State of the City Address in Detroit Cannot Mask Continuing Crisis

Majority of residents angered by refusal of ruling class to address fundamental issues

By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing warned local corporate leaders that the city could be on the verge of an urban rebellion.

Speaking at the Detroit Chamber of Commerce policy conference held at the Motor City Casino downtown, Bing said that despite the rhetoric of an economic resurgence, the majority African American population was being left out of key decision making roles.

Bing said conditions were such that the city was just “one incident” away from an explosion similar to events in Ferguson, Missouri or what happened in Detroit in July 1967. The Detroit Rebellion nearly five decades ago was the largest of such outbreaks in the history of the United States.

“As much as we say or think we are being inclusive, the reality is we are not,” said Bing. “There is an undercurrent of frustration and anger that could lead to a negative outcome.” (Deadline Detroit, Feb. 25)

The former Piston’s basketball star, corporate spokesperson and businessman during the 1960s through the present, Bing noted that he had spent several months talking with African-American businesses, students and others in the city. He said many people feel “left out” of the so-called revival of Detroit.

“African-American economic empowerment and neighborhood development must be an essential part of Detroit’s resurgence. Diversity is about counting people. Inclusion is about making people count,” he emphasized.

During the mayoral tenure of Dave Bing the general perception among many people in Detroit was that he was preparing the city for emergency management and restructuring, which occurred under his leadership from 2009-2013. Bing never provided any serious opposition to the imposition of emergency management by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and the forcing of the city into bankruptcy during 2013-2014, the largest in U.S. municipal history.

Bing’s legacy has been one closely allied with the automotive industry serving as a spokesman for Buick during the late 1960s when the African American liberation struggle was a high level. This was a period when many professional athletes identified with and joined demonstrations against racism and national oppression.

Obviously Bing is echoing certain sections of the ruling class in Detroit who realize that conditions are worsening for the African American people. Growing militancy among the masses has been illustrated through protests against the engineers of emergency management and bankruptcy at three public events in recent months.

Two gala affairs honoring Federal Judge Stephen Rhodes, who presided over the bankruptcy, the Jones Day law firm, which represented the Snyder administration’s re-structuring plan in court, and former emergency manager Kevyn Orr, at the Detroit Institute of Arts, saw residents blocking parking lots and confronting guests. A public forum at Wayne State University (WSU) in late 2015 was cancelled due to disruptions by people in the audience who denounced Snyder and Orr.

At WSU, corporate-oriented Mayor Mike Duggan refused to walk onto to the stage amid the demonstration. Duggan is the first white mayor in the city since 1973.

Bing Attacked by Duggan Administration

These statements by Bing were condemned by police chief James Craig who said the former mayor’s comments are not true. Craig often says that street crime is down, yet reports abound related to corruption in the Detroit Land Bank Authority known for its no-bid contracts and abusive administrators.

“To make a statement that suggests we are one incident away from Ferguson, Mayor Bing, where have you been?” said Craig. “Have you not watched the transition? I get that it didn’t happen on your watch, but it’s happening now.” (WXYZ, Feb. 26)

Other Duggan appointees joined the chorus against Bing touting their dialogue with African American business owners and residents of the city. The administration of Duggan is known for its intolerance of critical comments about the social situation in Detroit.

Detroit still suffers from widespread poverty, unemployment and home foreclosures. Public transportation is poor and large swaths of the city remain dark where street lights do not work.

Mike Duggan delivered his “State of the City” address on Feb. 23 at Second Ebenezer Church on the city’s eastside that has been devastated through job losses and residential flight fostered by the role of the banks and corporations. The speech was met by at least four disruptions from the audience who chanted him down.

Demonstrators gathered outside the entrance of the Church carrying a banner which said: “Duggan=Black Death.” When opponents of the Duggan administration attempted to set up a picket line in front of the church doors they were told by police that they had to move to the sidewalk outside because it was “private property.”

Some demonstrators challenged this notion since the “State of the City Address” is a public event featuring elected officials. Detroit and corporate interests were sued in 2014 for turning away protesters at a public area downtown.

The City of Detroit in response settled the suit and passed a new ordinance ostensibly designed to protect “free speech.” Several Duggan opponents feel that the police action on Feb. 23 violated the law.

Anger Mounts Opposing False Narrative

Recent demonstrations against the ruling class agents of the city have gained the attention of at least a fraction within the power structure. Bing’s warning cannot be viewed within a political vacuum.

Citywide elections are scheduled for 2017 and the Duggan administration along with City Council has almost nothing to show for its efforts over the last three years.

Most neighborhood and small business districts in the city remain devastated. Approximately 50,000 homes are facing tax foreclosures after the March 31 deadline.

A Detroit News study during 2015 documented that the banks were responsible for the tens of thousands of abandoned homes and apartments in the city. Many of the report’s findings reflect what the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shut-offs has said since 2008.

Successive city and state administrations have failed to stand up to the tyranny of the banks and corporations who continue to loot the municipality of Detroit and Michigan as a whole.

Gov. Snyder has come under fire for his continued emergency management of the Detroit Public Schools. Teachers have engaged in “sick-outs” and other protests against the deplorable conditions prevailing in the schools.

Darnell Earley, the DPS emergency manager appointed by Snyder, stepped down on February 29. Nonetheless, retired Federal Judge Stephen Rhodes, who presided over the bankruptcy theft of retiree pensions, healthcare programs, public assets and massive water shut-offs, has been appointed by Snyder as the new emergency manager over the DPS.

This appointment exposes the fact that Snyder and his backers are committed to maintaining corporate control over the DPS and all other aspects of public life in the city. Efforts by the state-controlled school system to sanction teachers for their protest actions have failed so far within the courts.

Duggan and his allies are proposing a new scheme of control and disempowerment over the DPS through what they call a Detroit Education Commission (DEC). This plan would continue the denial of the right to vote for an empowered school board rendered impotent by the state.

These developments if continued could very well lead to a mass rebellion. Police in the city appear unprepared to address such a possibility considering the broad anger and discontent among the city’s nearly 700,000 residents. 

Three South African Universities Closed Due to Unrest

ANC Secretary General charges United States with regime-change strategy

By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire

During the week of February 22 North-West University (NWU) at Mafiking in Potchefstroom, the University of Pretoria (UP) at Hatfield and Groenkloof as well as the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein were closed after arson attacks and student clashes erupted.

At NWU buildings were burned after protest over tuition costs and the removal of the elected Student Representative Council (SRC). University officials removed the student council group led by Benz Mabengwane, who is associated with the opposition political party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Some reports suggest that the ousted Council was expelled because of their role in recent protests on the campus.

Chairpersons of Council sub-committees were appointed to take over the SRC at NWU prompting unrest. Supporters of the Mabengwane group disrupted the inauguration ceremony for the appointed council members.

University security personnel later used teargas and rubber bullets to break up demonstrations.

EFF spokesperson of the dissolved student council, Rebaone Pudi, said management was “quick to appoint those who will succumb to their demands. They have appointed their own people and they can’t expect them to be acknowledged by students as their leaders and trust them to represent their interests. Management wants leaders who can agree to financial exclusion of students and we’re not going to accept that.” (City Press, Feb. 24)

Pudi went on to say that “The university has also been spending money on armed private security while they wanted poor students to go back home. We demand the demilitarization of our university so we won’t see any more live ammunition being used on students.”

NWU spokesman Koos Degenaar told students to “leave the campus immediately for their own safety and return home. It is likely to take a considerable period of time to restore operations. Students will be given at least a month’s notice of the re-opening of the campus.” (Independent, UK, Feb. 25)

Another campus organization, the South African Students Congress (SASCO), which has historically supported the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, also disagreed with the removal of the SRC group led by Mabengwane.

“We can’t have a student council that was elected by management representing students. They will obviously represent no one else’s interests but those of management,” Karabo Kau, SASCO chairperson at NWU. (City Press, Feb. 24)

“Today’s protest was due to the unhappiness of the general student population, and for raising their dissatisfaction the response they got were rubber bullets and live ammunition. A pregnant lady miscarried right after she was shot and at least 10 students were taken away for medical attention, Kau said.”

University of Pretoria Closed After Clashes

At the University of Pretoria fights broke out between Black and white students over the continuing instruction in some course in the Afrikaans language of the white settlers under colonialism and apartheid. Although many Africans due to the legacy of white domination speak Afrikaans as well, many feel that the language should not be utilized in the various universities in numerous classes.

Universities in South Africa offer courses in both English and Afrikaans. However, with the concerns mounting over rising tuition costs and the continuing disparities in income and wealth between Black and white populations groups, these social variables are fueling tensions over access to higher education.

Those who are not fluent in Afrikaans face a fundamental disadvantage when there are lectures delivered in classes where only the language of the settlers is utilized. Consequently, such a language policy within higher education serves as a means of reserving a quota of faculty positions and university student admissions for whites who are of Afrikaner descent.

On February 19 at the University of Pretoria Hatfield and Groenkloof campuses, student supporters of the opposition party EFF Student Command fought with members of AfriForum Youth, an Afrikaner cultural group, which took opposing sides over an amended language policy of instruction. Over 20 people were arrested in the disturbances prompting the suspension of classes for six days.

This proposal was that English be used as a primary language of instruction in all classes, and that Afrikaans and Sepedi be used for additional support to students in tutorials and practicals. Afrikaans-speaking students protested that it was a direct attack on their culture and heritage.

Classes resumed at the UP campuses on February 29 amid tight security.

University of the Free State Erupts

At the University of the Free State (UFS), Black and white students fought during a rugby game after tensions flared. African students have accused the administration of failing to transform the campus to reflect the majority population inside the country.

Classes resumed at UFS on February 29 while student leaders said they were still committed to demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor Jonathan Jansen at the institution. SRC President Lindokuhle Ntuli said that students would not disrupt any classes.

“We are not against the university or the white students; we are against the oppressive system. The university still has a predominately white image and culture and we want the university to reflect all races,” Ntuli said. (news24.com, Feb. 29)

On February 23, protesters toppled and damaged a statue of Charles Robberts Swart at the University. C.R. Swart was the last Governor General of the Union of South Africa until 1961, and was president of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.

Demonstrators burned tires at the statue while using hammers and rocks to tear it down.

Later on February 25, campus security personnel were deployed to prevent the statue of Marthinus Theunis Steyn from being damaged. Steyn was the sixth and last president of the Boer-dominated Orange Free State from 1896 to 1902.

ANC Charges Regime-Change Strategy Implicating the United States

These developments have been condemned by President Jacob Zuma who said “No amount of anger should drive students to burn their own university and deny themselves and others education.” (Associated Press, Feb. 25)

On February 19, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe, accused the U.S. embassy of fomenting violence inside the country aimed at the overthrow of the government while speaking before a large crowd of party supporters. The ruling party had organized a gathering of 87,000 in Pretoria to “defend the revolution,” according to the Mantashe.

He cautioned South Africans about listening to advice from “the enemy.” The Secretary General said “We are a majority. We should be able to take decisions and enforce them.” (News24.com)

Mantashe said the South African government was aware of a program which sent youth to the U.S. for six weeks and then “plants them everywhere” when they re-enter the country.

“As we mobilize our people, we must be vigilant. You must see through anarchy and people who are out there in a program of regime change. We are aware of the meetings taking place regularly at the American embassy, Mantashe stressed.”

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, Patrick Gaspard, made light of the accusations from the ANC saying “I’m so disappointed as I always imagined that if I organized a coup it would look like Mardi Gras – food, music, dance.” (News24.com, Feb. 22)

In relationship to the accusations made by Mantashe, News24.com said “Gaspard pointed out that the program to take young South Africans to the U.S. for six weeks was the Mandela Washington Fellowship, which forms part of the Young African Leadership Initiative. It was launched by President Barack Obama with the aim of supporting young African leaders to help strengthen democratic governance and enhance peace and security across Africa.” (Feb. 22)

The South African economy has continued to suffer amid a drastic decline in commodity prices and the devaluation of its currency.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast for Sun. Feb. 28, 2016--Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe

Listen to this special edition of the Pan-African Journal hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the podcast of this program just click on the website below:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/panafricanjournal/2016/02/28/pan-african-journal-special-worldwide-radio-broadcast

We will feature our regular PANW reports with dispatches on events involving the African Union's role in the current political and security crisis in the Central African state of Burundi; the role of Zambia in supporting the national liberation movements in Southern Africa; a recent bombing in the Horn of Africa nation of Somalia has killed five intelligence officers; and a leading opposition party in the Republic of Sudan are in talks with the NCP government in Khartoum.

During the second hour we conclude the monthlong tribute to the 90th anniversary of the founding of African American History Month with a focus on the life and legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, the anti-lynching campaigner as well as in the final hour where we hear a rare archival interview with Malcolm X on the state of the struggle in 1960.

Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast for Sat. Feb. 27, 2016--Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe

Listen to this edition of the Pan-African Journal hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the podcast of this broadcast just click on the website below:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/panafricanjournal/2016/02/27/pan-african-journal-worldwide-radio-broadcast

We will feature our regular PANW reports with dispatches on developments in South Africa where unrest on campuses has rocked the country precipitating the closure of three universities; the African Union is encouraging greater investment in immunization throughout the continent; the new United States ambassador to Zimbabwe has been criticized for Washington's continuing maintenance of sanctions against the Southern African state; and war crimes committed by counter-revolutionary elements in the North African state of Libya have been condemned internationally.

In the second hour we continue our focus on the 90th anniversary of the founding of African American History Month with an interview with host Abayomi Azikiwe over Community Public Radio during the week on the role of the U.S. government in the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah five decades ago and the role of African Americans in his political and ideological development.

Finally we look more into the details of the unrest which has shut down campuses in South Africa.

South Africa's Zuma Survives No-confidence Vote, Bid to Revive Corruption Case Against Him

01 MAR 2016 17:55
AFP

BELEAGUERED South African President Jacob Zuma Tuesday survived a no-confidence vote in parliament for a second time in less than a year, but faces a legal bid to reinstate corruption charges against him.

Governing party MPs defeated the motion by a big margin, and Zuma’s office said he would oppose the court case.

The mounting pressure on the president comes against a background of economic crisis sparked by his firing of two finance ministers within days in December.

The fallout was followed by a public row between the respected new Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the head of the tax authority, which has again rattled markets.

The no-confidence vote was called by the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

“South Africans demand that Jacob Zuma be taken to task for his reckless handling of our economy, and his sending South Africa into financial crisis,” DA leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.

“A motion of no confidence is the best mechanism to ensure that President Zuma is fired, once and for all.

“It has become common cause that under Jacob Zuma’s leadership, our country is spiralling downward – and doing so at an alarmingly fast rate.”

The motion was seen as unlikely to succeed from the outset as Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC) has an overwhelming majority in parliament, with 62% of the seats.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said that in response to a DA campaign, more than a million online letters lobbying ANC lawmakers to support the motion against Zuma had been sent in the run-up to the vote.

“This is… a clear indication that South Africans are increasingly tired of the president’s poor performance and are putting their support behind the opposition,” he said.

Local elections loom
The DA is also pursuing an attempt in the High Court in Pretoria to reinstate charges of corruption against Zuma which were dropped in 2009, shortly before he became president.

The charges, which relate to a multi-billion dollar arms deal signed in 1999, were dropped allegedly because of interference in the prosecution case by his political opponents.

A statement from the presidency on Monday described the court proceedings as “an abuse of process by a political party in order to advance a political agenda.

“Through his submissions to the High Court, President Zuma will maintain that the decision (to drop the charges) was rationally derived at.”

The ANC has also described the DA’s no-confidence motion as “a frivolous stunt” designed to divert public attention from “the racism scandals embarrassing the party on an ongoing basis”.

The DA is seen as the political home of many South African whites after the end of apartheid more than 20 years ago, and the ANC has stepped up its attacks on alleged racism in the party ahead of municipal elections later this year.

While Zuma easily survived the no-confidence debate, analysts say heavy losses for the ANC in the elections could turn the party against the president.

“Zuma has been under pressure in the past but now it’s coming from multiple angles,” Susan Booysen of the University of the Witwatersrand, told AFP.

“There’s nowadays dissident voices in the ANC. The support of Zuma is weaker but not to the point of collapse,” she said.

“If ANC suffers badly in local elections it could be a signal they can’t approach national elections (in 2019) with him in charge.”

Zuma will have completed two terms in 2019 and is not eligible to run for president again, but if opposition to him continues to mount, the party could replace him ahead of the vote.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to Face Challenge From Former Deputy Joice Mujuru

Guardian

President to be challenged by woman who served as his No 2 for a decade until he fired her in 2014
 Joice Mujuru launches her new party in Harare.

Joice Mujuru, Zimbabwe’s former vice-president, launched a new party on Tuesday to challenge Robert Mugabe, promising to revive the economy and repair strained relations with the west.

Mugabe, 92, has been president since 1987. Mujuru, 60, was his deputy for a decade, and was seen as his likely successor until he fired her in 2014, accusing her of leading a plot to oust him.

In her first public address since then, she said the new Zimbabwe People First party would bring jobs and review the ruling Zanu-PF party’s divisive black economic empowerment laws, which critics say have scared off investors.

She said she was open to alliances with other opposition groups before the 2018 presidential elections.

“Today we confirm our existence as a viable, inclusive homegrown political party,” Mujuru, she said to cheers from supporters on Tuesday. “We are not fighting one man but a system, that system which is unjust.”

Zanu-PF national commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, described Mujuru’s party as a “gathering of losers”.

Zimbabwe is struggling to emerge from a deep recession that shrank its economy by nearly half during the decade to 2008.


Zimbabwe's Joice Mujuru Forms ZPF to Oppose ZANU-PF

BBC World Service

Zimbabwe's Joyce Mujuru gestured while addressing supporters in Harare, March 1, 2016

A powerful former ally of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has launched a party to challenge his 35-year rule.

Joice Mujuru said the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party had been formed because "Zimbabwe is a broken country".

Ms Mujuru was Mr Mugabe's second-in-command until he sacked her in 2014 after accusing her of plotting to oust and kill him.

"I'm neither a witch nor an assassin," Ms Mujuru said, at the party's launch in the capital, Harare.

She is the most senior former Zanu-PF leader to form an opposition party, and is tipped to be its presidential candidate in the 2018 election.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms Mujuru was once seen as Mr Mugabe's heir apparent in Zanu-PF
Was married to Solomon Mujuru, who was seen as Zanu-PF kingmaker
He died in suspicious fire in 2011
She was known as "Spill Blood" during the independence war
She claims to have shot down a Rhodesian helicopter with the machine-gun of a dying comrade and was later promoted to commander
After spending her youth fighting the war, she obtained secondary school qualifications and a degree while in government
First woman to become Zimbabwe's vice-president in 2004
Sacked from that position in 2014 and expelled from Zanu-PF in 2015
Forms Zimbabwe People First party in 2016
Family has vast business interests.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms Mujuru, 60, was flanked by other former Zanu-PF heavyweights, including Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.

She hailed the formation of ZPF as historic, and said it would fight the "scourge of corruption" in Zimbabwe.

"Some revolutionaries are busy pulling Zimbabwe down," Ms Mujuru said.

Our correspondent says she was a Zanu-PF member for more than 30 years, and will it find difficult to convince voters that she represents a new era.

But, encouragingly for Ms Mujuru, her supporters turned up at the launch to give their backing, she adds.

Zanu-PF has nominated Mr Mugabe, who turned 92 last month, for re-election in 2018.

However, because of his advancing age, a battle to succeed him is raging in Zanu-PF between Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was appointed to the post following Ms Mujuru's expulsion, correspondents say.

Mrs Mugabe led the campaign to oust Ms Mujuru, who was seen to harbour ambitions to succeed Mr Mugabe as Zanu-PF leader and president.

Analysis: Lewis Machipisa, BBC Africa

Ms Mujuru will take some support from Zanu-PF, but is unlikely to come remotely close to dislodging it from power.

Zanu-PF is a formidable force, with control over all state institutions.

It will not be surprising if law-enforcement agencies now investigate her over the business empire she and her late husband built following Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. They will want to know if she was involved in corruption or if her wealth is clean.

Her decision to form the ZPF party will not give the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, sleepless nights. His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters see her as Mr Mugabe's jilted lover, and are unlikely to join her party.

She will struggle to establish a well-oiled party machinery, and is unlikely to receive financial support from Western donors because of her long relationship with Zanu-PF.


I am ready to fight Zanu PF –Joice Mujuru

March 1, 2016

People First president, Joice Mujuru has today declared she was ready to fight an unjust system.

By John Mokwetsi, Online editor

Speaking at her first press conference since her ouster from government and Zanu PF last year, the former Vice President, who was flanked by Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo said: “I was once a part of Zanu PF, but our new party People First is completely a new entity with new values and followers. Our desire is to transform and build.”

Mujuru added that she has been reading a lot about an opposition coalition, but insisted she was yet to meet MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai.

She said PF was ready to work with anyone who shared a similar vision with them and would engage any country even those perceived to be hostile to Zimbabwe without putting to the alter the country’s values.

She said PF has people-centred power, and that although she has only known one political party since joining the liberation struggle, she would never return to Zanu PF.

The presser was attended by former Manicaland Zanu PF provincial chairman John Shumba Mvundura, ex-deputy information minister Bright Matonga, former MDC-T Harare councillor Friday Mleya, ex-minister Sylvester Nguni, former Masvingo provincial minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Colonel Claudius Makova.

Mujuru later addressed scores of supporters outside the hotel who braved the rains and reiterated that she was ready to fight the unjust system under the values of PF.

She urged her supporters to work hard to peacefully wrest power from President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF in the 2018 general elections.


Mujuru comes out of shell

March 2, 2016
Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor
Zimbabwe Herald

FORMER Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru launched her political outfit — Zimbabwe People First — in Harare yesterday and pledged to return Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth and to reverse the indigenisation programme, among other policies that will undo the incumbent Government’s initiatives.

Visible at the Press conference held at Meikles Hotel were hordes of diplomats from Western countries and former zanu-pf members like Dzikamai Mavhaire, Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, former ambassadors Agrippa Mutambara and John Mvundura, David Butau, Claudius Makova, Retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi, Bright Matonga, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Sylvester Nguni, among others.

Dr Mujuru also vowed to relook at the land reform programme by conducting an audit she said was meant to uproot multiple farm owners.

In her address, Dr Mujuru said the event was meant to confirm the existence of the ZPF.

“Today is a historic day. Today we present ourselves to you in humility and the humbling comfort of the people’s support. There has been tense speculation from our detractors. There has been strong anticipation from our supporters. We had to resist temptation, the temptation to formalise our being and existence without adequate consultation with the people of Zimbabwe,” she said.

“This is a day of great significance in our country’s political history. Today we confirm our existence or the existence of a viable home-grown inclusive political party. It is now public knowledge that the Zimbabwe People First is here.”

Dr Mujuru said Zimbabwe faced urgent need for socio-political and economic transformation and went on to outline the ZPF’s policies.

“The investment environment is crowded by multiple incoherent policies. Zimbabwe urgently needs investor friendly policies to stimulate economic activity. The scourge of corruption will need to be totally uprooted. There is urgent need to create jobs for the huge growing army of unemployed and hopeless people out there, a whole review of the indigenisation act would be effected. We shall emphasise economic empowerment that attracts investment,” said Dr Mujuru.

She said the land policy needed to be relooked.

“A well-defined land policy should be instituted and properly administered to ensure full and sustainable utilisation of land by recipient. There should be an independent land audit to weed out multiple farm ownership,” added Dr Mujuru.

She said offer letters would be scrapped.

“A more acceptable security of tenure will replace the offer letter. Bankable and transferable leases are not an option, but a given.”

Dr Mujuru said her party was committed to engaging the West.

“Zimbabwe People First is committed to ensuring that Zimbabwe regains its rightful place in the global community of nations. We shall rejoin the Commonwealth,” she said.

“We will seek rapprochement with countries that are currently having poor diplomatic and difficult economic relations with us without sacrificing our national sovereignty.”

Dr Mujuru said she was aware that some stakeholders were sceptical of the ZPF project.

“Let me now address a certain level of scepticism which is bound to be directed at ZPF by some stakeholders, that scepticism that you were in zanu-pf for many years why should we believe that you will transform this country. My simple answer is that People First is a new entity with new values and followers from every political party in Zimbabwe including those that have never joined any political party before,” said Dr Mujuru.

She said her party would be preparing for an inaugural elective convention that will usher in a substantive leadership in the few coming months.

Dr Mujuru also spoke about forming a coalition with other political parties.

“We will stand by and support all those who believe in what we stand for. We will strive to ensure a coming together and meeting of minds on this vision.

“We encourage and promote dialogue amongst all like-minded organisations. We will support convergence of minds. We will seek the mandate of the People First members to take this to its logical conclusion,” she said.

Dr Mujuru denied ever meeting MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai saying it was a creation of media houses that published such stories in a bid to make money from the articles.

Japanese Companies to Invest in Egyptian Projects Worth $18 bln 

Ahram Online
Tuesday 1 Mar 2016

Japanese companies are set to take part in Egyptian projects worth about 2 trillion yen ($17.7 billion) in the electricity and other sectors, Reuters reported, quoting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying on Monday after meeting Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Tokyo.

Abe did not elaborate on the projects, but an official at Japan's foreign ministry said Japanese and Egyptian companies are scheduled to sign more than 10 memorandums of agreement on Wednesday.

On Monday, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr signed three concessional loan agreements with Japan International Cooperation Agency worth more than $450 million to finance projects in the energy and transport sectors.

Abe and El-Sisi also announcedthat they agreed to hold a dialogue between their defence and foreign ministry officials periodically to strengthen security ties.

El-Sisi's visit to Japan comes as part of his third tour to Asia.

Earlier Tuesday he met with Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito in Tokyo.

The Egyptian president also met with a number of Japanese CEOs, including the CEOs of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota motors to discuss investments opportunities in Egypt.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/189911.aspx

Egypt Signs Military Cooperation Agreement With Cyprus

Ahram Online
Tuesday 1 Mar 2016

The signing of the joint military agreement comes during Cypriot defence minister Fokaides's visit to Cairo

Egypt's defence minister Sedki Sobhi and his Cypriot counterpart Christophoros Fokaides signed a joint military cooperation agreement Monday in Cairo, an Egyptian army spokesman said.

Sobhi and Fokaides, who is the first Cypriot defence minister to visit Egypt, also discussed previously signed memoranda of understanding for cooperation in defence, military trainings, and exchange of expertise, Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said in a statement.

Fokaides and Sobhi tackled "marine and energy security and prospects for cooperation in the energy sector," according to a Cypriot press release, Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported.

The press release stipulated that a Joint Rescue Coordination Center delegation will visit Egypt in the coming weeks to sign an agreement about cooperation in Search and Rescue.

Both defence ministers also discussed regional and international matters, including security challenges, the fight against terrorism, and the immigration crisis, according to CNA.

Sedki Sobhi expressed his appreciation for the depth of relations between Egypt and Cyprus, based on coordination and matching positions on regional matters for the security and stability of both countries, Egypt's army spokesperson said.

Fokaides talked about Egypt's regional importance and called for the support in its efforts in fighting regional terrorism, the Cypriot press release stated.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended a tripartite summit in Athens last December with the Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/189849.aspx

Nestle Eyes Egypt Growth Despite Dollar Squeeze

Reuters
Tuesday 1 Mar 2016

Nestle (NESN.VX) is pushing ahead with plans to invest 1 billion Egyptian pounds ($127.71 million) in Egypt in the next few years, despite a foreign exchange shortage that has made it harder to finance imports and repatriate profit.

Yasser Abdul Malak, Nestle's CEO and chairman for North East Africa, said business had grown despite the challenges as the food group makes 70 percent of its products locally and has managed to finance imports because essential foods are prioritized by banks allocating precious dollars.

"It is a daily battle for foreign currency, it is day in day out an uphill battle but with all this and the business model that we have and the categories that we operate in we have managed to continue to grow," Abdul Malak said.

"We will also in the coming years...invest similar to what we have in the past - 1 billion Egyptian pounds."

Despite the political turmoil that has rocked Egypt since a 2011 uprising, Nestle has expanded, opening a chocolate factory in mid-2014 and doubling its employees to 6,500.

The conflict in Libya had hit exports from Egypt, Abdul Malak said, though Nestle expected to reach almost double-digit growth in the North East Africa region encompassing Egypt, Libya and Sudan over five to 10 years.

"Last year we did well despite the challenges. We plan to continue on this plan of double-digit growth," he said.

Food is a growing sector in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation that is home to 90 million people.

But uncertainty over the Egyptian pound and a foreign exchange crunch has made it harder for foreign investors to operate and plan.

Egypt has faced a dollar shortage since the uprising drove away foreign investors and tourists, key earners of forex it needs to finance imports.

The pound has faced downward pressure as forex reserves have tumbled, but the central bank is reluctant to devalue.

Instead, it has sought to preserve forex for essentials like food by capping dollar deposits and imposing other restrictions that have slowed imports and made it harder for foreign investors to repatriate earnings.

Abdul Malak said Nestle had not repatriated profits for years and had not repatriated royalties for months.

"We understand and appreciate the challenge the government has...with a trade imbalance and a shortage of forex. However, it is very important to also appreciate that the solution is not necessarily reducing imports. The solution is to increase exports," he said.

"In any industry you would need to import parts even if you invest in manufacturing so this will be a challenge for obtaining forex."

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/189868.aspx

Egypt Journalists Continue Sit-in in Solidarity With Jailed Colleagues 

Ahram Online
Tuesday 1 Mar 2016

The protest started on Monday to call for proper medical care for at least four jailed journalists whose lives were reportedly 'in danger'

A number of Egyptian journalists continued a sit-in on Tuesday at downtown Cairo's Journalists Syndicate for the second day in a row, despite the interior ministry assuring them that some of their demands will be met.

The sit-in started on Monday to call for proper medical care for at least four jailed journalists – Youssef Shaaban, Hani Salah El-Din, Hesham Gaafar, and Hossam El-Sayed – whose lives were reportedly "in danger."

The four journalists are imprisoned on a number of charges ranging from joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood to illegal protesting at the time when Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was in office.

At least four other journalists are also reportedly in need of medical care, though their condition is not as critical.

The interior ministry responded the same night by stating that the jailed journalists will receive the necessary treatment.

However, journalist Mahmoud Kamel, a syndicate council member and one of the sit-in organisers, told Ahram Online that only two journalists were moved to a hospital outside prison and blood samples were drawn from the two other journalists, who were then returned to prison.

He added that the sit-in is continuing so as to make sure that the interior ministry continues to provide the journalists with proper medical care even when not “under pressure of a strike.”

The second day of the sit-in saw a number of public figures joining the journalists at the syndicate headquarters, most notably leading Doctors Syndicate figure Mona Mina.

Though the sit-in mainly has "minimum demands of protecting the lives of [imprisoned] colleagues," according to Kamel, the journalists also have other, long-term demands, including allowing a syndicate delegation to visit those jailed as well as holding all imprisoned journalist in the same prison so as to facilitate delegation visits.

These demands will be discussed, along with press freedom laws, during the syndicate's next general assembly meeting on 4 March.

At least 30 journalists in the country are currently imprisoned or detained pending trial on various criminal and misdemeanour charges.

The Egyptian government has repeatedly denied that journalists who are behind bars were arrested as a result of their journalistic work.

The authorities have also denied what rights activists describe as systematic violations against inmates inside Egypt's prisons.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/189890.aspx



Egypt's interior ministry says jailed journalists to receive needed medical treatment

Ahram Online
Monday 29 Feb 2016

Egypt's Journalists Syndicate was informed by the interior ministry that imprisoned journalists will receive all needed medical treatment, head of the syndicate's freedom committee Khaled El-Balshy said on Monday, hours after a strike was staged by journalists to protest the "mistreatment" of their jailed colleagues.

El-Balshy told Ahram Online earlier on Monday that there are a number of violations being committed against jailed journalists, and that some "colleagues' lives are in danger" overtheir respective medical conditions.

He later said on his Facebook page that jailed journalists Youssef Shabaan and Hani Salah El-Din were taken to public hospitals to receive treatment, and that the interior ministry allowed the families of another two, Hisham Gaafar and Hossam El-Sayed, to visit them.

El-Balashy also said that an urgent meeting will soon take place with interior minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar.

At least 30 journalists are currently imprisoned or detained pending trial on various felony and misdemeanor charges.

On Saturday, the Journalists Syndicate released a press statement detailing the alleged mistreatment of journalists at El-Aqrab prison, which is notorious for the alleged abuse of inmates.

The syndicate called for an official inquiry into reported violations against imprisoned journalists.

It also demanded more humane jail conditions, appropriate medical care and family visits.

The syndicate will hold an emergency general assembly meeting on 4 March to press these demands and discuss what it describes as "attacks on press freedoms."

The Egyptian government has repeatedly denied that jailed journalists have been arrested or detained as a result of their journalistic work.

The authorities have also denied what rights activists describe as systematic violations against inmates inside Egypt's prisons.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/188846.aspx



Journalism and power: Al-Ahram Weekly's experience

Hani Shukrallah
Saturday 27 Feb 2016

Authoritarianism makes for bad journalism — often, very bad journalism. The truism is self-evident and more than amply demonstrated by lived experience, not only in Egypt but everywhere in the world.

Yet, the experience of Al-Ahram Weekly, which this week marks the 25th anniversary of its launch, demonstrates something else, which is that good journalism is often able to withstand the devastating effects of an authoritarian environment and, indeed, push back against it.

Having been asked by my friend and colleague, Galal Nassar, the Weekly’s chief editor, to contribute a little something towards this occasion, I thought of reflecting on this latter not so self-evident but no less true side of the story of both the Weekly and Egyptian journalism as a whole.

Journalism is often described as the fourth estate, which is something of a paradox in view of the great numbers of killed, tortured and jailed journalists around the world. Yet, there is no doubting that journalism is not only a power to be reckoned with, but that it also has the potential of being a pathway to power — and wealth.

This is especially true in our country. The seductive force of power, even of merely rubbing shoulders with power, has been a source of personal fascination for many years, what with sheer chance having made me a fairly close observer during a good part of my professional life.

Former president Hosni Mubarak was not known for his keen intelligence, culture or knowledge. He was also something of a vulgarian, who reportedly resorted to the crudest profanities in addressing his inner circle, both endearingly and abusively. Yet, I’ve always been amazed to see professional colleagues, some of whom were considerably more intelligent and better educated than the ex-president, become nearly orgasmic in their praise of his great intelligence and formidable wit after a single face-to-face encounter.

Being invited on the presidential plane on any one of Mubarak’s foreign visits seems to have been especially damaging to journalistic brain cells, transforming otherwise fairly clever people into blithering idiots.

I have had occasion to see the effects of this most discrete but nearly irresistible charm of rulers, their offspring and their no less powerful, foolish and heartless aides on ambitious colleagues, repeated over and over again. And it pays to be so seduced. I’ve lived long enough to have seen the humble beginnings of many professional colleagues magically transformed into enormous wealth and influence.

Paradoxically, power and influence were to be conjoined with great wealth during the period of “liberalisation” of the Egyptian media. Now the power of the state was to be closely linked to the voluminous purse strings of the oligarchs in bed with it.

Herein lies one of the salient secrets of the Weekly; for whatever reason, whether ethical, professional, political or merely one of having a sense of humour sufficient to see the real clowns underneath the enthralling mantles of power, its founding leadership headed by the late Hosny Guindy was simply not interested in journalism as a spring board.

For the crop of very young, more often than not straight out of school journalists who would come on board to make the Weekly what it is, the business of journalism was truth not power, or as one of Weekly’s greatest contributors, Edward Said, often put it: speaking truth to power.

This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper on Thursday 25 February.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/188620.aspx

Weak Central Government Makes Security a Local Issue in Somalia

The Editors
World Politics Review
Monday, Feb. 29, 2016

Two suicide bombs went off Sunday in Baidoa, Somalia, leaving at least 20 people dead and 60 injured, in an attack claimed by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab. In an email interview, Ken Menkhaus, a professor of political science at Davidson University, discussed the fight against al-Shabab and the security situation in Somalia.

World Politics Review: What is the current security situation in Somalia, and how much does it vary locally across the country?

Ken Menkhaus: The security situation across Somalia is harder to generalize than one might expect. Most media reports give the impression that Somalia is uniformly dangerous, but actual security conditions for local communities vary tremendously along regional, neighborhood, class and ethnic lines. Regionally, most of the north of the country, including Somaliland and Puntland, is more peaceful and less crime-ridden than the south of the country. In Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, businesses operate freely; political and civic leaders move about without the need for private security; and citizens walk the street day and night with little concern about violent crime. By contrast, in Mogadishu, the country’s capital, armed protection is essential for businesses and prominent people. The threat of targeted political violence, violent crime, communal clashes and al-Shabab terrorist attacks continues to be very high in the south.

But even within Mogadishu there is significant variation in security. Some neighborhoods—where a combination of private business security, government forces, and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers are present—are viewed as much safer than others. Dramatic differences in the value of real estate across different parts of the city are driven by variations in security.

Class also plays a complex role. Wealthier Somalis can afford private security and walled compounds, while poor displaced families are easy prey for violent criminals. But Somalis with high status are also more likely to be targeted for revenge killings or political assassinations.

Finally, some Somalis enjoy much greater security than others due to their identity in powerful clans, which are a strong deterrent.

The most insecure places in all of Somalia have been contested zones where al-Shabab has clashed with Somali National Army and AMISOM forces. These are mainly in areas south of Mogadishu, toward the Kenya border. But political clashes over regional borders inside Somalia have, over the past two years, also contributed to insecurity in several hotspots.

WPR: How far-reaching and effective is the central government and its international partners’ security writ in Somalia?

Menkhaus: The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) remains very weak and has little to no political control over most of the country. Even in the capital Mogadishu, most neighborhoods are under the de facto control of clan-based district commissioners and their paramilitaries. The Somali National Army is also poorly controlled by the government; its brigades tend to act as clan paramilitaries pursuing their own interests. The FGS’s nominal control over areas of the country not held by al-Shabab is actually a mediated relationship with self-declared regional authorities that have varying levels of commitment to the FGS.

AMISOM forces maintain a strong presence across most of southern Somalia, but that presence rarely translates into any influence over local political affairs. The exception is the Ethiopian-Somali border regions, where Ethiopian forces have a more robust capacity to shape local politics and security.

WPR: What decentralized approaches have been implemented locally in Somalia to address security issues in areas where the central government lacks a presence, and how successful have they been?

Menkhaus: Most day-to-day security in Somalia is the result of informal, local arrangements, ranging from clan protection to neighborhood watch groups to private security. Security is very much commoditized in Somalia, and is only a public good in a few fortunate locations. The international community has sought to support nascent regional administrations and their security sectors, with variable success. Predictably, support to subnational security providers creates tension with the central government.

Somalia MPs Want Security Minister, Intelligence Chief to Resign

Posted by Abdirahman. A
February 29, 2016 at 6:45 pm EAT

Members of the Somali Federal Parliament have called for the country’s top security leaders to quit after recent deadly al-Shabaab attacks in the Southern part of the country.

Over 50 people died in the space of two days in the capital, Mogadishu and Baido city after suicide bombers attacked popular gatherings.

MP Abdi Barre Jibril has criticized Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security Abdirizak Omar Mohamed and Head of National Intelligence Agency Abdirahman Turyare for failing to protect the nation from terror attacks.

”Both of them should now resign because the security situation is really worsening. The number of attacks are increasing and we are not seeing any kind of imminent changes or strategy to counter such threats.”

Somalis have grown increasingly critical of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud for failing to do more to defend the nation from the incessant militant attacks, which have killed more civilians.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for much of the bloodshed and vowed to increase attacks.

For the second time in less than two weeks, both top officials failed to appear in front of the Parliament as they were to face questions concerning the growing insecurity in the capital.

MP Khadija Mohamed Dirie accused the country’s Security minister and Intelligence chief of both lacking the capacity to handle the insecurity challenges.

”They have totally lost our confidence and they lack effective measures the current challenges they are facing which is a big shame to the whole government.”

Last month, Somalis from all walks of life also called for the resignation of the country’s Internal Security minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed following the deadly brutal assault that claimed the lives of at least 25 people in Mogadishu’s popular beach of Liido.

According to security experts, the growing strength of insurgents in Mogadishu is due to the slow response of the Somali government and lack of professional military with counter-terrorism units, robust intelligence-gathering and sharing initiatives.

Horseed Media

Somalia: 4 Gov’t Soldiers Killed in Mogadishu Blast

by Abdirahman. A
March 1, 2016 at 5:29 pm EAT

Somalia: 4 Gov’t Soldiers killed in Mogadishu blastFour Somali soldiers were killed Tuesday in a landmine blast in the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu, Horseed Media reports.

The explosion occurred when the soldiers were travelling on a military convoy heading to Afgoye district which is some 30km (18 miles) north-west of Mogadishu.

An Afgoye town official confirmed to the media the death of four soldiers and at least two others were left wounded.

No group has yet claimed the responsibility of the attack, but fingers will be pointed out to the extremist group al-Shabaab. It has carried out similar attacks in the past.

The al-Qaeda-linked extremists remain dangerous, unpredictable and bold, known for audacious and chilling attacks. Their fighters routinely target the Somali government in Mogadishu. The group has also sought to terrorize neighboring Kenya.

Somalia has been racked by constant war for more than 20 years – its last functioning national government was toppled in 1991.

Horseed Media

Twin Suicide Bomb Attacks Kill Over 40 in Southwestern Somalia

by Abdirahman. A
February 28, 2016 at 9:13 pm EAT

Bartamaha-Baydhabo2Over 40 people were killed on Sunday as twin bomb explosions ripped through Baidoa city, in south-western Somalia.

The first explosion occurred at a popular restaurant as many people were having evening coffee as usual. According to witnesses and survivors, at least 25 people died at the scene and many others were left wounded.

A man in his 50’s wearing explosives vest blew himself up in the first attack, reports say.

Moments later, the second explosion took place after a car loaded with explosives rammed into a nearby hotel. In total, at least 60 people were left injured.

Somali militant group Al Shabab has claimed responsibility for the explosions.

Baidoa, a former al-Shabaab stronghold has been under the control of the Somali government since 2012 when the militants were driven out by Ethiopian troops and Somali government forces.

The al-Qaeda-linked extremists remain dangerous, unpredictable and bold, known for audacious and chilling attacks. Their fighters routinely target the Somali government in Mogadishu. The group has also sought to terrorize neighboring Kenya.

Somalia has been racked by constant war for more than 20 years – its last functioning national government was toppled in 1991.

Horseed Media

South Sudan Government Says Not Responsible for Delay in Transporting SPLM-IO forces to Juba

March 1, 2016 (JUBA) – As transporting opposition forces to the South Sudanese capital, Juba, has been delayed beyond 1 March’s tentative schedule, President Salva Kiir’s government has distanced itself from the causes for the delay. Government officials said the process is a responsibility of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), a body overseeing the implementation of the August peace agreement signed in August last year by warring parties in the country.

South Sudanese government said Tuesday it is not responsible for delay in transportation of the 1,370 forces of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), blaming the delay on JMEC and partners.

Information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, told reporters on Tuesday that the government, like any other institutions, was expecting the advance force of the armed opposition to arrive Juba on the 1 March as was previously communicated by JMEC, but added that the process got delayed for issues the government was still waiting for explanation.

“The government has nothing to do with the delay of the forces of the SPLM-IO. According to the plan of JMEC, the IO forces were supposed to be in Juba today [Tuesday]. As the government, we approved the plan and prepared for their reception. A cantonment site has been selected and designated for them. Logistical arrangements were also made for transport from the airport on arrival to the cantonment site,” Lueth further narrated.

A leading official of the SPLM-IO in Juba separately attributed the cause for the delay to technical issues and bilateral matters between the government of Ethiopia and JMEC as their troops would have to cross to the Ethiopian border town of Gambella with their equipment and weapons which requires approval of the government of Ethiopia before troops can leave their headquarters in Pagak.

“This is a military issue and I would not wish to talk about it in the media but what I know is that our troops are ready to come from three locations. One location is Bentiu, Owaci and our headquarters in Pagak. So far we have not had any problem from the two places: Bentiu and Owaci. They are ready to come here,” he told Sudan Tribune.

“The only place where we have an issue is Pagak, because our troops have to go to Gambella and for them to go to Gambella which is another country, needs the approval by the Ethiopian government because they are going to use their military equipment and weapons. So far arrangements are being made. JMEC is in discussion with the Ethiopian authorities and our leadership. But I think there will be no problem. They will be allowed to come through Gambella. What is required is the completion of formal discussions and processes,” the official explained.

Meanwhile, Colonel William Gatjiath Deng, a military spokesman for the SPLA-IO, in a Tuesday statement said the sites for settling the troops in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, and their accommodation have not been worked out yet by the government.

“SPLA/IO forces would not be in Juba on Tuesday as expected [because] the peace partners are still on the plan to transport the largest contingents of SPLA/IO forces to Juba but this would not happen as planned,” he said in statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.

“Provision of basic life support is a vital issue where the food, water and medical care for the army is needed to be arranged first before their arrival as well as the limitation of flights at Juba international airport,” he added.

He also further explained that the opposition forces also needed clearance from the Ethiopian government to approve transit of light weapons from Gambella to Juba by air.

“For the SPLA/IO forces to move in, it may take a week from now for all those arrangements to be put in place,” he said.

Other soldiers and police, he added, will travel from their locations to be picked up by planes and transported to Juba.

(ST)

South Sudanese Army Leaves in Juba Limited Force Over Security Vacuum

March 1, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government on Tuesday said it has left behind a limited force in the national capital, Juba, allegedly to provide security for the capital until when a joint force with opposition faction is deployed.

In accordance with the August 2015 peace agreement signed between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, leader of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), government forces should withdraw from Juba to 25kms away. A joint police and military force of more than eight thousand would be deployed in the capital to provide security.

However, units of forces from the SPLM-IO have not yet arrived in Juba, forcing the government not to withdraw all its forces from the capital, according to Michael Makuei Lueth, minister of information.

“The government is fully committed to demilitarizing Juba in accordance with the security arrangement. This process has already started with redeployment of the forces, including some forces from presidential guards force division,” Lueth told reporters in Juba on Tuesday.

“The redeployment process would have been completed long time ago if the SPLM-IO forces had come and become part of the joint force; but the coming of SPLM-IO forces is slow,” he added.

Lueth further explained that due to the delay in arrival of the SPLM-IO forces to Juba, it was necessary to leave behind an unspecified number of troops in the capital.

He asserted that “Security in Juba is paramount not only to a political agreement, but also to ensuring that there is no repeat of the fighting in the capital” that sparked the conflict which consumed the country for more than two years.

He also attributed the delay for the coming of the opposition forces to logistical and political obstacles, raising fears it could possibly lead to the delay of the planned return of the opposition leader, Machar.

Observers say the return to Juba of troops from the SPLM-IO is a key step in the implementation of the peace agreement, particularly the formation of a transitional government of national unity.

The government and SPLM-IO reached an agreement that the armed opposition faction would send to Juba 1,370 armed military personnel in preparation for the return to Juba of Machar, while the rest of over 1,500 would come later by river. But it is unlikely the troops will beat the 1 March deadline.

Government officials and diplomats close to the implementation process say they are waiting for key information from the opposition faction for them to assemble their forces.

Armed opposition officials say neither the government nor the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) has availed shelter, food, water and health care for the soon to arrive forces, causing the delay in their arrival.

(ST)

Sudan Questions Accuracy of Reports on Darfur IDPs Number

February 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan’s foreign minister has dismissed reports on the number of persons fleeing the recent clashes between the Sudanese army and the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement- Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) in Darfur area of Jebel Marra.

Intense fighting has been going on since mid-January between the Sudanese army and the SLM-AW in areas around Jebel Marra in Central Darfur state.

Jebel Marra clashes have reportedly resulted in human rights violations and abuses as well as violations of international humanitarian law, including destruction of civilian property and objects as well as considerable displacement of civilians, in addition to unspecified number of civilian casualties.

In its latest weekly bulletin Thursday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reported that the number of people fleeing conflict in Jebel Marra and seeking assistance has increased sharply over the past week.

“By 21 February, more than 90,000 people are estimated to be displaced after the fighting between government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation movement led by Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) that started in the area in mid-January” OCHA said.

According to the UN agency, this includes 87,500 new displaced in North Darfur, according to aid organisations, and 2,750 displaced in Central Darfur, according to the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).

However, foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq described those figures as “inaccurate”, saying they were taken from oral reports made by some UN employees which are significantly different from the government reports.

He pointed that the number of persons who were displaced by the Jebel Marra clashes reached 73,000 people, saying most of them have returned to their original villages following the end of the military operations.

Al-Sadiq stressed the government has denied UN agencies and aid groups access to the affected in very limited areas, saying the prevention was driven by the need to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.

He underscored that the concerned bodies in Darfur have exerted huge efforts to help the IDP’s return to their villages after the end of the clashes, saying they provided large humanitarian assistance for the returnees to enable them resume their ordinary lives.
The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

According to the UN, 200,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and 2, 5 million chased from their homes.

Doha brokered the Darfur peace negotiations which resulted in the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in July 2011. Also, a dissident faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) joined the DDPD in April 2013.

JEM led by Gibril Ibrahim and the SLM-MM led by Minni Minnawi have engaged in peace talks with the government under the auspices of the African Union.

SLM-AW, however, is not part of the African Union mediated peace talks. The rebel group rejects negotiating a peace agreement with Khartoum government, unless the government militias are disarmed and displaced civilians return to their original areas.

(ST)

Sudan’s Ruling Party Reiterates Willingness for Discussions With Opposition Parties

February 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said it was ready to engage with the opposition in any political process based on the legal frameworks of peaceful transfer of power, while the SPLM-N called to overthrow the regime saying suitable conditions have been created.

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Members of the national dialogue general assembly and President Omer al-Bashir attend the third session of the internal process in Khartoum on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)
Different opposition forces call to topple down the regime of President Omer al-Bashir because it refuses to implement a number of confidence building measures allowing to hold an "equal dialogue" in the country.

Recently, several Islamist groups that were part of the ruling party established a new coalition (Future Forces of Changes) and joint calls for a regime change in Sudan.

Reacting to these calls, NCP spokesperson Yasir Youssef said the refusal of opposition groups to join the national dialogue and raising slogans to overthrow the regime is not new. He further considered it as attempts to anticipate the announcement of the national dialogue results.

"Undoubtedly, the best is that all the forces work to reach a national political agreement based on the peaceful transfer of power through elections, and to agree on a system of governance among us as Sudanese. We need to build a cumulative political experience, so we do not have to start from scratch every time. This causes a waste of the country’s resources," said Youssef.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the NCP political sector on Monday evening, he further expressed the willingness of his party to engage in any political process based on the constitution and law, and considers that the peaceful transfer of power and wealth as the guidelines for political action.

He pointed out that the national dialogue process laid down the foundations for this experience, which he described as "unique and good" that can be built upon.

RIGHT TIME FOR POPULAR UPRISING

In a related development; the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Yasir Arman Monday said that conditions are ripe for a popular uprising.

"It is time to pounce, revolt and fight the génocidaire and totalitarian regime;" Arman said in written remakes he extended to Sudan Tribune.

Assessing the political situation in the country, the rebel leader said the "shadows of big issues are darkening the political sky", adding that there is "a rare moment of synergy" between different factors.

Arman was pointing to the inflation, resumption of fighting in the Two Areas between the government troops and SPLM-N fighters, calls by Sudanese journalists for strike, and the recent wave of displacement in Darfur.

African mediators have called the Sudanese government, the National Umma Party, and three armed groups including the SPLM-N for a meeting within two weeks to discuss ways to engage in a process to end war and achieve democratic reforms.

During an informal meeting held in Germany last January, the government delegation refused a proposal by the SPLM-N to conclude the internal dialogue process and to engage in a new process with the holdout groups.

Youssef stressed that the National Congress Party is satisfied from the outcome of the first phase of the national dialogue conference and appreciates the work of its six committees.

He said the conference witnessed a consensus on big issues such as the agreement on the formation of a national unity government, amending legislative councils at the level of the centre and the states, and agreed to maintain the presidential regime as better suited to Sudan’s needs.

"This agreement came as a result of free debates within the committees’ meetings," he added.

The governance issues committee on Sunday called to form a four-year national unity cabinet to implement the recommendations of the national dialogue.

During the upcoming period the National Dialogue General Assembly will discuss and endorse the conclusions of the different panels.

(ST)

Sudanese Journalists Go on Hunger Strike Over Newspaper Suspension

Al-Tayyar editor in chief Osman Merghani (C) surrounded by a number of journalists pose for a collective picture after starting hunger strike on 1 March 2016 (ST Photo)

March 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Journalists at Al-Tayyar daily Tuesday have started a hunger strike to protest against the suspension of the newspaper by the Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Last December, NISS suspended al-Tayyar daily newspaper indefinitely without giving reasons.

At the time, editors at the newspaper told Sudan Tribune the move was likely triggered by a series of Op-eds by the editor in chief Osman Merghani in which he fiercely criticized the Minister of Finance’s announcement of a new round of subsidy cuts on fuel, electricity and wheat.

The newspaper submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of the NISS move and demanding immediate lift of the suspension decision.

In a WhatsUp recording on Monday night, Merghani described the hunger strike move as “historic”, saying it is considered the first of its kind in the history of the Sudanese press.

He expected that the move would draw large attention from the international news agencies and human rights organizations; describing it as a civilized way of protest that would educate the Sudanese how to claim their rights without engaging in a direct confrontation with the authorities.

The journalists went into the hunger strike at 1:00 pm. (local time) Tuesday amid large presence from fellow journalists and politicians including the deputy chairman of the National Umma Party (NUP) Mariam al-Mahdi and member of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) Suleiman Hamid.

They lined up in the newspaper’s courtyard and handcuffed and gagged themselves to reflect the government crackdown on the press.

Sudan Tribune learnt that some physicians have volunteered to monitor the health status of the strikers and provide intravenous fluids in case of any emergency.

It should be recalled that the newspaper received a written pledge from the police to protect the striking journalists and their belongings throughout the strike period.

Last week, Al-Tayyar launched a campaign to collect one million signatures to demand the lift of ban on the newspaper.

The NISS routinely suspends and confiscates newspapers either to prevent circulation of certain stories or to punish them retroactively on previous issues.

In February of last year, NISS seized entire print runs of 14 newspapers in one day without stating the reasons for its decision.

In June 2012, NISS suspended Al-Tayyar indefinitely and allowed it to resume publication two years later upon a ruling of the Constitutional Court.

(ST)

Burundi-Rwanda Tensions May Lead to Ethnic Conflict

by Tolulope Ola-David
February 29, 2016

Despite having much in common, Burundi and Rwanda have not had the best of relationships. The political crisis in Burundi over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term has further strained relationship between the two countries.

Burundi and Rwanda share similar cultures, ethnic divides and economic challenges. They share a colonial heritage of being governed as one territory by the Belgian colonialists. Both have gone through complicated violent conflicts related to ethnic divisions and are still fragile nations.

President Nkurunziza and President Kagame have also previously enjoyed a good personal relationship. However, a clash over the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo at a meeting of regional leaders in November 2012 saw a marked worsening of their relationship. Diplomatic relations further deteriorated in 2015, after President Pierre Nkurunziza was re-elected for a third term.

In October 2015, Burundi expelled Rwanda’s top diplomat, Desire Nyaruhirira, over allegation of plans to destabilise the country, and both countries increasingly been accusing each other of supporting its opponents.

Refugee flows from Burundi

Burundi is facing a range of security and governance issues that threaten its stability. The economy is struggling due to inflation, political instability and the large-scale refugee movement. An estimated 230 000 Burundians have fled to neighboring countries since April 2015, many to Rwanda, leading Kagame to criticize Nkurunziza’s decision to seek his controversial third term in office.

A United Nations panel report indicated that Burundian refugees, including children, were recruited at a refugee camp in eastern Rwanda and trained for two months to unseat President Nkurunziza. Following the accusations of training and arming rebels in Rwandan refugee camps, thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied in Bujumbura, Gitega and Ngozi, against Rwanda, on Saturday, 13 February. Although Rwanda has consistently denied training rebels to destabilize the regime in Burundi, it announced plans to relocate 75,000 Burundian refugees to third countries following the accusations.

On the threshold of economic collapse

Burundi endured a 13-year civil war that ended in 2006. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Amid pervasive poverty, hunger and corruption, the majority of the population suffers from chronic malnutrition. Although 90 percent of its population are farmers, Burundi can barely produce enough food to sustain itself.

Government corruption has affected the development of the private sector and foreign investment, and the country depends on foreign aid to fund about 50 percent of its national budget.

The economy continues to suffer from instability over Nkurunziza’s controversial third term as trade with regional markets has been severely disrupted. The insecurity also affects projects as international donors and aid agencies have evacuated many of their experts from the country. Burundi’s budget deficit will only increase as other donors, including the former colonial power, Belgium, suspend more aid programs.

On Sunday, 3 January, FlyDubai also announced their plan to suspend operations to Bujumbura International Airport (BJM) from 19 January, due to a significant fall in inbound traffic, an indication that foreigners are beginning to stay away from the country. Mass movement of refugees will also affect the economy of the surrounding nations as additional cost is imposed on public and social welfare budgets.

Bujumbura is significant for the trade corridors that the East African Community is developing in the region. If the conflict continues, it could hamper what the EAC has achieved so far, as well as the business environment of EAC countries.

Potential for division within the East Africa sub-region

Political and diplomatic tensions between Burundi and Rwanda could have implications for the wider regional stability. In the wake of the recent tension between the two East African Countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo has also accused Rwanda of recruiting refugees to oust Nkurunziza and has asked the United Nations Security Council to take action against Rwanda.

While diplomatic and political relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate, there is anxiety that the region may split up into two rival blocs. Increased tensions and civil disturbances in Burundi could also lead to cross-border violence.

Likewise, the Hutu-Tutsi ethnic dynamics has potential for interstate civil war involving Burundi and Rwanda. Previously, the Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo had indicated that the Hutu-led Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were ready to take part in the unrest and already crossing into Burundi.

Government-backed demonstrators who rallied outside Rwanda’s embassy in Bujumbura on 13 February, in their protest songs referred to Rwanda President Paul Kagame as an enemy whom Burundians are going to “kumesa“, a word used during the civil war to indicate the killing of enemies.

While Kagame is a Tutsi and Nkurunziza is a Hutu, the current tension is predominantly diplomatic and political. However, if it is allowed to continue, it can turn into an ethnic conflict with the ability to destabilise the entire East African region.