Emmanuel Macron’s Twitter fingers

The stuff we couldn't cover the second week of December, so we compiled them here in byte sizes.

Emmanuel Macron, French President.

First up, Emmanuel Macron continues his streak of African agitation. This week his target –on Twitter — was Algeria. Previously, Macron acknowledged that France’s colonial war in Algeria was “a crime against humanity.” He didn’t give specifics or apologize to Algerians for atrocities committed during the war (during one French military airstrike in 1945, over 40,000 Algerians were bombed to death), Now he wants Algeria to allow the return of “thousands of Algerians who fought for the French army against Algeria during the war of independence from 1954 to 1962” and who have lived in France since then.

Speaking of Algeria: December 6 was the anniversary of Frantz Fanon’s death from leukemia at the age of 36. Some thoughts on a couple new books (published here on Africa is a Country) that seek to present the philosopher to us in a new way.  [A few, older pieces that are also worth revisiting on Africa is a Country about Fanon’s legacy are here, herehere and here–Ed]

Regarding the ongoing migrant crisis in Libya, we must look to countries of origin, destination, and transit to bear a joint responsibility for the migrants.

In fact, it is better looked as a confluence of many displacements and migration crises.

Muammar Gaddafi’s son is coming back to Tripoli and could stand for next year’s Libyan elections. 

Has Angola had a revolution of its own? Or are the new wide-ranging reforms still in the context of a political “musical chairs”?

It appears that in Soviet Russia, sorry, modern-day Nigeria, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad is extorting, assaulting and intimidating citizens. People have had enough, and there is widespread call for wider Nigerian police (ranked worst in the world) reform. #EndSARS

After paying $700m for the last 10 years, in installments, the Swiss government will return the final $320m money the late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha stashed away between 1993 and 1998.

Another leader from Kano, Sanusi Lamido, puts forth another way to look at the Sahel and how West African nations and North African one can work together. 

Kenyan’s national elections made all the headlines. But the down-ballot votes show the success of devolution and suggest a path for addressing the ever-widening inequality; and

As international pressure grows on tax-dodging and financial havens, Mauritius looks to diversify its economy. 

Further Reading

Procès et tribulations de Rokia Traoré

Détenue en Italie puis en Belgique pendant prèsde sept mois, la chanteuse malienne est engagée depuis 2019 dans une bataille judiciaire avec son ex-conjoint belge pour la garde de leur fille. Entre accusations d’abus et mandats d’arrêt, le feuilleton semble approcher de sa conclusion.

Requiem for a revolution

A sweeping, jazz-scored exploration of Cold War intrigue and African liberation, Johan Gimonprez’s ‘Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat’ lays bare the cultural and political battlegrounds where empires, artists, and freedom fighters clashed.

On Safari

On our year-end publishing break, we reflect on how 2024’s contradictions reveal a fractured world grappling with inequality, digital activism, and the blurred lines between action and spectacle.