Author name: yasir

Botswana swears in Duma Boko as president

Africa /

Thousands of people gathered in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday for the inauguration of the country’s new president, Duma Boko, marking the end of the former ruling party’s 58-year reign. Boko, leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition, which secured 36 parliamentary seats and denied former president Mokgweetsi Masisi a second term, took the oath of office in front of a large crowd. Arriving in an open-top vehicle with flag-bearing soldiers on white horses, Boko delivered his first official address as president, calling for unity and reconciliation after a contentious election. He praised his predecessor, Masisi, for conceding power peacefully, despite the jeers he faced during the campaign. “This is a historic moment, humbling and sobering,” Boko said, emphasizing the importance of moving past division and focusing on the country’s future. He expressed deep gratitude to the citizens who elected him and promised to serve with love and dedication. Boko’s speech, filled with optimism, was light on specific plans but referenced his party’s campaign promises, including tackling corruption, implementing a minimum wage of 4,000 Pula ($302) per month, and expanding social benefits such as unemployment allowances and old age pensions. Unemployment remains the most pressing concern for Batswana, with rates rising to 27.6% in 2024, up from 25.9% in 2023. The country’s reliance on diamond exports, which account for 80% of revenue, has been strained by the global downturn in demand. Calls for increased local ownership and a larger share of the mining profits have gained traction. Among the dignitaries attending the inauguration were former president Ian Khama, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema. Boko’s victory and the peaceful transfer of power have been hailed as a historic moment for Botswana, a country once believed unlikely to see a peaceful handover to an opposition party.

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USA: Racist texts target black students, FBI Investigates

World /

Racist text messages invoking slavery have raised alarms across the country this week after being sent to Black men, women, and students—including middle schoolers—prompting investigations by the FBI and other agencies. The anonymous messages, reported in multiple states including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, generally shared a similar tone but varied in their wording. Some directed recipients to show up at a specific address with their belongings, while others did not include a location. Several of the messages also referenced the incoming presidential administration. It remains unclear who is behind the messages, and there is no comprehensive list of all the areas where they were sent, though high school and college students were among the recipients. The FBI has said it is coordinating with the Department of Justice on the matter, while the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it is investigating the texts “alongside federal and state law enforcement.” The Ohio Attorney General’s office also confirmed it is looking into the issue. Fisk University, a historically Black university in Nashville, Tennessee, released a statement condemning the messages, which targeted some of its students, calling them “deeply unsettling.” The university urged students to remain calm, suggesting that the messages were likely the work of bots or malicious actors with “no real intentions or credibility.” In Missouri, Nimrod Chapel, president of the NAACP’s state chapter, reported that Black students in the organization’s Missouri State University chapter received messages citing Donald Trump’s 2020 election win, with some texts singling out students by name and making offensive references to slavery, including a message that told them they were “selected to pick cotton” the following Tuesday. Chapel stated that local police in Springfield, Missouri, where the university is located, have been notified and are investigating.

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Mozambique protests intensify amid election dispute

Africa /

Thousands protested in Mozambique’s capital on Thursday and security forces responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets, as weeks of post-election unrest continued in the southern African country. The protests were sparked by a vote last month that will keep the ruling party in power for more than a half-century amid allegations of rigging. Opposition parties and many citizens have rejected the results of the Oct. 9 presidential election as fraudulent and growing protests in the capital, Maputo, and other cities have been met by deadly force from police. Thursday’s protest was the biggest yet. International rights groups say police have killed at least 20 people since the unrest began nearly a month ago, while local groups say the death toll is more than 50. Authorities are threatening to deploy the army as protesters set fires on the streets and burn ruling party offices. According to Human Rights Watch, the internet is being restricted and social media sites have been blocked. Neighboring South Africa has shut its border post with Mozambique and heightened security around it. What happened in the election? The candidate for the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, was declared the winner of the presidential election on Oct. 24. That keeps the party that has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975 in power for another five years. Even before the results were announced, opposition parties claimed fraud, accusing the ruling party, Frelimo, of ballot stuffing, manipulating voter lists, and staffing polling stations with officials loyal to it. Frelimo has long been accused of rigging elections in the country of around 34 million. The European Union’s observer team said there were irregularities in the election, including the altering of some results. Mozambican media has reported that the Constitutional Council, the supreme body for election law, has asked the commission that ran the election to explain discrepancies. Senior opposition figures killed Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, who was second behind Chapo in the official results, has led criticism of the vote. He called for a national strike and for people to stay at home in the days after the election in protest at the alleged tampering. But the mood changed when two senior opposition figures were killed in their car in a late-night shooting by unidentified gunmen on Oct. 18. The men who were killed were the lawyer for Mondlane and the official spokesperson for the political party that supported Mondlane in the election. Mondlane said they were assassinated and he and opposition supporters gathered near the site of the killings the day after to protest. Police fired tear gas canisters at Mondlane, his aides and journalists who were interviewing him, forcing them to flee. Growing protests Since then, there have been waves of protests across the country. In one city, protesters toppled and cut the head off a statue of current President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after serving a maximum two terms. Mondlane said on social media that he had gone into exile in fear for his life after the killing of his lawyer. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has called on social media for more protests “so that we can then be freed from these shackles that have held us up for 50 years.” Authorities have said little other than the protests have been violent and needed to be quelled. They have not given information on the number of people killed or injured in the protests. Rights groups accused the police of shooting at peaceful protests in the days after the election and said children were among the victims. Anger among opposition supporters has swelled. The presidential palace is under heavy guard. A history of civil war and violence Mozambique is still in the shadow of a bloody 15-year civil war the leftist Frelimo fought against rebel group Renamo after independence. The country only held its first elections in 1994 and this was the first vote where there were no armed groups connected to political parties after a process to disarm militias. The country, which has rich natural resources including large, newly discovered natural gas fields, was already struggling with a yearslong insurgency by an Islamic State-affiliated group in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Mondlane, who broke away from Renamo, has support among Mozambique’s disaffected youth and he and the new Podesa party that is backing him have become the biggest challenge to Frelimo’s long rule.

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Egypt-Turkey trade relations ‘very robust and balanced’

Business, Egypt, Turkey /

Egypt’s trade relations with Turkey are “very robust and balanced,” reflecting a healthy economic partnership between the two countries, according to Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib. Egypt and Turkey “have highly diversified exports, which strengthen their trade relationship,” Khatib said in an interview with Anadolu. “Turkey is the first export destination to Egypt globally and Egypt is one of Turkey ’s most significant trade partners in Africa, while Türkiye is the top export destination for Egyptian goods,” he added. Khatib landed in Turkey on Monday to attend the opening session of the 40th Ministerial Conference for Trade Ministers of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). His talks in Turkey aimed at exploring ways to enhance trade and investment relations between Ankara and Cairo. According to the minister, the bilateral trade volume reached $6.9 billion in 2023, with Egypt’s exports at $3.6 billion and imports from Turkey totaling $3.3 billion. By the year-end, he said, the trade volume could reach $8 billion. In September, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi paid a landmark visit to Ankara following a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Cairo in February. During the visit, the two leaders signed 17 new agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of trade and investment. They also signed a mutual declaration for the first meeting of the High-level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two countries. Khatib called the mutual declaration a “turning point towards building a new chapter for cooperation between Egypt and Turkey , and exploring new paths for cooperation based on mutual benefits and solidarity.” – New industrial parks Khatib said both Cairo and Ankara agreed to develop two new industrial parks in Egypt. “The first project, located in the New Administrative Capital, will span 2.1 million square meters and is expected to cost $120 million. The second project is located in New October City and will be over 2.6 million square meters,” he added. The minister said that both Egypt and Turkey aim to increase their trade volume to $15 billion within a few years “through improving the infrastructure and business environment for joint venture projects and investments, eliminating any obstacles of trade exchange and investments.” “I am fully convinced and optimistic that the outcomes of this strategic partnership will be witnessed very soon,” the minister said. “The figures for trade volume investment flow and projects are very satisfying and reflect momentum in the mutual relations.” – Key sectors for growth Khatib said both Egypt and Turkey have “very good potential” for growth in the fields of chemicals, petrochemicals, textiles, apparel, automotive, furniture, building materials, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. “There is significant potential for growth in bilateral trade between Egypt and Türkiye, given their strong industrial and agricultural capabilities,” he added. The minister said trade in services, including telecommunications, tourism and construction, also has “promising” opportunities. “Additionally, expanding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to include a wider range of agricultural goods would significantly enhance trade opportunities,” Khatib said. “Turkey is currently Egypt’s largest importer, and increasing access to the Turkish market for Egyptian agricultural products could further improve competitiveness internationally,” he added. “In return, Egypt would benefit from Turkish agricultural products that help meet local demand and stabilize prices.” – Regional challenges On obstacles to advancing trade and investment relations, Khatib pointed to regional instability and disrupted supply chains as significant hurdles. “The ongoing conflicts, instability, and disrupted supply chains in the region pose risks to the global economy, including both our countries,” he noted. Regional tension has escalated due to Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 43,400 people, mostly women and children, since last year. The conflict has spread to Lebanon with Israel launching massive airstrikes on the country, killing more than 3,000 people since last year amid cross-border warfare with the Hezbollah group. The conflict has also involved Yemen’s Houthi group, which began to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with Gaza. “Despite these challenges, Egypt has successfully positioned itself as a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI),” Khatib said. “In 2023, Egypt was recognized as the top investment destination in Africa for the second consecutive year, capturing 18.6% of Africa’s total FDI, amounting to $52.6 billion. Globally, Egypt ranked 32nd in FDI attraction, with net FDI flows reaching $46.1 billion in 2023/2024.” – Turkish investment in Egypt Khatib said Turkish investments in Egypt reached $3 billion, primarily in the manufacturing and services sectors, employing over 50,000 Egyptians in the textile sector alone. “The Turkish investments in Egypt are growing fast,” he said. “With the increase of Turkish investments in Egypt, which contributed significantly to the Egyptian exports globally, and at the same time, most of the Turkish investors in Egypt import different products from Turkey (raw materials – intermediate commodities). This is reflecting the concept of integration and the mutual benefits.” To support Turkish investors, the Egyptian minister said a specialized unit within the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), Egypt’s government investment arm, will be established, aimed at “providing personalized assistance and resolving any challenges they may encounter.” – Joint ventures in Africa Khatib said there is “wide room for cooperation” between Egypt and Turkey in Africa. “The potential for trade and investment opportunities is huge, especially after the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) entered into force and fully implemented,” he said. “Egypt could be an industrial and logistical hub for Turkish products and commodities to access African markets. Construction companies could find a base ground to work together in Africa,” the minister added.

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Samburu tribes celebrate tradition with cultural festival in Kenya

Africa, Discover /

The tribes living in the Samburu region in northern Kenya are among the few that can still live according to their traditions. One of the most important aspects of the Samburu tribe’s survival is their livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, from which they earn their livelihood. At a festival organized by the nomadic Maa community in the Samburu National Reserve, they performed cultural dances in their traditional clothing and jewelry.

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Landslide in Western Cameroon kills 4, over 50 missing

Africa /

At least four people have died and over 50 are missing in western Cameroon after three passenger buses and several road workers were caught in a landslide, authorities reported on Wednesday, November 6. Torrential rains weakened the soil, triggering the landslide on Tuesday along a highway connecting Dschang in Cameroon’s West Region to the economic capital, Douala. Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, confirmed that only four bodies had been recovered from the rubble, with many others still buried in the debris. “I’ve instructed that the bodies be taken to the mortuary and survivors receive immediate care,” said Djoumessi. This tragedy follows widespread flooding across West Africa, including neighboring Nigeria, where heavy rains have killed over 1,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands this year. Governor of the West Region, Augustin Awa Fonka, noted that landslides have become more frequent in Cameroon, attributing the increasing frequency of such disasters to climate change and the deteriorating state of local infrastructure.

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Sudan launches malaria vaccine campaign

Africa /

Sudan Launches First Malaria Vaccination Campaign Amid Ongoing Conflict Sudan has begun its first malaria vaccination campaign amid its 18-month-long civil war, targeting 148,000 children under 12 months across 15 sites in Gedaref and Blue Nile states. The country is one of the first 16 African nations to roll out the malaria vaccine, a joint initiative by the Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The campaign follows the arrival of 186,000 vaccine doses in October, with plans to expand the program to 129 sites by 2025 and 2026. Malaria remains a leading cause of death in Africa, with nearly half a million children under five dying annually from the disease, according to UNICEF. In 2023, Sudan reported more than 3.4 million malaria cases, with an estimated 7,900 deaths. However, the ongoing conflict has made accurate reporting difficult. The vaccine, recommended for children aged 5-12 months, aims to reduce hospital admissions and fatalities from malaria. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces, has displaced over 14 million people, or about 30% of the population, according to the UN.

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Turkey: Targeting UNRWA is ‘attack on the general assembly’

Turkey /

Turkey’s envoy to the UN Ahmet Yildiz on Wednesday denounced Israel’s ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), stressing that it “must be viewed as an attack on the General Assembly itself.” Emphasizing the aid agency’s critical role in providing essential support to Palestinian refugees, Yildiz said at a UN General Assembly session that “UNRWA has been a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees” since its establishment in 1949. Yildiz condemned Israel’s actions, including recent Israeli legislation banning the agency, which he described as “a direct and imminent threat” to UNRWA’s operations, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories. “These measures violate Israel’s obligations under the UN charters, the convention on the privileges and immunities of UN, the International Court of Justice’s provision rulings on genocide prevention in Gaza, the General Assembly’s mandate for UNRWA and other binding international legal commitments,” he said. He also condemned attacks on UNRWA staff and facilities, calling them “unacceptable.” “An attack on UNRWA must be viewed as an attack on the General Assembly itself,” he said, adding that “it is now incumbent upon us as member states to stand firmly against any attempts to dismantle UNRWA, a body established by a UN General Assembly resolution and crucial to achieving justice and peace to Palestinian refugees.” Yildiz reaffirmed Turkey’s continued support of UNRWA’s work, both politically and financially, as the chair of the UNRWA financing working group.

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WHO allocates 900,000 Mpox vaccines to Africa

Africa /

Several African countries, including the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, are set to benefit from a new mpox vaccine allocation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has reported 80% of Africa’s confirmed mpox cases this year, will receive 85% of nearly 900,000 doses allocated. The vaccine distribution is part of the World Health Organization’s Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM), aimed at expanding access to mpox vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tools. Limited vaccinations have already been carried out in DRC and Rwanda. The outbreak, which has spread across 19 African countries this year, was declared a public health emergency by the WHO and Africa CDC in mid-August. With over 38,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths, DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak. Wealthier countries have pledged over 3.6 million vaccine doses to aid the response.

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Democrats abroad in Kenya fear Trump victory

Africa /

Members of Democrats Abroad in Kenya had gathered in Nairobi’s Westlands area, hopeful for a Democratic victory in the U.S. elections. However, as results began to roll in, disappointment set in as it became clear that Donald Trump had emerged victorious. For many, the outcome sparked fear and anxiety about the future. Project Manager Alexia Yun expressed her concerns: “I’m a little disappointed, not as surprised as I was in 2016, but now I’m scared about what’s going to happen in the next four years and beyond.” One of the key issues during this year’s election was abortion rights. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, cutting off abortion access for millions of women. Many Democrats abroad fear that under another Trump administration, women’s rights could face even greater restrictions. Robin Emerson, Chairperson of Democrats Abroad Kenya, voiced her concerns, saying, “I am very worried about what this possible new administration would do or say about a woman’s body and her reproductive rights.” Democrats Abroad, a global organization with 52 country committees, works to ensure that Americans living overseas can participate in U.S. elections and advocate for their political values.

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