Continued…..Niger - which was threatened with war by ECOWAS if it did not undo its anti-imperialist coup - has also taken additional measures to defend itself from neighbouring member states. For example, it’s closed its airspace to flights from Nigeria next door. Niamey has also accused Benin’s president, Patrice Talon, of supporting sanctions against Niger only to avoid criticisms from ECOWAS allies over seeking an illegal third term.

What do you make of AES efforts to stand up against ECOWAS?

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The US State Department has ‘strongly’ condemned escalating violence in the restive eastern DR Congo, blaming the M23 rebel group, which it says is backed by Rwanda.

But some might accuse Washington of merely feigning concern - or even of attempting to pull the wool over the world’s eyes regarding its own destructive role in the tragic history of the mineral-rich country.

Washington’s main interest in the Congo began during the Second World War when it used the purest known uranium ore from the Shinkolobwe mine to make the first-ever atomic bomb. Ore from the mine was later used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Continued…..In 1961, the CIA orchestrated the killing of visionary Pan-Africanist leader Patrice Lumumba, and then propped up murderous dictator Joseph Mobutu, who enabled Western interests to loot much of the Congo’s wealth until his ouster in 1997.

US tech giants such as Apple, Google, Dell, Microsoft and Tesla are accused of profiting from child labour, as they rely on battery-grade cobalt mined in the DRC.

Washington also allegedly uses Rwanda and Uganda as conduits for arms shipments to militia groups in the DRC. Is it a coincidence that the leaders of both countries are still around 25 years after US President Bill Clinton labelled them a ‘new breed of African leaders’?

What do you think the US is really ‘concerned’ about?

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ISRAEL FAILS TO EXPEL LAWMAKER OVER SA GENOCIDE CASE

On Monday, February 19, Israel’s supreme state body, the Knesset, narrowly failed to expel left-wing member, Ofer Cassif, for his support over South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. The motion was supported by 85 Knesset members, 5 short of the two-thirds majority of 90 needed for expulsion.

Eleven lawmakers voted against expulsion and 24 abstained, including leading centrist politicians Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz and significant portions of their respective parties, Yesh Atid and National Unity.

Continued…..Cassif faced expulsion from the Knesset after signing an open letter supporting South Africa’s charge at the ICJ that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Israel has rejected the accusation. Shortly after the vote, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that “the voice against the war, the voice against the carnage of innocent civilians, the voice for the immediate release of the hostages, the voice for peace and justice will not be silenced. My voice will not be silenced!”

Israel’s assault on the Gaza strip has killed almost 30,000 Palestinians in operations it says are aimed at rooting out H*m*s militants. However, most of the victims have been women and children. The ongoing attacks have displaced 1.9 million people and destroyed over 70% of homes in the region.

Tel Aviv has faced global condemnation for the high death toll, and even its allies, particularly the United States, have urged restraint. The ICJ has said it’s ‘plausible’ Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered it not to take actions that violate the Genocide Convention. However, the court did not call for a cease-fire as many had hoped.

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US AND FRENCH FLAGS SET AFLAME AGAIN IN DRC

Congolese people have had enough of being trampled on and dominated by Western neo-colonial powers! Yet again they’ve taken to the streets to burn the American and French flags which represent imperialist violence and destruction. In this video the protesters also denounce Paul Kagame, president of neighbouring Rwanda who is accused of helping Western powers illegally access Congolese resources by fueling war in Eastern Congo.

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MALCOLM X: WE’RE IN A POLICE STATE

Today marks 59 years since Malcolm X was assassinated. But about 62 years ago, the human-rights defender delivered this fiery speech that remains relevant.

Africans in the United States live in a police state intent on criminalising us for our very existence. We are routinely shot and maimed, and then blamed for our own deaths. While our loved ones pray that the innocent victims of grotesque violence rest in peace, the media ensures we do not. After our people are brutally killed, character assassinations begin.

Meanwhile, Hollywood and the US music industry work hard to propagate violent images of Africans, both in the US and worldwide. Many rappers have come forward to talk about how the multibillion-dollar music industry offers better contracts to artists who use violent lyrics. This is then used to depict our culture as inherently violent, which justifies over-policing and mass incarceration.

Can you see where we’re coming from? Let us know.

HUGO CHAVEZ’S LOVE FOR AFRICA

What may have been revolutionary Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s final public document was a letter addressed to the Third Africa-South America Summit, hosted 20-23 February 2013 in Equatorial Guinea. He expressed regret for not being able to attend the conference. At the time, he was battling cancer, which took his life just a few weeks later, on 5 March 2013.

This video shows the Burkinabé people organising a tribute to Chávez after his passing. The event took place at the l’Université Ouaga 1 Professeur Ki-Zerbo (formerly the University of Ouagadougou). Chávez was the first Venezuelan leader to publicly claim an African heritage. He stated, ‘He [my father] is mixed Indian and Black, which makes me very proud.’

Continued…..Throughout Chávez’s presidency, he fought for the liberation of and attempted to deepen the diasporic connection with African people. That effort took place both within Venezuela as well as throughout ‘our America,’ a term used to describe the landmass from Canada to Chile.

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BBC LIGHTENS GAZA GENOCIDE TO ‘CAMPAIGN’

A recent BBC post on X (formerly Twitter) downplaying Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza as a ‘campaign’ backfired after many users agreed with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva that it is not a campaign but a genocide.

Last month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide. South Africa petitioned the ICJ to decide whether Tel Aviv had violated the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention.

As usual, we’re glad to help the good folks at the BBC fix their headline. But let us know what you think, too.

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Nina Simone is among the most famous musical figures of the 20th century. Today, the 21st of February, is her birthday, a good occasion to highlight the radical politics woven throughout her songs.

Her political life went beyond the usual civil rights narratives dominating US discourse. Simone aligned herself with communism’s promise of true liberation. Malcolm X’s influence moved her to embrace Pan-Africanism, while advocating for Black nationalism and supporting armed action. Songs like ‘To Be Young Gifted and Black’ and ‘Backlash Blues’ reflect this shift.

Conversations with figures like playwright and writer Lorraine Hansberry influenced Simone, whom she cites in her ‘real girls’ talk’ quote. These discussions fueled songs like ‘Mississippi Goddam,’ which addressed racism, imperialism and global solidarity.

Continued…..Despite allegedly facing FBI scrutiny and industry pressure, Simone remained unwavering. Songs like ‘Ain’t Got No / I Got Life’ were poignant commentaries on poverty and societal marginalisation, while ‘Feeling Good’ offered a flicker of hope amidst struggle. Simone’s legacy transcends music, reminding us that art can be a powerful tool for demanding a just world.

Simone later renounced the United States, calling it, ‘the United Snakes of America.’ She moved to France in 1993, and passed away in 2003.

Please join us in wishing our revolutionary ancestor a happy birthday!

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ALGERIA: ISRAEL BLOCKING PALESTINIAN STATE

This week, 52 states and three multi-state organisations are presenting arguments at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) about the legal consequences of Israel occupying the Palestinian territories.

The six days of hearings started on 19 February and came after the UN General Assembly asked the court in 2022 for an advisory—non-binding—opinion on the occupation.

In this clip, Ahmed Laraba, who represents Algeria’s legal team, asserted Israel wants to make sure a Palestinian state is impossible.

Algeria has long opposed normalisation with Israel. Plus, its own experience with French colonisation fuels its longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and against Israel’s illegal occupation.

What do you think about Laraba’s argument? Let us know in the comments.

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AFRO HAIR DAY! BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL

As part of Black History Month, we celebrate Afro hair. It’s hard to imagine now, but even our beautiful, natural curls were used against people of African descent - mocked by Whites to such an extent that many in our community felt compelled to imitate their styles, using straighteners (along with skin lighteners) to conform to an imposed ideal.

One of those who did her utmost to raise our consciousness and self-image about Afro hair was the Black Power movement that was led by the Black Panthers and included revolutionary sisters like Kathleen Cleaver. She saw every coil, kink and curl as a testament to resilience and authenticity.

Watch her here express her pride in her brothers’ and sisters’ hair and looks, and extol the fact that Black is beautiful. Decades on, do we need a resurgence of this movement? Leave your thoughts below.

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This image of the US ambassador’s hand covered in blood has gone viral online.

That’s because the United States has, for the third time, vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. An Algerian-drafted resolution on 20 February called for an immediate ceasefire. So far, Israel’s military operation has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians since the escalation in the Palestine-Israel conflict began on 7 October.

Explaining Washington’s lone vote, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the resolution would undermine negotiations for the release of hostages. However, US allies such as France, Switzerland, Slovenia, South Korea and Japan voted to support the resolution. Meanwhile, the UK abstained.

Calls have been growing to reform the UN Security Council to reflect current global dynamics, which have changed since the UNSC was set up at the end of World War II in 1945.

Let us know what you think of the United States’ third veto.

WIKILEAKS: THE AFRICAN ANGLE

It’s a critical moment for Julian Assange - who this week is making one final appeal to the UK’s high court to block his extradition to the US, which is pursuing the publisher for alleged espionage.

His real ‘crime,’ many would argue, is simply lifting the lid on US wrongdoings - by publishing a trove of diplomatic cables that implicate Washington in atrocities and alleged war crimes. Many of these relate directly to Africa.

Here’s a reminder of some of Assange’s key revelations concerning American foul play on the African continent - and of why the UK should free him immediately.

Make some noise in the comments!

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ISRAELI POLITICIAN: HUNGER & THIRST HELP RECRUIT COLLABORATORS

An Israeli politician made headlines when she said blockading the Gaza Strip, thereby starving Palestinians, would help Israel cultivate collaborators to gather intelligence. The Likud Party’s Revital Gotliv shocked many with this 23 October speech to the Knesset, Israel’s legislative body.

Continued…On 26 January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide and issued a provisional ruling, ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocidal acts. That includes punishing incitement to commit genocide, ensuring aid and services reach Palestinians under siege in Gaza, and for Israel to report to the ICJ within a month on its progress.

Tel Aviv appears to have ignored the UN court’s directive, continuing to throttle the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. Israel has bombed Palestinians at the Rafah border crossing near Egypt, while Israeli protesters have blocked aid trucks. The death toll has also risen, with Israel now having killed almost 30,000 Palestinians since the 7 October escalation in the 75-year Palestine-Israel conflict. Meanwhile, 1.5 million people have been displaced, and over 70 per cent of housing has been destroyed.

What do you think of the Israeli lawmaker’s remarks? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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ALL UN MEMBERS MUST STOP AIDING ISRAEL

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding advisory proceedings this week regarding Israel’s military assault against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. On 19 February, legal scholar Philippe Sands delivered this message as he represented Palestine: Every UN member state providing material support or aid to Israel must stop.

Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid since the end of World War II, having received $150 billion (not adjusted for inflation) between 1948 and 2022. Just this month, the US House of Representatives voted down an additional $17.6 billion ‘stand-alone’ package to Israel. Another $14 billion in military aid to Israel, part of a larger $95 billion package to several countries, faces uncertainty in the House after passing in the Senate.