17 April 2021
Nawal El Saadawi: The 1975 novel “Woman at Point Zero” – which follows Firdaus, from a poor background, she survives genital mutilation and abusive relationships, then becomes a sex worker – was ahead of its time. “The dominant feminist theories of the time could not accommodate its radicalism.” Patriarchy is the overarching system of oppression to which capitalism and all others are subordinate.
https://theconversation.com/woman-at-point-zero-nawal-el-saadawis-radical-african-feminism-was-ahead-of-its-time-158651
Mozambique: Joseph Hanlon, Mozambique expert, visiting fellow at LSE, joins his voice to others and analyses how IS by no means controls the strategic direction of Cabo Delgado’s “Al Shabaab”. When the latter, in 2019, made links with IS, it was largely to gain publicity. “The insurgents are primarily Muslims from the coastal zone of Cabo Delgado, recruited by local fundamentalist preachers with a basically socialist message - that Sharia, or Islamic law, would bring equality and everyone would share in the coming resource wealth.” As to US and Portuguese offers of military help, Hanlon comes to the conclusion that “(n)o country can give the Mozambican government military support to fight its own peasants. But to fight a global enemy like IS provides the justification.” Both the US and IS have an interest to exaggerate the importance of IS in the local conflict. And on top of that the government – which is by no means interested in anyone from outside having a closer look at what’s happening in Cabo Delgado and thus consistently refuses foreign military help – is “happier to blame IS rather than its own policy failings for the continued conflict.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56773012
16 April 2021
Restoring intactness of land ecosystems: Defining an intact ecosystem as one where all species known to have occurred in an area 500 years ago are still present and sufficiently abundant to play their ecological roles (e.g. as top predators or seed dispersers), a new study finds that “only 2.8% of the planet’s land surface fits this description. These patches (…) are scattered in various places around the world”. African examples are the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in the Congo and the Serengeti-Ngorongoro in Tanzania. Worldwide, “only 11% of them fall within a protected area.” According to the study, up to 20% of Earth’s land could be restored to historical levels of abundance and activity.
https://theconversation.com/just-3-of-earths-land-ecosystems-remain-intact-but-we-can-change-that-158587
South Africa: Corruption is endemic in the ANC. When Ramaphosa became president of the ANC in December 2017 and of the country in February 2018, he promised to fight corruption. “But he has met with resistance, especially within the ANC.” Things came to a head between the two main ANC factions (around Ramaphosa and around Zuma, to put things simply) at the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) virtual meeting at the end of March. It seems that Ramaphosa has won against ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule who was given 30 days to step down. This means that Ramaphosa is finally strong enough to abandon his compromise-oriented “unity is paramount” stance within the ANC. But Magashule & Co will fight on – against Ramaphosa & Co, in their eyes “stooges of white monopoly capital”.
https://theconversation.com/precarious-power-tilts-towards-ramaphosa-in-battle-inside-south-africas-governing-party-158251
Nigeria: The agricultural sector is not one of Nigeria’s priorities. It thus comes as no surprise that the food supply is insufficient. Covid has worsened things and more than 70% of Nigerians have suffered hunger during the pandemic. The author makes recommendations for improvement, starting from focussing on domestic demand, strengthening local production and food security.
https://theconversation.com/pandemic-underscores-flaws-in-nigerias-farming-and-food-supply-chains-156998
Nigeria: The third Boko Haram attack in only a week on Damasak, a town in the very north near the Niger border, has killed 18 and 65,000 people (residents, internally displaced people and refugees) have fled, about 80% of the town’s population. But the army says it is in control “and has told people to stay calm”. “The attacks were targeted on humanitarian compounds and stocks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Norwegian Refugee Council and Action Against Hunger”.
BBC Africa Live 16 April 2021. 15:24
Nigeria: Five women and three men have been arrested by Islamic police in the state of Kano for eating in the afternoon despite it being Ramadan when fasting (food and drink) is obligatory for adult Muslims except those who are sick or ill or whose health would be affected (this includes pregnant and breastfeeding women; travellers are also exempted). The executive director of the Kano State Hisbah Board (which is enforcing Islamic law in Kano) has promised more raids across the state to ensure people adhere to religious rules.
BBC Africa Live 16 April 2021. 11:27
Nigeria: YouTube has suspended the account of TB Joshua – “one of Africa's most influential evangelists, with top politicians among his followers” – after his claims that his prayers can cure gayness.
BBC Africa Live 16 April 2021. 10:35
Mali: The transitional government has fixed the dates of elections. A referendum will be held on 31 October 2020, council elections on 26 December 2020, the first round of legislative and presidential elections on 27 February 2022 and the second round in March 2022.
BBC Africa Live 16 April 2021. 6:10
Rwanda: Béatrice Munyenyezi, a Rwandan who got political asylum in the US, was stripped of her US citizenship for having lied in order to get it and punished by ten years of prison. Now that her jail term is over, she has been deported to Rwanda where she will no doubt be arrested upon arrival and tried for her role in the genocide.
BBC Africa Live 16 April 2021. 17:23