🔅 Can Portugal Make Amends in Africa?
Plus:🇸🇳 Senegal Elections Protests, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe’s Energy Reserves, 🍃 The Maathai Legacy Continues, ☕ And much more...
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Global Markets: Kellogg's Key Ingredient is from War-Torn Sudan | Kellogg's products are as reliable as a morning alarm clock, and that's because the cereal giant is one step ahead of the game when it comes to sourcing its ingredients. One of the keg ingredients in its array of offerings, gum arabic, is sourced mainly from Sudan, but the company is confident it won't run out, even as conflict rages in the African country. The company is stockpiling months of the ingredient and sourcing it from other locations in Africa's 'gum belt.' It also looks for "redundancy of supply," meaning back-ups for the component in case ports are closed or routes are unsafe. It's a smart move, as gum arabic is found in Pop-Tarts, veggie burgers, and granola bites, and only comes from acacia trees in Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad.
*Data accurate as of the close of markets across the continent
COLONIALISM
Can Portugal Make Amends in Africa?
Portugal has a dark past.
The country’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has taken a significant step in suggesting that his government apologise and take responsibility for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
From the 15th to the 19th century, Portuguese vessels kidnapped and forcibly transported over 6 million Africans across the Atlantic and sold them into slavery. This is what de Sousa wants the country to apologize and take responsibility for.
President De Sousa made his remarks when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in Portugal on his first visit to Europe since assuming office.
The country’s Human Rights Minister, Silvio Almeida, said de Sousa’s remarks were “extremely important”, as they bring the issue to the table and can help move towards a more equal society.
But how serious is he?
It’s hard to tell.
He said apologising and turning your back on the issue isn’t enough, but at the same time didn’t provide any specifics.
Paula Cardoso, founder of Afrolink, an online platform for Black professionals in Portugal, said she’d like to see something more concrete if the president’s remarks are to have any real impact.
She suggested reparations and public policies to fight inequality caused by Portugal’s past.
Europe’s top Human Rights Group agrees, saying Portugal needs to do more to confront its colonial past and role in the transatlantic slave trade if it wants to make a real difference in racism and discrimination today.
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OTHER HEADLINES
Across the Continent
🇸🇳 Senegal Elections | The 2024 presidential election in Senegal is heating up… Well, it was heating up—until a court of appeal threw a wrench into Ousmane Sonko’s plans. Sonko, a popular opposition politician, was recently handed a six-month suspended sentence in a libel case, a ruling that could disqualify him from the race. As you can imagine, this ruling has sparked a whole lot of unrest in the West African nation. The ruling was an unexpected turn of events, especially since Sonko had instead received a two-month suspended sentence in March, a ruling that still allowed him to run for president. Sonko’s supporters have taken to the streets to protest, adding to rising discontent with President Macky Sall’s potential third-term bid. The outcome of Sonko’s other case, in which he is charged with rape and making death threats, could also affect his electoral eligibility. All eyes are on Senegal as Sonko has six days to appeal the new sentence and the next court hearing is scheduled for May 16.
🇿🇼 Invictus Energy Strikes Gold Down Under | Australia-listed Invictus Energy is winning big Down Under. The company just confirmed the presence of light oil, gas condensate, and helium at its Cabora Bassa project in Zimbabwe, sending its shares up 8.7%. The analysis shows that this stuff is of the good stuff, too—with helium gas concentrations comparable to global helium-producing fields, and natural gas condensate ratios estimated at between 30 and 135 barrels per million cubic feet. Helium is a key component in the manufacture of semiconductors, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, and fibre optic wire. The company plans to drill a second well, Mukuyu-2, during the third quarter of this year.
🍃 The Maathai Legacy Continues | Like mother, like daughter! Wanjira Maathai, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, is continuing her mother’s legacy with a new restoration project. Her organization, the World Resources Institute, just won US$100 million to accelerate locally-led land restoration in three African landscapes sprawled across East Africa. Ms Maathai said, “Restoration is one of the most powerful investments we can make on the planet.” This project will build on the AFR100 movement, an initiative to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land in Africa by 2030. The Maathai legacy is undoubtedly alive and well!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Proverb of the Day
“A flea can trouble a lion much more than a lion can trouble a flea.”
— Kenyan Proverb.