NIGER LIBYA 2.0?

Is Niger on the verge of becoming Libya 2.0? Ecowas has plans for a military intervention to end the coup in Niger.

However, independent journalist Benjamin Rubinstein speculates major players like China and Russia won’t allow it to happen.

Listen to his argument and give us your thoughts.


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COUP LEADERS DEFIANT LATEST

The deadline for an ECOWAS military intervention in Niger has passed. Coup leaders in the West African country were given until Sunday to restore president Mohamed Bazoum to power - or face the threat of force.

However, for now, the bloc has not followed through on its ultimatum amid growing divisions among its members. Benin, Chad and Nigeria say they won’t back any military action. In the meantime, coup leaders in Niamey have closed off the country’s airspace in preparation for any attack. Tensions remain sky-high. Here’s the latest.

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NIAMEY: ECOWAS FORCES ASSEMBLING FOR INTERVENTION

According to a fresh communiqué from Niger's new military leaders, ECOWAS is already using two Central African countries to prepare for an invasion of the Sahelian state. The read-out also warns that any country that ECOWAS uses to launch or prepare an invasion will be considered co-belligerent. Much of the civilian population of Niger, as well as a number of ECOWAS member states, has denounced threats of an imminent military intervention by the West African bloc.

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‘ANC FANS AFROPHOBIA’

Amnesty International warns there's a rising tide of violent attacks against migrants in South Africa. It's a problem that's exploded over the last decade, and opposition party EFF, blames the government. It accuses the ruling ANC of scapegoating foreigners for problems it’s failed to tackle.

Not least, oppressive apartheid economic structures that keep citizens in poverty.

During this clip EFF spokesperson, Leigh-Ann Mathys, outlines how she thinks politics fuels Afrophobia.

Does she have a point?

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RAMAPHOSA: KING OF FLIP-FLOPS?

South Africa’s been grabbing the world’s attention lately - most recently, with the whole issue over how to handle the now-cancelled visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. And it’s brought a side of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s character, already well known at home, to global notice as well: his tendency flip-flop on policy!

Is he a staunch anti-imperialist, or is he a US lapdog? Is he pulling his country out of the ICC, or does he want to stay signed up to a court that seems only to go after non-Western suspects?

As African nations grow in geopolitical stature and importance, the continent’s leaders need to step up to the role by sticking firm to their convictions - or else risk ‘flopping’ at the task.

African Stream’s Clinton Nzala takes a closer look at Ramaphosa’s recent spate of u-turns.

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SYSTEM RIGGED AGAINST BLACKS

Forget qualifications, being White is still what gives you the biggest competitive advantage in South Africa. Never mind that apartheid supposedly ended three decades ago, 60% of top management jobs in the country are held by Whites. Of course, that’s not because Black South Africans can’t do them - rather, the system is still rigged against them! Why else, for example, was John Steenhuisen able to rise to the leadership of the country’s second-biggest party, the Democratic Alliance, despite having no higher education? That’s the question posed here by Mbuyiseni Ndlovu, an MP for the country’s Economic Freedom Fighters.

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The coup in Niger has made it blatantly clear what an obedient lapdog ECOWAS is for ex-colonial overlord France. The regional alliance of West African states might as well rebrand now as Paris’ enforcer.

Moving in lockstep with the West, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on poverty-hit Niger after the military seizure of power. These included freezing national assets, ending ‘aid’ to the country and halting financial transactions, as well as closing borders with Niger and banning commercial flights.

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Continued - On top of that, ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the new Nigerien leadership: reinstate deposed France-friendly President Mohamed Bazoum within 7 days, or we may use force to ensure a coup reversal! That deadline has now expired, but the military threat still looms large. Niamey has closed its airspace as a precaution.

Niger is not the first African nation to be targeted by ECOWAS, apparently on behalf of its master. The bloc imposed similar sanctions on Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea after military forces in those countries seized power and started cutting ties with France.

It’s an old story: Africans fighting their brothers for the interests of external neo-/colonial powers. Let’s hope those that govern us finally feel inspired to rewrite the noscript of this now boring and played-out tragedy.

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NIGER WAR WARNING

Mali fears a military intervention in Niger will leave a trail of destruction lasting decades.

It made the warning while sending a joint delegation with Burkina Faso to Niamey to show support for its neighbour.

ECOWAS has so far failed to follow through on its threat of military action against Niger if its ousted president is not re-instated.

President Bazoum was removed in a coup two weeks ago amid fierce anti-French sentiment in the former French colony.

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DECLINE OF FRENCH LANGUAGE IN EX-COLONIES

Mali has become the first former French colony outside of North Africa to abandon French as its official language. As part of its recently approved new constitution, the language has been downgraded from ‘official’ to ‘working’ status. The country joins Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria and Tunisia in having demoted the language of their former occupier.

Mali now has 13 official languages, all indigenous: Bamanankan (Bambara), Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fula, Hassaniya, Kassonke, Maninke, Minyanka, Senufo, Songhay, Soninke and Tamasheq.

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Continued - DECLINE OF FRENCH LANGUAGE IN EX-COLONIES

So far, only Algeria has taken the further step of quitting La Francophonie (L’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie). This international body embraces countries with a large number of French speakers - and promotes the language on the basis of shared cultural influences and political interests. Given Bamako’s staunch anti-French tendencies of late, will it join Algiers in snubbing this symbol of French colonial sway too? Let us know whether you think it should.

BIG PRO-COUP RALLY IN
NIAMEY STADIUM

All eyes are on Niger, amid the looming threat of a possible military intervention by regional powers from the ECOWAS bloc, seeking to undo the recent coup. Things are especially tense now that the latter’s deadline to reinstall deposed president Mohamed Bazoum - on pain of force - has expired.

But the coup enjoys huge support at home. If ECOWAS or anyone else is in doubt about that, the turnout for a rally for the new military leadership in the capital should convince them otherwise. Held in Niamey Stadium, thousands turned up to send a message to the world that they’d had enough of the country’s neo-colonial exploitation by France and the compliant previous administration. The crowds also cheered the prospect of kicking out Western military bases.

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Continued- BIG PRO-COUP RALLY IN
NIAMEY STADIUM

The Nigerian coup has rocked the Sahel region. Countering the ECOWAS threat, there’s been a strong show of support from Burkina Faso and Mali - who’ve warned that any attack on their ally will count as an attack on them. The next few days and weeks ahead could be hugely significant.

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RUTO PUTTING KENYA LAST?

Kenya’s President Ruto promotes himself as a Pan-Africanist - but his active stance on the Niger coup could be costing him votes back home.

While saying he’ll work with the African Union to restore order in Niamey, Kenyans reckon he should focus on domestic problems instead.

A rampant cost-of-living crisis has sparked nationwide protests, with little sign things will improve.

We gauged opinions on the streets of Nairobi; honestly, there was mostly just one answer.

Have a listen.

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NATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SOUTH AFRICA

Today is National Women’s Day in South Africa, representing their indomitable spirit, courage and determination for equality, justice and freedom.

It can be traced back to the 20th century when brave women mobilised against the apartheid regime that segregated, discriminated and disproportionately affected their freedom of movement, opportunities and rights.

On August 9th, 1956, over 20,000 from diverse racial and social backgrounds marched on the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the administrative capital.

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