and there's competitions all the time for me on any of those stories you've just seen. do check out our website r t dot com. my name is peter scott. i'll be back with another rundown of all today's latest news, undeveloped in the top of the hour. thanks very much the the never never and never gave sally be that vis due to the love were like carrying that the oppression of one by mother and father in good things this kind of the way the fun throwing on for a human lead food on broad that's the soviet union and of course played

a key role in terms of assisting the liberation forces of south africa. the truth though, is that without the support at the time, we would have really struggled quite a bit. there assisted me for the fighters interest on education. i mean the padding coach. how early can you imagine the whole continent of friends and this is wonderful. the hello welcome to this week's african now, so from constitutionally celebrating its freedom, this month cynical zimbabwe and others dependent for mostly imperial european states. and now 50 african countries came together in the capital to form would later become the african union respondent. and this other tells us more obese

meeting the organization of african you need to was pounded. we the initial end to in cottage. they did column a zation off. i'm going out mozambique, south africa and how they are doing the organisation place to support the worker for that the but the freedom fighters and remove military access to colonial nation . of course countries job contributes many in many directions for their their morgan, for the african. why is it they did it? one of the i do, i do our victory is another rewarded for another countries. when they see the african, it's time when we are the out of countries a envision your guys more than for other the african countries on so many leaders are emerging from africa as more than and l u

l. u is in each of yeah. and even now our political leaders are so you're more than for other african counters. they can learn from your b, r, to be dependent and to use in the genius knowledge, natural power. but you still know we are not using our powers, our geographical, our natural powers, but it will be more dense. money's corners to the out of guild, the physical control of european power ended in the ninety's. he just is after independence or child up because the end of the colonization was announced that but the wisdom, imperialism not yet ended and continues in another form. now the system is established to have the call only out of master, but more the colonized. so african countries to secure for independence, they should work on re framing the system. that benefits on besought melissa out of

t a b sub bob. since the founding of the african union has african countries thrown off the yoke of waste and colonialism. if they were lot to celebrate or a long journey still to embark upon human rights lawyer, people men to less ways in on the question advocate, superman tula. thank you so much for joining us here on africa. now. this week we're celebrating africa freedom months. but of course, as many questions related to that, if the founding fathers had to assess the progress that has been made in those decades, do you think they would be satisfied with the way the continent has moved forward? it has been difficult for the continent because it appears that the freedom came with the high price and that price was too sick. suffice was to reach consensus with the former colonial masters. and also us to look at was freedom free and also us independence of freedom. so at,

in the founding fathers are to what about d economic and cultural freedoms? because political freedom was attained in the sixty's. but in the 21st century, i think they will have fit how 5 we moved on. you could only can cause our freedoms . and how would you answer that question? how far have we moved in terms of cultural and economic freedom with not moved and tried? we are still limping, where there are challenges come from an academic space coming from illegal and human rights space. i've seen that a meaningful dumps have been trampled as i've picked up that culturally, we are still westernized, a european as opposed to, you know, so you find out because the issue is to allow all cultures to be, to, to be harmonized or to live in the same space, but for the continent to do an audit is also interesting when we talk of been to years of the africa peer review. now the governance for us to also manage our

freedom. it's, it's says delivery issues. you can't really blame the colonial powers. i mean, we're talking about countries that have been independent for decades here. so why was that shift not made, you know, issues, but also with me. he couldn't control the debate of the dollar. no, you couldn't come men of him conscious when not independent. hence, you find that the independence into freedom. you still have to use your former cornell mustang currency, or you owe it, did still a french colonial impact under. there is still a french language that is still exist in our even traveling documents. look at your own set of campus, but the republic to suit. so it shows you that we are not yet free the easy monies our movements. so the issue of blame yours is not to blame for the sake of shifting dev team is to say, asserted that the calling on mothers have done us in a continent actually this week at our invest, we had

a session we were talking about. i could have him mama got us, and issue that came was when can i see asked the you and of operations for africa. i don't know where they know that see how much he said i was not mean african countries. they don't talk up. what he, he was, it will do, it is point out to say we a friend, 7.7 trillion for the position for what has happened. so he can see, pull out the issue of blaming the coronel must us and de west. come from the issue of seeing a, cept and acknowledge what to have done. do you think that's realistic? you really think african countries are going to get operations from the former colonial masters. it has been difficult to remember where the water conference i can say racism in south africa in 2001. he doesn't debate the bus led by the african diaspora, caribbean block m i. i think what you see now, we see a return of cultural artifacts in africa. and my concern is that the return of cattle at if it's, if they do this a value on them. how do you quantify people?

are you saying that pre and post colonial africa is actually the same africa? slightly. we have changed with the edition of this out. so done, the pickle, linelle, africa with the kingdoms have changed. drastic i did that of all of the westminster system and in the assisted seventy's than 90 ninety's washington consensus. elections all over africa moving away from mighty party democrat. i mean from one part to state to a mild to patty democracy. hence i went back to my question, paula, not my question. might, might a citation of was it freedom or was it independence? part of the liberation of africa. and the reason why we've come to the point where we are of course, has been the assistance of the soviet union in the liberation struggles. how important was the role of the soviet union? they have assisted men for don't fight us in this country, educationally, militarily, culturally,

because what that len also in our shya mini russian young scholars. they have a passion for after the visit african countries. the collect, ma'am was the collect, the history books about africa. so one can look at how russia is also passionate about leaning about africa. and it's also in and about assistance to learn about russia. and if we look at the relationship today between russian african countries, what can russia do to help liberate africa even further? i think one of the key limited things aspect that, that i shall, must go into. it must be cultural diplomacy and cultural delusion. you know, the and, and economy could have alicia and dust read the issues of trade, et, alicia's empowerment in cation and remember that african students and from when i was there, what have picked up. there were some students who were studying in russia and they were not studying m law. you could amuse their way into agriculture their

way into energy sector. so you can see that what russia must bring in the for hell is to train that. there's a hell region empower them and move out. simple enough for the, for me is to not to stay long. you know, is to empower and also share a knowledge experiences. and that's how you can put the narrative of the image of russia in cobalt put. it is 29 years south africans from all walks of life and ages, queued for hours in the hot sun. determined not to miss this country's 1st non racial election. and like many other african countries, south africa when its independence with the assistance of the soviet union. our correspondent in south africa, looks back at that historic occasion. and the role the u. s. s. are played in it.

i'm coming to you straight from so where to where into hannah's big behind me is the freedom square, also known as the open a museum, and it's dedicated to walters this little one of south africa struggle heroes. this place tells the story of the drafting off defeat and charter in 1955. it also reminds us to assistance with that to be solved. the union provided to the people's liberation army of namibia and the african national congress. his military wing condo with caesar was essential in helping them fight against the party government . no one has forgotten that help, at least of all, those who were involved well joined the african national congress and the south african communist party. as a student, 20 year old to the time of shuffle, 1960 the massacre. there was no possibility of changing the supposed system with revolutionary violence without an armed struggle. so

quite a number of us were sent out of the country and i was sent with a 150 other young people to the soviet union. we went, dave via the 10s, and now we had to leave the country secretly. we arrived in the soviet union in moscow, landed there at the beginning of 1964, and then we trained at a beautiful city on the child named morris, the black sea. odessa just, how much of a role do you think the soviet union played with all the other liberation heroes? the soviet june, down of course, played a key role in terms of assisting the liberation forces of south africa, usually africa. but we weren't the only recipients. the colonial system

collapsed. the british colonies, the french, the portuguese, bel germ, dutch, all the colonies from asia to latin america. and in africa. the people wrote up demanding the freedom that had been spoken about during the 2nd world war . and other words, you're saying that if it wasn't for the soviet union would, would not have seen this liberation coming about. it would have taken far longer with far greater sacrifice than occurred because of these former colonial countries . and they were colonial country still after the war, the scar strove to cling onto the colonial positions. so the people live africa. and so on, india, john won. they, they were pressing for freedom. and the way the se union was able to get support

the vietnamese struggle, for instance, that made the huge difference. what do you make of rushes? my relations with the african continent. it's been very interesting. you know that the e, u m. a nato countries in the us say, made a huge error in trying to force sanctions to be adopted against russia, by africa, demonstrations against the south african government, strict apartheid policies flare and shocking violence. sharpsville and industrial township, thousands gather outside of police, nation in protest against new laws requiring every african to carry a pass at all times. 30 years on her own, the casseroles and my voice on the man among those liberation heroes was fight to bring freedom and equality to the tip of africa. what the help of this soviet

comrades will never be forgotten. thank you so much for your time that i'm of was so maybe if you can just start by telling us how you joined the on struggle and how you ended up in the soviet union. i. i left all over again. 1963 from fort hair university. i hardly finished anything there. this was a time of extremely political activity. i think where we were in france's style. when the news came, that the leadership of the african national congress had been under ground, had been arrested in livonia. it was june 11th 1963. 0 it was transfers. we flew out to francis town or to doris lamb. and before long will on our flight to moscow to the round winter there. i remember seeing these people with greater ami jackets

and song i. so we went for highly specialized training in guerrilla warfare, who were trained by her soviet officers were participated in the 2nd world. war and just how much of a role i did to the soviet union play in the liberation of many african countries. the soviet union provided a lot of things financial. i didn't know quite about that, but they certainly provided material support as well as the training as i've been describing. africa always helped us, but they have very limited resources on. but they made their geographical space available to us and another diplomatic means of support. so the relationship with russia now, it is not our style and cannot be,

i mean, they were always the nucleus of the soviet union. that's where the capital e z a but the i'm saying that the struggle changed. we no longer needed the kind of support that's the soviet union had given us, but we retained very good relations with them. let's talk about freedom. what do you make a feed on? do you think it's something that we can so celebrates today? oh, absolutely, absolutely. question does not married if asking m. the 27th of april is the most important date on the calendar on this african calendar. no doubt about it is a huge difference between what happened before $994.00 and what's happening. we have freedom to africa feet and we could,

today's generation pays whole major to the sacrifices and the struggles that made our freedom and democracy possible. move we accordingly r t to highness big. so why did the soviet union assist african liberation movements? i met with the russian ambassador to south africa who presented the view from moscow. much the investor to thank you so much for joining us here on african now. this month is freedom months. why was the soviet union even interested in being involved in africa? first of all, i should mention that we are interested in african friends. ah, russia not to speak about. soviet union has never colonized any of the people's particular in africa. and we have always treated africans has our friends with potential friends. maybe we can imagine the cold continent of friends,

and this is wonderful. why did the southern genia and cheese tourist insulation movements? russian societies valid room society and tim of our hearts and our minds of this notion of support of the newest is much broader. one of them is translated into english, my justice, or a lawfulness or right the service. it includes many moral aspects in particular. and we feel that if there is a just cause, if we can help assist some people who are oppressed with them, we should do it. how did it assist them? what i, as far as i know it was done in many different ways now are to my mind of the aspect of supplying arms. and the training in military skills of training

fighters is over emphasized. one of the, from the mental principles of socialist society was know, which is strength. and i think that most importantly, the most significant part of these systems was training of african leaders, training of leaders of the liberation woman's in different social sciences. in south africa, did your assistance to the african national congress, the a and c amy and a to in any way from the african community or not on the russian side. not on the russian side. but i know i can feel it to the leaving here that there is some are the initial from the border community, emma, pre soviet, times, russian empire,

russian people helped war in particular in their war against the british empire and the 9219. 02, there was a requests from president polk gruder to emperor nicholas the 2nd tool interfering this war on the boresight. formal, the request was formally declined. the tsar made it clear that she would not oppose some volunteers participating in that for him. his family dice with the king george on the 5th where more important and he, so the decline to this request to enter the war, formerly under 70 russians will at years foot in them the board ranks. and there was a hospital that was financed completely by the russian imperial court,

fully equipped, stuffed, which operated, i think in newcastle. and there was another one that was financed, $5050.00 with another lens. and tell them there was this elite school for girls stablished and worn funding for a border or from 3 girls. and that was financed initially and like the 1917 and by the russian federal court. so many stations of the sympathy of russians was born or where abundant. the sympathy was, was very strong in the, in the russian public opinion, in favor of wars. because the where oppressed, so in so many times we felt above the scene with respect to the african population. it was unjust. it wasn't spur of the view of this is

why many people are felt that we should interfere in that we were doing the right thing. in 1980 zimbabwe gained its independence from the united kingdom are correspondent there keith baptist, attended the celebrations, despite the feeling among many that western oppression continues until today. in barbara celebrated is for the fed independence from its former colonial masters retain. we are in hardy, a place that played a vital role in the liberation striker. zimbabwe obtained its independence on the 18th of april. 1981 for independence is about where think is the good site and the bedside. our independence obviously came with the benefits that we all see. our people are free to do whatever they want are compared to the freedoms that the liberation, heroes, football. but there's also some things that we cannot overlook. for instance,

high unemployment rate is a bob way. ah, leslie, among young people, those are things that we will wanted will they loved the independence to come with also prosperity, because independence without prosperity, without employment in other supporting aspects, tweet the big compromise. independence means the freedom by us. like we will to take ownership of our country of our resources, but sadly, 43 years after independence. we only monday to take the power. but we have not been able to change the systems. we now need to work collectively as in bob wave to ensure that we move up on the euro centric system that you're still using to date to come up with our own afrocentric system that actually works for us. because the system that we adopted from the smith, the regime is up with the presley. that is why sometimes the very same europeans i must be and was told to us for special occasions where people of zimbabwe and most

importantly, the young generation. those or did not have an expedient of deliberation circle. so very, very positive reflection, because on this particular day we are looking at the road that has been several to thus far. the road it was independent was bon b. it was not a walk along a garden path, but we're happy. and for 3 years we continue to be happy with what it did. every step of the by the independence, of course, worked important glenda. the 2nd republican president must have not got what we have been able to do to the world and more particulars if it follows above. the true meaning of independence in when is with the prosperity infinite in ownership, portal ownership of water sources. total ownership of orlin. hutton ownership, our sovereign what that brings us to the end of this week, so we hope you enjoyed it. next week we'll see the inauguration of controls to the

pictures thrown. we will again travel the african continent for reaction from former british colonies. as always, it's a pleasure to receive your feedback. do stay in touch until then for myself in the team could by, ah ah, with watching a was a in control. if i give it in the store near the shag lashona went in, and i'm not trying to stay like it ain scale. now when i went back with that

teacher, just tell session on a national, this is shyly yours. i hear you when you sit down with march 20th, 2003, the u. s. army and its allies invaded iraq. especially. i hate to say that today. the, let me know kind of was it anybody else? 77. how. how does a harvey may the 1st 2003 us president george bush declared victory in the iraq war? how do you different, what are you know up i would put up for a potential hydrogen to december. the 30th 2006

said i was saying was executed and some will shut down from done. december, the 15th 2011, a ceremony was held in baghdad to mom, the end of the u. s. military mission. in reality, the u. s. army is still in iraq, a blob. she had a still a couple football awe neutrality is one of the most flexible concepts and international relations that you can imagine, which is why it's so useful. but why it is so inherently difficult to grasp. so that the chances we have is that countries fill it with the meaning that is useful to them and hopefully to, to all those. because at its core, it means i'm not taking decide of either of these completely

a ah, with moscow calls for a complete restructuring of the united nations security council. the russian foreign minister says it's the only way to overcome a deep, systematic crisis the organization. to do portable, it is necessary to accelerate the reform of the security council by increasing the representation of asian african and latin american countries in it on countries awaiting hundreds of their nationals as violence. spin, su, done, rages on palestinians, and israelis can join the market. memorial day because of the restrictions imposed by israeli authorities are cost by the supreme court. we spoke to some of the participants who lost loved ones in the conflict.