KENYAN COP K*LLED IN HAITI GANG AMBUSH

A 28-year-old Kenyan police officer was k*lled in Haiti on 23 February during a patrol with the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), marking its first fatality. Kenyan police had been deployed to the Caribbean nation in June 2024 to allegedly help restore stability amidst violence that comes after centuries of foreign interference.

Despite a High Court ruling declaring the deployment unconstitutional, Kenya has deployed over 600 police officers to Haiti. However, the mission’s future remains uncertain, given the Trump administration has launched a campaign to freeze foreign aid.

Continued….. Mainstream media says organisations they refer to as ‘gangs’ now reportedly control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and large parts of rural areas. In 2024 alone, the violence claimed the lives of over 5,500 individuals, forcing more than 1 million people to flee their homes.

Reports have argued the Haitian bourgeoisie, which collaborates with foreign powers, backs such gangs.

Haiti became the world’s first independent Black republic when it overthrew French colonialists in 1804. Since then, imperialist forces have strived to roll back the Haitian Revolution, beginning with the French demanding $21 billion in reparations for losing the colony. Since then, US, Canadian and French imperialists have interfered with and destabilised Haiti.

Sources:

https://apnews.com/article/haiti-kenya-gangs-police-killed-3599ea174c1d19b781a4b9a0fa346b0a

https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/kajiado-family-mourns-officer-killed-in-haiti/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62x3nyd6e4o

https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/un-chief-should-propose-transforming-kenyan-led-haiti-mission-un-operation

https://www.voanews.com/a/kenyan-police-officers-arrive-at-un-mission-in-haiti/7966157.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2021/10/05/1042518732/-the-greatest-heist-in-history-how-haiti-was-forced-to-pay-reparations-for-freed

https://marxist.com/the-gangs-of-haiti-and-the-failure-of-bourgeois-rule.htm

https://www.blackagendareport.com/gilbert-bigio-israels-man-haiti-and-architect-behind-us-migrant-crisis

DISRESPECTING AFCON

In recent years, African football has faced consistent disrespect, with African players often questioned about their commitment to their national teams and even urged not to play for their countries. They are insulted and ridiculed in ways that their fellow European players are not. The value of tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is frequently undermined, and African players are often subjected to unfair scrutiny.

This ongoing issue has been called out in the past by prominent figures such as former England player Ian Wright (@wrightyofficial/Instagram). In a 2021 clip, he pointed out how disrespectful it is to disregard AFCON and the incredible contributions of African players. He also accused the British media’s coverage of African players representing their national teams as one “tinged with racism.” Wright passionately advocated for giving African football and its stars the respect they rightfully deserve.

Continued……The clip has now resurfaced after Jamie Carragher, the English footballer-turned-pundit, recently made controversial comments regarding Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances in the wake of Liverpool’s victory over Manchester City. He suggested that Salah’s chances were slim because he plays for Egypt, implying that his international commitments with Egypt hinder his individual success.

These remarks sparked a wave of criticism, with many believing that Carragher belittled the significance of AFCON and the value of African players representing their countries. His colleagues Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards swiftly defended African football, challenging Carragher’s views and reaffirming the importance of respecting African players and their international duties.


Sources:

Threesixtytv/Instagram

https://trtafrika.com/sports/uk-sports-pundit-under-fire-for-mo-salah-comments-18268617

https://www.eurosport.com/football/ballon-d-or/2022/black-history-month-how-george-weah-s-historic-1995-ballon-d-or-win-put-black-and-african-players-on_sto9192984/story.shtml

https://www.givemesport.com/jamie-carragher-pulled-up-micah-richards-daniel-sturridge-afcon/

CONGO WAR DEADLIEST SINCE WWII

The conflict in Congo is the deadliest since World War II, according to Congolese activist Nils Kenoani. The recent escalation by the Rwandan-backed M23 group has resulted in the deaths of 7,000 individuals since January, as reported by Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. In recent weeks, the M23 has advanced into eastern DRC and seized control of the cities of Goma and Bukavu, leaving around 450,000 civilians without shelter, food or water, according to the United Nations - while 700,000 have been forced to flee their homes since January.
Kenoani, who was born in Bukavu, relates how the three-decade-long war has claimed the lives of members of his family and millions of other lives, yet the media continues to under-report the severity of the situation.

Continued……He provides a poignant overview of the devastating conditions in Congo, highlighting how Western companies have intentionally fuelled the conflict to maintain their exploitation of the country’s vast mineral resources, which are estimated to be worth $24 trillion. By 2010, the war had already claimed around 6-million lives. Listen in and share your thoughts.

Credit: TRT World

Hear Us Roar: https://news.1rj.ru/str/AfricanStream

M23 REBELLION OR RWANDAN INVASION?

Here is a Congolese take on M23, the militia responsible for k*lling over 3,000 people and displacing more than 700,000 since January in Goma, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s North Kivu province. 

NGO Focus Congo’s (@focuscongo on IG, @focuscongo_drc on X) Pappy Orion (@pappyorion) points to long-available and mounting evidence that the militia is merely a Rwandan proxy, in effect making their campaign a formal invasion by Rwanda. The UN has documented Rwandan troops in Congolese territory and the Rwanda- and Uganda-backed M23’s advanced weaponry.

Continued……Perhaps the growth of the Free Congo movement and M23’s recent violent seizure of territory has pressured some of Rwanda’s Western allies to respond. For instance, the US announced sanctions against a Rwandan official and an M23 official, the UK has paused direct bilateral aid, and the European Parliament recommended suspending a minerals agreement and freezing aid.

The consequences of this round of international pressure remain to be seen. Previous sanctions forced the M23 underground in 2012, but the group re-emerged even stronger in 2021. Sanctions could also be merely symbolic, as they have not punished Rwanda’s senior leadership so far.

Since the first Rwandan invasion after the 1994 gen*cide, the three-decade-long, Western-backed proxy war over natural resources had k*lled at least 6 million by 2010 and internally displaced more than 7 million by 2024. 

Once militias push ordinary people off their land, mining operations begin. M23 seized one town, Rubaya, in April 2024, netting the group $800,000 per month by imposing a production tax on mineral extractions.

SOURCES

700,000 displaced
https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/wfp-flash-report-crisis-eastern-drc-no2-january-2025

3,000 killed in Goma
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/06/africa/dr-congo-goma-violence-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html

UN definition of 'invasion'
http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/GAres3314.html

US sanctions
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0022

UK pressure
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statement-on-response-to-the-situation-in-eastern-drc

European parliament recommendation
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20250206IPR26752/meps-want-to-suspend-eu-rwanda-deal-on-critical-raw-materials

2012 international pressure on Kigali
https://apnews.com/article/rwanda-rebels-congo-international-response-1bd498132e780cb9738bd73c60dfec1e

M23's 2021 re-emergence
https://cic.nyu.edu/resources/the-resurgence-of-the-m23-regional-rivalries

Millions killed and displaced
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1152031

M23 minting close to $1 million a month
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kagames-hatchet-man-kabarebe-named-by-us-rwandas-liaison-congo-rebels-2025-02-24

Death toll as of 2010
https://www.caritas.org/2010/02/six-million-dead-in-congos-war

Niger is reclaiming control over its natural resources by granting mining permits to two local companies, the Research and Exploitation Mineral Company (Comirex SA) and Aïr Mining Company (Cominair SA). 

Both are public-private partnerships, with the government owning 40 per cent of Comirex SA and 25 per cent of Cominair SA.

In June 2024, Niger nationalised the Imouraren and Somaїr uranium mines upon revoking the licence of French-state-owned mining giant Orano. 

Continued……Niger was the world’s seventh-largest supplier of uranium and France’s second-largest supplier in 2022. On average, 70 per cent of France’s yearly electricity supply comes from uranium-derived nuclear energy. Meanwhile, under 20 per cent of Niger’s population has access to electricity, making it one of the least electrified countries worldwide. As nationalisation just occurred in 2024, we have yet to see its impact on Niger, France and the world.

Neighbouring Burkina Faso has nationalised multiple gold mines in recent years and next-door Mali has been battling foreign gold mining companies to reclaim a greater share of the profits. 

Together, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation established on 6 July 2024 that is delinking from neo-colonialism and laying down the planks to ensure their sovereignty. The AES aims to create a federated state without colonial borders.

Continued….. Sources:

https://www.africaradio.com/actualite-108883-le-niger-se-lance-dans-l-exploitation-du-cuivre-pour-diversifier-son-secteur-minier

https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/niger-has-not-banned-uranium-exports-to-france-and-eu-idUSL8N39Z48A

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS?locations=NE

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/world-uranium-mining-production

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/france

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2023/08/04/how-dependent-is-france-on-niger-s-uranium_6080772_8.html

THE CASE FOR SOCIALISM IN AFRICA

It’s hard to imagine a region more devastated by neoliberal policies than Africa. As African Stream Editor-in-Chief Ahmed Kaballo argues, socialism offers a people-centred, culturally sensitive social and economic alternative.

Our founder (@ahmedkaballo on X and @a.kaballo on IG) shared the experience of his Nairobi-based barber, who lost his son as a result of structural issues that led to inadequate healthcare. Essentially, International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies encouraged government underfunding, which led to a doctors’ strike that understaffed the hospital. Despite raising KSh1.3 million ($10,000) for treatment, he couldn’t reach the required Ksh1.7 million ($13,000), leading the hospital to withhold his son’s body until it apparently realised it could not extract any more money from him.

Continued….. That is what neoliberalism means for African people. Global financial institutions like the IMF prescribe policies prioritising austerity over public welfare, forcing people into desperate situations. Ahmed Kaballo argues that the imposition of colonial capitalism has eroded our traditional African values of compassion and community, making the case for a more collective system that aligns with African cultural principles. Ultimately, for Africa to rise, capitalism must fall.

Video credit: @ahmedkaballo8 (TikTok)

Sources

Doctors strike
https://thekenyatimes.com/health/kenyan-doctors-strike

Africa and neoliberalism
https://ricyeboah.com/2016/08/10/the-impact-of-neoliberalism-on-post-colonial-africa-in-the-20th-century

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14747731.2018.1502491

RWANDA’S ROLE IN DRC CRISIS EXPLAINED

As we’ve been reporting, the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) started in the late 1800s with the Berlin Conference carving up the African continent for European colonial powers. Then, in the late 1990s, a war over the DRC’s estimated $24 trillion in mineral reserves kicked off, backed by the same colonial powers that have funded client/puppet states like Rwanda and Uganda, both of which arm and train the M23 militia that has ravaged the eastern DRC. So far, its campaign to seize mineral-rich territory has forced more than 700,000 Congolese off their lands. That’s not counting the approximately 7 million internally displaced as of 2024. Nor does it consider the 6 million people k*lled as of 2010. For now, we know that M23 entering eastern DRC’s Goma city on 27 January had k*lled at least 3,000 people, but we still don’t have an accurate estimate on the death toll over three decades.

Continued……As musical artist Molombo succinctly put it in this video, despite having no significant mineral deposits, Rwanda is one of the leading exporters of tin, tungsten and tantalum. The speculation has been that Rwanda uses M23 as a front for the Rwandan military, allowing them to operate covertly in the Congo. 

With the surge in violence, the West appears to be cutting ties with Rwanda. The US recently imposed sanctions on a Rwandan official and an M23 spokesperson. The European Parliament recommended freezing aid and suspending a minerals agreement. Plus, the UK has suspended aid to Rwanda. 

Meanwhile, the M23 generated $800,000 per month from taxing coltan in the mining town of Rubaya, which it captured in April 2024.

Video credit: @hey_molombo (IG and TikTok)


Sources
https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Resurgence-of-the-M23-EN.pdf

https://www.rescue.org/article/conflict-drc-what-you-need-know-about-crisis

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/a-guide-to-the-decades-long-conflict-in-dr-congo
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/06/africa/dr-congo-goma-violence-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.theafricareport.com/375904/drc-rwanda-rubaya-coltan-mine-at-the-heart-of-m23-financing

https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/wfp-flash-report-crisis-eastern-drc-no2-january-2025

POLISARIO FRONT & ALGERIA SLAM FRENCH MEDDLING

Over the past two weeks, two French officials visited the disputed territory of Western Sahara as guests of Morocco, enraging many, including the Algerian government and the Sahrawi-led Polisario Front liberation movement, amidst Morocco’s occupation of the territory.

The indigenous Sahrawi people claim Western Sahara as their homeland.

On 17 February, Rachida Dati, France’s culture minister of Algerian and Moroccan parentage, visited the disputed Western Sahara, launching a French cultural mission in Laayoune alongside Moroccan Culture Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid. A week later, on 24 February, French Senate President Gérard Larcher paid a similar visit to the city to affirm France’s support for Morocco’s claim over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. 

Algeria, which hosts Sahrawi refugee camps as it supports the liberation movement, slammed the visit, calling it ‘objectionable on multiple levels.’

Continued….. Many also considered French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in July 2024 a turning point in bilateral relations, reinforcing the former coloniser’s influence in the territorial dispute.

Accordingly, the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, a Sahrawi-led political party that claims governance over Western Sahara, has also condemned the visits, viewing them as complete disregard for international law. In a statement on social media, the Algerian foreign ministry said the move 'reinforces Morocco’s fait accompli in Western Sahara, a territory where the decolonisation process remains incomplete and the right to self-determination unfulfilled.' The visits spotlight coloniser France’s struggle to maintain its waning influence in Africa by directly supporting Morocco’s occupation.

On 30 July 2024, France became one of the few countries to recognise Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara.

The UN has classified Western Sahara as a non-self-governing region. While Algeria insists on a referendum in Western Sahara that the UN has called for since 1991, Morocco has continued denying the Sahrawi people their right to vote as it occupies the land. In October 2024, the UN Security Council called for parties to reach a ‘lasting and mutually acceptable solution.’

Sources:

https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/politics/french-senate-reaffirms-support-for-morocco-over-western-sahara/20250225113203211672.html

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590760/middle-east

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250227-french-official-affirms-support-for-moroccos-western-sahara-plan/

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20250217-french-minister-historic-western-sahara-visit-back-moroccan-sovereignty

https://minurso.unmissions.org/background

https://apnews.com/article/morocco-france-recognize-western-sahara-65856623c3fe5f565583de2d521570ed

DRC: WHO’S BEHIND BUKAVU GRENADE ‘TERROR’ ATTACK?

A grenade explosion at a rally organised by M23 rebels in eastern DRC’s second city of Bukavu has reportedly killed dozens and injured around 60. The Rwanda-backed militia captured the capital of South Kivu province on 16 February.

There are conflicting eyewitness accounts of what happened. According to one version, a suicide bomber had intended to blow himself up along with a convoy of M23 leaders. Others say that the grenade was thrown by an M23 soldier intending to disperse a group of young resistance fighters who were denouncing a speech by M23 leader Corneille Nangaa.