We remember the late Hugo Chavez as someone who represented a conscious practice of human rights as he warned against the outside exploitation of Africa.
Venezuela’s Ties with Africa - Pravda
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“Hugo Chávez also warned African leaders that more military interventions by the ex-imperialists and neo-colonialists will very likely occur, pointing out the fate of the Jamahiriya and Mali.
President Chávez wrote that the malicious exploiters want to enrich themselves at the cost of Africans by taking away their natural resources and waging wars on those that are not willing to comply. He urged African leaders to speed up the process of unification and to reject all interventionist activities by NATO.”
Lessons From AFRICOM's Failed Mali Intervention
A quick look at US Africa Command’s failed intervention in Mali reminds us of the devastating effects militarization can bring to African nations.
#AFRICOM2012, Stop the real threat to Uganda
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“For students of African history, the notion that African democracy, stability and good governance will result from more deadly arms and more powerful soldiers is the stuff of satire; and yet this is precisely the grounds on which AFRICOM functions.”
“In Mali, US money, training and rhetoric created an unbalanced situation where increasingly powerful military men with outsized ambition swagger around in one of the world’s poorest nations. There is little to suggest that militarization will ease any of Africa’s political and social problems.”
“To the tune of millions, US forces have provided special operations, drug traffickig and counterterrorism training in the large West African nation. Today’s Mali of the shattered democracy and roving rebel groups is a troubling picture of an AFRICOM partner state.”
”By its own standard, AFRICOM’s mission in Mali has failed.”
SOURCE: Pambazuka
#VisibleUganda, A photo series of photos from present day Uganda// Jackie Akello on stage at the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts in Kampala.
NEW SERIES: #[S]OILforthePeople, Stop the land grabs
Oil seems to be “spilling” all over Uganda seeping into the politics, the economy, and the future of Uganda. The oil is expected to “contribute to early achievement of poverty eradication and create lasting value to society” and “catalyse billions in investment”. President Museveni even “thanked God for giving ‘us the wisdom and foresight to develop the capacity to discover this oil’”. However, before we thank anyone, we should first look closely at the problems underneath the sleek, shiny, and slippery surface of the oil.
Many problems have been raised from inside and outside Uganda about the oil. However, one problem that has not been stressed enough is the issue of land. What does the future hold for the people living on the land with oil? It seems that for the Acholi people it means land grabs. One of the biggest being the Madhvani Land Grab. It seems we should not be focusing on the far-away-threat of Kony, but the actually-present-threat of land grabs.
**Even though there are infinite sources on Kony, there doesn’t seem to be too much on the land grabs. We have been in contact with those on the ground currently investigating and researching. As soon as we get official reports and articles we will update them here. However, until then, here are the few articles that are out there now.
Uganda: Museveni’s and Madhvani Group’s Acholi Land Grab Would Amount to Second Genocide - BlackStarNews
Land Grabbing? Amuru Residents Vow to Die But Not Surrender Land to Madhvani - Sunrise
Madhvani Wins Amuru Land Case- FarmLandGrab
Nwoyo MP Calls for Land Re-distribution as a Way of Curbing Land Evictions- AcholiTimes
#[S]OILforthePeople, Stop the land grabs
UPDF Continues to Take From the Acholi People
UPDF Cited in Bitter Land Wrangle With the Residents of Pabbo - Acholi Times
If the UPDF is supposed to be for the people of Uganda, why does it keep taking from them?
#AFRICOM2012, Stop the real threat to Uganda
AFRICOM’s Getting Busy
AFRICOM has been getting busy recently, which can only mean they are preparing for something big. It seems to be working on its new “defense strategic guidance”, moving into the water, and holding meetings and conferences (NOTE: There is no talk of peace initiatives in the conference agenda).
Most of the coverage is mostly applauding AFRICOM’s growing efforts. However, we should make sure to hold the pause until we have read between the lines. What does AFRICOM’s growth really mean? Why is it growing? What is it actually trying to achieve?
#AFRICOM2012, Stop the real threat to Uganda
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“U.S. Africa Command is using the new defense strategic guidance to shape its engagement in the theater by prioritized efforts, focusing on the greatest threats to American interests.”
” ‘In my mind, African Partnership Station embodies everything that is good and unique about Africa Command,” Hooper said. “Why is it so successful? It’s a unique program that allows us to train, teach and mentor, not only the armed forces of those nations in the Gulf of Guinea, but also some of their law enforcement forces.’ ” (In other words, AFRICOM is now able to pervade into not only the military, but also the politics of African countries).
“And what happens at sea matters, not just for Africa, but for the entire world that depends on access to the global commons, Hooper said. He noted the direct link between maritime security, development, prosperity, stability and peace.” (Hooper must have also forgotten the links to power, control, “the war or terror”, and military domination).
SOURCES: Diplo News, American Forces Press Service, AllAfrica, PaxPartnership
The United Nations: Another Possible Threat to Uganda?
U.N. Wants Africa’s Kony Hunters Fully Equipped by Year-End - Reuters (UN Correspondent)
It seems that AFRICOM and now the UN is more interested in bringing more guns into the area rather than peace…
#AFRICOM2012, Stop the real threat to Uganda
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“The strategy, obtained by Reuters, requires U.N. countries and agencies to ensure the AU force is “adequately equipped, including with regard to air capabilities, communications, office and living accommodations, medical support, and fuel and rations, as soon as possible, and no later than December 2012.”
Exposing AFRICOM’s Secrets
U.S. Expands Secret Intelligence Operations in Africa - Washington Post
It is time to make visible AFRICOM’s secrets and stop them by 2012.
#AFRICOM2012, Stop the real threat to Uganda
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“The nature and extent of the missions, as well as many of the bases being used, have not been previously reported but are partially documented in public Defense Department contracts. The operations have intensified in recent months, part of a growing shadow war against al-Qaeda affiliates and other militant groups. The surveillance is overseen by U.S. Special Operations forces but relies heavily on private military contractors and support from African troops.
The surveillance underscores how Special Operations forces, which have played an outsize role in the Obama administration’s national security strategy, are working clandestinely all over the globe, not just in war zones. The lightly equipped commando units train foreign security forces and perform aid missions, but they also include teams dedicated to tracking and killing terrorism suspects.”
AFRICOM’s Steps Towards World Domination
Dagger Brigade to ‘Align’ with AFRICOM in 2013- U.S. Army
#AFRICOM2012, Stop the real threat to Uganda
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“This is not the Army trying to go into some new area. This is fulfilling a geographic COCOM’s mission requirements”
*Of course by mission they must mean world domination...
