Willing to suffer economic hardship, demonstrators have been unable to oust Sudanese military regime
Prices on the streets of Sudan have skyrocketed, and with few dollars in circulation, it’s difficult not to go without. On top of the country’s economic instability are political tensions—conditions highlighted by Sudan’s military coup and a subsequent “Million Man March” protest with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators. Sudan’s economy has been and continues to be, despite the recent visit by...
Africa and the Global South decoupling from the U.S. and Global North
Addressing the recent 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU) in Nairobi, Kenya, African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina mentioned the importance of “decisively tackling Africa’s rising debt challenge.” He urged and expressed concern with Africa’s total debt stock, which stands at $1.3 trillion. “The cost of debt servicing reached $22 billion in 2022 and...
UN refugee agency: Keep borders open for fleeing Ethiopians
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Nov. 11 that it is working with Sudanese authorities to help more than 7,000 refugees who have fled Ethiopia over the past two days, following major clashes in the Tigray region of the country. The Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and local authorities are screening and registering people arriving in...
Kenya: Kofi Annan to lead African Union’s mediation
Election violence rocks Kenya (FCN, 01-13-2008) Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will take over the mediation efforts in the Kenyan post-electoral crisis with his immediate mandate being to tackle constitutional and electoral reforms in the East African country, reports PANA Thursday. African Union (AU) chairman John Kufuor, who is also the Ghanaian President, jet ted...
While the U.S. celebrated its independence, Rwanda recognized the end of 1994 massacre
America recently celebrated its independence on July 4. Very few are aware that the 4th of July also has special significance for the people of Rwanda. For that African nation, July 4 is “Liberation Day,” the day when Rwanda annually recognizes the end of the horrific Rwandan genocide that in a three-month span claimed over 800,000 lives. Between April...
‘Who’s a sh-thole now?’ Africa responds to Trump and violent American insurrec-tion at U.S. Capitol
Africa has faced the problem of political leaders being unwilling to step down and concede elections and suffered from President Trump’s racist tirades against the continent. So there was strong reaction to his unwillingness to accept losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden. It was reflected in headlines like “Africa to Trump: Who’s a sh**thole now?” Many Africans were “unable to...
Ethiopia prime minister tells UAE Crown Prince: ‘You’ve lost the religion’
Ethiopia has begun a dramatic turnaround. Already this year, after facing widespread unrest and violent protests against a government that appeared unresponsive and entrenched, new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has led a “dramatic turnaround.” Elected by the ruling coalition's executive council after his predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, abruptly resigned, Ahmed has initiated sweeping reforms, boosted civil liberties and quelled dissent...
The consequences of underdevelopment in Sudan
During my nearly two months in Sudan, leaving less than a week before the October 25, 2021, military coup, I reflected with fascination on how Sudan’s majority Muslim and majority Black, with Arab and Turkish mixture population, could live and in some cases thrive in such “underdevelopment,” as Walter Rodney coined it in his 1973 book: “How Europe Underdeveloped...
An advocate for Africa
Economist Redge Nkosi expressed appreciation and admiration to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for championing issues plaguing Africa. The Pretoria-based founder and executive director of First Source Money and Public Banking of South Africa spoke about the Muslim leader’s impact on the continent. “Minister (Louis) Farrakhan like many other African leaders including Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King...
Intra-African trade vital for continent-wide development
“Accelerating Growth through Improved Intra-African Trade” is the name of a recent study produced by the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institute. Africa is the second largest continent in the world and three times the size of the United States. But if you compare economies, Africa is quite small. “In 2010, its gross domestic product was approximately $1.6...