🔅 Ms. South Afri—, We Mean Ms. Nigeria Triumphs
S. Africa Miners Remain Trapped & Russia's Veto Prolongs Sudan's War
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Ms. South Afri— Oops, We Mean Ms. Nigeria’s Triumphant Second Place at Miss Universe
Chidimma Adetshina, the reigning Miss Nigeria, just made history by coming in second at the Miss Universe competition and being crowned Miss Africa and Oceania. But her path to the global stage is a story in itself.
Originally a contestant in the Miss South Africa contest, Adetshina found herself at the center of a xenophobic storm. Despite being born and raised in South Africa, trolls targeted her because her father is Nigerian.
It went beyond online abuse, with South African authorities deciding to strip Adetshina of her identity papers, also alleging that her mother, who has Mozambican roots, committed identity fraud to gain South African nationality.
From Miss South Africa to Miss Nigeria: After the drama in South Africa, Adetshina decided to compete in the Miss Nigeria competition, which… she won, qualifying her for the Miss Universe contest in Mexico City.
In a BBC interview in September, Adetshina, a law student, declared that she still saw herself as "proudly South African" and "proudly Nigerian." But when Miss Universe South Africa tweeted their congratulations with both South African and Nigerian flags, some South Africans responded by saying she did not represent them.
Adetshina has been open about seeking therapy to help her deal with the abuse she faced. Despite the challenges, she's now the highest-placed black African woman in Miss Universe since South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi won the competition in 2019.
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South Africa Illegal Mining: Hundreds Remain Trapped Underground
South Africa is facing a complex and potentially volatile situation as hundreds of illegal miners remain stuck in a long-disused mine shaft in the North West province. The miners, who entered the abandoned Stilfontein mine in search of leftover gold, have found themselves at the center of a standoff with police, who have blocked their access to food and water supplies in an attempt to force them out and make arrests.
Illegal mining has been a persistent issue in South Africa for decades. The practice has cost the country's economy billions of rands in lost income and royalties.
In recent weeks, more than 1,000 illegal miners have resurfaced from the mine, but police estimate that hundreds more could still be underground. It remains unclear whether those still in the mine are unwilling or unable to leave.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has weighed in on the situation, urging the police to respect the miners' rights and prioritize their safe recovery. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, "The Stilfontein mine is a crime scene where the offence of illegal mining is being committed. It is standard police practice everywhere to secure a crime scene and to block off escape routes that enable criminals to evade arrest."
However, he also emphasized the need to handle the situation carefully, recognizing the potential for it to escalate. The police's decision to block the miners' supplies has drawn criticism from local residents and human rights groups, who argue that the measure is too harsh and puts lives at risk.
Russia Veto: Sudan's War Prolonged at the UN Security Council
The United Nations Security Council witnessed a showdown as Russia vetoed a draft UK-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Sudan.
The move has drawn sharp condemnation from the UK and US, with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy calling the veto a "disgrace" and accusing Russia of showing its "true colours."
Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal civil war for 19 months, with the conflict believed to have claimed the lives of tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million people. Aid workers describe the situation as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with many thousands at risk of famine.
The war began in April last year when the army and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), started a vicious struggle for power. Since then, both sides have been accused of human rights violations that could amount to war crimes.
The draft resolution, proposed by the UK and Sierra Leone, called on both sides to immediately halt hostilities and start talks aimed at agreeing a national ceasefire. It also urged the army and RSF to respect previous agreements to protect civilians, specifically mentioning RSF attacks in Darfur and elsewhere in the country.
However, Sudan's representative at the UN said that clauses it wanted in the text were not included, such as condemning the United Arab Emirates' alleged backing of the RSF (which the UAE denies) and classifying the RSF as "terrorists."
Russia was the sole dissenting voice among the 15 Security Council member states, with all others voting in favor of the draft, including China. But Russia's veto was enough to block the resolution from passing.
Russian representative Dmitry Polyanskiy accused the UK of ignoring Sudanese sovereignty and attempting to meddle in the country's affairs.
Food for Thought
“It is the visitor who can clearly point out where your house leaks.”
— Malawian Proverb