IBW Calls on Washington to Stop Supporting African Dictator

NEW YORK — The Pan African Unity Dialogue (PAUD) held a demonstration outside Uganda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on May 25 to protest US-backed dictator Gen. Yoweri Museveni’s militarism which has led to the deaths of millions of people all over East and Central Africa during the 32 years that he’s been in power.

The most recent conflict exacerbated by Gen. Museveni’s intervention is the brutal war in South Sudan where his soldiers took sides instead of mediating the conflict.

The U.S. provides the Museveni regime with more than $1 billion in financial and military support annually.

Dr. Ron Daniels, President and founder of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), convener of PAUD and one of the organizers of the protest said

“We are determined to shine a light on a vicious, arrogant, self-serving, US-backed dictator whose genocidal behavior is wreaking havoc on an entire region”.

The protest was part of a ‘Stop Museveni’ multi-year and multi-dimensional campaign that includes: public education through presentations and screenings of documentary films such as “A Brilliant Genocide,” exposing Museveni’s atrocities; lobbying U.S. officials and elected representatives; promoting a petition campaign demanding that the U.S. halt arms sales to the Ugandan dictator; and, protests outside Uganda’s diplomatic missions in the United States.

Gen. Museveni has maintained his long rule by rigging elections, and inflicting violent political repression and gross human rights abuses. Museveni’s invasions of neighboring African countries have caused the deaths of millions of Africans and incalculable destruction.

In 2005 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found Uganda liable for war crimes in Congo and awarded $10 billion in reparations to Congo. The ICC also initiated its own separate investigation The Wall Street Journal reported on June 8, 2006.

Sidique Wai, President and National Spokesperson for United African Congress, USA, says: “As Diaspora Africans that pay taxes as both legal permanent residents and also citizens of the United States, we deplore this act of funding a merciless dictator without our knowledge, let alone our permission. We therefore urge legislators of goodwill to immediately put a stop to this.”

Milton Allimadi, publisher of The Black Star News and one of the organizers of the demonstration says: “There are many better ways to use $1 billion of U.S. taxpayer’s dollars than to subsidize dictatorship in Uganda. In December 2017, in his National Security Directive, President Trump stated that the U.S. would not support regimes that abuse its own citizens and engage in corruption. Uganda poses a serious test for this directive.”

The protest was endorsed by: The Institute of The Black World 21st Century (IBW); The Black Star News; and the United African Congress.

WHAT: ‘Stop Museveni Protest’

WHY: Museveni’s militarism in Uganda coupled with armed aggression against neighboring countries–Rwanda, Congo, and South Sudan– have caused the deaths of millions of Africans. Activists will denounce his militarism, call upon Gen. Museveni to stop armed aggression against neighboring countries, and demand that the U.S. and other powers to halt the sale of arms to the Museveni regime.

WHO: The protest was organized by the Pan African Unity Dialogue (PAUD), a coalition of several African-American, African, Caribbean, and Latino organizations and institutions based in New York City. PAUD is an umbrella organization, chaired by founder Dr. Ron Daniels, President/CEO of Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW).

WHERE: Uganda House, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenue.

WHEN: African Liberation Day. Friday, May 25, 2018.

12:00 Noon- 1:00 PM.