African military mission in Somalia needs $90 million to push al-Qaeda supported al Shabaab insurgents
The African Union appealed for nearly $90 million on Wednesday for its peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is providing support to its military forces battling al-Shabab extremists. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, told two reporters that the more than 19,600-strong AU force won’t...
Fact finding mission: AU set to play an enhanced role in stabilisation of war-torn eastern DR Congo
An African Union (AU) field mission spent three days in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) “obtaining first-hand information” regarding ongoing violence and attacks on civilians, particularly in the eastern part of the country. An AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) statement has it the field mission, under the leadership of...
Senegal’s resident remains ambiguous about plans to amend constitution to run for third term
Senegal’s president has rejected claims that it would be unconstitutional for him to seek a controversial third mandate, again refusing to confirm whether he plans to do so in an interview published on Monday in a French newspaper The opposition claims that Senegal’s constitution prohibits Macky Sall – who was...
Scars of American jingoism can’t fade from Iraqis collective memory, 20 years after vague war
During the more than eight-year war and ensuing years of violence after the 2011 US pull-out, more than 200,000 civilians were killed and over 9 million others displaced in Iraq. Much of the country’s infrastructure was also destroyed during the relentless bombings launched by the US-led coalition. Although 20 years...
Ukraine war: Japanese prime minister lands in Kyiv hours after Chinese president meets Russian president
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began a surprise visit to Ukraine early Tuesday, hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in neighbouring Russia for a three-day visit. The duelling summits come as the long-time rivals are on diplomatic offensives. Kishida will meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital. He...
Why China wants the Ukraine war to drag on: China needs Russian oil and gas for its energy-devouring economy
As a noticeably puffy-faced Vladimir Putin welcomed his “dear friend” Xi Jinping to the Kremlin yesterday, the Russian despot acted as if he was hosting his equal. After all, he no doubt reasoned, China needs Russian oil and gas for its energy-devouring economy. The Kremlin is also a handy ally...
China and Russia express concern over the ICC’s arrest warrant for Russia President Vladimir Putin
China has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to avoid “politicisation and double standards” after the tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges. During a media briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also called on the ICC to “uphold...
Four of Africa’s big economies face acid test as frustrated citizens protest run away cost of living on same day
Four African countries are preparing responses to planned protests led by opposition politicians, which are likely to test civil liberties and security in eastern, western, southern and northern economic blocs. South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia and Nigeria may all see running battles with the police or peaceful demonstrations to express dissatisfaction...
Refugee protection system in US, world is founded colonial and racist; can’t let the displaced lead policy conversations
As the first and only female CEO of an international refugee rights organisation with lived experience of forced displacement, I am painfully aware that colonialism and white supremacy are central to the formation and functioning of the global refugee protection system. Having to continually prove this obvious fact is exhausting,...
Private equity: How US Democratic Party’s fundraisers found themselves jobless in just minutes after tea-break
Less than two years after a British private equity firm acquired the campaign tech firm that holds the Democratic Party’s most sensitive data, the new parent company laid off at least 140 people. In a companywide email on January 12, Mark Layden, the chief executive of Bonterra, the new merged...
