DRC: Eight UN Peacekeepers Arrested for Sexual Exploitation, One Officer Suspended

"The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) announced

on Wednesday that it has taken "strong measures" against peacekeepers suspected of "serious misconduct."
According to internal documents from MONUSCO reviewed by AFP, eight peacekeepers deployed in Beni, in the eastern DRC, were arrested on October 1st, and an officer was suspended on October 8th as part of a case involving alleged sexual exploitation and violence.
All of them belong to the South African contingent of the UN force and may be implicated in what internal reports describe as a "systematic and widespread violation" of UN rules against exploitation and sexual abuse." AfricaNews

BRICS face a historic decision as they attempt to reshape the world order

"BRICS (an acronym made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa....Never has the BRICS group attracted so much interest around the world as in the run-up to the 15th leaders’ summit this week in Johannesburg.

About 20 countries are reportedly seeking admission to the five-member organization and the list of countries that will be represented at the meeting.... This is a sign of the times and points to two things: the yearning of many non-Western nations to become more consequential to how the world is run, and the growing pushback against self-serving Western dominance in global politics, economics, finance, and the media.

A number of countries from all over the globe have lined up at BRICS' door, ready to walk in. These include Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Going for a big-bang enlargement would be a loud statement, to the effect that an alternative to the US-led system of alliances and partnerships is being built." RT

Putin's meeting with African Leaders on Ukraine conflict

"Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a delegation of African leaders in St. Petersburg.
The group traveled to Russia a day after visiting Ukraine and meeting President Vladimir Zelensky, promoting their 10-point peace roadmap designed to end the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, now well into its second year.

The African delegation comprised South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Comoros President Othman Ghazali, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and senior officials from the Republic of Congo and Uganda. 

Ukraine broke the preliminary deal immediately after Russia withdrew its troops from Kiev Region, as had been agreed upon in Istanbul, Putin explained. "Kiev authorities, like their masters usually do, threw it all away into the graveyard of history," he added, stating that no one could guarantee that Ukraine would do the same to any new deals in the future. The Russian president also insisted that ongoing energy and food crises were not prompted by the conflict with Ukraine, but stemmed from the actions of Western powers." RT