Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni wins seventh term as rival Bobi Wine rejects 'fake results'

Uganda's incumbent President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term in office, official results showed Saturday, allowing the former guerrilla to extend his four-decade rule of the East African country. His main opponent, Bobi Wine, remains in hiding after security forces raided his home.


Issued on: 17/01/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni speaks during the 60th Independence Anniversary Celebrations in Kololo on October 9, 2022. © Hajarah Nalwadda, AP

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term in office on Saturday after an election marred by violence and an internet shutdown, with African observers saying arrests and abductions had "instilled fear".

Museveni, 81, won 71.65 percent of the vote in Thursday's election, the Electoral Commission said, amid reports of at least 10 deaths and intimidation of the opposition and civil society.

His victory allows him to extend his 40-year rule of the East African country.

He defeated opposition leader Bobi Wine, 43, a former singer-turned-politician who won 24.72 percent and said he was in hiding on Saturday after a raid by security forces on his home

Wine has faced relentless pressure since entering politics, including multiple arrests before his first run for the presidency in 2021.

He stated his "complete rejection of the fake results" and said he was on the run after the raid on his home on Friday night.

"I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them," Wine posted on X on Saturday. "Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest."

"I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere and I am trying my best to keep safe," he added.

There was a heavy police presence around the capital, Kampala, AFP journalists saw, as security forces sought to prevent the sort of protests that have hit neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania in recent months.

A traffic police officer sits in front of campaign posters of President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, during the general election, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. © Brian Inganga, AP

Electoral officials also face questions about the failure of biometric voter identification machines on Thursday, which caused delays in the start of voting in urban areas – including the capital, Kampala – that are opposition strongholds.

After the machines failed, in a blow to pro-democracy activists who have long demanded their use to curb rigging, polling officials used manual registers of voters. The failure of the machines is likely to be the basis for any legal challenges to the official result.
'A lot of fear'

Police denied they had raided Wine's home but said they had "controlled access in areas we feel are security hotspots", adding they believed the opposition leader was still at home.

"We have not necessarily denied people accessing him but we cannot tolerate instances where people use his residence to gather and ... incite violence," police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke told reporters.

A stall-owner near Wine's home, 29-year-old Prince Jerard, told AFP he had heard a drone and helicopter at the residence the previous night, and saw numerous security officials.

"Many people have left (the area)," he said. "We have a lot of fear."

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has emerged as the main challenger to Museveni in recent years, styling himself the "ghetto president" after the Kampala slum areas where he grew up.

He has accused the government of "massive ballot stuffing" and attacking several of his party officials under cover of the internet blackout, which was imposed ahead of the polls and remained in place on Saturday.

Uganda: Africa’s longest-serving leader, Yoweri Museveni, seeks to extend 40-year rule

© France 24
02:08

African election observers said on Saturday they saw no evidence of ballot stuffing but denounced "reports of intimidation, arrest and abductions" targeting the opposition and civil society.

This "instilled fear and eroded public trust in the electoral process", former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan told reporters in Kampala.

He was representing election observers from the African Union, as well as regional bodies COMESA and IGAD for east and southern Africa.

Jonathan said the shutdown of the internet "disrupted effective observation" and "increased suspicion" but that the overall conduct of the polls on election day was "peaceful".

Reports of violence

Museveni's ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, also had a commanding lead in parliamentary seats, according to provisional results. Ballots were still being counted.

Analysts have long viewed the election as a formality.

Museveni, a former guerrilla fighter who seized power in 1986, has total control over the state and security apparatus, and has ruthlessly crushed any challenger during his rule.

The other major opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who ran four times against Museveni, was abducted in Kenya in 2024 and brought back to a military court in Uganda for a treason trial that is ongoing.

There were reports of election-related violence against the opposition.

Muwanga Kivumbi, member of parliament for Wine's party in the Butambala area of central Uganda, told AFP's Nairobi office by phone that security forces had killed 10 of his campaign agents after storming his home.

Police gave a different account, saying an "unspecified number" of people had been "put out of action" when opposition members planned to overrun and burn down a local tally centre and police station.

Yusuf Serunkuma, an academic and columnist for the local Observer newspaper, told the Associated Press on Saturday that Wine “didn’t stand a chance” against the authoritarian Museveni.

“He has quite successfully emasculated the opposition,” Serunkuma said of Museveni. “You would have to credit him for that.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)

Ugandan opposition denounces army raid on party leader Bobi Wine


The party of Uganda's main opposition leader Bobi Wine denounced a raid by security forces on his home on Friday amid reports Wine has been cut off from all communication. The raid comes just before the announcement of the results of the presidential election expected on Saturday.


Issued on: 17/01/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

A supporter of Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, holds onto a campaign poster in Kampala, Uganda, on January 13, 2026. © Samson Otieno, AP

The Ugandan army on Saturday rejected claims that it had seized opposition leader Bobi Wine as the final stretch of the presidential vote count was under way. Wine said Friday he had been placed under house arrest, with his party later saying that he had been “forcibly taken” from his home in an army helicopter.

Uganda’s January 15 election has been marred by reports of at least 10 deaths amid an internet blackout.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, looked set to be declared winner and extend his 40-year rule later on Saturday, with a commanding lead against Wine, a former singer turned politician.

Wine said Friday that he was under house arrest, and his party later wrote on X that he had been “forcibly taken” by an army helicopter from his compound.

The army denied that claim.

“The rumours of his so-called arrest are baseless and unfounded,” army spokesman Chris Magezi told AFP.

“They are designed to incite his supporters into acts of violence,” he added.

AFP journalists said the situation was calm outside Wine’s residence early Saturday, but they were unable to contact members of the party due to continued communications interruptions.

A nearby stall-owner, 29-year-old Prince Jerard, said he heard a drone and helicopter at the home the previous night, with a heavy security presence.

“Many people have left (the area),” he said. “We have a lot of fear.”

With more than 80 percent of votes counted on Friday, Museveni was leading on 73.7 percent to Wine’s 22.7, the Electoral Commission said.

Wine, 43, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has emerged as the main challenger to Museveni in recent years, styling himself the “ghetto president” after the slum areas where he grew up in the capital, Kampala.

He has accused the government of “massive ballot stuffing” and attacking several of his party officials under cover of the internet blackout, which was imposed ahead of Thursday’s polls and remained in place on Saturday.

His claims could not be independently verified, but the United Nations rights office said last week that the elections were taking place in an environment marked by “widespread repression and intimidation” against the opposition.

Reports of violence

Analysts have long viewed the election as a formality.

Museveni, a former guerrilla fighter who seized power in 1986, has total control over the state and security apparatus, and has ruthlessly crushed any challenger during his rule.

Election day was marred by significant technical problems after biometric machines—used to confirm voters’ identities—malfunctioned and ballot papers were undelivered for several hours in many areas.

There were reports of violence against the opposition in other parts of the country.

Muwanga Kivumbi, member of parliament for Wine’s party in the Butambala area of central Uganda, told AFP’s Nairobi office by phone that security forces had killed 10 of his campaign agents after storming his home.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Ivorian village remembers revolt that killed French colonial officer

Residents of the village of Rubino, in south-eastern Côte d'Ivoire, continue to commemorate an uprising against a French colonial army officer killed there on 7 July 1910.


Issued on: 18/01/2026 - RFI

Nanan Lambert Koffi Kokola, the chief of Rubino, shows the grave of the French colonial army officer killed by the Abbé people on 7 July, 1910. © Bineta Diagne / RFI

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The village is named after Rubino, the officer targeted in the revolt by the Abbé people. The uprising is remembered as an act of resistance against colonial rule, and the event is still commemorated more than a century later.

In the middle of a forest near Rubino, a dismantled bridge stands as a reminder of the revolt. The Abbé people removed its bolts by hand to stop a train carrying the officer.

Jean-Claude, a young man from the village, said the story is well known locally.

“When the train arrived, he couldn't cross. This is where Mr Rubino was caught and killed," Jean-Claude told RFI.

The old railway track, sabotaged by the Abbé people as a sign of revolt against the French colonists in 1910. © Bineta Diagne / RFI

Anger over forced labour

The revolt was not only directed at the officer himself, but at the system he represented. The Abbé people rebelled against forced labour imposed during the colonial period.

Rubino worked for the French Company of West Africa (CFAO), a trading business active in colonial West Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Eddie Patrick, a resident of Rubino, said the officer’s behaviour angered village elders.

“Rubino was a settler. He was presented as a trader, but in reality, he was trafficking gold. He harassed the villagers and robbed them of their possessions, which annoyed the village elders," Patrick explained.

"To put a stop to this behaviour, something had to be done."

The officer’s grave, located in the forest, has since become a spiritual place for the community.

Nanan Lambert Koffi Kokola, the chief of Rubino, said the site lies on sacred land.

“Because it is located on sacred land where spirits reside, of course, and rivers flow. For us, the Abbé people, it is a place where we come to meditate because it is here that our ancestors finally gained their freedom,” he said.

France passes law to allow return of Ivorian drum stolen by colonial troops

Railway history

After the revolt, a new railway line was built about 100 metres away from the original track.

Photographer François-Xavier Gbré documented the route in an exhibition titled Radio Ballast, revisiting different periods of the country’s history.

“This railway line has seen colonial times, modern times marked by independence, and is still in operation today. It spans three eras: colonial, independence and the contemporary period,” he said.

Today, the site attracts the occasional tourist or history enthusiast.

This article was adapted from the original version in French by RFI's Bineta Diagne.

FANON, Frantz

Frantz Fanon was a psychoanalyst who used both his clinical research and lived experience of being a black man in a racist world to analyse the effects of racism on individuals –particularly on people of colour- and of the economic and psychological impacts of imperialism. Fanon is an important thinker within postcolonial and decolonial thought whose work has had widespread influence across the social sciences and humanities.

 

Like many canonical postcolonial thinkers, Fanon’s personal biography is often viewed as important in understanding his published work. Fanon was born in the French colony of Martinique in 1925. He studied at the Lycée Schoelcher in Fort-de-France, where he was taught by writer and poet Aimé Césaire. Fanon was involved in supporting the French resistance against the Vichy regime in the Caribbean, and against the Nazis in France (though he experienced daily racism while serving in the army). After the Second World War he went to study medicine and psychiatry in Lyon. Following his studies Fanon became involved in struggles against colonialism under the influence of African freedom fighters who went to France to garner support for their struggles. In 1953 he went to Algiers as head of the psychiatric department at the Bilda-Joinville Hospital. In Algeria Fanon was appalled by the difference in living standards between the European colonizers and the indigenous population, and by the racism experienced by the Algerians.

 

The 1954 Algerian revolt was met with a violent response involving torture, repression, physical abuse and widespread killings of Algerians by the colonisers. This served to radicalise Fanon and he supported the revolutionaries in secret for two years before resigning from his job at the hospital in 1956 and joining the National Liberation Front. He moved to Tunis, founded the Moudjahid (Freedom Fighter) magazine, and became a leading ideologue of the Algerian revolution. He travelled widely in Africa to speak on his anti-colonial ideas and was ambassador to Ghana for a period. Though Fanon was from the Antilles, following his experiences in Algeria he came to think of himself as Algerian. He died of leukimia in Washington 1961.

 

Fanon’s key works are Black Skins White Masks, A Dying Colonialism, The Wretched of the Earth, and Toward the African Revolution. Black Skins White Masks was published in 1952 but did not gain widespread recognition until the late 1960s. This was one of the first books to analyse the psychology of colonialism. In it Fanon examines how the colonizer internalises colonialism and its attendant ideologies, and how colonized peoples in turn internalise the idea of their own inferiority and ultimately come to emulate their oppressors. Racism here functions as a controlling mechanism which maintains colonial relations as ‘natural’ occurrences. Black Skins White Masks is written in an urgent, fluid style. It is both analytical and passionate, part academic text, part polemic. The book has provided a powerful and lasting indictment of racism and imperialism.

 

A Dying Colonialism is a historical document. It is a firsthand account of the Algerian revolution, describing how the Algerian people became a revolutionary force, and ultimately were successful in repelling the French colonial government. It is also, however, a philosophical discussion of the meaning of the conflict and what might come after it. Toward the African Revolution is a collection of articles, essays, and letters which spans the period between Black Skin, White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth.

 

The Wretched of the Earth was published just before Fanon’s death, very much with the Algerian independence struggle in mind. Prefaced by Jean Paul Sartre, the book offers a social-psychological analysis of colonialism, continuing his argument that there is a deep connection between colonialism and the mind, and equally between colonial war and mental disease. In The Wretched of the Earth Fanon argued for violent revolution against colonial control, ending in socialism. These struggles must be combined, he argued with (re)building national culture, and in that sense Fanon was a supporter of socialist nationalism. In The Wretched of the Earth, Fanon not only writes about violence in the international context, colonialism, national consciousness and freedom fighting, but he also includes a psychoanalytic investigation of mental disorders associated with colonial war. The book, then, continues his work of drawing connections between the inner world of subjugated individuals and the workings of international politics. This is something that has been continued by other scholars in the postcolonial tradition including Ashis Nandy and Ngugi wa Thiongo.

 

 

Essential Reading

Fanon, F. (1986 [1952]) Black Skins White Masks, London: Pluto Press

Fanon, F. (1970 [1959]) A Dying Colonialism, London: Penguin

Fanon, F. (2001 [1961]) The Wretched of the Earth, London: Penguin

Fanon, F. (1964) Toward the African Revolution, New York: Grove Press

 

Further Reading

Alessandrini, A. (1999) Frantz Fanon: Critical Perspectives, London: Routledge

Abdilahi Bulhan, H. (1985) Frantz Fanon And The Psychology Of Oppression, New York: Plenum Press

Gibson, N.C. (2003) Fanon: The Postcolonial Imagination, Oxford: Polity Press

 

Questions:

How does Fanon define decolonization? What does it entail?

What effect does colonization have on the individual and on the community, according to Fanon?

What psychological phenomenon does Fanon refer to in the title ‘Black Skin White Masks’?

How does the process of liberation work? How do peoples become ready for a new battle against colonialism, according to Fanon?

Discuss the complexity of Fanon’s understanding of violence in the context of colonialism.

 

Submitted by Lucy Mayblin

https://globalsocialtheory.org/

Louvre closes for third time in a month due to staff strike

A staff strike at the Louvre in Paris on Monday led to its closure for the third time in a month as trade unions pressed for more recruitment, higher pay and better maintenance of the museum. The prior closures in December and earlier in January resulted in a loss of "at least one million euros" in revenue, Louvre management said.


Issued on: 19/01/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24

Workers at the Louvre have gone on strike three times in a month to demand better pay and conditions, and better maintenance of the museum. © Martin Lelievre, AF


The Louvre Museum said Monday it was shutting for the day, for the third time in a month, due to a strike by staff.

"The museum is not opening today," said a spokesperson for the most-visited museum in the world.

Trade unions are pressing for more recruitment, pay and better maintenance of the vast former royal palace, and have launched several days of strikes in recent months.

Nearly 140 new hires have been announced since the start of the strike movement in mid-December, and another meeting was scheduled at the culture ministry on Thursday to discuss salary increases.


Some union leaders were also contesting museum director Laurence des Cars' management style which they view as remote and inflexible.

WATCH MORELouvre and Versailles hike prices for foreign visitors: Who should pay for France’s heritage?

"If we get the pay but continue with this governance model, we won’t be out of the woods," Valerie Baud of the CFDT union said.

"There may be announcements, but we are still dealing with a management that digs its heels in and doesn’t recognise that it can sometimes be wrong,” added her colleague Elise Muller from the SUD union.

The two days of museum closures in December and earlier in January have resulted in a loss of "at least one million euros" in revenue, management said.

The security failures highlighted by a spectacular break-in at the museum on October 19 have cast a harsh spotlight on management of the institution and des Cars, who has apologised.

Footage of the heist was broadcast for the first time on French television on Sunday evening, showing the brazen jewel thieves breaking into display cases.

READ MOREMuseums around the world are on high alert following Louvre heist

The images, filmed by surveillance cameras, were shown by the TF1 and public France Televisions channels on Sunday evening, three months after the hugely embarrassing break-in in October.

They show the two burglars, one wearing a black balaclava and a yellow high-visibility jacket, the other dressed in black with a motorcycle helmet, as they force their way into the Apollo Gallery.

After breaking in through a reinforced window with high-powered disk cutters, they begin slicing into display cases under the eyes of several staff members who do not intervene.

Managers at the Louvre have stressed that staff are not trained to confront thieves and are asked to prioritise the evacuation of visitors.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Trump's Greenland ambitions lack domestic support, polls show


Issued on: 19/01/2026 

Video by: FRANCE 24


Despite US President Donald Trump’s insistence on acquiring Greenland, public support for the idea remains low. A Reuters/Ipsos poll of US residents this week showed that fewer than one in five respondents back acquiring Greenland, while a separate CBS poll found that just 14 percent would approve the use of military force to take the island. Instead, many Americans say they want the president to focus on domestic economic pressures, particularly the cost of living. A CNN poll last week found that 58 percent of Americans believe Trump’s first year back in the White House has been a failure, especially on the economy.

Greenland Between Denmark And The USA: What Is The Price For The Largest Island In The World? – Analysis

January 19, 2026 
By Dr. Vladislav B. Sotirovic

The largest island in the world, Greenland (that is not green at all but rather covered by white ice), has in recent months and even several years become one of the hottest geopolitical spots and disputes in world politics and international relations. The island, which has been administratively part of the Kingdom of Denmark for two centuries, has seriously caught the eye of the USA, namely its Trump administration, which firmly claims that the island simply must be under direct control and administration of the USA for its national security, otherwise it will be “swallowed up” by Russia and China (whose [Russian] submarines already operate around the island). The latest statements by NATO leaders support the idea of “Russian occupation of Greenland” as the reason for the increased presence of (small and meager) NATO soldiers on the island, but in essence, this position advocates the transfer of the island under American administration.

Greenland politically belongs to Denmark, i.e., the European Union, and in a military-political sense to the NATO pact. Geographically, it belongs to the North American continent and is closest to Canada, not the USA, and far away from Denmark. However, in a purely military sense, Greenland has been under the “occupation” of the USA since the summer of 1940 (after Nazi Germany’s overrun of Denmark), and in that context, the island is much more tied to the American, rather than the Danish, i.e., European administration. If, and this is in fact more or less a fait accompli, Greenland does indeed belong to the USA in one form or another, it will only be a formal recognition of the real state of affairs since the time of World War II up to today.

Nevertheless, what is Greenland, and what are its basic characteristics?

Geographical and military-technical characteristics of the island

Greenland (Grønland) is an Arctic island, the largest in the world, located off the northeastern part of the North American continent, next to Canada. It has an area of ​​2,130,800 sq km, with coastal islands of 2,175,600 sq km, and a population of almost 55,000 (the area of ​​Europe is about 10,180,000 sq km). Greenland is politically part of the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark with a certain degree of local autonomy. The island is mostly in the Arctic Circle, with its northernmost point 708 km from the North Pole. It is about 2,650 km long from north to south, and about 1,300 km wide from east to west. The island generally rises steeply from the surrounding seas, bays, and straits into highland terrain and over 3,000 m. altitude.

The island has a very rugged coastline with a large number of fjords. The eastern coast, despite its great ruggedness, is practically inaccessible for the most part due to icebergs. The interior of Greenland, together with the ice sheet, forms a plateau between 2000 and 3000 meters above sea level. It is estimated that about 1,860,900 sq. km. of the island’s territory is permanently covered with ice, with a thickness of between 500 and 1500 m., and only about 13% of Greenland’s surface is free of ice, and in the coastal zone it is up to 150 m. wide. The highest peak is located on Mount Forel, 3440 m.

The Greenland Sea is the main link between the Arctic and the western Atlantic. It is of great importance for Arctic fishing and whaling. Its northern part is mostly covered with ice, and its southern part is covered with icebergs or floes.

Probably the greatest geopolitical value of the island of Greenland is that whoever holds it in their hands essentially controls access to the North Atlantic.

The climate in Greenland is of the Arctic type. The southern part of the west coast is the most favorable for life because it is reached by the warmer Atlantic current, and where the average January temperature is about minus 14 degrees C, and July about plus 8 degrees C. In the interior of the island, the temperature can reach minus 50 degrees C.

It is important to note, at least from a military-economic point of view, that the seas, bays, and straits around Greenland freeze over except in its southwestern part, i.e., these waters are covered with icebergs as well as mountains broken off from glaciers, which descend from the interior of the mainland into the sea. Along the northern coast, the sea is constantly under ice. There are no land communications on the island. The ports in the south of the island are of insignificant capacity, at least in military terms. In Greenland, dog sledding on land and boats at sea are the only means of transport. However, in terms of air traffic, Greenland is in a very important position because the shortest flight routes from North America to the northern parts of Europe and Western Siberia pass through it.

The economy of Greenland

The current economy of the island is very poor, i.e., insignificant, because the main economic activity of the islanders is limited to fishing, which is not as profitable as in the cases of Iceland or Norway. It is mainly about catching cod, whale, seal, walrus, and, on the mainland, bear hunting for fur. A small number of sheep and goats are raised on the island, while vegetables and potatoes are grown sparingly in the southern coastal belt.

However, the island is rich in certain natural minerals. There are deposits of cryolite, copper, lead, graphite, and uranium. Greenland has the largest mines of cryolite in the world, which is used in the aluminum industry. Cryolite ore is mined in the southwestern part of the island and exported. Graphite and coal are mined in smaller quantities, while lead and zinc ores have been exploited since 1956. It is claimed that there are large quantities of oil and especially natural gas in the depths of the island. In this context, Greenland can be considered a part of the Arctic that has been proven to lie on huge reserves of natural gas and probably other energy sources, which would be the main reason for the international race for the largest island in the world.

Population and Constitution

The indigenous population of Greenland is of Inuit origin, who have settled mainly in its southern (more domesticated) part along the coast. There are a small number of ethnic Danes as well as US citizens who are stationed at US military bases, especially at the large Tula naval and air base on the northwestern coast of the island. The capital of Greenland is Gothop/Nuuk, which in 1965 had a population of almost 4,000 but today has almost 20,000. It is also the northernmost capital city in the world.

Greenland is, according to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark of June 5th, 1953, an integral province of the Kingdom of Denmark with special autonomy (the same as the Faroe Islands) since 2009. Greenland has its own separate (autonomous) flag and local administration. The island sends two representatives to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Denmark. The executive power on the island is exercised by the Landsråt (Country Council), which consists of 13 members elected from among the inhabitants of Greenland. The President of the Landsråt is appointed by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Short history of the island

The island was discovered in 982 by the Vikings, and after that, the southwestern coast of Greenland was settled by the Normans (Vikings), but their settlements later disappeared. New settlements from Europe began at the end of the 18th century. The settlements in southern Greenland came under the rule of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1814, and the entire island was annexed to it in 1921. When the Germans occupied Denmark on April 9th, 1940, by decision of US President F. D. Roosevelt, military units of the US Army landed on Greenland, where they remained throughout World War II, and to this day.

Denmark is one of the 12 founding members of the NATO pact in 1949, as is the US. The United States has built the Thule air and naval base in the northwestern part of the island and the Narssarssuaq air base in the southern part. By a mutual defense agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark of April 27th, 1951, the United States was granted the right to use these two military bases, which also serve as air traffic. East of Thule, a nuclear power plant was built by the United States in an agreement with Denmark, and a long-range air intelligence radar system was also built, which is linked to the northern parts of Canada. In other words, the capital military-economic infrastructure of the island is built up by the USA, not by Denmark.

The Future of the “Greenland Question“

Realistically, the US will certainly take over Greenland from Denmark, the only question is whether by July 4th or by the November 3rd, 2026, US elections. There are two practical scenarios for this takeover:

1) Either by using soft power, i.e., bribery, purchases, political blackmail, and/or economic sanctions;

2) Or by using hard power, i.e., direct military intervention or occupation and annexation of the island under the excuse of security or whatever geopolitical reasons.

The first option involves pro-American propaganda among the inhabitants of Greenland, who number as many as the inhabitants of one major street in New York. They will be promised a better future and life within the United States, and especially a higher standard of living. The Americans will promise large investments in the exploitation of mineral and other natural resources on the island, from which the inhabitants of Greenland will directly benefit, which was by no means the case while Greenland was under Danish rule, because it is well known that the Danish authorities did not invest much in the economy of Greenland.

The island is, by the way, one of the poorest regions of the European Union in terms of infrastructure, economy, and living standards. Therefore, it will not be very difficult for the Trump administration to indoctrinate the majority of the island’s inhabitants and bribe them with economic propaganda, especially if we know that there is already a solid pro-American core in Greenland. After its propaganda work, the soft power would end with a general vote on the island for its independence, which would be declared with all possible electoral manipulations under the supervision of the “international (pro-American) community”. Therefore, the transition of Greenland from Denmark to the US administration would take place according to formally “democratic” principles. The amount of money that Denmark would receive from the US for this “democratic” transition from Denmark to the US will probably never be known.

Let us not forget that Trump has already threatened European countries that oppose his policy of annexing Greenland with the introduction of tariffs of 10% to begin with, and if the countries in question do not collaborate, successively higher and higher tariffs on the export of their goods to the US market. This moment is extremely important because the governments of European countries will have a strong argument before their citizens as to why they are not more resolutely defending the territorial integrity of Denmark. Such blackmail is an extreme variant of the application of soft power.

The second scenario involves the direct use of military force in Greenland, which would be formally justified by security reasons. For the US to “occupy” the island, they would need one destroyer and one battalion of Marines, just in case. There are already two US military bases on the island anyway. In the event of an American landing on the island, the “international community” would not take any concrete action, and the protests would be reduced to a boring repetition of the story about the violation of “international law”.

Let us recall that the USA has a long tradition of military aggression against other states that violate this right, totaling around 22 or 33 since 1945, including directly instigating coups d’état and military coups. A classic example is the military occupation of the independent island state in the Caribbean Sea – Grenada, in October 1983, under the administration of President Ronald Reagan, under whose administration the President of Panama, General Manuel Noriega, was kidnapped in 1989 (anyway, a long-time CIA collaborator).

The “international community” has not taken any concrete action against the Israeli genocide in Gaza or the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro, and it will not do so in the case of the military occupation of Greenland. Only Denmark will protest for a while, but it will soon calm down. Great Britain, Poland, and the Baltic states will probably give direct support to the occupation, while the EU and NATO bureaucracy will try to cover up the whole matter as soon as possible in order to consolidate their members against their main enemy – “aggressor” Russia.

The current deployment of bizarre EU/NATO military troops to Greenland is primarily an unproductive demonstration of “force” against the “Russian and Chinese occupation” of the island, not a “force” to contain the US real occupation of Greenland. The threats by Washington and Paris to leave NATO are of the nature of diplomatic bickering, i.e., moving the ball from one court to another. It is clear to anyone who understands even a little about international relations that these are primarily empty phrases and empty rhetoric aimed at scoring political points on both sides, primarily against Russia.

The price of transfer (?) and possible consequences in international relations

According to estimates by some Western experts, and as reported by the American television NBC TV Network, the value of Greenland today is up to $ 700 billion, including its geopolitical position. The interest of the United States to simply buy the island for cash dates back to 1946, when US President Harry Truman offered $ 100 million in gold for it. However, this information was not learned until 1991. For comparison, in 1999, the American CIA estimated the total value of the southern province of Serbia, Kosovo, at $ 500 billion.

In essence, at least from a military and geopolitical perspective, the transfer of Greenland to the US will not fundamentally change anything, as the island has been de facto under US control since June 1940, and the complete transfer of the island from Danish to US hands would be an insignificant operation within the framework of the NATO pact.

The only question is, who is next in line to be occupied for the sake of US national security?

 There are many candidates: Colombia, Mexico, Iran, etc. For now, the Trump administration is promoting the implementation of the “Monroe Doctrine” from 1823 – “America, for the Americans”, i.e., that the entire Western (American) Hemisphere falls under US rule. It is clear that if this regional project of American imperialism is realized, it is only a matter of days in the context of the implementation of the global MAGA project, when American imperialism will move to the Eastern Hemisphere, where it also has a larger number of solid military-political strongholds (especially around Iran).

Finally, in this whole policy of transferring Greenland to the US, the biggest real winners will be China and Russia, and the only loser, along with Denmark, will be the European Union. The diplomatic moves of Beijing and Moscow on this issue clearly indicate that they are de facto staying on the sidelines, with the US award to Russia likely being a solution to the “Ukrainian Question” according to the Russian will, while the award to China remains a secret, as in many other similar cases so far.Personal disclaimer: The author writes for this publication in a private capacity, which is unrepresentative of anyone or any organization except for his own personal views. Nothing written by the author should ever be conflated with the editorial views or official positions of any other media outlet or institution. The author of the text does not have any moral, political, scientific, material, or legal responsibility for the views expressed in the article.

Dr. Vladislav B. Sotirovic is an ex-university professor and a Research Fellow at the Center for Geostrategic Studies in Belgrade, Serbia.

European allies hit back at US threat to start trade war over Greenland

European leaders have warned transatlantic ties are at risk after President Donald Trump's announcement that eight countries, including France, will face tariffs of up to 25 percent if they continue to oppose the United States' bid to acquire Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron called the threats "unacceptable".


Issued on: 18/01/2026 - RFI

People protest against President Donald Trump's efforts to take over Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on 17 January 2026. © AP - Evgeniy Maloletka

EU countries held crisis talks on Sunday after Trump said that he would charge a 10 percent import tax from February on goods from eight European countries that are resisting American control of Greenland – France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.

The rate would climb to 25 percent on 1 June if no deal was in place for "the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland" by the US, he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

An emergency meeting of EU ambassadors took place in Brussels on Sunday.

Macron will ask the European Union to activate its powerful "Anti-Coercion Instrument" if the US imposes tariffs, his team said before the talks.

The bloc's weapon – dubbed its trade "bazooka" – allows the EU to impose tariffs and investment limits on countries exerting economic pressure on member states to force them to change policy. It has never been used before.

France to open Greenland consulate amid Trump takeover threats

'Dangerous downward spiral'

France is one of several countries that has deployed troops to the autonomous Danish territory in response to Washington's ambitions. Paris says the European military exercise is designed to show the world that it will defend Greenland.

"Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context," President Macron wrote in a post on X, saying that France and its European allies would present a united response.

"No intimidation or threat can influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world... We will ensure that European sovereignty is respected," Macron said.

All eight countries named by Trump issued a joint statement saying they backed Denmark and Greenland, and that their military exercise posed no danger to others.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," it said. "We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty."

In a similarly worded statement, EU leaders said the bloc "stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland".

Day of protests

Trump's threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his drive to acquire the island, rich in rare minerals and a gateway to the Arctic.

Thousands more demonstrated in Copenhagen and other Danish cities.

People attend a protest against President Donald Trump's demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US, in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on 17 January 2026. © REUTERS - Marko Djurica


Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States needs Greenland for US "national security", while alleging without evidence that China and Russia are trying to control it.

It was not immediately clear what authority the US president would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs, nor how he would target individual EU countries when the 27 members trade as a bloc.

If carried out, Trump's threats against NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the military alliance, already under strain.

"In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists," French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews on Sunday.

The tariff announcement even drew criticism from Trump's populist allies in France.

Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party, posted that the EU should suspend last year's deal to avert stiffer US tariffs on European goods, describing Trump’s threats as "commercial blackmail".

That deal, which the European Parliament had been set to ratify by next month, now faces rejection by lawmakers.

(with newswires)

What is the EU anti-coercion 'bazooka' it could use against the US over Greenland?

The EU's anti-coercion instrument, which French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday mentioned activating after US President Donald Trump's tariffs threats regarding Greenland, is a trade tool that the bloc adopted in 2023 but has never used. Compared by some to a “bazooka”, it aims to respond to any country using trade weapons to pressure an EU member state.


Issued on: 19/01/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a media conference at the EU Summit in Brussels on December 19, 2025. © Geert Vanden Wijngaert, AP

Calls are growing louder for the EU to deploy its powerful "anti-coercion instrument" in response to US President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs in the standoff over Greenland.

Trump stunned Europe on Saturday when he vowed to slap EU members Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden – and non-members Britain and Norway – with levies of up to 25 percent unless the Danish territory is ceded to the US.

French President Emmanuel Macron has raised the prospect of hitting back with the EU's trade weapon that was established in 2023 but has never been activated.

READ MORETrump tariff threats over Greenland prompt calls for unprecedented EU counter-measures


The leader of the liberal Renew group in the European Parliament, Valerie Hayer, also called for the weapon to be used.

Referred to as a "bazooka" or "nuclear" option, the instrument is intended to deter economic coercion against any of the EU's 27 member states.

The EU defines coercion as a third country "applying – or threatening to apply – measures affecting trade or investment", thereby interfering "with the legitimate sovereign choices" of the EU and member states.

How can Europe respond to Trump's tariff threats over Greenland?

© France 24
06:23

What does the instrument do?

The armoury allows the EU to take measures such as import and export restrictions on goods and services in its single market of 450 million people.

It also gives Brussels the power to limit American companies' access to public procurement contracts in Europe.

The EU last year threatened to use the weapon during difficult trade negotiations with Trump to avoid steep levies but the two sides struck a deal.

A major target could be American tech giants since the US has a services surplus with the EU.

Brussels previously drew up a list of US services to potentially target.

The instrument's creation came after Lithuania accused China of banning its exports because Vilnius allowed a Taiwanese diplomatic representation to be opened on its soil in 2021.

How does it work?

Both the commission and member states have the right to seek its activation, but it would then need the green light of at least 55 percent of the member countries voting in favour, representing 65 percent of the bloc's population.

Even if Brussels were to activate the weapon, it could take months before any measures were taken, according to the rules.

First, the European Commission has four months to investigate the third country accused of detrimental trade policies – then member states would have eight to 10 weeks to back any proposal for action.

Only then would the commission have a green light to prepare measures, to take effect within six months. The EU says the timeframe is indicative.

But even just triggering an investigation under the instrument would send a powerful message that Brussels is willing to fight back against its important ally.

"The United States is making a miscalculation that is not only dangerous but could be painful," Renew group's Hayer said in a statement.

"The anti-coercion instrument is our economic nuclear weapon," she said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Trump also has 'a lot to lose' from threatened tariffs over Greenland, French minister says

French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard warned Sunday that US President Trump's proposed tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to purchase Greenland would be "deadly for the United States". Trump on Saturday threatened a 10-percent tariff from February 1 on all goods sent to the US from eight European countries, including France.


Issued on: 18/01/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

France's Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard leaves after attending the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysée Presidential Palace, in Paris, on January 14, 2026. © Ludovic Marin, AFP file photo

The United States will also suffer if President Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.

"In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists," French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews.

Trump has threatened to impose a 10-percent tariff from February 1 on all goods sent to the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland.

EU looks to present united front in response to US 'blackmail'

© France 24
04:05


All are part of the European Union, except for the United Kingdom and Norway.

That levy would then be increased to 25 percent on June 1 "until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland", said Trump, who claims the United States needs the Arctic island, an autonomous Danish territory, for its national security.
'It could also be deadly for the United States'

An extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors has been called in Brussels for Sunday afternoon.

"The European Union has a potential strike force" from a commercial standpoint, Genevard said.

"This is a response that must be handled with caution, because this escalation could be deadly – but it could also be deadly for the United States."

Any US takeover of Greenland would be "unacceptable," the minister added.

"It is clear that the Europeans will not let the United States do as it pleases."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

World leaders to gather at Davos as Trump reshapes global order

EVIL EYED EAGLE


Copyright AP Photo

By Aleksandar Brezar
Published on 18/01/2026 - 20:12 GMT+1 •Updated 23:34

The annual gathering of political and business elites comes as Europe faces its biggest test ever over its relationship with Washington, its economic model and its security architecture.


To most Davos regulars, the Sunday before the world's biggest economic and political summit seemed unusually busy.

This year's World Economic Forum, they say, promises to be one like no other.

In the otherwise serene if not sangfroid Swiss resort town, anticipatory anxiety became increasingly palpable as world leaders were about to converge on it for what is almost certainly going to turn into a fundamental reassessment of the existing international system.

All eyes are on the midweek, as US President Donald Trump is expected to make his first appearance at the summit in six years, arriving amid tensions over his attempts to acquire Greenland, his tariff threats against European allies and his military intervention in Venezuela.

The annual gathering of political and business elites comes as Europe faces its biggest test ever over its relationship with Washington, its economic model and its security architecture.

Trump to talk about home, Europeans to expect answers

Trump's keynote speech on Wednesday is likely to focus heavily on concerns back home despite the international setting.

The president faces domestic pressure over affordability, and Trump wants to offset this by revealing "initiatives to drive down housing costs" and "tout his economic agenda that has propelled the United States to lead the world in economic growth," a White House official said.

But Trump will also address European leaders directly. He will "emphasise that the United States and Europe must leave behind economic stagnation and the policies that caused it," the White House official said.

The US president recently threatened tariffs against European NATO allies if they do not support his attempt to take control of Greenland from Denmark. European military personnel have deployed to Greenland in recent days in response.

Danish soldiers disembark at the port in Nuuk, Greenland, 18 January 2026 AP Photo

The series of moves has resulted in significant unease among Europe's leaders, who see the push to take control of the Arctic island "whether they like it or not" as undermining the foundations of NATO and jeopardising an age-old friendship forged by fire in World War II.

On Sunday, the UK, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden issued a joint statement saying Trump's actions over Greenland risk a “dangerous downward spiral” and undermine transatlantic relations, in one of the most strongly worded messages to Washington in recent times.

While others such as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have tried to calm the spirits, with Rutte saying, "We will continue working on (resolving the question of Greenland), and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week," anxiety that came with the new year not only persisted, but increased.

What happens in Davos does not stay in Davos

There is also the question of Russia's ongoing all-out war in Ukraine, which Trump has been desperate to find an end to.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will also appear in Davos in person, hopes to meet Trump to sign new security guarantees for a potential ceasefire deal with Russia. G7 leaders also seek discussions on Ukraine.

Washington's largest-ever Davos delegation includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have all played roles on Ukraine.

While the White House said no bilateral meetings have been scheduled, the presence of Witkoff and Kushner — seen as key to any negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv — has led insiders to believe that a deal between Trump and Zelenskyy will be signed in Davos.

Two men walk up the stairs at the Congress Center where the Annnual Meeting of the World Economy Forum takes place in Davos, 18 January 2026 AP Photo

Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly considering a first meeting of the "Board of Peace" for Gaza at Davos, after announcing its first members in recent days.

A $1 billion (€863 million) contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board, rather than a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter, which has not been made public. The official said the money raised would be used to rebuild Gaza.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told state radio on Sunday. Orbán is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.

Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan also said Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited, while an Indian official revealed Delhi has also received an invite. It was not clear how many have been approached in all.

In letters sent Friday to world leaders inviting them to be “founding members,” Trump said the Board of Peace would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”

Critics have claimed that the board might be an attempt by the US president to create an alternative to the UN, which would be under Trump's personal control.
RelatedTrump's Greenland threat risks 'dangerous downward spiral,' European leaders say
Pressure grows on the EU to deploy trade bazooka against Trump's Greenland tariff threat

Questions also surround the future of Venezuela following the blitz US military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro, part of Trump's muscular approach to what he calls America's "backyard".

Then there is also Iran, with reports stating that Trump called off an intervention against the regime in Tehran over its crackdown on widespread protests at the last minute.

While Washington may yet decide ayatollah's time in power is over, the presence of Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at Davos could signal that conversations on the sidelines are on the cards.

'USA House' talk of the town

The forum has historically been an awkward fit for Trump. His first Davos appearance in 2018 met occasional boos. He returned forcefully in 2020, dismissing "prophets of doom" on climate and the economy.

Trump left office in 2021 after losing re-election but has since returned as a more assertive president domestically and internationally.

The logo of the World Economy Forum is displayed on a window of the Congress Center where the Annual Meeting Forum takes place in Davos, 18 January 2026 AP Photo

Davos might prove crucial to his ambitions, and the fact that the US has two houses in the Swiss town — one of which is a church and a prominent venue — further signalled Washington's intentions to reestablish itself as the leader of the free world.

European leaders attending Davos have recently faced unprecedented pressure to respond to Trump's challenge to the transatlantic alliance that has underpinned the Western economic order for nearly a century.

The gathering comes as Europe grapples with anaemic economic growth, an ever-trigger-happy Moscow on its eastern border and questions about the continent's ability to defend itself without full US security guarantees.

Billionaire wealth at new high, Oxfam warns of political influence ahead of Davos

The fortunes of the world’s ultra-rich have surged to a record high and now pose political threats, warns Oxfam’s annual report on billionaires released ahead of the World Economic Forum at Davos, which opens Monday.

Issued on: 19/01/2026 - RFI

Protesters, one dressed up as US President Donald Trump and another as a police officer, at the start of a demonstration against the annual meeting of the World Economy Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 18 January 2026. © Markus Schreiber/AP

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The wealth of the world’s billionaires went up 16.2 percent in 2025, the anti-poverty group said in its report released to coincide with the opening of the Davos forum, which brings together some of the world’s wealthiest people together with political leaders, CEOs, financiers, and international institutions.

Oxfam says the increase has been driven in part by policies put in place by US President Donald Trump, including tax cuts, “the championing of deregulation and undermining agreements to increase corporate taxation have benefited the richest around the world”.

It pointed to Washington's decision to exempt US multinationals from an internationally agreed minimum tax rate of 15 percent as an example of policies that ignore growing inequality.

"In country after country, the super-rich have not only accumulated more wealth than could ever be spent, but have also used this wealth to secure the political power to shape the rules that define our economies and govern nations," the report warned.

Drawing on academic research and data sources ranging from the World Inequality Database to Forbes' rich list, the report found that the world’s 3,000 billionaires are 4,000 times more likely than ordinary citizens to hold political office.

Billionaires highlight France’s complicated relationship with wealth

Oxfam highlighted what it sees as the growing influence of ultra‑wealthy business figures over traditional and digital media.

Billionaires now own more than half of the world’s major media firms, Oxfam said, citing Elon Musk’s takeover of X, Amazon's Jeff Bezos ownership of The Washington Post, and French billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s control of numerous newspapers and television stations in France, as well as his majority stake in the Vivendi media group..

Oxfam urged governments to adopt national inequality reduction plans, raise taxes on the extremely rich, and strengthen firewalls between money and politics, including tighter limits on lobbying and campaign financing.

Would tax hikes for the wealthiest really drive them to flee France?

Only a few countries currently have wealth taxes. In France, which replaced its wealth tax with a narrower tax on real estate assets, debate over reinstating the wider tax resurfaced during the ongoing politically contested debates over the 2026 budget.

(with newswires)

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Surging billionaire wealth leads to ‘dangerous’ political risks, Oxfam warns as Davos forum opens

The world’s billionaires grew richer than ever in 2025, charity Oxfam said on Monday, warning of “highly dangerous” political consequences as elites gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It said US President Donald Trump’s policies helped boost billionaire wealth 16.2 percent to $18.3 trillion in the first year of his second term.


Issued on: 19/01/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

US President Donald Trump, during his last in-person visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2020. © JIM WATSON, AFP

The collective wealth of the planet's billionaires soared to a record level in 2025, charity Oxfam reported Monday, warning of "highly dangerous" political consequences as the global elite gathers for the World Economic Forum.

US President Donald Trump's policies in particular spurred the fortunes of the ultra-rich, which jumped 16.2 percent in the first year of his second term to $18.3 trillion, the NGO said in a report released each year ahead of the Davos forum.

"Actions of the Trump presidency including the championing of deregulation and undermining agreements to increase corporate taxation have benefited the richest around the world," Oxfam said.

The world now has more than 3,000 billionaires for the first time, it added, with the top 12 – led by Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk – having "more wealth than the poorest half of humanity, or more than four billion people".


Increasingly this money is buying political power, Oxfam said, pointing in particular to tycoons' buying newspapers and other media, such as Musk's takeover of X or the purchase of The Washington Post by Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

READ MOREBezos announces restrictions on Washington Post opinion coverage

"The widening gap between the rich and the rest is at the same time creating a political deficit that is highly dangerous and unsustainable," Oxfam's executive director Amitabh Behar said.

Trump will arrive with one of the biggest US delegations ever for the Davos conference, where he is expected to dominate an agenda officially billed as "A Spirit of Dialogue".

© France 24
06:56

Davos protests

Trump's participation galvanised around 300 protesters who arrived in Davos on Sunday, many wearing masks of Musk or US Vice President JD Vance and holding fistfuls of euros.

Nathalie Ruoss of the Swiss Young Socialists said the most powerful people in the world make decisions at Davos that impact everyone.

"And they do it with no democratic legitimacy," she said, calling it "unacceptable" that the WEF welcomed "fascists like Donald Trump".

For Oxfam, Washington's decision to exempt US multinationals from an internationally agreed minimum tax rate of 15 percent was a stark example of ignoring growing inequality.

"In country after country, the super-rich have not only accumulated more wealth than could ever be spent, but have also used this wealth to secure the political power to shape the rules that define our economies and govern nations," it said.

"Such power gives billionaires a grasp over all our futures, undermining political freedom and eroding the rights of the many."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)