http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34398899
Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi is on trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for destroying cultural sites in Timbuktu during the unrest in Mali in 2012 and 2013. He was part of the Islamic group Ansar Dine that destroyed many ancient ruins during the unrest. The destruction destroyed mosques, mausoleums, and burnt tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts.
The destruction of ancient ruins, even Islamic ones, by Islamic groups has become frequently more common in recent years. Whether they find them guilty of idol worship or just don't like them, the destruction of history is something that should not be tolerated. While the mausoleums were able to be saved by rebuilding them, ancient texts that were destroyed cannot be so easily remade. While these group's other crimes are unforgivable, this destruction of history and culture cannot be ignored.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Failed Coup in Africa
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34334430
President Michel Kafando, president of Burkina Faso, was reinstated as president after a failed coup attempt that began last week. The coup, led by the presidential guard of the last president, seized power last week but were met with fierce resistance by the populace. With assistance from other West African leaders, a ceasefire and eventual return of the President was achieved.
Instability in African countries is common with military coups being the nastiest. However, not only did the coup fail but the populace was completely against it and were glad with the presidents return. This shows that even when coups happen, it is capable of an African country to recover peacefully. This precedent is promising for stability in the region and Continent.
President Michel Kafando, president of Burkina Faso, was reinstated as president after a failed coup attempt that began last week. The coup, led by the presidential guard of the last president, seized power last week but were met with fierce resistance by the populace. With assistance from other West African leaders, a ceasefire and eventual return of the President was achieved.
Instability in African countries is common with military coups being the nastiest. However, not only did the coup fail but the populace was completely against it and were glad with the presidents return. This shows that even when coups happen, it is capable of an African country to recover peacefully. This precedent is promising for stability in the region and Continent.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Acid River
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34173746
As though growing things in Africa was hard enough, a village in Zambian has had its water supply polluted with run off from a copper mine. The communities of Hippo Pool, Kakosa, Shimulala and Hellen have taken the Vedanta Resources Plc mine to court due to the poisoning of the water. Not only is their drinking water polluted, these communities have now been denied farming land due to the runoff polluting the area. Peoples health have also began to take a turn for the worse due to the dirty water.
A whistle blower for the Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) that owns the mine has stated how the company has cut various corners and dumped various toxins in the water. The company has stated that they have been careful but previous cases against them have proven elsewhere. The company was sued successfully in 2011 under a similar case in Chingola. While careless polluting is harmful by itself, the fact that it can ruin the livelihoods of the residents make these cases fatal to African communities.
As though growing things in Africa was hard enough, a village in Zambian has had its water supply polluted with run off from a copper mine. The communities of Hippo Pool, Kakosa, Shimulala and Hellen have taken the Vedanta Resources Plc mine to court due to the poisoning of the water. Not only is their drinking water polluted, these communities have now been denied farming land due to the runoff polluting the area. Peoples health have also began to take a turn for the worse due to the dirty water.
A whistle blower for the Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) that owns the mine has stated how the company has cut various corners and dumped various toxins in the water. The company has stated that they have been careful but previous cases against them have proven elsewhere. The company was sued successfully in 2011 under a similar case in Chingola. While careless polluting is harmful by itself, the fact that it can ruin the livelihoods of the residents make these cases fatal to African communities.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Forgotten Empires
When people think of Africa, many picture a region that is filled with poverty, ignorance, and unstable regions. Many also believe that it was always like this, that European colonizers brought greatness to the region. This however is false as many great empires were of African origin and design. To name a few, these empires were Egypt, Mali, Songhai, and Axum. In terms of Egypt, many people think of the ancient Egyptians that had many gods and built pyramids. While this is true, Egypt had a few great Empires and dynasties that would form from their conversion to Islam such as the Fatimid Caliphate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid_Caliphate
Mali and Songhai were Sub-Saharan Empires that become incredible wealthy states and important places for Islamic learning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Empire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songhai_Empire
Axum was an ancient mercantile empire that held large trading ties with great empires such as Rome and India, adopted Christianity very early, and would later become known as Ethiopia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Aksum
Overall, if one were to look past assumptions and prejudices, one can find many great and powerful Empires within Africa that could even rival the well known ones in Western memory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid_Caliphate
Mali and Songhai were Sub-Saharan Empires that become incredible wealthy states and important places for Islamic learning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Empire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songhai_Empire
Axum was an ancient mercantile empire that held large trading ties with great empires such as Rome and India, adopted Christianity very early, and would later become known as Ethiopia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Aksum
Overall, if one were to look past assumptions and prejudices, one can find many great and powerful Empires within Africa that could even rival the well known ones in Western memory.
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