Inside Cameroon

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is on a two-nation tour of Africa as part of efforts to strengthen his country's influence on the continent. He is not just pursuing economic interests.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is being accompanied by a huge commercial delegation on his two-nation tour of Africa. Hundreds of business representatives have joined him on his trip to Uganda and Kenya to explore ways and means of intensifying economic ties with these two countries.

The meeting with his Ugandan opposition number Yoweri Museveni was even branded "historic" as it was the first official visit ever to Uganda by a Turkish president. The Turkish side appears to be bristling with self-confidence. "The political working visit to Africa by the president is gaining momentum," trumpeted the website of president's press office.

The Sunni connection

Turkish involvement in Africa is not new, Christian Johannes Henrich, head of the Southeastern Europe and Caucasus Research Institute in Siegen, Germany, told DW. Moves towards closer ties with the continent began under Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in 1998, four years before Erdogan and his AKP party came to power in a landslide election victory.

"Even in those days, Turkey had its own African agenda, which was never fully implemented because of internal problems in Turkey, but the perception that sub-Saharan Africa was a region of economic growth was already there," Henrich said.

Erdogan pursued the idea when he came to office, but with one distinct difference.

"Erdogan is not guided solely by economic concerns. He is focusing specifically on African countries with a strong Sunni presence. Both Uganda and Kenya have growing Sunni Muslim communities," Henrich said.

Kristian Brakel, who heads Germany's Heinrich Böll Foundation in Istanbul, is also convinced that Erdogan's African policy is religiously motivated.

One example is Somalia. Erdogan never tires of emphasizing that Turkey is a role model in its relations with the failed state on the Horn of Africa. "While in Somalia, Erdogan told the Somalis 'the West has abandoned you, but now Turkey will step in. We are Muslims and we understand your country much better'," Brakel said.

The Turkish military recently established a base in Somalia for the training of government troops.

Turkey is using foreign policy in Africa to try and bolster its influence globally. Its presence on the contintent brings it into direct competition with other external players such Brazil, India and China. Currently, however, Turkey is more interested in amassing support at the United Nations than in importing African natural resources, Henrich believes.

Critics have described the more active role that Erdogan and his AKP party are seeking in global affaris as neo-Ottoman. "I fear that Turkey wishes to become a moral protective power on the territory of the old Ottoman Empire and also extend its influence to Africa. I believes Turkey is striving for dominance in every region," Henrich said.

Brakel said Erdogan is fond of invoking a fictitious Ottoman past. "The truth is that in sub-Saharan Africa, the Ottoman presence was marginal, short-lived and not very successful. I think this is being used as a sort of veneer to cover up Turkey's real motives." Brakel believes they largely revolve around Turkey's economic interests.

Democracy and human rights not an issue

As long as Erdogan continues to pursue his critics and satirists, both at home and abroad, with punitive legal action, there can be little hope that he would think of raising issues such as human rights and press freedom in talks with Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni.

"Turkey is not interested in spreading its ideas about standards of governance in Africa, neither in the positive nor the negative sense," Brakel said. Museveni or Kenyatta need not fear that Erdogan could criticize them for not keeping a tighter rein on their media. He also wouldn't inquire about the well-being of civil rights activists.

In a caricature sketched for DW, Kenyan cartoonist Gado shows the arrival in Africa of Erdogan, the neo-Ottoman leader, complete with turban. The gifts he brings with him are victims of persecution.

Turkey will continue to try and strengthen its influence in Africa almost unnoticed by the rest of the world, which remains focused on the war in Syria and the refugee crisis.

Turkey has already succeeded in more than doubling the number of its embassies in Africa to 20 since 2002. 15 are in sub-Saharan Africa. Trade between Turkey and African states has increased six-fold over the last 14 years.

DW

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Rita Akana

03.Jun.2016

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Visiting one of Africa’s strongest economies, Nigeria is an experience to behold. So many places to see, cities to visit and cultures to explore! More so for someone visiting from a foreign land; an obvious culture change and/or shock.

A number of tourists who have visited or lived in Nigeria have testified to being shocked and overwhelmed by the lifestyle, customs and practices of its people. Here are the top seven things tourists often find strange about Nigerians.

1. The Loudness

The loudness Nigerians find it hard to believe, but they are exceptionally loud, especially those from the western region. Some have stated that the loudness is a consequence of their local dialect and their cultural practices, while other believes that the average Nigerian is loud because it’s their heritage to be boisterous. A typical Nigerian will not hesitate to belt out a song in crowded street in the bid to sell potions or win souls, and most locals will not even try to reduce the pitch of their voice, as long as they feel the need to air an opinion. While locals see these as normal, most visitors find it utterly alarming.

2. Church buildings every couple of miles

Nigerians are very religious people and a larger part of the country actually practice Christianity and they are very zealous in their faith. It is hard to find a street in most parts of the country (excluding the northern regions which are saturated with Muslims) without at least one church or meeting place. Visitors find it remarkable and some have wondered how these churches maintain their members.

3. Nigerians tend to carry large amounts of cash

For most people who live outside the country, ATMs and credit cards are the way to go when it comes to buying or purchasing. Most wander about with wallets utterly devoid of cash, they do not see the need to carry cash around as it even creates opportunities of getting robbed or maimed. They find it amazing that Nigerians on the other hand seem to love the scent of raw cash and carry money around with them at all times, despite the fact that there ATM machines around and most stores and spots have POS for credit cards. Nigeria is slowly becoming a cashless society; however they are finding it hard to give up the feel of paper money in their hands.

4. Bold requests for tips

Nigerians are not shy, not when it comes to money. Most visitors not only find it weird that they may have to paying extra for someone to do their job, they are baffled that waiters/waitresses do not hesitate to hint at or out rightly ask for a tip when it is time to collect the bill. The locals however do not see anything wrong with the whole situation as basically, it is the norm. When in Rome, act like the Romans.

5. Liquor for everyone

Most countries around the world have a legal drinking age of 18 and so does Nigeria, so, many tourists find it astonishing when they see teenagers who are obviously below the age limit buying alcoholic drinks or spirits. The most commonly purchased are the NGN50 satchet liquor sold by women who carry them around in trays and basins. Nigeria has a much more liberal stance on public drinking, and while most visitors find this delightful, there are those who consider it unacceptable.

6. Locals eating full meals in public buses

The public buses, from BRT to Moluwe and Danfo are a major means of transportation for most locals in Nigeria, and while it would generally be considered unhygienic or just improper to eat while in motion or in public spaces that are not meant for eating, a lot of Nigerians flaunt the etiquette anyway and you cannot blame them really as desperate times call for desperate measures. It is no secret that certain large cities in the country are plagued with the incessant traffic jams, and the locals basically cannot stifle the need to stay on the hustle, so, they save time by eating on the bus. Do not be surprised to see someone eating not just gala and coke, but full blown meal like jollof rice, fried yam and sauce or even Amala and Ewedu.

7. Their strong belief in superstition

Nigerians are generally superstitious. It is an aspect in almost all the cultures in the country and so it is generally accepted. There are so many signs and events that they believe are consequent to how things would turn out and they tend to read meaning to certain things visitors may consider as normal. For instance, Nigerians tend to think that the right eye twitching is a sign that the person would see something good, while the average tourist sees it as a sign of stress. Nigerians take their superstition so seriously that they could change their plan for the future or just for the day for something as simple as a black crow perching on one’s roof.

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Rita Akana

25.May.2016

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A new political movement called “Plural Dynamics” was launched Saturday in Libreville to support the incumbent president Ali Bongo who is seeking a second mandate in the election to be held between August and October.

The movement, composed of the ruling party as well as some opposition parties, associations and unions, gathered more than 2000 officials who are convinced “that Ali Bongo is currently the best asset for Gabon” a press released by the Plural Dynamics said.

Billed as “a space for expression,” Plural Dynamics says it wants “a dialogue between citizens from all political backgrounds and from all walks who have good faith with the president.”

The movement calls on Gabonese to “make the same choice and resolutely turn away from any group likely to create unnecessary confusion and division within the nation.”

The Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has been shaken in recent months by major disagreements and resignations by several party officials including the former President of the National Assembly, Guy Nzouba Ndama at the end of March, and who was followed by a dozen other MPs.

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Rita Akana

23.May.2016

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A man who stripped naked and entered a lion enclosure in a Chilean zoo has survived the incident, but the lions were killed. Authorities in Santiago confirmed that the two African lions were put down as they severely mauled the 20-year-old man who had broken into their cage early on Saturday. The man, who has been named by local media as Franco Luis Ferrada Roman, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was said to be in grave condition.

The young man broke into the enclosure, took off his clothes and jumped into the middle, horrifying other visitors who witnessed the attack. Once inside, the lions reportedly immediately pounced on him and began to 'play' with him. At this point, zookeepers intervened in the attack and shot the two lions in order to save his life.

The director of the zoo, Alejandra Montalva, said: 'We believe that this person entered as a visitor and paid for his ticket. She told local media the park was crowded with visitors at the time of the incident. 'Later he trespassed into an area where the public are not normally allowed and we understand that he forced the roof of the lion's enclosure. 'It was from there that he jumped, took off his clothes and started to attract the lions.' The zoo director said she was 'deeply affected' by the deaths of the two lions, a male and a female.

'The zoo has an established protocol because people's lives are very important to us,' said Montalba. She added that there were no fast-acting tranquilizers available to stop the lions from mauling the man.

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Rita Akana

21.May.2016

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Revelations from a CIA operative indicate that the American spy agency was behind the arrest of Nelson Mandela in 1962. Mandela was perceived to be a risk to the US due to alleged ties with the Soviet Union. A report from the weekend in Britain's "The Sunday Times" newspaper carried excerpts of an interview with Donald Rickard, a former CIA operative in South Africa, taken from a documentary film by John Irvin.

Rickard, who had worked as a US diplomat in South Africa, said Mandela was "totally under the control of the Soviet Union" in the early 1960s.

"He could have incited a war in South Africa, the United States would have to get involved, grudgingly, and things could have gone to hell," Rickard said. "We were teetering on the brink here and it had to be stopped, which meant Mandela had to be stopped. And I put a stop to it."

Mandela's release marked the end of apartheid

Mandela was a co-founder of the Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation"), an armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC campaigned, sometimes violently, against South Africa's apartheid regime in the early 1960s. Mandela was known for giving authorities seeking his arrest the slip, but in 1962 - apparently acting on a tip from Rickard and the CIA - he was found near Durban and arrested.

He was imprisoned until 1990, and his release marked the end of apartheid. Mandela went on to serve as South Africa's first black president from 1994-1999.

Despite being elected president, Mandela and other members of the ANC officially remained on terror watch lists in the US. Mandela's name was finally removed in 2008.

"Mandela's Gun" scheduled to debut in Cannes this week

Irvin's film, "Mandela's Gun," addresses the months prior to Mandela's arrest and the armed resistance of the ANC under Mandela at the time. The film is scheduled to debut at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

The CIA has not commented on Rickard's statements, and Rickard died just a few weeks after giving the interview in March.

A spokesperson for the ANC told the AFP news agency that the claims were a "serious indictment," and that "[they] always knew there was always a collaboration between some Western countries and the apartheid regime."

Zizi Kodwa also maintained that the CIA has continued to work together with people in South Africa seeking regime change. The government is currently led by the ANC.

DW

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Rita Akana

20.May.2016

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The Democratic Republic of Congo's government has issued an arrest warrant for Moise Katumbi, an opposition leader planning a possible election challenge to President Joseph Kabila.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende told VOA French to Africa on Thursday that the arrest warrant was issued after Katumbi was indicted on a charge of hiring mercenaries.

Katumbi's lawyer, Jean-Joseph Mukendi Wa Mulumba, said Thursday that he cannot respond to the indictment until he is formally notified.

Foreigners arrested

Four foreigners, including a former U.S. soldier, were arrested at a Katumbi rally in the city of Lubumbashi two weeks ago.

Katumbi — who has declared he will run in the next presidential election — has denied government accusations that he was planning a coup attempt.   

He told Congolese prosecutors last week that he did not know an adviser sent to him by an American security company was a former member of the U.S. military.

The current whereabouts of Katumbi are unknown.  Earlier this week, he was in a Lubumbashi hospital.

Not date for new elections

Congo's constitution limits presidents to two five-year terms, and Kabila's second term ends in December, but officials have not set a date for new elections.  Opposition parties have accused the president of trying to hang on to power by delaying the polls.  

The parties cried foul last week when Congo's Constitutional Court said the president can stay in office beyond his mandate if the election is postponed.  

In a phone call with Kabila in March, U.S. President Barack Obama called on the DRC to hold timely and credible elections that respect the country's constitution.

Kabila is one of several African presidents who have attempted to skirt term limits in the past couple of years.  Attempts by presidents in Burkina Faso and Burundi set off unrest, while Rwandan voters approved extensions for President Paul Kagame.  

VOA

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Rita Akana

19.May.2016

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