The speed at which Africa is realigning with the new multipolar world, finding its footing and expelling imperialists from the continent has left Western media breathless. Believing their own propaganda line - that Africans need the West for stability and growth - they are clutching at straws trying to understand Africa’s self-confidence in reclaiming its destiny.

In this CNN interview, host Zain Asher echoes the West’s fear of an awakened continent when she wonders why Nigeriens are happy to depose a ‘democratically elected’ leader, then asks DC think-tanker Aneliese Bernard if the coup in Niger can be somehow undone.

The African Stream team unpacks this Western narrative in our latest reaction video - go to our YouTube channel for the full version.

#africa #world #continent #imperialists #westernmedia #propaganda #confidence #cnn #interview #nigeriens #democracy #elected #leader #coup #africanstream

Africa undeniably has a problem with religious extremism. Why is it that Africans remain vulnerable to fanaticism and doomsday sects?

Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie, who’s been in custody for over 100 days, has now been charged with manslaughter for the deaths of over 200 people. The self-proclaimed pastor and 94 other suspects, including his wife, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to 238 counts of manslaughter in what is now known as the Shakahola massacre. Mass graves in the forest by that name have turned up the emaciated and abused corpses of his followers, sometimes of entire families. It’s alleged he preached starvation as a route to heaven.

We chat with Pan-African professor PLO Lumumba as we wrap up January to find out why the African continent is so susceptible to religious manipulation, discussing the root causes as well as possible ways to deter preying ‘pastors.’

#africanstream #africa #religionextremism #vulnerability #fanatiscm #fyp

Violence has escalated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between M23 militants and the DRC army. Unfortunately, rockets and bombs have landed on universities, markets and villages, killing some civilians while others run for their lives. Many fear the conflict and the humanitarian crisis will cycle out of control as Goma, North Kivu province's largest city—home to 2 million people—might fall to the so-called rebels.

African Stream hosted two guests from Friends of the Congo and the Center for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa to unpack the situation.

#podcast #africanstream #violence #drc #m23 #conflict #goma #fyp