Continued….. Caledonia has heaps of it - meaning heaps of profits for the masters back in Paris. So naturally, islanders are out protesting. They’ve been met with a huge security response, leading to violence and six deaths - as well as a good deal of rioting. France has declared a state of emergency, imposing a curfew and banning TikTok.

In this clip, TikTok political commentator @beautymrked walks us through an article that neatly summarises what’s going on, adding his own observations. Your insights into the situation are of course most welcome in the comments!

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NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE NEEDS 35 VISAS FOR AFRICA!

Here’s proof of how difficult it is for Africans to travel around their own continent. Nigerian Billionaire, Aliko Dangote, says he needs 35 different visas just to do business here. And he points out a French national would require far less! The award-winning entrepreneur was speaking at the recent CEO Forum Annual Summit in Rwanda and even gave President Kagame an earful over the bureaucratic madness.

We’d also like to point out the insanity isn’t just strangling economic growth, it also impacts society. Many communities from the same ethnic groups are separated due to colonial-made boundaries and can’t interact because of visa requirements. It’s time something’s done.

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ABORIGINAL CLAPBACK TO WHITE AUSTRALIAN GOES VIRAL

When a white Australian politician decided to protest a ban on climbing a sacred rock, an Aboriginal person's clapback went viral.

In August 2019, Pauline Hanson, a senator who's made headlines with her racist remarks, travelled with a TV crew to protest a ban on humans trekking up Uluru, an 863-metre-high sandstone monolith that juts out of the flat landscape of Australia’s Northern Territory. The rock is sacred to the Aboriginal Pitjantjatjara people.

But what came next earned public praise. The 69-year-old politician, known for founding the far-right One Nation party, told two Aboriginal café workers near Uluru that she was indigenous to the land and questioned why they were working there if they were Aboriginals from other regions. She accused the two of taking away jobs from ‘locals.’ However, the women stood their ground, and one named Faith Saylor checked Hanson by raising that the senator might actually be indigenous to England.

WHY AFRICANS SHOULD BE ANTI-ZIONIST

As African people, we often feel a close connection with others fighting colonialism and imperialism. But the anti-Zionist current within the Pan-African movement is not only about empathising with Palestinians, it’s about Israel's role as an oppressive power on the African continent.

In this video, Ahjamu Umi of @aaprpinternational, gives some clear examples of both. From Uganda’s clash with Israel in the 1970s to Tel Aviv arming Ethiopia to counter a pro-Palestinian Eritrea. He also highlights how Israel, along with the US, arms and trains African police. That’s why you’ll see them kitted out like the Israeli Defence Forces. Israel's links to the continent run deep and Ahjamu ends by saying, 'a conscious African needs to be anti-Zionist.' Do you agree?

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BIDEN DEFENDS BIBI AFTER ICC ISSUES ARREST WARRANT

US President Joe Biden has slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) for seeking arrest warrants against top Israeli officials. The ICC's prosecutor, Karim Khan, stated on 20 May that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are wanted because the ICC has 'reasonable grounds to believe' the two Israeli officials' bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.'

Continued….. In its 26 January interim ruling, the International Court of Justice, the UN's highest court, said Israel's military onslaught on the Gaza Strip's more than 2 million Palestinians could be plausibly gen*cidal and ordered Tel Aviv to ensure it takes measures to abide by the 1948 UN Gen*cide Convention. Since then, Israel has gone on to k*ll an additional 9,000 Palestinians, bringing the death toll to over 35,000, with most being women and children.

So far, Israel has displaced over 1.7 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, some of whom in the north are now in the grip of a catastrophic famine, according to the UN.

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MOROCCANS: SEVER TIES WITH ISRAEL!

Pressure’s piling up on Morocco to end ties with Israel over its war on Gaza. There’ve been demonstrations across the North African Kingdom, with the latest in Casablanca.

In 2020, Morocco became the fourth Arab state to resume diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv under the Abraham Accords. There are now demands for that to be scrapped in the face of Tel Aviv’s onslaught that’s killed over 35,000 Palestinians in seven months.

Rabat has strongly condemned the massacre, but has stopped short of abandoning the normalisation agreement.

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3 EUROPEAN STATES RECOGNISE PALESTINE STATEHOOD

The leaders of Spain, Ireland and Norway have announced that they will formally recognise the state of Palestine on 28 May.

The three leaders made the announcements in their respective capitals. In Dublin, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris described the decision as ‘historic’ for his country and Palestine. He also announced that leaders of many other countries have indicated they would be taking similar steps soon.

From Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had spent months touring European and West Asian states to garner support, said the decision is the ‘only way’ to achieve peace and security as Israel has occupied Palestine for almost 76 years. Spain has long had cultural ties to Arab countries.

Continued….. Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced in Oslo that recognising a Palestinian state is essential for attaining regional peace.

The Israeli government is outraged at the three states’ decision. Tel Aviv has recalled its envoys to Ireland and Norway for what it termed as ‘urgent consultations,’ adding the ambassador to Spain would also be called back to Israel if the country followed suit.

As of 22 May, 142 of the United Nations’ 193 member states recognise Palestine.

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FRANCE DEPLOYS MORE TROOPS TO NEW CALEDONIA

France is scrambling to quell unrest in New Caledonia, which has been rocked by riots over constitutional reforms approved in Paris. These will expand the electoral roll in the overseas territory to include newcomers - diminishing the political representation of the indigenous Kanak people, who largely want independence. (Newcomers tend to come from mainland France and favour union.) Six people have already died in the upheavals.

Paris has now sent out an extra 600 gendarmes and police - adding to the more than 2,000 troops already there. The new deployment comes as video emerges of French gendarmes in the capital Nouméa quashing pro-independence protests. In this clip, you can see one of their armoured cars ramming burnt-out vehicles.

President Emmanuel Macron is on his way to New Caledonia to try resolve the crisis with local leaders. It’s a clear sign of how serious the situation is on the island, which is 17,000 km from France.

Continued…. France annexed New Caledonia in 1853 and gave the colony the status of overseas territory in 1946. It boasts huge nickel reserves, which France is very keen to keep making money off. Pro-independence movements have been active, but the ongoing riots are the worst in 40 years.

Matai Seremaiah, the foreign minister of the neighbouring island of Vanuatu, has urged France to "do the right thing, to resolve all outstanding decolonisation issues" and seriously engage with Kanak leaders.

How do you see this playing out? Will France ride this one out or is it time to say ‘adieu’?

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U.S. SENATOR: STOP ICC BEFORE IT GETS US

US Senator Lindsey Graham expressed outrage over the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Graham said Washington must oppose the move because, if the ICC finds the Israeli officials guilty, it could also target US leaders.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has also issued arrest warrants for three H*mas officials for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during and since the H*mas-led 7 October attack.

Given the crimes that US leaders have committed against the people of the Global South for centuries—between coups, proxy wars, weapons distribution, military invasions, occupations and economic sanctions—Graham has good reason to worry that US leaders could end up on the ICC’s docket, as it should be if the world had a fair and impartial justice system.

PLANE CRASHES THAT CLAIMED AFRICAN LEADERS

Iran held the public funeral today, 22 May, for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (1960-2024), who died in a helicopter crash along with his foreign minister and their security on 19 May in northwestern Iran.

Many have speculated about what could have caused Sunday’s unfortunate event, which joins a list of controversial air crashes that have claimed the lives of leaders, including those from Africa.

For instance, John Garang, the then-vice president of Sudan and longtime leader of the movement for a united Sudan, died when the Ugandan presidential helicopter he was travelling in crashed on 31 July 2005, just three weeks after being sworn in as Sudan’s vice president.

Mozambique’s revolutionary president, Samora Machel, lost his life when his plane crashed in neighbouring South Africa in late 1986. 

Plus, Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundi’s President Cyprien Ntaryamira were both killed in a plane crash in 1994.

‘FLYING PREZ’ STRIKES AGAIN: $1.5 MN ON PRIVATE JET TO U.S.!

Kenyans were already pretty angry about their ‘flying president’ clocking up air miles like there’s no tomorrow - at a huge cost to the country’s strained budget. Well, imagine how they reacted to the latest revelation about William Ruto’s extravagance on his travels. Apparently, he hired a private plane from Dubai’s RoyalJet for his visit to the US - for 1.5-million dollars!

It adds insult to injury for the millions of cost-of-living affected Kenyans he’s told need to start tightening their belts and living within their means - and on whom his administration intends to impose fresh taxes. And while Ruto flaunts it in front of his people, he’s also being put to shame by other leaders setting a far nobler example. For example, Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson recently flew Kenya Airways for his visit to Malawi.

Continued….. You’d have thought an apology was the very least Ruto’s administration could offer after this latest scandal. Instead, it’s defended blowing all that money on a private-jet flight by saying all the contracts Ruto will sign in the US will more than make up for it in terms of economic benefits to Kenya.

Do you buy that excuse?

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PANDOR: STOP RAFAH MASSACRE

South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, made this emotional plea to the world to stop the slaughter in Gaza. She warns Rafah is the ‘last bastion of protection’ for the people of Palestine, as Israeli forces continue their assault on the southern city. Thousands are seeking refuge there and UN food deliveries to it have been suspended over supply shortages and security concerns. Across Gaza over a million people are thought to be on the brink of famine.

South Africa’s top diplomat gave the interview during a Palestinian solidarity protest in Cape Town. Her country’s leading a g*nocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In January, the ICJ ruled Israel must take steps to avoid genocidal acts, but human rights groups say Tel Aviv is blatantly ignoring the order. Despite claiming its operation is designed to root out militant group H*m*s, Israel’s bombardment has killed at least 35,456 Gazans, mostly women and children.

WHO WAS THE 'LION OF THE DESERT'?

Have you heard of the Lion of the Desert? His name is Omar al-Mukhtar, a teacher turned general. He is a Libyan national hero and symbol of resistance against Italy's fascist-inspired colonialism. Mukhtar fought in two wars against the Italians in Libya, as well as against French colonisation in Chad and the British occupation of Egypt.

African Stream's Ahmed Ghoneim profiles Mukhtar, telling the story of this hero's struggle to free his native Libya and how, against all odds, he refused to give up.

As he once uttered, 'We do not surrender—we win or die… and I'll live more than my hanger.' Indeed, his legacy is revered today.

Let us know in the comments of other African revolutionary heroes you'd like to see us include in our new series, 'Decolonised Minds.'

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Same scenario, two different responses. Here’s another fine example of Western duplicity.

In March,2023, Burkina Faso suspended all broadcasts by France24 after the French TV station aired an interview with the head of al Qaeda’s North African wing. France24 quickly branded it an attack on press freedom and the free flow of information in the Sahelian state.

However, France24 did not express the same level of anger when Israel banned Al Jazeera for ‘incitement’. Nor has the mainstream media in general highlighted the plight of press freedom (or lack of) in Israel.

Continued…. Al Jazeera reports that in 214 days, 142 journalists were killed there, or 1 every 36 hours. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says at least 97 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Funny how all press are free to report on those facts, but many don’t. Burkina Faso, on the other hand, is castigated for daring to kick out a news outlet of its former colonial master, for platforming a terrorist group.

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US President Joe Biden says he plans to visit Africa in February should he win a second term in the November election.

His announcement came as he welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto, who is in Washington for a two-day state visit, the first of a Kenyan leader in 21 years. The two will discuss trade, debt relief, and the way forward regarding conflicts in Haiti, Ukraine, Sudan, and other areas, according to reports.

Ruto has advocated a US-backed plan for a Kenyan police deployment in the Caribbean state of Haiti as being in line with Pan-Africanism. However, many Africans have disputed Ruto’s claim, given the West’s history of enslaving, occupying and interfering with Haiti.

Continued….. Amidst Western-backed political turmoil, Haiti, a predominantly Black republic, has no working national assembly to ratify agreements with other countries.

Last November, Biden spoke of making a state visit to Angola during a meeting with President João Lourenço, but it has yet to happen. While Biden, as president, has not visited an African country except for Egypt, his cabinet members have taken several trips to countries like Niger, where a military coup ousted a Western ally and subsequently tore up a military agreement with the US.

In December 2022, Biden hosted 49 out of 54 African countries, the African Union and civil society organisations at the US-Africa Leaders Summit. The last one had been held eight years prior. China and Russia’s role on the continent was a topic of discussion, and Biden attempted to distinguish the US by saying it is ‘partnering’ with African states. However, Rafiki Morris, a US-based Central Committee member of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, criticised Biden’s summit by referring to it as the ‘Meeting of Uncle Tom and Uncle Sam.’ ‘Uncle Tom’ is a term Africans use to criticise Africans who appear to serve their colonial masters, while ‘Uncle Sam’ is a nickname for the United States.

Only nine US heads of state have made official visits to Africa.

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