politicodiary

Once the most poached, these are big 5 and the awe-inspiring creatures to see in the wilds of Africa. We are talking about the most beautiful creatures like lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo and the rhinoceroses. Still hunted today, the increasing interest in safaris has somehow been a saving grace for them. That’s especially true because all of these species are decreasing in population—lions in particular are struggling, having lost 94 percent of their original habitat. Only about 20,000 of the big cats remain in the wild. Leopards : are solitary cats and sometimes known as the ninja cat as they sneaky in nature and hard to spot. These cats can carry preys as large as an antelope or a zebra and believe in having a meal in silence and alone. They are not pack animals. African Lion: They are pack animals but yet don’t have a permanent social hierarchy. Men only sire babies while women run the packs. In many cases they are also the hunters who teach the y...

A digital divide troubles refugees tor remains documented in South Africa, a report has recently confirmed. Apparently, there is a new online system meant to help register and apply for renewals. But the system is working against the refugees and asylum seekers. They feel the system runs the risk of deportation and harassment. It’s a known fact that undocumented refugees have a tough time of basic rights guaranteed under the labor law. Currently, the government faces a backlog of refugee applications in South Africa. Many refugees struggle to use new online permit renewal system. Undocumented refugees lose access to bank accounts, their children and extended family have issues completing their education too. Suddenly, you become undocumented and that creates a sense of shame too. The new online system that went live in April 2021 was supposed to be a lifeline for refugees and asylum seekers who had not been able to renew their permits since refugee reception centres closed...

Africa is likely to get badly affected by the current situation between Russia and Ukraine. The already affected economy due to Coronavirus is likely to be hit badly with high prices, weak investments and increasing prices of commodities. Africa has high dependency on Russia and Ukraine for wheat, oil and maze and with the shipments on hold, there is extreme shortage and therefore increase in prices. The most affected products will be food stuff like oil and wheat, as these are expected to have the highest effect of inflation. Price of crude oil are ever time high with surge of five times since the start of war, touching the 2008 prices if almost $120. Prices of wheat have increased 50% in last one month, touching the highest point in last 14 years. Europe produces 14% of global wheat, out of this 10% is produced by Russia and 4% is produced by Ukraine. With the sanction on Russia and already tight supplies, the situation is further aggravated. Currently the ports are closed and al...

Have we ever thought how the current situation between Russia and Ukraine affects Africa? Africa may pay attention that both Russia and Ukraine play a major role in the global agricultural market. Even one may be unaware, wheat and other grains do exist at the back of heart of geopolitics following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.   Both the countries involved in the war situation have a significant agricultural. Africa has spent US$4 billion on purchase of Agricultural products from Russia in 2020. 96% of imports are for wheat and sunflower. Egypt has the highest imports numbers, almost half, followed by Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Algeria, Kenya and South Africa. Africa has also purchased agricultural goods worth US$2.9 billion from Ukraine 2020, most of it was wheat, followed by maize and few other products like sunflower oil, barley, and soy beans. European Union produced 14% of global wheat, out of this 10% is produced by Russia and 4% is produced by Ukraine. The wheat prod...

The EU African Summit has some major targets to achieve. The event is to take place today in Brussels. Everyone is vying for the African pie now; more so as China eyes making this continent also grateful and indebted to it. But plans to organize a more conducive summit have been firming for the last two years between Europe and Africa. There are plans to unveil six initiatives at the Summit, including three investment packages, as part of what EU calls a ‘Prosperous and Sustainable Partnership’.   There is obviously sense of power at play, but not as stark and bad as China’s mind over sovereignty control. In a public statement, EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has confirmed that investments will be the ‘heart’ of the summit. Africa should be feeling happy and elated. But it needs to move ahead with caution as well.   The promising Global Gateway is said to be comprised of an investment plan worth more than €150 billion for Africa. France is playing its own...

  America is going all out to discourage Equatorial Guinea in order the country does not tie up with China to build military base in the country’s Atlantic Coast. Beijing a launchpad in waters is a dangerous deal for all those around the Atlantic; and US isn’t going to let that happen. Earlier on, China had been trying to dock itself in Sri Lanka, an effort that was thwart by India too.   A top American delegation is planning to visit the Central African country next week. The delegation will comprise senior U.S. diplomatic and military personnel that plan to visit the small, according to government officials, and is expected to discuss American counter-piracy assistance and other inducements intended to convince Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to spurn Beijing’s advances. The Sino interference is becoming a matter of concern for everyone. Meanwhile other countries are making their big contributions to thaw the Chinese efforts to expand themsel...

Senegal Soccer team has created a history by winning the Africa world cup of Nations 2022, on February 6, Sunday. The final match was between Senegal and Egypt at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé.   The Senegal team has won over Egypt, the 7 times champion to win the Africa World Cup. The Senegal team won by 4-2 in the penalty shootout at the Olembé stadium of Yaoundé. After the 4 th minute, the Egyptian goal keeper Mohamed Abou Gabal, saved a goal. However, this didn’t dampen the Senegalese players. Despite a 57% ball possession Senegalese faced a phenomenal Egyptian goalkeeper coined ‘the great dam’ after the country’s largest structure in Aswan. There was no goal be the end of the second half, and the squads returned to pitch. Later also, no goal was done, despite extra-time and stoppage time. Eventually, the tie breaker was the penalty shoot-out. Again, two misses from the penalty spot, made Senegal win from Egypt. This was the first time Senegal won the Africa ...

On January 23 rd , the locals of Senegal went out to the polling station to elect local representatives. These elections are a test for President Macky Sall and the opposition. Last year there were deadly riots in Senegal and later the opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, was arrested. Senegal is located In the west part of Africa, with Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau on its borders. With a population of 16.7 million people, one third are eligible to vote now. The Poll takes place five months ahead of general elections. Senegal enjoys a dry tropical climate. There has been peace in Senegal with less impact from violence engulfing the region. Now, few terrorists the neighbouring countries are engaging in cross-border trafficking, with the intention to create instability. Amongst all other countries in the South African continent, Senegal has the reputation of being the is one of the most stable countries in terms of Political and other activities. After the independence i...

Strangely, influencers in social media are spreading fake news about the Covid-19 spread and this is influencing people’s minds against the vaccination. Fake news about Covid-19 vaccines has played a major role in preventing people from trusting the vaccine process can save their lives. Since the start of the pandemic, rumors and conspiracy theories have been rife, unsettling many people and making vaccination campaigns more difficult. Religious leaders are saying that vaccines can affect fertility, breastfeeding abilities or lead to death too. The WHO has found that the majority of fake news is spreading in North America, Australia, and Russia and elsewhere in Europe. From there, they also reach African social media channels. The global health body is fighting this kind of misinformation on the continent of 1.3 billion people. Since December 2020, the WHO has been working with 20 partners in Africa. They formed the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance, whose aim is to debunk dange...

The US government has terminated the continuity for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The government of Ethiopia has shown deep regret on this decision of the US government. In a statement by the ministry, they shared "We strongly encourage the U.S government to reconsider its decision." The statement from Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, also says that “the Ethiopian Government has continued to take measures aimed at restoring peace and stability and consolidating the political and economic reforms over the past three years. They also mentioned about the respect of having a long-standing cordial relationship that has existed between our two countries and good faith maintained with the involved agencies within the US administration to restore our mutually beneficial partnership. The decision to remove Ethiopia from AGAO is expected to further slowdown the cause of human rights in Eth...

A huge crack had got developed in Kenya’s rift valley, which could split Africa in two parts. The suddenly developed natural phenomena has been intriguing scientists and the population of Kenya. A 65-meter-wide and 50 feet deep opening has developed in earth spanning several kilometres long. This terrifying natural phenomenon happened after torrential rainfall and earth tremors. The giant crack has separated the highway in two parts creating fear amongst the locals in west of Nairobi, Kenya. Scholars claim that this incident is the beginning of the division of Africa into two separate continents. Ben Andrews, a geologist with the Smithsonian said “We are seeing a crack that in all likelihood formed over many thousands of years or hundreds of thousands of years." He further added that though the giant crack is exposed by a rainstorm, whereas the true cause goes deeper and the gap was created by the movement of the Earth's tecto...

China isn’t stopping at South East Asian control only; it has its eye of Africa too. The fossil rich continent is a part of the Chinese strategy of global control.   The media messaging is of economic development, something the continent has been struggling for. But the real reason remains political in nature. In the past, China has used the money lending tactic to control countries. It has handsomely lent economic loans as a gesture of good trade relations; only to muscle twist such nations into towing its line. It has tried similar strategy at the time of Covid-19 vaccine shortages when smaller South east Asian nations were looking for support in the form of subsidized vaccines or free doses too.   The new global messaging is that China proclaims itself to be the leader of "South-South cooperation” as President Xi Jinping claims countries of the economic “South” are bound to a “community of common destiny”. It’s a new play on words to gain control, sooner or later. C...

  A recent WHO warning states that there is an alarming rise in toxicity levels due to irresponsible e-waste disposal. It is already affecting health of millions of children. Recently, a case was reported of toxic food poisoning that was a result of e-waste contamination having got transferred to food items in Ghana.  In a ground breaking news report, Children and Digital Dumpsites , the WHO has explicitly outlined the irresponsible disposal of electronic waste.  “With mounting volumes of production and disposal, the world faces what one recent international forum described as a mounting “tsunami of e-waste”, putting lives and health at risk.” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “In the same way the world has rallied to protect the seas and their ecosystems from plastic and microplastic pollution, we need to rally to protect our most valuable resource –the health of our children – from the growing threat of e-waste.” As many as 12.9 million women ar...

Those nations rejecting Astra Zeneca shots could save lives of millions in poorer nations, if they could this once prioritise others before themselves..... While the world has been hit by a virus that did not make any distinction between the rich and the poor, the less privileged countries continue to be marginalized when it comes to receiving treatment against the deadly Covi d-19 virus. Each nation has been busy getting its own protected.   Very few are genuinely thinking of the less fortunate. The United Nation’s led Covax scheme was meant to support the lesser privileged nations.   But what is coming through from the wealthier nations is the rejected supply of vaccines. It has taken a lot of effort for the humanitarian organizations to find a balance between a no vaccine situation to some vaccine doses for these poor and underdeveloped nations.   In a recent move, it has been confirmed that now doses of vaccines that stand rejected from developed nations will be s...