Le safou mûr tente le chasseur (Proverbe Ngombe – République Démocratique du Congo (RDC)). – L’occasion fait le larron.
The ripe safou tempts the hunter (Ngombe proverb – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)). – Opportunity makes a thief.
As the silent genocide in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues, under the complicit eyes of the “international” community, last Friday, the town with the one of the biggest coltan reservoirs in the world, Rubaya, … was captured by the M23 rebels. What is coltan? For those who just discover it, coltan is a dull black metal from which niobium and tantalum are extracted. Thus, the name coltan comes from col in columbite (the niobium-dominant mineral) and tan in tantalite(the tantalum-dominant mineral). It is the material at the heart of the mobile phone boom, and is found everywhere in the computer, automotive, and electronics industries. It has been classified by the US Defense department since World War 2 as a material key to the nation’s security.
It is no secret that the M23 rebels are backed by neighboring Rwanda, who is in turn supported by … . Why DRC one may ask? As discussed earlier, Congo is a geological scandal, a country rich with some of the most important minerals on earth. When much of eastern Congo came under the control of Rwandan forces in the 1990s, Rwanda suddenly became a major exporter of coltan and many other minerals (a Rwandan I spoke to admitted, minerals Rwanda never thought possible are being “discovered” every day on “their soil”), benefiting from the turmoil and weakness of the Congolese government. According to a UN report, the soaring price and interest in coltan has “brought in as much as $20 million a month to rebel groups” and other factions trading coltan mined in northeastern DRC. Lastly, the government of DRC (The Democratic Republic of Congo Accuses Apple) recently threatened many big companies, including Apple, of illegally obtaining minerals including coltan, and therefore of supporting rebels group. Is it then a surprise that Rubaya was captured last Friday?
Excerpts below are from the BBC. To learn more, please read article on Africanews, and The East African.
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A town at the heart of mining coltan, a key ingredient in making mobile phones, has been seized in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by rebel forces, their spokesman has said.
Rubaya fell into the hands of M23 fighters on Tuesday following heavy clashes with government troops, Willy Ngoma [M23 spokesperson] said.
The government has not yet commented, but a civil society activist confirmed that M23 had captured the strategic town.
It happened on the day France’s President Emmanuel Macron called on neighbouring Rwanda to “halt its support” for the M23 rebel group.
Mr Macron made his comments after holding talks with DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi in France’s capital, Paris.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the rebels, who have captured much territory in the mineral-rich east during fighting over the past 18 months.
DR Congo is the world’s second-biggest producer of coltan, with most of it coming from the mines around Rubaya in the Masisi district.
Coltan is used to make batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones.
DR Congo’s government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels to steal its mineral wealth, an allegation the government in Kigali denies.
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Early this week, we shared the “Einstein Letter” signed by the Nobel Prize of Physics Albert Einstein and addressed to the President of the United States F. Roosevelt talking about Uranium and its place in the energetic plan of the United States. It also highlighted the important place of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in this plan, today more than ever, given that the DRC is what many call a “geological scandal”, as first termed by Belgian geologist Jules Cornet in 1892, with all its minerals, some of which can only be found there.
Last week, DRC’s president and its government threatened the technology giant Apple with a lawsuit, over “blood” minerals, illegally exploited. There is currently a real genocide in the DRC which has been ongoing for the past 30 years and which has claimed over 10 million lives; however it is a silent genocide given that the “international community” is complicit and has turned a blind eye. As the DRC government sends this out to Apple, where are the other tech giants? Where is Tesla, as we know that Tesla’s batteries cannot work without minerals from the DRC? Where are all the other companies/ multinationals?
Enjoy excerpts below from CBS News.
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… The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has threatened U.S. tech giant Apple with legal action over what it says are “illegally exploited” minerals from the impoverished nation in its products. U.S. and French lawyers representing the DRC’s government sent a letter to Apple on April 22 warning the company it could face legal action if it continues with the alleged practice.
The letter accuses Apple of purchasing minerals smuggled out of the DRC into Rwanda [we all know that Rwanda has zero minerals… the minerals reported of Rwandan origin are all pillaged from neighboring DRC], where their origin is allegedly obscured so they can find their way into the global technology supply chain. It makes clear that the DRC government intends to address the matter and is looking into legal options to do so.
The letter sent by the lawyers to Apple CEO Tim Cook includes a list of questions laying out the DRC’s concerns over alleged “blood minerals” in Apple’s supply chain, and it demands answers within three weeks. Similar letters, seen by CBS News, were also sent to two of Apple’s subsidiaries in France, demanding answers in the same timeframe.
“Apple has affirmed that it verifies the origins of minerals it uses to manufacture its products,” the letter notes. “It says that the tin, tungsten, tantalum — the 3Ts — and gold that its suppliers purchase are conflict free and do not finance war. But those claims do not appear to be based on concrete, verifiable evidence.”
Amsterdam & Partners, the law firm representing the DRC government, has written a 53-page report outlining the claims against Apple, entitled “Blood Minerals: Everyone sees the massacres in Eastern Congo, but everyone is silent. The laundering of DRC’s 3T Minerals by Rwanda and by private entities.”
In their letter to Apple, the lawyers said that in the process of preparing their report, “it has become clear to us that year after year, Apple has sold technology made with minerals sourced from a region whose population is being devastated by grave violations of human rights. The iPhones, Mac computers and accessories that Apple sells to its customers around the world rely on supply chains that are too opaque, and that are tainted by the blood of the Congolese people.”
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In 1939, Nobel prize winner of physics Albert Einstein signed a letter written in conjunction with Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard, which was then sent to the President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt, in which he noted the importance of uranium, and warned of the possibility that Nazi Germany might develop a nuclear bomb. In the letter, countries where uranium ore was found in abundance were cited, among which was then Belgian Congo.
It is no secret that the uranium used in the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, then Belgian Congo.
The document became known as the “Einsten letter” which marked the beginning of the atomic age, and also launched the race for the uranium of Congo, and later for other Congolese minerals that were found to be important for the energetic needs of the United States.
A top-secret American Intelligence report published in November 1943 mentioned the Congolese uranium: “The most important deposit of uranium yet discovered in the world is in the Shinkolobwe Mine in the Belgian Congo.”
The Congo’s “known resources of uranium, which are the world’s largest,” the report concluded, “are vital to the welfare of the United States. Definite steps should be taken to insure access to the resources for the United States.”
After the “independence” of the Belgian Congo, the new Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba made it clear that he would not give the U.S. the same freedom to control Congo’s uranium as had Belgium. On July 11, 1960, the Katanga province where the Shinkolobwe mine (which produced the ore for the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima) was located seceded from the country. Lumumba was assassinated on January 17, 1961. Since then, the country has spiraled in a cycle of instability, violence and war which today has claimed the lives of over 10 million people, at the heart of which is the control of the minerals of Congo.
As we now know the place that uranium holds in the energetic needs of many countries, what do you think of the place of Niger? and then of other African countries rich in key minerals? Will the predator leave the prey?
Read more at Atomic Archive.
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Albert Einstein
Old Grove Road
Peconic, Long Island
August 2nd, 1939
F.D. Roosevelt
President of the United States
White House
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Some recent work by E. Fermi and L. Szilard, which has been communicated to me in manuscript, leads me to expect that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of energy in the immediate future. Certain aspects of the situation which has arisen seem to call for watchfulness and if necessary, quick action on the part of the Administration. I believe therefore that it is my duty to bring to your attention the following facts and recommendations.
In the course of the last four months it has been made probable through the work of Joliot in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America–that it may be possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium, by which vast amounts of power and large quantities of new radium-like elements would be generated. Now it appears almost certain that this could be achieved in the immediate future.
This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable–though much less certain–that extremely powerful bombs of this type may thus be constructed. A single bomb of this type, carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory. However, such bombs might very well prove too heavy for transportation by air.
The United States has only very poor ores of uranium in moderate quantities. There is some good ore in Canada and former Czechoslovakia, while the most important source of uranium is in the Belgian Congo.
In view of this situation you may think it desirable to have some permanent contact maintained between the Administration and the group of physicists working on chain reactions in America. One possible way of achieving this might be for you to entrust the task with a person who has your confidence and who could perhaps serve in an unofficial capacity. His task might comprise the following:
a) to approach Government Departments, keep them informed of the further development, and put forward recommendations for Government action, giving particular attention to the problem of securing a supply of uranium ore for the United States.
b) to speed up the experimental work, which is at present being carried on within the limits of the budgets of University laboratories, by providing funds, if such funds be required, through his contacts with private persons who are willing to make contributions for this cause, and perhaps also by obtaining co-operation of industrial laboratories which have necessary equipment.
I understand that Germany has actually stopped the sale of uranium from the Czechoslovakian mines which she has taken over. That she should have taken such early action might perhaps be understood on the ground that the son of the German Under-Secretary of State, von Weizsacker, is attached to the Kaiser-Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, where some of the American work on uranium is now being repeated.
Yours very truly,
Albert Einstein
La tortue a pitié, mais pas de lait (Proverbe Herero – Namibie).
The turtle has compassion, but no milk (Herero proverb – Namibia).
I found this Jacobin article which focuses on Rosa Luxemburg, a Polish Jewish revolutionary activist who exposed Germany’s genocide in what was then German South West Africa. She said, in her essay “Proletarian Women” (1912):
The workshop of the future requires many hands and hearts. A world of female misery is waiting for relief. The wife of the peasant moans as she nearly collapses under life’s burdens. In German Africa, in the Kalahari Desert, the bones of defenseless Herero women are bleaching in the sun, hunted down by a band of German soldiers and subjected to a horrific death of hunger and thirst. …
Three years later, she again recalled the litany of colonial crimes in her famous Junius Pamphlet:
The present world war is a turning point in the course of imperialism . . . The “civilized world” that has stood calmly by when this same imperialism doomed tens of thousands of Hereros to destruction; when the desert of Kalahari shuddered with the insane cry of the thirsty and the rattling breath of the dying . . . when in Tripoli the Arabs were mowed down, with fire and swords, under the yoke of capital while their civilization and their homes were razed to the ground.
Please check out the article on the Jacobin website to read more about this woman activist who at a time when very few could talk, she denounced the genocide perpetrated by German forces in Africa, particularly in Namibia. She pointed out that the “civilized world” stood by when atrocities were committed in Namibia… it seems like history has repeated itself around the globe for the past century with atrocities perpetrated in many places, while the civilized world or international community has stood by doing nothing or sometimes lending a hand to those perpetrating it. Like Rosa Luxemburg, let’s not turn a blind eye… let’s be part of the solution, and not the problem.
Last week, the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum “returned” some artifacts looted from the Ashanti Kingdom in modern-day Ghana, after over 150 years. When one reads the headlines in the news, one can only clap, until learning that this is a “long-term loan“! Wait! What? About 32 gold and silver items which had been stolen from the court of the Asantehene (Asante king) in the 19th century, have been sent on a long-term loan back to the Asante court. First, how long is a “long-term loan”? Second, why is it a loan, when these objects were looted from the Asantehene’s court back in the 19th century? They were not gifted, they were not sold, they were STOLEN! And to top it off, there has been a chief negotiator on the Ghanaian side to ensure that the objects will be in safe hands in Ghana! What? So, these objects do not belong to Ghanaians, and if something were to happen to these Ghanaian objects that were stolen by the British but are now hosted in British museums while on Ghanaian soil on long-term loan, then one can only bet that the British would make the Ghanaians pay for something that is theirs! Which world are we living in? Knowing the treacherous nature of these people, who is to say that they will not orchestrate a new theft of these objects so as to further deepen the debts under which Ghanaians are already crumbling? Actually, long-term in this case means 3 years, with the option of renewing for 3 years! This loan is probably not even free! Why, oh why, do we, Africans, agree to such deals?
Read for yourself… excerpts from the BBC
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The UK has returned [how can it be called return when it is a loan?] dozens of artefacts looted from what is today Ghana – more than 150 years after they were taken [i.e. stolen].
Some 32 gold and silver items have been sent on long-term loan to the country by the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum.
They were stolen from the court of the Asante king, known as the Asantehene, during 19th century conflicts between the British and powerful Asante people.
The objects are expected to be returned [loaned – see how the writer of this piece wants to create confusion in our minds?] to the current king on Friday.
His chief negotiator, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, told the BBC that the objects are currently in “safe hands” in Ghana ahead of them being formally received. They are due to go on display next month at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region, as part of celebrations to mark the silver jubilee of the current Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
… Among the returned artefacts are a gold peace pipe, a sword of state and gold badges worn by officials charged with cleansing the soul of the king. The gold artefacts are the ultimate symbol of the Asante royal government and are believed to be invested with the spirits of former Asante kings.
The Asante people built what was once one of the most powerful and formidable states in west Africa – trading in, among others, gold, textiles and enslaved people. The kingdom was famed for its military might and wealth.
About a month ago, we saw the government of Niger revoke military accords with the United States, and ordering the US withdrawal of its military personnel and drone base from Niger [Niger suspends military “cooperation” with the US, effective immediately]. Among Niger’s grievances, were the non-respect of Niger, but above all was a treaty imposed upon Niger by the US to implant their largest drone base in the country. The spokesman of Niger’s government, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, exposed the fact that the military “cooperation” with the US was not even a real one, i.e. the US had installed their largest drone base in Africa, and possibly in the world, in Niger via a verbal agreement only, and the Niger people had to pay for the American base in their country, while the Americans never raised a hand to help Niger fight against the terrorist attacks that were maiming their citizens.
We have previously discussed here, on Afrolegends.com, other treaties signed during colonial era in the Liptako, Zinder, and Gaya regions of Niger between the French and the local kingdoms (mostly under duress). We have found the above-mentioned treaty between Niger and the US, and it is only about 13-pages long, more like 10, and really reminiscent of colonial era treaties that have no respect for the local governments and impose upon them unfair rules.
In the July 6, 2012 treaty between the US and Niger, US citizens are subject to American laws, and the government of Niger has no power over them on Niger soil, so if for instance, an American citizen hurts or kills a Niger citizen on Niger’s soil, s/he will face no retribution about this from Niger. They do not pay taxes to the country. While reading, it is understood that this document was unilaterally and entirely written by the American side; no accord, agreement/discussion went in front of the Niger parliament. By the way, guess who was the Niger counterpart who signed this traitorous document? Mohamed Bazoum who was, back then under President Mahamadou Issoufou, Minister of Foreign Affairs… Both puppets signed the document … do you understand now why all these foreign powers have been screaming and begging for the return of Bazoum to office?
In the document, the American army makes Niger foot the bills for all American army vehicles and planes that enter the Niger’s airspace. There is no sharing of information with the Niger government who does not know the exact number of American troops on its soil, or the number of its drones, or the equipment, etc. More importantly, there is no obligation of support from the US to Niger in its fight against the terrorism that has engulfed Niger’s northern territories for several years.
In summary, someone installs a base on your territory, you have no say about it; as one of the poorest countries on earth, you have to foot the bills for his planes entering your territory; this someone is not subject to your laws, taxes, and looks the other way as you are mired in a conflict for your survival; yet this someone has installed a military force or your soil! How is this not reminiscent of colonial treaties? How fair is it? As you read this treaty, what is Niger’s gain in it? Are these treaties always outrageous like that, or is it just in Africa?
Excerpts below are from the full document found on the US Department of State website.
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The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration, and Nigeriens Abroad of the Republic of Niger, and has the honor to refer to recent discussions between representatives of, our two Governments regarding issues related to United States military and civilian personnel …
… As a result Of these discussions, the Embassy proposes that United States personnel be accorded the privileges, exemptions, and immunities equivalent to those accorded to the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961.
… The Government of the Republic of Niger … authorizes the Government of the United States to exercise criminal jurisdiction over United States military personnel while in the Republic of Niger.
… The Embassy further proposes that the United States Department of Defense and United States personnel shall not be liable to pay any tax or similar charge assessed within the Republic of Niger and that the United States Department’of Defense and United States personnel may import into, export out of, and Use in the Republic of Niger any personal property, equipment, supplies, materiel, technology, training, or services in connection with activities under this Agreement. Such importation, exportation, and use shall be exempt from any inspection, license, other restrictions, customs, duties, taxes, or any other charges assessed within the Republic of Niger.
… The Embassy proposes that vehicles operated by or, at the time, exclusively for the United States Department of Defense may enter, exit, and move freely within the territory of the Republic of Niger, and that such vehicles (whether self-propelled or towed) shall not be subject to the payment of overland transit tolls. Aircraft owned or operated by or, at the time, exclusively for the United States Department of Defense shall not be subject to the payment of landing or parking fees at facilities owned and operated by the Government of the Republic of Niger. Aircraft owned and operated by or, at the time, exclusively for the United States Department of Defense shall not be subject to payment of navigation, overflight, terminal, or similar charges When in the territory of the Republic of Niger.
… Further, the Embassy proposes that the Parties waive any and all claims (other than contractual claims) against each other for damage to, loss, or destruction of the other’s property or injury or death to personnel of either Party’s armed forces or their civilian personnel arising out of the performance of their official duties in connection with activities under this Agreement.
…
Embassy of the United States of America
Niamey, July 6, 2012.
After almost 2 years of talking, the Zimbabwe gold-backed currency is finally upon us. Inflation is everywhere at the gas pump, at the food store, rent, prices are going up and up, affecting everyone and making the poor even poorer. In Zimbabwe, it has been going up for years given that the country has been under economic embargo for over 2 decades now. The traitors who toppled Robert Mugabe thought that by getting rid of him, the West would finally lift the embargo… alas, it has not been the case, and the country is still under embargo from the UK, US, and EU. Just at the beginning of March, the US slapped fresh sanctions against President Mnangagwa and some of his cronies, even though Mnangagwa has signed all sort of deals with the westerners upon his arrival in power [Is Zimbabwe the New Haiti?] and returned land [Zimbabwe to Return Seized Land to Foreigners].
As stated earlier, it is no secret that inflation is particularly high in Zimbabwe and has been for many years. Last week, the government of Zimbabwe has introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG, which stands for Zimbabwe Gold, in an effort to try to alleviate inflation, and stabilize the economy. The currency has been rolled out on Monday, and will replace the Zimbabwean dollar immediately; companies will be made to pay at least half of their taxes in ZiG. We hope that this will help the Zimbabwean economy to stay afloat. In honesty, isn’t this the way every currency should be: backed by gold and not just thin air? Upon its launch on Monday, the ZiG has fared well, and the hope is that it continues.
Excerpts below from the BBC. For a good read, check out also Business Insider.
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Zimbabwe has introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG – the name stands for “Zimbabwe Gold”.
It is the latest attempt to stabilise an economy that has lurched from crisis to crisis for the past 25 years.
Unveiling the new notes, central bank governor John Mushayavanhu said the ZiG would be structured, and set at a market-determined exchange rate. The ZiG replaces a Zimbabwean dollar, the RTGS, that had lost three-quarters of its value so far this year. Annual inflation in March reached 55% – a seven-month high.
Zimbabweans have 21 days to exchange old, inflation-hit notes for the new currency. However, the US dollar, which accounts for 85% of transactions, will remain legal tender and most people are likely to continue to prefer this.
The new ZiG banknotes come in denominations of between 1 and 200. Coins will also be introduced to overcome the shortage of US coins, which has seen people receive change in sweets, small chocolates and pens.
Mr Mushayavanhu said the new currency was being rolled out with immediate effect and banks must convert current Zimbabwe dollar balances to the ZiG. He committed to ensuring that the amount of local currency in circulation was backed by equivalent value in precious minerals – mainly gold – or foreign exchange, in order to prevent the currency losing value like its predecessors.
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Le vent hurle plus fort dans les arbres (Proverbe Kikuyu – Kenya). – Un riche doit payer plus.
The wind howls louder in the trees (Kikuyu proverb – Kenya). – A rich person must pay more.
African Heritage 