profitable activity. Museveni will not win the war against corruption unless he becomes born again and offer leadership by example. You cannot exhort your flock to drink water while you gorge yourself on wine! Sooner or later the flock will follow your bad example. Therefore the fight against corruption requires a level of moral authority that Museveni lacks. He cannot point out the splinter in the eyes of his followers because he has a log in his eyes. As I have stated before, fish rots from the head. Today, I wish to advise Museveni that when you are sweeping a staircase you start from the top. Let him start from himself and those closest to him then move downwards. Fighting corruption is the one thing in which the bottom up approach cannot work because the bottlenecks in the war against corruption are in the top of the table.

Fortunately, for Ugandans there is a political party called the DP which shuns corruption, violence, dictatorship and militarism. We shall continue to illuminate our political space with viable alternative policies that shall be cogently presented in all platforms. Our impact shall not depend on our numbers but rather by the superior quality of our ideas and the firm foundation on which we stand.

We call upon Ugandans not to lose hope. We shall work hand in hand with other democracy seeking forces in our motherland to see that the NRM, like all totalitarian regimes that have persecuted and oppressed people throughout the ages, ends up in the dustbin of history. We will continue to speak out without fear or favor against all ills that afflict our country and continue to keep hope alive that we shall overcome. The darkest part of the night is just before dawn. Let that hope for a better future keep us focused on the tasks of the present.

Hon. Norbert Mao
President

Audio: Violence continues unabated in South Sudan despite new unity government, Festus Mogae (01.06.2016)

My letter to the Minister of Interior Affairs of Kenya Hon. Joseph Nkaissery on the planned closing of Daadab Refugee Camp

Nkaissey 2016

Dear Sir Honorable Joseph Nkaissery!

I write to you again, I know it’s been a month or so, but the actions have to be questioned and the liability of the actions you do Honourable Minister or Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Coordination of National Government. You have an ability of making decisions that area allowed to be questioned.

I am not writing to you because I am not defending terrorism, because I am not, the Garissa University attack, the Lamu Attack and Westgate attack in Nairobi was sad and unfortunate as innocent Kenyans died while Islamist, went in and killed without impunity; that has to be answered and those actions should not control the agenda of the country, but give way to the liberties and freedoms that the citizens are rights to have. While the Government finds ways of charging and hunting down the men who are behind these hideous crimes.

Dadaab Refugee Camp

But, the use of Terrorism to close down Daadab Refugee Camp seems a bit premature.

As this was even stated by academics on the matter in 2014:

“The speaker said that the Dadaab Camp is not an engine for radicalization; rather, it is an engine of moderation. Poverty and displacement do not automatically lead to radicalization. There is a growing need for more anthropological research on the topic. An entire generation has grown up in peace; it is not scarred by war” (…)”More political and economic analysis is needed on this issue. The Kenyans claim to be in charge but al Shabaab remains everywhere. The Kenyans do not have the level of control that they claim. A lot of the radicalism that is currently being seen in Mombasa is very local. Al-Shabaab is also present in Nairobi. Many al-Shabaab suspects are Kenyan nationals. Terrorism is a wider, urban East African problem” (Rawlence, 2014).

So if the man behind Open Society have claims two years ago that can counter your arguments now for closing, can you bring evidence can show that Rawlence is totally wrong, please honourable Sir?

Hon. Joseph Nkaissery I hate to do this as this is your set of laws and the ones that set the guidelines for your government until you get the National Assembly or Parliament to change it with a general vote.

Kenya Parliament

So for now the law of Kenyan Refugee Act of 2006 says this:

“18. No Person shall be refused entry into Kenya, expelled, extradited from Kenya or returned to any other country or to subject any similar measure if, as result of such refusal, expulsion, return or other measure, such person is compelled to return or remain in the country where –

  • The person may be subject to prosecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or public opinion;
  • The person’s life, physical integrity or liberty would be threatened on account of external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order in part of whole of that country”.

The law is clear and doesn’t seem that it is too important for you, if these laws is still applied then the closure still gives them rights as Refugees or as legal persons in the territory where you are the Cabinet Ministry Nkaissery. I know that shouldn’t be too much to ask that the Kenyan Government are following the laws of the land? Of does this not apply to the refugees and the ones that have left Somalia, Ethiopia or South Sudan because of oppression and aggression there?

In 2015 John Kerry and the United States pledged $40m directly to the Refugee Camps, so they must have had a say in the planned closure you had of the camps last year, with the new idea of trying to do it again.

John Kerry ABC

Here is his latest statement to you Hon. Nkaissery:

“We strongly urge the Government of Kenya to maintain its longstanding leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of violence and trauma, consistent with its international obligations. We call on Kenya to uphold these international obligations and not forcibly repatriate refugees” (…)”We call on Kenya to continue its support for refugees and voluntary return efforts, and to continue to work with UNHCR and partner nations to find durable solutions that respect humanitarian standards and uphold international law. We also urge the Government of Kenya to honor its responsibilities, including the 2013 Tripartite Agreement on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Kenya” (…)”We remain committed to working with Kenya to support voluntary returns that are safe, dignified and consistent with international law, as well as helping Kenya to address security concerns presented by al-Shabaab and other extremist groups” (Kerry, 2016).

So Honourable Minister CS. John Nkaissery, you have lots of responsibility and have to swallow lots of crap in your days in office, while Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta got to do the fun stuff and sign decrees and words into laws. You have to clean up behind the scenes and act upon the ideas these two men have. So I am sure the stress is coming to you and therefore is so seldom that the pundits and public see you charming smile.

John Nkaissery

We are not at the point that the Terrorism claim, I don’t feel you can validate that as a reason for the closure of the camp, unless you have evidence you send to me Hon. Nkaissery. I am an advisory, but until I am proven wrong, I will not change my mind. As you are playing your cards this way, is to try filtering the world away from assassination plot that we’re on Jacob Juma or is the something else you want the world to forget? The Pre-Election violence twice in Nairobi under Nairobi Metropolitan Police Commander Japhet Koome towards the Cord Demonstrations, is this right or am I wrong hon. Nkaissery?

But to get back to reality and not the conspiracies that might run as the Kenyan Government said they would close the Refugee Camps last year in 2015. When as I said United States Government pledged more money to run them and filter it through the United Nations programs.

Seems more like this is a way of scaring the international groups, multinational organizations and all to give direct funds to Kenyan Government instead of taking it direct to the Refugee Camp. If not I hope you get a Task Force that really looks into your allegations and also delivers the findings so they can be looked through and are more believable than the financials from Donald Trump.

There are questions that remains Hon. Nkaissery because the issues and the rights, even the laws that are still viable and official guidelines for the refugees and citizens in Kenya, make a brother like me question the rhetoric you have used and arguments. So please take care of the action you do. This here will be greater stain on the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), and you don’t want that as a Cabinet Secretary that creates tensions with the allies abroad that both gives your army funding and equipment together with direct budget aid. That would not be wise… Though I understand Hon. Nkaissery that you care about the refugees and their safety even if you close them; because for many of them have been living there for a long time and they could be by many means Kenyan citizens with Somali ethnicity for instance.

Kibera Golf

Would you clear the Kibera slum and the areas around as the Rawlence claimed that the terrorist and extremist was more likely in Urban areas, and Kibera is Urban and also uncontrolled in some ways. So why are you not focused on the development of Kibera that you have Dr. Evan Kidero, the loyal Governor can access the situation for you and find ways to monitor the extremist that might be trained there? Because, if a so-called expert Rawlence can be some people who becomes violent in urban areas, and that is not politely the Dadaab Refugee Camp. So it must be more political than actual be the reason for the closing as they either want to show character or independence over the Multi-National Organization and the International donors, as a sovereign state.

Hon. Nkaissery, we both know that Kenya is a Sovereign State and because of that have freedoms to do what they want on their territory, but they have international obligation. You and I know that Kenya has internal laws and also have to keep their international laws considering the rights of refugees. Still, you can act this way, but will you consider the implications and the ramifications of this. Even if the European states are considering and signing agreements to ship the Syrian Refugees from Greece, to Turkey; that does not send direct flight back to Palmyra, Syria, as much as you don’t want to be remembered for sending back Somali Refugees from Dadaaab Refugee Camp to hostels in Mogadishu, Somalia. Or will you?

Mogadishu 9th May

I am just worried for these innocent fleeing human beings who has fled their homeland for safety in Kenya, as much as I am worried for the Syrian who are fleeing to Greece and being transported to Turkey. I condemn that and would condemn if the Kenyan transport these men and woman to Mogadishu in the midst of fighting and continuation of AMISOM mission in Somalia.

I know I am nobody, but I had to address it and ask you why you want to, as I also question quickly the biggest argument for closing. As I don’t believe until there are serious report and evidence of the terrorism threat from Dadaab Refugee Camp, and why you don’t check more Kibera slums of Nairobi, but that would hurt your pride, right? Wouldn’t it Hon. Nkaissery, or am I wrong?

Peace. 

Best Regard

Write of Minbane.

Reference:

Rawlence, Ben – ‘Somali Refugees in Kenya: The Case of the Dadaab Camp’ (08.05.2014) link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/field/field_document/2014Somali%20Refugees%20in%20Kenya.pdf

Kerry, John – ‘On Kenya’s Announcement to End Hosting of Refugees’ (11.05.2016) link: http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/05/257113.htm

Burundi’s crisis talks postponed (Youtube-Clip)

“The inter Burundian dialogue that was scheduled to take place from May 2 to 6 in Arusha, Tanzania has been postponed. This was announced on Friday by the office of former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa who is also the facilitator of the talks.”Following consultations between the facilitator in the Burundi dialogue, former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa and East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko, the resumption of the dialogue which was due on May 2-… READ MORE :  http://www.africanews.com/2016/04/30/…” (Africa News, 2016).