Excluded Headlines: Gabon coup, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Guatemala..
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson.
This week’s Global South news, downplayed or ignored by the English-language mainstream media includes:
Gabon coup ends 50 years of French influence - Wednesday’s coup in Gabon saw the military seize power after then president Ali Bongo Ondimba was re-elected amid accusations of election day flaws. The mainstream media has covered this, but its context has been deliberately limited, and the people’s celebratory reactions (video) largely boycotted. The Bongo family had ruled the country for over 50 years, with very close ties to France. It has yet to be seen what approach the new military leaders will take. Gabon is an oil-rich country, and during his rule, Ali Bongo accumulated 183 cars and 39 properties, while 40% of people in the country live on under US$1.90 a day. Source, source, source, source.
4.3 million people displaced internally in Somalia - Drought and conflict have led to a quarter of people in Somalia being forced to leave their homes. The drought is killing people, livestock, and damaging crops, seeing food prices increase. Source.
At least 73 killed in Johannesburg fire - While this story has been covered to a limited extent by the mainstream media, it hasn’t been covered as much as, for example, the London Grenfell fire. There has been no effort to look at the underlying causes of Johannesburg’s housing shortages. The building was informal housing to hundreds, and there was no running water or electricity. Source, source.
Pakistanis continue to live with high costs - Fuel prices continue to increase, energy bills are very high, and inflation is ongoing in Pakistan, at 30%. The government is unable to support its population, partly due to a lack of funds, and partly because the IMF, after providing it with a loan, has demanded it remove fuel and energy subsidies. Source.
Zimbabwe election results - Following elections held mid last week, President Emerson Mnangagwa will have a second term after he got 52.6% of the vote. His ZANU-PF party has been in power since 1980, and there were accusations of exclusion, rigging, and lack of transparency. Source.
Brazilian Indigenous leaders want access to their land - Some 600 Indigenous leaders protested outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday after it again postponed ruling on their right to the land they live on. Source.
Guatemalan congress tries to make life hard for winning left-leaning party - After the left-leaning Semilla party won the recent presidential elections, seeing a left president in power for the first time in decades - the right-controlled congress has declared that the Semilla party is “independent”. That will mean they can’t head any parliamentary commissions or set the agenda. Source.
Useful reads:
Sudan activist politicians promote ‘power to the people’
Land that is slowly sinking, coastal erosion in Indonesia (photos).
Solidarity With The Victims Of The Fire In Johannesburg (provides helpful content, from South Africans)
How companies in the Global North use online gig work to exploit Global South workers
Trinidad & Tobago is used to heat, but not quite like this
The Countries That Helped Devastate Yemen Must Take Responsibility for Its Reconstruction