Requiem For Macron’s African policy

BY VICTOR GONCHAROV

On July 26, 2023, senior members of Niger’s presidential guard, normally tasked with protecting president Mohamed Bazoum, announced that they had ousted him from power, holding him hostage inside his official residence.

Subsequently, on July 28, General Abdourahamane Tiani, the commander of the presidential guard, declared himself the head of the military-run National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, and the former chief of army staff, General Salifou Mody, who was dismissed by president Bazoum in March, was appointed his deputy.

The military coup in one of the world’s poorest countries took many people by surprise, including Western experts who saw it as a key ally of the United States and France in the fight against the growing jihadist movement in the Sahel zone and believed that it was on a stable development trajectory. Moreover, US secretary of state Antony Blinken called Niger ‘a model of democracy’ in Africa at a press conference during a March visit. Therefore, according to the New York Times, this coup was a serious setback for the West’s interests, whose policy of imposing ‘liberal democracy’ in Africa suffered a crushing defeat. However, France, Niger’s former colonial power, took a particularly hard hit politically. According to former Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl, the military takeover in Niger, following similar events in Mali and Burkina Faso, marks the end of the so-called ‘France-Afrique’ policy. She also added that African countries are currently choosing China, Russia, India and Turkey as partners instead of France.

One of the fundamental reasons behind the coup was rivalry within the country’s ruling political elite. It should be noted that Mohamed Bazoum belongs to the Arab community, which accounts for a mere 1.5 per cent of the country’s population, while his predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou is from the Hausa ethnic group is a majority in the Sahel zone. Therefore, when the elected President Bazoum, who promised to follow the political course of his predecessor, reshuffled the highest bodies of state power soon after coming to power, replacing the chief of the General Staff and the Gendarmerie and dismissing six army generals, this caused a split within the ruling elite and intensified the inter-clan struggle for power.

At the same time, he began an anti-corruption campaign directed chiefly against supporters of the previous president, who in his time made Abdourahamane Tiani the head of the presidential guard. During his ten years in office, the latter transformed the guard into a force structure equipped with modern weapons and equipment, exceeding the level of combat training of the regular army. However, President Bazoum significantly reduced its staff and funding in the final months before the coup. According to some sources, these measures taken by the President gave rise to Tiani’s suspicions that he could be the next on the list of candidates for dismissal. At the same time, he informed several army commanders about his plans to overthrow president Bazoum.

The military takeover was roundly condemned by the United States, the EU, the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and several international organizations. However, France was one of the most vocal opponents of the new regime, declaring that it did not recognize the legitimacy of the military leaders and demanding the restoration of ousted president Bazoum to power.

The 15-nation ECOWAS has suspended all commercial transactions with Niger, freezing its assets in the community’s banks, and Nigeria, which supplies 70 per cent of Niger’s electricity needs, has cut off its supply. It also warned that if the ousted President is not reinstated within two weeks, the organization will take all necessary measures, including military ones, to restore constitutional order in the country. Meanwhile, some experts believe that the community leadership made this statement under pressure from Paris through its proxies in the ranks of this regional organization.

In response, Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger’s military leader, said that Niger was ready to defend itself against any military intervention and if it happened, ‘it would not be an easy ride for those involved.’

According to POLITICO, Bazoum’s overthrow was another Macron’s major policy setback in Africa. After the withdrawal of French troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, Paris stationed 1,500 of its military personnel in Niger to fight terrorism with Bazoum’s approval based on the concluded military agreement. It was assumed that this country would become a kind of ‘laboratory’ for testing a new model of Franco-African relations, based on equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation instead of the discredited so-called ‘France-Afrique’ policy.

Shortly after France suspended all its cooperation with the new authorities, Niger’s military leaders announced the introduction of retaliatory measures and denounced the military cooperation agreement between the two countries on August 3, demanding to withdraw French troops from the country, and then declared the French ambassador persona non grata, giving him 48 hours to leave the country. Paris, however, refused to meet these demands, arguing that they were not legitimate, and stated that it regarded the ousted President Bazoum as the country’s sole legitimate leader.

Relations between the two countries soon became so tense that during a protest in front of the base hosting French military forces in Niamey, attended by a New York Times reporter, demonstrators carried a coffin they said was meant for the French president and brandished signs reading ‘Death to France’. As the newspaper notes, president Macron’s refusal to heed the calls of Niger’s new leaders to recall his ambassador and withdraw his troops from the country is considered untenable and unacceptable by most analysts and even some European and French diplomats.

On September 24, after two months of anti-French demonstrations in Niger, president Macron announced that France would withdraw its ambassador and its troops from the country. Many experts considered this a serious blow to France’s prestige. According to Al Jazeera, France’s withdrawal from Niger is ‘undoubtedly a victory’ for the country’s new rulers and ‘a disgrace for France’.

The Nigerian Vanguard Newspaper, describing the unsavoury role of the French president in resolving this conflict, notes that in this situation, being a statesman, he has sunk to the level of a petty swindler who distorts the true essence of the real events. Thus, after a two-month standoff, president Macron, having previously ordered his ambassador in Niamey not to leave his residence, despite the ultimatum to leave the country within 48 hours, accused the military rulers of holding his ambassador and his embassy staff hostages to the military regime. President Macron’s statement that his decision to withdraw French troops from Niger was motivated by the alleged reluctance on the part of the Nigerian troops to continue the fight against terrorism is also beneath all criticism.

However, the British weekly the Economist states that the real reason for this move by Macron is Paris’s understanding that despite all the threats from ECOWAS against Niger, these community countries will not be able to launch a military operation against the military regime in this country due to disagreements among its members and that it has no chance of restoring his former protégé Mohamed Bazoum to power. The Nigerian newspaper The Nation agrees with the British weekly and emphasizes that neither Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who is the head of ECOWAS, nor the community itself can do anything to resolve this crisis in the near future, since it is based on the serious economic problems of these states that cannot be ‘resolved overnight due to the plunderous activities perpetuated by the French metropolis for more than a hundred years’. Therefore, according to Dr François Heisbourg, (Foundation for Strategic Research, Paris) France, relying on the weakness of Niamey’s position, has largely bluffed its relations with the local military over the past two months rather than seeking mutually acceptable solutions.

The Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, assessed the vicissitudes of the Niger-French confrontation associated with the demands of the Nigerian military authorities to withdraw the French military contingent and the French ambassador, and also the refusal of France to do so, due to non-recognition of the ‘legitimacy’ of the military leaders, sees in Paris’s actions ‘lack of logic and a complete loss of sense of reality’, which could ultimately lead to new military coups in former French possessions, strengthen the position of terrorists on the continent and increase African migration to Europe, which will ultimately harm the interests of France itself.

The neocolonial nature of France’s policy in Africa is criticized not only outside its borders. Increasingly, its effectiveness is being questioned in the French media and research centres. For example, France 24 arrived at a conclusion, rather gloomy for French people, which sounds like a funeral prayer for Paris’s policy in Africa, admitting that Macron’s policy had brought the country to a state where its former colonies, expressing their dissatisfaction with the French military presence, kicked Paris out. After the Central African Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso, Paris ‘received this honour’ in Niger.

The European Union Institute for Security Studies believes that this kind of failure occurred due to Paris’s uncontrollable desire to play a leading role in the Sahel zone without taking into account the changes taking place in the region associated with the growth of anti-French sentiment, as well as due to excessive paternalism and open interference in the affairs of African states. Moreover, according to The New York Times, these failures of Paris policy in Africa, which is ‘tired of the ignorance and arrogance of president Emmanuel Macron’, are leading to increased Russian influence on the continent.

The Middle East Monitor, published in London and financed by Qatar, notes that the current situation in Niger is another convincing evidence of the African population’s rejection of the French colonial legacy. Africans, especially young people who make up the vast majority of the population across the continent, with an average age of 14.8 in Niger, have become increasingly critical of French policies. This concerns the generation of Africans who were born after their countries gained independence and did not experience all the “charm” of French colonization, but today they suffer from the continued plundering of their countries’ natural resources.

Amid growing dissatisfaction among Africans with western policies, ECOWAS Parliament Speaker Sidi Tunis told the Nigerian newspaper Premium Times that ‘in our quest for democracy, we (ECOWAS) must reconsider our relations with the West, especially between the French-speaking countries and France’. According to him, the coup in Niger highlighted in stark detail the problem of neocolonialism in Africa, when the country’s mineral wealth is mercilessly exploited while its population barely makes ends meet.

Poverty is indeed one of the most pressing problems in modern Niger. More than 40 per cent of its twenty-five million population, roughly 10 million people, live below the poverty line with an income of less than $1.90 a day. About 50 per cent of school-age children have difficulties in gaining access to education due to the lack of schools or the inability to attend them due to the jihadist threat in many parts of the country. And this is even though Niger, in addition to copper, niobium, lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel, has the world’s largest uranium deposits, which have been developed by the French company Orano (formerly Arewa) over the past 50 years, receiving huge profits due to the low-income tax of the host country. However, the share of uranium in Niger’s GDP is only 5 per cent. As for the country’s budget, 40 per cent of it is financed by foreign aid in the amount of $2.2 billion per year. Therefore, apparently, the African online publication The Elephant, assessing the existing system of French-African relations, qualifies the coup in Niger as an indictment of French neocolonialism.

In the language of the American publication POLITICO, ‘the expulsion of France from Niger’ showed the need for Paris to urgently review its relations with African countries, primarily by reducing its military presence on the continent as a whole, which, according to experts from Queen Mary University of London, ‘has begun to have a counterproductive effect, and if Paris wants to preserve it, it must be integrated into the EU structures, which will enable France to free itself from the label of the gendarme of Africa.’

According to the American source, this solution is also supported by the French Foreign Ministry, where, in contrast to the presidential leadership, they have concluded that ‘our military presence is no longer accepted in African countries.’ According to one diplomat: ‘We have been kicked out of several African countries, and we do not need to wait to be shown the door in other African states.’

However, it should be understood that there are currently 6,700 French troops still stationed in Africa, particularly in Chad, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon. But according to Kenyan newspaper The East African, anti-French sentiment is also on the rise in these countries. In Senegal, for example, Ousmane Sonko, the opposition contender in next February’s presidential elections, has made criticism of France’s neocolonial policy a central part of his campaign platform, which is particularly supported by young people. The Economist, citing public opinion polls, regarding France’s reputation in Côte d’Ivoire and the stronghold of French influence in Africa, notes that less than half of Ivorians trust the former colonial power. 65 percent of them believe that France can win them over if it withdraws all its troops from West Africa.

Despite the fact that Paris suffered a diplomatic setback in the confrontation with Niamey, we should not think that it will so easily accept the role of the victim and will not seek revenge. In this regard, president Macron’s statement at the annual French ambassador’s meeting held at the end of August in Paris particularly attracts attention, in which he promised to take measures to ‘defend democracy’ in Niger. But he did not say what exactly he intended to do. He apparently adopted this manner from president Joe Biden, who once grinned and declared that Nord Stream 2 would never take place. And there are grounds for this kind of reasoning. As recently as September 26, according to Reuters, a coup attempt was foiled in Burkina Faso. Several army officers and civilians were arrested. Earlier it was reported that the authorities expelled the military attaché of the French embassy, Emmanuel Pasquier, from the country on suspicion of subversive activities.

It is possible that the attempt at a new coup in Niger may be postponed to a later date, since with the current intensity of anti-French sentiment, this could cause an uncontrollable wave of anger in response to the actions taken by Paris with unpredictable consequences throughout Africa. But after some time, it will be easier for the French intelligence services to justify the next coup by internal squabbles in military circles, which, unfortunately, is very common in Africa.

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US Finally Recognizes Coup In Niger. Now What?

The decision raises questions about regional 'strategic interests' amid rising concerns about military takeovers in Africa.

BY ALESX THURSTON

On October 10, the State Department announced that it had finally determined that the July 26 military takeover in Niger constituted a coup.

The State Department further said that in accordance with Section 7008 of the annual State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriations legislation, the United States would be suspending some $200 in military and development aid — while preserving “our life-saving humanitarian, food, and health assistance to benefit the people of Niger.” These suspensions confirm and extend an initial pause in some assistance in the immediate wake of the coup.

This legal determination and the ensuing aid suspension were the correct decisions. The suspension will hopefully send the message that Washington will not, at least in the case of Niger, ruthlessly prioritize exaggerated “strategic interests” over the immediate choice of whether to treat coup-makers as legitimate. That message is important both in Africa, where Washington was already grossly inconsistent in responding to a recent wave of coups, and beyond.

The “strategic interests” in question are summarized in the New York Times’ reporting on the Biden administration’s internal debate about a coup determination for Niger: “U.S. officials worry it could also reduce America’s leverage over Niger’s future, jeopardize military operations against militants in the region, invite Russian influence and exacerbate humanitarian suffering in one of the world’s poorest countries.”

Taking the arguments one by one, the coup itself shows how limited American “leverage” was before the coup, and there is little reason to expect that normalizing relations with the junta would generate meaningful leverage beyond continued military training and expenditures. U.S. allies that receive a pass on coups, notably Egypt, have not proven amenable to making serious reforms on democracy or human rights.

Second, in terms of counterterrorism, I am unaware of measurable, publicly available evidence showing that America’s vast counterterrorism expenditures and training missions in Niger or the wider Sahel have produced tangible security benefits for ordinary people. American surveillance and logistical support assisted in French-led missions against top jihadist leaders, but violence worsened anyway. And now the French have largely been expelled from the core zone of jihadist activity in the region, the central Sahelian countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, so the prospects for an effective American support role are less.

One can always argue that the situation would be worse without the American presence, but such counterfactuals are difficult to prove or disprove.

Third, giving juntas a pass doesn’t necessarily prevent them from turning to Russia. France attempted to hang on to its influence in Mali after the coup there in 2020 (the first of the recent wave of coups), but found its relations with the junta degrading after the soldiers’ intentions to remain in power became more manifest through a “follow-on coup” in 2021.

More broadly, the U.S. does not appear particularly skilled at playing great power politics in Africa writ large. Washington relies on senior officials’ visits and a liberal dose of scolding in its attempts to woo African governments, and even long-time allies often respond by keeping the door open to the U.S., Russia, and China all at once. Moreover, fears of hypothetical Russian influence shouldn’t be a pretext for compromising on what are supposed to be core American values.

Fourth, given that there are carve-outs for humanitarian aid under Section 7008, it does not make sense that suspending military assistance would worsen humanitarian conditions in Niger, which are certainly dire. I have argued previously, in fact, that focusing on the delivery of humanitarian assistance across the entire Sahel would make the U.S. role there clearer and more straightforward, both to the people of the region and within Washington.

One could make a complex and circuitous argument that U.S. counterterrorism strikes or U.S. support for other militaries’ counterterrorism ventures are essential to ultimately resolving the conflict and therefore improving Sahelians’ humanitarian conditions. Yet this argument was not borne out over the past decade when, as noted above, insecurity (and displacement) surged despite a significant U.S. military presence.

Now that the coup declaration has been made, the Biden administration should avoid the temptations of either giving Niger a waiver (a possibility under the Section 7008 language) or accepting a flawed election as sufficient to allow the resumption of military assistance. Next year may see the beginning of a new phase in the region’s pattern of military government, as promises to hold elections come due in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. The timetable has already begun to slip in Mali, which in itself should draw a U.S. rebuke. Whenever elections do occur, moreover, there is a high likelihood that the votes will proceed on terms dictated by juntas, who may either run their own members or attempt to use civilians as pawns.

The U.S. should scrutinize those elections carefully. Indeed, Western powers’ decision to overlook gross electoral intimidation and tampering in Sahelian countries was among the factors that contributed to the recent coups, which took advantage of civilian politicians’ weak legitimacy. The coup declaration in Niger should be the beginning and not the end, then, of a less compromising stance from Washington vis-à-vis both coups themselves and coup-makers’ political machinations in the Sahel.

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Ghana to Open Doors to South African Passport Holders: A Boon for Tourism and Trade

BY DORCAS FUNMI

Ghana is the latest country to announce that it will open its doors to South African passport holders by allowing visa-free entry. This move is expected to boost tourism and trade between the two countries.

South Africans are already the largest group of tourists to Ghana, accounting for over 10% of all visitors in 2022. The visa waiver agreement is likely to lead to a further increase in tourist arrivals from South Africa. This will benefit Ghana’s tourism industry, which is a major contributor to the country’s economy.

The visa waiver agreement will also make it easier for South African businesses to operate in Ghana and Ghanaian businesses to operate in South Africa. This will lead to increased trade and investment between the two countries.

South Africa is Ghana’s second-largest trading partner, after the United States. The two countries trade in a wide range of goods and services, including minerals, energy, and manufactured goods.

The visa waiver agreement is expected to boost trade between the two countries by making it easier for businesspeople to travel and meet with potential customers and partners.

Overall, the visa waiver agreement between Ghana and South Africa is a positive development that is likely to have a number of benefits for both countries. It is expected to boost tourism, trade, and investment, and lead to closer economic ties between the two countries.

In addition to the economic benefits, the visa waiver agreement will also make it easier for people from Ghana and South Africa to visit friends and family in the other country. This will help to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries and promote mutual understanding.

The visa waiver agreement is a sign of the growing relationship between Ghana and South Africa. The two countries are working together to strengthen their ties in a number of areas, including trade, investment, and security. The visa waiver agreement is a concrete example of this cooperation.

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Decolonization And Repression In Cameroon: France Hands Over Its Classified Archives

BY DAVID SADLER

Paris delivers its classified archives to the commission of historians from the two countries responsible for ” turn on the light “ on the role of France in the violent repression that targeted the separatists and then the opposition in Cameroon before and after its independence, historian Karine Ramondy assures AFP.

On July 26, 2022 in Yaoundé, Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Paul Biya wanted historians to look into this bloody part, but almost completely ignored by school textbooks and the general public, of the history of France and Cameroon, from 1945 to 1971.
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The heads of state committed to declassifying archives that remained secret and launched, in March 2023, the Franco-Cameroonian commission “History and memories on the role and commitment of France in Cameroon in the repression against the movements independence and opposition between 1945 and 1971.

Its Research component, made up of fifteen historians, is chaired by Frenchwoman Karine Ramondy. While passing through Yaoundé, she discusses the progress of their work in an interview with AFP. The Cameroonian singer and musician Blick Bassy chairs an artistic and heritage component.
A “repressed subject” in France and Cameroon

During this period – before and after the independence of Cameroon in 1960 – historians and associations from the two countries ensure that “several tens of thousands of Cameroonians” were killed in a real ” war “led first by the French army then jointly with the troops of the first president of the Republic of Cameroon, Ahmadou Ahidjo.

“Regarding declassified archives, we have started a certain number of sharing of archives under exemption in France”assures Karine Ramondy, adding: “Like the president [Macron] committed to it, Cameroonian researchers benefit from the conditions of access to classified archives. »
Read the article: Article reserved for our subscribers“Emmanuel Macron must, in the name of France, recognize the war in Cameroon”

The report on the Research component must be delivered in December 2024. It is on the basis of its work that Paris and Yaoundé will be able, in the words of Mr. Macron in July 2022, “establish factually” of the “responsibilities” on a “repressed subject” in France as in Cameroon. The French president had promised that he would draw one ” acknowledgement “ of what happened and not a ” repentance “.

“We have already worked a lot, on both sides, together. We have already uploaded many of the digitized archives that we have accessed onto a secure platform. They are French and also come from Cameroon”lists Mme Ramondy. During their stay in Yaoundé, his team went through tons of archives stored in the library of the faculty of letters at the University of Yaoundé I, a center for the training of Cameroonian historians.

Document facts

Three researchers, two Cameroonians and a Frenchman, examine the two-meter-high wooden shelves on which are carefully stacked countless dissertations and theses from decades of research. The selected works are then digitized. New techniques in this modest documentation center where the majority of students and researchers manually copy what interests them into notebooks.

The Cameroonian Minister of Arts and Culture had “committed to giving us access to the national archives”explains Karine Ramondy. “It’s a little complicated because, for some time now, there has been a move and a review of these archives in progress. We are hopeful that things can be unblocked quickly”continues the historian.

Asked about a possible recognition by France of its responsibilities in war crimes, as well as reparations, she replied that the work of the commission is limited to establishing and documenting facts. “We aim to produce a historical, scientific report (…)it is the mission of this commission to give the presidents a serious historical sum, based on a good number of archives, in order to determine what type of recognition, what gestures France and Cameroon would like.she explains. “You can count on the team to produce the most balanced and serious report possible”promises Karine Ramondy.

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Oldest Human-Made Wood Structure Found In Zambia

REUTERS

Along the banks of the Kalambo River in Zambia near Africa’s second-highest waterfall, archaeologists have excavated two logs of the large-fruited bushwillow tree that were notched, shaped and joined nearly half a million years ago.

These artifacts, researchers said on Sept. 20, represent the oldest-known example of humans — in this case a species that preceded our own — building wooden structures, a milestone in technological achievement that indicates that our forerunners displayed more ingenuity than previously thought.

The logs, modified using stone tools, appear to have been part of a framework for a structure, a conclusion that contradicts the notion humans at that time simply roamed the landscape hunting and gathering resources.

“The framework could have supported a walkway or platform raised above the seasonally wet surroundings. A platform could have multiple purposes including storage of firewood, tools, food and as a foundation on which to place a hut,” said archaeologist Larry Barham of the University of Liverpool in England, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

“Not only did the working of trees require considerable skill, the right tools and planning, the effort involved suggests that the makers were staying in the location for extended periods whereas we have always had a model of Stone Age people as nomadic,” Barham added.

The rarity of wood preservation at early archaeological sites — it is perishable over time — means scientists have little understanding of how early humans used it.

“While the vast majority of archaeological sites of this age preserve only the stone tools, Kalambo Falls provides us a unique insight into the wooden objects that these tools were being used to create, allowing us a much richer and more complete picture of the lives of these people,” said geographer and study coauthor Geoff Duller of Aberystwyth University in Wales.

“Wood can be shaped into a variety of forms making it an excellent construction material that is strong and durable,” Barham added.

The earliest-known Homo sapiens fossils date from roughly 300,000 years ago in Morocco. The Kalambo Falls logs were determined to be from about 476,000 years ago.

No human remains were found there, but Barham suspects the artifacts were fashioned by a species called Homo heidelbergensis known to have existed from about 700,000 to 200,000 years ago. Homo heidelbergensis possessed a large browridge and a bigger braincase and flatter face than earlier hominins — species on the human evolutionary lineage.

The overlying log at Kalambo Falls is about 1.4 meters long, with tapering ends. About 1.5 meters of the underlying log was excavated.

“The structure involves the intentional shaping of two trees to create a framework of two interlocking supports. A notch was cut into the overlying log and the underlying tree was shaped to fit through the notch. This arrangement prevents the overlying log from moving side to side, giving stability to the structure,” Barham said.

The wood, found in a waterlogged condition, was preserved by a permanent high-water table at the site. Clay sediments surrounding it provided an oxygen-free environment preventing decay.

The earliest-known wooden artifact is a plank fragment from Israel, about 780,000 years old. Wooden tools for foraging and hunting are known to date from about 400,000 years ago. A wedge-shaped wooden tool about as old as the logs was found at Kalambo Falls.

The site, about 400 meters upriver from a spectacular 235-meter high waterfall, was discovered in 1953, but its age remained unclear. The new study used a method called luminescence dating, measuring the amount of energy an object has trapped since it was buried.

“The finds from Kalambo Falls indicate that these hominins, like Homo sapiens, had the capacity to alter their surroundings, creating a built environment,” Barham said. “Use of wood in this way suggests the cognitive ability to these early humans was greater than we have believed based on stone tools alone.”

Faith Or exploitation? Shedding Light On Controversial ‘Money For Miracles’ Trend

BY JOAN MBABAZI

You have perhaps seen or heard of devoted Christians who have offered everything they own to preachers in exchange for miracles. These particular evangelists are referred to by many as ‘false leaders’ who pervert the truth of the Gospel by turning it into a tool for monetary profit — making it a ‘prosperity gospel’ to get churchgoers believing that if they have genuine faith in Christ, they will undoubtedly achieve physical, material, and financial fortune in their present lives.

Although many scriptures in the Bible encourage giving, for instance, 2 Corinthians 9:7 which states: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”, when does one notice the warning signs that a preacher is soliciting money for their own benefit?

According to Reverend Canon Antoine Rutayisire, a prominent figure in the Anglican Church of Rwanda, any preacher who asks for money to pray for followers, or promises any miracles in return, is simply a crook.

“God’s miracles are not for sale. Jesus sent his disciples, gave them the power to heal the sick, and told them, ‘freely you have received, freely give.’ This, however, should not be confused with tithes and offerings we give in church services, those are biblical and ethical, agreeable to the Lord,” Rev Rutayisire stressed.

Chrispine Katiyi Banda, a preacher at New Life Bible Church, Kigali, explained that when it comes to following pastors or preachers, it is important to exercise discernment and watch out for certain red flags that may indicate potential deception or misleading practices.

He called upon Christians to be cautious if a preacher consistently focuses on material wealth, constantly asks for large monetary donations, or promotes a prosperity gospel that guarantees blessings in exchange for financial offerings, it could be a warning sign of manipulation.

“Some Christians lack biblical truths and contextual interpretation. You ought to pay attention to whether the preacher distorts or misinterprets biblical texts to support their personal agenda or teachings that are not widely accepted in the broader Christian community. Misusing scripture can be a sign of manipulation,” Pastor Banda noted.

He added that if a preacher claims to possess special powers or methods that can guarantee specific miracles like visas, marriage partners, or instant healing, and asks for monetary donations in return, it is essential to be cautious as genuine faith does not come with a price tag.

“Be cautious if a preacher or their ministry lacks transparency regarding their finances, organisational structure, or decision-making processes. A lack of accountability can indicate potential misuse of resources or abusive practices,” Banda said.

He also heartened individuals to pay attention to any excessive emotional manipulation, guilt-tripping, or fear tactics used by a preacher to pressure believers into taking specific actions or giving money, stressing that genuine leaders empower and guide, rather than manipulate their followers.

Banda also said it’s important to remember that not all pastors or preachers exhibit these red flags, but being aware of them can help Christians make informed and discerning decisions about who they choose to follow.

He urges believers to always study the Bible for themselves, seek guidance from trusted spiritual mentors, and rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment.

Enock Luyonza, an author and Christian at Worship Harvest Church Kigali, noted that it’s unfortunate that some individuals misuse their positions to exploit people’s faith for personal gain.

“It is your fault, however, if someone exploited your ignorance for personal gain. We must exercise discernment and be aware of some red flags that may indicate false teachings or misleading practices. And, we gain discernment by acquiring knowledge ourselves. It’s important to study the Word of God for ourselves to have a solid foundation,” he stated.

For Luyonza, studying the Bible will equip believers with knowledge about what is right and wrong, hence not being misled.

He added that knowing the word of God will allow individuals to detect materialism and greed, and demand for accountability from the wayward preachers.

However, we should not disregard the truth, just because someone abused it. Remember, Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” And also 2 Corinthians 9:6 is clear when it says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” God encourages us to give cheerfully, knowing that He will multiply our generosity,” Luyonza emphasised.

He also noted that we shouldn’t quit being generous because someone abused the principle.

Justine Mirembe, a Christian and member of Phaneroo Ministries International, said that it is very clear in the Bible that the power to work miracles and healing are gifts of the Holy Spirit given to different people by the will of God, stressing that these gifts are not given by merit nor were they bought from God.

Mirembe also explained that the gifts preachers possess were freely given to them, therefore, they shouldn’t ask for pay for what they freely received from God.

She also stressed that God doesn’t withhold anything good from us, which is therefore a red flag for one to ask for a pay to manifest what God said he can’t withhold from you.

“For instance, marriage is God’s idea and as a Christian, you should know that you shall not lack your mate, it is clear in scripture.”

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RWANDA: Five Key Highlights From Ombudsman’s Annual Report

BY PATRICK NZABONIMPA

On October 18, the Ombudsman presented the activity report of her office for the financial year 2022-2023 to a joint Upper and Lower House sitting.

Overall, the report covers various events related to dealing with injustice and fighting corruption, in line with the office’s mandate.

The following are five key highlights from the report:

Over 2,800 cases of corruption and injustice received

While presenting the report to legislators, Ombudsman Madeleine Nirere said that her office received 2,835 cases of corruption and injustice in the financial year 2022/2023, either through written petitions or through anti-corruption and injustice outreach programme.

Of these cases, 2,306 were solved, while 488 were still being handled by various concerned institutions, and 41 by the Ombudsman.

2. Land related disputes account for majority of cases

According to the Ombudsman, five categories led in terms of complaints related to corruption and injustice that were lodged by residents.

They include land related complaints which accounted for 1,018 cases, or almost 40 per cent of the total. They were followed by disatisfaction with court case jugdments, where residents filed 442 complaints.

Non-executed court decisions came in third place with 396 complaints, grievances related to expropriation followed with 345 cases, while those concerning other properties (excluding land) amounted to 228, coming in the fith position.

3. Review of court cases over injustice grounds

Ombudsmana said that people who were not satisfied with court judgments filed 484 cases seeking their review for justice purposes – through retrial by the Supreme Court.

Lawsuits represented more than half of the cases as they were 294, followed by criminal cases and commercial cases with 77, and 57 complaints, respectively.

Nirere indicated that her office requested retrial of only 11 cases – represernting 2.3 per cent of the total – while 460 or 95 per cent were not considered for retrial because no injustice was detected in their judgements.

Meanwhile, she pointed out that 13 cases – accounting for 2.7 per cent of the total – were solved through mediation – without necessitating another legal action.

“Mediation has proven to yield good results as it helps to address disputes amicably, without causing damages including costs that would be incurred once people resort to courts for trial,” she told Senators and MPs during the abovementioned plenary sitting.

4. Over 99 per cent of public officials declared their assets

In line with transparency in sources of finance, 17,687 people declared their assets to the Ombudsman, representing 99.95 per cent of 17,695 people who were concerned by such on obligation.

“Only 8 people, or 0.05 per cent, did not declare their assets be handed a penalty of suspension from work for one month without salary as provided for by the law,” Nirere said.

5. Implementation of Ombudsman’s recommendation

In monitoring how public entities and programmes implemented 90 recommendations of the Office of the Ombudsman – made in 2021-2022 – for improved operations, an assessment by the office indicated that they were implemented at 63.3 per cent rate.

According to Nirere, 28.8 per cent of the recommendations were still under implementation, while 8.9 per cent were not yet implemented.

She pointed out that every concerned public entity explained reasons for non-implementation of the recommendations in question, and that the office will continue making a follow up to ensure they are executed.

-------------------THE NEW TIMES

President Biden Wraps Up His Visit To Wartime Israel With A Warning Against Being ‘Consumed' By Rage

Palestinian protesters burn pictures that show U.S. President Joe Biden during a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, at the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

BY AAMER MADHANI AND COLLEEN LONG

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (AP) — President Joe Biden swept into wartime Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit Wednesday that produced a heaping dose of vocal support, a deal to get limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt, likely by the end of the week, and a plea for Israelis not to allow rage over the deadly Hamas attack to consume them.

“I understand. Many Americans understand,” Biden said as he wrapped up his stay in Tel Aviv, likening the Oct. 7 Hamas assault to the attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, that killed nearly 3,000 people. “You can’t look at what has happened here … and not scream out for justice,” he said.

“But I caution this: While you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it,” he said. “After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”

Biden urged Israel to step back from the brink, not just to ease growing tensions in the Mideast that threaten to spiral into a broader regional conflict, but also to reassure a world rattled by images of carnage and suffering, in Israel and Gaza alike. One million people have been displaced in roughly 10 days, according to the United Nations.

Biden’s mission was to display resolve for Israel and to diminish the likelihood of a wider war, while providing assurances that he was not overlooking the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Aboard the flight back to Washington Biden made progress when he spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi who agreed to reopen his country’s sealed border crossing with Gaza and allow 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid supplies to cross.

Biden said roads near the crossing would first need hours of repairs because of the fighting, but that aid could begin rolling into the region by Friday.

“I wanted to make sure that there was a vehicle, a mechanism where this could happen quickly,” Biden told reporters when Air Force Once landed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to refuel. He added that Sissi was “very cooperative.”

“He stepped up. As did Bibi,” the president said, referring to Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aid moving into Gaza will accomplish a key objective for Biden, and the White House announced that the president will address the nation from the Oval Office on Thursday night to “discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine.”

Less clear is how far the trip would take the president in trying to tamp down volatile Mideast divisions, particularly after his plan collapsed to follow the Israel stop with an Arab leaders summit in Jordan.

His visit was full of signature Biden moments as he walked a careful diplomatic line. He doled out embraces to Netanyahu and to first responders, doctors and victims who witnessed nightmare moments. He spoke quietly of his own history with grief. He told the familiar anecdote about meeting every Israeli prime minister over more than five decades in elected office, starting with Golda Meir in 1973. He quoted an Irish poet.

“I come to Israel with a single message: You’re not alone,” Biden said. “As long as the United States stands — and we will stand forever — we will not let you ever be alone.”

His presence and comments to Israeli leaders held weight. Netanyahu said the president’s visit was “deeply, deeply moving” and said Biden had rightly drawn a clear line between the “forces of civilization and the forces of barbarism.”

“The civilized world must unite to defeat Hamas,” the Israeli leader said.

Biden arrived in Israel as the nations across the Mideast shook with protests triggered by an explosion Monday at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds.

The blast undid plans for Jordan’s King Abdullah II to host Biden along with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and el-Sissi. Abbas withdrew in protest of the hospital attack; the summit was subsequently canceled outright. Yet Biden’s presence in Israel prompted fresh outrage.

In Amman, a sign hoisted by one protester labeled Biden and Netanyahu war criminals and called them “Partner in Crime.” At the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh in south Lebanon, protesters set fire to a cardboard cutout of Biden’s head with a rope around his neck and blood painted over his mouth.

Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister, told a state-run television network that the war is “pushing the region to the brink.”

But Biden emerged from the day trumpeting food, water and medicine poised to move into Gaza following days of deadlock. Israel cut off the flow of aid and fuel to the Gaza Strip after the attack that killed 1,400 civilians by Hamas, which controls the region.

The U.S. has already provided aid and military support to Israel and officials plan to ask Congress for more than $2 billion in combined additional aid for Israel and Ukraine. Biden on Wednesday also announced $100 million in aid to Gaza and the West Bank.

“The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas,” Biden stressed. “Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.”

The grim tone of the discussions between Biden and Netanyahu stood in stark contrast to their optimistic meeting just a month ago on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where Netanyahu marveled that a “historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia” seemed within reach.

The possibility of improved relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors has dimmed considerably with the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hamas war. Israel has been preparing for a potential ground invasion of Gaza. There are also fears that a new front could erupt along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah operates. The Iran-backed organization has been skirmishing with Israeli forces.

It was not clear yet when the humanitarian aid would begin to flow into Gaza, and whether it would include fuel that could power the generators keeping open the hospitals that are flooded with injured.

Allowing aid into the region had been seen by U.S. officials as a critical step toward the cooling of tensions in Arab nations after the blast at the hospital, which had been treating wounded Palestinians and sheltering many more who were seeking a refuge from the fighting.

There were conflicting claims of who was responsible.

Officials in Gaza quickly blamed an Israeli airstrike. Israel denied it was involved and released a flurry of video, audio and other information that it said showed the blast was instead due to a missile misfire by Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza. The Islamic Jihad dismissed that claim. The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties.

Biden said data from his Defense Department showed that the explosion was not likely caused by an airstrike by the Israeli military. A White House National Security Council spokesperson followed up later with a post on social media that an analysis of “overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information” showed Israel was not behind the attack. But the U.S. continues to collect evidence.

“Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you,” Biden told Netanyahu.

The leaders of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee in a joint statement said they felt confident the explosion was “the result of a failed rocket launch” by militants and not an Israeli airstrike.

Roughly 2,800 Palestinians have been reported killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza. An additional 1,200 people are believed to be buried under the rubble, alive or dead, health authorities said. Those numbers predate the explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital on Tuesday.

Jordan declared three days of mourning, and Jordanian officials said the summit was canceled after speaking with all leaders. Foreign Minister Safadi said they had wanted the meeting to produce an end to the war, which seems unlikely now, and to give Palestinians the respect they deserve.

Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan, Darlene Superville in Washington and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

People Of African Ancestry Are Poorly Represented In Genetic Studies. A New Effort Would Change That

FILE - This undated image made available by the National Human Genome Research Institute shows the output from a DNA sequencer. Scientists are setting out to collect genetic material from 500,000 people of African ancestry to create what they believe will be the world’s largest database of genomic information from the population. (NHGRI via AP, File)

BY LAURA UNGAR

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scientists are setting out to collect genetic material from 500,000 people of African ancestry to create what they believe will be the world’s largest database of genomic information from the population.

The hope is to build a new “reference genome” — a template to compare to full sets of DNA from individuals — and better understand genetic variants that affect Black people. It could eventually translate into new medicines and diagnostic tests — and help reduce health disparities.

The initiative was launched Wednesday by Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as Regeneron Genetics Center, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk and Roche. The pharmaceutical companies are providing the funding, while the data will be managed by a nonprofit started by Meharry, called the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute.

Organizers said there’s a clear need for the project, pointing to research showing that less than 2% of genetic information being studied today comes from people of African ancestry.

“We are going to bridge that gap, and this is just the beginning,” said Anil Shanker, senior vice president for research and innovation at Meharry.

Scientists have long known that the reference they compare to individual genomes has serious limits because it mostly relies on genetic material from one man and doesn’t reflect the spectrum of human diversity.

Although any two people’s genomes — that is, a set of instructions to build and sustain a human being — are more than 99% identical, scientists say they want to understand the differences.

The project is not connected with related research already underway. In May, scientists published four studies about building a diverse reference genome that they call a “pangenome.” At that point, it included the genetic material of 24 people of African ancestry, 16 from the Americas and the Caribbean, six from Asia and one from Europe.

In the new project, Meharry, a historically Black academic health sciences center, will recruit patients from the Nashville area to donate blood, then send it to the Regeneron Genetics Center, which will do the genetic sequencing for free.

Other historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S., and the University of Zambia in Africa, will also recruit volunteers. Project organizers said they are also open to working with other universities in Africa, as well as medical centers and health departments there. Organizers expect enrollment to take about five years. All information will be kept anonymous.

After the genetic sequencing, the data will go into a repository at the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute, and the database will be provided exclusively to HBCUs and the institutions involved in Africa. Outside researchers can access the information through those institutions.

“You can imagine if these schools have such a resource, other academic institutions are going to want to collaborate with them,” said Lyndon Mitnaul, executive director for research initiatives at Regeneron Genetics Center.

Corporate partners will be able to use the data for research and to develop medicines and diagnostic tests.

The 10-year initiative also involves establishing a grant program to support research and education in genomics and related fields at Meharry, plus broader STEM programs for grade-school children in diverse communities. Each of the pharmaceutical companies involved intends to contribute $20 million toward the genetic and educational parts of the effort.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Liberia’s Presidential Election Likely Headed For A Run-Off In Closest Race Since End Of Civil War

FILE - Liberia President George Weah arrives to attend the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, France, Nov. 11, 2021. Liberia’s presidential election Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 appeared headed for a run-off with the top candidates neck and neck and the votes nearly fully counted. President George Weah, who is seeking a second term, had 43.8% of the vote with his main challenger Joseph Boakai at 43.4%, according to the National Elections Commission. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

BY MARK N. MENGONFIA

MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AP) — Liberia’s presidential election Wednesday appeared headed for a run-off, with the top candidates neck and neck and the votes nearly fully counted.

President George Weah, who is seeking a second term, had 43.8% of the vote with his main challenger Joseph Boakai at 43.4%, according to the National Elections Commission. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win.

Once the votes from this round are finalized, the run-off will take place within 15 days.

The Oct. 10 election is the tightest in the nearly two decades since the end of the country’s civil war that killed some 250,000 people.

The final tally will have to wait until the end of the week, when re-voting is expected in two places in Nimba county because ballot boxes were stolen, said the commission. Nimba is an opposition stronghold but the outcome will not significantly alter the results or push anyone across the finish line, analysts said.

Weah, 57, a former international soccer star, came to power six years ago in the first democratic transfer of power in the West African nation since the end of the country’s back-to-back civil wars between 1989 and 2003.

Weah won that election amid high hopes brought about by his promise to fight poverty and generate infrastructure development in Africa’s oldest republic. His goal, he had said in 2017, was to push Liberia from a low-income country to a middle-income one.

But Weah has been accused of not living up to key campaign promises that he would fight corruption and ensure justice for victims of the country’s civil wars.

This is the second time he has faced Boakai, whom he defeated by more than a 20% margin in the 2017 election.

Boakai, who served as vice president under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female leader, campaigned on a promise to rescue Liberia from what he called Weah’s failed leadership, dubbing himself and his running mate “Rescue 1” and “Rescue 2.”

Many election watchers thought there would be a stronger third party candidate to spread the vote but that wasn’t the case, said Ibrahim Al-bakri Nyei, political analyst and director at the Ducor Institute for Social and Economic Research.

“There’s no clear winner. It shows the president is strong in some areas, but it also shows there is high public discontent with the government given the huge support for the opposition,” he said.

Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Dakar, Senegal contributed.

Los Angeles Newscaster Christina Pascucci Announces California Senate Bid

Christina Pascucci, pictured attending the Fix'N Fidos charity golf tournament in 2021, announced Wednesday that she is running for the U.S. Senate. (Jc Olivera / Getty Images)

BY SEEMA MEHTA

LOS ANGELES (LOS ANGELES TIMES) -- Los Angeles newscaster Christina Pascucci announced Wednesday morning that she is running for the U.S. Senate vacancy created by the death of Dianne Feinstein.

The 38-year-old Democrat is the latest entrant to join an increasingly crowded field for California's 2024 Senate contest. The San Fernando Valley native argues that she offers a centrist option for voters tired of polarization in the nation’s politics.

“Enough is enough. People are fed up, including myself,” Pascucci said in an interview with The Times. “What you do is you sit down and reach across the aisle.”

Feinstein announced she would not run for reelection earlier this year, setting off a furious competition for her Senate seat among Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland. Former Dodgers all-star Steve Garvey recently announced his candidacy, joining little-known Republican candidates including attorney Eric Early and former healthcare executive James Bradley.

A pivotal question is whether Laphonza Butler, a former labor leader whom Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed to the seat when Feinstein passed away last month, will run for a full term.

Pascucci faces the steep challenge of raising enough money to mount an effective campaign. While she is known among some Los Angeles voters because of her many years on air at KTLA and a recent stint on Fox News’ local affiliate, Pascucci would need to raise several million dollars to air campaign ads throughout California, which contains some of the most expensive media markets in the nation.

And she starts at a considerable financial disadvantage. Schiff had about $32 million in the bank at the end of September, Porter had $12 million and Lee $1.3 million cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission reports filed Sunday.

Pascucci joins a long list of journalists of both parties who have run for office, with a mixed record of success.

Kari Lake, a former Phoenix television anchor, is among the most prominent journalists and commentators to recently run for office. The prominent denier of the 2020 presidential election results unsuccessfully ran for governor of Arizona in 2022 and is currently running for Senate in the state.

Other former broadcast journalists include President Reagan, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky of Pennsylvania, who worked for local news stations and as a correspondent for the "Today" show.

Pascucci, who has never held elected office, argues her experience as a journalist, whether covering the voiceless or world leaders, gives her the grounding she needs to be an effective leader.

As an example, Pascucci said, as senator she would fly to Texas to talk to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott about his “publicity stunts” of sending tens of thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles.

“Has anyone tried it? I think too often we sit here and make statements and talk poorly about one another and don’t actually reach out to the person,” Pascucci said, adding that she grew up having impassioned conversations with her Republican parents over the dinner table in the San Fernando Valley.

“I’ve grown up hearing views different from my own,” she said, adding that she wants to make the world a better place for her daughter, who is due shortly after California’s March primary. “At the end of the day, I love them. I’m not going to dehumanize my family for thinking different. We have to sit there and have an open mind — why do people feel the way they feel?”