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Archives for August 2020

Ethiopia’s political crisis plays out in the regions. Why it’s a federal problem

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Mulugeta G Berhe | August 27, 2020 | The Conversation The political crisis in Ethiopia is not showing sings of abating. Ongoing riots in Oromia and Wolayta; state fragmentation in the Amhara region, and the standoff between the federal government and the Tigray region have put the survival of the government in question. To address this crisis, the African Union has … [Read more...] about Ethiopia’s political crisis plays out in the regions. Why it’s a federal problem

Catholic bishops accuse Zimbabwe gov’t of rights abuses

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration criticises pastoral letter as 'evil message' meant to stoke 'genocide'. 16 August 2020| Aljazeera Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe have accused the government of carrying out human rights abuses and cracking down on dissent, prompting a swift denial by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration which described the allegations … [Read more...] about Catholic bishops accuse Zimbabwe gov’t of rights abuses

Beijing’s relations with Africa head for a reset after Covid-19

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Wide-scale loan write-offs are unlikely as terms are renegotiated and new forms of trade emerge DAVID THOMAS |13 AUGUST | BUSINESS DAY As the Chinese authorities scrambled to respond to Beijing’s first coronavirus outbreak in 50 days in mid-June, locking down residential compounds and sealing off a seafood market after at least 200 fell ill, an unruffled President Xi … [Read more...] about Beijing’s relations with Africa head for a reset after Covid-19

Mass arrests in Ethiopia raise fears of a return to the iron fist

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About 9,000 people have been detained by the government of Nobel peace prize winner Abiy Ahmed, human rights commission says DAWIT ENDESHAW |13 AUGUST 2020 | Business Day Addis Ababa — Ethiopia has detained more than 9,000 people after deadly clashes last month, the state-run human rights commission told Reuters, raising fears that a government hailed for reforms is … [Read more...] about Mass arrests in Ethiopia raise fears of a return to the iron fist

State of democracy in Africa: changing leaders doesn’t change politics

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Nic Cheeseman |August 11, 2020 | The Conversation For the last few years the African political landscape has been dominated by high profile changes of leaders and governments. In Angola (2017), Ethiopia (2018), South Africa (2018), Sudan (2019) and Zimbabwe (2018), leadership change promised to bring about not only a new man at the top, but also a new political and … [Read more...] about State of democracy in Africa: changing leaders doesn’t change politics

Nile Be Dammed

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Toxic Water Politics Threaten Democracy and Regional Stability Michael Woldemariam | August 10, 2020 | Foreign Affairs The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is now a fait accompli. Last month, Ethiopia began filling an enormous reservoir behind the $4.5 billion hydroelectric project, which promises to make the country an energy powerhouse. The megadam will bring … [Read more...] about Nile Be Dammed

Exclusive: Inside the secret world of US commandos in Africa

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Investigation reveals the scale of operations of America’s elite combat troops in Africa Nick Turse, Sam Mednick in Ouagadougou and Amanda Sperber in Nairobi | 11 August 2020 | Mail & Guardian United States Special Operations forces (SOF) — including Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets and Marine Corps Raiders — are the US military’s most highly trained soldiers, … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Inside the secret world of US commandos in Africa