france24--2020-02-22--Afghans take to the streets to mark start of week-long partial truce

In this photo taken on February 21 , 2020 , youths and peace activists gather as they celebrate the reduction in violence , in Kandahar .
A week-long , partial truce came into effect across Afghanistan on Saturday , with jubilant civilians celebrating in the streets to mark a potentially historic turning point in the war , even as isolated attacks threatened to undermine the process .
The Taliban , US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called `` reduction in violence '' which , if it holds , will be only the second lull in fighting since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber .
I hope it continues forever , '' Kabul taxi driver Habib Ullah said , while in other parts of the country people danced in the streets .
However in Balkh province in the north , Taliban fighters attacked a district headquarters near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif , killing two Afghan soldiers , a local official told AFP .
The attack came after midnight , when the partial truce had already kicked in .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in central Uruzgan province .
General Scott Miller , who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan , stressed that Western forces would continually monitor the `` reduction in violence '' .
`` The objective here is that we reduce violence for Afghanistan and that it does n't spike , '' Miller told reporters , adding that he was confident of the Taliban 's overall commitment to the process .
The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could , ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future .
A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing , which both the US and the insurgents have said could be done on February 29 in Doha .
It also gives a much-needed respite to civilians , who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war .
The UN 's Afghanistan mission said Saturday that more than 10,000 people had been killed or wounded in the war in 2019 alone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban heartland , and the eastern province of Jalalabad , dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight .
Jalalabad residents also celebrated by holding an impromptu bicycle race around the city .
In Kabul , which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians , those who spoke to AFP were more wary .
`` A temporary break in war is good but we want a permanent ceasefire , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also wants peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul to begin `` as soon as possible '' .
Shopkeeper Emamuddin , who like many Afghans goes by one name , said Afghans want peace `` whatever it takes '' .
`` A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye , '' he said .
`` They should find a long-lasting solution for this country 's problem . ''
Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant .
The US has said there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan '' , while Afghan security forces will remain `` on active defence status '' during the week .
`` The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence , '' US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Twitter .
`` Should the Taliban reject the path of peace , we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners , '' he added .
In Kandahar , one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down -- but another said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from attacking major cities and highways .
Any truce comes fraught with danger , and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan 's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time .
Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018 .
Afghans responded joyfully , with Taliban fighters , security forces and civilians hugging , sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan .
In return , the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul .
On Thursday the group 's deputy leader , Sirajuddin Haqqani , penned an extraordinary op-ed in the New York Times in which he stated the insurgents were `` fully committed '' to standing by the agreement .

A week-long, partial truce came into effect across Afghanistan on Saturday, with jubilant civilians celebrating in the streets to mark a potentially historic turning point in the war, even as isolated attacks threatened to undermine the process.
In this photo taken on February 21, 2020, youths and peace activists gather as they celebrate the reduction in violence, in Kandahar.
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The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called "reduction in violence" which, if it holds, will be only the second lull in fighting since 2001.
"It is the first morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber. I hope it continues forever," Kabul taxi driver Habib Ullah said, while in other parts of the country people danced in the streets.
However in Balkh province in the north, Taliban fighters attacked a district headquarters near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing two Afghan soldiers, a local official told AFP.
The attack came after midnight, when the partial truce had already kicked in. There were also reports of a separate incident in central Uruzgan province.
01:10
General Scott Miller, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, stressed that Western forces would continually monitor the "reduction in violence".
"The objective here is that we reduce violence for Afghanistan and that it doesn't spike," Miller told reporters, adding that he was confident of the Taliban's overall commitment to the process.
The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could, ultimately, pull US troops out after more than 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future.
A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which both the US and the insurgents have said could be done on February 29 in Doha.
It also gives a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war.
The UN's Afghanistan mission said Saturday that more than 10,000 people had been killed or wounded in the war in 2019 alone.
In Kandahar in the south, considered the Taliban heartland, and the eastern province of Jalalabad, dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight.
Jalalabad residents also celebrated by holding an impromptu bicycle race around the city.
In Kabul, which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians, those who spoke to AFP were more wary.
"A temporary break in war is good but we want a permanent ceasefire," said government worker Fazul Rahman, adding he also wants peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul to begin "as soon as possible".
Shopkeeper Emamuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, said Afghans want peace "whatever it takes".
"A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye," he said. "They should find a long-lasting solution for this country's problem."
Dangerous moment
Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant.
The US has said there is an "understanding" for a "significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan", while Afghan security forces will remain "on active defence status" during the week.
"The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Twitter.
"Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added.
In Kandahar, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down -- but another said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways.
Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time.
Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018.
Afghans responded joyfully, with Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians hugging, sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes.
Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan.
In return, the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul.
On Thursday the group's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, penned an extraordinary op-ed in the New York Times in which he stated the insurgents were "fully committed" to standing by the agreement.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-22--Joint French-Nigerien military operation kills more than 100 jihadists in Niger

Nigerien soldiers patrol at the border with neighbouring Nigeria near the town of Diffa , Niger , June 21 , 2016 .
Picture taken June 21 , 2016 .
REUTERS/Luc Gnago/File Photo A joint operation by Nigerien and French troops in southwest Niger killed 120 `` terrorists '' and seized bomb-making equipment and vehicles , the country 's defence ministry said Friday .
As of February 20 `` 120 terrorists have been neutralised '' in the operation in the vast Tillaberi region near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso , the statement said , adding there had been no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Niger 's defence minister Issoufou Katambe praised the `` cooperation ... in the battle against terrorism , '' according to the statement .
Authorities in the restive Tillaberi region have ramped up security restrictions , closing markets and banning motorbike traffic after attacks by jihadist groups over December and January killed 174 Nigerien soldiers .
A state of emergency has been in place in the region for the past two years .
Since 2015 , Niger has struggled against a wave of jihadist attacks near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tillaberi and Tahoua regions , where nearly 78,000 people have been displaced .
France this year said it would boost its military presence in the troubled west African region by deploying 600 fresh troops to its 4,500-strong operation .

A joint operation by Nigerien and French troops in southwest Niger killed 120 "terrorists" and seized bomb-making equipment and vehicles, the country's defence ministry said Friday.
Nigerien soldiers patrol at the border with neighbouring Nigeria near the town of Diffa, Niger, June 21, 2016. Picture taken June 21, 2016. REUTERS/Luc Gnago/File Photo
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As of February 20 "120 terrorists have been neutralised" in the operation in the vast Tillaberi region near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, the statement said, adding there had been no losses among Nigerien or French troops.
Niger's defence minister Issoufou Katambe praised the "cooperation... in the battle against terrorism," according to the statement.
Authorities in the restive Tillaberi region have ramped up security restrictions, closing markets and banning motorbike traffic after attacks by jihadist groups over December and January killed 174 Nigerien soldiers.
A state of emergency has been in place in the region for the past two years.
Since 2015, Niger has struggled against a wave of jihadist attacks near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso in the west, exacerbating needs in the Tillaberi and Tahoua regions, where nearly 78,000 people have been displaced.
France this year said it would boost its military presence in the troubled west African region by deploying 600 fresh troops to its 4,500-strong operation.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-21--French Olympian on sex abuse scandals: 'We want victims to speak out'

Olympic sprinter Ayodelé Ikuesan talks to FRANCE 24 about ways to tackle sex abuse in French sport .
France 's sports minister on Friday announced the first of a raft of measures aimed at combating sex abuse in sport .
FRANCE 24 asked Olympic sprinter Ayodelé Ikuesan what she thinks needs to be done to address the scourge .
Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu has been on the attack since skaters , starting with Olympic gold medallist Sarah Abitbol , went public earlier this year saying they had been sexually abused as minors .
Convening a national convention on the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduce tougher checks on the two million volunteers who run French amateur sport as part of a campaign against sex abuse .
`` Our system has been flawed for too long , on all levels .
Let 's not wait , let 's act now , '' the minister told delegates gathered in Paris , before chiding the sports federations that failed to show up for the event .
Maracineanu , who plans to present a detailed roadmap in May , also said she was doubling the staff of a ministerial listening unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
French sport has been rattled since Abitbol , a 10-time national skating champion , released a book in January in which she accused her former coach of raping her in the early 1990s , when she was aged 15 to 17 .
On the same day Abitbol released her book , sports daily L ’ Equipe ran a lengthy report into sexual abuse in skating , swimming and tennis .
`` I never imagined that I would speak out without shame , ” Abitabol said on Friday , addressing the convention in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's my greatest victory , my Olympic gold medal , '' she added .
FRANCE 24 asked Olympic sprinter Ayodelé Ikuesan what measures she thinks are required to root out sex abuse from French sport .

France's sports minister on Friday announced the first of a raft of measures aimed at combating sex abuse in sport. FRANCE 24 asked Olympic sprinter Ayodelé Ikuesan what she thinks needs to be done to address the scourge.
Olympic sprinter Ayodelé Ikuesan talks to FRANCE 24 about ways to tackle sex abuse in French sport.
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Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu has been on the attack since skaters, starting with Olympic gold medallist Sarah Abitbol, went public earlier this year saying they had been sexually abused as minors.
Convening a national convention on the subject on Friday, Maracineanu said she would introduce tougher checks on the two million volunteers who run French amateur sport as part of a campaign against sex abuse.
"Our system has been flawed for too long, on all levels. Let's not wait, let's act now," the minister told delegates gathered in Paris, before chiding the sports federations that failed to show up for the event.
Maracineanu, who plans to present a detailed roadmap in May, also said she was doubling the staff of a ministerial listening unit where victims or others can report problems.
French sport has been rattled since Abitbol, a 10-time national skating champion, released a book in January in which she accused her former coach of raping her in the early 1990s, when she was aged 15 to 17.
On the same day Abitbol released her book, sports daily L’Equipe ran a lengthy report into sexual abuse in skating, swimming and tennis.
"I never imagined that I would speak out without shame,” Abitabol said on Friday, addressing the convention in Paris. “Shame turns into pride, it's my greatest victory, my Olympic gold medal," she added.
FRANCE 24 asked Olympic sprinter Ayodelé Ikuesan what measures she thinks are required to root out sex abuse from French sport.
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france24--2020-02-21--An agriculture revolution: the farms of the future

As the annual Paris Agriculture Fair gets under way , we tell you more about the farms of the future @ @ @ @ @ containers in urban areas or at the bottom of the sea .
According to a @ @ @ @ @ percent of products consumed worldwide will come from urban farming by 2030 , compared to @ @ @ @ @ This revolution is driven by innovative start-ups like Agricool .
We visited one of their @ @ @ @ @ of Paris where they 're vertically growing food in old shipping containers .
Beyond urban @ @ @ @ @ being built under water .
We speak to the pioneer of marine farming , Bren @ @ @ @ @ how he went from being a fisherman to a sustainable shellfish and seaweed farmer .
@ @ @ @ @ of the first sustainable 3D ocean farms in the United States .
Plus , in @ @ @ @ @ two bicycles : the all-terrain `` WhaTTfornow TTG '' that will give you a boost @ @ @ @ @ bike by the French start-up Moustache .

As the annual Paris Agriculture Fair gets under way, we tell you more about the farms of the future – whether they're in containers in urban areas or at the bottom of the sea.
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According to a recent UN report, 20 percent of products consumed worldwide will come from urban farming by 2030, compared to just 5 percent today. This revolution is driven by innovative start-ups like Agricool. We visited one of their urban farms on the outskirts of Paris where they're vertically growing food in old shipping containers.
Beyond urban areas, farms are also being built under water. We speak to the pioneer of marine farming, Bren Smith. He tells us how he went from being a fisherman to a sustainable shellfish and seaweed farmer. This as he operates one of the first sustainable 3D ocean farms in the United States.
Plus, in Test 24, we try two bicycles: the all-terrain "WhaTTfornow TTG" that will give you a boost, and the user-centric electric bike by the French start-up Moustache.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-21--Week in Review: Paris mayor's race heats up with a sex scandal and a makeover for the Champs-Élysées

The Paris mayoral race heated up this week with the release of a sex tape and a new conservative entering the fray .
In Tehran , medical centres have been hit hard by US sanctions , we look back at the tragedy of France 's `` stolen children '' and Ethiopian migrants trek 2,000 kilometres into Saudi Arabia via Yemen .
Beyond rockets and air strikes : The Israeli-Palestinian trade war Israel blocked Palestinian exports from leaving the territories on February 9 in another chapter of the trade war they have been fighting since September , when the Palestinian Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The battle threatens both Israeli farmers and particularly the already fragile Palestinian economy .
Just for tourists ?
Paris aims to draw locals back to Champs-Élysées Often called “ the world 's most beautiful avenue ” , the French capital 's iconic Champs-Élysées thoroughfare draws millions of visitors each year .
But with most Parisians shunning the area , residents have been invited to pitch in on an ambitious “ re-enchantment ” plan aimed at luring them back .
Conservative Rachida Dati has imposed herself as Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo ’ s biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analysts say Dati , the right-wing Républicains ’ candidate , has a strong chance of bringing the French right back from the dead in the City of Lights .
Macron unveils curbs on foreign imams in France in bid to combat ‘ separatism ’ French President Emmanuel Macron has announced measures to end a programme that allowed foreign countries to send imams and teachers to France in a bid to crackdown on what he called the risk of `` separatism '' .
French parliament seeks €1 million from former PM Fillon in 'fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek more than €1 million in damages from conservative former prime minister François Fillon and his co-accused over the public funds that were allegedly paid to Fillon ’ s wife for a fake post she occupied , a lawyer for the National Assembly said .
French ski resort angers ecologists by using helicopters to transport snow A French ski resort has angered ecologists by using helicopters to transfer snow to its lower slopes after a mild winter left them devoid of the white stuff .
Russian political performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky finds himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after publishing a sex tape of a leading Paris mayoral candidate online .
But it is just the latest in a long line of provocative stunts from the artist , which have included nailing his scrotum to the ground outside Moscow ’ s Red Square and setting fire to the headquarters of Russia ’ s Federal Security Service .
French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a series of measures to combat what he called “ Islamist separatism ” in a speech Tuesday in one of France ’ s neglected suburbs in the eastern city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his plan is a strong police presence in underprivileged communities .
Face masks vs coronavirus : How effective are they ?
From expensive filtration devices to homemade coverings , face masks have become almost ubiquitous in Hong Kong in the wake of China 's coronavirus outbreak .
Experts say the choice of mask could make a big difference to its effectiveness .
US sanctions ‘ targeting ’ patients , say doctors at Iranian cancer hospital Medical staff at Iran ’ s top cancer hospital tell FRANCE 24 their patients are paying the price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s health system struggles to cope under crippling US sanctions .
The economy tops the agenda as Iran heads to the polls in Friday ’ s general elections .
People all over the world have been sharing a video they claim shows a woman killed by police in China for trying to escape quarantine for the COVID-19 virus , which has infected more than 70,000 people in the country thus far .
The propagation of this video is evidence of the online hysteria about the virus ; however , our team took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video itself tells an entirely different story .
The Afghan army has been mired in a decades-long war against the Taliban , ever since the United States invaded the country in 2001 .
Corruption is also rife in the country 's military .
Photos sent to the FRANCE 24 Observers team shine a light on poor organisation and the difficulties that Afghan troops face , from insufficient food and pay to a lack of suitable clothing .
On top of these practical problems , soldiers also face a strategic disadvantage : the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last few years to better weapons .
Our Perspective guest is Mike Duncan , the voice behind the award-winning podcasts `` The History of Rome '' and `` Revolutions '' .
Duncan also wrote the New York Times bestseller `` The Storm Before the Storm '' and is currently working on a new book about the Marquis de Lafayette .
He spoke to us about why he became a podcaster , how much work he puts into each episode , and why he sees parallels between ancient Rome and the present day when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequality .
Between 1963 and 1982 , more than 2,000 youngsters were taken from the French territory of Reunion Island in the to repopulate rural areas of mainland France .
Some were orphans , but others had parents who signed release papers , not always understanding they would never see their children again .
We explore the tragedy of France 's `` stolen children '' .
The Ethiopian migrants who make the desperate journey to Saudi Arabia via Yemen Every day , thousands of Ethiopians set off on foot on a desperate 2,000-kilometre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia .
Their route takes them across the Djibouti desert , the Red Sea and Yemen , a country ravaged by civil war .
Every year , hundreds die of exhaustion in the desert or drown while crossing the Gulf of Aden .
Those who make it to Yemen , often having starved for days on end , are easy prey for the local mafia who kidnap them for ransom .
Our reporters followed these migrants on their journey and documented , with exclusive footage , the extent of human trafficking .
Margaret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women also pretend there is no climate crisis ’ Multi award-winning Canadian author Margaret Atwood is often cited as one of the most powerful and prophetic voices writing today .
She ’ s the creator of contemporary literature 's most chilling dystopia : Gilead in `` The Handmaid 's Tale '' .
The feminist icon won last year ’ s Booker Prize for `` The Testaments '' , alongside Bernardine Evaristo 's `` Girl , Woman , Other '' .
Atwood sat down with FRANCE 24 's Janira Gomez at the Hay Festival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insouciance : Do the French still shrug at sex scandals in politics ?
France has traditionally taken pride in being somewhat of an exception when it comes to caring , or not caring , about the private lives of its politicians .
This lax attitude has been called into question recently by the so-called Griveaux scandal .
Benjamin Griveaux , a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron , pulled out of the Paris mayoral race following the release of a sex tape .
So are we witnessing the `` Americanisation '' of French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puritanical and moralising ?
And what role does social media play in all this ?
In this edition , we report on the public outrage over the brutal murder of a young Mexican woman that has highlighted the extent of femicide in Mexico .
Plus , the latest figures from the World Economic Forum reveal that in terms of economic participation , the gender gap will take 257 years to close ; we talk to economist Anne Boring on what steps governments and companies need to urgently take to speed up the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport of fencing is being used to heal sexual assault victims in France .
YOU ARE HERE An engineer turned marshal , Vauban is one of the most famous names of 17th century France .
His citadels with their signature forms played a crucial role in King Louis XIV 's strategy to defend France .
Vauban 's work owes much to his native land , the Morvan , where his memory is still very much alive .
The largest flow of African migrants trying to escape to a better life in Europe is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although some arrive by choice , others come by force , and Libya is now described as a `` purgatory '' where migrants face appalling conditions , sexual abuse , torture and becoming victims of human traffickers –before facing the deadliest stretch of the Mediterranean Sea .
Our guest Caroline Gluck , senior external relations officer for the UNHCR Libya operation , tells us more .

WEEK IN REVIEW
The Paris mayoral race heated up this week with the release of a sex tape and a new conservative entering the fray. In Tehran, medical centres have been hit hard by US sanctions, we look back at the tragedy of France's "stolen children" and Ethiopian migrants trek 2,000 kilometres into Saudi Arabia via Yemen.
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ARTICLES
Beyond rockets and air strikes: The Israeli-Palestinian trade war
Israel blocked Palestinian exports from leaving the territories on February 9 in another chapter of the trade war they have been fighting since September, when the Palestinian Authority banned Israeli veal from its territories. The battle threatens both Israeli farmers and particularly the already fragile Palestinian economy.
palestinians © AFP Hazem Bader,
Just for tourists? Paris aims to draw locals back to Champs-Élysées
Often called “the world's most beautiful avenue”, the French capital's iconic Champs-Élysées thoroughfare draws millions of visitors each year. But with most Parisians shunning the area, residents have been invited to pitch in on an ambitious “re-enchantment” plan aimed at luring them back.
Champs-Élysées © PCA-Stream
Conservative Rachida Dati launches bid to unseat Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo
Conservative Rachida Dati has imposed herself as Socialist incumbent Anne Hidalgo’s biggest opponent in the Paris mayoral elections. Analysts say Dati, the right-wing Républicains’ candidate, has a strong chance of bringing the French right back from the dead in the City of Lights.
Les Républicains candidate for the 2020 Paris mayoral election Rachida Dati poses during a photo session in the French capital on November 25, 2019. © Joel Saget, AFP © Joel Saget, AFP
Macron unveils curbs on foreign imams in France in bid to combat ‘separatism’
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced measures to end a programme that allowed foreign countries to send imams and teachers to France in a bid to crackdown on what he called the risk of "separatism".
French parliament seeks €1 million from former PM Fillon in 'fake jobs' scandal
The French parliament will seek more than €1 million in damages from conservative former prime minister François Fillon and his co-accused over the public funds that were allegedly paid to Fillon’s wife for a fake post she occupied, a lawyer for the National Assembly said.
France's former prime minister François Fillon has been hit by a series of scandals. © AFP archive © AFP archive
French ski resort angers ecologists by using helicopters to transport snow
A French ski resort has angered ecologists by using helicopters to transfer snow to its lower slopes after a mild winter left them devoid of the white stuff.
A helicopter transports snow to the lower slopes of the Luchon-Superbagnères ski resort in southwestern France on February 15, 2020. © AFP - Anne-Christine Poujoulat © AFP - Anne-Christine Poujoulat
VIDEO REPORTS
Pyotr Pavlensky: The Russian artist behind France's sex tape scandal
Russian political performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky finds himself at the centre of a French scandal after publishing a sex tape of a leading Paris mayoral candidate online. But it is just the latest in a long line of provocative stunts from the artist, which have included nailing his scrotum to the ground outside Moscow’s Red Square and setting fire to the headquarters of Russia’s Federal Security Service.
Community policing part of Macron’s plan to ‘reclaim’ neglected suburbs
French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a series of measures to combat what he called “Islamist separatism” in a speech Tuesday in one of France’s neglected suburbs in the eastern city of Mulhouse. A significant part of his plan is a strong police presence in underprivileged communities.
Face masks vs coronavirus: How effective are they?
From expensive filtration devices to homemade coverings, face masks have become almost ubiquitous in Hong Kong in the wake of China's coronavirus outbreak. Experts say the choice of mask could make a big difference to its effectiveness.
ON THE GROUND
US sanctions ‘targeting’ patients, say doctors at Iranian cancer hospital
Medical staff at Iran’s top cancer hospital tell FRANCE 24 their patients are paying the price of geopolitical strategies as the country’s health system struggles to cope under crippling US sanctions. The economy tops the agenda as Iran heads to the polls in Friday’s general elections.
THE OBSERVERS
Did police kill a woman escaping a COVID-19 quarantine in China?
People all over the world have been sharing a video they claim shows a woman killed by police in China for trying to escape quarantine for the COVID-19 virus, which has infected more than 70,000 people in the country thus far. The propagation of this video is evidence of the online hysteria about the virus; however, our team took a closer look, and found out that the video itself tells an entirely different story.
screengrab of a video that was shared widely on Twitter. © creengrabs of a video that was shared widely on Twitter.
‘We haven't eaten for days’: Afghan soldiers suffer amid widespread corruption
The Afghan army has been mired in a decades-long war against the Taliban, ever since the United States invaded the country in 2001. Corruption is also rife in the country's military. Photos sent to the FRANCE 24 Observers team shine a light on poor organisation and the difficulties that Afghan troops face, from insufficient food and pay to a lack of suitable clothing. On top of these practical problems, soldiers also face a strategic disadvantage: the Taliban has had increasing access over the last few years to better weapons.
TV SHOWS ONLINE
PERSPECTIVE
History podcaster Mike Duncan on offering a practical guide to revolutions
Our Perspective guest is Mike Duncan, the voice behind the award-winning podcasts "The History of Rome" and "Revolutions". Duncan also wrote the New York Times bestseller "The Storm Before the Storm" and is currently working on a new book about the Marquis de Lafayette. He spoke to us about why he became a podcaster, how much work he puts into each episode, and why he sees parallels between ancient Rome and the present day when it comes to the dangers of economic inequality.
REVISITED
France's 'stolen children' make emotional return to native Reunion Island
Between 1963 and 1982, more than 2,000 youngsters were taken from the French territory of Reunion Island in the to repopulate rural areas of mainland France. Some were orphans, but others had parents who signed release papers, not always understanding they would never see their children again. We explore the tragedy of France's "stolen children".
REPORTERS
The Ethiopian migrants who make the desperate journey to Saudi Arabia via Yemen
Every day, thousands of Ethiopians set off on foot on a desperate 2,000-kilometre trek in the hope of reaching Saudi Arabia. Their route takes them across the Djibouti desert, the Red Sea and Yemen, a country ravaged by civil war. Every year, hundreds die of exhaustion in the desert or drown while crossing the Gulf of Aden. Those who make it to Yemen, often having starved for days on end, are easy prey for the local mafia who kidnap them for ransom. Our reporters followed these migrants on their journey and documented, with exclusive footage, the extent of human trafficking.
ENCORE
Margaret Atwood: ‘The people who suppress women also pretend there is no climate crisis’
Multi award-winning Canadian author Margaret Atwood is often cited as one of the most powerful and prophetic voices writing today. She’s the creator of contemporary literature's most chilling dystopia: Gilead in "The Handmaid's Tale". The feminist icon won last year’s Booker Prize for "The Testaments", alongside Bernardine Evaristo's "Girl, Woman, Other". Atwood sat down with FRANCE 24's Janira Gomez at the Hay Festival Cartagena in Colombia.
ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
The end of insouciance: Do the French still shrug at sex scandals in politics?
France has traditionally taken pride in being somewhat of an exception when it comes to caring, or not caring, about the private lives of its politicians. This lax attitude has been called into question recently by the so-called Griveaux scandal. Benjamin Griveaux, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, pulled out of the Paris mayoral race following the release of a sex tape. So are we witnessing the "Americanisation" of French politics? Is the atmosphere becoming more puritanical and moralising? And what role does social media play in all this?
THE 51%
Mexico City killing: Brutal murder sparks public outrage on gender violence
In this edition, we report on the public outrage over the brutal murder of a young Mexican woman that has highlighted the extent of femicide in Mexico. Plus, the latest figures from the World Economic Forum reveal that in terms of economic participation, the gender gap will take 257 years to close; we talk to economist Anne Boring on what steps governments and companies need to urgently take to speed up the process. We also look at how the sport of fencing is being used to heal sexual assault victims in France.
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The legacy of France's Vauban, a master fortress builder
An engineer turned marshal, Vauban is one of the most famous names of 17th century France. His citadels with their signature forms played a crucial role in King Louis XIV's strategy to defend France. Vauban's work owes much to his native land, the Morvan, where his memory is still very much alive.
THE INTERVIEW
Libya migrant crisis: A humanitarian emergency
The largest flow of African migrants trying to escape to a better life in Europe is moving via one country: Libya. Although some arrive by choice, others come by force, and Libya is now described as a "purgatory" where migrants face appalling conditions, sexual abuse, torture and becoming victims of human traffickers –before facing the deadliest stretch of the Mediterranean Sea. Our guest Caroline Gluck, senior external relations officer for the UNHCR Libya operation, tells us more.
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france24--2020-02-21--Meet the Lebanese student who decided to stay in Wuhan despite Covid-19

The France 24 Observers team contacted the 36-year-old student after he spoke to our sister radio station Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya ( MCD ) .
He told us his story : This is the first video that Al Sayed posted of himself walking around Wuhan .
Explaining the situation in Wuhan to Arabic-speakers Al Sayed chose to stay in Wuhan because he feels as if the town `` has given him a lot '' and he wanted to be able to give back to Wuhan and its residents in these `` difficult times . ''
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of information circulating about the outbreak on Arabic-language social media that he felt didn ’ t properly represent what it was really like to live under quarantine in Wuhan .
He decided to tell his own story and started filming videos on his cellphone whenever he left his home , wearing his mask .
When I realised that I wouldn ’ t be putting my life in danger by going out , I decided to start showing the world what it was like to live under quarantine , without making it seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t edit my videos , I just livestream to Facebook .
My videos show the empty streets and closed businesses , but they also show that there aren ’ t people falling down and dying in the streets from this virus .
Al Sayed posted this video on Facebook Live of his quest to find a certain item in the few shops that remain open in Wuhan .
Al Sayed , who is studying quantitative economics , also often posts diagrams and charts in Arabic that explain the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets from the World Health Organization and the Al Sayed , who is studying quantitative economics , also often posts diagrams and charts in Arabic that explain the Covid-19 outbreak through numbers and data that he gets from the World Health Organization and the Chinese National Health Commission .
He has over 2,000 followers .
Even though Al Sayed tries to show his followers that Wuhan is doing ok in spite of the outbreak , Al Sayed does admit that the atmosphere in the city is still tense : I try to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city .
I usually go out around 4pm before the curfew takes effect .
Usually shops are closed by 5pm .
However , I haven ’ t left my home in the past four days .
The restrictions become a lot tougher on the 14th day of quarantine .
On the 16th day , the authorities told us that we should only leave our homes once every three days .
The students living in student accommodation don ’ t leave their rooms at all .
They provide the administration with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then delivers the items .
It ’ s also now forbidden to go out without a protective mask .

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Lebanese student Adham Al Sayed is using Facebook to provide Arabic-speakers around the globe with a window into life under quarantine in Wuhan, the town in China at the heart of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Five years ago, Al Sayed left his hometown, Barja, which is located about 30 kilometres south of Beirut, Lebanon, to study at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. He’s lived in the city ever since.
The new virus known as Covid-19 was first identified in Wuhan in late December 2019. On January 23, 2020, Chinese officials placed the entire city under quarantine as Covid-19 continued to spread. The very next day, Al Sayed took to Facebook to share what life was like under quarantine and his posts immediately started circulating across the Arab world.
At first, Al Sayed was angry that the Lebanese government hadn’t decided to repatriate its nationals who were trapped in Wuhan. However, on the fifth day of the quarantine, he posted a long statement explaining that he had decided to stay in Wuhan.
"It’s like there is a war going on in Wuhan"
The France 24 Observers team contacted the 36-year-old student after he spoke to our sister radio station Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya (MCD). He told us his story:
When the Chinese government put Wuhan under quarantine, I decided that there was no reason for me to leave. The World Health Organization has been saying since the very first day of the quarantine that there was no need for countries to repatriate all of their citizens. I trust them. Moreover, a lot of countries [like Lebanon], wouldn’t have the means to deal with this epidemic if it started spreading at the same rate it has within China. So there’s no reason for me to leave. It feels like there is a war going on in Wuhan. Store shelves are empty and there are only phantoms left roaming the streets. I lived through war in Lebanon and in Syria and you could see the consequences of the fighting around you. It’s different with Covid-19 because the enemy is invisible and it is everywhere.
This is the first video that Al Sayed posted of himself walking around Wuhan.
Explaining the situation in Wuhan to Arabic-speakers
Al Sayed chose to stay in Wuhan because he feels as if the town "has given him a lot" and he wanted to be able to give back to Wuhan and its residents in these "difficult times."
At the same time, he also noticed that there was a lot of information circulating about the outbreak on Arabic-language social media that he felt didn’t properly represent what it was really like to live under quarantine in Wuhan.
He decided to tell his own story and started filming videos on his cellphone whenever he left his home, wearing his mask.
When I realised that I wouldn’t be putting my life in danger by going out, I decided to start showing the world what it was like to live under quarantine, without making it seem better or worse than it actually is. I don’t edit my videos, I just livestream to Facebook. My videos show the empty streets and closed businesses, but they also show that there aren’t people falling down and dying in the streets from this virus.
Al Sayed posted this video on Facebook Live of his quest to find a certain item in the few shops that remain open in Wuhan.
"I haven’t left home for four days”
Al Sayed, who is studying quantitative economics, also often posts diagrams and charts in Arabic that explain the Covid-19 outbreak through numbers and data that he gets from the World Health Organization and the Chinese National Health Commission. He has over 2,000 followers.
Even though Al Sayed tries to show his followers that Wuhan is doing ok in spite of the outbreak, Al Sayed does admit that the atmosphere in the city is still tense:
I try to go out so as to record daily life in the city. I usually go out around 4pm before the curfew takes effect. Usually shops are closed by 5pm. However, I haven’t left my home in the past four days. The restrictions become a lot tougher on the 14th day of quarantine. On the 16th day, the authorities told us that we should only leave our homes once every three days. The students living in student accommodation don’t leave their rooms at all. They provide the administration with a list of their needs and the administration then delivers the items. It’s also now forbidden to go out without a protective mask.
If you want to follow Al Sayed’s posts from Wuhan, then check out his Facebook page.
Article by Fatma Ben Hamad.


france24--2020-02-22--Coronavirus cases soar in South Korea as foreign fears rise

A man wearing a face mask walks between columns at a subway station being renovated in Seoul on February 22 , 2020 .
- South Korea reported 142 more coronavirus cases on February 22 , the sharpest spike in infections yet , with more than half of the new cases linked to a hospital in a southern city .
The national toll of 346 is now the second-highest outside of China .
( Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP ) Fears mounted Saturday over the rise of new cases and fatalities outside China from the new coronavirus outbreak , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shrinking window to stem the spread of the deadly disease .
The warning came as the first European died from the new COVID-19 strain , which first emerged in December in central China but has now spread to over 25 countries and caused more than a dozen deaths outside the country .
A 78-year old Italian man died after testing positive for the virus , with the death toll reaching four in Iran , and a number of cases reported across the Middle East , including the first infections in Israel and Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six-fold jump in viral infections in four days to 346 , most of them linked to a church and a hospital in and around the fourth-largest city where health workers scrambled to screen more than 9,000 worshipers .
There ’ s concern that the death toll , currently at two , could grow .
Italy has locked down ten towns and asked over 50,000 people to stay home -- a move with echoes of China 's lockdown of entire cities in Hubei province at the centre of the outbreak .
In China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where millions remain under quarantine , has been generally declining , although new hotspots were found in several prisons and hospitals Friday .
But just 31 new cases were reported outside the central province Saturday , as the national number of cases rose past 76,000 .
The outbreak has now claimed 2,345 lives in China .
Concerns have also risen about the reliability of the official data , however , after Hubei officials changed methods of counting cases and amended their figures again .
A WHO-led team of experts are set to visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on Saturday .
Meanwhile WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the `` window of opportunity '' to contain the international spread of the outbreak was `` narrowing '' , as cases surged across the Middle East and in South Korea .
He warned that if countries did not quickly mobilise to fight the spread of the virus , `` this outbreak could go in any direction .
It could even be messy . ''
Cases of the deadly virus were reported in a range of countries in the Middle East on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel and Lebanon .
Iran said four people there had died and 18 been infected from the outbreak .
Iraq and Kuwait , which share borders with Iran , were on high alert for a potential outbreak after banning travel to and from the Islamic republic , although they have not confirmed any cases domestically .
Nearly 350 people have been infected in South Korea , including two deaths , making it the hardest-hit country outside China .
The US advised citizens to avoid travelling by cruise liner in Asia because it said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
Several Australians and an Israeli evacuated earlier this week from the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus on returning to their home countries .
They were previously cleared in Japan .
The cases will fuel questions about Tokyo 's policy of allowing former passengers to return home after testing negative .
Two former passengers , both Japanese and in their 80s , died in Japan on Thursday .
The British government confirmed on Twitter that an evacuation flight left Japan Saturday , with 32 British and European passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday postponed training for their army of volunteers due to the coronavirus outbreak , but said that there was `` no consideration '' of cancelling the Games .
Nearly 400 new cases were reported nationwide in China on Saturday , less than half the number of new cases the previous day .
The drop in new cases of the novel coronavirus came as officials in Hubei province were ordered to revise figures to clear `` doubt '' around the data .
Officials retroactively revised upwards previously reported data for two days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a string of amendments to the figures officially reported at the epicentre .
Several changes in Hubei 's counting method has further complicated efforts to track the spread of the illness .
China has said the slowing cases are evidence that its drastic containment measures are working -- but fresh infections emerged at two Beijing hospitals , and more than 500 others were reported in prisons across the country .
In a letter to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation thanking the organisation for its financial support , Chinese President Xi Jinping said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in the fight against the outbreak .
Xi said the `` unprecedented measures '' were `` delivering substantial results '' .
Many nations have banned travellers from China and airlines have suspended flights to and from the country .

Fears mounted Saturday over the rise of new cases and fatalities outside China from the new coronavirus outbreak, as the World Health Organisation warned of a shrinking window to stem the spread of the deadly disease.
A man wearing a face mask walks between columns at a subway station being renovated in Seoul on February 22, 2020. - South Korea reported 142 more coronavirus cases on February 22, the sharpest spike in infections yet, with more than half of the new cases linked to a hospital in a southern city. The national toll of 346 is now the second-highest outside of China. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
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The warning came as two Italians became the first Europeans to die of the new COVID-19 strain, which first emerged in December in central China but has now spread to over 25 countries and caused more than a dozen deaths outside the country.
The death toll has reached five in Iran, and a number of cases have been reported across the Middle East, including the first infections in Israel and Lebanon.
South Korea on Saturday reported a six-fold jump in viral infections in four days to 346, most of them linked to a church and a hospital in and around the fourth-largest city where health workers scrambled to screen more than 9,000 worshipers. There’s concern that the death toll, currently at three, could grow.
Italy has locked down ten towns and asked over 50,000 people to stay home – a move with echoes of China's lockdown of entire cities in Hubei province at the centre of the outbreak.
In China, the number of cases outside Hubei, where millions remain under quarantine, has been generally declining, although new hotspots were found in several prisons and hospitals Friday.
But just 31 new cases were reported outside the central province Saturday, as the national number of cases rose past 76,000.
The outbreak has now claimed 2,345 lives in China.
Concerns have also risen about the reliability of the official data, however, after Hubei officials changed methods of counting cases and amended their figures again.
A WHO-led team of experts are set to visit Wuhan, the capital of the province, on Saturday.
Meanwhile WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the "window of opportunity" to contain the international spread of the outbreak was "narrowing", as cases surged across the Middle East and in South Korea.
He warned that if countries did not quickly mobilise to fight the spread of the virus, "this outbreak could go in any direction. It could even be messy."
International spread
Cases of the deadly virus were reported in a range of countries in the Middle East on Friday, with the first cases in Israel and Lebanon.
Iran said five people there had died and 18 been infected from the outbreak.
Iraq and Kuwait, which share borders with Iran, were on high alert for a potential outbreak after banning travel to and from the Islamic republic, although they have not confirmed any cases domestically.
Nearly 350 people have been infected in South Korea, including two deaths, making it the hardest-hit country outside China.
The US advised citizens to avoid travelling by cruise liner in Asia because it said the vessels acted as amplifiers of the virus.
Several Australians and an Israeli evacuated earlier this week from the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus on returning to their home countries.
They were previously cleared in Japan.
The cases will fuel questions about Tokyo's policy of allowing former passengers to return home after testing negative.
Two former passengers, both Japanese and in their 80s, died in Japan on Thursday.
The British government confirmed on Twitter that an evacuation flight left Japan Saturday, with 32 British and European passengers on board.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic organisers on Saturday postponed training for their army of volunteers due to the coronavirus outbreak, but said that there was "no consideration" of cancelling the Games.
'Critical moment'
Nearly 400 new cases were reported nationwide in China on Saturday, less than half the number of new cases the previous day.
The drop in new cases of the novel coronavirus came as officials in Hubei province were ordered to revise figures to clear "doubt" around the data.
Officials retroactively revised upwards previously reported data for two days in the last week – the latest in a string of amendments to the figures officially reported at the epicentre.
Several changes in Hubei's counting method has further complicated efforts to track the spread of the illness.
China has said the slowing cases are evidence that its drastic containment measures are working – but fresh infections emerged at two Beijing hospitals, and more than 500 others were reported in prisons across the country.
In a letter to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation thanking the organisation for its financial support, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was at a "critical moment" in the fight against the outbreak.
Xi said the "unprecedented measures" were "delivering substantial results".
Many nations have banned travellers from China and airlines have suspended flights to and from the country.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
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france24--2020-02-22--Paris Agriculture Fair: Where cows, pigs and politicians strut their stuff

It ’ s the event of the year for animal-lovers in Paris and for farmers from all over France .
The Paris Agriculture Fair ( Salon International de l ’ Agriculture ) opened to the public on Saturday , to showcase cows , goats , pigs , chickens and… France ’ s leading politicians .
The Salon is not only a huge attraction for families who swarm the enormous expo centre that is turned into a mega-farm this time every year to see animals they would never encounter in the city : It is also an annual rite of passage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political spectrum .
Among the political highlights was the 2008 visit of then president Nicolas Sarkozy in the first year of his term , when he was caught on camera telling a farmer who refused to shake his hand , “ casse toi , pauvre con , ” ( for which “ Get lost , you jerk ” is a polite translation ) .
Sarkozy later expressed remorse for that indiscreet outburst , widely mocked by his opponents .
“ That was an act of stupidity that I regret to this day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ La France Pour la Vie , ” published in 2016 .
“ It dragged down the dignity of the presidency.
” The antagonism of that encounter was all the more striking because of its contrast with the farmers ’ warm embrace of Sarkozy ’ s predecessor , president Jacques Chirac .
Chirac was a fêted fixture at the show , every year spending hours strolling from booth to booth , congratulating breeders for their magnificent livestock , sharing a glass of wine and complimenting farmers on their cheeses or sausages .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meat to drinks , until 11pm , ” Christophe Gabert , a breeder from the Isère region in the country ’ s southeast , told France Info radio .
“ Nobody knows how he managed to digest everything he ate !
He started at 7am.
” Chirac ’ s close connection to France ’ s farmers was formed when he was minister of agriculture in the early ‘ 70s , well before he became president .
Between becoming minister of agriculture in 1972 and his retirement from public life in 2011 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1979 , following a car accident .
This year ’ s show , the first since Chirac died in September 2019 , features a photo exhibition of his visits there .
“ I only saw him from afar but he was someone who exuded warmth , ” Julien Villemard , a breeder of cows from the Charolais area in Burgundy , told France Info .
“ He was a man of the people , a man of the land , someone who was appreciated by 90 percent of the farming population .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture Fair , but on agriculture in general.
” President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated this year ’ s show on Saturday morning , beginning his visit with a tribute to Chirac .
As he strolled the aisles of the fair , Macron tasted specialties from various regions in France and posed for photos with the mascot of this year ’ s show , a commanding blonde Charolais cow named Idéale .
Visiting a day after an summit meeting in Brussels on the next EU budget , which ended in a deadlock , Macron tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to oppose cuts to EU agricultural subsidies .
France is a major beneficiary of the EU ’ s Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ) , and Macron , like his predecessors , François Hollande , Sarkozy and Chirac , has been its ardent defender .
“ We didn ’ t sacrifice the Common Agricultural Policy and I was very clear about it : It won ’ t be the CAP that pays for Brexit , ” he declared before leaving for the summit on Friday .
Last year Macron spent a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agriculture fair , longer than any single visit by a president ( in 2018 he spent 12 hours at the show ) .
But his relationship with French farmers has not been conflict-free : They did not appreciate his determination to gradually phase out the use of glyphosate and resented being depicted as polluters .
During his visit Saturday morning Macron tried to reassure them , saying the popular herbicide would not be banned where there were no alternatives .
“ We are behind our farmers and cultivators .
They feed us every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French agriculture , ” he said .
He continued : `` I know I can count on the sector as a whole to modernise successfully , keeping agriculture strong while managing to reduce pesticide use , doing so in a gradual manner that allows farmers to maintain their livelihoods , ” he was quoted by Reuters as saying .
‘ The lengths to which you need to go… ’ Hollande , Macron ’ s predecessor , also regularly visited the show .
In 2012 , ahead of the presidential elections facing Sarkozy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , trying to rally the farmers , traditionally supporters of the right , and campaigning .
As he stopped in the early morning of his visit to vigorously brush a Gascony cow in front of the cameras , a visitor to the show , overheard and quoted by French media , sighed , “ the lengths to which you need to go to become president ... .
” After taking office Hollande continued spending many hours at the show every year .
But in 2016 , after a particularly difficult year for farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and revenues in a freefall , Hollande was booed and insulted when he arrived at the fair , and the ministry of agriculture 's stand was dismantled by angry young farmers .
The Salon de l'Agriculture has always presented an opportunity to make a political point .
Marine Le Pen , the leader of the far-right party Rassemblement National ( RN ) has used it as a backdrop for criticising the government .
On the other end of the political spectrum , in 2017 , when most presidential candidates went to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leader of leftist party France Unbowed ( La France Insoumise ) , snubbed the show , saying he was strongly opposed to the intensive agricultural norms currently practised in France .
Instead he held an “ ecology day ” for his supporters at the Parc Floral in the Bois de Vincennes across town .
Politics aside , the Salon de l'Agriculture attracts 600,000 visitors every year .
Among the many attractions is the milking parlour , where visitors can watch as cows are milked .
Around 500 dairy cows of 14 different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 250 per session , depending on the day and other competitions held ) , producing a total of about 45,000 to 50,000 litres at the event , according to the show ’ s website .
Visitors are also invited to go behind the scenes with France ’ s grain growers : At the animal feed factory , families can attend a workshop to learn how cereals are used in the preparation of feed , at the end of which children can feed the animals .
There are also daily demonstrations of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flours from French grains .
Horses and donkeys also star at the fair , with the French Equestrian Federation offering pony rides for children .
And another children ’ s favourite is organised by the Central Canine Socity , which has joined forces with the official register of dog and cat pedigrees to create the first-ever dogs and cats hub .
The hub will display some of the most popular cat breeds , such as Maine Coons , British Shorthairs and Persians , and hold dog shows with police dogs , guide dogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .

It’s the event of the year for animal-lovers in Paris and for farmers from all over France. The Paris Agriculture Fair (Salon International de l’Agriculture) opened to the public on Saturday, to showcase cows, goats, pigs, chickens and… France’s leading politicians.
Advertising Read more
The Salon is not only a huge attraction for families who swarm the enormous expo centre that is turned into a mega-farm this time every year to see animals they would never encounter in the city: It is also an annual rite of passage for French presidents and leaders from across the political spectrum.
Among the political highlights was the 2008 visit of then president Nicolas Sarkozy in the first year of his term, when he was caught on camera telling a farmer who refused to shake his hand, “casse toi, pauvre con,” (for which “Get lost, you jerk” is a polite translation).
Sarkozy later expressed remorse for that indiscreet outburst, widely mocked by his opponents. “That was an act of stupidity that I regret to this day,” he wrote in his book, “La France Pour la Vie,” published in 2016. “It dragged down the dignity of the presidency.”
The antagonism of that encounter was all the more striking because of its contrast with the farmers’ warm embrace of Sarkozy’s predecessor, president Jacques Chirac.
Chirac was a fêted fixture at the show, every year spending hours strolling from booth to booth, congratulating breeders for their magnificent livestock, sharing a glass of wine and complimenting farmers on their cheeses or sausages.
In pictures: Cows steal the show at the Paris Agriculture Fair https://t.co/BJYYFqIWYy via @FRANCE24 — Tamar Shiloh Vidon (@TamarVidon) February 22, 2020
“He went from oysters to cheese to meat to drinks, until 11pm,” Christophe Gabert, a breeder from the Isère region in the country’s southeast, told France Info radio. “Nobody knows how he managed to digest everything he ate! He started at 7am.”
Chirac’s close connection to France’s farmers was formed when he was minister of agriculture in the early ‘70s, well before he became president. Between becoming minister of agriculture in 1972 and his retirement from public life in 2011, Chirac missed only one fair – in 1979, following a car accident.
This year’s show, the first since Chirac died in September 2019, features a photo exhibition of his visits there.
“I only saw him from afar but he was someone who exuded warmth,” Julien Villemard, a breeder of cows from the Charolais area in Burgundy, told France Info. “He was a man of the people, a man of the land, someone who was appreciated by 90 percent of the farming population. He left his mark not only on the Agriculture Fair, but on agriculture in general.”
>> FRENCH CONNECTIONS : Holy cow! Understanding France's love of the Agriculture Fair
Macron reassures farmers
President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated this year’s show on Saturday morning, beginning his visit with a tribute to Chirac.
As he strolled the aisles of the fair, Macron tasted specialties from various regions in France and posed for photos with the mascot of this year’s show, a commanding blonde Charolais cow named Idéale.
Visiting a day after a summit meeting in Brussels on the next EU budget, which ended in a deadlock, Macron tried to reassure farmers that his government would continue to oppose cuts to EU agricultural subsidies. France is a major beneficiary of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and Macron, like his predecessors, François Hollande, Sarkozy and Chirac, has been its ardent defender.
“We didn’t sacrifice the Common Agricultural Policy and I was very clear about it: It won’t be the CAP that pays for Brexit,” he declared before leaving for the summit on Friday.
Last year Macron spent a record 14 and a half hours at the agriculture fair, longer than any single visit by a president (in 2018 he spent 12 hours at the show).
But his relationship with French farmers has not been conflict-free: They did not appreciate his determination to gradually phase out the use of glyphosate and resented being depicted as polluters. During his visit Saturday morning Macron tried to reassure them, saying the popular herbicide would not be banned where there were no alternatives.
“We are behind our farmers and cultivators. They feed us every day. We must be proud of French agriculture,” he said.
He continued: "I know I can count on the sector as a whole to modernise successfully, keeping agriculture strong while managing to reduce pesticide use, doing so in a gradual manner that allows farmers to maintain their livelihoods,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying.
00:30
‘The lengths to which you need to go…’
Hollande, Macron’s predecessor, also regularly visited the show. In 2012, ahead of the presidential elections facing Sarkozy, he spent 12 hours at the show, trying to rally the farmers, traditionally supporters of the right, and campaigning. As he stopped in the early morning of his visit to vigorously brush a Gascony cow in front of the cameras, a visitor to the show, overheard and quoted by French media, sighed, “the lengths to which you need to go to become president....”
After taking office Hollande continued spending many hours at the show every year. But in 2016, after a particularly difficult year for farmers, with the agricultural sector in a crisis and revenues in a freefall, Hollande was booed and insulted when he arrived at the fair, and the ministry of agriculture's stand was dismantled by angry young farmers.
The Salon de l'Agriculture has always presented an opportunity to make a political point. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) has used it as a backdrop for criticising the government.
On the other end of the political spectrum, in 2017, when most presidential candidates went to the fair to campaign, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of leftist party France Unbowed (La France Insoumise), snubbed the show, saying he was strongly opposed to the intensive agricultural norms currently practised in France. Instead he held an “ecology day” for his supporters at the Parc Floral in the Bois de Vincennes across town.
Family event
Politics aside, the Salon de l'Agriculture attracts 600,000 visitors every year.
Among the many attractions is the milking parlour, where visitors can watch as cows are milked. Around 500 dairy cows of 14 different breeds are milked at the show (some 250 per session, depending on the day and other competitions held), producing a total of about 45,000 to 50,000 litres at the event, according to the show’s website.
Visitors are also invited to go behind the scenes with France’s grain growers: At the animal feed factory, families can attend a workshop to learn how cereals are used in the preparation of feed, at the end of which children can feed the animals. There are also daily demonstrations of how French and other breads are made from flours from French grains.
Horses and donkeys also star at the fair, with the French Equestrian Federation offering pony rides for children.
And another children’s favourite is organised by the Central Canine Socity, which has joined forces with the official register of dog and cat pedigrees to create the first-ever dogs and cats hub. The hub will display some of the most popular cat breeds, such as Maine Coons, British Shorthairs and Persians, and hold dog shows with police dogs, guide dogs, agility dogs, herding dogs and others.
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france24--2020-02-22--Democratic presidential contenders face diversity test in Nevada caucus

Trump International Hotel is seen in the distance with the Democratic presidential debate advertised on a screen in the foreground of this overview of the Las Vegas Strip on February 19 , 2020 .
Democratic presidential hopefuls will have a chance to demonstrate their appeal to the wider electorate Saturday in a primary vote in Nevada , where the population – 29 % Latino , 10 % black and 9 % Asian American or Pacific Islander – better reflects the country 's demographics than either Iowa or New Hampshire .
Just past the roulette wheel and slot machines , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats are preparing to weigh in on their party 's presidential nomination fight .
Seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip stand among 200 caucus locations statewide that will host the presidential caucuses on Saturday , the third contest in a 2020 primary season that has so far been marred by chaos and uncertainty in overwhelmingly white , rural states .
The exercise of democracy inside urban temples of excess is just one element that distinguishes the first presidential contest in the West , which will , more importantly , test the candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time in 2020 .
“ Nevada represents an opportunity for these candidates to demonstrate their appeal to a larger swath of our country , ” said state Attorney General Aaron Ford , a Democrat who is not endorsing a candidate in the crowded field .
Nevada ’ s population , which aligns more with the U.S. as a whole than the opening elections in Iowa and New Hampshire , is 29 % Latino , 10 % black and 9 % Asian American and Pacific Islander .
The vote comes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders emerges as the clear front-runner and a half dozen more moderate candidates savage one another for the chance to emerge as the preferred alternative to Sanders .
The ultimate winner will represent Democrats on the ballot against President Donald Trump in November .
Yet on the eve of the caucuses , questions lingered about Nevada Democrats ' ability to report election results quickly as new concerns surfaced about foreign interference in the 2020 contest .
Campaigning in California , Sanders confirmed reports that he had been briefed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia was trying to help his campaign as part of Moscow 's efforts to interfere in the election .
“ It was not clear what role they were going to play , ” Sanders said .
“ We were told that Russia , maybe other countries , are going to get involved in this campaign.
” He added : “ Here ’ s the message to Russia : Stay out of American elections.
” Despite the distraction , Sanders enters Saturday increasingly confident , backed by strong support from Latinos and rank-and-file @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiery calls to transform the nation 's economy and political system to help the working class .
The outlook was dire for virtually everyone else .
Long before voting began , there was skepticism about Pete Buttigieg 's ability to win over a more diverse set of voters after strong finishes in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire .
It was the opposite for Joe Biden , who struggled in Iowa and New Hampshire but looked to Nevada 's voters of color to prove he still has a viable path to the nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar , were fighting for momentum , hoping to benefit from a sudden surge of outside money from newly created super PACs .
Billionaire Tom Steyer has invested more than $ 12 million of his own money on television advertising in Nevada , according to data obtained by The Associated Press , which details the extent to which several candidates have gone all-in ahead of Saturday 's contest .
The pro-Warren Persist super PAC , created in recent days , is spending more money in Nevada this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside group .
Persist , which has n't yet disclosed any donors and can not legally coordinate with Warren 's campaign , has invested $ 902,000 this week in Nevada television on her behalf , according to spending data obtained by The AP .
That 's more than Klobuchar 's and Biden 's campaigns have spent over the entire year .
New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg , who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut , wo n't be on the ballot .
He 's betting everything on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next month .
“ I think right now predicting who 's going to win here in Nevada would be a wild guess , '' former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in an interview .
`` And if I were a gambler , which I 'm not , I wouldn ’ t be betting on who 's gon na win here in Nevada.
” The political world , meanwhile , hoped there would be a winner at all .
Saturday 's caucuses are the first since technical glitches and human errors plagued Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , state Democratic officials have yet to post final results .
Nevada Democrats have projected confidence in their process , although Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez this week refused to commit to releasing the full results on the day of the vote .
He said a number of factors , including early voting and potentially high turnout , could affect the tabulation and timing of results .
In addition , Nevada , like Iowa , reports three sets of data from the multistage caucus process .
“ We ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as possible , but our North Star , again , is accuracy , ” Perez told The Associated Press this week .
The state party has added to its responsibilities by offering early voting - something Iowa did not attempt .
Nevada voters have been eager to partake , given the alternative is to spend significantly more time voting at a chaotic caucus site .
The party said nearly 75,000 Democrats cast early ballots , and a majority were first-time caucus-goers .
In 2016 , a total of 84,000 Nevada voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small , but significant number of the ballots cast early were disqualified .
Of the more than 36,000 ballots that were cast through Monday , 1,124 ballots were voided largely because voters forgot to sign them , according to the state party , which did not release the final numbers .
Party officials said they were reaching out to these voters and encouraging them to caucus in person on Saturday .
Campaigning in Las Vegas on the eve of the caucuses , Trump sought to raise doubts about the process .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like they were in Iowa .
They 're not going to be able to count their vote , '' Trump charged .
“ They 're going to tell you about health care .
They 're going to tell you about our military and jet fighters and the missiles and rockets , but they ca n't count votes.
” Amid such concerns , Nevada Democrats tried to stay focused on the candidates and the issues they represent .
Reid , who at 80 years old remains one of the most powerful Democrats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signature health care policy , `` Medicare for All , : could not win support in Congress .
Yet he said he thinks the fiery Vermont senator could bring Democrats together .
“ I have no doubt that if Bernie Sanders is the nominee , the party will unite behind him and beat Trump , ” Reid said .

Democratic presidential hopefuls will have a chance to demonstrate their appeal to the wider electorate Saturday in a primary vote in Nevada, where the population – 29% Latino, 10% black and 9% Asian American or Pacific Islander – better reflects the country's demographics than either Iowa or New Hampshire.
Trump International Hotel is seen in the distance with the Democratic presidential debate advertised on a screen in the foreground of this overview of the Las Vegas Strip on February 19, 2020.
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Just past the roulette wheel and slot machines, the smoky bars and blinking lights, Nevada Democrats are preparing to weigh in on their party's presidential nomination fight.
Seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip stand among 200 caucus locations statewide that will host the presidential caucuses on Saturday, the third contest in a 2020 primary season that has so far been marred by chaos and uncertainty in overwhelmingly white, rural states. The exercise of democracy inside urban temples of excess is just one element that distinguishes the first presidential contest in the West, which will, more importantly, test the candidates' strength with black and brown voters for the first time in 2020.
“Nevada represents an opportunity for these candidates to demonstrate their appeal to a larger swath of our country,” said state Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is not endorsing a candidate in the crowded field.
Nevada’s population, which aligns more with the U.S. as a whole than the opening elections in Iowa and New Hampshire, is 29% Latino, 10% black and 9% Asian American and Pacific Islander.
The vote comes at a critical moment for the Democratic Party as self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders emerges as the clear front-runner and a half dozen more moderate candidates savage one another for the chance to emerge as the preferred alternative to Sanders. The ultimate winner will represent Democrats on the ballot against President Donald Trump in November.
Yet on the eve of the caucuses, questions lingered about Nevada Democrats' ability to report election results quickly as new concerns surfaced about foreign interference in the 2020 contest.
Campaigning in California, Sanders confirmed reports that he had been briefed by U.S. officials about a month ago that Russia was trying to help his campaign as part of Moscow's efforts to interfere in the election.
“It was not clear what role they were going to play,” Sanders said. “We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign.”
He added: “Here’s the message to Russia: Stay out of American elections.”
Despite the distraction, Sanders enters Saturday increasingly confident, backed by strong support from Latinos and rank-and-file union workers who have warmed to his fiery calls to transform the nation's economy and political system to help the working class.
The outlook was dire for virtually everyone else.
Long before voting began, there was skepticism about Pete Buttigieg's ability to win over a more diverse set of voters after strong finishes in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire. It was the opposite for Joe Biden, who struggled in Iowa and New Hampshire but looked to Nevada's voters of color to prove he still has a viable path to the nomination.
The two women left in the race, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, were fighting for momentum, hoping to benefit from a sudden surge of outside money from newly created super PACs. Billionaire Tom Steyer has invested more than $12 million of his own money on television advertising in Nevada, according to data obtained by The Associated Press, which details the extent to which several candidates have gone all-in ahead of Saturday's contest.
The pro-Warren Persist super PAC, created in recent days, is spending more money in Nevada this week than any other campaign or allied outside group. Persist, which hasn't yet disclosed any donors and cannot legally coordinate with Warren's campaign, has invested $902,000 this week in Nevada television on her behalf, according to spending data obtained by The AP. That's more than Klobuchar's and Biden's campaigns have spent over the entire year.
New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, won't be on the ballot. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month.
“I think right now predicting who's going to win here in Nevada would be a wild guess," former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in an interview. "And if I were a gambler, which I'm not, I wouldn’t be betting on who's gonna win here in Nevada.”
The political world, meanwhile, hoped there would be a winner at all.
Saturday's caucuses are the first since technical glitches and human errors plagued Iowa's kickoff caucuses. Nearly three weeks later, state Democratic officials have yet to post final results.
Nevada Democrats have projected confidence in their process, although Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez this week refused to commit to releasing the full results on the day of the vote. He said a number of factors, including early voting and potentially high turnout, could affect the tabulation and timing of results. In addition, Nevada, like Iowa, reports three sets of data from the multistage caucus process.
“We’re going to do our best to release results as soon as possible, but our North Star, again, is accuracy,” Perez told The Associated Press this week.
One potential complication: Early voting.
The state party has added to its responsibilities by offering early voting - something Iowa did not attempt. Nevada voters have been eager to partake, given the alternative is to spend significantly more time voting at a chaotic caucus site.
The party said nearly 75,000 Democrats cast early ballots, and a majority were first-time caucus-goers. In 2016, a total of 84,000 Nevada voters participated in the Democratic caucuses.
A small, but significant number of the ballots cast early were disqualified.
Of the more than 36,000 ballots that were cast through Monday, 1,124 ballots were voided largely because voters forgot to sign them, according to the state party, which did not release the final numbers. Party officials said they were reaching out to these voters and encouraging them to caucus in person on Saturday.
Campaigning in Las Vegas on the eve of the caucuses, Trump sought to raise doubts about the process.
“I hear their computers are all messed up just like they were in Iowa. They're not going to be able to count their vote," Trump charged. “They're going to tell you about health care. They're going to tell you about our military and jet fighters and the missiles and rockets, but they can't count votes.”
Amid such concerns, Nevada Democrats tried to stay focused on the candidates and the issues they represent.
Reid, who at 80 years old remains one of the most powerful Democrats in the state, predicted that Sanders' signature health care policy, "Medicare for All,: could not win support in Congress. Yet he said he thinks the fiery Vermont senator could bring Democrats together.
“I have no doubt that if Bernie Sanders is the nominee, the party will unite behind him and beat Trump,” Reid said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-22--South Sudan's rivals form unity government in bid to end war

South Sudan 's President Salva Kiir greets his Vice Presidents Taban Geng Gai , Riek Machar , James Wani Igga and Rebecca Garang after their oath taking ceremony at the State House in Juba , South Sudan , February 22 , 2020 .
South Sudan opened a new chapter in its fragile emergence from civil war Saturday as rival leaders formed a coalition government that many observers prayed would last this time around .
A day after President Salva Kiir dissolved the previous government , opposition leader Riek Machar was sworn in as his deputy , an arrangement that twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed nearly 400,000 people .
Kiir declared “ the official end of the war , and we can now proclaim a new dawn.
” Peace is `` never to be shaken ever again , ” the president said , adding that he had forgiven Machar and asking for Machar 's forgiveness , to applause .
He called on their respective Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups to do the same .
The world ’ s youngest nation slid into civil war in 2013 , two years after winning a long-fought independence from Sudan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Numerous attempts at peace failed , including a deal that saw Machar return as vice president in 2016 — only to flee the country on foot months later amid fresh gunfire .
Intense international pressure followed the most recent peace deal in 2018 .
Pope Francis in a dramatic gesture kissed the feet of Kiir and Machar last year to coax them into putting differences aside .
Saturday 's ceremony began with a presentation to them of that photo as a reminder .
Exasperation by the United States , South Sudan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew as Kiir and Machar in the past year pushed back two deadlines to take the crucial step of forming the coalition government .
But with less than a week before the latest deadline Saturday , each made a key concession .
Kiir announced a “ painful ” decision on the politically sensitive issue of the number of states , and Machar agreed to have Kiir take responsibility for his security .
On Thursday , they announced they had agreed to form a government meant to lead to elections in three years ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Finally , peace is at our doorstep , ” a reporter with the U.N.-backed Radio Miraya declared from Bor in long-suffering Jonglei state .
In Yambio , youth with flags were reported in the streets .
“ I rejoice with the South Sudanese , especially the displaced , hungry and grieving who waited so long , ” the archbishop of Canterbury , Justin Welby , tweeted .
Hugs and applause followed Machar 's swearing-in .
He vowed to South Sudanese to work together “ to end your suffering.
” And both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his gesture .
“ We are proud to report to him that we have also reconciled , ” Kiir said .
“ We were greatly humbled and challenged ” by him , Machar said .
Even as citizens breathed a careful sigh of relief , aid groups , analysts and diplomats warned of major challenges ahead .
In a likely sign of caution , no heads of state aside from Sudan ’ s leader , Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan , attended the swearing-in .
“ While much work remains to be done , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to peace , ” the U.S. Embassy said in a message of congratulations .
Tens of thousands of rival forces still must be knitted together into a single army , a process that the U.N. and others have called behind schedule and poorly provisioned .
And observers have stressed that this new government must be inclusive in a country where fighting has often occurred along ethnic lines and where several armed groups operate .
Not all have signed on to the peace deal .
Kiir and Machar have said outstanding issues will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice presidents named by Kiir on Friday include Taban Deng Gai , a former ally of Machar who switched to the government side and last month was sanctioned by the U.S. over involvement in serious human rights abuses .
Another is Rebecca Garang , the widow of John Garang , who led a long fight for independence from Sudan .
The humanitarian community , which has seen more than 100 workers killed since the civil war began , hopes the new government will lead to far easier delivery of food and other badly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sudan ’ s population of 12 million remain hungry .
Some 40,000 are in famine conditions , a new report said Thursday , and now a major locust outbreak in East Africa has arrived .
Another more than 2 million people fled South Sudan during the civil war , and Kiir has urged them to come home .
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warns that serious abuses continue .
“ Civilians are deliberately starved , systematically surveilled and silenced , arbitrarily arrested and detained and denied meaningful access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
It said scattered deadly violence , the use of child soldiers and sexual violence imperil the fragile peace .
The Sentry , an investigative team that has alleged corruption among some South Sudanese officials , urged the international community to keep up pressure .
“ Years of conflict have bred deep distrust among South Sudan ’ s politicians , heightening the potential for a return to civil war , ” it said Friday .
“ The ability to hold South Sudan ’ s politicians accountable throughout the process , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is essential to the survival of the peace agreement.
” As some analysts said the threat of further sanctions pushed Kiir and Machar to make peace once more , envoys from neighboring Sudan , Kenya and Uganda in remarks after the swearing-in called for the lifting of existing sanctions , to applause .

South Sudan opened a new chapter in its fragile emergence from civil war Saturday as rival leaders formed a coalition government that many observers prayed would last this time around.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (R) shakes hands with First Vice President Riek Machar as he ttends his swearing-in ceremony at the State House in Juba,on February 22, 2020,
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A day after President Salva Kiir dissolved the previous government, opposition leader Riek Machar was sworn in as his deputy, an arrangement that twice collapsed in fighting during the conflict that killed nearly 400,000 people.
Kiir declared “the official end of the war, and we can now proclaim a new dawn.” Peace is "never to be shaken ever again,” the president said, adding that he had forgiven Machar and asking for Machar's forgiveness, to applause. He called on their respective Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups to do the same.
The world’s youngest nation slid into civil war in 2013, two years after winning a long-fought independence from Sudan, as supporters of Kiir and Machar clashed. Numerous attempts at peace failed, including a deal that saw Machar return as vice president in 2016 — only to flee the country on foot months later amid fresh gunfire.
Intense international pressure followed the most recent peace deal in 2018. Pope Francis in a dramatic gesture kissed the feet of Kiir and Machar last year to coax them into putting differences aside. Saturday's ceremony began with a presentation to them of that photo as a reminder.
Exasperation by the United States, South Sudan’s largest aid donor, and others grew as Kiir and Machar in the past year pushed back two deadlines to take the crucial step of forming the coalition government. But with less than a week before the latest deadline Saturday, each made a key concession.
Kiir announced a “painful” decision on the politically sensitive issue of the number of states, and Machar agreed to have Kiir take responsibility for his security. On Thursday, they announced they had agreed to form a government meant to lead to elections in three years’ time — the first vote since independence.
02:39
Hugs and applause
“Finally, peace is at our doorstep,” a reporter with the U.N.-backed Radio Miraya declared from Bor in long-suffering Jonglei state. In Yambio, youth with flags were reported in the streets. “I rejoice with the South Sudanese, especially the displaced, hungry and grieving who waited so long,” the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tweeted.
Hugs and applause followed Machar's swearing-in. He vowed to South Sudanese to work together “to end your suffering.”
And both he and Kiir thanked the pope for his gesture. “We are proud to report to him that we have also reconciled,” Kiir said. “We were greatly humbled and challenged” by him, Machar said.
Even as citizens breathed a careful sigh of relief, aid groups, analysts and diplomats warned of major challenges ahead. In a likely sign of caution, no heads of state aside from Sudan’s leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, attended the swearing-in.
“While much work remains to be done, this is an important milestone in the path to peace,” the U.S. Embassy said in a message of congratulations.
Tens of thousands of rival forces still must be knitted together into a single army, a process that the U.N. and others have called behind schedule and poorly provisioned.
And observers have stressed that this new government must be inclusive in a country where fighting has often occurred along ethnic lines and where several armed groups operate. Not all have signed on to the peace deal.
Kiir and Machar have said outstanding issues will be negotiated under the new government.
Other vice presidents named by Kiir on Friday include Taban Deng Gai, a former ally of Machar who switched to the government side and last month was sanctioned by the U.S. over involvement in serious human rights abuses. Another is Rebecca Garang, the widow of John Garang, who led a long fight for independence from Sudan.
Serious abuses continue
The humanitarian community, which has seen more than 100 workers killed since the civil war began, hopes the new government will lead to far easier delivery of food and other badly needed support as roughly half of South Sudan’s population of 12 million remain hungry. Some 40,000 are in famine conditions, a new report said Thursday, and now a major locust outbreak in East Africa has arrived.
Another more than 2 million people fled South Sudan during the civil war, and Kiir has urged them to come home.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warns that serious abuses continue. “Civilians are deliberately starved, systematically surveilled and silenced, arbitrarily arrested and detained and denied meaningful access to justice,” its latest report said Thursday. It said scattered deadly violence, the use of child soldiers and sexual violence imperil the fragile peace.
The Sentry, an investigative team that has alleged corruption among some South Sudanese officials, urged the international community to keep up pressure.
“Years of conflict have bred deep distrust among South Sudan’s politicians, heightening the potential for a return to civil war,” it said Friday. “The ability to hold South Sudan’s politicians accountable throughout the process, rather than waiting until it is too late, is essential to the survival of the peace agreement.”
As some analysts said the threat of further sanctions pushed Kiir and Machar to make peace once more, envoys from neighboring Sudan, Kenya and Uganda in remarks after the swearing-in called for the lifting of existing sanctions, to applause.
(AP)
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