Tag: GreatLakesNews

{{Kenyatta University (KU) has been selected to host the Africa Centre for Transformative and Inclusive Leadership (Actil).}}

Actil’s vision is to raise a critical mass of transformational leaders in politics, business, government and society, raise a network of female and male policy makers that are committed to and applying approaches that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in all spheres, create a formidable alliance of leaders in Africa who can transform politics, business and society for the benefit of all and prepare African leaders to influence development, political and economic discourse in the global level.

The centre, a brainchild of the UN Women, a United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, will be officially inaugurated on February 19, 2014, at Kenyatta University.

Announcing the selection of KU at a media briefing on Wednesday, in Nairobi, UN Women’s regional director Christine Musisi said that the centre’s programmes will go a long way in making a reality the narrative “Africa Arising.”

Ms Musisi said that the centre was necessary for the creation of a group of leaders who will harness Africa’s potential when countries move from good leadership to transformative leadership by investing in its people, liberate itself from poverty, ignorance and strife, and take leadership in the global economy and global political discourse.

The objective of the centre is therefore to train leaders to have a positive mindset; who are driven by purpose to live by transformational principles – integrity, stewardship, justice, work ethic and understand the value of charity.

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{{The South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Saturday reiterated calls for peace in his conflict-ridden country, but warned citizens against involvement in revenge killings.}}

Speaking at a rally organised by the ruling party’s (SPLM) youth wing, Kiir said it was time for South Sudanese to forgive one another as leaders seek remedies to the current conflict.

“This country needs peace. This country needs development. The country needs widows and orphans to recover from war trauma attitude. This country needs education,” said the president at his first public rally since the conflict broke out.

“There will be reconciliation and forgiveness, the forgiveness will not be today, but it must happen for the sake of having a peaceful country, not warlord country,” he added.

The event, attended by thousands of citizens, was organised by the SPLM youth wing as part of its mobilisation campaign under the theme, “one nation, one people”.

The South Sudanese leader further stressed the importance of national reconciliation as the young nation grapples with a conflict that nearly caused civil war.

Violence erupted in the South Sudan capital in mid-December last year, but later extended to its states of Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity, leaving thousands dead and nearly a million homeless.

ATTACKS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT

Meanwhile, the South Sudanese leader described his former deputy Riek Machar as “an enemy of peace and progress in South Sudan,” directly referring to the latter’s alleged involvement in what he said was a coup attempt against his leadership.

“My brother Riek Machar has hurt [the] people of South Sudanese after he made a mistake to become a rebel leader again in the nation. He assumes himself to be a democratic man, but his heart does not apply democracy,” a visibly angry Kiir said.

“It is now a great shame worldwide that newest nation South Sudan has insurgency,” he added, while urging the country’s citizens to work for peace.

Machar, despite the president’s claims, denies any involvement in any coup attempt and instead accuses the latter of falsely implicating him in a bid to silence opposition within the SPLM.

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{{Uganda President Gen. Yoweri Museveni reportedly told his NRM party MPs that he will append his signature to the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill, government spokesman Ofwono Opondo.}}

Ofwono tweeted that Museveni would give the nod to the bill “after 14 medical experts presented a report that homosexuality is not genetic but a social behaviour.”

A Ministerial Committee comprising of scientists from Ministry of Health and Makerere University was set up to study homosexuality and genetics in human beings and advise the President and the NRM Caucus on the subject of homosexuality.

He added that “Ugandan traditionalists, religious leaders & politicians have been urging Museveni to sign the Bill. (Those) Supporting homosexuals take it easy Uganda is a sovereign country, you challange the law in the courts.”

“The NRM caucus has welcomed the development as a measure to protect Ugandans from social deviants,” Opondo added on twitter.

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{{An official from South Sudan’s rebel group on Friday said that they were committed to the peace process, but warned of continued armed struggle against government should the Addis Ababa talks fail.}}

The second round of talks mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional leaders began this week. The previous deal, signed on 23 January, failed to bring an end to the fighting, which began on December 15.

The official from the SPLM/A-in-Opposition, which is led by South Sudan’s former vice-president Riek Machar said he is committed to bringing a peaceful political settlement to the crisis in South Sudan.

“We will continue our commitment to bring democracy and good governance to the country either through political dialogue as set out by IGAD or armed struggle” Bor Gatwech, a lawmaker and humanitarian liaison officer for the SPLM/A-in-Opposition told Sudan Tribune in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The remarks by the rebel official comes a day after the seven SPLM leaders freed from jail in South Sudan on January 29 and who have now joined the Addis Ababa peace talks on Thursday announced they would not ally themselves with either side.

The former detainees who called themselves ’SPLM leaders former detainees’ were expected to ally themselves with the rebels, but told press conference on Friday that they would instead participate at the peace talks as an independent third party.

The spokesperson of the SPLM/A-in-Opposition, Yohanis Pouk, told Sudan Tribune in Addis Ababa on Thursday that Machar’s delegation respected their decision.

However, some members of the rebel delegation appear to be unhappy with the decision of the former detainees whose release was secured after a peace pact signed last month.

“They [former detainees] have clearly stated we have the same political position during their press conference” Gatwech said adding, “But we don’t know what will benefit them or the country under this dispensation”.

He claimed pressure from the international community prompted them to form a separate bloc.

The rebel delegation and the former detainees on Thursday both called for the release of the four remaining political detainees and the withdrawal of Ugandan forces who are battling forces who are fighting on the side of the South Sudanese army, warning that these issues would curtail efforts to bring durable political solution to the crises.

Juba is under pressure for failing to expedite the release of the four remaining political detainees who have been charged with treason along with three other political figures, including rebel leader, Machar.

SUCCESSFUL TALKS DEPEND ON RELEASE OF 4 DETAINEES

South Sudan’s former cabinet minister Deng Alor Kuol said the success of the talks depends on how President Salva Kiir’s government responds to demands for release of the remaining political detainees to allow them take part in the talks.

“Yes, we are in Addis [Ababa]. We came on Wednesday evening from Nairobi and we are now taking part in the talks as a group of our own,” Kuol exclusively told Sudan Tribune Friday.

Blaming the two said for the armed conflict and the killing of thousands of civilians, Kuol further said they did not want to associate themselves with the warring parties.

“On our side, we see that this conflict should have been avoided from the start if we had listened to ourselves as leaders,” he said stressing, “What is important now is the release of four detainees if you want successful and meaning peace talks”.

The government in Juba has maintained that it would not release the remaining political detainees until all the investigations and other legal processes are completed and trial taken place.

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{{The African Union has commended Kenya’s role in promoting peace, security and stability in the continent.}}

African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security,Smail Chergui, said Kenya’s commitment to peace, security and stability on the continent was exemplary.

“It is glowingly actualized by its intervention in Somalia within the framework of the African Union Mission (AMISOM), its peacekeeping role within IGAD and most recently its accession to the Regional Oversight Mechanism on the implementation of Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region,” Chergui said.

He spoke at State House, Nairobi, today when he accompanied East African Ministers of Defence for a courtesy call on President Uhuru Kenyatta. The ministers are in the country to attend the 16th Ordinary Session of the Council of East African Ministers of Defence and Security.

Chergui noted that during its tenure as member of the AU Peace and Security Council, from 2010 to April 2012, Kenya played a leading role in providing guidance to the council, enhancing its capacity to efficiently discharge its mandate of promoting peace, security and stability on the continent.

He praised President Kenyatta’s contribution of $ 1 million (Sh86 million) towards the African Peace Fund at the end of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly late January.

“This financial contribution by the Republic of Kenya is timely and should be emulated by other AU member states,” the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security said.

He appealed to other AU member states to make additional financial contribution to the Peace Fund to reduce external donor dependency and boost AU’s capacity to promote African solutions to the continent’s problems.

President Kenyatta pledged his support to the standby force, saying it was important for Africans to help solve their own problems.

“As Africans, we must be able to come to the aid of fellow Africans whenever they face serious challenges, including violent conflicts,” the President said.

He added: “we cannot always rely on the mercy and attention of the foreign powers. We must show that we have come of age and that Africa is rising.”

The meeting was attended by ministers of defence Gaciyubwege Pontien of Burundi, Hamada Madi of Comoros, Siraj Fegessa of Ethiopia, James Kabarebe of Rwanda and Raychelle Omamo of Kenya. Djibouti was represented by Col.
Youssouf Kayad Guelleh, Seychelles by Amb Barry Faure while Sudan’s Defence Minister was represented by Lt. Gen. Imad Adawi.

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