Continued… Meanwhile, the trio, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have formed the Alliance of Sahelian States in September. This new organization covers security and economic development for the regional states. Chad and Mauritania, the two latest departees of the G5 Sahel, have expressed their willingness to continue working with countries across the region, leaving the door open to potential cooperation among the five African countries formerly in the G5 Sahel, however, without France poking its nose where it doesn’t belong this time around.

MARTHA MEBRAHTU: ERITREA’S RADICAL ANTI-IMPERIALIST

51 years ago today, revolutionary freedom fighter attempted to hijack an Ethiopian commercial plane in a radical move against the then-imperial Ethiopian state.

She was killed in the attempt, as secret police had foiled the plot and were lying in wait on board. The day before, she’d published a now-famous manifesto in which she urges her brothers and sisters all over the world to be ready for bitter sacrifice in the fight against imperialism and feudalism.

Prior to her abortive hijacking bid, she used her prominent position on the student body of the medical faculty at Haile Selassie University to push for women’s rights and recruit people to the cause.

Her death inspired thousands to rise up against injustices. She is celebrated today as an Eritrean martyr who was passionate about social change, revolutionary Pan-Africanism and the independence of Africa as a continent.

May she continue to rest in power.

TINUBU SPEECH CONFUSES COP 28 DELEGATES

Nigerians are some of the most intelligent people in the world, leading in fields such as academia, medicine, engineering and law, among many others. One would think the country's leadership would reflect this. However, this clip of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's incoherent address at the 28th United Nations' Climate Change Conference (COP 28) summit in Dubai has many asking if this is indeed the best the West African nation has to offer. His speech left many bewildered, us included.

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PLO ON SAHEL CHANCES AT UNIFICATION: THIS TIME IT’S DIFFERENT

Revolutionary coups across the Sahel could be the “mustard seed” for the unification of Africa. That is PLO’s perspective on the overthrows in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. It is certainly what our founding fathers would have wanted, and is in the interests of Africans everywhere. He also shared his thoughts about ECOWAS attempts at sabotaging the trio.

Just like during the time of Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere, Africa’s enemies know what our unification means and they are not standing idly by. France for example, continues its colonial extraction through means such as controlling the currency of 14 African states via the CFA Franc. There is a real risk of external interference, such as ECOWAS threats which were largely seen as dictates from Paris. They were successful before, such as when France assassinated Burkina Faso’s president Thomas Sankara.

Continued… Today, however, is different, argues PLO. He remains bullish, adamant that the unity of the Sahel states could create a snowball effect of Africa’s unification. Have a listen and please share your thoughts.

Tanganyika gained self-rule from Britain on the 9th of December 1961, with Julius Nyerere as the Prime Minister. On 2nd April 1964, it united with the coastal archipelago of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Nyerere then became the first president of the independent nation with Sheikh Abeid Karume serving as his vice president.

Nyerere introduced the concept of African Socialism, or 'Újamaa,' which literally means family-hood. The system has been credited for Tanzania's generally cohesive society.

Under Nyerere, Tanzania played a crucial role in the liberation struggle of African countries. Speaking at a party conference in 1967, he declared that ‘total African liberation and total African unity are basic objectives of our Party and our Government…we shall never be really free and secure while some parts of our continent are still enslaved.’ This became known as the 'Arusha Declaration'.

Continued… Tanzania offered its territory as a base for freedom fighters, hosting the forces of many liberation movements, including: the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan African Congress (PAC) from South Africa; the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO); the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA); the Zimbabwean African National Union (ZANU); the Zimbabwean African People’s Union (ZAPU); and the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) from Namibia.

Tanzania also welcomed and housed large numbers of refugees from struggles across Southern Africa, providing refuge for those endangered by war or colonial oppression.

The country is known for Africa's tallest mountain - the snow-capped Kilimanjaro - and its breathtakingly gorgeous national parks, the most famous being Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Join our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in celebrating their Independence Day by sharing your comments.

DR. ARIKANA: AFRICANS, DON'T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO TELL OUR STORIES

For the past several centuries, outsiders have written Africa's history, resulting in our realities being whitewashed or misrepresented.

During a Q&A session a few years ago in Washington, D.C., Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the former permanent representative of the African Union to the United States, urged Africans to let go of the 'they syndrome.' She said, instead, we should start owning our stories and narratives.

Let us know what you think.

NYERERE: 'SELF-RULE IS NOT A FAVOUR'

Tanganyika (later known as Tanzania) formally achieved independence on December 9, 1961, 62 years ago today. But the struggle wasn't easy, and at the time, many Western pundits and journalists argued that Africa wasn't ready to govern itself.

There is no greater example of that than this classic 1960 interview with Tanganyika's founding father, Julius Nyerere, who answered emphatically and pushed back against the colonialist lie that Africa wasn't ready yet.

He replied the right of Africans to govern themselves had been stolen. Granting us independence was merely returning a stolen right, as it were. Therefore, the question of whether Africans were ready for self-rule was meaningless. Africans had managed their affairs well before colonialism imposed on them.

Let us know what you think of Nyerere's remarks.

BEYONCE AND THE ROLE OF AN ARTIST?

Singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is being slammed on social media for the Israeli premiere of her film, 'Renaissance.' Attendees were recorded waving Israeli flags while singing her hit, 'Break My Soul.' This is one of several instances that has sparked debate about the responsibility of African artists while Israel bombs the Gaza Strip. However, this isn't new, as we hear from six Africans who have spoken out over the years.

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NEW ZEALAND MP DEFIES PLEDGE TO KING CHARLES

Rawiri Waititi, a Maori New Zealand Parliamentarian, is making waves after he performed the Haka ceremonial dance and decided to pledge his allegiance to his descendants and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) during his swearing-in as an MP.

The Treaty of Waitangi, which is an agreement signed between Maori chiefs and the British crown in 1840, is revered among New Zealand's indigenous people.

Under the treaty, the Maori ceded the sovereignty of their territory to the British crown in exchange for protection from what they said were threats from the French. The treaty stated that the indigenous people would retain full rights to their land and natural resources, but, as if this colonial story hadn’t been told before, British authorities reneged on most of the treaty terms and stole vast tracts of land.

Continued... In recent years, the Treaty of Waitangi has become a rallying cry for the Maori people as they seek reparations and redress for the racist crimes they have suffered at the hands of both the colonial and post-colonial administrations.

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FAILURE OF DEMOCRACY FUELING COUPS

In just a few years, Africa has witnessed a number of military coups. Soldiers have moved from their barracks and settled into presidential palaces. The events have left many wondering what could be behind the phenomenon. Is it a case of soldiers lacking respect for democracy, or might external interference have something to do with it?

In an interview with RT Africa, former South African President Thabo Mbeki addresses this issue as he highlights the link between military takeovers and the failures of democracy. He also underscores the unwillingness of some leaders to break exploitative ties with former neo-colonial powers.

FACTS OF THE WEEK

European racists have always panicked over African migrants. In this week’s Facts of the Week, African Stream lays out the truths - and exposes the half-truths and outright lies - in the Africa/Europe migrant debate.

WEST’S TOXIC CLIMATE DEMANDS ON AFRICA

COP 28 - aka, the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference - is coming to a close in Dubai, and pressure is mounting on Africa to slash its use of fossil fuels.

While going green is of course an admirable goal, there are certain nuances when it comes to our continent.

The West out-pollutes us by far - and its development was powered by dirty energy and industries. Now it’s insisting we go green before we’ve even had a chance to catch up in terms of development, yet also it offers us little incentive or support.

It’s almost as if it wants to keep us down and keep coming to it with a begging bowl. African Stream’s Miss Phyll digs deeper into what’s at stake.

TWO JAMAICANS ARGUE OVER PALESTINE-ISRAEL

You might have heard TikTok posts have turned many young people into supporters of the Palestinian liberation struggle. Israel backers and the administration of US President Joe Biden have accused the social media platform of serving a Chinese agenda to undermine the United States, the largest supporter of Israel. However, TikTok has denied its algorithm has boosted pro-Palestine videos into users' feeds. In fact, the Chinese company recently reported a pro-Israel hashtag has trended far more since the 7 October escalation, which has so far killed more than 17,000 civilians in Gaza.

However, new data shows 70 per cent of TikTok's 1.67 billion users are under the age of 35. These young people have been learning for the first time about the 75-year Palestine-Israel conflict, venting their outrage on the platform and on the streets.

Continued... In this recent video from a small town in Jamaica, we might be witnessing a generational divide, as an older man argues 'Israel for Israelites,' while the younger one defends Palestine.

What could explain the stark difference in opinion? Let us know below.

WHY THEY WANT TO BALKANISE AFRICA

‘Balkanisation’ means breaking up a larger state into smaller ones - and it’s a powerful weapon of control, especially if the smaller states are then turned against each other. It’s what the colonialists have tried to do with Africa. This has successfully kept us punching below our weight on the global stage. African Stream’s Inem Richardson explains how, and also why Pan-African unity is the right response!

THE METEORIC RISE OF TEMS

With her mesmerising voice and unique style, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems is on a roll of incredible achievements, and it looks like her rise to stardom is only going to keep reaching new heights!

NO MATTER THE LANGUAGE, WE ARE AFRICANS

Obi Egbuna, Jr, a Pan-African activist and journalist, appeared on the 'Rock Newman Show' in Washington, D.C., to discuss all things Africa. He presented a poem that is directed at children to understand that, despite the various countries Africans inhabit, ultimately, we are all African.

The language barrier between Africans has partly come as a result of colonialism, as well as migration and slavery. However, despite our diversity, we must remember that we are all united by our motherland, Africa.

PLO LUMUMBA ON SUDAN CRISIS

What started in April as skirmishes in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has burst into an all-out conflict. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the SAF and is the chairman of the country's Transitional Sovereignty Council, had collaborated in 2019 with his former deputy chairman, the RSF’s General Mohamed 'Hemedti' Hamdan Dagalo, to topple the government of President Omar al-Bashir. Together, they orchestrated a military coup in 2019, and another one in 2021. But tensions over how the RSF would integrate into the SAF eventually led to fighting that has festered over the last eight months. Caught in the crossfire are Sudanese civilians. More than 12,000 people have been killed this year, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Plus, thousands more have been injured and about 7 million have been internally and externally displaced, worsening an acute humanitarian crisis.