[Disarmo] Pambazuka News 825: G20 Compact with Africa: Whose agenda?






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Oggetto: Pambazuka News 825: G20 Compact with Africa: Whose agenda?
Data: Thu, 8 Jun 2017 18:04:57 +0300
Mittente: Pambazuka Editor <editor at pambazuka.org>
Rispondi-a: editor at pambazuka.org
A: pambazuka-news <pambazuka-news at pambazuka.gn.apc.org>


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Pambazuka News 825: G20 Compact with Africa: Whose agenda?


8 June 2017

FAHAMU AT 20: A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear friends and partners of Fahamu, this November 2017 we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fahamu’s establishment as a pan-African organisation that collaborates with movements to tackle social injustices. On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart every individual or organisation that has supported and continued supporting Fahamu’s work since 1997. They include, but not limited to, the founders of Fahamu, former staff members and trustees of Fahamu, volunteers, various social movements across Africa and beyond, thousands of individual supporters, hundreds of foundations, trusts and organisations that believe in the work of Fahamu. The achievements of Fahamu are your achievements too. [SEE OUR STORY]

CONTENTS: 1. Features  2. Announcements  


Features


 

G20 Compact with Africa: Neo-colonialism or an opportunity for Africa’s growth?

Pride Mkono

On Monday-Tuesday next week, Berlin will host the G20 finance ministers’ negotiations with African elites led by a South African, Malusi Gigaba. Is this the next neo-colonial defeat for the continent, harking back to another process 132 years ago?



 

The dark side of infrastructure investment in Africa

How the Compact with Africa pushes Africa towards its next debt crisis

Various

With its Compact with Africa the German G20 presidency is actively promoting private loans and investment as solutions to infrastructure deficiencies on the African continent. The Compact aims at using public resources in order to improve the investment climate and mobilize private capital to finance investment critical to achieving sustainable development.


 

Africa–G20 Compact: Climate justice for genuine partnerships

Maureen Sigauke
The G20 Compact with Africa downplays climate change and sustainability, relegating them to mere side-effects of doing business. There is no acknowledgement of the ecological debt the North owes the South. For sustainable development, climate justice and action,  it is imperative that the G20 meeting  gives more attention to  climate  justice.


 

Africa can turn climate bluster into its trump card

Azad Essa

If African leaders had an ounce of self-respect, they would be expressing their absolute condemnation of the US withdrawal from the Paris Accord, or using this moment as an opportunity to speak out on the dangerous consequences of not taking climate change seriously.

 

 

Trump is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. Is it time to boycott America?

Alex Lenferna

Ironically, by pulling out of the Paris Agreement, Trump, the great negotiator, may expose America to greater global backlash than if he had just stuck with the agreement while doing little to nothing to actively address climate change.




 

Morocco's Hirak Movement: The People versus the Makhzen

Fatim-Zohra El Malki

Often considered to be largely insulated from the unrest and upheaval brought about by the Arab Spring, Morocco is now facing mounting turmoil throughout the country. The methods inherited from colonization and currently used by the government are doing little to appease the basic demands of a population hungry for equal opportunities and social justice.


 

Fuelling the fires: South Africa in class war

Shawn Hattingh
The hope that the end of apartheid would herald a better life for the oppressed in South Africa has evaporated. Their conditions today are materially as bad as under apartheid - and even worse in some cases. But the upper classes are having the time of their lives. Working class struggles should be intensified and linked, based on self-organising and direct democracy to bring about real change.


 

South Africa: Justice for Baby Jayden

Abahlali baseMjondolo

Baby Jayden Khoza, aged just two weeks old, was killed during violent repression of a community protest by the police. The baby’s killing underlines the utter inhumanity of the post-apartheid South African state in dealing with poor people who only demand the right to a decent life. Jayden could have become a teacher, a doctor, a leader in his community or even a revolutionary president; an honest president.
 

 

Wherever this Canadian mining company goes in Congo, violence seems to follow

Yves Engler

Banro operates in a region that has seen incredible violence over the past two decades and the secretive company has been accused of fuelling the conflict. In 1996 Banro paid $3.5 million for 47 mining concessions that covered more than one million hectares of land in Congo’s North and South Kivu.


 

A new way of doing business

CIVICUS

As business continues to grow in influence globally, sometimes enjoying asymmetrical power relations with developing states, a new report notes serious concerns over private sector practices that are leading to increased human rights abuses and attacks on fundamental freedoms.


 

UK election: Refugee resettlement should top agenda

Sabrina Tucci

Britain is voting in a snap general election on June 8. From Brexit to security and future immigration policies, the manifestos of most parties will have implications for refugee protection.




 

Terror in Britain: What did the Prime Minister know?

John Pilger

The Manchester atrocity lifts the rock of British foreign policy to reveal its Faustian alliance with extreme Islam, especially the sect known as Wahhabism or Salafism, whose principal custodian and banker is the oil kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Britain's biggest weapons customer.



 

The Eagle & the Dragon: Rising militarism in Asia Pacific

Paul Quintos

As neoliberalism plunges deeper into crisis, militarism and wars are being promoted and intensified throughout the world, especially in Asia-Pacific. There is a need to build a global anti-war and social justice movement that opposes militarism and wars of aggression; respects the right to self-determination of oppressed peoples; and supports various forms of resistance to imperialist aggression and intervention. 


 

US foreign policy towards Africa since World War II

A trail of imperialist militarism and super-exploitation

Abayomi Azikiwe

America’s Africa policies have consistently remained destabilizing and predatory over the decades, despite the well-choreographed pretenses. It is this imperialism that has impeded the capacity of African nations to direct their future. Despite Africa’s vast mineral and agricultural wealth and labor power, a renewed debt crisis compounded by US interference is reversing the modest gains made in past years.


 

Q&A: Will ‘restructuring’ solve Nigeria’s problems?

Chido Onumah

Nigerian author Chido Onumah argues that Nigeria’s key problem is nationhood. Except for a popular revolution that would fundamentally change the country, restructuring is the best option. That way, the country will remain one in order to deal with other serious issues such as poverty. “And the restructuring we are pushing is not to divide the country along ethno-religious lines but to create a civic nation along the principles of federalism.”


 

Igbo position on restructuring Nigeria

Osita Ebiem

The Igbo cannot possibly be a part of the proposed new Nigeria, no matter how attractive the idea is made to look by its advocates. On 29 May 1966, the Igbo renounced forever their Nigerian citizenship. While wishing Nigeria and Nigerians well in their quest for a workable solution to their national problem, the Igbo have unequivocally opted for a separate Igbo identity and the separation of their territory from Nigeria.


 

The huge scam that was Nigeria’s oil subsidy

Audu Liberty Oseni

The fuel subsidy regime was a huge scam in the Nigeria oil and gas sector, with the state colluding with its friends to steal from the people. It was during this time that entrenched corruption such as inflation of the subsidy figures, the rise of proxy marketers, over-invoicing and non-record keeping became common.



 

Who is next? New report details extra-judicial killings in Kenya

Mathare Social Justice Centre

Extra-judicial killings are “normal” in Kenya, especially targeting poor young men in urban slums who police accuse of being criminals. The exact numbers of the victims – and their stories – remain unknown, because few people or organizations have the courage or interest to document this form of state violence. Mathare Social Justice Centre has just published details of these killings in their own community.


 

The MISR experiment: Building a programme or a personal fiefdom?

James Ocita

Prof. Mahmood Mamdani imperils the survival of the programme he heads at Makerere University by his capriciousness and reliance on political connections. This raises serious questions about his integrity as a person, scholar and administrator. Mamdani has for a long time abused the goodwill of many well-meaning but unsuspecting people who looked up to him.



 

States must ban Israeli settlement products to help end half a century of violations against Palestinians

States must ban Israeli settlement products to help end half a century of violations against Palestinians

Amnesty International

 The international community must ban the import of all goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements and put an end to the multimillion dollar profits that have fuelled mass human rights violations against Palestinians, said Amnesty International today. 

 


Announcements



Analysis of Kenya’s 2017 elections: A call for articles

The objective of the special issue is to examine the discourses of national, inclusive and equitable transformation as opposed to a mere exercise of power transfer between political elites.


 


Pambazuka Android App is now on Google Play Store

As a way to reach more people and to make your experience with Pambazuka News better, we have developed an android app as another tool to create a better reading experience with mobile devices. The app will have periodic updates to cater for changing readers' requirements and experiences.to cater for changing readers' requirements and experiences.
App download Link

 

 

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Henry Makori and Tidiane Kasse - Editors, Pambazuka News

Yves Niyiragira - Executive Director, Fahamu


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