AFRICAN WORLD NEWS

News of the day

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

An official in eastern Libya has denied allegations that many of those killed in devastating floods last weekend were told to stay in their homes.

Othman Abdul Jalil, a spokesperson for the Benghazi-based government, told the BBC that soldiers warned people in the city of Derna to flee.

He denied that people were told not to evacuate, but conceded some may have felt the threat was exaggerated.

Meanwhile, BBC teams in Derna say aid agencies are yet to arrive at the city.

While reporters witnessed a hive of activity in the centre of Derna - with rescuers, ambulance crews and forensic teams working to identify the dead - there was little sign of major international aid agencies.

A spokesperson for one organisation said that trying to coordinate aid operations in the country was "a nightmare".

"Libya one week ago was already complicated," said Tomasso Della Longa from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Making the situation even more complicated is the fact that the floods have destroyed crucial infrastructure, like roads and telecommunications systems.

Death tolls that have been provided vary from around 6,000 up to 11,000. With many more thousands still missing, Derna's mayor has warned that the total could reach 20,000.

The BBC has been told that some victims' bodies have washed ashore more than 100km (60 miles) from Derna, after they were swept out to sea.

A spokesperson for the United Nations' humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, told the BBC that there were still survivors and dead bodies under the rubble, and that it would be some time before they knew the true number of casualties.

"We are trying to not to have a second disaster there. It is critical to prevent a health crisis, to provide shelter, clean water and food," he said.

More than 1,000 people have so far been buried in mass graves, according to a UN report.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked disaster workers to stop doing this, because a hasty burial in mass graves can lead to long-lasting mental distress for grieving family members.

Thousands of people were killed when two dams burst in the wake of Storm Daniel on Sunday, washing whole neighbourhoods into the Mediterranean Sea.

Survivors have described terrifying escapes and people being swept away in front of their eyes.

The country's fragmented political situation is said to be complicating the clear up process. Libya is split between two rival governments - with the UN-backed administration based in the capital Tripoli and the rival Egyptian-supported one based in Benghazi.

There have been widespread suggestions that the two dams that collapsed were not well-maintained.

There are also conflicting reports as to whether - and when - people were told to flee their homes.

Derna's Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi told Arab news channel Al-Hadath that he "personally ordered evacuating the city three or four days before the disaster." The BBC has not been able to verify this.

As the weather got worse, police and military were telling people to leave their homes for higher ground, survivors have told the BBC.

But it seemed many people did not take the threat seriously.

"A lot of them did but unfortunately, people sometimes, they said, 'well you know, this is exaggerating, this might not be the case'," an official from Libya's unofficial, eastern administration told the BBC's Newshour programme.

There are also allegations that officials took to Libyan television on Sunday night, and ordered people to stay in their homes because of the bad weather. But the same official, Othman Abdul Jalil, denied this.

It is too early to attribute with certainty the severity of this storm to rising global temperatures. However, climate change is thought to be increasing the frequency of the world's strongest storms.

Prof Liz Stephens, an expert in climate risks and resilience at the UK's University of Reading, said scientists were confident that climate change was super-charging the rainfall associated with such storms.

On Friday, a top UN official, Martin Griffiths, said the disaster was "a massive reminder" of climate change and the challenge it posed.

At the United Nations: Guinea's new leader blames greed of politicians for recent coups in Africa

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The recent coups in Africa are attempts by militaries to save their countries from presidents' “broken promises," the head of Guinea’s junta said Thursday as he rebuffed the West for boxing in the continent of more than 1 billion people.

Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, who was sworn in as Guinea's interim president following the coup in 2021, told the U.N. General Assembly that beyond condemning the coups, global leaders must also “look to and address the deep-rooted causes."

“The putschist is not only the person who takes up arms to overthrow a regime,” he told the gathering of world leaders in New York. “I want us all to be well aware of the fact that the real putschists, the most numerous, are those who avoid any condemnation — they are those … who cheat to manipulate the text of the constitution in order to stay in power eternally.”

Guinea is one of several nations in West and Central Africa that have experienced eight coups since 2020, including two – Niger and Gabon – in recent months. The military takeovers, sometimes celebrated by citizens in those countries and condemned by international organizations and foreign countries, have raised concern about the stability of the continent, whose young population of at least 1.3 billion is set to double by 2050 and make up a quarter of the planet’s people.

Doumbouya accused some leaders in Africa of clinging to power by any means — often including amending the constitution — to the detriment of their people.

In Guinea, he said he led soldiers to depose then-President Alpha Conde in the September 2021 coup to prevent the country from “slipping into complete chaos." He said the situation was similar in other countries hit by coups and was a result of “broken promises, the lethargy of the people and leaders tampering with constitutions with the sole concern of remaining in power to the detriment of collective well-being.”

Doumbouya also rebuffed attempts by the West and other developed countries to intervene in Africa’s political challenges, saying that Africans are “exhausted by the categorizations with which everyone wants to box us in.”

“We Africans are insulted by the boxes, the categories which sometimes place us under the influence of the Americans, sometimes under that of the British, the French, the Chinese and the Turks,” the Guinean leader said. “Today, the African people are more awake than ever and more than ever determined to take their destiny into their own hands."

While the Guinean leader defended the coups in his country and elsewhere, concerns remain about the effectiveness of such military takeovers in addressing the challenges they said made them “intervene.”

In Mali, where soldiers have been in power since 2020, the Islamic State group almost doubled the territory it controls in less than a year, according to U.N. experts. And in Burkina Faso, which recorded two coups in 2020, economic growth slowed to 2.5% in 2022 after a robust 6.9% the year before.

“Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice,” said Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. As the leader of West Africa’s regional bloc of ECOWAS, he is leading efforts of neighbors to reverse the coup in the region.

“The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favor towards coups," He said. “It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.”

Chinedu Asadu, The Associated Press

Ethiopia: U.S. Govt Contractor Faces Death Penalty for Allegedly Spying for Ethiopia

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

Ethiopia: U.S. Govt Contractor Faces Death Penalty for Allegedly Spying for Ethiopia

Harare — An American citizen of Ethiopian descent who had Top Secret clearance was detained and accused of giving sensitive information to Ethiopia, AFP reports.

On Friday, September 22, the criminal complaint against Abraham Teklu Lemma, a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, who is listed as an IT systems and data analyst on LinkedIn, was made public.

Lemma allegedly conducted his espionage operations between December 2022 and August 2023, placing tens of thousands of dollars in cash into bank accounts in the Washington area, according to an affidavit submitted by an FBI inspector.

Lemma allegedly took sensitive and top-secret data from a variety of intelligence reports at the State Department and gave it to a "person connected to a foreign intelligence service" using an encrypted messaging platform. The data includes records, images, notes, and maps pertaining to the "relevant country," as described in the affidavit. The affidavit cited a messaging exchange from September 2022 in which a foreign official informed Lemma that "it's time to continue (your) support," to which he allegedly responded, "Roger that!"

It stated that "Lemma's communications with the foreign official included a discussion of military activities of a rebel group involved in an armed struggle against the government of the "relevant country", which is thought to be a reference to the fighting in Tigray. Lemma, who has had a top secret security clearance since 2020, worked in both the State Department and the Justice Department. He also worked there as a contract management analyst.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ethiopia in March, which is a key beneficiary of U.S. funding. Lemma is accused of two counts of espionage and one of illegally holding information on national defense. While the retention allegation has a maximum 10-year sentence, the espionage charge entails a potential death sentence.

In June 2023, the WFP and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) halted food assistance to Ethiopia in response to a widespread diversion of donations. The committee established by the interim regional administration of Tigray to investigate diversion of humanitarian food in the region revealed that the Ethiopian federal government entities and Eritrean forces had higher roles in the widescale food aid diversion.

Ethiopia and Tigray had been at war from November 2020, and signed a peace deal in November 2022. Hundreds of thousands of people fled to neighbouring countries to avoid the conflict and the ensuing food crisis.

Nigeria

Cameroon

Ethiopia: U.S. Govt Contractor Faces Death Penalty for Allegedly Spying for Ethiopia

Cameroon

Your ads here!

Malawi

Cameroon

Your ads here!

Algeria

News Analysis

By Andrew Okosun, Special to the African World News

Addressing Climate Change in Nigeria's Evolving Economy

Nigeria is a country with immense potential and challenges, especially in the face of climate change. As Africa’s most populous and largest economy, Nigeria has a vital role to play in addressing climate change both at the national and regional levels. However, Nigeria also faces significant threats from climate change, such as rising temperatures, rainfall variability, drought, desertification, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. These impacts affect various aspects of Nigeria’s environment and development, such as agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and infrastructure. Moreover, the emergence of epidemics like COVID-19 further highlights the complexity and interrelatedness of these challenges.Nigeria is a country with immense potential and challenges, especially in the face of climate change. As Africa’s most populous and largest economy, Nigeria has a vital role to play in addressing climate change both at the national and regional levels. However, Nigeria also faces significant threats from climate change, such as rising temperatures, rainfall variability, drought, desertification, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. These impacts affect various aspects of Nigeria’s environment and development, such as agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and infrastructure. Moreover, the emergence of epidemics like COVID-19 further highlights the complexity and interrelatedness of these challenges.

To effectively address these “super wicked” problems, Nigeria must adopt evidence-based approaches that can enhance its carbon efficiency and climate resilience. Learning from countries like Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and South Africa can provide valuable insights and serve as a starting point for designing domestic climate change mitigation strategies. These countries have demonstrated successful examples of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change in different sectors and contexts.

This article explores Nigeria’s role in climate change mitigation, focusing on its sizeable population affected by climate-related issues, the strategies being employed, and the severe flooding incidents outlined in the National Security Strategy 2019. The article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s current situation and future prospects in relation to climate change. The article also aims to highlight the opportunities and challenges that Nigeria faces in achieving its climate goals and aspirations.

Championing Climate Change Mitigation:

With one of the largest populations globally, Nigeria faces the intricate task of addressing climate change challenges that directly affect its citizens. The country's leadership is essential not only for its internal development but also as an example for other nations. By embracing innovative and sustainable solutions, Nigeria can significantly contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment and leadership in tackling climate change by ratifying the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994, the Kyoto Protocol in 2004, and the Paris Agreement in 2017. Nigeria has also developed and implemented various policies and strategies to address climate change at the national level, such as the National Climate Change Policy (2012), the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change (2011), the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (2015), and the National Forest Policy (2006).

Population Affected and Mitigation Strategies:

Climate change affects different segments of the population in different ways, depending on their exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Some of the most vulnerable groups include women, children, the elderly, the poor, and the displaced. These groups often bear the brunt of climate change impacts such as food insecurity, water scarcity, health risks, loss of livelihoods, and displacement. According to UNICEF, about 25 million Nigerians are at high risk of food insecurity in 2023 due to the combined effects of climate change, conflict, and COVID-19. Moreover, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), about 2.1 million Nigerians were internally displaced as of December 2020, mainly due to conflict and violence, but also due to disasters triggered or exacerbated by climate change.

Nigeria's large population makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and extreme events such as droughts and floods disproportionately affect communities across the nation. To combat these challenges, Nigeria has implemented a series of strategies:

Renewable Energy Development: Recognizing the role of fossil fuels in greenhouse gas emissions, Nigeria is investing in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. These initiatives not only reduce emissions but also improve energy access for its citizens.

Afforestation and Reforestation: To combat deforestation and enhance carbon sequestration, Nigeria is actively promoting afforestation and reforestation efforts. These initiatives help restore ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: The integration of climate resilience into infrastructure projects, urban planning, and disaster management is crucial. Building structures that can withstand extreme weather events, such as flooding, is a key aspect of Nigeria's strategy.

Excessive Flooding and National Security Strategy 2019:

One of the most visible and devastating impacts of climate change in Nigeria is flooding. Flooding occurs when water overflows its normal boundaries due to excessive rainfall, river overflow, coastal surge, or dam release. Flooding can cause damage to infrastructure, property, crops, livestock, and human lives. Flooding can also increase the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria.

According to the World Bank's Climate Risk Profile for Nigeria, flooding is projected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. The profile states that "the annual expected damage from riverine flooding could increase from $1 billion in 2014 (0.3% of GDP) to $9 billion in 2050 (1.3% of GDP), while coastal flooding could increase from $2 billion in 2014 (0.6% of GDP) to $16 billion in 2050 (2.3% of GDP)". The profile also warns that "by 2050, more than 25 million people could be exposed to coastal flooding annually".

In response, Nigeria's efforts are focused on improved flood management, early warning systems, and community-based adaptation measures. Additionally, the integration of climate considerations into national security planning underscores the interconnectedness of climate change and national stability.

Conclusion:

Nigeria's leadership role in climate change mitigation is critical in light of its substantial population, vulnerability to climate impacts, and potential for influencing regional and global climate action. By prioritizing renewable energy, afforestation, resilient infrastructure, and effective flood management, Nigeria can pave the way for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. It is through such concerted efforts that Nigeria can effectively combat the challenges posed by climate change, protect its citizens, and contribute positively to the international fight against this global issue.

Climate change is a global challenge that requires collective action and cooperation from all stakeholders. Nigeria, as a major player in Africa and the world, has a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change and its impacts. Nigeria has shown its commitment and leadership in addressing climate change by developing and implementing various policies and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience. Nigeria has also engaged in regional and international platforms and initiatives to promote cooperation and collaboration on climate action.

However, Nigeria still faces many challenges and gaps in achieving its climate goals and aspirations. Some of these include:

Lack of adequate finance, technology, and capacity to implement climate actions effectively and efficiently.
Lack of coordination and integration among different sectors, levels, and actors involved in climate governance.
Lack of awareness and participation of the public and other stakeholders in climate issues and solutions.
Lack of data and information on climate risks, impacts, and opportunities.

Therefore, Nigeria needs to address these challenges and gaps by:

Mobilizing more domestic and international resources for climate action, especially from the private sector and development partners.
Strengthening the institutional and regulatory frameworks for climate governance, ensuring coherence, alignment, and accountability across different sectors, levels, and actors.
Enhancing the communication and outreach strategies for climate action, raising awareness and building capacity of the public and other stakeholders on climate issues and solutions.
Improving the data and information systems for climate action, generating and disseminating reliable and relevant data and information on climate risks, impacts, and opportunities.

By doing so, Nigeria can achieve its vision of becoming a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and prosperous nation that can provide a better life for its people and contribute to a safer and healthier planet for all.

Photography impactful in understanding Toronto's heartbeat

Curator Iskouhee Kirakosyan says photography important in the life and culture of Toronto

"How better to know a city than what it's photographers present to the outside world," says curator of the Toronto Photography Club, Iskouhee Kirakosyan.

At an event marking the annual Toronto Photography Festival, which takes place in multiple studios around the city over several days, Kirakosyan (right in picture above with an attendee) says the heartbeat of the city is often captured by photography to explain the space and times and the vibrancy in which many Torontonians live.

"This is one of the things Photography, especially professional photographers, can do for a city, " she said, noting photography captures the diversity and greatness and uniqueness of Toronto, where census figures show more than 57 percent of its residents were born outside of Canada.

New Chinese Steel Plant Accused of Exploiting Workers - Staf

By Sharon Mazingaizo

Workers building the $1bn steel plant for the Chinese-owned Dinson Iron & Steel Company (Disco) claim they are exploited, forced to work in inhumane conditions, and sleep crammed eight to a small room on the construction site.

The workers, backed by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), told the Sunday Times that as they build what is touted to become Africa's largest steel plant in Manhize, Mvuma, about 192km south of Harare, they are not provided with safety equipment, have no proper toilets, and are forced to lie to get a day off to see their families.

Disco, a subsidiary of China's largest stainless steel manufacturer, Tsingshan Holdings, denies the allegations and slams what it says are "the latest attempts to smear the good name of the company, and Chinese investments in Zimbabwe".

Production is expected to begin in August and the plant is expected to manufacture more than 1.2-million tonnes of steel a year.

Fearing reprisals and speaking to the Sunday Times on condition of anonymity, a 35-year-old construction worker said workers live in squalid conditions.

"Nothing good is coming out of the steel plant; we live like animals. Eight workers sleep in one tiny room. We have no basic sanitation. Sewage overflows at the plant because of blocked plumbing. We defecate in the bush because they are no working toilets at the plant.

"The sewage overflow is next to the kitchen where the food for workers is prepared. We are not allowed to cook our own food. The food we are given by the company is badly prepared -- we are given sadza with beans or sadza with cabbage. The food looks disgusting -- we eat because we are hungry," he said.

We are paid $4 a day and the money comes as half in local currency and other half in US dollars. l work for 30 days, with no off day -- l have no free time to even visit my loved ones

"We are not given any off days; you have work for 30 days. Recently, l got an off day because l lied that my relative had passed away. It's a very difficult place to work, but we work because we are desperate for money and to provide for our families. It's unfortunate that our Chinese colleagues don't see us as human beings but as animals. It's inhumane," he said.

Workers the Sunday Times spoke to said they began working for the company seven months ago.

Another worker, who is 32, said they are paid as little as $4 a day, working for 30 days straight with no weekends off. Any days they take off after that are, the workers allege, deducted from their wages.

"We are paid $4 a day and the money comes as half in local currency and half in US dollars. l work for 30 days, with no off day -- l have no free time to even visit my loved ones," said another. "I also work overtime from 5pm until 10pm but l am never paid for the overtime. We are not given payslips to see how many hours we have worked.

"If we raise concerns, we are ignored. If you keep complaining, eventually you lose your job. With the money l earn I am not able to send rent money or buy groceries for my family," the man said. "We once went on strike demanding better pay but the company called the police on us and we were forced back to work. Quitting is not an option as l am desperate for work to be able to feed for my family."

Another worker said: "It's very hard work, and we don't get adequate safety gear on the construction site.

"If you ask for a day off, your wages will be deducted and it will become even less. It's difficult for me and my colleagues but we are scared of the employer, too afraid to raise the issues because you can be fired immediately," he said.

More than 800 workers are employed at the plant, with most of them living on the site. Disco said the integrated steel plant will create 2,000 jobs by the end of 2023. Last year, at a breaking ground ceremony, President Emmerson Mnangagwa hailed the project as a "paradigm-shifting milestone" for Zimbabwe.

The workers' accounts appear to back up allegations made by the ZCTU, which wrote to minister of public service, labour & social welfare Paul Mavima last month to complain about conditions at the plant and ask for his intervention.

ZCTU said its affiliated union, the Zimbabwe Construction & Allied Trades Workers' Union (ZCATWU) tried to organise workers there but management denied them access.

"During the union engagement with workers outside the workplace, the union gathered [accounts of] serious unfair labour practices which include payment of wages that are below the stipulated rates, non-provision of protective clothing, nonpayment of required benefits as per the collective bargaining agreement, and nonpayment of pension funds, among other issues," it wrote.

We object strongly to continued attempts at smearing and undermining the good work of the investors, and this latest attempt should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves

Dinson Iron & Steel Company statement

In response to questions, Disco denied that it had ever barred workers from forming or joining unions of their choice.

"A process to form a union, branch or representative council or organisation at our site would be the prerogative of the workers themselves and the company will not interfere.

"We are incredulous that a union can claim that it is being denied access to address its membership at our company. How did it recruit those same alleged workers at the same place, or who organised them if they are allegedly not allowed to form unions? We challenge people who have made these various allegations to prove them."

"We consider this the latest attempt to smear the good name of the company, and Chinese investments in Zimbabwe at a time we are making a positive impact in the country, including assisting our communities and creating huge employment opportunities," the company said.

"At Disco alone, we will employ 2,000 people by end of 2023, and this is a huge opportunity for local people. We object strongly to continued attempts at smearing and undermining the good work of the investors, and this latest attempt should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves."

However, the company failed to respond to questions about the workers' squalid living conditions, unsafe working conditions, excessive overtime, poor pay, and workers' apparent inability to take any days off, even on weekends.

ZCATWU regional organising secretary Noel Mano told the Sunday Times it had tried and failed to engage Disco management "several times".

"In my 20 years in the construction industry, l have never seen such labour violations" he said.

China is Zimbabwe's largest foreign investor, with significant interests in the country's mining and construction sectors. However, Chinese-run companies in Zimbabwe have a chequered history.

In 2020, two workers were shot and wounded, allegedly by their Chinese boss at a mining company, after they complained about unpaid wages.

In 2021, the Chinese embassy in Harare accused ZCTU of an "organised smear campaign" against Chinese-run companies after it and ZFTU alleged that a Chinese-owned ceramic tiles manufacturer was paying poor wages, providing substandard accommodation and exposing workers to dangerous chemicals.

S. Africa draws US ire over China, Russia joint naval tests

South Africa says its non-alignment status should still never be in doubt

In a controversial move that has strained its relationships with the EU and the US, South Africa will host naval exercises off its eastern coast with Chinese and Russian ships. The exercises coincide with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The South Africa National Defence Force (Sandf) confirmed on 19 January that South Africa will host the navies of China and Russia during a "multilateral maritime exercise" over the period 17 to 27 February.

The exercise, codenamed "Mosi" ("Smoke" in Swahili), will take place around the Durban and Richards Bay areas of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, according to the statement.

According to Russia's Tass news agency, the Admiral Gorshkov, a ship "carrying Tsirkon hypersonic missiles" will take part in the exercises as well after taking in supplies in Russia's navy base in Tartus, Syria.

It will be only the second time that the naval forces of the three countries have held joint operations. The first took place in November 2019 in Cape Town, just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest exercise ("Mosi II") has come under fire from South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which claims that with hosting the exercises, Pretoria has "chosen sides".

"While our government has claimed to be neutral, this is just another of many incidents where the [ruling party] ANC has clearly exposed their favoritism towards Russia and has in fact done nothing but to showcase and prove [the] government's lack of neutrality in this case," according to the party's shadow minister of defence and military affairs,

Kobua Marais.

In a statement, he called the war games "nothing more than an expensive publicity stunt".

Meanwhile, David Feldman, a spokesperson for the US Embassy in South Africa, was quoted by CBS News as saying that the US is "concerned about South Africa's plan to hold joint naval exercises with Russia and the [People's Republic of China] in February, even as Moscow continues its brutal and unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine".

Pauline Bax of the International Crisis Group pointed out that the exercises coincide with the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which she remarks is "diplomatically quite awkward, and something that South Africa could have pushed to another date".

But South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, who met with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov when he visited Pretoria earlier in January, said that the drills were to be "merely an exercise with friends".

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise was quoted by South Africa's Independent Online portal as saying the exercises are "highly beneficial for the three navies", adding that "nobody protested" when the US held its own military exercises with the Sandf in July last year.

Russia 'not as isolated' as West wants

By hosting the war games, "South Africa sends a clear signal that it is not going to join the anti-Russian front", Marcin Kaczmarski, a secuity expert with the University of Glasgow, told RFI.

The exercises show that "Russia is not as isolated as the West would like", he said.

His remarks are backed up by the Democracy Index 2022 published last month by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which states that "two-thirds of the world's population live in countries that are either neutral or Russia-leaning when it comes to the war in Ukraine".

China remains its most powerful ally.

Russia's Tass news agency described a visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping, planned in the coming months, as "the main event in the bilateral agenda for 2023". The trip is a follow-up to Putin's visit to Beijing in February last year - just before Russia invaded Ukraine - when the two countries pledged a "friendship without limits".

It is unclear to what extent their military cooperation will expand. But China may have its reservations too.

Combined power

The upcoming exercises hosted by South Africa demonstrate "the potential for Russia-China cooperation in the Indian Ocean, and how the two present a much greater threat to a continued US role and influence in the region than either would individually", according to Oriana Skylar Mastro, a fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the American Enterprise Institute.

"Both China and Russia have gradually been increasing their presence in the Indian Ocean. Russia recently announced it would establish a naval facility in Port Sudan on the Red Sea," she told RFI, pointing out that China opened its first overseas base in Djibouti in 2017.

AFRICAN WORLD NEWS

AFRICAN WORLD NEWS

News of the day

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

At the United Nations: Guinea's new leader blames greed of politicians for recent coups in Africa

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

Ethiopia: U.S. Govt Contractor Faces Death Penalty for Allegedly Spying for Ethiopia

Libyan official rejects blame for flood disaster as criticisms point fingers at warlords' ineptitude

Ethiopia: U.S. Govt Contractor Faces Death Penalty for Allegedly Spying for Ethiopia

Nigeria

Cameroon

Ethiopia: U.S. Govt Contractor Faces Death Penalty for Allegedly Spying for Ethiopia

Cameroon

Cameroon

Cameroon

Malawi

Cameroon

Cameroon

Algeria

Algeria

Algeria

News Analysis

By Andrew Okosun, Special to the African World News

Photography impactful in understanding Toronto's heartbeat

Curator Iskouhee Kirakosyan says photography important in the life and culture of Toronto

New Chinese Steel Plant Accused of Exploiting Workers - Staf

By Sharon Mazingaizo

S. Africa draws US ire over China, Russia joint naval tests

South Africa says its non-alignment status should still never be in doubt

Ghana postpones African Games to 2024

Go to Mustafa..your car in SAFE HANDS!

TRENDING

Excellence in Real Estate!

Social

Trending Business

STILL TRENDING ..............

Subscribe

PAY NOW

Contact Us: info@africanworldnewz.com

Drop us a line!

africanworld news media

Reaaltor/Broker of the Month

This website uses cookies.