Putin reveals Russia's goals with African countries: We will develop cooperation and work together to solve poverty and food security problems

Putin reveals Russia's goals with African countries: We will develop cooperation and work together to solve poverty and food security problems

    Wednesday, July 26, 2023   No comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country seeks to enhance cooperation with Africa, which he described as one of the poles in a crystallized multipolar world, ahead of the start of the Russian-African summit in St. Petersburg tomorrow, Thursday.

In a welcoming speech to the participants in the "Russia-Africa" Economic and Humanitarian Forum, to be held Thursday and Friday, Putin said that cooperation with African countries has reached a new level in recent years.

He added that Russia intends to develop this cooperation to stimulate trade and investment, and work to solve urgent problems in Africa, such as combating poverty, ensuring food security and confronting climate change.

"We will continue to assist African partners in every possible way in strengthening the national and cultural sovereignty of their countries, and developing their participation in resolving regional and international issues," he said.

Putin said that Africa "has become today one of the poles of the crystallized multipolar world," stressing that his country supports the aspirations of African countries towards social and economic stability and progress.

This is the second Russian-African summit after the first held in Sochi in 2019.

In light of the isolation that Western countries have sought to impose on the Russian president since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, lines of communication remained open between Moscow and several parties such as Beijing and Tehran, and Russia has strengthened its presence in Africa over the past years through grain exports, armament deals and energy cooperation.

In a sign of Moscow's growing interest in Africa, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has visited the continent twice since the beginning of the year, seeking to bring the two sides closer in the face of Western "imperialism".

Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the US, France, and other Western countries of coercing African nations to not attend the Russia–Africa Summit scheduled to take place on July 27-28 in St. Petersburg.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune: Algeria had submitted an official request to join the BRICS group

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune: Algeria had submitted an official request to join the BRICS group

    Sunday, July 23, 2023   No comments

On Friday, the Algerian “An-Nahar” TV quoted the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as saying that Algeria has submitted an official request to join the “BRICS” group, and that it will become a shareholder in the “BRICS” bank, with an amount of $ 1.5 billion.

Tebboune said, "Algeria has officially asked the president of the BRICS bank, Dilma Rousseff, to agree to be a shareholder in the bloc's bank," noting that "Algeria's first contribution will be $1.5 billion."

Earlier, Tebboune considered that his country's accession to the "BRICS" group would help it in development, more than the assistance of international financial bodies, adding that "the BRICS bank contains $100 billion, more than the World Bank."

Likewise, Tebboune said, on December 22, 2022, that "Algeria is close to joining the BRICS bloc," stressing that the BRICS countries will not mind granting Algeria full membership, and that they have approval from Russia.

The North African country, which is rich in oil and gas, seeks to diversify its economy and strengthen its partnership with countries such as China. Tebboune announced, during his visit to Beijing, that China will invest $36 billion in various fields in his country, including industry, modern technology, the knowledge economy, transportation, and agriculture.

In turn, a South African diplomat said, yesterday, Thursday, that 22 countries have submitted an official request to become members of the "BRICS" economic bloc, adding that countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, have officially requested to become members of the "BRICS" group, while the countries that have expressed interest in joining include Argentina, the Emirates, Algeria, Egypt, Bahrain and Indonesia.

After cancelling a scheduled visit to France, the Algerian President goes to Russia on an official visit

After cancelling a scheduled visit to France, the Algerian President goes to Russia on an official visit

    Wednesday, June 14, 2023   No comments

On Tuesday, the Algerian Presidency website announced that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will visit Russia for 3 days, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And the official website of the Algerian presidency wrote, “At the invitation of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, embarks today on a three-day visit to Russia, within the framework of strengthening cooperation between the two friendly countries.”

  During this visit, President Tebboune will participate in the work of the International Economic Forum, in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

It is worth mentioning that the President of the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, Valentina Matviyenko, confirmed, last March, Moscow's support for Algeria's desire to join the "BRICS" group.

Valentina Matviyenko said, in media statements, after meeting with the President of the Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, that she had conveyed to him an official message from President Vladimir Putin, which included an official invitation to visit Russia.

It is noteworthy that the former Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, had declared that "Algeria and Russia are important partners."

And Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced, during a visit to Algeria, that Algeria and Moscow are now convinced that "a strategic cooperation agreement must be signed."

African leaders are increasingly calling for use of African currencies for African trade; President of Kenya calls on all African countries to abandon the US dollar for local trade transactions

African leaders are increasingly calling for use of African currencies for African trade; President of Kenya calls on all African countries to abandon the US dollar for local trade transactions

    Tuesday, June 13, 2023   No comments

Realizing that much of the economic problems of Africa are due to unfair financial practices at the hands of institutions controlled by colonial powers, African leaders are now willing to look at local solutions to local problems--including using local currencies for local trade.  

President William Ruto stressed that the mechanism that will allow Africans to switch to local currencies will be provided by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

Afreximbank is a supranational financial institution that unites most African countries (51 states).

The cost of currency convertibility due to the use of U.S. dollars in trade among African countries is close to 5 billion dollars annually, according to Wamkele Mene, secretary general of the AfCFTA Secretariat. "That is expensive and so we have rolled out the pan Africa payment and settlement system that enables trading in local currencies."

he African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is striving for the usage of local currencies in trade among countries in the continent, an official said Thursday.

Cross-border trading among countries in the Economic Community of West African States is already happening through the use of local currencies instead of the use of U.S. dollars, said Wamkele Mene, secretary general of the AfCFTA Secretariat, on the sidelines of a trade forum in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

"We now want to expand to other regional blocs including the East African Community which is in talks with the African Export-Import Bank," Mene said.

He said that the cost of currency convertibility due to the use of U.S. dollars in trade among African countries is close to 5 billion dollars annually. "That is expensive and so we have rolled out the pan Africa payment and settlement system that enables trading in local currencies."

Kenya President William Ruto has urged African leaders to sign up for the pan-African payments system to facilitate trade within the continent to reduce reliance on the US dollar.

He urged his peers in Africa to mobilise central and commercial banks to join the Pan-African Payments and Settlement System, which was launched in January 2022, Business Daily newspaper reported.

The system for intra-African trade was developed by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), an initiative backed by the African Union and African central banks.

“We are all struggling to make payments for goods and services from one country to another because of differences in currencies,” the president told an AfCFTA forum in Nairobi.

“There has been a mechanism where all our traders can trade in the local currency, and we leave it to the Afreximbank to settle all the payments. We do not have to look for dollars,” he said, seeking settlement of payment through local currencies.

Senegal: dead in protests after the prison sentence of the opposition leader

Senegal: dead in protests after the prison sentence of the opposition leader

    Sunday, June 04, 2023   No comments

After Senegalese opposition figure Osman Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison for "corrupting the youth", the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and a number of regions are witnessing violence.

On Thursday, the capital of Senegal, Dakar, and a number of regions witnessed violence after a criminal court sentenced opposition leader Osman Sonko, a candidate for the 2024 presidential elections, to two years in prison on charges of “corrupting the youth” and acquitted him of rape charges against him.

Two police officials told "Agence France Presse" that 3 people were killed during demonstrations in Ziguinchor (south), noting that a policeman was stoned to death by young men on the outskirts of Dakar, and no official confirmed this information publicly.

In the evening, it was noted that there were restrictions that greatly impeded access to social networking sites.

"This situation is similar" to what Senegal witnessed in 2021 of bloody violence, "and it is likely to greatly limit people's ability to communicate," NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, told AFP.

Attorney Ousmane Thiam, who attended the hearing, explained that “corrupting the youth,” which includes hiring or encouraging the employment of a person under the age of 21, is a misdemeanor under Senegalese law, not a crime like rape.

Sonko would have been stripped of his electoral rights if he had been convicted in absentia of a crime such as rape.

However, the reclassification of the facts as a misdemeanor still under the electoral law appears to threaten Sonko's eligibility and ability to run for president in 2024.

Sonko came third in the 2019 elections.

Sonko, who did not attend the trial and took refuge in the south of the country, confirms that this case is a conspiracy orchestrated by the president, who denies this.

Since February 2021, when the alleged rape case hit the headlines, Sonko has been fighting a battle in the judiciary and the political arena to ensure his survival against President Macky Sall.

About 20 civilians have been killed since 2021 in disturbances largely related to his status, and the authority and his camp exchange accusations in this regard.

Senegal, which is considered a relatively stable country in a turbulent region despite some political problems, witnessed new clashes between Sonko's supporters and the security forces linked to his trial and then his return from the south of the country to Dakar on Friday.

He was able to mobilize the youth, but he was arrested on Sunday and forcibly returned to his home in the capital, where he was kept in the midst of a heavy police presence. Since then, the police have responded with tear gas or even arrest for any attempt to approach him.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Sonko announced that he was "detained" and called on Senegalese to demonstrate "in abundance".

Young men attacked and looted the homes of members of the republican camp. The response came with reprisals against the property of members of the opposition and Sonko's party.

President Sall promised, on Wednesday, firmness in the face of violence and decided to start a "national dialogue" that is supposed to reduce tension.

It is noteworthy that Sonko (48 years) is the head of the "Bastef" party and the leader of the opposition in Senegal, and he condemns the exploitation of the judiciary and making it a tool to achieve political ends. He also gives speeches stressing politics and belonging to Africa, and attacks elites and corruption.

He also criticizes the economic and political domination exercised by France and multinational corporations, and defends religious and traditional values, knowing that he is very popular among young people in Senegal.

With the imminent lifting of subsidies, huge queues at petrol stations in Nigeria

With the imminent lifting of subsidies, huge queues at petrol stations in Nigeria

    Friday, June 02, 2023   No comments

The persistent problem of strategic planning by Africa's leaders is manifesting itself in the most populous and energy rich African country, Nigeria.

The fuel crisis in Nigeria occupies the largest part of the momentum throughout the country, as it fluctuates from time to time between a shortage of imports and their impact on global prices, and the absence of local refining capabilities and the stoppage of refineries.

Since Tuesday, huge queues have formed outside petrol stations across Nigeria, after new President Paula Tinubu announced that fuel subsidies would soon be scrapped, causing panic among consumers.

The new president, Bola Tinubu, 71, who was recently sworn in, said there would be no grant spending in his budget, in line with his campaign promise.

"Instead, we will redirect the money toward better investments in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that will improve the lives of our citizens," he added.

He pointed out that "support is fading," without specifying a specific date, which led to confusion among the population and prompted motorists to rush to service stations.

Yesterday, Tuesday, the president's communications team said that the subsidy will end at the end of next June, describing the panic buying of fuel as "unnecessary."

Nigeria trades its billions of dollars worth of crude for imported fuel (due to failed state refineries), which it then subsidizes to maintain an artificially low price in the market, creating a financial chasm.

Therefore, it is a very popular measure among the population, but it withdraws billions of dollars from the public treasury every year.

Over the past ten years, the authorities have attempted to abolish this subsidy on several occasions. But to no avail. Each time, they had to back down in the face of public anger that the unions amplified to the limit.

And in 2012, the Nigerian army took to the streets to keep calm during demonstrations against the removal of subsidies.

The Minister of Defense of Mali is visiting Iran, on an official visit aimed at strengthening inter-military relations between the two countries

The Minister of Defense of Mali is visiting Iran, on an official visit aimed at strengthening inter-military relations between the two countries

    Wednesday, May 31, 2023   No comments

On Monday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani received his Malian counterpart, Sadio Camara, in Tehran, on an official visit aimed at strengthening military relations.

Ashtiani stressed that after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, his country continued to develop its relations with Islamic and independent countries in Africa, including Mali, which he described as "playing an important role in the African region."

He stressed that cooperation with Islamic countries in Africa is one of the priorities of Iranian foreign policy, and that, in accordance with this policy, the Iranian Ministry of Defense has made efforts to interact with the state of Mali.

The Iranian Minister of Defense also praised the position of the Mali government in support of Palestine and its people, describing Mali's insistence in supporting the Palestinian cause as "a shining example of defending the oppressed."

Referring to the convening of the first joint economic cooperation committee between the two countries, last year, Brigadier General Ashtiani shared the recent economic developments between Iran and Mali.

The Iranian Defense Minister pointed out that the presence of the financial delegation headed by the Minister of Defense to Tehran shows the intention of the financial authorities to develop bilateral relations with Iran.

Ashtiani pointed to the pursuit of some Western countries behind "colonial goals and creating tensions," to justify the reasons for their military presence in Africa.

He explained that although the clear policy of Western countries is to "establish security," they "feed the spread of terrorism under their control in independent African countries, such as Mali," and pointed out that this was to justify and legitimize their presence in the region, in internal affairs. for these countries.

The Iranian minister also stated that "the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the decision of the government and nation of Mali regarding the diversification of its international partners, and considers it a sign of a good understanding of international developments," stressing that Iran "will spare no effort in strengthening Mali's defense capabilities against the threats of terrorist groups."

For his part, Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara expressed his satisfaction with Iran's visit, explaining that the aim of this visit is to strengthen and consolidate bilateral relations.

He also referred to the experiences achieved by Iran in the field of combating terrorism, as well as the popular role and the involvement of citizens in achieving their security, asking for benefit from Iranian experiences in this field.

Camara criticized Western colonialism, as well as the security trends of some West African countries, considering them destabilizing, stressing that "the people and government in the Republic of Mali have decided to preserve their sovereignty, security and self-determination," noting that Iran's experiences and support are very valuable to Mali.

After his inauguration as President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledges to unite the country and ensure its security

After his inauguration as President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledges to unite the country and ensure its security

    Tuesday, May 30, 2023   No comments

On Monday, Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for the unification of Nigeria, the day after his inauguration as the new president of the most populous country in Africa, and pledged that ensuring its security would be his “priority.”

The new 71-year-old head of state, in traditional dress, was sworn in during a ceremony held in Abuja in front of a crowd of officials and a number of African heads of state (Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, Benin and Cameroon).

Tinubu, who was elected in February, pledged at the end of a ballot whose results were challenged by the opposition in court, denouncing widespread fraud, to serve Nigerians "without prejudice".

He stressed the need to unite the country of 215 million people, divided between the Muslim-majority north and the Christian-majority south, particularly by "promoting economic exchanges, social cohesion and intercultural dialogue."

He pledged that tackling insecurity would be his "absolute priority", as well as defending "the nation from terrorism and all forms of crime" by strengthening security forces.

The new president has promised to put Africa's largest economy back on track, while the oil-rich country sinks into recession, inflation, exploding debt and poverty.

Tinubu, who was called the “kingmaker” or “the spiritual father,” because of his enormous political influence, organized his election campaign, stressing that it was his “turn” to lead the largest economy on the continent.

However, the rise of the new president, who has huge wealth, was accompanied by many accusations of corruption, without being convicted at all, which he also always denied.

Tinubu will have to focus on the speedy recovery of the country's economy. One of the main challenges for Nigeria, which is rich in oil, is that it exchanges crude, which is estimated at billions of dollars, in exchange for imported fuel (due to poor operation of refineries) that it supplies to its market later.

Personalities and ideologies that drive the conflict between NATO and Russia and their semi-proxy war in Ukraine

Personalities and ideologies that drive the conflict between NATO and Russia and their semi-proxy war in Ukraine

    Saturday, May 27, 2023   No comments

Yesterday, the New York Times revealed that the “Anti-Kremlin Group Involved in Border Raid Is Led by a Neo-Nazi”. The paper reported that the leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps, one of the two insurgent groups responsible for an armed incursion into Russia this week, is a far-right extremist, German officials and humanitarian groups say.

Russia has stated since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2014 that neo-Nazis are behind the campaign to kill and displace ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine; Russian leaders have stated that denazification is a goal of its military operation in Ukraine.

On the same day, the German DER SPIEGEL reported that the “evidence confirms Ukraine's involvement in the Nord Stream bombing.” The newspaper confirmed, Friday, that there is new evidence in the investigation indicating Ukraine's involvement in sabotage operations targeting the "Nord Stream" gas pipelines.

And the newspaper reported that the metadata of e-mail messages, which were sent during the charter of the boat, indicate the involvement of Ukraine, pointing to the finding in the yacht of traces of the explosive “HMX” substance, which is very widespread in the west as in the previous block in the east.

"Der Spiegel" stated that all the evidence "consistent with the assessments of several intelligence services, according to which the perpetrators will be searched for in Ukraine."

And the German newspaper continued: "We now wonder whether what happened could have been carried out by unsupervised commandos, or the Ukrainian intelligence services, and to what extent certain elements of the Ukrainian government apparatus were aware of this."

This comes at a time when police investigations are focusing, in particular, on the "Andromeda" yacht, which is likely to be used to transport explosives, which led to the detonation of the pipelines in September 2022, in the Baltic Sea, according to what was reported by "Agence France Presse".

It is likely that the yacht set off from the port of Rostock, in northern Germany, on September 6, with 6 people on board, including divers and a doctor.

It turned out that one of the passengers on the boat holds a Romanian passport, and he is also a "Ukrainian citizen who previously served in an infantry unit."

And at the beginning of this week, other German media traced the file of the boat rental by a Polish company owned, in fact, by Ukrainians.

Investigators are looking into the evidence of "Ukrainian military services," according to Sudeutsche, RND and VDR TV.

Meanwhile, a German analyst suggested that the transferring the Ukrainian war to Russia is a strategic mistake for which the world will pay.

During the past few days, the Russian-Ukrainian war witnessed a remarkable development when Russia revealed that armed elements had entered its territory through the Ukrainian borders, which means that Ukraine may have begun to transfer the war into Russia.

 

And whether you do or plan to do so, the question posed by German writer and analyst Andreas Kluth in an analysis published by Bloomberg News is: Will this development be a good thing?

 

Russia said that "Ukrainian terrorists" and "fascists" attacked Russian territory. Of course, according to the German analyst, such statements and everything issued by the Russian government can be ignored. It has been said that the armed groups that claimed responsibility for the attacks inside Russian territory consist of Russians who defected from President Vladimir Putin's army and are fighting against him for Ukraine now.

 

One of these groups calls itself the "Russian Freedom Corps", and the other is called the "Russian Volunteer Corps", and includes elements of ultra-nationalists.

 

According to Cloth, there is limited information available about these anti-Putin paramilitary forces, especially as to whether they take orders from Ukraine or operate independently.

 

In the context of the conflict with Russia, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said - in a statement - that the Ukrainian army needs about 48 F-16 combat aircraft to liberate the territories occupied by Russia, according to the ministry's statement.

 

On the other hand, the ministry announced that Canada will complete in the coming weeks the delivery of thousands of small arms and live ammunition that it donated to Ukraine.

 

The Ukrainian National News Agency quoted the Ministry of Defense as saying that the delivery of small arms and ammunition had already begun last April, including machine guns and assault rifles.

 

The ministry stated that in the coming weeks, one million bullets and about 5,000 assault rifles will be delivered.

 

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the German Defense Ministry said that the ministry had received a request from Ukraine in the past few days to hand over Taurus cruise missiles. The spokeswoman did not give any other details about the letter, such as the number of missiles that Kiev is requesting.

All these developments suggest that if Ukraine accumulates enough weapons, it will be able to use them anyway it sees fit without any consideration of the limits demanded by the Western nations that donated the weapons. This would take things out of control and can result in catastrophic events unless the conflict is recalibrated. Sensing the urgency to act now before it is late, and the to build on the Chines, Brazilian, and African initiatives to settle the conflict, German leaders decided to reopen a direct line of communication with Russia. Schultz intends to reconnect with Putin at the appropriate time

German Chancellor Olaf Schultz announced today, Friday, that he is ready to return to contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin "at the appropriate time," in light of the interruption of talks between them since last December.

 

Schultz said in an interview published by the newspaper "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" on Friday that his last phone call with Putin was a long time ago, but he intends to talk to him again at the appropriate time.

 

Regarding his vision for resolving the conflict, Schultz said that Russia "must understand that the war cannot end with some kind of cold peace that would turn the current front line into a new border between Russia and Ukraine, that would only serve to legitimize Putin's campaign."

 

On the contrary, he added, a just peace must be achieved through the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.

 

But Schultz refused to say whether this withdrawal should also include Crimea, occupied since 2014, and the German chancellor believed that it was up to Ukraine to determine what it wanted.

Commenting on all these developments, and speaking on behalf of Putin, Dmitry Peskov said that “the degree of involvement of the West in the conflict in Ukraine is growing every day.”

 Peskov noted that the involvement of the West can stretch the conflict in time, but will not change the situation radically. "Russia will continue the special operation and one way or another will ensure its interests," the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation stated.

Mauritanian parliamentary and local elections

Mauritanian parliamentary and local elections

    Monday, May 15, 2023   No comments

Counting of votes in the Mauritanian parliamentary and local elections continue; the tabualtion began  on Saturday - after polling stations closed their doors at seven o'clock in the evening (Greenwich Mean Time), and it is expected that the preliminary results of the elections will be announced on Sunday evening.

The Independent National Elections Commission decided to extend voting in a number of centers whose opening was delayed "until the last voter present in the geographical area of the voting center is able to vote," according to a spokesman for the commission, Muhammad Taqi Allah al-Adham, at a press conference from the capital, Nouakchott.

Long lines lined up in front of many polling stations in Nouakchott on Saturday to elect a new parliament and regional and local councils in the first poll since President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani came to power in 2019. Meanwhile, Amadi Ould Sidi El Mokhtar, head of the National Rally for Reform and Development (the largest opposition party), said: In Mauritania) that "significant breaches" were recorded in the first hours of the elections.

The polling stations opened to voters at seven o'clock in the morning local time, as the elections take place with the participation of 25 parties, which is the total number of political parties licensed in the country.

The Independent National Elections Commission announced that the participation rate reached 18% at midday.

For his part, the Mauritanian president said that the government "is insisting on the success of organizing parliamentary and local elections."

On the other hand, the head of the "National Rally for Reform and Development" party said - in a statement after casting his vote - that the opposition "was very concerned about the course of the electoral process, especially with regard to the Independent National Elections Commission, and what we feared has come true today."

Ould Sidi El-Mokhtar pointed out that "during the first two hours of the start of voting, we witnessed many violations. There are centers that did not open their doors two hours after the start of voting, centers that were moved from their places without prior notice, centers that receive incomplete electoral lists, and centers that are not accepted for entry." representatives of the parties.

The Independent National Elections Commission did not comment on the statements of the "National Rally for Reform and Development" party regarding the "violations" and said that "the polling is taking place smoothly and without obstacles."

Rivalry rages in the capital, Nouakchott, between the ruling "Insaf" party and the "National Rally for Reform and Development" (Islamic opposition).

The two parties are looking forward to winning the position of president of the Nouakchott region (mayor of the capital), which is the most important electoral position at the level of the capital.

The ruling "Insaf" party renewed its candidacy for Fatima bint Abdel Malik, who had held the position since the 2018 elections, while the "National Rally for Reform and Development" party pushed the former mayor of Arafat district in Nouakchott and the most prominent party leader, Hassan Ould Mohamed, for this position.

According to figures from the Independent National Elections Commission, the number of candidate lists in constituencies at the parliamentary level has reached 559, which will compete for 167 parliamentary seats.

The number of lists running for the regional elections reached 145 lists competing for 13 regional councils, while the number of lists running for municipalities reached 1,378 lists, competing for 238 local councils.

The total number of voters is two million, 700 thousand and 448 voters.

Last March, the Mauritanian president issued a decree dissolving the "National Assembly" (parliament) in preparation for holding elections, as its sessions have stopped since that date.

With Truce or Ceasefire remain elusive in Sudan, Clashes continue between the army and the Rapid Support Forces

With Truce or Ceasefire remain elusive in Sudan, Clashes continue between the army and the Rapid Support Forces

    Sunday, April 30, 2023   No comments

Today, Sunday, the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan announced the extension of the truce for 72 hours, in response to international, regional and local calls.

The statement issued by the official spokesman for the Rapid Support Forces said: "In response to international, regional and local calls, we announce the extension of the humanitarian truce for a period of 72 hours, starting from midnight tonight, in order to open humanitarian corridors and facilitate the movement of citizens and residents, and enable them to fulfill their needs and reach safe areas."

Simultaneously, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Rapid Support Forces of carrying out "flagrant and repeated" attacks on the headquarters of diplomatic missions and bodies.

The statement added, "In a flagrant violation of all international norms and treaties, on April 28, these rebel forces attacked the Indonesian embassy," accusing them of stealing a diplomatic vehicle belonging to the embassy.

Witnesses told AFP that clashes took place near the army headquarters in Khartoum, and the city of Omdurman, west of the capital, was bombed.

From southern Khartoum, a witness said, "There is very fierce fighting and heavy shooting in the street every few minutes since early morning."

The arrival of the first aid shipment from the Red Cross by air

On Sunday, the first shipment of humanitarian aid from the Red Cross arrived in the city of Port Sudan, as part of the emergency operations it has been carrying out since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan, according to what officials said in a virtual press conference from Geneva.

A statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross stated that the shipment, which was sent from Amman, weighed eight tons and "contained surgical equipment to support Sudan's hospitals and volunteers of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society who provide medical care to the wounded who were injured during the fighting."

The Red Cross added in the statement that it would "send a second plane carrying additional medical supplies and emergency personnel."

"We were able to fly to Port Sudan from Amman as a medical staff with supplies to deal with war-wounded, enough to stabilize 1,500 wounded," said Patrick Youssef, the ICRC's regional director for Africa, at the press conference.

"We now hope to get them as soon as possible to some of the busiest hospitals in Khartoum," he added.

As the fighting enters its third week, families in the capital, which has a population of about five million, and its suburbs are still suffering from a lack of food, water, electricity, and cash, and many of them are staying at home.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced internally or to neighboring countries, while several foreign and Arab countries are organizing large-scale evacuations.

International and regional powers called for an end to the escalating violence between the two military leaders, but they refused direct talks and exchanged accusations through the media.

Today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged support for African-led mediation.

"The United Nations is intensifying its efforts to help people seeking safety in neighboring countries," he wrote on Twitter.

The United Nations said that nearly 75,000 people were internally displaced during the first week of fighting, mainly in the states of Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North, West and South Darfur.

More than 30,000 people have fled to Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Central Africa, according to estimates by the United Nations, which warned that the number of people fleeing could reach 270,000 if the fighting continues.

The continuous battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces prompted many countries to intensify their efforts to evacuate their nationals or members of diplomatic missions, by land, sea and air.

The Sudanese Ministry of Health said that the fighting affected 12 states out of 18 in the country.

Sudan has plunged into chaos since the bloody struggle for power erupted in mid-April between army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, nicknamed "Hemedti".

The war left at least 528 dead and 4,599 wounded, according to figures announced by the Ministry of Health on Saturday, but the toll is likely to be higher.

The two parties to the conflict exchange accusations of violating the armistice, which was extended for three days under international mediation, and ends, Sunday, at midnight.

Earlier, the Sudanese army accused the Rapid Support Forces of turning a hospital into a heavily armed military barracks and command center for operations.

In the details, a statement issued by the General Command of the Armed Forces said: "The rebels turned the East Nile Hospital into a heavily armed military barracks and a command center for operations and continued hostile action after evacuating patients, including critical cases, in intensive care."

The statement also accused the Rapid Support Forces of continuing "indiscriminate shelling and looting of public and private property, including banks, shops, and citizens' homes."

He said that the army is monitoring the rapid support forces moving from the west to the capital, which confirms the continuation of these forces in violating the declared armistice.

The head of the Human Rights Commission in Sudan, Rifaat Mirghani Abbas, warned that the country's health system is on the verge of collapse, as a result of the ongoing clashes since the middle of this month between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

Abbas said, "We are now talking about a health system on the verge of collapse. Hospitals have become a battleground for both sides and have not been spared from their fire."

He added that the medical personnel are working in very bad conditions, the necessary medicines have become almost non-existent, and ambulances cannot operate safely, in addition to multiple problems related to the health situation.

It is noteworthy that the ongoing battles in Sudan between the Sudanese army on the one hand and the "rapid support" forces on the other, in separate areas, have resulted in at least 14 attacks on health facilities since the fighting began.

An African president extends his finger towards Macron, saying: Look at us with respect, far from paternity and contempt

An African president extends his finger towards Macron, saying: Look at us with respect, far from paternity and contempt

    Sunday, March 05, 2023   No comments

On Saturday, the press conference that brought together French President Emmanuel Macron with his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi sparked a wide interaction on communication platforms, due to "diplomatic friction" that occurred between the two presidents, or the game of "ping pong" as Macron called it.

The matter began with a question posed by a journalist from the French News Agency, about a controversial statement by the former French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in 2019 when he indicated that the results of the presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were the result of a prior arrangement, between the outgoing President Joseph Kabila, and Felix Antoine Tshisekedi. The country's election authority has nothing to do with it.

The Congolese President, Felix Tshisekedi, asked during his response, saying: Why do things differ when it comes to Africa?

An atmosphere of tension prevailed during the press conference, as Tshisekedi extended his fingers towards the French president, saying: "This also must change the way of cooperation between France, Europe in general, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ... Look at us in another way with respect as a true partner and not with a paternal look that bears contempt."

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that these matters are actually happening in France, but the difference is that the press speaks and denounces, stressing that any journalist who asks a question represents his own point of view, and does not concern the government with anything, which angered the Congolese president, who responded in a sharp tone, saying : "But she talked about Le Drian, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs."

Media Review: Military Watch: A “terrifying” Chinese weapon located in Algeria destroys “NATO” tanks if delivered to Russia

Media Review: Military Watch: A “terrifying” Chinese weapon located in Algeria destroys “NATO” tanks if delivered to Russia

    Monday, February 27, 2023   No comments

A magazine specialized in weapons and military equipment published a lengthy article about one of the effective Chinese weapons against tanks, stressing that this simple weapon may destroy the various Western tanks that NATO recently sent to Ukraine.

Military Watch magazine indicated that Western countries pledged tens of billions of dollars worth of new weapons to support the Ukrainian forces, at a time when Washington and European sources claimed that “the Russian army could receive support from China.”

The magazine considered that “this proposition and speculation contradicts Beijing’s neutral position, which is in line with the position of the majority of non-Western countries on the Ukrainian crisis,” but noted that “the wide range of weapons that China can provide, from guided missile artillery to missiles, could change the balance of Powers..although there is a great danger for China through the seizure of its weapons systems and its study by Ukraine and its Western supporters.

And the magazine noted that "if China decides to provide weapons, which is unlikely as it seems, one of the weapons with the greatest impact that it can provide is the simplest in terms of size and back."

However, the magazine considered that the simple Chinese anti-tank type “HJ-12” could cause a major problem for Western tanks supplied from NATO.

According to the report published by Military Watch, the Chinese company (China North Industries Corporation) developed this weapon in 2014, and obtained only one export contract to the Algerian army.

The HJ-12 is widely considered the most capable missile system of its kind in the world, competing with the US Javelin and the French NNB.

The simple shape of the Chinese weapon “HJ-12” allows for launching operations from inside buildings and targeting targets tightly before they are targeted.

The Chinese weapon allows the elements to carry out the targeting process and then to hide directly after firing, and gives them time to re-stock in order to engage a second target, considering that the Chinese weapon is the “most terrifying” for the Ukrainian army.

The magazine considered that the Chinese anti-tank “HJ-12” would be very dangerous for the new categories of tanks supplied to Ukraine, such as “Leopard 2”, “Leopard 1”, “Abrams” and others.

“China has worked on developing the HJ-12 anti-tank with the aim of improving its ability to penetrate and detonate reactive armor, in addition to its very long range of 4 kilometers, which enables it to engage less well-armoured targets at longer ranges at the expense of accuracy and penetration power.”

The missile system combines highly advanced capabilities with extremely light weight and weighs only 22 kg, allowing ground forces to maintain high mobility and great dynamism.

“Missiles are highly maneuverable and are designed to hit enemy vehicles from above where shields are weakest.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had commented on the allegations of supplying Chinese weapons to Russia, saying that he “does not see any point in commenting on Western reports about discussing the supply of military equipment to Russia by Beijing, as all information has been refuted by China.”

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, had warned Beijing of the consequences of supplying Moscow with weapons. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is concerned about the possibility of China supplying weapons to Russia.

Today, Monday, China commented on the US imposing sanctions on its companies, due to allegations of its support for Russia.

"Beijing will take firm countermeasures, and will firmly protect the interests of Chinese companies," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, according to the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper.

And Ning urged America to stop spreading disinformation, and to lift sanctions on Chinese companies, according to “Sputnik”.

The 36th summit of the African Union.. What is on its agenda?

The 36th summit of the African Union.. What is on its agenda?

    Saturday, February 18, 2023   No comments

A number of challenges are facing the African summit, most notably considering the file of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as well as the frozen memberships of countries, including Sudan.

There will also be closed sessions to adopt the agenda, and to hear reports on the state of peace and security, and the African Free Trade Area, in addition to other files related to the evaluation of the implementation plan for the first decade of Africa's Vision 2063, and the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

In a speech, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, said, "What is required is to activate the African Free Trade Area quickly to meet the various challenges," adding that the continent's partners "impose strict conditions for financing our various projects."

Faki also called for "the necessity of reforming global governance that excludes Africa from the Security Council," noting that "some of the goals adopted by the continent have not been achieved due to the lack of political will among some."

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission warned of the expansion of terrorism in Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad, explaining the need for international solidarity with the affected countries.

For his part, the Ethiopian Prime Minister said in his speech that "Africa must be represented in the Security Council with at least one permanent seat and two non-permanent seats."

In turn, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "The Russian-Ukrainian war has directly affected the lives of the African people, who bear the greatest challenges," he said.

Guterres considered that "Africa needs international financing to relieve the burden of debt burdened with it," calling on the other hand for the return of the democratic path in Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso.

And the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry announced earlier that the leaders of 36 African countries confirmed their attendance at the summit, which begins with an open session that includes several speakers, most notably Senegalese President Macky Sall, head of the ending session of the Union, and President of the Comoros Ghazali Osmani, head of the next session, in addition to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In a message to African leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that he stands ready to work with leaders of African countries to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.  Xi made the pledge in his message to the 36th African Union (AU) Summit, in which he extended congratulations to African countries and the African people on the opening of the summit, according to Chinese media reporting.

Algerian Chief of Staff to an American official: We adhere to the principle of non-alignment and the independence of our sovereign decision in our dealings with our international partners

Algerian Chief of Staff to an American official: We adhere to the principle of non-alignment and the independence of our sovereign decision in our dealings with our international partners

    Wednesday, February 08, 2023   No comments

Algerian Chief of Staff Said Chenegriha stressed, on Wednesday, his country's adherence to the "principle of non-alignment" and the independence of its sovereign decision in its dealings with its international partners.

This came during a meeting between Chanegriha and the commander of the US military command in Africa, AFRICOM, General Michael Langley, who is visiting the country, according to a statement by the Algerian Ministry of Defense.

Chanegriha said, "I would like to emphasize on this occasion that Algeria clings to the principle of non-alignment, and is jealous of its history full of glories and championships, and is also jealous of its independence and sovereign political decision."

Regarding relations with Washington, he continued that his country “deals, within the framework of serving its interests, with many friendly countries with which it has military and economic relations, similar to the United States of America.”

He expressed Algeria's readiness "to establish cooperation that meets the aspirations of both parties, given that our two countries are engaged in the path of improving the security situation on the African continent."

Without details about the nature of the talks between them, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received General Langley on Wednesday evening, according to a statement by the presidency.

It seems that the Algerian Chief of Staff’s assertion of “non-alignment” and “independence of the political decision” carries some messages. While Algeria and Washington remain silent, there are media reports of muffled tensions between the two countries due to the intensity of defense cooperation between Algeria and Russia.

A few days ago, President Tebboune announced that he would visit Russia next May, and stressed that his country has good relations with all countries, including the United States and China.

It is expected during the visit, according to observers, to announce the signing of projects to enhance joint cooperation in sectors, including defense.

Africa

Africa

    Sunday, January 01, 2023   No comments

Why would a continent that is home to about 32% of the mineral wealth and 65% of the land suitable for agriculture on Earth, also suffer from the worst rates of poverty?

China: Our investments and aid to Africa are not a trap, but a benefit

China: Our investments and aid to Africa are not a trap, but a benefit

    Wednesday, December 14, 2022   No comments

Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Chen Gang, has criticized allegations that China is creating a "debt trap" in Africa.

 "The continent should be a place for international cooperation, rather than an arena in which major powers compete for geopolitical gains," Gang said, on the sidelines of the US-Africa leaders' summit in Washington, which brings together leaders of 49 African countries and the African Union.

 The Chinese ambassador added, "Chinese investments and financial aid to Africa are not a trap, but rather a benefit."

 "Over the past decades, China has provided loans to help Africa's economic and social development," Gang said. "You can see hospitals, highways, airports, stadiums. It's clear, it's not a trap, it's not a conspiracy, it's transparent and honest."

 

The Chinese ambassador to the United States referred to a study published last July by the British charitable foundation "Deep Justice", which showed that the volume of African countries' debts to Western private lenders represents 3 times the size of their debts to China, pointing out that the interest rate on Private loans are twice the rate of Chinese loans.

 

"These results prove that China is not the largest creditor in African loans, and that Chinese loans are only a small part," he stressed.

 

And yesterday, a spokesman for the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), Patrick Ryder, warned, that the development of the relationship between African countries and China will have negative repercussions on the relationship of these countries with the United States.

"We will be keen to issue statements for the ongoing discussions, and we continue to consult with our African partners, as any engagement in certain activities with the People's Republic of China may have some negative repercussions on their relations with us," Ryder said.

 

Earlier, US Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves acknowledged that the United States had fallen behind after China overtook US foreign investment in Africa.

 

And before the start of the summit of the leaders of the United States and Africa yesterday, the White House announced President Joe Biden's support for the African Union to become a permanent member of the Group of Twenty.

 

It is noteworthy that the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, said earlier that the United States will pledge, during the US-Africa summit, to support Africa with an amount of $ 55 billion over the next three years.

 

It is worth noting that the volume of trade between China and Africa exceeded $254 billion in 2021, compared to $64.33 billion between the United States and Africa.

To contextualize Western  aid to African country, the $55 billion pledged by the US to Africa’s 50+ countries over three years is less than the amount actually given to Ukraine by the US in just one year. In this context, the West should be encouraging other countries to invest more in Africa not ask African countries to reject Chinese investment.

 

 

Lavrov criticizing the dependence on the US “dollar” to support the global economy: The globe is going through an important historical period and people will have to choose the type of world they want to live in

Lavrov criticizing the dependence on the US “dollar” to support the global economy: The globe is going through an important historical period and people will have to choose the type of world they want to live in

    Wednesday, July 27, 2022   No comments

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the global economy's dependence on the US dollar. 

Lavrov said, during a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, that relying on the US currency to support the global economy “was not very promising,” noting that countries are turning to using alternative currencies “more and more,” according to the African News website.

"This process will gain momentum," the Russian minister noted.
Lavrov explained that the globe is going through an "important historical period, and people will have to choose what kind of world they want to live in."

"The universe is based on the United Nations Charter, which states that the United Nations was founded on the principle of sovereign equality of states, or we will have a world in which the right of the strongest prevails," the Russian foreign minister continued.

During his visit in Ethiopia, Lavrov held meetings with the country's President, Sahle Work Zewde, and his Ethiopian counterpart, Demke Mokkenen.

Lavrov seeks to convince African leaders that Moscow cannot be blamed, either for the conflict or the food crisis, while Moscow blames the blockade on Ukrainian mines, according to "Africa News".

On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Minister arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for a two-day visit, on the last leg of his African tour.

Lavrov also visited Egypt, the Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as part of a tour aimed at mobilizing support for his country, which is facing Western sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

Since the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine in late February, the African Union has taken a neutral stance towards the crisis.

Macron denounces the African position on the Russian operation, describing it as "hypocrisy"

Macron denounces the African position on the Russian operation, describing it as "hypocrisy"

    Tuesday, July 26, 2022   No comments

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed, today, Tuesday, in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, that his country "will not abandon the security of the African continent," reiterating his desire to "reinvent" the French military and security apparatus, especially in the Sahel region.

"France will remain firmly committed to the security of the continent, in order to support our African partners and at their request," Macron said, during a speech to the French community in Yaounde.

Today, in Cameroon, Macron began a four-day tour of the African continent, during which he will also visit Benin, which faces security challenges in the Sahel region, in addition to Guinea-Bissau.

The French president added: "We are reorganizing our system by withdrawing from Mali because the political framework is no longer available (...), with the aim of expanding our apparatus, outside the Sahel region, to the Gulf of Guinea and the countries that now have to confront terrorist groups that are expanding and causing turmoil in the entire region."

"We will remain committed to the countries of the Lake Chad Basin to help them fight the militants who, for many years, have been spreading death in the far north of Cameroon," where Boko Haram is active, he added.

"France must be there in an even more visible way, at the request of African countries, which is a clear and explicit request, through our greater presence on the issue of military training and equipment, providing support to African armies and staying close to them, to help them increase their capabilities, by linking Our apparatus has always been in security, defense, diplomacy and development."

Macron stressed that "this tripartite is the only one that allows us to respond to the security emergency in the face of terrorism and to address its root causes."

The French president indicated that his country "is under attack by some who say that European sanctions are the cause of the global food crisis, including the African one," adding that "this is completely wrong, because, simply put, food, as well as energy, has become a weapon of war in the hands of Russia."

Macron saw the need to "build new collective partnerships with a new approach by linking existing companies, start-ups, associations and civil society".

He met this afternoon, at the Cameroonian presidential palace, his 89-year-old counterpart Paul Biya.

After the meeting, Macron denounced, during a joint press conference with Biya, what he considered "hypocrisy, especially from the African continent", which, according to Macron, is "the lack of clear recognition of Russia's unilateral aggression towards Ukraine, as the European Union did."

He explained that "the choice the Europeans made first is not in any way to participate in this war, but to recognize and name it," adding that he "often sees hypocrisy, especially on the African continent (...) for not naming the Russian military operation in Ukraine, because There is diplomatic pressure," he said, adding, "I am not naive."

Last June, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources of the Central African Republic, Reuven Binam Beltango, stated that Russia had helped his country to restore 90% of its lands that were held by armed groups, noting that this leads to attracting investors in the country.

Macron stressed that the European Union decided "to do everything necessary to stop this war without participating in it, and to punish Russia for disrupting its war effort, and to isolate it diplomatically."

He continued, "Here we need you, otherwise this pattern (the military operation in Ukraine) will be repeated over and over. It is not this international system that we want, (we want the system) that is based on cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of each country."

The French president stressed that his country is "the country that made the greatest commitment to African countries at its request to ensure its security, but within a clear framework at the request of a sovereign state and to fight terrorism," noting that "this framework is no longer available after the military coup in Mali."

On Monday, a grouping of political parties in Cameroon called on French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize France's colonial crimes, hours before his visit to the country, where he will meet his counterpart Paul Biya, according to an AFP correspondent.

On Saturday, the African Union hailed the agreement signed between Russia and Ukraine on resuming grain exports as a "welcome development" for the continent facing the growing threat of famine.

The African Union indicated, in a statement, that this agreement comes "in response" to the visit of the President of the African Union and President of Senegal, Macky Sall, and the Chairman of the Commission of the Union, Moussa Faki, last June to Moscow," where the two parties stressed during their meeting with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on "the necessity of returning the export of grain from Ukraine and Russia to world markets."

Last June, the African Union President and Senegal's President, Macky Sall, announced that "the sanctions imposed on Russia have deprived African countries of access to grain and fertilizer, which has exacerbated the situation in the field of food."

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov began a 5-day tour of African countries, during which he will pay working visits to Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Republic of the Congo. During his visit, Lavrov is scheduled to discuss the international and regional agenda and bilateral cooperation.

On May 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated African leaders and heads of government on the occasion of Africa Day.

The Kremlin said that Putin said in the congratulatory message that "Russia and African countries can enhance security and stability in the whole world through joint action."