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Les États-Unis commémorent l’arrivée d’Angela, première esclave africaine

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Ce week-end, les États-Unis commémorent les 400 ans de l’arrivée d’Angela sur le sol américain. Angela est la première esclave officiellement recensée par les colons britanniques. Arrivée par bateau depuis le Ndongo – l’ancien nom de l’Angola -, en 1619, elle a accosté dans l’État de Virginie, où un mémorial est aujourd’hui construit. Baptisé Fort Monroe, il est ce week-end le théâtre de festivités pour rendre hommage à Angela et aux millions d’autres Africains réduits en esclavage.

Les cérémonies de Fort Monroe ont un but précis : célébrer la contribution des Africains réduits en esclavage à la société américaine. Lectures, concerts, conférences… Le programme du week-end est chargé, avec un point culminant dimanche.

« Dimanche sera ce qu’on appelle le Jour de la guérison, explique Terry E. Brown, surintendant du mémorial de Fort Monroe. Nous allons amener une cloche, et nous la ferons sonner à travers tout le pays à 3 heures de l’après-midi. Nous allons la faire sonner pendant 4 minutes. Chaque minute représentera un siècle. »

Terry E. Brown est lui-même un descendant d’esclaves. Sa famille est originaire du Cameroun. Il explique l’importance de rendre hommage aux premiers esclaves américains.

« Ils ont enduré des conditions de vie parmi les plus oppressives qui soient, dit-il. Mais ils ont été capables de se réinventer. Ils n’ont pas fait que survivre à l’esclavage, ils ont créé cette réponse fraîche et vibrante en construisant des familles, des musiques, des langages, de nouvelles formes d’art. Donc nous allons rendre hommage à leur système de valeurs, à leur persévérance et à leur beauté. Je suis honoré de pouvoir le faire. »

Aux États-Unis, l’esclavage aura officiellement duré 246 ans, depuis l’arrivée des premiers esclaves en 1619 jusqu’à son abolition en 1865.

♦ « J’ai découvert mes liens avec le Cameroun »

Terry E. Brown dirige ce lieu de mémoire depuis 2016. Il est le premier Afro-Américain à occuper ce poste, et a découvert il y a peu, grâce à un test ADN, que sa famille a, elle aussi, subi l’esclavage. Il l’a raconté à RFI.

« J’ai toujours voulu en savoir plus sur mon passé, et quand je suis arrivé à Fort Monroe en 2016, que j’ai appris ce qu’il s’était passé ici, j’ai su qu’il fallait que j’en sache plus sur ma propre histoire. Quand j’ai appris que j’avais des liens avec le Cameroun, ça a rendu tout ça tellement spécial. Je me suis assis, et j’ai pleuré parce que c’était tellement émouvant de connaître le parcours de ma famille. Je pouvais enfin commencer à reconstituer le puzzle. »

« Je ne sais pas énormément de choses sur mes ancêtres pour le moment, sauf qu’ils sont arrivés aux États-Unis par les États de Virginie et de Caroline du Nord. C’est intéressant parce que cela veut dire qu’ils sont certainement passés par le Cap Old Comfort, là où se trouve Fort Monroe. Je n’arrête pas de penser : ” Waouh ! Est-ce que mes ancêtres ont pu débarquer ici en 1619 ? ” Je n’en ai aucune idée, mais ça n’a pas d’importance. Ma culture a subi l’esclavage, et je m’en rends compte chaque jour à Fort Monroe. »

Les archéologues sur la trace du propriétaire d’Angela

Arrivée par l’État de Virginie, Angela avait été achetée par le capitaine William Pierce, un riche marchand de plantes. Aujourd’hui, une association d’archéologues, la Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation tente de comprendre la vie d’Angela et de son propriétaire en fouillant le site où ils ont vécu.

En presque deux ans de recherches, l’équipe d’archéologues a mis au jour de nombreux objets de la propriété du colon William Pierce.

« Nous avons trouvé 300 objets qui témoignent du système esclavagiste nord-américain,explique David Givens qui dirige les fouilles. Sur le site, nous avons donc 246 ans d’esclavage sous nos yeux, révélés par l’archéologie. Le site est divisé en plusieurs parties. Il y a un premier site, celui d’Angela, mais nous travaillons aussi sur une plantation du XIXe siècle. »

Le site de fouilles se trouve à Jamestown, à une soixantaine de kilomètres du Cap Old Comfort, là où Angela a posé le pied aux États-Unis en 1619. Pour David Givens, ce travail archéologique ne permet pas uniquement de comprendre le passé des États-Unis.

« Ces fouilles montrent aussi ce que nous sommes, en tant que nation, dit-il. Donc je vais probablement passer le reste de ma carrière à tenter de comprendre pas seulement comment deux cultures, celles des colons et des esclaves, ont fabriqué notre nation, mais comment nous sommes devenus Américains. »

Les fouilles du site sont prévues jusqu’à la fin de l’année 2019.

AFRICA

Cameroon’s Election: Biya’s Eighth Term Fuels Protests and Widens Divide

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YAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON — At 92, President Paul Biya has won Cameroon’s latest presidential election, extending his 43-year grip on power. Representing the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), Biya secured 53.66% of the vote, according to the Constitutional Council, while his main rival, Issa Tchiroma Bakary—a former ally now turned critic—trailed with 35.19%.

Protests Erupt Amid Claims of Fraud

The announcement has sparked outrage instead of celebration. Opposition leaders and activists have dismissed the results, accusing the government of rigging the vote. Tchiroma Bakary, who declared himself the winner before the official tally, called the election a “sham” and rallied his supporters to protest.

In cities like Douala, anger has spilled into the streets. Clashes between protesters and security forces have led to injuries and arrests, with young Cameroonians, fed up with decades under the same ruler, chanting for change and demanding their voices be heard.

A Nation Divided

Biya’s latest victory means more of the same for Cameroon—a government that promises stability but struggles with corruption, sluggish economic growth despite rich resources, and a lingering conflict in the Anglophone regions. With over 70% of Cameroonians under 35, many feel disconnected from a leadership that seems out of touch. Young people are increasingly vocal, pushing for a new generation to take the helm.

The world is watching. While some foreign leaders may send congratulations, Cameroon’s handling of the election and the unrest that follows will shape its ties with global partners and donors.

For Cameroon’s youth, another seven years of Biya feels like a rerun of a story they’re tired of living. The big question now is whether the government can find a way to connect with a generation demanding a say in their country’s future.

Afroradar.com will keep tracking the situation, bringing you updates and insights on Cameroon’s shifting political scene.

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AFRICA

Ghana in Mourning After Deadly Helicopter Crash Wipes Out Top Officials

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Ghana is still struggling to come to terms with a tragic military helicopter crash which killed eight people, including two government ministers and other top officials, on the morning of August 6, 2025.

The downed Ghanaian Air Force helicopter belonged to the Z-9 model and took off again from Accra en route to Obuasi at 09:12am but crashed after departure. They immediately began search efforts when the aircraft did not respond to radio contact. The helicopter was later reported to have crashed into a tree in the Adansi Akrofuom District of Ashanti Region, where it caught fire and burnt beyond recognition.

The crash killed Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, National Democratic Congress Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong and former Parliamentary Candidate Samuel Aboagye as well as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah who were members of the crew.

National tragedy, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah declared during a press conference in the capital As the country mourns, flags are being flown at half mast on all government buildings as ordered by the government.

Rescue crews were on scene by 4 a.m., but by then the fire was so intense that little remained of the wreckage. It is not yet clear what prompted the crash — they are examining whether it could have been a technical fault or adverse weather conditions. The occurrence harks back to a military helicopter that crash-landed inside the Western Region in March 2024, but no one was injured in that accident.

The crash happened as Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Minister for the Ashanti Region, was addressing an anti-galamsey event in Obuasi He rushed away to assist in coordinating the emergency response at the scene.

The government has vowed to provide support for the families of victims amid a wide probe to determine what led to the tragedy. At the moment, Ghana now awaits details of what might have caused such a tragic loss of lives. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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AFRICA

Fuel Price Protests Turn Violent in Angola’s Capital

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Angolans Protesting High Fuel Prices in Capital Destroy Property in Marches Demonstrations in the streets of Luanda turned violent, and the police shot live bullets and tear gas.

Luanda, Angola — A peaceful strike by transport workers turned violent on Monday when the protesters took to the streets here to denounce a government measure to increase the price of fuel to 400 kwanzas a liter from about 300 kwanzas. The unrest has left businesses vandalized, residents shaken and questions swirling over the financial future of Angola.
The evening also brought burning tires and shattered storefronts along Broadway from 3rd to 7th. Two athletic sneaker stores and a T-Mobile store fared the worst — their windows smashed and their booty scattered. Video clips that made the rounds on social media showed protesters yanking buses to a halt and forcing them to discharge their passengers, and confronting drivers who were reluctant to join the three-day strike.
“The people are starving, and the government is killing us,” said Adilson Manuel, who is the spokesman for the social movement against the fuel hike. His comments echoed the frustration of many Angolans, who see the price jump as the latest blow to households already struggling with unemployment and an uptick in prices.
July 4, Angola’s government lifted fuel subsidies as part of an ongoing plan to reduce spending to comply with International Monetary Fund conditions under an economy support loan program to the heavily indebted African nation. It’s a paradox not lost on demonstrators: Despite its status as one of the world’s top oil-producing countries, Angola has to import most of its refined fuel because it lacks sufficient domestic refining capacity.
The figures and statistics paint a harsh picture for everyday Angolans. They increased taxi fares to 300 kwanzas a ride and a public bus ride in the city now costs 200 kwanzas. “It’s intolerable that the government is always trying to make our lives more difficult,” said one street vendor, Custodia dos Santos.

The police response was swift and brutal. The riot police and gendarmes used tear gas, batons and rubber bullets to push back protesters in a demonstration on 12 July, in which nine people were injured and 17 others arrested. One protester remains in custody, charged with the incitement of violence. Police claimed the protesters were going beyond agreed-upon routes — a charge organizers vehemently deny.
The crackdown reflects broader tensions within Angola, where the ruling MPLA party has held power for five decades. The signing into law of a contentious piece of legislation by President João Lourenço in August 2024 that imposes prison sentences of up to 25 years for damage caused during protests, has come in for heavy criticism from human rights groups accusing it of being designed to suffocate opposition.
The police violence against protesters in Angola is stomach-churning,” said Khanyo Farisè of Amnesty International, which found a pattern across 11 protests from 2020 to 2025 that left a minimum of 17 dead, with no officer held responsible.
The government has accused the opposition of fomenting the protests ahead of the election that will see multimillionaires in 2027, particularly UNITA. UNITA shot back, condemning the “autocratic attitude” of the police and heavy-handedness.
Defying even as the strike drags on.” Activist Laura Macedo has called for a stay-at-home strike, and organisers are working on a petition to the president, João Lourenço, and finance minister, Vera Daves, demanding Abreu’s decision is reversed.
The unrest has exposed a growing chasm between the rulers of Angola and a public that increasingly feels sidelined by policies prioritizing fiscal rectitude over social justice. We are facing hunger, the whole country is facing hunger, but our president is paying no attention at all.
With violence escalating and negotiations stalled, Angola hangs on the precipice of something. Here is the question now: Will leadership hear the voices of the streets, or will it seek to double down on a course that can only deepen the estrangement of the people from the people who govern them?

  • Track the rest of this unfolding story (if that’s what it is) on Afroradar. com. *

Afroradar. com condemns violence of any kind, and not withstanding the newsworthiness of the circumstances surrounding the public protests, does not condone the use of vandalism and property destruction. We call for peaceful dialogue and an end to violence through credible, inclusive leadership, and we continue to demand accountability consistent with the will of the Malian people.

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