3 things we found interesting
Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir May Face the ICC
On Tuesday, a member of Sudan’s ruling council suggested that the country may send Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court in the Hague to face trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court first called for his arrest in 2009 following years of conflict and genocide in the war-torn region of Darfur. The notorious former President stepped down last year amidst mass protests calling for revolution in the northeastern African nation. Some observers are skeptical that he will actually be handed over to the court, but his ousting and this signal of cooperation from the ruling council opens the door for trial.
Death of former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi
The former Kenyan president died on February 4th, and the reaction to his death has been a mix of tributes and reminiscence of his harsh rule. Kenyan journalist Isaac Otidi Amuke has written about the “performance of mourning from the political class” adding that “not everyone is buying into Kenya’s elite conspiracy.” The tendency on the continent to bestow judgement-free honors on elders, when death comes, is at play here. Patrick Gathara, in the Elephant , warns about “national amnesia” in Kenya. “The erasure of memory has instead created fertile ground for the political class to continue to reinvent itself as the saviour rather the oppressor of the public” and so “if Kenya is to free itself, it must begin by rejecting the official histories and by striving to remember.” Okyeame reader Wanjiku Ngare pointed us to this article on how Kenyans used satire to cope with Moi’s reign and his long shadow. (+ cartoon below)
RIP Santu Mofokeng
“There's no real vocabulary for the non-photographed of apartheid” - Santu Mofokeng.
The South African photographer “inspired by the traditional spiritual and linguistic cultures of black South Africans, and their photographic practices in the Victorian period” passed away at the end of last month. Check out some of our favorite photo essays of his, in the Chronic.
Did you know
Netflix’s first African series stars South Africa’s Pearl Thusi as a crime-fighting operative
Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara wants to rewrite the nation’s constitution (again!)
Why France is delaying its repatriation of stolen African art
An audit of the Confederation of African football uncovered suspicious financial deals (Football fanatic Anakwa is shocked!)
South Sudan’s president announced a peace deal that would involve a return to the 10 original states
Black girls surf
A Green New Deal for South African workers
Tours of Rome led by immigrants
Oh, also:
The New York Times published a series of photos and written reflections to honor the 60th anniversary of independence for 17 African nations
The rise of solar-powered travel in Nairobi
There’s a new flavor of FanYogo and a very important accompanying commercial:
“True to his word even in death”
Peace & Love,
Anakwa and Katie