03 August 2021
Looted art/Nigeria: A lot remains to be done. “Only after pressure both by German civil society and (international) media did government and museums concede that some (…) of the Benin Bronzes should be returned.” Only about 10% of looted Benin Bronzes are in Berlin, the others being “distributed all over the global North”, many in the USA and the biggest collection in London’s British Museum. But “big museums outside Germany (have been) slow to follow”, with the British Museum categorically denying any need for restitution.
https://theconversation.com/germany-is-returning-nigerias-looted-benin-bronzes-why-its-not-nearly-enough-165349
Ethiopia: Instead of calling for the UN to intervene, neighbours and regional actors should help secure the survival of a multi-ethnic Ethiopia. Instead of the UN’s “responsibility to protect”, the article’s author proposes a “responsibility to prevent”. If help came from nearby, there could be no allegation of imperialism and help would come from those most affected, for the implosion of Ethiopia “would put the entire East African region in peril”. And by threatening the seat of the African Union, “(i)t would tarnish the image of Africa”.
Unfortunately, the article remains extremely vague, makes no concrete suggestions at all. I suppose that the reason for this is that you’re meant to turn to the original article “Obligation to prevent (O2P): Proposal for enhanced community approach to genocide prevention in Africa” which you have to purchase for 39 euros (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2016.1192555?journalCode=rasr20).
https://theconversation.com/africa-can-prevent-ethiopia-from-going-down-rwandas-path-heres-how-165254
Kenya: A report by UN special rapporteurs made public on Monday “highlighted the horrific abuses people” in what is now Kericho county in western Kenya were subjected to by British colonial authorities at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. UK authorities, who got the report at the end of May, have not responded. There had been a government statement in 2013 regretting abuses in Kenya before independence, but that statement explicitly only referred to Mau Mau members.
BBC Africa Live 03 August 2021. 12:48
02 August 2021
Djibouti: Somali and Afar communities have clashed in the capital. Houses and other property were burnt. There is no information on the casualties. It could be that the clashes have spilt over from Ethiopia where Afars have been accused of killing hundreds of civilians in Gedamaytu in Somali region.
BBC Africa Live 02 August 2021. 14:02
Tunisia: Concern is growing as three members of parliament who had criticized the President’s “coup” have been arrested, independent MP Yassine Ayari on Friday and Maher Zeid and Mohamed Affes of the El Karama party since.
BBC Africa Live 02 August 2021. 18:40