East Africa and Palestinians

Scary reports from Associated Press, shared also by the Reuters news agency, about plans coming from Israel and the United States to deport Palestinians to the Horn of Africa, namely Somalia, Somaliland and Sudan... all Affected by long-lasting wars!

Details:

AP has reported today that the U.S. has proposed Gazans be settled in Africa 

Somaliland and Somalia have replied they have not received any proposal

Sudan official says proposal would be unacceptable

Trump has proposed U.S. takeover to reconstruct enclave

Arab leaders have adopted $53 billion plan to avoid displacing Palestinians  

 

March 14 (Reuters) - Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland have not received any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, their foreign ministers said on Friday, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move.

The Associated Press quoted U.S. and Israeli officials as saying their governments had contacted officials from Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland to discuss using their territory for resettling Palestinians from the devastated Gaza Strip.

Sudanese officials said they rejected the proposal by the United States, and officials from Somalia and Somaliland said they were unaware of any contacts, AP reported.

Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said his country would categorically reject "any proposal or initiative, from any party, that would undermine the Palestinians people’s right to live peacefully on their ancestral land".

Fiqi told Reuters that Somalia's government had not received any such proposal, adding that Mogadishu was against any plan that would involve the use of Somali territory for the resettlement of other populations.

Somaliland's foreign minister, Abdirahman Dahir Adan, told Reuters that "there are no talks with anyone regarding Palestinians".

Unlike Somalia, which has been battling an Islamist insurgency for more than 17 years, Somaliland has mostly been at peace since declaring independence from the Mogadishu government in 1991.

But Somaliland is not recognised by any country and its government has expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump will be favourable to its cause.

Somalia rejects any claim by Somaliland to be recognised as an independent state and says its sovereignty and territorial integrity are inviolable.

The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

 

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Noah Davis at Barbican

 

London's must-see exhibition of the moment.

A selection of pictures I took.

Noah Davis

Thu 6 Feb—Sun 11 May 2025,Art Gallery

It is his debut retrospective in the UK. The work of the late African American artist is celebrated here as his expansive creativity is exposed. 

"Noah Davis appears as one of the most original and uncanny painters emerging in recent years."

Noah Davis created a body of figurative paintings that explores a range of Black life, primarily based from Los Angeles.

Motivated by the desire to ‘represent the people' around him, Davis painted figures diving into pools, sleeping, dancing, and looking at art in scenes that can be both realistic and dreamlike, joyful and melancholic. 

Davis drew from anonymous photography, personal archives, film, art history and his imagination to create a ravishing body of work. Often enigmatic, his paintings reveal a deep feeling for humanity and the emotional textures of the everyday.

In 2012, Davis also co-founded The Underground Museum to give free access to world-class art for the people of Arlington Heights, LA. 

This exhibition presents over 50 of Davis’ works in painting, sculpture, curating and community-building from 2007 to his untimely death in 2015.

Barbara Walker at Arnolfini

 

Photos by myself.

Barbara Walker is a British artist described by art historian Eddie Chambers as “one of the most talented, productive and committed artists of her generation.” Her first major survey exhibition is on show at Arnolfini, Bristol, this Spring 2025 (since 08 March - and until 25 May 2025 ).

Being Here charts the artist’s compelling figurative practice, from the 1990s to our days. British artist Barbara Walker was described as one of the most important British artists working today. 

Following a hugely successful run at The Whitworth Being Here presents almost 60 extraordinary artworks, including rarely seen early paintings of Walker’s family, friends and community in her home city of Birmingham, along with her Turner Prize nominated monumental drawing series Burden of Proof (2022-23), which illustrates the impact on the lives of those affected by the Windrush scandal.

“To be an artist to create in times of adversity, is, I believe, to be optimistic. In my work as an artist, I have sought to make ‘positive images’, or perhaps images that will have a positive impact. I love working with people who are not used to having their voices heard. People who are often made visible in only the worst ways. I want to help make people visible in the best ways possible, by creating affirming images that speak of and to humanity.” - Barbara Walker

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Barbara Walker: Being Here at Arnolfini is accompanied by a programme of workshops, community and live events.

Fanon - film

 

March newsletter

 

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Empowering women, for women and for everyone

Honouring women's achievements and empowerment on 'IWD' seems timelier than ever, in this age of masculinist tech bros. Here are my feminine stories from beyond the West.

Melissa Chemam

Mar 04, 2025