18 April 2021
Egypt: The mummies of the 22 pharaohs are now on show at their new “resting place” south of Cairo - next to their coffins, with X-ray images also displayed. “Experts at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation took two weeks to carefully examine and unpack the mummies, after they were transported there in a lavish ceremony.”
BBC Africa Latest Updates 18 April 2021. 10:02
Chad: Rebels advance on the capital Ndjamena from two directions. “The rebel Front for Change and Concord in Chad (…) said it seized a garrison on Friday. The Chadian military said it destroyed a rebel convoy on Saturday.” Heavily armed security personnel is very visible on Ndjamena’s streets.
BBC Africa Latest Updates 18 April 2021. 9:52
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