Shell has decided to exit the Niger Delta, after raking in billions over decades from drilling the region’s oil. The whole operation will now be sold to a local consortium and a Swiss-based trader for just over a billion dollars.
But while many factors contributed to the pull out, one thing is clear, Shell won’t be missed by the local population. Its activities have seen oil spills and fires that have destroyed the environment. They’ve clogged rivers and lakes, rendering them unsuitable for farming and fishing, activities that have supported communities for centuries.
Unsurprisingly, locals protested against the pollution - but were brutally suppressed.
But while many factors contributed to the pull out, one thing is clear, Shell won’t be missed by the local population. Its activities have seen oil spills and fires that have destroyed the environment. They’ve clogged rivers and lakes, rendering them unsuitable for farming and fishing, activities that have supported communities for centuries.
Unsurprisingly, locals protested against the pollution - but were brutally suppressed.
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Continued….In the mid 90s, Shell was accused of helping the government of late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, crackdown on non-violent demonstrators from the Ogoni tribe. Nine campaigners were hanged as a result. Shell denied complicity, but did pay millions to settle a lawsuit brought by the victims’ families in New York in 2009.
Shell’s enriched itself to the tune of billions, while making those who live in the Delta pay a catastrophic price. And that’s how most Nigerians will remember the British oil giant.
Shell’s enriched itself to the tune of billions, while making those who live in the Delta pay a catastrophic price. And that’s how most Nigerians will remember the British oil giant.
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VIOLENT CLASHES AS COMOROS ELECTION DISPUTED, 1 KILLED
Chaos in Comoros, where the recent election result is being contested in the streets. The opposition alleges only fraud can explain incumbent President Azali Assoumani’s 63% share of the vote. Young people have clashed with security forces, leaving 1 person dead and 25 injured. Assoumani was only able to run because of a controversial referendum in 2018 that removed term limits - this would be his fourth. Almost half of the 870,000 Comorans live in poverty. Do you think Assoumani will survive this challenge?
Chaos in Comoros, where the recent election result is being contested in the streets. The opposition alleges only fraud can explain incumbent President Azali Assoumani’s 63% share of the vote. Young people have clashed with security forces, leaving 1 person dead and 25 injured. Assoumani was only able to run because of a controversial referendum in 2018 that removed term limits - this would be his fourth. Almost half of the 870,000 Comorans live in poverty. Do you think Assoumani will survive this challenge?
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IVORY COAST BANS ALGERIAN RACIST
The Africa Cup of Nations football tournament that just kicked off in Yamoussoukro presents a rare opportunity for Africans from all over to meet, banter and celebrate.
However, the words of this Algerian fan have earned her a one-way ticket out of the host country, Ivory Coast. In this 13 January video, Sofia Benlemmane perpetuates anti-Black racism, saying prehistoric times are better than the current reality in Ivory Coast. The social media influencer is now banned from re-entering the country.
It would have helped if she remembered context. For example, France, which colonised Algeria and Ivory Coast, impoverished many northern, western and central African countries. Algeria faced a violent struggle in the mid-20th century to win liberation, with French colonial forces killing between 400,000 and 1.5 million Algerians, whilst burning down about 8,000 villages and moving 2 million people into concentration camps.
The Africa Cup of Nations football tournament that just kicked off in Yamoussoukro presents a rare opportunity for Africans from all over to meet, banter and celebrate.
However, the words of this Algerian fan have earned her a one-way ticket out of the host country, Ivory Coast. In this 13 January video, Sofia Benlemmane perpetuates anti-Black racism, saying prehistoric times are better than the current reality in Ivory Coast. The social media influencer is now banned from re-entering the country.
It would have helped if she remembered context. For example, France, which colonised Algeria and Ivory Coast, impoverished many northern, western and central African countries. Algeria faced a violent struggle in the mid-20th century to win liberation, with French colonial forces killing between 400,000 and 1.5 million Algerians, whilst burning down about 8,000 villages and moving 2 million people into concentration camps.
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Continued….Even though colonialism has formally ended, France has continued to control the economies of many of these countries by forcing them to use different forms of the franc as their currency for international transactions.
As a fellow African, constructive criticism could have been offered in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But, she clutches a European white identity that she seems to forget also victimises North Africans. In so doing, she diminishes not only the struggle all Africans face, but perpetuates racism against her own people as well.
What do you think is best done with a person like this? Please share your thoughts.
Video credit: @sofia_benlemmane
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As a fellow African, constructive criticism could have been offered in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But, she clutches a European white identity that she seems to forget also victimises North Africans. In so doing, she diminishes not only the struggle all Africans face, but perpetuates racism against her own people as well.
What do you think is best done with a person like this? Please share your thoughts.
Video credit: @sofia_benlemmane
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AMILCAR CABRAL COLONIAL PORTUGAL’S NIGHTMARE
He gave the Portuguese colonialists hell. And he liberated his native Guinea-Bissau. 1956 he founded the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.
Cape Verde was another Portuguese colony - Cabral’s parents came from there.
Thanks to his political activism, he became to Portugal what Patrice Lumumba had been to Belgium: public enemy number one.
We remember Amilcar Cabral, who was assassinated on this day January in 1973.
He gave the Portuguese colonialists hell. And he liberated his native Guinea-Bissau. 1956 he founded the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.
Cape Verde was another Portuguese colony - Cabral’s parents came from there.
Thanks to his political activism, he became to Portugal what Patrice Lumumba had been to Belgium: public enemy number one.
We remember Amilcar Cabral, who was assassinated on this day January in 1973.
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HOW MALCOLM X SHAPED THE BPP
🔥 Malcolm X: Igniting the Flame of Change 🔥
Malcolm X was assassinated almost 59 years ago and his death had a profound impact on the Black Panther Party. Here, its co-founder, Bobby Seale, explains how the towering civil rights figure triggered and shaped the BPP’s creation in a turbulent U.S. in the 1960s.
Apart from armed self-defence, Malcolm X recognised the need to create a political organisation to fight for the rights of Blacks. As a result, the Panthers were involved in various community projects, such as free breakfast programmes for children and healthcare clinics. In addition, they embraced a militant image, using it to challenge deeply entrenched racism plaguing Black people in America.
The BPP was considered a revolutionary socialist movement with a clear mission and was active until 1982. How do you view its legacy?
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🔥 Malcolm X: Igniting the Flame of Change 🔥
Malcolm X was assassinated almost 59 years ago and his death had a profound impact on the Black Panther Party. Here, its co-founder, Bobby Seale, explains how the towering civil rights figure triggered and shaped the BPP’s creation in a turbulent U.S. in the 1960s.
Apart from armed self-defence, Malcolm X recognised the need to create a political organisation to fight for the rights of Blacks. As a result, the Panthers were involved in various community projects, such as free breakfast programmes for children and healthcare clinics. In addition, they embraced a militant image, using it to challenge deeply entrenched racism plaguing Black people in America.
The BPP was considered a revolutionary socialist movement with a clear mission and was active until 1982. How do you view its legacy?
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Here, in one map, you can see at a glance one of Africa’s potential competitive advantages over the rest of the world - its youth!
It’s the youngest continent, with around 60 percent of people under the age of 25. Niger tops the charts, with an average age of just 15.
Of course, this will only really be an advantage if our young people are given the right opportunities.
Interestingly, last year’s coup in Niamey was overwhelming backed by its youth - many calling for an injection of new ideas and more inclusion. And this year, Niger’s GDP is expected to grow by 11.8 per cent, up from seven the year before.
Keeping the younger generation in work is paramount. Youth unemployment for Africa in 2024 is expected to be around 11.2 per cent, according to the International Labour Organisation.
It’s the youngest continent, with around 60 percent of people under the age of 25. Niger tops the charts, with an average age of just 15.
Of course, this will only really be an advantage if our young people are given the right opportunities.
Interestingly, last year’s coup in Niamey was overwhelming backed by its youth - many calling for an injection of new ideas and more inclusion. And this year, Niger’s GDP is expected to grow by 11.8 per cent, up from seven the year before.
Keeping the younger generation in work is paramount. Youth unemployment for Africa in 2024 is expected to be around 11.2 per cent, according to the International Labour Organisation.
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Continued….That’s not bad compared to some parts of Southern Europe, where the figure’s three times worse.
But for our continent to have a prosperous future, embracing its unique demographics is a must.
The question is: how best can this be done? A big topic, but get the discussion started in the comments.
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But for our continent to have a prosperous future, embracing its unique demographics is a must.
The question is: how best can this be done? A big topic, but get the discussion started in the comments.
Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio
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PT. 1: EGYPTIAN COMEDIAN BLASTS GENOCIDE DENIER
Famous Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef, who had recently dismantled British journalist Piers Morgan’s line of questioning, also went head-to-head with PBD Podcast co-host Adam Sosnick.
They were supposed to discuss conflicts in West Asia. However, as the podcast went on, Sosnick questioned how the Gaza Strip’s population grew so rapidly, casting doubt on the claim that Israel is committing genocide.
Let’s say, it got heated. Here’s Part 1.
Video credit: @valuetainment and @pbd.podcast
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Famous Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef, who had recently dismantled British journalist Piers Morgan’s line of questioning, also went head-to-head with PBD Podcast co-host Adam Sosnick.
They were supposed to discuss conflicts in West Asia. However, as the podcast went on, Sosnick questioned how the Gaza Strip’s population grew so rapidly, casting doubt on the claim that Israel is committing genocide.
Let’s say, it got heated. Here’s Part 1.
Video credit: @valuetainment and @pbd.podcast
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Member-states of economic alliance BRICS—an acronym for the original members: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—collectively appear to hold a more pro-Palestine stance than the United States and its allies. From voting in favour of Palestinian human rights at the United Nations to make public condemnations to dragging Israel to the International Court of Justice on a genocide charge, these Global South countries have done more for Palestinians in the last three months of escalated violence than the West has done in almost 76 years of Israeli occupation.
Here's a brief look at each BRICS member-state's position.
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Here's a brief look at each BRICS member-state's position.
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