Month: June 2024

An ambush by a “terrorist group” killed 21 Nigerien soldiers near the country’s border with Burkina Faso on Tuesday, Niger’s ruling military junta said in a statement read on national television.

The statement Tuesday evening did not specify which group was behind the attack. Niger is struggling with a deadly security crisis involving several armed groups.

Last week, the rebel Patriotic Liberation Front attacked a China-backed pipeline and threatened more attacks if the $400 million deal with China isn’t cancelled. The group, led by Salah Mahmoud, a former rebel leader, took up arms after the junta staged a coup last year ousting a democratically elected government.

The violence killed thousands of people last year, and more than 2 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations

Mali and Burkina Faso are also led by juntas and have experienced two coups each since 2020. Both juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenaries as they struggle to quell the Islamist groups.

Kenyan President William Ruto said Wednesday he won’t sign into law a finance bill proposing new taxes, a day after protestors stormed parliament and several people were shot dead. It was the biggest assault on Kenya’s government in decades.

The government wanted to raise funds to pay off debt, but Kenyans said the bill caused more economic pain as millions struggle to get by. The chaos on Tuesday led the government to deploy the military, and Ruto called protesters’ actions “treasonous.”

The president now says the bill caused “widespread dissatisfaction” and he has listened and “conceded.” It’s a major setback for Ruto, who came to power vowing to help Kenyans cope with rising costs but has seen much of the country, led by youth, unite in opposition to his latest attempt at reforms.

“It is necessary for us to have a conversation as a nation on how to do we manage the affairs of the country together,” he said.

Kenyans faced the lingering smell of tear gas and military in the streets a day after the latest protests saw thousands storm parliament, an act of defiance that Ruto had called an “existential” threat. At least 22 people were killed, a human rights group said, and police were accused of some shooting deaths.

Ruto acknowledged deaths, calling it an “unfortunate situation,” and offered condolences. He said about 200 people had been wounded.

Nairobi has seen protests in the past, but activists and others warned the stakes were more dangerous. Ruto on Tuesday vowed to quash unrest “at whatever cost,” even as more protests were called at State House on Thursday.

“We are dealing with a new phenomenon and a group of people that is not predictable. If it would have been the normal demonstrations, I’d say it will fizzle out with time, but we don’t know whether these people will fear the army,” said Herman Manyora, an analyst and professor at the University of Nairobi.

He said the president missed an opportunity in his national address Tuesday night to adopt a more conciliatory approach.

Kenya’s High Court on Wednesday ordered the military deployment suspended after a challenge by the Kenya Law Society.

There were no reports of violence Wednesday, but there was fear. Civil society groups have reported abductions of people involved in recent protests and expect more to come. The High Court ordered police to release all people arrested in the protests. Ruto said those allegedly abducted had been released or processed in court.

Many young people who helped vote Ruto into power in 2022 with cheers for his promises of economic relief now object to the pain of reforms. Part of the parliament building burned Tuesday, and clashes occurred in several communities beyond the capital.

At least 22 people were killed, the Kenya National Human Rights Commission said. Commission chairperson Roseline Odede said 300 others were injured and 50 people were arrested.

A pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court issued Tuesday (Jun. 25) arrest warrants for Russia’s former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and current chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov.

The judges say there are reasonable grounds to believe that the officials bear responsibility for missile strikes carried out by the Russian army against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023.

Shoigu and Gerasimov are allegedly responsible for the war crimes of directing attacks at civilian objects and causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects, and the crime against humanity of inhumane acts under the Rome Statute.

Like the US, Ukraine and Israel, Russia isn’t a member of the court and refuses to hand over suspects.

The ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the court “failed to live up to expectations and did not become a truly independent body of international justice,” according to state news agency Tass.

Last year, the court issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a group of young people aged 18 to 25, known as the “Wazalendo” or “patriotic resistors,” have taken up arms to defend their country. Teaming up with the Congolese army, they claim to have successfully pushed back the M23 rebels, who are supported by the Rwandan army, from the town of Sake.

Katembo Faustin, Commander of the FAR-W Group (Forces Armées des Résistants Wazalendo), emphasized the unity and collaboration that led to their success:

“We succeeded in repelling the M23 because we united with the government and, as Wazalendo, we came together to push back the enemy. I can assure you that the M23 will never reach here again. We are doing everything to protect Sake.”

The fighting between the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo), supported by the Wazalendo, and the M23 rebels has intensified in the North Kivu region. Many young Congolese have taken up arms, driven by a sense of duty to defend their homeland.

Innocent Mihigo, a fighter of the FAR-W Group, expressed his motivations:

“I decided to take up arms to defend my country, honor the national flag, and give hope to my fellow Congolese. They must understand that we are fighting to defend the nation with love and unity.”

Despite the patriotic fervor, human rights organizations have raised concerns. They acknowledge the dedication of these young fighters but condemn the human rights violations committed by some alongside the Congolese army. These organizations are calling for the government to exercise greater oversight and responsibility.

Moïse Hangi, a LUCHA activist, highlighted the dual nature of the situation:

“Young people defending their land against foreign aggression are justified, but it must be noted that some are committing acts contrary to the law. The government needs to supervise and ensure these young people are monitored.”

The town of Sake has been largely deserted for months, now resembling a ghost town. Situated about twenty kilometers west of Goma, Sake is considered the last security barrier protecting Goma.

The Wazalendo resistors patrol daily to prevent any infiltration. On Thursday, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the recent M23 rebel attacks, which resulted in civilian casualties and injured a MONUSCO peacekeeper. Since late 2021, the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi in North Kivu have been embroiled in a conflict between the M23 rebels and the FARDC. The situation remains tense in eastern DRC, and the fighting seems far from over.

Russian Foreign Minister reckons that the economy has been weaponized and that African countries are among those bearing the brunt.

Sergey Lavrov was speaking Tuesday (Jun. 25) in Minsk at a meeting with students and teachers.

“Among those countries that want to be independent and seek mutually respectful partnerships are China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Vietnam. The list is not exhaustive. In Africa, many countries are increasingly asserting their national interests and understanding that exploitation continues, but through different economic methods.

During the official visit to Belarus, Lavrov announced the nation will be admitted in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

“The very first act of the summit in Astana will be the official admission of Belarus to full members of the SCO, and for the rest of the summit Belarus will participate on an equal basis with all other members,” Lavrov said.

The president of Belarus Lukashenko replied that his country’s accession to the SCO is important “not only from the point of view of image and politics, but also from the point of view of the economy.”

Part of Kenya’s parliament building was on fire Tuesday as thousands of protesters against a new finance bill entered and legislators fled, in the most direct assault on the government in decades. Journalists saw at least three bodies outside the complex where police had opened fire.

The protesters had demanded that legislators vote against the controversial bill imposing new taxes on a country where frustrations over the high cost of living have simmered for years.

The protesters outmaneuvered police to enter parliament shortly after legislators voted to pass the bill. Lawmakers fled through a tunnel, but protesters allowed opposition legislators who voted against the bill to walk out of the besieged building.

The office of the Nairobi governor, a member of the ruling party, also was on fire. The office is located near parliament. Police water cannons were being used to extinguish the fire.

Protesters could be heard shouting, “We’re coming for every politician.”

Police officers also fired live ammunition and threw tear-gas canisters at protesters who sought treatment at a medical tent set up at a church near the parliament complex.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission shared a video of officers shooting at protesters and said they would be held to account.

Two people died in similar protests last week.

The Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers.

Some of those missing included those who were vocal in the demonstrations and were taken away from their homes, workplaces and public spaces ahead of Tuesday’s protests, according to civil society groups.

Police officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula had directed the inspector general of police to provide information on the whereabouts of those the opposition said were abducted.

President William Ruto was outside the capital attending an African Union retreat. On Sunday, he said he was proud of the young people who had come out to exercise their democratic duty and said he would engage the youth on their concerns.

During a briefing with graduates of military and law enforcement schools in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to engage in discussions regarding security matters with NATO-member countries.

“Recently, at the meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I outlined our vision on the work to create equal and indivisible security in Eurasia. We are ready for a broad international discussion of these key vital issues, both with our colleagues in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Community, BRICS, and other international associations, European and NATO states, among others, naturally, at the time when they are ready for this.”

In addition, Putin pledged to enhance the nuclear capabilities of his nation and equip the military with state-of-the-art weaponry.

“We will prioritize increasing the supply to the troops on the front line of various types of unmanned aircraft systems, armoured vehicles, high-precision weapons, strike aircraft, enemy detection, counter-battery systems, control and communications systems,” he said.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov spoke after Putin and also hailed Russian troops.

“Russian military personnel honourably fulfil their military duty, effectively defend national interests, and resolutely fight the followers of Nazi ideology,” he said.

For celebrities, politicians, influencers and others visiting Israel, no trip is complete without a visit to towns and villages near the border with Gaza.

This is a new kind of tourism that has emerged in the country in the months since a raid by Palestinian fighters on October 7.

Jerry Seinfeld, Elon Musk, Michael Douglas, former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are a few who have visited, at times posing for photos in front of burned-out homes.

For visiting dignitaries and VIPs, trips to Israel have long included stops at famous religious or cultural sites, such as the Western Wall, Masada, the Sea of Galilee or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem.

The visits to the battered kibbutzim and border towns are the latest way to rebuild wobbly support with allies abroad.

The visits are also meant to revive the tourism sector hit hard by the war in Gaza. According to figures from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, around 180,000 tourists visited Israel in Q4 of 2023, down from 930,000 tourists in Q4 of 2022, indicating an 81.5% decline.

Hamas fighters killed around 1,200 people as they rampaged through southern Israel, and kidnapped around 250.

Health officials in Gaza say more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war that followed.

Many of the kibbutzim and towns that experienced the worst destruction are closed to the public, accessible only via organized tours like those for dignitaries or celebrities, or by invitation from a resident.

Other parts of southern Israel are open to the public and encouraging visitors – both foreigners and Israelis from elsewhere.

The city of Sderot runs “resilience tours,” connecting groups with survivors who share their memories of Oct. 7 or highlight cultural or culinary offerings.

In contrast to the hardest-hit kibbutzim like Nir Oz, most of Sderot’s residents have returned.

South of Sderot, the site of the Nova music festival has become a pilgrimage site for hundreds of visitors per day.

Photos of victims are arranged around what had been the main stage.

Loved ones have left candles, sculptures, photos and other mementos.

In a eucalyptus grove near the site, an organization called “Triumph of the Spirit” offers virtual reality tours of three kibbutzim.

The tours are currently only open to soldiers on official educational visits, but an English version will be available in the coming weeks for international tourists.

Tourism accounts for about 3% of Israel’s economy and provides direct jobs to around 200,000 people. Fears of a regional escalation have dampened hopes of a revival for the sector in 2024.

The first NBA Basketball school in Africa will launch in January 2025 in Egypt.

The New Era Education, a Cairo-based educational services and school management company, and NBA Africa made the announcement.

The NBA Basketball School will be located at Uppingham School Cairo, in New Giza.

Amadou Gallo Fall was in France, Sunday for the Quai 54, a streetball tournament.

The president of the Basketball Africa League reiterated the NBA’s ambition to train African prospects and grow the game on the continent.

“We want to continue to also develop top talents on the continent through the partnership we have for example with the NBA academy we have a Elevate program that is producing elite talent,” Fall said.

“We want to make sure that the talents continue to lay in the league. And also attract top global talents and we want to make sure that Africa doesn’t only just remain a place where talents is always reported we want to build value in the talents on the continent and at the same time being able to retain some talents on the continent”.

The NBA Basketball School is destined for Uppingham School youth ages 5-18. It will build on the US league’s previous initiatives in Cairo, including the last three Basketball Africa League Nile Conference group phases, Jr.

. Since 2017, NBA Basketball Schools have been launched in Australia, Brazil, China, the Dominican Republic, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uruguay.

NBA Africa is an affiliate of the US National Basketball Association (NBA)

The trip by Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso comes less than a month after Russia’s foreign affairs minister Sergei Lavrov made a stop in the central African country.

Sassou Nguesso is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin.

The two leaders will hold discussions on the economy, trade, energy as well as security cooperation.

This is Sassou Nguesso’s second trip to Russia in less than a year. Last July, he traveled to Saint Petersburg to attend the Russia-Africa summit.

Brazaville is one of Moscow’s staunchest allies in Africa. Russian companies maintain a presence in the country’s oil, mining and military sector.

Russia has worked to bolster ties with African countries in a bid to counter western sanctions and isolation over the war in Ukraine.

Most African nations have adopted a neutral stance on the conflict, calling instead for a ceasefire and peace talks.