Monday, March 18, 2024

Gambia Lawmakers Refer the Debate on Female Genital Cutting to More Committee Discussions

BY ABDOULIE JOHN AND JESSICA DONATI

5:06 PM EDT, March 18, 2024

SERREKUNDA, Gambia (AP) — An attempt to repeal a 2015 ban on female genital cutting in Gambia was sent for further committee discussions by lawmakers on Monday.

Gambian activists fear the passage of the bill would overturn years of work to better protect girls and women. The legislation was referred to a national committee for further debate and could return to a vote in the weeks and months ahead.

Activists in the largely Muslim country had warned that lifting the ban would hurt years of work against a procedure often performed on girls under age 5 in the mistaken belief that it would control their sexuality.

The procedure, which also has been called female genital mutilation, includes the partial or full removal of external genitalia, often by traditional community practitioners with tools such as razor blades or at times by health workers. It can cause serious bleeding, death and childbirth complications but remains a widespread practice in parts of Africa.

Jaha Dukureh, the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, a local group that aims to end the practice, told The Associated Press she worried that other laws safeguarding women’s rights could be repealed next. Dukureh underwent the procedure and watched her sister bleed to death.

“If they succeed with this repeal, we know that they might come after the child marriage law and even the domestic violence law. This is not about religion but the cycle of controlling women and their bodies,” she said. The United Nations has estimated that more than half of women and girls ages 15 to 49 in Gambia have undergone the procedure.

The bill is backed by religious conservatives in the nation of less than 3 million people. Its text says that “it seeks to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values.” The country’s top Islamic body has called the practice “one of the virtues of Islam.”

Gambia’s former leader, Yahya Jammeh, banned the practice in 2015 in a surprise to activists and with no public explanation. Since the law took effect, enforcement has been weak, with only two cases prosecuted.

On Monday, a crowd of men and women gathered outside Gambia’s parliament, some carrying signs protesting the bill. Police in riot gear held them back.

Gambia’s parliament of 58 lawmakers includes five women. If the bill eventually passes through parliament, President Adama Barrow is expected to sign it into law. He has not spoken publicly about the legislation.

The United States has supported activists who are trying to stop the practice. Earlier this month, it honored Gambian activist Fatou Baldeh at the White House with an International Women of Courage Award.

The U.S. Embassy in Gambia declined to say whether any high-level U.S. official in Washington had reached out to Gambian leaders over the bill. In its emailed statement, Geeta Rao Gupta, the top U.S. envoy for global women’s issues, called it “incredibly important” to listen to the voices of survivors like Baldeh.

The chairperson of the local Center for Women’s Rights and Leadership, Fatou Jagne Senghore said the bill is “aimed at curtailing women’s rights and reversing the little progress made in recent years.” The president of the local Female Lawyers Association, Anna Njie, said the practice “has been proven to cause harm through medical evidence.”

UNICEF said earlier this month that some 30 million women globally have undergone female genital cutting in the past eight years, most of them in Africa but some in Asia and the Middle East.

More than 80 countries have laws prohibiting the procedure or allowing it to be prosecuted, according to a World Bank study cited this year by a United Nations Population Fund Q&A published earlier this year. They include South Africa, Iran, India and Ethiopia.

“No religious text promotes or condones female genital mutilation,” the UNFPA report says, adding there is no benefit to it.

Girls are subjected to the procedure at ages ranging from infancy to adolescence. Long term, it can lead to urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual satisfaction and childbirth complications as well as depression, low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder.

___

Jessica Donati reported from Dakar, Senegal.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Sun. March 17, 2024

Listen to the Sun. March 17, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

In order to hear the full podcast of this episode go to this link: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/17 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com) 

The program features our ongoing focus on International Women's History Month with segments on veteran civil rights organizers Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Sat. March 16, 2024

Listen to the Sat. March 16, 2024 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the podcast of this episode go to the following link: Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/16 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com) 

The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the release of a Senegalese opposition leader who will stand for presidential elections in April; Egypt is emerging as a mediator for resolving the internal conflict in the Republic of Sudan; the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reinstated the death penalty; and a Somalian hotel was retaken by the National Army from rebels. 

In the second and third hours we continue our focus on International Women's History Month with segments on journalist Alice Dunnigan, activist Rosa L. Parks and Pan-African scholar Shirley Graham Du Bois. 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Imperialists Continue Bombing of Yemen as Famine Spreads in Gaza

Washington’s plan to establish a pier to supply assistance ridiculed by Palestinians and observers around the world

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Friday March 15, 2024

Geostrategic Analysis

Warplanes from the United States and the British Royal Air Force (RAF) once again launched a series of airstrikes against the people of Yemen in several locations on March 14.

Statements to the media by White House spokespersons for President Joe Biden claim that the bombing operations are designed to degrade the military capability of the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) led by Ansar Allah resistance movement which controls large swaths of territory in the country designated as the least developed in West Asia. 

This is not the first time that Washington has taken aggressive actions against Yemen. Prior to 2015, Pentagon troops were present and carried out regular airstrikes and targeted assassinations against those deemed as terrorists. Then after the early months of 2015, the administrations of former Presidents Barack Obama and later Donald Trump continued to back the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they launched large scale bombings and ground operations.

Ansar Allah, the Yemeni resistance movement, was falsely accused of being proxies of the Islamic Republic of Iran therefore providing a rationale for an imperialist-engineered war to displace them from the capital of Sana’a and other regions of Yemen. A rival political grouping was armed and financially supported by the U.S. and Britain through the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which was headed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Realizing that Ansar Allah could not be militarily defeated, peace talks resulted in a truce between the resistance and the western-backed forces. 

The war waged against the people of Yemen brought about the worst humanitarian crisis internationally. A cholera epidemic and the systematic targeting of national infrastructure created the conditions for thousands of preventable deaths, particularly among children. 

Since the beginning of the Al Aqsa Storm on October 7 and the subsequent genocidal war against the people of the Gaza Strip, the Yemeni resistance has attempted to impose a blockade of the ports servicing the State of Israel. Numerous vessels linked to Tel Aviv and its backers have been targeted by the YAF prompting seizures and the sinking of a ship owned by British interests. 

Biden’s hastily convened coalition of imperialist states and allies known as “Operation Prosperity Guardian” (OPG), have continued to engage in airstrikes against Yemen under the guise of keeping the shipping lanes open within the Arabian and Red Seas through the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab straits. Yet the bombings by the U.S. and Britain have targeted civilian areas and transportation hubs. 

A report on the March 14 airstrikes by a Lebanon-based television network said that:

“Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the American-British aggression launched 11 airstrikes on Hodeidah Governorate, west Yemen, during the past hours. According to our correspondent, the joint aggression targeted the areas of al-Jah, al-Faza, Ras Issa, and Hodeidah Airport. He indicated that the American-British aggression targeted al-Jah with four airstrikes, Hodeidah Airport with one airstrike, al-Faza with two airstrikes, and Ras Issa with four. Later, Al Mayadeen correspondents reported that the joint aggression carried out two airstrikes on the Abs District in Hajjah Governorate, northwest Yemen.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-uk-forces-launch-11-airstrikes-on-yemen-s-hodeidah-in-pas)

These airstrikes by London and Washington on March 14 came in the immediate aftermath of the declarations made by Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi to expand the military operations against Israeli interests in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine as a whole. Obviously, the White House and 10 Downing Street are quite nervous about the overall impact of the Yemeni resistance in redirecting shipping vessels, the higher costs of maritime trade and the lack of security. 

The attacks on shipping have coincided with the operations by allied resistance forces in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Zionists and imperialists are being militarily engaged from Palestine to the Red Sea.

In another article published by Al Mayadeen it emphasizes:

“Meanwhile, the United States and other Western countries are not ‘ashamed of providing weapons to the Israeli enemy to pursue its crime of genocide in Gaza,’ Sayyed al-Houthi confirmed. ‘The Israeli occupation is carrying out the crime of the century, with American participation and contributions from Western and some Arab countries, he said.’… He added that the deception and maneuvering methods practiced by the United States are ‘part of the aggression against the Palestinian people.’ Regarding the U.S. aid airdrops, which led to the martyrdom of several people in Gaza, Sayyed al-Houthi confirmed that the real intent behind them is ‘to insult the Palestinian people,’ explaining that the occupation is trying to sideline the official mission regarding the distribution of aid and its supervision in Gaza.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/al-houthi--our-ops--hit-indian-ocean--to-be-expanded-to-cape)

U.S. Plans to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Ridiculed

Not only has the Biden White House’s announcements about airdrops of food and the proposal to construct a makeshift pier to facilitate aid distributions to the people in Gaza been denounced by people across the globe these measures are being advanced absent of the halting of weapons supplies to Tel Aviv and the blocking of numerous ceasefire resolutions before the United Nations Security Council. The first logical policy decision would be aimed at ending the IDF aggression against Gaza. 

The posture of the White House makes it quite clear that the administration does not want any of the political objectives of the Palestinian people realized. Biden and his cabinet along with Pentagon officials are continuing to call for the elimination of Hamas and other resistance movements in Gaza. 

In response to the White House plans for the temporary pier, the Russian Foreign Ministry on March 13 described the proposal as absurd. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in a press conference held in Moscow referred to the Pentagon pier proposal as “dances on bones.”  

Palestine Chronicle noted in relation to the Russian Foreign Ministry assessment:

“Russia on Wednesday called the United States-led initiative to build a pier off the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid ‘dances on bones,’ Anadolu news agency reported. Responding to a question at a press briefing in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned the validity of building infrastructure in a war-torn region. ‘These are dances on bones, mocking people, because now, when civilians are dying there every day, we need to talk about their destinies, and not about some illusory future projects that in the first place, need peace to be implemented, otherwise we perfectly understand how all this will end,’ Zakharova reportedly said. ‘When a country does not even want to hear — I am now talking about the United States of America — about even formulating a call for a cease-fire, how can we treat initiatives to build civilian infrastructure where they do not want a cease-fire?’” (https://www.palestinechronicle.com/building-a-pier-off-gaza-is-dancing-on-bones-russian-foreign-ministry/)

Many Believe Biden Plan Will Facilitate Genocide and Forced Removals

At present there are documented cases of starvation in the Gaza Strip. Due to the massive bombing and ground operation in Gaza, aid has been reduced substantially. The attacks on a warehouse utilized by the UN Refugee Agency for Palestine, UNRWA, killed one staff person and wounded 22 others on March 13.

Reports indicate that the idea being pushed by Biden had been suggested several months ago by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden disclosed that security for the aid corridor would be provided by the IDF. Consequently, there is extreme skepticism on the part of Palestinians and others throughout the region that these plans will only worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 

An analytical review by Tamara Nassar published by Electronic Intifada on March 14 reveals the level of suspicion among Palestinians over the Biden plans:

“Palestinians in Gaza received the news about the planned port with fear and suspicion.

Analysts have speculated that this could be a ploy to eliminate Egypt as an outlet between the Gaza Strip and the rest of the world and sever the coastal enclave’s reliance on Egypt economically and politically by way of the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing – the sole point of exit and entry for most people in Gaza. This would ostensibly complete Israel’s control of the Gaza Strip without dependence on Egyptian cooperation, reliable as it may have been. Abdel Bari Atwan, a Gaza-born world-renowned Palestinian journalist, invoked the U.S.-facilitated evacuation of thousands of Palestinian guerilla fighters of the Palestine Liberation Organization from Beirut in 1982 as an insight into what these plans could possibly suggest. Palestinian fighters were transferred by US warships off the Beirut coast to Cyprus and eventually to Tunisia. Atwan indicated that the maritime corridor would create a pathway for the forcible evacuation of Palestinians by sea. Other analysts have expressed similar fears.” (https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/tamara-nassar/whats-real-purpose-bidens-gaza-port)

Biden is attempting to make it appear as if his administration is concerned about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. The White House is worried that the failure to shift its policy on Palestine could very well cost the Democratic Party another term of office in the executive branch. 

Palestine solidarity activists in the U.S. must remain vigilant in their demands for an immediate ceasefire, the halt to arms shipments to Tel Aviv, the banning of all assistance to the apartheid Israeli regime and the rapid transition to the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

Shifting Rhetoric Cannot Conceal Genocidal Policy on Gaza

From Selma to the State of the Union address, underlying platitudes are calls for elimination of the resistance and the maintenance of the settler-colonial state

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Tuesday March 12, 2024

Geostrategic Analysis

One of the critical historical conjunctures within the mass Civil Rights Movement took place in Selma, Alabama during the early months of 1965. 

Although local activists and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had been active in the area for several years prior, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the rising tide of expectations among African Americans created the conditions for 1965 to be an explosive year.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., co-founder and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), entered the fray in Selma prompting the city, county and state authorities to step-up their repressive mechanisms which had kept the overwhelming majority of African Americans off the voter registration lists throughout Alabama. The March 7, 1965 attack by a combined police force from the state, county and city of Selma, would draw the outrage of people around the U.S. and internationally.

Consequently, it was a moment of irony when United States Vice-President Kamala Harris stood on a platform in Selma on March 3 evoking the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement while calling for what appeared to be a ceasefire in Gaza. Yet, if one listened carefully, it revealed the consistent policy of the U.S. towards the Palestinian question. 

Although Harris received her loudest applause when she uttered the word “ceasefire”, she then went on to uphold the right of the Israeli settler-colonial state to defend itself and to continue its existence as a racist entity. The Vice-President then declared that Israel was justified in its attempts to eliminate Hamas as a resistance movement. 

Since October 7, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Hospitals, neighborhoods, schools, mosques, churches, medical facilities and marketplaces have been targeted for destruction by Tel Aviv. Hundreds of thousands have been wounded, injured, traumatized and dislocated. Famine is spreading throughout the Gaza Strip as IDF personnel fire weapons into crowds of people standing in line to receive food rations. 

Obviously, Harris was telling African Americans and their allies what they wanted to hear. Most people within Black communities across the country are in favor of a permanent ceasefire, not the six-week pause advanced by Harris on behalf of the administration of President Joe Biden.

Thousands of leading African American clergymen acting independently or within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) along with other denominations, have put distance between themselves and the administration. In several Democratic Party primary elections, such as Michigan, where over 101,000 people voted “uncommitted”, has sent a definite message to the White House regarding its prospects for re-election in November.

State of the Union: More Imperialist Rhetoric from the White House

A few days before the State of the Union Address by Biden, he was seen over national television eating ice cream saying he had been told by his national security advisor that a ceasefire was imminent by the end of the week. Such optics infuriated many people in the U.S. and around the world. This ceasefire has not yet materialized while the IDF continues its bombardments and the blocking of much-needed humanitarian assistance. 

During the speech by the president, he pleaded for the Congress to provide additional aid to the Ukrainian government to continue the war which Kiev is losing. He said that if the House would pass a “border bill” he would be able to end the crisis of migration which is a major concern of the electorate from both dominant parties.

In regard to Palestine, the president said that more aid needed to be delivered to Gaza to address the humanitarian crisis. He never accepted the fact that the crisis was engineered by the Israeli regime with the backing of Washington. Despite this reality, there was no direct call for a permanent ceasefire or negotiations for the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. 

Overall, there was no mention of any fundamental shift in policy towards Tel Aviv. The weapons and other material assistance flowing into the settler-colonial state will not be interrupted. He reiterated the tone set by Harris earlier in the week when the president said categorically that the White House would not abandon the Israeli state. 

Airdrops of meals ready to eat have already caused the deaths of several people. Biden announced at the State of the Union before the full Congress that the Pentagon had plans to build a temporary port in the Eastern Mediterranean to deliver food and supplies to residents of Gaza. He emphasized that no U.S. troops would enter the besieged territory in these aid deliveries. 

These statements by Biden and his administration functionaries are clearly for the consumption of the public in this election year. The entire tone of the State of the Union speech was that of a campaign rally. 

However, the widening regional war in West Asia was never assessed. To reveal the actual magnitude of the crisis would further expose the failures of the White House foreign and military policies in West Asia as well as Eastern Europe and the African continent.

Regional Resistance Determined to Continue Attacks Against Israel, the U.S. and its Allies

In addition to the underwriting and logistical support for the genocide in Gaza, the West Bank and throughout the Israeli Occupied Territories (IOT), the Biden administration has engaged in bombing operations in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Biden during the State of the Union alluded to his objective of keeping the shipping lanes open in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. What he did not say was that despite the mobilization of the British Royal Air Force along with its U.S. counterparts, they have not been able to halt the attacks on shipping interests in the region carried out in solidarity with Palestine.

The actions of the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) are not taking place within a vacuum. Southern Lebanon, which shares a border with the north of the IOT, has been the scene of some of the most intense fighting against Tel Aviv in many years.

In a report on March 11 published by Al Mayadeen Television, it notes:

“The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah carried out several operations on Monday, in support of the resilient people of Gaza and its Resistance against Israeli sites, soldier gatherings, and equipment along the Palestinian-Lebanese border. On March 11, 2024, the Islamic Resistance conducted eight operations against the Israeli occupation, confirming direct hits….

Earlier on Monday, the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, affirmed that the Resistance was prepared to counter any expansion in aggression, emphasizing that it is most ready to support Gaza until the Israeli aggression on the Strip ceases. In his speech during the memorial ceremony of three martyrs from the southern Lebanese village of Blida, Sheikh Qassem said Hezbollah is not concerned with any Israeli statement regarding a ground invasion of Lebanon, be it an exaggeration or a declaration. He stressed that the Resistance remains defensive, supportive, and determined to defy Israel, affirming that it will not be intimidated.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hezbollah-conducts-four-simultaneous-operations-against--isr)

The pledge to shutdown shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden which supports the economic interests of Israel by the Yemeni Ansar Allah, has won a tremendous propaganda victory in favor of the anti-Zionist and anti-imperialist forces in the region. These solidarity efforts are drawing the Pentagon towards military strikes which only increase the resentment and hatred towards the U.S. government.

Al Mayadeen pointed to a U.S. media outlet, the Atlantic, which wrote an evaluation of the situation involving the status of Yemen throughout the region, saying that:

“Previously, a piece published on The Atlantic magazine's news website suggested that Yemeni Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi ‘may now be the most popular public figure in the Middle East.’ The piece pointed out that since the Yemeni Armed Forces began their operations in the Red Sea in November in support of the Palestinian people, Sayyed al-Houthi ‘has been treated like a latter-day Che Guevara, his portrait and speeches shared on social media across five continents.’ It emphasized that although it remains challenging to assess the consequences of the attacks, the Yemeni operations created a gap in the global economy. The operations, according to the piece, turned the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement into ‘heroes for Arab and Muslim youths who embrace the Palestinian cause,’ and even influenced Western progressives. Elsewhere, the piece indicated that the U.S.-British aggression did not deter the Yemeni Armed Forces, adding that ‘since staking claim to the Palestinian cause,’ the Yemeni forces ‘have come to seem unstoppable.’" (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/how-ansar-allah-are-schooling-the-west-on-the-battlefield--b)

Even though the U.S. corporate and government-controlled media regurgitates the political line of the Biden administration which attributes the military capacity of the resistance forces from Hamas and the other nine brigades fighting the IDF in Gaza, to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Iraq and the anti-occupation groupings in Syria, to assistance provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran has denied providing military support to these groupings although it is in political agreement with the war against the IDF and its imperialist allies.  

Biden has failed to effectively deflect the attention of millions of people in the U.S. from the siege on Gaza and the expanding regional resistance to Zionism and imperialism. If these militarist adventures by the White House are not brought to a halt, it could very well result in the ascendancy of another administration led by former President Donald J. Trump. 

African Union Summit Condemns Israeli Genocide in Gaza

55 member-states representing 1.3 billion people wants the bombing and occupation to end

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Friday March 8, 2024

Geostrategic Analysis

In opening up its proceedings for the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in mid-February, the continental organization denounced the ongoing genocidal onslaught by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip.

The deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the injuring of many more along with the dislocation of the entire 2.3 million people living in the Gaza Strip, has enhanced the solidarity movement around the world. 

For weeks observers, journalists and medical experts have warned that the people of Gaza are facing the potential for famine. A series of cynical campaign maneuvers involving the dropping of meals ready to eat over Gaza has done nothing to improve the humanitarian crisis created by the State of Israel and its supporters in Washington, London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin.

This organization, which was founded as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, having changed its name to the AU in 2002, has followed the political direction of the Republic of South Africa being one of the most outspoken critics of the Zionist state internationally. Pretoria has taken Tel Aviv to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) charging the government with violating the provisions of the Genocide Convention. 

South Africa’s ruling party for the last 30 years, the African National Congress (ANC), is a longtime ally of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the overall struggle of the people against national oppression and the apartheid system in the Occupied Territories. President Nelson Mandela, who was elected in the first democratic elections in 1994, noted that South Africa will not be completely free until the Palestinian people gain their freedom. In the aftermath of the events of October 7, known as the Al-Aqsa Storm, when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) began their blanket bombing, shelling and later ground offensive in Gaza, the current Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor, demanded that the people of South Africa, the continent and the world take practical action in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

A Nigerian newspaper said of the recent AU Summit that:

“The African Union has expressed its full support for Palestine in the ongoing Middle East conflicts, asking member states to sever ties with Israel. The AU gave ‘full support for the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against the Israeli occupation, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, in order to restore their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination, return of refugees and independence in their State of Palestine, existing side by side with the State of Israel.’… It expressed outrage at what it described as a humanitarian catastrophe occurring in the Gaza Strip caused by Israeli forces. The AU expressed concerns about the possibility of the ongoing conflict spreading to Lebanon, other neighboring countries and the Middle East region.” (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/671145-african-union-declares-support-for-palestine-request-member-states-to-cut-ties-with-israel.html)

Since the AU Summit, another statement has been issued in response to a recent massacre of over 100 Palestinians while they lined up seeking much-needed food rations. The IDF in typical fashion, blamed the oppressed Palestinian masses saying they engaged in an unprovoked stampede causing the deaths. 

The rationale of the Israeli state and their backers in Washington and London for the killing of 30,000 people over a period of five months is that Hamas and the other resistance movements in Gaza are the source of the security problems. Nonetheless, the real issue underlining the continuing Palestinian crisis is the occupation of their homeland which has continued for nearly 76 years.

The Middle East Monitor news website reported on the AU response to the March 1 massacre in Gaza City noting:

“Chairperson of African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has ‘strongly’ condemned the recent Israeli attack in which scores of Palestinians were killed trying to access food aid in Gaza on Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a statement on Friday, the chairperson called for an international investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to account. He also reiterated the African Union’s call for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire in the Gaza Strip ‘to stop the ongoing and increasing State of Israel’s assault against the lives and means of survival of the Palestinian people.’ Mahamat called on the international community and major world powers to ‘assume their responsibilities to urgently impose peace and guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people.’” (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240302-african-union-chairperson-condemns-killing-of-palestinians-seeking-food-aid-in-gaza/)

Africa, Palestine and the regional states in West Asia have a shared history of colonial, semi-colonial and imperialist domination. The brutality of the Israeli state and the funding and enabling of their genocidal policies by Washington and the other imperialist centers, has alienated and angered billions around the globe. 

The Status of U.S.-Africa Relations

Although Africa in general remains in a disadvantageous situation in relations to the western industrialized states, many on the continent within and outside of government are looking for alternative alliances which are not controlled by imperialism. The BRICS plus inter-governmental organization has attracted broad support from those wanting to join the alliance which has recently established a New Development Bank (NDB). 

Since the BRICS 15th Summit hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during August 2023, many other countries have been admitted to the alliance including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia. These countries bolster the populations of the existing memberships of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

At present, the BRICS organization represents approximately 36% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This exceeds the G7 which encompasses about 31% of the GDP. The number of people living in the BRICS plus states constitute 46% of the world's population, whereas the G7 has around 10%. 

Within the context of the AU there is “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want”, which sets forth a series of goals aimed at deeper unity and robust economic development. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was founded in 2018 with a positive view towards achieving the objectives stated clearly within the AU Charter and Agenda 2063. 

On the AU website it emphasizes:

“AGENDA 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realization by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritize Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organization of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union and instead to prioritize inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.” (https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview)

However, these important goals for the African continent to be achieved will require a frontal assault on the current neo-colonial arrangements still impacting the capacity of the AU member-states to achieve genuine independence and sovereignty. Pentagon troops remain in various geo-political regions of the continent through the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). 

During 2023, there were threats leveled against African states by the Pentagon as well as the French government. President Emmanuel Macron of France along with the White House sought to build a coalition of West African military forces to invade Niger after the seizure of power by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) administration in Niamey on July 26. Fortunately, opposition to this scheme from the workers, farmers, youth and many political officials throughout the Sahel and other states, which was designed to further ensnarl the Sahel within the web of imperialism, prevented a potentially disastrous outcome in the West Africa region. 

In South Africa, due to its positions on the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine and the IDF siege upon Gaza, the administration of President Joe Biden had falsely accused the ANC government of selling arms to Moscow while elements within the Congress are calling for a downgrading of Washington’s diplomatic relations with Pretoria. The South African government has demanded that Kiev and Washington agree to talks aimed at ending the war. This same administration is playing an important role within the BRICS Plus Summit along with other important inter-governmental organizations to achieve sustainable economic development and an equitable form of international relations.  

With the AU Commission openly disagreeing with the imperialist foreign policy of maintaining the State of Israel as a settler-colonial outpost in West Asia and on the border with North Africa, further efforts to destabilize South Africa and other AU member-states will be inevitable. Consequently, Africa must remain vigilant and work towards the building of a world where the majority are able to determine their own destinies. 

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Fri. March 15, 2024

Listen to the Fri. March 15, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the podcast of this episode go this link: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/15 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com) 

The episode features our regular PANW report with dispatches continuing Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) operations in solidarity with the people of Gaza; a Hamas representative was interviewed by a leading Lebanese television network; the Russian Federation has launched 50 attacks against Ukraine; and the European Union (EU) is threatening more sanctions against Moscow. 

In the second and third hours we focus on International Women's History Month by an examination of the journalistic contributions of Ida B. Wells-Barnett and musician, radio, film and television sensation Hazel Scott.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Thurs. March 14, 2024

Listen to the Thurs. March 14, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To listen to the podcast of this episode go to this link: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/14 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com) 

This episode features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the Russian Foreign Ministry assessment of the Pentagon plan to build a pier off the coast of Gaza to provide humanitarian assistance; more Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank during the Ramadan season; the South African Foreign Minister Dr. Naledi Pandor says that anyone found to be aiding the IDF will be arrested; and Kenya is being frustrated in its agreement with the United States to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti. 

In the second and third hours we listen to a panel discussion on the current situation in Palestine and the West Asia region.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Tues. March 12, 2024

Listen to the Tues. March 12, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. 

To hear the entire podcast of this episode click on the following link: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/12 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)

This episode features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the claims by the African National Congress (ANC) government in South Africa that Israel is violating the International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders handed down in Jan. in regard to the lawsuit filed charging genocide in Gaza; France is bolstering its military presence in Chad; Ethiopia is considering withdrawal from its port agreement with the breakaway territory of Somaliland; and Kenya has come under additional pressure to deploy its police force to Haiti amid the collapse of the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. 

In the second and third hours we continue our commemoration of International Women's History Month with a focus on the role of women in the abolitionist movement and during the United States Civil War. 

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Sun. March 10, 2024

Listen to the Sun. March 10, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the full podcast of this episode click on the following URL: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/10 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)  

The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the often-overlooked plight of Palestinians in the West Bank; the White House has not fundamentally altered its policies towards Gaza despite the rhetoric to the contrary; a former cabinet minister from the West African state of Gambia has accused the Swiss Court of racism and lies; and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is releasing $120 million to the East African state of Uganda. 

In the second and third hours we continue our focus on International Women's History Month with features on the legendary vocalist Ruby Elzy and the role of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) during the early 20th century.

Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Sat. March 9, 2024

Listen to the Sat. March 9, 2024 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. 

To hear the podcast of this program go to this link: Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/09 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)

This episode features our PANW report with dispatches on the continuing resistance efforts by Palestinians in Gaza; liberal feminism has been criticized over the failure to express solidarity with Palestine; demonstrations were held across the world on International Women's Day; and violence continues in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. 

In the second and third hours we present our latest installment on International Women's History Month with a review of the life, times and contributions of Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964).

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Fri. March 8, 2024

Listen to the Fri. March 8, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. 

To hear the podcast of this episode go to the following URL: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/08 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)

The episode features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the silence within the western media on the plight of Palestinian women on International Women's Day; Yemen leaders have condemned the United States for supplying negligible aid and tons of weapons to bomb Gaza; 25% of African American women in a recent poll say that reproductive rights are a major issue; and there are problems in the implementation of the redistricting legislation for Alabama upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

In the second and third hours we will focus on recent developments in Palestine.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Thurs. March 7, 2024

Listen to the Thurs. March 7, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

The podcast of this episode can be accessed at the following link: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/07 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com) 

The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the request by the Republic of South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the situation in Gaza; Iraqi resistance forces pledge to continue attacks until a ceasefire; the current negotiations on a ceasefire is being delayed due to the intransigence of Tel Aviv; and the West African state of Senegal has set a date for the national elections. 

In the second and third hours we continue our International Women's History Month program with features on June Milne, the longtime research assistant, editor and publisher for Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Lucy Parsons, militant labor and anti-racist organizer during the late 19th and early decades of the 20th centuries.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Tues. March 5, 2024

Listen to the Tues. March 5, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. 

This podcast can be heard at the following link: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/05 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)

The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the opposition by the Rwanda government on the deployment of Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops to neighboring eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); Yemen is continuing its solidarity efforts in support of the Palestinian people; the Gaza resistance has reported on attacks against the IDF; and additional sanctions have been leveled against the Republic of Zimbabwe by the administration of United States President Joe Biden. 

In the second and third hours we move forward with our International Women's History Month programming featuring segments on Fannie Berrier Williams and Hallie Quinn Brown.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Sun. March 3, 2024

Listen to the Sun. March 3, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the podcast of this episode go to the following link:  Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/03 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)

The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the continuing resistance to the Israeli occupation of Gaza; South Africa has accused the western states of being complicit in the genocide in Palestine; Ethiopia and Tanzania have signed a trade deal; and the Caribbean nation of Haiti is facing the threat of another coup. 

In the second and third hours we move forward in our International Women's History Month programming examining the role of African women in the Civil War and in the labor force.

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Fri. March 1, 2024

Listen to the Fri. March 1, 2024 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire.

To hear the podcast of the program go to this URL: Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/01 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com) 

The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza waiting for assistance from humanitarian organizations; talks have stalled on a ceasefire in Gaza; Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of grave consequences if NATO deploys troops into Ukraine; and Haiti is being threatened with another coup. 

In the second and third hours we begin a series in honor of Women's History Month with a focus on Eliza Mary Church Terrell.

Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, for Sat. March 2, 2024 

Listen to the Sat. March 2, 2024 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. 

To hear the podcast of this program go to this link: Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast 03/02 by Pan African Radio Network | Politics (blogtalkradio.com)

The program continues our focus on International Women's History Month. 

We will hear segments on some the leading 19th and 20th century African women leaders who were involved in the movements for gender equality, voting rights and against racism and national oppression. 

One of the personalities we will discuss is the journalist, social scientist, organizer, public intellectual and feminist pioneer Ida B. Wells-Barnett.

Freed From Detention, Bassirou Diomaye Faye Draws Hundreds to First Event

SATURDAY MARCH 16 2024

Presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye (C) greets supporters after he was released from prison in Dakar, Senegal on March 15, 2024.

A day after his release from jail, Senegal opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye drew hundreds of supporters at his first public appearance as a presidential contender on Friday for March 24 elections, promising to tackle corruption.

Next to him, the popular firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko urged supporters to vote for his ally.

"We have an election to win. We have lost too much time," Sonko, also released from prison on Thursday, said at a joint news briefing.

Firebrand Sonko - who was seen as the key challenger to President Macky Sall's ruling party - threw his support behind Faye after being disqualified over a defamation conviction unrelated to his detention last July. He says the charges were politically motivated, which authorities deny.

Momentum has gathered pace for the opposition as support for Sall has dropped during his second term in office, which will be his final one. Due to constitutional term limits, Sall will step down and for the first time in Senegal's history, the incumbent will not be on the ballot.

Most of Sonko's supporters are expected to vote for Faye, making the latter a serious threat to the other 18 presidential hopefuls, analysts say. Sonko is popular among urban youth frustrated with a lack of jobs and economic hardship in a country where 60% of the population is younger than 25.

Faye's coalition have been keen to impress on voters that a vote for the less-known Faye is a vote for Sonko. Campaign posters show the two side by side with the slogan: "Diomaye is Sonko."

High-profile politicians, including former prime minister Aminata Toure, who had a public falling out with Sall and left the ruling coalition last year, have also backed Faye.

"Macky Sall himself has been the opposition's best recruiting agent," Toure told Reuters by phone, adding that Faye projected an image of integrity.

Tax inspectors

Discreet and soft-spoken compared to Sonko, both co-founded the now dissolved Pastef party in 2014. They studied law in Senegal and worked as tax inspectors, where they met and spoke out against corruption.

They are seen as "incorruptible" tax inspectors who did not fill their pockets while others did, said Alioune Tine, founder of the AfrikaJom Center think-tank.

"They want to change the system and refresh the political status quo," said Senegalese political analyst Babacar Ndiaye, noting that Faye, born in 1980, is younger than past presidents.

Some of the coalition's more disruptive proposals might worry regional allies and investors. These include the creation of a new national currency, and renegotiation of mining and energy contracts just as Senegal is due to begin offshore oil and gas production.

The stance on West Africa's CFA franc currency is a contentious proposal within Senegal as well, said Tine and Toure. Sonko and Faye sought to ease concerns on Friday with a more tempered approach.

Sudan War: Cairo Emerges as Potential Mediator

President al-Sisi shakes hand with al-Burhan on August 29, 2023

Increased diplomatic activity in Cairo sparks hope for Egyptian mediation in the ongoing Sudanese conflict.

March 15, 2024 (CAIRO) – Recent high-level visits to the Egyptian capital by key figures involved in the Sudanese crisis suggest a potential breakthrough. Sudanese President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, opposition leader Abdallah Hamdok, and Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi all held discussions with Egyptian officials.

Talks aim to revive a crucial meeting between the commanders of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), considered a critical step towards ending the war. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemetti) hold significant influence, and their agreement is essential for a lasting solution.

The Arab League, with strong Egyptian backing, has emerged as a potential host for the meeting, offering its experience in mediating the recent Libyan conflict. Similar to the successful Libyan talks held under the League’s auspices, Saudi Arabia’s involvement is also being explored to ensure a regional approach aligns with the Jeddah agreement.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit confirmed his readiness to host all warring Sudanese parties, underlining the organization’s commitment to resolving the crisis. This focus on inclusivity strengthens the prospects for a comprehensive peace agreement.

This flurry of diplomatic activity in Cairo presents a glimmer of hope for ending the year-long conflict in Sudan. The potential for a Burhan-Hemedti meeting, facilitated by the Arab League and supported by regional powers, offers a path towards a sustainable solution.

Egypt-Saudi efforts

Close collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt fuels hope for ending the conflict in Sudan. This was evident in their joint ministerial statement last January, urging an “immediate ceasefire.”

A proposed meeting in Cairo could lead to a breakthrough. The “Egyptian formula” aims to bring together the commanders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces under the Arab League’s umbrella. Approval from Sudanese leadership and the RSF is crucial for a broader solution. Following this, partners like Saudi Arabia, the United States, and others would be involved in further discussions.

Former Prime Minister Hamdok might revisit Cairo during Ramadan to finalize the proposal and invite the Chairman of the Sovereign Council al-Burhan and General Hemetti.

The UN Security Council echoes the regional efforts. Their recent resolution urges both Sudanese military forces to “cease hostilities during the holy month.”

Despite the international push, the ongoing fighting remains a critical factor. The situation on the ground ultimately dictates the success or failure of these peace initiatives.

Minawi casts doubt

However, Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi throws cold water on the prospect of a crucial meeting in Cairo between Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemetti).

Minawi cites the collapse of a similar attempt in December 2023. He attributes the failure to the “euphoria” surrounding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) military gains and potential external encouragements.

Furthermore, Minawi expresses concern that recent military advancements by the Sudanese army might lead to a repeat of the situation, hindering the possibility of renewed dialogue between the key figures.

In December 2023, al-Burhan initially agreed to meet Hemetti in Djibouti under the IGAD framework. However, the meeting collapsed due to the RSF leader’s refusal to attend without the involvement of all IGAD leaders. Sudan subsequently suspended its IGAD membership, protesting the organization’s focus solely on the internal conflict and holding individual participation.

Competing regional agendas

Concerns mount regarding potential interference from overlapping Arab and Arab-African interests. This complex web threatens to stall Egyptian and Arab League mediation attempts in Sudan.

The UAE’s suspected support for General Hemetti raises doubts about its neutrality in the conflict. This casts a shadow on its potential involvement as a mediator.

The recent $35 billion deal granting Abu Dhabi development rights in Egypt’s Ras Al-Hikma region has fuelled speculation of broader political cooperation, potentially encompassing the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Reported secret talks in Manama involving Egypt and the UAE for the first time further highlight the intricate web of regional involvement. It is worth mentioning that Cairo organised the Manama meeting.

A key Sudanese army negotiating delegation member disclosed U.S. pressure to include the UAE in the Jeddah peace talks.

However, he firmly rejected the involvement of RFS backers, saying that Sudan prioritises continued Saudi-American mediation.

“However, if Abu Dhabi demonstrably ceases its support for the insurgency and takes concrete steps to foster an environment conducive to resolving the conflict as outlined in our Jeddah proposal, then its potential role as a mediator can be reevaluated,” he said.

(ST)

DR Congo Reinstates the Death Penalty After More Than 20 Years as it Struggles to Deal With Militants

11:15 AM EDT, March 15, 2024

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo has lifted a more than two-decade-old moratorium on the death penalty as authorities struggle to curb violence and militant attacks in the country, according to a justice ministry statement released on Friday.

The statement, dated earlier this week, said the ban from 2003 allowed offenders accused of treason and espionage to get away without proper punishment.

Eastern Congo has been riddled by conflict for decades, linked to more than 120 armed groups fighting for land and power and in some cases, protecting their communities.

The government said the violence in the east has plagued the country with recurrent conflict and resulted in a surge of attacks that have spread terror among the communities.

In recent years, the M23 rebel group — the most dominant in the region with alleged links to neighboring Rwanda — has continued to attack villages, forcing many to flee to Goma, the region’s largest city. M23 has laid siege to several communities with about half of North Kivu province under it’s control.

The violence in the province has worsened in recent weeks as security forces battle the rebels. Residents have said the group’s fighter mostly launch attacks with bombs out of hills overlooking remote towns.

All 5 Attackers Killed, Ending Somalia Hotel Siege in Which 3 Soldiers Died

BY OMAR FARUK

9:09 AM EDT, March 15, 2024

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Security forces in Somalia say they have killed all five attackers who laid siege to a hotel in a normally secure area of the capital.

Police spokesperson Kasim Roble said Friday that three soldiers were killed and 27 people injured in the Thursday night attack on the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu.

The Somali extremist group al-Shabab said on Telegram on Thursday that its fighters managed to penetrate the hotel, which is not far from the presidential palace and is patronized by government officials.

“The situation is now calm, the hotel is secure now, and lawmakers and other hotel residents started returning, and the security situation returned to normal,” Roble said.

Journalists were barred from accessing the hotel after the siege ended.

Attacks in the seaside capital had declined in recent weeks as security was beefed up. Al-Shabab, which opposes Somalia’s central government, has been responsible for many deadly attacks on hotels and other places in the past.

The last major attack in Mogadishu was in October 2022, when at least 120 civilians were killed in twin car bombings at a busy intersection.

Adam Alcodray stands outside Dearborn High School on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Dearborn Mich. Alcodray, 14, is a 9th grader at the school which makes certain allowances for students observing Ramadan. Alcodray says Ramadan carries more significance this year given the plight of people in Gaza. “When you look at what the children are eating in Gaza, you appreciate what your mom makes,” he said. “When you’re having a bad day, realize what they are going through.”

Somalia’s government is conducting a high-profile offensive against the extremist group, which the United States has described as one of al-Qaida’s deadliest organizations. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has declared “total war” against the extremists, who control large parts of central and southern Somalia and have been the target of scores of U.S. airstrikes in recent years.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Yemeni AF Announce 5 Operations in Red Sea and Indian Ocean

By Al Mayadeen English

The Yemeni Armed Forces have begun targeting Israeli ships and ships heading to or from occupied Palestine across the Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope.

"The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out an operation against the Israeli ship Pacific 01 in the Red Sea with a number of suitable naval missiles," the spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces Yahya Saree announced in a Friday military press brief in which he revealed a number of operations.

Alongside the Israeli ship targeted, Saree announced that "The drone unit carried out an operation against an American destroyer in the Red Sea using a number of drones" and confirmed that a direct hit was achieved.

As for the newly announced directives by Yemeni Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, Saree announced that "the Yemeni Armed Forces began to expand the scope of their operations against Israeli ships, those linked to Israel, or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine, to include the Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope."

In that regard, the Yemeni Armed Forces warned, once again, that any Israeli ship or any ship heading to or coming from ports in occupied Palestine will be considered a "legitimate target".

Furthermore, Saree announced that the Yemeni Armed Forces have successfully "carried out three operations against three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean, using a number of suitable naval missiles and drones."

It is important to keep in mind that the Yemeni operations aim to "triumph for the oppressed Palestinian people and retaliate against American-British aggression against our country."

Al-Houthi: Our ops. hit Indian Ocean, to be expanded to Cape Route

The Yemeni Armed Forces are heading toward expanding the scope of their operations conducted against the Israeli occupation forces' war on the Gaza Strip, the leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul al-Malik al-Houthi, declared on Thursday. 

Sayyed al-Houthi's announcement will reverberate across global politics, as he underlined that the YAF is heading toward launching attacks on vessels in the Indian Ocean that have been redirected toward the Cape of Good Hope Route, following attacks on merchant and military vessels affiliated with the tripartite Alliance of Evil of the United States, the United Kingdom, and "Israel".

Avoiding missile and drone attacks from the Yemeni Navy in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, ships heading toward Israeli-occupied ports have opted for the longer route of circling the African continent, paralyzing the Israeli-occupied port in Um al-Rashrash or "Eilat".

"Our Yemeni Armed Forces will carry on the Battle of the Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza," the leader of the Ansar Allah emphasized on Thursday. 

"Operations targeting Israeli-affiliated vessels and ships affiliated with the American and British sides are ongoing with high effectiveness," he revealed.

Hamas Rep. in Lebanon to Al Mayadeen: No Agreement Without Guarantees

By Al Mayadeen English

Hamas's representative in Lebanon informs Al Mayadeen that Hamas has made it clear that no deal would take place without international guarantees.

Hamas's representative in Lebanon Ahmad Abdul Hadi informed Al Mayadeen today that the Resistance will not accept any deal without international guarantees and a clear commitment to stop the Israeli war on Gaza. 

He added that Hamas specified its vision regarding the captives' deal with a clear condition of providing guarantees, emphasizing that it is currently under Israeli occupation and the US hands.

Abdul Hadi stressed that all rumors spread by the Israeli occupation on Hamas disrupting negotiations are lies, as Hamas's conditions are very clear, adding that Hamas has highlighted to the mediators that flexibility requires guarantees from the international community and a clear commitment to fulfilling four conditions.

He reiterated the four conditions as follows: a permanent ceasefire, complete IOF withdrawal, removal of all results of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and the return of the displaced Palestinians, emphasizing that no ceasefire or captives exchange deal would take place without the fulfillment of these conditions. 

Palestinian factions: no agreement or exchange without a permanent ceasefire

Two days ago, the Palestinian factions reassured their unified position on no agreement or exchange deals without a comprehensive cessation of aggression against the Palestinian people. 

In their statement, they stressed that managing Palestinian affairs including the affairs in the Gaza Strip is an internal Palestinian national matter emphasizing that they will not allow the Israeli occupation and its allies to intervene or impose their mandate in any shape or form. 

Referencing the humanitarian crisis, the factions called for proceeding to open the Rafah land crossing to bring in aid and immediately carry the wounded to hospitals and save their lives as thousands of them are at risk due to the perpetual Israeli aggression. 

They further urged international institutions, especially the United Nations, to bear full responsibility and fulfill their duty immediately in the Gaza Strip, mainly the North, emphasizing the vitality of the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes North of the Strip.

Hamas Unveils its Vision of Ceasefire with Israel

It includes an end to the aggression against our people in Gaza, delivery of humanitarian aid there, the return of displaced persons to their home regions and the withdrawal of Israeli military from the enclave

© Youssef Mohammed/TASS

CAIRO, March 15. /TASS/. During a meeting with mediators, Palestine’s Hamas movement unveiled its vision of a future ceasefire deal with Israel, Hamas spokesman Izzat al-Rishq wrote on his Telegram channel.

"Today, the movement presented to mediators its vision of a future agreement based on the following principles: an end to the aggression against our people in Gaza, delivery of humanitarian aid there, the return of displaced persons to their home regions and the withdrawal of Israeli military from the enclave," Hamas said.

The spokesman added that the movement viewed these preconditions as "vital for reaching an agreement."

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 240 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.

In late November 2023, Hamas announced an agreement with Israel, which was brokered by Egypt and Qatar, on a four-day humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, which took effect on November 24. The sides extended the ceasefire several times but on the morning of December 1 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Hamas had violated the truce in Gaza and opened fire on Israeli territory, thus prompting the IDF to resume combat operations in the Gaza Strip.

On March 12, the Al Arabiya television channel reported, citing a source in the Hamas leadership, that Hamas had accepted a US-proposed ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip. According to the source, the US initiative envisages the cessation of hostilities in the enclave and gradual return of displaced persons in exchange for release of some hostages, captured by radicals during their October 2023 attack on Israel. The Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo within days to discuss details of the deal, the source said. On the following day, the movement officially refuted this information.

Russia Says its Forces Carried Out 50 Group Strikes Over Past Week, Used Precision Weapons

Ukraine lost more than 2,710 troops as either killed or wounded, three tanks, including a US-made Abrams, 19 armored fighting vehicles, 91 motor vehicles, and 18 artillery systems in the Avdeyevka area in the past week

© Russian Defense Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. The Russian Armed Forces carried out 50 group strikes with precision weapons, multiple launch rocket systems and drones that targeted Ukrainian military infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily bulletin of the special military operation.

"Between March 9 and 15, the Russian Armed Forces carried out 50 group strikes with precision weapons, MLRS and UAVs at Ukrainian airstrip infrastructure, weapon and vehicle repair workshops, drone and uncrewed boat storage sites, arsenals and fuel depots. All designated targets were hit," the ministry said.

The strikes also hit deployment locations of Ukrainian troops, nationalist militias and foreign mercenaries.

Here are the details of other combat operations that happened over the past week, according to the bulletin.

Kupyansk area

"Units of the battlegroup West, by making active efforts, improved the situation along the front line in the Kupyansk area, struck the manpower and equipment of six mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of the settlements of Berestovoye, Peschanoye in the Kharkov Region and Serebryanka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They repelled 22 counterattacks by assault groups from the 57th motorized infantry brigade, and 32nd and 47th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Pershotravnevoye, Kharkov region and Terny, Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.

Ukrainian losses in this area amounted to more than 305 military personnel, three tanks, two armored fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, a Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicle and 25 field artillery guns.

"Also, from March 12 to 15, pre-emptive and coordinated actions of Russian troops, that were acting together with units from the border service of the Russian Federal Security Service, stopped all attempts of Ukrainian forces to cross into the territory of the Belgorod and Kursk regions. Air strikes and artillery fire destroyed more than 550 servicemen, 16 tanks, 19 armored fighting vehicles, including 11 US-made Bradley vehicles, and 15 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

Donetsk area

"Units of the battlegroup South liberated the settlement of Nevelskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and took more advantageous positions. Seven mechanized and five assault brigades of the Ukrainian army were hit near the settlements of Kurakhovo, Spornoye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Krasnogorovka, and Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, four attacks by assault groups of Ukraine’s 79th and 81st brigades were repelled near the settlements of Belogorovka and Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Ukraine lost more than 1,930 servicemen, nine tanks, 12 armored fighting vehicles, 41 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, two combat vehicles of the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system and eight field ammunition depots.

Avdeyevka area

"Units of the battlegroup Center continued their advance and seized more advantageous positions," the ministry said. "Sixty-four attacks by enemy units were repelled near the settlements of Berdychi, Semyonovka, Pervomaiskoye, Tonenkoye, and Orlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic."

Ukraine lost more than 2,710 troops as either killed or wounded, three tanks, including a US-made Abrams, 19 armored fighting vehicles, 91 motor vehicles, and 18 artillery systems.

South Donetsk area

"Units of the battlegroup East improved the combat position along the front line and defeated units of the 58th motorized infantry brigade and 72nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, the 127th and 128th territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Rovnopol, Urozhaynoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic; Chervonoye and Malinovka in the Zaporozhye region," the ministry said.

Seven enemy counterattacks were repelled near Staromayorskoye, Novodonetskoye and Shevchenko in the Donetsk People's Republic and Vladimirovka in the Zaporozhye Region. Ukraine lost 980 troops, one tank, seven armored fighting vehicles, 31 other vehicles and 11 field artillery pieces.

Kherson area

"The enemy's losses totaled more than 270 servicemen, a tank, 23 motor vehicles and 12 field artillery guns," the ministry said.

Russian troops in the Kherson area seized more favorable positions and inflicted comprehensive firepower damage on the formations of the Ukrainian 141st Infantry Brigade; 65th and 117th mechanized brigades; 82nd and 128th assault brigades, and the 35th Marine Brigade in the areas of Rabotino, Novosyolovka, Orekhov, Kamenskoye, Stepnoye, Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye Region; and Berislav and Tyaginka in the Kherson Region.

Air Force and air defenses

"Rocket units, artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles of the battlegroups have destroyed a US-supplied HIMARS launcher, two US-made Patriot missile systems and an S-300 missile launcher with radars," the ministry said.

Shot down by aircraft and air defenses were a MiG-29 fighter jet, 2 Mi-8 helicopters, a Tochka-U tactical missile, 5 French-made Hammer guided bombs, 86 munitions of US-made HIMARS MLRS system, Czech-made Vampire MLRS and Grad MLRS, as well as 915 drones.

Tally of destroyed equipment

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed a total of 577 Ukrainian warplanes, 269 helicopters, 15,573 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,496 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 1,238 multiple launch rocket systems, 8,406 field artillery guns and mortars and 19,764 special military motor vehicles.