4 February 2016 — Pambazuka News

Pambazuka News 760: Brutal invasions: War, trade and Orwellian terror (Pambazuka Editor)

AFRICAN UNION REFUSES TO INVADE BURUNDI *Ann Garrison*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96536/> How serious is the political crisis in Burundi to warrant international armed intervention? Despite pressure from the West, the African Union last week decided not to send troops to the central African nation. But what the AU and everybody else won’t discuss – at least openly – is the fact the crisis is the handiwork of external forces pushing for regime change in Bujumbura.

PENTAGON PLANS FOR RENEWED WAR IN LIBYA *Abayomi Azikiwe*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96534/>Reports abound of foreign troops’ presence and plans for major Western deployment motivated by the instability, and the threat of terrorism and to take decisive military action to check ISIL’s expansion. 

TRADE IS WAR: POSTSCRIPT TO WTO MC10 *Yash Tandon*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96531/>Kenya played host to the MC10, and the Government had to deliver to the Empire what it was obliged to under duress of the imperial system. Unless the South gets together in solidarity with the people of the world in active RESISTANCE against the Empire and the WTO, this war machine will destroy not only the global South but also the global North. 

BRICS FACE BREWING EXTERNAL CAPITALIST CRISIS AND GROWING INTERNAL STRIFE *Patrick Bond*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96531/>Behind the current capitalist crisis lies the tendency to over-accumulate and generate gluts. Whereas the BRICS bloc’s elites pretend to be offering an alternative, they in fact are trying very hard to make the world system work for their own corporates. Of course with little success. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/96541

CHINESE TRADERS IN WINDHOEK *Daouda* Cisse

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96523/>The number of Chinese businessmen is growing in the Namibian capital, where they supply affordable but low quality goods especially to low-income earners. But not everyone is excited about the presence of the foreigners. 

UGANDA GOES TO THE POLLS: BUMPY ROAD AHEAD *Odomaro Mubangizi*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96531/>Ugandans are on edge as the election clock ticks. Yoweri Museveni, in power for 30 years now, is facing what many consider to be his toughest challenge yet. There are fears that he would attempt to rig the election or use force against the opposition to deny them victory. The country is polarized.

CONGOLESE PRESIDENT’S ONSLAUGHT ON YOUTH AS THEY RISE UP FOR CHANGE *Kambale Musavuli*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/965271/> On Lumumba Day, January 17, 2016, the statue of Patrice Lumumba in Kinshasa was guarded by Congolese security forces blocking anyone who wanted to pay respects to Congo’s independence hero. Non-violent youth activists live in constant fear of being jailed or worse as their country slips ever deeper into Orwellian terror. 

KENNY MOTSAMAI: WHY I DON’T WANT TO BE OUT WITHOUT FREEDOM *Sabelo Sibanda*

*cc SABC* <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96523/>A member of the armed wing of South Africa’s Pan Africanist Congress party recently rejected a government offer of conditional release from prison. Kenny Motsamai, condemned to two life sentences and 19 years, insists that he is a political prisoner who was arrested and convicted under apartheid, a system declared by the UN as constituting a crime against humanity. Why can’t the ANC government release him and his fellow Black nationalists?

THE SHAME OF SOUTH AFRICA’S BLACK POLITICAL PRISONERS *Motsoko Pheko*

 <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96523/> More than twenty years after the end of formal apartheid, several African nationalists who resisted the inhuman system are still languishing in prison. Yet many apartheid agents who committed atrocious crimes against the African people were pardoned, some without even expressing any remorse. This is unacceptable. The ANC Government must release all political prisoners now. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/96525 

NO BASIC RIGHTS FOR THE RESIDENTS *Sabrina Tucci*

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/96523/>Israel has imposed severe restrictions on Palestinians in parts of Hebron City on the presumption that they are a security threat. The ban on all entry to the designated military zones violates international law and has made the life of Palestinians very difficult.

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2. Comments & analysis  

MAKING POWERING AFRICA A REALITY *Ranjit Deshmukh and Grace Wu*

A new electricity system paradigm is emerging that’s not only low carbon, but is also cost-effective and holds great promise for Africa. A recent study has found that at least two-thirds of all countries in East and southern Africa have enough wind and solar power potential to meet their full projected 2030 electricity demand. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96529

TERRORIST ATTACKS IN OUAGADOUGOU*The **jihadist** explanation is an unacceptable distraction* *Moumina Ch’riff Sy*

The terrorists’ goal was to destabilize Burkina Faso. But why now? The most plausible hypothesis is that they wanted to regain a rear base they lost when a popular uprising overthrew Blaise Compaore in November 2014. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96522

CONFERENCE REPORT: AFRICAN NATIONALISM, HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT *Matthew Quest*

At York University, in Northern Toronto, from Nov 5-6th, an international gathering of scholars meditated on themes related to African nationalism, history and development. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96532

20 AFRICAN COUNTRIES STILL DO NOT TREAT WOMEN AS EQUAL CITIZENS *Flavia Mwangovya*

National legislation should be revised so that women and men can equally extend citizenship to each other and to their children, whether their children are born in or out of marriage, at home or abroad. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96537

UGANDA: OIL AND GAS WAS TIE BREAKER AT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE *James Muhindo*

Uganda’s oil and gas are at the heart of campaigns for presidential elections taking place this month. But the resources are shrouded in mystery, as no one, except the Museveni regime, knows the details of the contracts the government has signed with multi-national companies. Ugandans need to keep an eye on these resources and demand answers on how they will be used to better their lives. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96528

THE TRUMPETER AND HIS TRUMPET *Abdulrazaq Magaji*

In a world where more people are busy buying and blowing their trumpets, Mr. Trump knows he is the appropriate person to blow his own trumpet. And boy, has he made a success of his new found vocation. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96543

VERNON DAHMER (1908-1966): AN UNSUNG MARTYR OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE *Abayomi Azikiwe*

The story of Vernon Dahmer remains largely unknown and sometimes misunderstood by some people who have read about him. The efforts he made against the oppression of an entire community by powerful governmental authorities and their racist backers make Vernon a true martyr. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/96535

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3. Advocacy & campaigns ‘WE WILL NOT OBEY’: STATEMENT OF HAITIAN POPULAR MOVEMENT

The war for Haiti is on. After six years of failed reconstruction following the earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands of people and laid to waste much of the country, the powerful local and international forces that have frustrated national rebuilding now also want to sabotage Haiti’s politics. The people say they will not accept and are appealing for international solidarity. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/96530 

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4. Jobs VACANCY: CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES OF AFRICAN SOCIETY (CASAS)

 <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/jobs/96447> CASAS is an Africa-wide Research Centre based in Cape Town which co-ordinates and develops research on pre-eminently the languages of Africa. CASAS seeks applicants for the following positions: –

*DIRECTOR/DEPUTY DIRECTOR *

The Director/Deputy Director should be a person with strong scientific and administrative skills, with a doctorate degree in linguistics or related field, with a focus on African languages. Good computer skills are a requirement for this position. The person should have some experience in African languages orthographical research. He/she should be able to communicate in English. For purposes of its Africa-wide work, communication skills in French or Portuguese would be an added advantage.

Applications, including CVs and the names and addresses of three referees, should be addressed to:

The Chairperson, Board of CASAS Trustees, P.O. Box 359, Rondebosch, 7700, Cape Town, South Africa OR e-mailed to grace@casas.co.za

Applications should be received no later than 29 February 2016. RESEARCHER – SOUTHERN AFRICA (1387)Closing Date:14 February 2016 Location:Johannesburg Salary:$68,699

<http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/jobs/96251> The Southern Africa Regional Office is part of the Amnesty International Secretariat, which operates from a number of sites around the world, gathers and communicates accurate and action-oriented human rights information regionally and globally. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/96421 

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