Tag: China in Africa

Trump Corollary: spheres of influence, white supremacy

NSSDonald Trump’s new National Security Strategy instates a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine. Like the Roosevelt Corollary of 1904, which was used to justify the "gunboat diplomacy" of that era, this new corollary openly calls for dividing the world into spheres of influence—with the Western Hemisphere assigned to the US. Russia is obviously pleased as punch over this, as it implicitly gives Moscow a free hand in Ukraine—and Putin will likely consider this an acceptable pay-off for his betrayal of Venezuela. However, China is less likely to surrender its massive investments and mega-projects in Latin America in exchange for a free hand to take over Taiwan. The document's text on Europe is even more sinister, revealing a white supremacist agenda that looks not to Washington's traditional allies to counter Russia, but to the continent's Russian-backed far-right movements to counter Washington's traditional allies. In Episode 308 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg exposes the NSS as a further step toward consolidation of a Fascist World Order. (Image: White House)

Zambia: toxic spill at Chinese-owned mine site

ChambishiHuman Rights Watch called on Zambian authorities to investigate the consequences of acid released into a river following the rupture of a dam holding mining waste. The spill occurred at a site operated by Chinese company Sino-Metals Leach Zambia at Chambishi, Copperbelt province, contaminating the Kafue River, a tributary of the Zambezi. This incident caused significant environmental damage, killing fish and livestock and destroying maize and groundnut crops, wiping out the livelihoods of local farmers. Additionally, residents face health risks that may persist for decades. The Zambia Environmental Justice Coalition has criticized the government's response as inadequate to meet the scale of the disaster. (Photo: Global Atlas of Environmental Justice via Institute for Security Studies)

Russia vetoes UN resolution on Sudan ceasefire

El FasherRussia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at protecting civilians in Sudan amid the country's ongoing conflict. The resolution, which called on the warring factions to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue in good faith, was blocked despite widespread support—including from China, which frequently votes in a bloc with Russia. Introduced by the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone, the draft resolution demanded that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) honor and fully implement their pledges in the "Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan," which was signed by both sides in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in May 2023. Russia said the resolution did not sufficiently respect Sudan's sovereignty in justifying its veto, which was assailed by international human rights organizations. Sudan's government rejected the resolution for failing to condemn the United Arab Emirates for backing the RSF—an accusation the UAE has consistently denied. (Photo: Roman Deckert via Wikimedia Commons)

Uranium at issue in Great Game for Sahel

NigerThe ruling junta in Niger revoked the operating license of French nuclear fuel producer Orano at one of the world’s largest uranium mines. Russian companies have meanwhile indicated interest in picking up the lease for the giant Imouraren mine. However, exports are stalled by closure of the border with Benin, the vital sea corridor for landlocked Niger, as tensions mount between the two countries. The uranium dispute comes as French and US troops have been forced to withdraw from Niger, and Russian forces have moved in. The Pentagon's AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley has acknowledged that the US is seeking to establish new bases in neighboring West African countries, including Benin. (Map: Wikivoyage)

Russian ‘fingerprints’ on Sudan coup attempt

KhartoumAs fighting continues in Sudan, derailing a transition to democratic rule that was slated for this month, commentators note Russia's connection to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that sparked the crisis by attempting a coup d'etat. The Kremlin's notorious mercenary force, the Wagner Group, is said to be engaged in illegal gold mining operations in Darfur and Kordofan regions in collaboration with the RSF. Operations at a Wagner-protected mine owned by RSF warlord Mohammed Hamdan Dagolo AKA "Hemeti" in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan have sparked protests by locals over land-grabbing and pollution. The arrangement points to a Kremlin-backed design to make the RSF economically independent of the Sudanese state in preparation for a seizure of power. (Photo via Dabanga Radio)

African dissent from biodiversity protocol

KenyaThe UN Biodiversity Conference, or COP15, concluded in Montreal with what is being hailed as a landmark agreement to address the current unprecedented loss of species, now termed the planet's sixth mass extinction. The centerpiece of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, conceived as a match to the Paris Agreement on climate change, is the so-called "30×30" pledge—with countries committing to protect 30% of their territory for habitat preservation by 2030. The deal earmarks $30 billion per year to flow from wealthy countries to poor ones to assist in conservation programs. But the financial commitments are not binding, and were assailed by countries in the developing world as inadequate. After an all-night session, the gavel was brought down on the deal minutes after the delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo pressed outstanding criticisms. This was decried by the DRC, Uganda and other African delegations. A representative from Cameroon protested: "What we saw was a force of hand." (Photo of Kenya's Great Rift Valley via Pixabay)

Planet Watch
Chad

Podcast: climate change and the global struggle II

ZaporizhzhiaUN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Russia's largest yet wave of drone and missile attacks in Ukraine, especially noting strikes that disrupted the power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), endangering nuclear safety. Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also warned of the persisting "extremely fragile" situation at Europe's largest nuclear facility. Russia's latest air-strike against the ZNPP marked the ninth time power was broken off to the plant since the war began in February 2022. Although external power has been restored, Grossi cautioned that the situation remains unsafe. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Africa
Somaliland

Russia seeks naval base in Sudan —and Somaliland?

Kanbalu More than 100 people, including children, are reported killed in an air-strike carried out by the Burmese military on a village in Sagaing region controlled by the democratic opposition. The raid on Pa Zi Gyi village, located within Kanbalu township, came as some 150 residents had gathered to attend the opening ceremony of a new Township People's Administration office loyal to the opposition National Unity Government (NUG). A local representative of the NUG's armed wing, the People Defense Force (PDF), said a fighter jet dropped two bombs on the crowd before a helicopter gunship swooped in and opened fire on the survivors. The attack came amid Thingyan, the traditional Burmese new year festival. (Photo via Myanmar Now)