This week's Facts of the Week focus on the great Kingdom of Kongo, which ruled over a vast area in central Africa that includes present-day DRC, Angola and the Republic of Congo. According to some accounts, it also stretched to Zambia, Namibia and even Gabon.
Kongo has a rich history of culture, fashion, religion and commerce. By the time Portuguese explorers arrived in Kongo in the 15th century, they found its people trading in gold, copperware, ferrous metal goods, raffia cloth, pottery and ivory. Contrary to the colonial version of history, according to which Africans in Kongo lived in tribes independent of each other, the kingdom had robust political and economic structures.
The decline of Kongo began when Belgian king Leopold II annexed the vast mineral-rich central African kingdom as his personal property, establishing the Congo Free State in 1885. Congolese people were forced to work for valuable resources, including rubber and ivory, to enrich Leopold personally
Kongo has a rich history of culture, fashion, religion and commerce. By the time Portuguese explorers arrived in Kongo in the 15th century, they found its people trading in gold, copperware, ferrous metal goods, raffia cloth, pottery and ivory. Contrary to the colonial version of history, according to which Africans in Kongo lived in tribes independent of each other, the kingdom had robust political and economic structures.
The decline of Kongo began when Belgian king Leopold II annexed the vast mineral-rich central African kingdom as his personal property, establishing the Congo Free State in 1885. Congolese people were forced to work for valuable resources, including rubber and ivory, to enrich Leopold personally
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Continued...... Estimates vary, but about half of the Congolese population died from punishment and malnutrition. Many suffered from disease and torture - with hand and foot amputations a common punishment. In 1908, international pressure over his brutal reign forced Leopold to turn the Congo Free State over to Belgium, which colonised Congo until 1960.
Soon after independence, Congo's visionary Pan-Africanist leader Patrice Lumumba was assassinated by Belgian authorities with the backing of the US in 1961, plunging the mineral-rich country into decades of exploitation and misrule by Western puppet president Mobutu Sese Seko. A 30-year resource war involving powerful Western interests has engulfed Congo with untold suffering to date.
Soon after independence, Congo's visionary Pan-Africanist leader Patrice Lumumba was assassinated by Belgian authorities with the backing of the US in 1961, plunging the mineral-rich country into decades of exploitation and misrule by Western puppet president Mobutu Sese Seko. A 30-year resource war involving powerful Western interests has engulfed Congo with untold suffering to date.
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ABUSE OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS IN LIBYA
Thousands of African migrants cross into Libya every year in the hope of crossing over to Europe. Since the assassination of Gaddafi in October 2011 by NATO-backed rebels and the ensuing collapse of the Libyan state, conditions for newcomers have radically deteriorated. As this Al Jazeera clip from 2018 reports, many end up trapped in illegal detention centres, where they face torture and other inhumane treatment.
According to Migration Policy, ‘those living in the community are vulnerable to extortion, violence and slave-like work conditions, while migrants held in detention centres may experience overcrowding, sexual abuse, forced labour, torture, and deprivation of food, sunlight and water.’
Thousands of African migrants cross into Libya every year in the hope of crossing over to Europe. Since the assassination of Gaddafi in October 2011 by NATO-backed rebels and the ensuing collapse of the Libyan state, conditions for newcomers have radically deteriorated. As this Al Jazeera clip from 2018 reports, many end up trapped in illegal detention centres, where they face torture and other inhumane treatment.
According to Migration Policy, ‘those living in the community are vulnerable to extortion, violence and slave-like work conditions, while migrants held in detention centres may experience overcrowding, sexual abuse, forced labour, torture, and deprivation of food, sunlight and water.’
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Continued......While Libyan authorities continue to deny these allegations, claiming that ‘the issue of migrant abuse is being fabricated to force international intervention,’ the abuse has been widely documented, with first-hand testimonies provided by those who made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean and reached Europe.
Unlike today, during Gadaffi’s time, Libya had a thriving job market that made it an attractive destination for African migrants. There were roughly 2.5-million migrant workers according to the International Organization for Migration. Thirteen years later, it has become one of the worst places to be an African migrant. Under the guise of propelling democracy and advocating for human rights, the West turned Libya from a successful, economically prosperous nation, to a failed state.
You can watch Al Jazeera’s full report here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjDjVxISk8A
SOURCES:
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/once-destination-migrants-post-gaddafi-libya-has-gone-transit-route-containment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjDjVxISk8A
https://www.blackagendareport.com/killing-gaddafi-10-years-ago-has-resulted-death-nation-libya-and-destruction-its-people
https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-617123650281
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/french-secret-service-killed-gaddafi-sarkozys-orders-reports
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4taQlVKpMEE&t=4s
Unlike today, during Gadaffi’s time, Libya had a thriving job market that made it an attractive destination for African migrants. There were roughly 2.5-million migrant workers according to the International Organization for Migration. Thirteen years later, it has become one of the worst places to be an African migrant. Under the guise of propelling democracy and advocating for human rights, the West turned Libya from a successful, economically prosperous nation, to a failed state.
You can watch Al Jazeera’s full report here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjDjVxISk8A
SOURCES:
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/once-destination-migrants-post-gaddafi-libya-has-gone-transit-route-containment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjDjVxISk8A
https://www.blackagendareport.com/killing-gaddafi-10-years-ago-has-resulted-death-nation-libya-and-destruction-its-people
https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-617123650281
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/french-secret-service-killed-gaddafi-sarkozys-orders-reports
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4taQlVKpMEE&t=4s
YouTube
🇱🇾 New videos expose torture of African refugees in Libya
New videos have emerged showing African refugees being abused in Libya. Illegal detention centres, extortion and slavery have become common as many people trying to reach Europe are either caught or returned to Libya.
Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid reports.…
Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid reports.…
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LIBYA: NATO'S FAILED STATE
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was assassinated by NATO-backed rebels on this day in 2011. Here’s a look at how his removal changed the country from an African model of prosperity to a hellscape of terrorism, human trafficking and conflict - benefitting only the West.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was assassinated by NATO-backed rebels on this day in 2011. Here’s a look at how his removal changed the country from an African model of prosperity to a hellscape of terrorism, human trafficking and conflict - benefitting only the West.
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DEBUNKING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION MYTHS
Last year, the US Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious affirmative action programmes for college admissions were illegal. Since then, institutions across the board have reported a drop in Black student enrolments.
It paints a grim picture for racially marginalised groups in higher education in the coming years.
There are many misconceptions about what affirmative action is and the reasons why it exists. Here, we debunk the idea that it does away with merit-based achievement, giving opportunities to unqualified or undeserving candidates.
What do you think of affirmative action?
Last year, the US Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious affirmative action programmes for college admissions were illegal. Since then, institutions across the board have reported a drop in Black student enrolments.
It paints a grim picture for racially marginalised groups in higher education in the coming years.
There are many misconceptions about what affirmative action is and the reasons why it exists. Here, we debunk the idea that it does away with merit-based achievement, giving opportunities to unqualified or undeserving candidates.
What do you think of affirmative action?
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Continued….. SOURCES:
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-10925-establishing-the-presidents-committee-equal-employment-opportunity
https://edtrust.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-affirmative-action-and-the-assault-on-race-conscious-admissions/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/affirmative-action.asp#:~:text=Affirmative%20action%20refers%20to%20a,in%20leadership%20and%20professional%20roles.
https://clintonwhitehouse3.archives.gov/WH/EOP/OP/html/aa/aa02.html#:~:text=In%20response%20to%20the%20civil,designed%20to%20achieve%20non%2Ddiscrimination.
https://www.aaaed.org/aaaed/About_Affirmative_Action__Diversity_and_Inclusion.asp
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/11/us/harvard-affirmative-action-diversity-admissions.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/11/harvard-black-enrollment-drop-affirmative-action/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/30/black-college-student-enrollment-declines-affirmative-action-strike-down
https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2023/08/us-supreme-court-ends-affirmative-action-in-higher-education--an-overview-and-practical-next-steps
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-10925-establishing-the-presidents-committee-equal-employment-opportunity
https://edtrust.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-affirmative-action-and-the-assault-on-race-conscious-admissions/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/affirmative-action.asp#:~:text=Affirmative%20action%20refers%20to%20a,in%20leadership%20and%20professional%20roles.
https://clintonwhitehouse3.archives.gov/WH/EOP/OP/html/aa/aa02.html#:~:text=In%20response%20to%20the%20civil,designed%20to%20achieve%20non%2Ddiscrimination.
https://www.aaaed.org/aaaed/About_Affirmative_Action__Diversity_and_Inclusion.asp
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/11/us/harvard-affirmative-action-diversity-admissions.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/11/harvard-black-enrollment-drop-affirmative-action/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/30/black-college-student-enrollment-declines-affirmative-action-strike-down
https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2023/08/us-supreme-court-ends-affirmative-action-in-higher-education--an-overview-and-practical-next-steps
EdTrust
A Brief History of Affirmative Action and the Assault on Race-Conscious Admissions
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META'S CENSORSHIP OF PALESTINE CONTENT EXPOSED
Tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, has come under fire for 'systemic and global' censorship of Palestine-related content. Former employees have expressed frustration about what they term Meta's campaign to silence voices speaking up about the plight of Palestinians enduring Israel's Western-backed 76-year occupation. They raised their concern to Meta's management to no avail. While Israel k*lls their relatives in Gaza, Meta has already fired two employees who spoke to Al Jazeera Network's AJ+, which recently released an exposé of Meta's reported bias against pro-Palestine users in an investigation noscriptd, 'Inside Meta's Palestine Censorship.'
Tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, has come under fire for 'systemic and global' censorship of Palestine-related content. Former employees have expressed frustration about what they term Meta's campaign to silence voices speaking up about the plight of Palestinians enduring Israel's Western-backed 76-year occupation. They raised their concern to Meta's management to no avail. While Israel k*lls their relatives in Gaza, Meta has already fired two employees who spoke to Al Jazeera Network's AJ+, which recently released an exposé of Meta's reported bias against pro-Palestine users in an investigation noscriptd, 'Inside Meta's Palestine Censorship.'
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Continued......Meta was one of the tech companies that banned African Stream after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed on September 13 that we are 'Kremlin propagandists' who are 'secretly run' by Russian-state TV network RT, without offering any evidence. Perhaps one of the reasons Meta booted us is we have consistently stood with Palestine as part of our commitment to be 'with the lions, not the hunters.' We tell the stories of all oppressed people, regardless of race, nationality and creed. We weave the thread to show how much Africa's liberation struggles have in common with Palestine's struggle for liberation from imperialist occupation.
We will not be silenced, though. When Palestine is finally free, African Stream will be included in the annals of voices that courageously spoke for our brothers and sisters.
You, too, don't remain silent. Follow us on Telegram, Patreon, Rumble, and X to keep the flame burning.
Video credit: AJ+ @ajplus
SOURCES:
https://www.hrw.org/report/2023/12/21/metas-broken-promises/systemic-censorship-palestine-content-instagram-and
https://www.accessnow.org/publication/how-meta-censors-palestinian-voices/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/21/meta-facebook-instagram-pro-palestine-censorship-human-rights-watch-report
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/meta-allegedly-censors-pro-palestine-voices-on-a-global-scale-hrws-report-claims/
https://www.techpolicy.press/a-perspective-on-metas-moderation-of-palestinian-voices/
We will not be silenced, though. When Palestine is finally free, African Stream will be included in the annals of voices that courageously spoke for our brothers and sisters.
You, too, don't remain silent. Follow us on Telegram, Patreon, Rumble, and X to keep the flame burning.
Video credit: AJ+ @ajplus
SOURCES:
https://www.hrw.org/report/2023/12/21/metas-broken-promises/systemic-censorship-palestine-content-instagram-and
https://www.accessnow.org/publication/how-meta-censors-palestinian-voices/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/21/meta-facebook-instagram-pro-palestine-censorship-human-rights-watch-report
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/meta-allegedly-censors-pro-palestine-voices-on-a-global-scale-hrws-report-claims/
https://www.techpolicy.press/a-perspective-on-metas-moderation-of-palestinian-voices/
Human Rights Watch
Meta’s Broken Promises
The 51-page report, “Meta’s Broken Promises: Systemic Censorship of Palestine Content on Instagram and Facebook,” documents a pattern of undue removal and suppression of protected speech including peaceful expression in support of Palestine and public debate…
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LINGUISTIC IMPERIALISM
Linguistic imperialism is the process whereby dominant powers impose their language on those they colonise, suppressing indigenous languages and thus marginalising their speakers and sustaining power inequalities.
Indigenous languages in colonial Africa were frowned upon, while colonial languages were made mandatory. In Anglophone Africa, policies were all written in English; media and broadcasting used English; and there were many systemic policies forbidding the use of indigenous languages.
For example, students in many Kenyan schools were punished for using any other languages, with most of these punishments involving shaming tactics such as the wearing of bones from dead animals as chains around the neck. This also happened to the indigenous people who were forced to speak Arabic and change their names in places like Sudan.
Linguistic imperialism is the process whereby dominant powers impose their language on those they colonise, suppressing indigenous languages and thus marginalising their speakers and sustaining power inequalities.
Indigenous languages in colonial Africa were frowned upon, while colonial languages were made mandatory. In Anglophone Africa, policies were all written in English; media and broadcasting used English; and there were many systemic policies forbidding the use of indigenous languages.
For example, students in many Kenyan schools were punished for using any other languages, with most of these punishments involving shaming tactics such as the wearing of bones from dead animals as chains around the neck. This also happened to the indigenous people who were forced to speak Arabic and change their names in places like Sudan.
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