Protests erupted in Burundi against President Pierre Nkurunziza's third-term bid.
The United States has urged its citizens in Burundi to leave the troubled central African country.
The State Department advisory issued on Sunday follows the Saturdaymassacre of over eighty people, who security agents claimed were part of a group that attacked military installations in Bujumbura city and its surroundings.
‘The US Department of State warns US citizens against all travel to Burundi and recommends that US citizens currently in Burundi depart as soon as it is feasible to do so,’ reads part of the advisory.
In November Belgium, the former colonial master, advised its citizens to leave Burundi while the European Union scaled down on its staff in the troubled country.
The tiny central African country descended into a downward spiral following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s announcement in April that he would seek a third term in office. Since then the country has been engulfed in persistent chaos that has seen the assassination of prominent opposition politicians and intermittent street protests.
Recently, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs linda Thomas-Greenfield asked the East African Community appointed mediator, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, to urgently initiate dialogue aimed at restoring sanity in Burundi.
According to Thomas Greenfield, Mr Museveni and the EAC would take partial blame if war broke out in Burundi.
However, responding to her concerns, Uganda Media Centre Deputy Director Colonel Shaban Bantariza said President Museveni had designated a seasoned peace negotiator, Crispus Kiyonga, to oversee the process on his behalf.
“The Burundi matters are delicate ones and therefore, need time to be solved. However, President Museveni appointed Dr Crispus Kiyonga, who is a senior at negotiations and the two warring parties have confidence in him,” Col Bantariza, the Deputy Government Spokesman told the EagleOnline on phone on Saturday.
President Yoweri Museveni has today arrived in the Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh for a two-day state visit at the invitation of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The President was later received at the Al Yammamah palace by the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman Bin Abudulaziz Al Saud for the welcome ceremonies, which were performed by officers and men of the Saudi Arabian armed forces.
The two leaders held tete-a-tete talks followed by bilateral talks attended by officials from both countries. The President was later hosted to a State Banquet by H.M King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
During the visit the President will meet and hold talks with the Deputy Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence. He is also expected to hold a meeting with the President of the Islamic Development Bank H.E Dr Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al Madan, and the Secretary General of the OIC, HE Dr. Iyad Ameen Madani. The President will later address the Council of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry together with selected industrialists.
On arrival President Museveni was received at the King Khaled International airport by HRH Faisal bin Bandar, the governor of Riyadh Province, Kingdom officials and the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa.
Others included the Ugandan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States Dr. Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, the Minister for General Duties in the Prime Minister’s Office, Tarsis Kabwegyere, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Kabagambe-Kaliisa and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Pius Bigirimana among others.
Pravin Gordhan served as South African finance minister from 2009 until last year.
Pravin Gordhan served as South African finance minister from 2009 until last year.
South African President Jacob Zuma has replaced newly appointed Finance Minister David van Rooyen with the more experienced Pravin Gordhan in a surprise Sunday night announcement.
On Wednesday, the president sacked Nhlanhla Nene in a move that sent the rand to record lows and sparked a sell-off in bank shares.
His replacement for less than a week, Mr van Rooyen, is a little-known MP.
The latest move sent the rand up almost 5% on Sunday night.
Mr Gordhan was widely respected when he served as South Africa’s finance minister from 2009 until 2014.
‘Russian roulette’
President Jacob Zuma said that Mr Nene was being moved to “another strategic position”.
However, Mohammed Nalla, head of research at Nedbank Capital, said having a finance minister serve just two days did not bode well for South Africa’s reputation.
“International investors are probably thinking: why didn’t the president make a much more considered decision in the first place?” he said.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, Mmusi Maimane, said: “This is reckless by President Zuma – he is playing Russian roulette with the South African economy.”
A statement from Mr Zuma’s office said he had “received many representations” to reconsider his decision to appoint Mr van Rooyen.
“As a democratic government, we emphasise the importance of listening to the people and to respond to their views,” it added.
Credit agency Fitch downgraded South Africa earlier this month, leaving South Africa just one notch above “junk” status. It said on Thursday that Mr Nene’s sacking “raised more negative than positive questions”.
Mr Nene’s reluctance to approve a plan to build several nuclear power stations at a cost of up to $100bn is thought to have contributed to his removal as finance minister.
Mr van Rooyen will take over from Mr Gordhan as minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs.
Marches to call for Mr Zuma’s removal as president are being planned for five cities in South Africa on Wednesday – a public holiday.
The US Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates on the same day in a move that could put economies in countries like South Africa under further pressure.
Former Health Minister Barbara Hogan on Friday called on Mr Zuma to resign. The highest-profile ANC member to oppose Mr Nene’s removal, she said that the president had crossed a line and needed to be held to account.
Razia Khan, an analyst with Standard Chartered bank, said the week’s turmoil was “perhaps the first instance since 2007 that Zuma has come under severe pressure within the party”.
Finally, EALA are champs of the Inter-Parliamentary Football tournament. The Regional Assembly late Thursday put to a halt, Parliament of Uganda’s dominance in soccer, beating them 4-3 on penalties.
The match started on a high note with EALA dominating the play with Hon Martin Ngoga and Hon Taslima Twaha controlling the midfield in the earlier stages of the match and regular time score ended
EALA took the lead through their striker who picked a loose ball from Wycliff Ketto to latch the ball past Goalie Dan Ssekide, sending the crowd into frenzy.
EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Daniel Kidega could have put the victors ahead in the 17th minute but he shot wide with the Parliament of Rwanda Goalkeeper, Emile Bosabose beaten.
Parliament of Uganda then settled and began making inroads into the EALA defence line marshalled by Peter Asiimwe and Hon Straton Ndikuryayo. Captain Hon Patrick Nsanja missed a sitter after receiving a pass from striker Hon Muhammad Nsereko mid-way as the match progressed.In the second half, Parliament of Uganda came back a more rejuvenated side following Coach Tom Lwanga’s pep talk to his charges. Hon Odonga Otto collected the ball from the midfield and beat two defenders to set a through pass to Hon Patrick Nsanja who slotted home the equalizer.
The match went into extra-time but ended in a draw resulting in penalties. EALA Goalkeeper saved a crucial penalty taken by Hon Muhammad Nsereko as the match ended 4-3 in their favour.
Dan Ssekide, Edward Mubiru and Hon Patrick Nsanja Patrick the spot kicks.
Hon Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi won the Most Valuable Player’s award after having tied with EALA striker Wycliff Ketto. The rules governing soccer provide that where a Member of Parliament ties with a staff, then the former shall be accorded the prize.
The golden boot (top scorer) went to Hon Patrick Nsanja of Uganda while Parliament of Kenya won the most disciplined team.
Earlier on Parliament of Rwanda scooped position three after beating Parliament of Kenya 4-2 in penalties after a match that ended in a barren draw. It was yet another day when Parliament of Kenya’s strikers failed to find the back of the net. Scorers for the Parliament of Rwanda were Ernest Nshimiyimana, Augustin Habimana, Eric Ngoboka and Eric Ndagijimana.
Senator Isaac Melly and Jorum Baraza scored for Parliament of Kenya while Hon Peter Kaluma and Jillo Yezeli shot wide. Parliament of Kenya also bagged the volleyball men’s tournament, athletics men and the overall trophy in athletics.
In women’s volleyball, Parliament of Rwanda were declared winners beating Parliament of Kenya by 2 sets to 0 (25-20) and 25-16.
Parliament of Uganda were declared the champs of the 2015 netball tournament. Parliament of Uganda beat Parliament of Kenya 45-9.
Leading goal shooter, Hon Susan Netasiire won the golden hand after amassing 79 points while Hon Winifred Kiiza was declared the Most Valuable Player.
The name Badru Wegulo is well known to many Ugandans, especially those who belong to the Uganda Peoples’ Congress.
Hajji Badru Kendo Wegulo was born in 1934 in the then Bukedi district. A former teacher and headmaster at Busolwe Muslim Primary School in Mbale, Hajji Wegulo was spotted as a good leader by former UPC President Dr Apollo Milton Obote, who inspired him to join politics.
Hajji Wegulo started his political journey by becoming the Secretary General of the UPC in Bukedi district and, together with the likes of the Kasajja Byakika, formed the backbone of UPC support in the Bukedi region during the 1960s.
When Obote was overthrown in 1971, Hajji Wegulo did not go into exile like most of his UPC colleagues; he instead chose to live a low life and continued teaching. He became the acting Chairman of the UPC after the mysterious death of John Babiiha but was also to be named the Chairperson of the Central Scholarships Committee by Idi Amin.
In 1980, he contested for the Bukedi North East Constituency, (today comprising of Butaleja, part of West Budama and Pallisa) but lost to one Dr Mudangha.
It was after his electoral loss that he fully became UPC Chairman, a position he held up to July 27 1985, when Obote government was overthrown by the military led by Lieutenant General Tito Okello Lutwa and Brigadier Bazilio Olara Okello. During the six-month government of Gen Lutwa, Hajji Wegulo was appointed the Minister of Labour until Yoweri Museveni captured power on January 26, 1986.
During the Museveni regime, Hajji Wegulo was named a member of the of the UPC Presidential Policy Commission (PPC) by Dr Obote, first serving under Cecilia Ogwal and later under the former Culture Minister James Rwanyarare.
In a surprise move, in 2001 President Museveni appointed him Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, but Hajji rejected the offer. Then in 2004 Hajji Wegulo was named Chairperson of the UPC Constitutional Steering Committee, a body that oversaw the registration of UPC as a political party during the era of the return to multi-partyism.
Given his central role in the activities of the UPC, Hajji Wegulo was caught in between when the party developed internal wrangles.
Then in a surprise move in November 2010 he, together with Henry Mayega and Osinde Wangor, defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). At the time the trio accused then UPC leader Ambassador Olara Otunnu of mismanaging party affairs.
At the time when asked by The Observer’s Tash Lumu how he wanted to be remembered Hajji Wegulo said: ‘I want people to remember me as a nationalist; somebody who wanted peace so that the future generation can be more comfortable. And lastly, as somebody who was sincere and not interested in money-making.’
He also said foreign affairs minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa and presidential Advisor on Defence and Security General Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh are some of the people who, alongside his people in Butaleja, convinced him to join the NRM.
At the time of his death aged 81 Hajji Badru Kendo Wegulo has been serving as a Presidential Advisor.
Such was the life of one of the illustrious sons of Uganda.
Hajji Wegule being ushered into NRM by President Museveni at Serena Conference hall during the launch of 2011 NRM manifesto.
Hajji Wegule being ushered into NRM by President Museveni at Serena Conference hall during the launch of 2011 NRM manifesto.
Kampala- Hajji Badru Wegulo, the former national party chairman of Uganda Peoples’ Congress is dead.
Announcing his passing on, Sophia Wegulo, the daughter to the deceased said her father passed on at 2am last night at their ancestral home in Kachonga sub-county, Butaleja district.
“Mzee has been battling cancer for some time and as a family we decided to bring him back home since he was on treatment but unfortunately he has gone,” Ms Wegulo said.
In 2010 Wegulo, Henry Mayega and Osinde Wangor crossed from the UPC to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party during the launch of the 2011 NRM campaign manifesto at Serena Conference Centre and he was afterwards named Presidential Advisor in charge of Eastern Uganda.
Wegulo was one of the few leaders that kept UPC alive while Dr. Milton Obote was in exile in Lusaka, Zambia and as party chairman, together with Dr James Rwanyarere who was Chairman of the Presidential Policy Commission (PPC), oversaw the running of the UPC.
Mr Peter Walubiri, a former colleague on the PPC and now a director of Milton Obote Foundation (MOF) described Hajji Wegulo as a fighter for democracy, ‘despite crossing to NRM’.
“It is so sad that a former colleague has passed on. It is unfortunate that he has died without coming back to the party he built. I know in his heart of hearts, he remains a Congressman and we convey condolences to the family,” Mr Walubiri said.
Lira Municipality Member of Parliament and embattled UPC party leader, Jimmy Akena says no differences can deny Wegulo his role in the politics of the UPC and Uganda at large.
“He was a Congressman and we have to appreciate what he did for the party and the country. Like any other human being, he was disappointed with the UPC politics in 2010 and decided to join NRM but he was a nationalist who wished Uganda well,” Akena said.
A one time UPC diehard, on September 14, 2001 Wegulo rejected a job offer by President Yoweri Museveni as Senior Presidential Advisor on politics.
At the time the President had appointed both Wegulo and Prof. Timothy Wangusa as his advisors.
Prof. Wangusa subsequently accepted the job and to date he is an Advisor on Literary Affairs.
Tony Blair met former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2007.
Tony Blair met former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2007.
Tony Blair was not trying to “save” Colonel Gaddafi when he spoke to the dictator at the height of the Libyan conflict in 2011, he has told MPs.
The former prime minister confirmed he had “two or three” phone conversations within 24 hours with Gaddafi, having cleared it with David Cameron.
His aim was to get the dictator out of Libya “so that a peaceful transition could take place”.
But he conceded that the Gaddafi regime was “not sustainable”.
He defended his decision as prime minister to bring Gaddafi “in from the cold”, saying it may have prevented so-called Islamic State getting chemical weapons.
As part of the process, Gaddafi renounced weapons of mass destruction, bringing to a halt programmes to develop nuclear and chemical arms.
During his 90-minute appearance before the Commons foreign affairs committee, Mr Blair also said:
Mr Cameron’s decision to intervene in Libya in 2011 was “well-intentioned” and done in “good faith”
The line between intervention on humanitarian grounds and regime change is “pretty thin”
Political evolution is always preferable to revolution because of the “chaos” and instability that tend to follow
He had philosophical discussions with Gaddafi about the “third way,” among other issues, but the dictator’s views on the Middle East peace process were “eccentric”
He told Downing Street in 2011 that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had to go and it must happen quickly
While in office, the ex-prime minister supported the West’s rapprochement with the regime of Colonel Gaddafi and even visited him in Libya in 2004.
Libya renounced its nuclear weapons programme as part of an international agreement but the West’s more accommodating relationship with the regime, which led to a number of commercial deals, came in for criticism after Gaddafi violently repressed a uprising during the so-called Arab Spring.
‘Huge prize’
Mr Blair said the decision to engage with Gaddafi, who was accused of sponsoring terrorism in the 1980s, had been difficult but he suggested there was a “huge prize” on offer from trying to normalise relations, in terms of security co-operation, and other issues were “not left to one side”.
“When I went to see him, Lockerbie, Yvonne Fletcher, were absolutely in my mind and part of the conversation,” he said.
“But I felt ultimately the game was worth it and I do believe it was worth it but is not to say I approve of what he did before or how he ran his country.”
Libya under Gadaffi
Phone calls
As Libya descended into civil war in early 2011, Mr Blair said he decided to “use his relationship” with Gaddafi to try and persuade him to leave the country but quickly realised he had “no appetite” to do so.
“It has been presented as I was trying to save Gaddafi. I wasn’t trying to save Gaddafi. I was trying to get him to go.”
Asked who initiated the conversation, Mr Blair said he approached the Libyan leader off his own back, having first spoken to Downing Street and the US State Department.
“They (the calls) were all basically saying ‘there is going to be action unless you come up with an agreed process of change, If you don’t do that, they are going to come and get you out’.”
In light of Gaddafi’s subsequent killing, Mr Blair was asked if the UK, France and the US had exceeded the auspices of their United Nations mandate which authorised action to protect Libyan civilians from the risk of a potential massacre in Benghazi.
Mr Blair said he was not willing to criticise David Cameron for acting in the way he did, adding: “Once you engage in a military action to protect people against a regime, the line between that and (regime change) becomes pretty thin at a certain point.”
Instability
Although Parliament backed the UK’s action at the time, MPs are more critical of the intervention now, saying little thought was given to post-conflict planning, to reconciling warring factions and building inclusive institutions after the collapse of the Gaddafi regime.
Libya has been beset by instability since 2011. Since 2014 the country has had two rival parliaments – an Islamist-backed one in Tripoli and an internationally recognised government in the east of the country – amid UN attempts to broker a single government of national unity.
While the current chaos in Libya was a threat to the UK’s national security, Mr Blair said the international community was not wholly to blame, given that post-conflict stabilisation is always “very very tough” and Libya had been deliberately destabilised by radical Islamist groups.
Following Mr Blair’s appearance, the SNP said it would be seeking more “transparency” about the nature of his conversations with Gaddafi.
Libya after Gadaffi
“The lessons of Libya, like Iraq, is that you cannot just bomb somewhere and move on,” said SNP MP Stephen Gethins.
Conservative ministers have defended the Libya intervention, former foreign secretary William Hague recently telling MPs that he would back similar action again while acknowledging that Libya had not turned out as the government had hoped.
Ministers have pointed to closer co-operation with the Libyan authorities on matters of mutual interest in recent years. Earlier this year, a Libyan man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder PC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.
“We had come to a point where there were some in the military, the police and the intelligence services joining factions. Let’s stop that,” President Mugabe told thousands of party delegates in the tourist resort of Victoria Falls.
“Let’s stop that completely, we are ruining the party that way.”
Zanu-PF has always kept tight control of the security forces, and has been accused of using the military to attack opposition supporters during elections. Its officials have denied the charges.
During his speech, Mr Mugabe, who has been in power for 35 years, said that there would not be any leadership changes within the party.
The BBC’s Brian Hungwe in Victoria Falls says there had been talk of replacing one of the two vice-presidents with Mrs Mugabe.
That this has not happened means Mr Mnangagwa’s position is secure for another year, our reporter says.
Ahead of the Zanu-PF conference, Mrs Mugabe held rallies across the country, which many have seen as a sign of her political ambitions.
The 50-year-old first lady took over the ruling party’s women’s league last year after spearheading the expulsion of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and her supporters from Zanu-PF.
Mr Mnangagwa, 68, is a veteran of the independence struggle and Zanu-PF and also served as the country’s spymaster in the 1980s.
Protests erupted in Burundi against President Pierre Nkurunziza's third-term bid.
Protests erupted in Burundi earlier this year against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third-term bid.
Heavily armed attackers have launched co-ordinated assaults on several army barracks in Burundi.
An army spokesman said in a statement that 12 insurgents had been killed and another 20 arrested.
Witnesses described hearing gunfire and explosions for several hours, in Musaga in the south and Ngagara in the north.
The incident is the worst violence since an attempted coup in May, sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third-term bid.
UN officials have recently accused both government and opposition figures of stirring up ethnic tension between Hutus and Tutsis, amid fears of a return to genocide.
Earlier reports had said up to five soldiers had been killed, but an army spokesman now says five soldiers were wounded in the attacks.
Residents of the capital, Bujumbura, have taken cover at home and are too frightened to go to work or send their children to school, reports the BBC’s Prime Ndikumagenge from the city.
The attacks are the first on military targets since unrest started in April, he says.
Airlines including Kenya Airways and RwandAir have cancelled flights to Bujumbura due to a lack of airport personnel, though it is not clear if the airport has been officially closed.
The neighbourhoods where the attacks occurred are seen as opposition strongholds, correspondents say.
The attacks are the first on military bases and signal a change in tactics from insurgents in the country.
Even during the attempted coup in May, military bases remained untouched.
There has been a gradual escalation in the violence in Bujumbura since May, with people initially showing dissent through street protests.
But after the government clamped down on the protests, it gradually evolved into an armed insurgency.
Grenades have been launched at police patrols, but not the military – until now.
No-one has claimed responsibility and it remains unclear who is behind the insurgency.
The military previously acknowledged that a number of soldiers have deserted the army and there are suspicions that these soldiers might have joined the insurgents.
The latest attacks look like a further escalation in a situation that has been prevailing for more than six months.
It is not clear who is behind the attacks but a military spokesperson said insurgents wanted to take weapons before freeing prisoners.
A presidential adviser, Willy Nyamitwe, said the insurgents had failed, describing them as Sindjuma, meaning “I am not a slave”.
Witnesses say that artillery fire was heard during the attacks on an army base in Ngarara and the ISCAM Higher Institute of Military Training in Musaga, AFP reports.
An army camp known as BASE, near ISCAM, was also attacked, Reuters reported, citing a soldier.
“After more than two hours of clashes, the army repulsed the southern attack, while virtually all the attackers were killed in the Ngagara base,” a senior army officer told AFP.
Security forces are conducting aggressive search operations following the attacks, reports SOS Medias Burundi, an underground group of independent journalists.
Mr Nkurunziza won a disputed election in July.
At least 240 people have been killed since April. More than 200,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries, the UN says.
In recent months, there have been daily killings of both opposition activists and Nkurunziza supporters.
At least seven people were killed earlier this week, six by men wearing police uniforms.
Mr Nkurunziza is a former leader of a Hutu rebel group, fighting a Tutsi-dominated army.
He has been president since a 2005 peace deal.
This year’s violence has not been along ethnic lines, however there are fears it could take that dimension.
Timeline – Burundi crisis
April 2015 – Protests erupt after President Pierre Nkurunziza announces he will seek a third term in office.
May 2015 – Constitutional court rules in favour of Mr Nkurunziza, amid reports of judges being intimidated. Tens of thousands flee violence amid protests.
May 2015 – Army officers launch a coup attempt, which fails.
July 2015 – Elections are held, with Mr Nkurunziza re-elected. The polls are disputed, with opposition leader Agathon Rwasa describing them as a “joke”.
November 2015 – Burundi government gives those opposing President Nkurunziza’s third term five days to surrender their weapons ahead of a promised crackdown.
November 2015 – UN warns it is less equipped to deal with violence in Burundi than it was for the Rwandan genocide
Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015.
The 32-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder becomes only the third player, after Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, to receive the honour twice.
Football fans voted for Manchester City’s Toure, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew and Sadio Mane.
“I am very proud. To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable,” Toure told BBC Sport.
“Also I want to pay tribute to the other nominees. African football is growing up, becoming much better and we have fantastic young players coming through now.”
Toure described all five nominees as “champions”.
He added: “I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future.
“When I was a kid I was always dreaming of being an important player. I have sacrificed a lot.
“I will continue to try to win a trophy every year, I will fight to win a personal trophy.”
Two of the beaten nominees have won the award before, Algeria’s Brahimi in 2014 and Ghanaian Ayew in 2011. Gabon’s Aubameyang was on the shortlist for the third year running, while Senegalese Mane made it for the first time.
Toure has been nominated for the award seven times and his second win ensures his year ends with a trophy, just as it began when he led Ivory Coast to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He captained the team in Equatorial Guinea and opened the scoring in the semi-final to put his side on course for a 3-1 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo.
Toure was a key influence as his country end a 23-year wait for their second Nations Cup title, overcoming Ghana in a penalty shootout in the final.
It was Toure’s first trophy with the national team in his sixth Nations Cup tournament, and having lost in two finals – in 2006 and 2012.
There was less success for Toure with Manchester City, who failed to defend their English Premier League 2014 title and finished second to Chelsea.
But Toure remains a powerful presence in the heart of the midfield and contributed seven goals for City in the calendar year.
Vera Kwakofi, Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa, said: “Yaya Toure’s leadership for country and club offers an example for many young footballers aspiring to emulate his career.
“We are pleased that as the BBC we are here to celebrate and share in this moment with his fans around the world.”
