Archive May 21, 2025

Trump Plays Up ‘Genocide’ Accusation In Meeting With South Africa President

By in News, Nigeria News

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump played a video that he claimed showed that white people were being systematically targeted by President Cyril Ramaphosa, causing farmers to flee to the United States.

The Oval Office’s typically shaky diplomatic setting became a staging ground for Trump’s claim that white South Africans are being persecuted as a result of the unexpected stunt.

The video was put on a large screen by Trump’s staff, who claimed it showed black South Africans discussing genocide while the media was standing by and Ramaphosa was occasionally unable to speak up.

They are white farmers who are fleeing South Africa, which is very sad. But I hope there is a solution, because I am aware that you don’t want that, Trump said.

Ramaphosa tried to speak repeatedly but was drowned out. He once pleaded that they “talk about it very calmly.”

Nelson Mandela taught us that people should sit down around a table and discuss problems whenever they arise. And he went on to say that this is what we should also discuss.

READ ALSO: US Accepts Boeing Jet From Qatar For Use As Air Force One

Following Trump’s and his billionaire, South African-born ally Elon Musk’s vociferous and unfounded accusations of genocide, the South African leader’s visit was touted as a chance to spruce up relations. Elon Musk was also in the Oval Office when Trump and his billionaire ally visited.

In essence, Ramaphosa said, “We are here to rekindle the relationship between the United States and South Africa.”

In an effort to woo the golf-loving US president, he made his way to the White House along with two of South Africa’s top golfers, Johann Rupert and Retief Goosen, both of whom are world-class golfers.

The three prominent Afrikaners who make up Ramaphosa’s delegation have endorsed Trump’s request to “refuge.” Around 50 Afrikaners have already arrived in the US to accept the offer.

Trump made the offer despite the fact that his immigration crackdown has stopped asylum seekers from arriving from the majority of the rest of the world.

According to reports that his government would offer Musk a deal to run his Starlink satellite internet network in the nation, the president of South Africa was also expected to bring gifts.

The Tesla and Space X CEO has accused Pretoria of “openly racist” laws, a reference to post-apartheid policies that were perceived as a hindrance to Starlink’s licensing.

Land law row

Since the US president’s second term in office began, the administration has been torn apart in South Africa.

It has criticized South Africa’s case involving the International Court of Justice’s inquiry into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, cut foreign aid, and imposed tariffs of 31%, and expelled Pretoria’s ambassador after he criticized Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

A South African land expropriation law signed in January that seeks to correct the historical injustices of white minority rule has been Trump and his team’s main concern.

At Tuesday’s Qatar Economic Forum, Musk, who is in charge of Trump’s radical Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), criticized the land laws.

Why does South Africa have racist laws? he stated.

Despite being only 7.3 percent of the population, land ownership is a contentious issue in South Africa, where the majority of farmland is still owned by white people.

Ramaphosa has refuted Washington’s claim that white-owned land will be arbitrarily sequestered.

Authorities deny that the claims made by right-wing Afrikaner lobby groups that farmers are being killed in targeted killings are untrue.

According to police figures, young black men in urban areas make up the majority of South Africa’s sky-high murder rate.

US Accepts Boeing Jet From Qatar For Use As Air Force One

By in News, Nigeria News

The Gulf emirate of Qatar offered President Donald Trump’s Boeing 747 for use as an Air Force One on Wednesday, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Regarding using an aircraft donated by a foreign power to be used as the highly sensitive presidential plane, Qatar’s offer for the jet, which is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, has raised serious constitutional and ethical concerns.

According to a statement from a Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, the Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal laws and regulations.

According to Parnell, who referred to the US Air Force, “The Department of Defense will work to make sure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States.”

In a section known as the Emoluments Clause, the US Constitution forbids government officials from accepting gifts from “any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

Read more about Trump’s appointment of the leader and the $175 billion design of the Golden Dome defense shield.

Trump, however, has said it would be “stupid” for the US government to not accept the plane, saying there are no moral concerns with accepting it.

When asked if the oil-rich Gulf state would expect anything in exchange, the 78-year-old billionaire responded, “It’s a great gesture.”

That kind of an offer would never be turned down by me,” I said. I mean, I could be a moron and say, “No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.”

Trump’s use of the aircraft would be prohibited by the leader of the Democratic minority in the US Senate, which was introduced earlier this week.

The Pentagon would be unable to use taxpayer funds to retrofit any aircraft that had previously been owned by a foreign government for use as the presidential plane under Chuck Schumer’s Presidential Airlift Security Act.

Schumer stated in a statement that “Donald Trump has demonstrated time and time again that he will sell out the American people and the presidency if it means putting money into his own pockets.”

There are no guarantees that this plane will be secure, despite the fact that it would require billions of taxpayer dollars to attempt to retrofit and secure it.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Trump supporter, is not required to introduce the bill to the floor of the upper chamber despite the fact that several Republicans have expressed concerns about the proposed gift.

However, Schumer intends to compel a vote by including it as a provisional amendment to spending bills that Republicans will need to pass later in the year.

Israeli top court rules Shin Bet chief Ban’s firing by Netanyahu ‘unlawful’

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The government’s decision to fire domestic security chief Ronen Bar was declared unlawful by Israel’s Supreme Court, which is the most recent twist in a tense power struggle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration and the country’s judiciary.

The government’s decision to oust the Shin Bet’s head was made through an improper and unlawful process, the top court said on Wednesday in its decision.

Additionally, it stated that Netanyahu’s desire to get Bar fired was in conflict with the Shin Bet’s investigation into alleged ties between the prime minister’s aides and Qatar.

The Hamas-led October 7 attack, which the two men have co-sponsored, has sparked heated exchanges of accusations and barbs.

Netanyahu stated at the beginning that he would fire Bar because of a “trust breakdown,” implying that it was connected to the Gaza war that followed. However, Bar claimed that a number of events occurred between November 2024 and February 2025 that led to Netanyahu’s choice.

Bar claimed in the unclassified portion of the court submission that Netanyahu had “on more than one occasion” promised to investigate Israelis involved in anti-government demonstrations, with a particular emphasis on tracking down the protesters’ financial backers.

The Shin Bet head added that he had also refrained from signing a security request to prevent Netanyahu from giving evidence in a continuing corruption trial where he is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

According to a report from the Times of Israel, the court stated that Bar’s dismissal was based on “a factual basis” and did not require a formal hearing before firing him.

In addition to “a disregard for fundamental principles regarding internal security,” Bar was fired in the ruling on Wednesday, which also included “irregularities” in the process that led to Bar’s dismissal.

In March, the far-right government launched a wave of protests and accusations of autocratic behavior after the cabinet voted to remove Bar.

The High Court of Justice halted the appeal until a hearing was held. Numerous organizations, including opposition politicians, had filed petitions with the court challenging the government’s decision.

A day after Bar announced his resignation, the government reversed his decision in April.

Flick Extends Barcelona Deal To 2027 After Title Triumph

By in News, sport-news

Hansi Flick, the Spanish champion, has extended his contract until June 2027, according to the Spanish champions.

In his first year in charge, the German led Barca to a domestic treble including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Barcelona and Hansi Flick’s contract renewal agreement will keep him a club until 30 June 2027, according to a statement from Barcelona.

After Barcelona’s last-season without a trophy, Flick took the place of Xavi Hernandez and made a quick comeback in Catalonia.

READ MORE: Spurs and Man Utd Face Season-Definitive Europa League Duel

The former coach of German national team and Bayern Munich originally agreed to a 2026 deal.

In the Champions League and the Spanish competition, Flick’s Barca were enthralled when they reached the semi-finals before being defeated by Inter Milan in a bloody tie.

The Catalans’ quest for the title’s title comes on Sunday when Athletic Bilbao hosts the final game of the season. They have scored 99 goals in 37 La Liga games.

After years of struggle, a young Barca side led by a swashbuckling attacking trio of 17-year-olds Raphinha, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski, has since rebuilt their reputation on the European stage.

Flick’s impressive finals record included victories over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup finals, which increased his total wins to seven, five of which came against Bayern.

Barcelona have once again become a feared opponent in Europe thanks to the German’s enthusiasm in his first year in charge,” the club’s statement continued.

The best win rate in a first season since Luis Enrique recorded 83 percent, flick has won 43 of his 54 games under his leadership.

After signing French superstar Kylian Mbappe from La Liga and Champions League last year, Barcelona were not widely believed to be favorites to win the league.

Madrid ended the season without a significant trophy, despite the former Paris Saint-Germain forward’s 41 goals.

South Sudan on edge as Sudan’s war threatens vital oil industry

By in News, World News

More than 90% of the government’s revenues are derived from oil, and Sudan is entirely dependent on Sudan to export the precious resource.

However, according to an official government letter seen by Al Jazeera, Sudan’s army-backed government claimed this month that it was planning to shut down the facilities that its southern neighbor uses to export its oil.

According to experts, making that choice could cause South Sudan’s economy to collapse and lead to the army’s and the country’s unresolved civil war (RSF).

The RSF launched suicide drones at Port Sudan, the army’s strategic Red Sea coast, on May 9, following the launch of the announcement.

The strikes shattered the city’s sense of security because they damaged electricity grids and a fuel depot, which are far from the nation’s front lines.

Sudan’s army claims exporting South Sudan’s oil has been hampered by the damage.

According to Alan Boswell, an expert on the Horn of Africa with the International Crisis Group, “the announcement read like a desperate plea]to South Sudan] for assistance.

However, he continued, “I believe doing so overestimates the influence South Sudan has over the RSF.”

Salva Kiir, president of South Sudan [Michael Tewelde/AFP]

Predatory economics

Since South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011, the former has relied on Port Sudan to export its oil.

In return, Sudan has collected payments from Juba as part of their 2005 peace agreement, which ended the 22-year civil war in the north and ultimately caused South Sudan to secede.

The army and RSF both continued to collect fees from Juba when another civil war broke out in Sudan in 2023.

According to Boswell, “Sudan and South Sudan] are financially stable because of the infrastructure for oil exports,”

According to local media reports, high-level South Sudanese and Sudanese officials are in talks to stop oil exports.

Mohieddein Naiem Mohamed, the energy and petroleum minister in Port Sudan, was contacted by Al Jazeera in writing to inquire whether the army was negotiating higher rents with South Sudan before resumed oil exports, which some experts believed to be a likely scenario.

Before the publication, Naiem Mohamed did not respond.

The International Crisis Group claims that Juba also pays off the RSF to protect oil pipelines that traverse its own country.

Additionally, South Sudan has granted permission for the RSF to operate in the border’s villages.

After forming a strategic alliance with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) in February, the RSF has expanded its presence along the sprawling, porous border.

The SPLM-N and secessionist forces battled the army of Sudan. It has historically close ties to Juba and controls large areas of territory in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions of Sudan.

According to Edmund Yakani, a leader and commentator in South Sudan’s civil society, South Sudan’s relationship with the SPLM-N and RSF has grown increasingly dissatisfying for the army.

Yakani told Al Jazeera, “Sudan’s army is suspicious that Juba is supporting RSF in its military capability and political space.”

House of Cards

About 60% of South Sudan’s oil profits go to the multinational corporations that make it, according to a report from the International Crisis Group for 2021.

According to the report, the majority of the remaining 40% is used to pay off outstanding loans and support the country’s oppressive elites in the bureaucratic and bloated security system.

Salva Kiir, president of South Sudan, will most likely not be able to maintain his patronage network without a quick recovery in oil revenues.

Experts warned that his fragile government, which consists of a coalition of long-standing loyalists and coopted opponents, might collapse like a house of cards.

Al Jazeera emailed South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation written inquiries asking if the country had a backup plan in case oil exports stopped indefinitely. Prior to publication, the ministry did not respond.

Experts warned that oil is not an option for South Sudan.

Climate South Sudan Coffee
On February 15, 2025, soldiers unwind near their outpost in Nzara, South Sudan.

Security personnel and civil servants already owed months of back pay, and they may rebel against Kiir and each other if they lack the will to uphold the tense peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s five-year civil war in 2018.

There is no backup plan for when the oil runs out, according to Matthew Benson, a scholar at the London School of Economics who studies Sudan and South Sudan.

Inflation would rise if oil production was to stop, which would only add to the millions of civilians’ daily struggles.

Nearly 80% of people who live below the poverty line are thought to be experiencing acute food shortages, according to the World Food Programme, while nearly 60% of the population is, according to the World Bank.

A predatory economy has been created as a result of the hardship and pervasive corruption, wherearmed groups set up checkpoints to defame citizens for bribes and taxes.

If oil prices go up, civil servants will likely be unable to cough up any more money.

Benson said, “I’m not sure people can be squeezed more than they already are.”

proxy conflict

Some activists and commentators also worry that Sudan’s army is purposefully obstructing any contact with the RSF and SPLM-N because of its intentional turning off of the oil.

According to Yakani, this speculation is causing some civilian resentment in South Sudan.

Meanwhile, some Sudanese army supporters argued that South Sudan should not benefit from oil if the RSF, which they view as a militia, has some support for it.

According to a report from Al Jazeera, both the RSF and the army have recruited South Sudanese mercenaries to fight for them.

Yakani told Al Jazeera, “The army wants Juba to completely distance itself from any form of aiding the RSF,” adding that this is the current problem for the government of Kiir.

“Most South Sudanese citizens, including myself, think that Sudan’s warring parties and their regional allies are using South Sudan as a proxy war,” he continued.

Sudan’s army also thinks the government of South Sudan is increasingly relying on regional supporters to support its own security.

According to Boswell, Sudan’s army leaders were spooked in particular when Uganda, which it views as supporting the RSF, sent troops to Kiir in March to bolster the country’s defenses.

Sudan’s army has also repeatedly accused the UAE of providing weapons to the RSF.

United Nations experts and Amnesty International have also made these allegations, but the UAE has repeatedly refuted them.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously told Al Jazeera in an email that the country had already made it clear that it was not providing any assistance or supplies to either of the two belligerent warring parties in Sudan.

Analysts speculate that Juba may request a sizable loan from the UAE in response to Sudan’s army’s ongoing conflict with the UAE if Sudan’s army does not immediately resume oil exports.

According to Boswell, “South Sudan’s army” has been concerned and closely monitoring whether the UAE might loan South Sudan a sizable sum of money.”

Oman confirms new round of US-Iran talks despite enrichment dispute

By in News, World News
Despite the growing tension between Iran and the United States regarding uranium enrichment, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has stated that a second round of negotiations will take place on Friday in Rome.

Following days of unpopular positions expressed by Tehran and Washington regarding Iranian uranium enrichment, Wednesday’s confirmation that the nuclear negotiations would continue.

Iranian officials have argued that Iran should stop enriching uranium altogether, a position Tehran has called a nonstarter, and that it should also be done.

The uranium atom is altered to produce nuclear fuel during enrichment.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, added on Tuesday that the US does not require enrichment of uranium.

He was quoted by the Mehr News Agency as saying, “We will not allow Iran to enrich uranium.”

His statement came in response to Steve Witkoff, the US’s lead negotiator, who called uranium enrichment a “red line” and said Washington “cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability.”

Numerous Iranian and US officials have reiterated their respective nations’ positions.

Iran can use nuclear reactors to produce energy by importing already-enriched uranium, according to Washington, who claims Tehran’s domestic production poses a threat of nuclear weapons.

Iran claims that it has the right to enrich uranium for use in civilian applications despite its opposition to nuclear weapons.

It is widely believed that Israel, the main US ally in the Middle East, has an unproven nuclear arsenal.

If Iran and the two countries don’t reach a deal, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force, saying he won’t let Tehran get a nuclear weapon.

Trump resisted the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which demanded that Iran reduce its nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions against its economy, during his first term, in 2018.

The US has since imposed sanctions on Iran’s economy.

Trump’s “maximum pressure” program against Iran was largely funded by economic sanctions after winning a second term there in January. For instance, he has pledged to stop China from importing oil, particularly from the country.

Iran has resisted Trump’s threats, promising to defend itself from any attack.

It is unclear how the two countries will resolve their differences over Tehran’s enrichment program, but tensions started to ease in April as the US and Iran began to hold talks through Oman.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the suggestion on Sunday that the US position has been changing, stating that “there is no scenario” where Iran will stop enriching.