Podcasts about African Union

Bongani Bingwa speaks with Africa Report Correspondent, Crystal Orderson discussing two major stories: First, African policymakers are meeting in Lomé, Togo, from May 12–14, 2025, at a High-Level Conference co-hosted by the African Union, African Development Bank, and the Togolese government to address Africa’s growing debt crisis. The summit aims to adopt the AU Lomé Declaration, which will lay out shared principles for managing public debt and coordinating creditor engagement across the continent. Second, a Kenyan court has sentenced four men including two Belgians, a Vietnamese, and a Kenyan to one year in prison or a $7,700 fine for attempting to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country, a case shedding light on the niche but illegal global trade in exotic insects. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to ensure that the continent's growing debt burden does not compromise its dignity or hinder its development. Speaking at the African Union's Debt Conference in Lomé, Togo, he emphasized that when properly managed, debt should serve as a tool for progress—driving growth and creating opportunities across Africa

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called on all African countries to work together and deal with conflicts and coups on the continent. He says the African Union needs to do more to address the many challenges facing the continent. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Kagame says regardless of the challenges, efforts must be made to finding lasting peace.

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TITLE: Gaza, Should Africans Care? Pro- Palestine Cornell Student Who Fled US Talks to Africa Here & NowTags:Africa, Palestine, Israel, activism, geopolitics, youth, solidarity, African Union, Arab League, liberation We explore Africa's historical support for the Palestinian cause with MOMODOU TAAL, the 31-year-old British Gambian graduate student who fled the US before he was deported for his pro-Gaza activism. We recall Nelson Mandela's 1997 statement that South African freedom would be incomplete without that of the Palestinians and how the near universal solidarity on the continent for their cause has ebbed somewhat.Why should a bright, young African jeopardise a first-class education at an elite university because of the suffering of Gazans? MOMODOU is clear: everybody should care about the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including thousands of children.MOMODOU tells us about the protests on campus calling for the university to divest from companies that are involved in the destruction of Palestine and the lives of its people. His name is noted by the authorities, and he realises that he will become a target for deportation by the incoming Trump administration.He is however, helped and supported by his lecturers and members of the faculty including many Jewish students. It is important MOMODOU says, not to conflate Zionism with the Jewish people against whom he has no grudge.When his name appears on a list for deportation, MOMODOU he challenges the legality of executive orders – the tool of choice used by the White House. His legal action fails and MOMODOU decides to ‘self-deport', to flee the United States before he is chucked out.“I've not been accused of any violence, I've not been arrested. The government doesn't say anything about me, my activity. It says that you created an uncomfortable environment for Jewish students….I find that quite strange because I never go to university thinking I have to be comfortable” he says.We ask MOMODOU the fundamental question: why does he think black liberation is inextricably linked to the Palestinian cause? He refers back to Malcolm X and others and their opposition to colonialism. He says: I believe in a world that's free for everybody. And given what we've seen in Palestine and Israel, I don't think we can ignore what has taken place. I want to create a better world, a world built on justice and I can't ignore what's happening in Palestine given what I know has happened to my own ancestor and history.'Momodou Taal hosts a podcast, The Malcolm Effect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In this episode of The Horn, Alan Boswell is joined by Abdul Mohammed, who has worked on Sudan for many years, including as a senior official in the UN and African Union. They discuss the risks of a de facto partition of the country as both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces look to solidify their respective zones of control. They examine why previous peace initiatives have faltered, the expanding role of external powers in the conflict, and key takeaways from last week's London conference, which brought together Western, Arab, and African countries. They consider what a multilateral effort to end the war might entail and whether the African Union is positioned to take the lead. Finally, they discuss whether there is still space for Sudan's civilian actors in future mediation efforts and what it would take to piece the country back together after two years of war.For more, check out our analyst notebook entries “London Conference Puts Paralysed Sudan Peace Efforts on Display” and “Battle for Darfur Reaches Fever Pitch as Sudan's War Enters Third Year” as well as our statement “Two Years On, Sudan's War is Spreading”, as well as our Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SUBSCRIBE LEADING PEACE THIS HOUR - BREAKING HAPPY TV NEWS: Global Peace Movement Calls for Urgent Action, Citing UN Affiliations[Global] – Amid growing global tensions, the Global Peace Building Network (GPBNet) has issued an urgent call to action, urging individuals worldwide to engage in daily peace-building activities. The organization, which announced its official affiliation with several prominent international bodies, including United Nations-associated bodies, African Union institutions, Global Human Rights & Peace Movement Networks, International Sovereign Royal Houses & Global Fund Houses, and 200 governments, is spearheading a movement towards achieving global peace by 2025."Today was OVERWHELMING WATCH https://youtu.be/7gC4R9kpd1M GPBNet stated in a recent communication. "Read All & ACT NOW: First REGISTER https://1gpb.net & Enjoy Daily Peace Actions Volunteering."GPBNet is encouraging individuals to organize daily peace activities, plan year-round programs, and host Peace Expos. Resources, including partnership logos and pictures, are available for download at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1P39Ee3LiD5Snqws_uhiXQ2q1IC4Y52mc?usp=sharing.The organization also promotes weekly Peace Trainings, Festivals, Rallies, Marathons, Crusades, Events, Projects, and Community Service programs. Their aim is to build a "2nd coming Global Peace Building heavenly Epic Culture" and establish "victorious Model Peace Communities."GPBNet is providing resources for leaders and contractors, including agreements available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q3pDy5-8ZCLdtK7eH8Cuex7tFVrY_Yid/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111236276969386459005&rtpof=true&sd=true and award materials at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CqNtx4ld6xraqpF7wWSwy_6wZbE4RLsu/view?usp=sharing. They are also encouraging local registration and partnership banner creation.The organization emphasizes daily reporting and celebrates the empowerment of its "GPBNet franchise," urging the mobilization of partners, populations, and funds. They highlight ongoing peace rallies and festivals in various countries and invite global participation.GPBNet outlines "100+ BENEFITS" for its Global Peace Ambassadors, aiming to unite "all 8 billion+ people" and foster a "one global family of humankind."To accelerate peace, GPBNet invites individuals to join their movement through the following channels: * Website: http://1gpb.net/ * Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GPBNet/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/101728595 * Instagram: https://instagram.com/HAPPY_TV_NEWS * WhatsApp: +79811308385Would you like to take any further actions based on this information?

“Our goal is to... silence the guns.” One of the stated aims of the African Union is to 'promote peace, security, and stability on the continent'. With that in mind, the organisation co-hosted a conference aimed at finding an end to Sudan's war last week in London. But even as discussions continued in London, thousands of civilians in Northern Darfur were fleeing for their lives under military bombardment. And in other parts of the continent there are other equally bloody and apparently unresolvable conflicts – including in neighbouring South Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Sahel region where Islamist jihadist groups are active. So how much impact can such meetings, and the organisation, actually have? For today's Africa Daily, Peter Musembi speaks to the AU's Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Bankole Adeoye.

In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by  Candice Mama, a global thought leader in forgiveness, healing, and post-conflict transformation. They dive deep into the heart of personal growth, resilience, and navigating challenges in life. Life isn't always about figuring everything out. It's about embracing vulnerability, learning from both success and failures, and stepping into the known with determination. In this episode, they discuss how to face hardships with courage, use feedback as a tool for improvement, and find the strength to rise above obstacles.  Candice Mama is a passionate advocate for peace and reconciliation who has nearly a decade of experience in the NGO and MPO space. Having started her journey in an unexpected and deeply personal way sparked a deep commitment to understanding the impact of war and helping others break free from the pain of their pasts within her. She was praised by Vogue as one of the world's top 33 most inspiring women alongside icons like Michelle Obama. She was also named among the Top 20 African women by the African Union and the United Nations.  In this episode you will be able to, • Learn what bravery really means, and when it matters most. • Discover the potential of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence • Learn the intersection of ethics, equity, and emerging tech in a world of conflict. • See how nonprofits and social change leaders can embrace imperfection and still take action. • Discover self-coaching strategies for pushing through discomfort and doubt. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Catch up on the latest Caribbean news. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean Headlines: Antigua and Barbuda Social Program In Jeopardy with New US TariffsBritish Virgin Islands Eyes Dominica Republic over Miami as Source for GoodsCARICOM, African Union, and Diaspora Speak As One- for Global ReparationPope Francis Remembered as a Champion for Small Island StatesThese and other stories are on the Caribbean News Round Up, Episode 2, Week of April 21.Listen and subscribe to the  Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Round Up for news you need to know. Send news releases and information to news@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

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The civil war in Sudan, which broke out two years ago, has been described by aid agencies as the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world." Today, at a conference in London, delegations from European countries, the African Union, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt pledged to increased aid to Sudan, as well as try to find a pathway to peace. Also in the programme: the US Department of Education says it's freezing around $2.5 billion of federal funding to Harvard University, accusing the institution of fighting White House demands to combat left-wing bias at universities; and a 16th century book about cheese reveals details of Britain's long love affair with the dairy product.(Photo: A woman sits by the roadside after paramilitary Rapid Support Forces attacks on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk refugee camps, near the city of El-Fasher in Darfur. Credit: BBC)

Enhancing peace and security cooperation is a key pillar of the EU-Africa partnership, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025. In the second address of the 2025 Development Matters lecture series, which is kindly supported by Irish Aid, Mr Johan Borgstam, EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, presents his assessment of the situation in the region based on his recent visits and focus on the EU's engagement in support of peace, stability, and security in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr Borgstam is a Swedish diplomat with extensive national and EU experience, which includes serving as the Head of the EU Delegation to Ethiopia and ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Greece. He was appointed the EUSR for the Great Lakes Region on 1 September 2024. In this role, he supports the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs in implementing the EU's foreign policy objectives in the Great Lakes Region. His mission is to contribute to building a stronger, more comprehensive, and more strategic partnership with the countries in the region, maintaining close contact with key regional organisations and fora, such as the African Union and the East African Community, as well as the United Nations, the International Financial Institutions, and non-state actors when relevant. It is the second lecture of the 2025 Development Matters series, which is kindly sponsored by Irish Aid.

This week on the news roundup: the US and Iran are making moves risking escalation to a conflict (0:43); Israel rejects another Gaza ceasefire as it plans to carve up the Strip (7:28); the IDF resumes bombing Beirut (11:41); Myanmar suffers a devastating earthquake (13:44); the South Korea supreme court will rule on Yoon's impeachment today (17:16); the Sudanese military secures the capital, Khartoum (18:38); the African Union sends a mediation team to South Sudan (20:26); the US approves a UK-Mauritius deal on the Chagos Archipelago (22:42); President Trump is now displeased with both Putin and Zelenskyy (24:54); President Bukele of El Salvador is reportedly in direct talks with MS-13 (29:03); the Trump administration admits innocent people were among those deported to El Salvador (31:23); far-right influencer Laura Loomer appears to have influenced Trump into firing members of the National Security Council (33:08); and President Trump announces quite a few tariffs for what he calls “liberation day” (34:49). Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on American Prestige's news roundup: the US and Iran are making moves risking escalation to a conflict (0:43); Israel rejects another Gaza ceasefire as it plans to carve up the Strip (7:28); the IDF resumes bombing Beirut (11:41); Myanmar suffers a devastating earthquake (13:44); the South Korea supreme court will rule on Yoon's impeachment today (17:16); the Sudanese military secures the capital, Khartoum (18:38); the African Union sends a mediation team to South Sudan (20:26); the US approves a UK-Mauritius deal on the Chagos Archipelago (22:42); President Trump is now displeased with both Putin and Zelenskyy (24:54); President Bukele of El Salvador is reportedly in direct talks with MS-13 (29:03); the Trump administration admits innocent people were among those deported to El Salvador (31:23); far-right influencer Laura Loomer appears to have influenced Trump into firing members of the National Security Council (33:08); and President Trump announces quite a few tariffs for what he calls “liberation day” (34:49).Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Podcastic 45 w/Katia Yata on: El3oumda, Algiers, diplomacy, politics, African Union, Ecology, Mouloudia, Cairo, Mediterranean & more! #KatiaYata------لأن العالم أكبر من الشَّخص الواحد، فالأفراد والأقوام مختلفين. كلٌ يحمل جزءاً من أحجية الحياة. أنا سيدعلي، وفي بودكاستيك، أُحاور شخصيات مثيرة للإهتمام

Today we're bringing you a bonus episode on South Sudan from Crisis Group's Global Podcast Hold Your Fire!.In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Crisis Group's Horn of Africa director Alan Boswell and South Sudan expert Daniel Akesh to discuss the escalating violence in South Sudan. They examine what's behind clashes between government forces and opposition-linked militias, which began in Upper Nile state before spreading to other parts of the country. They look at President Salva Kiir's recent government shakeup, including the dismissal of both former Kiir allies and key opposition figures and rivals, most notably First Vice President Riek Machar, a co-signatory of the 2018 peace agreement. They also talk about how the war in neighbouring Sudan has compounded tensions in South Sudan and Juba's uneasy balancing act with Sudan's warring factions, both of which control territory along a vital oil pipeline. Finally, they discuss the muted response from outside South Sudan, what a renewed conflict could mean for regional stability and the legacy of the country's fragile 2018 deal. For more, be sure to check out our recent Alert “South Sudan on the Precipice of Renewed Full-blown War”, our briefing “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2025” and our South Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group experts Daniel Akech and Alan Boswell about escalating violence across South Sudan, President Salva Kiir's dismissal of both loyalists and opposition leaders, the impact of neighbouring Sudan's conflict and hope of averting a return to civil war in the world's youngest country.In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Crisis Group's Horn of Africa director Alan Boswell and South Sudan expert Daniel Akesh to discuss the escalating violence in South Sudan. They examine what's behind clashes between government forces and opposition-linked militias, which began in Upper Nile state before spreading to other parts of the country. They look at President Salva Kiir's recent government shakeup, including the dismissal of both former Kiir allies and key opposition figures and rivals, most notably First Vice President Riek Machar, a co-signatory of the 2018 peace agreement. They also talk about how the war in neighbouring Sudan has compounded tensions in South Sudan and Juba's uneasy balancing act with Sudan's warring factions, both of which control territory along a vital oil pipeline. Finally, they discuss the muted response from outside South Sudan, what a renewed conflict could mean for regional stability and the legacy of the country's fragile 2018 deal. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more, be sure to check out our recent Alert “South Sudan on the Precipice of Renewed Full-blown War”, our briefing “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2025” and our South Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Omar Mahmood, Crisis Group's Senior Analyst for Somalia and the Horn of Africa to discuss Somalia's uncertain new global context with the dawn of a new Trump administration. They first unpack the recent Ankara declaration between Somalia and Ethiopia and the failure to find funding for the new African Union mission in Somalia. They then explore what the Trump administration might do on Somalia, the potential for a major rupture in Washington's support for Somalia's federal government, and what this could mean for European, Turkish and Arab support for Somalia's government. They also assess new offensives from Al-Shabaab and how the group is trying to posture itself amid all these shifts. For more, check out the last episodes of The Horn on Somalia What to Expect from the New AU Mission in Somalia and Somalia amid a Swirl of Regional Tensions as well as our Somalia country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hidden Agenda of Foreign Aid: Exposed by Global LeadersDescription: In this eye-opening episode of Forefront Radio, we dive deep into the controversial role of foreign aid in developing nations. Is it truly a helping hand, or a calculated strategy to destabilize? Hungary's Prime Minister sheds light on this global issue, while the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union reveals shocking truths in a recent interview. From USAID's "peanuts" contributions to Africa to the covert operations of mercenary groups in South Africa, this discussion uncovers the layers of manipulation behind the scenes.Join us as we explore the untold stories and challenge the narratives that have shaped global politics for decades.

Far from being a tragedy for Africa, the demise of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the hands of President Donald Trump's administration should be cause for celebration, argues Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the former ambassador of the African Union to the US. Chihombori-Quao tells host Steve Clemons that USAID doesn't have much to show for its decades of education and healthcare projects in Africa and often destabilised countries under the guise of environmental, human rights or social justice agendas. And if the US is not interested in Africa, African leaders shouldn't beg for better relations, she said. “It takes two to tango,” the former diplomat said. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X : https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #aljazeera #aljazeeraenglish #aljazeeranewslive

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti's long-serving foreign minister, took office as the African Union Commission's chair yesterday, four weeks after defeating Raila Odinga, Kenya's former prime minister and perennial opposition leader, in the race for the job. He succeeds Chad's Moussa Faki, who leaves after serving two four-year terms. Youssouf's victory represents a diplomatic victory for one of the continent's smallest but diplomatically agile states. But it is being seen more as a setback for Kenya's ambitious foreign policy under President William Ruto. Though recently at odds with Odinga due to their domestic political differences, Ruto took the campaign for the commission chair personally, mobilizing the entire Kenyan government in an attempt to secure the post for his former rival. Ruto likely preferred the thought of Odinga occupied with work at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, as it would bolster his own re-election prospects. If so, his calculations recall those of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who ensured that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - his former wife and domestic political rival - was elected AU Commission chair in 2012. While the bloc's major donors - Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria and South Africa - have seldom held the top position, there has been a clear pattern of success for candidates backed by respected or influential heads of state. Dlamini-Zuma hailed from the continent's economic powerhouse, for instance, and at the time the outgoing Faki first won the post in 2017, he benefited from the influential support of then-Chadian President Idriss Deby, who had just held the more prominent position of AU Chair. One might have expected the same dynamic to play in Odinga's favor. However, Ruto did not anticipate the level of opposition the prospect of a Kenyan at the head of the commission would generate. Early in the race, Youssouf received the endorsement of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which includes 27 African members, in part because Ruto's portrayal of Kenya as a staunch Western ally alienated states that were more sympathetic to Palestine. There were also doubts about whether Odinga would be fully autonomous in his approach to the role or instead serve as a proxy for Nairobi. For all the headwinds Odinga faced, Youssouf also certainly benefited from his long experience in Djibouti, which despite its small size has an active diplomatic profile as part of its efforts to secure external investment in support of its stability. Djibouti hosts the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, the regional bloc comprising eight member states that oversees trade and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa. Unlike other groups on the continent, IGAD is supported by several non-African partner nations, including France, the U.K. and the U.S., highlighting the kind of multilateral networks of support Djibouti has been cultivating. Djibouti's approach serves as a model for leveraging great power competition for its own advantage, without aligning itself with one side or the other. The degree to which Djibouti has successfully leveraged its strategic location on the Horn of Africa is a further sign of its active diplomacy. It is home to at least eight foreign military bases from diverse and even rival countries. These include Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. military's sole permanent base in Africa, as well as a French military and naval base that is among France's largest overseas contingents. But Djibouti also houses China's first overseas military base, as well as bases for Italy, Japan and South Korea, all of which were established to combat piracy and defend vital economic interests in the Red Sea. This sizable foreign presence has contributed to ensuring Djibouti's stability by incentivizing global powers to keep it insulated from other conflicts in the Horn of Africa. These bases have also resulted in significant economic investments in the country, allowing it to boast a considerably higher GDP...

Today we're bringing you a bonus episode on Sudan from Crisis Group's Global Podcast Hold Your Fire!.In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood is joined by Crisis Group's Sudan expert Shewit Woldemichael and Horn of Africa director Alan Boswell, to discuss the Sudanese army's military advances against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan amid a devastating humanitarian crisis. They assess what explains the shifting battlefield momentum and why an end to the conflict appears out of sight despite the RSF's setbacks. They examine how both the army and RSF are manoeuvring for political influence, with each side laying out plans for rival governments. They also explore the role of external actors in the war, challenges facing diplomatic efforts and the implications of Washington's potential disengagement from the region.For more, be sure to check out our recent statement “Battle for Khartoum Marks a Crossroads in Sudan's Civil War”, our briefing “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2025” and our Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday granted the African Union permission to participate in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood is joined by Crisis Group's Sudan expert Shewit Woldemichael and Horn of Africa director Alan Boswell, to discuss the Sudanese army's military advances against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan amid a devastating humanitarian crisis. They assess what explains the shifting battlefield momentum and why an end to the conflict appears out of sight despite the RSF's setbacks. They examine how both the army and RSF are manoeuvring for political influence, with each side laying out plans for rival governments. They also explore the role of external actors in the war, challenges facing diplomatic efforts and the implications of Washington's potential disengagement from the region.Click here to listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.For more, be sure to check out our recent statement “Battle for Khartoum Marks a Crossroads in Sudan's Civil War”, our briefing “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2025” and our Sudan country page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Speaker: Professor Margo Bagley, Emory University School of Law Abstract: 2024 was a year for multilateral IP like no other. WIPO Member states adopted two new treaties last year: the WIPO Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge and the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. Both were groundbreaking in their mention of one or more of genetic resources, traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and indigenous peoples and local communities, none of which are standard IP topics and all of which have been controversial additions to the normative work at WIPO. Moreover, both treaties address disclosure of origin for one or more of these controversial areas, another first for a WIPO treaty. I will discuss how these two treaties came to fruition and their ramifications for future multilateral IP treaty-making.Biography: Margo A. Bagley is Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law. She returned to Emory in 2016 after ten years at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she held the Hardy Cross Dillard chair. She was the Hieken Visiting Professor in Patent Law at Harvard Law School in Fall 2022. Her scholarship focuses on comparative issues relating to patents and biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and access to medicines, and IP and social justice issues. Professor Bagley served on two National Academies Committees on IP matters, is a technical expert to the African Union in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) matters, and has served as a consultant to several United Nations organizations. She has served as a US Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program advisor and currently serves as a member of the U.S. DARPA ELSI Team for the BRACE project. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a faculty lecturer with the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, and also has taught patent related courses in China, Cuba, Israel, and Singapore. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and monographs as well as two books with co-authors with a third on the way. She is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, practiced patent law with both Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, and Smith, Gambrell and Russell, and has been an expert witness in several patent cases. A chemical engineer by training, Professor Bagley worked in industry for several years before attending law school at Emory where she was a Woodruff Fellow. She is a co-inventor on patents on peanut butter and bedding technology. For more information see: https://www.cipil.law.cam.ac.uk/seminars-and-events/cipil-seminars

In this episode, Loye and Fola discuss the the conclusion of the Binance Brouhaha in Nigeria; USAID, Trump and his impact on Africa; and the African Union elections.00:51 Binance controversy in Nigeria15:19 Trump, USAID, and Africa28:17 African Union electionshttps://www.instagram.com/thebrief.xyz/

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reportedly asked Chad for military support in its effort to contain M23 rebels. According to Reuters news agency, a special envoy of President Felix Tshisekedi visited Chad this week to meet with its military leader Idris Deby Ito. Meanwhile, M23 rebels have captured Uvira, the second major city in South Kivu. This, as the African Union-led peace process led by Angola President Joao Lourenco seeks renewed energy. Veteran Angolan independent journalist Mario Paiva tells VOA'S James Butty, if the report about Chad is correct, it would be serious move toward turning the DRC conflict into an Africa-wide one

Envoys from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia to discuss, among other things, planning for peace talks in the Russia-Ukraine war; however, Ukraine was not invited to the meeting. The African Union reacts to potential cuts in U.S. aid and the ongoing violence in Sudan and the DRC. Plus, activists in Uganda are calling on the government to release a jailed opposition leader.

African Union members have elected Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as the next chair of the AU Commission. Mr Ali Youssouf defeated Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Foreign Minister of Madagascar Richard Randriamandrato. What are some of the challenges he faces?Also, why is Gambia running short on medicines? And are tech-savvy Gen Z's really more vulnerable to cyber attacks? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Philip Bull Producers: Patricia Whitehorne, Sunita Nahar, Nyasha Michelle and Stefania Okereke in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

As the United States was absent from a collective pledge to drive inclusive AI development at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, France, the China-proposed Global AI Governance Initiative, put forward by President Xi Jinping in 2023, has greater relevance to promoting AI growth for good and for all, according to analysts.分析人士认为，由于美国缺席法国巴黎人工智能行动峰会并拒签推动包容性人工智能发展的集体宣言，中国国家主席习近平于2023年提出的《全球人工智能治理倡议》对于促进人工智能向善发展、普惠发展具有更加重要的意义。Fifty-eight countries including China and two international organizations—the 27-member European Union and the 55-member African Union—signed the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet at the summit, co-chaired by France and India from Monday to Tuesday.本次峰会（2月9日-10日）由法国和印度联合主办，包括中国在内的58个国家和欧盟（27个成员国）、非洲联盟（55个成员国）两大国际组织共同签署了《关于发展包容、可持续的人工智能造福人类与地球的声明》。The US refused to sign the international document, with Vice-President JD Vance making it clear at the summit that Washington maintains an "America first" approach in AI development.美国拒绝签署这份国际文件，副总统JD·万斯在峰会上明确表示，美国在人工智能发展方面坚持“美国优先”的做法。Vance said that the US administration will ensure that "American AI technology continues to be the gold standard worldwide", while access to that technology will not be open to all, according to media reports.据媒体报道，万斯表示美国政府将确保“美国人工智能技术继续成为全球黄金标准”，而这种技术的获取并不会向所有人开放。Addressing the summit in the capacity of President Xi's special representative, Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing reiterated China's commitment to working with other countries to promote development, safeguard security, share achievements in the AI field, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.作为习近平主席特别代表出席峰会的中国国务院副总理张国清重申，中国愿在人工智能领域与各国共推发展、共护安全、共享成果，共同构建人类命运共同体。In facing the opportunities and challenges brought about by the development of AI, Zhang called on the international community to jointly advocate the principle of developing AI for good and to deepen innovative cooperation, strengthen inclusiveness and universal benefits, and improve global governance.张国清表示，面对人工智能发展的机遇和挑战，国际社会应携起手来，倡导智能向善，深化创新合作，加强包容普惠，完善全球治理。Zhang's attendance at the Paris summit is widely considered as China's active implementation of the Global AI Governance Initiative. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that China's signing of the outcome document at the summit demonstrates its commitment to promoting global AI development and governance in an active manner.张国清出席巴黎峰会，被广泛视为中国积极落实《全球人工智能治理倡议》的行动。2月12日，外交部发言人郭嘉昆表示，中国签署峰会成果文件，表明中国致力于推动全球人工智能发展和治理的积极态度。"China will continue to uphold the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution with benefits shared by all, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with all parties, and promote artificial intelligence to better serve global development and enhance the wellbeing of humanity," Guo said at a regular news conference.郭嘉昆在例行记者会上表示，“中国将继续秉持共商共建共享理念，同各方加强交流合作，推动人工智能更好服务全球发展、增进人类福祉。”The Global AI Governance Initiative called on countries to work together to prevent risks and develop AI governance frameworks, norms and standards based on broad consensus, in order to make AI technologies more secure, reliable, controllable and equitable.《全球人工智能治理倡议》呼吁各国携手合作，共同做好风险防范，形成具有广泛共识的人工智能治理框架和标准规范，不断提升人工智能技术的安全性、可靠性、可控性、公平性。On July 1 last year, the 78th United Nations General Assembly adopted a China-led resolution on enhancing international AI cooperation, with over 140 countries supporting it. This resolution, which was the UN's first on international cooperation for AI capacity building, fully embodies the core principles of the Global AI Governance Initiative, and aligns with the high expectations of numerous UN member states, particularly developing countries.2024年7月1日，第78届联合国大会通过了一项由中国主提的加强人工智能能力建设国际合作决议，得到了140多个国家的支持。该决议作为联合国首份关于人工智能能力建设国际合作的决议，充分反映了《全球人工智能治理倡议》的核心要义，顺应了广大联合国会员国特别是发展中国家的热切期待。Yasir Habib Khan, president of the Institute of International Relations and Media Research in Pakistan, said that in the fast-evolving AI economy, China has emerged as a key player, offering great opportunities for developing nations, especially the Global South, to help them keep pace with global technological progress.巴基斯坦国际关系与媒体研究所所长亚希尔·哈比卜·汗表示，在快速发展的人工智能经济中，中国已成为关键参与者，为发展中国家特别是“全球南方”国家提供了巨大机遇，帮助他们跟上全球技术进步的步伐。Through international cooperation mechanisms, such as the UN and the digital Silk Road initiative, China advocates AI policies that reflect the interests of developing nations, Khan said, adding that its emphasis on national sovereignty in AI governance ensures that emerging economies maintain control over their data and technological resources.他表示，中国通过联合国和“数字丝绸之路”倡议等国际合作机制，倡导有利于发展中国家的人工智能政策，强调在人工智能治理中维护国家主权，保障新兴经济体对数据和技术资源的自主掌控。The Paris summit, gathering heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, business executives and tech experts, took place as Chinese AI company DeepSeek surprised the global AI landscape.此次巴黎峰会汇聚多国国家元首、政府首脑以及国际组织负责人、企业高管和技术专家，期间中国人工智能企业DeepSeek惊艳全球AI领域。DeepSeek, which built its open-source AI model at a fraction of the cost of building similar large language models and with fewer chips, has reduced financial barriers for global AI participation and promoted a more level playing field through technological advancements.DeepSeek以更低的成本和更少的芯片构建开源AI模型，降低了全球参与人工智能的成本门槛，并通过技术进步促进了更加公平的竞争环境。Andy Mok, a senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, said that DeepSeek exemplifies China's broader vision to provide global public goods—a model that reimagines technology as a universal resource for the benefit of all.中国与全球化智库高级研究员安迪·莫克表示，DeepSeek体现了中国在提供全球公共产品方面更为广阔的愿景——这是一种将技术重构为普遍资源并惠及所有人的模式。The Chinese company's success exposes the fragility of the narrative that only the US model, with its emphasis on individualism and laissez-faire economics, can foster progress, Mok said in an opinion piece published on the website of the China Global Television Network.莫克在中国国际电视台网站上发表的一篇评论文章中表示，这家中国企业的成功，打破了只有强调个人主义和自由放任经济的美国模式才能推动进步的叙事，暴露出这一叙事的脆弱性。While hailing China's progress in AI development and its initiative for global AI governance, global leaders attending the Paris summit underlined the need for international cooperation on AI development.在巴黎峰会上，各国领导人赞扬了中国在人工智能发展方面取得的进步及其对全球人工智能治理的倡议，同时也强调了人工智能发展领域国际合作的重要性。UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides, adding that "while some companies and countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold".联合国秘书长古特雷斯警告说，人工智能能力日益集中，可能会加剧全球地缘政治分歧。他补充说，“一些公司和国家正以创纪录的投资额迅速前进，而大多数发展中国家却被甩在后面”。"We must prevent a world of AI 'haves' and 'have-nots'. We must all work together so that AI can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries—not widen it," he said.他表示，“我们必须防止出现人工智能‘有'和‘无'的两极世界。我们必须共同努力，确保人工智能能够弥合而非扩大发达国家与发展中国家之间的差距”。laissez-fairen.置之不理，放任自流

* Israel, Hamas complete 6th prisoner swap amid fears of Gaza truce collapse Palestinian resistance group hands over three Israeli captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears of the Gaza truce deal collapsing. Four recently freed Palestinian prisoners were rushed to the hospital upon arrival in Ramallah due to severe health complications, a humanitarian group says, amid reports of abuse in Israeli custody. Negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire, meant to lay out steps towards a more permanent end to the war, are expected to begin next week. * Israel kills 3 in southern Lebanon in new ceasefire violation An Israeli air strike on a car in southern Lebanon killed three people and wounded five others, marking another violation of the ceasefire that began on November 27. Lebanon's Civil Defence confirmed the attack in Jarjouaa village, Nabatieh, as Israeli violations in Lebanon reach 936 since the truce, with 76 killed and 270 injured, according to official Lebanese data. * Trump team to start Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia Senior US officials will hold peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the plans confirmed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the discussions, US Representative Michael McCaul said. * UN chief calls for DRC's territorial integrity amid fears of regional war UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) territorial integrity to be respected and warned against the escalation of war in the region. Speaking at the African Union summit, Guterres said fighting in South Kivu due to the M23 offensive risks destabilising the entire region. His remarks came a day after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized a second provincial capital in eastern DRC. * Trump seeks 50% stake in Ukraine's rare earth minerals for aid The Trump administration has proposed that the US receive a 50% ownership stake in Ukraine's rare earth minerals as compensation for military and financial aid, NBC News reported, citing US officials. The proposal would grant Washington partial control over Ukraine's critical mineral resources instead of direct financial repayment. It also includes a provision to deploy US troops to safeguard these assets, but only if a diplomatic resolution with Russia is reached.

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Joshua Meservey, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's Africa policy. They examine the Trump administration's recent freeze on foreign aid, its push to abolish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and whether the administration may restore some humanitarian assistance. They unpack what else the continent might expect from Trump's second term, including recent tensions with South Africa over land expropriation laws and competition with China over mineral supply chains. They also assess how the Trump administration might approach the conflict in Sudan, U.S. policy towards Somalia and Somaliland, the crisis in the Great Lakes, and the growing role of Middle East powers in the Horn of Africa and beyond.For more on the topics discussed in this episode, check out our Hold Your Fire! podcast episode Trump in Africa, our briefing “Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2025” and our Africa program page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In The Ideological Scramble for Africa, Frank Gerits examines how African leaders in the 1950s and 1960s crafted an anticolonial modernization project. Rather than choose Cold War sides between East and West, anticolonial nationalists worked to reverse the psychological and cultural destruction of colonialism. Kwame Nkrumah's African Union was envisioned as a federation of liberation to challenge the extant imperial forces: the US empire of liberty, the Soviet empire of equality, and the European empires of exploitation. In the 1950s, the goal of proving the potency of a pan-African ideology shaped the agenda of the Bandung Conference and Ghana's support for African liberation, while also determining what was at stake in the Congo crisis and in the fight against white minority rule in southern and eastern Africa. In the 1960s, the attempt to remake African psychology was abandoned, and socioeconomic development came into focus. Anticolonial nationalists did not simply resist or utilize imperial and Cold War pressures but drew strength from the example of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, in which Toussaint Louverture demanded the universal application of Europe's Enlightenment values. The liberationists of the postwar period wanted to redesign society in the image of the revolution that had created them. The Ideological Scramble for Africa demonstrates that the Cold War struggle between capitalism and Communism was only one of two ideological struggles that picked up speed after 1945; the battle between liberation and imperialism proved to be more enduring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In The Ideological Scramble for Africa, Frank Gerits examines how African leaders in the 1950s and 1960s crafted an anticolonial modernization project. Rather than choose Cold War sides between East and West, anticolonial nationalists worked to reverse the psychological and cultural destruction of colonialism. Kwame Nkrumah's African Union was envisioned as a federation of liberation to challenge the extant imperial forces: the US empire of liberty, the Soviet empire of equality, and the European empires of exploitation. In the 1950s, the goal of proving the potency of a pan-African ideology shaped the agenda of the Bandung Conference and Ghana's support for African liberation, while also determining what was at stake in the Congo crisis and in the fight against white minority rule in southern and eastern Africa. In the 1960s, the attempt to remake African psychology was abandoned, and socioeconomic development came into focus. Anticolonial nationalists did not simply resist or utilize imperial and Cold War pressures but drew strength from the example of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, in which Toussaint Louverture demanded the universal application of Europe's Enlightenment values. The liberationists of the postwar period wanted to redesign society in the image of the revolution that had created them. The Ideological Scramble for Africa demonstrates that the Cold War struggle between capitalism and Communism was only one of two ideological struggles that picked up speed after 1945; the battle between liberation and imperialism proved to be more enduring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In The Ideological Scramble for Africa, Frank Gerits examines how African leaders in the 1950s and 1960s crafted an anticolonial modernization project. Rather than choose Cold War sides between East and West, anticolonial nationalists worked to reverse the psychological and cultural destruction of colonialism. Kwame Nkrumah's African Union was envisioned as a federation of liberation to challenge the extant imperial forces: the US empire of liberty, the Soviet empire of equality, and the European empires of exploitation. In the 1950s, the goal of proving the potency of a pan-African ideology shaped the agenda of the Bandung Conference and Ghana's support for African liberation, while also determining what was at stake in the Congo crisis and in the fight against white minority rule in southern and eastern Africa. In the 1960s, the attempt to remake African psychology was abandoned, and socioeconomic development came into focus. Anticolonial nationalists did not simply resist or utilize imperial and Cold War pressures but drew strength from the example of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, in which Toussaint Louverture demanded the universal application of Europe's Enlightenment values. The liberationists of the postwar period wanted to redesign society in the image of the revolution that had created them. The Ideological Scramble for Africa demonstrates that the Cold War struggle between capitalism and Communism was only one of two ideological struggles that picked up speed after 1945; the battle between liberation and imperialism proved to be more enduring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

In The Ideological Scramble for Africa, Frank Gerits examines how African leaders in the 1950s and 1960s crafted an anticolonial modernization project. Rather than choose Cold War sides between East and West, anticolonial nationalists worked to reverse the psychological and cultural destruction of colonialism. Kwame Nkrumah's African Union was envisioned as a federation of liberation to challenge the extant imperial forces: the US empire of liberty, the Soviet empire of equality, and the European empires of exploitation. In the 1950s, the goal of proving the potency of a pan-African ideology shaped the agenda of the Bandung Conference and Ghana's support for African liberation, while also determining what was at stake in the Congo crisis and in the fight against white minority rule in southern and eastern Africa. In the 1960s, the attempt to remake African psychology was abandoned, and socioeconomic development came into focus. Anticolonial nationalists did not simply resist or utilize imperial and Cold War pressures but drew strength from the example of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, in which Toussaint Louverture demanded the universal application of Europe's Enlightenment values. The liberationists of the postwar period wanted to redesign society in the image of the revolution that had created them. The Ideological Scramble for Africa demonstrates that the Cold War struggle between capitalism and Communism was only one of two ideological struggles that picked up speed after 1945; the battle between liberation and imperialism proved to be more enduring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies

In The Ideological Scramble for Africa, Frank Gerits examines how African leaders in the 1950s and 1960s crafted an anticolonial modernization project. Rather than choose Cold War sides between East and West, anticolonial nationalists worked to reverse the psychological and cultural destruction of colonialism. Kwame Nkrumah's African Union was envisioned as a federation of liberation to challenge the extant imperial forces: the US empire of liberty, the Soviet empire of equality, and the European empires of exploitation. In the 1950s, the goal of proving the potency of a pan-African ideology shaped the agenda of the Bandung Conference and Ghana's support for African liberation, while also determining what was at stake in the Congo crisis and in the fight against white minority rule in southern and eastern Africa. In the 1960s, the attempt to remake African psychology was abandoned, and socioeconomic development came into focus. Anticolonial nationalists did not simply resist or utilize imperial and Cold War pressures but drew strength from the example of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, in which Toussaint Louverture demanded the universal application of Europe's Enlightenment values. The liberationists of the postwar period wanted to redesign society in the image of the revolution that had created them. The Ideological Scramble for Africa demonstrates that the Cold War struggle between capitalism and Communism was only one of two ideological struggles that picked up speed after 1945; the battle between liberation and imperialism proved to be more enduring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jeff Landset discuss Ecuador's upcoming election, plus more on Baltic countries disconnecting from a Russian power grid, a parliamentary election in Kosovo, the Super Bowl and an African Union summit in Ethiopia.Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more. These stories and others are also available in our free weekly Forecast newsletter.This episode includes work from Factal editors Jeff Landset, Awais Ahmad, James Morgan, Alex Moore and Matthew Hipolito. Produced and edited by Jimmy Lovaas. Music courtesy of Andrew Gospe. Have feedback, suggestions or events we've missed? Drop us a note: hello@factal.comWhat's Factal? Created by the founders of Breaking News, Factal alerts companies to global incidents that pose an immediate risk to their people or business operations. We provide trusted verification, precise incident mapping and a collaboration platform for corporate security, travel safety and emergency management teams. If you're a company interested in a trial, please email sales@factal.com. To learn more, visit Factal.com, browse the Factal blog or email us at hello@factal.com.Read the full episode description and transcript on Factal's blog.Copyright © 2025 Factal. All rights reserved.

The African Union has called for an immediate halt to fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and urged dialogue to resolve the escalating conflict. On Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Congo advised Americans not to travel to the country. Mohammed Yusuf reports

This holiday season, we're dreaming of a just and representative global order. Catherine Nzuki is joined by Ambassador Martin Kimani, PhD, the Executive Director of New York University's Center on International Cooperation. He was previously the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations (UN). In this episode, we take a deep dive into Africa's bid for two permanent seats on the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the long road to get there. We discuss how long Africa has been pushing for these seats (3:40); the procedure to create the two permanent seats (7:00); why the process of selecting which African state will occupy those seats could cause infighting (15:20); and two scenarios for how these seats could be distributed (19:40). We zoom out to discuss the deficit of visionary contemporary leaders (30:18); the types of reforms that the African Union needs (34:42); Africa's demographic dividend (36:00); Africa in the G20 (42:30); and finally, reordering global geography in line with Africa's own interests (45:00).

Ralph welcomes retired diplomat Ambassador Chas Freeman to discuss the United States' disregard for international law, the incoming Trump administration's approach to foreign policy, and the decline of the American Empire (among other topics).Ambassador Chas Freeman is a retired career diplomat who has negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe. Ambassador Freeman was previously a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok and Beijing. He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. In addition to Chinese, Ambassador Freeman speaks French and Spanish at the professional level and can converse in Arabic and several other languages.He concluded his thirty years in public service as Assistant Secretary of Defense, responsible for managing defense relations with all regions of the world except the countries of the former Soviet Union. Ambassador Freeman is the author of several well-received books on statecraft and diplomacy, including The Diplomat's Dictionary, America's Misadventures in the Middle East, and America's Continuing Misadventures in the Middle East.I think it's fair to say that our country led the drive for international law, a world order that was based on rules established by consensus and legitimized at the United Nations. But we have also led the drive away from the rule of law, both internationally and domestically. And I think the connection is contempt for procedural justice or due process.Chas FreemanThat whole area of international law—which was a stabilizing force in the world—has gone [when Trump removed us from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement in Europe.] And the UN Charter is disrespected—not just the US Constitution is—in its fundamentals. We invade the sovereignty of other countries with no serious regard for the legal prohibitions against that. And in fact, those legal prohibitions—which once were something that smaller countries could rely upon when they confronted the great powers—are no longer effective. Therefore, we see at the local level, the regional level, a proliferation of weapons designed to counter and defend against attack by greater powers. So the whole world is in effect arming itself. This is very good for arms manufacturers, but it's very bad for the prospects for our species.Chas FreemanThere are no realistic threats against the United States—except those that we are provoking. Our view seems to be that the best way to deal with the hornet's nest—I'm speaking of West Asia, the Middle East here—is to go and poke the hornets in their nest.Chas FreemanThe real risk now…is Israel has so much power in the US that it could create incidents which would flip the United States into a blazing barrage of empire expansion— and suppression in the United States domestically. And they have an incoming president who is ripe for that kind of manipulation to begin with.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 12/11/241. On December 4th, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in broad daylight in Midtown Manhattan. Clues indicated that the killing was political; most notably, the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were each written on one of the three bullets fired at the scene. As AP notes, “The messages mirror the phrase ‘delay, deny, defend,' which is commonly used by lawyers and critics about insurers that delay payments, deny claims and defend their actions.” Following nearly two full days of nescience, authorities turned up a suspect – Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League-educated scion of an established Baltimore family who had shown signs of increasingly erratic behavior in recent months, perhaps related to ever-worsening back pain. When Mangione was apprehended in an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald's, he was found with “a three-page handwritten document that indicated ‘motivation and mindset,'” the BBC reports, however authorities have not released this manifesto. Perhaps unsurprisingly, ABC 7 New York reports that Mangione's actions have unleashed a torrent of “‘volcanic' anger,” toward health insurance agencies, which many regard as capricious and cruel. It remains to be seen how this public sentiment will factor into what is sure to be a highly-publicized criminal trial.2. The reverberations of Mangione's actions are already being felt. Back in November, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued a statement decrying Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's unilateral declaration that it would refuse to “pay for anesthesia care if [a] surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes.” The ASA called on Anthem to reverse that proposal, but their pleas were ignored. That is until December 5th – just one day after the UnitedHealthcare shooting – when the company abruptly reversed themselves and even scrubbed the announcement of the policy from their website. Of course, Anthem insists that the outcry was based on “misinformation” and denies any correlation between the assassination and their decision, per NBC, but the timing frankly makes that difficult to believe.3. Another New York City killing also made the news last week: the trial of Daniel Penny, a former U.S. Marine on trial for strangling Jordan Neely to death in a New York subway car. Neely was an African-American street artist who had been experiencing homelessness. CNN reports Penny was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, already a lesser charge than the original second-degree manslaughter allegation, which Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed Friday after jurors “twice told the court they could not come to a verdict on the count.” Neely's father, Andre Zachary, is quoted saying “I miss my son. My son didn't have to go through this. I didn't have to go through this either…What's going to happen to us now? I've had enough of this. The system is rigged.”4. Turning to the Middle East, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has fallen. Assad, with help from Russia, has clung to power since the country descended into civil war in 2011, beating back all manner of rival forces ranging from U.S.-backed rebels to left-wing Kurdish militias to ISIS. The faction that finally did wrest power from Assad is called Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham or HTS, which splintered from Al-Qaeda but is now engaging in a so-called “charm offensive” per France24, and promoting itself as a tolerant faction that will not subjugate women or oppress ethnic and religious minorities such as Syrian Christians, Druze, and Kurds. In a statement, the group told the Kurds of Aleppo “You have the right to live freely … Diversity is a strength of which we are proud…We denounce the actions of the Islamic State group against the Kurds, including the enslavement of women … We are with the Kurds to build the Syria of tomorrow.” ABC reports the U.S. will “recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.” So far HTS seems to fit the bill. And if this all wasn't enough, the Syrian situation is further complicated by Israel using this moment to expand its foothold in the country. CNN reports Israel has “launched airstrikes at military targets across Syria and deployed ground troops both into and beyond a demilitarized buffer zone for the first time in 50 years,” setting the stage for a possible new front in Netanyahu's ongoing regional war.5. In Palestine, the Intercept reports five Palestinians in the West Bank, along with the councils of the three villages they hail from have filed “a formal regulatory complaint in Germany accusing the media giant Axel Springer of contributing to human rights abuses in Palestine.” Specifically, the complaint concerns Yad2, a classified ads platform and subsidiary of Axel Springer that has been compared to Craigslist, which the plaintiffs allege enables illegal settlements. According to the complaint filed by Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre, Yad2's facilitation of settler activity violates Germany's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which “requires German companies to identify and mitigate human rights risks within their global supply chains, including in subsidiaries which they control.”6. In more Israel/Palestine news, the student body at Yale has “overwhelmingly,” passed three pro-Palestine referenda, including two demanding that the university “disclose and divest from its holdings in military weapons manufacturers, ‘including those arming Israel,'” per Yale Daily News. These measures passed with around 80% of the vote. Han Pimental-Hayes, an organizer with the pro-Palestine Sumud Coalition, is quoted saying “University leaders have long tried to paint pro-Palestine and pro-divestment students as a fringe minority. The results of this referendum demonstrate that in reality, the movement for a free Palestine and a more ethical endowment is overwhelmingly popular.” Yale Friends of Israel however expressed that they are “certain” Yale will not change its investment policy regarding Israel's weapons of war.7. Looking to Africa, Semafor reports that the incoming Trump White House appears set to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, spurred on by right-wing elements who wish to use the unrecognized country as a base for anti-China intelligence operations. This piece highlights that this move would rattle the governments of East Africa and draw the ire of the African Union, but Trump's China hawks see it as a critical element of countering Chinese influence in the region and particularly in Djibouti where the People's Liberation Army has set up one of its handful of foreign military bases. Even if Trump does not recognize Somaliland however, and instead hews to the traditional American “One Somalia” policy, Republicans are calling for Trump to take an approach akin to Taiwan – treating it as independent without formal recognition.8. Turning to domestic politics, POLITICO reports Democrats are staging a “mutiny” against the old guard who have monopolized power in the House. This report focuses on Rep. Jerry Nadler, 77, who will vacate his position as the top Democrat on Judiciary to clear the way for Jamie Raskin, Rep. Raul Grijalva, 76, who announced he would step down as the top Dem on the Natural Resources Committee, and David Scott of Georgia, 79, who is looking down the barrel at multiple challenges for his spot on the Agriculture Committee. Since this piece was published, another major challenge has emerged – NBC reports AOC is gunning for the top Democratic spot on the Oversight Committee. The POLITICO piece emphasizes Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' approach of letting the challenges “speak for themselves,” as an indication that he will not fight this wave of challenges.9. Washington Post labor reporter Lauren Kaori Gurley reports the Teamsters are demanding Amazon agree to bargaining dates by December 15. In a statement, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien writes “The Teamsters are done asking nicely for Amazon to stop breaking the law. Amazon must commit to come to the table and bargain a Teamsters contract with its workers — or face the consequences of its inaction.” This gambit by the Teamsters comes just as the winter holiday gift deliveries are getting into full swing, maximizing the union's leverage. Moreover, the Teamster's Faustian bargain with the Trump administration may yield results for them, as the normally business friendly Republicans may be inclined to put the screws to Amazon on behalf of this particular union. Whatever the circumstances, the Amazon Teamsters deserve a contract and it is heartening that O'Brien is fighting for his members.10. In decidedly worse Trump news, the president-elect has announced former Missouri Republican Congressman Billy Long as his pick to lead the IRS. A story by the Lever sounds the alarm on how he might use the “non-profit killer” bill to pursue political vendettas against tax-exempt organizations he dislikes. This piece exposes Long's role in trying to pressure the IRS to launch a probe into, of all things, the Humane Society following their support of a Missouri ballot measure strengthening dog breeder regulations. Put another way, if Long was ready to use the long-arm of the IRS to crack down on an organization whose sole political goal is the protection of animals, what might he do to organizations devoted to civil rights or social justice?This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso, is visiting Libya, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union's committee on the Libyan crisis. His aim is to get the country's rival governments, led by Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah in the west and Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east, to the reconciliation table. Does the AU have any influence in Libya?Also why are young women in Kenya opting for irreversible surgery as a means of contraception? And a new regulation in Spain giving migrant workers a chance to get their papers in order. Is it good news for all migrants? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi. Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London Technical Producer: Jonny Hall Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Freedom Broadcasters Livestream Dec 5, 2024, Thursday 12:00 PM EST Guest: Lawrence Freeman Topic: Africa's Role in Shaping the New Global Order: Economic Growth,Geopolitical Strategies, Fight for Sovereignty and Freedom from Poverty https://lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com/ Bio: Lawrence Freeman stands as a prominent political-economic analyst with over three decades of dedicated experience in Africa, particularly within the discipline of physical economics. His unwavering advocacy for authentic economic growth through the enhancement of critical infrastructure, particularly in rail transportation and electricity, underscores his commitment to the principle that economic development is a fundamental human right. By prioritizing the sovereignty of African nations, Freeman empowers local leaders to advocate for policies that center on the welfare of their citizens. Freeman's significant contributions to economic policy span several countries, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, Chad, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and Côte d'Ivoire. He champions transformative projects such as the Transaqua initiative, aimed at revitalizing Lake Chad, and the African Union's African Integrated High-Speed Rail Network (AIHSN). Additionally, he is actively engaged in developing an African Infrastructure Development Plan inspired by Alexander Hamilton's National Bank framework. In addition to his policy work, Freeman enriches the academic landscape by teaching African history at a Maryland institution and disseminating his insights through a multitude of scholarly articles. His proactive involvement in international media, along with advisory roles—most notably with the Lake Chad Basin Commission—further amplifies his influence. Freeman's work is not just critical; it is also inspiring, fostering a promising vision for Africa's socio-economic development, and highlighting the indispensable role that infrastructure plays in achieving sustainable growth and prosperity. --- Help Support the show through my Business Partners :  Find Virtual Assistants at https://va.world/ Upgrade Your Brain  Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness   https://braingym.fitness/⁠  -------------------------- Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts  ⁠⁠⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠⁠ Health & Wellness Products https://partnerco.world/ My Website https://partner.co/?custid=N6543249  ------------------ Hosts: GraceAsagra, RN MA Podcast:  Quantum Nurse http://graceasagra.bio.link/ TIP/DONATE LINK for Grace Asagra @ Quantum Nurse Podcast https://patron.podbean.com/QuantumNurse Drago Bosnic BRICS portal (infobrics.org) https://t.me/CerFunhouse Special Guest Host: PD Lawton https://africanagenda.net/ Roy CoughlanPodcast: AWAKENINGhttps://www.awakeningpodcast.org/ https://www.awakeningpodcast.org/support/ Hartmut Schumacher