Yemeni Armed Forces Attack USS Harry Truman, Israeli Sites

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Yemeni Military Media

6 Jan 2025 21:17

The Yemeni Armed Forces launch renewed attacks on USS Harry Truman and Israeli military sites in occupied Palestine in a continued show of support for the people and resistance of Gaza.

In a show of support and solidarity with the Palestinian people and their Resistance, the Yemeni Armed Forces announced a series of military operations as part of the Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad battle. These actions come in response to ongoing aggression and massacres against Palestinians in Gaza.

In a significant joint operation, the missile and UAV forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the northern Red Sea. According to the statement, two cruise missiles and four drones were deployed against the carrier as it was preparing to launch a major airstrike on Yemen. The operation reportedly succeeded in thwarting the planned attack. 

The UAV forces conducted multiple strikes this afternoon and evening, targeting Israeli occupation sites.

- First operation: Two drones targeted a military site in the occupied area of Yafa.

- Second operation: A vital target in occupied Askalan was struck with a drone.

- Third operation: A military site in the occupied area of Yafa was again targeted later in the evening also with drones.

The Yemeni Armed Forces reported the successful achievement of all objectives, highlighting their precision and coordination in these missions.

In their statement, the Yemeni Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Palestinian Resistance. They declared that their operations would persist until the aggression on Gaza ceases and the blockade is lifted.

Hypersonic ballistic missiles launched at 'Israel'

The missile force of the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) carried out a military operation targeting the Israeli Orot Rabin power plant in the southern region of occupied Haifa, spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Sunday.

The operation was conducted using a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile and successfully achieved its objective, Saree confirmed in a statement.

He said the operation was in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their Resistance fighters and in response to the massacres committed against people in Gaza.

Yemen remains steadfast in fulfilling its religious, moral, and humanitarian obligations toward the oppressed Palestinian people, the YAF spokesperson underlined, asserting that supportive military operations for the Resistance in Gaza will continue to compel the Israeli occupation to cease its aggression on Gaza and lift the blockade on the enclave.

Gaza Resistance Bombards Gaza Envelope, IOF Admit Soldier Deaths

By Al Mayadeen English

The Palestinian Resistance continues steadfastly defending its lands in Gaza, inflicting losses among Israeli army ranks, as acknowledged by the military.

The Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas Resistance movement, announced the targeting of two Merkava tanks using a highly explosive device and a Shawaz charge, east of the Siftawi junction in western Jabalia camp. 

The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), on the other hand, claimed responsibility for the rocket launch targeting the Sderot settlement and the Gaza Envelope, carried out from a location near an Israeli military vehicle deployment in northern Gaza. 

The Israeli military announced on Monday that it had detected three projectiles launched from northern Gaza, which crossed into Israeli settlements while the occupation military continues its devastating war on the besieged Palestinian enclave.

In a statement, the military said that three rockets were launched from the northern Gaza Strip at the settlement of Sderot, adding that one projectile was intercepted while one landed in Sderot and another in an open area.

Israeli media said one of the rockets caused slight damage to a residence in the settlement.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom reported the settlers' anger from Sderot, who expressed that they "have returned to a state of war. This reality is unbearable. We are moving toward suspending education in the city; this has become intolerable."

For his part, the Israeli army spokesperson acknowledged the deaths of two soldiers and the injuries of two others in northern Gaza. 

In detail, one of the killed soldiers, holding the position of officer and captain, was serving as the deputy company commander in the Nahal Brigade's 932nd Battalion and had previously served in the Duvdevan Unit. 

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that "the incident occurred during intense clashes in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, when militants fired an anti-tank missile at the Israeli forces."

Information is yet to be released regarding the other soldier.

The Israeli army had also announced that two soldiers from the Nahal Brigade were seriously wounded in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, on Monday morning due to an explosive device detonating inside a building.

Venezuela Military Affirms Loyalty to Maduro Amid Gonzalez Coup Calls

By Al Mayadeen English

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces reiterate their allegiance to President Nicolas Maduro amid a false Western narrative about the presidential election.

Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino Lopez denounced far-right opposition figure and former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez on Monday, following a video in which Gonzalez tacitly sought the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) backing to obstruct President Nicolas Maduro's upcoming inauguration.

In a strongly worded press conference, Padrino Lopez rejected what he described as an "absurd and incoherent" appeal from Gonzalez, who he accused of ignorance, desperation, and attempts to destabilize Venezuela's democratic order. The defense minister's statement directly addressed a video Gonzalez had published the previous night, shortly after arriving in the United States.

"His cowardly and insolent address to the FANB demonstrates not only his ignorance about the institution but also his desperation in the face of his coup plans' inevitable failure," Padrino Lopez said. He further criticized Gonzalez over his aligning with foreign powers to undermine Venezuela's sovereignty, specifically pointing to the US government's support for opposition factions.

Opposition promoting sanctions

The minister highlighted the adverse effects of international sanctions promoted by opposition figures, describing them as harmful to the Venezuelan people, including military personnel and their families.

"These sanctions have caused significant harm, with the FANB being among the primary victims of the violence fomented as part of these neo-fascist actions to destabilize the legitimate government," he added.

Padrino Lopez reaffirmed the FANB's unwavering loyalty to Venezuela's constitution and government, emphasizing their role in defending the nation's freedom, sovereignty, and independence. He dismissed Gonzalez's efforts as "clownish politicking" and asserted the military's continued support for Maduro's leadership.

"On January 10, 2025, we will reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Venezuelan democracy and recognize Nicolas Maduro as the constitutional president for the 2025–2031 term," the statement declared.

The defense minister concluded with a rallying cry invoking the legacy of national heroes Simon Bolivar and Hugo Chavez: "For Bolivar and Chavez, we shall prevail! The homeland continues! Independence and Socialist homeland! Independence or Nothing!"

Venezuela breaks diplomatic relations with Paraguay

In a related context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela announced Monday the decision to break diplomatic relations with the Republic of Paraguay.

The statement said the Venezuelan government proceeds to the immediate withdrawal of its personnel from the South American nation after the demonstrations of the Paraguayan president Santiago Peña to continue the "ridiculous adventure of Guaido 2.0, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejected the statements of the Paraguayan president, which are "totally disrespectful of international law and the principle of non-intervention."

It added that Peña “is repeating a failed practice reminiscent of the political fantasies of the now defunct Lima Group" and that his actions represent a “reissue of strategies without political, legal or social support, which have demonstrated their resounding failure.”

Likewise, Venezuela rejects that governments such as Paraguay continue to subordinate their foreign policy to the interests of foreign powers and dedicate themselves to promoting destabilizing agendas that threaten the democratic principles of free peoples.

In this sense, the Bolivarian nation reiterated its commitment to the essential principles of the United Nations Charter: the defense of democracy, peace, and self-determination of peoples.

“No buffoonery instructed by international fascism will be able to bend the will of a people firm in the construction of its own destiny," the statement concluded, 

National Assembly chief pledges to prosecute Gonzalez

The National Assembly of Venezuela re-elected Jorge Rodriguez Gomez yesterday as its president for the 2025-2026 legislative term, supported by an overwhelming majority.

The session commenced with Rodriguez formally declaring his victory, citing the presence of the necessary quorum and introducing special foreign guests, indigenous community representatives, and newly elected Justices of the Peace. The event marked the beginning of the fifth term of office for the assembly.

Speaking on the issue of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, Rodriguez underlined that Caracas is "obligated to apply the law to Edmundo Gonzalez," stressing that if he were to set foot on Venezuelan soil, "We will arrest him on charges of treason and usurpation of power."

Gonzalez, who fled the country following an arrest warrant, revealed on Saturday that he plans to speak with outgoing US President Joe Biden.

Speaking from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he met with President Javier Milei, Gonzalez Urrutia mentioned that he was traveling to the US on Sunday, though the exact timing of his conversation with Biden remained unclear.

"We are planning a conversation with President Biden and we are waiting for details regarding the new authorities," he said, referring to the incoming US administration under President Donald Trump, set to take office on January 20.

Gonzalez Urrutia’s meeting with Milei marked the beginning of a regional tour aimed at garnering international support for what Venezuela's opposition regards as the legitimate president-elect.

The visit came just days before Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to be sworn in for a third term in Caracas.

M23 Rebels Capture Strategic Town in Eastern DRC

By Al Mayadeen English

6 Jan 2025 13:34

The Tutsi-led Rwandan-backed M23 group has been conducting a renewed insurgency in eastern Congo since 2022.

Rebel forces from the M23 movement, supported by Rwanda, have seized control of a key town in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo near the regional capital of Goma, according to local political sources.

The Tutsi-led M23 group has been conducting a renewed insurgency in eastern DRC since 2022. Both the DRC and the United Nations have accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the group with its own troops and weapons. Meanwhile, Rwanda claims it has only taken defensive actions.

Alexis Bahunga, a member of the regional parliament, confirmed to Reuters that recent clashes have resulted in significant territorial gains for the M23 group, which now controls Masisi—a town and administrative center located roughly 80 kilometers from Goma.

"The government will take measures to restore state authority over the entire territory," Bahunga said, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Ayobangira Safari, another parliamentary deputy, acknowledged that Masisi had been taken "for now".

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the anti-government Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes the M23 group, said that rebel forces reached the center of Masisi on Saturday afternoon.

In the aftermath of the takeover, an international aid official in Masisi stated that staff members were in shock and unable to continue their operations. The closure of local businesses has disrupted supply lines, making it increasingly difficult to deliver essential goods and services to the region.

The ongoing advances and persistent fighting, in violation of a ceasefire agreement, further jeopardize efforts to contain the conflict.

A rare high-level meeting between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents, initially scheduled for December, was postponed, dampening hopes for an agreement to quell the violence that has displaced over 1.9 million people. 

The leader of an international organization operating in Masisi reported that staff members were in shock and unable to continue their work, as business closures have made it difficult to procure essential supplies.

Mali's Army Announces Capture of Senior Islamic State Leader

By Al Mayadeen English

6 Jan 2025 13:06

The army says the operation was carried out in the northern part of the country and resulted in the killing of several other militants.

Mali's army announced on Saturday that its forces had captured two men, one of whom is a prominent figure in the Islamic State group’s Sahel branch.

The army also reported killing several members of the group during an operation in the northern part of the country.

According to a statement from the military, they arrested Mahamad Ould Erkehile alias Abu Rakia and Abu Hash, the latter of whom is said to be a key leader within the group. The army accused Abu Hash of orchestrating attacks in the Menaka and Gao regions in the northeast, as well as coordinating assaults on the military. 

Mali has been experiencing a terror insurgency for over a decade, which the French security mission failed to combat. As a result, the violence spread to Mali’s neighboring countries, Burkina Faso and Niger, prompting the three nations’ military rulers to sever their ties with France and form the Alliance of Sahel States while cooperating with Russia in countering terrorism.

Mali alarmed that weapons supplied to Ukraine fuel terrorism in Sahel

Malian Ambassador to the United Nations Oumar Daou expressed concern in August that the weapons provided to Ukraine by the collective West are eventually supporting terrorism in the Sahel area.

At the time, Daou stated at a session of the United Nations Security Council that the government is alarmed "because it's been clearly established that a good part of the weapons … end up fueling terrorism and crime in the Sahel."

The Malian envoy further stated that the weapons transfers have the potential to further destabilize African countries and worsen the suffering of the Malian people, who have already been "sorely tested by several years of conflict with dramatic consequences."

PLA Army Carries Out Drills to Test Operational Capacity in High-altitude and Cold Environment Conditions

By Global Times

Jan 06, 2025 06:59 PM

Photo: CCTV

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Army has carried out joint drills to evaluate annual combat readiness in high-altitude and cold environment conditions in the Karakoram Mountains at the start of the new year, featuring drones, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

According to a China Central Television (CCTV) report on Monday, a unit of the Xinjiang Military Command has been conducting reconnaissance tactical drills in an unfamiliar high-altitude area. Multiple forces of reconnaissance, armored and firepower units participated with a range of equipment to test their operational capacity. 

In the Karakoram Mountains during the ongoing drills, the reconnaissance unit swiftly maneuvered to the designated area and established a reconnaissance position upon after receiving intelligence from a higher command. Meanwhile, the aerial reconnaissance unit deployed drones to conduct real-time battlefield monitoring. 

The command post quickly analyzed the enemy situation and issued combat orders, with all operational units immediately responding. The armored unit swiftly assembled, mobilized their vehicles, and launched an assault on the forward positions. The artillery unit adjusted firing parameters as instructed, preparing for fire support. 

According to a participant of the exercise, due to rapidly changing battlefield conditions, the reconnaissance unit must be stealthy, efficient and swift when carrying out missions, which requires the unit not only to possess strong military skills but also to be familiar with the terrain and topography of the battlefield. 

The CCTV report shows that as the drills continued, the reconnaissance unit advanced the frontline rapidly, using radar systems, drones and telescopes to conduct comprehensive detection of the enemy’s forward positions. 

After obtaining information on enemy troops’ deployments and firepower configurations, an assault group formed by the armored unit launched successive charges. Under the cover of tanks, troops carried by infantry fighting vehicles quickly dismounted and advanced toward the target area, successfully seizing the position.

In accordance with the operational requirements for high-altitude and cold regions, the troops have researched system-based reconnaissance, said Zhou Hongxin from the Xinjiang Military Command. Through targeted enhancement and gap-filling trainings, and repeated rounds of combat drills, each combat unit could spot their shortcomings, which compels PLA soldiers and officers to address and overcome deficiencies, thereby enhancing overall ability. 

This year’s military drills officially began on January 2 with all military troops carrying out exercises throughout the country, from the Gobi Desert, the coastal frontlines, the snow-covered plateaus to the dense mountain forests. 

On Thursday, drills of a destroyer detachment from the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command began in full swing. A formation of advanced destroyers and frigates cast off and set sail for designated waters to conduct a series of high-intensity, combat-oriented drills, according to CCTV.

Meanwhile, an air force aviation brigade conducted its first training flight at the beginning of the new year, integrating aerial tactical competitions into their drills. Pilots engaged in realistic combat scenarios, carrying out air combat confrontations, close-range air support, and air-to-ground attack drills across multiple training subjects. The training aims to comprehensively hone the pilots’ combat skills in a simulated battlefield environment, CCTV reported. 

Song Xiaojun, a military affairs commentator, said the highlights and characteristics of different services in diversified drills can be summarized with three phrases – actual combat, high intensity and systematization. 

Song said that this year’s New Year drills are related to deepening the reform of the joint operational system, which means that different military services and branches should find points of closer interdependence in future operations. Only in this way can they achieve the maximum effect of joint operations and, in turn, constrain the enemy’s decision-making space to force them into difficult situations, CCTV reported. 

Global Times

Biden Administration’s ‘Steel Wall’ Redefines Economic Nationalism

By Global Times

Jan 06, 2025 12:31 AM

Illustration: Chen Xia/ GT

In a striking display of economic nationalism, US President Joe Biden blocked Japan's Nippon Steel from acquiring US Steel in a $14.9 billion deal, citing "national security" concerns and the need to safeguard critical supply chains.

This decision, made in the twilight of the current US administration, is more than a rejection of foreign investment; it's a declaration that the US industrial backbone is not for sale, even to its closest allies.

Steel, the lifeblood of infrastructure and military might, is not just another commodity. It's the foundation of the US' bridges, tanks and skyscrapers - essential to national security, just like soldiers and satellites. This underscores the strategic significance of the Biden administration's decision.

By keeping US Steel in American hands, the Biden administration has drawn a line in the sand, signaling that specific industries are too critical to be controlled by foreign entities.

The statement from Biden reads: "Without domestic steel production and domestic steelworkers, our nation is less strong and less secure." This sentiment resonates deeply in a country where the decline of manufacturing has left scars on communities and fueled political populism.

The Biden administration's move aligns with its broader commitment to protecting American jobs and industries - a promise that has garnered bipartisan support, with even his successor echoing similar sentiments. However, this isn't just about economics; it's about geopolitics.

By rejecting Nippon Steel's bid, the US is also intensifying its efforts to maintain independence in industries where China's influence looms and attempting to strengthens its position in the ongoing economic rivalry with China.

For Japan, Biden's decision is a bitter pill to swallow. Nippon Steel had promised it would not cut output capacity at US Steel's mills for 10 years.

The Japanese company's pleas are in vain; Washington fundamentally treats Tokyo as a subordinate. How could a subordinate be allowed to control America's strategic industries?

The implications extend beyond Japan.

US allies, including the EU, are watching closely. The Biden administration's move reinforces a growing perception that the US is prioritizing its own economic security over the interests of its partners. This could strain alliances and push countries like Japan, as well as EU members, to seek closer economic ties with other nations.

Washington's protectionist stance may accelerate the regionalization of the global economy. Countries excluded from US markets could double down on regional trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). These agreements, which exclude the US, could become platforms for countries to reduce their reliance on American markets and forge new economic alliances. 

This could lead to a more fragmented global economy, with regional blocs becoming increasingly economically self-sufficient.

As the US raises barriers to foreign investment, China could position itself as a more reliable partner for countries seeking to diversify their economic relationships.

While the Biden administration's decision may protect American jobs and industries in the short term, it carries long-term risks. By shutting out foreign investment, the US could miss opportunities to modernize its industries and strengthen its global competitiveness. Moreover, protectionism could erode the country's leadership in the global economy as other countries turn to alternative markets and partners. 

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Resistance to US protectionist policies could push the world toward a more multi-polar economic order.

Canadian PM Trudeau Resigns as Leader of Ruling Liberal Party

By Global Times

Jan 07, 2025 12:15 AM

Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on December 15, 2021. Photo: VCG

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, according to CNN.

"The fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, parliament has been paralyzed for months, after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history," Trudeau said in televised remarks outside of his home in Ottawa, Canada's capital city, according to a report by CBS news. "I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process," said the report.

Trudeau will remain prime minister in a caretaker capacity until a new leader is chosen.

Trudeau made a last-ditch effort to shuffle his cabinet, hoping to add some stability to his government, but that failed as well, said the CBS news.

During Trudeau's administration, the relationship between China and Canada has been relatively strained. In a recent development, according to a statement published on the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 2024, China has decided to impose countermeasures against two Canadian organizations and 20 personnel associated with these organizations in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.

The countermeasures include freezing all movable and immovable property and other types of assets of the two Canadian organizations "Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project" and "Canada Tibet Committee" within China's territory and prohibiting organizations and individuals within China's territory from engaging in any transactions or cooperation with them.

Global Times

China Identifies Malicious Websites, IP Addresses Used by Foreign Hacker Organizations

FM urges US to stop using cybersecurity to vilify China

By Liu Caiyu

Jan 06, 2025 11:24 PM

Cyber security Photo: VCG

A number of foreign hacker organizations have been utilizing malicious websites and overseas IP addresses to execute cyberattacks targeting China and other nations, according to China's national cybersecurity and information security notification center on Monday. 

These malicious websites and IPs are linked to specific Trojan programs or their control endpoints. The types of cyberattacks include establishing botnets, phishing, stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, and infringing on citizens' personal information, presenting a serious risk to domestic networks and internet users in China, according to the center in a statement. Some of these activities are suspected to constitute criminal offenses, the center noted.

The revelation of this batch of cyberattacks is just the tip of the iceberg, as such incidents have become increasingly common in our digital world. These attacks often target critical information infrastructure, Qin An, deputy director of the expert committee on counter-terrorism and cyber security governance at the China Society of Police Law, told the Global Times on Monday.

The locations of the relevant malicious websites and IPs mainly involve the US, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, Mexico, Vietnam, and others, according to the center.

Of the 10 listed malicious websites and IP addresses, two were traced to the US. 

The malicious address gael2024.kozow.com, associated with the IP address 149.28.98.229 located in Miami, Florida, is linked to a family of backdoor viruses known as AsyncRAT, according to the statement by the center. 

The backdoor programs are able to carry out screen monitoring, keystroke logging, password retrieval, file theft, process management, camera control and interactive shell access. They can also visit specific URLs. 

These viruses can spread through various means, such as removable storage devices and phishing emails. Several related variants have been identified, some of which specifically target critical interconnected systems in the public welfare sector within China, the center said. 

Another malicious address located in Los Angeles is linked to multiple samples of the RemCos virus family. RemCos, a remote management tool that has been in existence since 2016, allows attackers to exploit backdoor access on infected systems to gather sensitive information and exert remote control, according to the statement. 

The latest version of RemCos is capable of executing a range of malicious activities, including keylogging, taking screenshots and stealing passwords, it added. 

These tactics such as Trojan horses, hacking, ransomware and phishing techniques are some of the conventional methods of the US to target a wide range of countries. China is among the victims of these cyberattacks, Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies with Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Monday. 

In 2022, the email system of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province - well-known for its aviation, aerospace and navigation studies - was found to have been attacked by the US' National Security Agency (NSA), the Global Times learned from a source.

Of the 10 malicious addresses, three were traced back to the Netherlands. The center said it detected a type of Linux botnet virus that spreads through methods such as network downloads, exploiting vulnerabilities and brute-force attacks via Telnet and SSH. Once it successfully infiltrates a target network system, it can launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. 

Two malicious addresses were identified from Singapore. Multiple samples of the Farfli virus family were detected. Farfli is a remote-control Trojan that can spread through various methods, including network downloads, software bundling and phishing. 

Ensuring cybersecurity is a global challenge. China is a major victim of cyberattacks and has always opposed and fought various types of cyberattacks in accordance with the law, experts said. 

Relentless smears

Recently, the US has ramped up smear against China on cybersecurity issues. 

The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned a Beijing-based cybersecurity company on Friday, claiming it helped Chinese hackers infiltrate US telecommunication system and conduct surveillance.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that on the so-called issue of cyberattacks, China has made clear our position more than once. China has all along firmly opposed hacking and fights it in accordance with law.

China urged the US to stop using the issue of cybersecurity to vilify and smear China. For quite some time, the US has been trumpeting so-called "Chinese hacking" and even using it to impose illegal and unilateral sanctions on China, Guo said. 

China firmly rejects this and will do what is necessary to safeguard our lawful rights and interests, Guo noted. 

Titled "How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons," the Wall Street Journal in a Saturday report sensationally accused Chinese hackers of being able to "shut down dozens of US ports, power grids and other infrastructure targets at will." 

The US has long propagated a series of unfounded accusations against China and cybersecurity has recently become a focus. The US sees cyberspace as a crucial dimension in the overall competition between with China, therefore it seeks to preserve its hegemony in this regard and cannot accept China's development, Li noted.

Hyping so-called cybersecurity threat from China would also benefit certain US governmental agencies which want to secure more funding, Li said.

Some think thanks and firms in sectors of artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing also favor such a narrative to get projects from the US government, he further explained. 

South Korea Political Turmoil Drags on as Investigators Seek Extension of Arrest Warrant for President

By Deng Xiaoci

Jan 06, 2025 11:08 PM

South Koreans supporting and opposing impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol gather near the presidential residence in Seoul on January 5, 2024. Photo: VCG

South Koreans supporting and opposing impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol gather near the presidential residence in Seoul on January 5, 2024. Photo: VCG

South Korea's political turmoil continued to escalate on Monday, as South Korea's investigating authorities requested an extension of a warrant to arrest the country's impeached president, Yoon Suk-yeol. 

Meanwhile, the presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Seoul further complicates the situation. Representing the outgoing Biden administration, Blinken's visit aims to gain a deeper understanding of South Korea's complex and delicate political landscape, and show support for the pro-US factions within the South Korean government, experts said. 

The Corruption Investigation for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), South Korean anti-corruption body, has refiled the warrant at the Seoul Western District Court to extend the deadline for the warrant to detain Yoon, Yonhap News Agency reported Monday.

On Friday the CIO had failed again to serve an arrest warrant on Yoon over his declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024 after presidential security service guards formed a human chain to prevent access to him.

The arrest warrant, the first for a sitting president, was due to expire at midnight on Monday. 

Earlier on Monday, Yonhap reported that South Korean state anti-corruption agency has asked the police to take over the execution of a warrant to detain Yoon. 

"The CIO sent us an official letter requesting our cooperation without prior consultations," a police official told Yonhap News Agency. "We are internally carrying out a legal review."

Yonhap later on Monday said the state anti-corruption agency's letter asking police to execute a warrant to detain Yoon contains legal issues, police said Monday, effectively rejecting the request.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea on Saturday advised Chinese nationals residing in South Korea and Chinese tourists visiting the country to enhance their legal awareness and self-protection, according to a statement released on the embassy's WeChat account on Saturday. 

The embassy asked them to stay away from local political gatherings and crowded areas, refrain from making public political statements, keep informed about traffic control caused by gatherings, and prioritize personal safety and travel security.

Park Jong-joon, chief of South Korea's presidential security service, on Sunday vowed to keep blocking the attempt to arrest Yoon, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Around 30 South Korean ruling party lawmakers gathered near the presidential residence to rally against investigators' efforts to detain Yoon on Monday, according to local media.

US weighing on ally

Also on Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Seoul for talks on their countries' bilateral alliance and other issues, officials said, Yonhap News Agency reported. 

Blinken on Monday said South Korea-US relations are "bigger than any one leader, any one government." And Cho said South Korea and US reaffirmed no vacuum in their bilateral alliance, said South Korean Foreign Minister Cho, per Yonhap. 

Blinken's visit marked the first trip by a top US official since Yoon's impeachment. Blinken arrived in South Korea late Sunday, Yonhap said.

Yoon's surprise martial law imposition sparked concerns it could undermine the alliance with Washington, especially ahead of the launch of the second Donald Trump administration, Yonhap said.

Blinken is on a three-nation tour this week, with planned stops in Japan and France. The trip is widely expected to be his final overseas visit as the top US diplomat under the Biden administration.

Blinken on Monday reaffirmed the US' complete confidence in the strength of South Korea's democracy and the leadership of acting President Choi Sang-mok, according to South Korean finance ministry.

In response, Choi expressed gratitude for Washington's steadfast support and trust in South Korea's democracy and alliance. He further noted that Blinken's visit itself is a testament to the unwavering strength of the South Korea-US alliance.

Blinken's visit to South Korea and Japan during the US political transition period is aimed at consolidating what the Biden administration sees as one of its most commendable political legacies - the strengthening of the US-Japan-South Korea trilateral alliance to counter and contain China, according to Lü Chao, an expert on the East Asian studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. 

Amid domestic unrest in South Korea, Blinken's visit seeks to encourage political stability within the country. At the same time, as Japan's new leadership shows a relatively more friendly and pragmatic attitude toward China, maintaining such trilateral alliance becomes crucial. Through this visit, Blinken aims to reassure both South Korea and Japan, preventing their complex historical and diplomatic issues from undermining the trilateral alliance, thereby ensuring the stability of the alliance strategy, Lü said.

Also, by being physically present in Seoul at the moment, Blinken's visit, although he carefully avoided mentioning or explicitly endorsing the impeached president, provided support to the extreme pro-US factions within South Korea, Lü told the Global Times on Monday. 

In South Korea, which is in the midst of political turmoil following the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japan, Blinken intends to highlight the expansion of US cooperation with both nations as part of the Biden administration's "Indo-Pacific strategy," AP reported on Saturday. 

Blinken is not scheduled to meet Yoon. Blinken is expected to steer clear of taking partisan sides in the deeply divided country but instead will focus on policy continuity, the AFP reported Sunday.

The turmoil and lack of a clear leader in Asia's fourth-largest economy comes just as the US is in the midst of its own political transition. While Biden has focused on nurturing US alliances, President-elect Donald Trump, who takes over on January 20, has been dismissive of what he sees as unfair commitments by the US, the AFP said.

Trump said during his latest presidential run that if he were in power he would have strong-armed South Korea into paying $10 billion a year for the presence of US troops, nearly 10 times what it contributes now.

Blinken's visit aims to assess the situation and conduct field research to gain a deeper understanding of South Korea's complex and delicate political landscape, and to accurately gauge the key issues at play, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

Blinken seeks to demonstrate support for the pro-US factions within the South Korean government. He also seeks to influence forces in South Korea that strive for diplomatic balance, so as to prevent drastic swings in South Korea's current policies, Li noted.

As a representative of the Biden administration, Blinken hoped that South Korea and Japan could closely coordinate to serve the US need for strategic competition with China. However, the reality is that the legacy of strengthening South Korea-Japan cooperation left by the Biden administration may gradually unravel with the return of Trump administration, he said.

Who Were the Winners and Losers of African Democracy in 2024?

Présidence de la République du Sénégal/Page Facebook

Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

4 January 2025

Radio France Internationale

By Melissa Chemam

In 2024, 18 elections took place on the African continent, from Senegal to South Africa, Algeria to Ghana, with the results an equal mix of democratic success stories and challenges still to overcome.

In a historic year for democracy - with elections taking place in more than 50 countries around the world in 2024, bringing more than 1.5 billion people to the polls - the African continent was no exception.

With 18 elections taking place, including Senegal's in March, South Africa's in May, Algeria's and Tunisia's in September and October respectively, and Ghana's in December, some regions, particularly in West Africa, saw significant progress through democracy, while others still face significant challenges.

Lessons from West Africa

Political scientist Mathias Hounkpe is the co-author of a comparative analysis of electoral commissions in West Africa, which saw elections in Senegal and Ghana this year.

According to Hounkpe, both set examples of well-run and effective polls.

"In Senegal, the results reflect the ability of the institutions in the countries concerned to perform their roles properly, as well as the citizens' ability to organise themselves to protect democracy and safeguard the elections," he told RFI.

Having been delayed by former president Macky Sall, the presidential election held in March saw Bassirou Diomaye Faye elected with 54 percent of the vote. The ruling Pastef party then managed a landslide majority in snap parliamentary elections in November.

In Ghana in December, the presidential election marked the return to power of former president John Mahama.

"I believe that Ghana could be an example for the entire sub-region," Hounkpe said. "It is the country where the electoral commission makes significant efforts to earn the trust of the citizens."

He added: "The loser conceded victory based on the results collected by the party itself. They didn't even wait for the provisional results to be announced by the commission. It was based on the results they gathered themselves. So, for me, it's a lesson for political parties in the sub-region."

Alternance in South Africa and Botswana

As in Ghana and Senegal, in November Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi peacefully conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his ruling Botswana Democratic Party had lost its parliamentary majority, having been in power since the country's independence in 1966.

The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change party garnered more than half of the parliamentary seats, with its leader Duma Boko becoming the new president.

Masisi concedes defeat in Botswana's presidential election

Its neighbour to the south saw the African National Congress lose its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid 30 years ago, in South Africa's 29 May vote.

While it remains the country's largest party, controlling 159 of the 400 seats in the new National Assembly, it agreed to form a coalition with its main opposition, the Democratic Alliance - all achieved peacefully.

Ramaphosa re-elected as South African leader after historic coalition deal

South Africa also took over the rotating presidency of the G20 and will host its summit in November 2025 before handing over to the United States - the first time an African nation has held the role.

Somaliland's success

While the Horn of Africa region continues to grapple with insecurity and the conflict in Ethiopia and Somalia, a presidential election was held in November in Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, following weeks of uncertainty.

The results saw the leader of the opposition, Mohamed Abdullahi of the Waddani party, also known as "Cirro", secure the presidency with 64 percent of the vote, defeating the incumbent candidate, Muse Bihi.

Somaliland, on the northwest point of Somalia, unilaterally declared independence in 1991 and has been notably more stable than the rest of the country since then.

Its latest election result represented peaceful political alternance for the sixth time in a row, attracting praise from political analysts and renewing hope for international recognition.

With a new president, Somaliland seeks international recognition

Human rights in North Africa

However, other parts of the continent saw less success in terms of democracy.

In Algeria and Tunisia, re-elected Presidents Tebboune and Saied received 95 and 89 percent of the votes respectively - amid low turnout in both countries.

If Algeria has enjoyed economic and social stability over the past decade, human rights organisations including Amnesty have warned of a decrease in freedom of expression, assembly and religion, and women's, workers' and LGBT people's rights.

In Tunisia, both the economy and the democracy have been weakened, and the country has cracked down on citizens' rights to dissent, free speech and peaceful protest.

Mozambique's deadlock

The highest court in Mozambique on 23 December confirmed the disputed election results of 9 October that extended the Frelimo party's 50-year grip on power, and have thrown the country in chaos.

For the three months since the poll, the country has seen unprecedented protests and violent clashes. Frelimo leader Daniel Chapo's main challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, maintains that the election was rigged.

Postponed polls

Malians were due to vote in February 2024, in an election that had been postponed from July 2022, but the country's military junta, which seized power in a coup in 2021, postponed the vote again "for technical reasons".

Alexandre Didier Amani, from the NGO Tournons La Page, says the Sahel region has seen widespread regression since the coups that ousted the governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso - now united in a confederation under the label the Alliance of Sahel States.

He told RFI: "The closure of civic spaces, silencing of voices and also abductions. We can see that there is a real regression in democracy."

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

Macron's Speech at Foreign Policy Conference Draws Criticism

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered his speech to French ambassadors posted around the world, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris

Africa News

Addressing French ambassadors at a conference, Emmanuel Macron said he was awaiting Africa's Sahel nations to thank Paris for its help in fighting Islamist militants.

For some, the tone of the French president’s remarks was condescending and echoed colonial rhetoric.

Some found this was particularly the case with his comment that Mail, Niger and Burkina Faso would not have sovereign states were it not for the French army.

Macron also rejected suggestions that his country was driven from the region. These comments have also come under fire, with some insisting that several African nations did, in fact, reject a French presence.

French soldiers withdrew from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso after a wave of military coups, and they’re starting to pull out of Senegal, Chad and Ivory Coast.

In December, Chad put an end to its military agreement with Paris. Prior to this, the French army had around 1,000 troops in the country.

Zoe Saldaña Embraces Her Creative Calling at the Golden Globes

Zoe Saldana poses in the press room with the award for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in any motion picture for "Emilia Perez" during the 82nd Golden

By Afolake Oyinloye

At the 82nd Golden Globes, Zoe Saldaña shone not just for her win as Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez but for her heartfelt reflection on her artistry and commitment to creativity. The Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy star shared an emotional insight into her journey as an artist during the post-award press interactions.

"I'm just, you know, I'm 46," Saldaña began, candidly reflecting on a moment of doubt a few years ago. "I was sort of thinking about plan Bs like, do I go into a homestead and start planning a garden, baking goods, and becoming the sexiest soccer mom in my mind? But the truth is, I'm an artist through and through, and I need to create every day."

Her speech highlighted the intimate relationship between her creative expression and her sense of purpose. "If not, I just don't know what I can do. I don't know why I'm here. And that's how my loved ones can get the best of me , when I am allowed to create."

Saldaña expressed deep gratitude to directors who trust her talents, including Jacques Audiard, the filmmaker behind Emilia Pérez. "After conversations, auditions, and promises that I can do something, they really decide to bet on me. And it works," she said.

She also revealed the impact of ongoing support from legendary collaborators. While attending the Globes, Saldaña received a message from Avatar director James Cameron, who is currently in New Zealand editing Avatar: Fire and Ash. "After all these years, he believes in me," she said. "That nourishes my desire to continue growing as an artist."

Before the year’s top films and TV shows were celebrated at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, Viola Davis was presented with the esteemed Cecil B. DeMille Award.

The 59-year-old actress received the honor during the Golden Gala: A Celebration of Excellence, held on Friday, January 3, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Named after the legendary director, the award recognizes exceptional contributions to the entertainment industry.

Sudan Army Chief Backs Turkish Peace Effort

Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport

Africa News and AP

The head of the Sudanese army has praised Turkey's offer to resolve the 20-month-long conflict between his forces and their paramilitary rivals.

During a meeting in Port Sudan on Saturday, Abdel Fattah Al Burhan asked Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister , to convey to Turkish leaders that they welcome President Erdogan's initiative.

In a statement last week, the United Arab Emirates praised Turkey's "diplomatic efforts" aimed at "resolving the ongoing crisis in Sudan."

The war in Sudan, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 12 million others.

It has also pushed the country to the brink of famine, with analysts warning that the involvement of other countries would only prolong the suffering.

Senegal and Neighboring Mauritania Begins Gas Production

FILE - BP is among the companies that will be using the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim oil field

Africa News

Senegal and neighbouring Mauritania have become gas producers, using the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim field which straddles the maritime border between the two countries.

British company BP, one of the businesses involved in the project, said in a press statement that it had ''started producing gas from the wells of the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA)'' field.

Along with BP, US group Kosmos energy, Mauritania's SMH and Senegal's Petrosen will also be using the field.

After six years of planning, the project's launch has been welcomed by Senegal's Oil minister, who described it as ''historic''.

It's estimated that the field will produce some 2.5 million tonnes of liquified natural gas per year.

Although the country won't match the production levels of the world's gas heavyweights such as Russia and Qatar, it's hoping to generate billions of dollars from the field in order to transform its economy.

France’s Former President Sarkozy Stands Trial Over Alleged Campaign Funding by Libya’s Gadhafi

11:40 AM EST, January 6, 2025

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial Monday over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Sarkozy, 69, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, did not speak to the press as he arrived at the court in Paris. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The Libyan case, the biggest and possibly most shocking of several scandals involving him, is scheduled to run until April 10, with a verdict expected at a later date.

Sarkozy faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The trial involves 11 other defendants, including three former ministers. Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, accused of having played the role of intermediary, has fled in Lebanon and did not appear at the Paris court.

Sarkozy is looking forward to the hearings “with determination,” his lawyer Christophe Ingrain said in a statement.

“There is no Libyan financing of the campaign,” the statement said. “We want to believe the court will have the courage to examine the facts objectively, without being guided by the nebulous theory that poisoned the investigation.”

As the court debated complex legal issues Monday, Sarkozy appeared both focused and nervous, fidgeting with his hands and feet as he sat in the dock.

Anti-corruption groups Sherpa, Anticor and Transparency International joined the proceedings, stressing in a statement “this alleged illegal financing shows the mechanisms of cross-border corruption, which deprives civilian populations of essential public resources by siphoning funds for the benefit of private and political interests.”

“It is important that the issue of the victims of corruption is not left out of this trial,” they said.

Gadhafi’s alleged agreement

The case emerged in March 2011, when a Libyan news agency reported that the Gadhafi government had financed Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. In an interview, Gadhafi himself said “it’s thanks to us that he reached the presidency. We provided him with the funds that allowed him to win,” without providing any amount or other details.

Sarkozy, who had welcomed Gadhafi to Paris with great honors in 2007, became one of the first Western leaders to push for a military intervention in Libya in March 2011, when the Pentagon, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and NATO led a bombing and ground operation to overthrow the Gaddafi government. Gadhafi was killed at the aegis of the administration of then President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in October that same year, ending the four-decades revolution of the North African country.

The next year, French online news site Mediapart published a document said to be a note from the Libyan secret services, mentioning Gadhafi’s agreement to provide Sarkozy’s campaign 50 million euros in financing.

Sarkozy strongly rejected the accusations, calling the document a “blatant fake” and filing complaints for forgery, concealment and spreading false news.

However, French investigative magistrates eventually said in 2016 the document has all the characteristics of authenticity, although there is no definitive evidence that such a transaction took place.

The official cost for Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign was 20 million euros.

Accusations of witness tampering

French investigators scrutinized numerous trips to Libya made by people close to Sarkozy, then the interior minister, between 2005 and 2007, including his chief of staff Claude Guéant. They also noted dozens of meetings between Guéant and Takieddine, a key player in major French military contracts abroad.

The investigation gained traction when Takieddine told news site Mediapart in 2016 that he had delivered three suitcases from Libya containing millions in cash to the French Interior Ministry.

However, Takieddinne reversed his statement four years later.

Since then, a separate investigation has been launched into alleged witness tampering as magistrates suspect an attempt to pressure Takieddine in order to clear Sarkozy. Sarkozy and his wife, former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, were given preliminary charges as financial prosecutors said the former president is suspected of “benefitting from corruptly influencing” Takieddine.

11 other defendants

The other accused are three former French ministers, including Guéant, and a former adviser close to Sarkozy.

Like Takieddine, Franco-Algerian businessman Alexandre Djouhri is accused of having been an intermediary.

The case also involves Gadhafi’s former chief of staff and treasurer Bashir Saleh, who sought refuge in France during the Libyan civil war, then moved to South Africa, where he survived a shooting in 2018, before settling in the United Arab Emirates. Saleh did not appear Monday at the Paris trial.

Other defendants include two Saudi billionaires, a former Airbus executive and a former banker accused of having played a role in the alleged money transfers.

Shukri Ghanem, Gadhafi’s former oil minister who was also under suspicion, was found dead in the Danube River in Vienna in 2012 in unclear circumstances. French investigators were able to find Ghanem’s notebook, which is believed to document payments made by Libya.

Gadhafi’s spy chief and brother-in-law Abdullah al-Senoussi told investigative judges millions were indeed provided to support Sarkozy’s campaign. Accused of war crimes, he is now imprisoned in Libya by imperialist-backed forces.

Sarkozy convicted in 2 other cases

Sarkozy has been convicted in two other scandals — yet the Libyan case appears as the one most likely to significantly affect his legacy.

France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, last month upheld a conviction against Sarkozy of corruption and influence peddling while he was the head of state. He was sentenced to one year under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. The case was revealed as investigative judges were listening to wiretapped phone conversations during the Libya inquiry.

In February last year, an appeals court in Paris found Sarkozy guilty of illegal campaign financing in his failed 2012 reelection bid.

French Police Arrest Three Algerians for Making Alleged Violent Statements on Social Media

By JOHN LEICESTER

12:26 PM EST, January 6, 2025

PARIS (AP) — Police in France have arrested three Algerian men described by authorities as social media influencers accused of posting videos inciting violence, against a backdrop of soured relations between Paris and its former colony in North Africa.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced the latest arrest Sunday evening — the third in as many days. A French media report that the minister attached to his post on X said the influencer posted a video to his 138,000 followers on TikTok that French authorities deemed anti-Semitic.

The arrest in Montpellier, southern France, and two others in the Alpine city of Grenoble and the western port city of Brest come amid renewed turbulence in the often complicated relationship between France and Algeria, which overthrew French rule in 1962 after a national liberation war.

A shift last July in France’s decades-old position on the disputed Western Sahara region of northern Africa angered Algeria and prompted the withdrawal of its ambassador in Paris.

The French government, meanwhile, has denounced Algeria’s detention since November of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is an outspoken critic of the Algerian government.

The French government hasn’t linked the tensions with Algiers to the three arrests.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Sunday that France wants “the best relations” with Algeria. But he said Paris has doubts about the Algerian government’s commitment to deals agreed in 2022 that were seen as important steps toward mending their relationship.

The first Algerian influencer arrested, a 25-year-old who reportedly had more than 400,000 followers on TikTok before his account was closed down, was detained Friday morning in Brest. He faces trial Feb. 24 in a Brest court on a charge of expressing support online for an act of terror, which is punishable by up to 7 years in prison, the Brittany port city’s prosecutor said in a statement.

The statement said that during police questioning, the man acknowledged that he was the author of Arabic-language videos on TikTok that called for acts of terror in France and overseas. He told police that the videos targeted opponents of Algeria’s government, the statement said.

The arrest of another Algerian, in Grenoble, was announced by the interior minister in a post on X on Friday night. The minister described the man as an influencer and said that “he too will have to answer to the courts for vile comments made on TikTok.”

At a court hearing on Monday, the man asked for more time to prepare his defense, Grenoble prosecutor Eric Vaillant said. He faces a charge of inciting an act of terror online, also punishable by 7 years imprisonment, and will be kept in detention until he’s tried on March 5, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor’s office in Montpellier didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions about the arrest in that city.

Residents and Officials Say Rebels Have Seized 2 Key Towns in Eastern DR Congo

By JUSTIN KATUMWA

9:06 AM EST, January 6, 2025

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Rebels with the M23 group have seized two key towns in eastern Congo as they advance in the volatile region, civil society and a local politician said Monday, as the security and humanitarian crisis deepened.

The rebels over the past week took Katale and Masisi towns, the latter located 80 kilometers (49 miles) west of the regional capital, Goma, and a strategic entry point into the country’s interior.

The M23 is one of over 100 armed groups that have been vying for territory in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced.

M23 political spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka claimed responsibility for the capture of Masisi on social media platform X. He asserted that the group is committed to protecting civilians.

Alexis Bahunga, deputy for the Masisi territory, confirmed that Masisi was under the M23’s control.

“The humanitarian situation is so catastrophic,” he told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday. “People are scattered in all corners of the territory, in camps.”

The spokesman for the Congolese army, Col. Djike Kaiko, told the AP he was still checking the information.

John Banyene, president of the civil society group Forces Vives du Nord-Kivu, denounced the government’s “lethargy” in the face of the rebel advance.

“It is inconceivable that the government continues to act in this way at a time when we are losing space,” he said.

Bernard Kanyama, a resident of Bweremana village next to Masisi, said he saw people fleeing to other villages.

“We saw even yesterday two people who died when the rebels fired a bomb in Bweremana and several wounded, so we are very worried,” he told the AP.

Congo and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of backing the M23. Rwanda denies it, but in February it acknowledged that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border.

U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo.

In July, Congo signed a ceasefire with the M23, which came into effect in August, but fighting has resumed, with the United States saying it was “gravely concerned” by ceasefire violations by M23 rebels.

DRC Congo Will Execute More Than 170 People Convicted of Armed Robbery, Official Says

By JEAN-YVES KAMALE and WILSON MCMAKIN

7:59 AM EST, January 6, 2025

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — More than 170 inmates on death row were flown from Congo’s capital to a high-security prison in the north where they will be executed, Congolese authorities said.

Seventy of the convicts were transported on Sunday, Congolese Minister of Justice Constant Mutamba said, adding to 102 other prisoners who have already been sent to Angenga prison in the northern Mongala province.

The men have been convicted of armed robbery and are locally known as “Kulunas” or “urban bandits.” They’re aged between 18 and 35, Mutamba said in a statement. He did not say when the executions would take place.

Some have welcomed the measure as a means of restoring order and security in the cities, while others are concerned about the risks of abuse and human rights violations.

“We welcome this decision by the minister because it will help put an end to urban crime. From 8 p.m. onwards, you can’t move around freely because you’re afraid of running into a Kuluna,” said Fiston Kakule, a resident of the eastern city of Goma.

Espoir Muhinuka, a human rights activist, warned of the possibility of extrajudicial executions and called for a strict respect for judicial procedures and fundamental guarantees. He fears that political pressure could lead to unjust convictions and arbitrary executions.

“The situation in the DRC is complex and requires a multidimensional approach. The fight against urban gangs must go hand in hand with efforts to combat poverty, unemployment and social exclusion, which are often contributing factors to crime,” he said.

Congo abolished the death sentence in 1981, but it was reinstated in 2006. The last execution took place in 2003.

In March 2024, the Congolese government announced the resumption of capital punishment in cases of treason by military personnel.In May, eight soldiers were sentenced to death, and in July, 25 soldiers were convicted of similar offences. None is known to have been executed.

SACP 2024 Year-end Statement

Sunday 29 December 2024:-  The South African Communist Party (SACP) wishes the workers and poor, employed and unemployed, as a class, great strength for the period ahead. The coming period requires ever growing, maximum working-class unity and independence on all fronts of the struggle. The SACP pledges to take forward this direction to tackle the crisis of working-class representation in our country, as resolved by its Fifth Special National Congress held in December 2024.

While working-class people in our country realised commendable progress from human rights to social advances following our hard-won April 1994 democratic breakthrough, it is also a fact that in economic terms there has been a lack of progress. This is a result of a number of factors, including the persisting legacy of colonial and apartheid oppression, capitalist domination of the economy and exploitation of workers, post-1994 neo-liberal policy dominance, and a hostile international atmosphere characterised by the dominance of imperialist forces and multiple global crises.

In ownership and control, the economy in our country still dominantly belongs to a tiny minority. Domestic economic ownership and control predominantly continue to reflect the legacy of colonial and apartheid oppression, super exploitation of the majority and associated patriarchal relations. Along with this, the capitalist system-generated mass unemployment, poverty and inequality continue at crisis-rates, affecting millions of working-class people. In terms of both race and gender, the class impact of unemployment, poverty and inequality also continue to reflect the legacy of colonial and apartheid oppression, economic super exploitation of the majority and associated patriarchal relations. These go against our national imperative to transform our society into a non-racial and non-sexist democratic society. This requires a united and revolutionary working class to change fundamentally. The SACP will play its role in deepening and defending this just struggle for the people, the majority of whom is the working class, to share in the country’s wealth.

While moderating in certain categories during certain quarters, crime increases in the same and other categories during other quarters. As a result, it remains at a crisis-level as well.

While there are other factors, there is a causal relationship between the crisis levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality, on the one hand, and the high rates of crime, on the other. All this is an outgrowth of the prevailing exploitative capitalist system.

To address the challenges and achieve a new breakthrough, above all else our country needs a united and revolutionary working class. Hence, the SACP says:

“Together, let's forge a popular left front. Let's consolidate and build a powerful, socialist movement of the workers and poor.”

It is deeply disappointing that the neo-liberal structural reform ideology and political direction driven by imperialist-controlled institutions and monopoly capital is increasingly being embedded in our policy space under the GNU, which includes the anti-national democratic revolution DA. The imperialist forces and both the domestic and foreign sections of capital promote this agenda and seek direct control of our country’s policy space through the right-wing, neo-liberal DA. This is in the interest of insinuating private accumulation in and through the private capture of what was hitherto state-owned network infrastructure sectors, among others, such as electricity generation, railways, the ports and foundational telecoms infrastructure (the high radio frequency spectrum was privatised through an auction to the highest bidders, for example).

In intensifying the battle against neo-liberalism and its policy prescripts, such as austerity, the working class must strengthen the struggle for broad-based industrialisation. This must integrate growing working-class and democratic state control and participation – on behalf of the people as a whole – in the economy.

Our country needs large-scale public economic and social infrastructure development and maintenance, a thriving public economy, and a caring social policy. This should include decisive implementation of the National Health Insurance to ensure quality healthcare for all, and a comprehensive social security system with a universal basic income grant. In this regard, the battle for uncompromised holistic implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act is as crucial as the battle for uncompromised holistic implementation of the National Health Insurance to intensify.

Driving structural transformation across the economy is essential. This must include domestic minerals beneficiation and agro-processing development and diversification as part of broad-based industrialisation.

In the same vein, and in line with the Freedom Charter, we need to see progress towards a state banking sector, a public banking system and growth in the worker- and community-controlled co-operative banking sector. This should be an apex priority towards financial sector transformation. A Sovereign Wealth Fund and prescribed assets (investment) remain crucial to see being implemented as well. These can serve as key sources of transformation and development funding.

Ending all forms of interpersonal and gender-based violence, and clamping down on crime at large, must be strengthened as a priority.

Anti-imperialism and international solidarity

The SACP reiterates its revolutionary solidarity with the people of Cuba against aggression and the illegal, criminal blockade, and the occupation of Guantanamo Bay, by the imperialist regime of the United States.

The SACP reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the people of Swaziland struggling for democracy, with the people of Western Sahara against occupation by Morocco, and with the people of Sudan for an end to war.

The situation in Swaziland has forced many into exile. South Africa is host to their majority. The autocratic regime in Swaziland has targeted activists for democracy and transition to socialist transformation and development, violating their human rights and imprisoning and murdering others. We denounce this injustice in the strongest terms possible.

The hardships endured by the Saharawi people as a result of Morocco’s occupation of their land, which we unreservedly denounce, are untold. In this regard, the SACP also condemns the obstructive role of the imperialist France and Spain and their support for Morocco. The imperialist forces are hellbent on legitimising and extending administrative control of Western Sahara and handing it firmly over to Morocco. This is done in the interest of, among others, full-fledged capture and exploitation of the natural resources of the Saharawi people and the political economy of their entire land.

The war in Sudan has had and continues to have a severely negative impact on livelihoods, engendering social chaos, mostly, but not only, affecting women and children, and displacing many. This war must end now!

The SACP takes this opportunity to reiterate its solidarity with FRELIMO as a liberation movement historically. Once again, we congratulate FRELIMO on winning the recent Mozambican elections, and as further confirmed by the highest court of the land based on evidence on the standards of free and fair elections. In this context, we condemn post-election violence by those seeking destabilisation, who are often supported by imperialist forces by overt or covert means.

In the same vein, once again, we congratulate SWAPO on winning the recent Namibian elections and its resolve to advance fundamental transformation and development.

This year saw the Umbrella for Democratic Change, inclusive of the Botswana National Front, winning the recent Botswana elections. This shift towards the left in Botswana is a welcome development. Once again, the SACP welcomes it and congratulates the victorious movement after years of democratic struggle. We commend the government led by the newly elected President Duma Boko for the progressive measures announced to tackle poverty in the diamond-rich country.

The SACP pledges its solidarity with the people of the Sahel Region for their path towards full independence from France as the colonial, neo-colonial and imperialist dominating power in their countries. This shift should be seen as part of the Second Phase of the African Revolution and must be deepened to uproot colonial, neo-colonial and imperialist domination and exploitation.

We reiterate our solidarity with the people of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia and others in South America against the United States-led imperialist domination and aggression. The SACP supports the inauguration of the democratically elected President Nicolás Maduro on 10 January 2025, against the push by the imperialist regimes of the United States and Europe to undermine Venezuela’s democratic processes and manufacture destabilisation and a coup in the country.

Our solidarity with the people of Palestine stands firm against the occupation and genocide by the apartheid Israeli settler regime. In the same vein, we reiterate our solidarity with the entire axis of resistance in the Middle East against attacks by the apartheid Israeli settler regime and its imperialist backers, such as the United States. The heroic role of the standing forces of Iran in the critical battle for the independence of the Middle East is crucial within the axis of resistance.

The SACP strongly denounces the ongoing attacks on Yemen by the apartheid Israeli settler regime and its imperialist backer, the United States. We pledge our solidarity with the people of Yemen against the attacks and with the people of Syria and Lebanon opposed to terrorists, foreign aggression and occupation by the apartheid Israeli settler regime and its imperialist backer, the United States.

The world working class as a revolutionary movement and other progressive forces should strengthen efforts to support the rising multipolar movement to succeed towards a just and peaceful world order, in which imperialist exploitation and domination are a thing of the past. To this end, the rise of China from the development advances and independence it has both realised and is able to exercise are a welcome and epoch-marking shift in global affairs.

The Russian anti-imperialist front in the war provoked by the collective imperialist West in Ukraine is another crucial factor in multipolarity developments. It was in pursuit of totalitarian control of the world, natural resources in all global regions and the entire global economy, and military domination, that the imperialist collective West provoked the war in Ukraine. Led by the United States, the imperialist collective West supported a coup in Ukraine, expanding eastwards, using Ukraine, with Russia as an immediate and China as the ultimate target. Russia’s response underlined its capability to stand out against the imperialist bullies.

Issued by the South African Communist Party,

Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.

Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID

Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, Central Committee Member

National Spokesperson & Political Bureau Secretary for Policy and Research

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SACP Message of Support to the People and Government of Cuba on the 66th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

Wednesday, 1 January 2025: On this historic day, as we mark the 66th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on 1 January 1959, we extend revolutionary greetings from South Africa. For over six decades, the revolutionary people and government of Cuba have courageously resisted the United States’ imperialist aggression, destabilisation and regime change agendas.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) expresses its unequivocal support for, and solidarity with the people and government of Cuba in defence of their independence, their sovereign right to choose a path of transformation and development they have determined themselves, and their resistance against all forms of imperialist aggression, subjugation, domination and exploitation.

The SACP reiterates its firm and unequivocal demands for the following:

The immediate and unconditional end to the United States regime’s criminal, illegal and inhuman blockade of Cuba.

The termination of the United States regime’s foreign occupation of Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay.

The removal of Cuba by the United States regime from its so-called list of “countries sponsoring terrorism.”

The inclusion of Cuba on the list serves as a pretext for the over 60 years of imperialist aggression against, destabilisation of, and attempts at regime change in Cuba by the imperialist regime of the United States. The list is drawn up by the United States government unilaterally, without any international mandate or recognition.

The SACP takes this opportunity to remind all in our country and across the world. On 30 October 2024, the United Nations General Assembly, once again, voted for an end to the United States’ economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba. This marked the 32nd consecutive year that the global community has overwhelmingly denounced these imperialist measures.

The United Nations resolution for an end to the United States’ economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba was adopted with 187 votes in favour, exposing the isolation of the apartheid Israeli settler regime and the imperialist United States as the only opposing votes, with Moldova abstaining. This glaring disregard for global consensus underscores the United States’ imperialist contempt for international democracy and multilateralism.

The United Nations resolution reaffirmed the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of one state by another. It further reiterated the obligations of all nation states under the United Nations Charter and international law to refrain from adopting or enforcing coercive measures that undermine the freedom of trade and navigation.

Cuba’s international solidarity includes, but is not limited to, long-standing active support for other nations’ fundamental right to self-determination, and international solidarity provision of healthcare and education, among others. The Cuban people have realised significant social advances in these and other areas of human development on the domestic front themselves, with outcomes including long life expectancy and high education levels. They have achieved all these despite severe aggression from the imperialist regime of the United States.

For many around the world, including ourselves, the anti-imperialist Cuban government and people stand as a beacon for socialist construction.

The Cuban people’s commitment to socialist transformation and development, to build a society in which no person exploits another, and to internationalism and the struggle for human dignity, continues to inspire the oppressed and working-class people across the globe.

We call upon all peace-loving people, all revolutionary and all progressive forces worldwide to unite against the continued imperialist hostility directed at Cuba. Together, let us strengthen the demand for an end to the blockade, the return of Guantanamo Bay to its rightful sovereign, and an end to all other forms of attacks.

To the Cuban people and government, the SACP says:

“Your steadfast resilience in the face of imperialist aggression and economic blockades remains a beacon of hope for all across the world who seek justice, equality, self-determination, complete emancipation and freedom from imperialist domination and exploitation.”

As we celebrate this milestone, the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, we reaffirm our deep gratitude for Cuba’s consistent solidarity with Africa, from the battlefields of liberation to Cuba’s ongoing contributions in healthcare, education and other development areas.

The ideals of the Cuban Revolution’s self-determination, equality and international solidarity resonate profoundly with the principles of our own struggles to defend, deepen and complete the South African National Democratic Revolution and advance a complete socialist transition, transformation and development.

Together, let us continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and co-operation in pursuit of a world free from exploitation and oppression.

Victory to the Cuban people! Victory to international solidarity!

Viva Cuba! Viva Socialism!

Issued by the South African Communist Party,

Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.

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