9 chapters across the catalog
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for vaccines to be treated as global public goods rather than private commodities. A policy advisor for the People's Vaccine Alliance argues that the "size of the pie" must be increased to ensure developing nations are not left with crumbs. The hosts review the leadership of UNAIDS, noting a high concentration of female ambassadors and first ladies from African nations.
The death of Afro-jazz star Manu Dibango in Cameroon is noted. The Democratic Republic of Congo declares a state of emergency, closing borders and cutting off the capital, Kinshasa, as the country reportedly has only 50 respirators to serve its entire population.
Cameroon Massacre, Brexit Negotiations and Elgin Marbles
A massacre in Cameroon left 22 people dead, including 14 children, amid a conflict between the army and Anglophone separatists. In Europe, Brexit negotiations remain tense, with the EU reportedly pressuring the UK to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece as part of a trade deal. The marbles, also known as the Parthenon Marbles, have been a point of contention at the British Museum for decades.
Civil unrest is reported in Cameroon following a disputed election, resulting in the arrest of opposition leader Maurice Kamto and several journalists. In Spain, pensioners and taxi drivers wearing yellow vests have taken to the streets of Madrid to demand higher pensions and stricter regulations for ride-hailing apps like Uber. The protests in Spain involve taxi drivers abandoning vehicles on major freeways as a form of blockade.
The United States government paid a compensation package to the family of a seven-year-old boy killed by UN Ambassador Samantha Power's motorcade in Cameroon. The settlement included $1,700, two cows, and several hundred kilos of food supplies including flour, onions, and rice.
US Troop Deployment to Cameroon for Pipeline Protection
President Obama notified Congress of the deployment of 300 US troops to Cameroon to conduct airborne intelligence and surveillance. The hosts link this deployment to the protection of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline, which is partially owned by Chevron and Exxon. They also mention the release of the "Drone Papers" and the use of the War Powers Resolution to justify the mission.
The State Department hosted a summit in Washington D.C. for African leaders, including several controversial dictators. Adam Curry critiques the "theater" of the event, noting the extravagant attire of leaders from Gambia and Cameroon. He also observes that President Obama appeared disheveled and ill-fitted in official photographs with the visiting dignitaries.
Chibok Schoolgirl Kidnapping and Nigerian Oil Interests
The kidnapping of schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria, is examined through the lens of regional oil interests and financial corruption. Reports from producers with experience in the region suggest the "remote jungle" narrative is false, as the area is largely barren and heavily populated. The involvement of U.S. and international "specialists" is framed as an effort to audit missing Nigerian oil revenues totaling nearly $50 billion.
President Obama authorized the deployment of 50 troops to Chad to assist with evacuations from the Central African Republic. The hosts speculate that this military movement is actually related to protecting oil pipeline interests connecting Sudan to the Atlantic coast.
