Podcast appearances and mentions of joseph boakai

Les images saisissantes de la rotonde du Parlement libérien en flammes font la Une d'une grande partie des médias du continent ce matin.« Le Capitole en feu : l'incendie a fait des ravages », s'exclame le Liberian Observer. « Le sinistre a provoqué une épaisse fumée noire et des flammes dans le ciel, choquant les résidents et soulevant bien des questions sur sa cause qui reste encore inconnue. Toutefois, pointe le quotidien de Monrovia, l'incendie s'est déclenché seulement 24 heures après une violente manifestation contre la destitution du président de la Chambre des représentants, Fonati Koffa. Une manifestation qui a conduit à l'arrestation de plusieurs personnes, dont un assistant de l'ancien président George Weah. (…) Cet incendie survient donc dans un contexte tendu, relève encore le Liberian Observer, entre deux groupes opposés au sein de la Chambre des représentants, l'un se faisant appeler le “Bloc majoritaire“ et cherchant à destituer le président de la Chambre, Fonati Koffa. Ce Bloc majoritaire est allé jusqu'à élire et installer un nouveau président, sans avoir au préalable destitué Koffa selon les règles en vigueur de la constitution. »Deux blocs opposés…En effet, résume le site Afrik.com, cet incendie « survient dans un contexte politique déjà tendu, où des rivalités existent au sein du Parlement. Deux blocs opposés se disputent le contrôle de la présidence de l'Assemblée nationale ; ce qui alimente les spéculations sur les raisons potentielles de cet incendie. Face à cette situation, le Président Joseph Boakai a convoqué une réunion avec les forces de sécurité pour enquêter sur les causes exactes du sinistre et déterminer si celui-ci est le fruit d'un accident ou bien d'un acte intentionnel. »Le quotidien Aujourd'hui à Ouagadougou nous éclaire sur ce qu'il appelle les « bisbilles politiques » qui secouent en ce moment le Liberia… Des bisbilles apparues « depuis le retour aux affaires “du vieil homme“ (80 ans), surnom de Joseph Boakai, qui a battu George Weah à la présidentielle en novembre 2023 d'une courte tête (51%). Boakai est un vieux briscard du marigot politique libérien (…) Mais voilà, depuis un certain temps, une fronde feutrée puis frontale l'oppose au président de la Chambre des représentants Fonati Koffa. » Conséquence, pointe Aujourd'hui, « le parlement libérien est divisé : d'un côté, 43 députés proches du président exigent le départ de Fonati Koffa (qu'ils accusent de corruption), de l'autre, un groupe de 30 parlementaires le soutient. »Chasse aux sorcières ?En fait, complète WakatSéra, « si ce bras-de-fer conduisait à la démission, forcée bien entendu, du président de la Chambre des représentants, ce serait pain béni pour le président Joseph Boakai qui sait qu'il ne peut pas gouverner avec un opposant à la tête de l'institution qui vote les lois. Les blocages pourraient se multiplier, au risque de rendre impossible la réalisation des projets de l'exécutif. (…) Pour l'instant, la crise bat son plein, et pourrait connaître de nouveaux pics dans les prochains jours, Joseph Boakai ayant promis que les responsables de cet incendie seraient traduits devant la justice. »Cela dit, soupire Le Pays, toujours au Burkina, « il ne faudrait pas que l'incendie de l'Assemblée nationale à Monrovia donne lieu à une chasse aux sorcières au risque de voir le pays basculer avec tous les risques que cela comporte. Le Libéria, faut-il le rappeler, qui revient de loin, n'a pas besoin de ça. »Les plaies toujours béantes de la guerre civile…En effet, entre 1989 et 2003, deux guerres civiles ont fait environ 250.000 morts et mis le pays à genoux. « Malgré les pressions de la société civile et de la communauté internationale, note Jeune Afrique, le Liberia n'a encore tenu aucun procès sur cette période marquée par une litanie d'exactions imputables à toutes les parties : massacres de civils, actes de cannibalisme, tortures, viols, mutilations, enrôlement d'enfants soldats… Et ce n'est seulement qu'en mars dernier, après des années d'inaction (donc) ou presque, que la Chambre des représentants a adopté une motion visant à instaurer une cour chargée de juger les auteurs de violations des droits humains et de crimes économiques commis lors de ces deux guerres civiles. »

Les images saisissantes de la rotonde du Parlement libérien en flammes font la Une d'une grande partie des médias du continent ce matin.« Le Capitole en feu : l'incendie a fait des ravages », s'exclame le Liberian Observer. « Le sinistre a provoqué une épaisse fumée noire et des flammes dans le ciel, choquant les résidents et soulevant bien des questions sur sa cause qui reste encore inconnue. Toutefois, pointe le quotidien de Monrovia, l'incendie s'est déclenché seulement 24 heures après une violente manifestation contre la destitution du président de la Chambre des représentants, Fonati Koffa. Une manifestation qui a conduit à l'arrestation de plusieurs personnes, dont un assistant de l'ancien président George Weah. (…) Cet incendie survient donc dans un contexte tendu, relève encore le Liberian Observer, entre deux groupes opposés au sein de la Chambre des représentants, l'un se faisant appeler le “Bloc majoritaire“ et cherchant à destituer le président de la Chambre, Fonati Koffa. Ce Bloc majoritaire est allé jusqu'à élire et installer un nouveau président, sans avoir au préalable destitué Koffa selon les règles en vigueur de la constitution. »Deux blocs opposés…En effet, résume le site Afrik.com, cet incendie « survient dans un contexte politique déjà tendu, où des rivalités existent au sein du Parlement. Deux blocs opposés se disputent le contrôle de la présidence de l'Assemblée nationale ; ce qui alimente les spéculations sur les raisons potentielles de cet incendie. Face à cette situation, le Président Joseph Boakai a convoqué une réunion avec les forces de sécurité pour enquêter sur les causes exactes du sinistre et déterminer si celui-ci est le fruit d'un accident ou bien d'un acte intentionnel. »Le quotidien Aujourd'hui à Ouagadougou nous éclaire sur ce qu'il appelle les « bisbilles politiques » qui secouent en ce moment le Liberia… Des bisbilles apparues « depuis le retour aux affaires “du vieil homme“ (80 ans), surnom de Joseph Boakai, qui a battu George Weah à la présidentielle en novembre 2023 d'une courte tête (51%). Boakai est un vieux briscard du marigot politique libérien (…) Mais voilà, depuis un certain temps, une fronde feutrée puis frontale l'oppose au président de la Chambre des représentants Fonati Koffa. » Conséquence, pointe Aujourd'hui, « le parlement libérien est divisé : d'un côté, 43 députés proches du président exigent le départ de Fonati Koffa (qu'ils accusent de corruption), de l'autre, un groupe de 30 parlementaires le soutient. »Chasse aux sorcières ?En fait, complète WakatSéra, « si ce bras-de-fer conduisait à la démission, forcée bien entendu, du président de la Chambre des représentants, ce serait pain béni pour le président Joseph Boakai qui sait qu'il ne peut pas gouverner avec un opposant à la tête de l'institution qui vote les lois. Les blocages pourraient se multiplier, au risque de rendre impossible la réalisation des projets de l'exécutif. (…) Pour l'instant, la crise bat son plein, et pourrait connaître de nouveaux pics dans les prochains jours, Joseph Boakai ayant promis que les responsables de cet incendie seraient traduits devant la justice. »Cela dit, soupire Le Pays, toujours au Burkina, « il ne faudrait pas que l'incendie de l'Assemblée nationale à Monrovia donne lieu à une chasse aux sorcières au risque de voir le pays basculer avec tous les risques que cela comporte. Le Libéria, faut-il le rappeler, qui revient de loin, n'a pas besoin de ça. »Les plaies toujours béantes de la guerre civile…En effet, entre 1989 et 2003, deux guerres civiles ont fait environ 250.000 morts et mis le pays à genoux. « Malgré les pressions de la société civile et de la communauté internationale, note Jeune Afrique, le Liberia n'a encore tenu aucun procès sur cette période marquée par une litanie d'exactions imputables à toutes les parties : massacres de civils, actes de cannibalisme, tortures, viols, mutilations, enrôlement d'enfants soldats… Et ce n'est seulement qu'en mars dernier, après des années d'inaction (donc) ou presque, que la Chambre des représentants a adopté une motion visant à instaurer une cour chargée de juger les auteurs de violations des droits humains et de crimes économiques commis lors de ces deux guerres civiles. »

The dispute in Liberia's divided House of Representatives over the speakership took a dramatic turn on Monday. President Joseph Boakai invited embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa to a meeting and asked him to resign as Speaker. The president told the justice minister to recognize the majority bloc and their new speaker, Richard Koon. The Liberia FrontPage Africa publication reports that the Senate also recognized Koon as the new speaker. Representative J. Marvin Cole, chair of the committee on rules, order, and administration and a member of the minority bloc that supports the embattled Speaker Koffa, tells VOA's James Butty, Koffa is still the Speaker in line with the constitution.

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

Former Liberian President George Weah has officially responded to a request by President Joseph Boakai's administration asking for his support for Liberia's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026 and 2027. Liberia will officially launch its bid on September 27 in New York. Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti asked Weah to do a minute-long video message endorsing Liberia's bid and to join in the launch. Weah's office responded Thursday saying that while he has always supported Liberia's aspiration for a UN Security Council seat, the country's domestic policies must reflect the values it seeks to promote globally. Eugene Nagbe, chief of staff of Weah's office and a signatory to the letter, tells VOA's James Butty, those values include good governance, promotion of political freedoms, and the rule of law.

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.

The Director of Liberia's Civil Service Agency (CSA) has recommended the dismissal of nine employees of the Monrovia City Corporation for insulting President Joseph Boakai on Facebook. As Dennise Nimpson reports from Monrovia, some are expressing concern that freedom of expression is under attack by the Boakai administration

A spokesperson says the Liberian government is not running a witch hunt against officials of the government of former President George Weah. President Joseph Boakai's government recently issued writs of arrest or removed some Weah government officials from their positions for alleged corruption. They include former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and Central Bank of Liberia Governor J. Aloysius Tarlue. Both declined our request for interviews on the grounds they have petitioned the courts. Former President Weah's Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) threatened last month it will begin to resist the alleged witch hunt. Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah tells VOA's James Butty, the Boakai government will not hesitate to go after proven corrupt officials, former or present

An official of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of Liberia says President Joseph Boakai's government is using the judicial system to further political aims. The Boakai government recently issued writs of arrest or removed from office some officials of former President George Weah's government for alleged corruption. Eugene Nagbe, chair of the CDC National Executive Committee, tells VOA's James Butty, that former President Weah is a man of peace who operated within the confines of Liberian laws during his administration

Liberia's premiere technical school – the Booker T. Washington Institute (BWI) – celebrated the 95th anniversary of its founding June 29. Local reports say President Joseph Boakai plans to elevate the institution to technical university level. The school is named after Booker T. Washington, a former slave and founder of the Tuskegee Institute in the US State of Alabama. Dr. Carlos Philips is the principal of the Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Texas. He has just returned from Liberia where he visited the BWI campus. He tells VOA's James Butty about cooperation and partnership between BWI-Liberia and the Booker T. Washington High School in Houston.

During Liberia's two civil wars, it became normal for children to be abducted by armed groups, often drugged, and forced to fight. 250,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict which continued between 1989-2003. In 2006, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission - known as ‘TRC' - to identity individuals linked to war crimes, but as of yet, no-one has been prosecuted. So after President Joseph Boakai recently signed an agreement to establish a war crimes court, people started asking whether the victims of war could finally get justice. For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja speaks to Adama Dempster, a human rights advocate who's campaigned for the court to be set up, and the BBC's reporter in Monrovia, Moses Garzeawu.

Liberia's President Joseph Boakai's first 100 days' accomplishments are being criticized by the former ruling party the Coalition for Democratic Change, which is now the leading opposition party. Dennise Nimpson reports from Monrovia

Liberia's Supreme Court this week ordered President Joseph Boakai to withdraw his nominations for tenured positions. Dennise Nimpson reports from Monrovia.

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“Everybody wants to see you – everybody thinks this is an opportunity for employment…. a lot of people come into government believing they are there to enrich themselves.”It's nearly three months since Joseph Boakai started work as Liberia's new president. But in an interview with the Africa Daily podcast he tells Alan Kasujja that he's still fielding enquiries from people wanting government jobs every working day from early in the morning. The 79-year-old, who was Vice President from 2006 to 2018 under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, narrowly defeated George Weah in November last year – after campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket. But he says while he's spoken constantly about the need to clean up politics, many people ‘still haven't grasped' the concept that politics is about service and not about financial security for themselves and their family.In a wide-ranging and frank interview, he also tells Alan Kasujja how poverty and badly paid jobs like rubber tapping helped prepare him for leadership, his plans for a war crimes court to work for justice and reconciliation after the country's two brutal civil wars, and how he wants to sort out Liberia's awful roads within his first 100 days in office.And he and Alan discover a shared love of Arsenal Football Club…

Les journalistes et experts de RFI répondent également aux questions des auditeurs sur une vague d'enlèvements au Nigeria, sur le retour du Gabon dans la CEEAC et sur un tribunal pour juger les crimes de guerre au Nigeria. Election au Sénégal : vers un nouveau report ?  Le Parti démocratique sénégalais a déposé un recours devant la Cour suprême pour annuler la nouvelle date de l'élection présidentielle. A 10 jours du premier tour, la Cour peut-elle examiner cette requête ? Peut-on s'attendre à un nouveau report de l'élection ? Avec Léa-Lisa Westerhoff, correspondante permanente de RFI à Dakar.  Nigeria : le nord du pays frappé par une vague de kidnapping Ces derniers jours, le nord du Nigeria a été le théâtre de plusieurs enlèvements de masse. Pourquoi les groupes armés ciblent-ils principalement les enfants ? Est-ce le signe d'une recrudescence des kidnappings dans cette région ?  Avec Liza Fabbian, journaliste au service Afrique de RFI, de retour du Nigeria. Gabon : levée des sanctions de la CEEAC La Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique centrale a annoncé la levée des sanctions contre le Gabon six mois après le coup d'Etat. Pourquoi l'instance sous-régionale prend-elle cette décision maintenant ? Cette mesure pourrait-elle faciliter le retour du Gabon au sein de l'Union africaine ? Avec Sébastien Németh, journaliste au service Afrique de RFI. Libéria : un tribunal pour les crimes commis lors des guerres civiles Le Parlement a voté une motion pour la création d'un tribunal pour juger les crimes de guerres commis lors des deux guerres civiles entre 1989 et 2003. Comment expliquer cette décision alors que le pays n'a jamais condamné les responsables de ces crimes ? La proximité entre le chef de guerre Prince Johnson et le président Joseph Boakai peut-elle être un frein à cette initiative ? Avec Liana Maria Ursa, chercheuse en sciences politiques, spécialiste du Liberia. 

In Liberia, the scramble for government jobs in the new Joseph Boakai administration is intensifying. Last week, Unity Party chairman Luther Tarpeh led a protest in front of President Boakai's residence because he had not been appointed. On Sunday, Senator Prince Johnson took to the pulpit to say his Nimba County region deserves between five and seven cabinet positions instead of one. He tells VOA's James Butty, Nimba Country played a pivotal role in Boakai's victory.

On Daybreak Africa: More political tensions in Senegal over the postponement of February's elections. Plus, Zambia's President offers formal employment to all volunteers at cholera centers. Community activists in Mozambique use a mobile application to help tuberculosis patients get medication. In Liberia, the scramble for government jobs in the new Joseph Boakai administration is intensifying. US airstrikes are stoking tensions with Iraq. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

In Liberia, joint security is probing an alleged assault on President Joseph Boakai as he attended a university graduation. Dennise Nimpson reports from Monrovia.

The chair of Liberia's Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) says the country, under the leadership of President Joseph Boakai, will improve its standing on the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. This, after Transparency International said Liberia declined 16 points since 2012 on the survey. LACC chairperson Alexandra Kormah Zoe says Liberia under President Boakai will become a country of good governance, transparency, and accountability. She also tells VOA's James Butty, her commission did not get 100 percent asset declaration compliance from officials in the executive branch of the administration of former President George Weah.

Joseph Boakai has started a six-year term as president of Liberia. He is the third democratically elected head of state. Tackling corruption and the economy are expected to be his immediate challenges.What's behind the sewage polluted beaches along the Durban coastline in South Africa?And the Somali songs inciting hatred against Ethiopians

Liberia's new president Joseph Boakai sworn in today +++ Cameroon is the first country in the world to launch a routine vaccine programme against Malaria +++ AFCON: Ghana's Black Stars face an uphill task against Mozambique +++ Will Ghana survive the group stage +++ Nigeria's Super Eagles looking to cement another win and qualify for the next stage

Today on Daybreak Africa, vote counting is underway in Comoros where President Azali Assoumani wants a fourth term, but Fahmy Thabit of the civil society group "Sentinels of the Polls" tells host James Butty people want change, the inauguration of Liberia's President-elect Joseph Boakai happens soon but Dennise Nimpson reports first, the House of Representatives must elect a speaker, and the head of the Nigeria Labor Congress welcomes the start of refined petroleum products in his nation. All this and more on Daybreak Africa.

On Daybreak Africa: A Healthcare crisis looms for the unborn and newborn in Sudan as conflict escalates. Plus, they are counting votes in the Democratic Republic of Congo following Wednesday elections. African activists praise the Pope's approval of same sex marriage, but religious groups remain critical. Malawi Catholic Bishops refuse to bless same-sex unions. Liberia's President-elect Joseph Boakai says his administration will fight corruption irrespective of who is involved. Against the odds, a Burkina Faso journalist gives voice and hope to survivors. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

On November 17th, 2023, President George Weah gracefully conceded to President-elect Joseph Boakai, who secured victory with a narrow margin of just 1.28% in votes. The electoral process was not only marked by a closely contested run-off but also had a first run of twenty candidates. This concession underscores Liberia's positive democratic trajectory and political stability. Furthermore, President Weah upheld the peaceful transition precedent set by his predecessor, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female president.  To delve into the voting trends shaping Liberia's political landscape, Mvemba is joined by Charles Lawrence, Liberian Political Analyst. Together, they discuss the significance of this election, shedding light on the precedent it sets for peaceful and democratic transitions in the country.  

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about Liberia's presidential elections. There's “The Listener's Corner”, Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan”, and of course, the new quiz question, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll hear the winner's names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your music requests, so get them in! Send your music requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!In addition to the breaking news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more.There's Paris Perspective, Spotlight on France, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too.As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our team of journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with!To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you'll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. Teachers, take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English – that's how I worked on my French, reading books which were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here. Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in all your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. NB: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognised RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire!!!!! If you do not answer the questions, I click “Decline”.There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do!This week's quiz: On 28 October, I asked you a question about the first round of polls in Liberia's presidential elections. The incumbent, George Weah, won 43.8 percent of the vote; his challenger, Joseph Boakai, pulled in 43.4 percent. To win the presidency in Liberia, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of the votes.You were to consult RFI English journalist Melissa Chemam's article “Liberia's election set for run-off in tightest race since end of civil war” in which she wrote about candidate Joseph Boakai's alliance with an influential figure in the key county of Nimba, and send me the name of that "influential figure".The answer is: The former warlord and senator Prince Johnson. Johnson had supported Weah in the last election but flipped to Boakai this time around.The second round of the polls was held on 14 November. Joseph Boakai, with 50.64 percent of the vote, is the new president of Liberia. He will be sworn into office on 22 January 2024.In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Alan Holder from Britain's Isle of Wight: “What frightens you the most? What steps have you taken (if any) to conquer this fear?”Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us!The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Omoefe Onoriobe from Houston, Texas in the USA. Omoefe is also the winner of this week's bonus question.  Congratulations Omoefe!Also on the list of lucky winners this week is Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Radio Listeners Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, and Ras Franz Manko Ngogo, the president of the Kemogemba RFI Club in Tarime, Mare, Tanzania.Rounding out the list of winners this week are RFI Listeners Club member Karuna Kanta Pal from West Bengal, India, and RFI English listener Ripa bin Mokles from Bogura, Bangladesh.Congratulations winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: The Harpsichord Sonata in A Major by Domenico Scarlatti, performed by Igor Kipnis; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Un Douceur violente” by Jacques de Gallot, performed by lutenist Anthony Bailes. This week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate.  After you've listened to the show, listen to Jessica Phelan's report on the Spotlight on France podcast No 103, or refer to her article “Albert Londres, unflinching reporter who inspired France's top journalism prize” to help you with the answer. You have until 25 December to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 30 December podcast. When you enter, be sure you send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.Send your answers to:english.service@rfi.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceorBy text … You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country's international access code, or “ + ”, then  33 6 31 12 96 82. Don't forget to include your mailing address in your text – and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here.To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or form your own official RFI Club, click here. 

This is the web version of Foreign Exchanges, but did you know you can get it delivered right to your inbox? Sign up today:TODAY IN HISTORYNovember 28, 1814: The Times of London is published via a new steam-powered printing press, making it the first major newspaper so produced. The use of the faster steam press took newspapers from a niche business to a mass market one, in the process boosting efforts to increase literacy.November 28, 1943: Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin begin the Tehran Conference, the first of three major World War II meetings between the leaders of the UK, US, and USSR. The main outcome of Tehran was that Roosevelt and Stalin managed to get Churchill to commit to an invasion of France, in part to force Germany to pull forces away from their eastern front with the Soviets. They also discussed the eventual partition of Germany and creation of the United Nations.MIDDLE EASTISRAEL-PALESTINEHamas and the Israeli government, thanks primarily to Qatari mediation, finally agreed on the terms of a detainee exchange and temporary ceasefire deal last week. The accord, which went into effect on Friday morning, was originally intended to involve the release of some 50 hostages being held by Hamas and other Gazan militant groups and some 150 Palestinians in Israeli custody. Hamas has also been releasing a number of Thai and Filipino nationals under a separate arrangement negotiated by the Qataris. The arrangement was to have been implemented in stages over four days, ending Tuesday morning local time. The process appeared to be faltering on Saturday, as Hamas delayed its hostage release while accusing the Israelis of violating the terms of the agreement, before some additional Qatari diplomacy apparently salvaged things.The reason I referred above to what the deal “originally” involved is because it's since been extended. The Israelis and Hamas have agreed to continue the ceasefire and daily detainee releases for at least two more days, though Thursday morning, albeit amid new accusations from both sides about ceasefire violations. I'm not entirely certain about the details but Israeli officials have said they're expecting Hamas to release at least 10 hostages per day, which at current exchange rates suggests around 30 Palestinians released per day. Efforts are underway to extend this arrangement beyond Thursday morning, though it goes without saying that at some point all the hostages will be released and it's unclear what will happen then. It's true that conflicts at rest have a tendency to stay at rest, but Israeli rhetoric has indicated a clear intention to resume pulverizing Gaza once the detainee exchanges are no longer part of the equation.In other items:* Some of the freed Israeli hostages have talked to media and describe being treated poorly, which is not surprising. There have been claims of treatment that seems outright cruel though I'm unaware (which to be clear does not mean they haven't been made) of any claims of physical cruelty (apart from the cruelty of their initial abductions, of course). Several of the hostages seem to indicate that their access to food and water diminished over time but that may be related to deprivations across Gaza caused by the Israeli blockade and the minimal amount of aid that has entered the territory. Palestinians released from Israeli custody, who have been described as “prisoners” though many of them have never been charged with anything under the West Bank's rigged military justice system, have described harrowing treatment including torture. This is consistent with claims made by Palestinians swept up in Israeli mass arrest operations since the October 7 attacks and subsequently released.* On the subject of aid, the ceasefire is/was intended in part to facilitate a surge of aid into Gaza and its distribution throughout the territory—including across the heavily battered northern area. That effort does appear to have been successful, though as United Nations officials have said even this temporary surge isn't enough to meet the need. The Biden administration is sending three military planeloads of humanitarian aid to Egypt this week for distribution into Gaza.* Over the four days of the initial detainee exchange, under which Israeli authorities released somewhere around 150 Palestinians, they detained 133 Palestinians in the West Bank. Make of that what you will. As Spencer Ackerman noted yesterday, with events in Gaza getting most of the attention the Israeli government and its settler proxies are continuing to kill (including at least two more on Tuesday), arrest, and displace Palestinians in the West Bank at unprecedented rates. Unlike Gaza, where Israeli leaders have at least articulated the barest inkling of a goal (the “destruction of Hamas,” ostensibly), there's no indication what, if anything, might stop the violence in the West Bank.* The Biden administration has dispatched CIA Director and de facto Secretary of State William Burns to Qatar to participate, along with Egyptian, Israeli, and Qatari officials, in talks on extending the current “pause” (the administration is still refusing to call it a “ceasefire”). Burns is there mostly so that the administration can claim credit for the ceasefire/exchange deal even though its embrace of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has left it unable to contribute all that much to this diplomatic process. Actual Secretary of State Antony Blinken is undertaking another European-Middle Eastern tour this week, mostly (from what I can tell) in order to look busy.* One message the administration is now ostensibly delivering to the Israeli government is that any eventual Israeli military (IDF) incursion into southern Gaza has to be more circumspect than its obliteration of northern Gaza. In particular the administration says it's insisting that a southern operation must not cause “significant further displacement of persons.” With most of the territory's population already displaced into the south (where the IDF has continued bombing them), it's unclear where they would go anyway. And with the IDF already having killed over 15,000 people (probably well over, given that it's been at least a couple of weeks since Gazan authorities could issue a reliable casualty update), the optics of this situation may finally be testing the administration's capacity for indulging Israeli war aims.* Israeli media outlets have gotten hold of leaked emails demonstrating that “a highly respected career military intelligence NCO” in the IDF had warned her superiors over the summer that Hamas fighters were training for what looked like an attack on an Israeli kibbutz. Those warnings were, according to the emails, subsequently corroborated but then dismissed further up the chain of command with arguments that the training was nothing more than a staged demonstration. The emails may increase public anger toward the IDF but seemingly give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu evidence to bolster his claim that any failure to prevent the October 7 attacks rests with Israeli security forces rather than with his government. Perhaps that's why they were leaked.YEMENYemen's Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Israeli interests when they hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on November 19. That ship is apparently part-owned by an Israeli businessman, though there was no other immediately apparent connection to Israel and none of the 25 people who were on board—and who are now in Houthi custody—are thought to have been Israeli. The USS Mason, a naval destroyer, reportedly prevented the hijacking of another cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday, but US officials now believe the would-be hijackers were Somali pirates rather than Houthi fighters. They have not ruled out the possibility of some sort of Houthi connection. Some Israeli shipping now appears to be diverting around Africa to avoid the Red Sea, which needless to say makes for a significantly longer journey.TURKEYTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had told reporters earlier this month that his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, would visit Ankara on Tuesday. Turkish media reported on the planned summit for more than two weeks, even as late as Monday evening, but Tuesday came and Raisi was, uh, not there. It's unclear whether this was an intentional snub or a miscommunication, particularly since the Iranian government never mentioned any planned summit. Either way it's somewhat bizarre.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESThe BBC is reporting, based on “leaked briefing documents,” that UAE officials are hoping to use the COP28 climate change summit, which they're hosting later this week, as a forum for concluding some new oil and natural gas deals. UAE officials haven't denied the report but they have said their focus is on achieving “meaningful climate action” at the summit—efforts to undermine that action notwithstanding.SAUDI ARABIAAnother investigative report suggests that the Saudi government is pursuing its own oil-forward agenda, something called the “oil demand sustainability program.” This effort aims to use the kingdom's massive public investment fund and some of its largest companies to sell developing nations on an array of fossil fuel-heavy technologies, including supersonic aircraft, gas-fueled cars, and oil and natural gas fueled power plants. The initiative is primarily aimed at emerging African economies and, as the name suggests, is intended to sustain oil demand even as developed countries move increasingly toward renewable energy. This is completely incompatible with the kingdom's stated adherence to the international climate agenda, though if you think the Saudis actually mean what they say when they talk about reducing carbon emissions you're a far more trusting person than I.ASIAMYANMARThe rebel “Brotherhood Alliance” claimed on Monday that its fighters had seized control of another significant commercial outpost close to the Chinese border in northern Myanmar's Shan state. In that sense the rebels seem to have picked up right where we left them prior to Thanksgiving, on the advance in Shan and several other provinces across the country. With Myanmar's ruling junta promising to stem those advances without actually demonstrating any ability to do so, the Chinese military conducted multi-day exercises near the border over the weekend. There's no indication that Beijing is planning to intervene here but it would need to respond to any instability along the border itself. PHILIPPINESThe Philippine government and communist New People's Army rebels announced on Tuesday that they will reopen peace talks, under Norwegian mediation. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte broke off the last round of talks in 2017 but the basic outlines are still in place for a deal that would see the NPA transition from militant to political movement in return for amnesty for its fighters.NORTH KOREAThe North Korean military finally succeeded in putting a spy satellite in orbit last week, sparking an immediate security crisis along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The South Korean government announced shortly after the launch that it was suspending part of the intra-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement in order to increase its surveillance capabilities along the border, which Pyongyang took as an invitation to scrap the rest of the deal and begin restoring border guard posts and moving heavy armaments into the border region. The CMA bans “aerial surveillance,” a category that the South Korean government has decided includes satellites as well as sub-orbital aircraft so they're accusing North Korea of having violated the accord first. North Korean state media reported on Tuesday that the satellite had taken photographs of the White House and the Pentagon, which puts Pyongyang roughly on par with Wikipedia in terms of its new surveillance capabilities.JAPANJapanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio hosted Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng on Monday, at which time the two agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to the level of “comprehensive strategic partnership.” That means strengthening economic as well as military ties, which could pull Vietnam further toward the US axis despite its still-strong relationship with China. Tokyo has in the past helped to support Vietnamese activity in the South China Sea, in waters whose ownership Hanoi disputes with China. The upgrade puts Japan's relationship with Vietnam on an equal footing with China, India, and the US.AFRICASUDANThe deputy commander of the Sudanese military, Yassir al-Atta, delivered a speech to the Sudanese General Intelligence Service in Omdurman on Tuesday in which he openly accused the UAE government of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces group. This is the first time a senior member of the Sudanese military/de facto government has leveled that accusation directly and it charges the UAE with complicity in a growing list of (alleged) RSF atrocities, particularly in the Darfur region. Atta further accused the governments of the Central African Republic, Chad, and Uganda of acting as conduits for UAE-supplied arms.In response, Emirati officials denied supporting the RSF and insisted that they have “consistently called for de-escalation, a ceasefire, and the initiation of diplomatic dialogue” since the military and RSF went to war with one another back in April. Observers have noted that the RSF is using more sophisticated weaponry, especially drones, than it had at the start of the conflict, but the paramilitaries insist they've seized those arms from Sudanese military bases rather than obtaining them from abroad. The Ugandan government also responded to Atta's charges, similarly rejecting them.SIERRA LEONESierra Leonean authorities say that unrest in Freetown early Sunday morning was the result of a “failed attempted coup” involving a number of active duty and retired members of the country's military and police forces. According to Al Jazeera, they've arrested “13 military officers and one civilian” and “have published photographs of 32 men and two women…being sought in connection with the unrest.” The alleged coup plotters attacked a military barracks and two prisons in the capital, killing at least 20 people and releasing some 2200 detainees, an unknown number of whom have been recaptured. Authorities imposed a curfew in the city that they've since relaxed. Like most failed coups the rationale behind this one remains unclear, though it presumably involved some combination of political and economic resentment. President Julius Maada Bio's narrow and heavily disputed victory in June's presidential election may have ratcheted up some of those resentments.LIBERIAThe official results came out while I was on break, but challenger Joseph Boakai did in fact defeat incumbent George Weah in Liberia's presidential runoff earlier this month. Weah, to his credit, conceded without incident even before the release of those official numbers.BURKINA FASOSome 3000 jihadist fighters attacked the town of Djibo in northern Burkina Faso on Sunday, according to Burkinabé state media. Details are very spotty but authorities are claiming that security forces killed at least 400 attackers from the al-Qaeda aligned Jamaʿat Nusrat al-Islam wa'l-Muslimin group, which has kept Djibo blockaded and largely cut off from the rest of the country for more than a year. There's no definitive word on casualties among security forces or civilians, though the UN says it's confirmed at least 40 civilians killed and more than 42 wounded.EUROPERUSSIAA Russian court on Tuesday extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich through at least January 30. Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich in March on spying charges that they've never fully explained, contending that the details are classified. He will presumably be traded back to the US at some point, but Russian officials have said they won't discuss a prisoner swap until after Gershkovich stands trial, and they continue to delay that process.A new report from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and the Levada Center shows that domestic support for Russia's war in Ukraine has not diminished, even as Russians show increasing weariness for the conflict and for the economic hardships caused by Western sanctions. Indeed, the hardship appears to be hardening attitudes toward negotiations, with a number of focus group subjects expressing the view that Russia has sacrificed too much to give up any of the Ukrainian territory it has seized. I bet more sanctions will solve that problem.UKRAINEThe Ukrainian military's commander in Avdiivka, Vitaliy Barabash, told a media outlet on Tuesday that the Russian military has intensified its assault there and is now “attempting to storm the city from all directions.” It's unclear whether the Russians would be able to use Avdiivka as a staging ground for further offensives, particularly in the short term giving the impending onset of winter, but taking the city would at the very least further secure Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk oblast. Elsewhere, Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukrainian military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov, has reportedly been hospitalized for heavy metal poisoning and there are indications that a number of officials in the military intelligence service (GUR) have also been poisoned. I'll leave it to the reader to speculate as to potential suspects.The Ukrainian government will later this week reportedly unveil a number of changes to its military mobilization system in an effort to reduce the incidence of both draft dodging and of forced conscription. Full details aren't yet known, but one part of the reform will involve the use of “commercial recruitment companies” to identify potential conscripts who have needed skills (mechanics, for example). These individuals will then somehow be given assurances that they won't be deployed to the front but will instead be put to work in support roles. Given Ukraine's need for more front-line soldiers, however, there must be more to it than that.POLANDPolish President Andrzej Duda on Monday swore in a new government led by incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a move that has opposition leaders crying foul. Morawiecki has two weeks to form a government that can pass a parliamentary confirmation vote, a task even he acknowledges he's almost certain to fail given the results of last month's election. So Duda, who favors Morawiecki's right wing Law and Justice Party, is simply delaying the opposition's inevitable takeover for another two weeks. Why, you ask? Well, it seems fairly clear at this point that he's delaying in order to give Law and Justice more time to appoint party loyalists to important state positions, which could create problems for the government that will presumably take office after this two week period is up.FINLANDThe Finnish government, which had already closed all but one of its checkpoints along the Russian border, is planning to close the entire border for the next two weeks in hopes of stemming the flow of asylum seekers attempting to enter Finland. Authorities say that 900 such people have tried to cross the border from Russia this month, a hefty increase that they say is the product of a deliberate effort by the Russian government to funnel people to the border.NETHERLANDSConfounding polling that suggested a narrow race, the far right Party for Freedom (PVV) handily won last week's Dutch parliamentary election. PVV came away with 37 seats in the 150 seat House of Representatives, 12 ahead of the second place GreenLeft-Labour alliance. The victory may put party boss Geert Wilders in line to become the next Dutch prime minister, assuming he can moderate his extremist agenda enough to attract coalition partners. That may be easier said than done.AMERICASARGENTINASpeaking of far right election victories, libertarian extremist Javier Milei won Argentina's presidential runoff on November 19. Polling, which had been wrong at every stage of this election, was wrong again, having predicted a tight race only to see Milei win an 11 point victory over Finance Minister Sergio Massa. Milei, whose agenda includes dissolving Argentina's central bank and ditching the peso in favor of the US dollar, may find himself struggling against a relatively unfavorable Congress once he takes office next month.UNITED STATESFinally, The Nation's Mohammad Alsaafin finds both US and Israeli plans for the future of Gaza to fall short, for one seemingly basic reason:Speaking to reporters last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the territory's governance should be unified with the West Bank, and laid out a series of edits for the future of Palestine.“Gaza cannot continue to be run by Hamas,” Blinken said. “It's also clear that Israel cannot occupy Gaza…. it is imperative that the Palestinian people be central to the governance of Gaza and the West Bank.Blinken's parameters were defied days later by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who declared, “IDF forces will remain in control of the Strip,” and made clear that he will not allow the Palestinian Authority to play a role there. (Netanyahu then told Fox News that Israel “does not seek to occupy” Gaza, though, given the facts on the ground, it is hard to know how Israel defines “occupation.”)The back-and-forth over what comes next in Gaza has prompted headlines like this one from NBC News: “The gap between the Biden administration and Netanyahu government over Gaza's future is widening.”But there is a glaringly absent party in these conversations: the Palestinian people themselves. Nobody seems particularly interested in what they might have to say about the future of their land.Thanks for reading! Foreign Exchanges is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe

Le Liberia s'apprête à tourner une page : celle des années George Weah. L'ancien footballeur, largement élu président en 2017, a été battu d'un cheveu la semaine dernière, lors du second tour de la présidentielle, par un vieux routier de la politique libérienne : Joseph Boakai, 78 ans, qui a été durant douze ans le vice-président d'Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Vaincu en 2017 par George Weah, Joseph Boakai a donc pris sa revanche. Comment analyser ce résultat ? George Weah a-t-il fait les frais d'un bilan jugé par certains très décevant ? Et quel avenir désormais pour le pays ? Mathias Hounkpè, directeur pays de la Fondation internationale pour les systèmes électoraux (IFES) au Mali, est notre invité.  RFI : Joseph Boakai a été déclaré lundi vainqueur de l'élection présidentielle avec 50,64% des voix, une victoire à l'arraché. Mais dès vendredi, avant même la proclamation des résultats, George Weah avait reconnu sa défaite. C'est là un geste très rare ?Mathias Hounkpè : Disons que c'est un geste assez rare lorsque vous êtes en Afrique subsaharienne et en Afrique de l'Ouest, et donc je pense qu'il faut saluer le président sortant George Weah pour avoir posé cet acte qui a réduit de façon considérable les risques de protestation ou les tensions dans le pays, surtout lorsqu'on sait que les résultats de la présidentielle étaient très serrés.Les soutiens les plus radicaux de George Weah appelaient l'ex-chef de l'État à contester les résultats du scrutin. Lundi, à Monrovia, une voiture a foncé sur une foule de partisans du vainqueur, faisant plusieurs morts. Avec ce résultat très serré, un peu plus de 20 000 voix d'écart, doit-on craindre une montée en tension dans le pays, selon vous ?Je pense que ça dépendra en partie de la manière dont le nouveau président, donc le président Boakai, va gérer le pays. Parce que lorsqu'on hérite d'un pays aussi divisé, il faut d'abord attendre et voir les résultats des élections au niveau du Sénat et de l'équivalent de l'Assemblée nationale, la première chambre, pour voir si à ce niveau également les chambres ne seront pas pratiquement divisées en deux parce que ça, ça peut rendre la gouvernance politique même difficile. Et ensuite, le nouveau président, comme je le disais, aura la responsabilité de réunir le pays. Et lorsque vous écoutez le discours de Weah où il a concédé la victoire au nouveau président, l'un des défis sur lequel il a attiré son attention, c'est justement la nécessité d'unir le pays. Joseph Boakai a donc pris sa revanche sur George Weah, après son revers de 2017. George Weah a-t-il fait les frais de son bilan, jugé décevant par certains, voire même très décevant ?Oui, à mon avis, la raison fondamentale, c'est vraiment que George Weah n'a pas eu de résultats, et ceci pour diverses sortes de raisons. En-dehors de quelques secteurs, par exemple les infrastructures, un peu quand même dans le domaine de l'emploi, je crois que le président Weah n'a pas pu vraiment produire des résultats, a déçu et aussi a adopté des comportements qui donnaient le sentiment que s'occuper des préoccupations des citoyens n'était pas vraiment sa première préoccupation. Par exemple, lorsqu'on l'a vu passer une dizaine de jours pendant la Coupe du monde [de football au Qatar en 2022] pour aller regarder les matchs, on a vu que dans le pays, il était devenu comme un prêtre qui animait des messes, il a construit une maison de composition en musique, etc. Donc je pense que les citoyens ont eu le sentiment à un moment donné que le président Weah n'avait pas vraiment à cœur leurs préoccupations.Vous diriez que ce sont ses résultats en matière de lutte contre la pauvreté et contre la corruption qui lui ont coûté l'élection ?Oui, surtout la lutte contre la corruption. Je pense que Weah n'a pu rien faire contre ça. Vous vous rappelez que dans ce pays, il y a deux ou trois juges de l'équivalent de la Cour des comptes qui ont été tués, simplement parce que l'équivalent de la Cour des comptes était sur un dossier qui était très sensible. Donc je pense que non seulement il n'a pas réussi mais il n'a même pas laissé la marge aux institutions mises en place pour aider la lutte contre la corruption. De mon point de vue, c'est l'un des grands défis auxquels le nouveau président aura à se confronter.Pour gagner, Joseph Boakai a bénéficié du soutien du très influent Prince Johnson. Or, ce sénateur est un ancien chef de guerre accusé de nombreux meurtres pendant la guerre civile. Est-ce à dire que le Liberia ne va jamais juger ses bourreaux des années 90 ?Je pense que ça va être très difficile pour lui et pour le Liberia, parce que j'ai le sentiment, en ce qui me concerne, que l'un des prix pour obtenir la stabilité dans le pays c'est aussi de savoir gérer cet aspect de leur histoire et essayer d'éviter de rechercher nécessairement à sanctionner, à punir, etc. Ce n'est pas surprenant que Prince Johnson continue d'être dans l'espace politique, comme Charles Taylor à travers son parti politique. Donc, je pense qu'ils ont peut-être décidé de s'accommoder de ça, afin de garantir la stabilité et éviter encore des facteurs qui pourraient contribuer à raviver les plaies qui peut-être avec le temps sont en train de se cicatriser.

As Liberians wait to swear in President-elect Joseph Boakai, we look back at George Weah's time in office. Why did he lose the last election? What impact did he make? Also what happened at the stadium in the Brazaville-Congo where 37 people died and over 100 were injured? And how the rise in the cost of living is forcing girls out of schools in some African countries.

C'est un geste qui ne passe pas inaperçu. Au Liberia, le président sortant Georges Weah a reconnu sa défaite et félicité son adversaire Joseph Boakai, alors que les résultats définitifs n'avaient pas encore été publiés. Pourquoi ce fair-play est-il si rare en Afrique ? Quelles leçons nous donne le Liberia ? 

Les journalistes et experts de RFI répondent également aux questions des auditeurs sur les élections générales en RDC, sur la réaction des habitants de Kidal et sur le candidat choisi par le Pastef au Sénégal. Libéria : les raisons de la défaite de George WeahAu Libéria, Joseph Boakai a remporté l'élection présidentielle face à George Weah. Pour quelles raisons le président sortant n'a-t-il pas été réélu ? Quelles pourraient être les premières mesures du nouveau président ? Avec Bineta Diagne, correspondante permanente à Abidjan, de retour de Monrovia.   Élections en RDC : comment voteront les territoires occupés ? En RDC, à un mois des élections générales, les habitants des territoires de Rutshuru et du Masisi ne pourront pas voter. Qu'en est-il du reste de la région ? Un report est-il envisageable dans certains territoires comme ça avait été le cas en 2018 ? Avec Paulina Zidi, envoyée spéciale de RFI en République démocratique du Congo. Mali : que pense la population de Kidal du retour de l'armée ? Comment la population de Kidal a-t-elle réagi à la reprise de la ville par les forces armées maliennes ? Où se sont réfugiés les habitants qui ont fui les combats ?  Avec David Baché, journaliste au service Afrique de RFI.   Sénégal : Diomaye Faye, le candidat Bis du PastefLe Pastef, le parti d'Ousmane Sonko, a désigné Bassirou Diomaye Faye comme candidat. Pourquoi une telle décision alors que les recours judiciaires ne sont pas épuisés pour permettre la candidature d'Ousmane Sonko ? Comment expliquer le choix de cette personnalité alors qu'elle est également en prison ? Avec Léa-Lisa Westerhoff, correspondante permanente de RFI à Dakar.    

Three news stories summarized & contextualized by analytic journalist Colin Wright.Fiery right-wing populist Javier Milei wins Argentina's presidency and promises ‘drastic' changesSummary: Far-right outsider candidate Javier Milei has won Argentina's presidential runoff election in a landslide, defeating the more conventional, continuity candidate nearly 56% to just over 44%.Context: That's a staggering victory for someone who has promised to essentially gut the government, kill-off the peso in favor of adopting the US dollar, and who has been embroiled in controversy for years; the degree to which Milei will be able to do what he's promised to do is still an open question, but this victory—and the size of that victory—is being seen as a pretty clear indication that the Argentine voting population is fed up with the existing political and economic status quo in the country, which has, among other things, led to persistent incredibly high levels of inflation, rising poverty levels, and ever-increasing levels of government debt.(More on Milei and what was at stake in this election in this recent Let's Know Things episode: Argentina Election)—The Associated PressOne Sentence News is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Liberian leader George Weah hailed for his sportsmanship after accepting defeatSummary: The outgoing President of Liberia, George Weah, has conceded defeat to his rival, the now-incoming President Joseph Boakai, easing concerns that the country might face a power-struggle in the wake of a tight election.Context: Liberia has a history of fairly brutal and recent politics-tied conflict, so there were concerns that this election, the first since 2018, could trigger violence; this peaceful transfer of power, though, is being lauded both for the clarity it grants everyone involved and for the trend it continues and example it sets in a region that has otherwise been partially defined, in recent years, by military coups and instability.—BBC NewsMike Johnson to release 40,000 hours of January 6 footageSummary: Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced last week that tens of thousands of hours of footage from the January 6, 2021 Capital Building incursion will be released to the public.Context: Far-right House Representatives have been demanding this footage be released for a while, and this is being seen as a nod to them as the Speaker attempts to keep the different wings of his party in sufficient lockstep to move other priorities forward, following inter-party disagreements about his recent stopgap spending bill; some Representatives and security professionals have said this footage could present a security risk, calling its release an attempt to politicize the event in question, but others—those who favor its release—have said that the 5%-ish of the footage that's considered to be a major security risk will be withheld, and that those who are being charged for breaking into the Capitol deserve to have access to footage that could help them defend themselves in court.—AxiosRecent analysis from Oxfam and other research groups indicate that—mostly because they have things like yachts, private jets, and mansions (though also investments in highly emitting business endeavors)—twelve of the world's wealthiest people produce more emissions than about 2.1 million average homes each year (which is about 17 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions).—The Guardian280 millionApproximate number of electric two- and three-wheeled vehicles on global roads in 2022 (bikes, mopeds, etc).That far surpasses the just-over 20 million electric four-wheeled vehicles and around 1.3 million commercial EVs (buses, delivery vans, etc) that are in use, at the moment.And because the majority of trips people take across much of the world (often using cars) are short, these smaller electric vehicles are estimated to be savings folks a bunch of money, but also reducing global oil demand by something like 1%, according to Bloomberg estimates.—The ConversationTrust Click Get full access to One Sentence News at onesentencenews.substack.com/subscribe

Le président sortant ne réalisera pas le doublé : il s'est fait dribbler par son opposant Joseph Boakai. Une défaite concédée avant même les résultats définitifs par l'ancien Ballon d'or, et sur laquelle la presse continue de revenir ce lundi, croyant voir dans son attitude des réminiscences de « son esprit exemplaire de fair-play footballistique », tel l'Observateur Paalga au Burkina Faso. Le journal burkinabè souffle de soulagement, comme d'ailleurs Wakat Séra : « George Weah a désamorcé la bombe sociale que bien des observateurs redoutaient », à savoir celle de violences post-électorales.Pas de violence donc pour cette troisième alternance pacifique, « scénario d'un président-candidat qui perd les élections », dans lequel Aujourd'hui au Faso voit « la preuve que le scrutin, peu ou prou, s'est déroulé dans la transparence ». Autant d'éléments poussant le titre burkinabè à décerner au Liberia « un nouveau laurier de démocratie ».Les raisons d'un échecLes promesses n'engagent que ceux qui y croient – mais attention au retour de bâton. Et c'est, pour plusieurs journaux, précisément ce qui est arrivé à « l'enfant de Santa Clara » qui, rappelle Le Monde Afrique, promettait en 2017, « une lutte implacable contre la corruption et la misère ». Six ans plus tard, « l'euphorie a très vite fait place à la désillusion. La majorité des Libériens auront donc exprimé cette année contre Mister George un vote protestataire, plus qu'une adhésion franche au programme de son adversaire », analyse donc L'Observateur Paalga.Face à une situation plus difficile encore qu'il y a six ans – les crises successives d'Ebola, puis du Covid, ont mis à mal l'économie d'un pays déjà fragile. Le parcours de technocrate de Joseph Boakai, aux antipodes de celui de George Weah, a aussi su « réveiller l'espoir », analyse Le Monde Afrique. Car il peut se prévaloir de quarante ans de carrière, durant lesquels il a été successivement ministre de l'Agriculture, dirigeant de grandes entreprises, vice-président. Autant de galons qui, estime Wakat Séra, donnent au président-élu sa « solide casquette d'homme d'État », encore renforcée par le fait que ce « fils de paysans sait parler à ses compatriotes le langage qu'ils connaissent ».De lourds défis à venirSans être responsable des « manquements » de l'ère Weah, Joseph Boakai en hérite pourtant, pointe encore le titre burkinabè. Et dans un pays où « tout est urgent et prioritaire », il va falloir faire preuve de stratégie et de savoir-faire.Mais, les électeurs, eux aussi, auront du travail, conclut le Liberian Observer. Car la population se doit, prévient le journal, de « répondre présent à chaque occasion, et pas seulement dans les bureaux de vote ». Exit « l'idée reçue au sujet de la démocratie, selon laquelle la population est spectatrice de la performance des élus ». Au contraire, poursuit l'Observer, il faut « appliquer une pression éclairée » sur ladite performance pour s'assurer que les volontés populaires sont respectées. En somme, un travail main dans la main.Les votants dans l'isoloir aussi en RDC dans un moisPour les élections présidentielle, législatives et provinciales et à un mois du scrutin, la campagne a été lancée hier dimanche. Peu de réactions à ce stade dans la presse congolaise – les titres burkinabè eux ne se privent pas de commenter cette période qu'ils voient déjà « âpre et haletante », comme Aujourd'hui au Faso, « au regard du poids des candidats ». Parmi les 25 en lice – ils étaient 26 jusqu'à ce que Matata Ponyo se rallie à Moïse Katumbi – on peut en effet désigner le sortant Félix Tshisekedi, le prix Nobel Denis Mukwege ou encore le déçu de 2018 Martin Fayulu.Et même si tous, « comme des d'Artagnan, Porthos ou Aramis se lanceront sabre au clair à la conquête de la présidence » dans un pays où l'insécurité est grandissante, il faudra « tout faire, prévient Le Pays, pour éviter des accrochages ou affrontements entre militants et sympathisants » issus de telle ou telle écurie. Des différents candidats à leurs soutiens en passant par les observateurs internationaux, il faut, prescrit encore le titre, « que soient respectées les règles du jeu ». En gardant cette ligne de conduite en tête : « Seule doit prévaloir la force de l'argument, et non l'argument de la force. »

What is Africa Compact Summit +++ Germany Compact with Africa +++ Portrait Joseph Boakai, Liberia's president-elect +++Showbiz

Le président sortant ne réalisera pas le doublé : il s'est fait dribbler par son opposant Joseph Boakai. Une défaite concédée avant même les résultats définitifs par l'ancien Ballon d'or, et sur laquelle la presse continue de revenir ce lundi, croyant voir dans son attitude des réminiscences de « son esprit exemplaire de fair-play footballistique », tel l'Observateur Paalga au Burkina Faso. Le journal burkinabè souffle de soulagement, comme d'ailleurs Wakat Séra : « George Weah a désamorcé la bombe sociale que bien des observateurs redoutaient », à savoir celle de violences post-électorales.Pas de violence donc pour cette troisième alternance pacifique, « scénario d'un président-candidat qui perd les élections », dans lequel Aujourd'hui au Faso voit « la preuve que le scrutin, peu ou prou, s'est déroulé dans la transparence ». Autant d'éléments poussant le titre burkinabè à décerner au Liberia « un nouveau laurier de démocratie ».Les raisons d'un échecLes promesses n'engagent que ceux qui y croient – mais attention au retour de bâton. Et c'est, pour plusieurs journaux, précisément ce qui est arrivé à « l'enfant de Santa Clara » qui, rappelle Le Monde Afrique, promettait en 2017, « une lutte implacable contre la corruption et la misère ». Six ans plus tard, « l'euphorie a très vite fait place à la désillusion. La majorité des Libériens auront donc exprimé cette année contre Mister George un vote protestataire, plus qu'une adhésion franche au programme de son adversaire », analyse donc L'Observateur Paalga.Face à une situation plus difficile encore qu'il y a six ans – les crises successives d'Ebola, puis du Covid, ont mis à mal l'économie d'un pays déjà fragile. Le parcours de technocrate de Joseph Boakai, aux antipodes de celui de George Weah, a aussi su « réveiller l'espoir », analyse Le Monde Afrique. Car il peut se prévaloir de quarante ans de carrière, durant lesquels il a été successivement ministre de l'Agriculture, dirigeant de grandes entreprises, vice-président. Autant de galons qui, estime Wakat Séra, donnent au président-élu sa « solide casquette d'homme d'État », encore renforcée par le fait que ce « fils de paysans sait parler à ses compatriotes le langage qu'ils connaissent ».De lourds défis à venirSans être responsable des « manquements » de l'ère Weah, Joseph Boakai en hérite pourtant, pointe encore le titre burkinabè. Et dans un pays où « tout est urgent et prioritaire », il va falloir faire preuve de stratégie et de savoir-faire.Mais, les électeurs, eux aussi, auront du travail, conclut le Liberian Observer. Car la population se doit, prévient le journal, de « répondre présent à chaque occasion, et pas seulement dans les bureaux de vote ». Exit « l'idée reçue au sujet de la démocratie, selon laquelle la population est spectatrice de la performance des élus ». Au contraire, poursuit l'Observer, il faut « appliquer une pression éclairée » sur ladite performance pour s'assurer que les volontés populaires sont respectées. En somme, un travail main dans la main.Les votants dans l'isoloir aussi en RDC dans un moisPour les élections présidentielle, législatives et provinciales et à un mois du scrutin, la campagne a été lancée hier dimanche. Peu de réactions à ce stade dans la presse congolaise – les titres burkinabè eux ne se privent pas de commenter cette période qu'ils voient déjà « âpre et haletante », comme Aujourd'hui au Faso, « au regard du poids des candidats ». Parmi les 25 en lice – ils étaient 26 jusqu'à ce que Matata Ponyo se rallie à Moïse Katumbi – on peut en effet désigner le sortant Félix Tshisekedi, le prix Nobel Denis Mukwege ou encore le déçu de 2018 Martin Fayulu.Et même si tous, « comme des d'Artagnan, Porthos ou Aramis se lanceront sabre au clair à la conquête de la présidence » dans un pays où l'insécurité est grandissante, il faudra « tout faire, prévient Le Pays, pour éviter des accrochages ou affrontements entre militants et sympathisants » issus de telle ou telle écurie. Des différents candidats à leurs soutiens en passant par les observateurs internationaux, il faut, prescrit encore le titre, « que soient respectées les règles du jeu ». En gardant cette ligne de conduite en tête : « Seule doit prévaloir la force de l'argument, et non l'argument de la force. »

Matukio kadhaa wa kadhaa yamefanyika ulimwenguni kukiwemo George Weah kukubali kushindwa katika duru ya pili ya uchaguzi nchini Liberia kwa Joseph Boakai. Hii ina maana atakuwa miongoni mwa marais waliohudumu kwa muhula mmoja.  Tutaangazia pia mafuriko yalivyoathiri nchi nyingi, Hali ya usalama na kisiasa nchini DRC, kadhalika Kenya kuidhinisha polisi kutumwa Haiti, tutaangazia uamuzi wa mahakama ya Uingereza kuhusu sera ya wahamiaji nchini Rwanda, kadhalika usalama Mali na chaguzi nchini Madagascar na hali halisi katika vita vinavyoendelea huko Gaza na pia tutaangazia mkutano kati ya Rais Joe Biden na Xi Jinping.

Au Libéria, les résultats provisoires donnent vainqueur Joseph Boakai face au président sortant George Weah. Boakai l'emporterait avec 50,89% des suffrages. si cela se confirme ce serait la première qu'un président sortant ne parvient pas à être réélu.

This is the web version of Foreign Exchanges, but did you know you can get it delivered right to your inbox? Sign up today:Friends, for family reasons and also because of my own mental exhaustion I will be taking a longer than usual break from the newsletter for this year's Thanksgiving holiday. The newsletter will be going quiet following Thursday's roundup and will return to our regular schedule on Tuesday, November 28. As I've written before here I can always tell when it's time for me to take a bit of a break from the newsletter and the truth is we probably passed that point around three or four weeks ago so I'm running on fumes. Thanks for reading and for supporting this venture!TODAY IN HISTORYNovember 14, 1965: The Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between the United States and the North Vietnamese Army, begins. It ended on November 18 with both sides claiming victory, though the NVA's ability to fight the much better armed US Army to a draw was a boost to their morale and probably the battle's most important effect.November 14, 2001: Fighters with the Northern Alliance rebel coalition enter and occupy the city of Kabul, marking the end of the US war in Afghanista—just kidding. I had you going there for a second, didn't I?INTERNATIONALWith deaths due to “extreme heat” projected to increase five-fold by 2050, according to The Lancet Countdown, you'll no doubt be pleasantly surprised to learn that an AP investigative report shows that the “green transition plans” being formulated by most major fossil fuel companies are not green, not transitional, and not even really plans. Without any serious government pressure to force them to invest in genuinely renewable technologies, these firms are able to do things like, say, classify natural gas development as a “green” investment. That's absurd, of course, but who's counting?The main problem with these plans has long been, and continues to be, the fact that fossil fuel companies exempt the products they sell when assessing their progress toward “net zero” carbon emissions. Firms only account for “Scope 1” emissions, which are their direct carbon outputs, and “Scope 2” emissions, the indirect output that results from their production process. The emissions that ensue when people burn the products they sell are considered “Scope 3” and energy firms disavow any responsibility for them. Like tobacco companies, they argue that what the customer does with their products is the customer's business, not theirs. Maybe people just want to buy a barrel of oil and place it in their foyer as a conversation piece or put it to some other use that doesn't emit carbon. Who's to say?MIDDLE EASTISRAEL-PALESTINEEarly Wednesday morning Israeli forces began what they called “a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa hospital” involving “medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians.” There are hundreds of patients and thousands of other people who have been trapped in the hospital by the IDF and the chances that “no harm” will come to any of them in the next several hours are probably slim. Israeli officials have been insisting that Hamas's lair is located underneath the hospital but at this point it's too soon to know if that's the target or if this is a more limited operation. This is a developing story so there's not much more I can say about it at this time.What I can say is that the Biden administration gave a green light to this operation earlier in the day, when White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the administration has “independent intelligence” (which is code for “we didn't get this from the IDF”) that “Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad use some hospitals in the Gaza Strip — including Al-Shifa — and tunnels underneath them to conceal and to support their military operations and to hold hostages.” According to Kirby this intelligence shows that the militant groups have a “command and control” center in Shifa and “have stored weapons there.” Kirby insisted that that the administration was not endorsing an Israeli attack on the hospital, but anybody with ears to hear or eyes to read what he said should have no doubt as to what the intent was.I wrote everything below prior to news of the Israeli assault breaking so some of it might no longer be relevant but I think most of it still is:Gazan health authorities said on Tuesday that some 40 patients at Shifa—three of them babies—have died since that facility ran out of generator fuel on Saturday. Without electricity the hospital cannot maintain its incubator units and so there are now 36 newborns who are at critical risk. With the IDF surrounding the hospital it's also become impossible to transfer the dead to a cemetery, so personnel are planning to bury some 120 bodies in a mass grave on site. Gazan officials have proposed evacuating the facility under the auspices of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and sending its remaining patients to Egypt but there had been no movement on that front at time of writing. The Israeli government has apparently offered to send the hospitals more incubators, a fascinating attempt at a humanitarian gesture that would be completely pointless because the problem isn't the incubators, it's the electricity.In other news:* David Ignatius at The Washington Post reported (I use that term loosely) on Monday that “Israel and Hamas are close to a hostage deal.” With the caveat that if David Ignatius told me the sky was blue I'd glance out the window to double check, the terms he reported are that Hamas would release (or facilitate the release) of the women and children that it and other Gazan militant groups took hostage during their October 7 rampage through southern Israel. This would be done in stages and be matched by the release of Palestinian women and children being held by Israeli authorities. It would also involve a ceasefire of unspecified duration but “perhaps five days” according to Ignatius. The ceasefire could allow some time to address humanitarian issues in Gaza though I don't know what that would entail and whatever it was would almost certainly be inadequate.* Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger on Tuesday and later told reporters that the ICRC has had no access to the aforementioned hostages. It's highly unlikely that the Israelis would agree to anything involving hostages without at least proof of life, so this could be a big sticking point with respect to the potential prisoner deal outlined above. Families of the hostages, meanwhile, are marching from Tel Aviv to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem to pressure him to take some action to secure the hostages' release.* Israeli occupation forces killed at least eight Palestinians in the West Bank on Tuesday, seven of them in Tulkarm. The IDF carried out a drone strike in that city, an occurrence that's still relatively rare in the West Bank though it's certainly become more common over the past year and in particular the past month.* Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a statement on Tuesday endorsing what he laughably termed the “voluntary emigration of Gaza Arabs to countries around the world.” I guess “leave or die” is a choice, right? A couple of Israeli politicians floated this idea on Monday in a Wall Street Journal editorial that was less a serious proposal than a written middle finger to Western critics of the Israeli military campaign. That piece didn't go into extensive detail about what a mass relocation would look like—again, it wasn't meant as a serious proposal—but Smotrich's intent is much easier to guess, and that's the permanent ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the relocation of its population as far away from Israel as possible. Smotrich, whose ministerial brief also includes running the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories office, isn't part of Netanyahu's “war cabinet” but that doesn't mean he's completely lacking in influence.* The US and UK governments on Tuesday announced new sanctions targeting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members along with a Lebanese entity that allegedly facilitates money transfers from Iran to Gazan militant groups. This is the third round of sanctions the Biden administration has imposed since October 7. Also on Tuesday, over 400 employees of the Biden administration sent a joint letter to their boss, Joe Biden, expressing opposition to the administration's approach to the Gaza conflict.YEMENHouthi rebels say they fired another barrage of missiles toward Israel on Tuesday. There's no confirmation of this, though the IDF did say that its air defenses downed a single missile near Eilat that we can probably assume was of Houthi provenance. The leader of Yemen's Houthi movement, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, delivered a speech on Tuesday pledging that his rebel fighters would continue attacking Israel. In particular, Houthi suggested that they could target Israeli commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which would certainly be an easier target for them than Israel itself.IRAQA Turkish drone strike killed two people, both allegedly members of the Sinjar Resistance Units militia, in northern Iraq's Nineveh province on Monday evening. The Sinjar militia was formed in 2014 with assistance from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and is still allied with that group, which makes its personnel potential targets for the Turkish military.Elsewhere, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court removed two members of the Iraqi parliament on Tuesday, one of whom just happened to be speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi. It's not clear why, though another MP named Laith al-Dulaimi had reportedly sued Halbusi alleging that the speaker forged Dulaimi's name on a resignation letter. Dulaimi was, as it happens, the other MP who had his term ended by the court (I assume that's not a coincidence). The ruling created a potential political crisis for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaʿ al-Sudani. As speaker, Halbusi was Iraq's leading Sunni Arab politician, and his support was important to Sudani's government. Three members of his Progress Party quit their cabinet posts after the court ruling and it remains to be seen how that will impact Sudani's position.ASIAAFGHANISTANAfghan Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi apparently visited Pakistan this week, where—according to the Afghan government—he pressed Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on the issue of all those Afghan migrants the Pakistani government is presently deporting. Specifically it sounds like Azizi raised the issue of allowing deportees to at least take some of their money and/or possessions to Afghanistan with them. Deportees are currently arriving with nothing and are being housed in what are effectively refugee camps—leaving aside the incongruity of being a “refugee” in one's home country—on the Afghan side of the border.MYANMARReports on Monday only hinted at some new fighting in western Myanmar's Chin state, but as more details are emerging the situation there sounds pretty serious. According to the Chin National Front, rebel fighters had by the end of the day seized two Myanmar military outposts and were working to seize control of the Myanmar-Indian border. According to Indian media the fighting has sent some 2000 people streaming across that border to escape. In neighboring Rakhine state, the rebel Arakan Army has also been seizing military outposts and authorities have imposed a curfew in the state capital, Sittwe, as a result. Rebel factions across Myanmar have launched new offensives in recent weeks, starting with the “1027” (for October 27) operations by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army in Shan state. Myanmar's ruling junta is clearly struggling to mount a response.CHINAJoe Biden told reporters on Tuesday that his main goal in meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco this week is to restore “normal” communications between their governments. In particular this would involve a return to regular military-to-military contacts, something Beijing ended in the wake of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last year. Any prospect of resuming those contacts was complicated by the fact that former Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was under US sanction. But as he's no longer defense minister that complication is no longer an issue.AFRICALIBERIALiberian voters turned out on Tuesday for the second round of that country's presidential election, pitting incumbent George Weah against Joseph Boakai. Both candidates finished with just under 44 percent of the vote in last month's first round. Such a close finish might augur poorly for the incumbent in a head to head matchup, though that's just one of many factors that could sway this vote in either direction. Polls have closed in that contest but I have yet to see anything by way of preliminary or partial results.MALIMali's ruling junta says its security forces have seized control over the northern town of Kidal after battling with rebels in that region for several days. The Malian military and mercenary auxiliaries marched on Kidal after United Nations peacekeepers vacated the region as part of their ongoing withdrawal from Mali. Kidal has been a rebel stronghold since the initial northern Mali uprising in 2012 and government control there has been nebulous at best since then. There's been no comment as far as I know from the rebels and it's unclear what their disposition is at this point.ETHIOPIAAccording to Addis Standard, Fano militia fighters attacked a predominantly Oromo community in Ethiopia's Amhara region last week, killing at least 25 people and displacing some 3000 into the Oromia region. The Fano militia is still battling the Ethiopian government but Amhara paramilitary groups have also made a pastime of preying on ethnic Oromo communities (likewise, Oromo militias have preyed on ethnic Amhara). In this case they apparently demanded grain from the community and attacked after residents refused to comply.On a more upbeat note, the US Agency for International Development is reportedly planning to resume food distribution across Ethiopia next month under a “one-year trial period.” The agency suspended its Ethiopian food program earlier this year amid allegations that the aid was being diverted. It resumed providing food aid to Ethiopian refugees last month and is now planning to spend the next year testing whether procedural changes adopted by aid groups and the Ethiopian government are enough to stop that alleged diversion. Solid data is hard to come by but it's possible that hundreds or thousands of Ethiopians have died because of the decision (which the UN World Food Program joined) to suspend food aid.DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGOThe death toll from Sunday's Allied Democratic Forces attack on a village in the eastern DRC's North Kivu province has risen to 33, according to provincial officials. ADF fighters are also believed to have been responsible for attacking a village in neighboring Ituri province on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people.EUROPERUSSIAVladimir Putin signed a new law on Tuesday that permits elections to be held even in parts of Russia that are under martial law. This apparently clears the way for the portions of Ukraine that Moscow claims to have annexed to participate in next year's presidential election. The effect will be to try to stitch those regions a little more tightly to Russia and complicate any possible return to Ukrainian authority.UKRAINEThe European Union promised back in March to supply the Ukrainian military with 1 million 155 mm artillery shells within 12 months. You'll never guess how that went. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told a meeting of EU defense ministers on Tuesday that the bloc isn't going to fulfill its commitment and even went so far as to criticize the fact that it was made in the first place. The will was apparently there, but EU member states still don't have the collective capacity to churn out that many shells that quickly. The effort has apparently sparked a boost in production capacity but not enough to meet the 12 month deadline.SWEDENSweden's NATO accession may be moving slightly forward, as the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee will take up the issue on Thursday. It's been about three weeks since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan submitted Sweden's accession to parliament and it should be clear by now that the folks in Ankara are in no particular hurry to work their way through that process. There may be some impetus on the part of other NATO members to have the issue resolved in time for the alliance foreign ministers summit on November 28, but Erdoğan has proven himself to be fairly impervious to that sort of pressure in the past.AMERICASUNITED STATESFinally, TomDispatch's William Hartung wonders whether the “Arsenal of Democracy” really cares all that much about the “democracy” part:The list of major human rights abusers that receive U.S.-supplied weaponry is long and includes (but isn't faintly limited to) Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Nigeria, and the Philippines. Such sales can have devastating human consequences. They also support regimes that all too often destabilize their regions and risk embroiling the United States directly in conflicts.U.S.-supplied arms also far too regularly fall into the hands of Washington's adversaries. As an example consider the way the UAE transferred small arms and armored vehicles produced by American weapons makers to extremist militias in Yemen, with no apparent consequences, even though such acts clearly violated American arms export laws. Sometimes, recipients of such weaponry even end up fighting each other, as when Turkey used U.S.-supplied F-16s in 2019 to bomb U.S.-backed Syrian forces involved in the fight against Islamic State terrorists.Such examples underscore the need to scrutinize U.S. arms exports far more carefully. Instead, the arms industry has promoted an increasingly “streamlined” process of approval of such weapons sales, campaigning for numerous measures that would make it even easier to arm foreign regimes regardless of their human-rights records or support for the interests Washington theoretically promotes. These have included an “Export Control Reform Initiative” heavily promoted by the industry during the Obama and Trump administrations that ended up ensuring a further relaxation of scrutiny over firearms exports. It has, in fact, eased the way for sales that, in the future, could put U.S.-produced weaponry in the hands of tyrants, terrorists, and criminal organizations.Now, the industry is promoting efforts to get weapons out the door ever more quickly through “reforms” to the Foreign Military Sales program in which the Pentagon essentially serves as an arms broker between those weapons corporations and foreign governments.Thanks for reading! Foreign Exchanges is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe

« Ça y est ! Cette fois, c'est la bonne. » Ce cri de soulagement, c'est celui de l'Observateur Paalga ce matin. Et pour cause : lourdement appuyés par les paramilitaires du groupe Wagner, les soldats ont repris le contrôle de ce bastion rebelle ; une première depuis plus de dix ans et un véritable « tournant copernicien dans la guerre oblique au long cours que mène le Mali contre ses ennemis », se réjouit Aujourd'hui au Faso. Une victoire pour Bamako donc mais aussi, souligne Le Monde Afrique, « une victoire personnelle pour le colonel Assimi Goïta, » « arrivé au pouvoir avec un agenda souverainiste et sur une promesse de reconquête des territoires perdus. »Victoire de terrain, victoire personnelle mais aussi « victoire symbolique », poursuit le quotidien, sur un territoire considéré comme le bastion inexpugnable » des rebelles touaregs depuis l'indépendance du pays en 1960.D'importants moyens militairesSi L'Observateur Paalga souligne que « les FAMa n'ont pas toujours fait le poids face aux groupes armés de la rébellion », eh bien cette fois, « la donne militaire a nettement changé. » Il y a d'abord l'appui des paramilitaires russes du groupe Wagner ; et puis les journaux soulignent aussi unanimement, à l'image d'Aujourd'hui au Faso, les « bombardements aériens » qui ont eu raison des éléments du CSP, « claquemurés » dans l'ancien camp de la Minusma et qui eux, privilégiaient les combats de guérilla, aidés de leur connaissance du terrain.Plus précisément, apprend-on dans les colonnes du Monde Afrique, ce sont les « bombardements répétés des drones […] de fabrication turque » qui ont permis de renverser la situation et d'éviter le « fiasco » de la précédente tentative de reconquête, en 2014.Quid de la suite des événements ?C'est une chose de gagner du terrain, encore faut-il le conserver. Tout l'enjeu réside donc dans cette question formulée par Aujourd'hui au Faso : « Et maintenant, que feront les FAMa de cette victoire ? » Les journaux partagent une même inquiétude, que pointe L'Observateur Paalga : celle d'une alliance « avec les groupes armés terroristes » contre « un ennemi commun. »Un nom, en particulier, revient : celui d'Iyad ag Ghali, ancien chef rebelle touareg, avant de devenir le plus haut cadre d'al-Qaïda dans la région. Ce personnage pourrait être « l'autre bénéficiaire, moins attendu, de cette reconquête » soupçonne Le Monde Afrique… et Le Pays de rappeler qu'il a « toujours maintenu des liens avec la majeure partie des groupes armés majoritairement touaregs » et qui pourrait donc « les attirer vers lui » à la faveur d'une alliance de circonstances.Bref, les rebelles ont beau s'être repliés, il y a fort à parier que le travail soit encore long. De toute façon, pour s'estimer vraiment vainqueur, le gouvernement de Bamako devra remporter une autre bataille que celle de Kidal, conclut Aujourd'hui au Faso : celle de « l'apaisement des cœurs. »Élections au Liberia dans un climat plutôt calmeOn prend les mêmes, et on recommence ! Pour la deuxième présidentielle de suite, le sortant George Weah et l'opposant Joseph Boakai s'affrontaient au second tour. L'impression de déjà-vu va-t-elle s'arrêter là où, comme s'interroge Wakat Séra, « l'histoire va-t-elle se répéter », avec une victoire de George Weah ?Rien n'est certain car le président sortant fait face à la déception de la jeunesse qui l'a porté au pouvoir, « désabusée par les promesses non tenues, » ; des jeunes qui « ne savent plus s'il faut invoquer Saint-George qui, pendant sept années, a fui leurs problèmes » dénonce Wakat Séra ou « Saint-Joseph, 78 ans, qui s'érige en ‘sauveur' » d'un pays où chômage et pauvreté marchent main dans la main.Des scores très serrés au premier tourÀ peine 7.000 voix d'écart – difficile donc, de prédire lequel des deux l'emportera. Sur place, le Libérien Times estime que « le gagnant sera [donc] probablement celui que les Libériens trouveront le plus à même de combattre plusieurs problèmes, dont la pauvreté, la corruption et l'insécurité. » Car le titre nous apprend que près des trois quarts des Libériens signalent ne pas avoir eu assez d'argent pour se nourrir l'année passée ; et que seulement un tiers d'entre eux se sentait en sécurité en marchant seul la nuit, un taux « parmi les plus bas dans le monde. »Quel que soit le résultat, Wakat Séra espère surtout une chose : que « les chiffres qui sortiront du ventre des urnes soient l'expression véritable de la volonté des électeurs » … pour que subsiste le calme rencontré pendant le vote.

« Ça y est ! Cette fois, c'est la bonne. » Ce cri de soulagement, c'est celui de l'Observateur Paalga ce matin. Et pour cause : lourdement appuyés par les paramilitaires du groupe Wagner, les soldats ont repris le contrôle de ce bastion rebelle ; une première depuis plus de dix ans et un véritable « tournant copernicien dans la guerre oblique au long cours que mène le Mali contre ses ennemis », se réjouit Aujourd'hui au Faso. Une victoire pour Bamako donc mais aussi, souligne Le Monde Afrique, « une victoire personnelle pour le colonel Assimi Goïta, » « arrivé au pouvoir avec un agenda souverainiste et sur une promesse de reconquête des territoires perdus. »Victoire de terrain, victoire personnelle mais aussi « victoire symbolique », poursuit le quotidien, sur un territoire considéré comme le bastion inexpugnable » des rebelles touaregs depuis l'indépendance du pays en 1960.D'importants moyens militairesSi L'Observateur Paalga souligne que « les FAMa n'ont pas toujours fait le poids face aux groupes armés de la rébellion », eh bien cette fois, « la donne militaire a nettement changé. » Il y a d'abord l'appui des paramilitaires russes du groupe Wagner ; et puis les journaux soulignent aussi unanimement, à l'image d'Aujourd'hui au Faso, les « bombardements aériens » qui ont eu raison des éléments du CSP, « claquemurés » dans l'ancien camp de la Minusma et qui eux, privilégiaient les combats de guérilla, aidés de leur connaissance du terrain.Plus précisément, apprend-on dans les colonnes du Monde Afrique, ce sont les « bombardements répétés des drones […] de fabrication turque » qui ont permis de renverser la situation et d'éviter le « fiasco » de la précédente tentative de reconquête, en 2014.Quid de la suite des événements ?C'est une chose de gagner du terrain, encore faut-il le conserver. Tout l'enjeu réside donc dans cette question formulée par Aujourd'hui au Faso : « Et maintenant, que feront les FAMa de cette victoire ? » Les journaux partagent une même inquiétude, que pointe L'Observateur Paalga : celle d'une alliance « avec les groupes armés terroristes » contre « un ennemi commun. »Un nom, en particulier, revient : celui d'Iyad ag Ghali, ancien chef rebelle touareg, avant de devenir le plus haut cadre d'al-Qaïda dans la région. Ce personnage pourrait être « l'autre bénéficiaire, moins attendu, de cette reconquête » soupçonne Le Monde Afrique… et Le Pays de rappeler qu'il a « toujours maintenu des liens avec la majeure partie des groupes armés majoritairement touaregs » et qui pourrait donc « les attirer vers lui » à la faveur d'une alliance de circonstances.Bref, les rebelles ont beau s'être repliés, il y a fort à parier que le travail soit encore long. De toute façon, pour s'estimer vraiment vainqueur, le gouvernement de Bamako devra remporter une autre bataille que celle de Kidal, conclut Aujourd'hui au Faso : celle de « l'apaisement des cœurs. »Élections au Liberia dans un climat plutôt calmeOn prend les mêmes, et on recommence ! Pour la deuxième présidentielle de suite, le sortant George Weah et l'opposant Joseph Boakai s'affrontaient au second tour. L'impression de déjà-vu va-t-elle s'arrêter là où, comme s'interroge Wakat Séra, « l'histoire va-t-elle se répéter », avec une victoire de George Weah ?Rien n'est certain car le président sortant fait face à la déception de la jeunesse qui l'a porté au pouvoir, « désabusée par les promesses non tenues, » ; des jeunes qui « ne savent plus s'il faut invoquer Saint-George qui, pendant sept années, a fui leurs problèmes » dénonce Wakat Séra ou « Saint-Joseph, 78 ans, qui s'érige en ‘sauveur' » d'un pays où chômage et pauvreté marchent main dans la main.Des scores très serrés au premier tourÀ peine 7.000 voix d'écart – difficile donc, de prédire lequel des deux l'emportera. Sur place, le Libérien Times estime que « le gagnant sera [donc] probablement celui que les Libériens trouveront le plus à même de combattre plusieurs problèmes, dont la pauvreté, la corruption et l'insécurité. » Car le titre nous apprend que près des trois quarts des Libériens signalent ne pas avoir eu assez d'argent pour se nourrir l'année passée ; et que seulement un tiers d'entre eux se sentait en sécurité en marchant seul la nuit, un taux « parmi les plus bas dans le monde. »Quel que soit le résultat, Wakat Séra espère surtout une chose : que « les chiffres qui sortiront du ventre des urnes soient l'expression véritable de la volonté des électeurs » … pour que subsiste le calme rencontré pendant le vote.

Au Liberia George Weah, l'ancienne star du ballon rond et actuellement président en exercice, va tenter aujourd'hui d'obtenir un deuxième mandat. Le second tour qui l'oppose à l'ancien vice-président Joseph Boakai promet d'être serré. Parmi les griefs qui lui sont adressés, un bilan économique jugé décevant. Comme en 2022, la croissance du Liberia dépassera cette année la barre des 4 %. Une bonne performance après des années de stagnation, mais avec des déficits du commerce extérieur et des comptes publics, une inflation qui galope toujours au-dessus de 10 %, cette amélioration macro-économique passe totalement inaperçue au sein de la population. Ce petit pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest est l'un des plus pauvres au monde, avec un PIB par habitant de l'ordre de 800 dollars annuel. Ce pays panse toujours les plaies des deux guerres civiles qui l'ont dévasté à la fin du 20ᵉ siècle et qui lui ont fait perdre des décennies de développement. Son produit intérieur brut est toujours inférieur d'un tiers au niveau de 1989, l'année où les troubles ont commencé.À lire aussiPrésidentielle au Liberia: entre George Weah et Joseph Boakai, le second tour s'annonce serréGeorge Weah avait promis de gouverner en faveur des plus pauvres, et de faire de son pays une économie à revenu intermédiaireMais les évènements extérieurs ont contrarié ses ambitions. À peine remis de l'épidémie d'Ebola, le Liberia a été balayé par le Covid, puis est survenue la guerre en Ukraine, deux évènements qui ont déchainé l'inflation. Réduisant à néant les efforts entrepris pour améliorer le pouvoir d'achat des ménages. En revanche, son programme d'infrastructures, avec la construction de routes et d'hôpitaux, a rendu la vie quotidienne plus facile. Tout comme la gratuité pour l'enseignement secondaire. Des efforts qu'il a fallu financer par l'emprunt. Car les revenus miniers tirés de l'exploitation des richesses minières, le fer et l'or, ne suffisent pas à remplir les caisses de l'État. Le poids de la dette du Liberia par rapport au PIB a doublé pendant le mandat de George Weah. C'est à la fois une nécessité pour financer le développement, grâce surtout aux prêts des bailleurs internationaux, mais c'est aussi un fardeau qui fragilise les finances publiques et donc les marges de manœuvre du gouvernement.On lui reproche aussi son échec dans la lutte contre la corruptionLa corruption demeure un mal endémique, elle a même légèrement progressé selon Transparency International. L'an dernier, le Liberia a été rétrogradé à la 142ᵉ place sur 180 pays examiné. Cette criminalité délétère pour le développement éclabousse l'entourage de l'ancienne gloire du football. L'an dernier son chef de cabinet, Nathaniel Mac Gill, a été suspendu de ses fonctions suite à des sanctions prononcées par l'administration américaine pour des soupçons de corruption.Aujourd'hui, le département d'État s'intéresse de près à un accord passé juste avant le début de la campagne entre le gouvernement et le groupe Arcelor Mittal. Grâce à un transfert de permis minier en sa faveur, le sidérurgiste indien est en situation de quasi-monopole sur l'extraction du fer, selon Africa Intelligence, au détriment entre autres d'une compagnie américaine.À lire aussiPrésidentielle au Liberia: les candidats indépendants misent sur la lutte contre la corruption

On Daybreak Africa: Liberia's electoral commission says all is set for Tuesday's presidential runoff between incumbent President George Weah and veteran politician and technocrat Joseph Boakai. Plus, the son of Ghanaian and Liberian immigrants is elected the first Black Congressman from the State of Rhode Island. An East Africa Community agricultural group calls for harmonized laws on regional seeds. A pro-business summit will introduce today a Private Sector Bill of Rights to attract investors in Africa. The US reiterates the protection of civilians while defending Israel's right to defend itself. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

Liberians return to the polls on Tuesday in a runoff election between President George Weah and former vice-president Joseph Boakai. It follows a fiercely fought first round in which neither candidate was able to secure 50% of the votes for an outright victory. So, what can we expect from the runoff? Also British Somali author Nadifa Mohamed leads us into a world of cruelty and horror about human zoos. She tells the story of a stillborn baby, whose parents came from the Bambuti community from present day Democratic Republic of Congo to the UK. And does the blockbuster Nigerian film, "Over the Bridge", take us beyond Nollywood and into movie magic?

Le président sortant du Liberia est en tête du premier tour de la présidentielle, mais avec moins d'un demi-point d'avance sur l'opposant Joseph Boakai. Alors Wakat Séra prévient : « Rien n'est joué ! »George Weah va devoir s'accrocher. Au Burkina Faso toujours, Le Pays s'amuse : le sortant « aura beau chausser les crampons et faire des dribbles, il lui sera difficile de remporter le match ; tant il semble esseulé ». Et tant, surtout, son bilan est maigre. Observation partagée par Le Pays et Wakat Séra qui se désolent pour la jeunesse libérienne, elle « qui avait placé une confiance presque aveugle dans les pieds – pardon, sur les épaules – de l'un des anciens meilleurs footballeurs de son temps » et qui « n'a aujourd'hui, que ses yeux pour pleurer de déception ». La corruption, contre laquelle George Weah avait promis de lutter, a progressé. Les conditions de vie des plus précaires ne se sont pas améliorées. Bref, tance Wakat Séra, « le mieux-être auquel [les Libériens] aspiraient est demeuré une chimère ».Le spectre d'une crise post-électorale évitéEt le Pays s'en félicite d'autant plus que c'est pour le journal burkinabè une rareté. En général, sur le continent, estime-t-il, « un second tour avec un président sortant, candidat à sa propre succession, n'est pas envisageable ». Après tout, ironise-t-il, « on n'organise pas des élections pour les perdre ». En ce sens, George Weah montre la voie…Analyse partagée par le Liberian Observer selon qui « la participation élevée [plus de 58%], particulièrement chez les jeunes et les femmes, démontre l'aspiration collective à un avenir prospère ».Reste à transformer l'essai d'ici au second tour et après, quel qu'en soit le vainqueur ; ce serait une façon, estime le journal libérien, « de se consacrer aux valeurs démocratiques » et de faire un pas « vers un avenir meilleur ». Mais d'ores et déjà, ce premier tour réussi fait affirmer aux rédacteurs du Pays que « ceux qui voudraient la preuve que les Libériens croient en la démocratie, en ont désormais une ».À lire aussiLiberia : les résultats définitifs confirment le second tour entre George Weah et Joseph BoakaiAttention aux cyberattaques pendant la CANAvertissement lancé ce mercredi par Le Point Afrique en vue de la prochaine Coupe d'Afrique des nations. Avec plus de 400 millions de téléspectateurs, rappelle l'hebdo, il s'agit d'un « événement majeur » qui « transcende les frontières ».Sauf que voilà : la même audience qui fait la force de la CAN en fait aussi sa faiblesse, car elle « crée une opportunité particulièrement attractive pour les cybercriminels ». Parmi les risques énumérés par le Point : le piratage des images et le streaming illégal ; le vol de données sur les performances des athlètes ou la divulgation d'informations confidentielles à leur sujet.D'où cet appel du magazine à lancer un véritable programme de réformes en la matière. Et le journal de conclure : « La passion pour le football ne doit en aucun cas éclipser cette priorité cruciale en matière de sécurité. »Les projecteurs braqués sur un média somalien 100% fémininDans ses colonnes, Le Monde Afrique choisit d'éclairer Bilan (en somali, cela veut dire « lumière »), le premier média somalien entièrement composé de jeunes femmes. Elles sont six à composer la rédaction, qui « plusieurs fois par semaine, produit des reportages et des articles sur des sujets de société qui passent habituellement sous les radars », comme l'hygiène menstruelle des adolescentes.Mais, dans un pays où, rappelle Le Monde, « la charia cohabite avec le droit commun », ces jeunes femmes, toutes âgées de moins de 30 ans, ont dû braver les obstacles et les shebab. Critiquées sur les réseaux sociaux, incomprises par leurs familles, certaines ont aussi été directement prises pour cible par les islamistes, comme cette journaliste qui raconte : « Ils ont menacé ma famille de représailles si je continuais ma carrière. » Avant de mettre leur menace à exécution « en posant une bombe dans le restaurant de sa mère ».Malgré tout, les six jeunes femmes n'en démordent pas, rapporte Le Monde, « la prochaine étape consiste à étendre Bilan à d'autres villes de Somalie et à recruter de nouvelles femmes journalistes ». Si l'une d'entre elles a pu « grandir et étudier à Dadaab, le plus grand camp de réfugiés au monde, avant de […] devenir membre du premier média féminin de son pays », tous les espoirs sont permis.

Liberia gears up for runoff election showdown between Weah and Boakai+++Goma residents decry oil sector strike as commodity prices increase ++++Kenya's new finance law hits influencers and content creators

Le président sortant du Liberia est en tête du premier tour de la présidentielle, mais avec moins d'un demi-point d'avance sur l'opposant Joseph Boakai. Alors Wakat Séra prévient : « Rien n'est joué ! »George Weah va devoir s'accrocher. Au Burkina Faso toujours, Le Pays s'amuse : le sortant « aura beau chausser les crampons et faire des dribbles, il lui sera difficile de remporter le match ; tant il semble esseulé ». Et tant, surtout, son bilan est maigre. Observation partagée par Le Pays et Wakat Séra qui se désolent pour la jeunesse libérienne, elle « qui avait placé une confiance presque aveugle dans les pieds – pardon, sur les épaules – de l'un des anciens meilleurs footballeurs de son temps » et qui « n'a aujourd'hui, que ses yeux pour pleurer de déception ». La corruption, contre laquelle George Weah avait promis de lutter, a progressé. Les conditions de vie des plus précaires ne se sont pas améliorées. Bref, tance Wakat Séra, « le mieux-être auquel [les Libériens] aspiraient est demeuré une chimère ».Le spectre d'une crise post-électorale évitéEt le Pays s'en félicite d'autant plus que c'est pour le journal burkinabè une rareté. En général, sur le continent, estime-t-il, « un second tour avec un président sortant, candidat à sa propre succession, n'est pas envisageable ». Après tout, ironise-t-il, « on n'organise pas des élections pour les perdre ». En ce sens, George Weah montre la voie…Analyse partagée par le Liberian Observer selon qui « la participation élevée [plus de 58%], particulièrement chez les jeunes et les femmes, démontre l'aspiration collective à un avenir prospère ».Reste à transformer l'essai d'ici au second tour et après, quel qu'en soit le vainqueur ; ce serait une façon, estime le journal libérien, « de se consacrer aux valeurs démocratiques » et de faire un pas « vers un avenir meilleur ». Mais d'ores et déjà, ce premier tour réussi fait affirmer aux rédacteurs du Pays que « ceux qui voudraient la preuve que les Libériens croient en la démocratie, en ont désormais une ».À lire aussiLiberia : les résultats définitifs confirment le second tour entre George Weah et Joseph BoakaiAttention aux cyberattaques pendant la CANAvertissement lancé ce mercredi par Le Point Afrique en vue de la prochaine Coupe d'Afrique des nations. Avec plus de 400 millions de téléspectateurs, rappelle l'hebdo, il s'agit d'un « événement majeur » qui « transcende les frontières ».Sauf que voilà : la même audience qui fait la force de la CAN en fait aussi sa faiblesse, car elle « crée une opportunité particulièrement attractive pour les cybercriminels ». Parmi les risques énumérés par le Point : le piratage des images et le streaming illégal ; le vol de données sur les performances des athlètes ou la divulgation d'informations confidentielles à leur sujet.D'où cet appel du magazine à lancer un véritable programme de réformes en la matière. Et le journal de conclure : « La passion pour le football ne doit en aucun cas éclipser cette priorité cruciale en matière de sécurité. »Les projecteurs braqués sur un média somalien 100% fémininDans ses colonnes, Le Monde Afrique choisit d'éclairer Bilan (en somali, cela veut dire « lumière »), le premier média somalien entièrement composé de jeunes femmes. Elles sont six à composer la rédaction, qui « plusieurs fois par semaine, produit des reportages et des articles sur des sujets de société qui passent habituellement sous les radars », comme l'hygiène menstruelle des adolescentes.Mais, dans un pays où, rappelle Le Monde, « la charia cohabite avec le droit commun », ces jeunes femmes, toutes âgées de moins de 30 ans, ont dû braver les obstacles et les shebab. Critiquées sur les réseaux sociaux, incomprises par leurs familles, certaines ont aussi été directement prises pour cible par les islamistes, comme cette journaliste qui raconte : « Ils ont menacé ma famille de représailles si je continuais ma carrière. » Avant de mettre leur menace à exécution « en posant une bombe dans le restaurant de sa mère ».Malgré tout, les six jeunes femmes n'en démordent pas, rapporte Le Monde, « la prochaine étape consiste à étendre Bilan à d'autres villes de Somalie et à recruter de nouvelles femmes journalistes ». Si l'une d'entre elles a pu « grandir et étudier à Dadaab, le plus grand camp de réfugiés au monde, avant de […] devenir membre du premier média féminin de son pays », tous les espoirs sont permis.

Les journalistes et experts de RFI répondent aux questions des auditeurs sur l'élection présidentielle au Libéria, sur la désignation de Thomas Boni Yayi à la tête des Démocrates et sur les accusations de Gérald Darmanin contre Karim Benzema. Sénégal : Ousmane Sonko, de nouveau en lice pour la présidentielle ?  À la suite d'une décision rendue par le tribunal de Ziguinchor, l'opposant sénégalais devrait être réintégré sur listes électorales. Pour quels motifs le juge a annulé la radiation du leader du Pastef ? Cela signifie-t-il qu'Ousmane Sonko est de retour dans la course à la présidentielle prévue en février 2024 ?  Avec Léa-Lisa Westerhoff, correspondante de RFI à Dakar. Présidentielle au Libéria : un second tour aux allures de 2017 Le président sortant George Weah et l'opposant Joseph Boakai sont donnés au coude à coude au premier tour de l'élection présidentielle. Comment expliquer ce résultat très serré entre les deux candidats ? Peut-on craindre des violences après que des cas d'affrontements ont été constatés lors de la campagne ?  Avec Bineta Diagne, correspondante de RFI dans la région. France : Karim Benzema va porter plainte contre Gérald Darmanin En France, le ministre de l'Intérieur Gérald Darmanin a accusé Karim Benzema d'être « en lien notoire avec les Frères musulmans ». Sur quels éléments se base Gérald Darmanin pour formuler une telle accusation ?   Avec Eric Chaurin, chef adjoint au service politique. Bénin : Thomas Boni Yayi prend la tête des Démocrates L'ancien chef d'État béninois Thomas Boni Yayi a été désigné chef du parti des Démocrates. Comment expliquer ce choix ? Quelles sont les ambitions de l'ancien président ?  Avec Steve Kpoton, juriste, consultant en gouvernance démocratique.  

Liberia is heading for a crucial rematch of the 2017 presidential runoff between incumbent George Weah and opponent Joseph Boakai. Click to listen to what's at stake!

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 24-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,416 on turnover of 3.5-billion N-T. The market tumbled 200-points on Wednesday as the bellwether electronics sector led the losses after the the Biden administration cut off shipments of chips designed by Nvidia and other American semiconductor designers to China. Investors also remained cautious about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock ahead of an investor conference later today, at which the company will release its third quarterly results and give guidance for the fourth quarter. Visiting Belgian Lawmaker Expresses Concern over China's Military Sorties Visiting Belgian parliamentarian Els Van Hoof is expressing concern over China's increasing military sorties near Taiwan. Speaking during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Van Hoof said Belgium is concerned of the growing crossing of Taiwan's air defense identification zone and also the medium line by military vessels and jets" by the Chinese military. According to Van Hoof, who chairs the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, "the importance of this week's parliamentarian visit cannot be underestimated (被低估)" as it shows that "Taiwan is not standing alone against these threats." Van Hoof arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a six-day visit heading a delegation that includes seven other members of the Belgian parliament. Labor Minister Stressed 'No Timetable' for Opening Hotel Industry to Migrant Workers Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun is denying recent reports that the government is seeking to opening the island's hotel industry to overseas migrant workers. According to Hsu, the government currently has "no timetable" for such a move and her ministry's top priority remains the welfare of Taiwanese workers. The statement comes after it was reported the Cabinet is planning to approve a plan to allow the hiring of migrant workers in the hotel sector, possibly beginning next year, in order address an ongoing (正在進行的) labor shortage. Government data shows the hotel industry is currently facing a shortage of more than 1,000 workers. Japan Saudi Arabia to Work Together on Palestinian Crisis Japan and Saudi Arabia are agreeing to work together to address the humanitarian crisis (人道危機) facing Palestinians in Gaza. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Liberia Presidential Election Headed for Runoff Liberia's presidential election appears headed for a run-off, with the top candidates neck and neck (不相上下，旗鼓相當) and the votes nearly fully counted. President George Weah, who is seeking a second term, had 44% of the vote Wednesday with his main challenger Joseph Boakai at 43%, according to the National Elections Commission. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win. Once the votes from this round are finalized, the run-off will take place within 15 days. The Oct. 10-th election is the tightest in the nearly two decades since the end of the West African country's civil war that killed some 250-thousand people. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 轉骨有成，日股長線續航仍強 日股專家－市佔No.1的日本野村資產管理 在地團隊發揮加乘效果 價值投資挖掘潛力企業 由下而上主動挑選優質個股 帶領您重新發現日股投資魅力 了解更多：https://bit.ly/45OUq8p

Pelo menos 20 caminhões com ajuda humanitária entrarão na Faixa de Gaza. E ainda: - Rússia anuncia que avião com 27 toneladas de ajuda humanitária deve chegar nas próximas horas - Segundo informações do Pentágono, ataque ao hospital foi causado por foguete lançado pela Jihad Islâmica - Biden anuncia pacote de ajuda de 500 milhões de reais para os civis da Faixa de Gaza - Manifestações em vários países árabes estão sendo organizadas contra o presidente da Autoridade Palestina - Putin foi a Pequim, junto com mais de 100 líderes de países em desenvolvimento, encontrar Xi Jinping - George Weah e Joseph Boakai farão o segundo turno das eleições na Libéria Escute Território Livre. https://open.spotify.com/show/1M8rgHOjCrZw4hvWDyoAjs?si=c24baabfb4a64987 Ouça também Mulheres no Mapa. https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aiWN39MRYKHCaHymnWWsA?si=TYiicIz7Rqi2KpUMiAH-kA E conheça o Esquerda Volver. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KOTa5ouFOlCbtgg44xEaK?si=Br6eypMCR9ORgU55ONeNRA Quer ler nosso boletim na íntegra? Acesse https://180-segundos.headline.com.br/ Acompanhe também na Orelo https://orelo.cc/article/653064dbda8447bbeb694063 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voltaaomundoem180s/message

Congolese army dealing with ADF +++ President Weah, opposition leader Boakai nearly tied in Liberia presidential race +++ LGBTQ+ Community in Kenya defies anti-gay protesters, demands rights

Liberians voted in elections on Tuesday, with President George Weah seeking a second term. Observers said polling was peaceful, despite some violence during the campaign. Mr Weah is the favourite to win, with former Vice-President Joseph Boakai considered his main challenger. Did the president deliver in his first term? Are reparations the best way of rectifying the injustices of the past? After Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo calls for Western countries which profited from the transatlantic slave trade to pay reparations to African countries, we hear from an opponent of the proposal. And South Africa's latest census reveals the population rose by over 10 million, to 62 million people, in just over a decade. But how significant is this data?

Three news stories summarized & contextualized by analytic journalist Colin Wright.Liberians head to polls as President Weah seeks second termSummary: Liberian President Weah is running for reelection following six years in office defined, in part, by allegations of corruption and widespread economic issues; his primary competitor, amongst a crowd of 19 candidates, is the former vice president Joseph Boakai, who Weah defeated once before in 2017, and who has said that the country needs to be rescued from Weah's mismanagement; votes were cast yesterday, and about 2.4 million people registered to vote.Context: Liberia is Africa's oldest independent republic, but the country was torn apart by a civil war that ended two decades ago, and the scars of that conflict still inform policy, as many citizens want to see the establishment of a war crimes court that hasn't yet been seriously addressed by Weah's government, which was the first to be elected after 70 years without democratic change; Liberia's economy grew by 5% last year, but about 52% of the population lives in poverty; 60% of Liberia's population is under the age of 25, and many of the people who voted in this election were voting for the first time.—ReutersOne Sentence News is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Team Trump readies attacks on RFK Jr. as spoiler anxiety growsSummary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced, yesterday, that he would be ending his campaign to run for US President as a Democrat, and would instead be running as an independent, raising concerns from both sides of the aisle that he could serve as a spoiler, pulling votes from Democrat and Republican candidates, alike.Context: RFK Jr. has been floating the possibility of running for a while, now, and his opinions about all sorts of things—including his support for widely debunked conspiracy theories about microchips in vaccines, antidepressants causing autism and school shootings, and that the COVID-19 pandemic was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people—has enlivened some portion of the electorate, while worrying pretty much everyone else, including his own family, who have denounced his presidential bid as “dangerous,” though other politicians seem mostly concerned that he could swipe some portion of their voter-base, with Democrats initially concerned because of his family name and support for some party positions, though recent surveys have shown that he is more likely to take voters from candidate Trump, if Trump does indeed become the Republican candidate, so Republican strategists have been going on the offensive and are in the process of deploying anti-RFK messaging across their communication channels.—SemaforAuto workers begin strike at GM plants in Canada, as talks continueSummary: Workers at three General Motors facilities in Canada walked off the job yesterday morning, following failed attempts to reach a new contract agreement with their employer.Context: Union representatives have said that progress was made, but that there is still a wide gulf between what they want and what the company higher-ups are willing to offer, so the more than 4,200 workers they represent are going into strike-mode; this follows a recent successful contractual negotiation with Ford last month, and is part of a larger trend of union-organized strikes throughout the automotive and other industries around the world right now.—The Associated PressAs anticipated (and worried), the Chinese property giant Country Garden has announced that it will be unable to make an international debt payment, which means they'll likely default, which in turn means the country's real estate sector (in which the majority of Chinese citizens have invested their money) will continue to contract; the company was able to just barely avoid defaulting on a dollar bond payment last month, but it would seem that they won't be able to manage the same, this time.—The Wall Street Journal300,000Number of military reservists the Israeli government has drafted following an historic sneak-attack by Hamas last weekend.That's a staggering number of soldiers (more than have ever been called up in Israel before) considering the population of Israel and relatively small size of the area (the Gaza Strip) that will be (by all indications) invaded and held by the Israeli military.—ReutersTrust Click Get full access to One Sentence News at onesentencenews.substack.com/subscribe

Fighting has continued in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, as the United Nations warns of a deepening humanitarian disaster. Thousands of people have fled the city, but the situation is getting worse for those left behind. We take a look at Liberia's unfolding political equation as the country heads towards the presidential election in October. One of the main contenders, Joseph Boakai, has already sparked controversy by naming a surprise running mate. And we go to Ethiopia and Morocco, where Labour Unions and workers have been prevented from staging protests on this day, International Workers' Day.

FW de Klerk, the former president of South Africa and the last white person to lead the country, has died at the age of 85. We speak to Joseph Boakai, Liberia's former vice president. Does he have what it takes to win power from George Weah? A Sudanese a court has ordered the three main telecommunications providers to restore internet access in the country.

Celebrations are continuing on the streets of the Liberian capital, Monrovia. They come after officials declared George Weah the winner of a presidential election. With almost all ballots counted, the former football start took a 61 per cent share of the vote, compared with 38 per cent for his rival, vice president Joseph Boakai. Benjamin Moshatama spoke to West Africa political commentator, Adama Gaye who joined us from Dakar, Senegal..

Vote counting is underway in Liberia in a run-off presidential election between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Weah. The winner of this vote, will replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president after 12-years in office. Elvis Presslin spoke to our Correspondent in Liberia, Cholo Brooks

People in Liberia are voting today in the run-off election for a new president. The current Vice President Joseph Boakai and former international football star George Weah are running to succeed Africa's first female President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Legal challenges delayed the vote. More than two million people are eligible to cast their ballot. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our correspondent in Liberia, Cholo Brooks.

Liberians are currently voting to elect a successor to Africa's first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. A total of 20 presidential candidates are running to succeed Sirleaf. The main contenders in the race to succeed her are Ex-football star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Ibrahim Nyei, a Political Analyst, In Liberia