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Let's talk about Algeria again. Modern History of Algeria: Late Barbary through French Colonization When we last left Algeria, they had consolidated the most powerful state in North Africa. In the backdrop of this story was the French. Over 1 million Europeans were captured and sold as slaves by the Barbary states by some estimates, and the Trinitarian Order was founded in France to raise and send both relief and ransom for their prisoners. Louis XIV, the Sun King, attacked Algiers multiple times to "assist Christian captives" in the late 17th century and ultimately got a nice hundred year peace out of it. Algeria spent the next century attacking Spain instead, leading to several war and eventually Spain giving up the ghost on Oran (side note: this decision was initiated right after an earthquake wrecked the city and killed 3,000 people, thus Spain considered it too expensive to maintain/fight over). Let's zoom in on the War of American Independence. France assists the U.S. by protecting its merchant ships from the Barbary folk in the Mediterranean, and another Barbary State, Morocco, becomes the first country in the world to recognize U.S. independence. However, after independence, America has no navy to protect its merchants and Moroccan pirates gently caress them up. Thomas Jefferson sends envoys to the Barbary states, and manages to secure an agreement with Morocco in which the country agrees to free any American captured by a Moroccan ship. Algeria, much to Jefferson's chagrin, doesn't take. Why? The envoys were given less than 1/10th of the sums requested by the Barbary states for ransom! As a result of the U.S. being a bunch of stingy idiots, it would take a whole decade before Algeria would free the crews of the Maria and Dauphin ships. The price would later amount to $1 million in 1795, or 1/6th of the country's entire budget. Why would the U.S. create the Department of the Navy in 1798? Thank Algeria. This incensed Thomas Jefferson who was a big mad baby and didn't know how to negotiate. He also wanted to do away with John Adams' navy in the first place. But being a big mad baby who didn't want to keep blowing the budget on tribute/ransom payments, he decided that he would need the navy to defeat the Algerians. After he refused to pay tribute to the Tripolitanians (modern day Libya) after his inauguration, the Pasha of Tripoli declared war on the United States. U.S. and Swedes blockade Tripoli (Tripoli had been a thorn in Sweden's side for years), pay $60,000 ransom to free the prisoners, and the U.S. navy agrees to gently caress off out of the Mediterranean. The catch there? Algeria decides that it now has free reign to start ransoming American sailors again. This was made even worse because Britain, using the North African states to resupply its troops during the Napoleonic Wars and reinforce Gibraltar, paid Barbary pirates to attack American ships during the War of 1812. The U.S. eventually declared war on Algiers in 1815, captured 500 subjects of the Algerian Dey, and exchanged them for full shipping rights, an end to all tribute payments, and the return of 10 American prisoners. Shortly after this war Britain also appealed to Algiers to end the enslavement of Christians (this seemed to be going smoothly until Algerian soldiers massacred 200 Italian fishermen supposedly under British protection), and an Anglo-Dutch fleet bombed Algiers relentlessly for nine hours, killing hundreds of Algerians. The Dey freed 3,000 slaves as a result but continued the slave trade on a smaller scale, leading to a British naval assault in 1824. The Christian slave trade continued - albeit on a much smaller scale - until the next part of our story, as Christian slaves came to be replaced largely by Jewish laborers. French colonization will be the subject of my next post. I guess I have to separate this one into two. Yossarian-22 has issued a correction as of 20:15 on Aug 1, 2021 |
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Jul 22, 2021 01:28
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202107210138.html I'm getting vibes from the coordinated response and coverage of this that the West is trying to brew a color revolution in Zimbabwe. This dude is no Mugabe. He is way more neoliberal and tried real hard to attract Western investment after the 2017 coup, and I suspect that he isn't going far enough, or else he wouldn't be so upset about Western-funded NGOs trying to destabilize his regime. Tanzania and Zimbabwe are both definitely on the poo poo list of Western capital. Yossarian-22 has issued a correction as of 09:12 on Jul 22, 2021 |
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Jul 22, 2021 09:05
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200 dead in pro-Zuma riots/uprising https://allafrica.com/stories/202107220607.html Two Frenchmen were arrested, among others, having failed to assassinate the president of Madagascar o_o https://allafrica.com/stories/202107220564.html Some UAE company is making a killing by overcharging countries for Russia's Sputnik vaccine. I'm wondering if U.S. pressure/threats is preventing Russia from distributing it without middlemen https://allafrica.com/stories/202107220603.html
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Jul 23, 2021 01:36
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while it's not out of the question, i have zero trouble seeing the russian government making a mint off southern partners for medical necessities through old fashioned graftquote:Russia had advertised a selling price of US$9,95 per dose, and European countries Slovakia and Hungary, which struck deals with Russia directly, were able to pay that promoted price. Countries which negotiated through Aurugulf, though, paid more than double. chalk it up to regional convenience but go loving figure the central europeans would get the vaccine at 2/5 the cost
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Jul 23, 2021 01:44
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Office Pig posted:while it's not out of the question, i have zero trouble seeing the russian government making a mint off southern partners for medical necessities through old fashioned graft https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/16/hhs-brazil-sputnik-russia/ The U.S. threatened to sanction Brazil for wanting to import Sputnik V. Russia is seizing on the the vaccine nationalism of the U.S./EU countries to conduct more popular vaccine diplomacy of its own. I think sanctions are therefore a reasonable line of inquiry here, even if graft ultimately won the day.
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Jul 23, 2021 02:02
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Foreign direct investment has declined 80% in Nigeria o_o https://allafrica.com/stories/202107250071.html Nigeria records over 3800 deaths and 3000 kidnappings in past six months https://allafrica.com/stories/202107250074.html Food prices skyrocketing https://allafrica.com/stories/202107240198.html Nigeria is not having a good time of it lately... Yossarian-22 has issued a correction as of 20:11 on Jul 25, 2021 |
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Jul 25, 2021 20:03
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Tanzania finally gets its first batch of COVAX vaccines after the previous leader downplayed (and possibly died from) it. They also banned social gatherings https://allafrica.com/stories/202107250036.html
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Jul 25, 2021 20:05
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Sierra Leone abolished the death penalty! https://allafrica.com/stories/202107250099.html
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Jul 25, 2021 20:08
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UK sanctioning Zimbabwe official. Asset freeze. Could have larger repercussions on Zimbabwe's economy. https://allafrica.com/stories/202107230518.html
Yossarian-22 has issued a correction as of 20:16 on Jul 25, 2021 |
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Jul 25, 2021 20:13
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Yossarian-22 posted:Foreign direct investment has declined 80% in Nigeria o_o https://allafrica.com/stories/202107250071.html quote:"The price of beans is the worst," she said, "they used to say that beans are for 'poor men' before, but that is not the case now. The price of beans is highly unbearable. People with 6-10 children are bearing the brunt. They can no longer afford even 6 cups of beans anymore, and that will still not satisfy them. How will they survive?" 
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Jul 25, 2021 20:30
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Tunisia PM sacked and parliament suspended by the president in the midst of major protests over COVID and the bad economic situation. https://www.axios.com/tunisia-sacks-president-prime-minister-parliament-protests-ba56c0ce-eca3-4735-964f-e002bec411a2.html Might be a big deal. Rached Ghannouchi was one of the faces of the 2011 Tunisian revolution and the Arab Spring. Yossarian-22 has issued a correction as of 04:33 on Jul 26, 2021 |
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Jul 26, 2021 04:27
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gently caress yeah, the drive to blaze a fury road across west africa is revving up!
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Jul 26, 2021 10:58
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Tunisia attacked the Al Jazeera HQ in Tunisia. The PM had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and was boosted by the network, as were other affiliated parties during the Arab Spring. Seems like the president is trying to destroy any vestige of influence that could help Ghannouchi. Naturally suspending parliament has created a wave of protest. http://www.africanews.com/2021/07/26/tunisia-ennahda-party-supporters-protest-the-parliament-s-suspension/
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Jul 26, 2021 18:35
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202107280141.html looks like rwandan and mozambican forces are making some progress against al-sunnah in cabo delgado. it's hard to find an updated control map (latest one i could find dates back to april) but as far as i can tell, al-sunnah is still in control of mocimboa da praia. but capturing bases and positions nearby would definitely help any future offensives at recapturing the city, which has been under insurgent control since last august. of course retaking mocimboa da praia doesn't mean an end to the insurgency, but still, qualified good news. maybe its recapture will be enough to lure total back into the country. in the meantime, insurgents are still trying to attack LNG projects near palma, but things are relatively okay for now, from my understanding.
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Jul 29, 2021 16:39
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There's evidence that some ex-ANC members played a big role in organizing the riots that occurred after Zuma's arrest. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...ts-and-looting/
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Jul 29, 2021 18:59
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Yossarian-22 posted:There's evidence that some ex-ANC members played a big role in organizing the riots that occurred after Zuma's arrest. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...ts-and-looting/ What's the rundown on South African politics? I've only heard vague things and it sounds like the trend is that the ANC is losing seats in parliament.
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Jul 29, 2021 22:36
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Did Rwanda deploy troops at the request of Mozambique, like there was an APB and they responded? I can't think of much connection between the two.
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Jul 30, 2021 00:30
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yeah the rwandan troops are there at mozambiques invitation. i thought it was part of the sadc contingent that's deployed there but apparently not, rwanda isn't an sadc member and their troops are there as part of a separate bilateral agreement.
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Jul 30, 2021 12:05
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Israel is a loving African Union observer state now. Don't know how I missed this. https://africasacountry.com/2021/07/appeasing-disgruntled-critics/
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Aug 1, 2021 19:42
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Yossarian-22 posted:Israel is a loving African Union observer state now. Don't know how I missed this. https://africasacountry.com/2021/07/appeasing-disgruntled-critics/ what the gently caress is this poo poo 
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Aug 1, 2021 19:43
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you don't have that many beta israelis
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Aug 1, 2021 19:43
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Yossarian-22 posted:Israel is a loving African Union observer state now. Don't know how I missed this. https://africasacountry.com/2021/07/appeasing-disgruntled-critics/ Now broadening their observation range beyond east African airfields! How lovely for all involved.
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Aug 1, 2021 19:51
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They need allies against the prophesied war against Ethiopian and Russian aggression
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Aug 2, 2021 03:35
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1.3 million year old stone axe found in Morocco http://www.africanews.com/2021/08/02/morocco-team-announces-major-stone-age-find/
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Aug 2, 2021 20:14
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Yossarian-22 posted:1.3 million year old stone axe found in Morocco http://www.africanews.com/2021/08/02/morocco-team-announces-major-stone-age-find/ aw hell yeah
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Aug 3, 2021 00:04
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Election coming up in Zambia and the centrist liberal opposition/establishment media is already saying it will be unfree and unfair. https://africanarguments.org/2021/08/zambia-2021-elections-unfree-unfair-unpredictable/ Amnesty International has condemned the incumbent president for suppression and whatnot
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Aug 11, 2021 00:51
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It's official: the foreign policy borg is concerned about Zambia's elections https://twitter.com/CFR_org/status/1425842315847942148
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Aug 12, 2021 16:53
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Okay everything makes sense now that I've read more about it. China has invested more money in Zambia than any other country. China owns one-third of Zambian debt, and Zambia has been unable to pay off its loans due to the economic contraction caused by COVID. The IMF has been reluctant to provide debt relief to Zambia due to its fear that it will just be used to pay off existing debts to China, and due to Zambia's high level of indebtedness. The opposition party is more pro-austerity/pro-Western whereas the current guy is continuing to accept more Chinese infrastructure projects. Pretty sure the president is afraid that his current unpopularity will mean the West tries to color revolution the opposition into power, hence the censorship of WhatsApp and Facebook.
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Aug 13, 2021 21:38
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reporting from the facebook mines i found a post about infrastructure projects in southeast nigeria. apparently the governor of ebonyi state is bucking the trend in malaise, getting things done and people are noticing. dave umahi was with goodluck jonathan's party, the people's democratic party, when he was elected in 2019 until last winter when he defected to the ruling buhari all progressives congress. he's definitely got ambitions but i thought the specific projects were interesting quote:there is the school of medicine at Oburu and industrial layout almost completed . A flyover at Ezzamgbo,Uburu , Abaomege, Spera in deo, Amasiri(ongoing) and I two more that I have forgotten the names. All approaches to Abakiliki the state capital is like driving along Bisalla road Enugu. Other governors should go Umahi for tutorials in governance . He is arrogant ooooo and brooks no opposition but knows his onions i like the idiom at the end great exchange here, remember the PDP is the conservative US-friendly party that was booted out of power in 2014 by a northern-dominated party     
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Aug 14, 2021 05:42
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Ugh. The billionaire and his opposition are currently winning the Zambian election despite all the Western crying about fraud. Now it's Lungu, the incumbent, crying about fraud. And right on schedule: https://allafrica.com/stories/202108140387.html
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Aug 14, 2021 23:14
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i forgot to post about it last weekend but the mozambicans and rwandans were able to take back mocimboa da praia. it sounds more like they ran away from the town rather than fight hard to keep it, but, sadly they appear to have destroyed the much of it anyway before abandoning it. https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-mocimboa-da-praia-not-completely-safe-yet-o-pais-198974/
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Aug 15, 2021 00:00
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zambia has a new president https://twitter.com/ElectsWorld/status/1427068171492724738?s=20
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Aug 16, 2021 01:56
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drat, landslide victory. Expecting huge amounts of austerity since Zambia is $12 billion in debt, particularly to China, loans which Lungu used to build a hydro electric dam and upgrade its biggest airport. Most likely the new guy will cut the budget to receive an IMF loan to finance the debt. There were a lot of rumors that China itself was going to take over the dam which likely led to Lungu's downfall. What's interesting is that China generally has a much better track record than the Western financial institutions in Africa but China has a horrible reputation in Zambia. I wonder if this signals a worse reputation for them in the continent going forward.
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Aug 16, 2021 22:55
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Office Pig can't post and sent this to me. quote:Office Pig wrote on Aug 17, 2021 18:53: gently caress the EU
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Aug 18, 2021 03:33
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there was some kind of shooting in tanzania today near the french embassy. the guy appears to have been targeting police, but it's not really clear if it's terrorism or not: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/08/25/tanzania-shooting-french-embassy/1321629906627/ i will say that tanzania's military forces are involved in mozamibque's campaign against al-sunnah. mostly in mozambique but they have done some clearing operations in the very extreme south of tanzania along the border. so, i dunno, maybe someone is trying to retaliate? could also be a crazy guy, or a local with beef with the police.
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Aug 26, 2021 04:23
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Hi everyone. I've been slacking but there's a new COVID variant in Africa so that's nice. https://allafrica.com/view/group/ma...Agroup%3Aabafbt
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Aug 30, 2021 19:39
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Yossarian-22 posted:Hi everyone. I've been slacking but there's a new COVID variant in Africa so that's nice. https://allafrica.com/view/group/ma...Agroup%3Aabafbt an adjacent article (featuring a shout out to covid saga superstar eric feigl-ding) makes a very brief mention absent of any specification that the virus is already present in a few countries in every continent east of the atlantic. it seems that extorting southern countries attempting to handle the spread of a historically globetrotting pandemic has... entirely expected consequences
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Aug 30, 2021 19:56
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Welp https://twitter.com/PopulismUpdates/status/1434519317169672194?s=19
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Sep 5, 2021 15:12
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https://twitter.com/populismupdates/status/1434521310722334722 https://twitter.com/populismupdates/status/1434533406298148874
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Sep 5, 2021 18:14
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just hanging around on a lazy sunday, letting the toes air out while i lose the government, it's all chill
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Sep 5, 2021 18:28
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