Africa

Archived

• South Africa seeks to join global EV supply chain
• Europe is South Africa's largest export market for cars
• South African auto leaders urge coordinated national EV strategy

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/28002750

• Land restoration in Burkina Faso’s Centre-Ouest and Kadiogo regions is women’s work.
• Here, women have made fertilizer trees their indispensable allies in reviving farmland.
• Thanks to these nitrogen-fixing and shade-providing trees, they’re bringing degraded soils back to life.
• In Cassou and Bazoulé communes in Centre-Ouest, local women are breathing new life into an ancestral technique that boosts productivity and enriches biodiversity.

Maan Tagnan has planted several varieties of fertilizer trees in her field, including Albizia stipulata, Ferruginea and white acacia (Faidherbia albida). The acacia, known locally as zaanga, is revered by agroforesters, Zouré says. “It’s an off-season tree that sheds its leaves during the rainy season and provides shade in the dry season, making it essential for maintaining soil fertility in agroforestry systems,” he says.

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cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/27699255

• Malawian households with fruit trees on their farms consumed more vegetables, and each additional tree species increased fruit consumption by 5% over a 10-year study period.
• Trees improve nutrition through direct consumption of fruits, ecosystem services that boost other crop production and potential income from sales, and they provide cooking fuel.
• Despite trees’ benefits, fruit and vegetable intake dropped 42% and 25%, respectively, due to rising food prices, currency devaluation and climate change.
• Researchers recommend including food-producing trees in Africa’s reforestation programs and shifting agricultural policies from focusing solely on staple grains to supporting diverse, nutritious crops.

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cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/27726079

Growing tall trees to provide shade for cocoa plantations in west Africa could sequester millions of tonnes of carbon, according to a new study.

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cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/27190527

"There was the misconception that, because Africa is warm anyway, people are tolerant to the heat," she said. "I think that tolerance level is now superseded."

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• Inside Climate News article
• research cited

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/27048605

• In the past three decades, poaching has decimated Africa’s now-critically endangered forest elephants, and as a result, their vital role as seed dispersers of many forest plants has been disrupted.
• A new study from Cameroon provides the first direct evidence that without forest elephants, there are fewer ebony saplings; on average, as few as 68%, in Central African rainforests.
• Researchers found that seeds pooped out in elephant dung have a better chance of surviving and sprouting as they are protected from hungry rodents and other herbivores that chew and destroy the seeds.
• The findings show that losing key ecosystem engineers and seed dispersers has far-reaching ecological and economic impacts, potentially altering entire ecosystems.

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Diospyros crassiflora general info

A two-year investigation into 139 complaints lodged by communities in Africa and Asia affected by tropical plantation company Socfin has confirmed that many of the allegations are at least partly valid, according to a statement released by a collective of 33 civil society organizations from around the world.

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https://archive.ph/LdvBg

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/23588701

Communities in northern Nigeria have been experiencing prolonged dry spells worsened by climate change and excessive rainfall that leads to severe flooding during the brief wet season.

In videos and photos on social media, floodwaters covered neighborhoods and homes were submerged, with their roofs barely visible above the brown colored waters. Waist-deep in water, residents tried to salvage what they could, or rescue others.

this is an ongoing disaster related to the previous post https://slrpnk.net/post/22954566

Also because of its location just north of the equator, Nigeria's climate is characterized by the hot and wet conditions associated with the movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) north and south of the equator.

When the ITCZ is to the south of the equator, the north-east winds prevail over Nigeria, producing the dry-season conditions. When the ITCZ moves into the Northern Hemisphere, the south westerly wind prevails far inland to bring rainfall during the wet season.

The result is a prolonged rainy season in the far south of Nigeria, while the far north undergoes long dry periods annually. Nigeria, therefore, has two major seasons, the dry season and the wet season, the lengths of which vary from north to south.

https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/tropical/convergence-zone

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20289846

More than 3,600 households displaced from their homes alongside the site of an oil pipeline under construction in Uganda have rightfully complained of being inadequately rehoused or compensated, a report published by Haki Defenders Foundation, a Kampala, Uganda-based rights group, and the University of Sheffield in the UK, has found.

The EACOP project is a joint venture between the governments of Uganda and Tanzania with French oil company TotalEnergies, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

While the project has been touted by project owners as important for the region’s economy, the Haki Defenders Foundation, led by Executive Director Leah Munokoh, and the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield, say the $5 billion project, has raised significant concerns due to community displacement, environmental damage, and human rights violations.

[...]

For the first time in its history, Canada has unveiled a comprehensive Africa strategy, marking a significant milestone in the Canadian approach to engaging with the African continent.

Launched on March 6 by Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to the foreign affairs minister, the strategy represents a crucial step towards a more coherent and intentional relationship with Africa.

Authors:

• David J Hornsby | Professor of International Affairs and the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic), Carleton University
• David Black | Professor of International Relations and Development, Dalhousie University
• Edward Akuffo | Associate Professor and Department Head, Political Science, University of The Fraser Valley
• Thomas Kwasi Tieku | Professor of Politics and International Relations, King's University College, Western University

Cross posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/17450686

Sexual violence, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), includes any sexual act or attempt to obtain sex through coercion, regardless of the relationship between the parties. This encompasses rape, unwanted sexual touching, and non-contact forms of sexual violence.

One of the factors that differentiates healthy intimate partner sex from violent sexual encounters is consent: the voluntary, ongoing agreement to engage in sexual activity. It is essential in every sexual act, regardless of relationship status or prior interactions. And it can be withdrawn at any time.

Yet, deeply rooted cultural and societal beliefs continue to shape how consent is understood. A new wide-ranging study conducted by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council sheds light on the scale of the issue. The results offer a sobering look at how South African women’s autonomy in sexual matters is often dismissed or undermined.

[...]

7.9% women had experienced sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. That means an estimated 1.1 million women in South Africa have experienced sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. And, 7.5% of male participants self-reported that they’d perpetrated sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. This translates to an estimated 917, 395 men who have sexually violated a partner. These grim statistics cannot be ignored.

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Archived version

Journalist Ephrem Yalike took part in the relentless disinformation regime Russia employs in the Central African Republic. After narrowly escaping death while under interrogation by his case officer, he fled his country. For the first time, he tells the inside story of Russia’s campaign to influence public opinion: a secret network you can only leave at the risk of your life.

• Central African journalist Ephrem Yalike offers evidence revealing the underbelly of Russian disinformation campaigns in the Central African Republic, in which he himself took part.
• Africa Politology, a secret organization belonging to the “Prigozhin galaxy,” uses Central African journalists to manipulate public opinion in the country.
• Among those in charge of coordinating disinformation campaigns is Mikhaïl Mikhaïlovitch Prudnikov, a close associate of the Wagner Group who worked on behalf of Moscow in Sudan before influencing public opinion in the Central African Republic.

Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt to hostilities in Sudan, where a brutal conflict between two rival generals continues unabated.

The draft of the resolution, prepared by Britain and Sierra Leone, called for the warring Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to “engage, in good faith, in dialogue to agree steps to de-escalate the conflict with the aim of urgently agreeing a national ceasefire”.

[...]

Shame on [Russian President Vladimir] for using his mercenaries to spread conflict and violence across the African continent and shame on Putin for pretending to be a partner of the Global South while condemning black Africans to further killing, further rape,” [Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy] said.

[...]

Since April last year, Sudan has been ravaged by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces – headed by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, who seized power in a 2021 coup – and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen Al Burhan's one-time deputy, Gen Mohamed Dagalo.

The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 11 million people, including 3.1 million who have fled the country, according to UN data.

The humanitarian toll is severe, with 26 million facing acute food shortages and both sides facing accusations of sexual violence.

Africa is losing up to $4.2 billion annually in interest payments on its loans due to stereotypical narratives that dominate global media coverage of the continent, study says

Biased media coverage imposes on African nations a significant cost burden, particularly during electoral periods, ultimately deterring foreign direct investment (FDI) in a continent known for its low default rates and high returns in strategic sectors, research by the 'Africa No Filter' and 'Africa Practice' finds.

The study used academic estimates indicating that media sentiment can influence borrowing interest rates by up to 10%, with a 10% improvement leading to a 1% decrease in rates.

• Negative narratives dominate the discourse around African elections compared to non-African countries with similar risk profiles. Fir example, 88% of media articles about Kenya during its election period were reported as negative, compared to only 48% for Malaysia, which affects Kenya's ability to attract foreign investments​.
• African countries consistently face higher bond yields, with Egypt having an average bond yield of 15%, compared to Thailand’s 2.5%
• Improved media sentiment could reduce borrowing interest rates by up to 1%, translating to potential savings of $4.2 billion annually across the continent. This amount could fund the education of over 12 million children, provide immunizations for more than 73 million children, or ensure clean drinking water for two-thirds of Nigeria’s population.

The report emphasises that while Eurobond debt servicing constitutes only 6% of Africa’s financing portfolio, further exploration into other financial inflows is essential to fully understand the extent of the ‘prejudice premium’ affecting African nations.

The findings underline the need for a recalibration of global media representations of Africa, urging for more accurate portrayals that reflect the continent’s diverse realities. The study serves as a clarion call for stakeholders in both media and finance to work collaboratively towards fostering a more equitable representation of Africa. By addressing these biases, substantial investment can be unlocked.

Here is more information: https://www.stopeacop.net/

A group of 28 NGOs have written to 34 banks, insurance companies and the Chinese government, urging them to deny financing and other support for oil and gas projects in Uganda.

The letters, written by U.S.-based Climate Rights International (CRI) and 27 Africa-based NGOs, follow a report detailing numerous human rights violations and environmental harms at the Kingfisher oil project sites in Uganda. Similarly, Uganda’s Tilenga oil fields also face scrutiny over their ecological and social harms, including impacts on wildlife and displacement of local communities.

Both Kingfisher and Tilenga are co-owned by French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies, the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company Uganda Ltd. (CNOOC), and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC). Both projects are also part of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline initiative (EACOP), where TotalEnergies is a major partner. The initiave aims to transport oil and gas from Uganda to Tanzania for export.

[...]

Major banks and insurance companies in Europe, Japan and North America have ruled out support for the projects, he added. “Now it’s time for all banks and insurance companies, whether in Europe, China, the Gulf States, Africa, or elsewhere, to publicly rule out any continuing or further support.”

[...]

--Comment by Siguru Wahutu, Professor of Media and Genocide, New York University, and David Cheruiyot, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, University of Groningen--

There are some positive developments regarding how Africa is being reported internationally. But an ongoing cultural change is needed, mainly in the ways news is produced. This calls for rethinking journalism training and shifting to more community-oriented approaches of reporting.

And, in this rethink, should African media should not also be taking stock of their own damaging historical role in supporting colonial interests and global north perspectives?

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It’s critical for minority world countries to reckon with a dark history of colonisation, slavery, genocide or racial discrimination. But there is also the question of how – or even if – this is something that news organisations and professionals in Africa themselves need to reckon with.

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Archived version

“It is only through collective action that we can ensure a sustainable future for all,” Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Prime Minister of Eswatini, stressed.

“Ironically, Taiwan and its 23.5 million people continue to be left by the United Nations and its specialized agencies,” he continued, calling for their inclusion, so that they can also fully participate in global development.

“There is a need to reconsider the operations of the multilateral institutions such as the IMF [International Monetary Fund] and the World Bank and particularly the Security Council,” he stressed, recalling that in 2005, his country hosted the African Union meeting that resulted in the Ezulwini Consensus which articulated Africa’s common position on the reform of the UN. “We urge the global community to implement these long-standing commitments and ensure that all regions and peoples have a voice in shaping our collective future,” he said.

He also condemned all forms of violence and supported efforts aimed at silencing the guns across the world, particularly in Africa. As his country continues to grapple with significant health challenges, he called for collaborative efforts in strengthening health systems, enhancing disease surveillance and building capacity for rapid response to health emergencies.

Archived version

The Government of Uganda had dragged 80 people in different parts of Lwengo, Kyotera and Rakai districts to court for rejecting compensation fees for their pieces of land that are onn the demarcated route of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline-EACOP project.

[...]

Cosma Yiga, one of the [defendants who refuse to give their land] accuses the government of favouring the interests of the oil company at the expense of the nationals, arguing that they are still grieved with the little money allocated to them.

Yiga, who according to the project design will lose about 2.7 acres of land planted with coffee, banana, and coffee plantations, dozens of mangoes, and jackfruit trees was allocated a compensation of 43.6 million shillings, a figure which he says is too little compare to the value of the property.

He alleges that although some Project-Affected Persons signed consent forms to give out the land, the majority are dissatisfied with rates and are struggling to rebuild their livelihoods.

The government and partners are undertaking to construct a 30-meter-wide and 1,443-kilometer-long pipeline which will transport Uganda’s crude oil from Hoima to the Chongoleani peninsular in Tanzania for export to the international market.

[...]

French oil giant Total and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation are on the cusp of building a massive crude oil pipeline right through the heart of Africa – displacing communities, endangering wildlife and tipping the world closer to full-blown climate catastrophe.

The African initiative StopEACOP, supported by several international NGOs, has been fighting against tbe project, saying the East African Crude Oil Pipeline needs to be stopped and we have a plan to do exactly that.

Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set ablaze by her former boyfriend and later died has been buried in her father's homestead in eastern Uganda.

As she was also a member of Uganda's armed forces, soldiers carried the coffin and she was given a three-volley salute.

Dickson Ndiema attacked Cheptegei with petrol just under a fortnight ago outside her home in neighbouring north-west Kenya, close to where she trained.

The 33-year-old's killing, and its brutal nature, left her family distraught and shocked many others across the world.

It underscored the high levels of violence against women in Kenya and the fact that several female athletes have been victims in recent years.

Among those at the sombre and emotional funeral ceremony in a school field in Bukwo, Cheptegei's home district, were fellow athletes wearing black T-shirts with the slogan "say no to gender-based violence".

"We are guilty as [a] government, but also the community is guilty," Kenya's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told mourners.

Russia is using media and cultural initiatives to attract African journalists, influencers, and students while spreading misleading information.

These events are being promoted by African Initiative, a newly founded Russian media organisation which defines itself as an “information bridge between Russia and Africa”. It inherited structures previously set up by the dismantled Wagner mercenary group and is believed by experts to have links with the Russian security services.

Registered in September 2023, a month after Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash, African Initiative has welcomed former employees from his disbanded enterprises.

Its efforts have been particularly focused on the three military-run countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

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Alongside cultural events on the ground, African Initiative maintains a news website with stories in Russian, English, French, and Arabic, as well as a video channel and five Telegram channels, one of which has almost 60,000 subscribers.

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Stories on the African Initiative’s website suggest without evidence that the US is using Africa as a production and testing ground for bio-weapons, building on long-discredited Kremlin disinformation campaigns.

One story echoes the Kremlin’s unsubstantiated claims about US bio-labs being relocated from Ukraine to Africa. Another maintains without evidence that US bio-labs on the continent are increasing, claiming that “under the guise of research and humanitarian projects, the African continent is becoming a testing ground for the Pentagon”, suggesting that secretive biological experiments are being conducted.

While Prigozhin’s propaganda efforts targeted mainly France, African Initiative “targets Americans to a greater degree,” says researcher Jedrzej Czerep, head of the Middle East and Africa Programme at the Polish Institute of International Affairs. “It’s far more anti-American.”

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In June, a group of bloggers and reporters from eight countries were invited for a seven-day “press tour” of the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The trip was organised by Russian state media and Western-sanctioned Russian officials, and the journalists visited African Initiative’s headquarters in Moscow.

"Africa wasn’t getting much information [about the war]," Raymond Agbadi, a Ghanaian blogger and scientist who studied in Russia and who participated in the “press tour”, told the BBC. "Whatever information we were getting was not convincing enough for us to understand what the war was really about.”

American influencer Jackson Hinkle, a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has spread multiple false claims about Ukraine, was also on the visit.

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[Edit typo.]