Internally Displaced Persons are crowding around the Congolese city of Goma as Rwanda’s M23 militia advances on the city.
M23 is the most recent incarnation of a Rwandan militia that has been fighting for decades to control territory and natural resources, especially mineral resources, in Congo’s northeastern Kivu Provinces. Troops from the Rwandan Defense Force are now fighting with them.
The US has publicly told Rwanda to withdraw its troops, but has not withdrawn its own financial support for Rwanda. The US is the most generous donor to Rwanda and it has long given the country special protections based on its genocide victim’s narrative, which resembles that of Israel. Rwanda massacres and displaces Congolese with impunity, much as Israel massacres and displaces Gazans with impunity.
Although Rwanda has been fighting in Congo for nearly three decades, Congolese troops have never crossed into Rwanda.
Host and producer Ann Garrison spoke to Congolese journalist Akilimali Chomachoma about the situation in Goma, the capital of Congo’s northeastern North Kivu Province, which is now surrounded by Rwandan forces.
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March 8 is International Women’s Day and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate is calling for an international day of action for women journalists and their families in Palestine. Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer interviewed Rania Khayyat, the International Officer of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
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Trade unionists around the country are becoming increasingly angry at Israeli’s genocide in Gaza backed by the Biden administration. As part of an international day of action on Palestine, trade unionists spoke out at a mass rally. We’ll hear first from Natalie Hrizi, member of United Educators of San Francisco’s Executive board. Next, Rosa Villarroel, a nurse with Labor For Palestine, spoke out and called for labor action.
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The fight for the freedom of imprisoned Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange continues. The final appeal of the order to extradite him was heard in Britain’s High Court on February 20 and 21. The decision of that court could result in Assange’s immediate extradition to the US, or his immediate release, or his continuing confinement at maximum security Belmarsh prison, pending a further appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Supporters rallied in London and around the world during the hearing. At the Department of Justice in Washington,where Assange’s extradition is being managed, Pacifica’s Thomas O’Rourke spoke to CODE Pink founder, writer, and Pacifica broadcaster Medea Benjamin.
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For thirteen long years, the people of Syria have endured a hybrid US and European war fronted by a number of terrorist paramilitaries – some well-known like al Qaeda and ISIS, others operating in relative obscurity. Aid to the millions of suffering Syrians was the subject of a UN Security Council meeting last week. Pacifica’s Don DeBar spoke to independent journalist and Syria expert Vanessa Beeley.
And that concludes today’s edition of Capitalism, Race & Democracy. We thank all of Pacifica’s sister stations and affiliates who contribute to the production of this show. Today’s program was produced by the Capitalism, Race & Democracy collective, with contributions from Steve Zeltzer, Thomas O’Rourke, Akua Holt, Don Debar, Polina Vasiliev and Ann Garrison.
Thanks for listening!
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