logo
Africa News Live Updates: MK's Sahara shock, Sudan's oil conflict, Nigeria's budget battles

Africa News Live Updates: MK's Sahara shock, Sudan's oil conflict, Nigeria's budget battles

First Post5 days ago
July 23, 2025, 10:54:40 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
MK party's Western Sahara stance introduces foreign policy uncertainty for South Africa
A representative for Western Sahara's Polisario Front, Mohamed Beisat, has stated the movement will not publicly criticise former South African President Jacob Zuma, despite his recent visit to Morocco and suggestions from his MK party that Western Sahara should be a Moroccan province, Mail & Guardian says in a report. This development introduces a significant element of foreign policy unpredictability for South Africa. The MK party's position is a stark deviation from South Africa's long-established policy of recognising the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For investors and businesses, this signals potential instability and a lack of policy cohesion within South Africa's new political landscape, which could heighten political risk and complicate commercial engagements in North Africa, particularly with nations like Algeria, a key supporter of the SADR.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' Wades Into African Territorial Dispute
Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' Wades Into African Territorial Dispute

Mint

time13 hours ago

  • Mint

Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey' Wades Into African Territorial Dispute

(Bloomberg) -- Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie is sparking controversy in North Africa, with the decision to shoot some scenes in a long-disputed territory incurring the ire of a rebel group fighting for independence. Nolan, who took home two Academy Awards for Oppenheimer in 2024, has chosen to film parts of The Odyssey in the desert landscape near Dakhla, an Atlantic city in Western Sahara. The area was recognized by US President Donald Trump as coming under Moroccan rule in 2020, opening up a wave of investment, development and tourism. Nolan picked a number of global locations for The Odyssey, a $250 million epic starring Matt Damon as the Greek hero Odysseus alongside a host of other stars including Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong'o. But the choice of Dakhla may garner the most attention for Universal Studios Inc. after strong criticism from the Polisario Front, an armed group that claims to be the legitimate representative of the indigenous people of Western Sahara. Polisario, based in Algeria and considered by Morocco as a proxy for its larger neighbor and arch rival, accused The Odyssey's makers of whitewashing colonialism and committing 'a clear violation of international law and ethical standards governing cultural and artistic work.' The group abandoned a long-standing ceasefire in 2020, and has previously warned that continued support for Moroccan rule by the US — later joined by France and Spain — would leave it with no choice but to step up its resistance. That said, attacks to date have mainly targeted Moroccan troops hundreds of miles away near the Algerian border. Neither Universal nor representatives for the filmmakers responded to emailed requests for comment. The filming in Dakhla comes within the context of 'a broader and very concerted Moroccan strategy to leverage its economic, political and cultural influence to try and solidify its claim to the territory,' said Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow for the Middle East and North Africa region at the European Council on Foreign Relations. 'There is a sense that the international community is increasingly aligning behind the Moroccan positions.' The dispute over Western Sahara has caught the attention of Hollywood in the past, with Spanish stars Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz expressing concern about human rights violations against the Sahrawi people in the area. One way for Universal and Nolan to avoid negative publicity would be 'to give a voice and agency to the Sahrawis,' Lovatt said. For Morocco, Nolan's arrival is a boost for its push to promote investment and tourism in a region that it sees as a driver of wealth creation for decades to come. 'This is a production that is extremely important for Morocco,' said Reda Benjelloun, who heads CCM, the Moroccan government agency in charge of promoting the film industry. 'It's the first major Hollywood production to choose the southern provinces,' he added, in reference to the disputed territory. Nolan traveled to Dakhla earlier this month, having already filmed parts of The Odyssey in Morrocan locations in Essaouira, Marrakech and Ouarzazate, as well as countries such as Greece and Scotland. Morocco has long been a favored location for Hollywood, from 1962's Lawrence of Arabia to Ridley Scott's Gladiator series. 'This is extremely important for Morocco and the film industry's development goals,' Benjelloun said in a phone interview. 'It establishes Dakhla in the film ecosystem.' --With assistance from Chris Miller. More stories like this are available on

Trump perfects the art of making powerful people squirm on camera
Trump perfects the art of making powerful people squirm on camera

Mint

time2 days ago

  • Mint

Trump perfects the art of making powerful people squirm on camera

President Trump waited for the lights to dim to show a politically charged film to visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. He sat patiently until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy exploded after being lectured by Vice President JD Vance. And on Thursday, Trump confronted Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with a piece of paper he pulled out of his pocket, alleging construction cost overruns. In each instance, TV cameras were rolling, providing coverage of Trump's target squirming or arguing with the president of the United States. One of the hallmarks of Trump's second term has been his ability to put others on the spot, forcing them to either think quickly or react in a way that might give him an advantage or new insight into the leader. He often deploys the technique against officials who are accustomed to niceties in public (and knife-fighting behind closed doors), making diplomacy and negotiations into something closer to a reality TV show. 'What do you think, huh? This is—this is going to be great television, I will say that," Trump said to reporters after chastising Zelensky in February. Those who have worked with Trump for years explain the behavior in various ways. Particularly when meeting with foreign leaders, Trump will absorb a briefing ahead of time, but has what one former administration official from the first term called 'an innate feel" for meetings. He likes to push leaders, probe for weaknesses and determine whether he can catch them off guard. Trump is confident in his own ability to adapt and freestyle, the person said. A current White House official said that a lot of times before the surprise, the president says he simply wants the public to see what's going on behind closed doors. Part of it is about transparency, the official said. Trump's surprise visit to the Fed on Thursday served two purposes: add public pressure on Powell to lower interest rates and put a spotlight on central-bank building renovations as a way to undercut the Fed chair. Recently, Trump has been elevating a theory that the pricey overhaul to Fed buildings in Washington could be a way to embarrass Powell and even get rid of him. When Trump learned that administration officials were going to tour the building, he was eager to participate himself, according to a person familiar with the matter. He brought along an estimate of construction costs, which he pulled out of his suit pocket in dramatic fashion, handing it to Powell in front of cameras. A meme later circulated online of a bespectacled Powell studying the piece of paper. The results of Trump's tactics have caused unexpected outcomes: Zelensky lost his cool after being prodded by Vance and later Trump, causing a fissure in the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship that took weeks to get back on track. The film shown to the South African president alleging evidence of white genocide generated a separate news cycle about how the White House took video footage out of context. In May, President Trump handed articles to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that he said documented the killing of white South Africans. Knowing that Trump could unexpectedly put them on the spot, world leaders have traded tips on what to expect at the White House and have studied recent Oval Office meetings. After Trump invited the press to a closed-door lunch with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, she passed along advice to European colleagues to be ready for surprises, according to people familiar with the matter. But not everyone comes prepared for Trump's guerrilla diplomacy. In April, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was taken by surprise when White House aides unexpectedly brought her into the Oval Office as Trump signed executive orders opening investigations into political critics with a room full of reporters. The Democratic star tried to hide behind a binder, but Trump called on her to speak. 'I was brought in for what I thought was a one-on-one meeting, and when I walked in the room I quickly realized that was not the case, and I grabbed one of his staffers and was like, 'what is happening here?'" Whitmer said on 'Pod Save America." The governor said at one point she left the Oval Office to do damage control and told her staff she didn't want to be associated with Trump's executive order. When Trump visited Michigan later that month for a celebration marking his first 100 days in office at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Whitmer was once again taken off guard when he invited her to the lectern. For Trump, the surprises help him drive a narrative or unnerve his rivals. During the 2016 campaign, Trump and his advisers, including Steve Bannon, caught Hillary Clinton and her campaign off guard ahead of a presidential debate by holding a press conference with Trump and four women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual abuse. The women were then seated in the audience, and in view of TV cameras. Write to Meridith McGraw at and Annie Linskey at

MoS Pabitra Margherita invites South Africa to join International Solar Alliance
MoS Pabitra Margherita invites South Africa to join International Solar Alliance

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • Time of India

MoS Pabitra Margherita invites South Africa to join International Solar Alliance

Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita , on Friday met with South African Minister of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa and invited the nation to join the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure . Margherita expressed India's support for the priorities of the South African presidency. In a post on X, he said, "Glad to meet Maropene Ramokgopa, Minister of DPME, South Africa. Expressed India's support for the priorities of the South African presidency and emphasized the importance of critical minerals and debt sustainability for Africa. Also invited South Africa to join the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure." Earlier on Thursday, he met Thani Mohamed-Soilihi Minister of International Partnerships of France on the margins of G20 Development Minister's Meeting. In a post on X, he said, "It was a pleasure to meet Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister of International Partnerships of France on the margins of G20 Development Minister's Meeting. Discussions were held on 4P and continuing our common interest in AI, reform of international financial architecture, and disaster resilience." Margherita is in South Africa to attend G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the South African G20 Presidency. In a post on X, he said, "Arrived at Kruger National park, Mpumalanga South Africa to attend G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the South African G20 Presidency. Looking forward to meaningful engagements with stakeholders from G20 members and invited countries to discuss key development issues facing the world." South Africa will hold the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, only five years before the deadline of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda. South Africa's G20 Presidency takes place when the world is facing a series of overlapping and mutually reinforcing crises, including climate change, underdevelopment, inequality, poverty, hunger, unemployment, technological changes and geopolitical instability.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store