Umm Muhammed Umar

Radio Islam spoke to Dr Mustafa Mehta, Head of the Africa Desk at the Media Review Network, and Dean of the Faculty of Languages at the Somali National University, on the Africa Report.

Racism seems to be rearing its ugly head again in Arab North Africa. Last week, at the airport in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, in-transit passengers were beaten in the most gruesome manner. They had been booked with Tunisair, which has a fleet of aging aircraft. Dr Mehta said that they had overbooked, and people, mainly Africans from other parts of the continent, were left waiting at the airport in Tunis for two days. They complained.

When the airplane finally arrived, the passengers were told that they had to continue to be patient, but it was noticed that people of a fairer complexion were being allowed to board. An altercation ensued following which the police savagely beat the passengers in transit. Dr Mehta said, “I’m saying this is a blatant, display of racism, and in this civilized world of ours, we shouldn’t be seeing things like that.” He added, “And people would have paid money, whether they’re black or white, or yellow, or whatever colour, they would have paid money, and you can’t beat them because they ask or they complain.” He questioned whether North Africans considered themselves African. He said, “it divides the continent and the African Union must really address this issue rather than keep quiet.”

Meanwhile, rumour has it that the new Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, may be attempting to normalize relations with Israel. Dr Mehta said that while there had been no official word as yet, he heard that the president was attempting to take the matter to Parliament and discuss the issue of the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel. Dr Mehta said, “I’m very sure that it will not pass in Somalia.” He added, “On the ground there is no goodwill for Israel whatsoever in Somalia, so, he has to tread very carefully with regards to that.” He said there has thus far been no benefit to any country from having normalized relations with Israel: “look at Sudan (which is a) very good example of what has happened to Sudan ever since they normalized. It is only the few at the top, they are rewarded, they’re given some incentives.” He said that the generals in Sudan received billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, and other countries, to be on the same page (with them).

Regarding the outcome of the Russia Africa summit to be held in Cairo, Dr Mehta said it was almost 100% subscribed. He said it would send a message to the powers that be, to those who want to rule the world unilaterally, and think that they can dictate to others: “The coming of Russia, and the war in Ukraine in particular, has sent a message to them that there can be an alternative to their system.” He said that the developing world should rally behind Russia and China and send a message out that the system that seeks to benefits them only, at the expense of the rest of the world, is no longer acceptable. He said, “So, we are excited, the world is excited. They want to see an alternative to the Western system which only looks at themselves, and their kith and kin. So, the Russia Africa summit is welcome and it will show after the snubbing of the Western puppet in Ukraine, that we don’t we don’t care about you, we don’t like you anymore.”