‘WESTERN LOANS WE CAN NEVER PAY’

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) clocked 80 years this month. It was formed after the Bretton Woods Conference took place in New Hampshire, in 1944.

However, while the organisation insists it helps countries, a significant number, particularly in the Global South, have experienced a different reality.

For decades, the IMF’s been synonymous with austerity reforms that have brought economic ruin and misery to the most vulnerable. These programmes have forced governments to lay off workers, impose wage freezes and reduce social spending in order to pay back IMF loans.

Continued…. As a result, economic growth is stifled and countries fall into a so-called debt trap, where they need to borrow more to pay back existing debt.

In this clip, former AU Ambassador to the US, Arikana Chihombori-Quao explains how the IMF and other Western lending institutions exploit Africa. While they charge their ‘friends’ low interest rates for dollar loans, African countries get fleeced. Some commentators have called it financial apartheid, but Chihombori-Quao believes the game is up.

Listen to this interview she gave to US broadcaster Voice of America. She’s never one to hold back.

Credit: VOA Africa

MALEMA: WE WILL NOT SHARE SPACE WITH MURDERERS

Israel’s embassy in Pretoria remains open, despite South Africa’s parliament voting to shut it last year over Tel Aviv’s assault on Gaza. At the time, it was seen as part of South Africa’s tough stance and was followed by its genocide case against Israel at the UN’s top court. So, why is the embassy still in operation all these months later?

Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, blames South Africa’s new Government of National Unity (GNU) for dragging its feet. In particular, he singles out the influence of the pro-Israel Democratic Alliance, which won about 20 per cent of the vote in recent general elections.

Continued….. As far as Malema’s concerned, his party will always refuse to ‘share its geographical space with murderers’ Too bad the GNU doesn’t hold the same conviction. In November 2023, South Africa’s parliament voted in favour of an EFF motion to shut the Israeli embassy and cut diplomatic ties. Eight months later, still nothing has happened. Don’t hold your breath either, given the pro-Palestine African National Congress has now climbed into bed with the DA.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION VS. ‘IDIOCRACY’ THE MOVIE

It’s the so-called ‘Silly Season’ in US politics, when the media is flooded with frivolous information about political candidates, often aiming to sway voters. We think this comparison of the recent Republican National Convention with the 2006 science-fiction comedy film, ‘Idiocracy,’ is spot on. With US political discourse reduced to a zero-sum ‘us vs. them’ dichotomy, we strive to present all sides—warts and all—to empower the audience to make informed decisions.

Video credit: @Vision4theBlind (X)

Original videos: @NBCNews and ‘Idiocracy,’ 20th Century Studios (2006)

RIZZA ISLAM DISMANTLES NBC’S FAILED HIT JOB!

It’s one thing to be the target of a mainstream-media smear campaign - but it adds insult to injury if they can’t even be bothered with minimal journalistic standards. Watch Rizza Islam of the Intellectual Xtremist show break down NBC’s recently attempted hatchet-job against his and five other organisations as part of a wider legacy-media push to sideline independent voices.

In recent years, with audiences increasingly media savvy and clued up about how the mainstream operates, alternative platforms have enjoyed a surge in popularity. And they pose an ever greater threat to the media giants who could previously get away unchallenged when, for example, dressing up Western propaganda as objective reporting.

One likely reason behind NBC’s attack on six Black outlets is the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. Liberal establishment media have for a long time been useful in pulling in the Black vote for the Democrats.

Continued……Against this, outlets like yours truly, African Stream, argue with evidence that neither the Democrat nor the Republicans have Black interests at heart.

If anything, while the mainstream media accuses independent outlets of disinformation, it is the establishment that has ‘manufactured consent’ for (for example) the killing of Palestinians for nine months now. Take the debunked claim that Hamas beheaded 40 babies - which swept like wildfire through the information space, while the correction barely registered. This helped desensitise mass-media consumers to the very real atrocities committed against Palestinian children.

Rizza Islam begins his response to the NBC piece by looking through the email its reporter sent him. It’s a masterclass in how not to do journalism. Enjoy!

Video Credit: @RizzaIslam (Rumble)

ISRAELI ANCHOR’S EVIL TIRADE BECOMES REALITY

At the start of Israel’s obliteration of Gaza, this clip of an Israeli TV anchor went viral. Channel 14’s Shay Golden warned Palestinians they would ‘see numbers [of dead] that you never imagined were possible’. He also warned his country was willing to be ostracised by the International community.

Well, his shocking tirade was prophetic. Since then, over 39,000 people have been k*lled in Gaza, mostly woman and children. The Lancet medical journal says the overall death toll could be more than 186,000 due to the devastating impact on healthcare systems and food supplies in the enclave. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice has called it genocidal, while the International Criminal Court Prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister and Defence Minister, along with Hamas leaders.

Continued….. As Shay Golden warned, Israel has indeed k*lled on a scale ‘you never imagined possible’ despite being ostracised on the world stage.

Of course, there’s one caveat. The US continues to bankroll Israel’s slaughter and in April Congress approved another $14-billion in ‘security assistance’. Now we have US presidential candidates doubling down on Washington’s support ahead of elections in November.

Video credit: @now14

A LOOK AT NIGER 1 YEAR AFTER COUP

Today marks one year of Niger’s revolutionary military coup d’état bringing to power President Abdourahamane Tiani and a new government known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP). History has been made with Niger charting a path of sovereignty and self-determination.

The CNSP not only followed in the footsteps of Mali, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso in expelling the French military, it also became the first African country in history to give the boot to the US military, operating under the US Africa Command (AFRICOM). Some US forces have already left the country, evacuating Air Base 101 in Niamey and working to leave Air Base 201 near Agadez by 15 September. 

Niger has also implemented economic policies that put control of its resources back in its hands, such as nationalising its drinking water and ending French exploitation of the Imouraren mine, one of the world’s largest uranium reserves.

Continued….. Niger has co-founded the Alliance of Sahel States confederation with Burkina Faso and Mali. The confederation aims to unify the three countries’ foreign policies, facilitate the free circulation of people and goods, and create and execute a shared defence plan to set the foundation to unite into a single Pan-African federated state.

Last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that Niger was expecting a 10.6 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase this year due in part to an increase in oil exports and agricultural production. Compare this to last year’s 7.3 per cent growth.

More control over land and resources appears to benefit African states.

What do you think of Niger’s CNSP government? Let us know in the comments.

Continued….. It has not all been rosy, though. The party has faced numerous challenges, including a lukewarm performance in the May 2024 elections, which saw its electoral support dip to 9.5%. This has led to the party being dislodged from its position as the country’s third-largest party. Some attribute the decline in the EFF’s popularity to its refusal to jump on the anti-migrant bandwagon. Despite that, the party looks set to remain a force to be reckoned with on South Africa’s political scene and beyond.

WE ASK NIGERIENS: HOW DO YOU LIKE COUP GOVERNMENT?

Things are changing rapidly in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. African Stream sent our French-speaking journalist, Inem Richardson, to the three countries to hear from the people on the aftermath of coups that occurred in recent years to oust Western-aligned leaders. Do the people support these governments, or are propagandists exaggerating?

For the second stop of our tour, we went to Niamey, Niger. There, we interviewed market vendors, taxi drivers, pedestrians and Pan-African organisers. The energy in Niamey was electric. Almost everywhere we turned, we heard tremendous support for the AES.

Niger is the third country in the Sahel to expel the French military and the first country in Africa to expel the US military. This follows the 26 July coup that welcomed President Abdourahamane Tiani and a new government known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).

Continued…. Nigeriens we met were overwhelmingly ecstatic about the changes underway. While we were in Niger, the government decided to expel the French mining company, Orano, from one of its uranium mines.

In Bamako, we found a minor opposition. But we encountered practically none in Niamey. One man we spoke to, Mamadou Nomou Mecri, hinted at the existence of an opposition. However, throughout dozens of interviews across the countries, we came across no disagreement with the CNSP. Mohammad, a taxi driver, offered constructive criticism on how the government can more effectively communicate. However, he, too, supported Niger’s new leadership.

The people in Niamey were incredibly passionate, well-versed in the history of Pan-Africanism, and well-organised to defend their country and the AES.

Let us know in the comments what you think of these interviews.