ICC Convicts Sudan Militia Leader For Atrocities In Darfur

ICC Convicts Sudan Militia Leader for Atrocities in Darfur Darfur / Sudan The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday, in a landmark ruling, convicted the first Janjaweed militia leader for atrocities committed over two decades ago in Sudan’s Darfur region, Reuters reported. The court unanimously found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman guilty on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape, murder, and persecution, and rejected his defense of mistaken identity. “He (Kushayb) encouraged and gave instructions that resulted in the killings, the rapes and destruction committed by the Janjaweed,” said presiding judge Joanna Korner, adding that he gave orders to “wipe out and sweep away” non-Arab tribes, telling soldiers, “don’t leave anyone behind. Bring no one alive.” His sentence will be handed down at a later time, following a new round of hearings. Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, was a key leader of the Janjaweed, a government-backed militia that terrorized the Darfur region and killed hundreds of thousands of people, the BBC wrote. His conviction represents a historic moment for the ICC – concluding the first and only trial over crimes committed in Sudan. The case was brought to the court by the United Nations Security Council in 2005, and the trial began three years ago. The 2003-2020 conflict in Darfur began when the then-government of Sudan mobilized mostly Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, to end an armed revolt by rebels from Black African ethnic groups, who accused the state of marginalizing them. Human rights groups have alleged that the violence that followed amounted to genocide and ethnic cleansing against the non-Arabic population in the region. Following Monday’s ruling, victims of the conflict said the verdict had restored some faith in the ICC after the length of time it took to conclude this case. During the trial, survivors recounted how their villages were set on fire and their males slaughtered, and how women were forced into sex slavery. Meanwhile, there are outstanding arrest warrants for other Sudanese officials, including former President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted on charges of genocide, which he denies. Bashir, who was ousted in a coup in 2019, is reportedly in military custody in northern Sudan. Fighting restarted in Sudan in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – the latter originating from the Janjaweed – resulting in ethnically-driven killings and mass displacement. The UN said the conflict created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Madagascar: Protests Erupt Over Power Outages And Water Shortages

Protests Over Power Blackouts Escalate in Madagascar Madagascar Hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces in Madagascar’s capital Saturday, as demonstrations over chronic power and water shortages entered their third day, killing at least five people and triggering widespread looting, Le Monde reported. On Saturday, demonstrators filled the streets of the capital of Antananarivo, carrying placards reading “We are poor, angry and unhappy” and “Madagascar is ours,” while security forces blocked their attempt to march toward the city center. The youth-led protests began Thursday, a day after authorities banned a planned demonstration over ongoing water and power cuts in the impoverished country. But the protests quickly devolved into violence as police used rubber bullets and tear gas, while students and young workers blocked roads in the capital with rocks and burning tires. There were reports of looting of shops and attacks on banks. Local media said a number of cable car stations were set ablaze and three homes belonging to politicians allied with President Andry Rajoelina were attacked. Authorities later imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew to restore order, Al Jazeera added. In an effort to appease protesters, Rajoelina announced the dismissal of his energy minister “for not doing his job” late last week. Even so, the president branded the protests as an attempted “coup d’état.” Despite the minister’s removal, protest organizers have called for demonstrations to continue and accused security forces of excessive force and a failure to prevent looting, Africanews wrote. Madagascar, a nation of about 30 million people, remains mired in poverty, with the World Bank estimating that 75 percent of the population was living below the poverty line in 2022.

Sudan: A Gold Rush Precludes Peace

The War Dividend: In Sudan’s Civil War, a Gold Rush Precludes Peace Sudan When war erupted in Sudan’s capital in April 2023, Zainab Aamer faced an impossible choice: stay and risk death, or flee into unknown danger. Aamer, a widow and mother of six, had worked as a nurse in Khartoum before she decided to leave, becoming one of more than 12 million internal refugees in what the United Nations calls the world’s largest displacement crisis. “I had to protect my daughters,” she said, recounting the perilous 500-mile journey to Port Sudan on the coast that cost her eldest son his life. For the internally displaced like Aamer, the announcement in September by the group known as the “Quad” – the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates – of a proposal for a three-month truce and a permanent peace should bring some hope for the future. But it likely won’t, say analysts. That’s because this conflict is not just about power and territory and tribes – it’s about gold, which means it’s too lucrative a war for its key players to want peace. “The gold trade connects Sudan’s civil war to the wider region and highlights the roles that commodities play in perpetuating violent conflict,” wrote the British think tank, Chatham House. “The multi-billion-dollar trade of gold sustains and shapes Sudan’s conflict. This commodity is the most significant source of income for the warring parties, feeding an associated cross-border network of actors including other armed groups, producers, traders, smugglers, and external governments.” In 2019, Sudan saw a popular revolution that ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was in power for 30 years. Afterward, a transitional civilian council took over the country before being deposed by another military coup in 2021. Afterward, as protesters fought for a transition to democracy, power struggles grew between the army commander leading the country, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and his deputy, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia that arose out of the Janjaweed terror group in the Darfur region that killed thousands of people there in the 1980s. In April 2023, war broke out over the integration of the two forces. In the two years since, the fight has killed about 150,000 people. Both sides have to date rejected moves toward peace. In August, Burhan said he would “defeat this rebellion.” Hemedti, who was sworn in as head of a parallel government in April, says he represents Sudan’s future with “a broad civilian coalition that represents the true face of Sudan.” Meanwhile, they have carved up the country and its resources among themselves. The SAF controls the north, the east, the capital of Khartoum, and Sennar state in the south. The RSF controls parts of the south and center and most of the west of the country, where it is fighting for control of El-Fasher, its last stronghold in the resource-rich Darfur region. Elsewhere in the country, there are other rebel groups and tribal militias holding on to smaller fiefdoms, fighting one or both parties. And both profit from, and are supported by, the production of gold, which is increasing in the country: Last year, Sudan’s state-owned Mineral Resources Company reported gold production hit 64 tons in 2024, up from 41.8 tons in 2022. Along with the increase in production, the value of gold gained 27 percent in 2024, capping a decade in which it has more than doubled in value. In the first six months of this year, gold’s value increased by a further 24 percent. Both the RSF and the SAF are not only deeply involved in the production of gold in the areas they control, but even work together to harvest the riches and smuggle them out of the country, said analysts. As a result, foreign powers have created “networks of dependency” through gold smuggling, with “Dubai already serving as the primary destination for gold smuggled by militias,” wrote Noria Research in a recent analysis. “Regional powers currently intervening in Sudan do view the country as the site for national interests, but in the manner that 19th-century colonial powers viewed Africa.” And a weak Sudan, one in a state of civil war, makes stealing its resources far simpler, it added, because “a unified state cannot assert sovereignty to any meaningful degree… This is a much simpler task than navigating a constellation of bureaucrats, judges, businessmen, politicians, and civil society, as would be the case were Sudan made whole again.” The UAE is the key foreign player in Sudan but far from the only one. The SAF has received weaponry and financial support from Russia’s Africa Corps (formerly the Wagner Group of mercenaries), Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Qatar, among others. The RSF has received support from the UAE and those it has influence over, including Kenya, Uganda, Libya – via Khalifa Haftar – and Ethiopia. As a result, analysts say what has developed in the region is a broader regional gold economy with a constellation of war-torn countries such as Libya, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo revolving around the UAE: Almost half of all exported African gold flows there, where its origins are scrubbed before being sold. For the UAE, it’s not just about the riches, but about power in the region, food security, and a return on its investment, say analysts. “The UAE has emerged as the foreign player most invested in the war,” wrote May Darwich of the University of Birmingham, in the Conversation, noting the country’s more than $6 billion in investment into Sudan. “It views resource-rich, strategically located Sudan as an opportunity to expand its influence and control in the Middle East and east Africa.” The UAE also recruits mercenaries from Sudan, for example, for its fight in Yemen. Emirati officials have repeatedly denied the UAE’s involvement in Sudan, claiming its neutrality. But US officials have blasted the country for its involvement in the war and for sustaining the conflict. Meanwhile, as gold continues to flow out of Sudan, its warring parties have yet to respond to the proposal by the Quad. That means more waiting for the dividends of peace for children like Sondos, 8, who, with her family, fled to yet another refugee camp because of repeated RSF attacks on El-Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, and its refugee camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk. Famine is growing in the region due to a blockade by the militia, the UN says. We had no choice but to leave, Sondos says: “There was only hunger and bombs.” Share this story

Zimbia: Casting A Spell: Attempted Murder of the President By Witchcraft

Casting a Spell: Attempted Murder of the President By Witchcraft Rivets Zambians Zambia In mid-September, a Zambian court sentenced two men to two years of hard labor in prison for attempting to kill Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema – with sorcery. The charges stem from an incident in December when a hotel cleaner in Zambia’s capital of Lusaka reported strange noises coming from a room. The two men were arrested after items such as a live chameleon, a mysterious white powder, a red cloth, and the tail of an unidentified animal were found among their possessions. Afterward, the two men – one a Mozambican national and traditional healer, Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, and the other, a Zambian village chief, Leonard Phiri – were accused of being “witchdoctors” and were charged under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act with “possession of charms,” “professing knowledge of witchcraft,” and “cruelty to wild animals.” Police say the two had been promised more than $73,000 by a political opponent of the president to bewitch Hichilema in a case that has gripped the nation. Many Zambians take witchcraft very seriously: A study by the Zambia Law Development Commission in 2018 found that 79 percent of Zambians believed in witchcraft. The criminal justice system also takes it seriously. In Zambia, under a colonial-era law, those found guilty of witchcraft face a fine or up to two years in jail, with the possibility of hard labor. However, witchcraft cases have been difficult to prosecute in the country because of difficulties in collecting evidence or finding credible witnesses. This case was also tricky for prosecutors, who say the pair were hired by Nelson Banda, the brother of independent lawmaker Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, to do harm to the president. Banda, who is facing trial for robbery, attempted murder, and escaping custody, was previously associated with former President Edgar Lungu from the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party – Lungu lost the presidency to Hichilema in 2021. The PF called the accusations against Banda politically motivated, while others alleged it was a stunt by Hichilema, who faces reelection next year. The president, who himself was accused of witchcraft by a past Zambian president a decade ago, has not commented on the case. Some local media, however, blasted it. “The president has nothing substantive to ride on to kick-start his second-term campaign – what better distraction from the economic crisis we face than a live viewing of a trial of ‘witches’ in the postmodern era,” wrote the Lusaka Times in an editorial. “Knowing Zambians fear witchcraft more than gunfire, the president hopes to score a major win. But the truth is…this trial will only expose him as a desperate figure, pleading for public sympathy while the whole world laughs at him.” Still, the trial sparked huge interest in the country and highlighted the impact of the belief in witchcraft in the country. In Zambia, for example, there are “witch camps” where those accused of sorcery, usually elderly women, are placed if they have survived the accusations in their communities. There, residents live in inhumane conditions, say activists, and almost never return to their communities. Often, the women sit behind a fence, posing for tourists, often tied with ribbons to prevent them from flying away. These so-called witch camps exist around the region, including in Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, and Ghana, where belief in witches is deeply ingrained and goes back centuries. “The issue is persistent because of local beliefs,” Amnesty International West Africa researcher Michèle Eken told Newsweek. “It starts with a simple accusation…It can be because someone died in the village, and they are accused of being responsible. Or, tragically, the accusation can come from someone who has a debt to repay and does not want to pay it back or someone who wants their house/goods.” While activists and some governments have tried to stop the stigma and punishment, other places in Africa, such as The Gambia, have carried out state-sponsored witch hunts in the past two decades. Some, meanwhile, believe it is time to do away with the Zambian law that criminalizes witchcraft: It dates to 1914 when Zambia was part of the British “sphere of influence,” and does not reflect the country today culturally, they say. “Traditional Zambian societies and individuals believe in a strong relationship between the human world and the supernatural,” Gankhanani Moyo of the University of Zambia told the Associated Press. “I hate that colonial piece of legislation that attempts to outlaw a practice that it does not understand.” Share this story

South Africa: Two Hikers Rescued From Cape Town's Iconic Trails

Two hikers rescued from Cape Town’s most iconic trails Wilderness Search And Rescue teams were called into action following two separate hiking accidents on Cape Town’s most popular trails. Author picture By Garrin Lambley 21-09-25 19:03 in News WSAR Wilderness Search And Rescue teams were called into action following two separate hiking accidents on Cape Town’s most popular trails. Image: WSAR Facebook Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) teams were called into action this weekend following two separate hiking accidents on Cape Town’s most popular trails, as warmer weather continues to draw large numbers of outdoor enthusiasts to the mountains. According to WSAR spokesperson David Nel, the uptick in callouts is directly linked to the improved weather conditions. He urged hikers to exercise caution, particularly in areas made slippery by recent rainfall. ADVERTISEMENT “It’s heartening to see so many people returning to the trails,” said Nel. “But we urge all outdoor enthusiasts to remain cautious. Recent rainfall has left some sections of the mountain wet and slippery, increasing the risk of slips and falls.” Lion’s Head Rescue The first incident occurred mid-morning on Saturday on Lion’s Head, where a 36-year-old woman injured her ankle after slipping near the staples section of the descent trail. WSAR teams responded swiftly, and a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic treated the hiker at the scene. She was assisted down the mountain and safely transported from the area by 12:22. Platteklip Gorge Air Rescue Later in the afternoon, a second emergency unfolded on Platteklip Gorge, a popular ascent route up Table Mountain. ADVERTISEMENT A 25-year-old hiker fell a short distance down the trail and was unable to continue due to injury. WSAR teams accessed the scene via the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, before trekking across the summit and descending to reach the injured hiker. A rescue helicopter operated by the Air Mercy Service (AMS) was also deployed. After being stabilised by an EMS paramedic, the patient was hoisted off the mountain and flown to a nearby landing zone before being transported to hospital by ambulance. The rescue operation concluded shortly after 18:00. “These rescues are a testament to the dedication, passion and teamwork of our volunteers and emergency medical personnel,” said Nel. “We wish both patients a speedy and full recovery.” Hiking Safety Reminder Save the emergency number: 021 937 0300 Be cautious: trails may be slippery after rain Plan your hikes in advance Support WSAR here WSAR is a volunteer-based network supported by government agencies and civilian organisations, dedicated to search and rescue operations in the Western Cape’s rugged terrain. 'The South African' is hiring! 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South African Police Bust Illicit Meth Lab And Arrest 5 North Americns

South African police bust illicit meth lab, arrest 5 North Americans By Kerry Breen, 1 days ago Officials in South Africa discovered $20 million worth of illicit drugs at a farm being used as a methamphetamine lab and arrested five North American citizens, according to a news release shared Saturday. The South African Police Service received a tip-off about suspicious activities on a farm in Oudehoutkloof, Volksrust, about 150 miles from Johannesburg in the nation's Mpumalanga province. The person who submitted the tip reported "a strange chemical smell emanating from the premises," according to the police service. When officials searched the farm, they found precursor chemicals used to make drugs, manufacturing equipment, a pellet gun loaded with blanks, and three live 9 millimeter rounds held by a farm caretaker. Police also found about $20 million worth of crystal meth, packed in buckets and lunchboxes. The containers were stored in freezers, police said. Photos shared by the South African Police Service on social media show multiple containers and large machinery. Containers of meth found in an illicit lab in South Africa. South African Police Service Five suspects were taken into custody after attempting to flee on foot. All five were from a North American country, but the police did not say which nation they were from. They were in the country illegally, police said. All five face possible drug and immigration-related charges, police said. The farm caretaker is South African. Police said he was arrested and faces possible charges for possession of ammunition. All six suspects in custody are expected to appear before court soon, police said. Two other suspects, believed to be from West African countries, fled into nearby bushes and avoided capture, the police service said. Large machinery found at an illicit drug lab in South Africa. South African Police Service The drug lab is being dismantled, police said in the news release. Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service, said the operation is "a step in the right direction" to "rid the streets of Mpumalanga of all types of drugs." A 2022 report described South Africa as one of the largest crystal meth consumer markets in the world, according to CBS News partner BBC News. Last year, police discovered another large meth lab in a remote farm area. The discovery led to the arrest of two South Africans and three Mexican suspects. Police seized $100 million worth of precursor chemicals and illicit drugs.

Malawi Goes To The Polls In Rematch Vote

Election Recycling: Malawi Goes to the Polls in Rematch Vote Malawi On Sept. 16, Malawi’s voters will go to the polls to elect their new president. It’s essentially a rerun of the country’s last election, in 2019-2020, with incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) facing off against his predecessor, former President Arthur Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). This time, however, Malawians say they hope to get it right. “President Lazarus Chakwera’s first term has fallen short on human rights, defined by broken promises in relation to the economy and living standards, impunity and civic space,” said Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah. In the last election, Chakwera challenged Mutharika in 2019 and initially lost. But the country’s top court annulled the decision, forcing a rematch that Chakwera won. At the time, the turnabout was hailed as an example of democracy’s triumph. The Economist tapped Malawi as 2020’s Country of the Year. Then US-President Joe Biden called Malawi a “democratic bright spot.” Foreign assistance followed. That promise has since fizzled, however. “Economic turmoil, natural disasters, and the shock death of the nation’s vice-president,” followed Chakwera’s inauguration, the BBC wrote, referring to a terrible cyclone, horrible droughts, and the death of the late Saulos Chilima in a plane crash. Despite investigations that yielded no signs of foul play, many Malawians suspect Chilima died because he was especially popular among otherwise disaffected youth and therefore may have challenged Chakwera. Other than Chakwera introducing train services after more than 30 years after their shutdown and commencing major road projects, many voters haven’t seen an improvement in their living conditions, government services, or job prospects, analysts say. Instead, consumer prices have spiked, unemployment remains high, and corruption and nepotism continue to grow in one of the world’s poorest countries. Malawians appear ready to turn back the clock in part because of their great disappointment with Chakwera’s administration, World Politics Review explained. “The assumption among many observers was that the democratic triumph that brought Chakwera to office and the momentum it generated would create the political will to address corruption, governance, health care, and other challenges that have plagued Malawi since before its independence,” it wrote. “Five years later, however, most socioeconomic conditions and virtually all governance indicators in Malawi remain unchanged.” “Chakwera has wasted Malawi’s democratic breakthrough,” it added. Mutharika, who served from 2014 to 2020, faces some challenges, too. At 85, many Malawians fear he is too old and frail to oversee the gargantuan task of turning the country around. He failed, for instance, to show up for an event designed to instill confidence among voters about the transparency of the upcoming ballot, according to Malawi’s Nyasa Times. Still, the country’s human rights activists hope that Malawi’s election will create an opportunity for a newly elected president and parliament to improve the country’s record on freedom of expression, association, and other civil liberties. The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops agreed, exhorting voters to reject corrupt politicians who have failed to protect civil rights or enact economic reforms that might have helped one of the world’s poorest countries, reported Christian Daily, noting that Malawian politicians frequently raise money for religious institutions in exchange for political endorsements. A Christian group called the Pastors’ Voice, meanwhile, is backing Mutharika, saying that he provided more stability and progress, added Malawi24. Some say these elections are likely to be one of the most consequential in the country’s recent history. Others are just settling for the least bad option. “President Lazarus Chakwera, who rose to power in 2020 as a symbol of hope… has since become a disappointment to many Malawians,” wrote South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper. “Over the past few years, Chakwera’s government has increasingly followed the same troubling patterns of its predecessor, the DPP…of bad governance… This has left many Malawians feeling betrayed by a government they once believed would bring transformative change.” At this point, the newspaper added, “Malawi electorate’s only option is to recycle a president.” Share this story

South Africa: Trial Begins For Three Accused Of Stealing $580,000 Hidden In Couch At South African President's Farm

Trial begins for 3 accused of stealing $580,000 hidden in couch at South Africa president's farm By Michelle Gumede, 7 hours ago South Africa-Cash Scandal-Explainer Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Three people went on trial in South Africa on Monday after being charged with housebreaking and stealing $580,000 in U.S. banknotes hidden in a couch at a game farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The strange case mired Ramaphosa in scandal and almost cost him his job after he was accused of tax evasion, money laundering and breaching foreign currency laws. He was also accused of trying to hide the existence of the money because the alleged theft happened in 2020, but was only revealed two years later. The case has been dubbed “farmgate” in South Africa. Ramaphosa, who campaigned on an anti-corruption ticket, was cleared of wrongdoing and survived a vote in Parliament over whether impeachment charges should be brought against him, but he is still under scrutiny over why such a large amount of money was stashed in a piece of furniture. Cash in a couch Ramaphosa has said the money came from the legitimate sale of animals at his Phala Phala game and livestock farm in the northern province of Limpopo, but hasn't explained why it was stashed in a couch. The three defendants, two men and a woman who was a cleaner at the farm, are accused of breaking in and stealing the money in February 2020. They pleaded not guilty to the charges on the opening day of the trial on Monday. The spy boss The case came to light when the former head of the state security agency walked into a police station in June 2022 and filed a complaint against Ramaphosa. The spy boss, Arthur Fraser, accused Ramaphosa of hiding $4 million in the couch and using his personal police security detail to track down the thieves and bribe them to keep quiet about the money. Ramaphosa and authorities disputed the amount of $4 million. Fraser claimed to have provided the police with “supporting evidence” in the form of pictures, videos and bank account information linked to the alleged theft. Fraser's role in the scandal also became a source of intrigue because he is an ally of former President Jacob Zuma, the man Ramaphosa succeeded as president and his fierce political rival. Zuma was forced to resign as president in 2018 because of corruption allegations and has been critical of Ramaphosa since. The president's scandal The case sent allegations of corruption against Ramaphosa swirling. While investigations by the police and the country’s financial authorities cleared him of wrongdoing, he still needed his party’s majority in Parliament to block a move to impeach him in December 2022. Ramaphosa denied that he tried to hide the alleged theft from police and said he reported it to the head of his police protection unit. Three years after the scandal first broke, the trial of the three suspects is expected to be closely watched for any role the president had in the affair. Ramaphosa was reelected for a second term last year, although only after his long-ruling African National Congress party lost its 30-year majority and had to form a coalition government. The court case The trial of defendants Imanuwela David, Ndilinasho Joseph and his sister Froliana Joseph has been delayed several times, including for Froliana Joseph to give birth. They are all charged with housebreaking, conspiracy to commit housebreaking and theft. David also faces money laundering charges. Prosecutors expect the trial to run for three weeks and say they will call 20 witnesses, including staff members who worked at Ramaphosa's farm. ___ More AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Africa: Pre Historic Commutes

Prehistoric Commutes Humanity’s ancestors were forced to make long commutes long before the modern-day rush hour, according to a new study. A research team recently found that ancient toolmakers in East Africa were trekking miles to collect the right rocks for their gear, a finding that pushes back evidence of long-distance resource transport by some 600,000 years. The discovery comes from Nyayanga, a site along Kenya’s Lake Victoria, where archeologists have uncovered thousands of Oldowan tools dating back at least 2.6 million years. These tools consisted of sharp flakes and pounding stones used for processing plants, butchering animals, and even smashing open hippo bones. But the real surprise came when researchers traced their origins. Local rock around Nyayanga is relatively soft and not suitable for making durable tools. However, many of the collected artifacts were made from sturdy volcanic rhyolite and quartzite rock carried in from deposits up to eight miles away. “People often focus on the tools themselves, but the real innovation of the Oldowan may actually be the transport of resources from one place to another,” senior author Rick Potts explained in a press release. “The knowledge and intent to bring stone material to rich food sources was apparently an integral part of toolmaking behavior at the outset of the Oldowan.” Potts added that this behavior suggests early humans had the ability to plan ahead, map their surroundings, and remember where high-quality rocks could be found – which the authors described as a major cognitive leap. The discovery also raises questions about who exactly was doing the heavy lifting. Excavations at Nyayanga turned up two teeth from Paranthropus, a close evolutionary relative in the Homo genus – which includes modern humans – known for its massive jaws and teeth for chewing tough plants, according to Science News. Whether Paranthropus or early members of Homo carried the stones remains unclear, however. “Unless you find a hominin fossil actually holding a tool, you won’t be able to say definitively which species are making which stone tool assemblages,” noted lead author Emma Finestone. Still, she noted that the findings suggest “that there is a greater diversity of hominins making early stone tools than previously thought.” Other researchers praised the study, with archaeologist Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo telling Science News that the Nyayanga discovery is “the oldest documented case of long-distance transportation of raw materials.”

South African Men Win The Right To Take Wive's Last Name

South African Men Win Right To Take Wives’ Last Names South Africa South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that husbands are allowed to take the last names of their wives, overturning a law that prohibited them from doing so, which the court deemed to be gender-based discrimination, the BBC reported. According to South African law, women, but not men, have had the automatic right to change their last names after marriage, divorce or widowhood. Men, however, had to apply to the Director-General of Home Affairs for such a change. The court said this rule was unconstitutional, SABC News wrote. The case arose after plaintiff, Henry van der Merwe, was forbidden from taking the last name of his wife, Jana Jordaan, while another party to the case, Andreas Nicolas Bornman, was forbidden from hyphenating his surname to include Donnelly, the surname of his wife, Jess Donnelly-Bornman. The two couples filed legal action and won in the lower court but the decision needed confirmation by the country’s high court for the change to be able to take effect. The two couples argued that the law was outdated and patriarchal, saying it violated the equality clause enshrined in the constitution by generating unnecessary gender distinctions. They added that while the provision might originally have been designed to ease administrative procedures for women, it now served “to entrench stereotypical assumptions about the roles of men and women within a family structure.” Parliament will now need to amend the law for the change to become final.

Africans Are Being Pressured To Accept Deported Migrants-Some Aren't Happy About It

Africans Are Being Pressured To Accept Deported Migrants – Some Aren’t Happy About It Africa Recently, the first of 250 migrants who tried to move illegally to the United States were deported to the central African country of Rwanda. Rwandan officials say they accepted them because they understand their situation. “Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation,” Rwandan government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, told Reuters. “Those approved (for resettlement) will be provided with workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade.” Still, countries that accept migrants from the US and elsewhere are being compensated for their trouble: The program, part of President Donald Trump’s pledge to prevent illegal immigration in the US, is also an example of a booming new business. As the BBC reported, numerous developing countries worldwide have agreed to take migrants from wealthier nations that have chosen to pay others to handle those individuals who have left their homes in search of safety or better economic opportunities. For example, El Salvador has imprisoned Venezuelan citizens deported from the US. American taxpayers paid the country around $6 million for the resettlement, according to National Public Radio. The US has also expelled individuals to Eswatini and South Sudan, the latter a war-torn nation on the brink of another war. Lawyers for those individuals have complained that they have been thrown in jail in their new host countries without due process and live in dire conditions. Some are being deported even when their countries of origin are willing to take them back. For example, Jamaican national Orville Etoria was “inexplicably and illegally” sent to Eswatini when Jamaica said it would accept him back, the New York-based Legal Aid Society told the Los Angeles Times. Etoria and other men from Laos and Vietnam have been refused visitation by their local attorneys. Rwanda hasn’t disclosed how much the US has paid to accept the migrants. But the US recently paid the country $100,000 to take a single Iraqi deportee. The US isn’t alone in its offshoring. Australia is paying the tiny Oceanic nation of Nauru $267 million in a lump sum as well as $46 million annually to take migrants, the Associated Press noted. Three years ago, the United Kingdom attempted to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The plan fizzled, however, after British courts found that it violated human rights laws. The British spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the plan. Now, Rwandan officials insist they are not required to pay the money back. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is now thinking of new ways to offshore migrants, according to a London School of Economics blog. Meanwhile, Italy also was forced to pull back from its scheme to deport migrants to Albania for asylum processing after a court ruled it illegal on human rights grounds. Still, Europeans have succeeded in other ways: They are paying Turkey almost $7 billion to process migrants so they might enter the European Union legally, rather than attempting to cross into Greece, where many are now detained in camps. As the International Rescue Committee explained, this arrangement was part of the EU’s response to 1 million migrants seeking to enter the bloc in 2015. Most were from war-torn Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Turkey is now forcibly sending many back to their home countries, Politico added. The EU has also created a nearly $6 billion fund to pay Libya and other African countries to hold migrants there rather than letting them take to the Mediterranean Sea to go north, the Guardian reported. Advocates, however, say the conditions are dire for the migrants who get stuck in North Africa. For example, last year, a journalist group forced the EU to admit that its money was allowing African countries to “dump” migrants in the remote parts of the Sahara. Meanwhile, some Africans are not happy with the offshoring plans, saying that the US and other countries are attempting to dump their problems onto African nations and not taking no for an answer. In June, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration had pressured 58 countries, many in Africa, to accept deportees. This “intense diplomatic campaign” targeted nations facing US travel bans, visa restrictions or tariffs, raising concerns that some leaders may comply regardless of whether it serves their country’s interests. The US’ approach reflects a troubling perception of Africa as a “dumping ground” for foreign nationals convicted of violent crimes, said Al Jazeera, creating anger on the continent. Analyst Chris Ogunmodede told the news outlet that countries like South Sudan and Eswatini, with no geopolitical heft, can easily be bullied into compliance by larger nations. Analysts say this campaign has deep repercussions for Africa. “The deportations have deepened public distrust in host country governments. Secrecy surrounding the deals exacerbates instability in both (Eswatini and South Sudan), which are already burdened by violence, instability, and crackdowns on pro-democracy movements,” wrote the Institute for Security Studies. “Many citizens believe the US has used aid and trade to pressure South Sudan and Eswatini into compliance and gain favor with the Trump administration, triggering fears over what was promised in exchange.” At least one country has said no. Regional heavyweight Nigeria was asked by the US to take Venezuelan deportees, some straight out of prison, according to Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. The country turned down the request. “The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept (deportees),” he said, speaking on a Nigerian talk show. “For crying out loud, we already have 230 million people, the very same people that would castigate us if we accepted (the deportees).” Meanwhile, he added, “We have enough problems of our own.”

South Africa: 7 Chinese Sentenced To 20 Years Each For Trafficking and Forced Labor

7 Chinese sentenced to 20 years each for trafficking and forced labor in South Africa By Mogomotsi Magome, 13 hours ago South Africa-Chinese-Trafficking Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. A court in Johannesburg sentenced seven Chinese nationals on Wednesday to terms of 20 years in prison each for trafficking people from Malawi and forcing them to work at a factory in South Africa. The group was convicted on Feb. 25 of trafficking 91 undocumented Malawian nationals from 2017 to 2019 to work at a cotton fabric factory in Village Deep, an industrial area in the south of Johannesburg. The Chinese nationals had been arrested on Nov. 12, 2019 when police raided the factory and found the Malawians confined under inhumane conditions with armed guards controlling their movements. The factory had a high wall and razor fence. Court records listed the defendants as Shu-Uei Tsao, 42; Biao Ma, 50; Hui Chen, 50; Quin Li, 56; Zhou Jiaquing, 46; Junying Dai, 58; and Zhilian Zhang, 51. They all were sentenced in Gauteng South Division Court to 20 years after being convicted of human trafficking and breaking the country’s labor and immigration laws. Prosecutors had sought life sentences. They said the victims were forced to work 11-hour shifts, seven days a week, without proper training or safety equipment. Many had previously worked at Chinese-owned factories in Malawi, and were recruited to go to South Africa under false pretenses, the prosecutors said. During the trial, the victims described harsh conditions, including being transported in windowless trucks to the factory, where they were not allowed to leave. They were also forced to work on holidays and were prohibited from bringing in outside food. Personal communication was banned, and they were made to operate defective machines without protective gear, leading to accidents, they said.

Cameroon: Two US Citizens Indicted for Bombings and Kidnappings Through Separatist Militia Operations

DOJ: Two U.S. citizens used Minnesota as base for overseas kidnappings and bombings Minnesota residents accused of funding bombings and kidnappings through separatist militia operations Alexandra Koch By Alexandra Koch Fox News Published September 6, 2025 3:42pm EDT Facebook Twitter Flipboard Comments Print Email close Grapevine: Will Cameroon be evicted from DC embassy? NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Listen to this article 3 min A federal grand jury in Minnesota has indicted two naturalized U.S. citizens from the Republic of Cameroon, alleging they orchestrated kidnappings, bombings and killings in their native country. Benedict Nwana Kuah, 51, and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, 52, were arrested Friday morning in the District of Minnesota and face additional charges of conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad, conspiracy to provide material support or resources and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, according to the Department of Justice. Kuah is also charged with three counts of providing material support or resources, conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction outside the U.S. The men made their initial appearances and are being held in custody pending detention hearings scheduled for Sept. 10 and Sept. 11. A Cameroon trooper, right, stands next to an ambulance that was used to carry victims of a train that crashed on Friday in Eseka, Cameroon, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Rescue workers dug through the rubble Saturday in search of more injured and dead after a train traveling between two major cities in Cameroon derailed in Eseka, killing scores of people according to rescue workers and hospital staff. The alleged attacks happened in Cameroon, a country in Central Africa. (The Associated Press) SELF-PROCLAIMED 'APOSTLE' WHO CLAIMS TO BE JESUS' BEST FRIEND ARRESTED IN FORCED LABOR SCHEME Kuah and Wongbi allegedly held leadership roles in the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), a separatist militia seeking to create an independent country in Cameroon, according to the indictment. The pair allegedly used their positions to raise money and finance the purchase of weapons and directed co-conspirators in Cameroon to kidnap, bomb and kill civilians, government officials and members of the security forces to intimidate civilians and coerce the Cameroonian government into recognizing their legitimacy. Starting in 2017, the two men allegedly sent thousands of dollars to co-conspirators in Cameroon for weapons and explosives, directing attacks that killed, injured or kidnapped civilians, according to the indictment. In 2022, fighters kidnapped a government official and released propaganda videos. In this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, Cameroon soldiers stand guard at a lookout post as they take part in operations against the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram near the village of Mabass, Cameroon. Cameroon officials say prisons are overcrowded with suspected Islamic extremists whose insurgency has spilled from Nigeria. The pair allegedly sent thousands of dollars to co-conspirators in Cameroon for weapons and explosives and directed attacks that left civilians dead, injured or taken hostage. (

Kenya Stops Exhumations At Cult Site After Finding Remains

Kenya Stops Exhumations at Cult Site After Finding Remains Kenya Authorities in Kenya have suspended exhumations at a suspected doomsday cult site after discovering new remains near where hundreds of bodies linked to a cult were found two years ago, the Associated Press reported. The latest exhumations at Chakama Ranch in Kilifi County, in southeastern Kenya, uncovered 34 new bodies and more than 100 body parts, Africanews noted. Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja said a multi-agency team was investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths. Eleven suspects were arrested a month ago after a woman reported the deaths of her children. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are analyzing money transfers to the suspects’ phones from individuals they suspect of funding the operation. Police said the cult members rented homes in the town of Malindi, on Kenya’s western coast, before moving to the remote Chakama Ranch area, where they built mud huts next to where the shallow graves were found. This marks the second instance where bodies have been uncovered in the area, which has been linked to cult activities. Two years ago, the remains of more than 400 followers of a doomsday cult were found near preacher Paul Mackenzie’s Good News International Church in the Shakahola area, about 1.2 miles from where the new remains were found. Mackenzie is in custody on murder charges. The discovery sent shockwaves across Kenya. According to the police, the new remains were found during the regrouping of the cult by former members. The number of missing remains is unclear.

Eswatini Is Accepting US Deportees

In this week’s Analysing Africa newsletter John McDermott, The Economist’s Chief Africa correspondent, wrote about how the continent is handling the deportees that America is sending. Here is an abridged version. For more reporting on and analysis of Africa, sign up to the newsletter. I first heard of the Matsapha Correctional Complex, a prison in Eswatini, when two MPs were jailed on what human-rights groups say are spurious charges. As both were arrested for participating in and supporting pro-democracy protests, their real offence may have been to challenge the rule of King Mswati III, Africa’s fifth-longest-serving leader. His royal court includes at least 11 wives; courtiers drive Rolls Royces while most of his 1.2m subjects live in poverty. In Matsapha at least one of the MPs is said to have been beaten and deprived of food and medical care. The prison is in the news again because it houses five migrants sent by America as part of Donald Trump’s increasingly theatrical and aggressive deportation policy. The autocracy, once known as Swaziland, is one of four African countries, alongside South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda, that have recently agreed to take deportees. I suspect the appeal to Mr Trump is twofold. First, African deportation deals fire up those in the MAGA base who enjoy performative cruelty towards migrants. Second, they are a deterrent—migrants would rather be sent home than to an African country they know nothing about. But what is in it for African countries? For Eswatini and South Sudan, neither of which has much to offer the world’s most powerful country, it is ad hoc deal-making. Eswatini wants cash (more than $10m to take more than 150 deportees, according to the New York Times) and exemption from high tariffs on sugar exports. South Sudan wants to undo a decision by America in April to bar its citizens from the country and revoke visas that have already been issued. Politicians see taking deportees as a way of getting back into Mr Trump’s good books. And both Rwanda and Uganda have a history of striking deals with larger powers to take in unwanted migrants. African countries’ eagerness to help solve Mr Trump’s migration problems underlines the narrowing of America’s relationship with the continent. For America the policy can be summed up by three Ms: mercantilism, minerals and migrants. African leaders can benefit from appearing to help America in these areas. But I still find it sad that, whereas American diplomats once decried, however inconsistently, the conditions in African prisons, the very grimness of these places is now part of their appeal.

Mocambique: Jihadists Attack Resource Development Projects

Bloody Rich: Mozambique Sees Resurgence of Militant Attacks As It Tries To Develop Its Resources Mozambique Fifty years after Mozambique gained independence from Portugal, the southeast African country is struggling to contain surging jihadist violence in its northern coastal Cabo Delgado province. In August, Islamic State-affiliated militants known as al-Shabaab attacked eight districts in Cabo Delgado. Seeking to install their harsh version of Sharia law and seize the region’s natural gas reserves and ruby mines, the militants have attacked villages, fought Mozambican troops, and set up roadblocks on back roads to extort resources from travelers. Christian drivers stopped at these roadblocks must pay tolls to pass or face capture. The United States-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) warned that the Islamic State fighters were also beheading Christians and burning down churches and schools, calling the tragic situation a “silent genocide.” “What we see in Africa today is a kind of silent genocide or silent, brutal, savage war that is occurring in the shadows and all too often ignored by the international community,” Alberto Miguel Fernandez of MEMRI told Fox News. “That jihadist groups are in a position to take over not one, not two, but several countries in Africa – take over the whole country or most of several countries – is dangerous.” Mozambique has been battling the Islamist insurgents in Cabo Delgado since 2017, struggling to contain the violence, while relying on support from troops sent by Rwanda, South Africa, and other regional partners. In 2020, the insurgents initiated a wave of attacks in which they beheaded dozens of people, including children. Now, observers say there has been a resurgence of attacks and child kidnappings this year, which have been overshadowed by Mozambique’s deadly and long-running post-election protests, recent cyclones, and US cuts to foreign aid.  More than 95,000 people have been displaced due to the violence, the United Nations said. UN officials also warned that the militants were preventing vital humanitarian aid for those who remain. More than 6,000 people have died in the region since 2017. Around a third were civilians. The political dominance of the Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO), which fought for independence and has run the country since 1975, is one reason why the jihadist problem as well as other issues – poor infrastructure, scant civil institutions, ethnic tensions, extreme inequality and endemic poverty despite tremendous natural resources – persist in the country, argued the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs. “The persistence of protests and the country’s economic paralysis underscore a revolt that extends beyond electoral disputes,” it wrote. “The opposition has evolved into a broader challenge against a one-party system tainted by repeated corruption scandals in recent years, whose promises of development have left behind a particularly vulnerable population.” When President Daniel Chapo won office last year, defeating Venâncio Mondlane of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique, a party that split off from FRELIMO, for example, voters eager for change took to the streets to protest for months, accusing Chapo of fraud. The government responded with a harsh crackdown, resulting in more than 300 deaths in the demonstrations. In July, the government charged Mondlane with incitement to terrorism. Among the government’s failings over the years is the failure to bring together different parties to figure out how to address the root causes of the jihadism in Cabo Delgado, noted the Center for Strategic Studies. Compensating those who have suffered violence, offering amnesty to those who have run afoul of government officials for expressing their dissident political opinions, and funding more youth initiatives would help defuse the instability in the region, Center researchers argued. Chapo hopes money can help. He recently announced a $40 million, World Bank-supported fund to finance small and medium businesses, reported Al Jazeera. More importantly, Qatar’s Al Mansour Holding recently signed a $20 billion deal to fund energy and agriculture projects, Reuters wrote. But the insurgents are likely not to be defeated that easily, say analysts. As of June, insurgents have kidnapped more than 120 children from the Cabo Delgado province, to ensure their mission goes on: Witnesses told the Associated Press that children abducted from towns and villages have been used as fighters in subsequent attacks. “When al-Shabab fighters enter or attack certain areas, they tend to abduct children,” Augusta Iaquite, coordinator at the Association of Women in Legal Careers in Cabo Delgado, told Human Rights Watch. “They take them to train them and later turn them into their own fighters.” 

Burkina Faso Outlaws Homosexuality

Burkina Faso Outlaws Homosexuality Burkina Faso Burkina Faso’s transitional junta parliament passed a law criminalizing homosexuality and instituting prison sentences of up to five years as punishment this week, the latest African country to impose anti-gay legislation, France 24 reported. The law was unanimously adopted Monday by 71 unelected members of the transitional parliament, in power following two coups in 2022. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala told national broadcaster RTB that homosexual acts are “bizarre behavior” and added that foreign nationals would be deported under the law, Africanews wrote. Officials presented the law, which is part of a broader family and citizenship legislation reform, as a recognition of “marriage and family values,” adding that it will be “popularized through an awareness campaign.” Homosexuality is banned in around 30 African countries, but it was not deemed a criminal act in Burkina Faso before the military seized power through coups they said were meant to stabilize the West African country amid a worsening security crisis. Rights groups, however, have criticized the junta for undermining human rights with widespread arrests and military conscription of critics. Mali, an ally of Burkina Faso and also led by a military government, passed a law banning homosexuality in November 2024. Ghana and Uganda have also recently imposed stricter anti-homosexuality laws. In Uganda, “aggravated homosexuality” is a capital offence, while consensual same-sex relations can be punished with a life sentence. Analysts say that while these laws are widely criticized abroad, they are often popular in African countries where the public is often critical of homosexuality, framing it as a behavior imported from abroad.

Guinea: Its Junta Suspends Opposition Parties Ahead Of Constitutional Referendum

Guinea’s Junta Suspends Opposition Parties Ahead of Constitutional Referendum Guinea Guinea’s military government over the weekend suspended the country’s three main opposition parties, including the party of ousted former President Alpha Condé, ahead of a constitutional referendum that critics warn could help the junta consolidate power, Al Jazeera reported. The order released Saturday names the Rally of the Guinean People, led by Condé; the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo; and the Party of Renewal and Progress. All three are barred from taking part in any political activity for 90 days. The suspension came as Guinea prepares for mass protests starting Sept. 5 against a constitutional referendum slated for Sept. 21 that opposition parties and civil society groups consider an attempt by junta leader Gen. Mamady Doumbouya to grab further power, according to Africanews. Parties had been allowed to advertise their proposals for a new version of the constitution since Friday. But in a separate order, the junta announced that the start of the election campaign period would be delayed by a week to Aug. 31. Critics say the effort to rewrite the constitution could allow Doumbouya to run for president despite a previous ban established in the “transition charter” drafted by the junta after the 2021 coup that ousted Condé. Such protests have been banned by the military government since 2022, and it has already arrested, prosecuted, or forced into exile a number of opposition leaders. Earlier this year, dozens of other parties were suspended or dissolved for failing to meet new regulations. According to analysts, this new suspension solidifies the conviction of Guinea’s opposition parties that the transitional government was never working to protect democracy, despite Doumbouya’s promises to give more space to political parties and civil society. International rights groups have condemned the junta’s harsh actions, warning that Guinea’s fragile democracy is at risk as the country undergoes this critical transition.

South African Breeder Is Accused of $14 Million Rhino Horn Smuggling Ring

South African breeder is accused of $14 million rhino horn smuggling ring By Michelle Gumede, 10 hours ago South AfricaRhino Syndicate Crime Invision South African prosecutors have accused a well-known rhino breeder of operating a global rhino horn smuggling network alongside five other people. John Hume, 83, owns one of the world's largest rhino herds at his Johannesburg ranch. He and the others are accused of a scheme involving 964 rhino horns valued at $14.1 million. Hume has not publicly commented. Hume was granted $5,000 bond by the Pretoria magistrates court, according to the National Prosecuting Authority, after he and the others handed themselves over to police on Tuesday. Bail conditions included turning over their passports. Prosecutors said they next appear in court on Dec. 9. A seven-year investigation by South African authorities found the suspects allegedly secured permits under false pretenses to buy and sell rhino horns domestically while funneling the horns into illegal markets in Southeast Asia. Under South African law, domestic trade is permitted with valid permits. However, international commercial trade in rhino horn is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. According to a blog promoting the private reserve that he opened in 2009, Hume and his staff at Rhinos of Buffalo Dream Ranch care for over 1,600 rhinos, including over 1,000 that have been bred there. The six suspects, including a lawyer, insurance broker and game reserve manager, are charged with 55 counts including racketeering, fraud, theft and money laundering. The country's environment minister, Dion George, called the investigation “a powerful demonstration of South Africa’s resolve to protect its natural heritage.” South Africa fights an ongoing battle to protect endangered rhinos, with a reported 103 killed between Jan. 1 and March 31, according to the government. Authorities have focused in recent years on criminal syndicates they believe are behind much of the poaching. The country has the world's largest rhino population with an estimated 16,000 to 18,000, according to conservation groups. That includes white rhinos and the critically endangered black ones.

Angola: Nothing To Lose Protestors Will Continue Despite Crack Down

Nothing to Lose: Frustrated Angolans Say They Will Continue Protests Despite Crackdowns Angola A few weeks ago, the National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola called a strike to protest a 33 percent increase in the price of fuel in the capital city of Luanda. The local police department, however, banned the strike, calling it a rebellion. The strike morphed into a popular uprising in Angola, one of Africa’s leading oil producers. Thousands of people hit the streets in cities across the country for three days to protest the ban, the petrol price increase, and the rising cost of living. “The fuel price issue is just the last straw that has reignited widespread public discontent,” Laura Macedo, who was participating in the protests, told the BBC. “Hunger is rife. People are fed up.” There were violent clashes between protesters and police, who used live ammunition and accused the strike leaders of terrorism. When the violence was over, dozens lay dead, hundreds more were injured, and more than 1,000 had been jailed. Analysts say such events are routine for Angola, which has been ruled with an iron fist by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975. But many Angolans are tired of the situation now, say observers. “The protesters are frustrated not only by the fuel hike, but also …the perceived indifference of the government to the struggles of everyday Angolans,” wrote Deutsche Welle. The government says the petrol price hike is necessary: Subsidies for fuel account for about 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), and debt exceeds 60 percent of GDP. It adds that the crackdown was justified because of the looting and vandalism that occurred during the protests, calling the unrest “unpatriotic” and a threat to “unity, reconciliation, peace and progress.” But observers say almost all protests, no matter how peaceful, elicit harsh responses. For example, earlier this year, the Angolan Student Movement took to the streets to demand more investment in public education and improved conditions for teachers and students. Police responded with violence and arrested at least 50 students and three journalists covering the protest. A protest in early July against the rise in fuel prices and the elimination of subsidies for public transportation was also met with excessive force, wrote Human Rights Watch. Desperate conditions in Angola mean that protesters are going to keep coming back, say analysts. The capital may be full of gleaming skyscrapers and colonial architecture, but that shiny exterior hides grim statistics. Despite its oil-rich soil, Angola’s minimum monthly wage is under $76, one of the lowest globally. The average person earns $200 a month, and more than 80 percent of those with jobs work in the informal sector. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate among 15-24 years old is 54 percent. As a result, the MPLA has sunk deeply in the polls. President João Lourenço came to power after a disputed election in 2017, replacing José Eduardo dos Santos, who ran the country for 38 years. Lourenço promised to reform the economy, restore democracy, and crack down on corruption. But midway through his second and final term, he hasn’t delivered, observers say. Instead, the opposition has made gains, with the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) winning the capital in the 2022 elections and the MPLA just barely squeezing out a majority nationwide. Now some worry that the protests will continue and become more violent, eliciting harsher crackdowns and threatening the stability of the country. “A greater use of force won’t stop future protests,” David Boio, a sociology professor in the central Angolan city of Huambo told Bloomberg. “These young people have nothing to lose.”

Fighting Resumes Between The Congo and M23 Rebels Despite Cease Fire

Fighting Resumes Between DRC and M23 Rebels Despite Ceasefire Democratic Republic of the Congo / Rwanda Fighting has broken out between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), despite agreeing to a ceasefire last month, Le Monde reported. The DRC and the M23 rebels, which have been clashing since Friday near the town of Mulamba in the South Kivu province, signed a declaration of principles in Qatar on July 19 and a permanent ceasefire following a US-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda in late June. M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka accused the DRC on Monday of “offensive military maneuvers with a view to a large-scale conflict.” On Tuesday, the DRC army said daily attacks by M23 were taking place and that it “reserved the right to respond,” added France 24. According to the declaration of principles, the DRC and the M23 rebels committed to a ban on aerial, ground, maritime, and lake-based attacks, as well as acts of sabotage, hate propaganda, and any attempt to gain new ground by force. The deal also held a provision to restore DRC authority across the eastern part of the country held by the M23 rebels. M23 has gained significant territory in resource-rich eastern DRC after it invaded the region earlier this year, also taking the regional centers of Goma and Bukavu. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Nigerian Military Target Bandit Group Terrorizing Local Population

Nigerian Military Target Bandit Group Terrorizing Local Population Nigeria The Nigerian military launched air and ground raids over the weekend that killed more than 100 gunmen, known locally as bandits, suspected to be members of criminal gangs operating in the northwestern Zamfara state, the BBC reported. The air force said it conducted the raid Sunday in the restive Zamfara state’s Bukkuyum area, where fighter jets and ground troops targeted a gathering of more than 400 gang members at their camp in the Makakkari forest. The operation aimed to eliminate the gunmen, suspected of carrying out high-profile kidnappings in the region, after surveillance detected the bandits preparing to attack a farming village. A spokesperson for the air force said the strikes killed several notorious bandit leaders and dozens of their soldiers, including some trying to flee the area, according to France 24 Armed groups of bandits have plagued communities in northwest and central Nigeria for years, attacking villages, abducting residents for ransom, and setting homes on fire after looting them. In the past two weeks, armed gangs have attacked nearby settlements, leaving dozens of people dead and abducting numerous others. In an attack on Bukkuyum’s Adabka village Friday, an unknown number of residents were kidnapped and at least 13 members of security forces were killed. Nigeria’s banditry crisis began as a dispute over land and water rights between herders and farmers but has now morphed into an organized crime war, with gangs targeting rural communities that have little to no government support. In these impoverished areas, cattle rustling and kidnapping are lucrative activities, while the gangs also impose taxes on farmers and artisanal miners. The conflict is worsening malnutrition in the northwest by forcing people to abandon their farms, a situation further complicated by climate change and Western aid cuts. The violence has persisted despite efforts by the government, with analysts explaining that the military is stretched thin while bandits expand beyond their stronghold in the northwest into central Nigeria. Bandits, mostly driven by financial gain, have been teaming up with Nigeria’s jihadist groups, which have been engaged in a separate armed insurgency in the northeast for the past 16 years.

(2 Year Old Belgian Nobleman To BE Tried For The Murder Of The Leader Of The Congo Over 60 Years Ago

The Long Arc of Atonement: Belgium to Try Nonagenarian Nobleman For Six-Decade-Old Congolese Murder Belgium On June 30, 1960, Patrice Lumumba gave a landmark speech at a handover ceremony marking the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s independence from Belgium, telling the audience in an indictment of colonialism that “…(it was a) humiliating slavery which was imposed on us by force.” With that speech, the fiery critic of colonial rule became an African icon. But the country’s first prime minister also angered the West, especially Belgium and its ruler, King Baudouin, who was in attendance that day, and who, according to witnesses, spoke about independence as if it were a gift from his country. Seven months later, Lumumba was dead, ousted in coup, shot and dismembered with his body burned in acid – essentially disappeared – with the backing of Belgium and the United States: Belgium opposed Lumumba’s plans to nationalize the country’s mines, while the US was threatened by his closeness to the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War. Now, more than six decades later, Belgium is set to try one of its scions of society, Étienne, Count Davignon, 92, for complicity in Lumumba’s murder in what is the latest attempt by European countries to atone for their colonial legacies. “There are very few cases where a former colonial state agrees to address colonial crimes and to consider (trying perpetrators) … even if it’s a very long time after,” Christophe Marchand, a lawyer for the Lumumba family, told the Guardian. “The idea is to have a judicial trial and to (discover) the truth about what happened, and not only the role of Étienne Davignon – because he was just one part in the whole criminal enterprise.” In June, Belgian prosecutors announced they would try Davignon, who in 1961 was a well-connected diplomat-in-training in the Congo when Lumumba, 35 – along with two other officials – were killed. Davignon is the only one out of 10 Belgians accused of complicity in the murders who is still alive. If he goes on trial, Davignon would be the first Belgian to face justice in Lumumba’s killing. “We’re moving in the right direction,” Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of the former Congolese leader, told Belgian broadcaster RTBF. “What we’re seeking is, first and foremost, the truth.” The “truth” about Lumumba’s murder has been the subject of numerous books and articles over the past few decades, and now even two recent films. Lumumba became Congo’s first prime minister after it gained independence from Belgium, whose rule was brutal even by colonial standards. Meanwhile, besides being despised and feared by Belgium and the United States, he was presiding over a divided country and was ousted in a coup orchestrated by separatists a few months after taking office. Imprisoned, he escaped but was recaptured and transferred to the southern region of Katanga, where he was executed on January 17, 1961, with the support of Belgian mercenaries. His body was never recovered. Davignon, meanwhile, who went on to serve in high-level positions in the Belgian government and also in business, also served as vice president of the European Commission in the 1980s. He is accused of involvement in the “unlawful detention and transfer of a prisoner of war,” his “deprivation of the right to a fair trial,” and his “inhuman and degrading treatment,” Belgian prosecutors said. He had also been charged with intent to kill but that charge is expected to be dropped. The first hearing in the case is set for January 2026. The case is the latest effort by Belgium to reckon with its role in Lumumba’s killing.  In 1999, Belgium launched a parliamentary commission to examine the murder after the publication of an explosive book on the subject. The commission concluded that Belgium had “moral responsibility” for the assassination. The government apologized to the Democratic Republic of the Congo a year later. About a decade later, Juliana Lumumba’s brother François filed a complaint with the courts, accusing the Belgian state of war crimes and torture, and of complicity in the murder of his father. In 2022, Belgium returned a tooth belonging to Lumumba to his family: It was seized by Belgian authorities in 2016 from the daughter of a policeman, Gérard Soete, who had admitted to dismembering Lumumba and the other two officials, and taking two teeth, while working in the Congo. These efforts fall short, say Lumumba’s family members, who add that his murder reverberates to this day. “It was Congolese democracy that was beheaded with Lumumba’s assassination – Congo still suffers from it today,” a relative of the former prime minister, Jean-Jacques Lumumba, told Afrique XXI. “The fact that this democracy was halted in its early stages plunged the country into the chaos we still know.” Share this story

Mali: Dozens Of Soldiers Arrested For Alleged Coup

Dozens of Soldiers Arrested in Mali For Alleged Coup Mali Malian officials arrested dozens of soldiers suspected of plotting to overthrow the ruling military junta, which itself came to power through a coup, amid growing discontent among the military and the public over the ongoing turmoil across the nation, France 24 reported. A Malian security official told Agence France-Presse that at least 20 people were arrested, while a lawmaker in the National Transition Council put the number at 50, saying they were all soldiers who shared the goal of overthrowing the junta. Among those arrested was Gen. Abass Dembele, a respected military officer and former governor of the central Mopti region. The wave of arrests highlights rising tensions within the military government amid reports of a jihadist insurgency gaining ground in the north region of the West African country. Analysts say there is also growing political tension following the junta’s crackdown on former prime ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maïga, accused of damaging the state’s reputation and embezzlement, the BBC noted. Mara, a vocal critic of the military government, has been in custody since Aug. 1, while Maïga faces ongoing judicial proceedings. Junta leader Gen. Assimi Goïta, 41, seized power in a coup in 2020 and then again in 2021. He had promised elections to return the country to civilian rule last year but has not set a date. In July, the transitional period was extended by five years, allowing Goïta to stay in power until at least 2030. In May, the junta also dissolved all political parties after rare anti-government protests, a move that Mara called a serious setback to the reconciliation efforts launched by the military leaders last year. Mali has been grappling with Islamist insurgencies since 2012, a key reason for the military takeover. However, violent attacks by militants linked to Al-Qaeda or Islamic State groups have escalated in the country. Along with its neighbors, Niger and Burkina Faso, the junta expelled French troops after the coups and formed new alliances, notably with Russia, whose mercenary Wagner Group and its successor Africa Corps have helped in the fights against jihadists and separatists, but are also accused of human rights violations.

Zimbabwe: Is "Trying To Right A Wrong" Zimbabwe Divises The Country

In Trying To Right a ‘Wrong,’ Zimbabwe Divides the Country Zimbabwe When Zimbabwe earlier this year decided to pay reparations to White farmers who were forced off their land 25 years ago – often at gunpoint – many believed the country could turn the page on its past. However, most of the farmers offered money said thanks, but no thanks. They believe they are getting a bad deal, saying that the majority of the payment, in bonds that mature in 10 years, is too little, too late. “The limited number of farmers who have accepted the government’s revised deal have generally done so because they are destitute and require urgent funds for food, accommodation and healthcare,” Deon Theron, 71, who was forced off his farm in 2008 and represents 1,000 other White farmers, told the Associated Press, adding that there are no guarantees the bonds would be honored in a decade. White farmers also say the new program is a stunt to curry favor with US President Donald Trump, who began a refugee resettlement program this year for White South African farmers he claims face threats from the government. Meanwhile, the push to reconcile the past is dividing the country, with many Zimbabweans furious over the deal. “There is no justification whatsoever for compensating the former commercial farmers because for decades, they made huge amounts of money from that land,” Kudzai Mutisi, a Zimbabwean analyst, told Voice of America. “And that land, they acquired these through colonization – they never bought the land – it is something that they acquired through use of brutal force. But here we are: A Black government trying to compensate the abuser. It is irrational, it is bizarre and it should be stopped immediately.” Before the turn of this century, the country had about 4,000 White farmers. White Zimbabweans then made up 4 percent of the population and owned half of all the land in the country. But long-time dictator Robert Mugabe, facing growing opposition to his rule, particularly from independence war veterans, launched a land reform program to seize these parcels in 2000, ostensibly to redress colonial-era land grabs: Zimbabweans were violently forced off their land after the British arrived in 1890. His plan became Africa’s biggest modern-day land revolution, say analysts, while bringing down the wrath of the Western world on the country in the form of economic sanctions, White flight, and the exit of multinationals. The economy collapsed. In the ensuing years, the agricultural sector, the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy, collapsed because many of those who took over the farms didn’t have the skills, the finances, the labor or sometimes the interest to manage the farms. After Mugabe was ousted in 2017, his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, inherited a broken economy, barely functioning farms, food shortages, and soaring unemployment. In an effort to turn the situation around, he’s pushing the compensation program in the hopes of getting foreign loans, investment, and the restructuring of the country’s huge foreign debt – a condition imposed by Western donors. The program, under the law, is to provide money to the farmers only for infrastructure and improvements to the land such as buildings. The land itself, says the government, was illegally seized from its original owners and merits no compensation. The government is offering compensation totaling $3.5 billion but the farmers can only receive 1 percent of the total in cash – the rest is in US dollar-denominated treasury bonds that mature in a decade. The payouts are to 3,500 White Zimbabwean farmers, 400 Black farmers, and a few dozen foreign farmers, mainly Europeans. However, the farmers want a $10 billion settlement in cash immediately. Meanwhile, veterans of the 1970s war of independence say they are angry at how long land reform took following independence from the United Kingdom in 1980: British land appropriations were at the heart of that struggle. As a result, some veterans are suing over the program, saying that Zimbabwe can’t afford to pay the White farmers while the rest of the country is struggling. They add that the compensation agreement was kept secret, a violation of the law. Others say the original 2000 land reform program didn’t benefit many landless Black Zimbabweans but instead doled out land to those connected to the Mugabe regime and other wealthy elites, to reward loyalty. Rejoice Ngwenya, a political analyst based in Harare, says Mugabe’s land reform was not about Black empowerment. “It had motives: firstly, to pacify war veterans that were agitating for more recognition – secondly, to punish white commercial farmers who were supporting the opposition,” he told Al Jazeera. “The man was insecure.” Analysts added that while the 2000 land reform program did help some Black Zimbabweans, some Black farmers saw their land taken from them, too. Still, a small group of farmers has accepted the deal, most of them elderly, ill, and desperate for the cash. “I believe this is the only opportunity. We can’t wait 10 years for another deal,” 71-year-old Arthur Baisley told the BBC. “It was difficult for my family in the beginning but life goes on, you have to move on.”

Cape Town To Get Second Tallest Skyscraper In Africa

Cape Town CBD to get second-tallest skyscraper After more than a decade of planning, speculation, and redesign, Cape Town is officially entering a bold new era of urban development. Author picture By Garrin Lambley 09-08-25 13:46 in Property Cape Town skyscraper After more than a decade of planning, speculation, and redesign, Cape Town is officially entering a bold new era of urban development. Image: Supplied After more than a decade of planning, speculation, and redesign, Cape Town is officially entering a bold new era of urban development. The city’s second-tallest skyscraper, a 41-storey mixed-use tower, has received final approval from Building Development Management (BDM), clearing the way for full-scale construction at 1 Bree Street. Cape Town’s tallest building is the Portside Tower, which stands at 139m. ADVERTISEMENT The landmark project, which has already begun preliminary demolition works, is poised to become a new architectural icon in the Mother City, dramatically altering the skyline and revitalising the heart of the Central Business District. Ambitious Scale and Vision Standing at a projected height of 131 metres, the new tower will encompass 66 000m² of developed space. The building will feature: 505 hotel rooms 270 residential apartments 4 000m² of retail space A luxurious 22nd-floor swimming pool with sweeping city views The design also thoughtfully integrates a heritage building on the corner of the site, merging historic charm with contemporary glass and steel architecture. ‘Acsiopolis 2’: A Nickname for a Landmark Online fans and architecture watchers have already dubbed the development “Acsiopolis 2”, drawing comparisons to the original high-rise of the same name in Sandton, Johannesburg. Much like its northern counterpart, the Cape Town tower aims to blend lifestyle, commerce, and hospitality in a vertical format that reflects global urban design trends. ADVERTISEMENT The project is being led by a prominent developer listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), with an extensive portfolio spanning light industrial, retail, and mixed-use assets both in South Africa and internationally, including in Cyprus. Their experience is expected to deliver a high-quality build that speaks to both scale and sophistication. With its elegant architecture, diverse functionality, and central location, the 1 Bree Street skyscraper is set to become a flagship feature of Cape Town’s future skyline, reinforcing its position as a modern African metropolis. If you can’t go sideways, go up … right? 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Protestors In Ivory Coast Oppose Leader's Fourth Term

Protesters In Ivory Coast Oppose Leader’s Fourth Term Ivory Coast Thousands of people took to the streets of the country’s largest city, Abidjan, over the weekend to protest the exclusion of leading opposition figures from Ivory Coast’s October presidential election, as incumbent President Alassane Ouattara said he would seek a fourth term, the Associated Press reported. On Saturday, demonstrators protested in Yopougon, a densely populated suburb of the city, carrying banners reading “Enough is enough!” and “No true democracy without true justice.” They also voiced support for former President Laurent Gbagbo and Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) leader Tidjane Thiam, who were barred – along with two other opposition figures – from running in the upcoming race. Gbagbo and Thiam formed an alliance earlier this year to challenge Ouattara, who has been in power since 2010. Ouattara, 83, announced in July that he would seek another term, sparking criticism from opponents who accuse him of undermining democracy. Analysts said that Ouattara is able to run because he amended the constitution in 2016 to remove presidential term limits. The move makes the West African president the latest among a growing number of regional leaders who remain in power by changing the rules. There was no immediate response from Ivorian authorities to Saturday’s protest, but past elections in Ivory Coast have been marred by unrest. Ouattara’s bid for a third term in 2020 triggered violence that left several people dead. The president cited unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges that required experienced leadership as his reason to run again, according to Agence France-Presse. Ivory Coast, a top producer of cocoa, is one of the biggest economies in West Africa. However, armed groups affiliated with al Qaeda and Islamic State have been spreading from the Sahel region into wealthier West African coastal states, such as Ivory Coast, Togo, and Benin. Share this story

Rwanda Becomes The Latest African Country To Accept U.S. Deportees

Rwanda Becomes Latest African Country To Accept US Deportees Rwanda Rwanda confirmed this week that it will accept up to 250 deportees from the US under a new deal with the Trump administration, becoming the latest country to join Washington’s expanding third-country deportation program, the Associated Press reported. Rwanda government spokesperson Yolande Makolo confirmed the deal but didn’t provide a timeline for the deportations. According to the scheme, the migrants would receive “workforce training, health care, and accommodation to jump start their lives in Rwanda,” Makolo confirmed to the BBC. Rwanda, an East African nation of around 15 million people, will have the right to approve every person considered for resettlement. Rumors of a deal between Rwanda and the US first arose in May, when Rwanda’s foreign affairs minister said that, having endured a genocide in the mid-1990s, the country is guided by a spirit of offering “another chance” to migrants facing issues in countries across the world. Makolo said Rwanda proceeded with the deal with the US because many Rwandan families have experienced the challenges of displacement firsthand. She emphasized that the values of Rwandan society are deeply rooted in reintegration and rehabilitation. Human rights experts, however, warned that deporting migrants to a country that is not their place of origin – known as a third country – could be a violation of international law. In recent years, Rwanda has positioned itself as a destination for migrants that Western countries would like to remove, Reuters noted. However, the country has faced criticism over its human rights record, with concerns that migrants sent there might be deported again to countries where they could face harm and where they might have no ties and not even speak the language. The Rwandan government insists it can offer a safe place for these individuals. Rwanda reached a deal in 2022 with the United Kingdom to take migrants who had traveled to the UK to seek asylum. According to the plan, their asylum claims would be processed in Rwanda, and those approved would remain there instead of returning to the UK. This controversial agreement faced strong criticism from human rights organizations and was abandoned after the UK’s Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional in 2023. The US is seeking additional deals with African nations to take in migrants whose home countries have refused to allow them to return. This is part of US President Donald Trump’s plans to expel people he claims entered the country illegally and labeled as “the worst of the worst.” Eswatini and war-torn South Sudan have already accepted 13 people deported by the US, while Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama have taken in hundreds of Venezuelans and other deportees. Some analysts say the US has used aid and trade to pressure countries such as South Sudan and Eswatini into taking the deportees.