Latest news with #pan-African
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Togo's citizens want to leave Ecowas – new survey suggests why
A survey of Togolese citizens recently looked into perceptions of their government's handling of the terrorist threat in the northern region and of the Alliance of Sahel States – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The survey was carried out by Afrobarometer, an independent, pan-African research network, in partnership with the Center for Research and Opinion Polls. The Savanes region in northern Togo, bordering Burkina Faso, has become an area of insecurity since a jihadist attack in 2021. This security crisis is part of a broader context of growing destabilisation in west African countries, centred on the Sahel region. It led to the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States in July 2024. The survey also covered perceptions of foreign influence in Togo and discrimination against women and girls among other topics. Koffi Amessou Adaba, a political sociologist and one of the lead authors of the study, shares insights into the survey's key findings, and the potential implications for Togo's future. The survey, which involved 1,200 people, reveals that 64% of Togolese respondents believe the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to form the Alliance of Sahel States is 'somewhat' or 'very' justified. This view is driven by three main factors: • a perception that Ecowas is influenced by foreign powers • a widespread rejection of Ecowas sanctions against Sahel states • the belief that Ecowas failed to provide military support during those countries' security crises. In addition, 54% of Togolese consider the presence of Russia (or the Wagner Group, now known as Africa Corps) in the Alliance of Sahel States to be beneficial. This trust in a non-western external actor reflects a profound shift in geopolitical perceptions in the region. Another important finding of this study is that 54% of Togolese believe their country would benefit from leaving Ecowas to join the Alliance of Sahel States. But opinions are split on whether the Alliance of Sahel States helps or hurts west African integration: 39% believe it doesn't undermine regional integration, but 37% think it does. Read more: This sentiment reflects growing frustration with Ecowas, which many Togolese now see as out of touch with the region's realities. The bloc is widely perceived as being too close to foreign powers and ineffective in responding to major security threats. Its repeated failures to help resolve Togo's political crises (of 2005 and 2017 for example) have only deepened public disillusionment. This frustration is unfolding alongside a broader wave of pan-Africanism in the region, marked by a growing rejection of former colonial powers and their institutional ties. But this momentum should be approached with caution. The desire to leave Ecowas reflects anger and a strong appetite for change, not necessarily a clear assessment of the economic and diplomatic fallout such a move could bring. Read more: Nearly six in ten Togolese (59%) say they trust the government to contain or root out the terror threat. This shows broad support for official counter-terrorism efforts, although some question the current strategy. Opinions are especially split on how the crisis is communicated. Some find the messaging vague or lacking in transparency. Others think it helps keep people alert without sparking panic. The survey reveals deeper concerns. Even Togolese outside conflict zones report growing insecurity. The northern crisis appears to be fuelling nationwide anxiety. Read more: Since tensions flared, Togo has been neutral. It has not openly condemned the Alliance of Sahel States countries and has maintained its membership of Ecowas. This careful stance reflects national sentiment – which leans towards support for the Alliance of Sahel States – while preserving Togo's strategic and economic interests. This approach isn't new. It's part of a long-standing Togolese tradition of balanced, pragmatic diplomacy. The nation has always pursued pragmatic and independent foreign policy that adapts to regional dynamics. As west Africa's geopolitical landscape shifts, Togo should: • maintain open cooperative relations with both Ecowas and the Alliance of Sahel States • preserve its strategic position as a logistics and trade hub for the region, particularly through the Port of Lomé • strengthen its image as a diplomatic force for stability in west Africa. Read more: Togo's careful balancing act remains its safest bet. The truth is, no one knows what the future holds for the Alliance of Sahel States bloc. But this middle ground gives Togo strategic flexibility regardless of how regional politics evolve. Togo's position leaves it well-placed either way. If the Alliance of Sahel States countries rejoin Ecowas, Togo keeps its influence. If they don't, it still benefits from its neutrality. Ultimately, Togo should keep playing this diplomatic card. Its measured approach offers rare stability in a volatile region. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Koffi Améssou Adaba, Université de Lomé Read more: 3 things to watch as South Koreans head toward the polls following turbulent political period Why Islamic State is expanding its operations in north-eastern Nigeria IDF firing 'warning shots' near diplomats sets an unacceptable precedent in international relations Koffi Améssou Adaba does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pan-Africanists Unite: Preparations Begin for 80th Anniversary of Historic Manchester Congress
ACCRA, Ghana, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), in collaboration with the Ghana Socialist Movement and Pan Africanism Today, convened a landmark online conference to initiate discussions and preparations for the upcoming 80th anniversary of the pivotal Fifth Pan-African Congress held in Manchester in 1945. Bringing together more than sixty influential pan-Africanists from 32 countries—including representatives from the USA and Brazil—the event underscored the enduring legacy and urgency of pan-African unity, decolonization, and the struggle against imperialism. The conference opened with Albie Walls of the All-African People's Revolutionary Party, who emphasized the far-reaching impact of the Manchester Congress on Africa's liberation movements and called for renewed clarity and action toward unifying progressive forces across the continent. Roland Diagne (FERNET, Senegal) highlighted the ongoing relevance of anti-neocolonial resolutions adopted at the Manchester Congress, noting the resurgence of patriotism and demands for true sovereignty, especially in the Sahel region. Diagne voiced concerns about external military interventions and stressed the need for ECOWAS to return to its foundational mission. Kwesi Pratt Jr., a journalist and member of the PPF organizing committee, presented a strategic roadmap for the anniversary celebration. He proposed the establishment of a central committee and specialized commissions on trade union issues, women's rights, and youth engagement, as well as mechanisms for mass mobilization and political power analysis. The meeting also featured voices from key organizations: Imani Na Umoja (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) advocated for a comprehensive congress to unite organizations pursuing shared goals. Ouzayrou Mamane (Pan-African Movement for Reparations, Justice and Restoration of Historical Memory) insisted that reparations for former colonies are vital for economic independence and historical justice. Amina Hamani (MORFEPAN, Niger) urged transforming pan-Africanism from a symbol into an actionable tool for achieving full independence, amid renewed foreign interference. Saddam Alktif (CODESA) emphasized the unresolved crisis in Western Sahara, stating that pan-Africanism's objectives remain incomplete while occupation persists. Humphrey Quaye (PPF) reiterated the organization's commitment to fighting imperialism and neocolonialism, and called for collective action. Eighteen delegates contributed to a lively debate, culminating in Albie Walls' closing remarks and the formation of a central organizing committee. The PPF announced plans for further meetings and intensified coordination to ensure the 80th anniversary serves as a catalyst for real, unified progress in Africa's ongoing liberation and development. View original content: SOURCE Pan-African Progressive Front Errore nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati
Libya Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Libya Observer
Libya acquires shares in African Export-Import Bank
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced that Libya has acquired a number of its shares, having paid the full amount on May 13. Libya joined the bank's founding agreement in October 2024, becoming the 52nd African country to do so. The bank operates in areas such as infrastructure, oil and gas, and the export of manufactured goods to other African nations. It also supports regional integration projects targeting countries across North Africa. Commenting on the development, Libya's Minister of Finance in the Government of National Unity, Khaled Al-Mabrouk, emphasized the importance of the partnership in supporting reconstruction efforts and economic diversification in the country. 'This acquisition of shares in Afreximbank solidifies Libya's status as a full member and shareholder in this prestigious African multilateral institution. It marks a historic achievement following our accession to the bank's founding agreement,' Al-Mabrouk said. Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution tasked with financing and promoting intra-and-inter-African trade. Tags: African Export-Import Bank
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Morabo Morojele: The social and political drum beats of the Lesotho jazz musician
We use the term ' Renaissance man ' very loosely these days, for anybody even slightly multi-talented. But Lesotho-born jazz drummer, novelist and development scholar Morabo Morojele was the genuine article. He not only worked across multiple fields, but achieved impressively in all. Morojele died on May 20, aged 64. As a researcher into South African jazz, I encountered him initially through his impressive live performances. I was surprised to hear about his first novel and then – as a teacher of writing – bowled over by its literary power. Celebrating a life such as Morojele's matters, because a pan-African polymath like him cut against the grain of a world of narrow professional boxes, where borders are increasingly closing to 'foreigners'. This was a man who not only played the jazz changes, but wrote – and lived – the social and political ones. Economist who loved jazz Born on September 16, 1960 in Maseru, Lesotho, Morojele schooled at the Waterford Kamhlaba United World College in Swaziland (now Eswatini) before being accepted to study at the London School of Economics. In London in the early 1980s the young economics student converted his longstanding jazz drumming hobby into a professional side gig. There was a vibrant African diasporic music community, respected by and often sharing stages with their British peers. Morojele worked, among others, in the bands of South African drummer Julian Bahula and Ghanaian saxophonist George Lee. With Lee's outfit, Dadadi, he recorded Boogie Highlife Volume 1 in 1985. Studies completed and back in Lesotho, Morojele founded the small Afro-jazz group Black Market and later the trio Afro-Blue. He worked intermittently with other Basotho music groups including Sankomota, Drizzle and Thabure while building links with visiting South African artists. For them neighbouring Lesotho provided less repressive stages than apartheid South Africa. Morojele relocated to Johannesburg in 1995 and picked up his old playing relationship with Lee, by then also settled there. His drum prowess caught the eye of rising star saxophonist Zim Ngqawana. With bassist Herbie Tsoaeli and pianist Andile Yenana, he became part of the reedman's regular rhythm section. The three rhythm players developed a close bond and a distinctive shared vision, which led to their creating a trio and an independent repertoire. Later they were joined by saxophonist Sydney Mnisi and trumpeter Marcus Wyatt to form the quintet Voice. Voice was often the resident band at one of Johannesburg's most important post-liberation jazz clubs: the Bassline. Although the 1994-founded venue was just a cramped little storefront in a bohemian suburb, it provided a stage for an entire new generation of indigenous jazz and pan-African music in its nine years. Voice was an important part of that identity, which is particularly audible on their second recording. Play Morojele also recorded with South African jazz stars like Bheki Mseleku and McCoy Mrubata. He appeared on stage with everyone from Abdullah Ibrahim to Feya Faku. His drum sound had a tight, disciplined, almost classical swing, punctuated visually by kinetic energy, and sonically by hoarse, breathy vocalisations. Voice playing partner Marcus Wyatt recalls: 'The first time I played with you, I remember being really freaked out by those vocal sound effects coming from the drum kit behind me, but the heaviness of your swing far outweighed the heaviness of the grunting. That heavy swing was in everything you did – the way you spoke, the way you loved, the way you drank, the way you wrote, the way you lived your life.' Wyatt also recalls a gentle, humble approach to making music together, but spiced with sharp, unmuted honesty – 'You always spoke your mind' – and intense, intellectual after-show conversations about much more than music. Because Morojele had never abandoned his other life as a development scholar and consultant. He was travelling extensively and engaging with (and acutely feeling the hurt of) the injustices and inequalities of the world. Between those two vocations, a third was insinuating itself into the light: that of writer. The accidental writer He said in an interview: 'I came to writing almost by accident … I've always enjoyed writing (but) I never grew up thinking I was going to be a writer.' In 2006, after what he described in interviews as a series of false starts, he produced a manuscript that simply 'wrote itself'. How We Buried Puso starts with the preparations for a brother's funeral. The novel – set in Lesotho – reflects on the diverse personal and societal meanings of liberation in the 'country neighbouring' (South Africa) and at home. How new meanings for old practices are forged, and how the personal and the political intertwine and diverge. All set to Lesotho's lifela music. The book was shortlisted for the 2007 M-Net Literary Award. There was an 18-year hiatus before Morojele's second novel, 2023's The Three Egg Dilemma. Now that he was settled again in Lesotho, music was less and less a viable source of income, and development work filled his time. 'I suppose,' he said, 'I forgot I was a writer.' But, in the end, that book 'also wrote itself, because I didn't have an outline … it just became what it is almost by accident.' In 2022, a serious health emergency hit; he was transported to South Africa for urgent surgery. The Three Egg Dilemma, unfolding against an unnamed near-future landscape that could also be Lesotho, broadens his canvas considerably. The setting could as easily be any nation overtaken by the enforced isolation of a pandemic or the dislocation of civil war and military dictatorship, forcing individuals to rethink and re-make themselves. And complicated by the intervention of a malign ghost: a motif that Morojele said had been in his mind for a decade. For this powerful second novel, Morojele was joint winner of the University of Johannesburg Prize for South African writing in English. At the time of his death, he was working on his third fiction outing, a collection of short stories. Play Beauty of his work lives on Morojele's creative career was remarkable. What wove his three identities together – musician, development worker and writer – was his conscious, committed pan-Africanism and his master craftsman's skill with sound: the sound of his drums and the sound of his words as they rose off the page. Through his books, and his (far too few) recordings, that beauty lives with us still. Robala ka khotso (Sleep in peace). Gwen Ansell.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Business Insider Africa leads Social-First business journalism in Africa – INMA Global Media Awards
Business Insider Africa, published by Pulse, has been awarded Best in 'Leading Social-First Business Journalism in Africa' at the 2025 International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards. The announcement was made during the Global Media Awards ceremony held on May 22 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, as part of the 95th Annual INMA World Congress of News Media. Business Insider Africa also received an honourable mention in the ' Best Use of Social Media' (National Brands) category, placing it among the world's leading innovators in platform-native journalism. The award-winning initiative transformed how Business Insider Africa shares business news, using TikTok to connect with a new generation of African audiences. By combining strong storytelling with engaging visuals, the brand made complex topics easier to understand and more appealing to younger, mobile-first viewers—dramatically increasing reach and deepening engagement across the platform. In 2024, the campaign delivered: ' When we started out, our goal was to make high-quality business journalism resonate on the world's fastest-moving video platform: TikTok, ' said Victor Oluwole, Head and Editor at Business Insider Africa. ' This award is a testament to the team's creativity, innovation, and commitment to telling African business stories in formats that meet audiences where they are. We're proud to be leading the evolution of business journalism for Africa's next generation of readers. ' The INMA Global Media Awards celebrate excellence in innovation across news brands worldwide. The 2025 edition received 839 entries from 286 organizations across 49 countries. About Business Insider Africa Business Insider Africa is the leading pan-African innovative business news provider targeting aspirational business leaders and featuring the latest innovation, technology and business news from Africa. It runs all the global Business Insider content alongside Africa-focused interviews, data and more. Business Insider Africa re-launched as a pan-African innovative business news provider in August 2020, in partnership with Pulse, Africa's leading innovative media company. Since its full launch, Business Insider Africa has attained relevance across the continent through insightful and timely business coverage in the continent's major markets, with a specific focus on interviews, listicles, entrepreneurship, and a range of general interest topics including entertainment and lifestyle. About Pulse Pulse is Africa's leading innovative media company, informing and engaging the continent's young audience across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire. Pulse operates news platforms, social channels, and production units across both Anglophone and Francophone markets. Pulse reaches over 60 million people monthly through Pulse Media, Pulse Sports, Pulse Marketing, and Business Insider Africa. Pulse Marketing serves more than 100 clients across the continent and beyond with creative, strategy-driven digital marketing solutions that deliver measurable results. The company is also the licensed publisher of Business Insider Africa, a premier destination for business and economic insights tailored to Africa's digital audience. The company has built a vibrant ecosystem through flagship initiatives like the Pulse Influencer Awards and Pulse Fiesta, celebrating creativity, culture, and community. Twitter
