Excluded Headlines: Good news this week from Chile, Nigeria, Somalia, also Sudan update, Algeria..
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news, downplayed or ignored by the English-language mainstream media:
Algeria wants compensation for French colonisation - Algerians have again called for compensation for 7,000 victims of land mines in the country, planted by French invaders. Source.
Chile increases its minimum wage - After an increase of 14.3% in May last year, the Chilean government is again progressively increasing its minimum wage, so that by July 2024 it will be 500,000 pesos, or US$623 per month. The 2022 increase was the biggest in the country’s history, but it is worth noting that inflation was 11.6% in 2022. Source, source.
Nigeria passes gender equality bill - The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill in the second reading to establish gender equality and equality for people with disabilities. It aims to address land ownership, inheritance, education, employment, and violence. Source.
Somalia to introduce direct suffrage - Since 1969 Somalia has had an indirect voting system, where delegates, chosen by clan members and civil society choose parliament representatives, who then choose a president. As of local elections in June 2024, the country will move to a one vote per person system. Source, source. Also see this in-depth article on how climate change and conflict are impacting Somalia. More than a million people there have been displaced this year.
Colonialism part of Ugandan anti-LGBTQ bill - Just passed, a new law in Uganda makes same-sex relationships punishable by life imprisonment or even death. But local human rights activists assign a lot of responsibility to US evangelists and their promotion of homophobia. Source.
Sudan update - The US has sanctioned four companies related to the two fighting forces in Sudan and applied visa restrictions to non-specified “violent actors.” After one of those forces, the opposing army RSF has been looting homes, a Sudanese campaign documenting crimes and rights violations has called on them to be treated as “illegal terrorist forces.” Resistance committees have also denounced the leadership of the army, but want to persuade junior officers to join them. At the same time, they denounce that opportunistic politicians have joined them and tried to co-opt their slogans and causes. Source, source, source, source.