Kagame cannot deny M23 is not of his making. Kagame is part and parcel of M23. He is the masterminder and the financier of M23 with the help of his unscrupulous Corporate Special Business Interest.
It is quite unfortunate that in his invation to Congo, he planned to be rich and build Rwanda through stealing from Congo. This is unacceptable. Kagame must be indicted and be charged at the ICC Hague for conspiring and planning to ambush, terrorize and kill people of DR Congo. Kagame and friends must be charged for genocide.
Justice must be served and be seen to be to be fair on the Congo People with its Government.
Justice delayed, is justice denied.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director for
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
email: jbatec@yahoo.com
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Casualties as Congo and UN Forces Fight Rebels
GOMA, Congo August 26, 2013 (AP)
By NICK LONG Associated Press
Congolese troops came under fire from rebels in the country’s volatile east Monday as fighting resumed just outside Goma, a city of nearly 1 million people near the volatile Congolese-Rwandan border, army officials said.
Heavy weapons fire rang out around 4:30 p.m. near the front line just 9 miles (11 kilometers) outside the city.
Hostilities resumed last week after weeks of relative calm, and by Thursday a new United Nations intervention brigade with a stronger mandate than past missions shelled rebel positions for the first time.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties over the weekend, with more than 50 rebels killed and 23 government soldiers dead, according to a doctor near the front line and an army chaplain. Three U.N. peacekeepers were wounded: two South Africans and a Tanzanian, U.N.-backed Radio Okapi reported.
The head of the United Nations mission in Congo, Martin Kobler, visited two hospitals on Sunday and paid his respects to wounded government and U.N. soldiers, hailing them as “heroes fighting to restore peace,” Radio Okapi reported.
The Congolese forces have advanced less than a mile (about 2 kilometers) since Wednesday and have yet to achieve their immediate objective — cutting off M23 from a border crossing where the rebel group is believed to get supplies from neighboring Rwanda, say observers.
The Congolese are fighting with the help of a new U.N. intervention brigade, which was created after the M23 rebels invaded and briefly held Goma in November.
The M23 has been pounding Goma from its positions just north of the strategic city, killing civilians in Goma’s residential neighborhoods. By Saturday, scores of angry residents took to the streets in protest, claiming that the U.N. had not done enough to protect them. A U.N. car was set on fire, and in the melee two protesters were killed.
Some Goma residents claim the U.N. opened fire on the mob, but the president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, said in a statement over the weekend that Uruguayan peacekeepers had only fired rubber bullets to control the crowd. Mujica said that it was Congolese police who had used live ammunition.
On Monday, the Congolese government called for an investigation into the deaths of the civilians. Minister of the Interior Richard Muyej told The Associated Press: “We are absolutely in agreement that a joint commission needs to be created” to do that.
Medical services were struggling to cope with the scale of the casualties among government troops and the M23 fighters who launched their rebellion last year and briefly held Goma in November before retreating. Subsequent peace talks in neighboring Uganda have repeatedly stalled.
Dr. Isaac Warwanamiza told The Associated Press he had seen 82 bodies since early Sunday, 23 of whom he claimed were government soldiers, the highest death toll reported since hostilities broke out last week. “I’m overwhelmed by what I’ve seen: bodies blown apart, arms and feet here and there,” he said, speaking by phone from a hospital north of Goma.
Eight of the dead had no uniforms, 23 were government troops and the rest were M23 rebels, the doctor added.
The total of wounded Congolese troops at the military hospital is 720, according to army chaplain Lea Masika.
This is the first time that the Congolese army has been backed by the new U.N. intervention force, which was created in March.
The U.N. brigade was given a mandate to fight the rebels after Goma was seized by the M23 in November. In a humiliating blow to both Congo and the international community, the rebels marched directly past U.N. peacekeepers stationed at the gates of this city. The peacekeepers did nothing to stop them because their mandate at the time was limited to protecting civilians.
The M23 is made up of hundreds of Congolese soldiers, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group who deserted the national army last year after accusing the government of failing to honor the terms of a deal signed in March 2009. Many of the movement’s commanders are veterans of previous rebellions backed by Rwanda, which vigorously denies allegations that it has been supporting and reinforcing the M23.
In Washington, the State Department condemned the actions of the M23, calling on the rebel group to immediately cease hostilities, disarm and disband. The U.S. also suggested that Rwanda is assisting the rebels.
“We urgently call on (Congolese) and Rwandan governments to exercise restraint to prevent military escalation of the conflict or any action that puts civilians at risk,” the statement said. “We reiterate our call for Rwanda to cease any and all support to the M23.”
United Nations troops accused of killing two civilians in Congo
Demonstrators reportedly killed after car set ablaze and crowd tried to storm UN base in protest at lack of protection
David Smith, Africa correspondent
theguardian.com, Monday 26 August 2013 11.49 EDT
[image]Two Congolese women walk past a government army tank on the outskirts of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photograph: Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images
United Nations troops have been accused of killing two civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as the body’s first offensive force is dragged into an escalating conflict.
On Saturday, scores of angry residents took to the streets, complaining that the UN had not done enough to protect them. A UN car was set ablaze and, when the crowd allegedly tried to storm a UN base, two protesters were killed.
Witnesses claim that UN troops from Uruguay opened fire on the demonstrators, but the Uruguayan president, Jose Mujica, denied this, insisting that they only fired rubber bullets and it was Congolese police who used live ammunition.
The UN has opened an investigation into the incident, which has the potential to embarrass the 3,000-strong “intervention brigade” that was created in March and entered combat last week against the M23 rebel movement.
Fighting broke out last Wednesday after weeks of relative calm in and around the eastern city of Goma. The UN troops shelled rebel positions on Thursday but the Congolese government soldiers they are supporting suffered heavy casualties over the weekend, according to an Associated Press report.
Dr Isaac Warwanamiza said he had seen 82 bodies since early on Sunday, 23 of whom he claimed were government troops, the highest death toll reported since hostilities broke out last week. “I’m overwhelmed by what I’ve seen: bodies blown apart, arms and feet here and there,” he said.
Eight of the dead had no uniforms, 23 were government troops and the rest were M23 rebels, the doctor added. The total of wounded Congolese troops at the military hospital is 720, according to army chaplain Lea Masika. Two UN peace enforcers from South Africa and one from Tanzania have also been injured.
The front line of fighting is only nine miles north of Goma. The M23 rebels briefly held the strategic city in November last year and then retreated a few miles away. The Congolese army is yet to achieve its immediate objective of cutting off M23 from a border crossing where the rebel group is believed to receive supplies from neighbouring Rwanda.
On Sunday, the UK pulled its foreign office staff out of Goma due to security concerns.
The US state department said: “We urgently call on (Congolese) and Rwandan governments to exercise restraint to prevent military escalation of the conflict or any action that puts civilians at risk. We reiterate our call for Rwanda to cease any and all support to the M23.” Rwanda has repeatedly denied UN allegations that it backs the M23 rebels.
Congo army battles M23 rebels near eastern city of Goma
Kenny Katombe 1 hour ago
August 26, 2013 (AP)
By Kenny Katombe
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – A U.N. brigade tasked with neutralizing armed groups in Congo has assisted the country’s army in clashes with eastern rebels on Monday, ending a brief lull in days of fighting that has killed and wounded dozens.
The violence, the most serious in months, is the first major test for the newly deployed U.N. Intervention Brigade which has an unprecedented mandate to launch military operations against M23, one of the rebels at the heart of nearly two decades of conflict.
A senior officer with the brigade told Reuters that U.N. peacekeepers were “assisting” the Congolese army in operations against M23 rebels late on Monday.
“We are supporting the army in their operations but have not ourselves engaged the rebels at this stage,” the officer said by telephone from Goma, requesting not to be identified.
The brigade has fought alongside Congo’s army several times since the latest fighting erupted on Wednesday.
The M23 rebels said they were targeted by air strikes and came under heavy weapons fire on Monday afternoon.
“As usual, we expect that ground troops will come in the wake of these bombings,” M23 said in a statement. Congo’s army said rebels had attacked first and it was retaliating.
Congolese army spokesman Colonel Olivier Hamuli said clashes were taking place at Kibati, about 11 km (7 miles) north of Goma, a city of a million people on the Rwandan border.
The rebels briefly seized Goma in November before withdrawing and committing to Ugandan-hosted peace talks. Negotiations have faltered and renewed fighting has exacerbated tensions between Rwanda and Congo.
Several shells fell in Rwanda during clashes around Goma last week, prompting Kigali to accuse Kinshasa of bombing it. Congo denied the charge and accused Rwandan troops of backing the rebels.
The cross-border accusations underscore the rebellion’s roots in a complex web of local politics and regional conflicts over ethnicity, land and minerals. Rwandan troops fought in two Congo wars but Kigali says it is not supporting the M23.
‘VERY CHAOTIC’
A doctor at a military hospital near Goma said he was treating those wounded in “ferocious” fighting on Saturday.
“It is very chaotic and difficult to have precise numbers, but we have had around 15 deaths so far. There have also been 150 injuries,” the doctor said, asking not to be named.
The doctor and a U.N. official said the rebels, whose positions were struck by U.N. attack helicopters on Saturday, had lost many men in the fighting.
A rebel spokesman denied those reports. “How can we continue to protect our territory while suffering the kinds of losses they are saying? It is nonsense,” said spokesman Colonel Vianney Kazarama.
The United Nations said three of its soldiers – two Tanzanians and a South African – were injured on Saturday when a shell landed near their position just north of Goma.
(Additional reporting by Pete Jones in Kinshasa and Peroshni Govender in Johannesburg; Writing by David Lewis and Bate Felix; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Mohammad Zargham)
Congo soldiers, UN forces battle M23 rebels
NICK LONG August 25, 2013
GOMA, Congo (AP) — Congolese soldiers and rebel forces suffered heavy casualties Sunday, a doctor near the front line said, as they fought for a fifth day near the city of Goma in the country’s volatile east.
Dr. Isaac Warwanamisa said he had seen 82 dead since early morning, 23 of whom were government soldiers, he said, the highest death toll reported since hostilities broke out last week.
A chaplain at the military hospital in Goma, Lea Masika, said 59 wounded were brought in on Sunday, bringing the total at the hospital to 720.
The Congolese government troops are still fighting to take a hill from where M23 can target Goma, and have advanced less than a mile (about 2 kilometers) since fighting resumed Wednesday after a three-week lull.
Congolese troops backed by U.N. forces fought the rebels for hours on Saturday. Three U.N. peacekeepers were wounded in the fighting. The U.N. mission created in March with a stronger mandate to protect civilians fired for the first time on rebel positions Thursday.
“We are using artillery, indirect fire with mortars and our aviation, and at the moment we have troops in the front line alongside (the government forces),” the U.N. force commander in Congo, Gen. Dos Santos Cruz, said.
However, there has been widespread skepticism in Congo that the intervention brigade will be a game-changing addition to the existing U.N. force, which stood by when M23 fighters briefly captured Goma late last year. And on Saturday, scores of Goma residents took to the streets in anger over a series of rocket and mortar attacks that have left at least seven civilians dead in recent days. Two other residents were killed during the demonstration, and the U.N. called for a joint investigation.
Congo accuses neighboring Rwanda of helping the rebels, charges denied by Rwanda’s government. M23’s leaders previously headed other rebel groups in the region that were backed by Rwanda. M23 is made up of hundreds of Congolese soldiers mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group who deserted the national army last year after accusing the government of failing to honor the terms of a deal signed in March 2009.
Peace talks in neighboring Uganda have repeatedly stalled, and M23 has vowed to fight back against the U.N. intervention brigade. The intervention brigade, made up of Tanzanian, South African and Malawian soldiers, is reinforcing 17,000 U.N. blue helmets already with the U.N. peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO.
Consequences are real………Public Trustee must be accountable.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director for
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
email: jbatec@yahoo.com
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Why Uhuru’s New York visit will be watched keenly
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Mr. Kenyatta urged Kenyan and Chinese businesspeople to adopt strategies that will boost the economy and grow jobs in the two countries. PHOTO | AFP
In Summary
Events of the last six months have seen Mr Kenyatta’s name feature prominently at the United Nations Security Council as the Kenyan government sought to have the International Criminal Court (ICC) criminal proceedings against him and two others terminated.
The subsequent events – like Obama’s ‘snubbing’ of Kenya during his recent African tour – have been seen by many as a confirmation that indeed Mr Johnie Carson, the former Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, was speaking for president Obama when he said that choices have consequences.
UHURU KENYATTA
By B M J Muriithi
In the next three weeks, even before President Uhuru Kenyatta recovers from his Chinese trip jetlag, all eyes will be on him once again as he makes his maiden cross-Atlantic voyage to the United States – his first such trip since becoming Kenya’s president.
And although this will not be a state visit, his presence in New York will nevertheless draw curious glances from both friend and foe, as well as political analysts.
Speaking to the Nation by phone on Monday, Kenya’s ambassador to the UN confirmed that Mr Kenyatta will be attending this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Mr Macharia Kamau said the president will, in keeping with tradition, lead the Kenyan delegation to the summit in mid-September.
Mr Kenyatta’s visit will be a first of sorts for several reasons. First of all, it will be the first time that a Kenyan President will be attending the session as a representative of a UN-debt-free-nation. Last November, Kenya was named in the UN roll of honour as one of the member states which had cleared all their outstanding dues.
Out of 193 countries, only 31 were fully paid up and Kenya was among them. During the 2012-2013 UN financial year, Kenya paid over $51.7 million (over Sh4.2 Billion) as its contribution to the regular budget. At the time, Under-Secretary-General Yukio Takasu paid tribute to Kenya, saying the fulfillment of her financial obligations in its entirety is a clear indication of its commitment to the virtues espoused by the global organisation.
Secondly, besides making his maiden speech at the plenary session of heads of state and government, it will also be the first time that the Kenyan leader will be visiting the United States since becoming president.
Ordinarily, the visit would pass for just another African leader routinely attending the august summit. However, events of the last six months have seen Mr Kenyatta’s name feature prominently at the United Nations Security Council as the Kenyan government sought to have the International Criminal Court (ICC) criminal proceedings against him and two others terminated. For this reason alone, many world leaders who may not have met Mr Kenyatta in person will be keen to see the man who was the subject of such intense lobbying.
And then there is the not-too-cosy relationship between Mr Kenyatta and US president Barack Obama.
Although the United Nations Charter declares the UN headquarters in New York autonomous from the United States, a sitting US president is still considered the host head of state owing to the fact that the headquarters are situated on US soil.
It is expected that many will be keenly observing Mr Obama’s body language, especially should he avail a photo opportunity to Mr Kenyatta, which is something he usually does with heads of State and government on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
It will be recalled that in the run up to the last general election in Kenya, a senior official in the Obama administration made the now famous remark which was considered unsavoury by members of the Kenyatta led Jubilee coalition. The subsequent events – like Obama’s ‘snubbing’ of Kenya during his recent African tour – have been seen by many as a confirmation that indeed Mr Johnie Carson, the former Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, was speaking for president Obama when he said that choices have consequences.
It is also not lost on many that the New York visit is coming barely a month before Mr Kenyatta’s trial at the ICC opens in The Hague, slated for November 12.
In May this year, ambassador Kamau wrote a widely publicized letter to the Security Council in which he said that the Kenyatta administration feared possible chaos and violence in the country should the ICC cases go to trial. “What this delegation is asking for is the immediate termination of the case at The Hague,” the letter, stamped as confidential, said in part.
But the envoy’s efforts came a cropper as the Security Council said it can only seek a deferral and does not have the authority to order the ICC to drop a case completely. Besides, key members of the powerful body – including the US and the United Kingdom – are on record as openly opposing any move to have the cases terminated.
Should Mr Obama find a moment for a tete-a-tete with president Kenyatta, I would wish to be a fly on the wall and listen in as the latter would most likely seek an explanation as to why the former has openly endorsed his ICC indictment yet the United States is not a state party to the Rome Statute, which established the international court.
If the discussion takes that direction, I can see Mr Obama trying to change the topic and asking the Kenyan leader what he really sees when he looks East (based on a recent commentary by Mr Kenyatta in which he praised China and other countries).
After a pause, Obama will then seek to know whether the Sh425 Billion deals Kenyatta recently signed with China were tied to any human rights and democratic practice conditions.
I can see Mr Kenyatta trying to suppress an urge to tell the leader of the free world off by asking him whether the money America has continued to spend on Egypt (in excess of US$1.3 Billion annually) even long after it became crystal clear that there is little democracy to write home about in that part of the world was also pegged to such Human Rights principles.
But the son of Jomo will know better than to utter such words in the face of the son of Obama Snr. He will quickly remember that the Gikuyu have a saying which considers it the apex of bad manners to leave a mess in your bed, especially when such bed is offered to you by a man who rules a country on whose soil you stand.
BMJ MURIITHI is a Communication and International Relations major at Atlanta Metropolitan University.
Africa 50: Business as usual will not finance the infrastructure projects needed
Donald Kaberuka.
By Donald Kaberuka
Posted Saturday, August 17 2013 at 11:21
In Summary
The global economy is slowing down. The big question we need to ask is whether or not in this gloomy environment Africa can maintain the pace of the past decade.
No country in the world has been able to maintain seven per cent GPD growth and above sustainably unless the infrastructure bottleneck is overcome.
My own assessment is that Africa can still maintain the momentum if we emphasise inclusive policies.
The progress Africa has been making is in some measure a reflection of our collective efforts in our respective mandates, from peace building, entrenching governance, regional integration and financing infrastructure.
The global economy is slowing down. The big question we need to ask is whether or not in this gloomy environment Africa can maintain the pace of the past decade.
My own assessment is that Africa can still maintain the momentum if: We emphasise inclusive policies, which are not only good politics but also excellent economics; there is greater integration; and there is faster progress on global value chains.
The one thing that can really stop the recent performance in its tracks is infrastructure. No country in the world has been able to maintain seven per cent GPD growth and above sustainably unless the infrastructure bottleneck is overcome.
We are today, all sources combined, hardly able to put together $45 billion a year for infrastructure, leaving an annual gap of a similar volume. We are all doing different things in our respective regions with new initiatives and funds being created, but let us face it, there is limited additionality and no critical mass.
We have not come to a dead end, but we are at a fork in the road. The ongoing initiatives will not bring us to scale.
Business as usual will not finance our infrastructure. Our governments are doing more as they raise more revenues.
This is encouraging; many projects will still require public money, which is why greater efforts at mobilising domestic resources are key. Development partners will continue to be needed.
But the tight financial situation they face is real. Go out there and get ratings. Accessing capital markets, as many countries are doing, is commendable. More countries should get out there and get ratings, provided we can invest wisely and manage debt.
But of course there will be limits. And with the end of quantitative easing, markets at some point will be tight.
The current natural resources boom provides an opportunity for those who have them, provided the taxes and other sources of revenues due are paid. Building on our track record
in infrastructure, we at the African Development Bank have at been reflecting on how to create a vehicle to complement existing instruments.
Study after study has shown that there is a reasonable pool of savings in Africa that can help in funding our development. Those funds are typically invested in European or US paper and are available only if the business proposals are attractive.
Those managing the funds are fiduciaries and they will part with the money only on clear commercial considerations. If that is true for Africa’s pool of savings, it is also true for external savings.
There are three problems: One is the perennial problem of lack of ready-to-go projects.
Secondly is the even larger problem of finding those that are commercially viable and bankable. Lastly, there is the need for a vehicle that does the necessary risk mitigation, credit enhancement, provides investors with assurance of a good return, security and, in the case of central banks, liquidity as well.
Marine police deployed to Todonyang over insecurity
Updated Wednesday, August 21st 2013 at 13:41 GMT +3
By Lucas Ngasike
TURKANA, KENYA: The Kenya Marine police have been deployed to Todonyang border point along Lake Turkana to contain Merille militia threats on Kenya â Ethiopia border.
Turkana Police commander Emmanuel Karisa said the police unit will patrol the area to ward off Ethiopian Merille militia who recently killed 11 fishermen in Lake Turkana and stole five boats and fishing gears.
The Police commander said the officers will set up base in Todonyang.
âThey will be permanently based there to deal with Merille militia who have continued to threaten peace in the region,” Karisa said.
For the last two weeks, the heavily armed militias have crossed to the countryâs border and took 90 percent control of Lake Turkana and dominated fishing activities in the area after they sent locals fleeing for their safety.
Karisa said the marine police will also carry out their security surveillance along Lake Turkana to curb illegal incursion by the militia into Lake Turkana.
Turkana North DC Eric Wanyonyi said the Merille militias had encroached more than 14 km inside Kenyan territory at the river Omo delta in the lake where there are abundant fish stocks.
âWe will soon flush them out from Kenyan territory.We cannot condone armed foreigners crossing into the country to displace locals and take control of Lake Turkana resources,” Wanyonyi said.
The DC said they had also contacted Ethiopian authorities to restrain its people from crossing to Kenya borders with arms.
“We have made it clear to them that they should not blame us for any consequences arising from these illegal incursions,” he added.
The administrator noted that the Merille militias have occupied Kenyan territory citing Lopeilele and Apalokwang deltas which lies inside Kenyan borders.
Their days are numbered, we will soon flush them out from Kenyan waters.Infact where the militia have occupied is a fishing breeding zone which they have interfered with,” Wanyonyi lamented.
Turkana North legislator Christopher Nakuleu accused the Ethiopian authorities of allegedly arming the Militia to take control of Lake Turkana resources.
We know these rogue Merille militia are being armed by Ethiopian authorities to kill Kenyan fishermen and displace them from their homes so that they dominate fishing activities a cross Lake Turkana,” he claimed.
Kenya’s debt jumps, risks raising borrowing costs
August 21st 2013 …..11.10 a.m. 2 hrs. Ago…..
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s public debt hit 51.7 percent of national output in the year to June, official figures showed on Wednesday, up from 44.5 percent the previous year and raising questions about the likely yield required for future external borrowing.
The National Treasury said Kenya’s total public debt rose 16 percent to 1.89 trillion shillings in the fiscal year to June.
The east African nation, which plans to spend 1.6 trillion shillings in the fiscal year that began on July 1, has in the past said it aims to reduce its ratio of debt to gross domestic product from around 45 percent in the medium term.
In documents filed to the International Monetary Fund in April, the government put the net total debt to GDP ratio at around 44.5 percent at the end of 2011/12.
The latest figure means that Kenya is likely to hit the 2 trillion shilling mark for its debt in the 2013/14 fiscal budget in which the government plans to plug a deficit of 329.7 billion shillings, or 7.9 percent of GDP, from both foreign and domestic sources.
“The overall increase was attributed to a net increase in both domestic and external borrowing,” the Treasury said in its latest Quarterly Economic Bulletin.
“The increase is unsurprising given that the stabilisation in the public debt level in 2011/12 was largely achieved thanks to high inflation and strong recovery in the Kenyan shilling in late 2011 rather than through less accommodative fiscal policy,” said Mark Bohlund, economist at IHS Global Insight.
“It is still likely to aggravate concerns about longer-term public debt sustainability and thus push up the required yield on a sovereign debt issue.”
The Treasury said in June the gap would be filled by net foreign financing of 223 billion shillings and 106.7 billion net borrowing from the domestic market.
The foreign financing is due to include a debut $1 billion Eurobond the east African economy plans to issue later this year.
The rise in debt also comes at a time when the government is pushing hard to increase its revenue collection, after falling short of targets in 2012/13.
The Treasury said total revenue collected during the period was 847.22 billion shillings, against a target of 915.28 billion shillings, up from 748.17 billion shillings in 2011/12.
The government expects to raise revenues worth 1.027 trillion shillings in 2013/14.
Earlier in the year, the government faced demands for higher public sector wages and a strike by thousands of government employed teachers demanding higher housing, medical and transport allowances, while other civil servants including the police are also clamouring for higher pay.
The government met some of the teachers’ pay demands but put the rest on hold.
Bohlund said Kenya had favourable growth prospects after recent discoveries of oil and China’s pledge to invest in the country’s energy and infrastructure sectors. However, he said the country’s high budget and current account deficits put it among emerging markets that had to offer high interest rates to attract foreign lenders.
In July, Kenya’s central bank held its main lending rate at 8.5 percent.
Investigations show Kitui Deputy CID had premonition about his death
Updated Monday, August 12th 2013 at 21:08 GMT +3
Text message shows Maina could have feared for his life as a police officer is accused of killing him
By CYRUS OMBATI
Slain Kitui Deputy CID boss Zebedeo Maina could have feared for his life.
This emerged as investigations into the killing of the former head of the dreaded Kwekwe Squad were concluded with the report pointing a finger at a fellow police officer.
His colleagues revealed that Maina had sent them text messages that suggested he anticipated his death.
He had sent a message to one of them reading: “Every successful person has a painful story and to every painful story there is successful ending. No one has travelled a road of success without crossing the street of failure. God has never promised us an easy journey in life. No gain without pain. Wish you a blessed day.”
Police handling the probe into his death now plan to send their report, to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The report says Maina was shot in the back near the buttocks.
Released
Deputy Director of Police Reforms King’ori Mwangi, Head of Investigations at CID headquarters Mohamed Amin and Head of Operations Francis Njiru conducted the investigations. They interrogated a number of witnesses and police officers.
Two people who had been arrested over the shooting incident have since been released.
“It is clear that even though he denies it, the killer’s bullet was fired by one of the officers who were at the scene,” conclude the officers in their report.
The shooting has been described as a misadventure. A number of recommendations have been made to the DPP who will in the end determine if any of those named will be charged, officials said.
A test on the guns show one of them and that of Maina are the only ones that fired at the scene. Maina shot once in the air.
Maina, who led the controversial police squad at the height of a Mungiki crack-down, was shot under mysterious circumstances in Kitui town.
Unresolved deaths
He was shot as he led a team of officers to rescue a five-and-half-year-old girl in Kitui town on August 3. The girl had been kidnapped from Nairobi.
Maina joins a list of at least five other officers of the squad who have mysteriously died in the past few years. Their deaths remain unresolved.
But even in death, the mere mention of Maina’s name triggers shivers in the underworld.
He was one of the most ruthless undercover officers of his time, feared by criminals and colleagues alike.
“He was a law unto himself and even we feared him because he would not compromise with a suspect,” said a senior officer who knew him.
From: Ouko joachim omolo; The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
TAKE 1
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013
Blessed Pope John Paul II evangelizing parish team national workshop took place at Ukarimu Centre in Molo, Nakuru Diocese from August 15-18, 2013. I shall be releasing parts of the outcome of the workshop in takes, beginning with my presentations.
I presented 3 talks, one on transitional justice, second on challenges of new evangelization and third one on digital parenting.
Since one of the purposes of transitional justice is to hold the wrongdoers accountable, address the needs of victims and restore their dignity and end impunity, our challenge here was to find out whether the current government have the will to do this when most of the named wrongdoers are unfortunately big ‘fish’?
How can this government encourage people to trust each other, have faith in the law, remove or amend the laws that made it possible for wrongs to happen, guard the unity and stability of the country, promote reconciliation between groups, prevent return to violence or repeat of human rights violations?
Is the government willing to help people change negative attitudes to positive, beliefs, feeling and actions, build relationships between opposing sides and to ensure justice is done, accept truth about the past and offer apologies and forgiveness to Kenyan people?
TJRC recommends that the president offers a public apology for all the injustices and violations of human rights committed by successive governments within six months of the release of the report.
The report also recommends that the police, Kenya Defence Forces and the National Intelligence Service apologise together with the president for acts of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary and prolonged detention, torture and sexual violence.
The list of some key figures implicated in the report and the atrocities they committed include;-
1. President Uhuru Kenyatta – incitement during the Post election violence (PEV)
2. William Ruto Land Grabbing and PEV
3. Kalonzo Musyoka land grabbing
4. Daniel Arap Moi land grabbing, political assassinations
5. Mwai Kibaki land grabbing, political assassination and PEV
6. Elizabeth Ongoro incitement during the PEV
7. Najib Balala incitement during the PEV
8. Francis Nyenze land grabbing
9. Beth Mugo land grabbing
10. Mary Wambui incitement during PEV in Central
11. G G Kariuki Wagalla massacre
12. Joseph Nkaisery financed militia in operation Nyundo
13. Bethwel Kiplagat Wagalla massacre and land grabbing
14. William Ole Ntimama incitement to violence in Narrok Rift Valley
15. Joshua Kuttuny incitement during the PEV in Cherangany
16. Franklyne Bett incitement during the PEV
17. Sally Kosgei `Incitement
18. Henry Kosgey incitement
19. Stanly Githunguri incitement
20. Ramadhan Kajembe incitement
21. Nicholas Biwott land grabbing, political assassinations and incitement
22. Noah Wekesa incitement in Bungoma, and Trans Nzoia
23. Chris Obure incitement
24. Julius Sunkuli incitement
25. Norman Nyaga murder of the late Chrispin Ojiambo Mbai
26. Kalembe Ndile land grabbing
27. Omondi Anyanga incitement in Nyatike
28. Micah Cheserem land grabbing
29. Fred Kapondi financing SLDF militia in Mt. Elgon
30. John Serut Incitement
31. Grace Kaindi gave shoot to kill order during the PEV
32. David Mwiraria Wagalla massacre
On challenges facing new evangelization today, the challenge being, in this era of globalisation, how can one best safeguard African cultures, while integrating the best of what comes from outside the continent?
Do the people know how to choose what comes from the outside, or do they indiscriminately take everything offered by the mass media, particularly violence, consumerism and moral corruption?
How can a strong sense of family have a part in proper personal advancement when many parts of Africa still witness sexual discrimination against women, who are deprived of rights which are due to every human being, how can approach to new evangelization address this issue, especially where some societies still treat women like slaves?
How should the Gospel be proclaimed in an Africa marked by hatred, wars and injustices? How can we tackle the negative aspects of globalisation? How can the Church remain faithful to the Lord’s command and contribute to the promotion of reconciliation, peace and justice in Kenya?
On digital parenting my focus was on the ‘Y’ generation. These are children born between 1980 and 1994. They have always known cable television, cellular phones, pagers, answering machines, laptop computers and video games and technological advancements in real-time media and communication.
Our challenge was how cab we use social media, especially Facebook to evangelize the youth? This is given that this generation spend part of their times on social media. Again that this is the generation that view marriage sorely as an economic partnership, how can we help them change this attitude?
Common medical issues of this generation include pregnancy, single parents (mothers). Educating young people about the immediate and longer-term effects of their behavioural choices enables them to make responsible decisions and their ability to make informed choices, to fulfil their individual potential and contribute to economic development.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
(Please note that we will cover the Kenya and Uganda Mutinies at a later date)
The alarm bells started to ring on the 12th January 1964: there was trouble in Zanzibar. It was a rising against the Sultan. The 2nd Scots Guards, who had made a previous visit to the island in the August of 1963 to supervise the elections, stood by to fly to the Sultan’s aid. The British Government was against intervention and the Scots Guards flew instead to Aden. The Sultan was at the mercy of the triumphant revolutionaries. The safety of the British community was in jeopardy, The Staffordshire Regiment, standing by in place of the Scots Guards, flew a company to Mombassa, where they embarked in the frigate H.M.S. Rhyll just to wait and see what happened. As it turned out the Sultan made his escape by air, to Tanganyika, thence to be transferred to the safety of the UK.
The next call for help came from President Nyerere himself. The first alarm came from Kenya on January the 20th. The men of the 1st Tanganyika Rifles, quartered near the capital Dar-es-Salaam, had risen up against their British officers, had locked them up, seized the airport, and arrested the British High Commissioner. With the mutineers holding the airport at Dar-el-Salaam, they released the British officers and NCOs from both the 1st and 2nd Battalions-some 30 from each-complete with their families and sending them to Nairobi where they arrived safely. Nyerere retained control of the government and formally made an appeal to Britain for help. It had already been decided at HQ Middle East Command at Aden that it was a task for 45 RM Commando. Hastily embarked on the carrier H.M.S. Centaur with 815 Naval Helicopter Squadron, they set sail at midnight Jan 20th and on the 24th lay off Dar-es-Salaam. At first light on the 25th, Z Company made a helicopter lift to the football field next to the mutineers’ barracks, while a gunboat put down diversionary fire to a flank.
With all weapons blazing, the Commandos rushed and seized the barrack entrance. The mutineers were then called upon to surrender. The answer was a burst of firing, to which the Commandos retaliated by demolishing the roof of the guardroom with an anti-tank rocket. It produced a sad stream of Askaris emerging with hands up. The helicopters meanwhile were completing the lift of Commandos, so that the town could be dominated and the remnant of the mutineers rounded up. Since many of the mutineers had broken out of barracks this latter task called for extensive searching. One civilian Englishman, with total disregard for his own personal safety, brought back to the guardroom one fully armed Askari festooned with ammunition and grenades. Despite his menacing attire the Askari was only too delighted to surrender to the civilian. X Company was despatched to secure the airfield and the broadcasting station, while Y Company was sent into Dar-es-Salaam. This was designed to be a two-pronged advance, with X Company’s move by helicopter. However it turned out to be a parade rather than an attack.
Vic Balsdon writes:
I have read several accounts of the suppression of the Dar es Salaam mutiny by 45 Commando but nowhere have I come across the mention of the fact that 45 took BLANK ammunition with them. The story that went around the Corps at that time was that the RSM was told that it was going to be an “exercise” and, quite understandably, assumed that the unit would only need blanks. Only later, when the unit was well under way on board HMS Centaur, did the error emerge. Lee Enfield No 4 rifles, together with the appropriate .303 ammunition (either 5 or 10 rounds per man) were hastily scrounged from the ship’s company (seamen) to prevent what might have been a monumental disaster. The passage that states that ‘the commandos went in with all guns blazing’ seems, if the rumour was true, a trifle exaggerated! The rocket that hit the roof of the Guardroom, was a practice round, not HE, and dislodged some tiles, one of which hit a mutineer on the head, killing him.
The story goes that the RSM carried the can for the @#%$! up but whether it was a misinterpretation of an order, or the wrong order from the Adjutant, was never revealed.
I can understand why the story was hushed up. We all love to rant on about our “victories” but are a little less inclined to publicise our mistakes.
Anyway, job well done, Royal, blanks or no blanks!
The cover picture of the February 1964 edition of LIFE shows a Royal Marine conducting a small group of Africans and he is clearly holding a Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle. These weapons had been replaced by the 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR) in either late 1958 or early 1959, depending on the operational committments of the various branches of the armed forces. Some branches, such as the Royal Navy, were still using the No.4 much later. Hence, 45 Commando were able to borrow some from HMS Centaur’s ship’s company to avert a near disaster and many red faces.
Our thanks to Mr Balsdon for providing this piece of the story.
If anyone has a copy of this edition and can provide us with a scan of the Tanganyika piece from the edition we would be grateful.
The Europeans, Asians and many Africans gave the Commando an unexpected tumultuous welcome as they thronged the pavements. Elements of Y Company secured Army House whilst the remainder carried out local patrols. The second-in-command of 45 was to take command of Dar-es-Salaam. Z Company was to remain at Collito Barracks and the support company was landed soon after 12 noon. The Royal Marine detachment from H.M.S. Centaur landed by lighter with the Ferret armoured cars of 16/15 Lancers. A show of force was made through the town where again they received a great welcome.
Tabora is some 400 miles west of Dar-es-Salaam and the 2nd Battalion of the Tanganyika Rifles stationed there had already mutinied, and after hearing of the events at Collito Barracks had agreed to hand in their rifles. All was quiet but this, however, was not confirmed and there was a distinct possibility that they could break out again and secure the airfield. Y and X Companies were earmarked for this task. In addition four Sea Vixens, armed with rockets, were attached to H.M.S. Centaur to provide air cover should the landing at the air strip be opposed. Personnel of Y Company, accompanied by the CO of 45 with his tactical HQ, arrived at Tabora at about five-fifteen; a flight of just over two hours. Lt-Col. Stevens remembers his arrival at Tabora as one of light comedy, despite being deeply concerned at the possibility of armed opposition. As the DC-4 came in to land, an Argosy suddenly appeared at the other end of the runway with the intention of also landing.
The Argosy won and the DC-4 hauled off to land a few moments later. The Argosy contained an Air Commodore and some men of the RAF Regiment, who had flown in from Nairobi. At six-fifteen that evening, the Beverleys arrived with the remainder of X and Y Companies. The mutineers’ barracks, being about seven miles away, the Commando’s commandeered some public works department vehicles to ferry the two Companies within two miles of the barracks. The Marines arrived at the barracks in the early hours of the morning and with great rapidity the guard room and weapons were secured. The contents of the stores and weapons of the mutineers were loaded on to the vehicles and the next stage was to arouse the sleeping battalion. This task fell to a Tanganyika Rifles officer, who with a bugler, the general assembly was sounded. The mutineers, informed that they were surrounded, fell in quietly and the ringleaders were marched off. The Tanganyika Rife mutiny was ended. Looking back on the whole operation from the start on the 25th, the operation had gone extraordinarily smoothly.
The final days were spent in consolidating positions and restoring the confidence of the population. The Royal Marine Band from H.M.S. Centaur was landed and concluded a heavy program by marching through the streets. The operation had been described as a classic and had been a resounding success. 45 RM Commando had virtually assumed military control over a country the size of Britain with a population of some six million all within 24 hours. 41 Commando flew out for Britain on Thursday the 30th January; H.M.S. Centaur had sailed for Mombassa the previous day, and 45 CDO embarked in H.M.S. Victorious to be transferred to H.M.S. Albion the Commando ship nine days later, prior to disembarkation at Aden later in February
Remembering a massacre at a South African mine
1 hr 20 mins ago 1:21 Reuters Videos
South Africa remembers tje Marikana massacre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLJsBnvDWJc
Year After South African Mine Shooting, Residents See No Change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-a_G_-Jdk
Published on Aug 16, 2013
In South Africa, August 16, 2012, will be remembered as the date of one of the country’s most violent police confrontations since the apartheid era. Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana. The miners were striking to demand a significant pay raise and improved conditions. Officials say that since then, progress has been made: a commission is investigating the incident and the miners have been granted some raises. But, as VOA’s Anita Powell learned when she visited the tense community a year later, residents believe things have changed for the worse, not better.
Thousands attend a memorial service at the Marikana mine in South Africa where 34 striking workers were killed a year ago by police. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
Family massacred in South Africa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyiO9sRtxUs
Published on Jun 29, 2013
the sun,the guardian,frankfurter,the independent,usa today,dawn,the times,le monde,bbc,la daily news,cnn,fox news,die welt,the independent,new york times
Vavi slams Cosatu’s Executive Committee
Friday 16 August 2013 15:02
SABC
Zwelinzima Vavi Media Briefing
Streamed live on Aug 16, 2013
Zwelinzima Vavi briefs the media on his suspension
Zwelinzima Vavi has slammed the decision by Cosatu to suspend him.(SABC)
Tags:
Cosatu
Zwelinzima Vavi
Numsa
Irvin Jim
Unions
South Africans
South African leader suspended for illicit love affair
South Africa News.Net Thursday 15th August, 2013
Suspended Cosatu General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi has ordered his lawyers to write to the Central Executive Committee of Cosatu, requesting a postponement or suspension of a disciplinary meeting meant to probe his sexual liaisons with a married colleague.
He was addressing a news conference in Johannesburg.
Vavi has slammed a decision by the labour federation to suspend him, saying those in favour of his suspension were strongly prejudiced.
An internal disciplinary, meant to probe his affair with the 26-year old woman and the way she was appointed, is meant to get
underway within days.
“I believe that the next people to be politically persecuted is not only Numsa’s Irvin Jim and those other leaders of the unions that are defending my rights but all those South Africans that are listed in the so called intelligence report.”
The ruling Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Thursday said its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been suspended for having an illicit love affair. “Vavi has been released from all his official duties as the general secretary (of COSATU) during the period of investigation until such time that the outcome of the disciplinary hearing is known,” reported Xinhua quoting party’s deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali as saying. As the largest of the country’s three main trade union federations with 1.8 million workers, the COSATU is part of the tripartite alliance with the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party in ruling the country. Last month a junior COSATU employee accused Vavi of rape, but he said that he had a consensual affair with her. The central executive committee (CEC) of the COSATU Wednesday met in Johannesburg to discuss the possible disciplinary action against him. “After lengthy discussion, the CEC meeting agreed to conduct a full investigation into the allegations,” COSATU president Sidumo Dlamini said Thursday. – See more at: http://www.southafricanews.net/index.php/sid/216461217/scat/371b1b8643d479c1/ht/South-African-leader-suspended-for-illicit-love-affair#sthash.rWKaKSrw.dpuf
Tanzania’s army chief has dismissed reports that North Korean military experts were working in the country in violation of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Davis Mwamunyange said that the Tanzanian army had not engaged engineers from North Korea to repair its Soviet-made MiG-21 fighter jets and other military aircraft as claimed in widely circulated reports.
Online magazine Africa Confidential had on August 2 said that 18 North Korean military technicians and army officers were in Mwanza repairing fighter jets.
There also had been no pressure exerted by either US or South Korean diplomats on Tanzania to end what are claimed to be close military relations between it and North Korea, Gen Mwamunyange added.
“There has been no communications whatsoever from the US or South Korean governments on any such issue. We have not been under any pressure,” Gen Mwamunyange told The Citizen newspaper last week during a handover of military vehicles from India.
The report said a North Korean merchant ship that was intercepted in the Panama Canal on July 16 carrying two MiG-21s from the 1950s was headed to Tanzania. The ship reportedly originated from Cuba.
The publication alleged that the US and South Korean governments were pressuring President Jakaya Kikwete’s government to sever any military relations with North Korea.
‘No reason’
Earlier, the army said it had no reason to engage North Korean technicians.
“We don’t have any aircraft or other military equipment manufactured in North Korea. Why then should we hire their technicians?” Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) spokesperson Major Eric Komba told The Citizen in a telephone interview.
Maj Komba said it did not make sense to hire North Koreans to repair Soviet-manufactured military equipment.
Africa Confidential suggests that Tanzania could be in breach of UN sanctions if indeed it was engaging with North Korea.
The UN Security Council Resolution 1718 was adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on October 14, 2006, and imposes a series of economic and commercial sanctions on North Korea in the aftermath of that nation’s nuclear test of October 9, 2006.
Scrutiny on North Korea became more intense following more missile and nuclear tests by Pyongyang and its threats to attack South Korea and the US.
‘Read carefully’
Contacted, Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Membe, while not denying or confirming the alleged presence of the North Korean engineers, said he doubted if Tanzania would have breached UN sanctions by hiring technicians from that country.
“Try contacting the Minister for Defence and National Service, but I advise you to carefully read the UN resolution in question to see if hiring technicians from North Korea to repair warplanes amounts to violating sanctions,” Mr Membe said in a telephone interview last week.
The UN sanctions have placed bans on imports and exports of North Korea military equipment and “related material, including spare parts” and any other items identified by the sanctions committee. The section does not directly mention personnel.
Africa Confidential reported that while Pyongyang has no diplomatic representation in Tanzania, its two senior officers were seconded to the Tanzanian Peoples Defence Forces..
It claims that the two may also be involved in a private company set up to import arms and quotes a US diplomat in Dar es Salaam as saying that his country was concerned by Tanzania’s “breach” of the UN sanctions.
“US and South Korean diplomats may step up the pressure if discreet contacts do not yield results,” the magazine quotes the diplomat saying.
Earlier this year, there were allegations that Iranian tankers were circumventing sanctions by flying the Tanzanian flag, allegations which Dar es Salaam strongly denied.
– At the biggest camp in northeast Cairo, security forces fired tear gas
– Police helicopters circled above and army vehicles were stationed
nearby
– Muslim Brotherhood has claimed that 250 have been killed today
– The group also said that more than 5,000 have been injured so far
By JILL REILLY
As many as 100 people have been killed according to reports, as Egyptian
security forces, backed by armoured cars and bulldozers, began to clear two
sit-in camps by supporters of the country’s ousted President Mohammed
Morsi.
At the biggest camp in northeast Cairo, security forces fired tear gas as
police helicopters circled above and army vehicles were stationed nearby.
The state news agency said security forces had started implementing a
phased plan to disperse the protesters, which is almost certain to deepen
political turmoil in Egypt.
Scroll down for video
[image: Chaos: A tent burns at one of the two sites occupied by protestors
until armed forces moved them on this morning. At least 25 are said to have
been killed today]
Chaos: A tent burns at one of the two sites occupied by protestors until
armed forces moved them on this morning. At least 25 are said to have been
killed today
[image: Clashes:]
Clashes: Smoke rises during clashes between riot police and members and
supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, at Rabba el Adwia Square in Cairo.
Egyptian security forces have started clearing out Cairo protest camps
which have been demanding the reinstatement of Morsi
[image: Unrest:]
Unrest: At the biggest camp in northeast Cairo, security forces fired tear
gas as police helicopters circled above and army vehicles were stationed
nearby
[image: Movement:]
Movement: An image grab taken from Egyptian state TV shows police forces
moving in to disperse a huge protest camp set up outside the Rabaa
al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo
While initial reports have suggested that around 25 protestors have been
killed in one of the protest camps and security forces have confirmed the
deaths of two of their personnel, the Muslim Brotherhood is claiming that
at least 250 are dead.
The movement’s spokesman Gehad El-Haddad took to Twitter to make the claim,
adding that more than 5,000 people have been injured.
More…
– Egyptian schoolgirl, 10, gunned down as she walked home from a bible
study class
– Israeli Iron Dome defence system shoots down rocket launched towards
Red Sea resort
But those estimates are unconfirmed.
The simultaneous actions by the Egyptian forces – at the pro-Morsi
encampment in Nasr City and at the site outside the main campus of Cairo
University in Giza – began at around 7am local time.
Regional television networks have been broadcasting images of collapsed
tents and burning tires at both sites, with ambulances on standby.
Footage showed dozens of protesters being arrested and led away by
black-clad policemen.
State television showed footage of some dozen protesters, mostly bearded,
cuffed and sitting on a sidewalk under guard outside the Cairo University
campus.
[image: Breaking in: A bulldozer is seen in television reports breaking
down a barricade into one of the protest camps]
Breaking in: A bulldozer is seen in television reports breaking down a
barricade into one of the protest camps
[image: Attack: Egyptian security forces throw tear gas towards supporters
of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi at a sit-in in Cairo]
Attack: Egyptian security forces throw tear gas towards supporters of
ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi at a sit-in in Cairo
[image: Action: Protestors can be seen behind a barricade in the background
as tear gas is fired at protestors earlier today]
Action: Protestors can be seen behind a barricade in the background as tear
gas is fired at protestors earlier today
The smaller of the two camps was cleared of protesters by late morning,
with most of them taking refuge in the nearby Orman botanical gardens and
inside the sprawling campus of Cairo University.
Security forces remained on the fringes of the other camp in the eastern
Nasr City district after it showered the encampment with tear gas.
Television footage from there showed thousands of protesters congregating
at the heart of the site, with many wearing gas masks or covering their
faces to fend off the tear gas.
A security official, who spoke anonymously, said that as many as 200
protestors had been arrested.
At the Nasr City site, ambulances are also seen at the scene, and there are
reports of some protesters being arrested and led away by the troops.
The pan-Arab Al-Arabiya TV is showing images of collapsed tents and burning
tires at the Nasr City protest site.
Ambulances are also seen at the scene, as well as some protesters being
arrested and led away by the troops.
Clearing out: Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand
behind sand barriers recently set up where supporters of Morsi have
installed a camp. At least 15 people have been killed as Egyptian security
forces, backed by armoured cars and bulldozers, began to clear two sit-in
camps
[image: Operation: Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Pre]
Operation: Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi rest in a
tent outside Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where protesters have installed a
camp and held daily rallies at Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
Officials confirmed that a number of leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood
group had been arrested in the move to clear out the protest camps.
None of those arrested have been named.
‘We have arrested a number of Brotherhood leaders but it’s too early to
announce their names,’ General Abdel Fattah Othman, a senior official in
the Interior Ministry, told the privately-owned CBC TV channel.
[image: Plans]
Plans: The state news agency said security forces had started implementing
a phased plan to disperse the protesters, which is almost certain to deepen
political turmoil in Egypt
[image: Camp]
Camp: A supporter of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi enters Nahda
Square, which is fortified with multiple walls of bricks, tires, metal
barricades and sandbags, where protesters have installed their camp near
Cairo University
The Anti-Coup Alliance, an umbrella of pro-Morsi supporters, said in a
statement that there are dozens of dead and injured so far in Wednesday’s
attacks.
Eyewitness Ahshur Abid said 15 people were killed as the clearing operation
started.
He said he saw their bodies at a field hospital at one of the camps.
There was no immediate official conformation of the deaths.
While supporters say that security forces used live ammunition, officials
denied the claims and said that they only fired tear gas on the camps.
A ministry statement also warned that forces would deal firmly with
protesters acting ‘irresponsibly,’ suggesting that it would respond in kind
if its men are fired upon.
It said it would guarantee safe passage to those who want to leave the Nasr
City site but would arrest those wanted for questioning by prosecutors.
[image: Blame:]
Tension: More than 300 people have already died in political violence since
the army overthrew Morsi on July 3, including dozens of his supporters
killed by security forces in two separate earlier incidents
Casualties treated at field hospital in Cairo (Graphic Content)
An Associated Press television video journalist at the scene of the larger
of the two camps said he could hear the screams of women as a cloud of
white smoke hung over the site in the eastern Cairo suburb.
He said an army bulldozer was removing mounds of sand bags and brick walls
built by the protesters as a defence line.
Army troops, however, were not taking part in the operation
More than 300 people have already died in political violence since the army
overthrew Morsi on July 3, including dozens of his supporters killed by
security forces in two separate earlier incidents.
Morsi became Egypt’s first freely elected leader in June 2012 but failed to
tackle deep economic malaise and worried many Egyptians with his apparent
efforts to tighten Islamist rule.
TWO YEARS OF TENSION: FROM MUBAREK TO MORSI AND BEYOND
Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2011 – Egyptians stage nationwide demonstrations against
the rule of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, who led the country for nearly three
decades.
The 18-day ‘revolution,’ launched by secular and leftist youth, draws in a
wide spectrum, including the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists.
Hundreds of protesters are killed as Mubarak and his allies try to crush
the uprising.
Feb. 11 2011 – Mubarak steps down and turns power over to the military. Two
days later, the body of top generals, the Supreme Council of the Armed
Forces, dissolves parliament and suspends the constitution, meeting two key
demands of protesters.
June 16-17 2011 – Egyptians vote in the presidential runoff between Morsi
and Shafiq. The generals issue a ‘constitutional declaration’ giving
themselves sweeping authorities and limiting the powers of the next
president. Morsi emerges as the victor, with 51.7 percent of the vote.
June 30 2011 – Morsi takes his formal oath of office before the Supreme
Constitutional Court, a day after reading a symbolic oath in Cairo’s Tahrir
Square, birthplace of the revolution.
Aug. 12 2011 – In a bold move, Morsi orders the retirement of the top
Mubarak-era leadership of the military and cancels the military’s last
constitutional decree, taking back the powers that the generals gave
themselves. The move was seen as way to curb the military’s role in
political affairs but it also gave Morsi the power to legislate in the
absence of parliament.
Nov. 22 2011 – Morsi unilaterally decrees greater authorities for himself,
giving his decisions immunity from judicial review and barring the courts
from dissolving the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament.
The move came just ahead of court decisions that could have dissolved the
bodies. The move sparks days of protests, with clashes between Morsi’s
supporters and opponents. At one point, some 200,000 people rally in Tahrir
Square, with some of the first chants for Morsi to ‘leave.’
Dec. 4 2011 – More than 100,000 protesters march on the presidential
palace, demanding the cancellation of the referendum and the writing of a
new constitution. The next day, Islamists attack a peaceful anti-Morsi
sit-in outside the palace, sparking all-out street battles that leave at
least 10 dead. Days later, Morsi rescinds his initial decrees, but
maintains the date of the referendum.
Jan. 25, 2013 – Hundreds of thousands hold protests in Tahrir Square and
nationwide against Morsi on the 2-year anniversary of the start of the
revolt against Mubarak, and clashes erupt in many places.
Jan. 26 – Residents of the city of Port Said stage protests, angered by a
court ruling convicting and sentencing to death a group of local soccer
fans for a 2012 stadium riot. Police crack down hard in Port Said, killing
more than 40 protesters, and in outrage the city and others nearby go into
near revolt. Much of the anger is focused at Morsi, who praised the police
for their crackdown.
Feb.-March – Protests continue in Port Said and other cities for weeks,
with dozens more dying in clashes, and some police units around the country
go on strike. Brotherhood youth and their opponents fight in the streets
outside the group’s main Cairo headquarters.
June 30 — Millions of Egyptians take to the streets in Cairo and other
cities calling for Morsi to step down in a massive display of anger and
frustration with the Islamist leader. The demonstrations are largely
peaceful, although 16 people, half of them in clashes outside the Muslim
Brotherhood’s Cairo headquarters, are killed in protest-related violence
nationwide. Organisers vow to keep up the protests until Morsi resigns.
July 1 – Demonstrations continue and Egypt’s military issues an ultimatum
for the two sides to come to a resolution within 48 hours or it will impose
its own solution.
July 3 – Egyptian media reports that President Morsi will either be sacked
or forced to stand down as the army’s deadline for a resolution approaches. The
head of the Egyptian army, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi later declares on
national TV that Morsi has been ousted from power, prompting a wave of
celebrations across the country.
July 4 – Judge in Egypt’s supreme court, Adly Mansour, sworn in as interim
president in Cairo.
July 5 – ‘Friday of Rage’ protests spark violent clashes that last into the
night, leaving a 36 dead and more than 1,000 people injured
July 7 – More than 50 are killed and 435 injured in clashes between
supporters of ousted President Morsi and armed forces at the Republican
Guard building in Cairo. Armed forces claim that they opened fire because a
‘terrorist group’ had attempted to storm the building.
July 9 – Interim head of state Adli Mansour sets a timetable of next year
for elections in the country leaving Egypt facing months of protests.
July 12 – Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters gather in Cairo and
say they will occupy a square in the city until Morsi is reinstated as
president.
July 15 – At least seven killed in clashes between protestors and police in
Cairo. A further 261 are injured when locals and Muslim Brotherhood
supporters clash.
July 26 – More than 120 people were reportedly killed in another night of
violence in Cairo, according to the Muslim Brotherhood. Security forces
were said to have opened fire on a round the clock vigil for President
Morsi shortly before pre-dawn prayers.
Hii movie inaitwa OLYMPAS HAS FALLEN ni nzuri sana inahusu mahusiano ya Korea zote mbili pia unaweza kuangalia WHITE HOUSE DOWN – hii inahusu mahusiano ya ndani ya nchi yao ya marekani .
Kwa maoni yangu movie zote mbili hazina uhusiano wa moja kwa moja na matukio ya Tanzania labda hii white house down kidogo sana .
– – – – – – – – – – –
On Monday, August 12, 2013 8:48:48 PM UTC+3, Pauline Mengi wrote:
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
Tanzania’s Public Safety and Security: Whither the classic “fire brigade” approach?
YESTERDAY, Saturday, August 10, or was it today, Sunday, August 11, 2013? I can’t remember; been having a lot on my mind these days. Anyway, what I was trying to say is I watched this really great movie, about the White House of America – literally taken hostage, invaded and occupied by a group of a really well-trained “paramilitary” force; a.k.a. terrorists. I mean these guys are really mean “badasses”. Excuse me, I didn’t mean to use that word, but, heck, there wasn’t any other word that would best fit their description. I mean, think of the meanest, well-organized, well-trained commandos, who speak several languages, are fully-trained in martial arts, are the best sharp shooters – they never miss – and who ALSO understand how computers, computer networks and software, security systems (access control, counter measures, etc.), the whole deal, and you get the picture of what I’m trying to say. If you haven’t seen the movie, I suggest you do; it should be playing in a theatre near you. Or you could call your buddy with that high-speed Internet connection to “torrent” it for you. Well, I did “torrent” it, and my money and time was well worth it, because it was a complete surprise. I didn’t know what I was getting into, but it was well worth it. If I was watching the movie at Mlimani City’s 20th Century Cinemax, I would be holding on tight to that chair, praying that one of those bullets from those high-powered extra advanced automatic 50 caliber machine guns don’t mess up my handsome face. Haha! Just kidding. I aint handsome; just an average guy.
Ok, here’s the synopsis.
An ex-Special Forces operative and former presidential bodyguard must fight to take back the White House from terrorists who have kidnapped the Commander in Chief (i.e. President) in this high-stakes action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua of the “Training Day” and “Shooter” legacy, and starring Gerard Butler. In the aftermath of a tragic accident involving the president, played by Aaron Eckhart and the first lady Ashley Judd, Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Butler) is handed his walking papers. Basically this means he is put out to pasture; confined to a desk job. He unwittingly – to avoid from becoming completely “crazy” due to the new emotional and psychological stress in his life – accepts a measly “security officer” at the Department of the Treasury, which is, nevertheless, a desk job. You can imagine his frustration, as his military background of being a Special Forces US Marines soldier, being used to an “action” environment, this is something he never expected in his life. He was as much of a friend to the President and the First Lady, as he was their protector. His sense of guilt, for failing to rescue the First Lady in the fatal accident that took her life, while on the way back to the White House, under such bad weather – snow everywhere, almost-zero visibility, the presidential convoy going at breakneck speeds, foryou can imagine the situation!
But Banning, just like the rest of the US Secret Service team is quite unprepared for the events that were to unfold, unsuspecting amongst them a traitor at the highest ranks within the presidential protective service force. The traitor, Fred Forbes, had sold out the country to the KUK; the North Korean paramilitary group that, literally, had almost taken the US for dead, rendering its arsenal of nuclear missiles into self-detonating bombs by deploying the “Cerbus” protocol.
Hey! Am I giving too much of the plot of this movie? We are already on the fifth paragraph and I haven’t said WHY I am giving you a “sneak peek” review of this movie. Well, I won’t go on; just go see the movie, but before you do, here is why I chose this movie for today’s Blog entry.
What’s my point?
If you want to take over a country, whether or not there are dissenting voices, you must forge alliances with, possibly, mildly disgruntled but highly placed individuals, who will prove useful to your cause. You must take it from within, and that is what exactly what “Kang” – one of the world’s most wanted terrorist mastermind – played by Rick Yune, who played his part superbly! For authenticity, the directors and producers HAD to find an Asian actor, most likely with Korean background, which Yune probably is! He HAD to be believable, and you can’t do that unless you are the “real McCoy”!
Kang carefully studied the First Family, which was key to America’s takeover. When you take over a country from its highest vertices, it becomes more effective, as all the other protective agencies must take contingency measures, which sometimes aren’t so effective and/or practical. And that’s exactly what happened in this high-octane thriller of a movie. While the story is completely fictional, it poses several questions about most countries’ safety and security.
Such questions such as “How safe or how secure are we?” begin to pop up, while watching this movie. Hey, I am someone who is a little bit more observant than the rest of my peers. For example, after the 9-11 event, I began to take note of how “unsafe and unsecure” my country, Tanzania, is. For the benefit of those in charge of our safety and security, here is some advice on what must be done NOW to deal with all the weak spots and loopholes in our country, starting with Dar es Salaam, where our president lives.
Please don’t take this the wrong way; don’t ask me how I know what I know. I just observe and analyze the situation at hand. Let’s just say that God has graced me with an above average intellect, and if I don’t responsibly use this intellect to good use, then I will be just as guilty as any terrorist that would successfully attempt to take over our country! Trust me; we are in more danger now than we were, say, 10 years ago. Why? It’s now become global common knowledge that Tanzania is abundantly endowed with resources such as precious minerals and metals; wildlife; natural gas and oil; as well as a huge land area of arable land that has remained unexplored for years! The rest of the world – and I say this with confidence – is looking at Tanzania with much envy, its’ leaders and captains of industry saying: “Here! Look at this country called Tanzania guys! It’s got the world’s riches, but its people are asleep, and its’ leaders are so corrupt, they can be bought for pennies!” I remember, a white man once said: “Tanzania is the only country where you can go with a dollar in your pocket, and become a millionaire in less than one year!” I find that statement to be quite true!
So, without much further ado, here is my advice, point by point, the theme being “The take-over of Tanzania”. But before I go on, shall I be legally held liable for “exposing” our country’s security weaknesses on the Internet? So, I believe I must end here this feature, until I get proper advice from my beautiful legal counsel. This thing has already been blown out of proportion: Leaders coming out, foaming at the mouth – these bloody criminals, spraying Sulfuric Acid on innocent people and giving us a bad name on the international arena! I spoke out about this several months ago, when the spate of attacks started happening in Zanzibar; churches being burnt, several people – including the Qadhi’s Secretary – being sprayed with acid, several people being shot, while the Parochial Leader of the Zanzibar Catholic Church, Reverend Evarist Mushi was shot and killed, not too long ago, and asked this one key question: “Why, instead of sitting on our behinds, don’t we ask about the motives of these people committing all these crimes?” I posted the question on Facebook last year, before I became greatly disappointed with this social network, as it had become a forum for vicious and malicious verbal attacks between our youth; I cancelled my account. Never been back since. No regrets! The only regret is, I wasted my precious time!
There is always a “motive”, in Latin, it’s called “modus operandi” or “M.O.” as cops like to say in movies and TV shows. It’s the “motive” of the criminal’s mind; his/her motive. People just DON’T go around committing crimes; the motive could be to gain money and/or property; revenge; jealousy; or creating the environment for a “hostile takeover” by sabotaging a nation’s safety and security mechanism, tarnishing its’ public image, at both local and international levels.
The people who burned down churches in Zanzibar; who shot and severely wounded people; who sprayed people with acid; who shot and killed religious leaders; ALL had a singular motive, which is – Make Zanzibar an unlivable country for foreign tourists and/or visitors with social agendas, such as those working in schools, health institutions, etc. The two British girls, both 18, were volunteer teachers, who had worked in Zanzibar for about a month. They had only one day left to leave before they were attacked. One could safely conclude that their attackers had investigated them from the day their feet touched the ground in Zanzibar.
These attackers were well organized; they planned everything, starting with choosing the “perfect victim(s)”; someone with a pure soul, possibly female, working in charitable organizations – such as schools, hospitals, etc. – and most definitely foreign! They succeeded, for their agenda was to make sure that Zanzibar, and consequently Mainland Tanzania, become blacklisted at the international level as being “unsafe”, so whoever may dare tread within its’ territories would do so “at own risk”. Virtually, foreigners are being told: “It’s your own grave you’re digging if you choose to go to Zanzibar…”
First, Europeans are so scared right now, they don’t want to think about Zanzibar; it’s all over social forums. Second, it will be North Americans. The US Federal Department of State, through US Embassies worldwide, publishes what it calls “Travel Advisory Statements”, for every country. This is a document that advises US citizens who wish to travel to a particular country on its’ safety and security ranking; if the statement says “travel at own risk”, US citizens would tend to translate that as being “Hell no! I aint going over there! No way!” Third will be South America, then fourth will be the Far East, and lastly, fifth, will be Australasia as well as the Pacific Islands including the Caribbean Island. The entire world – even our own neighbours – will mark us as deadly terrorists, walking around with acid canisters, ready to pour it on anyone we don’t like or we have a “beef” with! We won’t be any different from the Arabs, who have literally been branded as “Al Qaeda”. What will they brand us with? Acid Terrorists?
We have already been branded as “drug” mules; here’s a pat on the back to CCM for successfully managing to have us branded as “Acid Terrorists”! A new accolade to us all! Bravo! Heck, if I’m gonna blame someone, I must start with the ruling party CCM and its’ Government, starting, of course, with President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, right? But maybe Kikwete shouldn’t be blamed all by himself, however, he must be asked a lot of pertinent questions.
Hey Mr. President, where were you when innocent civilians, such as the infamous Musa Tesha were being attacked with acid (the Police arresting CHADEMA cadres for the crime – have you read their scathing report on the kind of abuse they had to suffer at the hands of the Police, who tortured them with electric shocks forcing them to implicate CHADEMA’s leadership with “acts of terrorism” but they said “NO! We wont!” ?); or when a Sheikh was recently attacked with acid during the few days prior to the postponed Ward Elections in Arusha? Countless of people have been attacked with acid. In Igunga, Tabora, a CHADEMA cadre from Dar es Salaam was brutally murdered and dumped in a forest; to-date, no suspect(s) have ever been called to stand in front of the courts. The police allegedly know the culprits, but for political reasons, are protecting them, because they allegedly belong to the “Green Guards” militia unit of CCM!
Heck! We all want to live as long as possible, don’t we? We’re all – well, most of us anyway – afraid of dying, especially a violent death such as being shot by a gun, or getting into other troubles. Now, think! Who in their right mind would go to a country where they are being told “Don’t say we didn’t warn you…”? Do they have a death wish?
I am rather surprised, or let me say, dismayed, at our Government leaders approach to this situation, calling it a “new and recent crime” while spates of acid attacks, brutal killings, beatings and maiming have been going on since 2009! What’s so “new” about acid attacks?
When it was our own Tanzanian brothers and sisters who succumbed to these attacks, the Government did nothing; it was nothing to worry about. Now that the situation has gone out of control, the Government suddenly “wakes up and smells the bad, sour tasting coffee”, that the matter must be immediately controlled. It’s “damage control” time, which, in most cases, is very difficult to achieve.
Right now, ever since CNN International went “global” with the Breaking News about two teenage British girls being victims of an acid attack in Zanzibar, damage had already been done. As the audience of CNN International is in the hundreds of millions, the news item was seen and heard by scores of people everywhere that CNN iInternational is viewed. The story – I am certain – must have been translated into several “key” international languages, probably even Mandarin Chinese! There is an old adage that says: “There is no news like bad news!” I don’t know who said it, but I tend to agree with them, because, indeed, these days – such as it was during the Jingoistic Journalism times of the US – bad news seems to follow people wherever they go! And it sells faster than Aunt Jemima’s Chocolate Syrup on top of a buttered hotcake, at Wendy’s! Ha ha ha! My African brothers and sisters here may/not get this pun here… Oh! Heck! I told y’all in my first post that my writing style is influenced by many factors! If you want clarification, speak up!
Conclusively, while the “Olympus Has Fallen” story IS in fact purely fiction, for me, it’s a little too close to reality. It addresses all the normal social issues we are all faced with in this globalized society; greed, revenge, hunger for power and/or money, and of course, the vulnerability of man due to the love of money, power, social status, luxury and wealth.
There are people like Fred Forbes, who are highly placed Government officials in key and sensitive jobs. They all have a price – you meet theirs, you get what you want, sometimes for almost free, and they may even throw in a couple of bonuses just for the heck of it. You gave them what you wanted, didn’t you?
During one of the scenes in the movie, Acting President who is also Speaker of the House of Representatives, who, in case neither the President nor the Vice President can actively dispense their duties, the Speaker of the House of Representatives becomes Acting President. The Acting President must be sworn in by the Supreme Court Chief Justice, and in his absence, a highly-ranked National Security or Pentagon official can “swear” him in. A notification comes in to the Pentagon Crisis Room, that a Hydra weapon has just been activated and is firing at the convoy of choppers of US Navy Seals who had been sent in to search for and rescue the President, who, at the time, was being held hostage by Kang and his KUK group of North Korean paramilitary members.
“Sir! They have just launched a Hydra weapon!” says one of the Pentagon officials in the Criris Room.
Acting President, brilliantly played by Morgan “Old Man” Freeman, responds: “What’s a Hydra?”
“It’s one of our most advanced military equipment, still in its prototype stages,” responds the man.
“And how the hell did they get it?” asks Acting President.
“Well, they have it…” responds the middle aged, chubby Pentagon ‘man in black’.
At this time, nobody in the Pentagon Crisis Room knows that Fred Forbes is the ‘mole’ within the US Secret Service, who opened doors for Kang and his group. Forbes gave all the key information and weaponry to Kang. He opened doors to allow the United States of America to be taken over by a bunch of misguided ragtag paramilitary terrorists, whose only motive was to see America crumble to its knees. They failed, however!
There could be well over one hundred such ‘moles’ within Tanzania’s safety and security organs; the Fred Forbes of Tanzania, unlike him, aren’t clearly as well trained and well versed in matters of proper security. They just aren’t prepared for such an attack; neither am I, so I must admit. In fact, 90% of Tanzanians are not.
Our Disaster Management Department at the Vice President’s Office is clearly not doing enough to counter any man-made or natural disaster that may occur. We witnessed their “effectiveness” in managing disasters, all the way from the Mv. Bukoba disaster on Lake Victoria to the Mv. Spice Islanders disaster on the Ras of Nungwi in Zanzibar, to the Mv. Skagit disaster, and most recently, the collapse of the 16-floor dangerously built skyscraper on Indira Gandhi Street in Dar es Salaam!
While they pat themselves on the back, they couldn’t come up with a clear figure of how many people were killed or survived during the collapse of the high riser; they tended to water down figures, so as to make people believe that the disaster wasn’t so drastic, while word on the street said as much as 60-70 people died, and scores more – in hundreds – are still missing! Yeah! Job well done!
I won’t say much about the Presidential Security Services of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), because they seem to know it all. I dare not expose their obvious – literally common sense, not rocket science – weaknesses, for fear of being kidnapped, tortured and left for dead in Mabwepande, as Dr. Stephen Ulimboka and Mr. Absalom Kibanda were recently. Kibanda was attacked right outside his gate, as he returned home coming in late from work. It happened so fast he had no time to even call out for help. “These were professionally trained assassins, not your ordinary muggers,” Kibanda said.
Meanwhile, in a new turn of events, Commissioner of Police for the Dar es Salaam Region Special Zone, Suleiman Kova has blamed Ulimboka for being “uncooperative”. “We have called him in several times so that we may take his statement but so far he has refused, which is delaying our investigation. We can’t finish if he doesn’t cooperate with us,” said Kova.
Prior to his being sent to South Africa and upon his return, Ulimboka named one Ramadhani Ighondu, who is a State House official, working on the Presidential Security Advisory team, which is also part of TISS. Ulimboka said Ighondu and his colleagues orchestrated his kidnapping, beating, torture and being left for dead in Mabwepande. A weekly, which had been carrying and following up the story, also found conclusive evidence to implicate Ighondu, which was published, a little over a year ago. The Ulimboka Gate story is believed to have been the last straw on the Government’s back, which led to the decision to suspend the weekly – MwanaHalisi – for an indefinite period of time, citing among many other reasons, lack of cooperation (for what?) and publishing distorted information and, of course, lies!
Instead of addressing the issues at hand, which are many, such as the Police-coordinated and Police-orchestrated organized crime and wildlife poaching as well as narcotics trafficking and distribution, the Government is tackling only ONE issue – acid attacks – while, in terms of our safety and security, there are so many more! At the speed that the Government is dealing with acid attacks, it’s as if we have been invaded and we are in our Crisis Room, left with only one thing: Praying that the likes of Mike Banning to save the day! What if? I ask again? Our version of Mike Banning fails to do the job because he is not properly prepared for it, what will happen? What then?
Mr. President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, your House is not in order; it has demonstrated that it is unprepared and poorly trained to do the job of ensuring the safety and security of the people of Tanzania and their country at large. Any terrorist – and this is a fact, take it or leave it, Mr. President – can come in and study us, as a tourist! We won’t know a thing, because we don’t have the intelligence mechanisms to scrutinize people as they carry on their daily activities, whether during the day or night.
Simple things, such as CCTV cameras mounted on traffic lights, which were proposed on the 2007 ICT Strategic Plan of the Tanzania Police Force (TPF), have yet to be implemented. High rise buildings such as the PPF Plaza on Ohio Street and Garden Avenue in downtown Dar es Salaam has, clearly, a poorly designed access control system. A person who tells the check-in personnel that he is going to such and such an office on the Sixth Floor, can easily get off any floor and, if that person doesn’t have good intentions, can easily open the exit doors on the staircase, walk to another floor and carry out his version of “justice”.
Literally, unsuspecting tenants of PPF Plaza and many other valuable buildings in Dar are NOT safe! I’m just pointing out some of the more obvious weaknesses and challenges to our public safety issues, so y’all don’t come and arrest me, to start labeling me a “terrorist”.
You are better off, Mr. President, to work with me as I clearly have observed these challenges for a long time. As I said, I can’t list ALL the weaknesses because that would put the country at risk. If I’m going to be consulted, Mr. President, I will ONLY do so in your presence and under the presence of your most trusted national security advisors; I know two of them, and I trust them all. I even had the pleasure of working with one of them a few years back, after I contacted you and you sent both men to me. One had called me earlier but I told him that his colleague had already contacted me, so he said: Good!
I am open 24-7 to assist you Mr. President, because this issue of acid attacks is too blown out of proportion. I can advise you accordingly what must be done, because I know that our country has the resources to protect itself. I am a committed patriot, which is why I am raising the issue and how best NOT to tackle it. While we are busy dealing with only one piece of the safety and security issues, others will take advantage of our preoccupation with acid attacks, and concentrate their criminal activities in areas not addressed by us.
When CNN International labels Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania as being “unsafe”, they do not do so lightly; they have clearly done their homework. They have insiders within the US safety and security systems, they have ears and eyes, and they ask the right questions to get right answers.
How many times, Mr. President, have we put our country literally at ransom, by failing to completely address the issue of corruption by Government officials, most of them being held in key positions, such as one Mr. Achacha of the Department of Immigration at the Julius Nyerere International Airport? Have you heard how he terrorizes both Tanzanians and foreigners wanting to depart the country from JNIA, citing a myriad of stupid reasons, just because he CAN deny people their right to leave the country, and, most often, because he wants to be bribed, so say people who have suffered at his hands?
We have many problems, Mr. President. It is time we addressed them all, at once, instead of taking the piecemeal and/or fire brigade approach. It won’t work.
I propose we urgently form the National Safety and Security Advisory Commission (NSSAC); there are good people who can be appointed to serve on NSSAC, such as Hon. Judge Francis Mutungi, but you already gave him another job, didn’t you? He is well placed at that office; he will do it justice.
Can we get started? Bring me a list and I will tell you who is fit to lead and sit on the Commission; that will be my first contribution. You can pay me when we get done… but an allowance will be essential for me to continue offering my services to you. If you want my email, ask my Aunt Grace in Trinidad.
East Africa is very important and is a focal point for Emerging Markets in the world.
Political Leadership engagements to providing Responsibility with integrity, Security, Law and Order as the genesis drivers to Unity and Peace in pursuit for happiness; is therefore extremely very important for moving forward progressively.
While I stand tall in supporting President Kikwetes stand over President Kagames’ instigation bully in the Region, the following should be observed:
1) providing security for all is crucial. Shoot to kill by police is unacceptable. The Police must not take laws in their own hands. The law must charge the Police who shot the Radical Preacher Ponda and the law should instead be applied to charge Ponda.
2) Dar could take the lead in East Africa’s Industrial Hub progressiveness for the World Emerging Markets, and Public Corporations system must be made functional through strict Government Departments’ Regulations that put Public Mandate and needs top of any negotiation deals. This includes observing all tenets of Human Rights, Security and protection.
3) Since Kagame and Museveni are both sneaky bullies, we all must unite to put them on checks. As much as Kagame wants to provide for his Rwandese people, all other leaders too have responsibilities to provide for their people. So all want a freer conducive environment where all play fair for the goodness of all and Museveni and Kagame must not be given chance to steal or acquire Port Kismayu and Migingo for their evil plan of selfish greed. We must not allow Museveni and Kagame to acquire the Port of Kismayu and Migingo for Salim Saleh to destroy East Africa for their selfish greed.
4) All Rebel Groups and Mercenaries including Salim Salehs’ must be condemned and be forced to face justice for all evils with instability caused in the Great Lakes of East Africa.
5) United Nations led by Ban-Ki-Moon must show Responsibility with Integrity by pushing for quick Returns with good Results, instead of compromising and playing dummy in slackness that fuel rising of insecurity, loss of Lives and rapping of women and children. This is abuse of Sovereign territorial invasion, that have been witnessed and believed to have been a long engineered conspiracy planned to open opportunity avenues that aids evil to benefit Special Business Interest greed. This is unacceptable and we all will stand against this type of behavior.
People of Africa too want to enjoy Liberty in pursuit for happiness and when this is achieved, the world will be a happy place to live. We must all face reality and know that, Unity for Peace is crucial to all….
Cheers everybody…….!!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – – – – – – – – – –
Kikwete : This is my position on Rwanda
In an address to the nation, Mr Kikwete expressed concern about Rwanda’s unease with him
In Summary
He accused Rwanda’s leaders of making inflammatory statements that have sent engagement between the two members of East African Community to its lowest levels
In an address to the nation, Mr Kikwete expressed concern about Rwanda’s unease with him
By Songa wa Songa The Citizen Reporter (email the author)
Posted Saturday, August 3 2013 at 08:37
In Summary
He accused Rwanda’s leaders of making inflammatory statements that have sent engagement between the two members of East African Community to its lowest levels
Dar es Salaam. For the first time, President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday admitted that relations between Tanzania and Rwanda were tense but maintained it was not in the interest of his government to escalate the situation.
In a carefully worded address to the nation, Mr Kikwete expressed concern about Rwanda’s unease with him personally and the leadership of Tanzania in general, but played down fears that the matter could further strain the two countries’ relations.
The President said any hard feelings against him in the neighbouring country were misplaced and amounted to unfair and unwarranted criticism of a friendly nation such as Tanzania.
The head of state used the traditional end of the month speech to speak out on a matter that has in recent months raised political temperatures in the region and there were fears thatit could boil over into a full-blown conflict.
“I have been shocked and dismayed at the verbal attack and criticism levelled against me by Rwandan officials,” Mr Kikwete said. “What they are doing and saying does not reflect the true position …. (it is) completely out of proportion and out of context.”
He accused Rwanda’s leaders of making inflamamatory statements that have sent engagement between the two members of the East African Community to its lowest levels. Without naming them, the President said: “Utterances of Rwandan leaders towards me and our country is evidence of that (turbulent relations).”
The origin of the war of words between Kigali and Dar would appear to be President Kikwete’s recent suggestion that Rwanda should negotiate with the rebels fighting it from bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kigali has been greatly offended by Mr Kikwete’s call during the last AU Summit in Addis Ababa, with state officials and the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front operatives going into overdrive in their rejection of the appeal.
Rwanda’s minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, was the seniormost official to speak against Mr Kikwete. She equated Mr Kikwete’s remarks with defending those accused of the 1994 genocide against the minority Tutsi. Bloggers from both sides have also traded barbs and taken the stand-off to a higher level–which probably explains Mr Kikwete’s move to break the ice.
In his address yesterday, Mr Kikwete declared that his call for dialogue had been misunderstood. He said he had restrained himself as there was no reason to jump on each other’s throats or escalate a non-issue. “Two wrongs do not make a right,” he added.
The President said he had chosen to ignore insults from Rwanda in the best interest of the people of the two nations.
“It is not because I do not know how to speak or that I do not have anything to say,” he added. “I haven’t done so because I do not see its benefit.I want to assure my fellow Tanzanians and our Rwandan friends that I, my government and the people of Tanzania want to have good relations and close cooperation with Rwanda as we have with all our neighbours.”
He pledged that Tanzania would continue pursuing and nurturing good neighbourliness and foreign policies.
Subject: Kikwete : This is my position on Rwanda
To: jbatec@yahoo.com
from: Judy Miriga
Good People !
East Africa is very important and is a focal point for Emerging Markets in the world.
Political Leadership engagements to providing Responsibility with integrity, Security, Law and Order as the genesis drivers to Unity and Peace in pursuit for happiness; is therefore extremely very important for moving forward progressively.
While I stand tall in supporting President Kikwetes stand over President Kagames’ instigation bully in the Region, the following should be observed:
1) providing security for all is crucial. Shoot to kill by police is unacceptable. The Police must not take laws in their own hands. The law must charge the Police who shot the Radical Preacher Ponda and the law should instead be applied to charge Ponda.
2) Dar could take the lead in East Africa’s Industrial Hub progressiveness for the World Emerging Markets, and Public Corporations system must be made functional through strict Government Departments’ Regulations that put Public Mandate and needs top of any negotiation deals. This includes observing all tenets of Human Rights, Security and protection.
3) Since Kagame and Museveni are both sneaky bullies, we all must unite to put them on checks. As much as Kagame wants to provide for his Rwandese people, all other leaders too have responsibilities to provide for their people. So all want a freer conducive environment where all play fair for the goodness of all and Museveni and Kagame must not be given chance to steal or acquire Port Kismayu and Migingo for their evil plan of selfish greed. We must not allow Museveni and Kagame to acquire the Port of Kismayu and Migingo for Salim Saleh to destroy East Africa for their selfish greed.
4) All Rebel Groups and Mercenaries including Salim Salehs’ must be condemned and be forced to face justice for all evils with instability caused in the Great Lakes of East Africa.
5) United Nations led by Ban-Ki-Moon must show Responsibility with Integrity by pushing for quick Returns with good Results, instead of compromising and playing dummy in slackness that fuel rising of insecurity, loss of Lives and rapping of women and children. This is abuse of Sovereign territorial invasion, that have been witnessed and believed to have been a long engineered conspiracy planned to open opportunity avenues that aids evil to benefit Special Business Interest greed. This is unacceptable and we all will stand against this type of behavior.
People of Africa too want to enjoy Liberty in pursuit for happiness and when this is achieved, the world will be a happy place to live. We must all face reality and know that, Unity for Peace is crucial to all….
Cheers everybody…….!!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – – – – – – – – – –
Kikwete : This is my position on Rwanda
In an address to the nation, Mr Kikwete expressed concern about Rwanda’s unease with him
In Summary
He accused Rwanda’s leaders of making inflammatory statements that have sent engagement between the two members of East African Community to its lowest levels
In an address to the nation, Mr Kikwete expressed concern about Rwanda’s unease with him
By Songa wa Songa The Citizen Reporter (email the author)
Posted Saturday, August 3 2013 at 08:37
In Summary
He accused Rwanda’s leaders of making inflammatory statements that have sent engagement between the two members of East African Community to its lowest levels
Dar es Salaam. For the first time, President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday admitted that relations between Tanzania and Rwanda were tense but maintained it was not in the interest of his government to escalate the situation.
In a carefully worded address to the nation, Mr Kikwete expressed concern about Rwanda’s unease with him personally and the leadership of Tanzania in general, but played down fears that the matter could further strain the two countries’ relations.
The President said any hard feelings against him in the neighbouring country were misplaced and amounted to unfair and unwarranted criticism of a friendly nation such as Tanzania.
The head of state used the traditional end of the month speech to speak out on a matter that has in recent months raised political temperatures in the region and there were fears thatit could boil over into a full-blown conflict.
“I have been shocked and dismayed at the verbal attack and criticism levelled against me by Rwandan officials,” Mr Kikwete said. “What they are doing and saying does not reflect the true position …. (it is) completely out of proportion and out of context.”
He accused Rwanda’s leaders of making inflamamatory statements that have sent engagement between the two members of the East African Community to its lowest levels. Without naming them, the President said: “Utterances of Rwandan leaders towards me and our country is evidence of that (turbulent relations).”
The origin of the war of words between Kigali and Dar would appear to be President Kikwete’s recent suggestion that Rwanda should negotiate with the rebels fighting it from bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kigali has been greatly offended by Mr Kikwete’s call during the last AU Summit in Addis Ababa, with state officials and the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front operatives going into overdrive in their rejection of the appeal.
Rwanda’s minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, was the seniormost official to speak against Mr Kikwete. She equated Mr Kikwete’s remarks with defending those accused of the 1994 genocide against the minority Tutsi. Bloggers from both sides have also traded barbs and taken the stand-off to a higher level–which probably explains Mr Kikwete’s move to break the ice.
In his address yesterday, Mr Kikwete declared that his call for dialogue had been misunderstood. He said he had restrained himself as there was no reason to jump on each other’s throats or escalate a non-issue. “Two wrongs do not make a right,” he added.
The President said he had chosen to ignore insults from Rwanda in the best interest of the people of the two nations.
“It is not because I do not know how to speak or that I do not have anything to say,” he added. “I haven’t done so because I do not see its benefit.I want to assure my fellow Tanzanians and our Rwandan friends that I, my government and the people of Tanzania want to have good relations and close cooperation with Rwanda as we have with all our neighbours.”
He pledged that Tanzania would continue pursuing and nurturing good neighbourliness and foreign policies.
A radical Muslim preacher wanted for questioning over the acid attack on two British tourists in Zanzibar was shot on Saturday night as he fled police trying to arrest him.
Sheikh Issa Ponda is understood to have survived the raid and was on the run but injured, police sources told The Daily Telegraph.
He had visited Zanzibar in the weeks running up to the attack on Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup, both from north London, who were on Saturday still in hospital being treated for their injuries.
Ponda earlier this month met with the imprisoned leaders of a Muslim separatist group, Uamsho, who police believe may have inspired the attack on the two women.
Tanzania’s director of public prosecutions, Elieza Feleshi, on Friday ordered that the cleric be arrested after accusing him of inciting violence, for which he was convicted earlier this year and given a 12 month suspended sentence.
“He narrowly escaped from the police in Morogoro, he was shot by our officers, but we are pursuing him,” said Faustine Shilogile, a senior police commander in Morogoro, the town 110 miles west of Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, where Ponda was shot.
The women, both aged 18, were admitted to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London on Friday where they were receiving treatment for burns inflicted in an unprovoked attack while they were on a volunteering holiday.
Family members of the pair are believed to be keeping a bedside vigil, after the teenagers were flown home yesterday and immediately sent to the capital’s regional burns centre.
A hospital spokesman confirmed the women continued to be treated by medics, and their conditions were described as “stable”.
Miss Gee has already taken to Twitter to say: “Thank you for all your support x”.
Their doctor, Andy Williams, a consultant burns and plastic surgeon, said: “We can confirm that Katie and Kirstie have been transferred to our care at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s burns unit where we’re still assessing their injuries.
“Both families would like to thank everyone that’s helped to bring the girls back.
“The families now wish to have time with the girls and that the media would respect their privacy at this difficult time.”
A photograph released by the girls’ families showed the injuries one of them suffered in the attack.
The girl is shown wearing an open striped shirt and a silver necklace.
What appear to be acid burns are clearly visible on her chin, neck and upper chest.
One of the girl’s injuries are much worse than the other’s, it was reported, because helpers used dirty water on her burns.
One of the victims was reportedly immersed in the sea in the aftermath of the attack at Stone Town, a beach resort, and the salt water helped her skin.
“That completely altered the result: the salt water and the acid,” Miss Trup’s father, Marc, said.
“The other girl panicked, ran around, made her way to a public toilet.”
When “they got to the medical centre there was no shower,” he added. “They were throwing dirty water at her.”
You’re now confusing us. DECOLONIZATION means to REMOVING COLONIZATION.
According to your story, I thing you mean to say RECOLONIZATION i.e. RE-INSTUTING COLONIZATION.
Sivyo?
Courage
– – – – – – – – – – –
On Sat, Aug 10, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Judy Miriga wrote:
Good People,
Foreign Contract to Chinese Government to Stop Poaching is another way to spread Chinese Policing into the village country-side to hijack (take-over) Kenya and deny Kenyan Youths Jobs. It is another way to directly control over Kenya and the Great Lakes of East Africa. It is a system applied for quite transitioning of Uhuru-Ruto Administration handing-over power to Chinese Government to Rule and take Kenya by storm, in the process of DECOLONIZATION; which is going the Mozambique style and it must be stopped instantaneously.
Kenya with the rest of Great Lakes of East Africa are a Democratic Nation and No amount of invasion will be accepted as long as the International and UN Treaty have not been revoked. This calls for an urgent investigation of the World Bank, IMF and United Nations’ Secretary General Ban-Ki-moonby the FBI for fueling Corruption and Impunity through being part of this great conspiracy trigger. It is because, the manner at which they recommended funding for AIDs Funding to remove poverty, provide health-care, provide security, initiate job opportunities and Education in the Great Lakes of East Africa is questionable and suspicious. They instead purposely fueled extreme corruption and impunity in the Greater Region of East Africa.
Funds have been channeled through corrupt means with unclear Agreements in Partnership with the operating International NGOs on the ground who work along the Government side, where they don’t seem to transmit those funding directly to do what they were initiated for. Consequently, there are no follow-ups to determine positive effectiveness where if there is no good results from those funding, what immediate action were taken to avoid its failure???……… It was then found that, drivers of the funding disbursement have instead created and financed take-over of East Africa which is why, Migingo and Goma was taken with annexing of Port of Kismayu. We found that, the insecurity is spreading fast with fueling of thuggery, proliferation of Arms through Kismayu, Migingo and Lake Victoria. This is zeroed-in with active participation and funding of Rebel Groups thus:
Al-Qaeda, Al-shabaab, Mungiki, Pirating, drug peddling with foreign exchange money trafficking, Child Prostitution and trafficking; with more problems to include environmental pollutions, sicknesses, careless killings, forceful Land Grabbing and theft………Therefore, all these numerous accounts of injustices are unacceptable and justice must prevail……..They are all as a result of funds being channeled the wrong way without transparency and accountability, through Foreign NGOs on the Ground supposed to be providing AIDs to the Great Lakes of Africa to remove poverty, sickness and provide security and education.
Having realized that these NGOs are not doing much fast enough to aid quick killings and take-over, the UN Agencies with the Corrupt African Leaders with their network of the International Corporate Special Business Interest resolved to forcefully take-over Great Lakes of East Africa through Chinese Private Army in Kenya that was sensored by Kalonzo Musyoka and supervised by Raila and Kibaki in the Coalition Government.
This is the unfinished business Raila, Kagame with Museveni are fighting for while their paymasters standing akimbo watching them to fulfill their mission urgently……….and which is why, there is this struggle between Raila and Uhuru Government and why Museveni is the Chairman and Kagame the Secretary in this Great Lakes of East Africa who are both entrusted with the mission by heir pay masters who are the International Corporate of Special Business Interest in the Great Region of East Africa.
This is not right, it is not fair and it is not morally justified. It is a serious crime against humanity and it cannot be left to happen that way.
Therefore, Contracting Poaching Unit by Chinese must be stopped, it is not economical viable for Kenya or to any other Sovereign Nationality of Africa. It will be the beginning of World War and, Kenya with the Great Lakes of East Africa will be the battle-ground.
PETITIONING OVER CONCERNS:
These concerns must not be taken lightly by the International Community Leaders; as they provide fodder for the Third World War meant to wipe out Africans from Africa like what happened to Mozambique. It is immorally unjust to kill Africans and replace them with Chinese. It is all along known in world records that Chinese Government is the worst in Human Rights Crime, Violation and Abuse records including environment pollution. They must not be left to destroy Kenya with the rest of East Africa. I therefore petition US President Obama to lead good leaders Allys of USA to save a situation in Kenya with the rest of Great Lakes of East Africa.
Africa needs sustainable functioning development Agenda and not those of wiping out Africans through Chinese Private Army that are posing as policing poacher………..This is not what they are going for………they are going for human beings…….which is why Raila is calling the Youth Lizards (Raila led the onslaught comparing Obura to a lizard. He said according to a Nigerian parable, there was a lizard that craved recognititon. He said the lizard climbed a tree hoping people would see him). That in their cry for justified demands as per public mandate, the Youth have no rights……..They are going to exterminate human beings not Lizards in reality, and more or so, they are more interested in poaching themselves that to protect and save ……. They are interested in the big money not to preserve Africas interest………..
Wake up people, wake up and join forces to reject this mission in totallity………Let the world help to save Africans, let Africans not perish in the hands of these selfish and greedy businessmen !!!
Extremely very sad indeed………but the Truth with Justice ill set us all free……….and Peace and Liberty in pursuit for Hapiness shall prevail…………
May God Protect and Bless Africa with its people !!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
China to help fund anti-poaching war
PHOTO | COURTESY Kenya Wildlife Service rangers on patrol. China has pledged to fund Kenya’s efforts to curb wildlife poaching. NATION MEDIA GROUP | KWS
By NATION REPORTER
Posted Friday, August 9 2013 at 23:30
China has pledged to fund Kenya’s efforts to curb wildlife poaching.
Speaking at a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Prof Judi Wakhungu, Chinese ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyuan said his country would give Kenya a grant, which he did not specify, to protect the elephant, rhino and other endangered species.
The pledge comes in the wake of renewed efforts by the Kenyan authorities to totally eradicate poaching.
The government has already formed a special unit to fight the menace, with China, the United States and UK among the countries funding it.
Last week, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta launched the “Hands off Elephants” campaign to spearhead the protection of elephants.
Speaking during the meeting with Prof Wakhungu, the Chinese envoy urged Kenya to strengthen wildlife conservation measures and severely punish poachers.
China’s anti-poaching laws are some of the most stringent in the world, with offenders often getting life imprisonment.
Expressing Kenya’s wish to join hands with other nations in combating illegal ivory and rhino horn trade, Prof Wakhungu praised China for its consistent measures and actions towards the enforcement of wildlife conservation laws.
The Kenya Wildlife Service says Kenya lost 384 elephants and 29 rhino to poachers last year alone. This year, 190 elephants and 34 rhinos have been killed.
Last month, a huge consignment of ivory was impounded in Mombasa.
The ivory, weighing 3.3 metric tonnes and valued at Sh65 million, was concealed in gunny sacks and declared as groundnuts bound for Malaysia.
The consignment comprised 382 whole pieces and 62 cut pieces of ivory.
The seizure came barely two months after customs officials in the United Arab Emirates seized 259 pieces of ivory shipped from Mombasa.
Ministry urges MPs to prioritise Wildlife Bill
Environment Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe flags off one of the vehicles that will be used by Inter Security Agency Anti-Poaching Unit at KWS headquarters in Nairobi August 8, 2013. The Ministry urged MPs to move with speed and pass the Wildlife Bill that seeks to tighten penalties for poachers. ANTHONY OMUYA
By JEREMIAH KIPLANG’AT jkiplangat@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, August 10 2013 at 09:57
Related Stories
Prioritise anti poaching Bill, MPs urged
Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu has urged MPs to move with speed and pass the Wildlife Bill that seeks to tighten penalties for poachers.
Prof Wakhungu said poaching had shot up since the beginning of the year hence the need for the fast enactment of the proposed law, which she said is expected to play a bigger role in preventing the vice.
“We are keen on the speedy enactment of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, 2013 that proposes stiffer and deterrent penalties. It has been published and tabled in Parliament but expect faster enactment,” she said Thursday in a speech read on her behalf by the ministry’s Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe during the launch of a special unit of security officers to tackle poachers.
The Bill will be read for the first time when the lawmakers return from their recess on September 17. It is expected that the proposed law will impose heftier penalties when it is enacted.
Last June, the Cabinet approved the Bill that is set to, among others, increase the fine to up to one million shillings for those found engaging in poaching.
Enhanced sentences
Mr Lesiyampe said the Ministry was lobbying for enhanced sentences for those found guilty of poaching.
“These are not ordinary criminals. They are economic saboteurs who should not be treated softly anymore. We are thinking of 15 years imprisonment or even life sentences,” he said.
The special unit comprises 121 officers drawn from Kenya Wildlife Service, Administration Police and General Service Unit. They will undergo training at the KWS centre in Manyani before being deployed to the three poaching hotspots in the country.
The hotspots are Narok, Tsavo and Isiolo.
KWS director William Kiprono said the unit will boost the fight against poaching, a menace he said, could not be addressed alone by the wildlife department.
“It is now a serious issue that KWS cannot address it alone. It is a national problem. We need everybody on board to tackle it,” Mr Kiprono said.
The formation of the unit comes a week following the launch of another campaign, Hands Off Elephants, by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
The campaign aims at pushing for tighter measures to guard against elephant poaching.
COMMENTS:
theafricanthinker
•a day ago •2 upvotes
Rot in government ministries. I’m just sick of news I’m hearing from
home these days.
There is nothing good. JKIA burnt, no one knows why.
Balala is demanding corruption from investors, no one is gonna stop him.
If police and other first responders loot victims properties, who shall we trust? If the ministry entrusted with wildlife is smuggling out wild animal parts, who should protect Kenya’s natural beauties?
Poor Kenyans have always been on the losing end!
see more
jackmuraguri@hotmail.com
•a day ago •0 upvotes
Life sentence to poachers and the confiscation of all their wealth is the only solution.
see more
Hoorayhenry
•a day ago•3 upvotes
It’s not new laws that we need, we need to let people who love & value
this great heritage look after it. We, indigenous Africans have no time for wildlife. Traditionally, we’ve always seen animals as a source of our basic needs (food clothing, shelter) period. This is my argument…. KWS under the Leakeys, was so efficient that poaching had almost completely been eradicated, & in fact the population of the ‘big five’ had increased to an extent of them starting to be a menace, & there was talk of culling elephants in Kenya. KWS is still here, now managed by us indigenous Africans, why has it become a joke? SA still have their wildlife protection intact!!!! Same reason perhaps???
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Published on Aug 9, 2013
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CORD leader Raila Odinga tells off
Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura over
leadership
Updated Friday, August 9th 2013 at 23:19 GMT +3
By RUSHDIE OUDIA
KENYA: CORD leader Raila Odinga has told off the young Turks over their plans to take over leadership in ODM.
The former PM alongside other CORD leaders, who spoke during the homecoming for Kisumu County Assembly majority leader, Samuel Ong’ou, aimed their blows at Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura who had showed his interest in the ODM Secretary General’s post.
Obura’s onslaught was brought forth using parables and straight attacks.
Raila led the onslaught comparing Obura to a lizard. He said according to a Nigerian parable, there was a lizard that craved recognititon. He said the lizard climbed a tree hoping people would see him.
“You can be old in body but young in mind and similarly you can be old in mind and young in body,” said Raila, advising the young leaders.
Funyula MP Paul Otuoma said Obura was like a young bull trying to overthrow the oldest bull in the house.
Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama also dismissed the young leaders.
“Obura does not know what he is saying and he should stop all these theatrics,” said Muthama, adding that Raila wants unity yet some people are set to destabilise ODM.
National Assembly Deputy Chief Whip, Jakoyo Midiwo told Obura to respect the older leaders.
Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ said ODMis like a church and there is no way a small priest could sit on the bishop’s seat simply because he is old.
Fears over new split as ODM bigwigs
cling on ‘one-man’
Updated Friday, August 9th 2013 at 23:50 GMT +3
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Dogeretti North MP Simba Arati (LEFT) are welcomed by ODM supporters in Dagoretti for presentation of bursaries in the constituency. [PHOTO: FILE]
By JUMA KWAYERA
KENYA: A fresh storm is simmering in the Orange Democratic Movement after the party’s top hierarchy failed to provide a definite roadmap to the eagerly anticipated National Delegates Convention.
The meeting is expected to result in radical decisions about the future of the party following a push from the rank and file for change at the top. ODM MPs demanded party leader Raila Odinga to cut lose certain officials at a meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday.
So sensitive is the issue that some of the party officials contacted either flatly declined to comment or referred all questions to newly appointed executive director Joseph Magerer Lang’at, himself facing a revolt as some members question his appointment.
At least 10 MPs are contemplating ‘technically’ defecting from ODM to underline their unhappiness. Former Roads Minister Franklin Bett says the party faces serious integrity questions in the manner it handles its affairs. In a tell-all interview with The Standard on Saturday, Bett took a swipe at the opacity in party operations that excludes majority of its members.
“I am aware they have tried to set meetings after the last Parliamentary Group meeting in June,” says Bett, who was in charge of the party’s presidential election team. “However, meeting and sharing with members is critical to the survival of this party. A clique around the party leader makes decisions. If a party avoids its members, it is doomed to fail. If they cannot find a way of accommodating all members, then the party risks being a one-man show.”
The brickbat that was clearly aimed at the party’s top brass left no doubt he shares the sentiments and frustrations younger MPs and senators have been expressing.
Jubilee is reportedly preparing a war chest to pounce on the dissenters. There have been reports of an effort to woo Western Kenya among other areas.
The latest developments represent the many twists and turns ODM has had to navigate to remain vibrant in the bicameral Parliament, despite its relatively weaker numerical strength. Some of the MPs met Raila on Wednesday evening during which they were categorical the bad eggs have to be dispensed with soon or the party risks another mass exodus as witnessed in the countdown to the March elections.
Kakamega meeting
The meeting was an attempt by Raila to calm the storm that has been building up involving mainly first-time MPs who have been calling for radical surgery to rid the party of senior officials they accuse of being responsible for the debacle suffered in the elections. The former PM’s responses to specific questions allegedly left some “frustrated”.
Raila, party secretary-general, treasurer and minority leader come from the same community, a reality those calling for disaggregation of seats to reflect the face of Kenya want changed.
The frustration of MPs from ODM political base in Nyanza coincides with a planned meeting in Kakamega this weekend to be addressed by, among others, former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende. Marende is positioning himself for chairmanship.
The realignment takes place against a backdrop of reports that pressure is piling on Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chair Ababu Namwamba and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma “to work with” the Jubilee government. Namwamba would not respond to our phone calls or text messages.
Hot topic
One of the MPs who attended the 5-9pm “dinner” meeting told The Standard on Saturday that the former PM remained vague on when the party would hold elections to rejuvenate it. The MP says it is unlikely the much-talked about polls will take place this year, as it had become hot topic that would split the party further.
The Serena Hotel dinner talks were attended by Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), Opondo Kaluma (Homa Bay), David Ochieng’ (Ugenya), Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), Jared Opiyo (Awendo), Ken Okoth (Kibra), Sylvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul) and George Oner Ogalo (Rangwe).
We have also learned that some MPs at the meeting said a senior official in Deputy President William Ruto’s office has been tasked with recruitment of disgruntled MPs from Nyanza and Western.
Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura referred to the meeting as routine “coffee meeting” with the party leader. “There is nothing extra-ordinary. We always meet with party leader for tea,” Mr Obura explained. The first-time MP, however, acknowledged the need to rebuild and re-brand the party.
“The National Governing Council will meet soon to set a date for elections. Once the NGC sets a date for a National Delegates Convention, we shall have enough reasons to speak on the direction we want the party to take,” he says.
Another first time MP from South Nyanza, who requested anonymity, says the session at Serena was stormy, with the MPs insisting demagogues responsible for the chaotic primaries be kicked out.
In a text message after the meeting, the MP described as “hot” the debate on the role played by chairman Henry Kosgey, Secretary-General Anyang Nyong’o, Eliud Owalo and Deputy National Assembly Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo in the March 4 elections.
The MPs questioned the recruitment of Magerer. The latter could not be reached by phone. Leaders from the former Western Province are pushing for either chairmanship or secretary-general’s post. Coast too is eying one of the positions, which are currently held by Kosgey and Nyong’o.
Other than Marende, Otuoma is said to be interested in Kosgey’s post while Namwamba and party assistant executive director Nabii Namwera are lining up to replace Nyong’o. Some MPs from Western are accused of either not propagating their party’s agenda or are quietly “working” with Jubilee.
10/03/08
03:32:29 pm, by nazret.com, 220 words
Categories: Ethiopia, Somalia
Should Ethiopia annex Somalia?
File Photo: Ethiopian Troops in Somalia
Should Ethiopia annex Somalia?
Writer Donald Kipkorir argues it is time for Ethiopia and Kenya to annex Somalia, in an opinion piece published in Kenya’s, The Daily Nation, titled, “Why Kenya and Ethiopia ought to annex and divide Somalia”.
Described by the Economist magazine as ‘The world’s most utterly failed state’, Somalia is a lawless state with no functioning central government since 1991. The writer argues the country is a ‘haven for terrorists and pirates’. He goes on to say,
“Annexing Somalia is thus in our strategic interest and we must do it now as the financial meltdown continues to take away the attention of the world.
Somalia as a state exists only in world maps. It is a classic case of a failed state. It is a state dismembered into as many independent units as there are sub-clans. Its 90-strong cabinet is emblematic of the actual number of units. Somalia neighbours Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Of these, it is only Ethiopia and Kenya that have strategic interest in Somalia. Kenya and Ethiopia must and ought to dismember Somalia and divide it between themselves along the 4 degrees latitude, each taking all the land below and above the line.”
You can read the full article from Kenya’s Daily Nation.
Should Ethiopia annex Somalia? Have Your Say
168 comments
Comment from: tola [Visitor]
I think that was the plan all along i say Hell yea we should take over Somaliland and Puntland and give the rest of Somalia to Kenya and also take Eritrea back and have Djibouti join us
10/03/08 @ 15:49
Comment from: KOKEB [Visitor]
ETHIOPIA never annex somalia. It is a dirty trick of MELATAW ZOMBIE and the TPLF TEGRE morans for all this un-wanted war.
Long live the people of ETHIOPIA & SOMALIA!
DEATH to MELESE and HIS bloodY family SHABIA!
10/03/08 @ 15:49
Comment from: dereje [Visitor]
it is sad the Somalis can’t put their house in order, relatively speaking. but Ethiopia never took other people’s land in its history and should keep it that way.
10/03/08 @ 15:53
Comment from: Emperor Menelik II [Visitor]
Perfect discussion We have to do this! Somaliland and Puntland join Ethiopia. The southern Somalians (Mogadishu)are the Shertam’ Somali dirt bag illiterate donkeys, they must join Kenya.
10/03/08 @ 15:53
Comment from: Ogadenian [Visitor]
Ethiopia is not even capable of feeding itself let alone annex Somalia. Ethiopia is in Somalia with the help of Christian Nations who have a deep hatred for all Somali Muslims,beside with all the finance,weapon,air and sea support for those Christians nations still it can not control one single city.
For goodness sake lets fight each other one to one,i meant Ethiopia against Somalia only no outside help and i swear to you Ethiopia will not last a week with us Somalis.
Its always Russian,Cuban,British, etc
Who are fighting against Somalian in the name of Ethiopians,that is why we are saying this is not fair.
10/03/08 @ 15:57
Comment from: berta [Visitor]
Not annex but it is a good strategy to temporarily split Somalia in to at least pieces. one ruled by Kenya plus AU and UN, the next piece ruled by Ethiopia plus AU and UN the other piece Puntland/Djibuti plus AU and UN.
10/03/08 @ 16:11
Comment from: Tesfaye [Visitor]
We have to be realistic. Somaliland & Puntland can join Ethiopia. Djoubiti & Eritrea should be given back to Ethiopia. Then we can build our country. We can mobilise our human and material resources to the maximum. This time we have to be serious about our internal enemies. They should be hunted and eliminated. Ethiopia needs a true national leader. Those leaders who have no respect for history are either insane or agents of foreign powers. ThEY HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH.
The case of Eritrea should be also resolved. Muslim Eritrea can be given to Sudan and the christian areas including Massawa should be given to Ethiopia. This is the way to deal with people who are bandas and messeners of destruction. The eritreans are mercenaries, slaves who been waging a war of detruction by proxy.
10/03/08 @ 16:26
Comment from: kirkiri [Visitor]
Kenya and Ethiopia don’t have the capacity to annex Somalia.
Somalia is closer to annexing both countries.
The Islamic courts union/al shabab hold more territory today than when Ethiopia cowardly thought it could do something about Somalia.
20,000 Ethiopian soldiers are dead and the Somali fighters not reached their full potential. Kenya is far weaker than Ethiopia.
Dreams are so cheap. Every fool can dream.
10/03/08 @ 16:27
Comment from: Tenkir [Visitor]
This is such a stupid question for those of us Ethiopians who know Ethiopia is run by a sophisticated gov that gives away land and territory (viz Eritrea) to manage a small country effectively In fact in a series of interviews I heard woyane officials complaining Ethiopia being too big to govern. So, please tell me how on earth will Ethiopia under the leadership of woyane would annex a land? Or are you asking a philosophical question suggesting since Somalia could be equated as a problem that the gov will not hesitate to bring anything negative to our side?
10/03/08 @ 16:28
Comment from: common sense [Visitor]
Sure it sounds an outlandish idea, but it’s really not that crazy an idea.It’s actually a win win situation for both Ethiopia and Somalia.If we look past European colonists era African tribes were just living side by side with out per say having a country of their own. It was mostly the English’s policy of divide and concur that brought about all these African nations. In light of that,if we are to entertain the idea of joining part of Somalia with Ethiopia should be given serious consideration.However it has to be in a democratic fashion with something like a referendum.I’m sure a lot of Somalis would support living side by side with their Ethiopian brothers.
10/03/08 @ 16:29
Comment from: Death to Weyanes [Visitor]
This is just stupid question? First let’s give Oromia and Ogaden their independence, they don’t want be a part of Ethiopia, then we can talk the other dream you have.
10/03/08 @ 16:42
Comment from: Emperor Menelik II [Visitor]
Tesfaye =You say Muslim Eritrea (30%) should be given to Sudan and Christian Eritrea(70%) should be given to Ethiopia? Did you know Ethiopia has more Muslim population then Sudan does? Ethiopia is 55% Muslim… at the same time you want Massawa in Eritrea to be given to Ethiopia? Massawa is Muslim Afars who live there. You want Djibouti and Somaliand to join Ethiopia and they are 100% Muslim If this is going to work we can not let religion play in this at all. The only Christians in the region are the Amhara and Tigray. The rest are Muslims.
10/03/08 @ 16:44
Comment from: raee [Visitor]
Should Ethiopia annex Somalia? what a moron question? Ethiopia should start feeding, educating, providing health care etc… for its nation. Stop talking about Ethiopia as if it’s some kind of a super power country. We have been begging for food every year God knows since when.
10/03/08 @ 16:54
Comment from: danieltekle [Visitor]
You guys are crazy.
If Haile Selasie’s annexation of Eritrea in 1951 ended with a devastation in 1991, as Eritrea gained its independence, why in the world would some of you suggest it is a good idea to annex Somalia. It is not controversial to say Eritreans and Ethiopians (at least those who live on the highlands) have a great deal in common with one another. Yet 30 years of war ensued in spite of the commonality. You want to repeat history?
Moreover, Ethiopia was also listed as a part of the failed states of the world, does that mean Kenya should annex Ethiopia, NOT!!!
Let’s clean our house before we judge other failed states.
10/03/08 @ 16:57
Comment from: Monkey [Visitor]
If Ethiopia commits to annexing Somalia and by doing so gives us an outlet to the ocean, I’ll volunteer to fight anyone who tries to stop this great plan.
The guy who thought of this is a genius.
10/03/08 @ 17:02
Comment from: gimatam shabiya [Visitor]
Really excellent article i ever read in this web site.This the only way to remove terrorist from horn Africa and to help Somalian brothers. Some Shabiyas in this web site start to urinate in there trousers.
10/03/08 @ 17:03
Comment from: uwnet lemenager [Visitor]
that’s dream which will not happen for ever because the Somalians are very energetic and a hero people. if their country were peace, they would have been control the horn of Africa by their military power,but their only enemy is a drug called “chat” or “mirah” if they avoid taking the above drug, they will be one of the strongest country in the region believe it or not.
10/03/08 @ 17:13
Comment from: Dr. Ashebir [Visitor]
Anyone who knows that even our brothers the Eritreans left us in a bloody war, would not be gullible enough to accept such seductive message. Let the Somalis keep their misfortune at a distance. Let’s not inherit their misfortune, instead fight it from overflowing.
10/03/08 @ 17:14
Comment from: Thomas [Visitor]
KOKEB
Kokeb; your comments are always full of hate, but nothing else. Why? I don’t know. Here is my assumptions; I think You are one of the losers from this government. Or, you are one of Iss-Ass Dikala who wants the destruction of Ethiopia.
Just get a life and stay in your Artera’s (Asmera) affaire. Leave us Alone please. You are Full of hate. use your hate to build your useless Aretera with your father Iss-ass.
10/03/08 @ 17:22
Comment from: soma [Visitor]
SOMALIA IS AN INDEPENDENT NATION WHO ARE SHOWING THEIR STRENGTH BY DEFEATING US AND MELESE
We all should understand Somalia is an independent nation no body will annex them.
The people of Somalia are different they are different when it come to US and Ethiopia.
Even though they have big difference among themselves when it comes to enemy like Ethiopia and US they have shown their strength.
10/03/08 @ 17:23
Comment from: Ali roble [Visitor]
In this day and age,even a drunkard Negro like this scumbag has some crazy idea, of course it unlikely his pure imagination but just some copy-cuts of colonialists and his former white master, what do with Somalia.Is he got enough share from the spoils left British by annexing Somaliland area to Kenya? What about if Luo tribes and others that live in Uganda and Tanzania when hostility against Kukuyo erupts next time around? Does Tanzania and Uganda also have right to annex them. Where we gonna draw the line? Are we redraw all African borders again thereby opening Pandora’s box?I think Ethiopia has enough problems of its own. Besides, its experience over Eritrea’s Annexation in the past taught unforgettable lesson. In the meantime I think Somalis will sort out their differences if left alone to deal with it.
10/03/08 @ 17:30
Comment from: Yonas Bekele [Visitor]
Another dumb and unsustainable idea. Somalia is not just a vast land mass, it has actually people living there and they do not want to be part of Ethiopia or Kenya. And what does Ethiopia have to gain by annexing its neighbor, if not more violence and other problems? I think we should withdraw our guys and let Somalis resolve their own problems, even if that means an Islamist state taking root there. No one like that scenario but Ethiopia is paying dearly in term of lives and treasure to help a country that may be a failed state forever.
10/03/08 @ 17:37
Comment from: habeshawu [Visitor]
the best way to secure peace in east Africa is to secure our borders and leave the Somalians to solve their problems by themselves, and most importantly give the eritrean law land to Sudan and throw the hamaseins in the salty red sea and give the high land to Ethiopia.
10/03/08 @ 17:59
Comment from: M.T. [Visitor]
no
10/03/08 @ 18:05
Comment from: sintayehu [Visitor]
please so not run so fast to say something without thinking about them. Even though Ethiopia has strong army in Horn now we can not invade Somalia because that would be a shame for us.What are we trying to show let invade Somalia like the Europeans did in their time. Somalia people are love people and we have to respect that O WE ETHIOPIANS LIKE IF ANY COUNTRY INVADE ETHIOPIA? ANSWER THAT AS THE FOR SOMALIA. But we are strong and we will be strong always.That is Ethiopia
10/03/08 @ 18:36
Comment from: Passerby [Visitor]
Honestly people! And nazret!!!!
This is the most stupidest idea let alone an idea for discussion…it suggests nazret thinks Ethiopians are that stupid? Now i wonder who owns this websites and on who side the owner is on politically.
1) Ethiopia during the 77 war won and could have annexed Somaliland but chose not to.
2) Ethiopia has under her rightful and patriotic rulers a history of hands-off lands that don’t belong to us, we went after eritrea thinking we were brothers and that didn’t workout as meles ceded all to his mothers side of the family.
3) every Ethiopian should be insulted by such questions cause Ethiopians don’t have a real representative gov’t that gives a darn about the people. When a rightful gov’t that is representative of the people comes to power, the real land of Ethiopia should be up for discussion…asseb!
10/03/08 @ 18:43
Comment from: SPINX [Visitor]
Hello my Horn Africa people
Let me take you back to 1960-70,war between Somalia and Ethiopia,or allow me to say Between Somalia and Russia and Cuba,with out the direct help of the then Soviet-Union,back then,Ogaden-land which is legally Somalian land,would still be Somalian,History repeats it’s self,Ethiopia never fought any war or battle alone by it’s own,it’s always been supported by the West,starting from Haile-Selassie and the British,then Megustu and Russia,Now Meles-USA,Dear Ethiopians,don’t believe the hype Somalians never forgot their stolen land,OGADEN,and now you acually think to take over the whole Somalia,are you out of touch,or reality,or common sense,The USA,Ethiopia’s #1,ally is no more a Super Power,it is collapsing,so Meles,please don’t think over your head,first think about how if you can beat the AL-Shabad,warriors,that are really getting stronger as we speak.Meles please think positive,and get our of Somalian-KusH-Land.HAPPY-EID,Brothers/Sisters
10/03/08 @ 19:01
Comment from: mercato [Visitor]
The nonsense idea of the century I have no word to express we have lost Djibouti ,Eritrea and part of Gondar I believe this is not our government plan!
To an wise commentator
Religions issue is like playing with fire it is not good for Christians based on east Africa reality also do not forget we have enough pagan in east Africa. Can’t you see we have enough problem? With 81 tribe and many religions. Way we do not try to negotiate with Eritrea at last we have the same culture in most area also we speak the same kind of language even our prime minister is from Eritrea.
10/03/08 @ 19:17
Comment from: aste menelik II (the best of all kings and dictators) [Visitor]
I say Somalia, Djouti, and Eritrea must all be comletely and totally be in the hand of Ethiopia. No Kenya should ever take a piece of land regardless. So that it will benefit the four countries. We will be as strong as Rassia, China, India and U.S.A. Do it right away without wasting any time. It is a very good idea but who has the stomach to do what is best for Ethiopia? If Meles can do such a thing for our country, we will praise him and keep him as an emperior that he holds currently until the time of his death. But the emperior is a spoild one, he never does what is best for our coutry but the opposite. ONE ETHIOPIA, GREEN, YELLOW AND RED. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY HOME.
10/03/08 @ 19:28
Comment from: ????? Free [Member]
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Stupid nechachiba
10/03/08 @ 19:51
Comment from: EthioMan [Visitor]
Some with spinning heads spinx out of control. Ethiopia does not need to prove any battels fought and won. History will do that. Africans do not need to kill eachother over anything, not relegion not ideology, both not ours to begin with. For those who shout with the crazy annex theory… well, they are just venting. Those who claim territories of sovereign nations are as crazy as the annexers.
Somalia is an independant nation, has been for many decades. The fact there is no working govt does not lead anyone to suggets such dilusional and thoughtless means. It is poisoning otherwise lawful people and nations near by. It must be condemed for what it is. Spreading poison.
My take on this issue is, Ethiopia MUST withdraw and allow the Somali people to do what they may to themselves. If and when they cross our borders, then we will let those who claim we never beat any shiritam or shabian punk back to oblivion, come and watch. Till then, I say somalia to Somalis.
10/03/08 @ 20:02
Comment from: yahye [Visitor]
:Once Kenya and Ethiopia have sent their combined army to Somalia and declared the annexation, we will present to the world a fait accompli. ”
A mentally handicapped Negro Rambo.
10/03/08 @ 20:17
Comment from: Tegerami [Visitor]
Those of you support this idea must be out of your mind. In return, rather, ethiopia shoul leave and depart from the somali region of Ogaden, which was annexed by menilki the II a century ago. Because that is the root problem for all animosity and mistrust between these two brotherly horn of afrikaners.
If once ethiopia leaves the region, no doubt that peace will be prevailed between somalis and ethios for eternity. Anyways,we had the gut to give eritrea, the real habesha land, away by the bless of our government in our modern day history. So why we lose a courage to do so in Ogaden, non-habesha land, but somali land.
10/03/08 @ 20:23
Comment from: Sprinter [Visitor]
Ethiopia is cutting and running, what can it annex? As for the Kenya Kelinjin reporter, his suggestion of passing the buck to Ethiopia is interesting. Why did he not suggest Kenya to annex instead. Because he knows Kenyans cannot face Somalis. Kenyan soldiers are heavily equipped but in battles they defate on themselves. Anyone who lived in Northern Kenya knows that.
As for Ethiopia, its hallucination is over. It is reality checks. Its opportunistic moves are bust. What a field day we Somalis have. Its time you taste defeat. Your boys are hold up in few buildings in Mogadishu. As I write they want to desperately run away. They are afraid and terribly lonely. The bullet is their fate, either way if they say or not. They have exit strategy.
It must be horrible to be defeated by a country without a regular army. Yes, yes, your adventurism has eventually cought up with you. Allua Continua!!!
10/03/08 @ 21:07
Comment from: Gemechu [Visitor]
SPINX:
Your information on regards the war between Ethiopia and Somalia is right, but I have something to tell u.
Somalia was getting full support from Russian on the begging of the war when they invade Ethiopia. They have more than 200 tanks, MG fighter’s jet and other military hardwires. Then after Russia shifted their support to Ethiopia Somalia was supported by Egypt, USA (because of Russia Support to Ethiopia) and other Middle east countries……
The real question is, there were/are no countries in Africa who won any battle without other foreign/west countries support. We or Somalia don’t produce any weapon at the moment and because of that we always seek help from those who produce it.
When your country (Eriteria) fought for their independence they were getting supports from Egypt and other Middle East countries. So please don’t make it a big deal just because we get lots of supports from other country such as USA. No matter how much the support is you don’t wean without good fighters. Somalia invaded Ethiopia with more than 200 tanks and don’t know how to use it. Finally, they have to abandon all of their tanks for Ethiopian solders.
On recent battle with your Country Eri and Ethiopia your country did get lots of support from Egypt but they were not successful. The reason why they were not successful was luck of man power. U are 4 milon and we are 80 million. Somalia is 7-10 million and we are 80 million. You need to understand the facts. Don’t be moron! Population matters when it comes to battle and economy.
10/03/08 @ 21:56
Comment from: Training1 [Visitor]
Are these people on drugs?
They can’t control Somalia and they are thinking of annexing it?
30,000 Tigryabs,2,200 Ugandans and Burundis and thousands of Americans spying on Somalia can’t control the SOUTH. Tigryans are being dragged on the streets.
Now this guys is suggesting that we annex the whole country? Please brother. Stop taking drugs before you write.
10/03/08 @ 21:59
Comment from: ZXAmiche [Visitor]
In your dreams!
Be afraid and pray Somalinization not to haunt Ethiopia and Kenya!
10/03/08 @ 22:09
Comment from: Land of the day dreamers [Visitor]
Funny these are the same retards who comment about the unity of Ethiopia day and night
But turn around and dream of the dividing a neighboring country Somalia!!!!
I am appalled even for Nazeret to publish this kind of non sense article in the first place! But again seeing most of the contents published here day in day out and the majority of their clientele here it should not be surprising!!
Fools get down of your donkeys and think again! You could not even convince your cousins, the Orthodox Christian Eritreans to stay with you, what makes you think the Somalians can go along?
Get your house in order before your dreams of others!!!!!
What you are gonna do with an empty empty empty land with the most getto people on earth?
Westerners should use it as hunting ground for wild animals?
10/03/08 @ 22:40
Comment from: Ababu [Visitor]
What a ludicrous idea!!! is there any legality of annexing a sovereign country? If so, yes. but i don’t think a failed state like Ethiopia would be able to annex a neighboring country and administer it. The only African country that played such a role was South Africa which had been mandated to admiister Namibia after the defeat of Germany in WWI. This whole idea is a wishful thinking that would mar our country to another round of instability and political complexity.
10/03/08 @ 22:51
Comment from: Wenebz [Visitor]
Ethiopia annexing who and what!? The love for aggrandizing thoughts – that is the real joke!
10/03/08 @ 23:11
Comment from: Time [Visitor]
What is his name? Kipkorir? Wow, I did not know a Kalenjin guy had the audacity to think beyond his nose!!. Does he know his uncle MOI when he was overthrown the man who saved his ass was a Somali (General Mohamoud)? All the Kalenjins went and hid themselves in their Shambas (farms) including Moi. It was Mohamoud who with few Somalis under his command took back the Statehouse and the Radio station and announced Moi is still the President.
Mohamoud took a helicopter and went to Moi’s Shamba (farm) to bring him back. The Kalenjin man (Moi) told Mohamoud ‘Please kill me in my farm. Don’t take me away’. Wow! and Wow again. A kalenjin can dare think of annexing Somalia? It is us somalis who allowed these low life neighbours who never dare look at our side the chance to even think of it. Alas, we somalis might be brave but we are stupid. This generations is definately not like our grand fathers. The year 2020 will be somalia’s year and down hill Issack Newton’s theory for Ethiopia. I guess Kenya has already started the rift more than eethiopia but what can a Kalenjin’s brain comprehend. Haven’t you seen the flying machetes? Each one of them has it in his garage and are ready to cut each other into pieces.
Having said all that, I would prefer seeing the people of Africa living in peace and prosperity rather than talking of annexing a sisterly nation. The Kalenjin boy forgot his country is at the brink of extinction.
Let me say all Afrcan countries need to re-evaluate their way forward. otherwise they will be written into the history books. Aids, Maleria, Poverty, droughts, Wars will only increase bearing in mind the scars reaources the world will be facing. I fear for Africa and he is talking of Annexing another country.
Wait until 2020 and tell me about it. Strategy and maticulous planning that covers many dimension will be the way out for Somalia. By 2020 the Alshabaab and warlords will be history and there will be enough educated somalis in western countries who will take the lead. Investing in Infrastructure, Education, Agriculture and strong social engineering will put Somalia on Track. If you remember what I said, Ethiopia will be going down hills since by then they are recovering from Meles and Tigrey Legacy if they are not mired in civil war. I just pray to God the Somalis don’t take revenge in playig a role in distabilizing Ethiopia more. That is what Meles did. If this happens I wonder who will hold together Ethiopian tribes and religions.
Somalis, we have a saying that says ” Don’t dig your brother’s grave as you might be the one that will fall into it”. Ethiopia has dug the Grave but will it be the one to fall into it? Twelve years will tell.
If you read my post please try to remember what I have posted.
Proud Somali.
NAZRET PLEASE POST IT.
10/04/08 @ 00:42
Comment from: araadom [Visitor]
Annexing Somalia-b/n Ethiopia and Kenya.
You people-why ,why you always bark when your masters in the west tell you.You daydream when your country is always called the land of famine and hunger.Do your homework clean your dirty backyard before you look into Eritrea and Somalia. For Eritrea Adois it is the land of its owners.
10/04/08 @ 01:10
Comment from: Master Mind [Visitor]
raee
Thank you.
You bunch of morons knowing your limitations and capablites should be priority, but which part of your air head have a brain to think?
Let alone annexing somalia you couldn’t take control of feeding your family, it’s too easy to open your mouth hiding your dusty head behind your $20.00 flea market PC but that is not the point…the point is know who you are, some of you idiots can not tell your own names in proper Amharic and most of you have no value of Africanism, simply a borndogs brainless idiots do you think Somalis will stand in a corner and watch you while your kimal is takin over their land?
What a stupid question???????
Nazret thank you for this rubish topic which was able to pull out these morons out of their rat hole.
10/04/08 @ 01:39
Comment from: Z-Mike [Visitor]
Although the suggestion is not a bad idea, Ethiopia should only offer Kenya 10% of Somalia’s land. Kenya did does not have the military need to stand for a fight if and when a fight (war that is0 breaks out. Kenya’s total military is estimate at about 45,000 including the police force, the navy army etc. So to suggest Kenya taking over half of Somalia is not realistic and a very dangerous suggestion by the media.
The next steps of Ethiopia should be:
1} train and build strong navy.
2) Stay in Somalia and if need get rid of the clan leaders and tell Somalis if they don’t get there act together, there wont be another nation call Somalia.
3} get rid of Sheabians along with its terrors.
4} hold a referendum in Ethiopia whether or not Eritrea becomes independent.
****Keep on building even stronger military in Ethiopia and work on stronger democratic systems. Once we do that, Ethiopia will become stronger then ever before and the world will see the strength of Ethiopia/ns.
Z-Mike
10/04/08 @ 01:51
Comment from: kitkat [Visitor]
Annex Somalia !
Yes, Please Please Annex it.
Specially for the sake of unarmed clans who are beings massacred by so called noble clans.
Please Ethiopia Annex Somalia !
10/04/08 @ 03:01
Comment from: habeshawu [Visitor]
Time,
you are full of sh*t, you keep saying 2020, did Somalia win the chance to host Olympic or what seriously be specific about your 2020 plan. you are a typical angry man with a hot balloon head just like our northern neighbors.
10/04/08 @ 03:50
Comment from: Tamrat Tamrat [Visitor]
Lets levae somalians affair to somalians. And if they tried to mess with uss like 2006, 1977, etc then will show them who we are and they strat singing cuba and russia help ethiopia. The worrest thing about the somalians is the story they creat and believ. Is it not a disgrace to discuss anexation of a nation by itself.
10/04/08 @ 04:04
Comment from: Interesting Topic [Visitor]
The writer is a good thinker of the time. But lacks the knowledge of History.
Once Hirsi Ali (a Somalian activist) said about herself that she is the 7th generation of an Immigrant came to todays Somalia. Meaning the not Habesha look like Somalians are not the original residents in todays Somalia.
Somalia never ever has been a country before the British, Italian colonization on her dividing in three. They were primitive nomadic acting and living the way their animals demanding them to do. As the Abyssinian history says, the Entire Somalia territory was under the axumite kingdom including Yemen, southern Saudi Arabia and Gulf states that many of them still looks like the Habesha people. Mogadishu means moqat and shum= the Abyssinians word. The shum/Astedader of the moqat area.
Because of spreading Islam in Africa through war and invasion, the Arabs and Iranians fought against the Abyssinians the same way the Arabs did at the time in todays Sudan against them, too. But never ever been Somalia as a state with her todays territory boundary.
Abyssinia (Ethiopia) was the oldest statehood in AFRICA/one of the world. Modern Ethiopia (small Ethiopia) is the oldest modern statehood in Africa since 1850/60+ under the leadership of the modern Ethiopian father Atse Teodros.
After the death of Zere Jacob, the powerful Queen Ellni took the Abyssinian responsibility including todays Somalia Territory. But the time was very bad to Ethiopia as the Turks and Arabs were taking vast territory in todays Sudan including the territory called Sabians (all of them were at the time Christians including eastern, northern and central Sudan). The conflict was going on actively for 400 years but started since 8/9 century. And the worst was between 11-15 in the north and eastern part of the country. In the 16 century after the queen Eleni death (1522), the Arabs saw the weakness of the kingdom and they came through the south (todays Somalia by hiring a primitive nomad converted to become Muslim and as then brainwashed blood sucker against all Christians.
The gruesome Muslim invasion against the Christian Abyssinians took 14 years (1529-1543). During this time they even reached to the centre of the Christian kingdom in Axum and burned down the Axum Tsion mariam. This shows how much human and material damaged all over the country they had caused and the country situation changed for good.
With the European help, the Arabs invasion to spread Islam through war and killing is defeated. But the Abyssinians were badly destroyed. Many have died. Others immigrated to the north to the highlands to escape. The rest became Muslims and the same times they started acting as the todays Somalian do. This is the way the Abyssinian look like Somalians became as Somalians. That is why we said Ethiopian Muslims didn’t become Muslims by choice but by force through invasion and war.
The weakness of the Abyssinians became an opportunity to the massive migration/invasion like ants for the gala migration to the southern, central and western Ethiopia. The Somalians also did the same by defeating the Adals.This way the Zemene Mesafent created and took about 300 years.
Yet, when Ethiopia regrouped and became as a nation in 1860+, there was no a single nation in Africa at the time. That is why I said, “Ethiopia is not only the oldest ancient country but also the oldest modern country, too.”
Egypt became as it is since 1922. The rest of Africa became as it is today since 1953 started from Ghana. Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and the rest of Africa is just 50+ years old. Even in the middle east countries Like Saudi Arabia became as it is today in 1906. Iraqi 1923. And other Gulf States became, as they are latter on. So, the OLF idea of Ethiopia hundreds years old is fiction, ignorant, baseless, wrong and second even if she it so, she is older than any nation in Africa and the Middle East, too. No a single African nation has a hundred years modern statehood.
When it comes to Somalia they have been a country for only 20+ years under Siadbarie. That is it. They never ever have been a country more than that. I think the habesha look like Somalians have the right to be part of Ethiopia if they want to be that way. But Ethiopia demanding them to be part of her will be a mistake. You cannot govern them because of they never been governed by themselves and they have no idea to respect it.
As the entire Kenyan cost is part of the Kenyan Somalians, Kenya will have big problem with them. If you listen Somalians individually, almost all of them like Ethiopians that any one from Africa including the Kenyans. The Somalian Immigrants that have been in Kenya will tell you their feeling about the Kenyans. While the same time those have been in Ethiopia also will tell you their appreciation and respect towards Ethiopians. Only few Jiahdists do hate Ethiopians because of religion.
Ethiopia has a big rat on her back yard and first and for most she has to deal with it. That rat is Eritrea. So, it is time to deal with the shabia rats. The have disappeared from Eritrea means all over Ethiopia will be peace and security as shabia is training all anti Ethiopian elements including the primitive Somalia Islamic terrorists, OLF and nomadic primitive ONLF.
10/04/08 @ 04:28
Comment from: Legassi Zenawi [Visitor]
Somaliland will be a free country with close ties to Ethiopia, UK, and USA, white isolated south somalia and pirate infested puntland are killing each other with their warlords and clan.
they always try to polarize and oversimplify the situation saying oh ethiopia = christian, somalia = muslim
you idiots either don’t have a clue or are primitive animals.
this is 100% about Territorial integrity of Ethiopia and 0% about religion.
u think that relgion can solve ur problem of fragmented society based on ethnic and tribal lines, YOU WRONG.
10/04/08 @ 05:10
Comment from: Legassi Zenawi [Visitor]
Ill make damn well sure that we take ONLY ASSEB and expel all NON AFAR eritrean animals/donkeys.
We will take back our ports, as Mengistu said:
“I was there [Eritrea] with 700 people, We are there only for military strategy of water [Red Sea], there’s no Oil there, no diamonds, no gold, it’s not a country, there’s no people, NOTHING”
We will be comming back for Asseb!
Ethiopia Tikdem
10/04/08 @ 05:16
Comment from: Yohannes [Visitor]
No! No! No! All so-called national boundries created by colonial masters should be dismantled. Africa must be united in order to survive in the 21st century as a viable entity. Clanish and tribal thought should be arrested. Let us think big and far into the future while educating the unlearned. Had it not been for their identity crisis, Africans could have thrived in modern global economy becuase of their untapped natural resources.
We have no one to blame now but ourselves.
Democracy is not for Africans, at least for now, for we do not have the cornerstones for it, education, self-respect, human dignity, etc. I think the primitive paternalistic dictatorship based on fatherly or may be, motherly rule would transition us to a better tomorrow. But for the current dictators….
10/04/08 @ 05:21
Comment from: dekia [Visitor]
who is giving ethiopia 100 years of more homework war again.
10/04/08 @ 07:34
Comment from: Somali [Visitor]
Kenya
– A country with the worst record of corruption in Africa since independence
– A country with the largest slums in Africa
– A country whose economy is controlled by ex-colonials and Indians and now Somalis
– A country where people a few months ago were burning/hacking and shooting each other to death – A situation that could break out again any day of the week considering all these ethnic groups are still not satisfied
– A country who’s main tourist industry is prostitution
– A country with a mindblowing aids rate – seven or eight times higher than Somalia
– A country that can’t provide water to all it’s nomadic ethnicities( funny how Djibouti was called primitive for the same reason)
This country is suppossed to solve the Somali problem? who’s going to solve KENYA’S PROBLEMS?
Ethiopia
– A country where a racist minority rules over majorities
– A country where a dozens different seccesion groups are active who want nothing to do with the country
– A country that has an inferior telecommunication system compared to Somalia
– A country with less universities in the top 100 of Africa than Somalia
– A country with a smaller GDP per capita than the failed-state Somalia( see Economist)
– A country where 15 million people every year face starvation
– A country that tap dances to every Uncle Sam tune
This country is going to solve the Somali problem? Who’s going to solve Ethiopia’s problems?
These GI JOE’s Arnold Kipkopkipko’s and Mutunga Wango’s pretending their countries are anything but slaves of America are amusing
Insha-allah by the time of his deadline 2030 Somalia will have swallowed them all
10/04/08 @ 08:03
Comment from: Mesganaw [Visitor]
Time:
A proud Somali? Proud of what?
Before the British and Italian came to scrub nomadic/primitive Somalia, there was no any form of govt since her existence. It was like a no mans land territory. It was ruled under a clan and sub clan system. After independency, Somalia was became as a nation only for less than 30 years.
Egypt was ruled by British. Libya was ruled by Italy. Algeria was ruled by France and Morocco was at last ruled by Spain. That is why there are 4 different countries despite they have the same religion and speaking the same language.
The same thing has to apply for Somalia, too. Somaliland was ruled by British. You have an Italian Somalia and Punt land. So, there must come three different nations in somalia the same way as it happened in North African and other nations, too. So you can count 2020, 2040, 2100+ as numbers are infinitive, but Somalia will not become as one nation. Canada and USA are speaking the same language and have the same religion, why they became two separate states? In the Middle East, South America and elsewhere different nations are speaking the same language and have the same religion. So, Somalia to become, as one nation because of they are speaking the same language and have the same religion is a weak, cheap and never materialise silly thinking. It is already tested for 20+ years and it didn’t work.
Why are you mad towards Ethiopia while the writer is from Kenya? Kenyans are using their arrows and machete against the Somalians calling them the primitive people in Africa.
You can cry or do what ever you like, but your Satanic wish about Ethiopia will never fulfil.
You really have no idea about Ethiopia. When the serious comes, they are one and even the air can not come between them. Accept it and learn more about the Ethiopians good side.
After all Ethiopians are the one saved Islam by giving shelter and support to Prophet Mohamed and his followers. This was the first recognised political asylum granted to any one in human history. The first person who became Muslim is an Ethiopian, Belay (Bilal). We also know what P. Mohammed said about the habesha land and people and to His followers would be conduct towards the habesha people.
But you bastard, his followers became the enemy to the prophet special friends(Habeshas). You are using his name to commit crimes by not respecting his message including towards the habesha people.
I think King Negash/the habesha people made mistakes by giving save heavens and accommodations to them and saved Islam from disappearing as it happened to other religion in human history. If they didn’t, Islam might not be here today. You can try what ever you can in the name of Mohammed against Ethiopia, but Mohammed, Jesus and God will not allow something bad happening against the habesha people. The Arabs are busy all the times against the habesha people for many centuries, but God is fighting against them in the name of the Habesha people. Their crime against the beautiful Habesha women also will be answered by God, soon. Their oil money will be the real curse towards them. You, a primitive Somalian is a slave to them. We know and you know about. Have you been in the middle East. They see you as a Mistake, servant, slave, leftover or a monkey came from the central Africa jungle.
How can you judge Ethiopia while you know nothing about yourself?
I’m talking this to you, not to other Somalians I know that are wise and respectful towards Ethiopians. Go to the Kenyans Blog and deal with them if you can how.
10/04/08 @ 10:20
Comment from: Wadani [Visitor]
If Ethiopia annexed Somalia,the dreams of Somalia will become true from the opposite way.It will be a surprising and an excitements to the Somalis that their dreams became true from their unexpected and believing their enemy of Ethiopia sides.As,ogaden peoples also,it will boost the voices we have in the federal parliaments of Ethiopia.
And it will be the end of the sources of liberator groups that used to be coming of each decades from Somalia (Mogadishu)without the Ogaden peoples consent.
Thus, it will be, a relaxing, peacefulness and a pretty ideas,if that dreams of unifications of Ethiopian and Somalia becomes true. Despite of the many causalities in the process,it will be really,a great idea and surely the rest of the region countries would be joining when they see the greatness and the prosperity reached of united countries of Addis and Mogadishu.
Nevertheless,My predictions of that early bird joining to the unions would be Asmara and the second would be Libiya even before the Djabuti joined to the unions,its Libiya of my second guess.
10/04/08 @ 10:30
Comment from: dereje [Visitor]
they say you can choose your friends but not your neighbors.
ethiopia is very unlucky to have somale and eritrea as its neighbor. ethiopias short term strategy should be to strengthen its economy and military so these bad neighbors stay off its affair and its land. in the long term ethiopia may have to take military actions to change the geography and the politics of the two menace.
10/04/08 @ 10:37
Comment from: Time [Visitor]
I have addressed this note to the editor of that article. Those like him should take heed. Africa is sick and tired of people like him.
———————————–
Dear Kir (Somali word),
What is your name again? Kipkorir? Wow, I did not know a Kalenjin guy had the audacity to think beyond his nose! Do you know your uncle MOI when he was overthrown the man who saved his sorry butt was a Somali (General-Mohamoud)? All the Kalenjins went and hid themselves in their Shambas (farms) including Moi. It was Mohamoud who with few soldiers mostly Somalis under his command took back the Statehouse and the Radio station and announced Moi is still the President.
Mohamoud took a helicopter and went to Moi’s Shamba to bring him back. The Kalenjin man (Moi) told Mohamoud ‘Please kill me in my farm. Don’t take me away’. Wow! and Wow again. A Kalenjin can dare think of annexing Somalia! It is us Somalis who allowed these low life neighbours who never dare look at our side the chance to even think of it. Alas, we Somalis might be brave but we are stupid. This generation is definately not like our grand father’s-Admission of guilt. The year 2020 will be Somalia’s year and down hill Isaac Newton’s theory for Ethiopia. I guess Kenya has already started the rift more than Ethiopia but what can a Kalenjin’s brain comprehend. Haven’t you seen the flying machetes? Each one of you has it in his garage and is ready to cut the other into pieces.
Having said all that, I would prefer seeing the people of Africa living in peace and prosperity rather than talking of annexing a sisterly nation. Kalenjin boy you forgot your country is at the brink of extinction. Let me say all African countries need to re-evaluate their way forward. Otherwise, they will be written into the history books. Aids, Malaria, Poverty, droughts, Wars will only increase bearing in mind the scarce resources the world will be facing. I fear for Africa and you are talking of annexing another country.
Wait until 2020 and tell me about it. Strategy and meticulous planning that covers many dimension will be the way out for Somalia. By 2020 the Al-shabaab and warlords will be history and there will be enough educated Somalis in western countries and back home who will take the lead. Investing in Infrastructure, Education, Agriculture and strong social engineering will put Somalia on Track. If you remember what I said, Ethiopia will be going down hills since by then they will be recovering from Meles and Tigrey Legacy if they are not mired in civil war. I just pray to God the Somalis don’t take revenge in playing a role in destabilizing Ethiopia more. That is what Meles did to Somalis. If this happens, I wonder who will hold together the Ethiopian tribes and religions. Somalis who have one religion and language have taken this long to resolve a civil war, what will you think of Kenya? this is a good perspective for a wise man.
We Somalis, have a saying that says “Don’t dig your brother’s grave as you might be the one that will fall into it”. Kenyans also say “Mchimba kisima huingia mwenyewe”. I have lived in Kenya long enough to know it upside down. You will not give me credit if I told you I am capable of formulating a strategy that will put Kenya on its knees within couple of years. I will not shout around like pumpkin head like you but be rest assured your desire was well known and it is a note well taken. Ethiopia with the help of America has already dug the grave for Somalis for many years and it is time they fall into it. As for Kenya and the likes of Kipkorir who don’t know what Somalis are, let me tell you, Somalis will not miss a sleep guarding against Kenyan invasion. The clock has started ticking two years ago and Twelve years from now will tell.
Proud Somali,
Mohamed Abass.
NAZRET PLEASE POST IT. THANKS
10/04/08 @ 10:47
Comment from: Master Mind [Visitor]
Time [Visitor]
What is a single point in all that crap?
You are recommanded to take a capule called “Vocabulary” every 8 hours before meal.
10/04/08 @ 11:07
Comment from: Tesfaye [Visitor]
Annexing Somalia is of strategic importance for Ethiopia to play the role of an ancient black civilisation. Ethiopia should take back Artra and Djoubiti. We have to do it by war if necessary. Eritrea is an ethiopian history. Those who do not want to live under Ethiopian administration are eritrean who are mercenaries. The real eritreans are ethiopians. Djubiti was taken from Ethiopia through international manipulations. Ethiopia is a might power. Unfortunaely the Zenawi group are anti-Ethiopia and are working against a centralised might power.
The Somalians have to be led. And it is only Ethiopia that could give Somalis some hope to live. The ethiopian army is still in full control in Somalia. If Ethiopia is serious, the Islamist will be destroyed with no man left. Ethiopia should wage a full scale war and annex Somalia for Ethiopia. The somalians could be chritinized and eat injera. No Islam in somalia. Somalians deserve more. Their children will go to the same schools as ethiopians. Somali girls will represent Ethiopia as ethiopians as atheletic champions.
Ethiopia is 70% christian- Orthodox Christian (60%). Islam is growing in Ethiopia but not significantly.
Wake up Ethiopians! Unite Africans under the banner of Ethiopia! Start with Somalia because Somalia needs us more!
10/04/08 @ 11:07
Comment from: visitor [Visitor]
Annexing Somalia…and what then? The problem of ethiopians is that we never learn..Last time, we annexed a country, we paid paid a huge price for it: 30 years of war and we missed a great chance to better our lives.
What i would advice all the dreamers in rags that we are, it’s to push woyannes to leave Somalia and focus on bringing health,education and food to the people they are supposed to rule :ethiopians.
10/04/08 @ 11:10
Comment from: ANNEX BRITISH EAST AFRICA AND HABASH [Visitor]
To annex Somalia mr. Kukiyo you need to
come to somali cities like Kismayo and
fight real men, Union of islamic courts/
Somali jihad movement/Somaliland National Army etc. We all know that conlonization of
of africa is finish but indeed the slaves
will never change their mindset. I am sitting today in Mombasa and looking at a Muslim /somali city and feeling home,
Kenya is a somali region and soon shall return to SOMALIYA/ we shall it return by be force or by talk, but untill then countinue with your Dreams.Because we as people
don’t talk nonsense we Somali take actions and Kenya is somali, go to any city and look for your self. while you are born slaves and only take orders, by somalis or british as in the past.We give orders. And
Todays Order to your mr Kikiyo is dream o
on my BOY>. this Text is written on behave of UNITED SOMAL EAST AFRICAN STATE (includes habashia and kenya).
thank you.
10/04/08 @ 11:11
Comment from: TEDDY [Visitor]
You mean ,annexion what a jock ,a tribal milicia army ,agazis ,blocked and harassed by bare footed children fighters ;has no means to control Somalia any longer than withdrawing or surrender .It’s sad to recognise since the evil Zenawi and his thugs took power Ethiopian Armed Forces have ceased to exist ,today the so called National Armed Forces are simply tribal based milicia forces led by illitrate TPLF bandit self apointed officers and generals .Agazis have no pride and dignity as much as the armed forces led in 1964 by Aman Adom and letter in 1977 led by Demisse Bulto ,of course the Air Force of Fanta Belay who really defeated twice Somalian invasion forces . LONG LIVE THE TRUE ETHIOPIANS !!!
10/04/08 @ 11:34
Comment from: D-barry [Visitor]
D. EAR Ogadenian please you talk sheet.I bean in ethio-somalia war 1977.When we start counter atack I saw with my eye the somalia army left behind all the Tank and weapon run like Horse 500k|meter.You know it 2 years ago it takes the heroic ethiopian army less than one week to control south Somalia.That is the fact broo.May be i have some difference with the government I still like ethiopia and the army.
10/04/08 @ 11:44
Comment from: girma yirgu [Visitor]
it is a good idea to take somalia to motherland ethiopia mokadischo means the papties city of ethiopia all ethiopian creastianity came frome thhough mmekadescha mokodischo if meles zenawi did that his name will be among the greatest of all somalia must join ethiopia as 14 provice of ethiopia
no more somalia only one ethiopia
ertrea will came by it self we must not forse them they used to be one nations
ertrea can not servive with out ethiopia please meles zenawi do that and clean your hand and make reconsilations among all ethiopians
so that your beloved childeren will with out fear of ethiopians
10/04/08 @ 11:50
Comment from: lekim [Visitor]
Only those who want Ethiopia and or Kenya to fight their dirty wars for them would advocate the annexation of Somalia. Ethiopia is a law abiding member of the world community and not a Trojan horse for imperialist pigs. Somalis can keep their banana republic.
10/04/08 @ 11:52
Comment from: Somalirealist [Visitor]
Somalia can Annex both Ethiopia and Kenya but not the vice versa.
This Kukuyu Niggar is dreaming.
Somalis own the biggest land in kenya, North Eat, NFD. SOmalis control the econmy in Kenya by taking over from the Indians. We have many politicians well placed into the system fot hat country. Muslims in Mombasa are with us. So basiccally we own Kenya.
TO Ethiopia, we own the biggest land, Oromos the majority of Ethiopia are firendly to us. 50 or more % are Muslim in Ethiopia and associate with Somalia, Eritrea is our Friend. Only Mountain people can go against us.
Above all, Somalia has the gutts to do this, without feering US and EU.
So given these facts, SOmalia can Annexx both of these countries.
However, it should not be our policy to do this.
This writer is a narrow minded fool who does not have any clue of what he is talking about about.
Somalia will think of Annexing any of its neighbours and if its neighbors start thinking so, we know how to respond with swift defeat.
10/04/08 @ 12:00
Comment from: Confussed [Visitor]
I was reading the credentials and experience of this so called the writer of this article, and come to the point of imagining the thoughts of his likes but less credentials. I guess they will imagine annexing the USA as well. All I can say is that this writer is loosing his mind and soon be a mad naked fool running around the streets begging for “Ugali”.
For those of you who applauded to his stupidest idea of all time are also thoughtless idiots. The matter of fact is that both Ethiopia and Kenya are barely making their needs let alone annexing another nation.
You all be really!
10/04/08 @ 12:32
Comment from: Seleme [Visitor]
. . . i dont agree,. . .let them live alone!. . .
10/04/08 @ 13:05
Comment from: Time [Visitor]
HERE IS THE FEEDBACK FROM THE EDITOR IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS AND MY FOLLOW UP RESPONSE:
Mohamed,
Thanks for your comments though part of them are unnecessarily vitriolic! The strand of my thesis is that if Somalia can’t fix its problems since 1960 and be able to exploit its minerals then kenya and ethiopia should do it!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Celtel Kenya
————————————
With all due respect Mr. Kipkorir, who would fix Ethiopia and Kenya’s problems? Did Kenya and Ethiopia exploit their resources? I think you are using lame excuse to bring forth your hidden agenda. Please advocate for civility and respect among the nighbouring countries. If we look at Kenya, solving the problem of Nairobi slums, disease and poverty will take years. Why don’t you concern yourself with that? It is humilating to suggest poor and backward countries like Ethiopia and Kenya should annex another African country. Why have you never talked of annexing Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, and Zaire to mention a few?
Your comment has no place in modern Africa. If you are among the peace loving Kalenjin people who are very friendly to Somalis, you would write an appology article in response to the ill thought and sinister article you titled “Annexing Somalia”.
10/04/08 @ 13:28
Comment from: el [Visitor]
Somali [Visitor]
assuming you are Somalian, where did you get your facts about Somalia’s GDP being higher than ethiopia or Somalia having more universities than ethiopia? It doesn’t actually matter whither you are somalian or Eritrean since you both have a lot in common in terms of being the only so called nations in the world with no annual budget and higher education(university) to talk about, let alone GDP . be happy you are not alone.
10/04/08 @ 13:47
Comment from: United Alem [Visitor]
I WILL POOT IT IN SHORT !…. NO NEED TO CREAT AGAIN EAST AFRICAN EVERLASTING WAR AS PALESTINE AND ISRAEL BETWEEN ETHIOPAN AND SOMALIAN!!!!!!EVEN 1000000 % WORST THAN PALESTINIAN AND ISRAEL!!!! “GOMEN/CABAGE BETEN” SANG TSHAY YOHANES
10/04/08 @ 14:07
Comment from: Tesfaye [Visitor]
Emperor minilk said if god gave him the the bless to live longer and in health, he would annex all territories along the indian ocean coastline.
When he aimed this He ignored the Eritreans(BANDAS)at the moment.
But minilik died before accomplishment.
Now Meles Zenawi look like
accomplishing what Minilk started.
10/04/08 @ 14:08
Comment from: mo [Visitor]
did i heard him say somalis have more per-capita then kenya.that says alot isn’t it? if that is the case knowing kenya has more per-capita then ethopia,they could only invade with artificially sustained armies. its a fact that we are prosprering more than you lot eventhougt we didnot have proper governemet for ages.what will happen if we have peace god knos
10/04/08 @ 14:38
Comment from: jank@mail.com [Visitor]
MY ANSWER IS SIMPLE YES!
WHY DID YOU TAKE YOU LONG!
for starter I have a fealing Somilian in Ethiopian have better life then Somilian in Somilian… Ethiopian problem is always money otherwise we are much modern people… even much better advance people then USA… we are very poor but we are not killing each or fool reason… you don’t some one telling you he will kill you because you are muslim etc etd.. or he doesn’t like because you are this or that ethnic groups… beside we are not war like people… we respect rule and law we vaule human life….
Beside on this Somilian would be better of ruled by Ethiopian under Ethiopian flag…
To make sure this become a reality we should arm all woman in Somilia give them gun to proect themselves from war lord… once we are all the woman in Somilia the man will lose their power… The man can not go around and tell the woman to sew their privet part… if they do the woman police officer will coem and take him to jail… you see if you want the woman right to be respected then you should give woman power how by giving them power meaning gun… GUN MEAN POWER IN AFRICA… if the woman misss use the gun and attack the Ethiopian army then that is their lose…
In fact armying the woman would be the best staragy even in all Arab countries… if all the woman have gun… how in hell the man will going to oppress them?
100,000 woman army will do the job to fix the men… now the warlord can’t wear the woman dress and do their drity job the woman will stop him!!!!
Eritean have woman army… some northern arab country also have woman army… if the woman feed up with this BS then they should be happy to fitght for their freedom…. if they didnot then they are have only themselves to belmeam
10/04/08 @ 14:53
Comment from: Shewarega [Visitor]
Somalia is a sovreign nation. What ever problem they have within them, including those of Somalilan/Puntland belongs to them. Having said that, I think Somalis should also stop this never ending plot of attacking and plotting against Ethiopia. We can all go to history and talk about who did what to whom. But lets just live that alone, and let us both strive to first reconstitute Somalia, and second bring about true Democratic governments in both countries. For Democratic nations do not spend their day plotting how to destabilize, or conquer their neighbors. Somalia had one chance to grab territories from Ethiopia. That was 1977 when Ethiopia was swept by revolution. But look what that brought upon Somalia. It disintegrated at its seems. And you fed and bred Meles, who was carrying a Somali passport, and you got what you deserved. He is bombing and destroying your homes. I think the bottom line is this talk of annexing Somalia is a joke. On the same token Somalis should stop this dream of grabbing land from their neighbors. The most important thing is that those who live there get a voice, and are beneficiaries of what they possess. I for one will be very happy if there is peace in Ogaden, and the oil is brought out to change the lives of those long suffering people there.
10/04/08 @ 15:26
Comment from: coolman [Member]
All of you people trumpeting for this
outrageous idea suffer from delusion of grandeur, which has proven to be the best recipe for disaster.
Thank God none of you seats at the wheel of power. What is next, Madagaskar? I think we should start with Sudan. And, with the oil money, we can buy all those fancy weapons and cash in Egypt and Libya.
Oh, Talian gudish fela, we are coming to get you too.
Peace
10/04/08 @ 15:31
Comment from: Mr Fair [Visitor]
I don’t know where Mr. Kopkirir grew up but I can see a dangerous mix of hate and ignorance.
If Southern and Central Somalia where part of Kenya, I have no doubt that withing few years, Kenya would have turned into a Somali dictatorship, Woyane style.
Kikuyu, Luo, Kalenjin etc. would have been just like the Gurage, Afar, Wolyta etc in Ethiopia i.e nice hard working people who have nothing to do with power struggle. In a few decades, there would probably be another Mao Mao to kick out the Somalis, or there may be Kenyan Liberation Front.
Somali Kenyans represent about 3% of the Kenyan population at the same time they control a big junk of the economy and they controlled the military to some extent. Raise that percentage to about 18% and Kenya would be in a big trouble.
What about Puntaland and Somaliland (Northern and Northwestern Somalia) being part of Ethiopia?
Here are two scenarios;
If they decide to fight occupation, then they are the ones who can organize themselves the most and they can wage a war comparable to that of Eritrea. Actually the Somalilanders (Nortwest) and the Ogadenis were historically the bulwark against the expansionist Ethiopian kings and they had the upper hand until European colonialists tied their hands(there was weapons embargo on all Somali Speaking region for more than 70 years).
If they decide to forget about Somali ethnocentrism, hold hands with their muslim brothers in the Horn, and compete for power withing Ethiopia, then the fundamentalist Ethiopian Orthodox church would be in trouble. That would have been a big boost for the humbled Ethiopian Muslims.
A short answer for the whole article would have been;
Tried it and good luck.
10/04/08 @ 16:14
Comment from: jank@mail.com [Visitor]
RE:-Somalia is a sovreign nation.
Next you will tell us they are Muslim nation.. you see sovereign nation doesn’t rap and murder their own people..
be it in Muslim be it in any law NO! country have the right to kill their own citizen… I have no marcy for those killer and murderer hiding behind Sovreign nation crap!
If they want to be respected as Sovreign ation then why are they looting the sea? if they are Msulim why are they looting at Gun point.. they are not Msulim yes they hide behind Muslim cover but what they did is not Isalam…
The old day where a sovreign nation can do any crap as they wish in their own people is gone… if you don’t trust me ask those Bosinan Msulim they got help from USA… when their own nation kill them
My point is Somilian are not a sovreign nation they break all the rule in the book be it UN rule be it Muslim rule be it devil rule be it any rule… they burn the rule and the holy book
my friend when white colonzation end the black colonzation started we Ethiopian will be the first to stop this black colonzation they like it or not..
I hope the Russian would be very happy to help us out to restore peace and law and rule in Ethiopia… it not today 20 years later Somilian will be greatful for the help we give them at their time of need…
MY question to any Ethipian would be you would not mind if the Somilian come and kick out Meles? I know you will not mind! that is why you are working with Eritrean to kick Meles therefore what is the diffrent here… if we help the Somilian people kick out the war lord…
as united with Ethiopia we are the same people think about it the federal system will sove all our proplem they can keep their port but all Somilian or Ethiopian will not need visa to come and work in Ethiopia or Somilia we use the birr and Somilaian currecy… us see we don’t want to control them we only want to be hlep that all..
Kenya is moving forward…….never backwards…… Land Grabbing and Decolonization must be fought in all fronts……
Cheers !!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – – – – – – – – – –
FBI agents, police pursue three theories in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fire probe
Updated Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 22:07 GMT +3
Senior criminal investigation offi cials scour the scene of Wednesday’s fire Thursday. [PHOTOS: WILBERFORCE OKWIRI/STANDARD]
By CYRUS OMBATI
NAIROBI; KENYA: Detectives probing the Wednesday blaze that brought down the main terminal at Kenya’s biggest airport are not ruling out terrorism or arson, although they say it could have been an accident.
President Kenyatta chaired a meeting of the country’s top security organ to discuss the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ( JKIA) fire tragedy as it emerged investigators were pursuing all three theories.
On Thursday the probe took on an international feel as three FBI agents sent by the US embassy in Nairobi joined the investigating team a day after President Obama called President Kenyatta to offer his government’s support following the fire.
Officially, authorities say it is not yet clear what caused the fire that prompted the closure of the busiest airport in East and Central Africa for most of Wednesday.
Over 200 people, among them 60 Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) workers, have recorded statements as the probe intensifies.
Huge losses
Yesterday, President Kenyatta called a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the tragedy that has occasioned huge economic losses following the disruption to cargo and passenger flights.
Deputy President William Ruto, all heads of the country’s security agencies, and Cabinet Secretaries in charge of Security and Infrastructure attended the meeting at State House, Nairobi. Details of the meeting were scanty, but officials said the crisis at JKIA was extensively discussed and the President briefed on progress in investigations.
At JKIA, head of the ATPU Boniface Mwaniki led the probe as detectives searched for clues in the fire-damaged section of the airport. The FBI agents arrived carrying special equipment to back up their Kenyan counterparts with their expertise, in a joined bid to unearth the cause of the inferno.
The agents took away samples from the scene for further analysis and tests.
Investigators were also reviewing images on the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to examine events before and after the fire broke out, as part of their investigations. It was not immediately clear if the entire sequence of events was captured on the surveillance cameras.
Apart from the ATPU, officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit, Kenya Airports Police Unit, Nairobi County and CID headquarters were helping with the probe.
Personnel from the National Intelligence Service, Kenya Power Company personnel, the City Council of Nairobi Fire Department and investigators from insurance companies were also at the scene.
The detectives have taken over a bar at the airport and turned it into an interrogation room where witnesses are recording statements.
Officials said some of the staff said in their statements that they heard two explosions after smoke started billowing out.
The explosions, according to those who have been questioned, were not very powerful or loud, with suggestions and they may have been caused by air conditioners.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau and CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro confirmed the arrival of the FBI agents to assist in the probe.
“We wish to express our appreciation and gratitude for the support we have received from other governments around the world and our development partners,” said Kamau.
On Thursday, controversy raged over where the fire started as witness accounts contradicted the official position that the fire broke out atin the immigration area.
There were suggestions that the huge inferno may have been occasioned by naked electric wires left in one of the 56 shops pulled down by the Government as it ejected duty free shop operators last week.
Insiders and firemen who spoke to The Standard claimed the fire could have been triggered by an electric fault from one of the duty free shops.
“There were some cables that were left naked. The power was cut off in some of the shops and was left on in others. This is exactly what I told the investigation team when they grilled me this morning,” said one of the employees.
But the Government has maintained that the shops were 50 metres away. “The fire came from the immigration section after the bridges, the second desk after immigration which is nearest to unit 1. The duty free shops are more than 50 metres apart and I do not see any relationship between the demolitions and the fire,” Kamau said on Wednesday.
On Thursday, minimal operations resumed at JKIA with the Government indicating they expected full operations by midnight.
The State also opened up the excusive Presidential Pavilion, usually reserved for visiting heads of states, for use by travellers to help ease the crisis. Kamau indicated that full operations would resume at the airport from midnight on Thursday.
“We want to assure all travellers within the country that even though the level of comfort is not what they would expect, we want to reassure them of their security and safety,” he said. Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that other international airlines can use JKIA under advice, added Kamau.
National carrier Kenya Airways had already lined up 17 international flights throughout Thursday to various capitals across the globe.
Trans-Nzoia County governor told to stop land grabbing
Updated Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 23:01 GMT +3
BY OSINDE OBARE
Trans-Nzoia County: The business community in Trans-Nzoia County has pressed authorities to repossess 100 acres of grabbed land earmarked for the Kenya Industrial Estate ( KIE).
The Trans-Nzoia Kenya National Commerce and Industry branch said it would institute legal action on behalf of residents to sue people behind the illegal allocation of prime plots in Kitale.
The branch’s Executive Officer Martin Waliaula said the economic activities in the county have grounded because land meant for them has been grabbed.
Speaking in Kitale yesterday, Mr Waliula asked the county leadership led by Governor Patrick Khaemba to reclaim the grabbed land.
“The normal stories that the government is going to recover grabbed land should be made a reality. The rampant grabbing has hampered economic activities. We want all public assets taken by individuals repossessed,” he demanded.
Condemning the grabbing of the KIE land meant for industrialisation programmes, the officials said the Chamber will move to court to revert the land to its intended purpose.
“We cannot allow developers to benefit at the expense of many unemployed youths. We are ready to face these individuals and recover the land,” he said.
He said a survey done by the Chamber had indicated only 15 acres had been spared from the initial parcel reserved for industrialisation purposes.
While I condemn the behiviour of marrying underage young girls, the panishment proposed here is harsher than can imagined.
Je, huyu Gavana, ametumwa? To me, it is associated to the “Cut”‘ Couldnt he look for another way for punishment???…..Hapa niko na tashwishi……..iko nyama…….lazima hii maneno ichunguzwe… Are the Chinese contract for harvesting in the “Cut” still valid in Luo Nyanza??? I mean, are these cutters still going to the villages tu cut in the wee of darkness……..I think this Gavana need to be serious…….I am being troubled……… Mali ya Mungu need peace.
This thing about looking for punishment as damage control in the wrong sector of industrial department is bothering me……
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – – – – – – – – –
Kisumu County: Men who marry underage girls to be castrated
Written by KNU Reporter
Published inGovernor News Saturday, 03 August 2013 09:59
Men marrying underage children in Kisumu County may be in danger once new by-laws come into effect.
They are even suggestions they should be castrated as a punishment for marrying a child who should be in school instead of taking care of a grown man as a husband.
A Kisumu County assembly member took a child abuse debate too far when debating on a motion seeking to come up with stringent by-laws that protect children’s rights.
County assembly member for West Seme Benta Ndeda stood up to raise a proposal that stunned many of her counterparts.
Ms Ndeda claimed she was disappointed with many elderly men who force underage girls into their homes.
She said this stopped many of the girls continuing with their education.
The matter and the ‘harsh’ measure of castrating law breakers, however, was not taken well by her male counterparts.
“It is so painful that many young girls are taken and forced into marriage by men who should be castrated as punishment,” said Ndeda.
In many countries in the world, castration has been a common procedure in dealing with sex offenders.
– See more at:
http://kenyanewsupdates.com/county-news/governor-news/item/732-kisumu-county-men-who-marry-underage-girls-to-be-castrated.html#sthash.iWcveQa5.dpuf
Congo Army have a right to protect the Congo people,
their Country, including their land from M23 invasion with
their illegal occupation of Congo land………
Wether they like it or not, they have to give Congo Gov.
their space and peace…..It is not a request but an order.
If there are men and women in Congo, victory will come
sooner because the spirit of the dead is alive in Congo
today they just have to feel it……..Pray and feel it and
give thanks to God……!!!
All the same, we wait to see how irrelevant UN will be in
these few coming days……..while we listen to:
Congo Hero National ……..for Freedom and Liberty !!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Lumumba, Héros National (Franco) – Franco & L’O.K. Jazz 1967
DR Congo rebels face disarmament deadline Thursday
By Habibou Bangre | AFP – Thu, Aug 1, 2013
AFP/Phil Moore –
M23 rebels withdraw from the city of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, last December. Rebels in the volatile east of the Democratic Republic of Congo face a deadline … Thursday to lay down their arms, but they have dismissed the UN peacekeepers’ ultimatum as irrelevant.
Rebels in the volatile east of the Democratic Republic of Congo face a deadline Thursday to lay down their arms, but they have dismissed the UN peacekeepers’ ultimatum as irrelevant.
“We consider that this measure does not concern us,” said M23 chief Bertrand Bisimwa. His fighters were not in the flashpoint city of Goma or on the road heading south towards Sake where much fighting has taken place recently, he said.
The United Nations on Tuesday threatened to use force against M23 fighters near Goma if they did not disarm within 48 hours.
A new UN intervention brigade will be used for the first time to help the DR Congo army set up a “security zone” around the city, the international body said.
A statement by the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, gave the M23 until 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Thursday “to hand in their weapons to a MONUSCO base” and join a demobilisation programme.
After then, “they will be considered an imminent threat of physical violence to civilians and MONUSCO will take all necessary measures to disarm them, including by the use of force in accordance with its mandate and rules of engagement”.
The UN-proposed security zone includes Goma and its northern suburbs.
The M23, a mainly Tutsi Congolese group founded in 2012, launched a new offensive against the DR Congo army outside Goma on July 14.
Diplomats say fighting in the past two weeks has left hundreds dead.
“The M23 has used indiscriminate and indirect fire, including by heavy weapons, resulting in civilian casualties,” MONUSCO said.
“The M23 has also targeted UN installations with its fire. The security zone will push these indirect fire threats out of range of Goma.
“The security zone may be expanded and repeated elsewhere, where it is needed,” the statement said.
The M23 is among some 30 armed groups active in North Kivu.
But analyst Fidel Bafilemba of the Enough Project — dedicated to ending genocide and crimes against humanity — argued that they were positioned far from the areas specified by the UN force.
“What would make a major difference would be to set a more extended security zone,” he said. “But this is perhaps just a beginning.
The new, heavily armed 3,000-strong UN intervention brigade is drawn in roughly equal numbers from Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania.
It joins the 17,000 peacekeepers already deployed in the area with MONUSCO, the stabilisation force.
Its mission is to carry out offensive operations, alone or with Congolese troops, against rebel fighters.
Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, which borders two of DR Congo’s eastern neighbours, Rwanda and Uganda.
M23 rebels captured the city on November 20 last year, holding it for 10 days. They left only when leaders from the Great Lakes nations of central Africa promised fresh negotiations, opening the talks in the Ugandan capital Kampala.
UN experts and the DR Congo government have said Rwanda has supplied troops and military aid to the M23, allegations denied by Kigali.
The United States last week called on Rwanda to end its alleged backing of the rebel forces.
Rwanda and DR Congo are both signatories to a UN-brokered peace and security framework signed in March agreeing not to interfere in each other’s affairs.
DR Congo further agreed to reform its security forces and take new efforts to spread government authority.
On Friday, the government in Kinshasa issued arrest warrants for four of M23’s leaders it said had taken refuge in Rwanda.
It accused them of “war crimes, crimes against humanity including murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, sexual slavery, ethnic persecution” and several other charges.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – – – – – – – – – –
Italian firm to provide surveillance drone for U.N. in Congo
Michelle Nichols 5 hours ago PoliticsDemocratic Republic of the CongoUnited NationsSurveillance
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Thursday it has procured an unarmed surveillance drone from Italian defense electronics firm Selex ES, a unit of Finmeccanica, that will be deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming weeks.
It will be the first time the United Nations has used such equipment and, if the trial use by peacekeepers in eastern Congo is successful, officials and diplomats also hope the drones could be used by missions in Ivory Coast and South Sudan.
“Unarmed UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) will allow our peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor the movements of armed groups and protect the civilian population more efficiently,” U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters.
“The selected vendor is the Italian company Selex ES. The UAV is known as the Falco and is designed to be a medium altitude, medium endurance surveillance platform capable of carrying a range of payloads including several types of high resolution sensors,” Nesirky said.
Thick forests, rugged terrain and the scarcity of roads on Congo’s eastern border with Rwanda and Uganda have complicated U.N. peacekeepers’ efforts to control the resource-rich area.
Congo and U.N. peacekeepers have been battling a year-long insurgency by M23 rebels. U.N. experts have accused Rwanda of sending troops and weapons across the border to support the M23. Rwanda denies the accusation.
“The deployment of the UAV is planned in the coming weeks,” Nesirky said.
U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, told Reuters earlier this month that the United Nations had signed the commercial contract for the surveillance drone on July 12, but did not initially name the company.
The United Nations has also deployed a 3,000-strong Intervention Brigade as part of its Congo mission. The brigade has been charged with aggressively neutralizing armed groups and is this week carrying out its first operation in eastern Congo.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, said on Tuesday its troops would disarm, by force if necessary, anyone other than members of the Congolese security forces found carrying weapons within the zone after a 48-hour grace period.
The United Nations has also set aside money to deploy surveillance drones eventually in Ivory Coast to monitor its border with Liberia following a recommendation by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a request from the West African country.
Ban has also suggested surveillance drones as an option for the U.N. Security Council to consider to boost the effectiveness of the world body’s peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Vicki Allen)
The grandsons of the late Elly Athembo Onyuro one of the leading pioneer cane farmers and businessmen within Muhoroni, Nyando and Kisumu Districts are appealing to the Provincial Administration and the police to protect them from their two uncles one who contested Muhoroni Parliamentary seat in ODM party ticket in 2007 and contested for Miwani Counrty Assembly in CORD during the last general elections who have made life full of hell for them as they allege that the duo want to deprive them of their late father Isaac Onyuro.
According to the spokesperson of the grandchildren of the late Elly who was famous within the current KIsumu County Robert Elly Onyuro one of his half uncles who is a retired medical clerk and his brother are behaving as if they are a law to themselves as they harass and intimidate them even on their late father’s properties.
Speaking to this reporter on a wheel chair with both broken legs and arms as a result of injuries inflicted by thugs hired by his uncle to harm him and kill him over the said wealth rivalry Robert added that there is a criminal case PF 603/75/2013 AND Case no.75 of 2013 of which his uncle is accused of attacking him and maliciously damaging his late dad’s properties).
He says that his uncle with a group of thugs attacked him demanding that he quits staying in their home which has resulted to him currently staying in Kisumu which is forty five kilometers from his late father’s vast empire of land as he fears that the thugs might attempt to attack and harm him again.
“My uncle has been encroaching on my late father Isaac Onyuro’s properties harassing workers and tenants that he is the estate administrator of my late father which is not true as even during the time my father was alive they were not on talking terms and he would fight my dad which resulted to my dad concentrating in making his own wealth “Robert added.
He added that his uncle should differentiate between their late grandfathers’ wealth and Robert’s father’s wealth saying that his uncle is mixing things with a view of defrauding them as one of the documents within our possessions written by Otieno ,Ragot and Company Advocates calling for the intervention of the Officer Commanding Police Station Ahero in regard to land title nos Kisumu /Kabar/4459,4093,4157 & 4751.
Part of the letter reads “Our clients are Elly Robert Onyuro and Eunice Akinyi(wife of the late Isaac and mother of Robert) and it has emerged that Shem Athembo Onyuro and Gerald Ochieng’ Onyuro have frequently transferred the above mentioned parcels of land into their respective names without following the due process of law without doing succession under the Law of Succession Act Cap 160 Laws of Kenya”.
The letter signed by Advocate Moses Munuang’o on behalf of the said legal firm adds that due to the fraudulent acts of Shem to Onyuro Athembo and Gerald Ochieng’ Onyuro ,an acrimony has emerged between them and other beneficiaries of the estate of Elly Onyuro Athembo and on one occasion he threatened to assault our clients when the latter discovered that they had indeed transferred the land in their favor
According to further documents within our possession the said uncle has written to one of the tenant’s in Ahero Town demanding rent from him yet the building doesn’t belong to him and went ahead to send an Auctioneer to proclaim his properties an action which was stopped by Bruce Odeny and Company Advocates.
The letter which is addressed to Madume Auctioneers of Kisumu reads in part “Your proclamation notice dated 20/6/2013 against one Eric Omondi of Kadinda Cycle Hardware at Ahero town has been placed into our hands with instructions to respond thereto as follows; our client is the equitable owner of the premises you have levied distress and also the landlord of the said Erick Omondi.The said Shem Onyuro Athembo does not own the said property nor is the landlord to Erick Omondi” the letter said in part.
It goes on to tell the auctioneer that at no point did Robert Onyuro instructed him to levy distress against the tenant who is not in any rent default as at the time of his proclamation and wonders where he obtained the instruction and authority to embarrass their client’s tenant as you did and finally demanding that he withdraw the said proclamation.
Robert further says that in his current condition where he is washed ,fed and taken around his uncle has further gone ahead to stop payments for canes he harvested from his late dad’s farm.
“I do not understand the meaning of his letter to the farmer’s co-operative society if it’s not aimed at killing me, these are the monies I use to educate my nine siblings who are in various institutions of learning” Robert added.
The letter written by his uncle Shem Athembo Onyuro to the Chairman ,Secretary and Treasurer of Olikoliero Farmers Cooperation Society and copied to Managing Director Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Ltd warns of dire consequences should they go ahead and pay Robert for his cane he delivered to the said Co-operative.
“The said land where the cane was harvested he says belongs my late dad Isaac and not my grandfather “Robert added.
But his woes appears to have been selvedge through a letter addressed to Kibos Sugar & Allied Industries by his advocate Bruce Odeny and Company Advocates in regard to unlawful stoppage of cane transaction by Shem Athembo Onyuro against his client who is the administrator of the estate of his late dad Hesborn Isaac Onyuro.
Part of the letter said;”The allegations raised by the said author of the complaint is baseless for the reasons that there is no theft of any cane and further the complainant has not disclosed the respective farms or land parcels in question that the said theft took place and goes ahead to say that the complainant has also not disclosed any documentary evidence to prove ownership of the land or the said harvested and /or delivered cane”
The letter further says that they had instructions that the complainant (Shem Athembo Onyuro) is the brother of the late Hesborn Onyuro who passed away two years ago and never used to enjoy any good terms with the deceased while the deceased was alive.
“The complainant as such is taking an undue advantage of the orphans his late brother left behind to torment them to satisfy his unresolved disputes with his late brother” the letter further says.
It adds that it is in the public knowledge that there are a number of criminal acts that the complainant has subjected the deceased family to including assaults and malicious damage to the deceased property and the cases are currently a subject of a criminal trial against the complainant in Nyando Principal Magistrate Court Criminal Case No.75 of 2013 (Police File 603/75/2013).
The letter also beseeches the Sugar Company to ignore Shem Athembo Onyuro saying he is facing a serious of investigations of forgery of the title deeds belonging to the deceased and illegally transferring them into his own and that investigations are currently underway by the Nyando CID office and as such the current allegations of the complainant are just another of his many theatrics and malice targeted against the deceased’s survivors.
Robert says that after leaving his late dad’s homestead his uncle has again written to him where he currently stays demanding that he pays him rent for his late father’s house he currently occupies.
Contacted for comment Shem Onyuro Athembo said that if the writer had documentary evidence to prove he had no comment but would resort to legal action should the story be written without any documentary evidence to prove.
Ever since the Tanzanian President urged countries in the great lakes region to enter talks with their opposition as the only way of finding everlasting peace in the great lakes region. President Kagame responded in wildly way of declaring war at a neighbouring country Tanzania .
This was due to the remarks which president Jakaya Kikwete repeatedly made questioning reasons as why countries which have continued to support M23 rebels and at the same time forcing president Joseph Kabila of DR Congo to enter into peace talks with the notorious armed group M23 yet they have also failed to held peace talks of armed groups in their own countries and among those he sighted President Kagame who has continued involving himself in DR Congo internal politics yet he has also chronologically failed to negotiate with his own armed group, credible opposition, suffocating free media and lack of freedom of expression in his own country yet he tries to style himself as a saint and a liberator than an autocratic leader.
This prompted president Kagame to make different ruthless public remarks full of war mongering and attacking president Kikwete . It’s in this regard that president Kikwete also in return responded to President Kagame’s war mongering by warning him that his country is ready to defend her self using all possible means to give him a lesson he will never forget in his life if at all he dares to attack Tanzania or her Special Forces under the UN Intervention Forces in DR Congo .
Our Sources also reveals that the Tanzanian forces are on high alert due to intelligence information which confirms that Rwanda is in it’s last preparation of carrying out isolative counter attacks on Tanzanian Special Forces which are under the UN Intervention Forces in DR Congo. Reliable Intelligence sources within President Kagame Intelligence Services reveals to Umuvugizi that the war mongering President Kagame has of recently been repeatedly making in his different public remarks where none apart from vowing to target the Tanzanian forces among the UN Forces in the neighbouring DR Congo which were given mandate by the UN Security Council in her resolution 2028 which created and gave directives UN intervention Forces to work with the existing UN peace Keeping Forces together with the National Forces “FARDC” to save millions of innocent civilians who have been repeatedly cleansed and displaced to neighbouring countries by president Kagame’s proxy rebel group M23 which acts as his bridge to Plunder DR Congo wealth mineral Resources .
Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
A Palestinian boy was wounded in al-Bireh in the West Bank during an Israeli incursion.
Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.
Sarit Michaeli, B’Tselem spokesperson, was wounded during al-Nabi Saleh protest, northwest of Ramallah.
Dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises due to Israeli soldiers’ attack.
Israeli forces conducted 50 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one in the Gaza Strip.
At least 25 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were arrested.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.
10 Palestinian civilians were arrested by Israeli forces at checkpoints in the West Bank.
A Palestinian civilian was arrested at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.
Israeli forces have continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
An Israeli court gave Siyam family an extension until 01 August 2013 to evacuate their house in al-Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in the occupied city.
Licenses were issued to build 165 new settlement units in “Nabi Ya’qoub” settlement.
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
More demolition notices were issued.
The settlers set fire to 400 fruitful olive trees, south of Bethlehem.
The settlers continued their attacks on the Palestinian farmers and shepherds, south of Hebron.
4 settlers tortured a Palestinian woman, northwest of Ramallah, and put her life at risk.
EU Concerned by Israeli Restriction on its Activities in West Bank
BRUSSELS (WAFA) – The European Union Friday expressed concern by reports that Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has ordered restriction on its activities in the West Bank and is going to prevent its members from entering Gaza through Israel.
Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said from Brussels that EU delegations in the area were seeking clarifications regarding these reports from the Israeli government.
Yaalon, whose ministry runs the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, apparently decided to restrict EU humanitarian activities and work in the occupied territories in retaliation for EU embargo on products made in the illegal West Bank and East Jerusalem Israeli settlements as well as individuals working with the settlements.
“The EU is concerned by reports in the Israeli media that the Israeli Minister of Defence has announced a number of restrictions affecting EU activities supporting the Palestinian people,” said Kocijancic.
“We have not received any official communication from the Israeli authorities. Our delegations on the spot are seeking urgent clarifications,” she added.
Military Orders Demolition of Homes, Water Well
HEBRON (WAFA) – The Israeli military government Saturday informed residents of a small village south of Hebron of its intention to demolish their homes and a water well, according to Rateb Jbour, from the popular committee against settlements in the south Hebron area.
He told WAFA that soldiers raided Mafqara village, east of Yatta, and handed residents orders to demolish their shack homes and tents as well as water well.
Israeli forces detain former Fatah fighter in Jenin camp
JENIN (Ma’an) — Israeli forces on Friday detained a former Fatah fighter after raiding his home in the Jenin refugee camp, Palestinian Authority security sources said.
Israeli military vehicles raided the camp and detained 35-year-old Daoud Zubeidi, PA security officials told Ma’an.
An Israeli military statement said that soldiers and border police arrested “a Palestinian terrorist operative,” without giving his name or detailing the allegations against him.
Zubeidi’s brother Zakaria Zubeidi, the former head of Al-Aqsa in Jenin, is currently facing charges in a Palestinian court of taking part in a May 2012 shooting attack on the residence of Jenin governor Qaddura Musa.
Musa died after suffering a heart attack during the incident, and Palestinian security forces arrested dozens of people, including Zakaria Zubeidi, shortly afterwards.
Zakaria, a founder of Jenin’s Freedom Theatre, was released on bail in October.
Israelis injure Palestinian farmer in Gaza, report says
Israeli soldiers have injured a Palestinian farmer at the borders between eastern Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestine.
Residents living in al-Bureij refugee camp in the besieged enclave told Xinhua on Saturday that they heard gunfire near the borders, adding that Israeli troops opened fire at a farmer who was approaching the border.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli forces removed tents belonging to Palestinian activists on a property that is supposed to be part of an Israeli settlement near the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem) in 1967.
The UN and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbids construction on occupied lands.
Israeli forces arrest citizens in Ramallah including a journalist
RAMALLAH — Israeli military forces at dawn Sunday stormed the town of Arura, north of Ramallah, and raided citizens’ houses under the pretext of “searching for wanted people.”
Local sources in Arura reported that the soldiers stormed and searched the houses of citizens Samir Aruri and Abdel-Rahman Khasib, and checked the identities of the inhabitants.
They said that the occupation detained journalist and activist Ahmed Aruri and Hamza Khasib, and transferred them to an unknown destination.
According to statistics, the occupation arrested during the last week more than 40 people from several cities in the West Bank.
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Contact us: P.O Box 20307, 612 UN Road – Upanga West, Dar es Salaam Tel: 2152813, 2150643 Fax: 2153257 Email: pict@pal-tz.org Website: www.pal-tz.org
We must be keepers of our brothers and sister. We must moan with them when they moan, laugh with them with they laugh. We must share situation of life together and this is how we shall build the world to be a better place for all of us.
You made very important points and I agree with you that, Museveni is the plague evoking bad spirit to assault neighbouring peaceful Nations in the great lakes of East Africa. Joined with his friend President Kagame of Rwanda who they share bad behavior where, without empathy or shame, they have caused untold sufferings, loss of lives pain and suffering to the people of East Africa.
With the help of Uganda’s Museveni brother Salim Saleh who is of Somali origin, they introduced private armies and staged them strategically at the neighboring boarders,organized and train Rebel Groups with mercineries ready to ambush and attack in assault and provoke people to war. Acting as aggressors, they instigate and provoke people to war. They use foreign NGOs with some corrupt UN peacekeepers stationed in Africa and as well as they corrupt European Envoys who engage corrupt politicians to steal mineral with other natural resources including oil and gas from Africa where they promote corruption with impunity of high level in offshore trading; and avoid paying taxes.
With this kind of business, they destroy African youths who are enticed to join gang groups for hire in the Rebel for private army and in the mercenaries that plague the havoc of instability in Africa. To an extent, they promoted pirating, drug peddling, trafficking of arm with other sophisticated weaponry, environmental pollution, foreign currency trafficking, child abuse with prostitution trafficking, including injustices that are illegal in nature and that are against the International Treaty and as well are constitutionally unacceptable.
These are reasons why the whole world must stand together against this kind of Human Rights crimes, violation and abuse and protest by demanding equal justice for all.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon made a serious mistake to halt Congo Army to advance attack on the M23 adversary who attacked to overthrow Congo Government and in the event raped and killed innocent people with many children and women; on the other part, when Goma was invaded through fierce attack by M23 the UN simply watched and M23 captured Goma for 10 days and he did nothing…….did not even charge the M23 aggressors……….and today, he is again giving M23 protection cover…..???? This, we people of African Descent will not allow or take it lying down.
Resolution passed for Congo on July 22nd is not favorable on the side of DRC Congo against M23 invasion is not favorable at all.
We demand that UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon stand down and relieve himself from occupying peoples’ public office in the United Nations immediately so he can be charged with like minded in the ICC Hague………
I am going after UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon and I need all good people of the world to give me support in moral, financial and physical to charge Ban-Ki-Moon with his contemporaries network of special business interest who together inflicted great loss on African livelihood and survival; in such as land grabbing, environmental pollution that caused bad health to people and from industrial mismanagement causing poor climatic conditions with destruction of nature, pain and suffering with extension to human rights crimes, violations and abuse in the adversity of injustices against Africans of all walks of life.
I am going after Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon to answer why he has acted in biasness and against his oath of office to be fair and protect all people the same under legal compliance of the creation of United Nations including the observance of the International Treaty…..thus, causing and failing to provide the sustainable development……. In reverse, UN provided ways and means for killing, looting and stealing Africa peoples’s future, wealth and Natural resource through expounding corruption and impunity and altogether destroyed Livelihood and survival of people of Africa.
The recommendations levelled on the part of Congo Government Army is very unfair. It cannot hold any water against instigation of Kagame and Museveni with invasion of the M23. This is why Congo People are rebelling against United Naions Peacekeeping in Congo………let us be realistic and face true justice…….
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson &
Executive Director for
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
email: jbatec@yahoo.com
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From: Maurice Oduor
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 5:44 AM
Subject: It is time Kagame and Museveni take back their Rebel Groups out of Congo
Judy thura,
These people have managed to deflect the discussion from the very important point you were trying to make about Kagame and Museveni interfering in Congo. This is unfair. I think my good buddy Mobhare Matinyi of Tanzania is the one who started it all. I don’t know how such things have a tendency to take a life of their own. Mtume !!!!! I don’t know the best way to manage such situations so that the main point of discussion is not sidelined.
But let me say here that I support the initiative you’re undertaking to sensitize people about what’s going on in Congo DRC. Uganda and Rwanda should simply mind their own business and get their M23 and other rebel groups out of the Congo. It’s unfair for these 2 countries to destabilize the whole region just so they can get their hands on the minerals in the Congo. Tanzania pays the biggest price in this situation because all the Congo refugees end up in Tanzania.
Museveni has in the past come out very strongly against the ICC and this is the reason why. He does not want to be a Charles Taylor who was shipped to the Hague for sponsoring rebels to torture people in Sierra Leone. He has managed to outwit Kenya on Migingo Island and is now thirsty for the Congo minerals. That should not be allowed to continue. I don’t know the American position on this. Are they with Museveni and Kagame or are they supporting Kabila and the Congolese?
One way or the other, the world should be outraged about what’s going on in the Congo and as a first step, Uganda and Rwanda should get their rebels out of the Congo. Really.
Courage,
Oduor Maurice wod Ugenya Ukwala
Rebels with a Cause Slam Corporate Greed
Published on Jul 22, 2013
Two new films focus on fringe groups who take social justice into their own hands. With a tongue-in-cheek approach, the films “The East” and “Now You See Me” offer 21st century Robin Hood-type plots where young vigilantes target corporate greed. VOA’s Penelope Poulou has more.
DR Congo: M23 Rebels Kill, Rape Civilians
New Evidence of Rwandan Support for M23
July 22, 2013
[image] M23 rebels take position near the town of Mutaho, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on May 27, 2013.
Not only is Rwanda allowing its territory to be used by the abusive M23 to get recruits and equipment, but the Rwandan military is still directly supporting the M23. This support is sustaining an armed group responsible for numerous killings, rapes and other serious abuses.
Daniel Bekele, Africa director
(Goma) – M23 rebels have summarily executed at least 44 people and raped at least 61 women and girls since March 2013 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Local residents and rebel deserters reported recent forced recruitment of men and boys by the M23 in both Rwanda and Congo.
After a nearly two-month-long ceasefire, fighting resumed on July 14 between the Congolese armed forces and M23 rebels near the eastern city of Goma.
Residents and rebel deserters described recent support from within Rwanda to the abusive M23 forces. This includes regular movements from Rwanda into Congo of men in Rwandan army uniforms, and the provision of ammunition, food, and other supplies from Rwanda to the M23. The M23 has been recruiting inside Rwanda. Rwandan military officers have trained new M23 recruits, and have communicated and met with M23 leaders on several occasions.
“Not only is Rwanda allowing its territory to be used by the abusive M23 to get recruits and equipment, but the Rwandan military is still directly supporting the M23,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “This support is sustaining an armed group responsible for numerous killings, rapes and other serious abuses.”
The latest Human Rights Watch findings are based on more than 100 interviews since March, including with former M23 fighters who left the movement between late March and July and civilians living near the Congo-Rwanda border, some of whom were victims of abuses.
In addition to M23 abuses, Human Rights Watch documented several cases of killings and rapes by Congolese Hutu militia groups operating in and around M23-controlled territory. Some Congolese army officers have allegedly supported factions of these groups, as well as factions of the allied Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) – a largely Rwandan Hutu armed group, some of whose members participated in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Since its inception in April 2012, the M23 has committed widespread violations of the laws of war. Despite numerous war crimes by M23 fighters, the armed group has received significant support from Rwandan military officials. After briefly occupying Goma in November, then withdrawing on December 1, the M23 controls much of Congo’s Rutshuru and Nyiragongo territories, bordering Rwanda.
On April 25 and 26, M23 fighters killed 15 ethnic Hutu civilians in several villages in Busanza groupement in Rutshuru territory, and at least another 6 in mid-June, in an apparent attempt to “punish” villagers for alleged collaboration with Congolese Hutu militias.
Other civilians killed by M23 fighters since March include a 62-year-old man who was shot dead because he refused to hand his sons over to the M23, a motorcycle driver who refused to give money to the M23, M23 recruits who were caught after trying to escape, and others accused of collaborating with Hutu militia.
On July 5, four M23 fighters gang-raped a 12-year-old girl as she went to fetch water in her village in Rutshuru. An M23 fighter who accosted an 18-year-old woman near Bunagana shot her in the leg on April 15 when she refused to have sex with him.
Since June, M23 leaders have forced local chiefs in areas under their control to undergo military and ideological training and obtain recruits for the M23. The M23 considers these chiefs to be part of their “reserve force” that can be called upon to provide support during military operations.
M23 fighters have arrested or abducted dozens of civilians in recent weeks in Rutshuru, most of them Hutu. The M23 accused many of them of collaborating with the FDLR or allied Congolese Hutu militias. M23 fighters beat them severely, tied them up, and detained them. The M23 then forced many of them to undergo military training and become M23 fighters.
A former M23 police officer, who deserted in April, told Human Rights Watch that he participated in investigations of killings of civilians. He said that before each investigation, a high-ranking M23 commander, Innocent Kayna, told him: “You will do the investigation. You will say it’s bandits in the neighborhood who killed, not M23.”
Human Rights Watch contacted the M23’s military leader, Sultani Makenga, but he was unavailable to speak about the recent alleged abuses.
Those recruited in Rwanda into the M23 include demobilized Rwandan army soldiers and former FDLR fighters, most of whom had become part of the Rwandan army’s Reserve Force, as well as Rwandan civilians. A 15-year-old Rwandan boy told Human Rights Watch that he and three other young men and boys were promised jobs as cow herders in Congo, but when they got to Congo were forced to join the M23. They were given military training by Rwandan officers in Congo and told they would be killed if they tried to escape. Other M23 deserters also said Rwandan officers were training new M23 recruits.
Former M23 officers who had been part of previous Rwanda-backed rebellions said they recognized officers serving with the M23 who they knew were members of the Rwandan army. Congolese deserters told Human Rights Watch that a number of M23 fighters admitted freely that they were Rwandan. Some said they had served in the Rwandan army’s peacekeeping contingent in Somalia or Darfur.
Recent M23 deserters interviewed by Human Rights Watch described frequent – in some cases weekly – arrivals of soldiers and recruits from Rwanda. Sometimes these were rotations, with new soldiers replacing others who had returned to Rwanda. Weapons, ammunition, large containers of milk, truckloads of rice, and other supplies were brought to the M23 from Rwanda. M23 deserters also described phone conversations and meetings in both Rwanda and Congo between senior M23 leaders and people the deserters were told or knew to be Rwandan officials.
All of the recent M23 deserters interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that Rwandan soldiers, officers, and trainers were present throughout their time with the M23, and that there had been new arrivals from Rwanda in recent months.
“For the past 17 years, the Rwandan army has repeatedly deployed troops to eastern Congo and backed abusive proxy forces responsible for war crimes,” Bekele said. “As in the past, Rwanda denies it’s supporting the M23, but the facts on the ground speak for themselves.”
Rwandan government and military officials did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s requests for a meeting. Rwandan officials in the past have repeatedly denied allegations that the government is providing support to the M23.
The Rwandan government should immediately halt all support to the M23 because of its broadly abusive behavior, Human Rights Watch said. The United Nations and United States special envoys for the Great Lakes region and donor governments should publicly denounce continuing Rwandan support to the M23 and call for sanctions against senior Rwandan officials responsible for backing the armed group.
The Congolese government should immediately suspend, investigate, and prosecute as appropriate Congolese military officers and government officials who have provided support to the FDLR or allied groups. The government should make clear that abusive militia commanders will not be integrated into Congo’s army as part of any political settlement.
According to international journalists present near the front line and photographs seen by Human Rights Watch, Congolese army soldiers treated the corpses of M23 fighters killed in combat on July 16 in a degrading manner, stripping them, making ethnic slurs, and prodding their genitals with weapons. International law prohibits “committing outrages upon personal dignity,” including against the dead. Human Rights Watch also documented cases in which the Congolese army detained former M23 fighters and alleged collaborators for several weeks without bringing them before a court, and often incommunicado and in harsh conditions.
Congolese military officials should appropriately discipline officers and soldiers responsible for mistreating corpses, and ensure that such acts cease immediately. Military and judicial officials should ensure that captured combatants and civilians are treated in accordance with due process standards, including being promptly brought before a judge and charged, or released. Detainees should not be mistreated or held in inhumane conditions.
Summary Executions and Other Attacks by the M23Human Rights Watch has documented 44 summary executions committed by the M23 since March. M23 fighters have also killed and wounded an unknown number of civilians, including some caught in the crossfire during fighting.
M23 fighters killed 15 Hutu civilians in several villages in Busanza groupement in Rutshuru territory on April 25 and 26, and at least another 6 in mid-June, in an apparent attempt to “punish” villagers for alleged collaboration with Congolese Hutu militias.During the attack on the night of April 25, a group of M23 fighters moved through the villages of Ruvumbura, Kirambo, Nyamagana, and Shinda, killing and looting as they went. A 43-year-old mother of three told Human Rights Watch: “When they started killing people, we scattered into the bush. My husband went back to try to get our belongings, and they killed him. They shot him in the head.”
In late May, M23 fighters shot dead a 62-year-old man in Ntamugenga because he refused to hand his sons over to the M23. On May 15, M23 fighters stopped a motorcycle driver outside Kiwanja and killed him because he did not give them money. In mid-June, M23 fighters shot a moneychanger several times in the chest, killing him. They then told his wife, “Give us money or we’ll do to you what we did to your husband.” She handed over their money, and the fighters left.
In Kibumba in mid-May, an M23 officer, Col. Yusuf Mboneza, ordered the execution of a 24-year-old man whom he accused of being a thief. After the execution, Mboneza called the villagers to a meeting and displayed the young man’s corpse, saying it should serve as a warning to anyone else who might steal.
Others summarily executed by the M23 since March were new recruits and prisoners who unsuccessfully tried to escape.
On June 21, the M23 caught a Congolese M23 fighter known as “Tupac” as he tried to flee near Kabuhanga. They took him back to the military camp at Kamahoro, where the commander ordered the troops into formation and told soldiers to shoot him to discourage other deserters. They shot Tupac twice in the chest at close range. An M23 deserter told Human Rights Watch that he and other recruits were forced to bury Tupac.
After a clash between the M23 and a Congolese Hutu militia group on June 18, M23 fighters looted several villages in Busanza. The fighters demanded money from a 33-year-old woman. When she said she had no money, the fighters cut her on the shoulder with a machete and struck her 11-year-old son on the head. On April 15, an 18-year-old woman was shot in the leg when she refused to have sex with an M23 fighter who approached her at her farm near Bunagana. The victims of these attacks survived with serious injuries.
Rape by the M23Human Rights Watch has documented 61 cases of rape of women and girls by M23 fighters between March and early July. Because of the stigma surrounding rape and fear of reprisals, the actual number of victims may be much higher. Many of those raped were in their fields or collecting firewood. M23 fighters accused some of them of being the “wives” of FDLR fighters. Most of the rapes occurred close to M23 positions, and some victims recognized the attackers as M23 fighters they had seen before. The rapists frequently told their victims that they would be killed if they spoke about the rape or sought medical treatment.
A 12-year-old girl told Human Rights Watch that an M23 fighter caught and raped her in June as she and her friends were buying sugar cane in a field near an M23 position in Rutshuru:
I saw a [M23] soldier. I started running, but I tripped on a piece of sugar cane and fell. The soldier caught up with me and said he would kill me because I tried to flee. I stopped then because I was very scared. Then he raped me. I cried out, but he closed my mouth.
A 17-year-old girl said M23 fighters had raped her twice. The second time, in June, occurred when she was alone in her house after M23 police abducted her husband and forced him to join a night patrol:
The M23 fighter came into my house and asked me where my husband was. He then put a knife to my chest and said he was going to kill me, and that I should give him money. I told him I didn’t have any money, that my husband took it with him on patrol. I was sitting on the bed with my child. The soldier fought with me on the bed. He was stronger than me and he had a gun. Then he raped me.
A 35-year-old Hutu woman who was raped by an M23 fighter near Bunagana in June told Human Rights Watch:
When he finished, he left me in the forest. I was shaking and turned toward the ground, crying.… The one who raped me was an M23 fighter whom I know. I recognized him, but what can I do to him?
Forced Recruitment, Including of Children, and Abductions by the M23Human Rights Watch has documented dozens of cases of forced recruitment by M23 forces since March, including of children. Recruitment appears to have increased in recent months as the M23 has struggled to keep its forces’ numbers up. Over 700 M23 fighters and political cadres fled to Rwanda when Bosco Ntaganda’s faction of the M23 was defeated by an M23 faction led by Makenga in March, an estimated 200 M23 fighters were killed during the infighting, and scores of fighters have deserted.
Since June, the M23 leadership has held several meetings with local chiefs and other community leaders and demanded their help in recruiting new fighters. In early June, the M23 forced local leaders and chiefs to attend a week-long military training conducted by Rwandan officers. They also received “ideological training,” which included the M23’s vision for taking over Congo.
The chiefs were released but are supposed to form part of a “reserve force” that can be called upon when necessary. The M23 ordered them to find recruits in their villages and send them to the M23. One local leader who participated in the training told Human Rights Watch that they had been told to give M23 officials the names of demobilized youth in their villages, so that the M23 “could then go themselves, find the demobilized youth, and make sure they joined up.”
The M23 have arrested Hutu civilians whom they accused of collaborating with or supporting the FDLR or Congolese Hutu militia groups. The fighters detained, beat and whipped these civilians, and took many of them to an M23 military camp, where they were trained and forced to become M23 fighters.
A 19-year-old secondary school student told Human Rights Watch that he was recruited by the M23 in March while he was farming near Kalengera, in Rutshuru:
I saw the M23 come and surround me. They asked me if I was an FDLR, and I said no. After that, they started whipping and beating me. They tied me up and took me to Rumangabo, where they locked me in a cell. After two days, they untied me, but left me in the cell for a week. After, they told me I would become a soldier. They then started the military training. There were 80 of us being trained. There were 10 officers from Rwanda who led the training. They told us we had to become soldiers so we could fight to liberate Goma and then continue on to South Kivu.
On June 3, the M23 went from house to house in Kiwanja’s Kachemu neighborhood, apprehending about 40 young men and boys whom they accused of collaborating with a local militia group. The fighters beat the civilians and detained them in a cell at the M23’s base in Nyongera. Many had difficulty walking the next day as a result of the ill-treatment. About half of the youth were released after their families paid the M23 guards; 20 were taken to Rumangabo to be trained as fighters.
In other cases, families do not know what happened to abducted relatives. In March and April, for example, M23 fighters in Busanza abducted four young men whom they accused of collaborating with a Congolese Hutu militia. Their families have not heard from them since.
Congolese army soldiers captured by M23 fighters described torture and other ill-treatment in detention. One soldier, who was taken by the M23 in December and escaped in early July, said that two other soldiers held prisoner with him were beaten to death. For three days, the rebels hit the prisoners with sticks and stomped on their chests, while their legs and arms were tied together. While beating them, the M23 demanded information about where the Congolese army was hiding its weapons. The two men were not given medical treatment and died in detention.
M23 Recruitment in Rwanda and Other Rwandan Support
Based on interviews with 31 former M23 fighters who deserted since late March and numerous civilians living on both sides of the border, Human Rights Watch has documented military support from Rwanda to the M23. The support includes the provision of weapons and ammunition. Armed men in military uniform have moved regularly from Rwanda into Congo to support the M23; these could be new recruits and demobilized soldiers who were given uniforms before crossing into Congo, or serving Rwandan soldiers.Rwandan army officers have been seen at M23 bases, leading training for new recruits, and recruiting for the M23 in Rwanda.
Those recruited in Rwanda and taken across the border to fight with the M23 include demobilized Rwandan soldiers and former FDLR fighters who are part of the Rwandan army’s Reserve Force, as well as civilians, including boys. Between January and June, UN peacekeepers demobilized and repatriated 56 former M23 fighters who said they were Rwandan nationals. But M23 deserters interviewed by Human Rights Watch, as well as the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo, said that Rwandan army officers forcibly brought back Rwandan nationals who escaped the M23 and tried to return to Rwanda.
Human Rights Watch has documented the cases of seven Rwandan children, ages 15, 16, and 17, who were forcibly recruited in Rwanda in March and April, forced to fight with the M23, and were later able to escape. Human Rights Watch has received reports of other children recruited in Rwanda in recent months who have not been able to escape.
A 15-year-old Rwandan boy told Human Rights Watch that he was forcibly recruited from his village in Nyabihu district in Rwanda with two other boys and a young man in late April. The four of them were making bricks when two men in civilian clothes offered them jobs as cow herders in Congo. The two men then took them by motorcycle to the Congolese border, and on to an M23 military camp. They were forced to become M23 fighters and were warned that they would be killed if they refused or tried to escape.
The 15-year-old said that Rwandan army officers gave them military training for 10 days and that many other Rwandans were in his group of 58 new recruits. He said some of the Rwandan recruits tried to escape, but they were caught and brought back to the camp.
A Congolese M23 officer who deserted in late May told Human Rights Watch that Rwandan recruits and soldiers arrived regularly throughout his time with the M23, from November through May. He said the soldiers would come and go, as they rotated in and out. The recruits were given military training and forced to stay in Congo. Many tried to flee back to Rwanda, he said, but some were caught once they crossed into Rwanda and were taken back to the M23.
One deserter told Human Rights Watch that a Rwandan soldier in his unit had told him in April that he was a demobilized soldier and had come to fight in Congo so he could have a higher rank in the Rwandan army when he went back. He said that two other Rwandans in his unit had escaped to Rwanda in March, but had been re-recruited and brought back to the M23. A former M23 officer said that two Rwandans in his unit escaped in mid-April. Soon after they arrived in Rwanda, the former officer said, neighborhood authorities informed military intelligence officials, who brought the young men back to the M23. They were detained by the M23 for a week, then redeployed.
M23 deserters and Rwandan villagers said that Rwandan soldiers and new recruits often crossed the border on foot at night, using remote trails through Virunga National Park.
Two former M23 officers told Human Rights Watch that some of the Rwandan fighters in their units told them they had served in Somalia or Darfur as part of the Rwandan army’s peacekeeping contingent. Several M23 deserters interviewed by Human Rights Watch, who had served in previous Rwanda-backed rebellions, said they recognized Rwandan army officers from their past experiences with the Rwandan military.
A Congolese man from Ntamugenga was forcibly recruited in May and forced to start military training. “In our group, there were 107 in the training,” he said. “Most of the others were Rwandans. They told me they had been tricked and were promised money if they came to Congo. Many of them were children. The army officers from Rwanda gave us the training, and they told us themselves that they lived in Rwanda. [After the training], there were demobilized soldiers from Rwanda and some ex-FDLR in my group.”
Several M23 deserters who escaped since late May described to Human Rights Watch the difference in the way the M23 treated Rwandans and Congolese within the rebel movement. One said:
Rwandans are favored. They’re given uniforms immediately, they’re given blankets, and they get boots. They’re spoiled. When they talk, they talk like they are the owners of the movement. I felt this threat. [They] called me a loser. They said, “You are worth nothing in your country.” They insulted me with things that you can’t say out loud. They said, “You Congolese, you may have studied a lot, but you’ve never been to the front.”
M23 deserters described deliveries of weapons, ammunition, food, phone credit, and other supplies from Rwanda. One former officer said that the wives of Rwandan officers often came to the M23’s positions in Congo to visit their husbands, bringing with them letters from family members in Rwanda.
All of the M23 deserters Human Rights Watch interviewed said the presence of Rwandan soldiers, officers, and trainers continued throughout their time with the M23, and that new arrivals – often bringing with them military and other supplies – continued coming from Rwanda in recent months.
Three former M23 officers close to the movement’s leadership told Human Rights Watch that the M23’s senior commanders spoke on the phone and met regularly with senior Rwandan army officers until at least late May or June, when the three deserted. Sometimes Rwandan officers came to Tshanzu or Rumangabo to meet with the M23 leaders, and sometimes the M23 leaders went to Rwanda for meetings.
Rwandan Support for M23 Military Operations
M23 deserters and civilians from near the Congo-Rwanda border reported an increase in support from Rwanda to the M23 at the time of three recent periods of heavy fighting – during infighting between two M23 factions in March; during fighting between the M23 and the Congolese army around Mutaho in late May; and before the fighting north of Goma in mid-July.
After the M23 split into two factions, Rwandan officials backed the faction led by Sultani Makenga against Bosco Ntaganda. A former M23 officer in Makenga’s faction told Human Rights Watch: “We were saved by Rwanda, and it’s thanks to their support that we were able to defeat Ntaganda’s group. They sent us ammunition and well-armed troops.”
Days before the fighting in Mutaho in late May, a young Congolese man told Human Rights Watch that M23 fighters abducted him in Kibumba groupement in mid-May. The fighters took him across the border into Rwanda, where they met a group of Rwandan soldiers. He and others with him were forced to carry containers of milk and boxes of ammunition and walk with the soldiers and rebel fighters back into Congo.
A 19-year-old Congolese student who was forcibly recruited by the M23 in March told Human Rights Watch that he and other M23 fighters were taken across the border into Rwanda in mid-May to pick up a delivery of weapons and ammunition and bring them back to the M23. They crossed into Rwanda at Gasizi and the following morning carried the weapons and ammunition to Kibumba in Congo. “The weapons were in two trucks,” he said. “We unloaded small bombs, machine guns, cartridges, and rocket launchers. Other Rwandans met us [in Gasizi] to help us carry the weapons back to Kibumba.”
Numerous local residents who were at or near the border between May 19 and 23 told Human Rights Watch that they saw groups of armed men in uniform crossing the border from Rwanda into Congo, including at Kasizi, Kabuhanga, and Hehu hill.
On May 20, for example, a teacher in Kasizi, who lives next to the border, saw three trucks arrive at the border at about 5 p.m. A large number of armed men in Rwandan military uniforms with Rwandan flags on their uniforms got out of the trucks and crossed the border into Congo on foot, through the forest, just to the side of the official border crossing.
On May 21, a local resident told Human Rights Watch, he saw at least several dozen soldiers with Rwandan flags on the shoulders of their uniforms by the Ruhunda market in Kibumba at about 11 a.m., walking in single file. They had weapons and some were carrying boxes. Some who appeared to be of a higher rank carried walkie-talkies.
Human Rights Watch also received reports of increased movements of armed men from Rwanda into Congo in the days leading up to the fighting that broke out on July 14.
A farmer told Human Rights Watch that on the evening of July 10 he was visiting a relative who lives next to the Rwanda border in Kibumba groupement when he heard the sound of vehicles, looked out the window, and saw armed men in uniform going from the border toward Kibumba. Some were on foot and others in vehicles.
A farmer who lives on the Rwandan side of the border said he saw similar movements of trucks between July 7 and 11, in the evenings, bringing soldiers to the Rwandan army military position at Njerima. The men got out of the trucks at the border and crossed into Congo on foot.
Another Rwandan civilian who lives near the border, in Rubavu sector, told Human Rights Watch that Rwandan army officers called him and other local residents to a meeting in early July. A Rwandan army captain leading the meeting told those present that the FDLR was close to the border. “Instead of letting the war come to Rwanda,” he said. “We will go to the other side.”
Four days later, the same Rwandan civilian saw hundreds of Rwandan soldiers cross the border into Congo, carrying heavy weaponry. “Some had heavy guns, the kind that break down and three men each take one section,” he said. “Others were carrying mortars. Most of the men were on foot, but they also used two trucks covered with sheeting.”
This man said he saw another large movement of Rwandan soldiers cross into Congo on July 8, a week before fighting broke out between the M23 and the Congolese army. During the following week, he saw smaller groups of soldiers cross into Congo.
A Rwandan farmer who lives near Kabuhanga village said he saw groups of several dozen Rwandan army soldiers cross into Congo between June 20 and June 30. He also saw a larger group cross on July 12, two days before fighting broke out.
Abuses by Hutu Militia with Support from Congolese Military Personnel
The M23’s control of territory weakened following the infighting between two M23 factions in March. Since then, Congolese Hutu armed groups, including the Popular Movement for Self-Defense (Mouvement populaire d’autodéfense or MPA), have carried out attacks in and around M23-controlled territory, and killed and raped several civilians. UN officials and former Hutu militia fighters told Human Rights Watch that some factions of these groups have received support from Congolese military personnel.
A 16-year-old girl told Human Rights Watch that on June 17, she, two other girls and an older woman who were coming home from their farm in Rutshuru were gang-raped by several Hutu militia fighters. In June, MPA fighters killed the local chief in Buchuzi, in Busanza groupement, as well as two M23 policemen. The fighters accused the chief of recruiting members for the M23. The attack followed a clash on June 6, when M23 fighters attacked the MPA and looted 12 houses and took dozens of goats.
Some of these Congolese Hutu groups are allied with the FDLR, which has long carried out horrific abuses against civilians in eastern Congo, including killings and rapes. Sources interviewed by the UN Group of Experts, cited in the group’s leaked interim report in June, said that Congolese army soldiers have supplied ammunition to the FDLR and that local Congolese army officers operating near M23-controlled territory and FDLR commanders “regularly meet and exchange operational information.”
Background on the M23 and Recent FightingThe M23 was formed in April 2012 after a mutiny by former members of a previous Rwanda-backed rebellion, the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), whose members had integrated into the Congolese armed forces in 2009. With significant support from the Rwandan military, the M23 gained control of much of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo territories in Congo’s North Kivu province. In late November, the M23 seized the main eastern city of Goma, again with significant Rwandan military support. The M23 withdrew from Goma on December 1, when the Congolese government agreed to peace talks.
On February 24, 11 African countries signed the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region in Addis-Ababa, under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The signatories – including Congo and Rwanda – agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of neighboring countries; not to tolerate or provide support of any kind to armed groups; neither to harbor nor provide protection of any kind to anyone accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, acts of genocide or crimes of aggression, or anyone falling under the UN sanctions regime; and to cooperate with regional justice initiatives. The former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, was appointed UN special envoy for the Great Lakes Region to support implementation of the Framework Agreement.
On March 18, Ntaganda, one of the M23’s leaders, surrendered to the US embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, following his defeat during infighting between two M23 factions. He was transferred to The Hague, where he is to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Over 700 M23 fighters and political leaders loyal to Ntaganda also fled to Rwanda, including four people on UN and US sanctions lists: Innocent Zimurinda, Baudouin Ngaruye, Eric Badege, and Jean-Marie Runiga.
Zimurinda and Ngaruye have been implicated in ethnic massacres, rape, torture, and child recruitment. They should not be shielded from justice but instead arrested and prosecuted without delay, Human Rights Watch said.
Makenga and Kayna (known as “India Queen”), who are still in Congo, are also on UN and US sanctions lists and are wanted on Congolese arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Talks in Kampala, Uganda between the Congolese government and the M23 have made little progress. The Congolese government has insisted that it will not integrate into its forces or reward people implicated in serious human rights abuses, including those who are on UN sanctions lists. Providing official positions to human rights abusers can encourage future human rights violations and is an affront to victims of past abuses, Human Rights Watch said.
After the M23 withdrew from Goma in December, a ceasefire had largely held between the M23 and the Congolese army until heavy fighting broke out around Mutaho, eight kilometers northwest of Goma, on May 20 to 22.
Fighting between the M23 and the Congolese army resumed on July 14 north of Goma.
Since its internal split in March, the M23’s control over some territory has weakened, allowing the FDLR and allied Congolese Hutu groups to carry out incursions there.
A new Force Intervention Brigade , an African-led, 3,000-member force made up of troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi, is being deployed to eastern Congo. The force is part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, and has a mandate to carry out offensive operations against armed groups operating in eastern Congo. The M23 has strongly opposed the deployment of this force.
Recommendations
To the Rwandan government:
Immediately end all support for the M23;
Cooperate with efforts to bring to justice M23 commanders allegedly responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious abuses, and ensure that any such commanders who have fled to Rwanda are not shielded from justice;
Investigate and prosecute as appropriate Rwandan civilian and military officials who may be responsible for aiding and abetting war crimes by the M23 and other rebel forces in Congo.
To the Congolese government:
Suspend, investigate, and prosecute as appropriate Congolese civilian and military officials who may be responsible for aiding and abetting war crimes by the FDLR and allied armed groups;
Reject any settlement that rewards M23 leaders allegedly responsible for serious abuses, including Sultani Makenga and Innocent Kayna;
Appropriately discipline officers and soldiers responsible for mistreating corpses, and ensure that such acts cease immediately;
Ensure that captured combatants and civilians are treated in accordance with due process standards, including being promptly brought before a judge and charged, or released; ensure that detainees are not mistreated or held in inhumane conditions.
To the UN and US special envoys to the Great Lakes and governments providing aid to Rwanda and Congo:
Denounce continued support to the M23 from Rwanda, and support sanctions against senior Rwandan officials responsible for supporting the M23 since 2012;
Seek to ensure that any settlement between the Congolese government and the M23 excludes integration into the Congolese army of M23 leaders, including those on UN and US sanctions lists, implicated in war crimes and other serious abuses;
Press for the arrest and prosecution of military commanders, including members of the M23, implicated in war crimes and other serious abuses;
Suspend donor assistance to the Rwandan military for as long as it supports abusive armed groups in Congo, and continue to seek independent information about the use of Rwandan territory to recruit M23 members and the involvement of the Rwandan military in supporting the M23; include strong human rights benchmarks as part of other assistance programs to Rwanda.
from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013
Lynette from Mombasa Kenya has raised three issues. She writes: “Fr Beste thank you for your homily. You touched on the issue which has been bothering me very much with my children, the condom adverts on TV. Is there any way our government can ban such embarrassing and immoral adverts”?
Is it true that bishop Rotich has retired as bishop, if so what happened and he has not even reached 75 years, the official age of retirement? My last question is about Jackal News. I saw Raila Odinga being interviewed on Citizen TV by Julie Gichuru last night and he said this news is of the CID.
Since when did the CID have a news and for what purpose? I also saw in your News Dispatch referring to the news as saying that Jakoyo Midiwo was bribed by Knut ksh 2million. Is this news a government project for propaganda?
I think what Lynette has raised is a concerned to all of us. It is indeed quite embarrassing in front of children. The communications regulator of Kenya (CCK) cannot take action against the adverts because the constitution of Kenya provides the freedom of press.
The “Weka Condom Mpangoni” advert has been on TV for quite some time now, one of the ladies inquires about the other’s husband and then immediately seeks to find out how her mpango wa kando (clandestine sexual partner).
The first lady then goes ahead to explain that even though her husband may be away, that does not mean that she miss out on “fun” since the other guy is readily available to provide it. The second lady then counsels her to always use condom whenever she’s having “fun” with her mpango wa kando.
Lynette Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich has not retired as bishop he has only retired officially as a military man. According to the order of the military of Kenya the highest rank in religious service is full colonel of which Rotich is. Since he cannot go beyond this rank when required service time in the army elapses is why he has retire.
He bade a farewell party to the military Christian communities at DoD yesterday. He will still be the bishop of the military but as a lay bishop and not military. The Father who follows him in the rank is Apostles of Jesus, Fr Benjamin Maswili. He is Lt Colonel.
Bishop Rotich was born on July 27, 1957, which means he is only 56 years old. So he is still having more years to serve as the bishop in the military. He was born a small village known as Tegat in Longisa Bomet, Kericho diocese.
He was ordained priest on November 18, 1983 at Nakuru. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi on March 9, 1996 and as Titular Bishop of Iulium Carnicum the same day. He was consecrated bishop on July 3, 1996 in a colourful ceremony at Moi Airbase attended by among others, former president Daniel arap Moi. He was installed bishop of Military Ordinariate on November 1, 1997.
He served as Military Chaplain as a Captain from 1989 to 1993 and as a Major from 1994 until he became a bishop and his rank rose from major to Colonel. Before becoming a bishop of the military late cardinal Maurice Otunga served as the ordinary from 1986. Fr Cosmas Khanere from Kakamega diocese served as senior chaplain.
Since the military had not recruited enough priests officiating chaplain priests served in different units. I Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko (Beste) AJ served at Langata Barracks assisted by AJ seminarian, Benjamin Maswili who is now Lt Connell chaplain in the military. I served from 1991-1995 helping also at Moi Airbase (MAB) and Kahawa Barracks.
The first officiating chaplain was late Fr John Omondi, AJ as a seminarian in 1970s to 1980s and 2010 as a priest. He officiated at Langata Barracks and Armed Forces Memorial Hospital respectively.
The first African to serve at the military as senior chaplain was late Fr Auro from Asumbi, Homa-bay Diocese. Fr John Omondo served under him before Fr Khanyere tooj over as a senior chaplain.
Roman Catholic Church Military Ordinariate provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Kenyan Armed Forces and their families. It was established as a military vicariate on 20 January 1964 with the first military vicar appointment on the same day. It was elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986.
Until late Maurice Michael Otunga was appointed 20 January 1964 the military was directly responsible to him as the ordinary of Nairobi diocese. He was appointed Military Ordinary 21 July 1986 until his retirement on 29 August 1997 when a trained military, Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich was appointed bishop.
Yes, I did watch the interview. Raila did not say the Jackal News is owned by CID, he only wondered whether CID was behind it because it seems to be speaking the same thing with the CID, citing the incident where the News reported about his former aide and chief campaigner Eliud Owalo that the thing reported by the Jackal News about him before the CID grilled him were similar.
No one knows exactly who owns this News Service. I am not also sure whether the government is using it as propaganda. The news just described itself as top Kenyan gossip site.
The site was recently hacked for unclear reason and motive. It is stated that the site was started by Bogonko Bosire along with an anon pal. The plan behind its launch was to own news and gossip.
As it stands, Jackalnews is an independent news blog that provides breaking news and in-depth analysis of events in Kenya. The site had just reported that police were probing Raila Odinga’s aide, Eliud Owalo of ties to March Four Movement (MFM), a dubious band of nondescripts who are reportedly planning major demonstrations against President Uhuru Kenya.
The Jackal News accused Owalo as the man who helped sink Raila Odinga presidential ambitions, of plotting to destabilize the government. The site reported that Owalo was summoned for interrogations for plotting an Egypt-style revolution in Kenya.
Alarmed by Jackal News’ accuracy, is why Raila wondered whether the site is owned by the CID. During the interview with Julie Gichuru on Citizen TV prime news at nine yesterday, Raila went as far as alleging that Jubilee government had already spread the security to cause chaos in Kenya similar to that of 2008 if the Supreme Court ruled against Jubilee. That is why he accepted the verdict for the sake of peace he said, even though he does not agree with the verdict.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.comFacebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002
