Good People,
Museveni's controversial letter to
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga over UPDF deployment in South Sudan is breaking all
rules for International protocol.
There is no law in the world that gives
Museveni permission to invade the South Sudan. South Sudan is not a property of
Uganda and he has no right to deploy UPDF under the command of his son. He
plans to hijack South Sudan through illegal and unconstitutional occupation
just like he did with Uganda and drove out the rightful people/Citizen of
Uganda, the Acholi out of Uganda. This time, let the world tell him enough is
enough.
Museveni must be stopped. Museveni is
already in breach of the United Nation Treaty for observing and to avoid abuse
of protocol or interfering in Territorial Zones that are not subject to
Uganda's territorial boundary.
The Observance of Section 2 of the UN
Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone states:
1. The sovereignty of a coastal State
extends, beyond its land territory and internal waters and, in the case of an
archipelagic State, its archipelagic waters, to an adjacent belt of sea,
described as the territorial sea.
2. This sovereignty extends to the air
space over the territorial sea as well as to its bed and subsoil.
3. The sovereignty over the territorial
sea is exercised subject to this Convention and to other rules of international
law.
Dr Riek Machar’s negotiating team this
week demanded the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Juba, the capital of South
Sudan, accusing Uganda of meddling in “an internal conflict”. The Uganda UPDF
Army has in effect already contravened this rule and South Sudan people have
rights to deal with it ruthlessly in any way, shape or form in the light of
protecting their interest and dignity.
South Sudan people need peace and not
Armed forces yet Museveni does not seem to get it. The UN and the world must
stand with the people of South Sudan to fight Museveni's Armed terror of
insurgencies inside South Sudan. It is unacceptable, lacking protocol and is
unethical. This behavior must stop instantly. He will have to deal with the
excess Eritreans, Somalis, Sudanese from the North and Ethiopians with money
and weaponry that he received from Israel and find solutions for his own
headache instead of look look to shifting his problems using South Sudan as a
damping ground and a scapegoat.
Let it be known to everyone and sundry
that Uganda's Insurgency and terrorism to South Sudan will meet with the worst
rude shocks. We shall make open campaign that the UPDF meet the wrath of South
Sudan people and that, People of South Sudan have right (with friends and
sympathizers) to protect themselves and their interest in their country by
standing-up their ground and challenging UPDF, driving them away right into
Uganda so to serve Museveni a lesson he badly need.
Could Museveni be looking for a damping
ground from the gift of Refugees he got from Israel? Where was he going to
place the refugees he got from Israel? Then after consolidating his protection,
he goes for the Nile River after Migingo and Lake Victoria invasion. There is
no other reason why he would form an Army to be hoisted in Juba led by his son.
Absolutely something is cooking but, we shall make him fry himself with his own
oil.
What Museveni is doing is inhuman,
intimidation and terrorism driven by excessive greed and it is unacceptable.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
-----------------------------
Uganda agrees to take African deportees from Israel
Israel has signed a deal with Uganda to deport to its land thousands of African asylum seekers who arrived in the Jewish country in recent years, officials said on Thursday.
Israeli media reported that in return, Israel will pay Uganda an undisclosed sum of money and provide the African country with agricultural equipment and know-how.
In recent months, Israel has made controversial efforts to seek third-party countries willing to take African asylum seekers from Israel.
On Wednesday, Israeli Interior minister Gideon Sa'ar told a Knesset (parliament) committee that such a deal had been finalised.
But the name of the third-party country was only disclosed Thursday.
The deportations are expected to begin as soon as October or November.
Sa'ar said that the deal will be implemented in stages and that by the end of the first year, some 2,000 to 3,000 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers will have been transferred to Uganda.
According to the Israeli Immigration and Population Authority, about 55,000 African migrants currently live in the country.
More than 90 per cent of them are Eritrean and Sudanese nationals.
Last year, former Internal minister Eli Yishai issued a set of decrees aimed at repatriating African migrants or incarcerating them, charging that they posed a threat to the Jewish character of the country and hurt Israeli's welfare.
The current government is carrying on with Yishai's plan, which is eagerly backed by Israelis in improvised neighbourhoods, mainly in southern Tel Aviv, where the majority of the refugees live.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Africa j bwamkuu
To: wanabidii@googlegroups.com; NGO afya club NGO
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 5:50 AM
Subject: [wanabidii] Museveni and controversial letter : Urais na Uhuni
To: wanabidii@googlegroups.com; NGO afya club NGO
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 5:50 AM
Subject: [wanabidii] Museveni and controversial letter : Urais na Uhuni
PARLIAMENT- President Museveni is seeking retrospective authority from MPs to deploy Ugandan troops for “peacekeeping or peace enforcement” in South Sudan.
This comes amidst controversy over a letter the President wrote to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to recall Parliament from recess over the Juba matter.
This comes amidst controversy over a letter the President wrote to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to recall Parliament from recess over the Juba matter.
In a December 24, 2013 letter, the President told Ms Kadaga that given the importance of South Sudan to peace in northern Uganda, DRC and CAR, “Uganda cannot and should not stand aloof and watch the situation deteriorating”.
However, although the President’s letter appears to have been written on December 24, 2013, it bears a stamp of the Speaker’s office showing it was received on January 9, 2014.
This was a day after the Speaker had written to the Ministry of Defence, asking them to avail her the relevant information regarding the UPDF deployment in South Sudan to enable her recall Parliament from recess to ratify the deployment.
This was a day after the Speaker had written to the Ministry of Defence, asking them to avail her the relevant information regarding the UPDF deployment in South Sudan to enable her recall Parliament from recess to ratify the deployment.
It is not clear why a letter by the President to the Speaker on an urgent matter such as this would take two weeks before it is delivered.
Detractors claim the President’s letter was a panic response, which was perhaps back-dated to defeat Parliament’s accusation that the commander-in-chief had deployed troops in a foreign country without leave of Parliament as required by the Constitution.
In her letter to Defence ministry, Ms Kadaga had written that she would be grateful if she received the required information not later than January 13.
MPs led by Paul Mwiru (Jinja East) and Hassan Kaps Fungaroo (Obongi County) last week sought an emergency recall of Parliament to debate the UPDF deployment in South Sudan and several MPs had signed the recall petition.
On Thursday, Ms Kadaga was quoted on TV saying State House was acting in bad faith by trying to portray that the President had long informed her to recall Parliament but she had been delaying the process.
On the same day, Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, which had convened to seek an explanation from Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga degenerated into a shouting match between opposition MPs and some of their NRM counterparts after the minister failed to show up and instead junior Defence minister Jeje Odongo pleaded for more time to return to the committee to explain the Juba deployments.
Describing South Sudan as “our brotherly country”, the President said he had initially deployed a small force to guard Juba airport in agreement with President Salva Kiir and other leaders, but added that he was considering deploying more troops.
He said the deployments were to ensure regional security, protect the thriving trade with South Sudan and rescue trapped Ugandans and constitutionalism in South Sudan.
“I am therefore, writing to you to request you call Parliament to approve my actions as provided for by the UPDF Act. The mission for the deployment is for both peacekeeping but if necessary for peace enforcement,” Mr Museveni said.
“I am therefore, writing to you to request you call Parliament to approve my actions as provided for by the UPDF Act. The mission for the deployment is for both peacekeeping but if necessary for peace enforcement,” Mr Museveni said.
Ms Kadaga has indeed recalled Parliament on January 14 to debate Museveni’s request.
On December 30, 2013, President Museveni travelled to Juba where he warned Dr Riek Machar to embrace the ceasefire plan suggested by President Kiir and endorsed by regional leaders under the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development or face the wrath of the regional forces.
On December 30, 2013, President Museveni travelled to Juba where he warned Dr Riek Machar to embrace the ceasefire plan suggested by President Kiir and endorsed by regional leaders under the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development or face the wrath of the regional forces.
S.SUDAN CONFLICT
Peace talks: The two parties are reported to have agreed on a cessation of hostilities but fighting continued raging in various areas in Bor and Bentiu in Jonglei and Unity states.
Objection to UPDF deployment: Dr Riek Machar’s negotiating team this week demanded the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, accusing Uganda of meddling in “an internal conflict”.
Peace talks: The two parties are reported to have agreed on a cessation of hostilities but fighting continued raging in various areas in Bor and Bentiu in Jonglei and Unity states.
Objection to UPDF deployment: Dr Riek Machar’s negotiating team this week demanded the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, accusing Uganda of meddling in “an internal conflict”.
=====================
Museveni wants MPs to bless
South Sudan deployment
President Museveni and Ms Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, the widow of John Granga, South Sudan’s first president, at his home in Rwakitura on Thursday. Photo by PPU
By Yasiin Mugerwa
Posted Saturday, January 11 2014 at 02:00
Posted Saturday, January 11 2014 at 02:00
In Summary
n a December 24, 2013 letter, the President told Ms Kadaga that given the importance of South Sudan to peace in northern Uganda, DRC and CAR, “Uganda cannot and should not stand aloof and watch the situation deteriorating”.
PARLIAMENT- President Museveni is seeking retrospective authority from MPs to deploy Ugandan troops for “peacekeeping or peace enforcement” in South Sudan.
This comes amidst controversy over a letter the President wrote to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to recall Parliament from recess over the Juba matter.
This comes amidst controversy over a letter the President wrote to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to recall Parliament from recess over the Juba matter.
In a December 24, 2013 letter, the President told Ms Kadaga that given the importance of South Sudan to peace in northern Uganda, DRC and CAR, “Uganda cannot and should not stand aloof and watch the situation deteriorating”.
However, although the President’s letter appears to have been written on December 24, 2013, it bears a stamp of the Speaker’s office showing it was received on January 9, 2014.
This was a day after the Speaker had written to the Ministry of Defence, asking them to avail her the relevant information regarding the UPDF deployment in South Sudan to enable her recall Parliament from recess to ratify the deployment.
This was a day after the Speaker had written to the Ministry of Defence, asking them to avail her the relevant information regarding the UPDF deployment in South Sudan to enable her recall Parliament from recess to ratify the deployment.
It is not clear why a letter by the President to the Speaker on an urgent matter such as this would take two weeks before it is delivered.
Detractors claim the President’s letter was a panic response, which was perhaps back-dated to defeat Parliament’s accusation that the commander-in-chief had deployed troops in a foreign country without leave of Parliament as required by the Constitution.
In her letter to Defence ministry, Ms Kadaga had written that she would be grateful if she received the required information not later than January 13.
MPs led by Paul Mwiru (Jinja East) and Hassan Kaps Fungaroo (Obongi County) last week sought an emergency recall of Parliament to debate the UPDF deployment in South Sudan and several MPs had signed the recall petition.
On Thursday, Ms Kadaga was quoted on TV saying State House was acting in bad faith by trying to portray that the President had long informed her to recall Parliament but she had been delaying the process.
On the same day, Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, which had convened to seek an explanation from Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga degenerated into a shouting match between opposition MPs and some of their NRM counterparts after the minister failed to show up and instead junior Defence minister Jeje Odongo pleaded for more time to return to the committee to explain the Juba deployments.
Describing South Sudan as “our brotherly country”, the President said he had initially deployed a small force to guard Juba airport in agreement with President Salva Kiir and other leaders, but added that he was considering deploying more troops.
He said the deployments were to ensure regional security, protect the thriving trade with South Sudan and rescue trapped Ugandans and constitutionalism in South Sudan.
“I am therefore, writing to you to request you call Parliament to approve my actions as provided for by the UPDF Act. The mission for the deployment is for both peacekeeping but if necessary for peace enforcement,” Mr Museveni said.
Ms Kadaga has indeed recalled Parliament on January 14 to debate Museveni’s request.
On December 30, 2013, President Museveni travelled to Juba where he warned Dr Riek Machar to embrace the ceasefire plan suggested by President Kiir and endorsed by regional leaders under the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development or face the wrath of the regional forces.
S.SUDAN CONFLICT
Peace talks: The two parties are reported to have agreed on a cessation of hostilities but fighting continued raging in various areas in Bor and Bentiu in Jonglei and Unity states.
Objection to UPDF deployment: Dr Riek Machar’s negotiating team this week demanded the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, accusing Uganda of meddling in “an internal conflict”.
Peace talks: The two parties are reported to have agreed on a cessation of hostilities but fighting continued raging in various areas in Bor and Bentiu in Jonglei and Unity states.
Objection to UPDF deployment: Dr Riek Machar’s negotiating team this week demanded the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, accusing Uganda of meddling in “an internal conflict”.
==================
Kadaga Recalls Parliament Over
UPDF South Sudan Deployment
By: Our Reporter
Published: January 10, 2014
Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has recalled Parliament from recess to discuss the deployment of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in South Sudan.
Hellen Kawesa, the Parliament’s Public Relations Officer, confirms the recall saying that Parliament will reconvene on Tuesday January 14, almost a month after the government hurriedly deployed special forces in Juba following the outbreak of fighting in that country on December 15. At least 1000 people have been killed and close to 200,000 others are displaced since the fighting started on December 15.
Kawesa noted that the issue of discussion is the UPDF deployment in South Sudan and that the communication has already been sent to MPs through their e-mails, SMS messages and notices in Parliament.
UPDF soldiers.
According to a notice to all members of parliament dated 9th January 2014 by the clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige, the sitting is scheduled for January 14th at 10am in the parliamentary chambers.
Kibirige says the recall is in accordance with Article 210 of the Constitution and Section 39 of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act, 2005. Article 210 (d) of the Constitution of Uganda provides that Parliament approves deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in a foreign country and Section 39 of the UPDF Act allows the President to deploy troops outside Uganda for purposes of peace keeping or peace enforcement. The section however provides for such deployment to be done with the approval of parliament.
Some legislators have been critical of the South Sudan deployment saying it was never approved by Parliament as provided for under Article 210 of the constitution. But government has insisted that it deployed in Juba to help evacuate Ugandan nationals trapped in the conflict. Several opposition MPs have been pushing for the recall of Parliament saying that the Country’s army was illegally deployed and that government owes an explanation to the country for the deployment.
URN has also learnt of a letter written by President Yoweri Museveni to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on UPDF deployment, received by the Speaker’s office on January 9, 2014 but dated December 24, 2013. The letter apparently was communicating the deployment and the reasons why the deployment was made.
In the letter, President Museveni asks Kadaga to recall Parliament to discuss the deployment and also approve the presence of UPDF in the war-torn country.
Parliament broke off for recess on December 20, 2013 and was supposed to resume business on February 18, 2014.
==============================
Parliament for special session over
S. Sudan conflict
Publish Date: Jan 10, 2014
By Moses Walubiri
Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has sanctioned a special session of parliament on Tuesday next week to approve UPDF deployment in war torn South Sudan in line with Article 210 of the constitution and section 39 of the UPDF Act.
Although Uganda has already deployed a small elite unit to secure South Sudan’s key installations, including Juba airport, on the request of S. Sudan president Salva Kir, the president is required to secure parliamentary approval for a full blown deployment of the country’s army in a foreign country.
According to a communication by Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, to all legislators, the session will begin at 10am.
“Notice is hereby given that there will be a special sitting of parliament on Tuesday 14 January, 2014, convening in accordance with Article 210 of the constitution and section 39 of the UPDF Act, 2005,” the notice dated 9 January reads.
The development comes 16 days after Museveni wrote to Kadaga requesting her to convene the session to approve UPDF deployment to defend what he labeled greater regional security interests.
“Given the importance of South Sudan for the peace in Northern Uganda, DRC, and CAR, Uganda cannot and should not stand aloof and watch the situation deteriorate ,” Museveni noted in his 24 December letter, adding: “I am therefore, writing to you to request you to call parliament to approve my actions as provided for by the UPDF Act. The mission for deployment is for peacekeeping but, if necessary, for peace enforcement.”
Africa’s youngest country has savored little reprieve from the protracted grisly conflict that culminated into its independence two years ago, recently getting plunged into the current crisis pitting forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar against government troops.
It seems as regional efforts to pour olive oil on South Sudan’s choppy waters gathers pace, Uganda is keeping all options on the table despite Machar’s clamor for it (Uganda) to withdraw its troops from South Sudan.
====================================
Saturday 11 January 2014
UN Security Council warns of “external” intervention in S. Sudan conflict
January 10, 2014 (NEW YORK) - The members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have strongly warned against “external” interventions that could exacerbate nearly a month of military and political tensions in South Sudan.
- The Security Council meeting (File photo UN/Paulo Filgueiras)
The Council, in a statement issued Friday, renewed calls for all parties involved in the conflict to commit to cessation of violence and hostilities and urged government to protect civilians, including foreign nationals and personnel.
The world body does not, however, mention any country said to have intervened in the conflict, although fingers have been pointed at Ugandan troops allegedly fighting alongside government forces in a bid to defeat rebels loyal to South Sudan former vice-president, Riek Machar.
Uganda has, however, denied any military involvement in the conflict, saying its troops were only in South Sudan to protect Ugandans trapped in the violence.
Violence hit the world’s youngest nation mid-December last year following a misunderstanding among members of the presidential guards in the capital, Juba.
More than 1,000 people have died and nearly 200,000 displaced as the conflict later flared along ethnic lines in South Sudan’s states of Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity.
Talks between the warring parties, under the mediation of regional leaders from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), are currently ongoing in Ethiopia, with calls for peaceful dialogue through cessation of hostilities key in these talks.
“The members of the Security Council underlined their demand for President Salva Kiir, former Vice President Riek Machar and other political leaders to demonstrate leadership by immediately agreeing to a cessation of hostilities and commencing a broader dialogue as proposed in the mediation efforts underway by IGAD in Addis Ababa”, the statement reads.
In particular, the UNSC urged Machar to move forward and agree to a cessation of hostilities without precondition and requested President Kiir, to release all political leaders currently detained in order to “create an environment conducive to a successful dialogue”.
The South Sudanese president has, however, defied mounting international pressure on him to unconditionally release detainees arrested last month following an alleged coup attempt in the country.
Members of the UNSC also called on both parties in the conflict to allow humanitarian access to thousands displaced and further agitated for security of economic infrastructure, including oil installations and the safety of the employees.
UN CHIEF WELCOMES TALKS
The UN Secretary General on Friday welcomed the beginning of the IGAD-mediated talks on South Sudan crisis, saying there "must" be no further delays in agreeing on a cessation of hostilities.
"I called President Salva Kiir yesterday [Thursday] again and urged him to demonstrate leadership and political flexibility by immediately releasing political prisoners", Ban Ki Moon said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
"South Sudan is at a crossroads; this crisis can be resolved only at the negotiating table; and I urge the two sides to negotiate in earnest", he added.
Western diplomats and the international community have all voiced their concerns for dialogue between South Sudan’s warring parties as a means to end nearly a month of violence in the East African country.
ACTIVIST BACKS UNSC MOVE
A South Sudanese civil society activist on Saturday welcomed the UNSC warning against any external intervention in the conflict, saying it was within the current expectations of citizens.
"South Sudanese want to see a quick end of the military confrontation and effective political dialogues going on. The more the end for fighting delays, the more criminal minded individuals take the opportunity for committing crimes", said Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO).
We urge each of the conflicting parties to compromise and demonstrate responsibility in order to pave way for a conductive atmosphere for peaceful dialogue, he stressed.
=====================
Saturday 11 January 2014
S. Sudanese women urge global intervention to end crisis
January 10- 2014 (JUBA) - A group of South Sudanese women this week held a peaceful march in the country’s capital, Juba, strongly voicing their concerns for peace and global intervention to end the crisis in the new nation.
- South Sudanese women dance at a festival in Juba to celebrate the country’s anniversary of independence (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
“War is never a solution to any differences. Violence produces violence and the rivals do not become the victims of their actions. It is the ordinary people who become the victims of the situation created by individuals obsessed with personal ambitions and interests”, Asunta Ajith Bol, one of the protestors told Sudan Tribune.
“Now our people are dying all over the country for no apparent reason. Why?”she asked.
Nearly a month of violent conflict in the country has claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced close to 200,000, as many expressed fears that South Sudan risks sliding back into civil war.
Peace talks between government and the rebel delegation in Ethiopia were reportedly making little progress, despite mounting international pressure on both sides to end conflict.
“If you ask anybody in this country, whether they are women like me or men like you, whether they are children, a boy or girl, small or big, weak or strong, rich or poor, they will certainly tell you that they want peace and not war”, said Bol.
“Our people need peace and the international community should take up full responsibility to make the leaders, those involved in the conflict accept peace”, she added, and encouraged both sides to resolve their differences on the table, but not through guns.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Monica Dominic Madut, a female activist from South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state expressed fear that failure by the two sides to immediately reach an understanding would further worsen the situation.
“This situation has already gotten out of control, and our fear as mothers and wives is that if the people discussing peace in Addis Ababa don’t agree anytime soon, then this is going to get worse, which is what we don’t want”, Madut said in a separate interview.
Peace must come by all means without violence, she added.
The activist, however, said it was meaningless if both side continued fighting on the ground, despite reports that the warring parties have publicly agreed to end cessation of hostilities.
"Enough is enough. How long ago did we get independence after fighting as one people and only to return into the same fighting for no apparent reason? We lost millions to gain independence and now we want to lose more lives and destroy the little that has been made?” she asked
LAUGHING MATTER
Meanwhile, Mary Benjamin expressed strong disappointment with the way South Sudan was being run by politicians she described as “obstinate to change”, allegedly due to their desires for power.
“Our people and this country have been reduced to the laughing stock at the international level by individuals obstinate to change. They do not see beyond their interests. They have laid a completely wrong foundation of this nation”, said Benjamin.
(ST)
US weighs targeted sanctions against South Sudan -sources
South Sudan President Salva Kiir (R) and his Sudan counterpart Omar al-Bashir hold a joint news briefing …
By Louis Charbonneau and Warren Strobel
UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is weighing targeted sanctions against South Sudan due to the failure of leaders in the world's youngest nation to take steps to end a crisis that has brought the country to the brink of civil war, sources briefed on U.S. discussions told Reuters.
"It's a tool that has been discussed," a source told Reuters on condition of anonymity about the possibility of U.S. sanctions against those blocking peace efforts or fueling violence in South Sudan. Another source confirmed the remarks, though both declined to provide details on the precise measures under consideration.
No decisions have been made yet, the sources added. Targeted sanctions focus on specific individuals, entities or sectors of country.
The U.S. government was unlikely to consider steps intended to economically harm impoverished South Sudan but would likely focus on any measures on those individuals or groups it sees as blocking efforts at brokering peace or committing atrocities.
Traditionally U.S. sanctions against individuals or groups involve a ban on travel to the United States and freezing of their assets in U.S. banks.
Three weeks of fighting, often along ethnic lines, is ringing alarm bells in Washington over the prospect that the conflict could spiral into full-blown civil war, spawning atrocities or making South Sudan the world's next failed state.
The fact that Washington is thinking of threatening U.S. sanctions against a country the United States helped create and supports with large amounts of aid shows how frustrated President Barack Obama's administration has become with President Salva Kiir and a rebel faction led by former Vice President Riek Machar.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was asked about the possibility of U.S. sanctions against South Sudan, where the United Nations has a large peacekeeping force that is protecting some 75,000 civilians at its bases. He declined to comment on sanctions but urged all sides to stop fighting.
Largely Christian South Sudan gained independence from predominantly Muslim Sudan in 2011 after a referendum was held in keeping with a 2005 U.S.-backed peace deal that ended a north-south civil war that left millions dead.
EXPERTS FAVOR U.S. SANCTIONS
Kate Almquist Knopf of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University said on Thursday that Washington should consider targeted sanctions if the fighting and political deadlock in South Sudan continue.
"The United States should move to invoke the president's authorities to institute travel bans and asset freezes on senior leadership on both sides, as well as be prepared to extend those sanctions multilaterally to a resolution in the U.N. Security Council," she told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
John Prendergast, a former U.S. State Department official and co-founder of the Enough Project, an anti-genocide group, told the same hearing that Washington should also target those in South Sudan who are linked to mass killings.
He said Washington "should focus on individual culpability - the targeted sanctions, prosecution of people who are found to be ... committing or planning atrocities."
In a statement on Thursday the White House urged both sides in the escalating conflict to sign an agreement to cease hostilities immediately.
On Wednesday, South Sudanese rebels rejected a government plan to end a dispute over detainees and unblock peace talks. Fighting in the oil-producing nation has killed at least 1,000 people and caused hundreds of thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, in turn, has refused to release 11 detainees despite promising Washington last month that he would free most of them.
U.S. President Barack Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in the White House statement that the United States was disappointed the detainees have not been freed yet but noted that their continued detention was no excuse to continue fighting.
"The United States reiterates its call upon President Salva Kiir to release the detainees immediately to the custody of (the East African trading bloc) IGAD so that they can participate in the political negotiations," Rice said.
U.N. chief Ban echoed Rice's comments, saying he urged Kiir in a telephone call on Thursday to release all political detainees. The U.N. Security Council also urged Kiir to release the detainees and called on Machar to "agree to a cessation of hostilities without precondition."
U.S. government officials and senators said on Thursday that hundreds of millions of dollars in support to South Sudan's government could be stopped if the violence continues.
In 2012 the United States joined the other 14 members of the U.N. Security Council in threatening sanctions against Sudan and South Sudan due to a crisis over the disputed oil region Heglig, though council diplomats said Washington was reluctant at the time to back measures that would undermine Kiir's government.
U.S. officials said Washington was satisfied then that the mere threat of U.S. support for sanctions was sufficient. The Heglig crisis was eventually resolved.
========================
Friday, August 30, 2013
Israel to deport African asylum seekers to Uganda
Newly-arrived Jewish immigrants coming from Ethiopia arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport on August 28, 2013. Israel will deport African asylum seekers to Uganda. PHOTO/AFP
In Summary
- Israel made controversial efforts to seek third-party countries willing to take on its land African asylum seekers
- Some 2,000 to 3,000 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers will have been transferred to the Uganda
Uganda: Israel, Uganda Discuss Deal for African Asylum Seekers, By Hilary Heuler
Kampala — Israel says it is likely to send at least some of its Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers to Uganda. In return for accepting the refugees, Uganda would receive aid and weapons. Such a trade would provide Uganda the weapons it seeks, but could create legal problems as well.
Last week, Israel's interior minister said Uganda had agreed to accept thousands of Eritreans and Sudanese, whom Israel considers to be illegal economic migrants. Nearly 55,000 of them live in Israel, where many have sought asylum.
Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=489_1379521855#ViIqa60eJ7W6TDtM.99
Kampala — Israel says it is likely to send at least some of its Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers to Uganda. In return for accepting the refugees, Uganda would receive aid and weapons. Such a trade would provide Uganda the weapons it seeks, but could create legal problems as well.
Last week, Israel's interior minister said Uganda had agreed to accept thousands of Eritreans and Sudanese, whom Israel considers to be illegal economic migrants. Nearly 55,000 of them live in Israel, where many have sought asylum.
Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=489_1379521855#ViIqa60eJ7W6TDtM.99
===============
Uganda to host aliens expelled from Israel
The Haaretz website carries a story of African migrants allegedly held at a detention facility. PHOTO BY Andrew Bagala.
By Monitor Reporter
In Summary
Sellout? Unwanted persons in the Middle East will under a new deal be flown to find a home in Uganda.
Posted Saturday, August 31 2013 at 01:00
KAMPALA
Uganda is likely to host 55,000 aliens and asylum seekers facing expulsion from Israel following an alleged secret deal between Kampala and Tel Aviv, the Haaretz newspaper reported online on Thursday, quoting Israeli Interior minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Mr Hagai Hadas, the Israeli Prime Minister’s special envoy, reportedly brokered the deal with Ugandan officials, according to minister Mr Sa’ar, and that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein approved the consent.
There was no mention of specific Ugandan officials or department of government with whom the deal was negotiated.
There was no mention of specific Ugandan officials or department of government with whom the deal was negotiated.
Disclosure of Uganda’s identity follows the lifting of a gag order, which had restricted reference to the future host of unwanted persons in Israel to just an “East African country”. According to the newspaper, the new regulations are meant to deter migrants from seeking entry into Israel. Foreign nationals facing forced removal are being asked to leave voluntarily, relocate or be deported to Uganda.
“In the first stage, we will focus on raising awareness within the population of infiltrators while helping them with the logistics of their departure, including costs, airfare and dealing with the possessions they accumulated while they were in Israel,” minister Sa’ar said at a meeting of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee.
The state is planning to impose a deadline – after the upcoming Jewish holidays – by which “certain sectors within the infiltrator population” will be asked to “willingly” leave the country, Haaretz reported. Uganda’s Foreign Affairs officials were not available for comment, and government spokesman Ofwono Opondo was reported out of the country.
Information minster Rose Namayanja, however, dismissed the report outright. “They [reports] are rumours. The government offices that would be involved are Foreign Affairs and the refugee department of the Office of the Prime Minister, but they are not aware. I just want to believe that those are speculative rumours,” she told the Saturday Monitor.
Similar sentiments were echoed by legislator Milton Muwuma who sits on Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee who said: “We normally share with the Chief of Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence but in this case we are not aware of anything. Those may just be rumours. In any case it would be difficult to resettle any people in Karamoja because we are trying to stabilise the region and that would be a potential cause for disagreement.”
History repeating itself?
Mr Muwuma’s reference to Karamoja is perhaps because this is not the first time Uganda is being considered as a possible home for people from Israel. In the early days of colonialism, Britain which was then administering the territory that had become known as Uganda offered chunks of land for settlement of Jews that were unwanted in Europe and were facing persecution. According to various online sources, the British Uganda Programme, as it was known, was a plan to give a portion of British East Africa to the Jewish people as a homeland.
Mr Muwuma’s reference to Karamoja is perhaps because this is not the first time Uganda is being considered as a possible home for people from Israel. In the early days of colonialism, Britain which was then administering the territory that had become known as Uganda offered chunks of land for settlement of Jews that were unwanted in Europe and were facing persecution. According to various online sources, the British Uganda Programme, as it was known, was a plan to give a portion of British East Africa to the Jewish people as a homeland.
The offer was first made by British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain to Mr Theodore Herzl’s Zionist group in 1903. He offered land in Mau Plateau in present-day Kenya (then part of the territory of Uganda) and alternatively the Karamoja area in present day north-eastern Uganda. The offer was prompted by massacres against the Jews in Russia, and it was hoped the area could be a refuge from persecution for the Jewish people.
The proposal was brought to the World Zionist Organisation’s Zionist Congress at its sixth meeting in Basel, Switzerland in 1903 where a fierce debate ensued. The African land was described as an “ante-chamber to the Holy Land”, but other groups felt that accepting the offer would make it more difficult to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. In the end, the motion to consider the plan passed by 295 to 177 votes.
The next year, a three-man delegation was sent to inspect the area and returned with a no verdict saying the place was not amenable for European settlement. In 1905, the Zionist Congress politely declined the British offer.
In more recent years, Uganda has historically enjoyed warm relations with Israel and this blossomed in the early years of Idi Amin’s government before the dictator began hobnobbing with Israel’s Arab and Muslim foes. The relationship thawed during the NRM years. Today, the Middle East country has signed deals with President Museveni’s government to transfer agricultural technology, including on irrigation, supply of arms and surveillance equipment as well as re-modelling and modernising used combat aircraft.
It is unclear what the country will gain by accommodating persons unwanted in Israeli amid fears some could pose a security risk. “Such a move would have serious political and security ramifications. We will deal with it as an urgent matter and demand explanation from the government. Will they come as refugees to go to refugee camps or will they be granted Ugandan citizenship? It cannot be just a matter between a few individuals in the government, Ugandans need to be involved,” Mr Theodore Ssekikubo, a member of the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee of Parliament, said.
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Israel to ship African refugees to Uganda
Finally the African cat is out of Israeli litter. The ‘gag order’ has been lifted. The Israeli press has reported that Uganda has agreed to accept tens of thousands of Israel’s unwanted African asylum seekers – in return for Israeli arms and military training. Watch out Sudan!
“A secret agreement between the government of Israel and Uganda over the deportation of Afghan migrants to Uganda is not surprising considering the warm relations between the two countries since 1970s,” reported Israeli daily Ha’aretz on August 29, 2013.
The main characters in the deal are; Uganda’s pro-Israel dictator, president Museveni and former Mossad head, Gen. Rafi Eitan, the handler of America’s Jewish traitor, Jonathan Pollard, who is serving life imprisonment in the United States for stealing nearly one million classified secrets for the Zionist entity.
During the last eight years, nearly 60,000 African workers and asylum seekers, mostly from Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritria, entered Israel. Most of them were duped by Israeli PR, portraying Jewish occupation as heaven for the persecuted people.
In June this year, Netanyahu government decided to send thousands of African migrants to an undisclosed African country in an attempt to solve Israel’s ‘African Problem’. That country now happens to be Uganda.
Read the Primer in full, here.
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Voice of America (Washington, DC)
Uganda: Israel, Uganda Discuss Deal for African Asylum Seekers
By Hilary Heuler, 3 September 2013
Kampala — Israel says it is likely to send at least some of its Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers to Uganda. In return for accepting the refugees, Uganda would receive aid and weapons. Such a trade would provide Uganda the weapons it seeks, but could create legal problems as well.
Last week, Israel's interior minister said Uganda had agreed to accept thousands of Eritreans and Sudanese, whom Israel considers to be illegal economic migrants. Nearly 55,000 of them live in Israel, where many have sought asylum.
But since Friday, the number of migrants destined for Uganda has been scaled down to a few hundred. Israeli officials said the "deal" with Uganda was nothing more than a verbal understanding, and the Ugandan government has denied such an agreement exists.
But it appeared the announcement was not entirely unfounded. The co-founder of the International Refugee Rights Initiative in Kampala, Dismas Nkunda, said he has heard rumors of such a deal for the past two years. But he said it did not seem to have gone through the usual channels.
"What we heard is that there are certain Uganda government officials who entered those negotiations without necessarily informing the agencies that are responsible for protection or even admission of refugees into the country," said Nkunda.
Israel's relationship with Uganda has been tumultuous. In 1976, Idi Amin famously gave refuge to Palestinians who had hijacked a passenger plane, and dozens of people were killed in the Israeli commando rescue operation that followed.
But Makarere University Security Studies Professor Paul Omach explained in the 1960s the two countries were closely connected, with Israel giving Uganda agricultural training and military aid.
"I know in the 1960s Israel was training the air force. A number of Ugandan paratroopers trained in Israel also. At that time Israel was trying to use Uganda as a southern flank to fight the Arabs during the Arab-Israeli conflict," he said.
Under Uganda's current president, Yoweri Museveni, Israel has provided military assistance once more, although Omach said the details of these deals were never made public. If Uganda did not accept Israel's unwanted migrants, he said, it may well be in exchange for arms.
"Museveni is always building the military. Right now he has just commissioned a tank crew. So this is a continuous thing. We live in a turbulent region, so you need to be prepared," said Omach.
But sending asylum seekers to Uganda would contradict international refugee law, said Nkunda, and could create legal problems once the migrants arrived.
"What happens to them, certainly that is going to be a very big legal problem, because on what basis are they being admitted in Uganda? They have not sought refugee status in Uganda, they have not sought asylum in Uganda. They sought first asylum in the first country they thought of, which was Israel. Actually, you might say that they might end up becoming stateless," said Nkunda.
Nor was it clear where the new arrivals would be put, he added, though they may well end up in one of Uganda's refugee camps.
"We have large camps in Uganda; camps for Congolese, camps for Somalis even. So it is possible that they might end up just driving them over into the camp to look after themselves," said Nkunda.
Omach said this could be just another example of a richer nation paying a poorer one to solve its problems.
"Israel looks at these immigrants, mostly Africans really, as unwanted in its country. So if somebody can take it and you can just sign the checks, and you get somebody who is itching for money, that is definitely what they will do," said the professor.
But unless a formal agreement is signed, Omach and Nkunda agree the public may never know the details of what really happened between Israel and Uganda.
Kampala — Israel says it is likely to send at least some of its Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers to Uganda. In return for accepting the refugees, Uganda would receive aid and weapons. Such a trade would provide Uganda the weapons it seeks, but could create legal problems as well.
Last week, Israel's interior minister said Uganda had agreed to accept thousands of Eritreans and Sudanese, whom Israel considers to be illegal economic migrants. Nearly 55,000 of them live in Israel, where many have sought asylum.
But since Friday, the number of migrants destined for Uganda has been scaled down to a few hundred. Israeli officials said the "deal" with Uganda was nothing more than a verbal understanding, and the Ugandan government has denied such an agreement exists.
But it appeared the announcement was not entirely unfounded. The co-founder of the International Refugee Rights Initiative in Kampala, Dismas Nkunda, said he has heard rumors of such a deal for the past two years. But he said it did not seem to have gone through the usual channels.
"What we heard is that there are certain Uganda government officials who entered those negotiations without necessarily informing the agencies that are responsible for protection or even admission of refugees into the country," said Nkunda.
Israel's relationship with Uganda has been tumultuous. In 1976, Idi Amin famously gave refuge to Palestinians who had hijacked a passenger plane, and dozens of people were killed in the Israeli commando rescue operation that followed.
But Makarere University Security Studies Professor Paul Omach explained in the 1960s the two countries were closely connected, with Israel giving Uganda agricultural training and military aid.
"I know in the 1960s Israel was training the air force. A number of Ugandan paratroopers trained in Israel also. At that time Israel was trying to use Uganda as a southern flank to fight the Arabs during the Arab-Israeli conflict," he said.
Under Uganda's current president, Yoweri Museveni, Israel has provided military assistance once more, although Omach said the details of these deals were never made public. If Uganda did not accept Israel's unwanted migrants, he said, it may well be in exchange for arms.
"Museveni is always building the military. Right now he has just commissioned a tank crew. So this is a continuous thing. We live in a turbulent region, so you need to be prepared," said Omach.
But sending asylum seekers to Uganda would contradict international refugee law, said Nkunda, and could create legal problems once the migrants arrived.
"What happens to them, certainly that is going to be a very big legal problem, because on what basis are they being admitted in Uganda? They have not sought refugee status in Uganda, they have not sought asylum in Uganda. They sought first asylum in the first country they thought of, which was Israel. Actually, you might say that they might end up becoming stateless," said Nkunda.
Nor was it clear where the new arrivals would be put, he added, though they may well end up in one of Uganda's refugee camps.
"We have large camps in Uganda; camps for Congolese, camps for Somalis even. So it is possible that they might end up just driving them over into the camp to look after themselves," said Nkunda.
Omach said this could be just another example of a richer nation paying a poorer one to solve its problems.
"Israel looks at these immigrants, mostly Africans really, as unwanted in its country. So if somebody can take it and you can just sign the checks, and you get somebody who is itching for money, that is definitely what they will do," said the professor.
But unless a formal agreement is signed, Omach and Nkunda agree the public may never know the details of what really happened between Israel and Uganda.
Uganda: Youth Being Recruited Into Rebellion - Army
By Anne Mugisa, 2 September 2013
Uganda together with the UN force in Congo and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) are monitoring clandestine recruitment of Ugandan youth into rebel activity in Congo, the army has said.
The youth, according to information from security sources, are being tricked with promises of jobs on farms in the Democratic Republic of Congo and once there forcefully conscripted into the rebel ranks. The rebel groups to which these youth are being taken, according to the sources are mostly, ADF, NALU, PRA, LRA and UPC which are based in the eastern DRC.
The Arua Resident District Commissioner, Ibrahim Abiriga said that relatives of the some of the youth have complained about the disappearance of their children.
Army spokesman, Paddy Ankunda said over the weekend reports indicate that the recruitments are not only in West Nile, but some are carried out in Kampala.
"Some people have been lying to the youth that there are jobs in the DRC including in copper mines and farms. People need to be vigilant and careful about who approaches them with prepositions of jobs and other promises. We are also appealing to the youth to know that these are wrong people out to use them not to make their lives better," Ankunda said.
Several MPs from the West Nile area confirmed hearing about such reports but said they had not seen the youth who had been recruited or their families.
Bernard Atiku (Ayivu County), Christine Acanyo Cwiny Ai (Nebbi Woman), Alezo Tom Aza (West Moyo) and Fungaroo Kap Hassan (Moyo County) said that they have been hearing that the recruitments are on the areas near the border shared by Uganda, Congo and Sudan. They denied hearing such reports in their constituencies.
Fungaroo said that this could be a spill over problem from the instability in the DRC. He said that some of the problem could be the porous borders where there are Congolese citizens in Uganda whom those recruiting come after. He said the people of West Nile have made it clear that they do not want war and the rebel groups that were there handed in their arms to government and abandoned rebellion.
He said that all the people want is development and that so far there are positive things that are taking place which include the tarmacking of the road and the construction of Arua Airport and Karuma power dam. But, he added, that the projects should not be delayed because they will help in reducing unemployment which some people could take advantage to divert the youth.
"We talked about these problems with the leaders and the elders. We are trying to sensitise people especially elders to use tribal links to sensitise their tribe mates across borders to resist anybody who wants to use them to destabilise the area," Fungaroo said.
Uganda together with the UN force in Congo and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) are monitoring clandestine recruitment of Ugandan youth into rebel activity in Congo, the army has said.
The youth, according to information from security sources, are being tricked with promises of jobs on farms in the Democratic Republic of Congo and once there forcefully conscripted into the rebel ranks. The rebel groups to which these youth are being taken, according to the sources are mostly, ADF, NALU, PRA, LRA and UPC which are based in the eastern DRC.
The Arua Resident District Commissioner, Ibrahim Abiriga said that relatives of the some of the youth have complained about the disappearance of their children.
Army spokesman, Paddy Ankunda said over the weekend reports indicate that the recruitments are not only in West Nile, but some are carried out in Kampala.
"Some people have been lying to the youth that there are jobs in the DRC including in copper mines and farms. People need to be vigilant and careful about who approaches them with prepositions of jobs and other promises. We are also appealing to the youth to know that these are wrong people out to use them not to make their lives better," Ankunda said.
Several MPs from the West Nile area confirmed hearing about such reports but said they had not seen the youth who had been recruited or their families.
Bernard Atiku (Ayivu County), Christine Acanyo Cwiny Ai (Nebbi Woman), Alezo Tom Aza (West Moyo) and Fungaroo Kap Hassan (Moyo County) said that they have been hearing that the recruitments are on the areas near the border shared by Uganda, Congo and Sudan. They denied hearing such reports in their constituencies.
Fungaroo said that this could be a spill over problem from the instability in the DRC. He said that some of the problem could be the porous borders where there are Congolese citizens in Uganda whom those recruiting come after. He said the people of West Nile have made it clear that they do not want war and the rebel groups that were there handed in their arms to government and abandoned rebellion.
He said that all the people want is development and that so far there are positive things that are taking place which include the tarmacking of the road and the construction of Arua Airport and Karuma power dam. But, he added, that the projects should not be delayed because they will help in reducing unemployment which some people could take advantage to divert the youth.
"We talked about these problems with the leaders and the elders. We are trying to sensitise people especially elders to use tribal links to sensitise their tribe mates across borders to resist anybody who wants to use them to destabilise the area," Fungaroo said.
Let’s go barter: Museveni govt cited in African migrants for Arms deal with Israel
August 30, 2013
For some time, secrecy had surrounded a racist deal made by an openly racist Israeli government towards African immigrants and some leaders of African countries.
When I first saw this report I thought, what an all-new low we are hitting in assisting trade in humans and promoting racism! I hoped that my president still had some moral bit left especially on an issue that concerned discrimination and dehumanization of Africans. But i was wrong!
When I first saw this report I thought, what an all-new low we are hitting in assisting trade in humans and promoting racism! I hoped that my president still had some moral bit left especially on an issue that concerned discrimination and dehumanization of Africans. But i was wrong!
A gag order on a secret agreement between governments of Israel and Uganda to deport African immigrants to Uganda was lifted.
Most immigrants in Israel are from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Most immigrants in Israel are from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan.
This deal between President Museveni, and Israel will see Uganda take in tens of thousands of African migrants or in some cases serve as a transit station.
Israeli Interior Minister said that they had obtained consent from Museveni government which a foreign ministry official was quick to refute . I say it is Museveni because there’s almost no respect for other aspects of government by Museveni.
Israeli Interior Minister said that they had obtained consent from Museveni government which a foreign ministry official was quick to refute . I say it is Museveni because there’s almost no respect for other aspects of government by Museveni.
Gideon Sa’ar doesn’t even conceal his racist language!
“In the first stage we will focus on raising awareness within the population of infiltrators while helping them with the logistics of their departure including their airfare and dealing with possession they accumulated.”
He calls African population – infiltrator population.
This is President Museveni’s deal of shame! Back home no one knows yet–probably only Museveni and his close friends do- where these thousands of African migrants will be resettled or what warehouse he will keep them in while in transit.
The support of forceful removal of Africans from Israel is deplorable and I am deeply gutted that for his support for racism and violation of international laws- Museveni gets arms as a reward!
I am left to ask, Museveni where is your humanity? What’s the difference between Museveni and slave traders? Why would you be willing to inflict so much pain on a people who have already suffered enough?
Eritreans are fleeing Eritrea in mass numbers from Isaias Afewerki’s insane regime that has turned a country into a prison; the Sudanese are yet to find a life without Bashir. Museveni runs a country where each citizen has a one-dollar health budget for a whole year but his love for ammunition and power outweighs all this human suffering.
Only Museveni’s desire will be fulfilled if this deal goes ahead. And that desire is to arm himself into his life presidency!
But why stop at Israel? Museveni government could expand its bundle of desires. He could for instance have an ‘Africans for Pasta’ or ‘Cars for African migrants’ deals with the Italians since the country is at the height of lunacy and all out racism against African migrants. Italy is that place where an African football player gets treatment for an injury and a mayor of a city says he is the reason his heathcare system is going down!
I don’t know what the Maltese government can offer but for sure Museveni can find something he lacks in his huge state house, knowing he could be in that house for the next 10 years. Don’t forget Spain!
Museveni might also want to assist the UK where the border Agency targets Black people throughout the country each day.
He could ask them to change the phone numbers of the UK Home Office racist vans asks if you are illegal in UK. We could, in exchange for something, put Uganda Police number 999 and announce a good package for those “stranded Africans” to come live in Uganda.
He could ask them to change the phone numbers of the UK Home Office racist vans asks if you are illegal in UK. We could, in exchange for something, put Uganda Police number 999 and announce a good package for those “stranded Africans” to come live in Uganda.
We could also launch a campaign similar to the ‘Gifted by Nature’, remember that? That CNN campaign that our first son in-law launched to make us look good on the international scene. The Campaign, which Ugandan taxpayers ‘happily- as they always do’ coughed Shs640 million for.
We could reap big from these racist governments by actively being involved in the racism business with them! With just lines like “Be illegal no more, Uganda is calling.”
This trade in African migrants stands to be very lucrative. We could put it as a priority ahead of other economic activities like oil drilling and agriculture.
It doesn’t matter if the migrants are from Senegal, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Eritrea or Ethiopia, we can save them all and at the same get ‘Kintu kidogo’ (supposed to be sounded in Ugandan Swahili)!
Then we will be able to pay our poor teachers and also save university lecturers from becoming goat herders. We could raise the one-dollar healthcare budget per year to five. All these monies we can cater for national budget that is giving us trouble after aid was cut because of ‘alleged’ corruption.
We are well-known good hosts for refugees- except for a few that are a pain in the neck of one great East African leader. Those ones we freely leave to be tortured but on the whole we are good hosts. Ask the Rwandans, Congolese, Kenyans and recently President Kikwete ‘sent’ us Kinyarwanda speaking Tanzanians.
By end of 2012 Uganda hosted to over 200,000 refugees from these countries and with renewed fighting in Congo, the number has increased.
President Museveni – Guardian Photo
Our president will be remembered along side Patrice Lumumba, Nelson Mandela and other great African leaders that, for many decades after independence, we have failed to give the continent.
Promise not to treat these migrants like the Jamaicans- 3rd generation are still treated as foreigners in Ethiopia. For us we will accept these migrants as citizens because really anyone can easily possess a Ugandan passport – the Jamaicans still have a long away to get Ethiopian citizenship with the country’s rigid citizenship laws still intact. The difference is they came to Ethiopia not by force but at the invitation of Emperor Haile Selassie. Our president could get close to such historic figures!
Promise the immigrants great stuff because we are good at promises- check Museveni’s 2006 unfulfilled election promises. Once they are here, they are on their own. This is Uganda! It is a free country! Government wont bother you so don’t bother it!
After all our Mzee needs all the international pats on the back as he plans to go nowhere after 2016. For get the East African countries’ arms race recently reported, we will have enough enemies within to use these arms against.
Don’t even speak to parliament about this! The Big Man has already threatened to topple it anyway. Of what use is it to ask 370+ people on such matters of international importance?
Like renowned Ugandan journalist Charles Onyango Obbo tweeted this is pragmatism at work!
Like renowned Ugandan journalist Charles Onyango Obbo tweeted this is pragmatism at work!
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10 January 2014 Last updated at 17:39 ET
The army has also been divided along ethnic lines
Some 2,000 South Sudanese are crossing to Uganda each day
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South Sudan troops 'recapture key oil city of Bentiu'
The BBC's Andrew Harding says it appears Bentiu was recaptured from rebels with just a "small amount of resistance"
South Sudan's military says it has recaptured the oil hub of Bentiu - one of just two rebel-held cities.
Army spokesman Philip Aguer said the final resistance - a tank protecting a bridge to the city - had been overcome at 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT).
Rebel leader Riek Machar told AFP his forces had withdrawn to save civilians but vowed to fight on.
The UN peacekeeping chief says the conflict has killed "very substantially in excess" of 1,000 people.
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Continue reading the main story
Analysis
Late last year, in the chaotic early days of his rebellion, Riek Machar was in a pretty strong position. He had taken the state capitals Bor and Bentiu, and oilfields in Unity state near Bentiu. His rebels were also fighting for control of Malakal, the gateway to the Upper Nile oilfields.
Losing towns was embarrassing for President Salva Kiir, and oil is critical to South Sudan's economy. However, the government held on to Malakal, and has now regained Bentiu. It seems likely it will recapture the Unity state oilfields too.
All this is a boost to President Kiir, and significantly weakens Mr Machar's hand. He will find it harder to push through his demands at the Addis Ababa talks, and it is now less likely that other soldiers will defect to the rebel cause.
Nevertheless he will keep fighting, and momentum moves swiftly in this conflict. It is a serious setback for the former vice-president, but not the end of the war.
Ceasefire talks in neighbouring Ethiopia have stalled.
Bentiu is the capital of the oil-rich Unity state. The fighting, which began on 15 December, has seen South Sudan's oil output fall by about 20%.
Col Aguer told Reuters news agency: "When you control Bentiu you control all the oil fields in Unity state."
Ahead of the government advance, thousands of people fled Bentiu.
Several thousand have sought refuge in a UN base in the city, where people have been divided according to their ethnic group in order to prevent clashes.
The conflict has seen outbreaks of ethnic violence between Dinkas, the community of President Salva Kiir, and Nuers, like Mr Machar.
Although both leaders have influential backers from the other's community, the conflict has often taken an ethnic dimension.
"We withdrew from Bentiu, but it was to avoid fighting in the streets and save civilian lives. We fight on, we will continue the battle," Mr Machar, the country's vice-president until last July, told the AFP news agency.
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The BBC's Alastair Leithead says the crisis has rekindled old tribal tensions
The BBC's Andrew Harding in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, says the question now is whether the recapture of Bentiu will spur on negotiators in Ethiopia to reach a ceasefire agreement to avoid further fighting.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
End Quote'The SPLM has always been a military organisation. No discussion, no debate... the president was unable to think of any other way apart from the military for resolving things,' said South Sudan's former minister of higher education, who lost one leg to a bullet during the long civil war.”
Mr Machar said his anti-government alliance was still committed to peace talks.
Earlier, Col Aguer urged all civilians to leave Bentiu to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
He did not give any casualty figures but said that fighters on both sides had been killed.
The colonel told the Associated Press news agency that rebel forces had "destroyed'' the town, looting the bank, stealing food and setting the market on fire.
Medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said its facilities in Bentiu were looted on Thursday, putting its operations in the region in jeopardy.
"MSF won't be able to resume its much-needed operations in Bentiu until the security of our patients, staff and facilities is guaranteed," MSF South Sudan head Raphael Georgeu said in a statement.
UN envoy in South Sudan Toby Lanzer, earlier tweeted from Bentiu that UN peacekeepers had built up defences at the UN base to protect civilians.
Swimming under gunfire
Col Aguer said that from Friday afternoon, all the government forces would be focused on recapturing Bor - the other city under rebel control.
On Thursday, people fleeing Bor told AFP that gunmen had shot dead fleeing civilians, torched entire villages and looted crops.
The BBC outlines the background to South Sudan's crisis - in 60 seconds.
The army has also been divided along ethnic lines Some 2,000 South Sudanese are crossing to Uganda each day
One cattle herder told of swimming across the River Nile while being shot at.
"They [the attackers] had a machine gun raised up on a sandbank, and they fired and fired and fired as we swam," Gabriel Bol told AFP.
"The bullets were hitting the water, but we knew we could not stop or they'd shoot us."
UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous on Thursday night told the UN Security Council that more than 250,000 had fled their homes because of the conflict.
South Sudan is the world's newest state. It became independent in 2011 after seceding from Sudan.
Fighting erupted in the South Sudan capital, Juba, in mid-December. It followed a political power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his ex-deputy Riek Machar. The squabble has taken on an ethnic dimension as politicians' political bases are often ethnic.
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Uganda Is Taking Israel's Unwanted Asylum Seekers to Get Cheaper Weapons
Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who last week announced that he will start deporting Israel's African migrants to Uganda. (Photo via)
Earlier this month, it was reported that Israel was trying to swap Africans for arms. Or, more specifically, broker a deal with a number of unspecified African countries that would see thousands of African refugees included in lucrative deals for Israeli weapons and military training. If you take back these annoying, resources-sapping asylum seekers, the Israelis seemed to be saying, you can buy our guns for cheap.
The Israeli government is currently detaining thousands of African asylum seekers in desert prisons on the Egyptian border. Many of them now face being shipped off, against their will, to whichever African country will take them. Seemingly no thought has been paid to sending asylum seekers back to oppressive regimes they may have been fleeing in the first place.
It seems that a deal has now been struck, as late last week Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced that he would start the process of deporting migrants to Uganda.
The Israeli government already have strong relations with their Ugandan counterparts, with Israel currently "working to introduce sophisticated agro-technology" to the country. But it is newer support to Uganda's military—weapons, training, fighter jets, and possibly drones—that many suspect to be behind the country's decision to import asylum seekers from Israel.
"We're hoping to operate in the coming weeks and months in a way that will make another exit for infiltrators in the country,” Sa’ar explained, “while trying to reach agreements with more countries.”
The Saharonim detention facility in the Negev desert, where African refugees are being detained. (Photo courtesy of Karin Keil from the Hotline for Migrant Workers.)
Around 40,000 of these "infiltrators" are Eritreans, trying to escape a country with one of the worst human rights records on Earth. According to a 2012 report from the US State Department, over the past year “unlawful killings by security forces continued, as did torture, harsh prison conditions, and incommunicado detention, which sometimes resulted in death. The government continued to force persons to participate in its national service program, often for periods of indefinite duration. The government also severely restricted civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion […] An international NGO reported that the government continued to hold five to ten thousand suspected political opponents without charge and perhaps tens of thousands of additional persons suspected of evading or deserting national service."
These people aren’t coming to Israel because they fancy upping their matzah intake or living on Palestinian land illegally; they're genuinely trying to escape persecution and find a way to survive.
One such Eritrean is Awat Ashbar, who has been living in Israel for six years. “If Israel returns me to Uganda, it’s like putting a knife to my gut,” he told Haaretz. “Uganda will send us to Eritrea. We are very afraid.”
A UN-supplied refugee camp near the border of Ethiopia, accommodating some of the thousands of Eritreans who flee across the border every year. (Photo by Dan Connell)
And it appears that Sa'ar's eviction plan doesn't only apply to those detained in the desert camps (often on spurious charges), but also to the remaining 54,000 African asylum seekers in Israel. In what the Israeli government presumably sees as a generous handout, each migrant's flight to Uganda will be paid for, their "absorption" into society—whatever that involves—will be financed and they'll receive $1,500 of pocket money.
The Israeli government insist that migrants put themselves forward for deportation "voluntarily." However, there have been allegations that "voluntarily", in this case, translates to something more akin to "eventually agreeing after coercion and outright pressure". Plus, if they don't jump at the chance to be shipped back to a life of persecution after a certain amount of time, they’ll eventually be forced to leave against their will anyway.
In response to the announcement, a group of NGOs – including Amnesty International Israel – said that, “For years, the Interior Ministry has spoken of an agreement with a third country to buy Israeli asylum seekers in exchange for weapons and money, and Uganda has been mentioned. But it turns out that Uganda is an unsafe country and there is no way to assure the safety of those deported there. Last March, Israel expelled an Eritrean asylum seeker to Uganda, which was quick to deny any agreement with it and expelled him immediately upon his arrival.”
Strangely, when I contacted David Apollo Kazungu—the commissioner for the Ugandan government’s Refugee Department—he told me that, “No such agreement is in place between Uganda and Israel,” and that, “Uganda fully respects and encourages state parties to respect rights of refugees, including the principle of 'non-refoulement’ and burden sharing.”
Sigal Rozen, on the right.
So the apparent adherence to non-refoulement—an important part of international law that aims to protect refugees from being sent back to either their country of origin or a new place altogether where their lives and freedom could be threatened—is promising. However, the denial of the entire scheme's existence by the Ugandan government is worrying, according to Sigal Rozen from the Hotline for Migrant Workers: “Since they deny the existence of an agreement and […] the extremely poor human rights record of Uganda," she told me, "they [the asylum seekers] will be in real danger.”
It is unknown when the asylum seekers will be herded onto a plane headed towards their new enforced country of residence, what status—refugee or otherwise—they’ll receive upon arrival, or even if they’ll subsequently get deported back to the country they are seeking asylum from in the first place.
However, Sigal didn't sound hopeful: “If they [get] deported, then I am afraid that they will be sent back to their country of origin.”
Follow Joseph on Twitter: @josephfcox
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