African Studies Blog - Muzammil Yousuf Palla

Morocco has stopped involvement in the war in Yemen, as per Moroccan govermnent officials. Speaking anonymously, the officials said that Rabat recalled its ambassador. They were not able to elaborate further as they were not authorized to speak publicly regardign the tensions. Al-Jazeera adds: "In an interview with Al Jazeera last month ( Arabic link ), Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attributed Rabat's decision to "developments on the ground" in Yemen, "especially in regards to the humanitarian situation"." The article continues that: "When asked why King Mohammed VI did not host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a recent tour of other Arab countries, Bourita said: "Official visits are prepared in advance, according to protocol. After Bourita's interview, Saudi television channel Al Arabiya aired a documentary on disputed Western Sahara, supporting claims that Morocco invaded it after Spanish colonisers l

As you may know, we studied a bit regarding the Sokoto State. Its founder was a man named  Usman dan Fuduye (or Usman dan Fodio). He was born in 1754 and passed away in 1817.  His eleventh ancestor is believed to originally be from Senegal (see F.H. el Masri). He was known as a religious scholar. He was originally taught by his father and a myriad of other teachers in a strictly orthodox environment.  Usman dan Fodio wrote many books. He founded the Sokoto State in the year 1804 through fighting in Northern Nigeria.  Furthermore, he was the contemporary of another religious personality of Africa, Ahmadou Bamba although they never actually met. El-Masry states: ".. and after the fall of Alkalawa in 1808, he retired to his spiritual field having given the administration of the Eastern part to his son, Bello and the Western part to his brother, 'Abdullähi. He died, after a year's illness, in 1817" Works Cited "Usman Dan Fodio." Religious Literacy P

Morocco is celebrating that the U.S. passed a bill giving money allocated to Morroco to the Sahara. The North Africa Post writes: "The Polisario and its mentor Algeria have launched maneuvers aiming at undermining Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces by using the economic card." They add: "The US appropriation bill, signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump and stipulating explicitly that the assistance funds allocated to Morocco will also benefit the Sahara, is another utter defeat for the separatist camp after the EU parliament approved the fisheries deal on Feb. 12 and before that, on Jan.16, the agricultural agreement, which both cover the Sahara. In adopting the bill, US lawmakers renew their strong bipartisan support for a negotiated solution to the Sahara dispute, based on autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, and encourage US private sector to invest in the Sahara." They continue: "The Polisairo’s challenge to these agreements w

East Africa's head of state met in Arusha on Friday regarding trade-spats and tariff and non-tariff barriers as well as "crippling financial challenges" The East African website is quoted as saying: "For Kenya and Tanzania, talks on trade in sugar and tobacco hit a dead end after the EAC Secretariat was accused of failing to resolve the outstanding issue over the past seven months." Rwanda has had issues with Uganda and Burundi over diplomatic tensions and security concerns that may go out of control. The East African continues: "Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli were expected to revisit the persistent trade spats between their bureaucrats since they directed that the differences be ironed out at the last summit in Kampala in February last year, with little or no progress achieved so far. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni handed over the chairmanship to Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and they are ex

The following news is taken from the Middle East Monitor: The leader of protests over economic woes in Morocco’s Rif region, Nasser Zefzafi, was hurt inside prison, according to prison authorities on Sunday. In June, Zefzafi was  sentenced to 20 years in prison  for leading protests against economic and social problems in the country’s Rif region. In a statement, the General Commission for Management of Prisons (GCMP) said Zafzafi asked on Saturday for medical help due to leg pains.  GCMP said Zefzafi “deliberately hurt himself by hitting his hand against the edge of an office and the wall” as the medic was helping him. The GCMP said Zefzafi has committed “acts in violation of law with the intent of causing unrest and chaos”.  The GCMP narrative could not be verified by an independent source. (taken from   www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190127-morocco-protest-leader-hurt-inside-prison ) Analysis: One may see that there is no certainty as to what happened in terms of his in

A journalist from Ghana who exposed corruption in soccer was killed. Ahmed Hussain Suale was killed near his house in the Accra suburb of Madina by two men on a motorbike. He was working for an organization called Tiger Eye Pi founded by Anas Aremeyaw Anas. I quoted CNN as stating: "In a statement, Tiger Eye PI said Hussein-Suale had received death threats after recently finishing work on a documentary that exposed bribery and corruption in African soccer." This investigation led by Hussein-Suale and Anas led to the resignation of the head of the Ghana Football Association. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo  took to Twitter to condemn the killing as heinous. He states (quoting from CNN): "I have learnt with sadness of the killing of Ahmed Hussein-Suale. ...," he wrote. "I condemn the act unreservedly and extend my condolences to his family. I expect the police to bring to book, as soon as possible, the perpetrators of this heinous crime. ..."