Former Chadian President Hissene Habre has died

 

The former president of Chad has died of COVID-19. Hissene  Habre  was serving time in prison for crime against humanity during his rule from 1982 to 1990. The regime was supported by both the US and France. The reason why he was important to both countries was that Chad was fighting a war against Libya. The Ronald Reagan administration was seeking Qaddafi's removal and  using Chad was a means of carrying out that objective. Chad was fighting Libya for control of the Aouzou Strip. France and the US had interest due to the area having being rich in uranium deposits. The Chadian-Libyan conflict became another part of Cold War conflict. As the US got more aggressive with Libya, its diplomatic ties to the Soviet Union grew. Although Chad retained control of the Aouzou Strip and won the war, Habre's rule did not survive. He was deposed by Idriss Deby in 1990. The controversy around his trial was that he was the first former  head of state to be convicted for human rights abuse in another nation. His trial was in Senegal not Chad. Before, there were other attempts to have him stand trial. No French or American officials have been brought to justice for their role in the Chadian-Libyan conflict. Habre leaves behind a legacy of oppression, support for neocolonial imperial interests, and war crimes.  

Runoko Rashidi On The Importance of African History

 

A great historian and writer has passed. Runoko Rashidi passed away while on tour in Egypt. No cause of death has been announced. Rashidi had wrote about the African Diaspora and African History for decades. Preserving history is important to an identity of a people. Africa has much history to be recorded and preserved for future generations. The need for education and the spread of knowledge becomes more critical as Africa will become a major influence on global affairs. It is essential to realize that for too long the teaching of history has been presented in a Eurocentric world view. When Africa was colonized and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade was occurring Europeans made the claim Africans did not have a history or civilization. This was used to justify violence and racism from European empires. Runoko Rashidi explains liberation comes with knowledge and  new ideas. Africa has a long and rich history and to exclude it undermines social studies as an academic discipline . 

The Taliban Take Power In Afghanistan

 

The Taliban has returned to power in Afghanistan. President Ashraf  Ghani has fled the country. Kabul fell to the Taliban and now other citizens  are leaving the country. Russia previously was doing military exercises with other Central Asian states in response to the Taliban's rapid take over of territory. Observers claim that the withdraw of US-NATO troops made this possible. The occupation was not evidence of success. Attacks and fighting from the Taliban was consistent ever since 2001. The country did not gain much from the foreign presence. Economically, the Afghan War was not sustainable. There was not way to win a war that became unpopular as the decades past. The Afghan War was a conflict of aggression. The objective the US claimed was to dismantle al-Qaeda. Osama bin Laden was in Afghanistan . There were no Afghans responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. However, the country was subject to bombing and drone strikes. The government failed to improve the lives of the Afghan  public. The question remains whether or not a new Taliban government will be recognized. China has suggested it may recognize the new Taliban regime. Pakistan will have more influence in Afghanistan, which could result in a response from India. Iran's concern would be a Sunni Muslim state on its border.      

Warnings From The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

 

The IPCC report has issued a warning about climate change. The report noted that across the world's regions the climate system has been altered. The Earth's  temperature is rising and there is a link between carbon dioxide emissions. The result is the exacerbation of the green house effect. This will effect the polar ice caps. The gradual melting will result in rising sea levels. Floods could be more prevalent in the UK, India, South Africa, and the Pacific  region. The IPCC report indicated that the world could reach the 1.5 degree Celsius level. If the temperature goes beyond that then the damage may not be reversible. The new extremes of heat have the the potential to be a public health risk. Too much heat can have a negative impact on agriculture. The water cycle has been effected with not only more floods, but drought in certain parts of the world. The ecosystems of the ocean are going to be harmed. Coastal areas have to consider measures adjusting to rising sea levels. The IPCC report is more mere conjecture. Data was accumulated examining temperature changes from the past to present. The changes in human environment interaction between 1850 and 1900  altered the climate. The use of fossil fuels and the corporations that profit from them are culpable. Governments refuse to challenge this business elite, even when they are contributing to a major environmental crisis. The burning of coal and the emissions from automobiles create higher temperatures. Climate change has occurred without human interference, but economic activity exacerbates a fragile situation. The changes in rainfall patterns could harm basic food security. The constant release of various air pollutants and added methane cause deleterious effects to the environment that could last centuries. More reports are being produced examining paleoclimate compared to the current conditions  and possible solutions. 

President Kias Saied and The Crisis in Tunisia

 

President Kias Saied has suspended parliament. Saied was elected as an independent who vowed to challenge political corruption in Tunisia. The major source of contention was control of the security forces.  The security forces were what kept the authoritarian structure functioning . Disagreements and political factionalism are dividing the country. Saied decided to remove the prime minister and invoke emergency powers. Tunisia experiment with an accountable and democratic government may be coming to an end. Some speculate that what occurred in Tunisia around 2010 was nothing more than a regime change. Since the fall of Zine Abidine Ben Ali Tunisia has struggled to maintain stability. A stagnant economy and problems from a global pandemic only made conditions worse. Demonstrations are growing through out the country. While President Saied still maintains support, it remains in question how much  popularity  the Ennahda Party. Tunisia was suppose to be a model of democratic transition. The narrative of the Arab Spring as being a revolutionary movement does appear to be an accurate assessment. President Kias Saied could become like former leaders of Tunisia. North Africa continues to deal with the fall out from the uprisings that happened ten years ago. Algeria, Libya, and Egypt have similar difficulties. The use of emergency powers in Tunisia could be used against political opposition.