🔅 Why Was the Donkey Skin Trade Ended? & Gabon's Diplomatic US vs China Dance
Plus, Disney's Groundbreaking Pan-African Series "Iwájú" & Escalating Tensions in DRC
Photo of the Day
Brief & Bright: Africa's Top Five
A Continent-wide Victory: The End of the Donkey Skin Trade in Africa
In what's being hailed as a monumental win for animal welfare and rural livelihoods across Africa, the continent has officially put the brakes on the donkey skin trade, casting a protective net over millions of these indispensable animals. With a unanimous decision at the African Union summit in Ethiopia this weekend, slaughtering donkeys for their hides is now off the table in all 55 member countries.
This sweeping ban comes as a response to the burgeoning demand for Ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine crafted from donkey hides, believed by some to hold mystical anti-ageing and health-boosting properties. Despite the lack of concrete evidence to support these claims, the quest for Ejiao had led to a sharp decline in donkey populations, particularly in Africa and South America, pushing the industry to the brink of what many called a "brutal and unsustainable" practice.
Dr Solomon Onyango from the Donkey Sanctuary in Kenya shed light on the grim reality of the situation, noting a harrowing decrease in Kenya's donkey population by about half between 2016 and 2019 due to the trade. This ban, according to him, is not just a win for donkeys but a lifeline for millions who rely on these animals for their daily sustenance and economic survival.
DRC's Descent: A Tangled Web of Conflict and Accusations
This weekend, the spotlight shone harshly on the M23 rebel group, with the United States pointing a very direct and accusing finger at Rwanda for fanning the flames of conflict. As violence intensifies in DRC's restive eastern region, tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing for the strategic city of Goma, and the US State Department called on Rwanda to pull back its support.
DRC itself lambasted Rwanda for a drone attack on a civilian aircraft at Goma's airport—a brazen act, they claim, birthed from Rwandan soil. Rwanda vehemently denies the accusations.
In a display of solidarity, South Africa has stepped into the fray, pledging a force of 2,900 troops to bolster the DRC's defence against the armed insurgents. This commitment underscores the region's volatile dynamics and the eagerness to stabilise an area long tormented by conflict.
Iwájú: Disney and Kugali's Visionary Leap into a Pan-African Future
In partnership with the storytelling mavens at Kugali, Disney is set to redefine the animation landscape with "Iwájú," a series that promises to marry the rich tapestry of Pan-African culture with science fiction. The recently unveiled trailer is a kaleidoscope of futuristic marvels: think flying cars zipping through the Lagos skyline, a villain who could give your nightmares a run for their money, and a robot chameleon so cute, it's practically begging for its merchandise line.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos, Nigeria, "Iwájú" unfolds the tale of Tola (voiced by Simisola Gbadamosi), a young heiress to a tech empire on a lush island, and her gadget-genius buddy, Kole (voiced by Siji Soetan). This dynamic duo dives headfirst into the neon-tinted mysteries of their world, where every corner of Lagos buzzes with futuristic tech and untold stories.Â
In a world thirsting for stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of its audience, "Iwájú" could be a beacon of inclusivity, proving once again that Africa can play a major role in the global future of storytelling.
Ghana's Cocoa Crusade: A $200 Million World Bank Quest Against the Viral Villain
In a land where cocoa reigns supreme, Ghana stands as a beacon of production, only to face an adversary not of flesh and bone but of virus and decay—the cocoa swollen shoot virus. This fiend has laid waste to approximately 500,000 hectares of verdant cocoa farms last year, toppling output from a mighty 1.048 million tons to a mere 600,000 metric tons. It's a tale of agricultural woe where Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, grapples with its most formidable challenge.
As a result, the World Bank has bestowed a $200 million boon to breathe life back into the afflicted lands. $132.8 million from this treasure is destined for a rehabilitation project of epic proportions, promising a resurrection of the affected cocoa fields. The work involves commandeering infested farms, felling diseased cocoa trees and nurturing them back to their former glory. Yet Ghana's economy, besieged by inflation and a plummeting currency, adds a layer of complexity to this saga.Â
A previous campaign, fuelled by a $600 million pact with the Africa Development Bank, aimed at similar feats but was thwarted by economic disruptions, limiting its victory to 88,000 hectares of farmland rejuvenation.
The Atlantic Affair: Gabon's Flirtation with China and America's Jealous Gaze
Gabon almost turned the Atlantic into the hottest new club for Chinese military forces. Before his ousting in a coup last year, Ali Bongo, Gabon's then-commander-in-chief, cosily offered Xi Jinping a VIP pass to Gabon's scenic Atlantic Ocean coast. But across the pond, US officials were having none of it, and they have embarked on charm offensives not only with Gabon, but with other countries on the coastline to ensure they do not accept a China base proposal.Â
Their efforts seem to be working; the Atlantic remains an exclusive party, with China yet to score an invite. This geopolitical saga reveals the lengths the US will go to keep its Atlantic neighbourhood free of rival military bases. The Wall Street Journal has more on this.
Food for Thought
“You cannot build a house for last year’s summer."
— Ethiopian Proverb