U.S. seeks to use Africa as pawn in war of influence against China and Russia
In a speech unveiling U.S. strategy to counter Chinese and Russian influence in Africa, National Security Advisor John Bolton, a “notorious hawk who advocates the unilateral wielding of U.S. might,” accused Beijing and Moscow of “deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States.” Delivered at the American conservative public policy...
Pandemic shaping economic, social climate of East and Southern Africa
In many East and Southern African countries, local, regional and national lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic have been extended, reported Equinet. “Their impacts raise questions on their sustainability. The conversation inevitably turns to when and how countries will exit them. South Africa’s President Ramaphosa said recently in introducing their risk adjusted strategy: ‘We cannot sustain a nationwide lockdown...
South Sudan: Progress on peace agreement ‘limps along,’ UN envoy tells security council
Although the transitional government in South Sudan continues to function, with state governors now appointed, among other developments, progress on the 2018 peace agreement “limps along,” the top UN official in the country told a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Sept. 16.. David Shearer, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), updated ambassadors on the country’s...
Deadly cyanide dump unearthed near Namibia coast
GINNEWS WINDHOEK, Namibia (GIN)–Twelve drums of highly toxic calcium cyanide, plus loads of other chemicals, including nitric and sulphuric acid, were left behind when its owners abandoned the Namib Lead Mine about four years ago. The drums pose a serious danger to the health of thousands of people in the vicinity. They were recently found in an abandoned mine in the...
International media and Obama’s message to the Muslim world
(FinalCall.com) - Pre- and post-reaction to President Obama's speech delivered in Cairo to the Muslim world was overwhelmingly favorable and seemed to take on new meaning as time progressed. According to the British daily, The Guardian, though the president didn't reveal any new policy programs June 4, the speech will go down in history for its tone–the vocabulary–he used...
Economic Terrorism: World Bank facilitating African land grabs
(FinalCall.com) - Critics say the World Bank is helping multi-national corporations and global investors access cheap land in Africa and other developing countries at the expense of local economies. A case in point, in the British daily The Guardian, shows foreign investors purchasing nearly one-fifth of the West African country of Sierra Leone's arable land. The spokesperson for the Malen...
Africa Watch – Peace Talks, Trade, Anti-corruption and Continental Airspace
Palestinian Ambassador accepts Ethiopia as a negotiator for peace talks The Palestinian ambassador to Ethiopia, Dr. Nasri Abujaish, during a May 15 press conference condemning the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, said with Ethiopia being the home of the African Union, “and the political capital of the (African) continent, we accept Ethiopia as a negotiator in the...
Guterres ‘shocked’ at massacre of civilians in eastern DR Congo
The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed shock at the massacre of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. At least 25 villagers are reported to have been killed in recent attacks attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia in the villages of Tingwe, Mwenda and Nzenga,...
Is Western Press Africa’s enemy?
The first thing to notice about how Africa is covered or portrayed by Western mainstream media is that in most cases it is not. According to fairobserver.com, “Studies of major internationally focused Western (U.S., UK, France) news outlets (newspapers and TV) have found that Africa tends to account for roughly 6 % to 9 % of the total amount...
Kenya reopens case on woman allegedly killed by UK soldier
NAIROBI, Kenya—Police in Kenya say they are reopening the case of a local woman allegedly killed by a British soldier years ago. The country’s police inspector general, Hilary Mutyambai, announced it while urging the British government to collaborate to “conclude the case and administer justice.” Attention has returned to the death of Agnes Wanjiru after her family told British media they...