CHILE JOINS G*NOC*DE CASE AGAINST ISRAEL

Chile’s the latest country to join South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel at the UN’s top court. President Gabriel Boric said the ‘catastrophic humanitarian situation’ in Gaza needed a ‘firm response’. Chile has a Palestinian community of around half a million, making up over two per cent of the population.

A dozen other countries have formally
joined or backed the lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Pretoria launched the case in December, and the court ordered Tel Aviv to take steps to prevent g*nocide. Bio

Continued….. However, Israel’s onslaught continues and over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed. Tel Aviv’s also defying ICJ demands to stop its assault on Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had taken refuge. A May 26th Israeli air strike hit a camp for displaced people in the southern Gaza city, killing at least 45 and sparking international outrage. Israel claims it’s targeting H*mas resistance fighters.

Tel Aviv is becoming increasingly isolated on the global stage. Listen to President Boric’s address to his National Congress get huge applause.

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FIVE YEARS AGO: KHARTOUM MASSACRE

Today marks five years since the killing of at least 127 Sudanese civilians by men wearing the uniform of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - a paramilitary force that at the time was allied with the Sudanese military.

The victims had been peacefully protesting outside the Ministry of Defence headquarters, demanding that the military, which had taken over the reins of authority after the overthrow of long-time Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, step aside.

When al-Bashir was forced to step down following weeks of protests against his government, a transitional governance body made up of civilians and senior military officers had been set up, but this did not sit well with many citizens who felt that the military officers were part and parcel of the deposed administration and therefore should have no place in the new government - hence, their decision to protest outside the ministry headquarters.

Continued….. The massacre continues to haunt the country, as the perpetrators still haven’t been held accountable.

It was also a glimpse into what atrocities awaited the population at the hands of the men in uniform, as a few years later, the RSF and the army turned their guns on each other, setting off a conflict that has so far killed more than 15,000 people, displaced millions and left nearly half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance.

In this clip, African Stream’s CEO and founder, Ahmed Kaballo gives details of the massacre. The clip is part of his documentary on the 2019 Sudan revolution. You can watch it in full on our YouTube page.

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Ukraine’s embassy, which opened in April in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has already come under fire for a notice to Ivorians recently circulating across social media stating, ‘The Embassy of Ukraine in Ivory Coast informs young people aged 18 and 30 wishing to serve the Ukrainian armed forces on the front as part of the defence of our nation against Russian aggression launched on February 24, 2022, that recruitment within the Ukrainian embassy will begin on May 30.’

Continued….. The Ukrainian embassy denounced the post as ‘fake news’ a few days after it spread. Yet, it’s not hard to see why someone might have found the notice credible. Since the war began, Ukraine has suffered troop losses as high as 500,000. In 2022, the Senegalese government denounced Ukraine’s effort to recruit 36 Senegalese citizens to fight. Plus, in early 2022, videos had circulated of Africans rejecting attempts to recruit them to fight for Ukraine while they tried to flee the eastern European country.

After the war broke out in Ukraine, many in the Global North were dismayed to hear a large chunk of African countries refused to endorse or join the war effort in support of Ukraine because of modern collaborations and historical ties with Russia that went back to the days of the former Soviet Union.

Continued…. Further, many countries have denounced the West’s attempts to pressure Africans to support any war effort while African states like Libya are still reeling from Western invasions. Meanwhile, colonialism doesn’t seem to have ended with France, the UK and the US continuing to control African economies and occupying land.

Amidst Ukraine’s troop losses and waning Western support, it opened five embassies in April across the African continent, including in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Mozambique and Rwanda, bringing Ukraine’s diplomatic presence to 17 African states. It has stated that its goal is to have 20 embassies. Meanwhile, Russia hosts diplomatic missions in more than 40 African countries.

GUINEA-BISSAU’S UNSHAKABLE CARMEN PEREIRA

Eight years ago today, Guinea-Bissau’s Carmen Maria Pereira passed on - after a fulfilling life committed to the struggle. She had been a tireless warrior during Guinea-Bissau’s fight for independence from the Portuguese.

At an early age, she joined the resistance movement, becoming a member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) - a party that produced some of Africa’s finest female freedom fighters, such as Titina Silá.

Pereira would go on to serve very briefly as Guinea-Bissau’s president.

She may not be with us now, but the people of Guinea-Bissau remember her as a radical spirit in the face of injustice. Continue to Rest in Power, Madam Pereira.

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PALESTINE, W.H.O’S NEWEST MEMBER

The wave of Palestinian resistance is yielding results. Refusing to be sidelined and forgotten by history, the World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly (WHA) officially recognised Palestine as a member to align with Palestine’s newly elevated status at the United Nations. The vote took place on 31 May during the 77th WHA in Geneva. In this video, you can see the chamber break into applause after passing a resolution that accepted Palestine’s membership—short of the right to vote—and again after the World Health Ministry president and Botswana’s health minister, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, asked the Palestinian representative to take the state’s rightful seat between Palau and Panama. The vote moves Palestine a step closer to full WHO membership.

Have a look at this historic moment and please share your thoughts.

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U.K. CHILDREN: ‘WHO THE F**K IS ALLAH?’

This clip of children hurling profanities to question the Muslim faith was captured at a 2 June march that far-right activist Tommy Robinson organised in London. An estimated tens of thousands of people marched behind a banner that read, ‘This is London, not Londonistan.’ Groups from across the UK known for being violent related to football matches also marched.

A crowd then gathered at Parliament Square where songs were played with lyrics including ‘I want my country back’.

UK advocacy group HOPE not hate’s CEO, Nick Lowles, told one news outlet: ‘Today’s demonstration is set to be the biggest gathering of far-right activists, football hooligans and Tommy Robinson supporters in years. There is a strong likelihood of violence as we have unearthed shocking messages from hooligan chat groups where people are threatening to attack people of colour, pro-Palestine demonstrators...’

Continued…. Many worry indoctrinating children can birth extremist youth willing to be violent against people they believe inferior. Yet, counter-extremism agencies have turned a blind eye to this worrying trend.

As Israel’s military onslaught against the Gaza Strip has continued for nearly eight months, k*lling more than 36,000 Palestinians, Israeli children have been seen celebrating the deaths. Since the 1948 establishment of the settler-colonial state of Israel, children have been taught to see Arabs and Muslims as less than.

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Happy birthday to an underrated giant of Pan-Africanism, and Mali’s first president, Modibo Keïta (1915-1977).

He was born on June 4th, in a French colony that was then known as ‘French Sudan.’ Keïta was already brilliant in his youth, securing a spot at the most rigorous and prestigious school in French colonial West Africa. Yet, he hated colonialism from a young age and was described by his teachers as, ‘very intelligent but anti-French.’

He formed the US-RDA, a political party that led his country to independence. As a committed Pan-Africanist, Keïta worked relentlessly to unify French Sudan with other African states. He co-founded the Mali Federation, consisting of Senegal and French Sudan. However, his anti-imperialist stance regarding France was not shared with his Senegalese counterpart, causing the federation to splinter. The Republic of Mali, as we know it today, was born.

Keïta never stopped fighting for a unified socialist Africa.

Continued…. He joined the Union of African States, also known as the Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union. He was close with other revolutionary Pan-African leaders, such as Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Sékou Touré, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Ahmed Ben Bella. They became the prominent voices of the Casablanca Group, fighting for socialist unification on the continent.

Keïta became Mali’s first President in 1960. An ardent anti-imperialist, he moved his country out of France’s grip by expelling French troops, closing the French military base, and forging a new sovereign currency for Mali which lasted until his overthrow in 1968. Education was transformed and government-supported farming cooperatives became the backbone of the economy. Mali became a close friend of revolutionary governments worldwide from Cuba to Vietnam. National Youth Week was instituted as a cultural showcase bringing together various ethnic groups and regions to represent their heritage.

Continued…. On this day we remember the legacy of a great leader who continues to inspire the state of Mali today! Happy Birthday ancestor Modibo Keïta!

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MALEMA: I AM NOT DESPERATE TO BECOME PRESIDENT

The recently held South African elections saw a drop in support for Pan-African political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The final results published by the country’s elections body gave the EFF a 9.5% vote share - a drop of about 1.5 % compared with 2019’s race.

Various possible reasons for the decline in support have been put forward, including the suggestion that the party’s refusal to jump on the anti-migrant bandwagon drove away xenophobic voters.

In recent years, South Africa has witnessed a rise in Afrophobia. Citizens blame African migrants for many social and economic ills, such as crime and unemployment.

This rhetoric is most loudly heard from fringe organisations such as Operation Dudula, which President Cyril Ramaphosa once described as a “vigilante-like force” dividing Africans.

Continued…. However, the run up to the elections saw even mainstream parties use xenophobic rhetoric to attract votes. But the EFF resisted that temptation, despite knowing that such a position would probably cost it votes.

In this clip from March’s campaign trail, EFF leader Julius Malema states very clearly that he would rather lose elections than yield to xenophobes. What do you think? Is sticking to your principles, even if it means making the attainment of power less likely, sensible politics?

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Germany’s football coach has branded a survey racist for asking if the national side should have more white players. State broadcaster ARD randomly polled 1,304 people, with 21 per cent saying yes.

Julian Nagelsmann said it was ‘madness’ for the TV channel to ask such a question. It was also slammed by one of his players, Joshua Kimmich.

ARD claims the survey was commissioned after one of its reporters was challenged about the side’s makeup while making a documentary. Whatever the excuse, it’s not a good look for the hosts of Euro 2024, with the championship kicking off in Munich on June 14th.

Since 2010, Germany’s national team has been significantly multiracial, with several Black and Turkish players.

Continued….. However, while its makeup has been lauded for reflecting the country’s multiculturalism, Black players still suffer abuse.

Germany defender Antonio Rüdiger, who has Sierra Leonian roots, has been vocal about the trauma he’s suffered during his career. He laid bare the treatment during an interview in 2021. You can read it here.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/antonio-ruediger-champions-league-soccer-racism-chelsea

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BBC WHITEWASHES ISRAELI RAFAH MASSACRE

Running alongside Israel’s destruction of Gaza is the mainstream media’s propaganda war. The recent Israeli air strike on a camp for displaced people in Rafah is the perfect example.

BBC presenters tell the story of what happened with language that distorts and deflects blame. It’s all done with the subtle addition of words and glaring omission of facts.

According to the presenters, over 35 people (not civilians) were killed by an explosion (not air strike). There’s no mention of the UN’s top court ordering Israel to stop its Rafah assault just days before. There’s no mention of the worldwide outrage, including from European leaders. It’s propaganda 101. This is our reaction.

NIGERIA ON STRIKE OVER MINIMUM WAGE

An indefinite strike led by two of Nigeria's biggest unions kicked off on Monday, paralysing parts of the country. Airports were closed, the main power grid shut down, and schools, courts and the Ministry of Finance closed.

Their demands: a higher minimum wage and a reversal of electricity-tariff hikes. The government calls them unreasonable, but the unions point to government extravagance, branding it an insult amid austerity among the population. What the unions are demanding, they say, is not even enough to feed a family.

This is taking place on the back of one year of neoliberal policies from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. This has included currency devaluations and stripping fuel subsidies, which has made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians.

Do you support the strike action?

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African women find themselves at a high risk of violence.

London is no exception. Black people comprise 13.5 per cent of greater London and just 2.7 per cent of the city of London. And, yet, Black women make up 40 per cent to 60 per cent of femicide victims, depending on the year. These women are killed not only because of their race but also because of their gender.

While the report that we drew these statistics from looks at the United Kingdom, Black women experience similar forms of violence around the world.