01 November 2021
Dune/A Scramble for Africa allegory: Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction film “Dune” – adapting Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name – examines the geopolitics behind resource extraction and also reflects on our planet’s ecological fragility.
https://theconversation.com/dune-a-prophetic-tale-about-the-environmental-destruction-wrought-by-the-colonisation-of-africa-170583
Algeria/Morocco: So far, Algerian natural gas was being provided to Spain through a pipeline passing through Morocco – which was paid royalties for the passage and also used about 10% of the gas itself for producing electricity. The contract ended yesterday Sunday, with Algerian oil company Sonatrach ordered by the president to cut off supplies, relations between the two countries having considerably worsened recently. Algeria supplies gas to Spain also through the Medgaz undersea pipeline – but capacity of that would need to be upgraded to make up for delivery through Morocco being interrupted.
BBC Africa Live 01 November 2021. 5:59
South Africa: Local elections are being held today. Voter turnout is likely to be low – with a third of eligible voters not having registered to cast their ballots.
BBC Africa Live 01 November 2021. 5:28
Ethiopia: In a move that very much resembles panic, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called for the use of “any weapon” to stop the advance of Tigrayan forces in the Amhara region and to “block, destroy and bury” them. On top of the TPLF, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) claims to have taken Kemise, a city about 50 km from Kombolcha.
BBC Africa Live 01 November 2021. 4:38
Sudan: Allies of former President al-Bashir have been released from prison by last Monday’s coup leaders, amongst them Ibrahim Ghandour, formerly Foreign Minister and head of the former ruling National Congress Party. This “is the strongest indication yet of the former leader’s hand – or that of people loyal to him – in last week’s coup.” But apparently, Ibrahim Ghandour was re-arrested shortly after his release.
BBC Africa Live 01 November 2021. 10:57
BBC Africa Live 01 November 2021. 11:56
31 October 2021
Sudan: Roads remain barricaded in Khartoum. The United Nations’ Sudan envoy has met ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the two have discussed options for mediation and a way forward. Nothing new otherwise: 3 protesters killed yesterday, more than 10 the week before.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59109729