Activist Arrested Amid Tensions Over Alleged Illegal Lithium Mining by Chinese Company

Namibian activist Jimmy Areseb was arrested during a protest accusing local leaders of taking bribes from Chinese mining company Xinfeng to allow illegal lithium mining, reports Vitalio Angula from Voice of America. The protest turned violent, with elderly protesters being forcibly removed by police, sparking comparisons to apartheid-era tactics. While police defended Areseb’s arrest, investigations into Xinfeng’s alleged bribery continue. Xinfeng denies the claims, stating their contributions to the local authority are part of corporate social responsibility, not bribes.