La vache bouscule son veau, mais ne le hait pas (Proverbe Peul – Afrique de l’Ouest et Afrique Centrale). – Les parents punissent les enfants, mais ne les haïssent pas.
The cow jostles her calf, but does not hate it (Fula proverb – West Africa and Central Africa). – Parents punish children, but do not hate them.
The diplomatic tug-of-war between France and Niger has finally come to an end? President Macron of France said that France will be withdrawing its troops and ambassador from Niger. It has taken almost 2 months for France to agree to remove its ambassador and troops. On August 26, Niger’s government asked the French ambassador to join them for talks like they do with all diplomatic representations in their country. France refused and said that they could not talk to a junta, as they only recognized the fallen president Bazoum as an interlocutor. Niger’s authorities then gave the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, 48 hours to leave their country given that France would not recognize them on their own soil. France refused to withdraw their ambassador, stating that it doesn’t recognize the coup-plotters as the country’s legitimate leaders. Niger’s authorities then revoked the diplomatic immunity of France‘s ambassador and ordered the police to expel him from the West African country. If the ambassador and his family were found anywhere outside of the embassy, they were considered persona non grata and will be deported immediately; they posted military outside which checked every car entering or leaving the embassy.
President Macron finally came to his senses and has decided to withdraw the 1500 French troops stationed in Niger, as well as his ambassador. This is the best way to avoid further humiliation. This is a step forward. However, the Niger authorities and people need to stay alert, this is not the end. There is no way France or Europe will leave the uranium and other resources of Niger just like that. There are still American, German, and Italian forces on Niger’s soil: there is a strong solidarity among Europeans, they act as a United force. Excerpts below are from the BBC.
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President Emmanuel Macron has said France will withdraw its ambassador and end all military co-operation with Niger following a coup.
“France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next hours our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France,” Mr Macron said.
He added that military co-operation was “over” and French troops would leave in “the months to come“.
The military junta [Niger authorities] which seized power in Niger in July welcomed the move.
“This Sunday we celebrate a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger,” the junta said, in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.
There are about 1,500 French soldiers in the landlocked West African country helping to fight Islamist militants. The US also has more than 1,000 troops in Niger but these have not been asked to leave.
The decision by Paris follows months of animosity and protests against the French presence in its former colony, with regular demonstrations in the capital Niamey.
The move deals a hammer blow to France’s operations against jihadists in the wider Sahel region and Paris’ influence there. But Mr Macron said France would “not be held hostage by the putschists,” …
Mr Macron said he still regarded ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, currently held prisoner by the coup leaders, as the country’s “sole legitimate authority” and had informed him of his decision. He described the deposed president as a “hostage“.
“He was targeted by this coup d’etat because he was carrying out courageous reforms and because there was a largely ethnic settling of scores and a lot of political cowardice,” he said.
Niger is one of several former French colonies in West and Central Africa where the military has recently seized control – it follows Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Chad. …
Anti-French vitriol has flourished in the region in recent years, with many local politicians accusing Paris of carrying out neocolonialist policies – a charge denied by France.
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Marie Um Nyobe (born Marie Ngo Ndjock Yebga), the widow of one of Cameroon’s greatest opposition fighters and freedom fighters, the real Father of Cameroonian independence, Ruben Um Nyobé, has passed away on the exact same day that her husband was murdered 65 years ago, on 13 September 1958. This comes just as Cameroon and the Union des Populations du Cameroon (UPC) is commemorating the 65th year of his murder by the French forces in Cameroon.
Her son, Daniel Ruben Um Nyobe, communicated in a press release (Journal Du Cameroun) « the family of Mpodol Ruben Um Nyobe, the greater family Nlog Ngond, the greater family Ndog Soul have the grief to announce the passing of Widow Marie Um Nyobe born Ngo Ndjock Yebga on 13 September 2023 in … Yaoundé. »
Marie Um Nyobe is the spouse from a second union with the leader, Ruben Um Nyobé: Fighting for the independence of Cameroon. Um Nyobe had a first union in 1944 with Marthe Ngo Mayack which produced 3 daughters, and when the union fell apart, married Marie Ngo Ndjock Yebga with whom he had the son, Daniel, who was born a year before his death. We hope that Cameroonian historians had had a chance to talk to Mpodol’s wife to learn more about the man himself and Cameroon during the days of the fight for independence.
Mpodol, the one who carries the demands or who defends the cause, was a Cameroonian freedom fighter, and an anti-imperialist leader. During his fight, he wrote, “la colonisation, c’est l’esclavage ; c’est l’asservissement des peuples par un groupe d’individus dont le rôle consiste à exploiter les richesses et les hommes des peuples asservis“( “Colonization is slavery; it is an enslavement of the populations by a group of individuals whose role is to exploit the riches and the men of the enslaved populations.”). He further wrote, Political Constant of Unity Practiced by Ruben Um Nyobe – 1959, and Ruben Um Nyobe and Liberation.
For this commemoration, as Cameroonians and Africans, celebrate the lives of Ruben and Marie Um Nyobe, they should also, above all, stand on the message of Mpodol and fight for the total independence of Africa [Remember Ruben: A Rare Video Biography of Ruben Um Nyobé].
We raise our hats to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, countries which have signed the Liptako-Gourma Charter, a mutual defense pact to protect their countries, and fight effectively against terrorists which have been occupying the northern parts of their territories.
The Liptako-Gourma Charter establishes the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which aims to “establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of our populations“, Colonel and leader of Mali, Assimi Goïta wrote on X.
The Liptako-Gourma area is a region of over 370,000 km2, shared among the three countries, and which has been at the heart of the jihadists’ attack in recent years. It is difficult for a single country to face terrorists or try to defend itself, when those jihadists after attacking one run into the neighboring country in impunity. All three countries are faced with the same issues, and by this charter, they unite their efforts to defend themselves, thus tripling their forces.
“This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries“, Mali’s Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists. “Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries.”
The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily in Niger over the 26 July coup. Mali and Burkina Faso have quickly responded by saying that any such operation would be deemed a “declaration of war” against them (Niger Coup d’Etat: Airspace Closure, Sanctions, Diplomatic Overtures?, All Eyes on Niger, Niger – France Diplomatic Arm Wrestling). Thus the Liptako-Gourma is a clear creation of a defense alliance for these countries, a normal evolution, and a breath of fresh air. As always, united we stand.
Below are excerpts from AfricaNews. The Liptako region was part of the ancient Liptako Emirate, don’t forget to check out the 1891 treaty with France pertaining to the Liptako kingdom.
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The military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger on Saturday signed a mutual defence pact, ministerial delegations from the three Sahel countries announced in Mali’s capital Bamako.
The Liptako-Gourma Charter establishes the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Mali’s junta leader Assimi Goita posted on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Its aim is to “establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of our populations“, he wrote.
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A jihadist insurgency that erupted in northern Mali in 2012 spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. All three countries have undergone coups since 2020, most recently Niger, where soldiers in July overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily in Niger over the coup. Mali and Burkina Faso quickly responded by saying that any such operation would be deemed a “declaration of war” against them.
– Mutual defence pact –
The charter signed on Saturday binds the signatories to assist one another — including militarily — in the event of an attack on any one of them.
“Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracting parties shall be considered as an aggression against the other parties and shall give rise to a duty of assistance… including the use of armed force to restore and ensure security“, it states.
It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions.
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With the recent events in Morocco and Libya, we would like to wish courage and strength to all. Our hearts go out to our Moroccan and Libyan brothers and sisters. We, as Africans, are ONE, and we can all feel their pains. This message of courage and strength is not only for Moroccans or Libyans, it is for all Africans. A friend from the Caribbeans told me something which has stayed with me: “We may bend” under the weight of whatever life throws at us, “but we do not break!” The baobab tree, present in so many countries of Africa, is a symbol of courage, resilience, and strength. May your feet be planted like the baobab tree and not bend under events.
Our hearts go out to our Moroccan brothers and sisters whose country was hit by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake last Friday; this earthquake, the deadliest seen in the country in over a century, is said to have claimed over 3,000 lives. Similarly, our hearts and prayers accompany our Libyan brothers and sisters whose country was hit by unbelievable floods Tuesday which are said to have claimed between 5,000 – 10,000 lives, and displaced at least 30,000 people; these are also the worst floods Libya has seen in its history. How could such horrendous, never seen before, catastrophes hit countries in the Mediterranean at the same time? Both countries border Algeria on the west and east.
Talking about the earthquake in Morocco on Monday, most articles in the Western media, instead of focusing on the catastrophe, were focusing instead on the fact that Morocco has not allowed rescue teams from all countries to enter their territory, but just a few; in particular, they kept mentioning the fact that Morocco had not allowed French teams on the territory. Every article then was written following that angle, i.e. ‘Morocco is accepting rescue teams from some countries and not others,’ or ‘people are dying because the Moroccan government is not allowing all countries to join in the rescue‘… Some of these Western media and countries act like Africans’ pain should be examined with magnifying glasses, and we ought to accept everything. Isn’t it the right of a sovereign country to take its own decisions? Unbelievable, isn’t it? Who cares which rescue teams you allow on your territory? If some countries are so eager to help, why not send money, food, equipment, etc, instead of turning Moroccan pain into a diplomatic issue. By the way, shouldn’t the question instead be ‘Why is Morocco refusing aid from France and some other countries?’ Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that a couple of weeks ago, France asked to use Moroccan airspace to attack Niger, and maybe Morocco would like to make sure all efforts remain humanitarians? France had also asked to use Algerian airspace to attack Niger, but was denied.
Then disaster hit Libya. The death toll is said to be so high because when the storm hit, 2 dams 8 miles apart located outside the city also failed; it is said that the infrastructure was not well-maintained. Given that NATO and its cronies have messed up Libya to the point of no return by pillaging and looting it after killing Kadhafi, there is no real government in the country. Now giant French war planes are landing in Libya for rescue. War planes for humanitarian rescues? The floods hit the city of Derna on the Benghazi side, from where the attack against Kadhafi’s government were mounted in 2011. Since there is no real government or rather the Benghazi puppet government is weak, anything could fly over their airspace, thus making rescue efforts difficult to coordinate.
Our prayers go out to all our Moroccan and Libyan brothers and sisters. Africa stands with you. Neighboring countries should help when possible and remain on high alert.
At the end of August, the African Heritage blog passed the 3 million views cap. This is a celebration of YOU, the readers, and subscribers. Thank you for your constant support, readership, comments, corrections, and contributions. It has not been easy, given the Google search algorithms which have been trying to bury the blog away over the years. Many have said that people no longer read, people no longer have time, the attention span is reducing, times are changing, and most prefer TikTok and all the latest trendy short media form. We, at Afrolegends.com, are thankful for your renewed trust and support, and understand that YOU, the reader, have a choice, and appreciate being part of that choice.
With the current world geopolitical shift involving the BRICS and more, it is clear that the world is changing, and Africa is embarking on a new journey. There is a new Scramble for Africa. The weeks, months, and years ahead will be difficult, fun, unique, and will hopefully mark a new birth for Africa. Please join us as we usher in the new era, the era of the liberation of Africa! As always, as Agostinho Neto said, “A luta continua e la vitoria e certa,” and Thomas Sankara to add, “La Patrie ou la mort, nous vaincrons! / Homeland or death, we shall overcome!” Sankara also said that ” Only Struggle liberates, …” This is a struggle to the finish!
Authorities of the SPK Museum, Berlin’s Museum of Prehistory and Early History, have announced this week that they have been able to trace living relatives to ancient skulls pillaged by German forces in East Africa during the colonial era, using DNA analysis.
This is no easy fit, and the museum’s director has lauded it as a “small miracle.” Why? Well because from a study of at least 1,100 skulls found in the 7,700 skulls collection acquired from the Berlin’s Charité Hospital Museum, SPK museum researchers were able to gather enough information on 8 skulls to make a search for specific descendants. A complete genetic match was established between one of the skulls and a man still alive today. The clue: a single word inscribed on the skull “Akida,” who is believed to have been a high-ranking advisor to Mangi Meli, a ruler of the Chagga people in the 1890s in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. It is no secret the fate that this advisor must have found, given that Mangi Meli was hanged and decapitated by the Germans for leading an uprising against German invaders in 1900, along with 19 other Chagga, Meru, and Arusha leaders; one can only guess that the Akida must have been hanged with King Meli. This raises an important question: where are the skulls of Mangi Meli, and the other Chagga, Meru, and Arusha leaders? We all remember that King Mkwawa’s skull was part of the Treaty of Versailles’s negotiation; so it will be no surprise that other kings’ skulls are found somewhere in the basements of German museums.
The SPK collection is controversial because of its origins: at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the German empire took thousands of skulls from its colonies for research into racial classification, many of the skulls were from colonial victims, and part of loots. I still have a hard time understanding why, as part of a loot, invaders will take skulls of the defeated, unless it is for more than just a racial study? A few years ago, the SPK returned 20 skulls to Namibia; those skulls were thought to belong the Nama and Herero tribes who suffered a genocide at the hands of Germans at the beginning of the 20th century (Germany Returns Skulls of Namibians Genocide Victims, the first genocide of the 20th century).
Excerpts below are from DW. Enjoy!
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A Berlin museum said on Tuesday it had established a clear link between three skulls taken to Germany during the colonial era and living relatives in Tanzania.
The German capital’s Museum of Prehistory and Early History carried out DNA analysis on hundreds of skulls with the aim of returning the remains to descendants.
Berlin’s SPK museum authority said in a statement that it was the first time that DNA research had provided a clear link between such remains and living descendants.
“The relatives and the government of Tanzania will now be informed as soon as possible,” the statement said.
… Museum researchers gathered enough information on eight of the skulls to make a search for specific descendants viable, the SPK said. Saliva samples were taken from possible descendants.
A complete genetic match for one of the skulls was found with a man still alive today.
The skull was marked with the title “Akida” which already indicated that it belonged to a known senior adviser to Mangi Meli (1866-1900), a powerful leader of the Chagga people.
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A lot of events have happened in Niger in recent days. On August 26, Niger’s government asked the French ambassador to join them for talks like they do with all diplomatic representations in their country. France refused and said that they could not talk to a junta, as they only recognized the fallen president Bazoum as an interlocutor. Niger’s authorities then gave the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, 48 hours to leave their country given that France does not recognize them on their own soil. The Quai d’Orsay (France) said that their ambassador will not leave Niger, stating that it doesn’t recognize the coup-plotters as the country’s legitimate leaders, and said Thursday August 31, that their ambassador remains in place despite the expulsion threats (France defies Niger’s ultimatum). Imagine the arrogance: you are in my house, I ask you to leave, and you refuse to leave, claiming that I have no authority in my house!
Niger’s authorities have now revoked the diplomatic immunity of France‘s ambassador and ordered the police to expel him from the West African country, according to a statement from the military regime. The communique sent by Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Itte “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic staff of the embassy.” The document also says the diplomatic cards and visas of the ambassador’s families have been canceled. The Niger government also cut electricity and water from the embassy. Furthermore, they have posted police and military outside the embassy to check every car that goes in and out of the embassy. If the ambassador and his family are found anywhere outside of the embassy, they are considered persona non grata and will be deported immediately.
Many believe that France is taunting Niger: given that the French embassy (as any diplomatic representation) is considered French soil in Niger, attacking it to remove the French ambassador will be seen as an act of war against France, and will thus give France the full rights to bomb Niger; after all, it is no secret that France has a French military base in Niger with about 1500 soldiers.
Over the weekend, thousands of people have rallied in Niamey, the capital, to demand that France withdraw its ambassador and troops from the West African country as its new military rulers have accused the former colonial power of “interference”. They have now laid siege over the French military bases in Niamey and Zinder, asking for France to leave their country.
Do you see France’s double standard? In Niger, France calls the military who took over the power, “junta“, “putschists“, “coup-plotters“, “mutinous soldiers“, and refuse to recognize their authority even though they are supported by the population; yet in Gabon, France and all western media call the military who deposed the president, the “new president“, “new Head of state“, “new government“. Isn’t it clear to all, which country is really having a revolution for the good of the people?
Un piège qui prend le rat, n’attrape pas l’éléphant (Proverbe Pygmées, Fang – Cameroun, Gabon, Centrafrique, Congo). – Une petite palabre ne cause pas de tort au grand chef.
A trap that captures a rat, cannot catch an elephant (Pygmy, Fang proverb – Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo). – A little quarrel does not harm the great chief.
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