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Mali Defends Sovereignty Against A Western-Backed ‘Proxy War’

Amid a barrage of media reports prophesying the fall of Mali to an Al Qaeda affiliate disrupting its fuel supply by attacking tankers, delegates from ten African countries, Iran, and Turkey attended a defense expo in the capital Bamako from November 11 to 14. The city was reported to be “under siege”, encircled by jihadists closing in on power. Some version of “Is Mali about to fall?” was a rhetorical question across headlines, while the Atlantic Council declared the country was “unraveling”. Dismissing this portrayal as a scenario “concocted in the office of foreign intelligence services”, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop insisted that “the fate of Mali, and the destiny of the people in the West African region will not be decided” by the media.

France Is A State Sponsor Of Terror, AES Countries Declare

“Terrorism is being used” by imperialist forces “to pillage African resources,” said Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Rimtalba Ouédraogo in his address at the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA). “A case in point is France,” whose troops Burkina Faso expelled in early 2023. Mali, which had also expelled French troops the year before, had sought a meeting of the UN Security Council in 2022, “so that my country could provide irrefutable proof of France’s support for terrorist activities,” recalled its Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga in his address. “So far, this request has not been followed up on,” while France continues its “sabotage”.

AES Countries Exit ICC, Denounce It As Instrument Of Neo-Colonial Repression

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) announced its immediate withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday, condemning it as a tool of “imperialism”, silent about the worst crimes by the West and its allies while selectively pursuing its opponents. Ratifying the Rome Statute in the early 2000s, its three member countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger – have been members of the ICC for over three decades. “However, over time, they have come to observe that this jurisdiction has transformed into an instrument of neo-colonial repression in the hands of imperialism, thereby becoming the global example of selective justice,” states the AES communique on September 22.

Using Lessons From The Horn Of Africa To Protect Alliance Of Sahelian States

The Sahel region, stretching between the Sahara and the savannas of Africa, is once again emerging as a battleground, not only of geography but of ideas, sovereignty, and neocolonial entrenchment. The formation of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) , uniting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger into a confederation, marks a bold attempt to reclaim Pan-African agency and assert sovereignty free from foreign domination. Officially established on July 6, 2024, in Niamey, Niger, the AES reflects a transitional phase toward a unified federation, a development met with celebration across Africa and the Global South, but with growing alarm in Western capitals.

Planting Seeds Of Sovereignty: Lessons From The Sahel And Beyond

As the U.S. doubles down on tariffs and trade wars, African nations—particularly in the Sahel—find themselves at a critical juncture. The West calls its protectionism “economic security” and “national interest.” But when African states make similar moves to assert control over their land, labor, and futures, they are labeled authoritarian, unstable, or dangerous. Sovereignty for the West is lauded. Sovereignty for the South is a threat. The truth is that protectionism has always been political. From Alexander Hamilton’s “infant industry” policies in the U.S. to South Korea’s strategic shielding of domestic industries in the 1960s and 1970s, protectionism has never been about fairness.

Sahel States Exit ECOWAS, Launch Regional Passport And Joint Military

Just a year ago, on January 28, 2024, the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger publicly declared their intent to withdraw from the regional economic bloc. This announcement was a historic point in the Sahel’s political shift, as the three countries continue to push for sovereignty, regional security, and economic autonomy. The withdrawal took effect on January 29, 2025, as confirmed by ECOWAS. On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, came alive with celebration as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) marked the first anniversary of their historic decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Africa And Russia: The Anti-Imperialist Partnership For Our Future

Neo-colonial governments have been toppled in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger (henceforth “the Alliance of Sahel States”). Revolutionary governments, backed by popular movements, have seized power and resurrected the flame of revolution in Africa. From the outbreaks of the rebellions that toppled neo-colonialism to today, it is common to see the people raising Russian flags along their national flags. For Africans, Russia represents a win-win cooperation and a partner against Western hegemony. Despite Western media’s desperate strategy to paint Russia as an imperial power and a colonial force that Africans should be wary of, a thorough study of history and a proper understanding of imperialism demonstrates that Russia has never been an imperialist or a colonial force in Africa, nor is it now.

France Must Go From Africa Is The Slogan Of The Hour

A cascade of anti-French sentiment continues to sweep across the belt of the Sahel in Africa: joining Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, Chad and Senegal demanded in November that the French government withdraw its military from their territories. From the western border of Sudan to the Atlantic Ocean, French armed forces, which have been in the area since 1659, will no longer have a base. The statement by the foreign minister of Chad, Abderaman Koulamallah, is exemplary: ‘France… must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured, and that Chad is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty’.

Delegation From Alliance Of Sahel States Visits Cuba

From November 8 to 15, twelve people from the countries of the Sahel visited Cuba to meet with Cuban people who carry forward the revolutionary project, and learn about Cuba’s socialist model and deep friendship with the peoples of Africa. The delegation sought to learn lessons from Cuba’s decades-long revolution to help advance the new revolutions being constructed in the Sahel. This was the first delegation of Africans traveling to Cuba from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a Pan-African anti-imperialist confederation consisting of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Imperialism And The Destabilization Of The Alliance Of Sahel States

Since the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, during 2023, the governments of France and the United States along with their surrogates have sought to undermine the political and economic objectives of these developing nations. When the military Committee for the Safeguard of Our Homeland (CNSP) took power in Niger last year on July 26, Paris and Washington sought to have members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stage a military intervention into this uranium-rich country to reimpose the French and U.S.-backed ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Imperialism And The Destabilization Of The Alliance Of Sahel States

Since the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, during 2023, the governments of France and the United States along with their surrogates have sought to undermine the political and economic objectives of these developing nations. When the military Committee for the Safeguard of Our Homeland (CNSP) took power in Niger last year on July 26, Paris and Washington sought to have members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stage a military intervention into this uranium-rich country to reimpose the French and U.S.-backed ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Mali And Niger Break Diplomatic Relations With Ukraine

Since the beginning of the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, the African continent has become a major battleground in the renewed Cold War between Moscow and Washington. In recent weeks in response to an attack by rebels in the north of Mali in Tinzaoten, the military government based in Bamako has revealed that Ukrainian military forces were involved in an ambush against its soldiers and Russian security advisors on July 27. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have formed an Alliance of Sahel States (AES) which has formerly broken with the western-backed Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Is The Ukraine War Spilling Into Africa?

Ukraine’s military intelligence recently claimed to have had a role in the massive ambush coordinated with Tuareg rebels that killed Russian troops operating alongside Malian armed forces in Mali, the Francophone West African country. The assertion has sparked fears that parts of Africa might become a proxy war zone for Russia and Ukraine. As the war in Ukraine continues, President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking beyond the stubborn battlefield on his country’s front line for other victories. In Africa, the apparent success in Mali could be largely rhetorical, several analysts told PassBlue.

The Imperialist Attack On The Alliance Of Sahel States

On July 27, 2024, armed Tuareg militants and affiliates of the Islamic State in the Sahel attacked a Malian military convoy heading to the northern part of the country, Tinzawaten, close to the border with Algeria. The ambush led to the killing of a large score of the Malian military personnel and their accompanying cadres from the Private Military company, Wagner Group. Being inflicted on one of Russia’s allies in the Sahel, the Western puppet press voyeuristically rushed to glorify the violence. More importantly, Ukraine hopped on to cheer the massacre, and a Facebook post from their embassy in Dakar claimed that the country had provided information, intelligence and military support to Tuareg militants.

AES First Summit: Burkina Faso President Delivers Historic Speech

On 6th July 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger officially created the Alliance of Sahel States Confederation. In this historic address, Captain Ibrahim Traoré delivers a powerful and inspiring speech at the 1st Summit of Heads of State of AES (African Economic and Security) Member Countries With a focus on unity, economic cooperation, and regional security, Captain Traoré emphasizes the importance of collaboration among member states to foster sustainable development and stability across the continent. His speech highlights key initiatives and strategies to enhance economic growth, strengthen security measures, and promote peace and prosperity within the AES region.
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