LIBERIA REVERSES UN VOTE AGAINST GAZA CEASEFIRE

In a dramatic about turn, Liberia has reversed its United Nations vote against a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Apparently, the country’s UN envoys acted against the wishes of outgoing President George Weah, who’s now stepped in to change his country’s stance on the conflict.

Liberia was the only African country voting against last week’s resolution, but its foreign ministry insists President Weah ‘has always stood on the side of peace’. It added he’d made ‘a passionate appeal for the exercise of restraint and consideration for civilians who are the real victims of the ongoing crisis’ in a letter sent to Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, last month.

Gaza has endured a relentless massacre since the escalation of hostilities on October 7th, with only a week-long reprieve since then.

Continued….The city of two-million has seen Israel drop over 29,000 bombs. Nearly 20,000 civilians have been killed, most of them women and children.

Meanwhile, Israel maintains a blockade intent on starving Palestinians. The World Food Program reports 100% of Gaza residents are food insecure, up from 33% before October 7th.

Most of the world has condemned the horrors inflicted. However, the US has consistently vetoed UN Security Council calls for a ceasefire and continues to send arms to Israel.

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EXCLUSIVE: DRC LOCALS CALL OUT RWANDA

Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame recently got a rock star’s welcome from cheering crowds in Kigali when he made an on-stage appearance during a Kendrick Lamar concert.

However, if you’re aware of Rwanda’s alleged role in sponsoring M23 rebel activity in conflict-torn neighbouring eastern DRC, watching the adoration that he received might have been a mortifying moment.

African Stream’s Erick Gavala travelled to Goma - a violence-plagued Congolese city 160km from the border - and got reaction from locals who want Kigali to stop destabilising their country.

FIGHTING RACISM WITH SOLIDARITY

Fred Hampton knew that as long as racism keeps the lower classes divided, capitalism will keep chugging along unimpeded. What he preached was unity and socialism. Words like these saw him rise as a young and dynamic leader in the Black Panther Party. And this clip gives you an idea of his oratory skills. But his ability to communicate also put a target on his back. The US Federal Bureau of Investigations labelled the organisation ‘one of the greatest threats’ to national security. On December 4th 1969, Hampton house was shot 99 times by the Chicago Police Department with no counterfire from the Panthers. An FBI informant drugged Hampton so he never woke up. He was shot twice at close range in the head and killed in his bed by Chicago Police, aged just 21.

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SANKARA LIVES ON

Thomas Sankara, one of Africa’s greatest leaders, would have turned 74 today. We remember his life and legacy, but we also pose serious questions about his death. While the CIA and France have been asked to disclose their records, much still remains classified. How was Thomas Sankara assassinated? Who was involved? Here’s what we know so far...

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RAW POWER: HOW AFRICA CAN GET RICHER

Africa is sitting on a wealth of potential - potential extra wealth. It’s resource rich, but if it worked those resources a little harder before shipping, its economies would be raking in the profits. William Sakawa explains why it’s time to bring home the extra billions.

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AFRICAN STREAM’S FIERY DEBATE ON PALESTINE-ISRAEL

Arguably, the hottest global topic of 2023 has been the 7 October escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

Mainstream media has pushed the narrative that the conflict erupted only recently, ignoring the history of Israeli atrocities—with Western backing—going back more than 75 years.

African Stream delves into the conflict’s root causes, and how they have led to about 20,000 civilians being killed in Gaza, as of press time. We also believe that oppression anywhere can snowball into oppression everywhere, so Africa cannot ignore what is going on in Gaza.

Our management team of CEO Ahmed Kaballo and Operations Manager Erick Gavala have differing viewpoints on this vital issue, which they debated in this 17 October recording. Sometimes heated, but always in a spirit of brotherly understanding.

Take a look at the entire debate on our YouTube channel and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

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SANKARA THE ANTI-DEBT ICON

On T-homas Sankara's birthday, we look back at one of the legendary speeches regarding foreign aid from the pan-African icon and former leader of Burkina Faso. He advocated self-sufficiency, the elimination of the entire continent's debt, and not relying on aid, which always comes with strings attached.

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RUTO REVEALS KENYA’S WHOPPING DEBT TRAP.

Kenya’s President Ruto has revealed his country’s staggering debt burden. He told journalists that 70 per cent of tax revenues are used to service foreign loans worth $70-billion. And he says that’s why subsidies on staples like fuel and maize flour are being cut.

Kenya is in the proverbial debt trap, having to borrow more to pay off existing loans. The only other ‘nuclear’ option is to default on its debt. But, of course, it’s not Ruto’s fault. He blames the current cost-of-living crisis on the poor housekeeping of previous administrations.

However, many remain unconvinced. As deputy president for ten years, he had access to government. He’s also fallen short of promises made during his election campaign. Take corruption, for example, which siphons off a third of Kenya’s annual budget. Instead of a strong crackdown on graft, suspects have seen their cases inexplicably dismissed, with a good number even landing state appointments.

Continued….On top of that, Ruto has embarked on a privatisation spree, putting 11 state companies up for grabs, with another 35 on the way. It looks like a desperate bid to raise revenue rather than a sustainable plan for long-term growth.

For many Kenyans, the root of the country’s financial woes remains unaddressed, and the government is milking them dry. Ruto claims his hands are tied and has no other choice, but is that really the case?

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BRITISH RAPPER RAISES $600K+ FOR SUDAN, CONGO, PALESTINE

Record-breaking UK-born Nigerian rapper Dave has raised $633,215 for children affected by conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan and Palestine. The 25-year-old rapper had pledged the proceeds from a two-week merchandise sale held in early December, adding he would match and double the money raised.

Continued….The DRC, Sudan and Palestine are currently experiencing the crises of our time. Sudan’s conflict has gotten minimal coverage, despite having among the highest rates of internal displacement at 7.1 million people, currently. More than 12,000 have been killed, a figure many believe is orders of magnitude understated because of the lack of internet and electricity in parts of Sudan. DRC has around 6.9 million internally displaced people, alongside the 6 million killed amid decades of conflict. Children are especially vulnerable, with many forcefully connoscripted as child soldiers or as miners. Palestine has seen a relentless onslaught by Israel. More than 29,000 Israeli bombs have been dropped since 7 October on the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people and one of the most densely populated places in the world. About 20,000 civilians have been killed, with almost half being women and children.

That is why it is heartening to see famous people like Dave take a stand with the oppressed.

Let us know your thoughts.

ISRAEL, A HAVEN FOR FLEEING CHILD ABUSERS

Africa was the victim of seven settler-colonial regimes, with Apartheid South Africa being the biggest, followed by Algeria, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Kenya, Mozambique, Angola and German South-West Africa (Namibia). So, we know a thing or two about why settler colonialism is bad for the native population.

But the latest settler-colonial project in the Middle East is not only making life difficult for Palestinians but also for Israelis, jeopardising their children’s safety by allowing paedophiles from around the world to settle in the so-called Jewish state.

The Jewish Community Watch says that 32 paedophiles in their database have moved from countries around the world to Israel over the past decade. But that is just a drop in the ocean. According to an Israeli paedophile monitoring association, tens of thousands of paedophiles operate in Israel every year, leading to about 100,000 victims annually (you can find the report in The Jerusalem Post).

Continued…..How does this happen?

Well, while Palestinians are being driven out of their homes to make space for Israeli settlers, any person anywhere with a Jewish mother or maternal grandmother or any Jewish convert can move to Israel, claim citizenship and have access to land. Unfortunately, this policy has been abused by criminals, including paedophiles, to escape justice.

Tens of thousands of paedophiles operate in Israel each year, a country where nine out of ten sexual-assault cases get closed without a conviction, according to an annual survey released by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.

This CBS News investigation from 2020 breaks down the loophole that allows accused and convicted American paedophiles to escape justice by moving to Israel.

Please watch and let us know your thoughts.

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MICHAEL RAPAPORT CALLS AFRICANS ‘PRIVILEGED’

We’re trying not to do mental gymnastics, but US actor and comedian Michael Rapaport ranted last month that Africans in the United States are a privileged group that the US government would try to protect if Palestinians held us hostage. Are you laughing yet? We remember what the US government has been doing to our people for centuries. But wait. He then argued against the global cry for a ceasefire, saying bombing Gaza until at least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed —including more than 8000 children killed is a rational response to H*m*s attacks on 7th October.

Continued…..From Rapaport misquoting the number of Palestinians that the Israeli military has killed since the 7 October escalation in Gaza, does Rapaport know that the United States takes hostages, too? Check out the people being held for more than two decades—most without charge or trial—at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base. None of that has resulted in a genocide against US civilians. Rapaport’s jingoistic rhetoric—reminiscent of the days after the 9/11 attacks in the United States—deems all crimes against humanity fair as long as they are in defence of US or Israeli passport holders.

What do you think of the actor’s rant? Let us know below.

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PLO: AFRICA MUST WORK AS ONE ON GLOBAL STAGE

Individually, African nations are in danger of finding themselves with new masters - as long as we are not united! That’s one of the take-home messages from Pan-African scholar and lawyer PLO Lumumba during a recent round table at the African Stream studios in Nairobi.

He was discussing the admission (from Jan. 1st, 2024) of two more African countries to the BRICS economic club of emerging nations - which will now include Egypt and Ethiopia, alongside South Africa.

Given the way the US and EU use economic bullying in the form of sanctions, it’s understandable why countries might want to gang together for greater protection.

Continued….But when you have powerhouses like China (the ‘C’ in ‘BRICS’) in the gang, you must proceed with caution, warns PLO Lumumba - lest you become subservient to them.

The case generalises. African nations belong individually to numerous international blocs and alliances. Wouldn’t it be better if they joined forces as an African Union on the global stage, resolving any issues between African nations internally before dealing with the world?

Have a watch and let us know if you’re convinced in the comments.

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BELGIAN MUSEUM DECORATED WITH SEVERED HANDS

Antwerp’s ‘Museum aan de Stroom’ was hailed as an impressive bit of architecture when it was opened in 2011. But when you take a closer look, its ugly side becomes apparent: it’s decorated in hands - amputated ones. Which is grim enough, but is likely to make anyone even slightly acquainted with Belgium’s colonial past recoil in horror.

Belgium’s King Leopold II and his colonial forces maimed countless enslaved Congolese during their brutal reign of terror in the country - by chopping off hands as punishment for failing to meet quotas. Rape, torture, kidnapping and murder were also rampant in Leopold’s colony. It’s estimated his regime was responsible for an astonishing 10-million Congolese deaths.

Continued….Defender’s of the museum’s sinister design point out that the city of Antwerp has an old legend associated with it - of a giant who used to cut passing boatmen’s hands off if they failed to pay a toll. And it’s this 15th century parable that the hands on the building’s exterior are apparently a reference to. Be that as it may, it smacks of a complete lack of sensitivity and atonement.

Whatever the architect thought he was channeling, the building can throw and shock unprepared visitors. Among them, @amhur75 - who recently posted this video he filmed when in Antwerp.

Have a watch and let us know what you think should happen to the building

GHANA PRES: NO MORE EXCUSES!

A while back, Africa was rarely mentioned in a positive light. Things have changed today, whether economically, whereas the world incresasingly understands it relies on African resources or, culturally, with African films, music and textiles among its exports. Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, in this clip from last year's U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, calls for concrete actions to aid the development of our motherland.

Appropriately deploying Africa's natural and human resources may make the difference between a poverty-stricken continent and one treated with the respect and dignity it deserves. Take the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example.