It's not just the West that's concerned by the three revolutionary governments of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali joining forces to defend their borders against imperialism and jihadi terrorists. Al-Qaeda is clearly worried too.

In a 22-minute video published this week, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Iyad Ag Ghaly, branded the countries’ new military leaders ‘treacherous.’ He then called for their citizens to join his ranks and fight against them.

You could call it a sign of desperation. Since the public-supported coups in these nations, Al-Qaeda has been on the back foot, losing swathes of territory with Mali recently taking the rebel stronghold of Kidal. Coincidentally (or not) such successes follow the expulsion of French troops from the region by the West African trio who accused them of backing insurgents.

Continued…..In August 2022, Mali's Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop,alleged France was providing weapons and intelligence to terrorist groups. In a letter addressed to the United Nations Security Council, he stated: "These flagrant violations of Malian airspace were used by France to collect information for terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and to drop arms and ammunition to them."

For decades Western-aligned presidents in this part of Africa backed their former coloniser and welcomed their soldiers. That relationship has now been turned on its head by military takeovers backed by the majority of citizens. It’s something that's clearly rattling the West and now Al-Qaeda.

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UN NEEDS REFORM ASAP

Bombs continue to rain down on Gaza, and the UN is clearly unable to do anything about it. The US keeps vetoing Security Council resolutions for a ceasefire, despite the Palestinian death toll now topping 18,000.

Countries around the world overwhelming voted for a halt in the violence at the UN General Assembly, but that resolution is non-binding. And it effectively means Israel’s catastrophic assault will continue.

Ahmed Ghoneim argues the desperate need for UN reform.

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KENYA’S FEARLESS MEKATILILI!

Dance sounds like an unusual weapon when it comes to liberating your country. But that’s what Kenyan heroine Mekatili wa Menza used to help defeat colonialists. We look at her powerful story of charisma and determination which mobilised communities to challenge the British.

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HOW RACIST IS DISNEY?

You know what they say: The best comedy always has a grain of truth to it. We think that is the case here when Matt Jenkins, a US-based stand-up comedian, brilliantly called out Disney executives for animating every other non-white ethnic group as humans. But, when it came time to depict Africans in 'The Lion King,' animals were the go-to.

Mulan, Pocahontas, Aladdin ... but we got Simba! Let us know what you think. Is he on the money or reaching?

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ISRAEL ON CHARM OFFENSIVE

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently said his country and Africa are coming back together, as if it’s a reunion of old friends. But there are plenty of reasons to be wary. Netanyahu hasn’t exactly had our interests at heart before, with racist policies aimed at Africans in Israel.

So why the change of tune? We think he’s just trying to soften the continent’s traditional pro-Palestinian stance in a bid for much-needed votes at the UN. Ahmed Ghoneim runs through Israel’s dubious détente.

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AFRICAN STREAM MGMT’S HEATED ISRAEL EXCHANGE!

The Christmas festive season is a time for family and friends to unite and make merry. But that’s being made impossible for Palestinians. Even in Jesus’ birthplace of Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians have to go through checkpoints every day of their lives. If Jesus had been born during the current war, he’d probably be under the rubble, as Delaware State House representative Madinah Wilson-Anton put it during a Christmas holiday party held at the US VP’s residence.

African Stream’s CEO and Operations Manager - Ahmed Kaballo and Erick Gavala - debated the causes of the unfolding tragedy in Gaza and the West Bank. Though on opposite sides of the issue, and at times getting quite emotional, the spirit of brotherliness guided this difficult conversation.

Here’s a snippet. You can catch the entire exchange on our YouTube channel. Let us know your views on the comments.

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THE CONTROVERSIAL LEGACY OF COLONIAL ASKARIS

Askari is a common word used throughout East Africa, but the word has dark origins. Askaris described native African soldiers and Indian soldiers, who served in European colonial militaries throughout Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Their service extended to other parts of the continent over time. Askaris were used in other ways, such as in the Scramble for Africa, the Herero and Namaqua genocide, the suppression of the Maji Maji Rebellion, the East Africa Campaign of World War I, the East African Campaign of World War II, and in the Pacification of Algeria, among other conflicts.

What do you think about the Askaris? Let us know in the comments.

JULIUS MALEMA ON THE LAND QUESTION

In 2018, South African presenter Imran Garda interviewed Julius Malema, president of South Africa's Pan-Africanist party, Economic Freedom Fighters, to discuss land expropriation without compensation.

In true Malema fashion, he said, 'We’re not stealing anything. We’re taking what is rightfully ours.' A fierce and charismatic proponent of socialism, Malema has been spearheading this debate in South Africa.

On 7 December 2021, the South African parliament failed to pass proposed amendments to the constitution's Section 25, which allows for the expropriation of land without compensation. This decision was met with relief by white-majority farmers, associations and banking sectors, while African farmers were left deeply disappointed at parliament's inability to reclaim their rights.

Continued….For context, the apartheid government not only stripped Black South Africans of the right to buy land privately but poured money into assistance programmes for white farmers. In post-apartheid South Africa, the ruling party, the African National Congress, has failed to deliver on the promise of returning land to its rightful owners.

Let us know what you think of Malema's position.

SOUTH AFRICA: CHINA & RUSSIA NOT ENEMIES

Listen to former UK Member of Parliament George Galloway put forth why South Africa refuses to kowtow to Western demands that the country not engage China and Russia. In recent times, with the construction of an increasingly multipolar world, the United States has related to emerging powers as threats, and it has resorted to a ‘you’re with us or against us’ strategy. Fortunately, this isn’t 2001.

Galloway’s remarks were given in February at a ‘No 2 NATO, No 2 War’ rally in London.

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