Podcasts about economic community

In this episode of The Horn, Alan speaks with Babatunde Afolabi, former Africa Director at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), now Director of Political Affairs at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, about mediation and conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa. They discuss HD's discreet work facilitating dialogue between conflict parties, and why the Horn's history, politics and geopolitics make regional cooperation such a challenge. They turn to Ethiopia's Tigray region, where the Pretoria agreement that halted two years of devastating war risks unravelling, and to Oromia, where HD- and IGAD-facilitated talks between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army came close to a deal before collapsing. They also discuss Sudan's hard-to-resolve war, prospects for dialogue with Al-Shabaab in Somalia, and why locally grounded dialogue remains essential to ending wars.For more, check out our Horn of Africa page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the beginning of this year Bulgaria, considered as one of the poorest countries in the European Union, became the latest to officially join the eurozone. Bulgaria's legal tender since 1881 had been the lev, but since the mid-1990s it had been pegged to other European currencies, first to the German deutschmark and now to the euro. But it remains to be seen if the country's economic policy can take advantage of the opportunities that joining the single currency can afford, in terms of trade and economic development. Monetary unions are not a new concept, some like the Scandinavian monetary union date back to the 19th Century, involving Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It established a fixed exchange rate system based on the gold standard, whilst member countries still had their own currencies before it was gradually dissolved from the outbreak of World War One onwards. Today, the biggest monetary union is the eurozone, used by around 358 million people across 21 European Union countries. It has one monetary authority for all the members and a standardised currency and coinage. And now the Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS is actively planning a monetary union with a common currency called the eco and pegged to the euro. The ambition is for greater economic sovereignty and regional economic integration. But with the US dollar as the world's dominant global reserve currency, even though it's not part of a global monetary union, is there an argument for one currency across all borders and if so, what should it be? So, on The Inquiry this week we're asking, ‘What's the future for monetary unions?'Contributors: Assoc Prof Ralitsa Simeonova-Ganeva, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria Prof Barry Eichengreen, University of California, Berkeley, USA Prof Mohamed Ben Omar Ndiaye, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal Dr Judy Shelton, Senior Fellow, The Independent Institute, California, USAPresenter: Charmaine Cozier Producers: Daniel Rosney and Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical producer: Toby James Production management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey(Photo: Euro and US dollar banknotes. Credit: BBC/Corbis Royalty Free)

US banana giant Chiquita has laid off around 5,000 workers following a month-long strike as part of nationwide industrial action. Workers are protesting against new social security laws lowering pensions. In 2023, Panama exported $273m of bananas, making it the 13th largest exporter of bananas in the world. What do the layoffs mean for Panama and the wider banana industry?In Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its 50th anniversary amid recent exits from prominent member states. David Harper looks at the latest market developments from Shein, Temu and Nissan.

In January, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger officially withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, having already established the Alliance of Sahel States, or AES, as an alternative regional grouping. The move has had a multitude of consequences, including ongoing diplomatic spats between the AES states and those that remain committed to ECOWAS, as well as challenges to trade and freedom of movement across the region. But the security implications of the fracturing of ECOWAS as a regional bloc are also important to consider, as West Africa faces an array of challenges that are increasingly affecting what are usually thought of as the region's more stable coastal countries, such as Senegal, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. All three of the military-run AES states face long-running jihadist and domestic insurgencies, including armed groups with links to the Islamic State and al-Qaida. Most prominent among them are the Islamic State-Sahel Province and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, which is affiliated with al-Qaida and is also active in northern Cote d'Ivoire, Benin and Togo. These groups have been active throughout the Sahel for over a decade, typically exploiting local grievances and intercommunal tensions, particularly between farmers and pastoralists as well as against the Peuhl community, which is often portrayed as being sympathetic to the jihadists. The jihadists mobilize these tensions to stoke conflict and recruit among marginalized communities in a broader effort to seize territory and create an Islamic caliphate in the Sahel and West Africa. These groups have targeted civilians and government forces alike, and their attacks have often been tactically sophisticated and significant in impact. In August 2024, for instance, an attack by JNIM in Barsalogho, in northern Burkina Faso, killed around 600 people. And in November 2023, an ambush in Niger's Tillaberi region killed at least 200 soldiers and wounded at least 34 others. Jihadist violence has increased at an accelerating rate in recent years, killing 11,643 people across the Sahel in 2023, a 43 percent increase from the previous year and a threefold increase since 2020, according to the African Centre for Strategic Studies. It has also increasingly spilled over into coastal West African states, with Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cote d'Ivoire all now threatened by these groups as well, albeit to a much lesser extent than the Sahelian states. In Togo, an attack on an army barracks last year killed 12 soldiers, for instance, and JNIM is increasingly fortifying its positions near the borders of Togo and Benin. The problems posed by insecurity are exacerbated by the refugee crisis that violence in the Sahel is causing. By early 2025, nearly 87,000 people had fled their homes in the Sahel into coastal countries. This has put a strain on local communities, especially in Cote d'Ivoire, where nearly 58,000 of the refugees have fled. The rampant insecurity has also fueled political instability, with the three AES states having experienced a combined five coups between 2020 and 2023. The ECOWAS split could exacerbate many of these security challenges, not least because it has created or exacerbated tensions between many countries that have remained in ECOWAS and those that have left. In the past 12-18 months, for instance, Cote d'Ivoire, known as a staunch defender of ECOWAS, and neighboring Burkina Faso have engaged in repeated diplomatic spats linked to mutual fears of destabilization as well as Burkina Faso's rejection of the region's and ECOWAS' historical pro-Western leanings. Gun battles and disputes at the border between Burkinabe and Ivoirian troops have become common, with Ivoirian gendarmes having even been detained in Burkina Faso. Earlier this year Burkina Faso withdrew its diplomatic personnel from Cote d'Ivoire. These disputes have increased instability on the two countries' shared border, exacerbating tensions driven by an inflow of Burk...

Three West African countries - Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso - have finalized their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Another thing they have in common? All three countries are under junta rule after military coups that took place in recent years. They have since formed their own union - the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).   Why have these three countries exited ECOWAS, and is this a crisis point for the regional bloc? Catherine Nzuki is joined by Beverly Ochieng, Senior Analyst for Francophone Africa at Control Risks, and a Senior Associate with the CSIS Africa Program, to unpack these questions and more.   They discuss the state of politics and security in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso (1:30); why the leaders of these military juntas are popular at home and across Africa (4:40); what drove the decision to exit ECOWAS and what this means for unity in the region (7:37); how the AES is using arts, culture, and media to self-legitimize; (20:00); how the pan-African, decolonial rhetoric of the leaders of AES is translating into their governance choices (24:11); if the AES confederation is strong enough to weather rough international winds on their own (28:49); the state of Africa's legacy institutions today and how responsive they are to shifting regional politics and the collapsing post-WWII order (37:15).

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has withdrawn its mediation team from Guinea Bissau. Its mission was to help reach a political consensus on the elections, which were postponed by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. So will voting, pushed back to later this year, still go ahead?A BBC investigation finds that young women in Kenya are being lured into sexual exploitation on TikTok. Is the social media platform doing enough to keep users safe?And former South African football star, Benni McCarthy, is Kenya's new head coach. Is the appointment of Africans to lead African teams now an established trend?Presenter: Audrey Brown Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan Producers: Sunita Nahar, Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

An official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been explaining the purpose of a delegation to Guinea Bissau over the weekend. Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security, says the delegation's purpose was to seek a consensus between President Omaro Sissoco Embalo and the opposition on when to hold peaceful and credible elections. He tells VOA's James Butty, the bone of contention is the legality of what opponents say is Embalo's continuous stay in power

Join us for an engaging classroom discussion this Monday morning, led by the esteemed Dr. Ray Winbush, a professor at Morgan State University and the Director of the Institute for Urban Research. Dr. Winbush will tackle the critical challenges facing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives today, shining a light on the ongoing attacks against them. He will also delve into the significant developments regarding the Sahel nations' departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), providing valuable insights you won't want to miss. We are honored to welcome Dana Crips, a courageous survivor of the Altadena wildfire, who will share her inspiring story of resilience and recovery. Additionally, Pam Africa from the MOVE organization will give us an important update on Mumia Abu-Jamal, adding depth to our understanding of this vital issue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The military governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

An official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says democracy remains a core value of the regional body. At the same time, Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security, says the regional body wants to understand what drove Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to military rule. The three countries formally withdrew from the organization on Wednesday. Fatau Musa tells VOA's James Butty, ECOWAS, which celebrates 50 years of its founding this year, vows to review its policies and improve its successes and challenge

Listen to the Mon. Dec. 23, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. The episode features our PANW report with dispatches on the appointment of a new government in France; Africa's debt burden is rapidly increasing; the University of Johannesburg has been ranked as one of the top higher education institutions on the continent; and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has rejected a timeline advanced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its departure from the regional body. In the second hour we review recent developments in West Asia. Finally, we look back on a discussion between Malcolm X and James Baldwin during the early 1960s.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger six months to reconsider their decision to leave the regional bloc. The decision came Sunday at the end of an ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria. The three countries formed their own confederation and were slated to withdraw on January 29, 2025. Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security. tells VOA's James Butty ECOWAS wants to give diplomacy another try.

An official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has described the conduct of the December 7 election in Ghana as the beauty of democracy. Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security, tells VOA's James Butty, recent elections in Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal are proof that the people of the sub-region prefer democracy over military rule

An official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the regional body has confidence in the democratic tradition of Ghana. Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security, says all parties have assured ECOWAS that the December 7 general election will be free, fair and credible. Ambassador Musa tells VOA's James Butty, Ghana's years of democracy include nine unbroken regular elections and the peaceful transfer of political power

On Daybreak Africa: Kinshasa authorities say extremist rebels linked to the Islamic State group killed at least 9 people, including an 8-month-old baby and a 14-year-old girl, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and kidnapped several others. Plus, US President Joe Biden has concluded his three-day visit to Angola. A new report says Africa's civic space remains mostly repressive. Activists in Chad fight against gender-based violence. A Kenyan doctor's union this week issued a 21-day nationwide strike notice to commence December 22nd. An official of the Economic Community of West African States says Ghana's December 7 election will be free, fair, and credible. Somali volunteers' clean years of neglected beaches. For these and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa

A member of the minority bloc in Liberia's parliamentary impasse says he thinks the majority has shown disrespect to the Economic Community of West African States parliamentary mediation delegation. For weeks now, a group of lawmakers claiming to be the majority in the House of Representatives have been calling for Speaker J. Fonati Koffa's removal for alleged conflict of interest. Eugene JM Kollie, member of the minority bloc, which supports Speaker Koffa, tells VOA's James Butty, removing the speaker must follow the constitution and the rules of the House of Representatives

It appears the Economic Community of West African States parliamentary delegation to resolve the impasse in the Liberian House of Representative was unsuccessful. The delegation said over the weekend that the parties were not able to arrive at a favorable conclusion. But it promised to remain fully engaged with the parties. A group of lawmakers claiming to be the majority in the House have accused Speaker J. Fonati Koffa of conflict of interest and want him removed. The Speaker has refused to step down. Representative Foday Edward Fahnbulleh, chair of the Good Governance and Reform Committee and a member of the majority calling for Speaker Koffa's removal, tells James Butty, ECOWAS delegation understood the majority's position.

In Liberia, it was business as usual, at least so it seemed, in the divided national legislature. A group of lawmakers claiming to be the majority in the House of Representatives held a hearing Tuesday about allegations of bribery connected to Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. The Speaker is being forced out of his job by the so-called majority bloc for alleged corruption. He has refused to step down. This, as a delegation from the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States is in Liberia on a mediation mission. The incident has caused President Joseph Boakai to postpone the submission of the draft national budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Representative Foday Edward Fahnbulleh, member of the Good Governance and Reform Committee and a member of the group calling for Speaker Koffa's removal, tells VOA's James Butty, Speaker Koffa is conflicted

A delegation from the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is due in Liberia Monday on a mediation mission. This comes as one group in the Liberian House of Representatives, which claims to have the majority, is demanding the removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. Speaker Koffa has refused to step down. Representative Foday Edward Fahnbulleh, a member of the Good Governance and Reform Committee and a member of the group calling for Speaker Koffa's removal, tells VOA's James Butty, Speaker Koffa is conflicted.

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has appealed to the United Nations to assist the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as it combats terrorism in the Sahel region. He spoke Monday at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Former Liberian President George Weah is seeking the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for what he calls attacks on his party the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) by the government of President Joseph Boakai. Dennise Nimpson reports from Monrovia.

On Daybreak Africa: Renewed fighting between Democratic Republic of Congo's army and M23 rebels broke out on Sunday around a densely populated town in eastern North Kivu province, where the rebels are waging an insurgency, the army and M23 said. Plus, Rwanda and DRC foreign ministers meet again in Angola in two weeks. Research shows that African youth prefer democracy to any kind of authoritarian alternative. Former Liberian President George Weah seeks the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for what he calls attacks on his party by the current government. Attacks on humanitarian workers in the DRC hamper their efforts to care for thousands of refugees in IDP camps. For these and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!

An old Angolan proverb suggests it is the voyage not the ship that is important. And for the people of Angola the voyage has been a long one, from the era of the might Kongo empire, through the slave trade, colonialism, an independence struggle, and more recently decades of civil war. Despite this, in 2015 the capital city Luanda was in was listed as the most expensive city in the world, But new high rises built off the back of an oil boom sit uncomfortably alongside squalid outskirts of the city in the former Portuguese colony.  In this episode I speak with Alex Vines OBE was a UN observer when Angola held its first elections 30 years ago, as the Director of the Africa program at Chatham House, Alex has seen the growth of the nation, its slow transition towards real democracy and has expert insights into the nation, and the challenges it continues to face. Alex Vines OBE Chatham House Alex Vines has led the Africa Programme at Chatham House since 2002. Previously he has held roles at Chatham House as director for regional studies and international security, and director for area studies and international law. He chaired the UN Panel of Experts on Côte d'Ivoire from 2005 to 2007, and was a member of the UN Panel of Experts on Liberia from 2001 to 2003. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria in 2023 (Mozambique in 2019 and Ghana in 2016) and a UN election officer in Mozambique (1994) and Angola (1992).   He worked at Human Rights Watch as a senior researcher on its Africa, Arms and Business and Human Rights programmes, and has served as a consultant including for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); JICA, DFID, USAID, the EU and for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He has also written expert reports for the EU parliament and has testified to law makers including for the US Congress and Senate, the EU parliament, the UK and Finnish parliaments and the Angolan and Mozambican National Assemblies. Music: Pixabay This episode is sponsored by World History Encyclopedia, one of the top history websites on the internet. I love the fact that they're not a Wiki: Every article they publish is reviewed by their editorial team, not only for being accurate but also for being interesting to read. The website is run as a non-profit organization, so you won't be bombarded by annoying ads and it's completely free. It's a great site, and don't just take my word for it they've been recommended by many academic institutions including Oxford University. Go check them out at WorldHistory.org or follow this link: World History Encyclopedia.

From the BBC World Service: Indigenous leaders in Brazil are asking the United Nations to pressure President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to stop illegal mining on their Amazon lands. We’ll hear the latest. Then, a potential rival group may soon rival the Economic Community of West African States. And later, Greece imposes regulations to limit the areas on beaches that bars and restaurants can use after complaints by locals.

From the BBC World Service: Indigenous leaders in Brazil are asking the United Nations to pressure President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to stop illegal mining on their Amazon lands. We’ll hear the latest. Then, a potential rival group may soon rival the Economic Community of West African States. And later, Greece imposes regulations to limit the areas on beaches that bars and restaurants can use after complaints by locals.

The latest from France as the election results come in. Then: Ecowas' annual summit – can the regional economic bloc still find common ground? And, Indian-Russian relations as India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, visits Moscow. Plus: the latest news from business and the world of sailing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sun. July 7, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This episode features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the French elections and the surge of the New Popular Front; the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has requested again the return of the Alliance of Sahel States which left last year; Nigeria claims it has degraded the rebel groups operating inside the country; and the newly-elected UK Prime Minister declared that the Rwanda deportation scheme is dead and buried. We continue our focus on Freedom Summer of 1964 with a reexamination of the passage of the Civil Rights Act passed in July of that year. Finally, we listen to an audio documentary with James Baldwin on a tour of a west coast city sixty years ago.

Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Sabbath is an economic statement. It lays claim to the need to care for ourselves in order to care for others and God's world. Yet for far too many of us, Sabbath is a luxury. How do we reclaim this gift God has given us?

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:• Central European University: CEU• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD• The Podcast Company: scopeaudio Follow us on social media!• Central European University: @CEU• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @AHDCentre Subscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks!  GlossaryForeign direct investment (FDI)(10:34 or p.3 in the transcript)Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a category of cross-border investment in which an investor resident in one economy establishes a lasting interest in and a significant degree of influence over an enterprise resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting power in an enterprise in one economy by an investor in another economy is evidence of such a relationship. FDI is a key element in international economic integration because it creates stable and long-lasting links between economies. FDI is an important channel for the transfer of technology between countries, promotes international trade through access to foreign markets, and can be an important vehicle for economic development. source Mali Civil War(17:15 or p.5 in the transcript)Mali has been in crisis since 2012, when a northern separatist rebellion led by members of the minority ethnic Tuareg community paved the way for a military coup and an Islamist insurgent advance. Rebels—bolstered by arms from Libya and fighters with ties to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)—declared an independent state of “Azawad” in the north. By mid-2012, AQIM and two allied groups had outmaneuvered the separatists to assert control over much of the north. At the transitional government's request, France deployed its military in early 2013 to counter an Islamist insurgent advance and ousted insurgent leaders from major towns in the north. A U.N. peacekeeping operation, MINUSMA, was established in mid-2013 to help stabilize the country, absorbing a nascent African-led intervention force. Veteran politician Ibrahim Boubacar Kéïta was elected president, at which point donors, including the United States, normalized relations with Bamako. French forces transitioned into Operation Barkhane, a regional counterterrorism mission that received U.S. military logistical support, in 2014. Under international pressure to reach a peace deal in the north, the government signed an accord in 2015 with two armed coalitions: one led by ex-separatists, and the other by pro-unity groups with ties to Bamako. President Kéïta was reelected in 2018, but opposition mounted over corruption, allegedly fraudulent legislative elections, insecurity, and economic hardships. Large street protests erupted against Kéïta's administration in mid-2020. State security forces cracked down on protesters, and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediators failed to achieve a roadmap out of the impasse. The 2020 coup d'état followed. source 

On March 8, International Women's Day, voters in Ireland will decide if they want to replace a clause in the constitution that deems a "woman's place is in the home." The Irish government has proposed new wording that recognizes the value of the provision of care in the home "by members of a family." And, military regimes in the West African nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso recently severed ties from the regional alliance known as the Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS. Now, their militaries are uniting in an effort to jointly fight Islamist militants. Also, in part four of a yearlong investigative report on children's homes in Uganda by The World's Halima Gikandi, we hear about the tale of two different homes. Foodstep Uganda operates without approval using funds from many American donors; Ekisa Ministries has a different approach. Plus, would you relocate to a Scottish island for the princely sum of $190,000 a year? 

On January 28th, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger jointly announced they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. This is a regional economic and political union of most countries in West africa. Citizens enjoy free movement across borders of ECOWAS member states and many of its members share the same currency.  ECOWAS also seeks to uphold democratic norms, and each of these three countries are led by military juntas. Now, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are setting up rival entity, called the Alliance of Sahel States.  Joining me to discuss the significance of this joint decision to exit ECOWAS is Ornella Moderan, a researcher and practitioner who's been working in the Sahel and West Africa for nearly 15 years. She is currently a Research Fellow with the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute. We kick off discussing the role of ECOWAS in West Africa, particularly the important,albeit imperfect, ways it seeks to uphold democracy in the region. She then explains why these countries left ECOWAS and what this decision means for the region, for Africa and for the world at large.   

Listen to the Sat. Feb. 24, 2024 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the statements made by the Republic of Namibia on the parallels between the early 20th century genocide in their country and the Palestinian situation; the South African government is calling for worldwide testimony related to the case against Tel Aviv in the International Court of Justice; the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted sanctions against Niger; and Russia is assessing the special military operations in Ukraine on the second anniversary of the war. In the second hour we continue our focus on African American History Month commemorating the 59th anniversay of the martyrdom of Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik Shabazz). 

Listen to the Sun. Feb. 11, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. The episode features our PANW report with dispatches on mass demonstrations in the Kingdom of Morocco demanding that the government cancels its peace agreement with Israel; Egypt says that its 45-year-old accord with Tel Aviv is in jeopardy amid threats by the settler-colonial regime to launch an offensive in Rafah; and Ethiopia is working on its integration into the BRICS Summit. In the second hour we listen to a report from Pam Africa on the medical situation involving political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Later we look at the political damage to the administration of President Joe Biden due to the United States role in Palestine, North Africa and West Asia. The Alliance of Sahel States composed of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Finally, we continue our African American History Month series with a rare archival 1970 interview with C.L.R. James on the Haitian Revolution.

More than 80% of African countries have experienced coups since the 1950s. The occurrence of coups can be seen as a reaction to poor governance that is unresponsive to the needs of the people. Regional and international responses to this “unconstitutional” seizure of power belittles and condescends coup leaders hence ostracizing and condemning already fragile nations without addressing the drivers of coups. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger's recent coups culminated with harsh sanctions from the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). As a result, the three nations formed a mutual defense pact known as Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on September 16, 2023, then withdrew from ECOWAS on January 28, 2024. ECOWAS is accused of being a hypocritical, distant, and elitist club for privileged diplomats whose hostility to these nations drove them out. What are the failures of ECOWAS? What lessons can ECOWAS and other regional blocs in Africa learn from this? Mvemba is joined by General Saleh Bala, retired Brigadier General from the Nigerian military and CEO White Ink Consult in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss how to understand the withdrawal of AES and where ECOWAS falls short as a regional bloc.

Danny and Derek return with headlines from around the globe. This week: the ICJ decision on Israel (0:29), Israeli accusations of UNRWA (5:08), ceasefire talks (10:35), and Biden sanctions settlers (15:56); a U.S. outpost in Jordan is bombed by a drone (18:54); secret Sudan peace talks in Bahrain (23:52); several countries quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (25:37); in Ukraine, Zelensky fires a top commander (27:23); the Biden admin is reimposing sanctions on Venezuela (33:34); international intervention is in doubt in Haiti (37:13); and the U.S. had record arms sales last year (40:24). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe

On this news episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek return with headlines from around the globe. This week: the ICJ decision on Israel (0:29), Israeli accusations of UNRWA (5:08), ceasefire talks (10:35), and Biden sanctions settlers (15:56); a U.S. outpost in Jordan is bombed by a drone (18:54); secret Sudan peace talks in Bahrain (23:52); several countries quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (25:37); in Ukraine, Zelensky fires a top commander (27:23); the Biden admin is reimposing sanctions on Venezuela (33:34); international intervention is in doubt in Haiti (37:13); and the U.S. had record arms sales last year (40:24).Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A regional bloc is a group of countries that team up to work together on common goals, like trade or security, to benefit all members. In Africa they include Ecowas, which stands for the Economic Community of West African States, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) amongst others. But are they always as effective as they set out to be? Recently, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso quit the West African bloc - Ecowas. The military-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.From Liberia in 1990 to the Gambia in 2017, regional groups have deployed troops to address coups, civil wars, and disputed elections. While some interventions, like the restoration of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone, were successful, others such as the intervention in the Liberian civil war, faced criticism for human rights abuses.BBC Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja spoke to BBC Africa's Beverly Ochieng about the role regional blocs play in Africa and how their interventions impact citizens.

El Salvador has transformed in the past few years from one of the most-violent countries in Latin America to one of the safest. That's largely due to the intense crackdown on gangs by President Nayib Bukele, who is up for reelection this weekend, and expecting a resounding win. And, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are leaving the Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS. All three countries have all experienced military coups in the past few years, and they say the regional trade organization is not helping them fight terrorism. Also, Venezuela and Guyana have been ramping up nationalist propaganda campaigns as a border dispute over the remote Essequibo region, rich in oil and gold, intensifies. Plus, why insects go into the light.

The Joe Biden administration contends with how to respond to a deadly attack on U.S. service members at a base in Jordan while also preventing a wider regional war; a faltering economy clouds festivities as millions of Chinese travel home for Lunar New Year; Pakistan will elect a new prime minister and National Assembly, but lackluster candidates, economic crisis, and unraveling security situation loom over the vote; and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announce their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, increasing security concerns in western Africa.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Noah Berman and Clara Fong, “Pakistan Is on Edge Ahead of 2024 Elections,” CFR.org   Joshua Kurlantzick, “Pakistan's Election Will Have One Major Winner: The Military,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-confronts-iran-chinas-lunar-new-year-economic-slowdown-pakistans-flawed-elections 

We discuss how Israel's war in Gaza is increasing tensions between Iran and Pakistan. Plus: the annual Corruption Perceptions Index, why three coup-hit nations have left the Economic Community of West African States and why Boeing is losing market share to Airbus. We also meet Jeffrey Wright, star of the Oscar-nominated ‘American Fiction'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Sun. Jan. 28, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. This program features our PANW report with dispatches related to attacks by the Washington Post on a leading primary source for Palestinian affairs; the Alliance of Sahel States have formally withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Mali has ended its ceasefire with a rebel grouping; and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has visited four African states. In the second hour we listen to a debate on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the South African lawsuit against Israel. We then examine the killing of three U.S. troops in a drone attack in Jordan.

At the end of July, the Presidential Guard of Niger, backed by the military, unseated the current president, Mohamed Bazoum, in a coup supported by the people. In response, the United States and France, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), began planning a military intervention to return Bazoum to power. West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, quickly declared solidarity with the new government, a move that could turn a military intervention into a greater regional conflict. To understand what is happening in Niger and how it fits into the bigger picture of the rejection of neo-colonialism and US hegemony, Clearing the FOG speaks with Abayomi Azikiwe, the editor of the Pan-African News Wire. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.

This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott beat back the heat to dig into the week's big national security news stories, including:“ECOWAShed?” We are now several weeks into a coup in Niger, a country once seen as one of the more reliable Western partners in the Sahel region and home to French and U.S. troops who have been helping the Nigerien military combat a local Islamist insurgency. Even as the Nigeria-led Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has threatened sanctions and intervention to unwind the coup, neighboring states like Burkina Faso and Mali with close ties to Russia and its Wagner Group have threatened a military response in kind. What might this coup mean for the future of the Sahel? And how should the United States be responding?“A Tale of Two Sittings.” Former President Donald Trump is now the subject of two different criminal indictments, each of which is being overseen by a very different judge in very different ways. What should we make of their divergent approaches thus far? And what does it mean for the effectiveness and legitimacy of the justice system in these highly polarizing cases?“KOSA, No Sir.” A bipartisan coalition in Congress has rolled out a new version of the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, that seeks to respond to concerns raised by digital rights and civil liberty groups while still taking steps towards protecting children online. But many on the right and left aren't having it. What should we make of this new proposal and the reactions it's provoked?For object lessons, Alan invoked his father-of-a-son credentials to recommend Christine Emba's recent piece, "Men Are Lost. Here's a Map Out of the Wilderness." Quinta recommended the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett mash-up, "Good Omens" (the book, not the TV show). And Scott shared plans for his homemade improvised pizza oven, which he set up on his gas grill with just some fireproof bricks, two baking steels, and a heavy dose of grit.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott beat back the heat to dig into the week's big national security news stories, including:“ECOWAShed?” We are now several weeks into a coup in Niger, a country once seen as one of the more reliable Western partners in the Sahel region and home to French and U.S. troops who have been helping the Nigerien military combat a local Islamist insurgency. Even as the Nigeria-led Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has threatened sanctions and intervention to unwind the coup, neighboring states like Burkina Faso and Mali with close ties to Russia and its Wagner Group have threatened a military response in kind. What might this coup mean for the future of the Sahel? And how should the United States be responding?“A Tale of Two Sittings.” Former President Donald Trump is now the subject of two different criminal indictments, each of which is being overseen by a very different judge in very different ways. What should we make of their divergent approaches thus far? And what does it mean for the effectiveness and legitimacy of the justice system in these highly polarizing cases?“KOSA, No Sir.” A bipartisan coalition in Congress has rolled out a new version of the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, that seeks to respond to concerns raised by digital rights and civil liberty groups while still taking steps towards protecting children online. But many on the right and left aren't having it. What should we make of this new proposal and the reactions it's provoked?For object lessons, Alan invoked his father-of-a-son credentials to recommend Christine Emba's recent piece, "Men Are Lost. Here's a Map Out of the Wilderness." Quinta recommended the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett mash-up, "Good Omens" (the book, not the TV show). And Scott shared plans for his homemade improvised pizza oven, which he set up on his gas grill with just some fireproof bricks, two baking steels, and a heavy dose of grit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) set Monday, Aug. 7, as the deadline for the Niger Coup plotters to step down and renounce power. That deadline has come and gone without any change, so what happens now? Full Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/zeihan/ecowas-deadline-on-the-niger-coup

The Economic Community of West African States may yet try to restore President Mohamed Bazoum militarily. Either way, Niger's status as a bulwark against jihadism is threatened. America's Republican hopefuls are courting Moms for Liberty, a pressure group with some outlandish ideas; we meet a few of them (10:51). And the design principles of a good flag (19:33).For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economic Community of West African States may yet try to restore President Mohamed Bazoum militarily. Either way, Niger's status as a bulwark against jihadism is threatened. America's Republican hopefuls are courting Moms for Liberty, a pressure group with some outlandish ideas; we meet a few of them (10:51). And the design principles of a good flag (19:33).For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economic Community of West African States, a regional bloc, said that it would hold a summit in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, on Thursday, to discuss the coup in Niger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niger's military coup leaders failed to return government to civilian hands Sunday — a deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States. The 15-nation bloc has yet to respond with military action as it promised. And a rennovated naval facility built on Cambodian shores is poised to serve as China's second-ever foreign military base. But Chinese officials are downplaying the importance of the Ream Naval Base. Also, health officials in Australia announced this month that they've virtually eliminated HIV transmission in inner Sydney, which was once the epicenter of the disease in the country. Plus, Moroccan women advance in World Cup.