Foreign

Key reasons Ethiopia was never colonised

Published

5 months ago

March 2, 2024

Ethiopia is the only African country that was never colonised by Britain. While many African countries were colonised by European powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ethiopia successfully resisted colonisation, became Africa’s oldest independent state and the only African country that avoided colonial rule.

Although Italy only occupied Ethiopia in 1936 and got kicked out in 1941, it is still considered as the only African nation that was never colonised by the Europeans.

Ethiopia’s journey towards independence began long before the ‘scramble for Africa’ – the period between 1884 and 1914, when the European colonisers partitioned unexplored African continent into protectorates, colonies and ‘free-trade areas’ – in the late 19th century. Ethiopia had established itself as a powerful empire in the Horn of Africa, renowned for its strong monarchies and proud traditions with a sense of national identity and unity which proved crucial in facing external threats.

As European powers embarked on their quest for colonial domination in Africa, Ethiopia emerged as a prime target due to its strategic location and abundant resources. However, unlike many African nations – like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Sierra Leone, etc – that succumbed to European armies and colonial ambitions, Ethiopia resisted all of these.

One of the defining moments in Ethiopia’s struggle against colonialism came in 1896, during the Battle of Adwa. In a remarkable display of unity and military prowess, Ethiopian forces, led by Emperor Menelik II, defeated the Italian army, which sought to establish colonial rule and with the victory at Adwa, the myth of European invincibility was broken thereby cementing Ethiopia’s status as an independent nation.Some of the reasons why Ethiopia was able to stand firm against the Europeans are:

1. Ethiopia was able to use diplomacy and strategic alliances to maintain its independence. Emperor Menelik II forged alliances with European powers, such as France and Russia, which provided Ethiopia with economic and military support. These alliances also made it clear to potential colonizers that any attempt to invade Ethiopia would be met with resistance from a powerful coalition of nations.

2. Ethiopia was able to modernize its military and political institutions, which made it a formidable opponent to potential colonizers. The country’s ruler at the time, Emperor Menelik II, recognized the threat of European imperialism and began a program of modernization and reform investing in modern weapons, training its army and reforming the country’s legal and administrative systems, making Ethiopia a more centralized and efficient state.

3. Ethiopia was an independent nation, with a long and proud history of resistance to foreign rule. The country had successfully fought off attempts at invasion by neighboring countries, such as Egypt and Italy, before the scramble for Africa even began.

Furthermore, Ethiopia’s terrain and geography served as challenges to colonizers. The country’s mountainous landscapes and remote regions made it difficult for foreign armies to penetrate deep into Ethiopian territory, providing a natural defense against external threats.

Ethiopia’s status as the only African country that was never colonized by Britain is proof of the resilience, courage, and determination of its people. Through centuries of struggle and sacrifice, Ethiopia emerged triumphant, preserving its independence and inspiring generations of Africans to fight for their freedom with its legacy becoming the nation that defied the odds and carved its destiny amidst the noise of colonialism.

Foreign

Trump kicks against Harris taking over Biden campaign funds

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Admin

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign, on Tuesday, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, saying that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris could not legally take over funds raised by President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.

Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat who was in a tight race with Republican challenger Donald Trump, endorsed Harris when he ended his reelection bid on Sunday.

Harris quickly took control of Biden’s campaign accounts and on Monday night wrapped up the nomination by winning pledges from a majority of the delegates who at next month’s party convention will determine the nominee, according to her campaign.

The fight over the accounts, which had roughly $95 million in the bank at the end of June, is part of a multi-pronged effort by Republicans to stymie Harris’ bid to lead the Democratic ticket.

The Trump campaign argued that Harris undertook a “brazen money grab,” according to the filing by David Warrington, the campaign’s general counsel. In the filing, which Reuters said it saw, Warrington said Harris was in the process of committing what he described as the “the largest campaign finance violation in American history.”

Saurav Ghosh, a lawyer at the Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan watchdog group, has said that because Harris was already part of “Biden for President” as the vice presidential candidate, her claim on the money should be secure.

In any case, election regulators are unlikely to resolve the issue before the Nov. 5 presidential election.

The FEC said they were unable to comment on unresolved enforcement matters.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris laid out her argument against Donald Trump at the first rally of her presidential campaign on Tuesday, while a new poll showed her with a slight lead over her Republican rival.

Harris’ campaign has said it had raised $100 million since Sunday, when Biden stepped back from the campaign and endorsed her – exceeding Biden’s remaining tally in just a few days. Her campaign brushed off the FEC complaint.

“Republicans may be jealous that Democrats are energized to defeat Donald Trump and his MAGA allies, but baseless legal claims – like the ones they’ve made for years to try to suppress votes and steal elections – will only distract them while we sign up volunteers, talk to voters, and win this election,” said Harris campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak.

Foreign

Sierra Leone Court Sentences 11 Soldiers, Policemen For Failed Military Coup

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Admin

Two female police officers were also sentenced. Ramatu Kamanda Conteh received a 30-year sentence for harboring Koita.

Ahigh court in Sierra Leone has sentenced 11 people, including soldiers and police officers, to lengthy prison terms for their role in a failed military coup attempt last year.

The court’s verdict follows an attack on November 26, 2023, when gunmen targeted multiple military barracks and a prison, freeing about 2,200 inmates and killing over 20 people.

Reuters reports that, after the failed coup attempt, 12 people were charged with treason in January.

However, on Monday, 11 people were convicted in a unanimous jury verdict on 20 counts, including treason, murder, and unauthorized use of military uniforms.

The twelfth accused, Bai Mahmoud Bangura of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, is being tried separately due to health concerns.

Amadu Koita Makalo, a retired army major and former bodyguard to ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma, was sentenced to multiple terms totaling 40 to 70 years in prison, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

Two female police officers were also sentenced. Ramatu Kamanda Conteh received a 30-year sentence for harboring Koita.

The government said the coup bid was led mostly by bodyguards to Koroma, who was later charged with four related offences, before the government decided to let him leave the country on medical grounds.

However, Koroma condemned the coup attempt and his lawyers called the charges “trumped up” and part of a “political vendetta”.

Tensions have resurfaced in Sierra Leone, nearly two decades after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that claimed over 50,000 lives.

Foreign

Trump Shooter Searched Online For Info On John F. Kennedy Assassination A Week Before Rally, FBI Says

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Admin

Despite gaining access to Crooks’ electronic devices, including his cellphone, investigators have yet to uncover any significant information regarding his motive or ideology.

FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday that the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13 had conducted a disturbing Google search about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy just one week prior to the shooting.

The FBI said it was still working to determine the motive behind 20-year-old Thomas Crooks’ actions, which resulted in the death of one attendee and injuries to Trump and two others, CBS News reports.

Despite gaining access to Crooks’ electronic devices, including his cellphone, investigators have yet to uncover any significant information regarding his motive or ideology.

Wray’s testimony highlighted the complexity of the case, as authorities strive to understand the reasoning behind Crooks’ violent actions. The investigation remains ongoing, with the FBI exploring all possible leads to shed light on this disturbing incident.

A chilling discovery was made on a laptop linked to Crooks. A search history revealed a disturbing query made on July 6, exactly one week before the Pennsylvania rally: “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”

This eerie search suggests Crooks may have been drawing inspiration from the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963.

Oswald fatally shot Kennedy from a sixth-floor perch at the Texas Schoolbook Depository in Dallas, with the Warren Commission later determining the distance between the two to be approximately 265.3 feet at the time of the deadly shot.

This striking search term stands out as a significant finding in the investigation, potentially offering a glimpse into Crooks’ motivations or mindset leading up to the attack. As authorities continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the shooting, this haunting query raises more questions about the influences and intentions behind Crooks’ actions.

Crooks fired shots from a rooftop approximately 400 feet away from the target.

The gunfire struck Trump in the ear and injured rally attendees.

According to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony at Wednesday’s hearing, Crooks wielded an AR-style rifle and left behind a trail of evidence, including eight spent bullet cartridges found on the roof.