Africa

[phkrause]

A Pro-Putin Facebook Network Is Pumping French-Language Propaganda Into Africa

As Russia strengthens ties with governments across French-speaking parts of West and Central Africa, social media users in the region have faced a well-documented barrage of pro-Moscow influence campaigns: a swarm of videos, images, and news stories depicting Russia in a positive light — typically at the expense of France, the region’s former colonial power.

https://theintercept.com/2023/08/03/russia-disinformation-africa-facebook/?

[phkrause]

Russia-Africa summit: Putin seeks to extend influence

When President Vladimir Putin opens the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg on Thursday, the attendance cast list will be closely scrutinised - in Paris, Washington, London, and at United Nations headquarters in New York.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66300962?

What to know about Russia’s growing footprint in Africa

Russia is displacing traditional allies like France and the United States and is emerging as the security partner of choice for a growing number of African governments as it seeks to grow its influence in the restive, mineral-rich section of the continent. Read more.

Key points: Moscow has aggressively expanded its military cooperation with the nations by using the private security company Wagner and its likely successor, Africa Corps, with Russian mercenaries protecting African leaders and helping states fight extremists. Russia offers security assistance without interfering in politics, making it an appealing partner in places like Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, all ruled by military juntas that seized power in recent years.   Russia has taken advantage of political unrest and discontent in coup-hit nations, capitalizing on popular frustration and anger with former colonial power France. Military coups have ousted governments seen as close to the West and doing little to alleviate grinding poverty and unemployment.   In return, Moscow seeks access to minerals and other contracts as well as political support, or at least neutrality, over its invasion of Ukraine. Africa is rich in minerals, oil, and other resources, which are increasingly central to economic and national security. African nations also make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been more divided than any other group on resolutions criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ South Africa questions its very being. Yet a difficult change has reinforced its young democracy   Methodist church regrets Ivory Coast’s split from the union as lifting of LGBTQ ban roils Africa   The UN says a quarter of the world’s children under 5 have severe food poverty. Many are in Africa

[phkrause]

The US-Russia battle for influence in Africa plays out in Central African Republic Hours after Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin rebelled against his country’s top military leaders, his private army’s biggest client in Africa panicked and turned for help to his foe in the West. Some 1,500 of Prigozhin’s shadowy Wagner Group mercenaries were stationed in Central African Republic and officials there wrote a letter requesting a meeting with a private U.S. security firm to discuss collaboration. Bancroft Global Development and Central African Republic ultimately reached a deal, but the firm's presence was shrouded in secrecy. Read more.

Why this matters: Tensions in the region are a window into a larger battle playing out across the continent as Moscow and Washington vie for influence. In the wake of Prigozhin’s rebellion and suspicious death, the Russians are recalibrating their Africa operations. The United States, which has been largely disengaged from the region for years, is attempting to maintain a presence and stymie Russian gains as it pushes African countries to distance themselves from the mercenaries.   In recent years, Russia has emerged as the security partner of choice for a growing number of governments in the region, displacing traditional allies such as France and the U.S. But Russian mercenaries — using success in staving off rebels in this impoverished nation as a model for expansion — have long been accused by locals and rights groups of stripping natural resources such as minerals and timber and are linked to the torture and death of civilians.   As the U.S. and Russia jockey for power, African governments say they want to make their own choices. For most here, there’s little interest in squabbles among foreign nations. “There are problems between the Americans and Russians, but that doesn’t matter to us,” said Jean Louis Yet, who works at Bangui’s market. “We are here working, trying our best to make a living. All we want is security.”

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Russia begins massive naval drills together with China   UN ends arms embargo for Central African Republic, in what government sees as sign of confidence   First doses of mpox vaccine from the United States arrive in Congo

[phkrause]

African Peace Deal Advances

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar Saturday. The document brings the two sides one step closer to a permanent ceasefire agreement, intended to end one of Africa's longest conflicts.   Following the 1994 Rwandan genocide, an estimated 2 million Hutus crossed into eastern DRC. Violence between armed militias drew in foreign powers in the mid to late 1990s, resulting in two wars that collectively killed over 6 million people (see history). The latest bout of violence erupted earlier this year when M23—one of over 100 armed groups—captured two cities: Goma in January and Bukavu in February. Over 7,000 people have been killed and more than 7 million displaced in recent months.   The draft agreement promises prisoner and detainee exchanges, and the restoration of state authority throughout the DRC. A final deal is due to be signed by Aug. 18.

[phkrause]

A longevity boom is reshaping Africa. Few are ready for it

Across Africa, a stunning success story has quietly taken hold: Decades of progress have begun delivering a wave of longevity that promises to reshape the demographics of the continent. But as lifespans lengthen, pensions and social safety nets are minimal, medical care is lacking and routine problems of age are commonly unaddressed. Read more.

[phkrause]

Young Africans find hope in farming as urban life becomes too expensive

Farming has long been seen as low-status work across much of Africa, pushing young people to cities in search of office jobs. But the high cost of living and lack of job opportunities are pushing some youth to give agriculture another try. Thousands of people across eight countries are being supported by a World Food Program that helps them obtain land, training and supplies. One man in Senegal with a master’s degree in criminology gave up on the capital and now owns a farm. He employs three people who gave up on migration attempts to Europe. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

AP photos spotlight a year of joy, triumph and resilience across Africa

[phkrause]

Burkina Faso’s junta dissolves all of country’s political parties, saying they cause divisions

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso’s military junta has dissolved all the political parties in the country and scrapped the laws governing them, according to a decree approved by the government on Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/burkina-faso-political-parties-politics-junta-19d83b07b9e7700cad650583d354bd4d?