The New Dark Age

Friday, 11 August 2023 — Peoples Dispatch

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday, August 10 that “no option had been taken off the table,” in terms of addressing the coup in Niger. Tinibu made this statement at the conclusion of the second emergency ECOWAS summit on the situation in Niger. ECOWAS also ordered the activation of a force on standby to intervene militarily in Niger.

The coup and the installation of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) has been accompanied by a popular uprising which demands an end to French military presence and imperialist economic policies such as the imposition of the CFA franc and the exploitative extraction of Niger’s rich natural resources. Niger is the European Union’s second-largest supplier of uranium.

On August 6, 30,000 people gathered in Niger’s capital of Niamey to show their support to the coup government.

Even in Tinibu’s own country, the Nigerian senate has refused to support the military intervention.

Mass demonstrations have been held in cities across Niger in support of the CNSP and against foreign intervention

The president of the Socialist Party (SP) of Zambia, Dr. Fred M’membe was arrested by police on August 8. The leader and veteran journalist was charged with the offense of libel, after he was summoned for questioning at the Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka on Tuesday. He has since been released.

In a statement on August 6, the Socialist Party students movement’s chairperson, Joseph Musonda said, “We are angry at the manner [in which] the state has been treating our President [M’membe]. Even if you are not a socialist, you can see the injustice that has been done against our President. Just recently you saw the political violence in Mkushi, Serenje, Chitimukulu, Mwansabombwe, Luapula province[s]… The SP President has always complained to the relevant authorities. But he has been treated as the instigator.”

SP President Fred M’membe (Center) was arrested by Zambian police on charges of libel on August 8. Photo: Socialist Party of Zambia

Almost 700 workers employed at the Ekapa diamond mines in South Africa’s Northern Cape province began an indefinite strike on August 7. Organized by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), workers have downed their tools in rejection of the “starvation wage” they are currently being paid.

On Thursday, August 10, as workers were picketing outside the mines, formerly owned by the De Beers mining company, the police deployed water cannons and fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse them. Police then proceeded to arrest 43 workers, NUMSA regional organizer Tshepo Mokhele, who was present at the picket, told Peoples Dispatch. The workers were granted bail on August 11.

NUMSA members on strike at the Ekapa diamond mines in the Northern Cape province. (Photo: NUMSA)

“NUMSA condemns the mine management for dividing workers…Our members are earning peanuts, whilst they are also expected to risk their lives underground mining for diamonds,” NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim said in a statement.

After the strike began, Jim tried to engage with the chief executive at Ekapa mines attempting find a solution but the “CEO was very arrogant and did not want to budge on any of these demands,” Mokhele said.

“For the last five years the employers have not implemented any effective wage increase for the workers…their salaries have been stagnant. The employers have not put on the table an increase that will sustain the livelihoods of these comrades.”