The African Tribune

The hand that steers CameroonListen - 04:19 Paul Biya has returned at last, on Thursday, August 20th. The Camerounian leader had spent 74 days in Switzerland. What the public saw was not the head of state stepping off the plane as usual to greet elites from the Etoudi Palace, but merely a hand waving from the slightly lowered window of the presidential limousine.AdvertisementThe people of Cameroun were expecting to see the patriarch at the foot of the gangway, as has become his custom, shaking hands with the palace oligarchs. What they got instead was a hand. In politics, a hand is never a trivial sight. A hand in politics has four degrees: the hand that kills, the hand that cheats, the hand that blesses, and the hand that governs.The hand that killsIn ancient Rome, the crowd would fall si...

Mali’s stance on female genital mutilation under scrutiny In recent weeks, the debate surrounding female genital mutilation in Mali has intensified, drawing attention to the government’s approach under transitional leader Assimi Goïta. While public awareness campaigns have gained momentum, the practice remains deeply rooted in some communities, posing a challenge to national health initiatives. Government efforts to address the issue Efforts to curb female genital mutilation in Mali have taken on new urgency as activists and international observers push for stronger legal measures. The transitional authorities, led by Colonel Goïta, have signaled a willingness to engage with civil society, though concrete policy shifts remain under discussion. Key challenges include balancing cultural ...