U.S. EMBASSY SCAM IN NAMIBIA?

In this video, a Namibian woman criticises the US embassy in Windhoek for not refunding visa fees after rejecting Namibians who would like to go to the United States for work, holidays or education. She explained the US embassy took 3,600 Namibian dollars ($186 USD) from the lady next to her, then denied a visa without any explanation.

This is a common occurrence for Africans, who, as of 2021, faced some of the highest rejection rates for non-immigrant visas after Laotian and North Korean citizens. In Nigeria, the US embassy rejected two out of every three student visas in 2022. And, when rejected, the US policy is no refunds.

How should Africans win justice in such situations? Or should we figure out how to make Africa a place we can thrive? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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This disgustingly racist image was posted by Dmitry Rogozin - a Russian senator who previously served as deputy prime minister.

In a tweet on X, Rogozin compared African-American US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to a monkey. Under a picture of Austin (who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer) standing with other politicians, Rogozin wrote: ‘Before his illness, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin loved being photographed with pygmies.’ Next to the picture of Austin, he’d added one of a gorilla captured by Pygmies.

The post sparked a backlash on social media. But Rogozin doubled down and next posted a video showing Ukrainians performing a folk dance, followed by a clip of dancing chimpanzees. This time his racist caption was: ‘Monkeys should be called monkeys.’

Rogozin later claimed that the X account that made the post was run by a bot. However, many find that hard to believe, as the account in question is verified and - in the past - he has used it to issue official statements.

Continued….While Austin is the current head of the engine room of the war-mongering US empire, attacking him like this reveals the deep-seated racism that African people are subjected to both in the West and the East.

Rogozin’s post not only shows how prevalent and tolerated racism is in Eastern Europe, including Russia, but flies in the face of Moscow’s diplomatic attempts to position itself as an ally of African people in their fight against imperialism by the West.

If a senior government official can publish such vile, racist content, one can only wonder what is said behind closed doors.

What are your thoughts on this incident?

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‘REVERSE RACISM IS A WHITE LIE’

Saira Tao and Regina Jackson, co-founders of Race2Dinner, an initiative to start honest conversations about race in the United States, broke down in this clip why reverse racism is impossible and simply a ‘white lie.’

Let us know what you think in the comments.

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YASSIN BEY IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE

Rapper Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) has been a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause. In his words, Israel’s four-month assault on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 30,000 people, mainly women and children, is an unnecessary evil.

In this video, Yasiin takes issue with leaders around the world, including those in the US, who are complacent in the killing of children in Gaza.

“If you can’t rely on the way… the light of your own conscience to know right or wrong, then Godspeed to you and get out of my face.”

CHAD OPPOSITION LEADER KILLED AHEAD OF ELECTION

Reports say Chadian government forces killed opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djérou in a 28 February attack on his party’s headquarters. The government blamed the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF) leader for a recent fatal attack on the internal security agency’s headquarters. In the meantime, internet and telephone services have been cut off for civilians in the capital of N’Djamena.

This comes ahead of an election in May that could return Chad to civilian rule. Transitional President Mahamat Déby, a four-star military general and son of France-aligned former President Idriss Déby, seized power in a 2021 military coup.

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MASSACRE AT FOOD AID CONVOY, OVER 100 PALESTINIANS KILLED

The Israeli military reportedly killed 112 Palestinians and injured 750 people on 29 February as they tried to get flour and canned goods from aid trucks southwest of Gaza City.

Israel said it opened fire because thousands of Palestinians had allegedly surrounded about 30 trucks, trampling people.

The attack happened on the day the death toll in the Gaza Strip surpassed 30,000. The Israeli military has been bombarding the 41-kilometre-long enclave for almost five months.

About 21,000 children and women have been killed, making up 72 per cent of the death toll.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the attack requires an independent investigation.

Gaza is on the brink of famine, with food and medical supplies running out after Tel Aviv escalated a blockade on 7 October that began in 2007.

DIASPORA URGED TO DEFEND ETHIOPIA’S AMHARA

These are dark days for Ethiopia’s Amhara people - one of the country’s largest ethnic communities. In mid-February, government troops allegedly conducted a series of extra-judicial killings, going door-to-door and massacring dozens of civilians in the Amhara region.

It follows a rebellion by the so-called Fano group - an Amhara militia that fought with the army in the civil war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (a war that ended in November 2022). Fano is angered over government plans to disarm militias and state repression against the Amhara people following the end of the war with the TPLF.

Continued….The conflict - between Fano and the Ethiopian National Defense Force - has seen the destruction of property, sexual violence, arson, looting and mass killings. A state of emergency has just been extended in the region. Activists say this only justifies a curtailment of media freedoms, Internet shutdowns and communication blackouts.

The Amhara diaspora - understandably - is extremely concerned by developments at home and has been shocked into activism. In Santa Barbara County, California, the Amhara Association of America welcomed a resolution supporting the struggle of the Amhara people of Ethiopia passed on February 27th. In this clip, a representative urges the diaspora at large to do more to ensure the safety of her people.

If you agree, please share - and please also share your insights into the situation in the Amhara region.

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THE REAL FACE OF KAGAME

Rwandan president Paul Kagame is hailed as a Pan African leader, not to mention a head of state to be emulated. Why? Because of his good governance policies and wanting the best not just for Rwandans but the rest of the continent? That is not particularly the case.

Allegedly supported by Kigali, the notorious M23 rebels are bringing chaos to the Eastern Congo. This is the real face of Kagame, used as a Trojan horse by western imperialists to further extract the vast mineral wealth beneath the Congolese soil. These natural resources, such as tin, tungsten and tantalum (coltan) to name a few, are key components for the production of mobile phones, computers, motor vehicles, rockets and spaceships, and other hi-tech devices.

We implore Africans and people across the globe to speak against these and all other atrocities committed in the Congo so that justice prevails.

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BATTLE OF ADWA ANNIVERSARY

Following the 1884 Berlin Conference, European powers went on a brutal rampage claiming African territories for themselves. Italy’s piece of the pie was modern-day Ethiopia. However, their colonial lust was stopped dead in its tracks after a well-equipped and trained Ethiopian army annihilated them on the 1st March 1896. In honour of this sacrifice, today we celebrate the 128th anniversary of the historic Battle of Adwa.

While the battle started on 29 February, tensions between the Ethiopians and Italians had simmered for years. Since the mid-1880s, the budding European colonial power had established a presence in the then seaside village of Massawa in modern-day Eritrea. Once consolidated along the coast, the Italians began occupying inland territories. By 1890 they declared Eritrea as their own.

With nothing to halt their insatiable desire for more African land, repeated violent incursions took the Italians all the way to Ethiopia.

Continued…In 1894, Ras Mangasha, the ruler of the Tigray region, mobilised his people against the invaders. Unfortunately, his efforts were subdued by Italy’s army. The rapid colonial expansion prompted Menilek II, who had been crowned as Ethiopian Emperor in 1889, to start mobilising the nation in resistance.

By September 1895, a formidable force of up to 100,000 troops was assembled. Marching to the tune of purpose and determination, the soldiers began retaking territory but, in general, avoided major confrontations with the invading army.

That changed on 29 February 1896 when General Oreste Baraterie, commander of the occupation force and acting on orders from Rome, attacked the Ethiopians.

By the afternoon of 1 March, Menelik’s forces had run the tail between the legs of Italy’s army. It was a decisive blow, one that sent Rome’s ambitions retreating back to Eritrea.

Ever since, Ethiopia’s resolute victory has served as a beacon of African resistance to European colonialism.

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HAITI P.M. IN KENYA TO IRON OUT POLICE DEPLOYMENT

Ariel Henry, Haiti’s unelected prime minister, is in Nairobi to address hurdles obstructing a Kenyan police deployment to Haiti. Recent court rulings in Kenya have challenged the government’s authority to deploy police beyond its borders without a reciprocal arrangement. Those opposed to the deployment say it is illegitimate because Haiti has no elected president or parliament to ratify agreements.

Further, critics argue it serves US interests. The United States, which had once occupied Haiti, has agreed to provide $200 million for a multi-state deployment. Despite the island’s historic struggles, such as overthrowing French-imposed slavery and being coerced to pay at least $21 billion in today’s dollars in ‘reparations’ to France, the root causes of instability are often overlooked.

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FEBRUARY’S HEADLINE HITTERS

Our monthly news wraps are back! Africa is huge, and so much happens, it’s always good to take stock with a bird’s eye view. February saw, inter alia, the lifting of sanctions on Niger, a ban on artisanal gold exports in Burkina and a final, sorrowful send-off for Kenya’s marathon record holder. Here’s African Stream’s Erick Gavala with all that and more. What do you think was the biggest story on the continent in February and why?

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CONGO LATEST NEWS

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)Felix Tshisekedi says he’s willing to meet his Rwandese counterpart, Paul Kagame. The potential convening of the neighbouring heads of state comes on the heels of Tshisekedi’s state visit to Angola on 27 February and was confirmed by country’s foreign minister Téte António. No date has been scheduled for the talk between the two presidents.

During his stay in Luanda, Tshisekedi spoke with Angolan President João Lourenço about the ongoing crisis in the eastern Congo. Lourenço has served as a mediator between Rwanda and DRC as part of the African Union-backed “Luanda Process”. During the 37th AU Summit in mid-February, the Angolan leader convened with Kagame and Tshisekedi separately.

Continued….The DRC has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels operating in the eastern Congo. However, Kigali has repeatedly denied the claims.

Meanwhile, the UN peace-keeping force in Congo (Monusco) has handed over the Kamanyola base, the first in a drawdown that will see its complete withdrawal from the DRC after a 25-year presence. Against a backdrop of successive anti-UN protests, Tshisekedi called for the peace-keeping force to leave the Congo. UN troops have frequently been accused of failing to protect civilians in the decades-long internal conflict, as well as committing human rights abuses. In September 2023, six Congolese soldiers were charged with killing 56 demonstrators at an anti-UN protest in the eastern Congo.

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SUDAN ALERT: RAPE USED AS WEAPON OF WAR

Rape is increasingly being used as a weapon of war in Sudan - and the world is largely silent. The UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has tried to raise the alarm, saying the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary is the main perpetrator. In one cited case, as many as 20 women were reportedly abused in the same attack.

The actual number of those sexually assaulted is unknown because of electricity and Internet blackouts, and the conservative nature of Sudanese society - meaning many women are suffering in silence. But RSF fighters have been brazenly boasting about their crimes online.

Continued….In one sickening video, a militia member praises the act of rape as something that he and his fellow RSF fighters are ennoscriptd to, arguing that Sudan is theirs and that they are ennoscriptd to anything within the country. Such material should be used as evidence at a future war crimes tribunal.

Data coming out of Sudan shows over 5,000 female recruits have joined the army, with many citing the increasing incidence of violations against women as their number-one motivation. It is worth noting, though, that the Sudanese army created the RSF and - before they were rivals - encouraged them to use rape as a weapon of war in the Darfur region of Sudan, but for many of the female recruits, there are very few options left.

They say, in all ways, women pay the heaviest price, and this is undoubtedly true in Sudan. Please keep your #eyesonSudan and raise your voice for our Sudanese sisters. They need our voices now more than ever.

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AFRICAN STREAM QUESTIONS HAITIAN PM IN NAIROBI

The former president of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021 - after which Prime Minister Ariel Henry took control of the country with the support of the Core Group, led by the United States and Canada, amidst mounting unrest from civilians and gangs alike.

This unrest led to the United Nations Security Council moving a motion to send a ‘peace mission’ to Haiti - ostensibly to quell the insecurity and armed gang violence.

Kenya was given a mandate to lead this mission and vowed to send 1,000 police officers to the island, prompting an outcry from both Kenyan and Haitian citizens - with the High Court in Nairobi ruling that this deployment was unconstitutional. The Kenyan president, William Ruto, insists the mission will advance despite the court ruling.

Continued….Recently, Benin also pledged to send troops to Haiti as well.

On 1st March 2024, the Haitian prime minister - and acting president - was in Nairobi to give a public lecture on Haiti at the United States International University Africa. He spoke about why he still thinks it’s essential to push ahead with the proposed ‘peace mission.’

African Stream’s Sefu Sanni was in the audience and got the chance to challenge him on that. Have a watch - and please post your views on the issue in the comments.

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WHAT SOVEREIGNTY?

When the colonisers ‘granted’ us independence, there were so many strings attached that it made a mockery of the idea that we’d actually attained sovereignty.

As Dr. Mojo Ablode - an adviser to the Ugandan President’s Office - explains here, when the French gave up their colonies, for example, they did so on condition that they had first pickings on a country’s mineral resources, that the ex-colony would keep half of its reserves in France’s central bank, that it would host French military bases and buy its own weapons from French arms producers, and that it’d pay back its so-called ‘colonial debt’ - that is, expenses for ‘civilising’ the ‘savage’ natives and leaving behind basic infrastructure (even though the latter was only ever built to service the colonial administrators!).