By Amos SAFO
The reverse of the struggle for Africa is currently unfolding due to the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to sack western companies and close down military bases in their countries. Moreover, the new democratically elected young leaders of Senegal are toeing the line of the three Sahelian countries.
Economic relations
Prior to the bold decision by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to severe economic and military relations with France and some western countries, the notion was that without Europe and the entire western system Africa cannot survive. On the contrary, the response of western countries demonstrates that they need Africa more than Africa needs them.
For centuries the relationship between western countries, especially Europe and Africa was marked by unfair economic and trade relations. This sour was marked by capital flight by western multi-national companies into western banks, while Africa has been left bleeding.
In a recent communiqué after the demise of France in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, Lt. General Van Der Michiel Laan, the European Union’s Defence Spokesman, stated that Europe risks a better future if it loses control over Africa. Interestingly, Lt. General Michiel Laan revealed that Europe is now willing to relate with Africa according to Africa’s terms or what Africans ask for. In other words, the General says that western countries are willing to negotiate with Africa on equal terms unlike in the past when they took Africa for granted.
This means that western powers knew that their policies were and still are detrimental to the political, social and economic growth of Africa. They deliberately evolved policies to disrupt and undermine Africa’s development. As indicated earlier, the mindset change of western countries comes on the heels of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger rebelling against the dominance of France, which virtually hindered future economic and political independence.
If only the action of three countries has caused such panic among western countries, then western economies will crumble if the whole Africa decides to take control of their natural resources.
Signs on the wall
It is now evident that the EU particularly needs Africa more than Africa needs her. Another fact is that western countries know the value or worth of Africa to the global economy than Africans leaders.
That said, it is difficult to understand why subsequent African leaders have failed to unite politically and economically after their so-called political independence. Given the meteoric role of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in standing up to the west, there is not any better time for Africa to have a common market and to speak with one voice.
Sadly, rather than accepting their failure, I have heard ECOWAS and African Union leaders flexing their muscles that they will not allow the three countries to secede. On whose behalf have they taken that arrogant posture? Certainly, they are not acting for Africa, but rather dancing to the tunes of their European masters.
On July 24, 2024, Egypt extended a helping hand to Burkina Faso, promising economic, military and security. The deal between Egypt and Burkina Faso was announced during the recent commemorative ceremony of the 72nd National Day of Egypt, which was attended by a powerful delegation from Burkina Faso, led by Foreign Minister Jean Marie Traore. Egypt affirmed that the Alliance of Sahel States are brothers that need support, rather than condemnation.
The Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sheriff Abdel Qadar Abdel Latif Nadar, stated that the Arab Republic of Egypt is committed to stronger cooperation with Burkina Faso, and by extension Niger and Mali. Mr. Nadar highlighted the need for indigenous programmes to solve Burkina Faso’s problems.
Undoubtedly, Egypt’s support will enable Burkina Faso, Mail and Niger to have access to the sea through Southern Libya, which is connected to Egypt. According to experts, South Libya is controlled by Russia, which is backing the AES countries.
Despite sanctions on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the three countries are receiving support from other countries outside ECOWAS.
Apart from receiving support from Egypt, Morrocco and Tunisia have also pledged economic and political cooperation with the three countries. Outside Africa, countries like Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Turkey, China and Iran are backing the action of the three countries’ pursuit for self-determination. If events continue like this, AES will become a formidable regional bloc in future.
What will be on the minds of ECOWAS leaders who have sanctioned the three countries? Should ECOWAS lift the ban on the three countries in solidarity or keep the ban and risk further fragmentation? There are indications that should ECOWAS remain adamant, the AES could join the North Africa bloc. If one region is chasing AES countries away, other regions are willing to welcome them.
Fear of Russia and China
Apart from the fear of losing their economic and political grip on Africa, western countries are also afraid of the growing influence of Russia and China as alternative development partners.
They fear that Russia and China are gradually gaining a strategic hold over Africa. In a Congressional Enquiry, General Langley is reported to have disclosed that American military bases are established in Africa purely for access and influence.
Ideologically, the military bases are to counter Russia’s rising influence over Africa. “We need to be able to maintain access and influence across Africa, including the Maghreb region”, General Langley emphasised in a video that has gone viral on social media.
Beside Russia, western powers are also afraid that China’s long-term investments in roads and other infrastructure could sway Africa toward the Asian economic power. The west’s strategy is to make African countries feel threatened by Russia and China.
It is only then African countries will allow western powers to keep their military bases. This implies that the western military bases are not for the protection of Africans, but for power and influence. The core ideology is to secure Africa’s natural resources under eternal exploitation of western companies.
Apart from infrastructure, China and Russia aspire to dominate global security. This trend has sensitised western powers that China and Russia will eventually militarise Africa if they fail to deter Africa from befriending the two powerful countries.
It is clear from ongoing ideological debates that the west is only interested in militarising Africa, rather than investing in economic and social development. On the contrary, Russians and Chinese are offering better alternatives based on mutual benefits.
Insecurity
Quite often, western powers talk about insecurity in Africa but often worsen the situation by flooding the continent with arms that fuel ethnic conflicts. In my opinion, Africa has no permanent friends.
This is because every global power comes to Africa with ulterior motives, often shrouded in economic partnership agreements. Specifically, what the west describes as strategic relations with Africa has little, if anything, to do with human and economic development. Conversely, it has everything to do with sustaining their superpower status at the expense of Africa.
This situation is playing out at the Horn of Africa, where all global powers – including Saudi Arabia and Japan – have military bases. Given the intractable social, political and economic conditions in Africa, the last thing the continent needs is more military bases.
As a matter of urgency, the time for African leaders to speak with one voice over the continuous exploitation of continent’s natural resources is now or never; and the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal have shown the way.
Rather than condemning and threatening the leaders of the Sahelian countries, all well-meaning Africans need to solidarise with them for reigniting the spirit of Pan Africanism and African revival.
Senegal’s solidarity
So far, Senegal is the only country to have demonstrated the spirit of solidarity with the beleaguered leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In a recent speech, Prime Minister Osman Sonko, an unflinching Pan Africanist, announced Senegal’s support for the three countries. Sonko criticised the west for exploiting Africa for centuries, citing Senegal’s dissatisfaction with the presence of French military bases in West Africa.
He cited Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as countries where western meddling undermined peace and stability and questioned the legitimacy of western countries that are fomenting trouble, rather than promoting social and economic development.
He described such conduct as inadmissible and rejected any attempts by western powers to continue to undermine Africa’s sovereignty and development. Sonko, therefore, assured the Sahelian countries of Senegal’s support, promising to reinforce brotherliness among the countries.
Hypocrisy of the west
Prime Minister Sonko further criticised the hypocrisy in global politics, citing the penchant and haste with which some western countries tag African leaders that are seeking justice for their people as dictators. These same western powers overlook similar situations in other countries because of their huge oil resources.
By pointing at this global culture of hypocrisy, Sonko exposed the western practice of selective criticism of African countries that are bent on freeing themselves from western control and exploitation. He acknowledges the reality of coups in West Africa but rejects the simplistic narrative that rejects the complex origins of the African people.
With this new mindset, the new leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal uphold the principle that African problems deserve African solutions. This is in tandem with Kwame Nkrumah’s declaration in 1957 of the birth of a new Africa, who is ready to solve his own problems.
Sonko advocates for a new international approach to solving Africa’s problems that respects the sovereignty of Africa. He, therefore, called for a reassessment of the positioning of western military bases in Africa and its impact on the sovereignty of the continent.
Resource exploitation
Like Ibrahima Traore, Assimi Goïta and Abdourahamane Tchiani, Sonko also touched on the western exploitation of Africa’s natural resources.
He stressed the need for Africa to be the primary beneficiary of her natural resources, noting that foreign aid cannot compensate for the losses Africa incurs from continuous resource exploitation.
He further highlighted the critical economic problem of unemployment among African youth and stressed the need for reforms in monetary and economic policy to address unemployment.
In that regard, he called for renegotiation of mineral contracts to make Africa to benefit from her resources.
This calls for prudent resource management to correct historical imbalances in the distribution of natural resources to promote a sustainable future for African youth. While Africa is portrayed globally as the poorest continent, in reality, Africa is the richest continent in the world; yet Africans are denied the fruits of their natural resources.
Above all, Sonko demanded an inclusive approach in future relations with Africa, and highlighted the complex relationship between Europe and Africa that bothered on resource exploitation.
These centuries of exploitation contributed to the wealth and prosperity of Europe and the United States to the detriment of Africa. Thus, Europe’s engagement with Africa has been that of betrayal and scepticism.
These feelings have recently signalled anti-western western feelings across the continent from Mali to Niger to Burkina Faso to Senegal and recently to Kenya. Moreover, Prime Minister Sonko stressed the significance of acknowledging past mistakes, as both continents explore avenues for future collaboration.
Finally, Sonko addressed the contemporary challenges facing Africa, such as migration, fair trade, economic partnerships agreement, racism, security, technology transfer and climate change.
In that regard, he emphasised the urgency for a shared development based on equal partnership and fairness. As if in response to Sonko, Lt. General Michiel Laan’s disclosure that “Europe is now willing to relate with Africa according to Africa’s terms” is quite revealing and should bolster well-meaning African leaders to push the unity African agenda. Henceforth, Africa should not only demand fairness, but enforce it through boycotts as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have done.
