WHAT MADE U.S. SO VIOLENT?

The US is not the shining city on the hill it fronts itself as. Far from being the beacon of human rights and democracy it preaches about, it has a closet full of bones of its victims. Professor Amos Wilson peels back the mask, and explains how its bloody past manifests in the criminogenic society it is today. It has two original sins, he explains, the genocide of American natives followed by the enslavement of Africans.

Once this is clear, it becomes easier to see the hypocrisy whenever a U.S. official lectures the world on humanity. While professing democracy, its government seems to mainly serve a small wealthy elite, including a military industrial complex responsible for the deaths of more than 20 million people since World War II. Its calls for human rights reflect poorly, considering the descendants of the enslaved Africans are nowhere close to justice, with subjects such as reparations seen as calls for free handouts.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

NEW SAHEL CURRENCY IN THE WORKS

The Alliance of Sahel States has been demolishing the pillars of Françafrique by the minute. Mere weeks after withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a few months after the creation of the alliance, a common currency for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger is well underway. That would relegate the CFA franc as a colonial relic in the dustbin of history.

A sovereign Sahelian currency will be a welcome break away from the patronising relationship that Francophone Africa has with Paris. France dictates 14 African countries’ economic policies, including requiring a French citizen to sit on the board of each of the three central banks that govern various forms of the CFA franc.

Continued….Despite holding a wealth of resources, these countries are among the poorest in the world. Following the 26 July coup that Nigeriens supported en masse, the International Monetary Fund projected 11 per cent growth in 2024 for Niger. And, it is not alone. Burkina Faso and Mali are also expected to grow despite Western powers attempting to isolate all three states and regional bodies like ECOWAS imposing sanctions. So, what changed?

Have a watch, and, as always, please let us know what you make of it.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

SUDANESE REFUGEES PICK WARTORN HOME
OVER INHOSPITABLE EGYPT

The war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has increased Sudan’s internally displaced population to 9 million people. Meanwhile, 1.7 million have fled abroad, with about 450,000 Sudanese ending up in neighbouring Egypt.

But an economic crisis has caused Egyptians to turn on Sudanese refugees, whom they see as a burden. Many Sudanese are now deciding between homelessness in Egypt and risking their lives by returning to a war-ravaged country. Unfortunately, reports say many Sudanese neighbourhoods have been devastated, and the few houses that stand are swarming with fighters.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

DRC DEMOS AGAINST WEST ESCALATE

Protesters have burned US and Belgium flags on the streets of Kinshasa. Anger continues to rage over claims the West is fuelling worsening rebel violence in the eastern DRC. Similar demonstrations have happened in the past, but these latest have a new intensity. DRC’s Foreign Ministry has given assurances the government will protect Western officials. Sadly, no one’s protecting the millions of civilians being killed and displaced in the east. As always, we’re interested in your comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

CHILD DIES EVERY 2 HOURS IN SUDAN

A child dies every two hours in the Zam Zam camp in the northern part of Sudan’s Darfur region. That’s according to global medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

The civil war that kicked off in April between Sudan’s generals has left hundreds of thousands of refugees without access to vital humanitarian aid and medical care.

Over the past several months, Sudan has earned the unfortunate distinction of having the largest internally displaced population in the world, with 9 million people having fled their homes. Meanwhile, 1.7 million refugees have left the country. Over the past 10 months, the violence has killed more than 13,000 people.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

IVORY COAST’S HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY NAME OF SHAME?

Ivory Coast gave everybody great AFCON memories - but our reporter could have been more impressed. She noticed how many public venues and institutions bear the name of its first President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. A man who promoted French imperial interests and thwarted neo-colonial movements. So, our question to you: Should his name still decorate streets, stadiums and airports?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

ERIK PRINCE: ‘U.S. SHOULD COLONISE AFRICA’... AGAIN? 🤡

Imperialists’ audacity can amount to clownery. But their intentions have dangerous consequences.

For example, private US-based mercenary firm Blackwater killed 17 Iraqi civilians in 2007 in what came to be known as the Nisour Square massacre.

Erik Prince, the speaker in this video, is Blackwater’s founder, who once served as CEO and later as chairman. Some might see him as an extension of US foreign policy. Blackwater has won billion-dollar US-government security contracts to patrol throughout West Asia. He now thinks ‘underdeveloped’ Africans need the US to help govern the continent.

Africa certainly has leadership issues, but hasn’t Africa had genuine leaders who worked for the good of their people? And what became of them? France, a NATO member, assassinated Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara. The US, UK and Belgium killed the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Patrice Lumumba.

Continued….The US-backed South African apartheid government allegedly took out Mozambique’s Samora Machel. The CIA ousted Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, as well as Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. In every case, the West’s fingerprints are on the crime scene. Why are these facts glaringly absent from Prince’s rationale?

In many ways, the US already colonises Africa. Most African countries’ economies are at the mercy of the International Monetary Fund’s loan terms. These countries are reeling in debt on Washington’s conditions. The impacts can range from cuts to healthcare and subsidies, labour market deregulation, and privatisation of state assets and services. Plus, while numbers are not easy to pin down, of Africa’s 54 countries, 15 reportedly host 29 AFRICOM military bases. And 53 African states have varying military partnerships with the United States.

The point is, has Africa ever been free? Let us know what you think of this clownery.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

EXPLAINING HOW STEREOTYPES FESTER

Author and social activist Gloria Jean Watkins, is better known by her pen name Bell hooks [sic].
She wrote over 22 books and here explains how negative stereotypes of Blacks can be perpetuated.
Even if a Black person shatters a prejudicial trope, often they’ll be viewed as the exception to the rule.
While slamming White supremacist attitudes, she also laments Blacks who consider themselves inferior.
It’s a thought provoking interview, even if it is a few years old. Tell us if you think it’s still relevant.

‘LAND RETURN MUST HAPPEN WITHOUT WHITES’

There’s one fact we keep repeating: Whites make up 10 per cent of South Africa’s population and yet own about 70 per cent of the land.

Author Kim Keller says the ANC ruling party has not done enough to give back land to Blacks, the rightful owners. A bold government, according to her, would’ve done this already without consultation with White colonisers.

In this powerful interview, Keller explains that land ownership is tied to economic growth and dignity. Without it, Blacks in South Africa will remain oppressed.

She wrote the book No White Lies, Black Politics and White Power in South Africa. In her words, she claims to ‘unmask the Rainbow Nation as a palace of White Power, even though the governing Party, the ANC, is Black.’

Keller pulls no punches. Listen to this clip of her talking on the EFF podcast, and tell us if you think she’s right.

WHO SHOT THE SHERIFF?

A Haitian prosecutor has recommended charges against 70 people over President Jovenel Moïse’s 2021 assassination. The list includes his wife and former first lady, who was shot during the incident. Yet, some see these as politicised charges trying to cover for Haiti’s current prime minister, Ariel Henry, whom foreign powers tapped to succeed Moïse.

In a twist, Haiti’s police head has accused a Miami-based security agency of hiring former Colombian soldiers to murder Moïse. Plus, a Miami court sentenced a former US government informant after he admitted involvement.

Who do you think killed Moïse? Let us know in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

HILLARY HECKLED OVER LIBYA, PALESTINIANS

Hillary Clinton was double-heckled during a speech she gave at Columbia University on the topic of sexual violence in conflicts.

As she was about to start, a man shouted that she was a war criminal - citing US involvement in Libya, as well as in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, “and now [against] the people of Palestine!” She waited for him to be removed before proceeding to deliver her address.

Later during the talk, she was interrupted by another protester, who told her she should be ashamed, accusing her (and Washington) of exploiting sexual violence in Libya to justify US intervention - adding that this was happening again now in Gaza to justify genocide.

Continued….For context, Hillary Clinton was the US Secretary of State when NATO bombed Libya and backed violent militants in the country to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. In the lead-up to the regime-change operation, the US repeated unverified claims - later proven to be untrue - that Gaddafi’s soldiers were taking Viagra and raping Libyan women. Moments after Gaddafi himself was sodomised and killed by NATO-backed forces, Clinton shared a laugh with a television news reporter saying on camera, “We came, we saw, he died!”

What would you say to Clinton if you had the chance?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

BLINKEN’S WEST AFRICA BLITZ: WHY NOW?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a whistle-stop tour of West Africa at the end of January. While there, he committed to economic and security partnerships, and discussed America’s key goal of ‘boosting democracies’ in the region. African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim isn’t convinced, though. Here’s his 90-second take on what the real reason for the visit was.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

MADAGASCAR’S NEW CASTRATION LAW

Castration. That’s the new punishment for child rape in Madagascar - amid a surge in cases.

The law introducing the punishment (as well as life in prison) was first tabled by President Rajoelina. It’s now been signed by him after being approved by the Senate.

Last year, 600 children were sexually assaulted on the island - and just this January, 133 cases were reported.

Under the new legislation, those found guilty of abusing children under the age of ten will be surgically castrated. In cases where the child is 10-13, the method will be surgical or chemical, while rapists of 14- to 17-year-olds will be chemically castrated.

International rights groups have criticised the punishment but local defenders say it will deter paedophiles from acting. What do you think?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

CONGOLESE WOMEN PROTEST VIOLENCE

Hundreds of women gathered on 14 February in Kinshasa to demand an end to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s eastern part, where clashes between the military and rebel groups have escalated. Led by Minister of Gender, Family and Children Mireille Masangu, the rally featured banners highlighting the plight of millions of victims since the conflict kicked off in 1994. The women condemned Rwanda’s alleged expansionist agenda, as well as foreign actors’ complicity. That includes that of the United States, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Poland.

The crisis is dire, but remains underreported. It has been called Africa’s ‘World War,’ with more than 6 million people killed and around 7 million internally displaced.

Continued….The driving force for the violence is foreign corporations’ attempts to get their hands on Congolese resources such as timber, oil, gas, diamonds, cobalt, gold, copper and coltan. Companies like Apple and Tesla are battling a lawsuit linking them to child labour exploitation.

This protest is the culmination of recent demonstrations. A few days ago, fed-up youth attacked Western installations like the French embassy. They allegedly ripped Western flags off buildings across Kinshasa and set them on fire, prompting the government to beef up security. Intelligence services reportedly arrested a few activists. Plus, the DRC’s national football team held silent protests at Africa Cup of Nations matches, as well as with players’ pleas online.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

ISRAEL FAILS TO GATECRASH AU SUMMIT… AGAIN!

The African Union has banned an Israeli delegation from entering its Addis Ababa HQ in Ethiopia, where the 37th AU summit is underway.

Reports suggest Tel Aviv wanted to consult with allies on how Israel could acquire observer status at the annual event - something it’s previously tried but failed to do.

At last year’s get-together, there was a scandal when an Israeli official was caught in attendance without proper accreditation. She was dramatically marched out of the main hall in disgrace. If you missed it, here’s our coverage of that incident:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2Z1bZ1oPKA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Continued….Back then, Tel Aviv cried foul, alleging it had been stitched up by South Africa and Algeria - while hosts Ethiopia clarified that only the Israeli ambassador had been accredited, not the official in question.

Topping the agenda for the 2024 summit is conflict resolution and mediation - in particular, for Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is a danger of a wider regional war breaking out in the Great Lakes region, as tensions between DRC and Rwanda - accused of arming rebels in Congo’s east - escalate. Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, meanwhile, has killed thousands and forced nearly 8-million people from their homes.

Back to Israel though - why do yo think they’re so keen to get into the AU?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

WHAT GADDAFI DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT OBAMA

Even Pan-African leaders can fall victim to empty identity politics.

In February 2010, former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi told journalist George Negus that Barack Obama’s Arab and Muslim roots differentiated him from the rest of the US imperial political establishment.

Tragically, the Obama administration’s aerial bombardment the following year helped depose Gaddafi, who was brutally sodomised and killed by NATO-backed forces.

Soon after, Black Africans began being sold in open slave markets in Libya. For many, that proved Obama only differed from other US presidents by the amount of melanin in his skin.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio