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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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WHY IS THE RED SEA CALLED THE RED SEA ?

The Red Sea’s geopolitical and economic importance cannot be understated. It’s been in the news lately between Yemen’s Houthi rebel group attacking Israel-linked ships and Somalia and Ethiopia battling over a proposed naval base.

But do you know why it is called the Red Sea?

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When South Africa dragged Israel to the International Court of Justice over alleged acts of genocide against Palestinians, many Israel supporters said the African country should mind its business and stay out of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

But what many may not know is while South Africa's racist regime oppressed Black people for centuries, Israel did not stay on the fence during the 20th century.

The most prominent involved Israel helping South Africa develop weapons to fight liberation movements, such as the African National Congress (ANC). This also allowed South Africa to destabilise neighbouring countries sympathetic to the liberation cause.

Israel deployed military advisors to South Africa to help the apartheid war machine as it engaged in fierce battles with the ANC's armed wing in southern Angola and northern Namibia in the 1970s and '80s.

Continued…..The apartheid security establishment used Israeli-manufactured special-purpose vehicles to brutally suppress protests across South Africa, especially in Black townships.

Therefore, Israel has a history of not only interfering in other countries' affairs, but being staunchly on the oppressor's side.

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AFRICA’S INDEPENDENCE-ERA SELL-OUTS

Africa got flag independence, while the colonisers retained the tools of power - such as control of Africa’s economies via chokehold institutions like the World Bank and IMF.

For this to work, they needed compliant Africans - collaborators willing to take out true African heroes like Thomas Sankara and Patrice Lumumba.

In this report, African Stream’s William Sakawa looks at four of the worst offenders among African leaders when it comes to serving foreign interests at the expense of their own people - including DR Congo’s Mobutu and Kenya’s Kenyatta.

Who do you think the biggest traitor was?

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OUR TAKE ON PUTIN’S INTERVIEW - PT. 1

Conservative US journalist Tucker Carlson, who has tried to position himself as a populist in the years since Donald Trump was elected president, allegedly defied immense pressure to cancel his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yet, during the more than 2-hour interview at the Kremlin, Carlson managed to repeat mainstream media tropes on China’s supposedly colonial ambitions. That didn’t wash with Putin, who, while much vilified in the West, enjoys a cordial relationship with Beijing, with which Russia established a strategic partnership starting in the late 1990s.

Over the past two decades, Chinese-built infrastructure totalling $155 billion has benefitted Africa. So, Carlson’s statement that China is colonising Africa doesn’t hold water on the continent, which Western imperial powers have long exploited.

Continued…..African Stream’s journalists had a blast reacting to Putin’s rebuttals during the 6 February sit-down. We’re sure you’ll enjoy watching the entire reaction video on our YouTube channel.

Our question for you: What does Russia’s rise mean for Africa—the most sanctioned continent—and the future of multipolarity? Let us know in the comments.

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BRAZIL RENEWS CALL FOR PALESTINE STATE

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva, in denouncing Israel’s 4-month bombardment and siege of Gaza, called for a Palestinian state to be established during an Arab League gathering on the issue. After meeting in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Lula gave these remarks to the 22-member regional organisation.

The Brazilian president urged an end to Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinian people. He also called for a definitive and immediate ceasefire to allow the flow of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages.