In recent years, the weather has been changing on the continent… Droughts are intensifying, followed by torrential rains which cause floods and landslides. Result: reduced harvests, therefore increased risks of famine. And houses and roads destroyed…
The World Africa take the example of Malawi. « Extreme climatic phenomena are increasing in this poor and landlocked country in southern Africa, endangering the food security of its inhabitants », notes the newspaper.
The special envoy of World Africa notes the damage: “ an indelible scar. The ocean of mud and rocks still guts the village of Ndala. Eighteen months after the passage of Cyclone Freddy, this town in southern Malawi still bears its scars. The tropical storm, of incredible violence – the longest cyclone observed in the Southern hemisphere – left more than 1,000 victims or missing in Malawi in March 2023. (…) Here, a landslide rolled down the mountain , at nightfall, the result of the accumulation of four days of torrential rain. The waves of the Nanchidwa River, loaded with stones, then swept away dozens of houses, their inhabitants and livestock. The scar is still clearly visible; a breach about forty meters wide splits the village in two. Around this pile of rocks, life stands still “. And, point again The World Africa« In Ndala, it is not yet time for reconstruction – around 150 families remain homeless. And for good reason. Not only has the sludge buried the arable land below, but Malawi is experiencing a record drought this year, caused by the El Niño phenomenon. ».
Climate activists repressed…
Faced with these climatic phenomena, certain citizens are mobilizing. But they sometimes come up against powerful economic and state interests. This is the case in Ugandarelieves Africa Point. Uganda where the government continues to repress the country’s climate activists. After the arrest in early August of 47 people who were walking towards Parliament to deliver a petition against the much-criticized EACOP mega oil project led by TotalEnergies, the Kampala police again arrested 21 activists on August 26. They were trying to reach Parliament to submit a new petition ».
Asked by Africa Pointclimate activist Mbabazi Faridah, denounces the environmental risks of the project: “ The pipeline is to stretch from Hoima, in western Uganda, to Tanga in Tanzania, crossing sensitive areas, she says – lakes, rivers and other water sources – along its trace. There are risks of oil spills and leaks, which could lead to contamination of soil and water sources in these areas and consequently devastate agriculture, harm aquatic life and affect water supplies. drinking water for communities along the pipeline route ».
COP29: the “great hypocrisy”?
So what can we do in the face of these climatic phenomena and the ever more intense exploitation of fossil fuels, sometimes to the detriment of the environment? There COP29 which opens this morning in Baku in Azerbaijan will try to provide answers. But, in the media of the continent, the time is not for optimism…
« COP29 in Baku: the great hypocrisy », exclaims The Country in Burkina. “ This summit takes place in a geopolitical and economic context marked by a downward trend in global growth, and by drastic constraints and budget cuts in almost all countries. We therefore understand why, on a national scale, governments have relegated, for the most part, the subject of the climate crisis to second place in the order of priorities. ».
The presidents of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Russia absent subscribersdeplores the Burkinabé daily…
The Country who therefore denounces “the hypocrisy of all these absentees who are nevertheless supposed to be the main actors in the fight against the continued degradation of the environment. Africans, who are the collateral, if not innocent, victims of global warming due to the abusive use of fossil fuels by the great powers, Africans are right to be fed up ».
Result, storm Ledjely in Guinea: “ Africa should boycott this great farce. (…) The promised funding does not arrive, despite constantly renewed professions of faith. (…) Africa should therefore turn away from these meetings where everything is limited to big announcements ».
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