Can You Publish a Book on WhatsApp? Zimbabweans Say Yes + The PKK's "End", How to Beat Western Cloud Monopoly in Africa
Issue 416 (pt. 2): DIY cloud services in Nigeria, Japan’s worst wildfire in decades, South Africa’s HIV crisis, what’s really happening with the PKK disarmament and the future of Kurdish resistance.
Oh, this issue was so fun to write. I was looking into some pretty revolutionary stuff last week, like how do you help people use and store money who have no bank accounts (spoiler: Bitcoin), how do you make sure people in Africa read more African literature without overpaying (spoiler: WhatsApp), how do you work around Google and Amazon hegemony in cloud services in Africa (spoiler: DIY and share resources). Plus, a long explainer with all the needed nuances to the recent calls to disband and disarm the PKK in Turkey (including an interview I had with a Kurdish analyst), what the sudden USAID funding cuts does to people with HIV in South Africa, the prospects of a new political party by Bangladeshi students, Japan's largest wildfire since 1992, a critical look back at the 1995 Beijing Declaration (which called for gender equality), a possible greenwashing project in Uganda by TotalEnergies, and so much more.
PKK’s Öcalan calls it quits. Is it really the end of the fight?
What happened Last Thursday, it finally happened: After more than 40 years of war between Turkey and the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan—the group’s jailed founder and leader—just told his followers to disband. Days later, the PKK declared a ceasefire. It is not an unconditional disarmament though. "We are open to peace only if democratic politics and legal grounds are made possible in Turkey."
Background:
What is the PKK? PKK is short for the Kurdistan Workers' Party. It is a Kurdish militant group that has been fighting the Turkish government since 1984. Originally wanted an independent Kurdish state, now pushes for Kurdish rights and autonomy. Turkey, the U.S., and the EU label it a terrorist group, but many Kurds see it as a resistance movement.
Why this matters: Kurds are one of the largest stateless ethnic groups (~30-40 million people) spread across Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Turkey has historically oppressed Kurdish identity (banning Kurdish language, culture, political movements). The PKK launched an armed rebellion for Kurdish independence, later shifting to demands for autonomy and rights. Turkey responded with military force, and the conflict has killed 40,000+ people (mostly PKK fighters). If the PKK actually dissolves, this could end one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies. As Meghan Bodette, director of research at the Kurdish Peace Institute, writes on X, "this is an opportunity for the start of a political process, not the end of one."
Tell me more "I take full responsibility for this call," Öcalan’s statement declared, read aloud at a packed news conference in Istanbul (first in Kurdish, then in Turkish). The 75-year-old leader, who’s been imprisoned since 1999, said it was time for the PKK to lay down its weapons and dissolve itself. This is not a hugely surprising move. There's been a lot of buzz already, there have been secret talks that led up to this; rumours that he had been offered better prison conditions and the release of high-profile Kurdish political prisoners. The PKK’s Kurdish "cousins" in northeast Syria—who Turkey also considers a threat—aren’t part of this. Syrian Kurdish officials quickly clarified a day later: "That’s not about us."
I talked to Kurdish analyst Kamal Chomani to get his take on this historic moment:
whlw: How does this impact the Syrian Democratic Forces, short SDF, in Syria? Will this weaken their position?
Chomani: Not at all. If the PKK disarms, the SDF gains autonomy and can fully focus on securing its territories and fighting extremism. The collapse of the 2015 peace talks was largely due to Erdogan’s refusal to accept a Kurdish entity in Syria. He called Rojava a "red line," and Öcalan fired back that Rojava was his "red line", too. Now, Turkey must rethink its approach. If peace holds, Ankara may end its attacks on Rojava and even see the SDF as a potential ally. A bigger shift could come if Turkey believes Ahmed al-Sharaa is moving into the Saudi orbit—then backing the SDF could serve Turkish interests.
whlw: What does this mean for Kurdish politics in Iraq, Iran, and Syria?
Chomani: The PKK’s influence is vast, so this move will reshape Kurdish movements across the region:
In Iraq, PKK rivals—especially the Barzani faction—will welcome a disarmed PKK, viewing it as a reduced threat. PKK cadres may return to cities, go to Europe, or relocate within Kurdistan.
In Syria, the PYD remains Öcalanist and will keep implementing his ideas, especially in ecological and economic policies.
In Iran, the PJAK (the Iranian branch of the PKK; militant and political group that fights for Kurdish rights in Iran) will continue fighting, but Öcalan’s stance could pave the way for a similar peace process if Tehran opens up politically.
whlw: Will Turkey offer real political concessions?
Chomani: It has no other choice. The Kurdish reality can’t be ignored anymore. Turkey failed to defeat the PKK militarily, and Kurdish autonomy is a fact in Iraq and Syria. Turkish strategists may now see resolving the Kurdish issue as more beneficial than continuing the conflict.
whlw: Is Turkey actually moving toward a political solution?
Chomani: There are signs. Öcalan was denied visits for four years, but in October 2024, peace talks led to the ban being lifted. The fact that Öcalan could meet a DEM Party delegation, take a photo, and make a public statement is a huge shift given Turkey’s previous hostility.
whlw: What’s in this for Erdoğan and Bahçeli?
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is Turkey’s president, in power for 20+ years. Devlet Bahçeli is the leader of the far-right MHP, Erdoğan’s political ally. They both used anti-Kurdish rhetoric in the past, so their sudden push for peace raises questions about their motives.)
Chomani: For Erdoğan, this could secure another term. He may amend the constitution and run again. If the process succeeds, even ultranationalists seem open to peace, boosting his popularity. As for Bahçeli, at his age, he likely wants to be remembered as a statesman who helped bring peace, not just a nationalist hardliner. The Erdogan-Bahçeli alliance stands to benefit from Kurdish support.
whlw: Could this strengthen Erdoğan ahead of elections?
Chomani: Yes—but not by consolidating power in an authoritarian way. If peace succeeds, Kurds will be kingmakers in Turkish politics, and Erdogan would likely get their vote. Plus, foreign investment would flood into previously neglected, conflict-ridden Kurdish regions, boosting Turkey’s economy.
Some critical voices
The status quo is f*cked "Right now, arrests of mayors, imprisonment of reporters and continuing detention of Kurdish politicians are impediments to next step of the group." – Aliza Marcus on X
There's so much racism against Kurds still "When veteran politician Ahmet Türk began reading Öcalan's historic call in Kurdish, Sözcü TV (a very well known news channel and newspaper in Turkey; leans Kemalist) muted the sound, dismissing Kurdish as irrelevant." Fréderike Geerdink reflects on how deep-seated racism continues to block any real progress in Turkey.
Turkey is still bombing Syrian Kurds "The day after Abdullah Ocalan announces that the PKK will dissolve, Turkey bombs Syrian Kurds. The pretext is gone. Turkey can't claim any kind of security threat now. This just destabilizes Syria's transition and makes it harder for NES (Northeast Syria) to get to a deal." – Meghan Bodette on X
Other voices
The terror label will disappear Journalist Sefkan Kobanê says, "With the PKK’s dissolution, the ‘terror’ argument will disappear, and in turn, the state must take steps to stop genocidal attacks." Also, in the same interview, he points out that the PKK is still listed as a terrorist organization internationally. However, he believes this peace process—and the legal steps that should follow—will help legitimize the Kurdish struggle globally.
It's very complicated Journalist Mohammed A. Salih writes on X that the PKK leadership in Qandil is in line with Öcalan's statement, but also offered some major "buts" like, "we want Öcalan to lead the party congress that formally disbands the organization" (some say this is highly unlikely) and "we want a clearly defined legal framework moving forward", suggesting that there might be expectations of democratic reforms, legal protections, and constitutional amendments. "Would it recognize Kurdish indentity in the constitution? Grant official status to the Kurdish language? If so, would it extend to public education? What about some degree of administrative decentralization at the provincial or municipal level?"
It’s official: The U.S. is not the world’s biggest donor anymore
Refresher: Back in January, the U.S. hit the brakes on all foreign funding for 90 days—including money for lifesaving HIV programs around the world, run by USAID (aka the U.S. Agency for International Development). Then, just days later, they ordered these programs to stop services immediately. The official reason? To make sure all funding lines up with U.S. foreign policy under President Trump.
What happened Now, fast-forward to last Wednesday: The U.S. made the funding cut permanent, sending official "Termination Notices" to 90% of its foreign aid contracts (cutting some US$60 billion) and thousands of HIV programs globally—including several in South Africa.
Why this matters: About two-thirds of global AIDS relief comes from the US, most of it through the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, which was set up in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush. South Africa is among the countries likely to be the worst hit: Around 13%, or 7.8 million, people in South Africa are HIV positive — one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. The head of a HIV foundation in South Africa has warned that these cuts will lead to half a million deaths and as many new HIV infections over 10 years.
Good to know: This follows a broader trend. Since taking office, Trump's administration has taken a hard stance against transgender rights, including officially recognizing only two genders in federal policy. Cutting these programs fits into that pattern.
Tell me more President Donald Trump and his advisor, Elon Musk, have been on a mission to slash foreign aid, arguing that USAID projects push a liberal agenda and waste taxpayer money. Their Department of Government Efficiency has targeted aid programs more aggressively than almost any other part of the federal government. Unless these programs find new funding fast (which is unlikely), thousands of staff members in South Africa will lose their jobs—and patients will be left without care. The termination letter, signed off by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, didn’t give much explanation beyond: "Your funding is being cut for convenience and in the interests of the U.S. government." The letter doesn’t say who’s responsible for the costs of shutting everything down. That means things like paying off clinic staff who are losing their jobs, cancelling supplier contracts and rent leases, or figuring out what to do with medical equipment and clinic spaces The only vague promise? "More instructions to follow."
Which programs are shutting down? These weren’t just any clinics—they were some of the few places offering safe, specialized care, including mental health support and help tracking and reporting hate crimes, for vulnerable groups (some of which already face discrimination at public hospitals and therefore struggle to get healthcare). Some key programs losing funding include:
The Anova Health Institute – ran the Ivan Toms Clinic in Cape Town
OUT LGBT Wellbeing’s Engage Men’s Health – had a clinic in Johannesburg + mobile services in Nelson Mandela Bay & Buffalo City
WITS RHI – focused on HIV and gender-affirming healthcare for trans people
What's next for South Africa's fight against HIV? South Africa’s government is trying to fill the gap and keep HIV treatment programs running. Officials say they’re working on alternative solutions to make sure people don’t lose access to care. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said: "We are looking at various interventions to address the immediate needs and ensure the continuity of essential services." The Health Ministry has also set an ambitious target—getting 1.1 million people living with HIV on treatment by the end of next year.
Zoom out: In Somalia, the U.S.-based humanitarian group Alight has shut down the only health clinics in 13 Somali communities and stopped nutrition programs for 1,700 malnourished children every day. In Haiti, a brand-new hospital in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, opened just last week by the Colorado-based nonprofit Locally Haiti, has already lost funding.
what else happened
Bad
United States / Panama: Over 100 migrants from countries like Iran and Afghanistan have been deported from the U.S. to Panama and are now stuck in a jungle camp with armed guards, unsure of when or where they’ll be sent next. Some fear returning home due to dangers like persecution but also can’t leave without the right documents. Panama and the U.S. disagree on who’s responsible, while human rights groups criticize the situation, calling it a legal and humanitarian crisis. (The New York Times)
France / Uganda: TotalEnergies, a French oil company, is drilling for oil in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected wildlife area. The park is home to elephants, lions, hippos, and other endangered animals. The company claims the project will help nature, but reports show it’s actually causing serious harm. How? Think repellents, tall electric to keep elephants away, loud drilling and bright lights. TotalEnergies actually hired two environmental companies to check if the project was safe for nature. But leaked reports show these companies were influenced by TotalEnergies and downplayed the risks instead of acting independently. Hence, environmental groups say TotalEnergies is "greenwashing". French President Emmanuel Macron supports the project. (Africa Uncensored)
Women's rights in Asia-Pacific: 30 years after the 1995 Beijing Declaration, which called for gender equality, women in Asia-Pacific still face the same struggles—violence, economic exploitation, low political representation, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Misun Woo, regional coordinator at APWLD (Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development; one of the leading feminist networks in the Asia-Pacific region, founded in 1986 in Thailand), says we need to ask: Why has progress been so slow? According to Woo, it’s not just patriarchy—there are bigger forces at play, including globalization (women's labor is still undervalued and exploited), climate change (disasters worsen gender inequalities), militarism & fundamentalism (women's rights are often second priority when at war), and privatization & deb crises (public services become less accessible). Want to listen to more feminist voices from the region? Follow the work of Helen Hakena (peace and women’s rights campaigner from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea), Albertina Almeida (Indian lawyer and human rights activist from Goa), or Kamala Chandrakirana (feminist human rights activist for justice and democracy from Indonesia). (The Diplomat)
Japan: A massive wildfire has burned 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in Ofunato, Iwate—this is Japan’s largest fire since 1992. Over 1,000 people evacuated, 80+ buildings damaged, and one person confirmed dead. The fire started on February 28, but the cause is still unknown. Two other wildfires are also burning in Yamanashi and Iwate. (The Guardian)
DRC: The UN human rights office says M23 rebels killed three children in Bukavu. The children were carrying weapons and wearing uniforms from an abandoned Congolese military camp. According to the UN, they were shot after refusing to surrender their weapons. M23 denies this, calling it Congolese government propaganda. Between February 14-24, at least 162 injured people were admitted to Bukavu General Hospital. Many suffered from gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Three people died from their injuries. (The Guardian)
Interesting...
India / The Americas: India is growing its trade with Latin America as part of its "strategic autonomy" plan, making new deals without taking sides in global politics. Brazil and Argentina are on board, signing big energy agreements—like Brazil’s Petrobras selling 6 million barrels of oil to India’s Bharat Petroleum and Argentina’s YPF exporting 10 million tons of LNG to Indian companies. Trade between India and Latin America hit US$40 billion in 2023, but that’s still way behind China’s US$480 billion. (DW)
Nigeria: Nigeria is set to receive a US$2.2 billion loan from the World Bank this year. The money will help cover Nigeria’s US$37 billion federal budget, which was recently approved. It will be used for six development projects, including education, healthcare, and digital infrastructure in the hope that it will boost economic growth. However, this is also part of the news story, Nigeria’s debt has tripled since 2014, meaning more money goes toward paying off old loans rather than funding new projects. If Nigeria can’t generate enough revenue, it may struggle to repay, forcing more borrowing or even defaulting (failing to pay). And, we know this time-old tale: Relying too much on institutions like the World Bank means Nigeria has less control over its own policies and may have to accept tough economic reforms (like subsidy cuts or higher taxes). (BusinessDay Nigeria, the leading business and financial newspaper in Nigeria)
Bangladesh: A group of Bangladeshi students who helped remove former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power have launched a new political party, the National Citizens Party (NCP), ahead of upcoming elections. Led by Nahid Islam, a key figure in last year’s protests, the party promises to focus on good governance, equality, and fighting corruption. While many see it as a fresh start, experts say the party faces big challenges, like internal disagreements and winning public support. Some major political groups, like the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have cautiously welcomed the party, but whether it can turn protest energy into real political power remains to be seen. (Al Jazeera)
Colombia: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has removed Vice President Francia Márquez from her role as equality minister after she publicly criticized his leadership. Márquez, the country’s first Black vice president, spoke out against corruption and claimed her life was at risk for doing so. Her removal comes after a tense cabinet meeting where she and other officials challenged Petro’s decisions. With elections coming in 2026, Petro seems to be restructuring his government to regain stability. (Bloomberg)
Good
Côte d'Ivoire: Scientists have found that early humans lived in African rainforests 150,000 years ago, much earlier than expected. In Côte d’Ivoire, researchers discovered stone tools and plant remains, showing that humans could survive in dense, wet forests—not just in open grasslands or near the coast. This changes what we know about human history and suggests rainforests may have been important safe areas during climate changes. Sadly, the site was destroyed by quarrying, making this discovery even more valuable. (Nature)
Kenya: Afribit is a project in Kibera, Nairobi that helps people use Bitcoin as money instead of regular banks. Many people in Kibera don’t have bank accounts, so Afribit gives them a new way to earn, save, and spend money using Bitcoin. How does it work? People earn Bitcoin by working in waste management (like cleaning up trash), more than 40 businesses accept Bitcoin as payment for things like food and supplies, and free classes teach people how to use Bitcoin and even learn coding, helping them get jobs. With plans for Bitcoin loans (so people can start small businesses), loyalty programs (for frequent Bitcoin users), and a peer-to-peer exchange (so people can trade Bitcoin among themselves), Afribit is becoming a model for financial inclusion in East Africa. (Forbes)
Literature in Africa: Big-name African authors are winning major literary awards, but their books are hard to find and crazy expensive in Africa itself. Why? Few local publishers, public libraries barely exist, sky-high prices (In Ethiopia, a book that costs £9 in the UK sells for £19, while a lecturer earns £72 a month. People need bread before books), and book taxes (Some governments like Kenya tax books, making them even more expensive). There are some interesting workarounds right now. For example, authors in Zimbabwe release books chapter by chapter on WhatsApp with small fees to continue reading, Nigerian publishers print cheaper editions of international bestsellers, Ethiopia's Tuba app lets people download ebooks and audiobooks for way less than a physical copy and Kenya's eKitabu project prints local books and sells them through street vendors for lower prices. (The Guardian)
recommendations
Watch... some of the "Best Documentary" nominees for the 2025 Oscars. Here’s what’s nominated and why you should watch them: In Black Box Diaries, director Shiori Ito tells her own story, exposing Japan’s mishandling of sexual assault cases. No Other Land is a Palestinian-Israeli co-directed film about families in Masafer Yatta, West Bank, whose homes are repeatedly demolished. Porcelain War is about a Ukrainian ceramist-turned-soldier, Slava Leontyev, who fights on the battlefield while continuing to create art. Soundtrack to a Coup d'État is a high-speed political thriller about the 1960 C.I.A.-led assassination of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. And, last but not least, in Sugarcane, director Julian Brave NoiseCat uncovers the dark legacy of Canada’s Indigenous residential schools, using his own family’s history as a starting point.
Listen to... "the Mogwai of Egypt." Not many people know this about me, but I’m a total music nerd. Recently, I came across Youssef Khaled Fahmy or FHMY, an Egyptian artist, who gave me that same feeling I had when I first fell in love with Radiohead. Some even call him the Mogwai of Egypt. There’s not a ton about them online, but from what I’ve gathered, FHMY grew up in Maadi, Cairo—a neighborhood that Citizen Femme calls the hippest in the city. His sound? A mix of math rock, indie, noise, and shoegaze, all layered with that hypnotic, poly-rhythmic feel. Also, do yourself a favor and watch the music video for “my blue heaven.” It’s got everything—skating, messing around on boats on the Nile, city scenes that make you want to book a flight. FHMY has 115 YouTube subscribers right now, which means you can still get in before everyone else does. Be the hipster you were meant to be. And yes, of course, they’re on Bandcamp.
Read... "Nigerians are building affordable alternatives to AWS and Google Cloud" by Damilare Dosunmu for "rest of world" here. Did you know AWS only started accepting Naira payments in January? Before that, Nigerian companies had to pay in U.S. dollars—even as the Naira lost its value by 70% against the dollar between 2020 and 2024. So, if you were running a business in Nigeria and earning in Naira, you were basically screwed. On top of that, the economy wasn’t doing great, so AWS just stopped being an attractive option altogether. That’s when local cloud providers like Nebula, Nobus, Galaxy, Suburban, and Layer3 stepped in, saying, "Hey, you can run your website, app, or workflow on our cloud and pay in Naira. Plus, we’ll store your data right here in Nigeria. AWS can’t do that for you." AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud control 65% of the global cloud market and have dominated in Africa, but their data centers? Mostly in South Africa. Building a data center costs millions of US dollars. So, smaller Nigerian companies are using "colocation", meaning they rent space in big data centers built by telcos and banks instead of building their own. So far, so many affordable and smart workarounds. But: the automation's just not as good (yet). AWS makes everything super easy with plug-and-play features, while local cloud providers require more manual setup, which not all engineers are used to.
video of the week
Cuba’s most unpredictable digital star I Have you ever been to Havana's Boulevard de San Rafael? No? Me neither. (I'm jealous if you said yes.) If you were anywhere near Cuban social media last week, you probably saw El Chicleee strutting down that same boulevard, dancing, hyping up passersby. His latest track, "El Pasillongo," dropped—and it’s making the rounds on YouTube. Produced by Reggaeton Cuba Viral, the song is peak Hyperreparto (louder, faster, and more chaotic cousin of Reparto, Cuba’s take on reggaeton). I've added some of this new genre's biggest hits to this newsletter's very own Spotify playlist, "Go Global Weekly".
on a funny note
This sounds like the plot of a crime thriller, but it’s real life.
In Toulouse, France, two thieves used a stolen bank card to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket—and hit the jackpot. The ticket is worth €500,000 (US$523,000). The twist? They disappeared before cashing it in.
Now, the victim, Jean-David E., is offering a deal: return the wallet, split the winnings. His lawyer has even launched a nationwide appeal for the thieves to come forward before the ticket expires.