SV: {UAH} Pojim/WBK: East Africa leaders lobby to meet Obama in Kenya - News

Omera Jadwong Pojim,

I think, President OBAMA should talk his open opinion on issues of true democracy but not to mince words. If he can blame the bad politics in Russia or in Asia, why should Africa be excluded?

I feel, bad governance is bad being it is being practice in former East Europe and, or in Latin America. I think, the undemocratic practices taking place for example in Uganda since the current NRA/M regime came to power is bad for the future relation with America and other democratic nations!

Ocaya 

Den lördag, 18 juli 2015 19:15 skrev 'edward pojim' via Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community <ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com>:

Ocen;

It's always risky for a US president to criticize an African dictator who is corrupt or wants to say put for life.

Previously, any such criticism would be labeled "racist." Now, if Obama goes ahead and condemns the Life Term proposals in Burundi and Rwanda, his comment may be used as a "US support" to dislodge Nkuruzinza and Kagame by even unlawful means.

So, it's quite tricky dealing with these authoritarians in the Mother Land.

Pojim

cennekyon@gmail.com" <ocennekyon@gmail.com>

To: Ugandans At Heart <ugandans-at-heart@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2015 6:32 AM
Subject: {UAH} Pojim/WBK: East Africa leaders lobby to meet Obama in Kenya - News

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East-Africa-leaders-lobby-to-meet-Obama-in-Kenya-/-/2558/2797788/-/vd7b42/-/index.html

East Africa leaders lobby to meet Obama in Kenya

Beautification of Nairobi ahead of the US President Barack Obama's visit. PHOTO | FILE 

US President Barack Obama is expected to address the state of democracy in East Africa during his visit to Kenya .

Diplomatic sources said the issue of term limits for the region's presidents is likely to feature in discussions on the sidelines of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi.   

The EastAfrican has learnt that the region's leaders have been reaching out to Washington in a bid to meet President Obama on the sidelines of the summit in Nairobi.

Top on the political agenda will be the spiralling regional political crisis, especially in Burundi and South Sudan.

South Sudan deputy ambassador to Kenya James Morgan said that his government has been lobbying to have President Salva Kiir travel to Nairobi and discuss, face to face, Juba's misgivings about attempts by the Troika (the US, Norway and UK) to impose a peace agreement on the warring parties by August 5.

Diplomatic sources hinted that President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Somalia's Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn are expected in Nairobi.

President Obama on Thursday said he will address the increased threats by Al Shabaab and "continue to encourage democracy and the reduction of corruption inside that country [Somallia] that sometimes has held it back. "

But the issue of term limits is also expected to feature in the discussions as President Pierre Nkurunzinza of Burundi, Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Paul Kagame of Rwanda prepare for third terms.

The US has already taken a position against President Kagame's plans to go for a third term. Rodney Ford, spokesman for the US State Department's Africa Bureau, said that Washington has consistently called for African leaders to respect term limits and that Washington does not support changing constitutions to benefit the personal or political interests of individuals or parties.

The US is opposed to President Nkurunziza's push for a third term and in May suspended training of Burundi an soldiers for African peacekeeping missions through the $241 million Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Programme.

Across the border in DRC, President Kabila is yet to officially declare is willingness to go for a third term but the opposition believe that his call for a national dialogue is a ploy to stay in power beyond election time in 2016, after realising that changing the Constitution for a third term is unpopular. 

Secretary of State John Kerry on a visit to Kinshasa in May declared that the US was ready to offer Congo $30 million in aid for stability and democratisation but on condition that President Kabila leaves at the end of his term.

After Nairobi, the President will visit Addis Ababa. President Obama declared on Thursday his third visit to Africa indicated that the US is a strong partner, not just for Kenya, but for sub-Saharan Africa.

President Obama's discussions on South Sudan will be centred on President Kiir's three-year extended term and the faltering peace talks between the government and the rebel leader, Dr Riek Machar.

Western countries have also had concerns over the overwhelming dominance of the ruling Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Movement in relation to the growth of multiparty democracy in Africa's youngest country.

East Africa leaders lobby to meet Obama in Kenya - News

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East-Africa-leaders-lobby-to-meet-Obama-in-Kenya-/-/2558/2797788/-/vd7b42/-/index.html

‎

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

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Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.