Existential Threat May Pose Nuclear Doctrine Change: Iran's Kharrazi

By Al Mayadeen English

1 Nov 2024 16:23

The head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Dr. Kamal Kharrazi tells Al Mayadeen that potential changes to Iran's nuclear doctrine remain a possibility, especially if it encounters an "existential threat".

Although Iran does not wish for the expansion of war, it is fully prepared for it, said the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Dr. Kamal Kharrazi who provided insights into the country’s strategic outlook regarding the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon.

In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, Kharrazi articulated Iran's stance on regional tensions, emphasizing the nation’s preparedness to respond to any escalation while expressing a desire to avoid further war. He highlighted Iran's military capabilities and the potential for changes in its nuclear policy in response to perceived "existential threats," framing the discussion within the broader context of Iran’s geopolitical stance and its commitment to national sovereignty.

In this context, Kharrazi emphasized that Iran has showcased its deterrence capabilities through Operation True Promise II, during which it launched hundreds of ballistic missiles on "Israel", noting that in the time being, it is up to the Israelis; if they choose to continue their hostile actions, Iran will respond accordingly.

Balancing Iran's military ambitions with religious and political directives

In response to questions about potential changes to Iran's nuclear doctrine, Kharrazi indicated that such changes are possible, especially if Iran encounters an "existential threat". He asserted that Iran has the technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons and encounters no significant obstacles in this regard. However, he emphasized that the Fatwa issued by Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei serves as the sole constraint preventing Iran from pursuing nuclear armament. 

The top Iranian official also mentioned that policy changes would apply to projectiles. Kharrazi noted that Iran's missile capabilities are well-known, having been demonstrated in various operations. He stated that the current focus is on the ranges of the missiles used thus far, in which they [the Iranians] have considered the concerns of Western countries.

However, Kharrazi maintained that if Western nations do not acknowledge Iran's concerns, particularly regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iran then will disregard the concerns of Western countries. Therefore, it is likely that Iran will develop and extend the range of its missiles.

Unyielding Resistance: A commitment to victory amid unequal war

Kharrazi addressed the "unequal" war in the region, telling Al Mayadeen that it is "led by Israel, which perpetrates ethnic cleansing and the extermination of people," and is fighting those who are defending their lives, existence, and land.

He expressed hope that the war would come to a swift conclusion, asserting that "Israel" is engaging in "horrific ethnic cleansing" while mistakenly believing it has achieved victory. Kharrazi emphasized that such actions cannot be perceived as a true victory but rather as a profound violation of human rights. 

He also highlighted "Israel's" recent actions in blocking the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from delivering essential supplies, stating that the agency "wants to provide water and food to the besieged people of Gaza, but they have been blocked from doing so."

The top Iranian official emphasized that this move represents "the climax of anti-humanitarian values."

He called on the international community to "wake up and exert pressure on Israel," adding, "Unfortunately, we still see the West, including European countries and the United States, continue to support such a brutal and criminal entity and defend its actions by funding it and sending weapons." 

Kharrazi concluded that the implications of the situation and its eventual outcome are evident: the will of the people and their Resistance cannot be suppressed. He asserted that both the Palestinians and Lebanese are steadfast in their determination to resist, endure this oppression, and confront these atrocities until victory is achieved.

Iran doesn't interfere in ceasefire discussions 

Within the context of ceasefire negotiations, Kharrazi emphasized that Iran does not intervene, asserting that it is the Lebanese and Palestinians' right to negotiate and reach a ceasefire deal.  Moreover, he affirmed his country's support for any decision the countries make.

The Iranian official added that Iran remains committed to its previous agreements, provided that the other party also upholds its commitments. He expressed disappointment that the opposing side has not adhered to their obligations and, instead of engaging in negotiations, continues to impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's legacy

In the interview with Al Mayadeen, Kharrazi spoke about Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, describing him as a "powerful, wise, brave, and popular figure" who became a significant political leader in the Islamic world.

He noted that the loss of such a great leader is, in fact, a profound loss for everyone, particularly for the Lebanese people. Kharrazi pointed out that in many liberation movements worldwide, the loss of great leaders has often been followed by the emergence of successors.

Kharazzi explained that one of Sayyed Nasrallah's strategies was to prepare individuals for succession at all levels, asserting that leaders and cadres were ready to assume responsibility in various leadership roles.

Kharrazi emphasized that this policy enables Hezbollah to continue its struggle at full force today. That is why, he noted, the Israelis have not achieved their desired outcome of Hezbollah's collapse following Sayyed Nasrallah's martyrdom. He pointed out that the party continues to defend Lebanon while also maintaining a strong political presence.

He also affirmed that Sheikh Naim Qassem has been active in the political arena and has demonstrated his leadership capabilities. Kharrazi congratulated the Lebanese people and the Hezbollah Shura Council on electing Sheikh Qassem as the successor to the martyred leader Sayyed Nasrallah, expressing hope that under Sheikh Qassem's leadership, Hezbollah will continue its tasks with vigor. 

Iran's strategy in foreign relations

The top Iranian official also discussed Iranian-Russian relations and broader regional dynamics, telling Al Mayadeen that Russia and China are "seeking to build a new international system to free themselves of Western dominance," an objective Iran upholds.

He emphasized that emerging powers, including Iran, should play a prominent role in shaping a new world order that promotes more democratic governance, away from Western colonialism.

Kharrazi clarified that the steps taken so far within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the New Development Bank all align with this vision. He pointed out that Iran is a member of these organizations and is actively working toward establishing a new world order.

He also highlighted that the agreement between Iran and the Russian Federation is ready and it encompasses all aspects of bilateral relations and cooperation. Kharrazi noted that the agreement was originally scheduled to be signed during the recent BRICS meeting in Kazan, Russia, but the Russians preferred to finalize it during a bilateral visit to emphasize its significance, which will occur soon.

Concluding his remarks, Kharrazi stated that this is Iran's strategic policy "regardless of the type of governments and existing disagreements among countries in the region." He stressed the importance of improving relations between Iran and these nations so that they can collectively work toward stabilizing security in the region.

Kharrazi explained that all neighboring countries are aware of Iran's strategic policy and are currently moving in that direction. He acknowledged that those who may not be pleased with this approach may resort to disseminating biased media narratives that do not serve regional interests.

He referenced his recent historical research regarding Bahrain, noting that once upon a time, it was part of Iranian geography and was recognized as the fourteenth Iranian province. However, he stated that Bahrain is an independent country today, and Iran officially recognizes it as an Arab nation.

Kharrazi addressed claims from some media outlets that he questioned Bahrain's Arab identity, asserting that he had not raised this issue in his historical study. Instead, he maintained that he conducted a purely historical analysis that was mischaracterized by some as a debate. He reaffirmed that Bahrain is a friendly country, an independent Arab nation known for its Arab identity in the region, which Iran officially recognizes.

Hamdan to Al Mayadeen: Resistance Will Not Fall for US Deception

By Al Mayadeen English

A senior Hamas official discussed ceasefire developments in both Gaza and Lebanon with Al Mayadeen.

Recent ceasefire talks were limited to suggested ideas that did not live up to the demands of the Palestinian Resistance, a member of Hamas' Political Bureau, Osama Hamdan, told Al Mayadeen. 

"The partial exchange presented to us does not discuss a comprehensive ceasefire, and Hamas asserted that this does not align with its demands," Hamdan explained. 

Moreover, the senior official underlined that talks regarding a temporary truce is "irrational," as the Resistance seeks a complete halt to the aggression on the Palestinian people. 

He reiterated the movement's willingness to engage in serious proposals and its readiness to discuss any ideas for a final agreement, noting that any unserious proposals are a "waste of time."

Hamdan revealed that Hamas' leadership continues to make its decisions based on previous frameworks presented by the late Resistance leader and head of Hamas' Political Bureau, martyr Yahya al-Sinwar.  

On the US role in facilitating Israeli aggression 

The senior official also delved into the role that the United States administration has played in exploiting negotiations for its own goals. 

He told Al Mayadeen that the White House has attempted to exploit ceasefire talks to influence presidential election results and to separate the fronts of Lebanon and Gaza. 

Hamdan asserted that Washington "did not succeed" in doing so. 

He also saw that the US is a full partner in Israeli crimes, adding that "if it wanted to stop the [massacres], it would have stopped supplying the [Israeli regime] with weapons."

Stressing that the Resistance will not fall to US "deception," Hamdan underlined that these US efforts failed after Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, rejected the US proposals on a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Inter-Palestinian politics

Regarding the internal Palestinian situation, Hamdan revealed that a joint committee between Fatah and Hamas will manage public affairs in Gaza, describing the agreement as a step towards "organizing the Palestinian house."

Hamdan expressed Hamas' preference for a national unity government as part of any agreement with Fatah, noting that the Israeli regime seeks to fragment the Palestinian national project.

The Hamas official emphasized that "if forming a national unity government proves difficult, there are interests of our people that we must attend to by all available means."

Mozambique Election Results Approved by 9-7 Vote

Alexandra Brangeon/RFI

25 October 2024

Mozambique News Reports And Clippings (Milton Keynes, UK)

The national elections results were only approved by the National Elections Commission (CNE) in a narrow 9-7 vote early Thursday morning. The seven opponents demanded that votes be recounted at the polling stations where there was a a different number of voters in the three elections and that the invalid votes (nulos) be checked (requalified).

A common fraud is to take ballots for the opposition and simply put them in the pile of nulos. Requalification is checking the invalid votes and giving back those that are valid and had been fraudulently been counted as invalid. The law requires the requalification by the CNE, which declined to do it. The opponents say requalification must be done, as required by law. If recounts and requalifications are not done, then the 2024 General Elections should be cancelled, say the opponents.

They cited 10 reasons for rejecting the election: https://bit.ly/Moz-El-D105

+ A gross failure to "create an environment of trust and credibility for the entire electoral process".

+ "The marginalisation of the technicians appointed by the political parties was notorious in the STAEs at all levels, especially in the CPD [computer processing department]" where registration data is stored and which carried out the centralisation of election results. "This marginalisation has affected the smoothness of the process and the credibility of the results, as it was not done in compliance with the Electoral Law."

+ "The selection of trainers of polling station staff (MMVs) was based on lists provided by the Frelimo Party, operationalised by the district directors of the STAE, thus violating electoral norms and promoting fraud in Mozambique's electoral system."

+ "The late deployment of Renamo and MDM MMVs. In some cases they were chased away by the so-called CNJ observers (https://bit.ly/Moz-El-D105) who we believe may have been members of the Frelimo party, who circulated in the polling stations dictating illegal orders, outside their scope of observation." (In Zambézia 9204 observers were registered, the CNE announced Thursday. It appears that about 1000 are real observers and the other 8000+ are fake Frelimo CNJ observers. They are also used for ballot box stuffing.)

+ "The circulation of pre-voted ballot papers, outside the control of the electoral bodies and leading to the stuffing of ballot boxes with the connivance of the returning officers (presidents) of the polling stations and the directors of the STAEs, which constitutes serious violations of electoral law."

+ "The discrepancy in the number of voters between the three elections -Presidential, Legislative and Provincial - with significant differences and high numbers in some provinces;

+ "The presence of numbers of votes in the ballot boxes above the number of registered voters in the register book, of which the highest number of votes cast was in the Epworth/Mabvukuem polling station in Harare, with 595 registered voters, but 750 people voted",

+ "At district level there were no polling station by polling station results centralisation maps. Also the high number of blank and null votes may indicate a lack of transparency in the process."

+ "At the national tabulation [Wednesday night], party agents were sent out of the room during the the presentation of the minutes, so they had no opportunity to check how their submitted complaints were reported."

+ "The failure of STAE to respond to the doubts raised during the tabulation session" and their failure to use their computers to provide answers.

The nine who voted to approve the election results were the CNE chair, Anglican Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, Daud Dauto Ussene Ibramogy, Alice Banze, and Paulo Cuinica, all from civil society, plus five from Frelimo, Carlos Alberto Cauio, Mário Ernesto, António Focas Mauvilo, Rodrigues Timba, and Eugénia Fernando Jorge Fafetine Chimpene.

When the Bishop and chair voted to approve the obviously fake results last year in the municipal elections, it caused an outcry. The Anglican Council of Mozambique urged the electoral bodies, in particular CNE chair Matsinhe, to observe the electoral law and “to practice the truth”. A pastoral letter from the Council, signed by Deputy Chair Vicente Msosa, said the Anglican Church laments all failings in election management, and interference by unspecified “other bodies outside the electoral process”.

The letter said that Mozambicans expect from the CNE (and especially from Matsinhe) honesty and truthfulness, recalling that, according to the Gospel of St. John, “the truth will set you free”. The Bishop retired from his post on 15 July 2024, but remains in post as head of the CNE, supporting fraudulent elections.

The letter by those who voted against was signed by  Fernando Mazanga, Maria Anastácia da Costa Xavier, Abílio Baessa da Fonseca. Barnabé Lucas Nomo, Rui Manuel Cherene, and Apolinário João Mangote Site, all from opposition parties, and Salomão Moiane, nominated by civil society.

The CNE approval of the results was done at a marathon tabulation meeting partly open to party agents and observers, which continued from 13.00 Wednesday until 08.00 Thursday morning. Results were formally announced at a four hour public ceremony Thursday afternoon in which all results were slowly read out.

Guinea's Political Parties Face Survival Test As Junta Orders Mass Cull

Aboubacarkhoraa / Wikimedia Commons

A military parade (file photo).

30 October 2024

Radio France Internationale

More than 100 political parties in Guinea face a three-month battle for survival after the ruling junta published the results of a probe designed to bring order to the country's political landscape.

A 180-page report by the Ministry of Territorial Administration examined 211 parties, ordering 53 dissolved and 54 suspended for three months.

Another 67 parties were placed under observation, being given three months to provide the appropriate documents to the ministry. If they fail to comply, they face suspension.

Thirty-seven parties were not assessed.

"The end result is that for the 53 parties dissolved, there are illegible registrations or registrations with falsified signatures of ministers," said Camara Touré Djénabou, who coordinates civil status reforms at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation.

Some parties, she added, date back to the early 1990s and have never held a bank account.

Djénabou said that parties under observation scored at least 70 percent on compliance but need to meet the remaining 30 percent in the coming three months.

'Necessary clean up'

The department's minister, Ibrahim Khalila Condé, defended the survey as a necessary "clean-up" of Guinea's political arena.

However, critics argue it's a move to exclude key figures like ousted president Alpha Condé, former presidential candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo, and former prime minister Sidya Touré, all of whom are currently in exile.

"We at the UFDG have always said that the ministry evaluates the entities for which it is responsible," Souleymane de Souza Konaté, a spokesperson for the Union des Forces Démocratiques de Guinée (UFDG), told RFI.

"It is in this capacity that we lent ourselves to the exercise because we found it legitimate."

Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who took power in September 2021, has pledged to restore civilian rule by the end of 2024.

Since he seized control, many political opponents have faced arrest or exile.

The junta has banned demonstrations, dissolved a collective calling for the return of civilians to power and withdrawn some private media licences.

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

Africa: 'No, Long Covid is Not a Thing in Your Head, You're Sick'

Juanita Williams

allAfrica

Etheresia (Resia) Pretorius, Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Physiological Sciences at Stellenbosch University works with Massimo Nunes, PhD Human Physiological Sciences and Stellenbosch University junior lecturer, at their offices in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

1 November 2024

allAfrica.com

interview

By Juanita Williams

Cape Town — allAfrica's Juanita Williams sat down with Professor Resia Pretorius, Stellenbosch University, who's been researching how blood clots form and the impact of inflammation for two decades. Yesterday Pretorius delivered the keynote address at the 54th Mexican National Congress of Clinical Pathology in Puebla, Mexico, from October 30 to November 2, 2024.

Pretorius has been at the forefront of acute Covid-19 and Long Covid research since 2022, when the professor and her team, first identified inflammatory microclots in blood samples from individuals who contracted Covid-19. Their symptoms persisted for months and, in some cases, even years.

"I've been working with my students to understand what molecules are in circulation in the blood that are caused by diseases," Pretorius said. Her work researches conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, examining how these diseases elevate specific molecules in the bloodstream.

"If you look at diabetes, you will have too many glucose molecules in circulation inside your blood. We looked at those molecules and how they affect your blood, making it clot abnormally so that your blood becomes more viscous (sticky) and consequently increases your susceptibility to forming blood clots."

Pretorius and her team focus on identifying the interactions between these molecules and plasma proteins, which can trigger abnormal blood clotting. She describes the normal clotting process: "For example, you cut yourself and you bleed, and you know that you don't want to bleed forever; you need to form a little scab so that you can stop the bleeding and you can heal."

Their symptoms persisted for months and, in some cases, even years

However, she said the dangers of abnormal clotting are caused by circulating inflammatory molecules. "You don't want those molecules to interact with your blood that is soluble inside your body and then form small abnormal clots because inflammatory molecules have bound to the clots."

Chronic inflammation due to, for example, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis leads to an overload of inflammatory molecules, which can cause pathological clotting. Pretorius provides an example: "Many people will recognize that individuals with diabetes, for example, will get diabetic feet where the feet swell up and the legs are very sore. In some cases, someone with diabetes will get deep vein thrombosis, where they form a clot somewhere in the legs. Some people with diabetes can also die of a heart attack or stroke; they have a much higher propensity of dying than when you are healthy, so that's all caused by pathological clotting."

Pretorius's work underscores the importance of understanding clotting pathology, particularly in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases. Her research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind abnormal clotting and develop strategies to mitigate the risks associated with these conditions. As the medical community continues to grapple with the complexities of clotting disorders, Pretorius's contributions provide crucial insights into managing and potentially preventing life-threatening complications - particularly in the case of acute Covid-19 cases and what is now known as Long Covid.

It is not over

The 2023 Nature study, possibly the first statistical combination of results from separate studies "exploring prevalence, risk factors and symptomatology of long COVID in Africa", included 25 studies, more than a thousand papers, and 29 213 patients.

Their findings, that almost half of the people studied exhibited Long Covid symptoms, and the most common reason they sought medical help was the most debilitating symptom - fatigue.

This is crucial information that points to the fact that the burden of Covid-19 in Africa and the world did not end with millions of deaths from this novel coronavirus.

It is not over.

African governments now face treating about 12 million citizens who recovered from the virus but may have ongoing symptoms such as persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, concentration difficulties, and muscle pain.

These symptoms often last for months and can severely impact daily functioning and quality of life (Nature). Many individuals are unable to work, leading to income loss and increased healthcare costs - straining the already overburdened healthcare systems in many countries.

And those statistics do not include people who have Covid-19 right now – acute cases or those without symptoms – and may later exhibit symptoms of Long Covid.

The Center for Disease in the U.S. defines Long Covid as "a serious illness that can result in chronic conditions requiring comprehensive care. Long Covid - also known as Post-Covid Conditions (PCC) long-haul Covid, Chronic Covid or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) - can include a wide range of ongoing symptoms and conditions that can last weeks, months, or even years after Covid-19".

Is there any information or guidance available for managing Long Covid symptoms, especially for individuals with pre-existing health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure? 

My mother, who contracted Covid-19 in December 2020, initially seemed to recover but later experienced severe symptoms, including stomach issues and vomiting bile. Given her underlying health conditions, I wonder if there were any specific interventions or treatments that could have been considered during her repeated admissions to hospital in 2020 when post-Covid discussions were not as prevalent. 

What resources or options are available for individuals dealing with lingering symptoms after recovering from Covid, especially for those with additional health concerns?

Unfortunately, whether it is 2020 or 2024, many individuals who contract Covid-19 still develop Long Covid. Unfortunately, developing effective treatments for various patient conditions can be a lengthy and challenging process.

Currently, a handful of clinicians who understand the disease will look at a patient and do a clinician-initiated treatment regime.

Now why? It's that Long Covid and acute Covid-19 are new diseases.

So for clinicians to genuinely adapt to and have treatment regimes, they need to identify treatment options, and then it needs to go through clinical trials. We are a very, very, very long way from that!  So unfortunately, what we have now is a selected handful of clinicians who fully understand the disease by not looking at it as a viral pneumonia, but looking at each patient in front of them.

You mentioned your mother suffered from TIA's, which are transient ischaemic attacks, a mini-stroke. So clinicians wouldn't have looked at treatment for that. They need to look at treatment of the symptoms because there's no current treatment for Long Covid. The issue with Long Covid is there are over 200 different symptoms. It's a syndrome, it's not a single-origin symptom disease. So that's what makes it difficult.

Unfortunately, it's still very difficult.

Researchers, including myself and collaborators from prestigious institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Mount Sinai, are working diligently to understand these disease phenotypes (how the disease manifests in patients) and identify biomarkers (measurable indicators) to aid diagnosis.

We think it is a thrombophlebitis. While a big word, "thrombotic clotting," simply refers to blood clots forming inside your blood vessels. This can be triggered by "endothelialitis," which is inflammation of the lining of your blood vessels (VAs).

This inflammation can lead to problems throughout your body because it affects the health of your entire vascular system.  It damages the inside of the blood vessels. It then prevents oxygen from travelling from your brain to your muscles to your heart adequately, and because you have an issue with oxygen transport, your vasculature doesn't work well, and you've got immune dysregulation.

In some individuals, the virus may linger in the body even after recovering from the initial Covid-19 infection. This is called viral persistence. The virus might hide in various places, including inside the gut. Many people complain about gut dysbiosis or irregularities in the gut. Though they may not constantly feel unwell, some might experience vomiting. This is because the virus can significantly impact the gut. In some individuals, the virus goes and hides in the gut.

The inflammatory molecule that triggers the immune system, that triggers the blood clotting is then released slowly ... into your body. It's like a toxic little product being secreted by the virus that might be in hiding.

We think that Long Covid is immune-related. It's clotting-related. While viral persistence might occur in some individuals, it doesn't necessarily shape the constant release of inflammatory molecules in everyone.

What role does impaired blood flow, particularly due to conditions like atherosclerosis (the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls) and mini-strokes, play in the development of vascular dementia, as observed in my mother's case?

Vascular dementia is a form of Alzheimer's or Alzheimer's type of dementia. It's related to the vasculature not functioning properly in your brain. Vascular dementia can begin developing many years before a formal diagnosis is received. So the question is, whether perhaps the Covid event just fast-tracked it, that might be a possibility, we see that a lot.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, cardiovascular risk, all of those types of comorbidities in individuals... But it is in those individuals that we now know that acute Covid is much more severe. If we look at the Long Covid population, many of the people suffering from Long Covid will have had those types of comorbidities before their acute phase.

Now, we can also say that it might be just be that you become sicker faster. So that might have been the case with your mother. I'm not a clinician, so I can't say anything about her specifically. But that's what we see when we look at the patient groups.

Interestingly, many Long Covid patients also have never had comorbidities, they were quite healthy before they were in the acute phase. Some people also were perfectly healthy, and now struggle with things like Long Covid. That might be due to the genetics of the whole composition, perhaps they would have developed diabetes 10 years from now, before Covid. We simply don't know what the trigger is, and why some who are perfectly healthy, develop Long Covid.

Could you clarify if the clinicians you mentioned earlier are specifically focused on treating Long Covid as a distinct condition?

I think it's now well exhibited, there are hundreds of thousands of papers showing pathology (study of the condition).

Unfortunately, there are still individuals and clinicians who might think that it's all in the patient's head. They say they are just overthinking it, they (are) psychologizing it and they are gaslighting patients by saying: 'You know what, just go and have a walk in the park, you will get over it.'

It is not that, it is not a thing in your head, you are sick.

Unfortunately, many people including clinicians might still be suggesting to some patients that there's nothing to worry about. That it's a psychological type of disease, because unfortunately, currently, the reason for it is that there are no real diagnoses for it.

Seismic Change in Botswana as Party that Ruled for 58 Years Loses Power

By SELLO MOTSETA

11:28 AM EDT, November 1, 2024

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — The party of Botswana’s opposition candidate Duma Boko was declared the election winner Friday over incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi in a seismic change that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power since independence from Britain.

Masisi conceded defeat even before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party trailing in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters and a landslide victory for the main opposition party.

Hours later, Chief Justice Terence Rannowane announced that the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change party had won a majority of seats in the election, making its candidate, Boko, the next president of the southern African country, which is one of the world’s biggest producers of mined diamonds.

Masisi said he had called Boko to inform him he was conceding defeat.

The final results of the election were yet to be formally declared, but Rannowane said the UDC had reached the 31-seat threshold to win a majority.

“I concede the election,” Masisi said in an early-morning press conference two days after the vote. “I am proud of our democratic processes. Although I wanted a second term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.”

“I look forward to attending the coming inauguration and cheering on my successor. He will enjoy my support.”

Masisi’s BDP dominated politics in Botswana for nearly six decades, since independence in 1966. The nation of just 2.5 million people will now be governed by another party for the first time in its democratic history.

“We lost this election massively,” said Masisi, a 63-year-old former high school teacher and UNICEF employee. “I have not packed a shoe. I did not expect it,” he added.

Boko is a 54-year-old lawyer and Harvard Law School graduate who also ran in 2014 and 2019. He didn’t immediately comment but posted on his official page on X: “Botswana First” with a picture of a UDC campaign poster with the words “Change is Here.”

Botswana has been held up as one of Africa’s most stable democracies and is regarded as a post-colonial success story having built one of the highest standards of living in the region through an economy that largely relies on diamonds. Botswana is the world’s second biggest natural diamond producer behind Russia and has been responsible for all the biggest diamonds found in the last decade.

But Botswana faces new challenges and the mood for change became evident as a downturn in the global demand for diamonds badly impacted the economy, becoming the central issue for the campaign.

Unemployment rose to more than 27% this year, and significantly higher for young people, as the government saw a sharp decrease in revenue from diamonds. Masisi and his party had faced criticism for not having done enough to diversify the economy and the nation has been forced to adopt recent austerity measures.

Even the BDP conceded throughout its campaign that policy change was needed and tried to convince voters it was capable of leading the country out of its economic troubles. Diamonds account for more than 80% of Botswana’s exports and a quarter of its GDP, according to the World Bank.

Masisi said the country had hardly sold any diamonds since April through its Debswana company, which the government jointly owns with diamond miner De Beers.

Botswana’s general elections decide the makeup of its Parliament, and lawmakers then choose the president. The party that gains a majority is in position to choose its candidate as president. All five of Botswana’s post-independence presidents have been from the BDP.

The BDP was one of the longest-serving parties in Africa still in power and its sharp defeat came as a surprise after what was expected to be a tight race. It followed an equally momentous change in neighboring South Africa, where the long-ruling African National Congress lost its 30-year majority in an election in May and was forced to share power for the first time in a coalition government.

Algeria Pardons and Releases Journalist Who Became a Key Voice During 2019 Pro-democracy Protests

FILE - Activists demonstrate outside the Algerian embassy to France to demand the release of release of Algerian journalist Ihsane El Kadi, in Paris, France, March 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

12:32 PM EDT, November 1, 2024

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria has pardoned a journalist who emerged as a key voice during the country’s 2019 pro-democracy protests and was later imprisoned for taking foreign funding for his media outlets and threatening state security.

Ihsane El Kadi was released from prison Thursday evening, one of his lawyers, Fetta Seddat, told The Associated Press. He was among a larger group of figures pardoned and released on the 70th anniversary of the start of Algeria’s revolution, a national holiday that authorities have in the past used as an occasion to offer pardons.

El Kadi was the veteran editorial director of the media company responsible for the francophone station Radio M and news site Maghreb Emergent. Both reported heavily on Algeria’s weekly pro-democracy “Hirak” protests, which began in 2019 and led to the resignation of octogenarian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Known as the “voice of the Hirak,” both became forums for pro-Hirak voices and debates on protesters’ objectives.

Known as one of the rare independent voices in Algerian media, El Kadi was among the figures from the Algerian media to be targeted by authorities as the protests continued under Bouteflika’s successor, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He covered everything from economics to the Algerian Civil War, which plagued the nation throughout the 1990s and cemented the military’s grip on power in the gas-rich North African nation.

El Kadi was arrested in 2022 and charged with undermining state security and violating laws prohibiting media organizations from receiving foreign funds. Investigators said his daughter sent money from the United Kingdom. Both Radio M and Maghreb Emergent were shuttered.

His arrest and seven-year prison sentence garnered international condemnation and became emblematic of Algeria’s crackdown on free expression and voices critical of the government.

El Kadi was greeted by his wife and daughter upon his Thursday release from El Harrah prison. Pro-democracy activists and press freedom advocates celebrated the pardon. Reporters Without Borders’ North Africa Representative Khaled Drareni, said in a statement that El Kadi, “should never have been imprisoned.”

“It is to be hoped that this release will also signal the ending of restrictions on press freedom,” he added.

Reporters Without Borders ranked Algeria 139th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, calling the media landscape “deteriorated” as journalists continue to be pressured, jailed and prosecuted.

El Kadi was among 4,000 people released Thursday based on clemency decrees signed by Tebboune, according to a statement from his office. Those released included people imprisoned for low-level crimes and for “undermining public order,” a charge that Algerian authorities have used to target dissidents in the past.

Tebboune also pardoned Mohamed Tadjadit, a pro-democracy activist known as the “poet of the Hirak” for his outspoken writing, which he did in Algerian Arabic. He was detained in January after criticizing the authorities on social media. The detention came after several years in which he was detained and subsequently pardoned for similar criticisms.

In September, before Tebboune was elected to a second term, Amnesty International decried Algeria’s crackdown on freedom of expression and said it “contributed to a climate of fear and censorship in the country.”

“Authorities have continued to clamp down on journalists through arbitrary detention and prosecutions, arbitrary restrictions on their right to freedom of movement and unfounded sanctions imposed on media outlets,” the human rights group wrote in a Sept. 2 statement.

Kenya’s New Deputy President Sworn in as His Predecessor Challenges His Impeachment in Court

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI

8:03 AM EDT, November 1, 2024

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s new deputy president has been sworn into office, two weeks after his predecessor was overwhelmingly voted out in an impeachment motion in parliament over allegations of corruption and inciting ethnic division.

Kindiki Kithure took office on Friday after a colorful event in the capital, Nairobi, attended by government officials and western envoys among other guests.

His swearing-in was cleared by the court on Thursday after orders that had suspended it were lifted, despite a continuing court case challenging the impeachment of the previous deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua is challenging the impeachment before the High Court in Nairobi, arguing that the charges are unsubstantiated and that the hearings were unfair.

The former deputy president was impeached and removed from office by a vote of more than two-thirds of legislators on Oct. 17 on charges of corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and support for anti-government protests. President William Ruto nominated Kindiki for the deputy role the next day.

Gachagua’s impeachment had highlighted divisions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance, or UDA, and friction between Ruto and Gachagua, both UDA members. Gachagua had been accused of insubordination when he opposed the government’s policy of forced evictions during heavy rains that caused flooding and deaths.

The new deputy president Kindiki called Friday’s event a celebration of the “constitution and our democracy” and committed to be loyal and faithful to the president.

President Ruto urged him to “please serve the people of Kenya” adding that like all public servants, they are not in office for personal interests and that all leaders serve at the pleasure of the people of Kenya and must uphold the constitution and the rule of law.

Kindiki — the former interior minister — takes the deputy president’s office at a time when arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances in Kenya have raised concerns among western envoys and human rights groups. The country is also going through economic hardships with a rising cost of living and newly increased taxes.

In June, the country witnessed a series of nationwide anti-government protests over a finance bill that proposed to increase taxes, culminating in the storming and burning of parliament on June 25, when several protesters were shot dead outside parliament gates.

Ruto, who came to office claiming to represent Kenya’s poorest citizens, has faced widespread criticism over his efforts to raise taxes to pay off foreign creditors. The public opposition led him to shake up his Cabinet and back off from certain proposals.

29 Nigerian Children May Be Sentenced to Death for Protesting Against Cost-of-living Crisis

FILE - People run away from tear gas during a protest on the street in Kano, Nigeria, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sani Maikatanga, File)

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

4:47 PM EDT, November 1, 2024

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Twenty-nine children could be facing the death penalty in Nigeria after they were arraigned Friday for participating in a protest against the country’s record cost-of-living crisis. Four of them collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they could enter a plea.

A total of 76 protesters were charged with 10 felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance and mutiny, according to the charge sheet seen by The Associated Press.

According to the charge sheet, the minors ranged in age from 14 to 17 years old.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to several mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds more were arrested at a protest demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people.

The death sentence was introduced in the 1970s in Nigeria, but there have been no executions in the country since 2016.

Akintayo Balogun, a private lawyer based in Abuja, said the Child Rights Act does not allow any child to be subject to criminal proceedings and sentenced to death.

“So taking minors before a federal high court is wrong, ab initio, except if the government is able to prove that the boys are all above 19 years,” Balogun said.

The court eventually granted 10 million naira ($5,900) bail to each the defendants and imposed stringent conditions they are yet to meet, Marshal Abubakar, counsel to some of the boys, said.

“A country that has a duty to educate its children will decide to punish those children. These children have been in detention for 90 days without food,” Abubakar said.

Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough, a civil society organization promoting good governance in Nigeria, said authorities have no business prosecuting children.

“The chief justice of Nigeria should be ashamed, she is a woman and a mother,” Adamolekun said.

Despite being one of the top crude oil producers in Africa, Nigeria remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Chronic corruption means the lifestyle of its public officials rarely mirrors that of the general population. Medical professionals often strike to protest meager wages.

The country’s politicians and lawmakers, often accused of corruption, are some of the best-paid in Africa. Even the president’s wife — her office nowhere in the constitution — is entitled to SUVs and other luxuries funded by taxpayers.

Nigeria’s population of over 210 million people — the continent’s largest — is also among the hungriest in the world and its government has struggled to create jobs. The inflation rate is also at 28-year high and the local naira currency at record lows against the dollar.

On Thursday, Nigeria was classified as a “hotspot of very high concern,” in a report from United Nations’ food agencies, as large numbers of people are facing or are projected to face critical levels of acute food insecurity in the West African country.

Uganda Struggles to Feed More Than 1.7 Million Refugees as International Support Dwindles

By PATRICK ONEN

1:14 AM EDT, October 31, 2024

RWAMWANJA, Uganda (AP) — For months, Agnes Bulaba, a Congolese refugee in Uganda, has had to get by without the food rations she once depended on. Her children scavenge among local communities for whatever they can find to eat.

“As a woman who’s not married, life is hard,” Bulaba told The Associated Press. Some locals “keep throwing stones at us, but we just want to feed our kids and buy them some clothes,” said the mother of six, who often works as a prostitute to fend for her family.

Uganda is home to more than 1.7 million refugees, the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Despite being renowned for welcoming those fleeing neighboring violence, Ugandan officials and humanitarians say dwindling international support coupled with high numbers of refugees have put much pressure on host communities.

Approximately 10,000 new arrivals enter Uganda each month, according to U.N. figures. Some have recently fled the war in Sudan, but most are from neighboring South Sudan and Congo.

Bulaba is among tens of thousands in Rwamwanja, a refugee settlement in southwestern Uganda. As in other settlements across the east African country, refugees there are given small plots of land to cultivate as they are slowly weaned off total dependence on humanitarian food rations.

Since 2021, as funding consistently declined, the U.N.’s World Food Program has prioritized the most vulnerable groups for food assistance, in food items or cash, which can be as little as $3. After spending three months in Uganda, refugees are eligible to get 60% rations, and the number falls by half after six months. Only new arrivals get 100% food assistance, leaving the vast majority of some 99,000 refugees in Bulaba’s settlement vulnerable to hunger and other impoverishment.

In 2017, the Ugandan government and the U.N. held a summit in Kampala, the capital, and appealed for $8 billion to deal with the sharp influx of refugees from South Sudan at the time. Only $350 million was pledged.

Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, visited Uganda last week in a trip partly aimed to underscore the funding shortage.

The international community “should not take Uganda’s generosity and the global public good it provides for granted,” Grandi said in a statement at the end of his visit. “Services here are overstretched. Natural resources are limited, and financial support is not keeping pace with the needs.”

He also said international support “is urgently needed to sustain Uganda’s commitment to refugees,” urging donors and humanitarian partners to “come together with the government to address the needs of refugees and the generous communities hosting them.”

Refugees in Uganda have access to the same hospitals as locals, and their children can attend school. While this helps integrate them into the Ugandan community, sometimes the competition for limited resources sparks tension. However, violence is rarely reported.

Hillary Onek, the Ugandan government minister in charge of refugees, said during Grandi’s visit that local officials need support to help refugees become more self-reliant. Though he said the country was “overloaded” with refugees, he cited several training options to help refugees become self-sufficient, including carpentry, bricklaying and metal welding.

“We are trying to be innovative,” he said. “Given the fact that funding for refugee programs dwindled over the years, there is not enough money to meet their demands, not even giving them enough food to eat.”

Onek said the alternative is “to survive on your own, using your skills, using whatever capacity you have.”

But Bulaba, the Congolese refugee who has been in Uganda since 2014 after fleeing violence in her home country with her two children, said she can’t find a job. She has since had four other children who often go barefoot and without appropriate clothing. She misses the cash-for-food stipend she used to get.

“For us to eat, we look for work, but there’s no work,” she said.

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Associated Press writer Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed to this report.