Saudi feminism, quo vadis?

In this issue, Haiti and Saudi Arabia are the main characters. Haiti because, well, new council, new prime minister, new everything? That's the million-dollar-question. Saudi Arabia is making headlines again for sentencing women's rights activists to ridiculously long years of prison for said activism. Plus, I dig deep into African business news this week and there are some big news coming from Ethiopian and Senegalese startups. Plus, South Sudan secured a pretty huge deal. It's not all rainbows and butterflies, though. The floods in Brazil, Indonesia and Kenya have killed nearly 300 people last week, and I don't see German media talk about it much. (Have you?) My recommendations this week will add some much-needed nuance to your love for South Korea, deliver top-notch Brazilian fact-checking, and introduce you to some rising Amapiano stars. And so much more.

Haiti's shaking things up with a new transitional council and a new prime minister

What happened:
Haiti's got a new guy in charge. The new transitional council has picked Fritz Bélizaire, a former sports minister, to be the new prime minister. This comes at a time as different armed groups have been causing chaos in the capital, Port-au-Prince, since February. They've been burning down police stations, causing havoc at the airport, and even breaking into prisons.

Why this matters:
Different armed groups have somewhat taken control over the country, and the government seems incapable to deal with it. Over 2,500 people have been hurt or killed just from January to March, and more than 90,000 folks people fled Port-au-Prince in just one month. This violence has left over 360,000 people homeless in recent years.

Tell me more:
The transitional council is a small group of nine people, seven of whom have voting rights, and they're all tasked with sorting out the political set-up of the country. Their choice for prime minister? Fritz Bélizaire. He's got some history in the game, having served as Haiti's sports minister back in the day.

Details:
But not everyone's cheering for Bélizaire. His pick was a curveball, catching some council members off guard. When asked if he was on board with Bélizaire, Leslie Voltaire, one of the voting crew, was like, "Who's that?"

Okay, what about the armed groups?
Yeah, they want a piece of the action too. Leaders like Vitel'homme Innocent and Jimmy Cherizier, aka "Barbeque," want in on the action. They've even chatted with CNN, making it clear they won't be ignored. Barbeque dropped a line, saying, "It's either we're all in or the table's toast."

What now?
The transitional council's holding down the fort until they can figure out proper elections by 2026. But not everyone's sold on their game plan. Jean Selcé, a 57-year-old electrician, said in an interview with NPR that most of the council members are longtime politicians: "Their past is not really positive. Who's dying right now? It's Haitians like me." Experts seem to agree. Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia, noted that some of the parties represented on the council are responsible for the current chaos in Haiti. "Every time we seem to be in a crisis, we reappoint the same people and hope that they change their ways, but they do not." To be continued.

Saudi feminism, quo vadis? Another women's rights activist has been sentenced to prison

What happened:
A Saudi female activist, Manahel al-Otaibi, got hit with an 11-year prison sentence by an anti-terrorism court. The charges? Apparently, the way she dressed and her activism for women's rights.

Why this matters:
Saudi Arabia, not exactly renowned for its stellar women's rights record, is set to lead the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Women's rights advocates have been jailed and there are multiple allegations of their torture. Some say, it's like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. And the kicker? Al-Otaibi, who supported the Saudi crown prince's "modernization", ended up behind bars.

Tell me more:
Al-Otaibi was accused of "terrorist offenses" under Saudi law, basically for using social media to speak out against male guardianship and promote women's rights. Al-Otaibi was sentenced in a secret hearing before a counter-terrorism court.

Tell me more about her:
Beyond being an activist, Al-Otaibi was a fitness enthusiast, artist, and social media influencer. Her posts were all about empowerment and breaking stereotypes. Among other charges, Otaibi was accused by Saudi authorities of using a hashtag -- translated to #societyisready -- to call for an end to male guardianship rules....