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Rwanda. The power of Kagame.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:00

Economic, political and military power merge in Crystal Ventures, the holding company of President Paul Kagame’s party. The company operates opaquely but monopolises the country’s production system and is increasingly present in Africa.

Since coming to power in 2000, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has constructed a precise narrative, which can be summarised in the formula “from the destruction of the genocide to a successful economy”. Behind this image, however, lies a complex reality where economic, political and military power merge into a single, large entity: Crystal Ventures Ltd (CVL), the holding company owned by the head of state’s party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
Founded in 1995 under the name Tri-Star Investments, Crystal Ventures has gone from being a fund for post-genocide reconstruction in 1994 to a business empire with an estimated value of around one billion dollars. The company dominates several key sectors of the Rwandan economy: from construction to telecommunications to real estate, through consumer products, construction and manufacturing.

Kigali Convention Centre at night, lit up in the colours of the Rwandan flag. The facility is designed to host a variety of events and is a top attraction in the city. Shutterstock/Jennifer Sophie

Despite its size and influence, Crystal Ventures operates opaquely. Its website provides no annual reports, details of its governance structure beyond its ownership of RPF, or any of the information that a company of its size would be required to disclose.
The lack of transparency makes it nearly impossible to independently verify the true value of Kagame’s venture. CVL has grown so much that it has more staff and more economic power than many state institutions. The company has four divisions—infrastructure, consumer products, building materials, and services—and dozens of subsidiaries operating in Rwanda and increasingly across Africa. In the consumer products sector, Inyange Industries is emblematic of CVL’s monopolistic ambitions.
In 2023, this subsidiary of Crystal Ventures opened Rwanda’s first milk powder plant, a $45 million facility with the capacity to produce about 250,000 litres of milk per day. Research by this writer reveals that part of this venture was financed with resources from the state pension fund: it involves using public pension savings to support the building of assets for the ruling party. David Himbara, a former economic adviser to Kagame who has since become a critic of the president, has devoted two books to the topic, one of the most problematic aspects of CVL’s expansion: Kagame Ate Rwanda’s Pension and Rwanda’s Stillborn Middle-Income Economy.

Kigali, Rwanda. A broad view overlooking the city centre, with Pension Plaza dominating the foreground and Kigali City Tower visible in the background. 123rf

Several of its revelations are confirmed by the author’s investigations: in addition to the aforementioned powdered milk plant, Rwandan workers’ savings have been channelled into multiple CVL projects, from the Kigali Convention Centre to real estate development plans to the growth of manufacturing industries. What emerges is a scenario in which pension funds become venture capital for pro-government party businesses, with little or no government oversight. Crystal Ventures’ expansion beyond Rwanda’s borders follows a different model, one that blends military deployment with economic penetration. In Mozambique, Rwandan troops have been present in the resource-rich province of Cabo Delgado since 2021, to combat an Islamist insurgency. A few months after the military’s arrival, CVL subsidiaries and affiliates secured a series of infrastructure, energy and security projects. Intersec Security Company (Isco), a company under the CVL umbrella according to its own website, has won a majority stake in a joint venture that provides security for the facilities of the French giant Total, the leader of a mega natural gas project in Cabo Delgado. This pattern – first military intervention and then preferential entry of certain businesses – is also being repeated in the Central African Republic. Kigali’s military arrived in Bangui in 2020 to support the fight of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s government against rebel groups. Shortly thereafter, mining companies linked to former CVL executives obtained gold and diamond mining rights through unclear procedures. Local civil society organisations have been unable to trace the revenue flows from these operations, raising serious concerns about the possibility of illicit activities.

Flag of Rwanda on a soldier’s arm. Kigali’s military arrived in Bangui in 2020. Shortly thereafter, mining companies linked to former CVL executives secured mining rights for gold and diamonds. Shutterstock/Bumble Dee

Back in Rwanda, CVL’s dominance extends to virtually every sector. Its subsidiary NPD Limited, controls major construction projects; Inyange Industries operates food and beverage retail; East African Granite Industries monopolises granite mining and processing; Kinigi Cassiterite and Wolfram Mining Company (KCWMC) has secured mining rights for other major minerals. Again, the CVL website proudly lists these companies – except for KCWMC – but offers no additional information. Crystal Ventures’s ambiguous structure also makes anyone who criticises its business practices automatically a government critic – a dangerous position to take in Rwanda, given the repressive political climate there. International financial institutions and Rwanda’s development partners have long overlooked CVL’s governance problems. Its grey structure defies scrutiny in both the private and public sectors. Without a separation between party, state and commercial interests, the Rwandan model risks normalising a system in which political loyalty is more important than anything else: economic efficiency, transparency and fair competition. If it were to become the rule in Africa, it would be a new blow to decades of laborious reforms of governance systems on the continent. (Open Photo: Rwandan President Paul Kagame. CC BY 3.0/Hildenbrand /MSC)

Samuel Baker Byansi

Morocco. The charm of a Square.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:00

The timeless magic of Jemaa el-Fnaa, the beating heart and treasure chest of secrets of the city of Marrakech. For a thousand years, the famous square of Marrakech has been transformed into an open-air stage, where dancers, storytellers, musicians, snake charmers, fakirs and fortune tellers perform.

Some places release magic just by mentioning them. Jemaa el-Fnaa is one of them. The beating heart of Marrakech embodies the timeless charm of oriental fairy tales, populated as it is by characters that seem to have come out of A Thousand and One Nights. Here you can meet snake charmers, fakirs and fortune tellers, belly dancers, chained monkey trainers and storytellers of Atlas every day.

Jamaa el-Fnaa market. “The square, as a physical space, protects a rich oral and intangible tradition”. 123rf

It is no coincidence that the square was proclaimed by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. As the Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo Gay well said, “The spectacle of Jemaa el-Fnaa is repeated daily and every day is different. Everything changes: the voices, the sounds, the gestures, the audience that sees, listens, smells, tastes, touches. The oral tradition is framed by a much larger one – which we can call intangible. The square, as a physical space, protects a rich oral and intangible tradition”.

Macabre memories
Its origin, still uncertain, is lost in legend and seems to date back to the first centuries after the foundation of Marrakech (in 1062).
Today, the square borders to the north with the Souk district, and the covered markets, and to the east with the Kasbah, the ancient fortified citadel of Marrakech, while to the southwest it is dominated
by the Kutubiyya mosque.

Jamaa el-Fnaa market square. In past centuries, it was the site of capital executions. 123rf

The large square was once located on the edge of the town. The name in Arabic has a double meaning: it literally indicates “the assembly of the deceased” as well as “the mosque of nothingness” (jāmiʿ means both “mosque” and “assembly”, while the word fanāʾ indicates “annihilation”).
In reality, both of these etymologies are plausible. In fact, on the one hand, the square was part of a project of the Saadian dynasty (which reigned in the territories of Maghreb al-Aqsa, today part of modern Morocco, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) relating to the construction of a mosque, on the other hand, in past centuries it was the site of capital executions. Here, those condemned to death for murder or those deemed guilty of the most serious crimes according to jihad, Islamic law, were hanged

Worldwide celebrity
Jemaa el-Fnaa has been the set of numerous films over the years. Some examples: The Mummy in 1999, the musical Mamma Mia! with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, the comedy The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1975), and several scenes from the James Bond saga. But the square is above all a place of the soul, highly symbolic and identifying, loved and frequented by Moroccans.
During the World Cup in Qatar, thousands of fans filled the square to watch the matches on the big screen. There were no incidents, only scenes of joy for the successes of the “Lions of Atlas”.

Tourism boom
Today the atmosphere is festive. The earthquake of September 8, 2023 – the most violent ever recorded in the history of Morocco – which hit the Marrakesh-Safi region (2,901 people were killed and 5,530 injured) is now a distant memory. The magnitude 7 earthquake caused some houses in the oldest parts of Marrakesh and parts of the ancient city walls to collapse. In Jemaa el-Fnaa, a minaret of the Kharboush mosque crumbled, crushing vehicles underneath.

The large square is animated by festive stalls selling everything.123rf

The Koutoubia Mosque and several buildings in the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 12th century, were also damaged. The repair and the restoration work were carried out in record time. And tourists have returned in large numbers to crowd the historic centre, characterized by a maze of streets and a riot of stalls. The Moroccan authorities are waving through a record number of arrivals at the airports. And Marrakesh is back on the radar of visitors. In fact, the city was only grazed by the earthquake, and the most serious damage occurred about a hundred kilometres away, along the Atlas Mountains. The large square is once again animated by festive stalls selling everything from fresh fruit juices to street vendors shouting out their special prices for argan oil and leather slippers.

Changing spectacle
During the day, Jemaa el-Fnaa transforms and changes appearance: in the morning and early afternoon, it is home to a large open-air market, with stalls selling the most varied goods (from fabrics to dates to bunches of mint, to ostrich eggs). From the first light of day, it is possible to have breakfast with tasty orange juice, avocado or banana smoothies, pressed pomegranate nectar, accompanied by dried fruit. During the hottest hours, you can meet water sellers in traditional red clothes, with a large hat from which bells hang. Huddled in their tunics, the clairvoyants read the future of passers-by in the cards. The sound of Berber trumpets hypnotizes the cobras that emerge from wicker baskets and seem to dance in the air. There is no shortage of herbalists offering potions with miraculous properties and tattoo artists drawing arabesques on hands with henna.
There are even tooth pullers who display their “pieces” just extracted.
As evening falls, the square becomes more crowded and dancers, singers, musicians and magicians arrive. The street vendors’ stalls retreat and are replaced by banquets with tables and benches for eating traditional foods prepared on the spot.

The sound of Berber trumpets mesmerises the cobras that rise from wicker baskets and appear to dance in the air. 123rf

The square fills with strong aromas. Giant snail soups simmer in large pots, plates piled high with tagines and couscous are passed from hand to hand, and skewers of spiced meats (mutton, chicken, beef) sizzle on the grill. Clouds of smoke rise from the stalls selling food. The most experienced diners can try the offal, flavoured with paprika, coriander, salt, and cumin, or the spiced merguez veal sausages, accompanied by khobz rolls. Thousands of citizens and tourists come from all over to refuel. After eating their fill, all that remains is to try a glass of khoudenjal, a decoction with aphrodisiac powers based on galangal roots, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, star anise and black pepper. Alternatively, you can sip a cold drink or a coffee on the terraces of the bars overlooking the square. You will be enchanted by the swarms of people coming and going, the magical spectacle of the bustling stalls, the clouds of vapour rising towards the star-studded sky. (Open Photo: Jamaa el-Fnaa market square, Marrakesh. 123rf)

Marco Trovato/Africa

Taiwan and the China-US duel.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:00

Relations between Taiwan and China are becoming increasingly heated. The situation began to degenerate further in early February 2025, when the giant TSMC decided to invest more than 100 billion in the US. Furthermore, China’s military expansion is contributing to further strain the complex diplomatic relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan.

Rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait reached a new high as the Chinese military conducted a large and aggressive military exercise near the island last April. Beijing described the exercises as a “stern warning” to Taiwan, a clear signal of its determination to pursue “reunification” with the island, which it views as an integral part of China.
The Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command highlighted the main objective of the exercises was: to test the armed forces’ readiness to conduct integrated operations, including multi-directional precision strikes, assaults on land and sea targets, and the blockade of strategic sea lanes. The exercises, involving warships, combat aircraft, and ground forces, were billed as a simulation of a real conflict, with Beijing indicating that a greater push for Taiwanese independence could
trigger a military response.

A guided missile destroyer of the Taiwan Navy is anchored in Kaohsiung Port. 123rf

Taiwan responded forcefully, activating its defence apparatus, monitoring Chinese movements, and deploying its air and naval forces. The Taipei government condemned the manoeuvres, calling them a violation of international norms and a form of direct intimidation against its sovereignty. In this context, Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te, reiterated his government’s position, stating that modernity and democracy cannot be defended through force, but through dialogue and mutual respect. Beijing, however, warned that any attempt to separate Taiwan from China would be doomed to failure and would inevitably lead to armed conflict. China’s growing military pressure represents a direct challenge not only to Taipei but also to the geopolitical balance of the entire Indo-Pacific region.
The intensification of Chinese exercises has raised concerns around the world, particularly in the United States and among its Asian allies. Although Washington’s official position has always been to condemn any attempt to change the status quo by force, the US government, under President Donald Trump first and then Joe Biden, and Trump again, has taken a more assertive posture towards China. The White House has renewed its condemnation of Chinese manoeuvres and reiterated its commitment to defend Taiwan, both through diplomatic measures and, if necessary, with the support of the Armed Forces. The US response has also involved the strengthening of regional alliances, as demonstrated by the recent visit of Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, to Japan and the Philippines. The construction of a new war command centre in Japan underscores the strategic importance of the region for the United States.

Chinese navy sailors from the guided-missile destroyer Xian. (Photo PLAN)

However, American support for Taiwan is not without uncertainty, fuelled by the internal dynamics of US politics, where the fusion of commercial and security interests has created margins of doubt. An Asian diplomat recently expressed concern about the unpredictability of US policies, fearing that the focus on the economy could undermine the coherence of Washington’s foreign policy.
These uncertainties are fuelling fears that, despite verbal support, the US may not be ready to take decisive action in the event of a military escalation. The “containment strategy” of China, which emerged during the first term of Trump administration, was continued by Biden, but the risk of open conflict continues to raise questions about Washington’s willingness and ability to intervene decisively.

Anti-landing spikes on the beach Kinmen of Taiwan. 123rf

The situation in the Taiwan Strait is a major global geopolitical concern. China’s military exercises have highlighted Beijing’s determination not to tolerate the possibility of Taiwan formally declaring independence. China has stated that any move toward independence will carry the risk of war, and 2027 has been identified as a crucial year in which China may decide to invade Taiwan unless deterred by international pressure. Taiwan’s military preparations, including defence drills and the modernisation of its armed forces, are signs that it is intensifying its preparations for eventual conflict. However, some experts suggest that China is not preparing for an all-out war, but rather a series of indirect manoeuvres and “grey zone” operations to undermine Taiwan’s internal stability without confrontation. China is intensifying its unconventional warfare operations, such as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, to weaken the political cohesion and resolve of the Taiwanese leadership. In the broader context of regional dynamics, Taiwan’s future remains uncertain. International alliances, particularly between the United States and its allies in the Pacific, are crucial to maintaining balance in the region. However, China’s increasing military growth and assertiveness could lead to a dangerous escalation. The situation in the Taiwan Strait is, therefore, likely to remain one of the most serious challenges to regional and global stability, with the concrete risk of a conflict that could engulf the entire East Asia region. (Open Photo: The People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier Shandong with escorting ships underway in the South China Sea. PLAN)

Riccardo Renzi/CgP

Madagascar. Soatanana. The “City of Goodness”.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:00

The Churches of the Awakening were born in the Pentecostal sphere, they have experienced a boom since the 1990s, but on the Red Island, there is an ancient one that remains close to the spirit of its origins.

In the central highlands of Madagascar, not far from Fianarantsoa, the capital of the Haute Matsiatra region, lies the town of Soatanana, a toponym that translates to “City of Goodness”. This rural community, immersed in a landscape of green hills and crystal-clear waterways, is the hub of Fifohazana, a Christian religious movement that has shaped Malagasy spirituality for over a century. In this remote corner of the large island in the Indian Ocean, a silent spiritual revolution is taking shape at the hands of “white shepherds”, so called because of the white linen tunics they wear as a distinctive sign of purity and dedication.

The Fifohazana movement, a Malagasy term that means “awakening”123rf

The Fifohazana movement, a Malagasy term that means “awakening”, is rooted in a succession of movements of spiritual rebirth that animated Madagascar between the end of the nineteenth century and the first two decades of the twentieth century following those same awakenings that periodically crossed the history of the Protestant world. Its origin is linked to the figure of Rainisoalambo, a traditional healer converted to Christianity by some Norwegian missionaries.

The dream of Rainisoalambo
The story goes that when the first European pastors began to settle in the region – they wore clothes of very different make from those the locals were used to, were paid to teach the new faith and were not subjected to forced manual labour – Rainisoalambo, an ambitious man, began to desire their way of life, thinking that he could live like them if he became a pastor. So, he studied and in 1884 was baptized, even though he had not abandoned pagan practices in the meantime, in the hope of becoming rich. After a six-month course of Bible instruction, he was appointed an unpaid catechist in the local church and then, disappointed, returned to his former work as a farmer and healer/fortune teller.

Dada Rainisoalambo, the founder of Fifohazana movement. File Archive

At that time, the standard of living in remote villages like Rainisoalambo was very low, and when famine and an epidemic of smallpox and malaria struck the region, killing many inhabitants, incantations and pharmacopoeia were no remedy for poverty, malnutrition and disease. Rainisoalambo’s family was decimated and he too became gravely ill, his body covered with painful sores that made it impossible for him to work. From the depths of his misery and despair, Rainisoalambo then invoked the God he had learned to know. That same night, October 14, 1894, according to his testimony, he had a dream. He saw a man, completely dressed in white and bathed in light, standing next to him, ordering him to throw away his amulets and other objects he used for divination. The next day at dawn he carried out the order and immediately felt freed from pain. According to his account, Jesus had lifted him from the depths of the pit and freed him from his pagan chains. Since he knew how to read, he began to study the Bible again, but more carefully, especially the New Testament. He already knew something about prayer, church rites and the Christian community: after spending many weeks meditating on the Scriptures, he began to spread his message. He turned first to his family and friends since many of them were sick and practised the ancestral religion.

Rainisoalambo’s first disciples began to live in community and pray together. 123rf

The central theme of his preaching was that they should turn away from idolatry and cling to Jesus Christ, who had appeared to him and spoken to him. He said that if they wanted to be healed, they should get rid of their fetishes. Many followed the advice and were healed. Then he went to the nearby villages, visiting and praying for those who were so sick that they could not even pray. He laid his hands on the sick, proclaiming that Jesus was the source of all healing, and they were healed.

Life in community
The news of the healings spread quickly, and more and more sick people and their families sought out the man who preached Jesus Christ. Rainisoalambo’s first disciples began to live in community, praying together and taking on a series of solemn commitments: learning to read and count, so that they could read the Bible themselves; keeping their homes and yards clean; having a separate kitchen area so that the home could be used to gather and honour God; cultivating a garden and thus having a source of food; and always beginning every activity with a prayer in the name of Jesus.

The Malagasy Church of the Awakening represents, for historians of religions, a true model of that process of indigenization. 123rf

They also decided that at funeral ceremonies, which were often an excuse for drunkenness and pagan debauchery, beautiful clothes should be worn, and there should be singing, prayers and exhortations, but no slaughter of livestock, so that the grieving family would not become impoverished on such occasions. They preached the Gospel, healed the sick and freed the possessed. To keep the Bible with them at all times, they created white cotton bags to carry over their shoulders. Initially, the community met in Rainisoalambo’s home village of Ambatoreny, but in 1902, with the changing political climate and the increased control imposed by the French colonial authorities, the “revival centre” was moved to Soatanana, where it still is today, to place itself under the aegis of the Norwegian mission and be integrated into the Lutheran parish.

The New Jerusalem
Thanks to Rainisoalambo, the community of Soatanana has become the centre of spiritual awakening and for this reason it is also called “New Jerusalem”. Here, the principles of Fifohazana are still practised daily: collective prayer begins and ends the day, and the work ethic is reflected in the commitment to agriculture, livestock farming and artisanal activities, calling for a radical change of life, far from the plagues of modernity, consumption and jealousy. The feet of every foreigner, vahaza in Malagasy, who enters the village are washed and the entire life of the community, which today has about five thousand members, aspires to adhere to an inflexible practice of the precepts of the Bible. The “white pastors” of Soatanana embody the spirituality that

Soatanana is under the aegis of the Norwegian mission, and it is integrated into the Lutheran parish. 123rf

Rainisoalambo wanted to transmit and aim in this way to represent a model of active and authentic Christian life. Their existence is dedicated to service, following principles of love and mutual aid and calling for a radical change of life, far from the plagues of modernity, consumerism and jealousy. And every year, around mid-September, the country comes alive even more, on the occasion of the annual gatherings of the movement that attract pilgrims from all over Madagascar, and represent moments of strong spiritual sharing in which adherents of other evangelical awakenings also take part. These are the events, in fact, that not only strengthen the Fifohazana community but also aim to spread a message of peace and reconciliation, testifying to the transformative impact of faith on daily life. Today there are numerous examples of independent Christian communities in many African countries, but the Malagasy Church of the Awakening represents for historians of religions a true model of that process of indigenization that, thanks to the translation into a canon that is understandable and acceptable to the wider local population, has allowed the propagation of the Christian faith even in the most remote areas of the continent. (Open Photo: Disciples of the white shepherds of Soatanana in their Sunday procession. 123rf)

Santatra Ramanantsoa

The impact of Catholic missionaries on healthcare practices in Africa.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:00

Catholic missionaries have played a significant role in shaping healthcare practices within African communities, integrating medical efforts with evangelisation work. This holistic approach combines spiritual and physical care, resulting in significant contributions to several key areas. Juan Carlos Salgado Ortiz, a Comboni missionary brother who worked as a doctor in Africa, explains how.

Catholic missionaries were pioneers in building hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries in many remote regions of Africa, often stepping in where government-funded healthcare was lacking. Today, many of these facilities are still in operation and serve as vital components of local health systems.In particular, the Comboni Missionaries established a robust health sector in northern Uganda, with hospitals in Lacor, Kalongo, Kitgum, Matany, Angal, and Aber, as well as numerous health centres and dispensaries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, they established the Mungbere hospital, and in Southern Sudan, hospitals in Mapuordit and Wau.

Bro. Juan Carlos Salgado Ortiz, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Donomanga, Chad. Missionaries in public health and preventive medicine played a crucial role in promoting public health initiatives. File swm

In addition to providing direct medical care, Catholic missionaries have trained local Africans in basic medical skills, nursing, and healthcare management. This commitment has led to the establishment of medical and nursing schools, fostering a self-reliant health workforce. Lacor Hospital, for example, is home to nursing and midwifery schools, a laboratory school, and an anaesthesia school, in addition to partnerships with Gulu University. Catholic missionaries introduced Western medicine and health practices, which often coexisted with traditional African healing methods. They promoted the use of modern medicines, surgical techniques, and preventive measures such as vaccination and sterilization, significantly improving the health of the communities they served. Missionaries in public health and preventive medicine played a crucial role in promoting public health initiatives. They organized vaccination campaigns, promoted hygiene practices, and implemented clean water initiatives to combat diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and leprosy. Their efforts were instrumental in reducing the spread of infectious diseases and addressing maternal and child health issues.

Uganda. Two nurses are working at Lacor Hospital. The Catholic missionaries have trained local Africans in basic medical skills, nursing, and healthcare management. File swm

A major focus of Catholic missionaries has been on marginalized and vulnerable groups, including orphans, people with disabilities, and those affected by diseases such as leprosy and HIV/AIDS. They have established specialized facilities such as leprosy villages and orphanages. The introduction of Western medical practices often came into conflict with traditional African healing practices, such as spiritual healing.While some communities embraced these new methods, others resisted or integrated them into their existing traditions. This fusion sometimes included the use of bone setters, herbal remedies such as neem or moringa, and traditional orthopaedic care. Catholic missionaries also introduced Western medical ethics and Catholic teachings on the sanctity of life, shaping the moral framework of healthcare practices. This influence has significantly impacted areas such as end-of-life care, reproductive health, and family planning.
Missionaries have often advocated for improved access to healthcare for African populations and urged governments to invest in health infrastructure. They have acted as intermediaries between local communities and international donors to secure funding and resources for health development.

South Sudan. Bro. Iannetti Rosario visits a patient with nurses at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mapuordit. File swm

Today, Catholic-run hospitals and clinics continue to provide essential health services in many African countries. Through organisations such as the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) and Caritas, the Catholic Church operates one of the largest networks of health facilities in Africa, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The contributions of Catholic missionaries to healthcare in Africa are profound, particularly in regions and populations with little or no access to formal medical services. Their legacy continues today, as many of the institutions they established remain central to healthcare delivery across the continent. While the introduction of Western medical practices sometimes clashed with local traditions, their impact on health infrastructure, medical training, and care for marginalized populations has left a lasting mark on African communities.

Egypt. The Thaw.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:00

Turkey and Egypt are reconciling after eleven years of estrangement and controversy, which began with the Egyptian coup in 2011 that overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood and installed the
current president. The reasons for the reconciliation can be
read on the regional agendas of the two governments: from Libya to
Palestine, passing through Syria.

An alliance destined to weigh on the dynamics of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. An axis relaunched with vigour after 11 years of frost and controversy, healed by a normalization process that lasted two years and then paved the way for a front that could alter the balance.
At the beginning of September 2024, Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was welcomed in the Turkish capital Ankara by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Al-Sisi reciprocated the visit of the Turkish leader just a year ago, the first official meeting between two leaders who had never spoken to each other, except to accuse and insult each other.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi. (Turkish Pres. Office)

Turkey had in fact greatly scaled down relations following the military coup that had overthrown the Muslim Brotherhood of Mohamed Morsi and brought al-Sisi to power in 2013.
At the end of 2022 and 2023 Erdoğan and al-Sisi had had two brief meetings. Timid signs of rapprochement that, however, did not suggest the birth of a real axis in such a short time. The dialogue between the two leaders led in a few months to the signing of 16 agreements and targeted a trade volume of 15 billion dollars in 2025 (nine in 2024). However, it is not the economy that makes the two leaders indispensable to each other at this time.
The dialogue between the two giants of the Islamic world extends to the future of Libya, concerning which Erdogan and al-Sisi are “on the same page» and will work “side by side”. In this North African country, Turkey and Egypt had long faced each other, supporting the rival factions in the conflict. Confirming that old grudges are now dormant is the promise that Turkey will supply Egypt with drones, the same TB2s that in Libya were decisive in defending Tripoli from the assaults of Khalifa Haftar, supported at the time by al-Sisi.

Palestinian flags waved by Palestinian people. The two countries have found themselves forced to be on the front line of the pro-Palestine front.123rf

An unstable political landscape and the difficulty of reaching new elections in Libya have pushed the two leaders to leave grudges behind and collaborate: “We want stability in Libya, but also in Sudan and Somalia”, were Erdogan’s words on the sidelines of his visit to Cairo.
The Horn of Africa is another theatre in which Ankara and Cairo are driven by common interests. The stability of the area is important for Turkish activities and numerous investments, but it also remains a priority for Cairo, which does not want refugees.However, what gave a decisive boost to the normalisation process was October 7 and the war in Gaza, a moment in which the two countries found themselves forced to be in the front line of the pro-Palestine front.

The Gaza question
In recent months, al-Sisi has shared with Qatar the delicate role of bridge-builder in negotiations with the US and Israel. Erdoğan has acted behind the scenes and exploited his influence on Hamas, with a very decisive posture against Tel Aviv.
Leaders of the Palestinian militia party such as Ismail Haniyeh and Sameh al-Arouri have long found a safe haven in Turkey, before being killed in Iran and Lebanon, respectively. Their deaths, however, have not dented Turkey’s influence and support, nor the dialogue that Erdoğan is carrying out with the Palestinian organisation.

Palestinians from Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip. Shutterstock/Anas-Mohammed

On the international scene, Turkey and Egypt seem to have divided the tasks: al-Sisi has offered the negotiating table, Erdoğan has become the megaphone of the Palestinian cause. The diplomacies of the two countries have acted in a coordinated, almost complementary manner during the months of the conflict: Ankara has put pressure on the international community; Cairo has devoted itself to dialogue and negotiations. A collaboration that also involved the health ministries of Ankara and Cairo, promoters of a humanitarian bridge that brought hundreds of sick Palestinians to Turkey via Egypt, while 500 tons of Turkish humanitarian aid travelled the opposite route.
Gaza-Egypt-Turkey is also the route taken by 15 Palestinian prisoners freed as part of the ceasefire agreement, and whom Israel forced to leave Gaza and the West Bank.
The ceasefire itself should have consolidated the Erdogan-al-Sisi front to relaunch the creation of a Palestinian state within the borders established by the 1967 UN resolution. An idea shared by Erdogan and al-Sisi. In the end, it was US President Donald Trump’s proposal for Gaza that strengthened the axis.

Displaced Palestinians are living in tents after fleeing the city of Khan Yunis for Rafah. Al-Sisi does not want refugees in his country. Shutterstock/Anas-Mohammed

At the beginning of February, a meeting between foreign ministers produced a joint document reiterating “total opposition” to the plan that provides for the expulsion of Palestinians from the Strip. Al-Sisi does not want refugees. For Erdoğan, champion of the Palestinian cause, this would be a defeat. The last open chapter between the two leaders concerns Syria. Ankara supports the new Syrian transitional government, Egypt has expressed concern about the links with jihadist movements of exponents of the uprising that overthrew Bashar al-Assad; Erdoğan needs al-Sisi for a stable Syria and therefore for the return of refugees, millions of whom are living in Turkey; al-Sisi does not want the winds of change to touch his country. A guarantee that the Turkish leader can now give him more than the new Syrian government. One more reason that makes Erdoğan and al-Sisi indispensable to each other at this time. (GdD) – (Flags of Egypt and Turkey. 123rf)

The swallow brings the summer.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 8:00

The Black and white swallow flew high up in the clear, blue sky, wheeling and diving, his fast, pointed wings carrying him
at a great speed.

Swallow loved flying and never returned to his nest on the cliff-side until the warm sun was low in the West and the long, evening shadows were merging. The other birds were envious of his splendid skill, but the animals loved to watch him as he wrote his poetry in the air.

One morning, when summer was almost ending and the late evenings and nights had become chilly, the animals missed seeing the swallow. They were very worried, wondering where he could be. The lizard said he would climb the cliff and see if Swallow was still in his nest. Up and up he went, his claw-like feet clinging to the rock.

Reaching the nest, he poked his head inside – and there was Swallow. He did not look very well at all. The lizard called the news down to the animals, waiting below. “Well, ask him what is wrong, Lizard”,
they shouted back. “Ask him why he is not in the sky, thrilling us
with his flying.”

“Swallow – said the lizard, gently, – the animals have sent me to find out what has happened. Why are you not flying as you usually are at this time of day?” “Oh, Lizard – answered the swallow – I am so miserable. It was so cold during the night that I haven’t thawed out yet, and I don’t think I could even walk, far less fly. Please leave me now. Perhaps I will warm up later and feel like flying.”

Lizard left the nest and returned to the animals, telling them what Swallow had said. They were most upset; it was so unlike the bird to feel this way. “I wish there was something we could do to help, – said the lizard. He does look miserable.”

At that moment, the wind came along and, seeing the animals gathered at the foot of the cliff, he swirled up to them and asked them what was the matter. “It is the swallow – they replied -. He is so cold that he is unable to fly.” “Well – said the wind, – I can do something about that.”
So, saying, he shot up into the air and headed straight for the sun. Up and up and up he went, passing so close that the sun’s fiery breath heated the wind.

Then the wind turned around and returned to the land, blowing into the nest of the poor, cold, little bird. In no time at all, the Swallow felt much better, and fluttering from his nest, he stretched his wings and flew around for a couple of minutes before returning to settle on a tree
above the animals.

“Thank you very much, animals – he said – I feel lots better now, but I do not know what I will do tomorrow if the cold returns tonight.” “There is only one thing you can do – said the wind -, It will remain cold here for many months. Tomorrow, I journey far to the North, to a land where summer is just starting. Come with me and remain there until it is warm enough here for you to return.”

“That is a wonderful idea,” said the swallow, but seeing the sad faces of the animals, he hastened to add, “Don’t worry, I will return to you again as soon as I can, and I promise never to forget you.”
That night, the wind blew warm around the nest of the swallow because it was a long, long way to the distant summer, and he wanted the bird to have a good night’s rest.

The following morning, all the animals turned out to see the swallow depart with the wind, and they waved until he was nothing more than a speck in the distance. On his return, a few weeks later, the wind told the animals that Swallow had arrived in the far land safely, but very soon they had other things to think about because that Winter proved to be the coldest that anyone could remember and to the shivering creatures it seemed as though it would never come to an end.

Then, one morning, they awoke to the sound of a remembered twittering, high in the sky, and there was Swallow, swooping and diving over their heads. “Hello, hello – he cried -. It is good to be back
with you once more.”

The animals were delighted to see him, but they were anxious too. “Swallow – they said – why have you returned? It is so cold here, you will freeze.” “No, – laughed the bird – I came with the Summer. There will be no more cold nights for a long time.” And he was right, even as he spoke, the animals could feel a new warmth in the air.

The Swallow had much to tell them of the lands he had passed over, and especially of the country that had been his home for the last months. He told them of the green countryside and the animals so different from themselves, where nobody had ever seen elephants, or lions, or giraffes.

The animals never tired of listening to him, and it was a delight to watch him as he darted about the sky above them. But one day he had gone again and the animals knew that they had better prepare for the Winter that was coming. They thought the swallow was very lucky to live where it was Summer the whole year round.

He still lives in the same way, and the animals are always happy to see him because they know he brings the Summer with him, both here and in that other land, many, many flying weeks away.

The African Folktale

The Mediterranean Sea. Winds of instability.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 8:00

The global scenario as we have known it for the last thirty years is undergoing a period of inexorable change, the effects of which can be seen in the geopolitical turmoil affecting the various chessboards.

The Mediterranean Sea, while continuing to acquire an ever-greater geo-economic centrality, the centre of interests of the major global powers, constitutes a labile fault characterised by deep instabilities, in which the tensions that are generated on a global scale are discharged, directly and indirectly influencing the future of many nations beyond its coasts.
The Mediterranean has had, since ancient times, a role of fundamental importance in the evolution of world history. It created the Roman Empire, defined the limits of the Phoenician coastal expansion, absorbed and rebuilt Northern European civilisation during the barbarian invasions, took over Christianity, making it the heir of the universal Imperium, and finally, after the imperial projects of Charles V, generated the dynamics of national states and their interrelations.

Map of the Mediterranean Sea with subdivisions, straits, islands and countries.CC BY-SA 4.0/O H 237

A space, the Mediterranean, whose roots sink deep into the civilisation born on its coasts, but also in that community of peoples that formed throughout a couple of millennia, giving life, to quote Fernand Paul Achille Braudel, a French historian, to that “system in which everything merges and recomposes itself into an original unity” which is precisely the Mediterranean. Its geographical conformation as a closed sea, which makes it similar to a real lake, makes it a natural geopolitical continuum between the three large land masses that limit it – Europe, Africa and Asia – and of which it is a functional hinge. A geographical and, at the same time, geopolitical and geo-economic centre, which can have its function only if it is capable of holding together the three continents that, since ancient times, taking advantage of their location, have made it a hub of encounter and conflict between different peoples and cultures, determining the birth and flourishing of the great civilisations of which the Mediterranean was the cradle and which today once again assumes centrality from an economic and trade perspective.
In the last twenty years, in fact, the Mediterranean has recorded an exponential increase in growth of TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) used to measure container ship capacity) determined by the emergence of the Asian powers and the Gulf economies, but also by the economic development, albeit disorderly, of some countries of the African continent, whose markets are experiencing a phase of
moderate expansion.

Container ship. In the last twenty years, the Mediterranean has recorded an exponential increase in growth TEUs. Pixabay

Precisely, these Afro-Asian upheavals have caused the shift of the geopolitical axis in the Asia-Pacific region, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf countries, on whose quadrants the interests of the major international players have moved and concentrated. This has led to an increase in investments in the construction and modernisation of transport infrastructures, of which the expansion of the Suez Canal is the most significant example, and given a strong boost to the development of the entire port system in the area with important projects involving state capital and private groups, some of which come from newly emerging countries (China, Russia, India).
Factors that clearly highlight the strategic value of the Mediterranean and the need for a timely and targeted European projection in the area. Among the most developed ports, Tanger Med stands out, located near the Strait of Gibraltar, which, since its inauguration in 2007 has doubled its terminals, reaching a total capacity of 9 million containers.

Port of Tanger Med. It is the largest port in Morocco and Africa. CC BY-SA 4.0/ NAC

The Moroccan port has become a leader in the Mediterranean and, in the hinterland, there is a vast special economic zone (SEZ) in which over a thousand companies operate, employing 80 thousand workers. Remaining near the Strait of Gibraltar, on the Spanish shore, is the port of Algeciras which, together with that of Valencia, is among the most important in the Mediterranean. As evidence of the ongoing redefinition of global value chains and the importance of the presence of SEZs and the synergies and interconnections between the two shores of the Mediterranean, consider that in recent years an economic and collaborative axis has been created between Tanger Med and Algeciras which allows goods produced in the Moroccan SEZ to reach the consumption areas of Spain very quickly. Spain, in particular, is implementing a concrete integration of its infrastructures with those of Morocco, which should be followed by a real physical integration through the underwater tunnel which, crossing the seabed of the Strait of Gibraltar, would connect the Moroccan shore to that of Spain.
The project for this infrastructure, currently being studied, could represent an important opportunity to strengthen the connections between Europe and Africa.
On the Egyptian side, the expansion of Suez has also favoured the growth of Port Said, which has established itself as a container terminal, and an energy hub, but also as part of an important industrial free zone. The improvement in efficiency of these infrastructures, in addition to increasing the attractiveness of the ports involved, reduces the gap with the ports of Northern Europe. In conjunction with investments in port areas, the countries of the Southern Mediterranean are also implementing land-sea connections, with the development of the railway line, an infrastructure necessary for the creation of regional value chains and, therefore, for the interconnection between the various areas, as well as for the creation of a common logistics platform.

Egypt. The headquarters of Suez Canal Authority in Port Said. It ranks 15th in the world in terms of performance based on port calls and ships. Photo: Daniel Csörföly.

The central section of the trans-Maghreb motorway axis – currently under construction – will also be of great strategic importance to better connect Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The latter is also expanding the Boraq line, which constitutes the land transport backbone of an Africa-Europe industrial chain led by France. In this context, the People’s Republic of China remains among the major players that have contributed with significant investments to the development of infrastructure systems, implementing a strategy that places the port system at the centre as a connection node to Europe for the Silk Road. Proof of this is the fact that Cosco, owned by China, extending its presence from Piraeus in Greece to Port Said in Egypt, to Haifa in Israel, to Ambarli in Turkey, but also in Italy to Vado Ligure, is an absolute protagonist. In addition to Cosco, in the Mediterranean, there is also the presence of Merchants Port Holdings, a Chinese engineering company that operates within the Malta Freeport (Marsaxlokk) together with the Turkish group Yıldırım and the French Cma-Cgm. (Open Photo: Shutterstock/djgi) – (F.R.)

Pope Leo and the Youth.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 8:00

Welcoming, listening and guiding. Some characteristics of Pope Leo with the youth

During the years when Father Robert Francis Prevost was pastor of the church of Our Lady of Montserrat in Trujillo, Peru, his dedication to young people generated conversions and changes.

David, one of the young people of the parish, recalls: “I was able to experience his humility and his service up close, especially through the youth group called Jóvenes Amigos de Cristo, the Young Friends of Christ, which he strongly promoted. It was a period that marked my life and my faith in a definitive way”.

The future Leo XIV’s relationship with young people was marked above all by closeness, deep prayer, and his very special ability to welcome, listen, and guide. “His words were firm but warm – says Maria del Sol -. His way of preaching made us feel the presence of Christ among us. He was not just a priest but a true pastor. For us, he was a guide, a point of reference, and, over time, he became a true spiritual friend. “

What attracted the boys and girls of the parish of Monserrat to that Augustinian missionary with an ascetic and serene air was his ability to transform lives profoundly. David continues: “He truly believed in us. He gave us space, he understood us, and he encouraged us to take on responsibilities in the Church. He did not treat us as just another group but as the heart of a living Church. Thanks to him, many of us learned what it means to live in community, share the faith with joy, organise retreats and evangelise”.

David’s life took a truly unexpected turn: “It happened when, in the youth group created by Father Prevost, I met Cynthia, who is now my wife. We met by sharing faith, service, and prayer. What we experienced was so authentic that today we continue to walk in faith, educating our daughters with the same values that the parish priest sowed in us”.

But Father Prevost did not only cause a revolution in the hearts and lives of young people: under his direction, the entire parish became everyone’s home. Many pastoral groups were formed, their structures were decentralised to other areas of the city, and dozens and dozens of faith meetings and intense solidarity activities were promoted. Luisa says: “The parish stopped being just a temple and transformed into a lively, joyful and committed community. Prevost’s example reawakened in many a vocation towards the Church”.

For those young people who long ago became fathers and mothers of families, Leo XIV will always remain Father Robert, the pastor who taught them to live the Gospel to build up the Kingdom of God. “Prevost – concludes David – is not a man of power; he is a man of the Lord. He knows the challenges of small communities, he knows what it means to build from the bottom. His pastoral experience, his love for young people and his Augustinian spirit can give hope to a Church that needs to return to the essentials”.

After learning the news of the election of their old parish priest as Pope, many of those young people found themselves again. Elvira says: “I felt a mixture of amazement, gratitude and pride. It was impossible not to think of those days of youth, of the homilies, of his hugs, of his affectionate smile. I felt that the Holy Spirit had set his eyes on a true pastor. And I wasn’t the only one: many of those who knew him met again after many years, simply to pray for him and give thanks. We cried with emotion. We all felt that a part of our heart was there, in Rome”.

Pope Leo knows the world of young people very well, also because he was once a teacher. So, no one was surprised when exactly one week after his election to the Papal Throne, meeting the “Brothers of the Christian Schools” in the Clementine Hall, he said: “The young people of our time, like those of every era, are a volcano of life, energy, feelings, ideas. You can see it from the wonderful things they can do in many fields. However, they too need help to make so much wealth grow in harmony and to overcome what, even in a way unlike that of the past, can still impede their healthy development.”

“These are the obstacles we face today. Let’s think about the isolation that is caused by widespread relational models that are increasingly marked by superficiality, individualism and emotional instability; the spread of thought patterns weakened by relativism; the prevalence of rhythms and lifestyles in which there is no room to listen, reflect or dialogue, whether in the school, the family or even among peers themselves, with the loneliness that comes from it”.

“These are demanding challenges, but we too can make them springboards to explore ways, develop tools and adopt new languages, with which to continue to touch the hearts of students, helping them and encouraging them to face courageously every obstacle and give their best in life”, he concluded.

On Sunday, May 11, in the presence of one hundred thousand people in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV focused on welcoming and accompanying young people for a call to priestly and religious life: “Young men and women must find a welcome in our communities, feel that they are listened to, are encouraged in their vocational journey, and that they can count on credible models of generous dedication to God and to their brothers and sisters. To young people I say: “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”

Francis Mutesa

Papaya. Orange-coloured richness.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 8:00

Sweet, rich in properties, and relatively easy to grow. A fruit from Latin America that has found a new home in Africa. Very adaptable. Its consumption is also an indicator of good health.

Papaya is one of the most cultivated and consumed exotic fruits in the world. It grows on characteristic single-stem plants between three and ten meters tall. With green and yellow skin and orange pulp, this species of tropical melon weighs on average half a kilogram but can reach up to nine kilos. Originally from southern Mexico, European settlers introduced the papaya to Africa and India in past centuries. Historically, it was fermented to produce an alcoholic beverage, while today, thanks to its sweet flavour, almost a mix of different tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple and banana, it is used in various preparations and is a prized ingredient in desserts, jams, puddings and ice cream.

Originally from southern Mexico, European settlers introduced the papaya to Africa and India in past centuries. Pixabay

Papaya is also famous for its beneficial properties, being rich in vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and fruit acids. Papaya plants grow well in a tropical climate with high humidity and need constant water.
From the moment the seed is planted, it takes at least nine months for the first harvest, but then the trees will bear fruit all year round, ripening in 4-5 days. Although papaya production is not too difficult and has a high added value, farmers must balance often low prices with the usual overheads. To make an impact on the market, aesthetics is important, and having fruit of an adequate weight, and without imperfections, is the ideal, but this is not always possible. Usually, overripe or second-choice fruits are sent to the pressing factories or sold on the local market.

Increasing demand
However, papaya is not grown only to be consumed fresh or processed and used in the preparation of other foods. When cut, the peel of the unripe fruit releases a white liquid that coagulates quickly. An average-sized fruit provides about 100 grams of latex. This contains papain, an enzyme whose properties are similar to those of pepsin and trypsin. The digestive and dissolving action of the proteins that characterize this papaya product is used for therapeutic purposes in cosmetics, as well as in the leather and silk industries and in the production of beer.

Market. India is currently the largest producer of papaya in the world. Pixabay

Today, 13.82 million tons of papayas are produced in the world, but global production is expected to increase by 1.9 each year, up to 18 million tons in 2032.
India is currently the largest producer and Mexico is the largest exporter. The United States imports more papaya than any other country, with the European Union in second place.
According to the FAO, Africa exported 8,420 tons in 2022, including Côte d’Ivoire with 2 tons and Ghana with 595. The share of global exports is generally low compared to production: about 2.5%. Major obstacles to a significant expansion of international trade are the high perishability of the fruit and its fragility.

Peru. Papaya seller at the San Pedro market in Cusco. Pixabay

However, innovations in cold chain, packaging and transportation technologies promise to facilitate wider distribution in the future. In the meantime, the expected increase in production is mainly due to domestic demand, thanks to population and income growth. Papaya is said to thrive when the economy is good: eating it is rarely a necessity, but a choice, especially for one’s health. Those who know and appreciate its health properties are willing to pay for this fruit, which, among other qualities, is excellent for the digestive system and rich in vitamin C.

The African challenge of the organic
The growth in global demand for papaya concerns Africa because it has led to extend plantations in particularly in the Congo River basin, in the equatorial region of the continent. While the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is the second largest African producer after Nigeria, since 2015 the cultivation of papaya has also resumed in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Abandoned in recent years by farmers, discouraged by the mosaic virus that had decimated the plantations, this crop is now living a second life between Kinshasa and the territory of Beni, in North Kivu, in the east of the country, and under the pressure of the government. Recently, new resistant varieties have been introduced that are giving good results and helping to improve the incomes of local producers, dragging many out of poverty. The constant insecurity in the region, due to armed groups, is however, a big unknown that risks putting the brake on new production.

Papaya is grown throughout the tropical belt of Africa, from Ghana and Benin to Mozambique in the east. Pixabay

Papaya crops extend along the entire tropical belt of Africa from Ghana to Benin to Mozambique in the east. Still, production, especially here, is also being attacked by the papaya scale insect (Paracoccus marginatus). This pest has caused a lot of damage among smallholder farmers since it first invaded the eastern part of the continent between 2015 and 2020. Research has not been idle, and the International Centre for Agriculture and Biological Sciences (Cabi) is working in collaboration with national institutions to help farmers in South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda respond to this challenge. In addition to training and prevention, the plan is to introduce a natural enemy to combat the papaya scale insect: a wasp known as Acerophagus papayae. The ultimate goal is to offer an alternative to chemical pesticides, which are more harmful to handle and have a greater impact on the environment, to control the papaya scale insect through an integrated pest management plan. The growth of production on the continent depends on this victory. (Open Photo: African farmer with holding fresh papaya in the organic plantation field. 123rf)

Tommaso Meo/Africa

Music. Salif Kaita. Sounds in a Room.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 8:00

So Kono, “in the room”, the latest effort by 75-year-old Salif Keita. Nine acoustic songs to take stock of a career that has seen much of local music and a unique singer who doesn’t disdain politics and the new course of the military.

It’s hard to stop composing and singing new songs, especially when you’re the golden voice of Africa. Salif Keita, a 75-year-old Malian musician and one of the most famous exponents of world music, after announcing his retirement from the scene in 2018, not only continued to perform on stages around the world but released his twentieth album, So Kono last April. Nine acoustic songs, composed during his participation in the Kyotophonie Festival in Japan in the summer of 2023, which have the peculiarity of having been recorded in the muffled atmosphere of a five-star hotel room, the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo.

The “golden voice of Africa”. CC BY-SA 4.0/ProtoplasmaKid

So Kono in the Malinké language means “In the Room” and the album cover portrays Keita sitting on the bed (an involuntary reference to John Lennon?) with a guitar in his hand. Accompanied in some songs by Badié Tounkana playing the ngoni (a traditional West African string instrument) and by Mamadou Koné on the calebasse (percussion), the legendary singer of Mandinga music performs, for the first time in his long career, only with voice and guitar “in a totally spontaneous approach”, as he writes on his Facebook page. In May, Salif Keita went on a European tour with stops in Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Barcelona and Madrid.
Among the new songs on the album, Kanté Manfila is a tribute to the Guinean guitarist and composer who died in Paris in 2011. The late musician had directed Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako, the group in which, since 1973, the young Salif also sang and played. “Kanté guided my steps in the knowledge of music by teaching me everything: he was not only a teacher, but a friend and a brother,” Keita said of him in a recent interview with France 24.

Salif Keita in concert. CC BY 2.0/John Leeson

The “golden voice of Africa” made his debut in the legendary Rail Band, the orchestra that played at the buffet of the Hotel de la Gare in Bamako and that, reinventing tradition with the contribution of new Caribbean rhythms, was a school for many Malian musicians in the early Seventies. In the latest album there is also a version of Soundiata – among the Rail Band’s pieces most loved by the public – which celebrates Soundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali empire in the 13th century.Salif’s family descends directly from the creator of that empire that extended from the Atlantic Ocean to Nigeria, but belonging to a noble lineage represented an obstacle for him in following his musical vocation.
His childhood and adolescence were marked by the difficulties caused by his being an albino, by society’s ostracism towards those with light skin and considered responsible for evil. He often expresses his deep suffering in his songs, such as in the poignant Folon, a 1995 album dedicated to albino children.

The Salif Keita Global Foundation fights against discrimination, denouncing cases of aggression against albino people and offering them support and protection. CC BY-SA 3.0/Barnay

The Salif Keita Global Foundation, which he founded in 2005, fights against discrimination, denouncing cases of aggression against albino people and offering them support and protection. In 1996, after living in the Ivory Coast, where he recorded his first album, Mandjou, and in France, Salif Keita returned to Bamako and opened a recording studio open to young artists – Fantani Touré and Rokia Traoré would pass through – to help them develop Mandinga music. A heritage of “invaluable wealth”, says the 75-year-old musician: “It is essential to transmit its beauty, rich in centuries of history, and share what we have inherited so that it continues to shine”, Keita adds. It is also important to preserve traditional instruments, which are increasingly less played with the passing of expert musicians such as Toumani Diabaté, who passed away last July, an unparalleled virtuoso of the kora who accompanied him in many concerts. (In the Heart of the Moon, recorded by Toumani in 2004 with Ali Farka Touré, another legendary figure of Malian music -1939-2006- winner of a Grammy Award, remains an absolute masterpiece over time). In order to promote interest in the music of the past and make traditional instruments known, Keita created the Festival des Musiques Endogènes du Mandé in his native town – Djoliba on the Niger River, 40 kilometres from the capital. The icon of Mandinga music did, however, intervene last summer in London, in front of 80 thousand fans, in the performance of the Nigerian rapper, Burna Boy and appears on the very popular platform, Malirapbuzz while joking with the young Rasta Lebouzou. “Rappers are the modern griots,” he says, “because they talk about African problems and invite the public to know the reality.”

“The music world, for which Keita has always been a model, is disappointed by his constant political stances”. CC BY-SA 4.0/Schorle

In recent years, Salif Keita has openly taken sides in politics, supporting the current government led by the military, who came to power first with the coup that deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on 18 August 2020 and then with a new pronouncement in 2021, which further consolidated their control over the government. The musician was part of the National Transitional Council, and on 14 August 2023, he was appointed advisor to the president of the junta, General Assimi Goita. “In the past, Mali was divided, it did not exist, we wanted to be united around Malian dignity. The generals came, they fought because Mali needs them to unify the country, they came to secure the territory, not for power”, he explained in this way in the interview with France 24; a reason that his compatriots were unable to hear (the network’s broadcasts have been suspended in Mali since March 2022). Not everyone seems to appreciate his activism: “The music world, for which Keita has always been a model, is disappointed by his constant political stances” says Manny Ansar, the creator in 2001 of the Festival au Desert, which until 2012 was celebrated every year in the north of Mali in Tessalit, Essakane, Timbuktu, with the participation of international stars and hundreds of foreign tourists.(Open Photo: Salif Keita/Facebook)

Anna Jannello

China. The soft use of hard military power.

Sunday, 1 June 2025 8:00

In recent years, Beijing’s international posture has significantly transformed, with greater emphasis on defending its geoeconomic interests, particularly those linked to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Over the past five years, China’s global military footprint has grown significantly, marking a strategic transformation in Beijing’s defence and foreign policy approach. Previously guided by a strict policy of non-interference and a limited overseas military posture, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) now actively engages in international peacekeeping, overseas basing, joint military exercises, and extensive defence diplomacy.

This shift aligns closely with China’s expanding economic and energy interests abroad, especially those driven by the Belt and Road Initiative, and the imperative to safeguard Chinese nationals and infrastructure overseas. While Chinese diplomats continue to frame military activities as purely defensive, the global expansion of PLA operations follows President Xi Jinping’s order to ‘’be ready to win wars’’ further complemented by the professional growth of China’s private
security sector.

The expansion of China’s global military influence is structured around four strategic pillars: Participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations; development of overseas military bases (notably in Djibouti, allegedly along the Tajik-Afghan border, and potential new sites); enhanced military diplomacy (including joint exercises, counterterrorism training, defence agreements, small arms sales, and military technology transfers); increasing professionalisation of Chinese private security companies (supporting PLA multi-domain operations and local intelligence gathering).

The PLA is significantly enhancing its capability and strategic focus, enabling effective power projection far beyond China’s traditional coastal defence boundaries. The modernisation of the PLA Navy (PLAN) exemplifies this shift, evolving from a defensive “offshore defence” posture toward proactive “open seas protection,” underscoring its ambitions to sustain maritime operations across distant global regions.

Simultaneously, Beijing strategically leverages global counterterrorism efforts to boost PLA operational experience, secure vital international access points, and mitigate threats against Chinese interests worldwide. For instance, under its counterterrorism and maritime security framework, the PLAN has dispatched more than 40 naval escort task forces to the Gulf of Aden since 2008. It also supports evacuation operations, such as those conducted in Sudan in 2023.

The March 2025 circumnavigation of Australia and live fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand by PLAN warships indicates that the PLAN is moving closer to achieving operational capabilities required for theatre-level missions, including the ability to control critical maritime chokepoints in key
archipelagic regions.

Similarly, the PLA Air Force (PLAAF), though progressing more gradually, aims to become a strategic force capable of long-range missions beyond China’s immediate neighbourhood. The PLA’s doctrinal embrace of non-war military activities highlights an expanded operational scope that effectively aligns military operations with China’s broader global interests, such as noncombatant evacuation operations, in short, the “soft use of hard power.”

China stands as the largest contributor of peacekeepers among permanent members of the UN Security Council, having deployed over 50,000 personnel across three decades. As of 2023, approximately 2,200 Chinese peacekeepers operated primarily in African and Middle Eastern regions closely tied to Chinese investments. Given the PLA’s lack of direct combat experience since 1979, these deployments are crucial for gaining operational expertise in overseas contexts, and they offer valuable opportunities for intelligence gathering.

Although Beijing continues to advocate peacekeeping missions under the UN framework, involvement in volatile conflicts such as those in Ukraine, Sudan, or Yemen does not currently align with China’s strategic objectives. Beijing remains cautious, ensuring deployments remain strategically advantageous and consistent with its overarching geopolitical ambitions.

China is proactively advancing its overseas military logistics infrastructure to enable sustained global force projection. Beyond the established military logistics hub in Djibouti and the allegedly positioned base along the Wakhan corridor, a possible route between Afghanistan and China in proximity to Tajikistan, China is actively assessing and preparing for additional overseas facilities, while being able to count on dual-use port calls.

Prospective regions include strategic locations in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, notably Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base. Such an expanded logistics network is vital for maintaining long-range operations and safeguarding China’s expanding international interests.

China strategically employs Professional Military Education programs as part of its long-term vision to build global military networks and influence. Targeting primarily junior officers from partner countries, these initiatives aim to foster deeper military ties, doctrinal alignment, and sustained international cooperation. Concurrently, China has significantly bolstered its military attaché network, maintaining offices in over 110 countries worldwide. Military attachés serve critical diplomatic, intelligence, and operational coordination functions, reflecting China’s deepened commitment to sustained global military engagement.

The growing presence of Chinese military equipment at the global level highlights Beijing’s expanding influence. Africa is a case in point. In recent years, China has overtaken Russia as the leading arms supplier to sub-Saharan Africa, a market long dominated by Moscow. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Arms Transfers Database, China accounted for 19% of sub-Saharan Africa’s arms imports between 2019 and 2023.

This surge is fueled by China’s competitive pricing and flexible financing options, enabling it to steadily erode Russia’s traditional dominance. In Francophone Africa, sanctions against Russia and rising anti-French sentiment have created a vacuum in the security market, a gap China is quickly moving to fill.

China’s exports to Africa go beyond light weapons and armoured vehicles; they increasingly include advanced military technologies such as high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and warships. These high-end systems are central to Beijing’s military diplomacy, fostering long-term dependency and deepening China’s strategic foothold across the continent.

While there’s no direct evidence of coordination between the PLA and PSCs, China’s civil-military fusion strategy suggests PSCs may play a growing role in non-combat operations. As China aims to build a military capable of rivalling the U.S. by 2049 through comprehensive modernisation, including advanced weapons, expanded bases, and integrated warfare across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace – known as Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).

These include humanitarian missions, maritime security, and economic protection efforts, often conducted without direct military force. In this respect, Chinese PSCs have become active in securing commercial interests abroad, from counter-piracy missions in African waters to anti-drone defences in the Red Sea, filling security gaps when PLA deployment is limited, and their expanding footprint comes at a time when the global security landscape is shifting. China’s MDO strategy is leveraging both military and civilian tools to achieve Beijing’s
global goals.

China’s evolving military posture signals a strategic shift from its historically defensive stance to a more outward-facing role aimed at protecting its expanding global interests. In particular, the Belt and Road Initiative has driven Beijing to consider a more active security role abroad, blending development with protection in what some analysts describe as an emerging “overseas security architecture.”

This shift, while marking a subtle departure from China’s traditional non-interference principle, still falls short of stabilisation missions in active conflicts like those in Ukraine or Yemen. Instead, Beijing continues to emphasise stability through development, using peacekeeping and security partnerships to safeguard its economic interests. Geoeconomic considerations have been central to this transition. For instance, China’s decision to establish a permanent naval base in Djibouti reflects the strategic importance of securing maritime trade routes linked to the BRI.

Likewise, China’s growing contributions to UN peacekeeping in Africa serve not only diplomatic aims but also practical ones: stabilising regions critical to Chinese investment. South Sudan, a BRI partner and oil supplier to China, where Chinese peacekeepers are present, is a case in point. Similarly, in Pakistan, security concerns around the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have prompted China to press Islamabad to create dedicated security forces to protect Chinese personnel and infrastructure. While the PLA has not been deployed there, speculation continues over the growing role of Chinese PSCs in filling this gap.

As a self-styled advocate for the Global South, China’s growing role in peacekeeping reflects its broader strategic vision of promoting global stability through development rather than intervention. The Zhongnanhai’s approach emphasises economic growth as the foundation for long-term peace, particularly in post-conflict regions, offering an alternative to models that prioritise political reform or military solutions. Ultimately, China’s global military engagement remains cautious and calculated, focused not on intervention but on securing development-driven stability in regions where its strategic and economic stakes are high. (Photo: Formation of combat aircraft of the Chinese air force. Shutterstock/Mike Mareen)

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