Continued…. That same day, Ukrainian news outlet Kyiv Post published what it referred to as an ‘exclusive photo’ of Tuareg rebels holding up the Ukrainian flag. Russian media outlets have claimed that the image was photoshopped.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal, Yurii Pyvovarov, also commented in favour of Malian terrorist groups on a video his embassy shared on Facebook. The video has since been deleted, and Senegalese authorities have summoned Pyvovarov.

Mali is consulting judicial authorities regarding Yusov and Pyvovarov’s support for terrorism, keeping a watchful eye on nearby Ukrainian embassies, and alerting all Ukrainian allies of Ukraine’s support for terrorism.

Video credit: ORTM 1 (YouTube)

PAEDOPHILE BRIT BLAMES MIGRANTS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

This clip of Jason Oldacre, a convicted paedophile in the UK, is a sharp foreshadowing of the recent eruption of far-right riots against immigrants across the UK.

Speaking to a Sky News reporter on 24 June, Jason blamed immigrants for his joblessness. He conceded his criminal record for ‘assault’ disqualifies him. Oldacre was also placed in the s*x offender programme after pleading guilty to three counts of s*xual assault of a child under 13. Yet, rather than take accountability, he seemed to want to place the blame at the feet of migrants who often come from places colonised, invaded, or destabilised by Britain and its allies.

On the weekend of 3-4 August, rioters set fire to hotels used to shelter asylum seekers in northern England as the country grapples with the worst disorder it has seen in years. The 29 July stabbing of three girls in Southport, northwest England, triggered the violence.

Continued….. The far-right has spread false claims that the attacker was a Muslim illegal immigrant who came via a boat, sparking anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant riots. Courts sidestepped procedure that bars identifying suspects under 18 to say the 17-year-old suspect of Rwandan descent was born in Britain and is not Muslim.

Migrant workers have increased in the UK over the past two decades, rising from 9 per cent of the employed workforce in the first quarter of 2004 (2.6 million) to 21 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 (6.8 million). But the truth is the UK economy needs migrants. The UK has an ageing population, with over 21 million people aged 50 and over. This represents 38 per cent of the population, a 47 per cent increase in a little more than 40 years, leaving one monitoring organisation to announce a shortage of skilled workers.

So, it seems Oldacre, the alleged convicted s*x offender, may also be struggling to understand the basic principles of economics. If any country has an ageing population, it will need workers from somewhere to do essential jobs, one of which is protecting children from s*xual predators.

Video credit: Sky News

SKIT NAILS OLYMPIC DOUBLE STANDARDS

This thought-provoking skit looks at how the Paris Olympics has tied itself in knots over moral judgements. How can organisers ban some countries and not others over global conflicts? How can it welcome athletes with criminal records but ban Muslims for wearing a hijab on certain teams?

The IOC's been performing ethical gymnastics at the highest level, and it's left many of us bewildered. We think this satirical take @Bold_Stories highlights everything that's wrong with the head-spinning decision making. Comments please.

Video credits: tadhghickeycml

Nationwide anti-immigrant riots have rocked the UK after three young girls were killed by a knife attacker, who was falsely reported to be a Muslim immigrant. Businesses have been destroyed; cars, shops and homes attacked; and mosques targeted in Britain's worst race riots in decades.

However, nothing like this erupted when Daniel Anjorin, a 14-year-old Black student in northeast London, was hacked and stabbed to death with a sword by a crazed White man in a random attack as he walked to school. 36-year-old Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a white man who is a dual Spanish-Brazilian national, also seriously wounded four others, including two police officers, in the 30th-April rampage.

So why the different public responses? Here’s one answer in this post from @MalaakSafa on X. We think she makes a fair point, do you?

X credit: @MalaakSafa

FRANCE OLYMPICS EXPOSED

We’re into the last week of the Olympics, and while athletes have produced memorable performances, the same can’t be said of the organisers.

From the word go, there’s been controversy. Why was Israel invited to compete when it’s killed thousands in Gaza in the last nine months, including nearly 400 Palestinian athletes? Why design an opening ceremony that mocked Christianity, according to the French Catholic church. Why can’t Malian-born French superstar, Aya Nakamura, make an appearance without getting a tonne of racist abuse? Why can’t athletes get a decent meal at the Olympic Village? The list goes on.

African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim (@ahmed.ghoneim.official) says it’s an Olympic shambles that’s broken all records. And he wonders If culture, faith and diversity are not respected, hosting etiquette is not followed and organisational standards are not up to par, why do we bother watching at all?

Leave some comments.

This picture will go down in sporting history. It captures the moment Black gymnasts swept the podium at the Olympics for the very first time. But it’s also being hailed for capturing the true spirit of the games.

As Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade receives her gold medal, US rivals Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles affectionately bow down in recognition of her win. From one GOAT to another, Biles and Chiles continued to sing Andrade’s praises at a press conference, calling her a ‘great competitor’ and ‘legend’. Andrade told reporters: ‘We can show the Black power. I love myself, my skin colour.’

Her win in the floor in Paris makes her the most-decorated Brazilian athlete ever. Biles leaves these games as the most-decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history.

NIGERIANS NOT BUYING TINUBU’S DIALOGUE CALL

Following the Nigerian military attacking thousands of unarmed people protesting subsidy cuts, a high cost of living and government corruption since 1 August, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for dialogue.

Many have cited Kenya for inspiring Nigeria’s protests.

Despite the country’s immense natural wealth, close to 31 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, according to 2023 UN statistics. Following International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendations, Tinubu’s government stripped fuel subsidies, tripling fuel prices. He also devalued the naira, the Nigerian currency, to attract foreign investment. Yet, that move wiped out millions of Nigerians’ savings and purchasing power, creating an inflation crisis not seen in 28 years. Many struggle to place a single meal on the table.

Have Kenya’s anti-IMF protests inspired people in your country? Let us know in the comments.

ALGERIAN BOXER HITS BACK AT GENDER SLUR

The Algerian boxer at the centre of a gender row has set her sights on Olympic gold. Imane Khelif will take to the ring tonight in the semi-finals of the women’s 66kg.

But her preparation could not have been worse, after battling a wave of online hate over claims she shouldn’t be allowed to compete as a female.
Even Elon Musk and Donald Trump waded in, wrongly suggesting she’s a man.

The Algerian Olympic Committee has accused foreign media of orchestrating a propaganda campaign against their fighter. And Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee, insists she’s a woman, as stated by her passport.

What should’ve been headlining is that she’s secured her country’s first-ever Olympic medal in female boxing. And if she wins tonight, she’ll be on the brink of gold. However, Khelif has been left fighting a monumental scrap outside the ring.

These are the details of a scandal that’s rocked the Games.

DEADLY ANTI-GOVERMENT PROTESTS SWEEP NIGERIA

Cost-of-living protests continue to rock Nigeria, despite appeals by President Bola Tinubu for them to stop.

So far, 15 people have been killed by police who’ve been accused of using excessive force. Curfews have been declared in several states, and tensions remain high.

African Stream’s Poloum David spoke with demonstrators who voiced their anger and desperation as inflation hits a 28-year high.

Video Credit: Nedu An (X)
@onejoblessboy (IG)
@realTobiAkinbo (X)
@aystickz (X)

SOUTH SUDAN’S BASKETBALL MASTERMIND

South Sudan’s Bright Stars certainly lit up the basketball at the Olympics. And their achievement at reaching their first-ever Games has been largely credited to one man, Luol Deng. The former NBA star is the president of the Basketball Federation for the world’s youngest country. And, like many of his players, he fled a civil war and grew up as a refugee.

In this clip he’s interviewed by South Sudan forward Nuni Omot, who says ‘we’ve been through a lot to get to this point’.

That’s an understatement. Deng was born in what’s now South Sudan, before its people voted for independence in 2011 after decades of repression from the Islamist government of Omar al-Bashir.

Continued….. Deng’s family fled to Egypt during the second Sudanese civil war, before finding asylum in the UK. In his teenage years he headed to the US to pursue his dream of playing professional basketball, and represented Britain at the 2012 Olympics. In early 2011 he set up South Sudan’s national basketball team, using his skills, influence and resources to bring the ‘village’ along with him to the international stage. The result, the Bright Stars made an impressive Olympic debut, just missing out on a quarter-final spot.

As you’ll see from this interview done just before the Games, he’s got big hopes for a team that’s only played professionally since 2020!

TALE OF TWO PROTESTS EXPOSING BRITAIN'S CONTRADICTIONS

We can’t help but notice the shocking contrast in some British media coverage of racist protests currently gripping the UK, and pro-Palestinian marches a few months before.

Remember the headlines when a peaceful demonstrator held a placard depicting as coconuts the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his home secretary. Marieha Hussain was lambasted for racism and police launched a social media campaign to find and arrest her. She's defended her actions, saying: ‘I was under the belief, and still am, that I have full ownership of that word, as each culture has their own language used to hold to account people of ethnic origins who use their positions of power to push White supremacy ideals, narratives and policies.’

Continued…. Compare that to the headlines we’re seeing now, as mobs target migrants and people of colour across Britain. Some outlets have attacked Prime Minister Keir Starmer for calling rioters ‘far-right’ thugs. He’s even been accused of ‘not reading the room’ after a police crackdown aimed at restoring order. How can media not show disgust at widespread racist violence, but huge revulsion at a placard held by a peaceful protester?

COULD SAHEL’S REVOLUTIONARY ‘PILL’ CURE CONGO?

The revolutions in the Sahel have inspired many Africans. The case of Niger is particularly striking. Since showing the door to French and US soldiers and ripping up exploitative mineral deals, Niamey’s registered 12.8% growth (says the World Bank) - making it the third most rapidly expanding economy on the planet, and Africa’s fastest growing. Many are now thinking: why don’t countries like the DRC - one of the mineral-richest and most exploited of African nations - ‘do a Sahel’?

It’s a question we put to one of our recent guests - Petna Ndaliko (@petna_ndaliko_katondolo, https://www.alkebu.org/), a Pan-Africanist educator and co-founder of Yole! Africa (a cultural centre that focuses on social innovation through art).

Continued….. His answer was a lesson from history, and not exactly encouraging: remember what they did to Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s visionary Pan-African leader? He had every intention of using the nation’s estimated $24-trillion in mineral wealth for the benefit of the Congolese and African people, but foreign interests - coveting those same riches - orchestrated his assassination, leading to the DRC’s long decline.

Given how so much modern tech relies on minerals extracted using essentially slave labour in the Congo, do you think those same ‘foreign interests’ would again move against any progressive leader who emerged in the DRC, be it through coup or election? Let us know below.

ESCAPING CONGO TO AVOID BECOMING CHILD SOLDIER

There’s probably no more heart-wrenching symbol of war than a child soldier. Thousands of children are fighting on front lines across the world, but there are few areas where the problem is more pronounced than the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the first and second wars, all sides actively recruited or connoscripted child soldiers, known locally as ‘kadogos,’ which is a Swahili term meaning little ones.

Last year, activist, filmmaker and @FocusCongo founder @pappyorion spoke to African Stream about his tragic childhood journey, where he fled his home to avoid connoscription by armed groups. He vividly narrates how, prompted by his father’s insistence, he made his escape on foot from the Congo to Rwanda, on to Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia - all the way down to South Africa in search of safety and a better life.

Continued….. In 2003, it was estimated that up to 30,000 children were used as soldiers in the DRC, with minors making up up to 40 per cent of some militias, many of them orphans who were forced to join.

Today, children continue to be recruited and used by numerous armed groups. Girls are often used as ‘wives’ and are s*xually abused by their commanders and other soldiers.

Can you imagine anything worse for a child to have to endure?

With far-right riots rocking the UK, this cartoon is a timely reminder that the country is also a major arms exporter. Countless British - as well as European and US - weapons have been used in wars that have created refugee crises around the world. The arms industry is one reason so many people globally have been turned into asylum seekers, forced to ask for safety abroad. Of course, many also remain trapped and become internally displaced.

In Gaza, 9 out of 10 people - or 1.9 million - have been displaced, many multiple times, by Israel’s destructive military assault. Between October 2023 and May 2024, over 100 new licences allowing UK companies to sell arms to Israel were issued.

The US, meanwhile, accounts for more than 40% of the planet's weapons exports, earning it 100-200 billion dollars a year.

The cartoon was created by Erl. Their work can be found at:

https://www.toonpool.com/artists/Erl_64

Here’s a clue that the racism seen on Britain’s streets exists at the very highest levels. Suella Braverman, who was the country’s Home Secretary until November 2023, had a fit of rage when pro-Palestinian rallies were being held in London - branding them ‘hate marches.’ Fast-forward to now, when actual hate marches are happening, and what does she say? Nothing. Total silence. And despite no longer being Home Secretary, she’s still very much in the public eye. Until recently, she was in the race to be the opposition Conservative party’s new leader. And there’s talk she may now defect to the anti-immigrant, right-wing Reform party. In fact, she may well be one of the reasons racist extremists in the UK have felt emboldened. She frequently resorted to divisive and inflammatory rhetoric when in office, calling irregular migration an ‘invasion’ and insinuating that Islamists were running Britain.

FAR-RIGHT BRIT PROVES HE’S CLUELESS! 🤣

Even dark times can produce fits of laughter. Here’s a far-right Brit trying to use his clearly non-existent logical skills to explain why he has an issue with Muslim immigration to Britain. Have a watch, have a chuckle, then let us know.

Video credit: @ilmfeed