This group was formed to provide a forum for those brilliant African minds and those who are her cherished ally.
For those people who have unfolded the truth of her oppression and will stand for genuine resistance.
For the free black souls and animated brilliant friends of the people.
For the liberation fighters and justice seekers.
For all those who demand justice now and not when the imperialist and wealthy thiefs say it so.
For the oppressed people of the world who demand justice NOW!
If this is not you join some other group.
my blogspot:
Progressive Africanist
some facts:
-Africa is a Continent!!!!!
-54 countries and some islands
-The most populous countries in Africa are Nigeria(130m), Ethiopia(77m), and Egypt(72m)
-Most of the borders between states in Africa were created at the Berlin Conference when most African nations were colonies. Borders were drawn up with little consideration.
-Africa is the fastest urbanising continent in the world with over half of the African population expected to live in cities by 2030!! Africa will cease to be a rural continent
-5 of the10 fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa!
-2/3 of African States have commited themselves to multi-party democracy. Largely because of bottom-up pressure.
-Angola, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea are Africa's and some of the worlds largest oil producing nations and all of these countries(excluding Nigeria) are just coming on as oil producers and are just begining to tap that resource all of these countries are planing to expand their production.
-Chinese trade with Africa has doubled every year for the last three years. China has passed the EU as Africa's second largest trading partner and is just behind America. But China might be more influential in that US trade with Africa is largely driven by oil, the Millenium Challenge Account and the AGOA tariff free trade pact(which has benefitted few states) and both are tied to US 'free market' demands, While Chinese investments are more substantial, more diverse, and have been made in all 54 African countries and are not tied.
-The African Union was formed in 2002 replacing the Organization of African Unity
-During the post independence period and into the cold war period almost all of the leaders in Africa were used like pawns and were either supported by the West(UK, US) or Russia based solely on where they stood between the two and with no consideration for human rights or their people. Many of these despots(Mobutu, Abacha, Amin, Savimbi) were created and backed by the West at the same time they were preaching democracy. Many of the indigenous leaders like Lumumba and Nkrumah were assasinated at the call of the CIA.
-Africa's debts are well over $300 billion. Most of these debts were created by leaders not backed by their own people and largely came in the form of loans from the west!! The G8 debt relief proposal amounts to a tiny fraction of this amount.
- As a result of all this almost every African country experienced an internal rebelion or faced war at their borders from neighbouring nations. The nautious borders, extreme poverty, extreme social inequality, lack of basic state service, and externally backed despots created condtitions ripe for conflict literally setting Africa back several generations!!
The west is scared shitless about China's growing influnece in Africa!!!
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Alpha Oumar Konare, chair of the Commission of the African Union, introduces his entourage to President Hu Jintao during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Konare arrived on Sunday for a five-day official visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese Government. Konare will also travel to Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Shanghai, in East China.
Le Monde:Chinas trade safari in Africa
USA Today:Chinese seek resources, profits in Africa
PNIR: Sino US energy Competition in Africa
last two weeks:
Vice Priemer Huang on Africa tour in Madagascar anounces nation will triple trade and investment in Africa to $100 billion from its current $30 billion in five years
New York Times: China Wages Classroom Struggle to WIn Friends in Africa
Ignore Africa at Your Peril, Think Tank Warns Bush
State's Frazer Discusses U.S.-Chinese Cooperation on Africa
Washington Post: China poses threat to U.S. in Africa, report says
US, China wage diplomatic battle on 'playing field' of Africa: report
The 2 recent Council on Foreign Relations reports:
CFR: China's Rising Role in Africa
CFR: More than Humanitarianism a Strategic Aproach to Africa(massive report even by CFR standards 140 pages)
Thats right China is making significant inroads in Africa and the US and its western allies are scared shitless.
I've raised this issue before, and it seems policy heads are finnaly catching up. THe Council on Foreign Relations just released a very high profile report intended to redraw attention of US policy makers towards the expanding relationship between China and Africa. The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, and several other prominent news outlets have written about this this week.
All of this comes on the heels of Chinese president Hu Jintao's anouncement that China would triple its trade and investment with Africa to $100 billion by 2010 which at current rates would make it Africa's largest trading partner ahead of Europe and America and making a mockery of the recent G8 aid pledges.
The greatest fear of US policy makers of this relationship is that they will be pushed out of the African energy game as Africa looks to take a prominent place in world energy.
Africa, for instance, will be providing the US with approximately 25% of its oil by 2010 about as much as the middle east and Africas potential reserves are largely untapped.
All this gives a good explanation to why all the recent focus on Africa by the G8 countries in particul Britain and France who are used to having influence there seeing their influence diminsh.
Will China's engagement and trade embaress the west in Africa and actually lead to growth and development? If current growth figures in Africa are correct than thats exactely what is happening.
PBS: China's investment in Africa
PBS: Sudans Booming Economy
Some more interesting pieces:
Video: Basil Davidson on Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the ethnic makeup of Ancient Egypt.
check out my long threads on Whitewashing Egypt(posted in several groups really heated debate):
Ancient Egyptian Civilization: White washing Egypt
Ancient African Civilizations: Another Sad Example of Whitewashing Egypt
There is also the same topic posted in this group if you want to find it.
more from the Basil Davidson series
Meroe and Kush
The Sahara(Ancient African Migration). Africans lived in the ancient green Sahara!!!! and migrated west and east to Kush, Nubia, and Egypt!!!
Ancient Egypt and Ancient Nubia. Ancient Egypt for long wanted to impress Nubians. Abu Simbel
Ancient Kushites migrated to Nuba hills
pyramids of Nubia and Meroe, Nubian Christianity
for those who want to learn about africa:
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AFRICAN UNION
The Constituitive Act of the African Union
Pan-African Parliment
COMESA(The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - promoting regional economic integration through trade and investment.)
SADC(Southern African Development Community)
ECOWAS(Economic Community of West African States)
VOA real audio report on the inauguration and goals of the pan african parliment
VOA real audio report on the inauguration oif the African Union Security Council
Dr. HE Salim Salim (former prime minister of Tanzinia and Sec-Gen of the OAU now the AU's appointed head envoy on the Sudanese peace process) gives a strong lecture on the development of "The New African Unity". He also touches on some very important topics including Zimbabwe, Darfur, and the first 20 minutes are devoted to a background on the African Union.
Dr. HE Salim Salim(The former Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity now the African Union) speaking at the Woodrow Wilson center on "The Changing Face of African Unity"
Best African news sites
African Union News
AfricanUnion.info.
Africa Leader
PANAPRESS
Sudan Tribune
Ethiopia First
SABC news
All Africa News
AFROL
Africa Confidential
Arab News
Economic Development in Africa
The Guardian(UK):The New Scramble For Africa(The West, China, and India rush to secure influence and access to African Oil) and Revealed: The New Scramble for Africa
Wall Street Jounal: China Flexes Economic Muscle Throughout Burgeoning Africa
Aid to Africa is not the answer
Monetary Union by 2021
Africa Should Form its own Cartels
African Economy Grows Faster Under Positive Climate
Africa's Economic Makeover Misses Media
Ethiopia leaps into the information age
(I thought this was fantastic)
China's Growing Influence in Africa
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Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union Alpha Oumar Konare in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
Premier Wen of China speech at the opening of the CHina Africa Cooperation Forum in 2003
Watch:Video-Jim Lehrer Newshour reports:China Sees Trade and Investment Opportunities in Africa(just prior to the G8 meeting)
Video-U.S. Senate Hearing: Chinas Exploding Influence in Africa
Le Monde Diplomatiquë: China's Trade Safari in Africa(Is Africa destined to be at the center of an intensifying trade war? yup!)
Christian Science Monitor: A rising China Counters US Clout in Africa
The Guardian(UK):Beijing Makes Friends and Riches in Africa
China Cancels all of Africa's Debts(taking a shot at the West)
African Cities
since most people outside of Africa have absolutely no idea about African cities here are some pictures of African cities
30 African Cities - What do you think?
Best African Magazine
The New African
They send a copy of this magazine to UCLA every month. It seems to have the best insight I've seen.
(Dont subscribe on this site they overcharge)
African Blogs:
African Oil Politics
Great blog
Africa Boing
Cherry Flava(less serious)
Blog Africa
The Commission for Africa
The Commission for Africa
read: The New Scramble for the African Pie
Political sites
Pambazuka News: Weekly Forum For Social Justice in Africa(Really good site)
Join
Africa Action
check out theTrade Justice Movement
Africa Front
Africa 2015: For an AIDS-free Generation
For a quick history lesson on Africa a great set of programmes by the BBC
BBC:The Story of Africa
Learn about social justice movements
The Make Poverty History Campaign and Jubilee Debt Campaign:
Make Poverty History
Jubilee Debt Campaign
Darfur Crises
please read before you post a Darfur topic:
Darfur is not genocide!!
Current News Section
Africa and the U.N Security Council
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AU rejects Compromise on UN
CNN:African leaders discuss U.N. role
China and US 'unite' over UN bid
G4's formula on UNSC expansion receives jolt
update!!!
Washington Times: Africa and the Security Council
UN Reforms Crucial for Africans, Says VP
African seats on Security Council 'non-negotiable'
China Vows To Further Cooperation with the African Union
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Video: Jim Lehrer Newshour "China Sees trade and Investment Opportunities in Africa"
Xinhua: China to further ties with AU, says Hu
China Daily: Nation to further ties with AU, says Hu
Chinese FM holds talks with AU Commission Chairperson
Chinese President Meets AU Leader
World Petroleum Congress convened in Africa for the first time in history: African Oil, engine for African economic development? Libya, Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa all think so!!!
Xinhua: Pan-African oil corporation expected to be set up
Boston Globe: Invest in energy, Africa, conferees urged
Africa's Oil Giants Poised to Ride Wave of Rising Prices
China, US energy competition in Africa
also read:Christian Science Monitor: With Mideast uncertainty, US turns to Africa for oil
and
The Guardian(UK):The New Scramble For Africa(The West, China, and India rush toe secure influence and access to African Oil)
African Heads of State, Civil Society and Business leaders gather to Discuss the Establishment of an African Union Government!!
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The AU president says a common government will have to be created on concensus of the people
SABC: Establishing AU govt not easy task: leaders
Mbeki to attend confab on Africa in Nigeria
Donors to withhold $375 mln from Ethiopia (Basically Meles is a Marxist and always has been, there is no space for opposition)
Donors to withhold $375 mln from Ethiopia
Donors plan to withhold $375m from Ethiopia
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African Union to investigate attack accusations by Sudan and Chad
African Union to investigate attack accusations by Sudan and Chad
Chad calls on AU to move Jan summit out of Sudan after attacks
BBC: Sudan too aggressive to lead the AU(yeah thats right Sudan is set to take over chairmanship of the AU at the Jan Summit in the booming Khartoum)
Uganda defends detention of main opposition leader
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Uganda defends detention of opposition leader
Besigyes arrest a blessing in disguise
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Besigye back to prison
Chad rebels join to overthrow president
Eight groups vow to 'free Chad of the dictatorship of Idriss Deby'
(This after the Chadian government under Deby anounced that it wanted to change laws in regards to the use of Chads new found oil wealth)
CNN:Chad rebels join to overthrow president
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Chad rebels say they joining forces to fight Deby
Key facts about Chad
Chinese Foreign minister visits AFrica to solidify relations following CNOOC oil deal with Nigeria. China also finally releases white paper on China-Africa policy!!(very interesting read)
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Chinese Foreign minister Li Zhaoxing will visit Senegal, Cape Verde, Liberia, Mali and Nigeria
Full text: China-Africa policy white paper
Times Online UK: Insatiable Beijing scours the world for power and profit
BBC: Energy deals behind Chinese visit
China to develop new type of strategic partnership with Africa
Forbes:China defends African policy, touts mutual benefits following CNOOC oil deal
Heard it here first!!!: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya Will be the Next Great Oil Province!
East African Coast, Next Oil Province Geologist.pdf
The Guardian: Africa Oil boom in east predicted
Gas&Oil.com: East African coast and the Horn may be next great oil province
Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya Will be the Next Great Oil Province
Oil Find in Uganda
Company Announces Oil Strike in Uganda
Australian firm discovers oil in Uganda
Africa Names Judges for new Human Rights Court
Africa names judges for new human rights court
Sudan tones down AU bid
Sudan tones down AU bid
Sudan volunteers African review of its government
Sudan volunteers for peer review
Sudan tones down bid to lead AU
Congos Sassou Nguesso favoured as next AU chairman
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Congos Sassou Nguesso favoured as next AU chairman
Charles Taylor is arrested, caught trying to escape! Will face war crimes trials!
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Charles Taylor to Face War Crimes Charges in Sierra Leone
Taylor to Be Tried on War Crimes Charges
Nigeria: President Obasanjo in US, Speaks On Charles Taylor's Arrest
Justice catches up with African warlord
BBC:Taylor trial 'many months away'
Angola passes Saudi Arabia as China's largest oil suplier!!
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Angola now China's main oil supplier
Bloomberg: Angola Beats Saudi Arabia as China's Top Oil Supplier
DARFUR PEACE PACT FINALLY!!! Reports and Reactions
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Audio: Reaction to Darfur peace pact
Rebel group signs Darfur peace pact
Jurist: Security Council passes resolution on UN peacekeepers in Darfur
BBC: African Union sets new deadline for two remaining darfur rebel groups
Bloomberg: UN Gives Sudan a Week to Admit Planners for Darfur Peace Force
Africa Economic outlook looking its best in 30 years!!!!!! IMF, World Bank, African Development Bank, and OECD predict continued growth!!!
Africa outlook 'best in years'
Oil props up Africas growth
"Africa is clearly turning the corner" says AfDB President
IMF Reports Strong Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
USA Today: World Bank says sub-Sahara Africa shows good economic growth
Africa's Job Experts Seek Better Infrastructure, Integration
Africa's Job Experts Seek Better Infrastructure, Integration
Congo Getting ready for elections
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'Congo election schedule can be met'
U.N. Official Says Conditions Good for Successful Congo Election
D.R. Congo: Climate of Fear Threatens Elections
Congo-Kinshasa: Journalists Attacked in Run-Up to Elections
Democratic Republic of Congo Elections Pose Enormous Challenges
Analysis: UN Secretary-General Releases Congo Peace Plan
German Parliament OKs Congo Deployment
Belgium cancels Congo debt as elections loom
Alleged coup plot exposes Congo's pre-election tensions
The US's response to China? Let me into your economy to steal your resources and force your people into sweatshops to make us wealthy.
African Nations Wary of Closer Embrace with U.S.
Nicholas Kristoff of the New York Times wrote this this week. Tell tell sign about US's plans for Africa.
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF: In Praise of the Maligned Sweatshop(this is how American economists think)
JOHANNS ANNOUNCES TRADE AND INVESTMENT MISSION TO EAST AFRICA
New Report Shows Surge in US-Africa Trade
Renaissance in US-Africa Trade Policies
Chinese premier boosts trade with seven-nation Africa tour
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PanAfrica: Wen Rolls Out 'Win-Win' Strategy in Africa
Guardian: Chinese premier boosts trade with seven-nation Africa tour
CNN: China's energetic wooing of Africa
Chinese premier meets African Union chief
BBC: Angola China's African foothold
BBC: China Africa Whi Benefits(comments from readers)
here is a rundown of all the agreements signed so far kind of makes it clear the type of relationship China and Africa are pursuing
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Wen attends road completion in Ghana with president Kufor
Ghana, China sign agreements to boost economic cooperation
Ghana confident China to finance $600 million dam
VOA: China, Ghana Boost Trade Agreement
Chin Egypt Sign Energy Accord
China Gives Egypt $50 Million Loan
Chinese PM wraps up Angola agreements
Guardian: China deal gives Zimbabwe ã700m boost
Zimbabwe: Govt, China in $1.3 Billion Power Deal
Huge potentials for China-Congo cooperation: communique
Premier Wen visits Republic of Congo to enhance economic ties
China to cap textile exports to S.Africa
14 bilateral agreements signed between SA,China
China Gives Angola Fresh $2bn credit
Funny all this happening as....
Heritage(the most right wing think tank in washington):Americas Growing Reliance on African Energy Resources
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