Alliance of Sahel States: A breakthrough for pan-Africanism and decolonization Article by People's World

The People's World recently featured an article spotlighting the Sahel Alliance of States' bold stance towards achieving full decolonization in the region. This informative piece has been picked up and republished by Caliber.Az, expanding its reach to a broader audience and facilitating greater engagement with this significant development in the Sahel region.

During the inaugural summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on July 6-7, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—a trio of pivotal nations in the Sahel/West African sphere—formally broke away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a move widely perceived as a decisive shift away from Western and particularly French dominance.

Last summer's military coup in Niger, marking the region's tenth coup in the last 15 years, underscored a growing rejection of French neocolonial influence. This sentiment crystallized at the recent summit, where these nations consolidated into a new power bloc with global implications.

Mali and Burkina Faso, ranking among Africa's top gold producers, along with Niger, rich in uranium reserves vital to France's energy supply, paradoxically face severe economic challenges. Despite their resource wealth, a significant portion of their populations live in poverty, with electricity shortages affecting millions. The United Nations' 2022 report highlighted nearly 18 million Sahel residents at risk of famine, underscoring the dire humanitarian consequences exacerbated by centuries of colonial exploitation and recent military interventions.

The region's simmering discontent erupted following NATO's intervention in Libya, catalyzing a surge in extremist violence and further destabilizing the Sahel. French and U.S. military interventions, ostensibly aimed at combating terrorism, paradoxically contributed to escalating tensions and anti-Western sentiment.

Leaders of the AES—Assimi Goita (Mali), Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso), and Abdourahamane Tchiani (Niger) - all with backgrounds in U.S. military training - have emerged as staunch critics of Western hegemony. They have openly condemned French and American influence while cultivating strategic partnerships with Russia, Nicaragua, and China. Niger's decision to halt exports of uranium and gold to France, coupled with Russia's substantial debt forgiveness and food aid to the Sahel, symbolizes a pivotal geopolitical realignment.

While initially dismissed by Western media as military strongmen, these leaders have actively engaged civilian sectors, exemplified by Burkina Faso's Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla, a Marxist and Pan-Africanist influenced by Thomas Sankara's legacy. At the AES summit, Traoré delivered a passionate address condemning imperialist claims to African resources and advocating for a new era of self-determination.

Central to the AES's agenda is achieving financial sovereignty, evidenced by plans for an investment bank aimed at reducing dependency on institutions like the IMF and World Bank, institutions often criticized for perpetuating neocolonial economic structures typified by the CFA Franc.

The summit also affirmed commitments to facilitate free movement of people and goods within the Confederation, a pivotal step towards fostering regional economic integration and social development. These initiatives signal the AES's nascent journey towards dismantling colonial legacies and asserting Pan-Africanist ideals of autonomy and sovereignty in defiance of continued Western influence and exploitation.