YAF Chief Warns 'Israel': 'You Have Opened the Gates of Hell'

By Al Mayadeen English

31 Aug 2025 23:41

Yemen’s Chief of Staff, Major General Mohammed al-Ghamari, warned of a harsh response after the assassination of Prime Minister Ahmad al-Rahawi and ministers in Israeli strikes on Sanaa.

The Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Major General Mohammed al-Ghamari, condemned the assassination of Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmad al-Rahawi and several ministers in the recent Israeli strikes on Sanaa. He stressed that such crimes will not deter Yemen from its firm and supportive stance toward Palestine.

Addressing the occupation directly, Major General al-Ghamari warned, “Know well that by committing this heinous crime, you have opened the gates of hell upon yourselves.”

The attack on Sanaa on Thursday resulted in the martyrdom of al-Rahawi and several government ministers after occupation forces struck civilian neighborhoods in the capital. Yemeni officials quickly pledged retaliation, vowing that the aggression would not go unanswered.

Major General al-Ghamari emphasized that the Yemeni response will be “harsh and painful,” pointing to effective strategic military options under consideration. He assured the leadership and the people: “You will hear soon and see with your own eyes what will heal your hearts.”

He further pledged that the Yemeni armed forces will continue to advance their strategic military capabilities, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to confront the ongoing aggression.

Al-Ghamari affirmed that the assassination of Yemeni officials and the bombing of Sanaa’s civilian neighborhoods will not shake Yemen’s position. He reiterated that Yemen’s support for Palestine remains steadfast, declaring that retaliation will continue “until the aggression stops and the siege is lifted, whatever the sacrifices.”

Study Links Deforestation to Over Half a Million Deaths in Two Decades

By Al Mayadeen English

28 Aug 2025 11:33

New research links tropical deforestation to over 500,000 heat-related deaths in 20 years, revealing the deadly human cost of forest loss in the Amazon, Africa, and Asia.

Deforestation has contributed to the deaths of more than 500,000 people in tropical regions over the past two decades due to heat-related illnesses, according to new research.

The study found that clearing land in the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia has intensified local temperatures by reducing shade, lowering rainfall, and heightening fire risks. This warming effect adds to the broader impacts of global climate change.

Researchers estimated that between 2001 and 2020, approximately 345 million people living in tropical regions experienced additional heat stress linked to deforestation. For 2.6 million of them, the rise in temperature was at least 3°C above normal levels.

The heightened exposure proved fatal in many instances, with deforestation-driven warming responsible for an average of 28,330 deaths annually during the study period. More than half of these deaths occurred in Southeast Asia, largely due to its dense populations in vulnerable areas. Roughly one-third took place in tropical Africa, with the remainder recorded in Central and South America.

First study to quantify the death toll

Published Wednesday in Nature Climate Change, the research was conducted by teams in Brazil, Ghana, and the UK. They compared non-accidental mortality rates with temperature changes in areas undergoing tropical land clearance.

While previous studies have linked deforestation to long-term local warming, this is the first to quantify the resulting human death toll.

Professor Dominick Spracklen of the University of Leeds, a co-author of the study, said the findings highlight a direct and deadly consequence of forest destruction. "Deforestation kills", he said, noting that the immediate dangers are often overshadowed by global climate debates and agricultural expansion priorities.

He pointed to Brazil’s Mato Grosso region, where vast tracts of land have been cleared for soya bean plantations. Local farmers are now pushing to end the soy moratorium in the Amazon to enable further deforestation.

Spracklen argued that preserving forest cover not only saves lives but also benefits agriculture.

Cholera Deaths in Darfur Rise to 374

A cholera patient on treatment at Gedaref teaching hospital Photo-OCHA

August 29, 2025 (TAWILA) – A cholera outbreak in Sudan’s Darfur region has killed 374 people and infected nearly 9,000 since June, an aid group said on Friday, warning the disease was spreading at an “unprecedented” rate.

The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugee Camps in Darfur said it recorded 319 new infections and 13 deaths on Friday alone.

The group identified hotspots in displacement camps and towns across the region, including Tawila in North Darfur, the Jebel Marra mountains, and the cities of Nyala and Zalingei.

In Tawila, where tens of thousands have fled fighting in the nearby city of El Fasher, the outbreak has killed 77 people out of 4,886 recorded cases. The mountainous Jebel Marra area has recorded 152 deaths, the report said.

In South Darfur, camps around the city of Nyala have registered a combined total of over 120 deaths.

The report warned of a dire shortage of medical supplies and isolation centres to handle the rising number of patients.

It described the situation as a “forgotten humanitarian nightmare and catastrophe in a country torn by war, famine, and disease,” adding that immense challenges were overwhelming local and international aid efforts.

The group called on the World Health Organization for an urgent response to the health emergency.

Dagalo Chairs First Parallel Government Meeting in Nyala, Appoints Prime Minister

Mohamed Hamdan Daglo chairs the first meeting of Presidential Council of the parallel government in Nyala on August 31, 2025

August 31, 2025 (NYALA) – The Presidential Council of the parallel government held its first official meeting with all its members on Sunday in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, chaired by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemetti,” following their constitutional swearing-in ceremony.

The meeting witnessed the appointment of Mohamed Hassan Osman al-Taishi as Prime Minister, with Dagalo issuing a constitutional decree for his appointment. Immediately thereafter, al-Ta’ayshi was sworn in before the Chairman of the Presidential Council and Chief Justice Ramadan Ibrahim Shamila.

The meeting, attended by the council’s Deputy Chairman, Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, discussed the requirements of the foundational phase and vital files related to citizens’ living conditions, basic services, security, stability, and the humanitarian situation.

In a press statement, Abdel Aziz al-Hilu explained that the meeting addressed the roadmap for the presidential work and the strategic plans to complete the governance structures and confront the current political and economic challenges.

This meeting comes a day after Dagalo was sworn in as Chairman of the Presidential Council on Saturday, August 30, 2025. Following the inauguration ceremony, Dagalo and his deputy, al-Hilu, conducted a field tour inside the Nyala market in a move aimed at direct communication with citizens.

Botswana Declares Public Health Emergency Over Severe Medicine Shortage

Arek Socha/Pixabay

26 August 2025

allAfrica.com

Botswana has declared a public health emergency after facing severe shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment. President Duma Boko announced the decision in a televised address, setting out a multimillion-pound plan to rectify the supply chain involving military oversight.

Boko said that managing shortages would be "highly price sensitive" due to limited funds. The crisis followed a downturn in the international diamond market and cuts to U.S. aid, leaving most of the 2.5 million population grappling with poverty and unemployment.

The Ministry for Health also temporarily suspended referrals for elective surgeries and non-urgent medical conditions as a result of these challenges, including organ transplant surgeries. The Health Ministry also said there were shortages of dressings and sutures.

Shortages included cancer, HIV, and tuberculosis treatments, once heavily supported by U.S. funding.

The Ministry of Finance had earlier approved $18.7m in emergency funding for procurement, said Boko, adding that the military would oversee the distribution of emergency medicines, with the first shipments dispatched immediately from the capital, Gaborone, with priority given to deprived rural areas.

UNICEF has called for "urgent action" in the country to "protect the health and future of every child in Botswana".

Mauritania: Years of Migration Control Abuses

Lauren Seibert/Human Rights Watch

Two men near a wooden boat known as a pirogue, traditionally used for fishing in Mauritania and West Africa, on a beach in Nouakchott, Mauritania, June 28, 2022. Pirogues have been frequently used by migrants seeking to cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. Lauren Seibert/Human Rights Watch

27 August 2025

Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC)

press release

EU, Spain Support Fueled Crackdowns, Ignored Abuses; Reforms Beginning

Mauritanian security forces committed serious human rights violations between 2020 and early 2025 against migrants and asylum seekers.

The European Union and Spain, bilaterally, have continued to outsource migration management to Mauritania, despite its rights violations.

Recent steps by the Mauritanian government may improve protection for migrants and their rights. These should continue, and the EU and Spain should ensure that their migration cooperation with Mauritania prioritizes rights and saving lives.

(Nairobi) - Mauritanian security forces committed serious human rights violations between 2020 and early 2025 against largely West and Central African migrants and asylum seekers, often when they were seeking to leave or transit the country, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. However, recent steps and commitments by the Mauritanian government may improve protection for migrants and their rights.

The 142-page report, "'They Accused Me of Trying to Go to Europe': Migration Control Abuses and EU Externalization in Mauritania," documents abuses by the Mauritanian police, coast guard, navy, gendarmerie, and army during border and migration control, including torture, rape, and other violence; sexual harassment; arbitrary arrests and detention; inhumane detention conditions; racist treatment; extortion and theft; and summary and collective expulsions. The crackdowns and rights violations were exacerbated by the European Union and Spain, bilaterally, continuing to outsource migration management to Mauritania, including through years of support to Mauritania's border and migration control authorities.

"For years, Mauritanian authorities followed an abusive migration control playbook - sadly common across North Africa - by violating the rights of African migrants from other regions," said Lauren Seibert, refugee and migrant rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "But Mauritania's recent reforms show that a new approach is possible. The government should build on these efforts, scale up monitoring of security forces, and halt collective expulsions."

Between 2020 and mid-2025, Human Rights Watch interviewed 223 people by phone and in person during visits to Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, and EU institutions in Brussels. In addition to 102 migrants and asylum seekers from Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Human Rights Watch interviewed government, United Nations, and EU officials; members of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; relatives of abuse victims; witnesses; experts; lawyers; community members; and others.

Human Rights Watch examined injuries from alleged abuse; collected photos, videos, and documents to corroborate accounts; and, in 2022 and 2023 in Mauritania, visited migrant detention centers and Dar Naïm prison, which held people on migrant smuggling charges.

Human Rights Watch documented violations by Mauritanian security forces between 2020 and 2025 against 77 migrants and asylum seekers - men, women, and children - and a Mauritanian man, who said police tortured him during migrant-smuggling-related interrogations in 2022.

Increasing numbers of migrants and asylum seekers between 2020 and 2024 attempted the "Atlantic Route" by boat from northwest Africa to Spain's Canary Islands, with many departing from Mauritania. Some have fled conflict or persecution in their countries - including many from Mali, where armed conflict has worsened alongside government repression - while others aimed to escape poverty and find work. In 2024, a record 46,843 people arrived by boat in the Canaries. About 11,500 people arrived between January and July 2025.

Mauritania has also long attracted West and Central Africans seeking work, and it hosts about 176,000 registered asylum seekers and refugees, the majority from Mali. Some migrants seek to transit Mauritania toward Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara, Morocco, or Algeria.

In 2024, Mauritania signed a new migration partnership with the EU in exchange for €210 million in funding to reduce irregular migration, comparable to other EU deals with Tunisia and Egypt. Spain increased its bilateral support to the same end, while maintaining deployment of Spanish police and civil guard in Mauritania to assist authorities with migration control.

Dozens of people who had been held in Mauritania's police-run migrant detention centers described inhumane conditions and treatment, including lack of food, poor sanitation, adolescent children at times detained with unrelated adults, and some beatings by guards.

Between 2020 and mid-2025, Mauritanian police expelled tens of thousands of African foreigners of multiple nationalities - generally without formal legal procedures or an opportunity to challenge their expulsion - to remote locations along the borders with Mali and Senegal, where limited aid, plus worsening insecurity in Mali's Kayes region, has put people at risk. In the first half of 2025, Mauritania expelled over 28,000 people, the government said.

Marco Gibson, a Liberian man, said Mauritania's military arrested him with a group of over 40 migrants near Mauritania's northern border in December 2024, as they were leaving toward Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara: "The Mauritanian army ... beat us with sticks ... [and] a rubber whip.... I've never seen such a brutal attitude." Following detention, police expelled him and around 20 others, including children, to Mali's border town of Gogui, in the Nioro du Sahel area of Kayes region, he said. Days later, an Islamist armed group attacked Nioro.

Human Rights Watch has documented police use of prolonged, painful restraints, limited food and water, and other mistreatment during expulsions, as well as cases of children, asylum seekers, and people with valid legal status in Mauritania among those expelled.

The report also highlights the negative impacts of Mauritania's interceptions and forced returns of migrant boats, supported by the EU and Spain, while search-and-rescue in the Atlantic remains insufficient, contributing to ongoing deaths.

By funding, equipping, and collaborating with Mauritanian forces for years to bolster border and migration controls without ensuring adequate human rights safeguards, the EU and Spain incentivized repression of migration and share responsibility for abuses in Mauritania, Human Rights Watch said. In some cases, Spanish forces were present during abusive arrests and detention of migrants by Mauritanian authorities. The EU also funded renovations of two former migrant detention centers, set to open this year to receive migrants intercepted or rescued at sea.

In a reply to questions from Human Rights Watch, the Mauritanian government said it "reject[s] allegations of torture, racial discrimination, or systematic violations of migrants' rights." It cited recent steps to improve respect for rights, including a "ban on collective expulsions" and new standard operating procedures (SOPs) adopted in May 2025 to regulate disembarkations and "management" of migrants, with strong rights and protection guarantees.

The European Commission, in its reply to Human Rights Watch, said its partnership with Mauritania was "solidly anchored" in respect for rights and cited EU support for the SOPs and other rights-focused initiatives.

"The Mauritanian government's steps to improve respect for migrant rights are much needed," Seibert said. "By going further to end abuses, Mauritania could potentially lead the way toward rights-respecting migration management in North Africa. For their part, the EU and Spain should ensure that their migration cooperation with Mauritania prioritizes rights and saving lives, instead of supporting security crackdowns that lead to abuses."

Read the original article on HRW.

Chagos Archipelago Residents Deserve Reparations, Not Regrets

Institute for Security Studies

Mauritius and the United Kingdom (UK) have reached an agreement on the Chagos Islands – the beginning of the end of a decades-long tussle between them. Mauritius has tried, since 1968, to regain the Chagossian territory peacefully.

28 August 2025

Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC)

The agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, has been described by its prime minister as a "victory for international law, for postcolonial justice and above all, for the Chagossian people." But is it?

Implementing international law in situations of colonial atrocities means more than resolution of territorial disputes; it means delivering justice and reparations to affected peoples. The Chagossian people remain forcibly and criminally displaced from their homeland. All governments, including South Africa, need to ensure that the UK, United States and Mauritius address that legacy and respect their rights and voices.

The UK and US forcibly displaced the entire Chagossian people, more than 50 years ago, to build a US military base on Diego Garcia island, which remained a UK colony. This exile, based on UK and US officials' documented racism and lies denying the existence of the Chagossians, is a colonial crime against humanity that will continue as long as they are prevented from returning home.

The new treaty, which recognises Mauritius's sovereignty over the islands, looks unlikely to end this crime. Some Chagossians have welcomed the treaty, seeing it as a key step in their decades-long struggle to return to their homeland. Its preamble refers to "wrongs of the past" and both governments pledge to support "the welfare of all Chagossians". The text of the treaty suggests that Chagossians could return to all islands in the archipelago, except for Diego Garcia, the largest island and many people's homeland.

But the details of the treaty guarantee little for the Chagossian people, including their right to return. This agreement risks not repairing the harm but perpetuating it.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its landmark 2019 advisory opinion, held that the UK's continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago was unlawful. Crucially, the ICJ recognised the forced removal of the Chagossians as a major injustice. This treaty is supposed to implement this opinion.

Yet the Chagossians' rights barely feature in the treaty. There is no recognition of them as the Indigenous people of the islands, no reference to the right of return and no guarantee of their participation in future governance or management of finances. Resettlement is limited to the outer islands, excluding Diego Garcia. The treaty addresses sovereignty, territory and military interests but says very little about human rights and accountability.

This is reflected in the lack of financial compensation for the Chagossians. The UK has pledged annual payments to Mauritius for the continued operation of the base and "development projects". These figures would total at least £10 billion (R234 billion) across the 99-year lifetime of the deal.

In contrast, the treaty says that Chagossians will receive a one-off payment of £40 million -- the same amount offered by the UK a decade ago, when it ruled out any right of return. There's no explanation, consultation or guarantee that the funds will support resettlement.

To put it starkly: £40 million is less than 0.5% of the total financial arrangement. It is not reparations. It is a footnote.

The right to return to one's homeland is a basic principle of international law. But the treaty deliberately excludes Diego Garcia from resettlement -- effectively entrenching the crime of forced displacement. The treaty also appears to give the UK a veto over development anywhere in the islands, which could block any effort to rebuild communities.

The UK and Mauritius should, at a minimum, make a clear and public declaration recognizing the Chagossians' right of return and guaranteeing their involvement in rebuilding their homeland. The US and UK should prioritize their employment at the Diego Garcia base and support their return through infrastructure and economic investment.

Despite vague references to implementing the treaty "in accordance with international law," there is no express acknowledgment that binding human rights treaties or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court will apply in Chagos. This is particularly troubling, as Diego Garcia has long been a legal black hole -- shielded from scrutiny over abuses such as torture.

This treaty is not the end of the story. It is a test -- not only of the UK's willingness to reckon with its colonial legacy but of the international community's commitment to justice and reparations for colonial crimes.

The ICJ said the resettlement of the Chagossian people was the responsibility of the UN General Assembly. South Africa, the Caribbean nations, and other leaders of the global anti-colonial struggle, should take a stand there. They need to ensure that this implementation of the ICJ ruling on decolonization also ensures the right of return of Chagossians to their homeland and reparations for the harm the UK and US have inflicted on them.

Symbolic regret on its own is not justice. It is time for action -- and for the Chagossians to return home.

Read the original article on HRW.

Govt Raises Alarm Over Nigeria's Triple Burden of Malnutrition

Bishar Mayow/MSF

28 August 2025

Premium Times (Abuja)

She highlighted that most Nigerian diets, dominated by calorie-rich but nutrient-poor staples such as maize, cassava, and rice, lack essential vitamins and minerals

The federal government has raised concerns over Nigeria's "triple burden" of malnutrition, comprising undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, also known as "hidden hunger."

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the Nigeria Health Watch Roundtable, themed "Fortifying Nigeria's Future: Strengthening Nutrition through Local Solutions."

Represented by Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the ministry, Ms Kachollom noted that micronutrient deficiencies impair cognitive development, reduce productivity, and increase maternal and child mortality.

She highlighted that most Nigerian diets, dominated by calorie-rich but nutrient-poor staples such as maize, cassava, and rice, lack essential vitamins and minerals.

Citing the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), she said stunting affects 40 per cent of children aged 6-59 months, with wasting at eight per cent and underweight at 27 per cent.

She said the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey also found that 79 per cent of Nigerians are food insecure.

"Among children in the same age group, one in three is vitamin A deficient, over one-third are zinc deficient, and more than 20 per cent suffer from iron deficiency," she said.

She said adolescent girls and pregnant women also face dangerously high levels of vitamin A and iron deficiency, threatening maternal and newborn health.

"The worsening food insecurity is linked to high inflation, recurring floods, and persistent conflict, which continue to disrupt farming and livelihoods."

Ms Kachollom identified Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) as one of the most effective public health tools to tackle micronutrient deficiencies.

She noted that Nigeria has made progress, achieving 95 per cent salt iodisation and commendable fortification of wheat flour, sugar, and vegetable oil.

"However, compliance, particularly among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), remains inconsistent due to weak enforcement, low awareness, and limited access to affordable premixes. "

She also highlighted that, although Nigeria has local premix blending facilities, the sector remains heavily reliant on imported raw materials, which raises costs and increases vulnerability to currency fluctuations.

In a paper titled "Addressing the Fortification Gap: Strengthening Local Systems to Scale Impact and Save Lives," Mrs Bako-Aiyegbusi, represented by Ummulkhaire Bobboi of NAFDAC, emphasised that food fortification enhances public health, lowers healthcare costs, and boosts productivity.

Despite sound policies, she said Nigeria still faces a significant gap between its nutrition targets and on-the-ground outcomes.

She urged a multi-stakeholder approach, calling on the government to tighten regulations, support local premix production, and adopt technology like the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus platform to monitor compliance.

Private sector players, she said, must invest in domestic production, while civil society and development partners provide technical support and advocacy.

Also speaking at the roundtable, Vivianne Ihekweazu, managing director of Nigeria Health Watch, said inconsistent compliance, especially among MSMEs, is a major hurdle in Nigeria's fortification efforts.

Mrs Ihekweazu, who was represented by Deputy Director of Advocacy, Safiya Isa, said many MSMEs struggle with access to affordable premixes, financing, and reliable quality control systems, leading to substandard fortified foods.

She called for stronger local solutions, including scaling up domestic premix production and tightening fortification enforcement.

"This roundtable is critical as it unites government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to explore sustainable strategies to strengthen Nigeria's fortification ecosystem and save lives," she added.

(NAN)

Read the original article on Premium Times.

Rwanda Receives First Migrants Deported From the U.S.

VOA

Rwanda on the map.

29 August 2025

allAfrica.com

Seven migrants have been deported from the United States arrived in Rwanda in mid-August. This marked the first group under a deal made with former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.  The agreement is expected to relocate 250 migrants to Rwanda.

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the group had been vetted in Rwanda in mid-August. She gave no details about their nationalities, only explaining that four of them would remain in Rwanda, with three opting to return to their home countries.

Rights groups warned that the deportations might violate international law if people are sent to countries where they risk torture or other abuses.

Trump has focused on a sweeping mass deportation scheme to remove undocumented migrants from the U.S. since starting his second term in January. So far, at least a dozen nations have agreed to accept deported migrants from other countries.

The Rwandan government had also signed a controversial asylum deal with the UK in 2022 to accept asylum seekers, which was later canceled.

Comic-Con Africa Draws Thousands of Fans and Cosplayers to Johannesburg

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

9:35 PM EDT, August 30, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Tens of thousands of South African comic book fans and cosplayers flocked to Johannesburg on Saturday to celebrate the sixth edition of Comic-Con Africa, the continent’s biggest celebration of pop culture and gaming.

The four-day festival, which began Thursday, celebrated anime, gaming, comics and cosplay with a variety of entertainment, including vintage arcade games, esports and costume competitions.

Fans dressed up as their favorite comic book heroes and villains, snapping selfies in replicas of famous local sets and donning original character outfits inspired by their own imagination.

“This year’s Comic-Con has been bigger and bolder than ever before,” said Comic-Con Africa Show Director Carla Massmann, adding they anticipate a total of 70,000 fans having walked through the gate by Sunday.

Nkosinathi Skhosana, 24, called Comic-Con Africa “nothing short of amazing” because it was another “safe space” where South Africans of all races and classes could forget their social issues and have fun together.

“Just like Rugby brings people of all races together, Comic-Con is also creating that kind of space for us,” said Skhosana.

International celebrities were featured on the main stage, including U.S. actor Jessie T. Usher from the Amazon Prime series “The Boys.” Also in attendance were actor, comedian and writer Dan Fogler, known for playing Jacob Kowalski in the Harry Potter spinoff “Fantastic Beasts,” and Misha Collins, best known for his role as Castiel in “Supernatural.”

Fans were delighted to be treated to autograph and photograph opportunities with international stars, but they also gushed over each other’s outfits.

“The first picture I took was with Sailor Moon, my favorite character of all time,” said Owami Sibanyoni, 23, who was dressed as Musa from the animated franchise ”Winx Club.”

The event, which is usually held at the end of September, was moved to August to make way for the G20 summit, which will be held at the same venue later this year.

In Boko Haram’s Birthplace, USAID’s Collapse Threatens a School for Victims of Extremism

By OPE ADETAYO

1:47 AM EDT, August 30, 2025

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Israel Peter was 6 years old when Boko Haram Islamic extremists attacked his village in northeastern Nigeria and his family fled. Eight years later, he still hasn’t returned to school.

A rare opportunity to change that disappeared this year, when a nonprofit offering free education to Boko Haram victims rejected Peter’s application. It cited the abrupt loss of U.S. funding as the Trump administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development. Multiple backers of the school had received USAID funding.

“Now my future will not be great,” said Peter, who dreams of being an engineer. His trembling voice was barely above a whisper. He spends his days helping out at his father’s small farm. They cannot afford to pay school fees.

The school run by the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation has benefited 3,000 children in Borno state, the epicenter of the 16-year conflict with Boko Haram that has displaced and orphaned many.

Boko Haram, which wants to establish Islamic law in the region, forbids Western education and rose to global prominence after its mass abductions of students.

The Associated Press visited the region to document how funding cuts by the U.S., Nigeria’s once biggest donor, have affected civilians in one of the world’s longest-running conflicts. More than 35,000 people have been killed and 2.6 million others displaced in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

With U.S. funding gone, the school has let go of 700 of its 2,200 students as well as 20 teachers, officials said, with no new enrollment and further cuts likely.

Millions of people in the region have relied heavily on aid groups and foreign partners to survive. USAID had funded a range of projects, from healthcare to education and social welfare, disbursing $1.5 billion to Nigeria between 2023 and 2024. Now, only a few projects like PEPFAR survive.

Other funders like Britain have been pulling back, too, citing pressing financial needs at home.

“USAID’s reach was vast, benefiting millions of Nigerian children. Its sudden withdrawal has created a critical void that must be urgently addressed,” said Crystal Ikanih-Musa, a former Africa regional advocacy manager for the Malala Fund, which focuses on education.

The Borno state commissioner, Lawan Clark, asserted to the AP that the impact of the U.S. funding retreat is not significant on education, as donors primarily focus on helping students learn within existing structures.

But many families like Peter’s can’t afford them.

Keeping children from Boko Haram recruiters

Despite having the highest number of out-of-school children in the world — over 10 million, according to UNICEF — Nigeria’s government funds education at between 4% and 7% of its federal budget. That’s short of the 15% to 20% global benchmark recommended by UNESCO.

The impact of the under-funding is far worse in the northeast, where conflict has ruined key infrastructure and families are preoccupied with survival.

The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation school was founded in Borno state in 2007, two years before the fighting began, initially providing education to orphans. But its mission expanded to support children affected by the conflict.

Now school officials and aid groups worry that children they can no longer support might end up being welcomed by the extremists.

“With what is happening, they don’t have to be recruited; they are only going to go back to the hinterland to start fighting,” school founder Zannah Mustapha said.

Some of the children who applied to study there are former Boko Haram members who defected and renounced violence, Mustapha said. It was not clear whether any of them were among the students let go.

His fears were echoed by analysts who say Boko Haram is known to recruit vulnerable child fighters.

The situation “can only play into the hands of jihadists, known to exploit issues like this to their advantage,” said Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher at Good Governance Africa.

Israel Peter, who fled his village following an attack by Boko Haram Islamic extremists, right and Ramatu Usman, a student who was dropped from the school, pose for a photo, at the Future.

Few options are available

In a region with few options for education, the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation has been credited with giving thousands of children over the years a rare chance to achieve their dreams.

Yusuf Mustapha, a graduate, is now a final-year computer science student at a university in Nigeria’s southwest. His parents were killed by Boko Haram.

“If I did not go to this school, I don’t know how my life would have been because I did not have anybody to sponsor my education, even the food I was eating,” the 21-year-old said.

Although primary education is officially free in Nigeria, parents in most states including Borno still pay fees for maintenance and other needs that often range from 5,000 naira ($3.27) to 15,000 naira ($9.80). That can be a month’s earnings for many in one of the world’s poorest countries.

Ramatu Usman is among the students dropped by the school this year, just one session before her high school exams. She had wanted to study medicine. Now she spends her days knitting caps for sale.

Her despairing mother, Hajara Musa, said she cries every day for her daughter and has been trying to solicit funds for her to return to school. It hasn’t been easy.

“A quality school is very important, especially in this (dangerous) environment,” she said. “Those who don’t go to school, their lives are miserable.”

Xi Says China Always a Trustworthy Partner of UN

By Xinhua

Aug 30, 2025 10:52 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 30, 2025. Guterres is here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

China will always be a trustworthy partner of the United Nations (UN), Chinese President Xi Jinping said when meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the port city of Tianjin on Saturday.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with the UN, support the UN in playing a central role in international affairs, and jointly shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and promoting development and prosperity, Xi told Guterres, who is here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th founding anniversary of the UN, Xi said history has revealed that multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation are the right answer to global challenges.

Xi called for restoring the UN's authority and vitality under new circumstances, so that it can serve as the main platform for all countries to coordinate actions and jointly address challenges.

In a world of profound changes unseen in a century, China has provided stability and certainty and will continue to bring new opportunities to the world with its new development, Xi said.

With multilateralism, international law, and the UN's authority currently facing challenges, Guterres said the international governance architecture is in urgent need of reform, and it is timely to renew the original aspiration and values of the UN when it was established 80 years ago.

Hailing China as a cornerstone in defending multilateralism, Guterres said the UN is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to promote world multipolarization, enhance the representation of developing countries, and enable the UN to play a greater role in international affairs.

Senior officials Cai Qi, Wang Yi and Chen Min'er attended the meeting.

Mauritania’s Coast Guard Says at Least 49 Died When a Boat Carrying Migrants Capsized This Week

Fishermen are seen at sea in Nouadibou, Mauritania, on Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Moulay, File)

By AHMED MOHAMED and OPE ADETAYO

9:40 AM EDT, August 29, 2025

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — At least 49 people died and nearly 100 are still missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized this week, the Mauritanian coast guard said Friday.

Authorities said the boat came from Gambia and capsized Tuesday morning off the coast of Mheijrat.

“The boat left Gambia a week ago and had 160 people on board, including Senegalese and Gambian nationals,” Mohamed Abdallah, the head of the coast guard, told The Associated Press.

“When the migrants saw the lights of the Mheijrat, they tried to move to one part of the boat, causing it to capsize,” Abdallah said.

The official said 49 bodies have washed ashore and just 17 people have been rescued so far. The others remain missing, the official said.

In recent years, Mauritania’s waters have become a highway for migrants across sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe, primarily the Canary Islands. In July 2024, a similar incident killed more than a dozen migrants on their way to Europe off Mauritania, with 150 others declared missing.

The country’s authorities have tightened control and expulsion measures for migrants. Last year, it signed a 210 million-euro deal ($225 million)with the European Union in a deal aimed at deterring migrants from using the country to get to the European Union.

Mauritania has also been accused of abuse towards migrants who are transiting through the country in a nationwide coastal crackdown, according to human rights groups.

An increasing number of West African migrants have been trying to reach Europe via the perilous Atlantic coast route in search of a better life as economic opportunities dwindle across the region.

In September last year, at least 30 bodies were found on a boat off the coast of the Senegalese capital.

___

Adetayo contributed to the report from Lagos

What Should Washington Learn from Suspension of Parcel Shipments by Multiple Countries to US

By Global Times

Aug 30, 2025 01:12 AM

Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

The turbulence within the global trading system continues unabated. Since Friday, the US has suspended the duty-free treatment for imported parcels valued at $800 or less. This arrangement - originally designed to facilitate and benefit cross-border e-commerce and US consumers - has been abruptly terminated, marking a significant escalation in US tariff policy. Postal services from over 20 countries have already suspended parcel shipments bound for the US. PostEurop warns that the tariff enforcement and cooperation mechanisms are "a lack of clarity." A senior executive at the US-based global logistics firm ePost Global also unequivocally said that "customers are going to be very shocked." The Universal Postal Union, a United Nations specialized agency, has written to the US Secretary of State to convey member countries' concerns regarding operational disruption.

The fact that the duty-exemption for low-value parcels has existed since 1938 speaks volumes about the immense benefits it has conferred on American consumers and countless small businesses as a trade facilitation measure. Over the long term, a vast array of affordable consumer goods entered the US market through this policy, fulfilling the needs of ordinary households and small-to-medium enterprises. Statistics show that the number of low-value parcels in the US jumped nearly 10-fold from 139 million in fiscal 2015 to 1.36 billion in 2024 - which reflects the genuine and substantial demand from US consumers and the many small businesses that rely on cross-border direct shipping. The Washington Post said that this measure shifted more of the burden onto ordinary families and small businesses, rather than actually targeting unfair competition. Today, not only American consumers will lost access to high-quality, diverse goods, but for small vendors in the US. The stark reality has become: "either raise prices, or lose orders."

According to a paper published by scholars at the National Bureau of Economic Research, 73 percent of cross-border direct mail consumption in the poorest regions of the US falls under "small exemptions." The complete removal of the "small exemption" would impose a cost pressure of between $11 billion and $13 billion on American consumers. 

At the same time, some US small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on imports of intermediate goods in small parcels for assembly, which are already operating on thin profit margins with weak risk resilience, are now directly facing rising costs. These severely affected groups are by no means an insignificant part of America's economy and society. Data from the Office of the US Trade Representative show that small businesses are an important backbone of the US economy, creating two-thirds of all new jobs in recent decades. By taking such measures, the US is essentially locking its most dynamic market sectors into a tariff cage, engaging in self-inflicted harm under the banner of "national interest."

Time and again, facts have proven that the essence of international trade is mutual benefit, and exchanges and reciprocity create shared prosperity. The recent suspension of parcel deliveries to the US by multiple countries is a clear reflection of how unilateralism and protectionism end up harming both sides. 

The global trade landscape has taken shape through years of adjustment, forming a tightly knit network of cooperation. The two-way flow of goods, the allocation of production factors, and the mutually beneficial results of trade together strengthen this web and sustain the stability of global supply and production chains. The vast number of small parcels flowing into the US is itself a product of economic globalization. 

Neither excessively high tariffs nor other "small yard and high fence" protectionist policies can erase the demand that already exists between trade partners; they will only damage global supply chains while also harming the US itself.

Washington's tariff measures run counter to economic laws and undermine established rules, and are now facing growing backlash. Recently, France has called for the assessment of retaliatory measures against US digital companies; India has also adopted restrictive measures to express opposition to US tariff policies. 

According to media reports, the Brazilian government has begun considering retaliatory trade measures against the US. The more the US abuses tariffs, the more backlash and resistance it will face globally. As The Guardian put it, rather than "a tool of economic coercion," the US instead wields tariffs as "a political weapon." And the tariffs are "reshaping old alliances" as the Global South "plots its own path." 

What the world needs are bridges of cooperation, not "small yard and high fence." A stable international trade environment is the precondition for global growth and development, and the foundation of America's own prosperity. The suspension of parcel deliveries to the US by multiple countries, along with the recent wave of international responses to US tariff policies, is a vivid lesson in practice. If Washington truly wishes to "make America great again," it should work with other countries to safeguard the international trading system and global opportunities for development.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Arrives in Tianjin to Attend the 2025 SCO Summit

By Global Times

Aug 31, 2025 09:41 AM

Photo: CCTV News

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tianjin, North China, by plane on Sunday morning to attend the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, CCTV News reported. This marks another visit to China by President Putin following his state visit in May, 2024.

Russia is one of the six founding member states of the SCO. China and Russia have consistently maintained close contact within the framework of the SCO. Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of both countries, bilateral relations are at their best in history, making China-Russia relations the most stable, mature and strategic among major powers in the world today, which is undergoing turbulent transformation, CCTV News reported.

After concluding his trip in Tianjin, Putin will head to Beijing to attend a gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

According to the Russian side, President Putin is accompanied by a "large and significant" delegation to China, which includes three deputy prime ministers, more than 10 ministers, and representatives from major enterprises. President Putin's visit to China for related activities further demonstrates the high level of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.

Global Times

GT Voice: Stock Market’s Reaction to Nvidia’s Results a Reminder for Washington

By Global Times

Aug 28, 2025 11:35 PM

Nvidia Photo: VCG

Following Nvidia's announcement of its second-quarter revenues for the period ending July 27, 2025, Fortune magazine published an article on its website headlined "Nvidia earnings beat Wall Street's sky-high expectations, but the stock is falling because 'there were no H20 sales to China-based customers'." Stock market sentiment highlights once again the importance of the Chinese market to this American chip manufacturer.

Nvidia on Wednesday reported revenue for the second quarter of $46.7 billion, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and up 56 percent from a year earlier. Even though this figure came in slightly above analysts' forecasts, CNN reported that "investors aren't loving it - the company's shares dipped as much as 3.5 percent in after-hours trading immediately following the report."

This decline may not have a real-world impact on Nvidia, given that its stock had reportedly surged 35 percent this year as of Wednesday's close. However, it does reflect market sentiment or, more precisely, investors' initial reaction to Nvidia's latest financial report.

The factors driving market sentiment are likely multifaceted, with one aspect being Nvidia's performance in the Chinese market. Notably, Nvidia reported that there were no H20 sales to China-based customers in the second quarter. 

According to CNN, the White House in April blocked the export of certain artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, including Nvidia's H20 chips. This suggests that Nvidia's underwhelming performance in the Chinese market can largely be attributed to the export controls imposed by Washington.

The Chinese AI chip market is experiencing rapid growth. A report released by the research institute ASKCI indicates that the market reached 120.6 billion yuan ($16.9 billion) in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 41.9 percent. ASKCI analysts predict that this year, the market will expand to 153 billion yuan.

Based on the initial market reaction to Nvidia's earnings, it's clear that investors recognize the importance of the Chinese market for the company. Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital, told Reuters that Nvidia's biggest bottleneck isn't silicon, it's diplomacy. He noted that Nvidia's growth curve was "still impressive, but not as exponential."

It seems that Nvidia also places significant importance on the Chinese market and is actively working to persuade Washington to allow more of its chips to be exported to China. According to CNBC, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicted the AI market in the world's second-biggest economy will grow 50 percent next year.

The recent developments, especially the stark contrast between Nvidia's better-than-expected revenues and its stock decline, should prompt some introspection among US political elites. It's worth considering how America's chip export controls might be adversely affecting not only US chip companies but also the country's overall semiconductor capabilities.

H20's predicament is not only due to the export restrictions imposed by the US in April but also involves security risks. Particularly noteworthy is the public discussion among American politicians over the past few months about requiring high-end AI chips exported to have "location verification" capabilities for remote tracking. In this context, there is reasonable market speculation about whether Nvidia can withstand this pressure and whether it might install "backdoors" in its chips. If this issue is not effectively clarified, the security risks associated with Washington's "location verification" demands could potentially have a long-term negative impact on Nvidia's sales in China.

Another significant development occurred on Thursday morning. According to a Reuters report, Asian stocks experienced a volatile session as concerns about Nvidia's business prospects in China affected its regional suppliers, while igniting outsized gains in its Chinese counterparts. On Thursday, shares of some Chinese chip manufacturers surged, with SMIC gaining as much as 17.45 percent.

This is the market's way of "voting with its feet" in response to the risks that US chip export controls pose to chip manufacturers, and the continuous growth of China's domestic chip industry.

The recent rise in stock prices of Chinese chip manufacturers reflects the broader growth of China's domestic chip industry. Even though Nvidia reported "no H20 sales to China-based customers," the development of China's chip and AI sectors has clearly not stalled. There is no "dependency" on Nvidia as some in the US might suggest.

Of course, there are still challenges ahead for China's chip industry, but these are being actively addressed. The international market's reaction to Nvidia's financial report underscores that US chip export controls, while creating uncertainties for Nvidia, have not hindered the ongoing progress of China's chip industry.

More Leaders From Multiple Countries Arrive in China for SCO Summit

By Global Times

Aug 31, 2025 10:11 AM

With the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit set to open in Tianjin on Sunday, more foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov,  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh have arrived in China for the event, according to media reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tianjin, North China, by plane on Sunday morning to attend the summit, CCTV reported. This marks another visit to China by President Putin following his state visit in May 2024. Russia is one of the six founding member states of the SCO.

After concluding his trip in Tianjin, Putin will head to Beijing to attend the events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CCTV reported.

Also, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov arrived in Tianjin by air on Sunday morning. Kyrgyzstan is one of the six founding member states of the SCO. In 2023, China and Kyrgyzstan established a comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, demonstrating their resolve to build a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future characterized by good-neighborly friendship and shared prosperity, CCTV reported. Following his participation in the SCO Summit in Tianjin, he will visit Beijing to attend commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

CCTV reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tianjin by air on Sunday morning to attend the SCO.

The report noted that Türkiye is a dialogue partner of the SCO. As major developing countries and members of the Global South, China and Türkiye share broad consensus on pursuing national development and revitalization, upholding established international norms and other key issues. China has become Türkiye's second-largest trading partner and the fastest-growing source of international tourists to Turkey, CCTV reported. 

The Xinhua News Agency on Sunday reported that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in China on Saturday for the SCO Summit in Tianjin.

CCTV reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Tianjin by air to attend the SCO Summit, following a number of other foreign leaders who have arrived in China on Saturday for the Tianjin event.

Global Times

Who is Obstructing Cross-Straits Commemorations of WWII Victory?

By Zheng Jian

Aug 30, 2025 01:23 AM

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Recent media reports revealed that, due to restrictions imposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, a resident from the island of Taiwan who wished to watch Dead to Rights - a remarkable film set against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre - had no choice but to spend seventeen hours traveling to Hong Kong. Earlier, Taiwan's mainland affairs body banned officials from traveling to the mainland to attend the upcoming V-Day military parade on September 3 and other commemorative events, cautioning against veterans, celebrities and other people on the island of Taiwan participating in relevant activities.

This year not only marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also marks the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery from Japan's occupation. Such a moment, bearing profound historical significance, ought to serve as a time for the entire Chinese nation, and for all humanity, to jointly remember history, honor the martyrs and promote the great spirit of patriotism. Yet, Lai Ching-te and other "Taiwan independence" separatists have chosen to move against the tide of history, fabricating artificial barriers on cross-Straits exchanges.

On one hand, Lai banned the mainland's film Dead to Rights and obstructed veterans from commemorating the V-Day military parade. On the other hand, he deliberately misled the younger generation's understanding of history through distorted textbooks and public remarks. In his August 15 post on Facebook, Lai invoked Japan's so-called "end-of-WWII narrative" to whitewash the aggressors while keeping silent on Japan's wartime atrocities during its colonial rule over Taiwan. Such whitewashing of aggression and inversion of historical truth exemplifies the "cultural Taiwan independence" strategy of creating an "information cocoon" to mislead the Taiwan people.

Lai's moves expose his panic and insecurity. Fearing the exposure of historical truth, he blatantly wielded the "green terror" stick to suppress legitimate historical understanding and hinder Taiwan people's pursuit of truth. This not only insults the sentiments of compatriots on the mainland but also disregards the feelings of Taiwan compatriots who yearn to know the truth, while betraying the tens of thousands of Taiwan people's enormous and desperate sacrifices against Japan's aggression. No nation or people would ever glorify the aggression of their colonial oppressors. 

Lai's ideology of "pro-Japan," "colonial nostalgia" and "seeking independence through foreign support" is eroding his support base. The heresies of "Taiwan independence" cannot withstand the just cause upheld by the entire Chinese nation and all humanity.

In recent years, a new trend has emerged in Taiwan society that transcends political divisions, with people across the spectrum seeking the truth about the War of Resistance. This year's commemorative military parade on the Chinese mainland drew wide attention on the island, as many Taiwan compatriots expressed a strong desire to come to witness the occasion in person. Such enthusiasm reflects their determination to break through the "information cocoons" and lies deliberately constructed by DPP authorities and learn the historical truth. 

The War of Resistance is a magnificent epic composed by the entire Chinese nation, with all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan, and they should never be absent from these commemorations of our shared national memory. That is why it was both timely and meaningful for the Communist Party of China - serving as the mainstay of the entire nation's resistance effort - to hold a massive military parade and invite Taiwan compatriots. 

This not only allows people in Taiwan to gain a more rational understanding of the Chinese nation's war of resistance, but also lets them confront the brutal reality of Japanese aggression.

The more "Taiwan independence" separatists seek to distort history and obstruct cross-Straits exchanges, the more necessary it becomes to counter their false narratives with facts and dialogue. Only in this way can justice and truth be preserved across both sides of the Straits, allowing the memory of history to truly belong to the people.

The author is a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University and the deputy director of the Study and Research Committee, China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

Lawsuit Charges Racism in Texas Redistricting Scheme

MAGA Republican state officials are seeking to reverse the civil rights legacy of the last six decades

Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday August 27, 2025

Political Review

For several weeks Democratic lawmakers within the State of Texas have been waging a political struggle to halt a redistricting plan which would effectively disenfranchise millions of African American voters. 

These plans have been long underway in various states throughout the South, which played a key role in the outcome of the 2024 national elections. 

Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the racial composition of the House of Representatives and Senate in Washington D.C. has seen a slight shift in greater representation among Black and Brown communities. Nonetheless, with the growing population of People of Color in the United States, it has stoked fear among many whites who can foresee an electorate which could draft bills and enact policies that move toward genuine equality and self-determination for the nationally oppressed. 

The administration of President Donald Trump has made no secret of its contempt for fundamental bourgeois democratic norms. More importantly, the institutional racism which has characterized the U.S. since its inception has only been curtailed as a result of mass actions, legal challenges, boycotts, strikes and urban rebellions.

By changing district boundaries to benefit conservative white voters and purging the electoral rolls of African Americans and Latin American peoples, the racists believe they can maintain political dominance in perpetuity. This scheme to engage in massive disenfranchisement throughout the U.S. is inextricably linked with the so-called “crackdown on illegal immigration” aimed specifically towards barring people from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Asia-Pacific. 

The efforts to deport millions from the U.S., restrict the ability of oppressed peoples to vote while deploying federalized National Guard units and Marines into urban areas which tend to vote for Democratic candidates, are all designed to fulfill the mandate of “Making America Great Again.” When was America ever great: was it doing the period of forced removals and genocide against the Indigenous Native people; the kidnapping and mass importation of Africans for the purpose of chattel slavery; or was it during the period of the Fugitive Slave Acts, the Civil War and failed Reconstruction? 

With the failure of Federal Reconstruction, African Americans were relegated to a status of legalized segregation, tenant farming, peonage, unjust imprisonment and lynching. Texas was considered one of the most racist and repressive states where African Americans and Mexicans were treated as second class or noncitizens by the ruling class. 

It would take nearly a century for the Supreme Court to outlaw segregation in public education in the Brown v. Topeka ruling of May 1954. Later a series of mass actions such as boycotts, civil disobedience and demonstrations would lead to the passage of Civil Rights legislation in 1957, 1964, 1965 and 1968. The enactment of affirmative action programs created opportunities for African Americans, Latin Americans, Indigenous people and women to enter higher educational institutions and previously restricted categories within the labor market. 

These advancements are under attack by the current White House and Congress. The events in Texas over the last several months are clear reflections of the campaigns to reverse the gains of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s through the 1970s.

Texas Scheme Facing Legal Challenges

In addition to the debates initiated by the Democratic Texas lawmakers and their act of civil disobedience by leaving the state to deny the Republicans a quorum, a lawsuit in federal district court has been filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This legal claim is seeking an injunction to halt the redistricting scheme passed after the Democratic politicians returned to the State. 

A report published by the Guardian newspaper on the recently filed legal action emphasized that:

“The lawsuit, joined by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, names Texas’s Republican governor, Greg Abbott, and secretary of state, Jane Nelson, as defendants. It asks a federal judge for a preliminary injunction preventing the use of the redrawn maps, arguing that the redistricting violates the U.S. constitution by improperly reducing the power of voters of color. It also argues that the maps violate section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.” (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/26/naacp-sues-texas-congressional-maps-black-political-power)

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law by former Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas has already been severely weakened since 2013 when the Supreme Court ruling in the Shelby v. Holder case originating in Alabama which nullified the enforcement provisions of the legislation. The Voting Rights Act was passed in the aftermath of the Selma Campaign of 1963-1965 which culminated in the march to the Alabama State Capitol.

African Americans were systematically excluded from voting in many of the Southern states from the period of the late 1870s until the 1960s. Poll taxes and “literacy tests” were utilized to deny registration to Black people under the guise that they were not “qualified” to vote. 

Moreover, the ultimate mechanism which enforced the disenfranchisement of African Americans was racial terrorism and brute state power. Thousands of people lost their lives from the late 19th century to the 1960s for challenging the restrictive electoral policies which prevailed throughout the South where the majority of African Americans resided. 

Gary Bledsoe, the president of the Texas NAACP, was quoted in the same above-mentioned article saying:

“We now see just how far extremist leaders are willing to go to push African Americans back toward a time when we were denied full personhood and equal rights. We call on Texans of every background to recognize the dangers of this moment. Our democracy depends on ensuring that every person is counted fully, valued equally and represented fairly. We are prepared to fight this injustice at every level. Our future depends on it.”

This sentiment by the Texas NAACP is being echoed around the country. African Americans and their organizations view the attacks on voting rights as an important element within the MAGA agenda to reverse the historical trajectory of the U.S. Already there is disproportionate representation of African Americans and Latin Americans in the jails and prisons in the U.S. A renewed systematic denial of voting rights aimed at excluding people from the political system can only result in the heightening of national oppression and economic exploitation.

These policy imperatives related to the suppression of African American and Latin American voters are part and parcel of the neo-fascist agenda of the White House and the majority forces in both Houses of Congress. The denial of voting rights along with the militarization of the country which includes the accelerated recruitment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents; the deployment of Federalized National Guard units into Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles along with the dispatching of Marines, are all designed to enhance the repressive apparatus of the state.

A statement from the National NAACP President Derrick Johnson in Baltimore emphasized the historical significance of the battle being waged in Texas, noting:

“The state of Texas is only 40% white, but white voters control over 73% of the state's congressional seats. It's quite obvious that Texas's effort to redistrict mid-decade, before next year's midterm elections, is racially motivated. The state's intent here is to reduce the members of Congress who represent Black communities, and that, in and of itself, is unconstitutional." (https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-redistricting-maps-are-racially-biased-civil-rights-advocates-say-in-lawsuit/)

Although it is of paramount importance that African Americans and other oppressed communities fight for their rights to participate fully in the political system, this struggle must be waged on an independent level. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has failed to uphold the civil rights of African Americans. Under the former administration of President Joe Biden, the White House and Congress failed to pass numerous bills which they pledged to do during the 2020 election campaign.

The promised passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act never materialized under the Biden administration. Consequently, the struggle to restore voting rights for the African American people and their allies must be led by these communities which have the most to gain from these efforts.

Other States Are Facing the Same Problems

There are cases still pending in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama which are centered around redistricting. In Mississippi, where the federal court ordered the drawing of another Congressional district to compensate for the lack of African American representation, is being appealed once again by state officials to the Supreme Court. (https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/03/mississippi-appealing-redistricting-case-to-supreme-court-of-the-united-states/84461351007/)

The Supreme Court will hear a case in October on whether the redrawing of electoral districts in line with the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana is constitutional under the 14th and 15th Amendments. This state is also dominated by the Republican Party aligned with Trump. (https://lailluminator.com/2025/08/13/louisiana-redistricting-3/)

An outcome in this case which upholds the Republican Party’s position in Louisiana could impact other states such as Alabama where the Supreme Court agreed that a new district must be drawn to ensure greater representation for African Americans. Despite the large numbers of African Americans living in these southern states, they continue to lack adequate political representation. 

These legal challenges to disenfranchisement should be bolstered with mass actions led by the African American people and their allies. The current composition of the White House, Congress, the federal and supreme courts cannot be relied upon to preserve the voting rights of the nationally oppressed.

Abayomi Azikiwe Describes How Unions Can Defend Democracy

August 27, 2025 by Zoe Sullivan

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Was Featured on Madison Community Radio Station Discussing the Crisis in the United States Labor Movement

To hear the podcast of this program just click on the following link: Abayomi Azikiwe Describes How Unions Can Defend Democracy - WORT-FM 89.9

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Abayomi Azikiwe on how unions can defend democracy

Abayomi Azikiwe is the publisher of the Pan-African News Wire, which focuses on issues affecting people of African descent around the world. 

A long-time Detroit-based activist, he spoke with WORT’s Zoe about the role labor unions could be playing to defend the country from the Trump regime’s power grab and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists resolution calling for a labor union march against authoritarianism.

President Aoun Meets Al Mayadeen Team, Stresses Unity, Balanced Media

By Al Mayadeen English

28 Aug 2025 23:20

President Joseph Aoun met Al Mayadeen’s Beirut bureau, urging unity, balanced media, and highlighting reconstruction, occupation withdrawal, and army resilience.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a delegation from Al Mayadeen’s Beirut bureau, headed by office director Rony Alpha, during which they discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the state’s position on current local and regional developments.

During the meeting, President Aoun emphasized that “media discourse must avoid sectarian and extremist rhetoric that incites strife,” stressing that Al Mayadeen’s editorial policy aligns with “the unifying national stance that seeks to consolidate Lebanese ranks during this sensitive stage.”

Rony Alpha noted that the visit was an opportunity to brief the president on the bureau’s work and activities in Beirut, adding that the channel’s diverse and balanced media approach was acknowledged and appreciated.

On political matters, Alpha conveyed that the president highlighted the issue of reconstruction, describing it as “a sovereign matter equal in importance to the withdrawal of the occupation from Lebanese territories.” He affirmed that Aoun is engaged in diplomatic efforts to advance this issue, noting his deep awareness of “the suffering of southern Lebanese communities and his commitment to lifting injustice from them.”

The discussion also touched on the recent US proposal approved by the Lebanese government. According to Alpha, the president clarified that “the signing entails no actual consequences until other parties concerned provide their official response,” stressing that the file remains “open to further discussion.”

President Aoun reiterated the importance of “internal unity and avoiding inflammatory rhetoric or political accusations between factions,” asserting that such unity “is the key to the success of any official or popular confrontation in defense of Lebanon.”

The meeting also marked the anniversary of the Lebanese Army’s victory over extremist groups in the eastern mountain ranges. Alpha recalled that the president underlined at the time that “the army will remain the guarantee of all Lebanese and a strong bulwark against such terrorist groups.”

Lebanese cabinet aligns with US disarmament framework

On August 5, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the Lebanese Army had been tasked with preparing an arms control plan to ensure state monopoly over weapons.

The plan is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet by August 31.

The Council of Ministers approved the overarching goals outlined in the US envoy’s proposal during its session on August 7. However, Information Minister Paul Morcos clarified that specific details would be discussed only after the Lebanese Army submits its implementation roadmap.

Meanwhile, sources informed Al Mayadeen that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri insists on two key conditions: extending UNIFIL’s mandate and ensuring "Israel’s" full commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

These steps, Berri believes, are necessary precursors to advancing negotiations, securing a sustained ceasefire, achieving the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, returning Lebanese prisoners from "Israeli" jails, and beginning reconstruction.

Sayyed al-Houthi: Yemeni Missile Breakthrough Alarms 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English

28 Aug 2025 19:43

Sayyed al-Houthi says Yemen’s new Palestine-2 warheads alarm the Israeli occupation as he vows continued resistance, condemns Gaza crimes, and warns of Arab complicity.

The Yemeni armed forces had achieved “a qualitative breakthrough that alarmed the Israeli enemy, through the development of cluster warheads for the Palestine-2 missiles,” the leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul Malik al-Houthi, affirmed on Thursday during his weekly speech. 

In a televised address on the latest developments in the Israeli war on Gaza and regional dynamics, Sayyed al-Houthi explained that these newly developed warheads “split into several warheads,” describing the achievement as “a very important qualitative success that has worried the occupation.”

He further revealed that “operations from Yemen’s front against the Israeli occupation continued this week, using hypersonic missiles and drones, targeting Yafa and Askalan.” Sayyed al-Houthi said the strikes triggered “sirens in more than 200 locations inside the occupied territories, sending millions of settlers into shelters and suspending air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport.”

Commenting on the Israeli occupation’s recent strikes on Yemen, Sayyed al-Houthi stressed that “targeting the oil company’s station and the electricity stations is a failed aggression.” He added that the occupation “attacks facilities that serve the entire people to say, 'I am targeting you all without distinction'.”

Despite the aggression, he insisted that Yemen’s stance remains firm: “Our position continues officially and popularly, along its path of doing what is stronger and greater, of further developing our military capabilities, and of supporting the Palestinian people with full determination.”

'Occupation relies on Arab regimes'

Turning to the war on Gaza, Sayyed al-Houthi condemned the Israeli attack on Nasser Medical Complex, saying it targeted “ambulance crews, rescue workers, and journalists, with a barbaric criminal tactic.” He accused the occupation of persisting with “death trap tactics in partnership with the United States, aimed at genocide, in full disregard for human life and sanctities.”

He warned that “the occupation continues its crime of the century because it feels reassured by some Arab regimes, receiving encouragement, support, and backing.” Sayyed al-Houthi further cautioned that “the biggest factor emboldening it to target al-Aqsa Mosque is Arab complacency and collusion.”

He added that the Israeli occupation “labels all its crimes with humanitarian titles,” citing “the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” as an example of “covering up crime and aggression.”

Sayyed al-Houthi highlighted the impact of Palestinian resistance operations, noting that “the operations carried out by al-Qassam Brigades during the aggression had a major impact on the enemy,” while also emphasizing that “the actions of al-Quds Brigades and other factions’ brigades are significant and great as well.”

Lebanon, Syria, and regional plots

On Lebanon and Syria, Sayyed al-Houthi said that “the occupation wants both countries to play a role according to a model whose function is to receive Israeli and American dictates.” He warned that in Lebanon “the government is serving the Israeli enemy,” adding that “the Lebanese government and some Arab regimes adopt the disarmament of the resistance, while the Israeli plan itself is targeting it; this is foolishness and moral collapse.”

Addressing Syria, he warned that “the Israeli enemy acts on the basis of full violation and seeks to strengthen its control over water resources in southern Syria,” stressing that “a sip of water in Syria could become a tool for subjugating the people, enslaving them, and forcing them to submit to Israeli dictates.”

Sayyed al-Houthi concluded that “American activity in Syria coincides with Israeli activity, as they are two sides of the same coin.”