Niger Gets A New President

The Forever Transition: Niger Gets New ‘President’ Niger Niger’s military junta leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, was sworn in on Wednesday as the country’s president for a five-year transition period, a move that aims to halt attempts by the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reinstate democracy following the country’s 2023 coup, France 24 wrote. The five-year transition period, which also begins on Wednesday, remains “flexible,” said Mahamane Roufai, the secretary general of the government, speaking at a ceremony in the capital Niamey where the new transition charter was approved. Tiani, an army veteran who led the soldiers who deposed Niger’s elected government in June 2023, was elevated to the highest military rank of army general, cementing the power he has held since the coup. Following the coup, Niger’s junta had proposed a three-year transition period but when ECOWAS rejected the proposal and threatened to intervene with force, Niger left the bloc. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which have had coups in recent years and are currently run by juntas, have also left ECOWAS. The two countries earlier this year joined forces with Niger to address security concerns in the central Sahel region, forming an alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), explained Reuters. Still, analysts say that Niger’s military government has failed to stop the jihadist violence it used as justification for seizing power. Instead, the insurgents have grown stronger. Share this story Disco

War By The Inches: Sudanese Military Regains Control Of The Presidential Palace

War By Inches: Sudanese Military Regains Control of Presidential Palace Sudan Sudanese forces retook control of the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the military said this weekend, marking a major symbolic and strategic victory after nearly two years of brutal warfare that has killed tens of thousands of people and devastated the country, the Washington Post reported. On Friday, Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, spokesperson for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), said army troops had “crushed” RSF fighters and reclaimed not only the Republican Palace – the prewar seat of government – but also key buildings including the Central Bank and the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service. He announced Saturday that hundreds of RSF fighters were killed as they attempted to flee. The RSF has not commented on the military’s claims, but previously said its fighters remained near the palace and had attacked soldiers inside, according to the Associated Press. Sudan erupted in civil war in April 2023 following a feud between Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan of the SAF, and his deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), head of the paramilitary RSF, a force formed from the Arab Janjaweed militia in western Darfur that killed thousands of people there in the 1980s. The conflict initially began in Khartoum, but later spread into other regions, including Darfur. The RSF had seized the capital’s landmarks in the early days of the conflict in April 2023, but recent weeks have seen the army retake most of them. The advance caps months of military gains in Khartoum and its surrounding cities of Omdurman and Bahri, with the army expected to now attempt to retake Khartoum International Airport – held by the RSF since the start of the war. Analysts said the fall of the presidential palace is a blow to the RSF and comes just days after Hemedti made a rare appearance in a video urging fighters to hold the line. But despite the military’s recent advancements, some analysts warned that the war is far from over and could turn into a protracted stalemate between the RSF based in the western Darfur region and the military-led government in the capital. Volker Perthes, a former United Nations envoy to Sudan, told the Associated Press that the RSF is likely to withdraw to its strongholds in Darfur. The RSF continues to hold most of western Darfur and has surrounded the last SAF-held city there, Al Fashir, bombarding camps for displaced civilians with mortars and artillery. The war has forced millions from their homes, collapsed government services, and plunged Sudan into what UNICEF describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Both sides have been accused of widespread abuses and war crimes, including mass rapes and ethnically targeted killings. The US has accused the RSF of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing, while also alleging that the SAF has obstructed aid deliveries in famine-hit areas. The outgoing Biden administration imposed sanctions on both Burhan and Hemedti in January. Meanwhile, recent cuts by the Trump administration have eliminated support for grassroots-level humanitarian services, deepening the crisis in zones where major aid agencies cannot safely operate. Share this story

Guinea-Bissau: The President Takes A Rocky Road

Friends and Enemies: Guinea-Bissau President Takes the Rocky Road Guinea-Bissau The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to promote economic integration and cooperation among a dozen countries, mainly along the continent’s Atlantic coast. The president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, therefore garnered global headlines when he allegedly threatened a team of ECOWAS election officials who were trying to help him resolve a political dispute related to his decision to run for reelection. The ECOWAS team “prepared a draft agreement on a roadmap for elections in 2025 and had started presenting it to the stakeholders for their consent,” wrote the BBC. But they “departed Bissau in the early morning of 1st March, following threats by Embaló to expel it.” Voters in Bissau-Guinean were scheduled to choose a new president in November last year. Embaló postponed the vote, however, and rescheduled it to Nov. 30 this year. Opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira, meanwhile, says the president’s term should have expired in late February. To further complicate the situation, the country’s top court has extended his term to September 2025, Deutsche Welle wrote. Pereira’s African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde won parliamentary elections in 2023, but contend that the president has stopped them from forming a government. Meanwhile, Embaló had also pledged to step down after his term expired. But then he backtracked earlier this month and said he would actually run again: “I will be a candidate in my own succession,” he said in March. A former Portuguese colony, the country has experienced numerous coups since gaining independence in 1974. Embaló, a 52-year-old former army general, has survived two attempted coups since he took office in 2020. After an attempted overthrow in 2023, he dissolved the opposition-controlled parliament, saying it was doing nothing to improve security. While he has outlasted his initial five-year mandate, Embaló technically can run for a second term, the Associated Press added. However, the opposition has pledged nationwide strikes to bring him down. “The current political climate is fraught with uncertainty, as the opposition’s actions and the government’s decisions could lead to significant instability in the region,” wrote Africa News. With its monoculture agrarian economy – it’s one of the world’s leading producers of cashew nuts, accounting for much of its exports and providing a livelihood to about 80 percent of the population – the country is one of Africa’s poorest, heavily dependent on foreign assistance. As a result, it’s looking to develop its mineral wealth. Recently, Embaló visited Russia, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, Xinhua noted. During Embaló’s visit to Moscow, Russian state television showed how Russian metals tycoon Oleg Deripaska attended the Bissau-Guinean president’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Reuters, a Russian aluminum company wants to construct a railway and port for bauxite mining operations in Guinea-Bissau. The military will expect a share of the spoils, analysts say. But the country will continue on its potholed path. “More of the same looks likely – a power vacuum, entrenched drug trafficking, lack of economic viability – this will keep Guinea-Bissau stuck in a vicious cycle, preventing progress,” wrote GIS, a think tank. “Political volatility in Guinea-Bissau has deeper roots than electoral calendar machinations – it has an institutional and constitutional nature and is driven by the unresolved tensions regarding the powers of the president, the national assembly, and the judiciary – all playing out amid attempts to ‘presidentialize’ the regime,” it added. “However, the opposition to dictatorial tendencies will likely continue in the country, as will the sense of entitlement among the military elite.”

Big Problems At South Africa's Antarctic Research Station

17 Mar 04:47 Sanae IV research base on the Vesleskarvet nunatak in Queen Maud Land. (Supplied/South African National Antarctic Programme) Sanae IV research base on the Vesleskarvet nunatak in Queen Maud Land. (Supplied/South African National Antarctic Programme) A team member at SA's Antarctic research base, Sanae IV, is reported to have allegedly physically and sexually assaulted colleagues – leading to high tensions within the group. An email was sent to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, detailing assaults and threats. The department said it was investigating and would provide necessary support and strategies for conflict resolution and interpersonal skills. Tensions have escalated at the Sanae IV South African Antarctic research base in the isolated and harsh environment of Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land, some 4000km south of Cape Town. The base, perched on the edge of a rocky outcrop some 170km inland of Antarctica, is at the centre of a situation involving conflict between the overwintering team and reports of safety concerns. Overwintering researchers as part of the South African National Antarctic Programme (Sanap) are sent to the island where they face extreme cold and isolation. The team spends around 15 months on the continent - 10 of which will be spent in total isolation until the next relief team arrives. ADVERTISEMENT The Sanae relief voyage takes place between December and March each year and takes approximately 75 days, according to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) website. Each expedition is made up of a doctor, two diesel mechanics, an electrical engineer/technician, a mechanical engineer/technician, an electronic engineer/technician, a senior meteorologist and two physicists. In an email last month to the DFFE, a team member pleaded for help, detailing how a team member allegedly physically assaulted and threatened to kill a colleague and sexually assaulted another, the Sunday Times reported. (South African National Antarctic Programme) Sanae IV research base on the Vesleskarvet nunatak in Queen Maud Land (Supplied/South African National Antarctic Programme) Supplied The Department said on Monday that while an investigation was under way, it was responding to these concerns with the "utmost urgency" and have had a number of interventions with all parties concerned at the base. ADVERTISEMENT "The emphasis is placed on creating a healthy and cooperative work environment, and the wellness unit is in contact with the team at the base on a continuous basis to find solutions and [a] sustainable way forward for the wellbeing of the team members located in that remote base," said DFFE communications head Peter Mbelengwa. He added that prior to being appointed, prospective overwinterers were subjected to a number of evaluations. READ | Salty dispute over kelp harvesting permit divides Western Cape fishing village These included: "background checks, reference checks, medical assessment as well as a psychometric evaluation by qualified professionals". "Only upon positive outcomes in all aspects and the final overall evaluation of the proposed overwinterers by the ship-based medical doctor will the person be appointed. In this instance, no negative outcomes were recorded in relation to all the current overwinterers in Sanae, which forms a critical component of the department's risk assessment processes." (Maria Olivier/Antarctic Legacy of South Africa) A graphic showing where SA's Antarctic research base is in relation to Cape Town. (Supplied/Maria Olivier/Antarctic Legacy of South Africa) Supplied He said the department was taking the team through a thorough process with various options being discussed with them. "During this unforeseen incident, the department is engaging with the professional that undertook the psychometric evaluation in order to have the overwinterers re-assessed and to assist with coping mechanisms during their time at the base, inclusive of conflict resolution strategies, interpersonal skills improvement as well as overall counselling and support." Mbelengwa said the situation at the base was being monitored nearly daily, with regular feedback from the team, management, and officials from labour relations and employee wellness. Evaluations are structured in order to track progress and improvement of relationships and conflict management. According to Sanap, Sanae's research is divided into physical sciences, earth sciences, life sciences, and oceanographic sciences. ADVERTISEMENT Only the physical sciences programme is conducted year-round at the base. "The other programmes are conducted during the short summer period when the temperatures and weather permit fieldwork and the extent of the sea ice is at its minimum," the website stated. You have invested in the future News24 has been there for South Africa's defining moments over the last 25 years, and you've been right beside us. Your support of trusted journalism has sustained us, and now it will propel us to continue to strive to inform, inspire and empower as we try to build a better future for us all. Discover News24 Related Links 'I'm SA's Gisèle Pelicot': Cape Town woman fears husband drugged, raped, photographed her More Zanzou allegations: Patrons' cars confiscated, wheels removed as coercion to settle bills Icebreaker returns from Antarctica with alarming news Next on News24 HIV cure trial in Durban shows promising results – UKZN's Prof Ndung'u 17 Mar HIV cure trial in Durban shows promising results – UKZN's Prof Ndung'u Read more on:fisheries and the environmentsanae ivdepartment of forestryantarcticacrime and courts

The Terrors of the North-Jihadists, Bandits, and Vigilantes Grow Stronger In Nigeria

The Terrors of the North: Jihadists, Bandits and Vigilantes Grow Stronger in Nigeria Nigeria Last fall, about 50 motorcycles carrying jihadists were ridden into Mafa, a village in Yobe state in northeastern Nigeria, where they began firing at individuals at a market, at worshippers, and at people in their homes, before burning the village to the ground. More than 170 people were killed in the incident that was meant to demonstrate the power of jihadist terrorist group, Boko Haram, and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), terrify those in the remote northern regions, and pay back villagers for security operations by Nigerian forces and vigilantes intended to defeat them. “This is the first time our community has faced such a devastating attack,” Buba Adamu, a local chief, expressing grief and fear, told the Associated Press. “We never imagined something like this could happen here.” Boko Haram fighters have killed 35,000 people and displaced 2 million since launching an insurgency to establish Islamic law, known as Sharia, in the early 2000s. They became notorious internationally for committing abuses against girls and young women they had captured, according to Amnesty International, most famously with the kidnapping of the hundreds of schoolgirls known as the Chibok Girls. For more than 20 years, the government’s forces have been trying to defeat the group, with mixed success. Since 2023, Nigerian military leaders said, more than 120,000 terrorists and their families have surrendered to Nigerian troops. Around half were children who otherwise would have become the next generation of terrorists. “The terrorists were reproducing children who would take over from them,” said Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Christopher Musa in the Vanguard, a Nigerian newspaper. “These children were born into violence, and if they remained in that environment, they would grow into more violent individuals.” Also, Nigerian military leaders recently said that their counter-radicalization program, called Operation Safe Corridor, has prevented 60,000 young people from joining Boko Haram. Musa and other Nigerian military leaders may be playing up Operations Safe Corridor because his forces have otherwise often fumbled their anti-Boko Haram activities, argued Responsible Statecraft. A joint force of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, for example, has launched six campaigns since 2014 against the group. Most were short and ended before they could defeat the terrorists. Meanwhile, a crime wave involving ransom payments, cattle rustling, and illegal mining have also swept through northern Nigeria, wrote Deutsche Welle. These criminals are not necessarily jihadists. Operation Safe Corridor won’t likely stop them because their enterprises are too lucrative in areas where economic development and opportunities are lacking. As a result, the attacks go on: For example, last month, Boko Haram attacked a Nigerian military base on the border with Niger, killing 20 soldiers. The problem now, say analysts, is that these criminal and also jihadist groups are getting stronger. In 2016, the group split, with one faction, ISWAP, becoming a part of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But after years of conflict with its rival, ISWAP recently regrouped, according to the International Crisis Group. Meanwhile, armed criminal gangs in the north have joined with the jihadists to terrorize civilians. In Mafa and elsewhere, villagers have long been aware the government’s fight against the gangs and the extremists doesn’t keep them safe. Jihadists such as ISWAP, for example, have regularly ‘taxed’ the villages and openly shop in their markets. As a result, villagers around the region, including in Mafa, formed vigilante groups and began killing members of ISWAP and Boko Haram. The villagers were warned an attack in reprisal for the vigilantism was coming and fled. But then they were told it was safe to return. It wasn’t. After the massacre, the villagers found this note left by the group, the New York Times wrote. “You have been lulled into a false sense of security, mistakenly believing that the Army of the Caliphate’s restraint – our decision not to trouble you, pillage your property, or disrupt your commercial activities and farming – implies weakness,” the note read. “You have grown bold and boastful.” Share this story

Fleeing The Flames: Tens of Thousands Try To Escape Congolese Conflict

Fleeing the Flames: Tens of Thousands Try to Escape Congolese Conflict Democratic Republic of the Congo Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has created a humanitarian crisis in the region, human rights officials said this week, with tens of thousands of Congolese crossing the borders into Burundi and Uganda, France 24 reported. The majority of the 63,000 refugees who have crossed the border in recent weeks are women, children and the elderly, according to United Nations officials. They are crammed into makeshift camps that have reached capacity. There are widespread shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. Burundi’s officials said the country is witnessing the biggest humanitarian crisis it has seen in decades. The refugee crisis began soon after the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched an offensive to seize mineral-rich territory in eastern DRC in January. Since then, it has captured key regional towns such as Goma and Bukavu and is advancing further into the region. More than 7,000 people have been killed in the offensive. The DRC is struggling to hold off the M23 rebel group but is facing defections within its forces. Now, inspired by the proposed Ukraine-US mineral deal, the country is hoping the US will help repel the rebels via a mineral agreement, BBC reported. DRC spokesperson confirmed that the country is looking to supply Washington “with some critical minerals” in a possible deal that includes an “economic and military partnership.” The country is estimated to hold $24 trillion worth of untapped resources, such as cobalt, gold, and copper but also lithium, tantalum, and uranium. These elements are an essential part of everyday tech in the West such as smart phones and laptops. The US has not committed to any deal. Currently, China dominates the Congolese mineral sector. Share this story

Wild Geese

South Africa: Pipers Coming, Victims Of Apartheid Sue

Piper’s Coming: Victims of Apartheid Sue For Justice South Africa South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to begin negotiations shortly to settle a lawsuit filed last month by survivors of apartheid crimes and families of the victims, News24 reported. The 20 complainants argued that survivors and victims’ families were denied justice despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations to prosecute perpetrators. They say the prosecutions were blocked due to political interference and a secret deal between the African National Congress party and officials of the former apartheid government. The applicants are seeking $9 million in damages and the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the crimes of murder, torture, and abductions carried out by apartheid security forces against them or their relatives that have never been prosecuted, Bloomberg reported. Among those named in the case, Ramaphosa, the police department, and the justice minister are no longer opposing the case. The National Prosecuting Authority, however, still is. Negotiations will start on March 17. The judge has urged all parties to settle by the end of the month. Former President Thabo Mbeki, whose administration is among those named in the suit, has denied the accusations. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up by former President Nelson Mandela, recommended pursuing about 300 cases when it completed its work in the early 2000s. However, there have been only a handful of prosecutions since then. Share this story

Before The Lion There Wan Another Apex Predator in Africa

Predatory Deities Long before lions roamed Africa, another fearsome predator ruled the land. A stunning fossil found in Egypt’s Fayum Depression unveiled an apex carnivore from 30 million years ago that was roughly the size of a leopard, according to a new study. “For days, the team meticulously excavated layers of rock dating back around 30 million years,” said lead author and paleontologist Shorouq Al-Ashqar in a statement. “Just as we were about to conclude our work, a team member spotted something remarkable – a set of large teeth sticking out of the ground. His excited shout brought the team together, marking the beginning of an extraordinary discovery: a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, a dream for any vertebrate paleontologist.” Dubbing the creature Bastetodon syrtos, Al-Ashqar and her colleague explained that it belonged to a long-extinct group of super-hunters called hyaenodonts that predated modern carnivores like lions, hyenas, and wolves. With powerful jaws and sharp teeth, the team explained that the predator sat at the top of the food chain and was hypercarnivore – meaning that it relied on meat for at least 70 percent of its diet. Its name pays tribute to Bastet, the lioness-headed Egyptian goddess of protection – though this particular beast likely offered no protection to its unfortunate prey, noted Science Alert. The discovery in the Fayum Depression – a fossil-rich region in northern Egypt that was once a lush forest teeming with life – provides a window into Africa’s ancient ecosystems. “The Fayum is one of the most important fossil areas in Africa,” co-author Matt Borths said in the same statement. “Without it, we would know very little about the origins of African ecosystems and the evolution of African mammals like elephants, primates, and hyaenodonts.” Beyond introducing a new species, the findings also helped reevaluate fossils first unearthed more than 120 years ago. The team identified a new genus, Sekhmetops, named after Sekhmet, the Egyptian lion-headed goddess of war. In 1904, these fossils were mistakenly classified alongside European hyaenodonts. The new analysis shows that Sekhmetops and Bastetodon originated in Africa before spreading across the Northern Hemisphere. However, as Earth’s climate shifted and new predators arrived in Africa, the hyaenodonts declined. “The discovery of Bastetodon is a significant achievement in understanding the diversity and evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution,” noted Al-Ashqar. “We are eager to continue our research to unravel the intricate relationships between these ancient predators and their environments over time and across continents.” Share this story

US And South African Relations Are In Trouble

All bets are off — SA is a ‘bad deal’ for the US and it needs to deal with this new reality Image: Institute for Security Studies By Priyal Singh Follow 17 Feb 2025 0 Bilateral relations are now in uncharted territory, necessitating a radical rethink by South Africa of its US foreign policy. Now that US President Donald Trump’s opening salvos have been fired through a raft of executive orders and public statements, many countries are grappling with how to respond. As one of those singled out as a bad apple by Washington, South Africa must quickly come to terms with what exactly it is dealing with. The country’s foreign policy approach towards the US will need to radically differ from anything that has come before. Just four weeks into the second Trump administration, the broad contours of the US’ new foreign policy trajectory are clear. Three key issues stand out. First, Washington seems set on abdicating its role as the steward of liberal international institutionalism, something that enjoyed bipartisan support in almost all previous administrations and was the centrepiece of its post-Cold War foreign policy. Since Trump took office, about 91 executive actions have been taken, of which foreign policy has featured most prominently. They all reflect a common theme: how the US-backed international order of old has essentially led to a “bad deal” for US citizens. Various actions point to a clear break in US foreign policy. These include seeking to withdraw from global organisations, imposing duties on neighbouring states and other major international actors, re-evaluating foreign aid and clarifying that the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s global tax deal “has no force or effect in the US”. As US author Hal Brands argues, this underscores the lack of “any outsized ethos of responsibility for the international order”. Second, Washington seems comfortable – if not intent – on maligning its natural friends and allies in pursuing an “America First” agenda. The general theme of the US caught in a raft of bad deals with countries like Canada, North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners and the European Union is at the centre of Trump’s foreign policy priorities. Coupled with this approach is a scepticism and disregard for global rules, norms and institutions evident in the first Trump administration and which have come to the fore again. An example is Trump’s plans to take ownership of and “develop” the Gaza Strip. The net effect is a faltering transatlantic partnership in which Europeans see the US more as a strategic partner or rival than an ally. Perceptions of the US as an unpredictable, disinterested or malign force in global affairs will likely become more pronounced. This may be felt most acutely by its historical partners that have long counted on previous US administrations’ security assurances across Europe, the Asia-Pacific and Americas. Third, the US Department of State, and by extension the country’s foreign service, is also likely to be affected by the current administration’s extreme contempt for the “deep” or “administrative” state. Referring to the large bureaucracy that has developed in and around the US federal government system over decades, Trump has taken aim at this workforce. Comprising non-elected professionals and technical experts, Trump appears resolute in cutting inefficiencies and drastically reducing the size of this workforce. These efforts are billed as injecting a “democratic” culture into federal government operations by raising the influence of elected officials relative to apolitical bureaucrats (who Trump believes frustrated policy processes during his first term). This may hollow out the foreign policy establishment, as experts’ ability to independently craft and implement policy is eroded in favour of political appointees who advance Trump’s agenda. For South African policymakers and government officials, it’s vital to recognise these features of US foreign policy, and just how much of a break with the past they represent. Whereas past Democrat and Republican administrations framed their engagements with Pretoria under the rubric of common values and interests, the current one has no qualms about calling South Africa a bad apple because its bilateral relations simply constitute a bad deal. The recent bewilderment expressed by former president Thabo Mbeki on the executive order targeting South Africa, which was issued without appropriate diplomatic engagement, is telling. In seeking to understand Trump’s decision, Mbeki said Pretoria had built considerable rapport with past Republican administrations – despite disagreements on certain issues. This is a misreading of the current situation. The Trump administration is in no way similar to any past “establishment” Republican governments. It is far more dangerous and unpredictable – a political force bent on upending the rules of the game established by past administrations for the effective functioning of international order. In this context, South Africa is an easy country to be made an example of. Domestic legislation aimed at redressing structural inequalities due to the legacy of apartheid mirrors the diversity, equity and inclusion legislation in the US that Trump seeks to undo. And South Africa’s foreign policy positions in recent years – its non-condemnation of Russia’s Ukraine invasion, growing ties with China and Iran (through BRICS), solidarity with Cuba and the Palestinian cause – all place Pretoria squarely within Washington’s sights. Finally, the current administration may see US aid and development assistance to South Africa as something deeply embedded in the “deep” state policy networks that it is so set on dismantling. In sum, South Africa is a bad deal for the US – and Pretoria can bet that Trump will not stop reminding it of this for the foreseeable future. How to improve this overall deal should be top of South African government officials’ minds. Specific points of leverage and contention must be identified and worked on. These could include exploring a direct bilateral trade agreement, agreeing to disagree on certain international policy issues, and establishing direct links between South African officials and their Washington counterparts. Pretoria must acknowledge this new reality. The ball is firmly in its court, and it needs to make sense of the new rules of engagement, and how this game should be played. Traditional diplomatic avenues for engagement may be ineffective, no matter how skilled or professional South Africa’s diplomats working on the US are. Established methods may pay dividends with other international partners, but the US under the current administration is a special case and should be treated as such. DM Priyal Singh, senior researcher, Africa in the World, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria. First published by ISS Today. If you wish to comment on this issue, please send an email to letters@dailymaverick.co.za

South Africa: The Land And The Fury

The Land and the Fury South Africa In 1652, the Dutch arrived on the shores of modern-day South Africa, followed by the British, setting off centuries of indigenous Blacks being forcibly displaced from their land. By the early 1990s, White South African landowners made up 7 percent of the population yet held 93 percent of the land. Then, in 1994, Apartheid collapsed. Soon after, restrictions were lifted on Black and other non-White South Africans from owning land, as well as those rules that dictated where they could live and what employment they could choose. That was because the African National Congress led by Nelson Mandela came to power after Blacks won the right to vote. And one of the first things the new government did was to set a target of redistributing 30 percent of the agricultural land within five years to address the country’s legacy of colonialism and Apartheid. However, South Africa has missed that target, year after year, because of political disagreements, patronage, bureaucracy, a lack of data, and corruption. The government is now aiming to meet it by 2030. To do so, the country passed a law called the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 that repealed an Apartheid-era land law. The new law defines how land appropriations for “a public purpose” or “in the public interest” are to be compensated. It also allows for a limited number of cases where land expropriation would not be compensated. While the land issue has long been controversial in South Africa, the new law set off a firestorm in the US: “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the measure was “a massive Human Rights VIOLATION.” Trump cut aid for the country, which includes the world’s largest HIV treatment program. He announced that Afrikaners, only one part of the White minority, could get refugee status as persecuted individuals. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he would boycott the G20 meeting in South Africa scheduled for later this month. And Elon Musk, a South-African-born advisor to Trump, called the new law “racist.” South African politicians on both sides of the debate reacted with outrage, saying that US officials are mischaracterizing the new law. “South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote on X. “The South African government has not confiscated any land.” He noted that the US funded about 17 percent of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program and that there was “no other significant funding” from the United States. He added that the country would not be “bullied.” Opponents of the law, such as the center-right Democratic Alliance (DA) party, said Trump’s characterization of the new law was “unfortunate.” “It would be a tragedy if this funding were terminated because of a misunderstanding of the facts,” the DA, part of the governing coalition, said in a statement. “It is not true that the Act allows land to be seized by the state arbitrarily.” Opposition parties such as the right-wing, pro-Afrikaner Freedom Front Plus party and ActionSA say they will take the matter to court because they believe it is unconstitutional. Many opponents say they fear its economic impact – that it will dampen the foreign investment South Africa needs. “While other parties assert that this bill does not compromise the ‘willing buyer, willing seller doctrine,’ it ultimately allows the government to unilaterally set the price if an agreement cannot be reached,” said ActionSA in a statement. Meanwhile, lawyers in South Africa pointed out this new law was not directed at land reform – although it could be used for it – but at infrastructure projects such as highways or dams, similar to how eminent domain rules work in the US. South African law professor Zsa-Zsa Temmers Boggenpoel of Stellenbosch University said the new law isn’t perfect, but South Africa needs to move forward. “I am not convinced that the act, in its current form, is the silver bullet to effect large-scale land reform – at least not the type of radical land reform that South Africa urgently needs, Boggenpoel wrote in the Conversation. “Understandably, the act will have a severe impact on property rights. But it still substantially protects landowners affected by expropriation.” “This has become a matter of increasing urgency,” she added, “South Africans have expressed impatience with the slow pace of land reform.” Political analyst Melanie Verwoerd, a former South African lawmaker and diplomat, says that the debate outside of South Africa has misrepresented the issue. She explained that for the past 30 years, the state has bought land from landowners at or above market value. “The fact is, South Africa has not expropriated any private land since the dawn of its democracy,” she wrote in an opinion piece in Bloomberg. “Given the country’s history, nothing would have been easier – and frankly more popular – than for the ANC government to have forcefully expropriated large tracts of land from White owners without compensation. Yet, it chose not to.”

Democratic Republic Of Congo: "Smoke and Mirrors"

Smoke and Mirrors Democratic Republic of the Congo The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group on Wednesday broke a ceasefire implemented only days earlier in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and advanced toward another key town in the mineral-rich eastern part of the country, the Associated Press reported. Officials reported heavy fighting on the main road from Goma, which the rebels captured last week, to Bukavu, the capital of the South Kivu province. They took the town of Nyabibwe, which lies about 60 miles away from Bukavu, on that route. On Monday, the rebels announced a ceasefire to allow aid to reach Goma, the capital of North Kivu region, where hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes because of the fighting. After declaring the ceasefire, they announced they had no interest in capturing Bukavu, Reuters reported. Even so, the rebels said they would march south to take the capital, Kinshasa. Meanwhile, the DRC government said the rebels were facing “fierce resistance” from the military around Nyabibwe. They also blamed Rwanda for the resumption of hostilities. The Rwandan Defence Force/ M23 unilateral ceasefire “was nothing but a Rwandan lie,” Congolese officials said. Also, Congolese authorities on Wednesday issued an international arrest warrant for Corneille Nangaa, one of the M23 political leaders, who is Conglose. International Criminal Court prosecutors also began an investigation into possible humanitarian crimes being committed in the DRC. Rwanda, which is backing the M23 with some 4,000 troops, aims to take control of the eastern DRC for access to its mineral wealth, worth trillions of dollars. The rebels had already controlled some mines in the region. Rwanda’s government, however, denies those claims, saying instead that its actions are in defense of Tutsis in the eastern DRC. During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, almost a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu extremists, who later fled to the DRC. About 3,000 people have been killed in the rebel advance, officials said, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced in a region that had already hosted more than 6 million people displaced over the past decade by the ongoing conflict in the DRC. Goma is also currently grappling with shortages of food, electricity, and water.

Five Nigerian Men Sentenced To Death For Murdering A Woman

Wicked Nigeria Five Nigerian men who murdered a woman they accused of witchcraft were sentenced to death by hanging in the northern state of Kano this week, underscoring how traditional beliefs continue to clash with modern Nigeria, the BBC reported. The five men had been accused of attacking Dahare Abubakar, 67, on her farm in 2023, beating and stabbing her to death, after the wife of one of the suspects had a dream in which the deceased was pursuing her. They were apprehended soon after. This case riveted Nigeria, where in rural areas, the persecution or killing of an individual because they are suspected of witchcraft is still a common occurrence. Often, attacks arise after an individual blames another for using witchcraft to cause their misfortune, for example, an illness or a death in the family. Belief in witchcraft is widespread across Africa. However, in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and South Africa, elderly people are often accused of being witches as a pretext for killing them and seizing their land, the BBC reported last year. In countries like Nigeria, activists are working to put an end to such accusations and help protect the accused. Meanwhile, even as prosecutors hoped the verdict would serve as a deterrent, the lawyer for the perpetrators said they would appeal. Share this story

Rwanda Captures The Most Strategic Goma Region Containing Billions of Dollars Of Rare Earths From Congo

Here, Again Democratic Republic of the Congo For years, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have set their sights on capturing Goma – the strategic hub of a region in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – that holds trillions of dollars of untapped mineral wealth. Then last week, in a lightning advance, they did it, with help from thousands of Rwandan soldiers, as resistance from the army, United Nations soldiers, and mercenaries melted away. Now, the rebels are eyeing the entire country even as they declared a ceasefire Tuesday for “humanitarian” reasons. “We want to go to Kinshasa, take power, and lead the country,” said Corneille Nangaa, a leader of the self-described “people’s army” of M23, who is a former Congolese election official in the DRC, and sanctioned by the US for “undermining democracy.” Offering the leaders of the Congo “a dialogue,” he said the group wants to bring “peace.” Congo’s defense minister, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, scoffed at the offer. “We will stay here in Congo and fight,” he said. “If we do not stay alive here, let’s stay dead here.” Once again, analysts say, the region is on the edge of a full-blown conflict, one that could engulf the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, and possibly South Africa and Burundi. Still, they aren’t surprised. “The warning signs were always there, said Murithi Mutiga of the Crisis Group. “(Rwanda) was adopting very bellicose rhetoric and the Congolese government was also adopting very, very aggressive rhetoric.” The roots of the conflict date back to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, in which almost a million Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed by Hutu extremists. Tutsi rebels, led by current Rwandan President Paul Kagame, stopped the killing and pushed the Hutu perpetrators across the border into the DRC. Now, Kagame says that he wants to protect ethnic Tutsis in Congo and protect his country from the other rebel groups in the DRC. More than 100 armed groups operate in the country, vying for control of the east which holds vast mineral deposits worth $24 trillion such as lithium, rare earth minerals, and others that are critical to the world’s tech gadgets. One group, known as the FDLR, whose members include alleged perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, “is fully integrated into” the Congolese military, Kagame said, something the DRC denies. Still, Kagame has long denied supporting the M23 rebel group. However, the US, the UN, and others say it is actively involved, dreaming of creating a “Greater Rwanda.” The UN says Rwanda uses the group to extract Congo’s minerals. In August, a ceasefire – now moot – took effect between Congo and Rwanda to end a war that has killed 6 million, mainly through hunger and disease. However, Congo’s president, Felix Tshisekedi, has long rejected talks with M23 as Kagame has wanted. Instead, the Congolese are furious that the West hasn’t intervened. But Rwanda has outsized clout with the international community because it has long been seen as a model of democratic governance and economic management in the region, a reputation not necessarily deserved over the past few years. Meanwhile, regional heavyweight South Africa has been drawn into the fray. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last week blamed Rwanda for the deaths of 13 South African peacekeepers in eastern Congo. Kagame responded that those peacekeepers made up a “belligerent force.” “If South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day,” the Rwandan leader said. Caught in the middle, meanwhile, are millions of Congolese, tired from almost three decades of conflict, tired of being uprooted from their homes and pushed from one refugee camp to another, tired of the carnage. On the ground, the conditions in Goma are dire, say humanitarian officials. The city remains largely without food, electricity, and water after its capture by the rebels. More than 900 people were killed in last week’s takeover of Goma. Witnesses said bodies lay on the streets and UN officials reported gang rapes and executions. Goma has served as a center for more than 6 million people displaced by the ongoing conflict in the DRC. About 700,000 people have been displaced again by the new fighting, the UN said. Now, residents in the eastern city of Bukavu are terrified: The rebels are said to be advancing their way even as Goma’s residents try to cope. “We have nothing left to eat … my shop has been looted – I curse this war,” Adeline Tuma, who lives in Goma with her four children, told the Guardian. “A new, grim chapter of our lives begins.”

The Truth About South Africa's Land Expropriation Act

A Big Stick South Africa South Africa on Monday rejected accusations by US President Donald Trump over a newly adopted land confiscation policy, after the American leader threatened to cut off aid to the country over the issue, Reuters reported. The dispute stems from a new land expropriation law that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed last month. Under the law, authorities will be allowed to take land for “a public purpose or in the public interest.” Special conditions must be met before land can be expropriated, such as whether it has longtime informal occupants, whether and how it is being unused, if it is held purely for speculation, or if it is abandoned. Officials said the legislation is aimed at addressing the racial disparities in land ownership that persist three decades after the policy of Apartheid ended in 1994. But over the weekend, Trump claimed that South Africa is “confiscating land” and “certain classes of people” were being mistreated, describing it as a “massive human rights violation.” He said he would cut off all future funding to the African nation until “a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Ramaphosa and other officials countered that the government has not confiscated any land while urging the US president to engage in dialogue to have a better understanding of the issue. He also played down the slashing of aid, noting that US funding accounted for 17 percent of South Africa’s HIV/ AIDS program and that there was “no other significant funding” from the United States. In 2023, the US committed roughly $440 million in aid to South Africa, with the majority of the amount going to counter HIV/ AIDS. Even so, the controversy brought to the forefront the issue of land reform in South Africa, where it remains a very politically charged topic. For decades, the country has tried to address the legacy of colonial and apartheid eras that led to Black South Africans being dispossessed of their lands and denied property rights. Ramaphosa’s coalition partners objected to the signing of the bill, with some warning that it threatens private ownership, according to the BBC. South African-born billionaire and Trump ally, Elon Musk, also waded into the matter by describing the new laws as “openly racist,” a charge South African officials dismissed.

South Africa Strikes Back!

Ramaphosa responds to Trump’s land-confiscation claims, says he looks forward to bilateral engagement US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump 3rd February 2025 By: Terence Creamer Creamer Media Editor ARTICLE ENQUIRY SAVE THIS ARTICLE EMAIL THIS ARTICLE Font size: -+ Listen to this article 3 min South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a swift response to US President Donald Trump’s threat that aid from that country could be withdrawn, owing to his view that South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Act is leading to the confiscation of land. Following Trump’s comments, which were made initially on his Truth Social account and later reinforced in a brief television interview, the Presidency said the government had not confiscated any land. Advertisement It also underlined South Africa’s status as a “constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality”. In the Truth Social post, Trump said: “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Advertisement Then, in an impromptu interview regarding the possibility of cutting aid to other African countries, Trump indicated that his attention was solely on South Africa. “No, it’s only South Africa. Terrible things are happening in South Africa. The leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things. So, that’s under investigation right now. We will make a determination [once] we find out what South Africa is doing. He went on to say: “They’re taking away land, they’re confiscating land and actually they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.” Trump’s warnings came amid a flurry of recent executive actions affecting foreign relations, including the announced imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and an additional 10% on Chinese imports. Ramaphosa stressed that the country’s recently adopted Expropriation Act was not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensured public access to land “in an equitable and just manner as guided by the Constitution”. “South Africa, like the United States of America and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners.” Ramaphosa said South Africa looked forward “to engaging with the Trump administration over its land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest”, and expressed optimism that these meetings would result in a better and common understanding. It also stressed that the US remained a key strategic political and trade partner for South Africa. “With the exception of PEPFAR Aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIV/Aids programme, there is no other significant funding that is provided by the United States in South Africa,” it added. After Ramaphosa posted his response on X, Elon Musk, who grew up in South Africa and who has voiced his opposition to both the Expropriation Act and South Africa’s black economic empowerment policies, posted the following on the platform that he also owns: “Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?” Musk is also heading Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, and has called for the closure of the US Agency for International Development , which is the implementing agency for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. Later this year, South Africa will host the G20 meeting in Johannesburg and will be handing over the presidency to the US. There is currently still an expectation that President Trump will attend the meeting. EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLEARTICLE ENQUI

The Nine Priciest Suburbs In Cape Town

Nine of Cape Town’s priciest suburbs With properties priced as high as R180 million, Cape Town is home to some of South Africa’s most elite and costly suburbs. Here’s a glimpse… By Sundeeka Mungroo 23-01-25 20:15 in Featured Cape Town Where are the most expensive places to live in Cape Town? Image: canva Cape Town’s property market features some of the most exclusive and high-end suburbs in Africa. According to Business Tech, an analysis by the Seeff Property Group revealed that most of the country’s priciest suburbs are in Cape Town, with houses there being sold for up to R150 million. Currently, as per recent listings on Pam Golding Properties, property prices have topped even that! Take a look at some of the most expensive suburbs in Cape Town (at the time of writing): 1. Clifton suburbs cape town Clifton, Cape Town. Image: canva Current highest listing: R160 million Perched on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, Clifton offers luxurious homes and apartments that cater to the elite. The area even sells parking bays for over R1 million, underscoring the premium placed on location here. 2. Bantry Bay suburbs cape town Bantry Bay, Cape Town. Image: canva Current highest listing: R103.5 million Adjacent to Clifton, Bantry Bay is another Atlantic Seaboard gem. Its wind-free location, modern architectural designs, and unobstructed ocean views attract local and international buyers. Homes here often boast infinity pools and cutting-edge smart technology. 3. Llandudno Llandudno, Cape Town. Image: canva Current highest listing: R48 million Llandudno offers a more secluded feel while maintaining a strong sense of exclusivity. With no commercial activity permitted, this suburb is perfect for those seeking privacy. Properties here often sit on large plots with direct beach access, making it a paradise for homeowners. 4. Bishopscourt suburbs cape town Property in Bishopscourt, Cape Town. Image: canva Current highest listing: R70 million Nestled in Cape Town’s leafy Southern Suburbs, Bishopscourt is known for its spacious properties and lush gardens. Many homes here have panoramic mountain views and are close to prestigious schools, making it a popular choice for families. 5. Higgovale Higgovale and surrounding suburbs from above. Image: Wikimedia Commons Current highest listing: R56 million Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain, Higgovale is part of Cape Town’s City Bowl. Residents enjoy easy access to the city center while still benefiting from the tranquility of a suburban lifestyle. The unique blend of natural beauty and modern design makes it a sought-after location. 6. V&A Waterfront V&A Waterfront Marina. Image: canva Current highest listing: R57.5 million The V&A Waterfront Marina offers luxury apartments in a secure, vibrant environment. With designer boutiques, fine dining, and a marina at your doorstep, this area is a favourite among investors and international buyers. 7. Fresnaye suburbs cape town Cyril Ramaphosa’s Fresnaye mansion. Image from Twitter@@VusiSambo Current highest listing: R180 million Set against the slopes of Lion’s Head, Fresnaye offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Fresnaye is also where South African president Cyril Ramaphosa calls home. 8. Camps Bay Camps Bay, Cape Town. Image: canva Current highest listing: R85 million Camps Bay is synonymous with beachfront luxury. Known for its lively atmosphere, restaurants, and iconic beach, the suburb is a magnet for wealthy individuals looking for a property that balances style and accessibility. 9. Constantia Upper Constantia, Cape Town. Image: canva Current highest listing: R65 million Constantia Upper is renowned for its wine estates and historical charm. With large properties surrounded by lush greenery, it offers a serene escape from city life while still being close to Cape Town’s amenities. Tags: Cape Town DMumani featured Important South Africa Post navigation Next Article Previous Article Trump Orders US Secretary of State to "Closely Study" South African Farm Seizures - SA People Murder of Young Couple in South Africa, Stranded on Side of Road - SA People Prostate Health | Sponsored by Taboola Enlarged Prostate Has Nothing To Do With Age: Just Stop Doing This One Common Thing! Oscar Pistorius: Social media reacts to his first public appearance - SAPeople - Worldwide South African News Hitman shares chilling account of how they kill people: 'R40k a job' SkipDiscoverRead More Seniors Born 1941-1979 Receive 55 Benefits This Month if They Ask WalletJump | Sponsored Enlarged Prostate? 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South Africa: State To Charge Duduzile Zuma-Samdudla Under Terrorism Act

State to charge Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla under Terrorism Act accreditation Andisiwe Makinana, Bongekile Macupe and Kaveel Singh Comments Comments gifting Gift article add bookmark Bookmark 09:10 MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma is set to appear in court on Thursday for her involvement in the July 2021 unrest. (Luke Daniel/News24) MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma is set to appear in court on Thursday for her involvement in the July 2021 unrest. (Luke Daniel/News24) Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla will be charged with inciting terrorism that led to the deaths of over 350 people in July 2021. MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela told News24 that Zuma-Sambudla would present herself to the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday. News24 learnt from a family insider that the charges against her centre around the social media posts she made at the time, encouraging the unrest. The daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, will be charged with inciting terrorism that led to the deaths of 354 people in July 2021. News24 can reveal that Zuma-Sambudla will face a charge of incitement to commit terrorism when she appears in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday. A source said she would be charged in terms of Section 14 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act. The section reads: "Any person who threatens, attempts, conspires with any other person; or aids, abets, induces, incites, instigates, instructs or commands, counsels or procures another person, to commit an offence in terms of this chapter, is guilty of an offence." Attempts to get hold of Zuma-Sambudla were unsuccessful on Tuesday. The charges follow a criminal case opened by Forensics for Justice's Paul O'Sullivan in the wake of the July 2021 riots. This is one of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's tweets in the July 2021 unrest, which has landed her in trouble. (X/Screenshot) O'Sullivan provided the police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) with a detailed forensic report documenting every single tweet Zuma-Sambudla sent during the riots. MK Party (MKP) spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela initially confirmed to News24 on Tuesday that Zuma-Sambudla's attorney had been served with the charges last week and that they were related to her involvement in the July 2021 unrest. However, Ndhlela later changed his tune and said Zuma-Sambudla was not aware of the charges against her, and that she would only find out when she presented herself to the court on Thursday. He said: We do not have the charge sheet, so we can't say what the charges are, exactly. But she will present herself on Thursday, and I suppose on Thursday, we will get the indictment and the charge sheet, and we will know exactly what the charges will be. News24 sent questions to KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara about when Zuma-Sambudla was charged and what they were. She, however, failed to respond to the questions sent via text and numerous follow-up phone calls. A family insider claimed Zuma-Sambudla had been charged with making comments on social media which led to the July 2021 unrest. Meanwhile, Zuma-Sambudla took to X on Tuesday evening and posted, "WE SEE YOU". This is an expression she used during the July unrest that followed her father's arrest in July 2021. Zuma-Sambudla was vocal on X during the unrest, often posting pictures of the destruction and carnage with the caption: "KZN, we see you." In a now deleted post on X, the MKP posted a poster on Tuesday announcing that Zuma-Sambudla would appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court regarding the July 2021 unrest. "This is an invitation to mobilise all ground forces to attend in numbers," read a caption accompanying the post. READ | Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to appear in court over July 2021 unrest involvement, says MKP The MKP's eThekwini region also announced that it would lead a "peaceful picket" in support of Zuma-Sambudla when she appears in court. The region has invited all members of the party to a "#HandsOffDuduzileZuma" picket. Ndhlela told News24 that Zuma-Sambudla, who is also an MP and serves as the chairperson of the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, was in high spirits. "She is a law-abiding citizen, and that is why she is presenting herself. If she was evading the law, she would not present herself to court. The fact that she is presenting herself means that she is a law-abiding citizen; she represents the law, and she will present herself," he said. Former MKP youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile also took to X on Tuesday and shared that he would be at the Durban Magistrate's Court to support Zuma-Sambudla. Khanyile is on trial for inciting the deadly 2021 July riots. July 2021 unrest instigators The July unrest unfolded after police arrested Zuma, sending him to the Estcourt Correctional Centre. Large swathes of KwaZulu-Natal, including smaller towns, from Ladysmith to KwaDukuza, and bigger areas like Durban and Umhlanga, were plagued by groups who strategically blocked roads with tyres and set them alight. As this was happening, Zuma-Sambudla began a barrage of her infamous "We see you" tweets. dudu The MK Party shared this poster on its X page, informing its members of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's appearance in court. (@MkhontoweSizwex/X formerly Twitter) She would use the phrase as she retweeted instances of extreme violence, including a video she deleted depicting an individual firing an automatic rifle at a poster of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Soon after the violence died down and attempts at an insurrection were thwarted, then-police minister Bheki Cele stated that there were 20 instigators who were the masterminds behind the unrest. Many politicians and commentators believed Zuma-Sambudla would emerge as one of the alleged instigators due to her brazen and perceived inflammatory tweets. The "instigators" faced charges of conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence, and arson. Mum on investigations Neither the NPA nor the Hawks would go into detail about whether Zuma-Sambudla would be arrested. In 2022, KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona would not comment on who the instigators were, only saying that things were "unfolding". Asked about Zuma-Sambudla, Senona was guarded: "You shall remember that a person has deposed an affidavit against the daughter of the former head of state. That investigation is continuing." He added: At this stage, we don't want to divulge the status of the investigation. But once we have finalised the investigation, we will present our case to the National Prosecuting Authority to make a prosecutorial decision. In October of that year, KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions Elaine Zungu said investigations were still under way to determine whether Zuma-Sambudla had committed a crime when she posted "inflammatory" messages on social media. "That matter is still under investigation. These matters are not easy to deal with and are not dealt with overnight," is all Zungu said at the time. SA Human Rights Commission investigation During testimony at the SA Human Rights Commission's investigation into the unrest, Jean le Roux of the Digital Forensic Research Lab said Zuma-Sambudla had engaged in the most "celebratory" posts during the unrest. Le Roux testified: "[Hers] was one of the accounts that was most engaging in the celebratory parts of unrest. She would take posts of buildings burning and have a tweet below it saying: 'Amandla, we see you.' duduzile zuma This is one of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's tweets in the July 2021 unrest, which has landed her in trouble. (X/Screenshot) "She did this quite prolifically throughout the period of the unrest. In some cases, she was also the one that took truck protests from the year before and attached that same statement to those tweets, giving the impression that these are protests happening in support of her father and [against] his incarceration." The eight days of mayhem in July 2021 were seen as the worst civil unrest since 1994, as mobs stormed shopping malls, warehouses and factories, looting and torching properties. Similar incidents, albeit on a smaller scale, were reported in Gauteng. The devastation dented an economy already brought to its knees by the Covid-19 pandemic, which sparked a jobs bloodbath across multiple sectors and weakened growth prospects. The events cost some R50 billion in lost output, according to the Presidency at the time. You have invested in the future News24 has been there for South Africa's defining moments over the last 25 years, and you've been right beside us. Your support of trusted journalism has sustained us, and now it will propel us to continue to strive to inform, inspire and empower as we try to build a better future for us all. Discover News24

Sudan: On Repeat

On Repeat Sudan International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan will seek arrest warrants for individuals accused of atrocities in Sudan’s western Darfur region, an announcement that comes amid international concerns that genocide and other war crimes are being committed in the country’s nearly two-year conflict, the Guardian reported. On Monday, Khan told the United Nations Security Council that “criminality is accelerating in Darfur.” He alleged that the fighting has targeted civilians, subjected women and girls to sexual violence, and left many communities destroyed. The ICC prosecutor stressed that the allegations come from “a hard-edged analysis based on verified evidence,” but gave no details on the specific crimes or the individuals the ICC wants to detain. Sudan erupted in civil war in April 2023 following a feud between the country’s military leader and the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict initially began in the capital Khartoum, but later spread into other regions, including Darfur. More than 20 years ago, the western Sudanese region became synonymous with genocide and war crimes during a brutal conflict that saw government forces of then-President Omar al-Bashir and its Janjaweed Arab militia allies launch a brutal war against non-Arab populations there. Around 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were displaced. Currently, the ICC has outstanding arrest warrants for Sudanese officials and leaders involved in an earlier conflict in Darfur, including al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019 and is currently in jail. During the UN meeting, Khan warned that the current conflict bears “very clear echoes” to the events that occurred decades ago in Darfur, according to Euronews. Observers noted that Khan’s comments came weeks after the ICC prosecutor told the UN Security Council that there were grounds to believe that both Sudan’s army and the RSF – which evolved from the Janjaweed – may be committing genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes in Darfur. Before leaving office, the Biden administration imposed sanctions against Sudan’s army chief and de facto leader, Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo for their roles in the conflict, the Middle East Eye noted. Share this story

Algeria- A Virtual War

A Virtual War Algeria French authorities arrested at least seven Algerian ultranationalist social media influencers this month for inciting violence against Algerian dissidents and calling for terrorist attacks across France, as relations between Paris and its former colony continue to deteriorate, Politico reported. According to French officials, a handful of online influencers, some of them living in France, have built large audiences, with as many as 800,000 followers inside and outside of France. In some cases, they have targeted France-based opponents of the Algerian regime. In others, they have called for terror attacks on French soil. French officials, who have been grappling with terror attacks on Paris and other cities for a decade, often perpetrated by nationals of former colonies such as Morocco, Tunisia, or Algeria, are nervous, Politico said. The influencers are “profiteering from a context of heightened tensions between France and Algeria,” French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told L’Express, adding that the online incitement of violence is fostered by the complicated, centuries-long relationship between France and Algeria. France’s brutal rule of Algeria lasted for 132 years and ended with Algerian independence after a bloody war in 1962. More recently, tensions between the two countries have been fueled by migration issues and French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed region of Western Sahara, the Associated Press reported. Algeria has long supported independence for that region and afterward withdrew its ambassador from Paris. Further straining relations is Algeria’s arrest of French-Algerian writer and Algerian regime critic Boualem Sansal in November. Algeria detained Sansal on national security charges, prompting Macron to accuse Algiers of “dishonoring itself.” France, meanwhile, has not accused Algeria of supporting these influencers. None of the posts have yet resulted in violence. France is home to more than two million Algerian immigrants and descendants of immigrants, according to the French national statistics institute Insee. Share this story

Kenya: 82 Anti-Government Protestors Have Vanished

The Disappearing Acts Kenya Last summer, the so-called Gen-Z protests erupted in Kenya against a controversial finance bill pushed by the president to raise taxes on everyday essentials, an attempt to cut the country’s debt burden and bring its finances under control. Kenyans, struggling with high inflation, were outraged by the measure. Tens of thousands took to the streets in protests with the demonstrations turning violent – dozens were killed by security forces. Even though President William Ruto scaled back the bill afterward, the protests became a significant threat to his presidency. Then the protesters began disappearing. “(We) continue to monitor with concern the worrying pattern of abductions in several parts of our country … perpetuated clandestinely, with unidentified armed persons,” wrote the Kenya National Human Rights Commission in a report last month, noting “that those abducted have been vocal dissidents.” The commission documented 82 disappearances of government critics from June to December, further outraging the public, leading the courts to threaten the authorities with jail, and bringing even more protesters out into the streets – and another violent crackdown. One of those people who disappeared was Aslam Longton who had helped organize protests against the bill in the town of Kitengela near the capital, Nairobi. He had been warned by security officials to stop his activism. He didn’t. In August, he was forced into a car, hooded and handcuffed, and taken to an unknown location where he was held in dark cells, beaten, and questioned. “I was very scared,” Aslam told the BBC. “When the door was opened that man would come with a fiber cable and a metal rod. “I was scared he had come to beat me or finish me off.” He was released 32 days later, without being taken to court, given a lawyer, or the opportunity to speak with his family, who were frantic. After being released, he was told he would be killed if he spoke to the media. Three months later, the government said it was a lawful arrest. And Ruto and other government and police officials for months denied any abductions, calling them “fake news.” But in December, Ruto admitted and promised to stop the kidnappings after public protests and concern from Western allies grew. Still, critics say, he has declined to take responsibility for these extrajudicial disappearances, instead admonishing parents to “take care” of their children. These so-called children were the base of voters that propelled Ruto to the presidency in September 2022 as an agent of change, CNN noted. Meanwhile, a high court judge has ordered top security officials to appear in court this week to answer questions on the matter or face jail for contempt of court charges, after they failed to appear twice when summoned to account for the abductions. Already in December, the court had forced two top police officials to produce seven social media activists who disappeared. Five reappeared soon after. Still, the bodies of people showing signs of torture continued to turn up in rivers, forests, abandoned quarries, and mortuaries, wrote Human Rights Watch. And despite the announcement of police investigations into these murders or disappearances, no one has been charged, let alone convicted, for carrying them out, the organization added. In a detailed Reuters investigation, however, killings by security officials were often “mischaracterized” as road accidents or drownings or in morgue logs to cover their tracks, police officers told the newswire. Some Kenyans say they are shocked that such a situation has resurfaced, noting that these abductions were hallmarks of prior Kenyan regimes in the 1980s and 1990s. Still, others note how now, with the advent of social media, Kenyans are far more aware of their rights, able to organize, and far more difficult to repress. Still, even government officials are having issues. After hearing that his son had been seized by armed, hooded men, Kenya’s then attorney-general, Justin Muturi, approached the president. Justin Muturi told the Times that Ruto agreed to phone his spy chief. An hour later, his son was free. Shaken by that episode and now openly critical of the government, he began receiving threats including impeachment but said he must speak out. “We have seen so many young people held, kidnapped, extrajudicial killings,” he told the British newspaper. “We can’t say we don’t know about what is going on.” Muturi said he sympathizes with those families whose loved ones are still missing. “I didn’t know if he was dead or not,” he added, referring to his son’s disappearance. “I try and put myself in the shoes (of those) who can’t access the president and whose children are still missing.”

South Sudan Is In A Crisis

The War Over Peace South Sudan More than 30 top hotels recently filed a lawsuit against the government of South Sudan because it failed to settle bills worth $60 million that it accrued from hosting peace talks delegations years ago. The problem is, South Sudan is broke. It’s so broke that in December, the East African country was scheduled to hold an election, the first since it won independence from Sudan in 2011, but was forced to postpone it to 2026, partly because it has failed to execute a constitution or a census – but mostly it couldn’t pay for it. That’s not surprising considering the young country is facing the worst economic crisis since independence, according to the International Rescue Committee. As a result, civil servants and state employees, including soldiers and teachers, haven’t been paid in a year. And now, in spite of a peace agreement that mostly halted a civil war in 2018, some worry that the economic crisis will lead the country to again explode into conflict within itself when the peace deal expires in February. “When you remove the glue, it can all break down,” Daniel Akech of the International Crisis Group told the Economist. Two years after winning independence in 2011, civil war broke out after the president, Salva Kiir of the Dinka ethnic group, and the vice president, Riek Machar of the Nuer group, began feuding. About 400,000 people died in the conflict, more than 2.4 million people fled the country, and another 2.3 million were displaced internally. Much of the fighting stopped after the peace agreement in 2018 which divided power between the two sides. Still, not all groups that eventually got involved in the conflict signed on to the agreement, which is why peace talks are continuing in fits and starts, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile, the situation in the country is dire: It’s facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with about 80 percent of the population experiencing a “high level of food insecurity” in November, an increase of 7 percent over 2022, the World Bank reported. At the same time, the population faces devastating droughts and flooding, worsening the food security situation, ruining livelihoods, causing disease outbreaks, and contributing to displacement. Alongside this, the country of 11 million is grappling with 800,000 refugees that crossed the border from Sudan after war erupted there in 2023. The war in Sudan is a big reason why South Sudan is broke: It has cut off most cross-border trade and more critically, closed its main oil pipeline that carried two-thirds of South Sudan’s oil exports to the Red Sea coast. Oil exports make up as much as 98 percent of government revenue. As a result, the economy shrank by more than a quarter in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund, while inflation rose to 120 percent – among the highest rates in the world. Now, to turn things around, Kiir’s transitional government says it wants to diversify its economy and capitalize on its mineral riches, and maybe even bypass Sudan by working with China to build an alternative pipeline to Djibouti via Ethiopia, Bloomberg noted. None of this, however, will alleviate the economic crisis in the short term, analysts say, or the security crisis that is brewing. Besides a rise in kidnapping and extortion by gangs and unpaid soldiers, an armed insurgency in the south threatens civilians and endangers the peace process, the Council on Foreign Relations wrote. There has also been a rise in violence stemming from community-based militias and civil defense groups, driven by border disputes and sectarianism, according to the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. Writing in the Conversation, South Sudan expert Steven C. Roach said the country won’t be able to get on track in its current trajectory and with its current leadership. For example, he believes the multiple delays in holding elections over the years are likely due to President Kiir’s fear of the consequences of losing power: He would likely be tried by a war crimes court due to be set up by the 2018 peace agreement. He also detailed how Kiir has used his political and economic power to divide the opposition and repress civil society groups, journalists, and the opposition while having allowed corruption to run rampant to keep the elites on his side. “Kiir steered South Sudan to independence,” he wrote. “However … he has to answer for sowing division and fostering violence and corruption that has diminished hope for long-term peace, democracy, and national unity.”

Police Use Excessive Force In Kenya-42 Dead

Contradicting Statements Kenya Autopsy reports from Kenya showed discrepancies in the deaths of protesters during anti-government demonstrations in June and July, with findings contradicting police records, sparking renewed scrutiny of law enforcement practices and allegations of systematic cover-ups, Reuters reported Monday. Recent reports collected by the newswire showed that police would record deaths inaccurately in morgue logbooks, often attributing them to “road accidents” or “mob justice” despite evidence of police involvement. In one case, 19-year-old Charles Owino was recorded by police as a road accident victim, but an autopsy confirmed he died from a gunshot wound to the head during protests in the district of Kitengela on July 16. Similarly, Shaquille Obienge, 21, was logged as another road accident fatality, but the government’s autopsy revealed he was shot in the neck. Morgue records also showed further inconsistencies: Between late June and September, only nine gunshot deaths were recorded, despite evidence of police shootings during protests. In contrast, deaths attributed to “mob justice” and “drownings” surged to 94, compared with 59 during the same period in the previous year. Amnesty International and other rights groups suspect these classifications are part of a cover-up to mask the extent of police violence. The protests – dubbed the “Gen-Z protests” due to their youthful demographic – erupted in response to tax hikes and alleged corruption in government. Officials said the demonstrations left at least 42 people dead, with rights groups alleging that police used excessive force, including live ammunition. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 82 enforced disappearances between June and December, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for. Among the missing are young protesters and politically active individuals, some allegedly targeted by a covert police unit linked to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. In a New Year’s address, President William Ruto acknowledged “instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions” by security personnel – but stopped short of detailing accountability measures, Africanews wrote. Meanwhile, families of victims have called for justice, as human rights organizations demand independent investigations. With mounting pressure on Kenyan authorities to address police misconduct and ensure accountability, the crisis has underscored a deepening mistrust between citizens and law enforcement, further inflamed by economic challenges and public discontent with governance.