Category: Politics

US Great Lakes Region envoy to visit Rwanda

The United States’ Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Thomas Perriello is expected to visit some countries in the region including Rwanda, Tanzania, DRC, Burundi and Ethiopia.

The statement released by the US state department indicates that the visit is meant to support the program of resolving the Burundi conflict and preparation of the impending elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“USA supports reconciliation in Burundi which was initiated in December 2015 and has called on involved parties to continue peace talks unconditionally,” reads part of the statement.

US argues that talks between all involved parties is a way of solving the Burundi crisis as well as respecting the Arusha Peace accords.

It is expected that Thomas Perriello will hold talks with Burundi and East African leaders with the aim of seeking ways of securing talks and transferring them in Arusha.
Regarding DRC elections, US says it supports respecting the constitution .Thomas is supposed to meet DRC leaders over upcoming elections, respect of human rights and reach a consensus on how to address illegal trade of DRC natural resources.

The visit will end in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, where Thomas will meet another American delegation that will participate in the African Union Summit.

January 13, 2016
Former Kampala mayor Sebaggala tells president Museveni to retire

Former Kampala city mayor Nasser Ntegge Sebaggala, who in November last year backed President Yoweri Museveni’s 2016 re-election bid, says Mr Museveni should retire now when people still like him.

Should he retire while he still enjoys some popular support he would leave a good legacy, Mr Sebagala says.

Mr Sebaggala says Museveni who has been in power for 30 years, has limitations that God knows, and, therefore, some things he initiated will have to be completed by other people.
Though he did not mention any name from the Quran or Bible, Moslems and Christians’ holy books, the Old Testament cites, among others, Moses and Elijah who had to leave the unfinished work to Joshua and Elisha respectively.

“If I were a good friend of Museveni, I would tell him ‘you should leave when people still love you’,” Mr Sebaggala told the Daily Monitor during an interview at his home in Kampala,
Mr Sebaggala added, “Even food, if you keep it for a long time, it will expire.”
His remarks come on the heels of Mr Museveni’s statement in Rwashamaire in western Uganda that now isn’t the right time for him to leave State House.

“Those who say ‘let him go’ need to know that this is not the right time. This old man has saved this country [from state collapse]. Why would you want him to go?” Mr Museveni said during a campaign rally.

“We cannot be in the middle of a forest and you want the old man to go. This is not the right time.”

Mr Sebaggala said people who accuse him of being unprincipled should recall even Mr Museveni once associated with the Democratic Party and even Uganda Peoples Congress.

“Museveni told you he started in DP [Democratic Party]. He later joined UPC, where he was a senior officer. He came back [from Mozambique where he had gone to fight for Mozambique’s liberation from colonialism] started UPM. He failed in failed in UPM. He created NRA [National Resistance Army]. Do you want to tell me he is unprincipled? I am principled,” Mr Sebaggala said.

Source:Daily Monitor:Former Kampala mayor Sebaggala tells president Museveni to retire

January 13, 2016
Uganda:Election rigging could lead to coup, says Mbabazi

Go Forward presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi has warned that vote rigging could lead to a coup in the country.

Addressing journalists at Mt Elgon Hotel in Mbale Town on Sunday, Mr Mbabazi said the higher the vote rigging, the higher the chances of a coup d’état.

He advised his supporters to ensure they protect their votes by not leaving the polling stations.
“Election rigging is usually done on the computers in Kampala but leave that for me. I want you to know that election rigging is like a coup d’état and this depends on the level of rigging, the higher it is, the more the chances that it can attract a coup d’état,” said Mr Mbabazi.

Mr Mbabazi’s comments come a couple of days after NRM candidate Yoweri Museveni said he will not be leaving power.

Speaking at a rally in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo District last week, Mr Museveni likened himself to a farmer who plants his banana plantation saying there is no way he can leave when the plantation is just starting to bear fruits.

Mr Jotham Taremwa, the Electoral Commission spokesperson, said Mr Mbabazi should, instead of making threats, report anyone who is planning to rig the elections.

“Election rigging is illegal. Mr Mbabazi is better placed to share that information with us and the police to act on it. On our part, we are committed to organising free, fair and transparent elections,” Mr Taremwa said.

Speaking at the beginning of his campaigns this year, FDC presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, who claims he has been rigged out in the last three elections, said he will not seek legal redress even if he suffers the same rigging this time round.

Entitlement
However, while campaigning at Boma grounds, in Moroto, on Sunday, Dr Besigye responded to Mr Museveni’s statements saying the NRM leader is simply “kidding” and that he will leave power, “by all means”.

He said Uganda is not Mr Museveni’s personal property.

“This country (Uganda) is not the personal property of Mr Museveni. He will go come shine come rain, you wait and see,” Dr Besigye said, before scoffing at what he called the “steady progress rhetoric”.

“Jiggers, hunger, thirst are killing people in Karamoja but Mr Museveni is saying steady progress. Progress of what?” he asked.

Steady progress is the slogan candidate Museveni is using as he seeks his fifth elective term of office.

Source:Daily Monitor:

January 12, 2016
Ex-president’s ally hangs on to power in southern Nigerian stronghold

Yenagoa (Nigeria) (AFP) – The oil producing state of Bayelsa, home state of former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, is to remain in the hands of his party, after a partial rerun of a December poll marred by violence.

State governor Seriake Dickson of Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was re-elected for a second four-year term in office, beating former governor Timipre Sylva of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dickson polled 134,998 votes against Sylva’s tally of 86,852, returning officer Zana Akpaogu said on Sunday.

State governorship elections were held across the country in April but the vote in southern Bayelsa was put back until December 5 and then declared partially invalid due to violence in which unofficial reports said at least four people died.

Despite its resources, the small state of 1.7 million people is one of the country’s poorest.

Jonathan secured some 98 percent of the vote in Bayelsa during his unsuccessful re-election bid in March.

Source:AFP:Ex-president’s ally hangs on to power in southern Nigerian stronghold

January 11, 2016
Egypt parliament convenes for first time under Sisi

Critics say parliament’s role will be similar as to that under Hosni Mubarak, giving the president even wider powers.

Egypt’s parliament has convened for the first time in almost four years since the chamber was dissolved.

Sunday’s session in expected to be the first of many to focus on ratifying dozens of laws put in place by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the military general who deposed Mohamed Morsi as president on July 3, 2013.

Egypt’s last parliament was dissolved in 2012 by the top court in the country less than a year after it was elected in what was seen as the country’s first democratically elected chamber.

Morsi attempted to reinstate the parliament following his election that year, but was shot down by the courts in a move seen to strengthen the military that deposed him a year later.

Sisi’s government has waged a crackdown on opposition forces, resulting in the imprisonment of over 40,000 people across the country, as well as laws restricting street protests and press freedoms, and giving the police vast powers.

Sisi and his supporters have defended these moves, undertaken without a parliament in place, as necessary to combat “terrorism”.

Nevertheless, his rule has come under much scrutiny from human rights groups, and critics expect his powers to expand under the shadow of a parliament.

They say parliament’s role will be similar to that under Hosni Mubarak, the former leader, giving the president even wider powers.

Sisi’s takeover has also been marked by a string of deadly attacks in the Sinai Peninsula as well as in the capital Cairo.

Source:Al Jazeera:Egypt parliament convenes for first time under Sisi

January 10, 2016
Opposition in DRC vow to build pressure on Kabila

Opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have vowed to hold demonstrations ahead of the next presidential elections.

Through a statement released by an alliance of opposition parties, they say they will mount pressure on President Joseph Kabila to step down once his term expires.

According to his opponents, Kabila is seeking to extend his term in office by postponing presidential elections set for November this year.

“A new U.N. report highlights a worrying clampdown on opposition, media and civil society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the beginning of the year.”

Moreover, the 44-year-old has been accused of trying to amend the country’s presidential term limits.

Under the current constitution, Kabila is not eligible to vie for presidency.

He has already run for two consecutive terms and ruled the country for the past 15 years following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila.

Last year, at least 40 people died during protests over proposed amendments to the country’s electoral code.

Months later, the government said the presidential elections should be delayed by up to for years arguing that the country is ill prepared for elections.

According to a United Nations report, security forces have been accused of summary executions and death threats ahead of the polls.

“A new U.N. report highlights a worrying clampdown on opposition, media and civil society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the beginning of the year. It also stresses the need to guarantee political and civil rights ahead of key elections,” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman For UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said last month.

Critics argue that the current government has failed to bring stability in the country especially in the violence ridden Eastern region.

The November elections could be the first democratic transition in the war torn country.

Source:Africa News:Opposition in DRC vow to build pressure on Kabila

January 10, 2016
Selfish Leaders Are Responsible For Nigeria’s Downfall – Obasanjo

Speaking during the courtesy visit of the leadership and members of the Scout Association of Nigeria, Obasanjo advised leaders at all levels to make the interest of the governed paramount in their policies.

The Scout Association decorated two-time leader of the country as Messenger of Peace Ambassador for Africa at his Presidential Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta.

In his appreciation speech, the 78-year-old disclosed that the decoration had rekindled memories of when he became Queen’s Scout, adding that leaders must always be prepared for challenges at all times.

“We need a Scout spirit in our country not just for individual benefit alone but also for services to the nation. Work collectively and provide the leadership that will make us get progress,” he emphasised

The elegant leader further called for unity, stating that collective responsibility would make the nation progress in all spheres.

The ex-leader however promised the group that he would help it notify President Muhammadu Buhari to fix a date for his decoration as the Grand Patron of the association.

In his response, Olusoga Sofola-Atibioke who is the Chief Commissioner of Scout Association of Nigeria, explained that having Obasanjo as the group’s ambassador will help build a peaceful and formidable Africa with special focus on Nigeria.

Source:Naij:Selfish Leaders Are Responsible For Nigeria’s Downfall – Obasanjo

January 9, 2016
Kudos for Magufuli by former presidents

FORMER Presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete and former Prime Minister, Judge (retired) Joseph Warioba have commended President John Magufuli for his good leadership demonstrated so far.

The former top leaders made the remarks after meeting Dr Magufuli on separate occasions at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

Speaking on Thursday shortly after meeting Dr Magufuli, Mr Mkapa said that he went to see the president to congratulate him on his election victory and the overwhelming mandate he has been given by Tanzanians to form and lead the Fifth Phase Government.

According to a State House statement, Mr Mkapa wished the president a happy and prosperous new year and assured him of his support and availability for any assignment if needed.

On Wednesday, President Magufuli met with his immediate predecessor, Mr Kikwete, at the State House in the city where the latter wished the president happy new year and congratulated him for his sterling leadership.

Mr Kikwete also stated that he supported the various efforts made by the president, including initiatives made to boost revenue collection.

On his part, Judge Warioba, apart from wishing the president happy new year, commended Dr Magufuli for his good start and sterling performance, especially in tax collection, cost-cutting measures and investments in social service sectors such as water, health and education.

Judge Warioba called on all Tanzanians to support Dr Magufuli in his crusade against corruption, abuse of power, embezzlement, thievery of public funds and negligence.

“We must all support the president; we shouldn’t leave him alone to fight against corruption, abuse of power and other vices. He is our leader and we must support him in this endeavour. We shouldn’t let him to go it alone.

All Tanzanians must fight these vices,” the former prime minister and first vice-president said. Since he took power last November, President Magufuli has taken stern measures in curbing corruption, tackling abuse of power, taming thievery and embezzlement of public funds and negligence as well as cutting down costs of running the government.

The measures include removal and suspension of some government officials, arraignment of suspected corrupt officials, restrictions on foreign trips, and reduction of cabinet size.

Source:Daily News:Kudos for Magufuli by former presidents

January 8, 2016
Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran

Iranian diplomatic mission asked to leave the kingdom within 48 hours as Saudis evacuate embassy staff from Tehran.

Saudi Arabia has announced it is severing diplomatic ties with Iran following Saturday’s attack on its embassy in Tehran during protests against executions in the kingdom.

Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, made the announcement on Sunday while the foreign ministry said it was asking Iranian diplomatic mission to leave the kingdom within 48 hours.

The Saudi foreign ministry also announced that the staff of its diplomatic mission had been evacuated and were on their way back to the kingdom.

Later reports said the flight carrying the Saudi embassy staff had landed in Dubai in the UAE.

Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry announced on Saturday the execution of 47 people on terrorism charges, including a convicted al-Qaeda leader and a Shia religious leader.

Many of the men executed had been linked to attacks in Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2006, blamed on al-Qaeda.

Four of those executed were said to be Shia.

Nimr al-Nimr, the Shia leader, was accused of inciting violence and leading anti-government protests in the country’s east in 2011. He was convicted of sedition, disobedience and bearing arms.

He did not deny the political charges against him, but said he never carried weapons or called for violence.

Nimr spent more than a decade studying theology in predominantly Shia Iran.

His execution prompted demonstrations in a number of countries, with protesters breaking into the Saudi embassy in Tehran late on Saturday night and starting fires.

At Sunday’s press conference in Riyadh, Jubeir said the Saudi diplomatic representative had sought help from the Iranian foreign ministry when the building was stormed, but the requests were ignored three times.

He accused the Iranian authorities of being complicit in the attack, saying that documents and computers were taken from the embassy building.

Calling the incident an act of “aggression”, he said Iran had a history of “violating diplomatic missions”, citing the attacks on the US embassy in Tehran in 1979 and the British embassy in 2011.

“These ongoing aggressions against diplomatic missions are a violation of all agreements and international conventions,” he said, calling them part of an effort by Iran to “destabilise” the region.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Beirut, Lebanon, Joseph Kechichian, a Middle East analyst, said the Saudi decision was “quite a surprise”.

“This is an escalation that will create havoc in the region,” he said, referring to the latest developments.

Iranian action

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the embassy attack, while also condemning the execution of Nimr.

Asked at the press conference what other steps the Saudis would take against Iran, Jubeir said “we will cross each bridge when we will get to it”.

“We are determined not to allow Iran to undermine our security,” he said.

Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the Saudi decision was likely to have repercussions for the region, particularly concerning the Syrian negotiations.

“Western powers must increase efforts to safeguard this process and encourage the Saudis and Iran to continue their participation [in the Syria peace talks],” she told Al Jazeera from London.

“These events further set back the urgently needed rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh, and spell further trouble for an already fragile region.”

Source:Al Jazeera:Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran

January 3, 2016
UN Welcomes Southern Libya Peace, Urges National Deal

The United Nations welcomed a peace agreement signed by two tribes in southern Libya and reiterated its calls for the approval of a national pact to end more than a year of political crisis in the country.

Qatar brokered the deal between the Tuareg and Tebu tribes in the town of Ubari, and the state-run QNA news agency said it includes a permanent cease-fire and the return of displaces people to their homes. A joint statement between the two sides urged all Libyans to reconcile and work together to build their country.

The United Nations has been working to broker a national agreement between two competing governments, one recognized by the international community based in Tobruk and another in Tripoli.

A U.N. spokesman said Tuesday the tribal deal is an important development and that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hopes Qatar can again use its influence on a national scale.

“All such local initiatives aimed at cease-fires and reconciliation will need to be complemented by a nationwide political agreement in order to minimize potential conflict going forward,” the statement said.

The new U.N. envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler, held talks with officials in Tripoli and Tobruk on Saturday and Sunday and said “it is the time to conclude an agreement.” He called on both sides to vote on a deal as soon as possible.

“We do not want the Libyan people to suffer from the lack of medicines in hospitals,” Kobler said. “We do not want to have internally displaced persons. We want prosperity in this country; prosperity means that there must be security and a sound political development.”

SOURCE:VOICE OF AMERICA:UN Welcomes Southern Libya Peace, Urges National Deal

November 25, 2015