AFRICA DYNAMITE 🌍

The city of Eagle Pass, Texas, declared a state of emergency on Monday, September 25, 2023, due to a surge in the number of migrants crossing the border from Mexico. The declaration allows the city to access additional resources and take other steps to address the crisis.  The rate of migrants crossing the border into Eagle Pass has increased significantly in recent months. In August, more than 10,000 migrants were apprehended in the Eagle Pass sector, which is more than double the number apprehended in August 2022.  Rolando Salinas, the city mayor said that the city is struggling to cope with the surge in migrants. He said that the city's homeless shelter is full and that the city is running out of food and other supplies for the migrants. "We are in a state of emergency," Salinas said. "We need help from the federal government." The Eagle Pass declaration comes as the Biden administration is facing increasing criticism over its handling of the border crisis. R...

On September 25, 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would be ending its military cooperation with Niger. France will pull its ambassador out of Niger and its one thousand five hundred troops. The announcement came after a series of anti-French protests in Niger, which were sparked by the death of a Nigerien civilian at the hands of French soldiers. The French military has been present in Niger since 2013, when it was deployed to help the Nigerien government fight against Islamist militants. France has also been providing training and equipment to the Nigerien military. However, the French military presence in Niger has become increasingly unpopular in recent years. Many Nigeriens believe that the French military has failed to protect them from Islamist militants. They also believe that the French military has been involved in human rights abuses. The death of the Nigerien civilian in September was the latest in a series of incidents that have strained relation...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Wednesday, September 21, 2023, for a historic wartime visit to rally support for his country's fight against Russia. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and address a joint session of Congress, where he is expected to thank the United States for its military and financial assistance, and to call for even more support. The visit comes at a critical time in the war, as Ukraine is waging a counteroffensive against Russian forces in the east of the country. The United States has been Ukraine's biggest backer since the war began, providing billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid. However, there is growing concern among some US lawmakers, particularly Republicans, about the cost of the war and the potential for it to escalate. Zelenskyy's visit is an opportunity for him to make his case directly to the American people and to urge them to continue supporting Ukraine. He is also expect...

Bob Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been indicted on corruption charges. The charges stem from allegations that Menendez accepted bribes from a Florida businessman in exchange for using his political influence to help the businessman's business interests.  Menendez has denied all of the charges, and his trial is scheduled to begin in November 2023. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.  The corruption probe against Menendez has raised concerns about its impact on Ukraine. Menendez is a close ally of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his indictment has raised questions about Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. Some experts have argued that the corruption probe against Menendez could jeopardize US support for Ukraine. They argue that the Biden administration may be reluctant to provide more military and financial assistance to Ukraine if it is concerned that the money could be used for corrupt purposes. Howeve...

On September 24, 2023, the first convoy of humanitarian aid arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh after a ceasefire was announced between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The convoy was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and carried nearly 70 metric tons of supplies, including wheat flour, salt, dried yeast, and sunflower oil.  The ICRC also evacuated 17 people who were wounded during the fighting and delivered medical supplies and body bags as aid. Arrival of the humanitarian aid convoy is a welcome development for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, who have been suffering from food shortages and other hardships as a result of the conflict. The ceasefire has also allowed for the resumption of essential services, such as electricity and water supplies. However, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains fragile. The ceasefire is still in its early stages, and there is no guarantee that it will hold. The two sides have not yet reached an agreement on the final status of Nagor...