Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently caused phone and Internet outages, according to the state news agency and telecommunications companies.

Sudanese families reported being unable to communicate with their loved ones, who cannot make online payments for food and other essentials.

The RSF allegedly shut down service from Sudan's two main telecommunications providers, while demanding service restoration in the Darfur region, which it largely controls. The group reportedly has forced Kuwaiti-owned Zain Sudan to stop service in the River Nile state and Port Sudan city, both controlled by the the RSF's rival, the Sudanese army.

The civil war that began in April between the RSF and the army has internally displaced 9 million people and has pushed more than 1 million out of the country. Moreover, the conflict has damaged infrastructure, such as network towers and power lines.

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BLINKEN TO AFRICA: ‘DITCH WAGNER, BUY U.S. GUNS!’

When US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came to Nigeria at the end of last month, he was there to talk regional security.

His key messages were 1) stop working with Russian mercenaries in the security sphere, and 2) rely on American weapons and support instead.

Who was he looking out for there, do you think - Africans, or America?

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Continued….This is due to Western mining firms having dominated the sector for the larger part of the last 100 years, while avoiding paying taxes.

In 2012, Washington-based group Global Financial Integrity revealed that, between 2001 and 2010, nearly $9 billion was illegally siphoned out of Zambia to tax havens. This amount is way higher than what the country received in foreign 'aid' during the period in question.

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AFRICA CONTROLLING RESOURCES WOULD BE TROUBLE FOR WEST

Journalist Clayton Morris blasted the United States during an interview with US-based media outlet Redacted about which African countries the US government may seek to destabilise next.

In this excerpt, he explains how Norway discovering oil in the mid-20th century helped transform it into one of the world’s most prosperous countries. However, Morris said the United States would not want resource-rich African countries to undergo such a transformation.

What do you think? Let us know.

Video credit: @dancohen3000 of Redacted

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MALEMA: SPRINGBOK SYMBOLISE APARTHEID

South Africa’s national rugby side may be a source of great pride for the nation following their record fourth World Cup noscript. But for some, the famous gold and green jersey and springbok emblem are anything but.

Opposition leader Julius Malema wants the colours and famous leaping antelope badge changed because of their links with the apartheid era.

They’ve been worn by the side since first appearing during a tour of Britain back in 1906. And remained during the height of apartheid when the Blacks were banned from playing the sport alongside Whites in South Africa.

Continued…..The ANC had called for the kit to be scrapped after coming to power almost 30 years ago. However, Nelson Mandela intervened and allowed the national team to use the traditional strip at the 1995 World Cup, believing it could be a unifying step. But even today, despite making up less than 10 percent of the population, White players still form more than half of the country’s rugby team.

Do you agree with Malema it’s time for a change? If so, what colours and emblem would you choose?

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Continued….A spokesperson for the ANC also rebuffed the suggestion that the party had received funding from Iran. Mahlengi Bhengu said the party has always declared all the funding it receives from donors and abides by the country’s Political Funding Act, which prohibits parties from receiving funding from political players.

In late December 2023, South Africa took action against Israel at The Hague over Tel Aviv’s war in Gaza - arguing that war crimes, including genocide, were being committed. Over 27,000 Palestinians have been killed since the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel.

Pretoria insists its legal case is motivated by principle and its long-held stance on the Palestinian cause.

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PT. 1: WE REACT TO 🇵🇸 SUPPORTER SMACKING DOWN SKY NEWS HOST

This has got to be the most one-sided interview we’ve seen in a long time.

Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim thought she had put British journalist and filmmaker Dr. Myriam François on the spot during a 22 January interview. Hakim brought up the hundreds of billions of dollars the Houthis are costing Israeli and Western economies by blocking a key shipping route in West Asia. The group has said it will continue until Israel stops bombarding the Gaza Strip and allows humanitarian aid to enter.

African Stream journalists had fun reacting to François’ response. It’s a one-sided match we think you’ll enjoy, as well.

Watch the whole thing on our YouTube channel and join the conversation by leaving a comment here.

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Football is often hailed as a powerful tool for breaking barriers and uniting people. However, the Nigerian embassy in South Africa fears that the beautiful game could actually do the opposite during the highly anticipated AFCON semi-final clash between South Africa and Nigeria on Wednesday night.

Fearing possible xenophobic clashes, the embassy has issued a circular, warning Nigerians living in South Africa to avoid 'loud, riotous or provocative celebrations' should the Super Eagles beat Bafana Bafana. It also warned Nigerians to be mindful of where they will watch the game.

Continued….The seemingly well-intentioned statement has, however, not been well received by the South African government, which has accused the embassy of sounding a false alarm and 'creating tension' between the citizens of the two countries. Pretoria insists that, despite the longstanding football rivalry, South Africa does not have a history of football hooliganism against Nigerians.

But the embassy has dug its heels in and insisted that it issued the advisory due to genuine concerns about the safety of its citizens. It cited what it called ‘veiled threats’ posted online by South Africans.

We sincerely hope that the only battle that we see tonight is that which will be fought on the pitch in Bouaké, Ivory Coast. Do you think the embassy’s concerns are well founded?

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Today, the 7th of February, marks the 38th anniversary of the passing of a Pan-Africanist beacon, Cheikh Anta Diop. A champion of African history and identity, the esteemed scholar and philosopher dedicated his life to dismantling the shackles of colonial narratives to reclaim Africa's essence.

Diop’s work challenged the Eurocentric view of history, placing Africa at human civilisation's centre. His theories on linguistic origins, with the 'Paleo-African' hypothesis, sparked crucial conversations about Africa's intellectual and cultural contributions to the world. He confronted the distortions and biases that had marginalised African history, paving the way for an accurate understanding of the past.

Continued…Diop's unwavering belief in Africa's dignity and potential fueled the flames of Pan-Africanism, urging people of African descent to unite and celebrate their shared heritage. He emphasised the importance of cultural reclamation, urging Africans to rediscover their own languages, traditions, and knowledge systems. His message resonated deeply, inspiring movements for liberation and self-determination across the continent.

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Canada-based Somali rapper K'naan has won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Song for Social Change - for his 2023 hit single Refugee. The song, released as a tribute to refugees worldwide, has garnered praise for its powerful lyrics and uplifting message.

K'naan has always channelled his personal experiences as a refugee into his music, arguably taking pride in the term ‘refugee’ and emphasising collectivity and community. The music video for the song Refugee juxtaposes scenes from migrant camps and boats, and footage of K'naan taking the train and singing in the street.

As of mid-2023, there were 110-million forcibly displaced people across the globe, including over 710,000 Somali refugees. K'naan's win is a significant recognition of the struggles faced by refugees worldwide.

Continued….Born in Somalia, K'naan's family fled to Canada in 1991, settling in Toronto. His music career took off with the hit single Wavin' Flag, which propelled him to worldwide fame when it was chosen as the anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He has since used his platform to raise awareness about refugee issues worldwide.

K'naan's music has earned him numerous awards, including a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year and a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With Refugee, he hopes to initiate a deeper conversation about the global refugee crisis and the need for empathy and understanding.

Let us know how that conversation should go - and show some love for @knaanstagram - in the comments!

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SOUTH AFRICANS FIGHTING FOR IDF ‘WILL BE PROSECUTED’

While South Africa stands up for Palestinians by going after Israel for war crimes in The Hague, a small number of its citizens have actually chosen to go and fight for the IDF in Gaza.

But they may regret doing so. Pretoria reiterated on Monday that it regards them as ‘mercenaries’ - and will prosecute them.

Foreign minister Naledi Pandor noted that South African law prohibits citizens from fighting for any army that targets civilians.

Pandor also revealed that the South African Justice Department had been alerted about a number of cases.

For over 120 days now, Israel has waged war in Gaza - killing some 27,000 Palestinians. Throughout this period, Pretoria has shown solidarity with, and stood up for, the Palestinian people, whose plight many South Africans regard as similar to their own under apartheid.

What do you think should happen to the South African mercenaries in Gaza?

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⚠️ WARNING: AFRICANS, DON’T MOVE TO CANADA

Listen to this warning about Africans migrating to Canada, only to accept jobs requiring lower qualifications than the ones they have in their home countries.

What do you think?

EDDIE GRIFFIN ON COLONIALISM IN AFRICA

In 2008, comedian and actor Eddie Griffin joked about what European colonialists did when they came to Africa. In his words, they gave us Bibles, and they took the gold, diamonds and land.

Tell us below who your favorite African comedian is.