Monday, February 19, 2024

Sudan's civil war

from globalvoices who likes to keep the copyright so go and read it.

two points: One is that all the hysteria about Gaza lets people overlook this war:

this article is about shutting down internet communication

Since conflict broke out in April 2023, both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have deployed internet shutdowns as a weapon to block information flows in areas controlled by the opposing faction. This is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis that has seen at least 13,000 people killed and over nine million internally displaced — the largest internal displacement crisis in the world.

The ongoing internet blackout has posed serious challenges for emergency assistance and humanitarian aid.

wikipedia on the RSF and their many atrocities.

they also are working with Europe to slow the migration of refugees there, and of course are busy getting gold for their allies such as the Wagner group from Russia.

Allies Wagner Group[3][4] Libyan National Army[5] United Arab Emirates Chad[6][7] Central African Republic[8]

Opponents Sudan Sudanese Armed Forces Egypt[9]

Thursday, February 15, 2024

China and food

 The German media looks at how China is "taking over" the UN's food organization and is upset because they are encouraging using herbicides and pesticides.

Alas, say the Germans. Look at the problems.

Ah but does it mean more food for locals? Heck, this is a green ecology report, so who cares about eating. Yes I'm being sarcastic.



Thursday, February 08, 2024

central Africa war gets worse: blame your cellphone

 

it is an ethnic conflict, but also it is about Coltan oreColtan (short for columbite–tantalites and known industrially as tantalite) is a dull black metallic ore from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted. The niobium-dominant mineral in coltan is columbite (after niobium's original American name columbium), and the tantalum-dominant mineral is tantalite.[1] Tantalum from coltan is used to manufacture tantalum capacitors which are used for mobile phones, personal computers, automotive electronics, and cameras.[2] Coltan mining[3][4] is widespread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[5][6][7]

DR Congo has 70% of the world's coltan and it comes from the Kivus.

AlJ Article here

.In a region already plagued with militia violence, M23 rebels launched a major new offensive in March 2022, sparking a conflict that has led to military intervention and mediation efforts by East African regional leaders. They brokered a ceasefire last year but it has been repeatedly violated. Clashes between the rebels, army forces and self-defence groups that support them have escalated recently, forcing entire communities in Masisi and Rutshuru territories to flee to perceived areas of greater safety on the outskirts of Goma.

BBC 2012 report here:

wikipedia page on M23 rebellions. and this page on the origin (M23 means March 23). They are ethnic Tutsi. and Ruanda used to help them.

A United Nations report found that Rwanda created and commanded the M23 rebel group.[12] Rwanda ceased its support because of international pressure and the military defeat by the DRC and the UN in 2013.[13] In 2017, M23 elements resumed their insurgency in the DRC, but the operations of this splinter faction had little local impact.[14] In 2022, a larger portion of M23 started an offensive, which eventually resulted in the capture of the Congolese border town of Bunagana by the rebels.[15][16] In November 2022, M23 rebels got close to the city of Goma and forced about 180,000 people to leave their homes after the Congolese Army had withdrawn from the region near the village of Kibumba.[17]. In June 2023, Humans rights watch reported human rights abuses by M23 rebels in the democratic republic of Congo, including unlawful killings, rapes and other war crimes.

Sunday, February 04, 2024

African immigrants: The backstory

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China in DRC

 
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