Ron's World On the Political Scene: 2025

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Chihombori-Quao: USAID was ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ in Africa | The ...

Far from being a tragedy for Africa, the demise of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the hands of President Donald Trump's administration should be cause for celebration, argues Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the former ambassador of the African Union to the US. Chihombori-Quao tells host Steve Clemons that USAID doesn’t have much to show for its decades of education and healthcare projects in Africa and often destabilised countries under the guise of environmental, human rights or social justice agendas. And if the US is not interested in Africa, African leaders shouldn’t beg for better relations, she said. “It takes two to tango,” the former diplomat said.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

The REAL Reason They Silenced Gaddafi: TRAORE Becomes Africa's Last Hope...

H.E Dr Arikana put African Leaders under FIRE with revolutionary Speech ...

DR. ARIKANA’S SPEECH THAT GOT HER ELIMINATED AS AU AMBASSADOR—THEY TRIED...

Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a Zimbabwean-born medical doctor and former African Union (AU) Ambassador to the United States (2017–2019), delivered a series of powerful speeches condemning neo-colonialism, particularly France’s ongoing economic exploitation of African nations. Her outspoken critiques, notably a speech highlighting France’s colonial tax and control over former colonies, are widely believed to have led to her abrupt dismissal by the AU on October 7, 2019. The speech, often shared on platforms like YouTube, exposed how France extracts approximately $500 billion annually from 14 African countries through mechanisms like the CFA franc and colonial agreements, keeping these nations economically dependent. Dr. Arikana passionately argued that Africa’s resources should benefit Africans, not foreign powers, and called for the African Diaspora to unite for the continent’s development. She also criticized the 1885 Berlin Conference for its lasting divisions and connected it to Africa’s current challenges. Her termination, ordered by AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat without clear explanation, sparked global outrage, with over 100,000 signatures on petitions demanding her reinstatement. Supporters, including former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, claimed her dismissal was influenced by French pressure, accusing the AU of succumbing to “French-controlled colonized minds.” An AU internal report later alleged financial misconduct, which Dr. Arikana refuted as a smear campaign, asserting she never handled AU funds. Her speeches galvanized Pan-Africanists, youth, and women, inspiring movements for African unity and economic independence. Despite her ousting, she continues her advocacy through the African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI), urging Africans to resist neo-colonialism and reclaim their destiny.