Cuba thanked Ethiopia for
support against the
US blockade
July 3rd, 4:26pm
(Prensa Latina)
The interim Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Gerardo
Peñalver, today -- thanked the Ethiopian government
for its support to the island in the battle to lift the
genocidal United States blockade, an official
source reported.
During a meeting here with the Ethiopian ambassador,
Genet Teshome, who concludes his diplomatic
mission in Havana.... the Cuban diplomat
highlighted the historical ties between
both countries, which began 49 years
ago and continue to strengthen.
According to the Cubaminrex site, Peñalver recognized
Ethiopia’s position against the genocidal US blockade
that has lasted more than 60 years, both in the UN
and in the African Union.
Likewise, he addressed the potential that exists to
continue developing mutual cooperation, the
publication stated.
On his part, the Ethiopian ambassador thanked the
meeting and showed satisfaction for the welcome
provided by Havana and the support of the
institutions of the Antillean country for
the fulfillment of his mission,
Cubaminrex assured.
__________________________________
Egyptian President reshuffles
government --- with 20
new ministers
July 3rd, 2:06pm
(Prensa Latina)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi today swore
in the new government presented by Prime Minister
Mustafa Madbouly with 30 portfolios, 20 of them
with new heads, including Defense and
Foreign Affairs.
As part of the reshuffle, the Ministries of Transportation
and Industry were merged... now headed by Kamel El-
Wazir, as well as that of International Cooperation
and Planning and Economic Development,
headed by Rania Al-Mashat.
The ministries of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs and
Foreign Affairs, which will be headed by diplomat Badr
Abdelatty, were also merged.
In Defense, Lieutenant General Abdel-Mequid Saqr was
appointed, while Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar will continue
to head the Health and Population portfolio, and
Amr Talaat.... will continue to head the
Communications and Information
Technology portfolio.
In the midst of the economic difficulties faced by
the country, due to the convulsive regional and
international crisis, the Ministries of Finance,
Ahmed Kouchouk; Local Development, Manal
Awad Mikhail; Supply and Domestic Trade,
Sherif Farouk, and Petroleum and Mineral
Resources, Karim Badawi, were renewed.
The changes are part of the ministerial reshuffle after
the start of El-Sisi’s new term in office last April,
after winning the presidential elections held
in December last year.
The president also swore in the 27 provincial
governors on Wednesday, 19 of whom took
office for the first time.
____________________________________
Five active terrorists
arrested in Algeria
July 3rd, 12:49pm
(Prensa Latina)
The search and capture operation launched by
the Algerian Army a few days ago arrested
four armed men and a fifth, a fugitive
from justice, all identified
as terrorists.
Intelligence reports led to the capture of those suspects
in Bordj Badji Mokhtar and Tamanrasset (south), where
two FMPK submachine guns, four Kalashnikov assault
rifles, two ammunition belts, and six magazines were
confiscated, the official release stated.
The statement, endorsed by the Ministry of Defense,
identified In Adjena Ahmed, Fughas Abdelkarim,
Aberzulegh, and Ousmane Buyemaa, who
were captured in Yemaa. The fifth,
Barbuchi Mata Mulan....
was wanted by the
security forces.
______________________
Will South Africa walk back its
Gaza genocide stance under
new coalition government?
by Iqbal Jassat
July 1st, 1:31pm
(PressTV)
Has South African politician and leader of the country’s
second-largest political party, Helen Zille, emerged
as a leading agitator to reverse South Africa's
groundbreaking efforts in solidarity with
Palestine's freedom struggle against
Zionism's illegal settler
colonial regime?
Her demands on the African National Congress (ANC),
the country’s largest party, to concede a number of
key ministerial posts in the proposed Government
of National Unity (GNU), to her Democratic
Alliance (DA) party, include that of
International Relations.
If the foreign affairs portfolio falls into the hands of
the DA, South Africa may have to say goodbye to
the enormous strides made by successive ANC
governments from the time of anti-apartheid
icon Nelson Mandela until this GNU moment.
DA's mimicking of the Israeli regime’s hostile position
on Palestine’s leading resistance movement is
spelled out by it in these words:
"In Palestine, radicalism (sic) is represented by Hamas.
The DA, along with most of the world, regards Hamas
as a terrorist organization..."
The language used by the DA is coded in typical Zionist
semantics. "Radicalism" ....is often associated with
Islamophobic racists - to imply that Muslims are
"irrational" and unwilling to "conform" to
"normalized behaviour".
If one decodes the word "radicalism" ...in the context
applied by the DA linking the Palestinian resistance
movement Hamas to it, apart from the fact that
such malicious usage comes straight out of
Israel’s propaganda handbook --- it also
makes clear the DA's pro-Israel bias.
To illustrate how far-removed John Steenhuisen and his
party are from the reality of Israel’s illegal occupation
of Palestine, the DA willfully ignores... what many
human rights organizations cite as root causes
for Palestinian resistance ----- settlements,
annexation, ethnic cleansing, siege
and occupation.
Failure to correctly diagnose the source of Palestinian
discontent will result in the type of misalignment
evident in the DA's bizarre "solution":
"Part of the path to peace involves eliminating (sic)
Hamas’ capacity to utilize Gaza as a staging
ground for terror attacks and a supply
base for its militants".
Again... once such outrageous language is decoded,
it reveals that the DA shows scant regard for South
Africa's own freedom struggle against years
of apartheid.
Importantly, to proclaim without any shred of evidence
that it, the DA "along with most of the world, regards
Hamas as a terrorist organization...” displays
arrogance, and a sense of recklessness
coupled with Israeli-styled impunity.
Sure, the Zilles and Steenhuisens of the world ---- are free
to align their anti-Palestinian bias with that of the Zionist
regime's racist war criminals led by Benjamin Netanyahu
but to do so, by regurgitating false Israeli propaganda is
extremely naive.
If the DA lives under the illusion that the US
administration along with the British and
German governments equate to "most
of the world", it demonstrates how
skewed their understanding is.
Also by demonizing Hamas as a "terrorist organization",
the DA... seems not to have learned any lessons from
South Africa's political history during the notorious
era when liberation movements, its leaders and
members were hunted and mowed down
as "terrorists".
The successive regimes in Tel Aviv have acted no
differently to the National Party's racist mantra:
proscribe your opponents - especially those
engaged in armed struggle against your
policies of oppression and subjugation
- as "terrorists".
Once dehumanizing is underway, "most of the world (sic)"
--- i.e. Western capitals and their respective military-
industrial complexes --- will spare no effort
to finance and arm you to the hilt to
"eliminate" freedom movements
wrongly - and deliberately -
profiled as "terrorists".
The DA's participation in any form of coalition with the
African National Congress in the proposed coalition
government is problematic, to say the least.
Being firmly embedded in the North by articulating
Western hegemony in its vision of international
relations ---- whether concerning Ukraine or
Israel, the DA will remain an impediment.
Equally, it is highly unlikely for the DA to suddenly
embrace South-South cooperation.
Developing countries in the Global South.. have adopted
meaningful plans of cooperation, in which South Africa
has been pivotal, especially in pursuit of human rights.
Having failed to take a principled position on the defense
of Palestinian rights --- by not supporting South Africa's
groundbreaking legal initiatives at the International
Court of Justice (ICJ), one is skeptical of the DA's
so-called plea for "peace" ----- in the absence
of justice.
To ridicule Palestine's freedom struggle -------- in terms
associated with Islamophobia such as "radicalism",
"fundamentalism" and "terrorism", does very little
to engender hope, that Zille and Steenhuisen's
Democratic Alliance will move away from
its pro-Israel position.
Iqbal Jassat is an executive member of Media
Review Network, Johannesburg, South Africa.
____________________________________
Ethiopia increases tea
plantations to attract
investors
July 1st, 12:54pm
(Prensa Latina)
With the planting of 460 million seedlings to strengthen
production, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority
today called on investors to participate in the
booming tea sector.
The Authority’s director general, Adugna Debela, told the
Ethiopia News Agency that in the current fiscal year
they used 30,000 hectares of land for the crop, a
significant jump from the previous concentration
of 5,000 hectares in the Wushwush and
Gumero species.
Debela specified that despite exporting 950 tons of
premium tea leaves and generating US$2.1 million
in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year (a
substantial increase of 50 000 tons over the
previous year), they are still in the area of
the sector’s potential.
He acknowledged that limited investor participation
restricts the country’s ability to capitalize on its
abundant resources and generate significant
foreign exchange, just as annual export
revenues do not exceed $3 million.
Ethiopia’s diverse topography and favorable climate
have ideal conditions for tea cultivation, which
thrives even on acidic and sloping soils,
he added.
This versatility offers an excellent opportunity for
farmers to diversify and expand their production,
he said.
The official stressed that small farmers alone cannot
drive the necessary expansion, hence the Authority’s
call for investors to venture into the industry with
various government-driven incentives.
Tea plantations offer a long-term sustainable investment,
with a productive life of 30 to 40 years and biweekly leaf
harvests that provide a steady income stream, he noted.
In addition to the significant employment potential, he
encouraged other regions to prioritize tea production
in their agricultural strategies.
___________________________________
Putin treated the president of Congo,
to quail dumplings and Gzhel dessert
June 27th, 2024, 20:14 pm
(RT.ru)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, treated his Congolese
counterpart Denis Sassou-Nguesso to quail dumplings,
veal cheeks stewed in kvass and Gzhel dessert
in the Kremlin.
This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to
the menu of the official breakfast with the
participation of the leaders of the
two countries.
For a hot meal... the guests of Russia tried
muksun fillet with truffle puree & spinach.
Among the drinks presented --- were the
Russian wines "Usadba Divnomorskoe".
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier, awarded his
Congolese counterpart, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the
Order of Honour, for his great contribution to the
development and strengthening of relations
between the two countries.
__________________________________
Kenyan President Says He Will
Not Enact New Tax Law
June 26th, 2:23pm
(Prensa Latina)
Kenyan President William Ruto confirmed that the budget
bill, cause of the recent protests that have gripped the
country in recent days, will not be enacted.
Ruto said that he would not sign the new law at a news
conference in the capital, though he acknowledged he
had taken that decision under strong public pressure.
Some sources point out that the violent protests of the
previous day, left a toll of 23 dead and more than 300
injured, although this figure is not yet official.
Meanwhile, the country dawned on Wednesday to a tense
calm, following the storming of the parliament building
and vandalism in Nairobi and other cities.
Meanwhile, President Ruto today condemned the violence
during the protests, lamented the loss of lives and
injuries suffered and offered his condolences to
the families who lost their loved ones.
Ruto urged restraint to restore order and provide space
for dialogue, but said he would use all means at his
disposal to restore calm to the country, which is
why army troops were deployed in the capital.
The first outbreaks of violence earlier in the week forced
the government to scrap two of the proposals, an
increase in VAT on bread, and a tax on vehicle
ownership, but the conciliatory gesture was
insufficient and the protests continued
with the death toll ----- and hundreds
injured and arrested.
______________________________________
The State Duma is preparing an appeal
to the UN ----- on the placement of
US biolabs in Africa
June 26th, 11:17am
(Izvestia.ru)
After the Russian army managed to stop the introduction
of military biological programs, in the former territories
of Ukraine, the Pentagon actually transfers unfinished
research to African countries. This statement was
made by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma,
Alexander Babakov, in an interview with
Izvestia on June 26.
The head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological
Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces,
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, stated that the
documents available to the Russian Defense
Ministry --- show that the US military and
biological presence in Africa is
increasing rapidly.
"Africa ---- is not a field for experiments of US military
biolabs. In fact, the Americans continue their racist
colonization policy towards the peoples of Africa.
American political elites - with their colonial
ideology and sense of national superiority -
continue to lecture the whole world about
democracy, while not just sending troops
into sovereign states, and organizing
colour revolutions there. Now, they
are conducting experiments on
people and organizing biolabs
in search of new weapons,"
Babakov said.
According to him, bio-research for US military purposes is
a direct violation of the requirements of articles I and IV
of the International Convention on the Prohibition of
Biological and Toxin Weapons.
"This issue - needs to be discussed at the UN Security
Council, and now we are preparing a corresponding
appeal to the UN. We also plan to apply to the
parliaments of African countries with
explanations and materials about
this bio-research conducted by
the United States - & organize
consulting and informational
assistance, at the inter-
parliamentary level.''
''It is necessary -- to maximize the dissemination of
information about illegal US activities in the field
of bio-research, not only in Russian, but also in
African media, as well as among independent
media and bloggers around the world," said
the deputy Chairman of the State Duma.
Earlier, on March 30, in a conversation with Izvestia,
the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council,
Konstantin Kosachev, said that Ukraine is a
testing ground --- for dangerous Western
technologies. The Vice Speaker also
reminded about the American
biological laboratories in
the country.
In July last year, the Russian Defense Ministry published
the names of individuals who participated in US military
biological programs in Ukraine and are trying to hide
data on working with pathogens of dangerous
infections and testing drugs on Ukrainians
and the military of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine.
___________________________________
Russia plans to introduce
visa-free travel with two
African countries
June 25th, 11:23pm
(Lenta.ru)
Russia... is discussing the introduction of a visa-
free regime with two African countries, namely
Kenya.. and Chad. These plans were reported
by Izvestia.
It is noted that these destinations are gaining
popularity among Russian tourists. Thus, the
number of trips to Kenya, increased by 40%.
"Visa cancellation makes travel easier and more
affordable - and can have a positive impact on
the Kenyan economy, particularly in the hotel
industry and other related sectors. Kenya
has always been a popular destination
for tourists from various countries,
including Russia," said Louis
Gowend --- the head of the
Commission for working
with African Diasporas
of the Russian-
African Club.
At the same time, Russia is concerned about the
issue of security. This problem has become
more acute amid the protests in Kenya.
Earlier, the Minister of Economic Development Maxim
Reshetnikov said that Russia hopes to cancel visas
with six countries. Negotiations are already under-
way with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Malaysia, and Myanmar.
_____________________________________
Kenya sends military
to fight ------ ''riots''
June 25th, 9:26pm
(Lenta.ru)
Kenyan William Ruto said in an address to the nation
that he ordered the military to be sent to quell the
riots, and all forces were mobilized to fight the
protests in the country. He said this on the
Citizen TV channel.
"All the country's security forces.... have been
mobilized to counter the protests," Ruto said.
The Head of State called what is happening in the
country a threat to the constitutional order. He
expressed his readiness ------ to give a full
response to the current events.
Earlier, protesters in Nairobi broke into the
Kenyan parliament and detonated smoke
bombs there.
The legislative body of the country was
voting on the draft budget with ----
tax increases.
During the riots,the half-sister of former
US President Barack Obama
was injured.
Later, President William Ruto said he was ready
to engage in dialogue with the protesters. At
the same time, it should be organized "on
the basis of constitutional mechanisms".
_________________________________________
First 400 Kenyan troops
already in Haiti
June 25th, 2:28pm
(Prensa Latina)
A group of 400 Kenyan troops arrived today in the capital
to help the Haitian National Police fight the gangs that
control 80 percent of the capital.
The Kenya Airways KQ7681 military plane landed
at mid-morning on the runway of the Toussaint
Louverture International Airport.
These 400, out of a thousand due to arrive in a phased
manner, are elite officers from the Kenya Police Rapid
Deployment Unit, who underwent rigorous training,
ensuring they were fully prepared for the mission.
The deployment was approved... by a UN
Security Council resolution last October.
Other countries, in addition to Kenya, will soon travel
to Haiti to join the large operation, including Benin,
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Suriname
and Chad.
This mission is causing concern among the Haitian
population regarding respect for human rights ---
as some organizations dedicated to the issue,
accuse the Kenyan police - of an excessive
use of force and extrajudicial executions.
Kenya should have been in the Antillean country since
May 23, but inspectors told Nairobi there was a lack of
shelter conditions, vehicles for transporting personnel,
helicopters for evacuating the wounded and other
logistical elements.
Hence, he postponed his arrival here, where it is
supposed to head the multinational force - but
some local media insist that the real head of
the operation ---- will be the United States,
which always seems to be controlling
Haiti’s domestic affairs.
The gang members will have to choose between jail and
the cemetery,’ said the ambassador of the US in the
Caribbean country, Dennis Hankins, according to
the digital newspaper, Haiti Libre.
_________________________________________
Angola and Ivory Coast.. will sign
Twelve cooperation agreements
June 25th, 2:23pm
(Prensa Latina)
Angola and Ivory Coast will sign 12 cooperation
agreements..... in the context of the visit of
President João Lourenço to that country,
the Angolan Presidency reported today.
Lourenço will travel tomorrow to Abidjan, where he
will make an official visit on the 27th and 28th,
during which he will talk with his counterpart
Alassane Ouattara, about bilateral relations
and cooperation, as well as tour
industrial areas.
According to the person in charge of Institutional
Communication and Press Affairs of the Angolan
Presidency, Luís Fernando, the president will
also hold a meeting with the community
residing in the Ivory Coast.
He also announced.. that the head of state
will receive the key to the city, and will be
proclaimed “Honorary Citizen of Abidjan.”
This Tuesday the Angolan Foreign Minister, Téte
António, arrived in that city, where he was
received by the delegate minister of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African
Integration and Ivorians Abroad,
Wotabola Ouattara.
The visit of the Angolan president, is part of the
strengthening of bilateral cooperation between
the two countries, which is expected to reach
new horizons --- with the signing of legal
instruments.... and the deepening of
ties in sectors such as agriculture.
_________________________________________
Ethiopia and EU.. discuss ways to
strengthen ''parliamentary'' links
June 25th, 2:14pm
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia and the EU discussed possible ways
to strengthen existing parliamentary
collaborations, the EU mission
reported today.
The meeting was attended by the chairman of the
Ethiopia-EU Friendship Committee of the House
of Peoples’ Representatives (parliament), Dina
Mufti, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the UEA
Delegation here, David Krivanek.... and a
member of the Directorate General for
External Policies of the EU
''Parliament'', Christian
Meseth.
The two sides exchanged views on a number
of areas that could further deepen their
''parliamentary'' cooperation.
_________________________________________
EU approves military assistance
to Kenya to fight Al Shabaab
June 25th, 1:02pm
(Prensa Latina)
The EU approved military assistance worth 20 million
euros to develop the operational capabilities of the
Kenyan army and fight the Islamist group Al
Shabaab, Sky News reported on Tuesday.
The EU will specifically fund tactical unmanned aerial
vehicles, non-lethal interceptors & jammers, systems
used to defeat improvised explosive devices, and
electronic warfare tools for Kenyan military units.
The EU bloc aims to protect the territorial integrity and
sovereignty of the country and its civilian population
against internal threats and counter the increasing
operations by the Al Shabaab terrorist group
along the border with Somalia.
The funding follows joint consultations on security
and defense in the framework of the EU-Kenya
Strategic Dialogue.
The source stated that the aid will be channeled
through the European Peace Facility, the extra-
budgetary instrument through which the 27
EU member States finance their
''defense'' policy.
_________________________________________
The State Duma, pointed to the
agony of the US --- because of
the geopolitical loss in Africa
June 17th, 6:16pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The US State Department's desire to counteract Russian
influence in Africa - is the senseless agony of American
officials from the realization of their geopolitical loss.
This was stated on June 17 by Deputy Chairman of
the State Duma Alexander Babakov to Izvestia.
Thus, he reacted to the news about the US State
Department's request for funding from Congress
to.. create a Fund to counter Malicious Russian
influence in Africa (CRMAA) at the end of May.
Babakov recalled that the history of Africa is full of pages
when European powers and the United States cruelly
exploited the land and peoples of the continent.
"Today, fearing that the African continent is gaining true
sovereignty and independence in partnership with
Russia, the United States has decided.. to pour
another tens of millions of dollars into a false
propaganda campaign - against Russia. For
this purpose, a specialized fund was even
created. This is similar to the senseless
agony of American officials from the
State Department from realizing
their geopolitical loss on the
African continent" --- he
commented --- on the
State Department's
initiative.
According to him, the Russian side can respond to
such "senseless propaganda attacks" with real
measures — assistance in forming a sovereign
financial system in Africa.
"Russia can, and should, help African countries gain
financial sovereignty, including via the mechanism
of creating digital currencies of central banks. A
new payment eco-system should be created on
the basis of innovative financial technologies:
high-speed real-time processing, work with
digital currencies and assets, blockchain
technology ---- and the absence of
intermediaries," Babakov said.
He concluded that Africa needs to abandon
the external dictates of the United States
and Europe and strive for cooperation on
equal terms.
U-turn to the South: experts predict
an increase in trade.... between
Africa and Russia. By 2026,
it may reach up to
$40 billion.
Earlier, on June 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Izvestia
that BRICS is always open to cooperation
in matters of Africa's integration into big
politics --- and meets the established
quality criteria --- based on equality.
According to her, the West should
and has something to repent of
before the African continent.
Back in February, the Russian Embassy in the US
claimed that the State Department was trying to
hide the truth about Washington's dirty schemes
in Africa, spreading unsubstantiated allegations
against Moscow.
As noted by the Russian diplomatic mission --- many
politicians in the United States cannot rest, due to
the fact of successfully developing cooperation
between the Russian Federation and
African countries.
__________________________________
The EU General Staff announced
the weakening of the West's
position in Africa
June 17th, 4:50pm
(RT.ru)
The West is losing ground in a
number of African countries.
This was stated by the head of the EU General Staff,
Lieutenant General Michael van der Laan,
reports TASS.
"They are being pushed out of Niger, Mali, Burkina
Faso, and other countries," the officer believes.
The head of the General Staff stressed that Western
representatives are increasingly noticing the
growing role of China, Iran and other
countries on this continent.
Earlier, the US began withdrawing
its contingent.... from Niger.
_______________________________________________
India congratulates Ramaphosa
on his reelection as president
of RSA
June 17th, 12:22pm
(Prensa Latina)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated
Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday on his re-election
as president of South Africa.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Indian head of
Government greeted Ramaphosa and expressed
his desire --- to work together with the South
African leader, to further strengthen the
strategic partnership between the
two nations.
On Saturday, Ramaphosa, of the African National
Congress (ANC, the country’s main party), won
283 votes from the newly appointed
parliamentarians, against the
leader of.... the Economic
Freedom Fighters (EFF)
party, Julius Malema,
who received 44
votes from the
lawmakers.
Cyril Ramaphosa will be sworn in as head of State
on June 19th in Pretoria, the South African capital.
In addition to being founding members of the Brics,
India and South Africa share 30 years of
significant bilateral relations.
According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce, since
diplomatic relations were established in 1993,
economic interactions have increased ---
from 10 million dollars in 2015-2016,
to 17 million dollars in 2021-2022.
____________________________________
Southern Africa & EU to discuss
peace and security issues
June 17th, 11:04am
(Prensa Latina)
Angola will host tomorrow a new session of the
Ministerial Political Dialogue --- between the
Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and the European Union (EU), to
discuss peace and security issues, the
Foreign Ministry informed.
SADC will be represented at the meeting by the Executive
Secretariat of the organization and the member states of
the dual troika: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe,
while the European External Action Service
(EEAS) will be the counterpart for the EU.
Issues such as human and sustainable development,
climate change, environment, trade and investment
will also be on the agenda of the meeting.
According to the Angolan Foreign Ministry, the dialogue
session is expected to serve as a platform to
strengthen relations between the two
regional blocs, as well as to promote
cooperation in the areas of peace
and security, trade, and policies,
with a view to sustainable
economic growth.
The meeting will also review progress made in the
implementation of SADC-EU cooperation, and the
investment and programming package of the
Africa-Europe Global Gateway.
It will also address global, continental, and regional
issues affecting not only the peace and security
situation in the region but also development
and cooperation.
The last session of the SADC-EU Ministerial Political
Dialogue was held virtually on June 16, 2021 --- and
Angola is hosting the new meeting in its capacity
as Chair-in-Office of the Community.
______________________________________
Ethiopia will strengthen relations
with China ------ in all areas
June 17th, 9:34am
(Prensa Latina)
The vice president of the ruling Prosperity Party of
Ethiopia, Adem Farah, affirmed that they will
continue strengthening long-standing
cooperative relations with China
in all areas.
Farah - highlighted China’s status as a solid economic
partner in the development of Ethiopia during his talk
with the director of the International Department of
the Communist Party of China (CPC), Liu Jianchao,
on the sidelines of the “World Majority for Multi-
polar Order” forum meeting in Russia, Fana
Broadcasting Corporate reported.
The Ethiopian authority said that many Chinese
companies... are actively involved in various
Ethiopian sectors and welcomed the CPC’s
support in Ethiopia’s quest to become a
member of the BRICS group... (Brazil,
Russia, India, China, South Africa,
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab
Emirates, Iran, and - recently
- Ethiopia).
Liu Jianchao, conveyed his warm congratulations
to Ethiopia, on its recent accession to the BRICS,
reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening
their long-standing relationship and cooperation,
and highlighted Ethiopia’s fundamental status --
as a centre of the African Union, and Ethiopia’s
crucial role in facilitating Beijing’s cooperation
with other African nations. He also, expressed
interest in strengthening ties between parties,
exchange of experiences, training programs,
and capacity development initiatives.
Regarding bilateral relations in terms of trade and
investment, the Chinese official cited the Addis
Ababa-Djibouti railway built in collaboration
with the Belt and Road Initiative, as an
illustrative example of joint efforts.
He also invited the Ethiopian delegation to
participate in the China-Africa Forum,
scheduled for October 2024.
_____________________________________________
Bloomberg: French Orano may be
deprived of the right to extract
uranium in Niger
June 15th, 7:48pm
(RT.ru)
The largest French uranium mining company Orano SA
may be deprived of the right to extract uranium... from
one of the world's largest deposits Imuraren in Niger.
"The second and final notification will come to an end on
June 19, after which the company's operating permit
will be revoked," Bloomberg quoted the Niger
Mining Ministry as saying.
It is noted that the company's plan to develop
the field did not coincide ---- with the
expectations of the authorities.
Earlier, the new government of Niger
decided to suspend the export of
uranium and gold to France.
________________________________
US military’s disgraceful exit
from Niger another thumping
win for multipolarity
June 15th, 2:48pm
by Musa Iqbal
Since the military-led overthrow of Niger’s neo-colonial
president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July last year ---- the
country has started the process of ousting colonial
forces it sees as parasitic and exploitative.
The first entity it targeted -- was its longtime colonist,
France. And now, the latest entity to leave the West
African country in humiliation is the United States,
the usual suspect.
One of the immediate demands of the military
government in Niger, since last year, was the
removal of foreign forces that have asserted
themselves as security guarantors.
But nothing could be further than the truth. The
concerns for security by Western powers is a
disguise for the continuation of colonialist
practices - resource theft, labour
exploitation, military testing
sites, and other activities
imperialist powers can
not conduct on their
own soil.
France was the first to be kicked out, with the last plane
leaving in December 2023. France’s relationship with
Niger was always a parasitic and colonial one.
For the past few decades, France relied on Niger for
cheap export of uranium into France - which is a
commodity that France desperately depends on
as a significant chunk of its power is sustained
through nuclear energy.
With France out of the way, Niger’s military junta-led
government turned to the US, which has a heavy
technological military presence in the country.
In March, the military government announced it would
revoke all existing military accords with the US. This
announcement came shortly after the US
government threatened the Niger junta
for pursuing its further economic
partnership with Iran and its
military partnership
with Russia.
Now the US is set to be completely out
of Niger, by September of this year.
For the United States, this means the loss of two air
bases it used, to conduct surveillance and military
operations in the region. One airbase in particular,
Air Base 201, exceeded a cost of $100 million to
build and maintain - all approved by the
US Congress.
The bases were used primarily for spying and
reconnaissance but also carried out military
strikes using manned and unmanned aerial
vehicles, primarily drones.
The US government asserts that these bases are used
to combat extremist elements, including Al Qaeda and
Daesh. Niger’s junta government rejects this outright,
with junta leader Abdramane stating that the very
presence of US troops in Niger was illegal and
violated constitutional and democratic rules
and that the US presence was unilaterally
imposed on Niger --- since 2012.
Niger’s previous neocolonial regime backed by the West
ignored the popular will and possibly subverted its own
laws to welcome Americans into the country. The
junta will not allow this practice to continue.
It cannot be overstated how much of a significant loss
this is for global imperialism. For years, US military
leaders, particularly those in AFRICOM (US Africa
Command) considered Niger the “anchor” of their
operations in Africa.
According to the Intercept, the airstrip at the base is
large enough for both C-17 transport planes and
MQ-9 Reaper armed drones. This means the
Niger base can house armed drones that
can strike nearly 2,000 miles away.
The previous neo-colonial leaders of Niger allowed the
US to conduct armed operations on its own soil using
the Air Base, much to the disdain of their own people.
It is thus no surprise that the ouster of the previous
US puppet regime ------- was met with
nationwide celebrations.
One must examine the relationship... between the
Washington regime, and the Niger junta. Upon the
overthrow of the neo-colonial puppet government,
Washington threatened the junta with sanctions.
If the US is so invested in countering terrorism
in the region, then why must it threaten every
government into submission & subordination?
The junta understood this calculus as the people were
quite familiar with the schemes of imperialism. It did
not back down and instead looked for partnership
elsewhere - with Iran and Russia, two of the
United States’ main adversaries.
It has become evidently clear ------ from decades of
experience that the US presence is never there to
eliminate terrorism. That would be antithetical to
the capitalist model the US champions.
The goal is to never find the “cure”
for an issue, it is to “treat it.”
Treatment -------- is where corporations
can make profits of billions of dollars.
Takfiri terrorism from Daesh and Al Qaeda may indeed,
have been legitimate threats to Niger and surrounding
countries. But a military partnership with the US just
meant US forces would keep a lid on things. It's not
in the US’s material interest to decimate an
opponent it can make billions off.
It wasn't the US military that annihilated Daesh in Iraq
and Syria, 'though they most certainly used Daesh as
a justification for military occupation. It was the Iraqi
resistance and Syrian Arab Army, guided by Iran’s
top anti-terror commander, General Qassem
Soleimani --- that annihilated Daesh.
The longer the US stays in a region, the longer it can
exploit its resources. It is in no rush to “wrap things
up” if there’s profit to be made.
As the US is pushed out of Niger, Russian troops
are welcomed in. In fact, they are already there,
stationed metres away from packing US troops
at Air Base 101.
Understanding the political context of this development
is important. It is not simply limited to the US being
forced out of a country, but rather, where the
host country --- is looking for support.
Russia, despite being entrenched in a war of its own in
Ukraine, is being viewed as a supporting partner for
countries struggling against the remnants of US
hegemony. Iran is viewed as a respectable
trading partner as both Niger and Iran
are operating under sanctions and
threats of economic warfare.
The same could also be said for a power like China,
who famously brokered steps toward peace
between Yemen and Saudi Arabia
in April of 2023.
Countries other than the US are stepping up to the plate
to replace the US as a power broker across the globe.
This trend ------- part of the growing march of world
multipolarity - is the death knell of US hegemony.
Nations are engaged in struggles against neocolonialism,
where puppet regimes controlled by the US are being
opposed by their own people, replacing them with
a true leadership, that cares for them.
The paths these nations take trend towards aligning
themselves with countries generally unfavorable to
Washington, as they refuse to be subordinated into
an imperialist world order.
Decades of planning and sacrifice by these countries
have resulted in them being able to operate outside
of a global economy that the US is a primary and
often the sole benefactor of.
Thus, these countries are prepared to exchange
and cooperate in a fashion that is not parasitic
and one-sided.
Niger is one of the latest countries following a pattern
of the rejection of imperialism and neo-colonialism.
Though Western countries pretend that the days of
colonialism are long gone, nothing could be further
from the truth. Western militaries still maintain
strongholds across the globe, particularly
wherever there are natural resources
and labour to exploit.
However, with the West’s decline due to its years of
entrenchment in war, mismanagement of resources,
and inner socio-political turmoil, a multipolar world
------ is quickly becoming a pathway for countries
across the globe, to reclaim true sovereignty.
Musa Iqbal is a Boston-based researcher and writer
with a focus on US domestic and foreign policy.
(The views expressed in this article..... do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
______________________________________
Medvedev: Russia hopes
BRICS-African Union
cooperation ---- will
reach a new level
June 13th, 10:24pm
(RT.ru)
During its BRICS presidency, Russia hopes to create the
necessary conditions for cooperation in the BRICS —
African Union format to reach a new level of quality.
This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Russian
Security Council Dmitry Medvedev in an article
published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
According to him, the development of cooperation
between the African Free Trade Zone --- and the
EAEU -- as well as other similar formats in the
trade and economic sphere, is also promising.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova said on the sidelines of SPIEF 2024 that
the West needs to pay its debts - for centuries of
their exploitation of Africa.
Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa
also stressed the importance of building a
multipolar world for Africa, during the
SPIEF 2024 session.
___________________________________
Report alerts --- on the use
of strong opioids in Africa
June 13th, 12:13pm
(Prensa Latina)
Investigations by anti-crime organizations detected
for the first time in Africa, traces of highly potent
synthetic opioids --- that are very dangerous
for human health, local media published
here today.
These opioids are known as nitazenes... and have been in
use for some time in Europe and North America, as well
as in Asia, where they have been associated with
overdose deaths.
According to a report focusing on Sierra Leone and
Guinea-Bissau by the Global Initiative against
Transnational Organized Crime, samples
containing nitazenes were discovered
in both countries.
The document also notes that some of these opioids can
be up to 100 times more potent than heroin and up to
10 times more potent than fentanyl, increasing the
risk of overdose and death.
Investigations suggest that nitazenes are being imported
into Sierra Leone from elsewhere and urged officials to
deploy surveillance teams to illicit drug markets and
develop evidence-based responses.
The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio,
recently declared a national emergency on drug
abuse, in response to the devastating impacts
of these harmful substances.
__________________________________
Without electricity 570 million
people in sub-Saharan Africa
June 13th, 10:40am
(Prensa Latina)
Around 570 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, live
without electricity, which is equivalent to more than
80 percent of the world's population without access
to that service, multilateral organizations maintain
today.
A new report from the International Energy Agency, the
International Renewable Energy Agency, the United
Nations Statistics Division, the World Bank and
the World Health Organization shed light on
the current panorama.
On a global scale, the situation, instead of improving,
worsened: in 2022 the number of inhabitants
without electricity grew for the first time in
more than a decade, says the study
released the day before.
At least 685 million people lacked access, 10 million
more than in 2021, and the decline in sub-Saharan
African territories meant an increase in the deficit
compared to 2010 levels, the analysis exemplifies.
According to the diagnosis, the global gap in energy
access continued to rise as population growth
outpaced new connections, while 2.1 billion
individuals continued to depend on
harmful fuels for cooking.
If the observed trend continues, it is unlikely that
Sustainable Development Goal number seven
(SDG 7) will be achieved, which established
the commitment to guarantee access to
affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy by 2030, the
research warns.
The goal includes achieving universal access to
electricity & clean cooking, doubling historical
levels of efficiency improvements, and
substantially increasing the share of
renewable energy in the global
energy mix.
Its achievement would have a profound impact on
people’s health and well-being, helping to protect
them from environmental and social risks such
as air pollution, and expanding... access to
primary health care and health services,
the text states.
However, ongoing efforts are not enough to achieve SDG
7 on time, even if there is some progress on specific
elements, including increasing the rate of
deployment of renewable energy in
the electricity sector.
In the opinion of the sources, the main adverse factors
have been the global energy crisis, inflation, the
growing indebtedness of many low-income
countries ----- and the increase in
geopolitical tensions.
The joint report calls for “immediate concrete actions,”
especially to address the large disparity in clean
energy investment, as 80 percent remained
concentrated in just 25 countries.
With current policies, in 2030 there will still be 660 million
people without electricity and around 1.8 billion without
access to clean technologies and fuels for cooking,
the document summarizes.
_______________________________________________
WHO warns about
looming famine
in Sudan
June 13th, 1:18am (TASS)
The people of Sudan are dying because of lack of access
to basic medical services, while some regions of the
country are under the threat of famine, the World
Health Organization (WHO) Director General
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
In his words, Sudan is gripped by "the
world’s largest humanitarian crisis."
More than 70% of hospitals in conflict-
hit regions are not functioning.
"People are dying from lack of access to essential
services and medicines, while there is a very real
risk of mass starvation in some regions," the
WHO chief said.
The situation in Sudan... escalated in April 2023 --- amid
disagreements between the army chief, Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan, who also heads the ruling Sovereignty
Council, and the head of the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The main points of contention between the two military
organizations are related to the timeline and methods
of forming unified armed forces of Sudan, as well as
who should become the commander-in-chief of the
army: a career military officer, which is an option
supported by al-Burhan, or an elected civilian
president, as Dagalo insists.
On April 15th, armed clashes between the rival military
factions erupted near a military base in Merowe and in
the capital, Khartoum. The conflict has left thousands
dead and tens of thousands injured. The conflicting
sides held a series of consultations, in Jeddah,
in 2023.
___________________________________________________
The President of Malawi instructed to
start searching for the 'plane with
the Vice-president of the country
June 10th, 7:18pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered an
immediate search and rescue operation to locate the
missing plane --- carrying Vice President Saulos
Chilima and nine others. This is reported
on June 10.
"All attempts by the aviation authorities to establish
contact with the aircraft after it disappeared from
radar failed," the President and Cabinet of
Ministers of Malawi said, in a press
release published on the social
network Facebook (....owned
by the Meta organization..
recognized as extremist
in the Russian
Federation).
It was also reported that Chakwera canceled a planned
visit to the Bahamas, in connection with reports of a
possible plane crash with the vice president.
Earlier in the day, the media reported that the plane
carrying Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima
and nine other people disappeared from radar
screens". Local portal Malawi24 wrote that
the aircraft could have crashed, as,
according to its data, it did not
land at Mzuzu airport.
Saulos Chilima... has been Vice-
President of Malawi since 2014.
_________________________________
Last operating hospital in
Sudan's Darfur city shut
...after paramilitary
attack
June 10th, 11:27am
(PressTV)
The medical aid group Doctors Without, also known as
MSF, says the last operating hospital in a key state
capital of Sudan’s Western region of Darfur has
been shut after an attack by the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
"On Saturday, MSF and the ministry of health suspended
all activities in South Hospital, El-Fasher, North Darfur,
after RSF soldiers stormed the facility, opened fire &
looted it, including stealing an MSF ambulance,"
said the NGO, in a statement posted late
Sunday, on X.
According to MSF, "intensified fighting" around
the hospital earlier this week had triggered its
evacuation, and "there were only 10 patients
and a reduced medical team" there by the
time of the attack.
"Most patients and the remaining medical team...
were able to flee the RSF shooting," MSF said.
It noted that "due to the chaos, our team was unable
to verify if there were any killed or wounded" in the
latest attack.
The RSF has been fighting the army, led by Gen. Abdel
Fattah Burhan, for control of the North African country
since April 15 last year in a war that has killed tens of
thousands of people --- and displaced nearly 8 million.
Michel-Olivier Lacharite, head of emergencies at MSF,
said it was "outrageous that the RSF opened fire
inside the hospital."
"Warring parties must halt attacks on medical care,"
he said, adding, "Hospitals are closing. Remaining
facilities can't handle mass casualties."
Fierce fighting reignited in El-FasheR....... the last state
capital not under RSF control in the western region of
Darfur and a key humanitarian hub for a region on the
brink of famine, on May 10 in what UN chief Antonio
Guterres has called "an alarming new chapter" in
the conflict.
Since then, "at least 192 people have been killed and
more than 1,230 wounded" in the city, according to
a conservative estimate by the MSF.
The United Nations, and Sudanese and international
organizations and institutions denounce the recent
attack on a village in Sudan’s Gezira state that
claimed the lives of more than 100 civilians,
calling for an immediate investigation.
Sudan on edge of ‘world’s largest humanitarian crisis’
Menahiwle, the World Food Programme (WFM) warned
that Sudan may soon become the “world’s largest
humanitarian crisis.”
The WFP executive director, Cindy McCain, emphasized
the significance of maintaining safe access and open
crossings to transport humanitarian aid as the
“forgotten crisis” in Sudan rages on.
“We cannot get food in, we can barely get food in, we
certainly aren’t getting it in at scale, and you see the
results of what can happen if people aren’t fed.
We’re also coming into the lean season, which
makes it very difficult many times for our
trucks to even operate if they can get
in,” McCain said.... in an interview
with CBS on Sunday.
“We need safe and unfettered access.”
McCain warned that the crisis could
have “catastrophic effects,” further
destabilizing that region of Africa.
Both warring sides in Sudan have been accused
of war crimes ------ including targeting civilians,
the indiscriminate shelling of residential
areas and torture.
_________________________________
Ethiopia -- is Africa’s fifth
