US ENVOY LIED: NO SOUTH AFRICAN WEAPONS WERE SENT TO RUSSIA

In May, US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety caused a diplomatic furore between the two nations after he sensationally alleged that South Africa had supplied weapons to Russia.

Brigety claimed that he had "airtight evidence" showing that a Russian ship named Lady R had picked up weapons from a South African port in December 2022. But an investigation panel appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate the matter has revealed that the claims were nothing but hot air.

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Continued - According to the investigation led by a retired Supreme Court judge, the ship in question did indeed dock in a South African port but only to offload weapons that the South African military had ordered in 2018 through a UAE-based company; not to pick up weapons as alleged by Brigety. In response to the report, the ruling African National Congress and the South African Communist Party have called Ramaphosa to give the envoy the boot. But while Ramaphosa is unlikely to demand that Washington recalls Brigety, he has admitted that the false allegations caused significant economic and political damage to the country.

He cited the depreciation of the country's currency to a three year low shortly after the allegations were made, and said this was due to fears of a possibility of US sanctions.

The incident joins the long list of times that the US government or its officials have lied. Remember the story about Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction" or the bombing of a Sudanese pharmaceutical plant

MANDELAS BURN UK OVER ‘IMMIGRANT INVASION’ RHETORIC

The UK recently adopted a new law that criminalises migrants who arrive into the UK via the English channel. Violators will deported back to their home countries if deemed safe, and to Rwanda if not - regardless of origin. Anti-migrant sentiment has long been whipped up by the British media, with headlines scare-mongering about an ‘invasion’ of immigrants.

That choice of concept - invasion - is ironic. In this clip, Nelson Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter - Pumla and Tukwini - remind us that Britain’s wealth and power derive from its having invaded, colonised and plundered other countries. Moreover, without an ‘invasion’ of immigrants - of cheap, exploitable labour - the UK’s infrastructure and economy would never have been able to ‘develop’ they way it did.

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Continued- MANDELAS BURN UK OVER ‘IMMIGRANT INVASION’ RHETORIC

So instead of chanting, ‘Stop the boats!’ (PM Rishi Sunak’s mantra on migrants using the channel), perhaps the UK should roll out a red carpet of thanks to newcomers - followed, perhaps, by an apology and reparations!

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DOING A COLUMBUS… ON ENGLAND!

How clever of Columbus it was to ‘discover’ America, or of the British empire to ‘discover’ parts of Africa - as if there weren’t communities living in these places already all along. Communities, moreover, with an intimate knowledge of and connection to their lands. If that’s how easy it is to claim territory as your own, why don’t we ‘discover’ England, for example? That’s the question implicit in this little skit by the inimitable wit and Afrocentric scholar Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan (aka Dr. Ben to his fans).

Watch and let us know what you discover!

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AFRICA LOSING BILLIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is a huge economic burden on Africa, incurring annual losses of up to $15 billion. That’s according to the president of the African Development Bank. He says this figure is projected to skyrocket - to approximately $50 billion a year by 2040!

Africa bears the brunt of climate change, while developed nations continue to far exceed our continent's carbon emissions. Africa contributes to just 4% of global carbon emissions. While those who have exploited us, the United States and Europe, contribute 18% and 17% respectively.

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Continued - AFRICA LOSING BILLIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Developed nations made a pledge to collectively contribute $100 billion towards climate-change mitigation on our continent. While this may seem like a lot, it's nothing compared to what's been taken from us via colonialism and neocolonialism.

Unfortunately, many simply haven't put their money where their mouth is when it comes to delivering on this pledge. This has eroded trust among some African countries, as if they didn't already have enough to doubt the silver tongued exploiters.

Video Credit: AfricanNews

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: CHOPPER HARASSES STRANDED MIGRANTS

A shocking video obtained by African Stream appears to show a Tunisian helicopter harassing African migrants. These migrants had allegedly been abandoned in the Sahara by Tunisian security forces after being removed from the country, which has become a hub for people hoping to reach Europe via the Mediterranean - even after a billion-dollar deal between Tunis and the EU to ensure they don’t embark on their perilous journey, currently the most dangerous migrant route in the world.

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THE WORLD WITHOUT AFRICA

The world without Africa… it's like trying to enjoy a burger without the patty. Yeah, you might have some fancy buns and condiments, but where's the substance? Africa isn't just another continent - it's the crown jewel of Earth's resources.

Here’s Beninese-French singer and activist Angelique Kidjo eloquently making the point on Canadian TV’s George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.

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‘WE ARE NOT AMERICAN’

As indigenous African people, we support the struggle of all indigenous peoples around the world against colonialism and settler colonialism. While Hawaii suffers the devastation of the latest wildfires, we remember that in 1893, a group of American business interests, supported by US Marines, orchestrated the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii. This event marked a significant turning point in Hawaiian history.

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Continued - ‘WE ARE NOT AMERICAN’

The consequences of this colonisation were profound for both Hawaii and its indigenous population. The overthrow of the monarchy and subsequent annexation led to the loss of Hawaiian sovereignty and self-governance. The effects of US colonisation are still felt today. No one understands this better than the colonised people of the world, including the internal African colony of the United States.

We’ve assembled a medley of three stirring speeches from the Hawaiian and African diaspora communities, hammering home the point that America cannot steal our identity. The speakers are Hawaiian activist Haunani Kay Trask, and civil-rights legends Malcolm X and Kwame Ture.

Watch and let us know if you agree: We are not American!

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‘LIBERATE AFRICA LIBERATE MANKIND’

Mukasa Dada’s well known for his role popularising the slogan "Black Power.” He did it alongside Kwame Ture as a youth organiser in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). That may have been a few years back, but he hasn’t stopped preaching the message. In this clip, Dada talks at the recent Socialist Horizon conference in Atlanta, GA, USA.
From civil rights to anti-capitalism and anti-imperialism, many SNCC veterans like him have lived their lives fighting to build Pan-Africanism, which they define as "one united socialist Africa." His flair for public speaking has earned him the nickname "The Reverend".

Listening to this, you’ll understand why.

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ANCESTRAL SOUND OF RUMBA

Congolese Rumba is more than a music genre or dance. Instead, it is a legacy that embodies the resilience of two nations and ultimately, the African continent.

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SENEGAL: WORLD’S FITTEST COUNTRY?

British rapper and journalist, Akala, reckons Senegalese people must be among the fittest on the planet. He took a drive around the country and could not believe the numbers he saw working out. For the record, Senegal has one of the highest life-expectancy rates in Africa. Could all those beach training sessions have something to do with it? The country has long recognised the importance of well-being, and has a deep-rooted love of sport, not least the ancient art of wrestling.

Listen to Akala marvel at what he witnessed first-hand.

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THE BRICS TRAIN ROLLS ON WHILE US HAS ITS HEAD IN THE SAND

BRICS is an oncoming train and the US is stuck on the tracks with its fingers plugging its ears. As Uncle Sam runs around in circles obsessing over the latest non-issue, global events of seismic proportions are underway. In August, BRICS admitted 6 more countries, more than doubling its members. The decision was clearly economic, as investor TJ Markets explains, and presents a challenge to the American-led economic order. So should the US be worried?

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Continued - THE BRICS TRAIN ROLLS ON WHILE US HAS ITS HEAD IN THE SAND

Former President Trump admitted the biggest American export is the dollar, but BRICS nations have an interest in escaping a system heavily weaponized against them. Russia is under sanctions, and has hundreds of billions of its dollar reserves frozen. So is China, which is struggling to shake off a Washington containment policy. Meanwhile, Iran is stubbornly following its own path and refuses to be dictated to.

American macroeconomic policies add fuel to fire. The US is currently trying to bring down inflation, which means a hike in interest rates. For dollar debtors, this translates to more expensive debt servicing, eating into public and social spending. In a way, money printing and interest rate hikes are a way for the US to rob the global south using minimal force.

But BRICS offers an alternative and the empire has its head in the sand. More than 40 applications to BRICS are reported, and with an increasing share of global population and GDP the West-based order risks sliding into obscurity.

AFRICAN CURVES: ENVY OF 19TH-CENTURY EUROPEAN WOMEN?

The bustle dress was a very popular dress during the Victorian era. It was a fashion accessory for upper-class women. Even though this dress was integrated into the couture fashion industry during the 19th century, the origin of its design lies in a very dark past: the exploitation of African women’s bodies.

This dress design was inspired by the body features of Sarah Baartman, who was an enslaved Khoi Khoi woman from Cape Town, South Africa. She was displayed as a freak throughout her life in Europe and even after death because of these features.

It’s ironic that a woman whose body features and race, which was considered inferior, were the inspiration behind a fashion trend that once was a marker of wealth and European sophistication.

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6-YEAR-OLD NIGERIAN-BRIT GENIUS

Joshua Beckford is the youngest person ever to attend Oxford and has been named one of the smartest boys in the world… he lives in the UK, but his Nigerian roots no doubt played its role!

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We've already reported on Gabon’s now-deposed Bongo dynasty’s relationship with Françafrique. But the family wasn’t just chummy with ex-coloniser France.

When it came to cozying up to the United States, papa Omar Bongo showed the way, and son Ali Bongo happily followed in his footsteps.

African Stream’s Inem Richardson digs deeper into Bongo links to W. Bush, Obama and NATO.

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FARRAKHAN: BLACK SACRIFICE FORGOTTEN

Louis Farrakhan is a renowned civil rights activist and once led a million-man march in Washington DC.

He's also the leader of the Nation of Islam in America, which has been denounced as a hate group.

And on top of that, Farrakhan's been described as an anti-Semite and has been blocked on Facebook.

However, he continues to have a big audience and many Africans in America listen to him on important socio-political issues.

In 1994, in Texas, he delivered this passionate speech about the neglected history of Africans who died fighting the Nazi regime in World War II.

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IS BRICS+ A VEHICLE FOR PEACE IN AFRICA?

The enlargement of BRICS to include two more African countries - Egypt and Ethiopia - could have profound consequences for our continent. Tensions have been high between the two nations.

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