Anti-Government Riots Spring up in Emerging Markets
Posted on 07/12/2021
In South Africa, violent protests have erupted across parts of the country. Rioters have torched trucks, smashed windows, blocked roads, and looted stores in cities. South Africa’s four largest lenders such as Standard Bank Group Ltd. and FirstRand Ltd. all closed branches in KwaZulu-Natal, the province at the heart of the violent unrest. Dis-Chem Pharmacies Ltd. closed all its drugstores in KwaZulu-Natal. On Sunday, stick-wielding protesters marched through Johannesburg. There were reports of live bullets being fired at police.
Walmart Inc.-owned Massmart Holdings Ltd. and mobile-phone giants Vodacom Group Ltd. and MTN Group Ltd. were among others to close outlets. South African business leaders have asked the government to halt the violence. The violence has increased since the arrest of Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa. The unrest had mainly been concentrated in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal. Zuma is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. The South African National Defence Force have been deployed to assist local police. Zuma’s incarceration has angered his supporters and exposed rifts within the African National Congress party.
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday there was no justification for violence. The African National Congress party has ruled for 27 years after the party ousted white minority political leadership.
GROWING NUMBER: Cuban People Grow Tired of Communist Dictatorship
On Sunday, massive anti-government protests broke out in Cuba demanding freedom and calling on the disbandment of the country’s communist dictatorship. Cuban forces were found to be throwing rocks at the protestors. Cuba has been under the rule of communism since Fidel Castro seized power. Thousands of Cubans marched on Havana’s Malecon promenade and across the island to protest food shortages and the high prices for goods. Police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted “Freedom,” “Enough” and “Unite.”
The White House under U.S. President Joe Biden put out a statement, “We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba’s authoritarian regime. The Cuban people are bravely asserting fundamental and universal rights. Those rights, including the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future, must be respected. The United States calls on the Cuban regime to hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.”
Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both who have Cuban backgrounds, tweeted support for the protestors.
“People in Cuba are protesting 62 years of socialism, lies, tyranny & misery not ‘expressing concern about rising COVID-19 cases/deaths. Why is it so hard for @Potus & the people in his administration to say that?” Senator Rubio tweeted.