A thread for the forgotten continent, so forgotten the thread got wiped since I made it that recently.
Discuss anything related to:
>Algeria
>Angola
>Benin
>Botswana
>Burkina Faso
>Burundi
>Cabo Verde
>Cameroon
>Central African Republic (CAR)
>Chad
>Comoros
>Congo, Democratic Republic of the
>Congo, Republic of the
>Cote d’Ivoire
>Djibouti
>Egypt
>Equatorial Guinea
>Eritrea
>Eswatini
>Ethiopia
>Gabon
>Gambia
>Ghana
>Guinea
>Guinea-Bissau
>Kenya
>Lesotho
>Liberia
>Libya
>Madagascar
>Malawi
>Mali
>Mauritania
>Mauritius
>Morocco
>Mozambique
>Namibia
>Niger
>Nigeria
>Rwanda
>Sao Tome and Principe
>Senegal
>Seychelles
>Sierra Leone
>Somalia
>South Africa
>South Sudan
>Sudan
>Tanzania
>Togo
>Tunisia
>Uganda
>Zambia
>Zimbabwe
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-04-11/a-south-africa-where-the-anc-doesn-t-rule-aloneAfter 30 years of rule by the African National Congress, South Africa is ripe for political change in next month’s elections.
The party of Nelson Mandela that led the fight against apartheid made initial strides in dismantling racist laws, firing up the economy and increasing access to health and education.
But the ANC’s performance over the past decade has been dismal: The economy barely grew as power cuts and logistical snarlups stifled output; the unemployment rate stands at 32%; crime and corruption are endemic.
So it may seem counter-intuitive that the rand tanked when a shock poll showed ANC support falling to 37%, down some 20 percentage points from five years ago — itself the worst result since the end of White minority rule.
The poll’s methodology has been questioned, but most other surveys show the party losing its parliamentary majority on May 29, albeit by a smaller margin.
If these snapshots are accurate, then coalition government looms. That doesn’t bode well if the municipal experience is anything to go by, with several coalition-governed cities suffering halts to water delivery, refuse collection and other basic services as partners wrangle over power.
More worrying for investors is the prospect, however distant, of the ANC allying with the Economic Freedom Fighters party, which proposes nationalizing mines and placing all land in state custodianship. In an interview yesterday, EFF leader Julius Malema indicated that he’s open to joining a government including the ANC.
There are also concerns that the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party backed by discredited former President Jacob Zuma may join any coalition.
Zuma’s time in office was marred by the looting of billions of dollars of taxpayer funds and the systematic hollowing out of state institutions.
If political change is indeed coming for South Africa, then all those clamoring for it need to brace for the turbulence ahead.
>>1831767https://effonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A5-EFF-2024-Manifesto-full-version.pdfSince everyone on leftypol is always most curious on LGBTQIA+ positions:
The EFF affirms and celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) persons and all people of diverse sexual orientations.
The EFF also acknowledges the existence of other evolving acronyms and terms which people use to describe their gender, sexuality, and sex characteristics. Although there has been some progress on LGBTQIA+ equality in South Africa, there is much more to be done as LGBTQIA+ people face a number of challenges in accessing their rights and are vulnerable to discrimination and hate-motivated violence.
The intersection of gender, race, and social class makes LGBTQIA+ persons even more vulnerable to discrimination and hate-motivated violence. With black lesbian women being the most vulnerable to sexual violence, and more specifically to what is called 'corrective rape,' which is a gruesome act of violence against lesbians and queers. LGBTQIA+ persons are often discriminated against in the labour market, in schools, hospitals, and churches, and they are at-risk group for poor mental health.
They experience depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide at a higher level than the general population. Therefore, more aggressive public awareness campaigns aimed at positively changing social norms which declare LGBTQIA+ sexual preferences as abnormal are needed.
The EFF works tirelessly to eliminate the inequalities that LGBTQIA+ people face due to sexual orientation and trans status. In relation to LGBTQIA+, the EFF government will ensure that the following key interventions are made: The EFF government will raise awareness of the specific
needs of LGBTQIA+ people by developing programmes on gender and sexual diversity.
The EFF government will monitor & address homophobic hate crimes and introduce harsher sentences for such crimes.
The EFF government will introduce ‘X’ gender markers in official documents to enable non-binary people to be legally recognized.
The EFF government will provide training to health and social professional staff on LGBTQIA+ identities that address barriers faced due to sexual orientation, trans status; this will extend to the amendment of sex description laws that will empower the Home Affairs department to expedite ID alterations for all applications of transgender people.
The EFF government will ensure LGBTQIA+ people have equal access to public services.
The EFF government will ensure that LGBTQIA+ people have fair and equal access to reproductive and fertility services.
The EFF government will provide necessary funding for LGBTQIA+ inclusive education.
The EFF government will ensure all learners leave school with a thorough understanding of gender & sexual diversity
through age-appropriate teaching at all levels, embedding learning within the curriculum.
The EFF government will ensure better access to services by addressing homophobia, biphobia, & transphobia within public services, and ensure access to free gender-affirming treatment in all healthcare facilities.
The EFF government will provide gender-neutral toilets and changing facilities in all public spaces.
The EFF government will ensure that frontline police officers receive training on LGBTQIA+ issues so that they can accurately record cases of anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes.
The EFF government will ensure that gender-based violence services are adequately funded so that they have enough resources to support LGBTQIA+ survivors.
The EFF government will establish LGBTQIA+ support services across the country, including in rural and township areas.
The EFF government will work with sporting codes to end LGBTQIA+ discrimination in sports, to ensure that LGBTQIA+ people can fully participate in grassroots and community
sports.
The EFF government will amend the Facilities Regulations Act and related regulations to enable the implementation of gender-neutral toilet facilities in schools, public facilities, and workplaces to benefit transgender populations and people outside of the gender binary.
The EFF government will amend the Child Care Act and related legislation to impose penalties for unfair discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals in relation to adoption processes.
>>1856708The day any country in the world becomes "communist"
For now, we can only wait for a dictatorship of the proletariat.
Angola still has its "communist" flag.
>>1856728I meant dictatorship of the proletariat
(socialism slowly replacing capitalism with communism, by having the working class as the dominant class and oppressing the bourgeoisie slowly into non-existence, and by consequence also abolishing the state since the state is only an apparatus of class violence and bla bla bla bla bla) instead of actual communism
I'm stiilll waiting
123 YEARS and NOTHING HAS HAPPENED
>>1857181Man, I wish because the sense of community and everyone wanting to help eachother out (when you meet someone normal) is actually greater than any european shithole I've ever visited.
>but Haz saysLITERALLY WHO
>>1859216Yeah I got similar vibes from this one. Or a bit like the plot to overthrow Obiang in Eq. Guinea but that had more professional people. These guys seemed like washed-up goons. Much more of an outright criminal / money thing I suspect.
>>1859724The Israelis being involved is something I can believe, but I don't get U.S. vibes from this because the DRC government is pretty pro-U.S. from I understand. They vote with Ukraine in the U.N. and say anti-Russian things. They've also said that Rwanda is behaving towards the DRC like Russia is behaving towards Ukraine to build Western support to pressure Rwanda. It's not like a regime that NATO has a problem with, y'know?
>>1860788>Aren't they trying to nationalize oil production and shit?There was a coup by young army officers last year which have made nods to a more Sankaraist vision, with the asigned transitional PM being a well known pro-sankara socialist radio/TV personality.
There has been talk of nationalisaiton and so on but the main issue now though is the insurgency and trying to form regional links, as several of these regional countries are realising they are really to small to survive independently in competition.
>>1859824based tbqh
uploaded these in this order so it looks like a "great success!" meme
The Eisenhower wasn't in the Red Sea just for Yemen. Based Black Agenda Report contributor noticing.
https://blackagendareport.com/ one of the premier sources for reporting on Africa.
>>1831758It looks like Senegal is joining the other Sahel states.
Does anyone else think it more and more looks like important change and future is on the cards for Africa in general, or am i to optimistic?
>>1883688I think there is hope for south and central africa too, anon. the EFF is an explicitly communist party and polls almost 2M votes after competing only 3 national elections and advocate for a south and central Africa but eventually a pan-african union.
So yea, good news, you don't have to learn french. :)
<Mired in a devastating, ultraliberal policy of austerity, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu is now facing an "indefinite general strike". Economically strangled, victims of murderous attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram and the criminal practices of the multinational Shell, Nigerians can't take it anymore! A triple crisis that is totally predictable, since it is directly linked to the "conditional" loans that Africa's most populous country has contracted with the IMF and the World Bank…
>On May 31, Nigeria's two main trade unions, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade-Union Congress (TUC), called an "indefinite general strike" to demand a substantial increase in the minimum wage and protest against the massive decline in living standards.
>The government's ultra-liberal policies, applauded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have led to hellish inflation and a rapid massification of poverty. Inflation stood at 30% in 2023 and reached 33.6% in April 2024, with the immediate consequence of families no longer being able to feed themselves and going without eggs, meat or milk.
>Obeying the IMF's so-called "recommendations", which are in fact injunctions, the government had already decided, as soon as it came to power a year ago, to put an end to fuel subsidies, with the immediate effect of tripling fuel prices. This was just one of the measures suggested by the IMF.
<Forced austerity
>Other neoliberal measures, such as the lifting of all restrictions on the foreign exchange market and austerity measures for the public sector, have also been implemented since last year on the pretext of restoring public finances.
>These measures are being ruthlessly implemented in a country where 40% of the population is already below the poverty line, according to the World Bank's own figures.
>As the population sinks ever deeper into survival, the IMF, in its latest report, rejoices and congratulates the Nigerian government: "Nigeria has embarked on the path of ambitious reforms under the new administration of President Bola Tinubu, with the aim of restoring macroeconomic stability and supporting more inclusive growth."
>Negotiations on the minimum wage were eagerly awaited. The minimum wage is currently 30,000 naira (around 20 euros), while the unions are demanding that it be raised to 494,000 naira (around 300 euros).
>Unsurprisingly, the strike was well attended, with major power cuts, air traffic disruptions, complete closure of schools, and more. The scale of the strike forced the government to reopen negotiations, and the unions to call a truce for the duration.
<The consequences of submission to the IMF
>Nothing is settled, however, and the IMF and World Bank continue to press for no let-up in austerity reforms.
>Thus, for example, on June 14, the World Bank granted a loan of 2.25 billion dollars, specifying: "The key is to maintain the momentum generated by President Bola Tinubu's new economic policies, which place the country on a new path that can stabilize its economy and ultimately lift its people out of poverty".
>In concrete terms, this new path, welcomed by the World Bank and the IMF, led last May to a doubling of electricity prices. It was this last outrageous measure that triggered the anger of the unions and the people.
>What is happening in Nigeria is what has already happened to many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America that have followed the "recommendations" of the International Monetary Fund to obtain loans.
>The logic behind the conditions imposed by the IMF is always the same. Namely: the withdrawal of the state, privatization of public services, the end of support for basic necessities, and so on.
<IMF and World Bank: objective allies of terrorism
>The withdrawal of the State and public services, and the massive impoverishment of the population, are a key breeding ground for terrorist groups who are attempting to destabilize the country, as they have throughout the region. Unsurprisingly, they have taken advantage of this social crisis to re-launch their offensives.
>Several suicide attacks were carried out in Borno state, one of the strongholds of the Boko Haram group, on Saturday June 29, with a very heavy toll presented as follows by the state police report: "So far, eighteen people, including children, men, women and pregnant women, have been killed in the attacks […], nineteen other victims are also seriously injured".
>Mass pauperization and the despair it engenders are one of the key elements present in all the countries where terrorist groups have established a foothold. In this sense, neoliberalism and its economic policies, imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, are objective allies of terrorist destabilization.
>Moreover, advocating the withdrawal of the state and the privatization of public services prevents the state from being able to build the nation. These measures lead to the virtual abandonment of certain regions in order to concentrate resources on sites that are profitable for multinationals. These structural reforms isolate certain regions, undermining national unity and creating a feeling of abandonment in vast areas of the country.
>An effective fight against terrorist destabilization can only be waged with popular support. It requires the presence of the State and its assumption of the role of producer of national unity and cohesion.
>Moreover, economic insecurity often leads people to withdraw into their own ethnic or community group, with a tendency for inter-community tensions to develop. This is borne out by Amnesty International's latest report, published on June 26, which estimates that 2,500 people were killed in clashes between herders and farmers in Benue State alone (for the period from January 2023 to February 2024).
<Shell's polluting ravagesFinally, the injunction of the IMF and the World Bank to base all development on private capital alone, and essentially on multinationals, leads borrowing African states to abandon all control over private investors in the hope of welcoming more of them. In this respect, the example of the Shell multinational is caricatural.
>For decades, this multinational has been criticized for its dangerous and criminal practices, which are described as follows by the Nigerian NGO HEDA: "Frequent oil leaks from its infrastructure and inadequate maintenance and clean-up practices have contaminated water tables and drinking water sources, poisoned agricultural land and fishing reserves, and seriously harmed the health and livelihoods of local people".
>Today, Shell wishes to sell its activities to another company, on terms that have been denounced by Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria:
>"There is a great risk that Shell will pocket billions of euros from the sale of this business and walk away, leaving the victims of harm without recourse, in the grip of continuing abuses and damage to their health. Guarantees and financial assurances must be put in place to remedy existing contamination without delay, and to protect people from future damage, before this proposed sale is given the green light. Shell cannot be allowed to shirk its responsibilities in terms of pollution clean-up; it must repair the very significant damage it has caused in the region."
>This example alone underlines the fact that African states and nations don't need less state, as imposed by the IMF and the World Bank, but more state; in other words, patriotic states pursuing self-centered development policies and nation-building policies.Saïd Bouamama
https://investigaction.net/triple-crise-au-nigeria/ >>1906671Additionally, part of why the debt got so bad over there is due to the countries poor tax collection methods. Most of taxes Nigerians pay never reach the governments of that place, which means the revenue most municipal, state, and federal organizations need to pay off the loans and manage the country. If you want a stat of the disparity in tax revenue the governments receive there compared to what they should be receiving here are these numbers.
Estimated sum of tax revenue (2023): $63 billion
Sum based off the Tax-to-GDP average in industrialized economies: $162 billion
>>1913003>Sub-saharan africa might have maintained their matriarchical tribal systems compared to the more patriarchical northWest and East Africa are also in Sub-Saharan Africa, anon.
>>1913007Southern Africa isn't really pagan. Most of the population is some kind of Protestant, including very often Evangelical which is curious because as you say Evangelical groups in Africa very often have ties to those in the US (and American Mormons) who are more than happy to bankroll anti-gay campaigns and I would find it hard to believe that they simply skipped southern Africa as a playground for their project.
Interestingly, neither Angola nor Mozambique are Catholic majority as I would've expected since they were colonized by Portugal but they do have a large Catholic minority. Mozambique also has a large Muslim population in the north and the coast.
Kenya or NATO's new agent
<Described as a "good student" by the IMF, William Ruto was forced to back down in the face of the Kenyan population's anger - not without violent police repression, which resulted in over 30 deaths. In question: the Kenyan president's decision to increase the tax burden, triggering a surge in the price of basic necessities. Internationally, under pressure from Joe Biden, the "good student" Ruto sent a contingent of a thousand Kenyan soldiers to Haiti. Their mission: to "restore order" on the small Central American island, plagued by structural political instability and a bloody gang war… Add "war to war": there's no doubt that NATO has found its new zealous agent in East Africa.
>In our last column, we described the responsibilities of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in the deteriorating living conditions of the Nigerian people, on the one hand, and their security situation, on the other. The situation in Kenya is unfortunately similar, confirming that the same causes produce the same effects.
>At the root of the savagely repressed popular protests was the presentation on June 13 of the 2024-2025 draft budget, which provided for the increase of numerous taxes and the creation of new ones, in line with the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund.
>In particular, the plan included the introduction of a 16% VAT on bread, and another 2.5% annual tax on private vehicles. This new tax pressure was the last straw in a wave of popular anger against President William Ruto.
>As a reminder, Kenya's new president was elected in August 2022 on the promise of defending the country's most modest citizens. As soon as he took office, Ruto immediately fell in line with the IMF's austerity recommendations, raising income tax and health contributions last year and doubling VAT on fuel.
<New IMF budget: 30 new deaths
>The announcement of the new budget immediately aroused popular anger, particularly among young people. Demonstrations against the budget multiplied and gradually massified, quickly taking on the name "Occupy the Parliament".
>After several demonstrations suppressed by tear gas and water cannons, the one on Tuesday June 25 was bloodied by live ammunition fired by the law enforcement. That day, demonstrators in the capital Nairobi succeeded in breaking into parliament, prompting live ammunition in return, resulting in more than 30 deaths and dozens of injuries…
>Although President William Ruto is, of course, primarily responsible, his budgetary choices must be seen in a broader context, that of pressure from the World Bank and the IMF due to Kenya's indebtedness.
>In January 2024, these two institutions decided on a third increase in loans to Kenya, bringing them to a total of 4.4 billion dollars for the period 2021-2025.
>At the beginning of June, as Kenya's draft budget was being prepared, a new agreement was signed between the Kenyan government and the IMF for a total of $976 million. This generosity comes with conditions, namely an increase in government budget revenues, the privatization of state-owned enterprises and a reduction in public spending.
<The murderous "good student"
>The business insurance organization COFACE presents this pseudo "aid" from the IMF and World Bank as follows:
>"The budget deficit is expected to continue to decline in 2024. Under the IMF program, Kenya will continue its fiscal consolidation. The government mainly plans measures to boost revenue (18% of GDP), such as a doubling of VAT on fuel and an increase in income tax […] Privatization of enterprises could also be an additional source of revenue".
>The Kenyan president is considered a "good performer" by the IMF and World Bank, as evidenced by the words of Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, the IMF's deputy managing director, when the loan was granted in January: "The IMF continues to support the authorities' efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability, strengthen policy frameworks, withstand external shocks, advance key reforms and promote inclusive and green growth."
>This laudatory acknowledgement was the reward for the Kenyan president's statements announcing, two months earlier, new taxes to the tune of $1.8 billion, following the announcement a few months earlier, in September 2023, of the privatization of 35 public enterprises.
<A first popular victory
>The scale of the popular mobilization forced the Kenyan government to withdraw its draft budget.
>Announcing this decision, he explains as follows: "After listening carefully to the Kenyan people, who have said loud and clear that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I bow my head and will not enact the Finance Bill 2024, which will therefore be withdrawn".
>Suddenly discovering that other resources are possible, the Kenyan government orders "the immediate implementation of new austerity measures to reduce expenditure, starting with the office of the president and extending to the whole government, reduce presidential operating expenses, eliminate executive power appropriations to meet social needs". This retreat is merely tactical, however, as there are no plans to call into question the global agreements with the IMF and the World Bank.
>The current crisis is unfolding at a time when Kenya is increasingly presenting itself as a reliable international ally of the United States.
>During William Ruto's visit to the United States last May, President Joe Biden announced that he was elevating Kenya "to the rank of a major non-NATO ally".
<Amplifying the war in Haiti
>This status is supposed to grant military and economic advantages. In fact, the honouring of Kenya is the reward given to William Ruto for having agreed to send a contingent of 1,000 Kenyan soldiers to Haiti, a decision that Joe Biden presents as follows: "Our joint work on Haiti is helping to pave the way for reducing instability and insecurity".
>In reality, it's simply a matter of illegally placing Haiti under tutelage. Coincidentally, on the very day that blood was shed in Nairobi, the first contingent of 400 Kenyan soldiers landed in Haiti. By sending these troops, the Kenyan government is responding to the request of Haitian Head of State Ariel Henry, who came to power without an election - following the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 - and is rejected by most of the population and dozens of parties, unions and associations.
>Reacting to this Kenyan mission to Haiti, a group of Haitian associations sent an open letter to African heads of state, asking them to intervene to "convince Kenya of the need not to allow itself to be dragged into the murderous logic of the imperialist powers".
>Likewise, the U.S.-based Black Alliance for Peace denounced the Kenyan intervention as "Western imperialism in blackface".
>The Kenyan crisis is an analyzer of Western strategies in Africa, aimed at maintaining neo-colonial dependence through debt, and building up proxy states to maintain order where necessary for its interests.Saïd Bouamama
https://investigaction.net/kenya-ou-le-nouvel-agent-de-lotan/ >>1906671I'm far from an expert on the situation over there, but that sounds like unacceptable imf apologia.
>economy was running on subsidized imports and oil revenueshuh, yeah, using your oil profit to subsidize your basic necessities is a good thing actually
>more anti corruption programs are being enactedfunny how its always one of the talking point of the imf despite the fact the countries under their yoke since decades stay super corrupt.
>the inflation rate is slowing down if all the prices of basic necessities is raised by crushing taxes rather than inflation, I fail to see how thats good. Inflation is generally worse for the well off than for the poor.
>>1906675yeah I dont think comparing tax to gdp with western economies makes sense
the debt likely got so bad because of usual neo colonial bullshitery, and the imf play a major part in it
>>1914374Anon I don’t think you realize how bad on a societal level resource-based subsidization is. South America, MENA, and in the coming months/years Africa are all dealing with a shitload of materialism, corruption, and debt, because of the lack of motivation and willingness to invest in industry their governments have as a result of that financial policy. Resources alone cannot sustain an economy forever. Just take a look at how Canada (my country) is doing now that it’s being forced to fix its oil dependence through immigration and deregulation over much of its industries. I get the political-level looting, the colonial histories of these countries, and the corruption, but doing at least one thing to bring a country like Nigeria closer towards Autarkyism over its vital industries is better for the country (and the planet), even if it causes short-term harm. Current news I’ve gathered over the country have seen the current FG putting more money in roads, factories, farms, and domestic markets (you know, shit the country needs to avoid neocolonialism and endless financial headaches) more than it ever has been in its history. Additionally, the FG has implemented stricter controls of tax money over local governments. Unlike before, where local governers could expect to be as corrupt as they want and have the FG bail them out, how governors are fully autonomous and are subjected to stricter penalties from their citizens and the FG for fucking up.
I can’t tell you how much all that shit is helpful for that country. I wish something like that would happen here to force some sort of meaningful change, because the US is leaving us as our economy stagnated from the resource reliance and cronyism.
>>1914535>how bad on a societal level resource-based subsidization iscant be worse than using the money to pay the imf debts
> lack of motivation and willingness to invest in industry their governments have as a result of that financial policythat just compradors and neo colonialism, its not about using your oil money to help the population. Ofc using it to develop local industry is better, but thats not actually the alternative, the alternative is lining the creditors pockets. Countries not subjected to imperialism like norway didnt have that problem.
>Nigeria closer towards Autarkyism wtf, why would autarkysm be a goal
>is better for the country (and the planet), even if it causes short-term harmagain, its not the alternative, which would be clear if you had read the article. It short term harm AND long term harm because its not used to build up the nation.
>muh planetgreenwashed imperialism
>Current news I’ve gathered over the country have seen the current FG putting more money in roads, factories, farms, and domestic marketsthe article posted talk of cutting public spending and privatizing public assets (and causing instability). If you have sources contradicting it (and from left or even marxists would be even better), go ahead and post it.
>governors are fully autonomoushuh, somehow I dont believe its the kind of thing that reduce corruption…
>have the FG bail them outone of the interest of a state is to reduce the inequalities on the territory and using the richer part to develop the poorer parts. What you're describing sound like a mini-balkanization enrobed with nice words of vague "anti corruption" and "fiscal responsibility", typically the rhetoric used to hide naked neo colonialism
>I can’t tell you how much all that shit is helpful for that country.you're telling it, but I dont see no source, and the fact you claim the imf policies are good and will stop neo colonialism makes me very suspicious. The fact workers orgs fight this and have mass strikes tells me its unlikely all this is done in their interest.
>I wish something like that would happen here to force some sort of meaningful change, because the US is leaving us as our economy stagnated from the resource reliance and cronyism.where are you from ?
>>1914557> oil is going out the doorthis decade ? no. Next decade ? no.
>this year is probably peak demandI've heard that every year the last ten years
>This is not a policy that is sustainableagain, when the alternative is using this money to pay back western capital instead, I dont see the benefit. Venezuela for example try to use some of its revenue to build up industry, but they didnt need a world bank austerity program to do it (although fighting imperialists also brings its own challenges)
>>1915266I’m from Canada man. I follow news often, and when I heard about the crisis I spent a lot of time on Nigerian news networks finding whatever information I could about their government’s response to it. Knowing why the country is in the state it’s in, and how it compares to here, I only have good things to say about whatever decisions their federal government takes to combat the crisis with the information I’ve gathered. If you want the information I got about Nigeria, just follow TVC Nigeria, a writer called Chinua Achebe, and africanews. Best fucking sources you could get about anything Nigerian.
As for the local government thing, yeah that’s actually a step in the right direction so much that the Nigerians I’ve seen on Nigerian forums like nairaland are in majority support of it.
Update on Nigeria
https://tribuneonlineng.com/scourt-verdict-panic-in-states-as-437-lgs-risk-zero-allocation-this-month/To keep things short, I will provide this summary. The Nigerian political levels are identified as being local, state, and federal. Local governments (LG) manage smaller territories and number 773 in their population. Recently the country’s Supreme Court worked with Bola Tinubu’s administration to cut federal funding towards LGs. In response, an estimated 437 LGs have been identified as in severe need for funding. The reason for why this specific number was found was because the federal government (FG) has removed all funds towards LGs that formed undemocratically.
It’s been known for many Nigerians that the country was very corrupt, but such a staggeringly high number of blatantly undemocratic and incompetent management is terrifying for such a highly populated country. Fortunately, these same governments are now going through financial and political restructuring to better serve the interests of their citizens and to comply with federal law. Nigeria’s current restructuring may become a model for neighbouring states facing similar crises with corruption and resource dependence in the coming months-years.
>>1916311>I’m from Canada man. I follow news often, and when I heard about the crisis I spent a lot of time on Nigerian newhuh, didnt expect a canadian to be that interested with nigeria. But comparing canadian economy or policies to africans one is pretty stupid, I hope you realize it. Just cause you also have natural resources doesnt mean the situation is remotely similar.
>Best fucking sources you could get about anything Nigerian.bro are you for real, TVC Nigeria is owned by the nigerian president, basically state sponsored news, and africanews is a west (specifically french) based news corporation serving western porky and african compradors. No wonder you end up defending imf policies like a retard if your sources are this shitty, Im baffled you think you're well informed.
Chinua Achebe might be a cool writer, I dunno, but he is dead since 10 years and so absolutely irrelevant to news. A forum vibe also doesnt mean shit.
For now I will consider your input worthless and rather take the word of people I actually trust and are in accord with the unions doing mass strikes
>>1923364One of my favorite Joes! :)
>>1923420>Thoughts on South African Communist Party? It's complicated. They're part of the tripartite alliance and have very much been marginalized since the neo-lib faction of the ANC took power. There are still many based comrades in it however, people such as Solly Mapaila (vidrel from few days ago) who is still relatively radical despite being part of the old-guard, having been a MK member in his youth, still actively keeps the ANC's feet to the fire, from yday, for example:
https://www.news24.com/citypress/politics/eff-agrees-with-sacps-mapaila-that-anc-would-be-better-off-with-them-in-gnu-instead-of-the-da-20240717 <Is it better or worse than EFF?It's complicated. It's worth noting though that some of EFF's core leadership came out of the SACP Youth League.
>>1923620Canadanon is a known schizo who's very braindamaged by spectacle, to be clear.
>>1923620also nigerian president is a western puppet helping imperialism and involved in corruptions scandals, so much for the anti corruption rethoric
https://thegrayzone.com/2023/08/05/bagman-ecowas-chairman-invade-niger/>ECOWAS chair Bola Tinubu spent years laundering millions for heroin dealers in Chicago, and has since been ensnared in numerous corruption scandals.>Documents reviewed by The Grayzone reveal Tinubu as a longtime US asset who was named as an accomplice in a massive drug running operation that saw him launder millions on behalf of a heroin-dealing relative. You can hardly get more comprador than this guy
Another banger from the man with the midas touch, the cic:
https://youtu.be/NyCvix6NKT4?
NIGER: after France's Orano, Canada's GoviEx Uranium has had its operating permit withdrawn by the Niamey government
<Canadian company GoviEx Uranium threatens Niger with legal action after Niamey withdraws its mining permit. A change of direction for the Nigerien authorities, who are committed to renewing their international partnerships. A few days ago, an important Turkish delegation visited Niamey.
>“The decision to withdraw our mining rights is particularly confusing": in a press release issued on July 17, 2024, Canadian company GoviEx complained after the announcement, two weeks earlier, that Niamey had withdrawn its uranium mining permit.
>The eviction reflects Niamey's change of direction in foreign policy, and the need to find new partners.
>The North American company argued that its project had been underway for two decades, and that it was also investing in the country through social projects.
<Threat of legal action
>In its press release, GoviEx regrets the withdrawal of its operating permit and explains that this will “inevitably lead to significant delays in projects” for the company that takes over and will have to “start from scratch”.
>The document, signed by GoviEx chairman and founder Govind Friedland, refers to delays “contrary to the government's stated objectives of rapid development and economic progress for the region”.
>Citing a decision that “did not follow the withdrawal procedure prescribed by the applicable mining code”, GoviEx says it is “ready to pursue all legal avenues necessary to defend [its] rights and protect [its] investments”.
>Lastly, the Canadian company says it has contacted the Ministry of Mines and “would like to find an amicable solution for the damages associated with the withdrawal of [its] mining rights”.
<Change of course for Niamey
>The ousting of the Canadian company follows in the wake of that of France's Orano in this country, which supplies 4.7% of the world's natural uranium production. Niger's uranium reserves are estimated at 200,000 tonnes, making Niamey the world's seventh largest producer of this radioactive metal, with the richest uranium ores on the continent.
>It comes against a backdrop of diplomatic and strategic redeployment in the context of regional upheaval, and at a time when General Abdourahamane Tiani has held the presidency since 2023.
>With its focus on China, Niamey is stepping up its contacts with China, Russia, Iran and Turkey, and is forging closer ties with Mali and Burkina Faso through the formation of the Sahel Confederation.
<Turkey's operation of seduction
>On Wednesday July 17, a large Turkish delegation visited the country, led by its head of diplomacy, Hakkan Fiddan. Nigerien media reported exchanges in the fields of defense, oil, education and health.
>A memorandum concerning cooperation in the fields of oil and natural gas was also signed. During the visit, Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine declared that his country “abounds in economic resources”, and that he would like international operators “to come and invest in large numbers”.
https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii15/articles/giovanni-arrighi-the-african-crisis
>The main purpose of this essay is to recast this transformation in world-historical perspective, locating Sub-Saharan Africa’s experience within the broader bifurcation of Third World destinies that has taken place since 1975. This recasting, in turn, serves a double purpose. On the one hand, it is meant to assess the extent to which the crisis and tragedy could have been foreseen using the particular variety of political economy that John Saul and I introduced in the late 1960s.footnote3 On the other hand, it will seek to remedy what in retrospect seem to me the most glaring deficiencies, not just of our (‘old’) variety of political economy, but also and especially of the ‘new’ variety that rational-choice theorists and practitioners introduced in the 1980s in response to the crisis.
>I shall proceed as follows. I first lay out the main theses that Saul and I advanced before the crisis set in, and compare these with the claims of the ‘new’ political economy. I then analyse the stylized facts of the African crisis to show that the years around 1980 constitute a major turning point in Sub-Saharan fortunes in the global political economy; and offer a first-cut explanation of it focusing on the radical change in the overall context of Third World development that occurred between 1979 and 1982. In the final sections of the essay, I move to a second-cut explanation, which concentrates on the extremely uneven impact of this change in global context on different Third World regions, paying special attention to the sharp contrast between the fortunes of Africa and East Asia; and conclude with a brief assessment of what African elites and governments could have done to avoid the African tragedy or to neutralize its most destructive aspects. Nigeria: Security authorities release the head of the country's largest labor union
Nigerian security authorities have released the leader of the workers' union, Joe Ajayero, after he was arrested at Abuja airport on Monday while travelling to the United Kingdom.
Nigerian security authorities have released the president of the Nigerian Workers' Union, Joe Ajayero, who was arrested on Monday morning while travelling from Abuja to the United Kingdom.
Many internal parties condemned Ajayero's arrest, most notably the Nigerian Workers' Union and other labor unions, in addition to figures concerned with public affairs.
In turn, Ajayero confirmed, in a press statement from Abuja, that the security authorities allowed him to return to his home on Monday evening, explaining that the Nigerian National Security Service had confiscated his passport.
He added that he was interrogated for about 15 hours after his arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the Nigerian capital.
The Nigerian Labour Union president was due to travel to the United Kingdom on Monday to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) before he was arrested at the airport.
For its part, the Nigerian Workers Union condemned Ajayero's arrest and gave the Nigerian National Security Service until midnight on Tuesday to release him, and put all its branches, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on high alert.
It is noteworthy that Ajayru had previously responded to the police's request to investigate allegations of financing terrorism in late August, where he insisted on his innocence.
Whining about this (formerly publicly owned) corp. this piece of shit corporation casually stole dozens to hundreds of billions in usd from the state of Nigeria and is currently responsible for fueling an inflation crisis in the state. Many Nigerians are struggling to get the energy they need to get to work, manage their businesses and factories, or just meet their friends. This is putting severe strain on that entire country’s economy, and the corporation in question is now gatekeeping the fuel it does have in its refineries from ever being sold to Nigerian citizens.
Seriously, recently it’s been found that the crop prevented at least 97% of the fuel production of a competing refinery (Dangote refinery) from reaching domestic markets in favour of exportation over offering lower prices to Nigerian citizens. In effect this shitbaggery is fueling the country’s worst inflation crisis in its history.
Source:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mUfbsYxkPTo&pp=ygUETm5wYw%3D%3DNigeria: Security authorities release the head of the country's largest labor union
Nigerian security authorities have released the president of the Nigerian Workers' Union, Joe Ajayero, who was arrested on Monday morning while travelling from Abuja to the United Kingdom.
Many internal parties condemned Ajayero's arrest, most notably the Nigerian Workers' Union and other labor unions, in addition to figures concerned with public affairs.
In turn, Ajayero confirmed, in a press statement from Abuja, that the security authorities allowed him to return to his home on Monday evening, explaining that the Nigerian National Security Service had confiscated his passport.
He added that he was interrogated for about 15 hours after his arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the Nigerian capital.
The Nigerian Labour Union president was due to travel to the United Kingdom on Monday to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) before he was arrested at the airport.
For its part, the Nigerian Workers Union condemned Ajayero's arrest and gave the Nigerian National Security Service until midnight on Tuesday to release him, and put all its branches, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on high alert.
It is noteworthy that Ajayro had previously responded to the police's request to investigate allegations of financing terrorism in late August, where he insisted on his innocence.
>>1943930Communist Party of Kenya has a YT channel.
Not much views, only a couple hundred at most but lot of interesting content so far:
https://www.youtube.com/@communistpartyofkenya/videosI just picked a vid at random for the embed, it's about the importance of ideological study within organizing work.
>>1987460I don't like it either, but as he said, they did local consultations and it is something people wanted.
Only education and time can fix this.
>>1987476>>1987484They also get hit regularly in the polls for this position as well as their refusal to enter into anti-migrant politics and respect to Malema for putting himself out in front of it when any professional political advisors would tell him otherwise.
Gotta respect EFF staying firm on both though, hope the defections from EFF to MK turn MK left instead of right-populist.
Let"s just say the situation is quite complicated.
The people involved with the campaign for justice for Thomas Sankara won in court a couple years ago, and many of the people responsible for Sankara's death were were tried. However Compaoré is still in Ivory Coast and the Burkina government does not demand his extradition.
https://www.facebook.com/cijsicjs/posts/pfbid0JtHXrRnukF73HTPa8R7h8NJqQL6Cm6BsGFw6iNpuwqfPVX6563EY3J65sAmTRSFZlMore can be said: Despite the rhetoric of the government many of our comrades and friends on the ground have been repressed, some exiled, some jailed, etc. Its unclear as to why this is happening, though there a few factors to consider:
1. Comparé's men are likely interspersed all through the Burkinabé government making difficult for radical changes to proceed.
2. The ongoing war gives a valid security based argument for why repression is high, but this may be an excuse for opportunism, careerism and illicit enrichment.
3. There sre internal divisions between clans that each want to instrumentalize the state for their own group.
4. There is likely pressure from the mercenaries and broader "new allies" (brics) to prevent too many radical changes.
5. The usual ideological and economic divisions operative behind the scenes. Every capitalist enterprise wants more for themselves, and this often obstructs clear movement in any direction. What seems dominant ideologically in the current moment not just in Burkina but worldwide is populist upsurge; The communist being fairly weak, and plagued a good feal of revisionism where it is strong, to put it mildly.
>>1999644>wtf he was one of the most hopeful figures in EFF damn, ill need to watch this later but i was pretty confident MK was a conservative opportunist party that was more or less a zuma vanity project. hopefully i was wrong about thatCertainly worth watching, listening to. It seems pretty clear from the beginning he intends to push the party more firmly into the left.
Outside of this though, many other progressive actors were invited to MK, also, it still relies on revolutionary and pan-african rhetoric.
It's something we really must wait to see plan out, but i equally could see it as not unlikely that as the ANC collapses MK could be pushed further right and basically become the reactionary attack-dog against the left, like many parties in SA become, often with white-capital behind them, that is to say as a party it needs to grow deep ideological roots and fast if it is not to take a firmly right-populist reactionary turn.
>>1999658yeah ill def watch later. looking into it a bit more the BBC coverage suggests the move may be motivated by malema making backhanded compliments praising shivambu but warning him against attempting usurpation, and that between that and the corruption scandal it was a good opportunity for shivambu to cut his losses. yeah its BBC so grain of salt but seems like reasonable assumptions
i just deeply admire EFFs consistency on ideogical positions that they could be electorally helped in the short term by cashing in on anti-immigrant populism and abandoning freedom of sexuality etc, and i think thats not only admirable in terms of being "correct" but shows a degree of political wisdom in that its drawing on a more consistent base of support more likely to maintain loyalty & fight harder, which allows better long term integrity for an organization. but thats only my relatively uninformed impression from a distance
>>1999688>>1999688>i just deeply admire EFFs consistency on ideogical positions that they could be electorally helped in the short term by cashing in on anti-immigrant populism and abandoning freedom of sexuality etc, and i think thats not only admirable in terms of being "correct" but shows a degree of political wisdom in that its drawing on a more consistent base of support more likely to maintain loyalty & fight harder, which allows better long term integrity for an organization. but thats only my relatively uninformed impression from a distanceI broadly agree but one of the big things the EFF faces is they get the youth vote but, at least the perceived wisdom is, that people stop voting for them as they get older.
One think i will say for MK and any other progressive faction in politics is that it will be easy to continue to box in and ghettoize the EFF alone, with power eventually endlessly passing between the ANC and and DA, with a broader coalition of progressive parties that can appeal to a wider base it might become more possible to beat the immense power of white capital and see a liberatory project be borne.
the ruling party in botswana has been thoroughly trounced at the polls keeping only 4 seats out of their previous 38:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Botswana_general_electionthe main opposition party has won enough seats to gain a majority
>>1999688Did you watch it, anon?
Thoughts?
https://www.facebook.com/ghanacommunistparty/Seems like a dead page, but I wonder if they are active on the
ground? Maybe someone can try contacting them?
>>2020079Might actually have the effect of relaxing anti-lgbt agitation and law changes.
These countries have so many other problems if the us and related ngos are breathing down their neck about this particular issue they might just not focus on it.
Though its only a maybe. Food for thought anyways.
>>2058258>>2058280The clip is from a documentary called
Cold Case Hammarskjöldhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/27/south-african-intelligence-officers-spread-aids-black-communitiesEx-mercenary claims South African group tried to spread Aids<New documentary details unit’s disturbing obsession with HIV
>A South Africa-based mercenary group has been accused by one of its former members of trying to intentionally spread Aids in southern Africa in the 1980s and 1990s.
>The claims are made by Alexander Jones in a documentary that premieres this weekend at the Sundance film festival. He says he spent years as an intelligence officer with the South African Institute for Maritime Research (SAIMR), three decades ago, when it was masterminding coups and other violence across Africa.
>The film also explores the unexplained murder of a young SAIMR recruit in 1990, whose family believe was killed because of her work on an Aids-related project run by the group in South Africa and Mozambique.
>And it also claims the group’s then leader had a racist, apocalyptic obsession with HIV/Aids. Keith Maxwell wrote about a plague he hoped would decimate black populations, cement white rule, and bring back conservative religious mores, according to papers collected by the film-makers.
>Maxwell had no medical qualifications but ran clinics in poor, mostly black areas around Johannesburg while claiming to be a doctor. That gave him the opportunity for sinister experimentation, Jones says in the film, Cold Case Hammarskjöld. The film-makers were investigating SAIMR because it claimed responsibility for the mysterious 1961 plane crash that killed Dag Hammarskjöld, then UN secretary general.
>“What easier way to get a guinea pig than [when] you live in an apartheid system?” Jones says in the film. “Black people have got no rights, they need medical treatment. There’s a white ‘philanthropist’ coming in and saying, ‘You know, I’ll open up these clinics and I’ll treat you.’ And meantime [he is] actually the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
>A sign advertising “Dokotela [doctor] Maxwell” still hangs from the side of an office in Putfontein where locals remember a respected man with a virtual monopoly on the area’s healthcare. He offered strange treatments. including putting patients through “tubes”, which he said allowed him to see inside their bodies. He also gave “false injections”, said Ibrahim Karolia, who ran a shop across the road.
>Any interest Maxwell showed in Aids in public was benevolent. Claude Newbury, an anti-abortion doctor who knew the mercenary leader, confirmed he had no medical qualifications but described a committed humanitarian. “He was against genocide and he was trying to discover a cure for HIV,” Newbury told film-makers.
>A bizarre Johannesburg Sunday Times interview with teenage SAIMR “ensign” Debbie Campbell in August 1989 has a photo of a teenager with a halo of curls, taking water pollution measurements and also talking about searching for a cure for HIV/Aids. But the wholesome image has a sinister undertone. She describes being recruited out of school at 13, and it’s hard to imagine any benign interest an international mercenary group could have in signing up prepubescent girls.
>Documents collected by the film-makers appear to show that Maxwell’s private views were very different from his public persona. The papers suggest a ghoulish delight in the advent of an epidemic. In one he writes: “[South Africa] may well have one man, one vote with a white majority by the year 2000. Religion in its conservative, traditional form will return. Abortion on demand, abuse of drugs, and the other excesses of the 1960s, 70s and 80s will have no place in the post-Aids world.”
>The papers read like the fever dream of a man who aspired to be South Africa’s Josef Mengele. There are detailed, if sometimes garbled, accounts of how he thought the HIV virus could be isolated, propagated and used to target black Africans.
>What is less clear is whether he had the expertise or funds to implement his nightmarish visions. Jones, the former SAIMR member, claims he did. “We were involved in Mozambique, spreading the Aids virus through medical conditions,” he says.
>At least one other SAIMR member had apparently raised concerns about the group’s medical programmes. Dagmar Feil was a marine biologist who was recruited by her boyfriend. In 1990 she was murdered outside her home in Johannesburg; her relatives believe the killing was linked to her work on SAIMR’s Aids programme.
>“My sister came to me, and she said she needed to confide in me,” her brother Karl Feil told the film-makers. “She sat with me and said she thinks they are going to kill her.” She said that three or four others in her team had already been murdered, but when asked what team, Dagmar said “she couldn’t tell me”.
>“The topic of Aids research came up several times, quite loosely in conversations, I never put two and two together,” Feil says in the film. Instead Dagmar asked Karl to go with her to church, so she could “make right with God”. Weeks later she was dead.
<SAIMR is long thought to have had covert ties to Apartheid South Africa’s armed forces.
<It has also been accused of working with British intelligence and the American CIA to assassinate UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld.
<The Swedish-born secretary general, a supporter of decolonisation, died in mysterious circumstances when his plane exploded just before landing in Zambia in 1961, as he tried to broker a peace between the newly independent Congo and the breakaway province of Katanga.
<In 1998, post-Apartheid South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission revealed it had found letters on SAIMR-headed notepaper which seemed to suggest that British intelligence and the CIA had agreed that “Hammarskjöld should be removed”.
<Both Britain and the US denied involvement in any assassination plot, with the CIA dismissing the suggestion as “absurd and without foundation”.
<Maxwell, who died in 2006, was an eccentric who liked to dress up in the style of an 18th Century admiral and give himself the rank of “commodore”.
<It is not clear to what extent the alleged late 1980s Aids plot was just one of his fantasies, or whether he had access to the expertise and funding needed to turn it into reality. >>2058312https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/12/raf-veteran-admitted-killing-un-secretary-general-dag-hammarskjold-in-1961>New evidence has emerged linking an RAF veteran to the death in 1961 of the UN secretary general Dag Hammarskjöld in a mysterious plane crash in southern Africa.
>Jan van Risseghem has been named as a possible attacker before, but has always been described simply as a Belgian pilot. The Observer can now reveal that he had extensive ties to Britain, including a British mother and wife, trained with the RAF and was decorated by Britain for his service in the second world war.
>Film-makers investigating the 1961 crash for a documentary, Cold Case Hammarskjöld, have found a friend of Van Risseghem who claimed the pilot confessed to shooting down the UN plane. They also gathered testimony from another pilot that undermines one of his alibis for that night.
>Van Risseghem, whose father was Belgian, escaped occupied Europe at the start of the war to join the resistance in England. He trained with the RAF and flew missions over Nazi-held areas. During this period he met and married his British wife, cementing a lifelong connection.
>At the end of the war the couple returned to Belgium, but by 1961 Van Risseghem was in the Congo, flying for separatist rebels who had declared independence for the breakaway province of Katanga. There, the documentary claims, he was ordered to shoot down a plane carrying Hammarskjöld, who was on a secret midnight journey to try to broker peace. The film will premiere at the Sundance festival in two weeks.
>It was not clear at the time of the crash, which also killed all 15 people travelling with the secretary general, if it had been caused by sabotage or was a tragic accident. More than half a century later the UN is still investigating what happened on 18 September 1961. But as news of Hammarskjöld’s death emerged, the RAF veteran was apparently an obvious suspect. He was named as the possible attacker by the US ambassador to the Congo, in a secret cable sent the day of Hammarskjöld’s death and only recently declassified.
>A friend has also come forward to claim that, less than a decade after Hammarskjöld’s death, Van Risseghem told him he had attacked the plane. Pierre Coppens met Van Risseghem in 1965, when he was flying for a parachute training centre in Belgium. Over several conversations, he claimed, the pilot detailed how he overcame various technical challenges to down the plane, unaware of who was travelling inside.
>“He didn’t know,” Coppens said. “He said ‘I made the mission’ and that’s all. And then I had to go back and save my life’.” >>2058312>>2058587>Keith Maxwell, the self-declared “commodore” of the South African Institute for Maritime Research (SAIMR), liked to dress up on special occasions in the garish costume of a 18th-century admiral, with a three-cornered hat, brass buttons and a cutlass. Ordinary members of his organisation were expected to show up in crisp naval whites.
>Gathered together in upmarket restaurants, or the quiet of the Wemmer Pan naval base in south-central Johannesburg, they had the air of eccentric history buffs. Maxwell talked about the group’s roots in a Napoleonic-era treasure-hunting syndicate, and told outsiders it was still focused on deep-sea exploration.
>But appearances were deceptive. Beneath the bizarre trappings lurked a powerful mercenary outfit that members claim was entwined with the apartheid state and offered soldiers for hire across the continent.
>“It was clandestine operations. We were involved in coups, taking over countries for other leaders,” said Alexander Jones, who has detailed his years as an intelligence officer with the group. SAIMR’s leaders described themselves as “anti-communist” to him at the time but the group was underpinned by racism, he said. “We were trying to retain the white supremacy on the African continent.”
>And among its leaders’ most dramatic claims was that it was behind the mysterious 1961 plane crash that killed UN secretary general Dag Hammarskjöld and 15 other people.
>Last week the Observer revealed evidence linking an RAF veteran, Jan van Risseghem, to the tragedy. Now new documents and eyewitness accounts shed light on the alleged role of SAIMR, which claimed responsibility for the crash in secret papers and its own recruitment drives.
>It is not clear if Van Risseghem, who told a friend he had shot down Hammarskjöld’s plane without knowing who was on board, had any ties to the group. Any command could have come through an intermediary.
>But Jones was clear that SAIMR liked to claim ultimate responsibility for killing the UN chief. Photos of the crash site and wreckage, with purported members of the group standing nearby, featured in a presentation made to potential members when he joined three decades ago, he said.
>“They didn’t tell us at that point in time that it was Hammarskjöld; they just said that they had taken out a very high-profile political opponent,” Jones told filmmakers investigating the crash.
>Maxwell himself apparently also claimed SAIMR had brought down the plane, in a handwritten memoir about the group that ended up with the family of an SAIMR veteran.
>Hammarskjöld’s death came amid a post-colonial race for resources in Africa. A champion of decolonisation, he made powerful enemies with his support for newly independent states and opposition to white minority rule.
>On his final flight, he was heading for a secret meeting to try to broker peace in recently independent Congo. The country was on the brink of collapse after its Katanga province – key to national wealth because it held most of the country’s rich mineral deposits – declared independence. Western mining interests backed the rebels.
>Jones claims he answered a SAIMR advertisement in a South African newspaper three decades ago and served for several years. He decided to speak out because he felt he needed closure and because young South Africans should know the truth.
>“Anybody that resisted any white form of manipulation on the African continent, SAIMR was prepared to go and quell those for a price,” Jones said. “And that is one thing that Dag Hammarskjöld was totally against. He wanted every country for the people of that country. He was killed because he was going to change the way that Africa dealt with the rest of the world financially, and he was a threat.”
>Jones was tracked down by the makers of a new documentary, Cold Case Hammarskjöld, who were looking into SAIMR because of documents handed to South Africa’s truth and reconciliation commission by the country’s National Intelligence Agency two decades ago.
>Unveiled at a press conference by the commission chair, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, they purported to detail how SAIMR had masterminded the crash in coordination with UK and US intelligence services. Investigators were never able to examine the papers, though, because soon after they were returned to the archives, and the South African authorities have been unable or unwilling to retrieve the originals. The United Nations, which has reopened its investigation into Hammarskjöld’s death, has criticised South Africa for its lack of cooperation in finding the file.
>Investigators have been working from poor quality photocopies of just eight documents, and for years there were questions about whether SAIMR even existed. In the UK, the Foreign Office suggested the papers were hoaxes planted by Soviet agents in a disinformation campaign, and added that British spies “do not go around bumping people off”.
>But South Africa was a known recruiting ground for mercenaries who fought in coups and conflicts across much of Africa over the second half of the last century, from Congo and Sierra Leone to Angola and Mozambique.
>And over the years growing evidence of SAIMR as a real, and dangerous, entity has emerged.
>Investigative journalist De Wet Potgieter interviewed Maxwell for an article in the 1990s. He took the only known picture of the “commodore”, and also collected a cache of papers from Maxwell.
>Those papers included a section of his autobiography and purported lists of recruits for several operations, which the filmmakers used to track down former members. They called dozens, but only two agreed to talk.
>Clive Jansen van Vuuren said he spent two or three months training with the group, which he thought had ties to the security forces. “I know it’s linked to the intelligence bureau of South Africa, but we were never given specifics,” he said.
>He had kept a certificate that names him as a petty officer and carries the same slightly bizarre emblem as all other SAIMR papers – the figurehead of the British ship the Cutty Sark. But he said he never went on operations.
>Jones claims to have had a more senior role, over a much longer period, and describes the group as a powerful militia. “SAIMR was not a Mickey Mouse organisation. We were not just a group of guys that got together in the weekend and decided to go do some military exercises and stuff. That was a living, breathing body,” he said.
>He was recruited as an intelligence officer, after serving in a similar position with the South African armed forces, and participated in several operations. “I was definitely in the frontline: operational frontline, hand-to-hand frontline, fighting frontline. Leading operations, if you want to call it that.” Asked by filmmakers if he had killed people himself, he said “yes”.
>Jones says he left SAIMR shortly before the advent of majority rule, and destroyed all evidence of his membership.
>Maxwell commanded SAIMR the whole time Jones served. A strange character, charismatic and idiosyncratic, he wore naval whites at all times unless he was in his admiral’s uniform, van Vuuren, Jones and Potgieter remember. But he was also extremely dangerous. “If he didn’t like you, and if you posed a threat, he would take you out,” Jones said.
>The penchant for dressing up was confirmed by a doctor, Claude Newbury, who met him through anti-abortion advocacy. He told the filmmakers Maxwell invited him to join SAIMR, describing it as a group focused mostly on hunting for lost treasure. At a private dinner, they had something “a little bit like a ceremony – he had dressed up like an admiral in the British navy from 250 years ago, with a tricorn hat, and a cutlass, and a naval uniform with lots of buttons.”
>He also confirmed that Maxwell was involved in violence in South Africa, forcing a doctor who was performing abortions to leave the country.
>“He went down and visited this Dutch abortionist and said to him, you are not welcome here, and killing of babies is an unacceptable pastime, and for the sake of your health I advise you go back to the Netherlands. Which apparently the chap did.” >>2058593>South Africa’s former head of military intelligence, Tienie Groenewald, appears in some of Maxwell’s papers. In an interview recorded before his death in 2015, he claimed he had never heard of SAIMR but remembered meeting the “commodore”.
>He described Maxwell as an intelligence operative with suspected links to foreign spies, who wanted to meet him in the dying days of apartheid to discuss an armed uprising to block the advent of democratic rule. Maxwell offered both men and arms, claiming “he had resources, to use violence, and to supply weapons, and so on and so forth”.
>Although Groenewald said he declined the offer, he described Maxwell as the credible leader of a mercenary group. “He appeared to be someone who was in authority … He obviously had a background in intelligence,” he told the filmmakers. “I couldn’t prove it but I was convinced that he was financed and directed by MI6.”
>Groenewald, who had served as air attache at the South African embassy in London, added: “After spending three and a half years in Britain, you get to know some people involved in the intelligence field. And certain of the names which are mentioned in our discussions were familiar to him.”
>Maxwell died in 2006, but a lurid account of his life and SAIMR ended up with relatives of an ex-recruit, who shared them with the filmmakers. The handwriting matches other documents written by Maxwell and its authenticity has been attested to by Jones. Maxwell had already handed a few dozen pages of a memoir to Potgieter around 1990, and they were repeated in the new cache, but it also included over 100 pages of new material.
>Some sections on SAIMR included episodes that he may not have personally witnessed – by his own account he did not join the group until 1964 – and there are some names and details are altered. Still, the episodes are described vividly, from the perspective of an eyewitness.
>And one details the alleged plot to bring down Hammarskjöld – an account which matches the plan laid out in the papers revealed by Tutu. “This operation has to be arranged as an accident or a heart attack,” the commodore of the time tells his team. “Without any pathologist throwing a spanner in the works and making Dag and his colleagues into martyrs.” He asks for three workable plans to take out the UN chief.
>Maxwell does not say what these were, but details a technician loading a bomb into the wheel well of Hammarskjöld’s plane in the Congolese capital Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) with a beating heart, and his frustration at watching it take off without the bomb exploding.
>The memoir switches back to SAIMR’s planners, sitting round a table later that evening, disappointed by the failure of the bomb. But according to the truth and reconciliation commission’s papers, SAIMR then dispatched an “eagle” to target Hammarskjöld.
>In Maxwell’s account, just as the commodore tells them to get some rest, there is a knock at the door. “A lieutenant entered, saluted and handed a slip of paper to the commodore. ‘What’s this? Oh my God, it worked’.” Huh. Looks like there is some semi recent developments.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155876
>Mr. Hammarskjöld served as Secretary-General from April 1953 until his death aged 56, when the chartered Douglas DC6 aircraft he was travelling in with others, registered as SE-BDY, crashed shortly after midnight on 17-18 September 1961, near Ndola, then in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).
>He was en route to negotiate a ceasefire between UN peacekeepers and separatists from the breakaway Congolese region of Katanga, and possibly even a peace agreement encompassing the whole of newly independent Congo.
>Fourteen of the 15 passengers died on impact, and the sole survivor succumbed to their injuries a few days later.
>An initial inquiry by Rhodesian authorities reportedly attributed the crash to pilot error but the finding was disputed.
>Eyewitness accounts suggested several scenarios, that “more than one aircraft” – possibly a jet – was observed in the air, “SE-BDY was on fire before it crashed”, and/or “SE-BDY was fired upon or otherwise actively engaged” by another aircraft.Significant new information
>According to the UN’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, “significant new information” has been submitted to the inquiry for this latest update.
>This included probable intercepts by Member States of communications related to the crash, the capacity of Katanga’s armed forces, or others, to mount an attack on SE-BDY and the involvement of foreign paramilitary or intelligence personnel in the area at the time.
>It also included additional new information relevant to the context and surrounding events of 1961.
>“At this juncture, [Mr. Othman] assesses it to remain plausible that an external attack or threat was a cause of the crash. [He] notes that the alternative hypotheses that appear to remain available are that the crash resulted from sabotage or unintentional human error,” Mr. Haq said.Documents almost certainly withheld
>However, Mr. Othman assesses so far that it is “almost certain” specific, crucial and so far undisclosed information exists in the archives of Member States, Mr. Haq said.
>He noted that Mr. Othman has not received, to date, specific responses to his queries from some Member States believed to be holding useful information.
>“The Secretary-General has personally followed up on [Mr. Othman’s] outstanding requests for information and calls upon Member States to release any relevant records in their possession,” Mr. Haq added.
>“With significant progress having been made, the Secretary-General calls on all of us to renew our resolve and commitment to pursue the full truth of what happened on that fateful night in 1961.”‘An extraordinary man’
>Appointed at just 47 years old, Dag Hammarskjöld of Sweden remains the youngest UN Secretary-General.
>Widely regarded as a visionary diplomat and reformer, Mr. Hammarskjöld is credited with strengthening the role of the newly established UN during a period of intense global tensions, including the drive to decolonise Africa and Asia.
>“Hammarskjöld was not usually a companionable man, but he was certainly an extraordinary one, and we were all prepared – indeed anxious – to serve him without question to the limit of our powers and endurance,” Sir Brian Urquhart, a former senior UN official, remarked.
>His leadership was pivotal during the tumultuous events of 1956. He led a ceasefire mission to the Middle East and continued through the Suez crisis, where he helped negotiate the withdrawal of foreign forces from Egypt and oversaw the deployment of the Organization’s first emergency peacekeeping mission, the UN Emergency Force.
>Mr. Hammarskjöld was known for his integrity and dedication to public service, earning the Nobel Peace Prize “for developing the UN into an effective and constructive international organization capable of giving life to the principles and aims expressed in the UN Charter”.
>He is the only Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to have been awarded the distinction posthumously.https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-plans-host-somali-and-ethiopian-leaders-talksTurkey plans to host Somali and Ethiopian leaders for talks<Ankara aims to bridge the differences between the two African states by arranging direct talks between Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Abiy Ahmed
>Turkey is set to host talks this week between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in an effort to resolve a year-long dispute over Ethiopia’s desire for port access to the Horn of Africa, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Middle East Eye.
>Somali media have also reported that President Mohamud is expected to hold direct talks with Prime Minister Ahmed during the visit. The Turkish foreign ministry has declined to comment. The Ethiopian embassy in Ankara said it cannot comment.
>Earlier this year, Addis Ababa signed a naval agreement with the breakaway state of Somaliland, a move that Mogadishu viewed as an attempt to recognise Somaliland’s self-declared independence, thereby undermining Somali sovereignty.
>In response to the growing tensions, Ankara, which has developed a strong security and political partnership with Somalia, signed a comprehensive naval agreement with Mogadishu.
>The agreement reportedly includes plans to establish a Somali navy and protect Somali territorial waters from external threats. The deal also paved the way for an energy partnership, which saw the arrival of Turkish energy drilling ships along the Somali coastline earlier this year.
>Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia have remained strained, with Somali officials threatening Addis Ababa with war if the naval deal with Somaliland goes ahead.
>Turkey has already hosted two rounds of talks between the two countries at the foreign ministerial level earlier this year.
>Turkish officials announced in August that progress had been made in the negotiations. Ankara also has close security relations with Addis Ababa since it sold it a number of drones which emboldened the government during a civil war against the Tigray forces.
>Observers in Ankara believe that the arrival of Mohamud and Ahmed for this week’s talks could signal positive developments.
>Sources previously told MEE in August that Somalia might offer Ethiopia access to a port near its border, in exchange for Ethiopia withdrawing from the naval agreement it signed with Somaliland.
>The situation was further complicated by Somaliland’s recent presidential elections, which shifted the political dynamics. The new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, is reportedly less amenable to Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed than his predecessor.
>Many in Ankara anticipate that, if the talks progress positively, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could play a crucial role in bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion. >>2075663the ANC had an army that spanned several countries, actually.
it wasn't just isolated guerrillas, it was a real army that engaged the south african army in open battle both at home and abroad in angola, mozambique, nambia and zambia.
most notably they fought alongside cuban troops in the angolan civil war.
the ANC wasn't able to finish the revolution, but they were one of the world's foremost revolutionary organizations for most of their existence.
gif is their military commander, joe slovo, one of the most based men to have ever lived.
The Gold Rush at the Heart of a Civil WarThe luxury jet touched down in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on a mission to collect hundreds of pounds of illicit gold.
On board was a representative of a ruthless paramilitary group accused of ethnic cleansing in Sudan’s sprawling civil war, the flight manifest showed. The gold itself had been smuggled from Darfur, a region of famine and fear in Sudan that is largely under his group’s brutal control.
Porters grunted as they heaved cases filled with gold, about $25 million worth, onto the plane, said three people involved with or briefed on the deal.
After 90 minutes, the jet took off again, landing before dawn on March 6 at a private airport in the United Arab Emirates, flight data showed. Its gleaming cargo soon vanished into the global gold market.
https://archive.is/CJ71F >>2081439Lol the Tanzanian women are train nerds.
> I am happy you enjoyed Tanzania’s SGR ~ Tz’s SGR is considered more “European” than Kenya’s SGR primarily because it is an electric railway, aligning with European standards of modern rail infrastructure, while Kenya’s SGR uses diesel locomotives, a technology largely phased out in Europe. Additionally, Tanzania’s SGR incorporates advanced signaling and communication systems comparable to those used in European rail networks, enabling higher speeds, greater efficiency, and lower environmental impact. The construction of Tanzania’s SGR by Yapi Merkezi, a Turkish company with extensive experience in European rail projects, also brings a level of engineering precision and design influenced by European practices, making it more aligned with international standards compared to Kenya’s Chinese-built diesel system. Is Francafrique ending? Why Senegal is cutting military ties with France
>A wave of African countries is pushing the former coloniser back, but Senegal is the only one without a military government in power.
>In Senegal, a country bustling with French-owned businesses and nationals, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s recent announcement that France should shut down its military bases should have come as a surprise. Yet, analysts say, it was a move that was always going to come.
>In November, Faye asked Paris to remove some 350 French troops stationed on Senegalese soil, effectively ending a defence pact that had existed for decades and continuing a trend that has seen many West African nations sever or downgrade once-strong ties with former coloniser France in recent years.
>In an interview with the AFP news agency, the Senegalese president – who was elected earlier this year on the back of a nationalistic campaign that promised to review Dakar’s relations with Paris – said France’s continued military presence in the country was not compatible with Senegal’s sovereignty.
>“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye said, speaking from the presidential palace in Dakar. Faye did not give a deadline for when the soldiers needed to leave.
>The move came as Senegal marked the 80th anniversary of the mass killings of West African soldiers by colonial forces on the morning of December 1, 1944. The men, West African soldiers of the Tirailleurs Senegalais unit who fought in France’s war against Nazi Germany, had been protesting delays in salaries and poor living conditions when colonial soldiers fired on them.
>Then-president Francois Hollande admitted France’s culpability in 2012. However, President Emmanuel Macron this year, in a letter to President Faye, admitted that France committed a “massacre”.
>Beverly Ochieng, a Dakar-based researcher with intelligence firm Control Risks, told Al Jazeera that Senegal’s government cutting military ties on the anniversary of the massacre was in line with election promises that Faye, along with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko – an outspoken France critic – had made.
>“Senegal is going through a lot of reforms under the two leaders, and they are really questioning just how much of a stake they have in their own country,” Ochieng said.
>“For Faye, he doesn’t just want France to occupy space in military bases when Senegal cannot go and do the same.”
>Although the two nations have had cordial relations since Senegal’s independence, the killings have always been a wound that France kept quiet about until 2012. French authorities attempted to bury the evidence and claimed 35 people were killed, although scholars estimate 400 people died.
<From Senegal to Chad, Francafrique disappears
>Increasing anti-French sentiments in former French colonies have seen France suffer diplomatic blows across the West and Central African region as its once-influential “Francafrique” sphere rapidly shrinks.
>Many governments and citizens, especially in the military-led countries of the Sahel, detest France’s real and perceived political interference in their countries. They see France as paternalistic for its deep involvement in sectors like mining and for its inability to decisively halt the spread of armed groups, despite thousands of French soldiers stationed in the region.
>Ruling military groups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger collectively ejected some 4,300 French soldiers from their countries in 2022, after France refused to back the coups that brought them to power, with thousands of citizens rallying in their support. Those countries have since turned to Russian mercenaries for help with battling a swarm of armed groups seeking to gain territory in the volatile region.
>On November 29, the same day Faye called on French troops to leave Senegal, the central African country of Chad also severed military ties with France, ending a defence pact that had existed since 1960 and catching Paris flat-footed. This week, the withdrawal started with two fighter jets leaving N’djamena.
>Chad, located in a surveillance “sweet spot” close to the Sahel, war-torn Sudan and Libya, was regarded as the last remaining ally in the Sahel for Western governments. It was also the one rebellion that France supported after President Mahamat Deby forcefully took power in 2021.
>However, experts say multiple triggers caused N’djamena to pull back this time, including reports that France withheld intelligence information that led to 40 Chadian soldiers being killed by armed group Boko Haram in October.
<Despite Teraanga, a sore relationship
>What differentiates Senegal from the rest of the batch is that it’s the only country severing ties with France where a military government is not in power. Senegal is also one of the African countries where France has most integrated itself, making the eventual divorce trickier, experts say.
>In sunny, coastal Dakar where a culture of “Teraanga” (or hospitality) attracts and welcomes international expatriates, French presence is unmistakable, and French nationals freely mix with locals at restaurants, markets and events. TOTAL petrol stations, booths belonging to telecom company Orange, and Auchan supermarkets dot the city and account for about 25 percent of Senegal’s gross domestic product, according to France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
>However, analysts say the spread of anti-France anger from the neighbouring Sahel countries, and the rise of young, new-age politicians like Sonko, who in the past has made incendiary statements against France and Senegalese leaders considered cosy with Paris, have seen people in Senegal become hostile.
>Protesters in 2023 targeted French businesses, looting and burning stores after Sonko, who was an opposition leader at the time, was detained on rape charges by the government of former President Macky Sall. Sonko, who said the charges were politically motivated, was acquitted of rape but imprisoned for “corrupting the youth”, stripping him of his eligibility to run as president, which prompted his colleague, Faye, to stand in his place.
>During their campaign in February, the duo promised more transparency and said they’d review extractive contracts with Western-owned businesses, including French and other European firms.
>They also pledged that Senegal would not work with Western lenders, and that it would cease to use the CFA franc, a currency used by 14 mainly former French colonies in sub-Saharan Africa and seen as the most evident symbol of France’s neocolonialism. But those seem better said than done, analysts say.
>“They have quietly let the CFA question die down, and there is no renegotiations of the extractive contracts with foreign companies that they had promised,” Oumar Ba, international politics professor at Cornell University told Al Jazeera.
>They’ve also continued to work with lenders like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund as the economy slowed this year, Ba pointed out.
>“I think evoking the low-hanging fruit of the French military presence participates to only keeping the symbolic sovereigntist discourse alive,” he said.
>Some analysts say Faye is more likely to push for the realisation of the “Eco” – a proposed West African common currency that’s in development.
>>2081507the long body problem
<A new relationship
>France’s deteriorating relationships with its former African allies, including Senegal, have seen it rethink its alliances in the region by downgrading its already toppling military architecture to focus on other sectors such as business.
>Paris, earlier this year, committed to reducing its troop numbers from 350 to 100 in Senegal and Gabon, and from 600 to 100 in Ivory Coast. Before Chad ejected French troops in November, Paris had planned to reduce their numbers from 1,000 to 300.
>Instead, France is pivoting to economic relations and is engaging more African countries outside its traditional sphere of influence. In November, President Macron welcomed Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Elysee Palace and even spoke the colloquial Nigerian pidgin English in his welcoming address.
>“They need new friends and they need powerful friends,” Ochieng said. “If they can have a giant like Nigeria, then they can still hold on,” she added. Important West African economies like Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Benin are still friendly with Paris.
>For Senegal, President Faye has hinted that the once ultra-close relations the country had with France will also stay more in the business space, clarifying that severing military ties does not mean ending trade.
>“France remains an important partner for Senegal,” he told reporters. “Today, China is our largest trading partner in terms of investment and trade. Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No,” he said.
>However, the president also wants reparations for the Thiaroye murders. In addition to France shutting its military bases, Faye said he would demand a formal apology from France. Such an apology would require France to make amends, which could translate into monetary compensation for the families of the victims.
>PM Sonko has long pushed for reparations for the killings. In June, as France celebrated its liberation from Nazi Germany, he criticised Paris’s move to officially recognise six of the murdered West African soldiers with the honour of “Died for France”, a title awarded to people who died in service of the country. It’s unclear why the six had been singled out.
>“It is not up to [France] to unilaterally decide the number of Africans who were betrayed and murdered after helping to save it, nor the type and extent of the recognition and reparations they deserve,” Sonko posted on Facebook, signing the message as the head of the governing PASTEF party, rather than as head of government. >>2081725Read this
Even if France wasn’t a parasitical fascist state, there isn’t much French leaders can do to adapt to a post imperialist world. France has stagnated for almost four decades politically and economically since it was cut off from its colonies. There is no sign that that place will ever do anything that won’t see more countries cut themselves off from it.
If countries as small as those in the Sahel state can force those rats out, what hope do the French have on the African coast?
>On the occasion of the celebration of Independence Day on December 11, 2024 in Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the esteemed president of the country, addresses the Burkinabè from the town hall of Barsalogho. Have a listen to all he had to say and share your feelings with us in the comments section.
<Our fighters today are proud and will continue their mission to reclaim the entirety of our territory and bring life back to our nation. The army will go wherever it needs to secure our resources, for that is what this is about. We are victims of our wealth—riches that imperialists are determined to reclaim in order to keep us in servitude.
<We will protect these riches, and from now on, all units are instructed to begin active operations both on the ground and in the air. We will pursue the enemies of the nation to their very last hideout.
<Several operations have already begun and will intensify. We will hunt them down to their last stronghold and eliminate them entirely. The only way they can survive is by surrendering to our forces, laying down their arms, and handing over their logistics. Otherwise, fight them to the last.
>>2086361At least someone has a spine.
Aint going to be no idlib 2.0 in the Sahel. No Green Busses. Only death.
The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights
Despite being vilified, threatened and humiliated in public, veteran Cameroonian lawyer Alice Nkom is determined to uphold the rights of homosexual people in her country.
A human rights NGO that she runs, Redhac, was recently suspended by the government and she is due to appear before investigators to answer accusations of money laundering and funding terror groups – which she denies.
[…]
"I will always defend homosexuals because they risk their freedom every day, and they are thrown into prison like dogs," she tells the BBC in a firm tone, speaking in her office in the city of Douala.
"My job is to defend people. I don't see why I would say I'm defending everyone except homosexuals."
[…]
The legal expert has children of her own, but hundreds, maybe thousands, of others look up to her as their protector following her work over more than two decades to defend those accused of homosexuality.
"She's like our father and our mother. She's the mother we find when our families have abandoned us," says one LGBT activist, Sébastien, not his real name.
Committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is included in Cameroon's constitution, Ms Nkom argues that freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation should be seen as a fundamental right that supersedes the penal code.
"You shouldn't jail fundamental rights, you shouldn't repress them – you should protect them," she says.
[…]
In 1969, aged 24, she became the country's first black female lawyer, after studying in both France – the former colonial power - and Cameroon.
She says she was encouraged to pursue her studies by her then boyfriend, who later became her husband.
Her earlier legal work involved representing the less well-off and disadvantaged but it was a chance encounter in 2003 that led her to become involved in the fight to decriminalise homosexuality.
She was at the public prosecutor's office in Douala when she observed a group of young people handcuffed in pairs, who did not have the courage to look up.
"When I checked the court docket, I realised that they were being prosecuted for homosexuality," she says.
This offended her sense of human rights and she was very clear that sexual minorities should be included among those whose rights were protected by the constitution.
"I decided to fight to ensure that this fundamental right of freedom was respected," Ms Nkom adds.
She went on to found the Association for the Defence of Homosexuality (Adefho) in 2003.
[…]
Ms Nkom says that when Brenda Biya, the daughter of President Paul Biya, came out in public to say that she was a lesbian last year, she thought it might help to change the law.
[…]
Ms Nkom senses an opportunity. "I'm using the Brenda case as a precedent. Now I have a case on which I can challenge the president," she says.
[…]
She views the latest attempt to restrict her efforts as just another obstacle – certainly not enough to make her stop the battle she has been waging since 2003.
<vidrel Mapaila speaks at a memorial for the death of Comrade Joe Slovo, critical of ANC's views towards SACP.
>>2128923>>2128921>>2128687Could this become a unifying moment for progressive forces in Africa? How likely is this?
>>2128963Probably. Most reactionaries are generally weak and so is Rwanda. The Congolese army as pathetic as it is isn’t unequipped to deal with these invaders. Besides, Rwanda is putting basically everything it has militaristically into this invasion. Which isn’t much. The country only has twenty thousand something soldiers in Congo compared to Congo’s 160k. Coincidentally, Congo is in a much better position to mobilize its industries against the Rwandans and impose trade blockades against Kagame.
I don’t expect this shitshow to last given that Rwanda is also landlocked on top of everything else.
>>2128963And heres his full speech about Joe Slovo himself, comments on europe, etc.
>>2125128Forgot to say, thought you guys woud like this, he talks a lot about Lenin, including the April Thesis, and about the Paris Commune.
>>2128970Yep. Feels like progressive forces in Africa will this generation realise their strength.
fdpd
>>2128988Oh btw
Again “they took ‘control’ over the city.”
>>2128970>>2128988>>2128963rwanda DOES historically have a very capable and effective military so im just waiting to see how it pans out. i know theres weird reactionary fetishization of muh "prussia of africa", im not parroting that im talking about their actual military record. and i do suspect that 2 decades of the RDF mostly being engaged in occupation and extraction in the congo has been bad for their discipline, and the simple fact that these arent the same guys from the 90s who grew up fighting in musevenis war well before they deposed the habyarimana & co government in rwanda. so im not taking for granted that the RDF capabilities are static or that the congolese forces are nearly as incompetent as theyve been in the past, but because of precedent im going to wait and see before writing them off
pic related is a great book btw. only big objection i have is prunier denying what is called "double genocide theory" but he lays out all the details about what seems like a perfectly clear case of a retributionary genocide by invading RDF & kivu tutsi proxy forces in the eastern DRC
>>2153450Good comparison actually. I probably can't actually fault the retarded burgers for this.
Always as an anarchists I have seen this failing in Communists. They refuse at every opportunity to go out and initiate action off of their own backs, but will cry endlessly that anarchists are not doing the actions they propose from their armchairs.
South African budget delay over VAT hike shows cracks in coalition South Africa's national budget was postponed on Wednesday because the two biggest parties in the ruling coalition disagreed over raising value-added tax, an unprecedented delay that caused the rand and government bonds to fall.
The speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, told lawmakers who had gathered to hear the finance minister deliver the budget that the speech would now happen on March 12.
For the first time since the end of apartheid, the African National Congress (ANC) will need the support of other parties to pass the budget, since it lost its parliamentary majority in an election last year.
Its main partner in the coalition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said the budget had been postponed because of its opposition to a proposal to increase VAT by 2 percentage points to 17%.
There have been disagreements between the ANC and DA since the coalition government was formed in June, including over education and health legislation, but the last-minute budget delay caught most off guard.
Louw Nel, a political analyst at Oxford Economics, said the delay raised "serious questions about the coalition's ability to deal with major disagreements", and meant three weeks of uncertainty.
It comes as South Africa has been in the spotlight after a series of attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suspended aid this month over the government's land reform policy and genocide case against Washington's ally Israel.
<ANAEMIC GROWTH, CLIMBING DEBT
The Business Day newspaper reported on Wednesday that the proposal to increase VAT was intended to plug a revenue shortfall of billions of rand and support social and education spending.
The last time VAT was raised was in 2018. A broad swathe of political parties and labour unions have voiced strong opposition to rumours of a further increase, saying it would hit the poor disproportionately hard despite efforts to shield them through a list of "zero-rated" items.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said there would be further discussions in government over a new budget.
The rand currency was last down about 1% against the dollar, while the government's 2052-dollar bond was trading roughly 1 cent lower to be bid at 89.20 cents on the dollar .
Since the aftermath of the 2008-09 global financial crisis, the government of Africa's most industrialised nation has struggled to deliver economic growth rates high enough to make a dent in inequality and unemployment.
Public debt has climbed to about 75% of gross domestic product because of revenue shortfalls and runaway spending.
Economists polled by Reuters had predicted that Wednesday's budget would show wider budget deficit forecasts than in October estimates, and public debt stabilising at a higher level.
David Omojomolo, an economist at Capital Economics, said the budget delay suggested it was in domestic rather than foreign policy that "the cracks in the coalition lie".
https://archive.is/bSi0D>Burkina Faso Unveils Its First Locally Made Electric Car>Burkina Faso has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with the launch of its first electric car, developed entirely by the Burkinabe car manufacturer ITAOUA. This innovative vehicle, created using local resources and expertise, showcases the nation’s growing industrial and technological capabilities.>With a 30 minute charging time and a range of 330 kilometers (205 miles), the car is set to transform transportation in Burkina Faso and beyond.>This achievement highlights the determination and ingenuity of Burkinabe engineers, designers, and workers. It represents a significant step towards industrial independence for a country that, like many in Africa, has long relied on imported vehicles.>ITAOUA’s electric car is a proud symbol of Burkina Faso’s ability to produce world-class technology locally.>Notably, the car’s efficiency positions it as a game-changer. Its impressive range and minimal energy consumption make it ideal for both urban and rural settings.>As the global shift toward sustainable energy continues, ITAOUA’s innovation puts Burkina Faso on the map as a leader in green technology.>The impact of this innovation extends far beyond transportation. It is expected to generate thousands of jobs in manufacturing, sales, maintenance, and renewable energy sectors.>By fostering local expertise and advancing skills in the auto industry, it will pave the way for further economic development.>Furthermore, ITAOUA’s success story serves as an inspiration for young Burkinabe entrepreneurs and innovators, proving that vision and perseverance can achieve remarkable results.>In addition to its economic benefits, the electric car underscores Burkina Faso’s commitment to sustainability. By reducing dependence on imported cars and fossil fuels, the country is not only cutting its carbon footprint but also conserving foreign exchange reserves.>As the car gains traction, it has the potential to become a valuable export, further boosting the nation’s economy.>Burkina Faso’s recent progress across sectors like agriculture, health, and education demonstrates its capacity to overcome challenges and achieve significant advancements. The introduction of ITAOUA’s electric car reinforces the country’s position as a pioneer in innovation and self-sufficiency.>This homegrown electric car is more than a technological achievement – it is a symbol of hope, progress, and the bright future of Burkina Faso. ITAOUA’s innovation inspires not only the nation but also other countries to embrace sustainability and invest in local talent.>With this success, Burkina Faso proves that with determination, vision, and unity, any challenge can be transformed into an opportunity. https://shabait.com/2025/03/08/smashing-all-barriers-and-reshaping-outdated-societal-perceptions/ Smashing all Barriers and Reshaping Outdated Societal PerceptionsA celebration of achievements and a powerful call to action
>International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, is a global celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. It also serves as a powerful call to action for accelerating gender equality, promoting women’s empowerment, and strengthening solidarity worldwide.
>This article briefly highlights the significance of gender equality on a global scale before examining its progress and challenges in Eritrea.Gender Equality: An Ongoing Global Struggle
>Gender equality is both a fundamental human right and a critical driver of societal progress. The United Nations Charter, a foundational international document adopted in 1945, enshrines equality and non-discrimination as core principles, while nearly all regional and international human rights treaties prohibit gender-based discrimination.
>Notably, extensive research conducted in settings worldwide has consistently demonstrated that gender equality fosters economic growth, reduces poverty and inequality, and enhances overall societal well-being and living standards. Empowered women and girls contribute significantly to their communities’ health, prosperity, security, and stability, ultimately setting the stage for a more promising future.
>However, despite the notable progress in securing women’s rights around the globe, millions of women worldwide are still faced with discrimination, violence, and systemic inequality. Thus, as IWD helps to remind us, the fight for gender equality is far from over. It remains an urgent priority and demands sustained commitment and concrete action.Eritrea’s deep-rooted commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment
>Historically, Eritrean society, like many others both today and across the centuries, marginalized women. They were often viewed as inferior and incapable of meaningful contributions. A traditional saying that effectively encapsulates this outdated mindset declared, “Just as there is no donkey with horns, there is no woman with brains.”
>However, since its unparalleled independence struggle, Eritrea has made gender equality a national priority. The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front, with the National Union of Eritrean Women also playing a pivotal role, helped to drive key changes and move the national struggle for gender equality and women’s rights forward.
>Following the achievement of formal independence, the country has ratified many of the core international human and women’s rights instruments. This includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which sets international standards for eliminating gender discrimination. Eritrea has also actively participated in leading global initiatives, such as the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which have been key catalysts to move the agenda forward on gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and gender rights.
>On the domestic front, Eritrea has established institutional and policy frameworks to promote gender equality, focusing mainly on historically marginalized and vulnerable women. The country’s National Charter, which was adopted in 1994 and lays out the guiding vision and broad aspirations for the nation, declares that “A society that does not respect the rights and equality of women cannot be truly liberated.” The legal system also ensures their fair and equal participation in community courts.
>Eritrea has implemented affirmative action policies in education, employment, and public life to address historical inequalities. These measures have significantly increased women’s social, economic, and political participation. National laws guarantee women equal access to land, citizenship rights, and protection against gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices. These initiatives are driving meaningful change and improving lives nationwide.
>Furthermore, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare supports women across various sectors. At the same time, the National Union of Eritrean Women and the Eritrean Women’s Agribusiness Association continue to play a crucial role in economic empowerment, financial access, education, and advocacy against gender-based violence.
>Notably, Eritrea’s work in promoting gender equality has not gone unrecognized. National delegations have shared Eritrea’s gender-related accomplishments at prominent international gatherings, such as the CSW, and international organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund, have praised Eritrea’s significant achievements in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Just months ago, during a public event held in Asmara featuring government officials, NUEW, and other national institutions, Nahla Valji, the UN Resident Coordinator in Eritrea, commended Eritrea for its efforts and progress in ensuring gender equality.Looks like they go all out for IWD. Only stuff I saw in my feed related to IWD was from the Eritrean related accounts I follow. Looks like they had celebrations across the US and every year.
>>2183317All the parts are manufactured in China. It's just assembled in Burkina Faso. This is not an unusual practice in the automotive industry, and cars are often rebranded under different brands, but it's a little silly to pretend like this is some African car. Like all our import cars, excluding the "hand made" luxury cars, are all assembled in plants in America, yet we call it an import. Even if we were to rebrand it, to celebrate it as an American brand is ridiculous.
>WOWZAS LOOK AT THESE AMERICAN MADE INFINITIES!It's kind of embarrassing
>>2182866>are there any african nations who have revolutionary potential in the near future?Depends how you define revolutionary potential, i guess. I think it's not crazy unlikely we could see revolutionary governments in many parts of Africa, due to young populations which are increasingly well educated and under-employed, and anti-colonial understanding of history.
Probably if South Africa got a revolutionary movement back in control it would i think be a precursor to massive upheaval across the continent, although idk how likely that is, it has a strong intelligence and media apparatus which is basically still left over from apartheid days..
>>2183642> a country in the shape of fried chickenthats a stretch
>a town named Bossohuh? idgi
https://x.com/GhideonMusa/status/1899571475289448588
>Revisiting the Truth: Monalisa Abreha’s Testimony and My Apology to the Eritrean Army (“In war, truth is the first casualty.”)
>In the context of the Tigray War, numerous reports have accused Eritrean troops of committing human rights violations, including the rape and abuse of Tigrayan women and girls. One such report by Al Jazeera highlighted these grave allegations.
>However, a recent personal encounter has shed new light on these events. I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Monalisa Abreha, who was 18 years old during the conflict and was prominently featured in the aforementioned Al Jazeera report as a victim of Eritrean army abuses. Contrary to the allegations, Ms. Abreha recounted that the Eritrean soldiers did not harm or abuse her; instead, they assisted her in obtaining medical treatment. Despite enduring the amputation of her hand and partial impairment, she holds positive memories of the Eritrean army’s treatment of her during that period.
>Ms. Abreha has recently arrived in Melbourne to reunite with her father. She is an intelligent and attentive young woman who deserves our full support and encouragement. At Africause, we were delighted to welcome her and have provided her with a laptop to commence her studies in Australia.
>In light of Ms. Abreha’s testimony, I wish to extend my sincere apologies to the Eritrean army for previously echoing unverified reports concerning their alleged involvement in human rights abuses in Tigray, particularly regarding Ms. Abreha’s case. This experience has reinforced my pride in Eritrean identity and the importance of verifying information before forming judgments.
>It is crucial to acknowledge that while Ms. Abreha’s account offers a different perspective, there have been documented incidents during the Tigray conflict where Eritrean forces were implicated in serious human rights violations. For instance, reports have emerged detailing atrocities committed by Eritrean troops in Tigray, including massacres and other forms of abuse.
>These contrasting narratives underscore the complexity of the conflict and the necessity for thorough, impartial investigations to ascertain the truth. They also highlight the importance of not generalizing the actions of individuals to entire groups and the need for careful consideration of all available evidence before drawing conclusions.
>Congratulations to Monalisa for her resilience, perseverance, and courage. Despite having faced a near-death experience, she carries a bright smile on her face, a true testament to her strength. I wish to extend my sincere apologies to the Eritrean army for previously echoing unverified reports concerning their alleged involvement in human rights abuses in Tigray,Woooooowwwwww..
>>2190441>>2186079>No one will probably have an answer to this, but does anyone know why Traore's previous PM was sacked? He seemed to be a hardcore SankaristI've actually been wondering this too, for me Tambela was the more important to watch because of his long-time political commitment so was surprised and saddened to learn of his sacking.
Did either of you find an answer?
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1905646501268730221.html
>After $1B invested over 15 years, the Gates-backed Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) promised agricultural prosperity.
>Instead, AGRA delivered ecological damage, farmer debt, and increased hunger, leaving target countries worse off than before the program began🧵 Image>AGRA began in 2006 with bold targets to 2x yields and incomes for 30M smallholder farmers while cutting food insecurity in half by 2020.
>Evaluations reveal what farmers already knew—AGRA did not meet its headline goal even after reducing its target from 30M to just 9M farmers.>The productivity reality falls far short—an 18% yield increase over 12 years against AGRA's promised 100%.
>Many regions saw growth equal to or worse than pre-AGRA rates.
>This structural failure hides behind selectively presented data and isolated success stories. Image>Hunger increased by 30-31% across AGRA's 13 focus countries.
>The very metric AGRA was designed to improve has significantly worsened, exposing critical flaws in their entire approach to agricultural development. Image>AGRA's single-crop farming model caused biodiversity loss by pushing farmers toward maize at the expense of hardy local varieties.
>Traditional climate-resilient crops declined measurably, with millet production dropping 24% between 2006-2018.Research in Zambia and Tanzania shows farmers trapped in debt after taking loans for fertilizer and hybrid seeds when harvests didn't deliver promised yields.
>This financial burden from input-dependency affects multiple generations of farming families.>Beyond economic impacts, AGRA's chemical-intensive approach has accelerated soil degradation across target regions.
>Synthetic inputs disrupt soil microbial communities, compromising fertility and essential ecosystem functions like water storage and carbon sequestration.>The specific soil contaminants associated with AGRA's model include PCBs, PBDEs, perfluoro carboxylic acids, benzene, and bisphenol A, compounds with documented adverse effects on ecological and human health systems.>While AGRA now acknowledges soil degradation (65% of Sahel land affected), its solutions remain tied to chemical-intensive farming.
>New programs like ESMS and RE-GAIN show recognition of problems without addressing their root causes.African civil society organizations increasingly call for redirecting funding from AGRA toward agroecological systems that align with both ecological imperatives and the lived realities of farming communities rather than imposing external technological dependencies.
>AGRA misdiagnosed the problems facing African agriculture
>After 15 yrs and $1B, hunger increased by 30%, yields barely improved, soils degraded, and farmers accumulated debt.
>Real solutions will restore ecological health while providing farmers with a pathway to prosperity >>2207118you cant go back to a previous mode of production
>classic maoist termsretardation
>>2207267everyone has some theoretical assumptions that may be proven false or more complex with further study. i'm not a maoist altohugh largely influenced by the movement, and maoists use semi-feudality as an umbrella term to pre-capitalist economies that exist alongside capitalist production and circulation, which i think it's imprecise and simplifies pre-capitalist social formations as an stage that was really only applicable to western europe (which is tied to a right-deviation that if unchecked will rally the proletariat to the capitalist road by allying with the 'progressive' borgiousie)
of course africa is big and different parts of it were largely or completely disconnected before imperialism so that an unified pre-capitalist conception for all of the continent doesn't make sense, although i think some generalizations could be made looking at the rural economy and how it's been linked to the world market
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