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fatehbaz · 2 years ago

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The franc CFA (originally denoting Colonies françaises d’Afrique) is the official currency of Senegal and most other former French colonies in Africa, from before national independence through the present-day. This monetary system and its history are the subjects of a new book by Fanny Pigeaud and Ndongo Samba Sylla, Africa’s Last Colonial Currency (2021), translated by Thomas Fazi from a 2018 French edition. The book brings to the attention of Anglophone readers the peculiar institutions through which the French Republic continues to exercise colonial rule over nominally independent African states. France’s recent “counterterrorism” operations across the Sahel region (supported and rivaled in scope by the United States’ Africa Command, AFRICOM) represent only one phase in what the Black Alliance for Peace (2020) has called France’s “active and aggressive military presence in Africa for years.” [...] One of Pigeaud and Sylla’s commitments and achievements is to show how “French ‘soft’ monetary power is inseparable from its ‘hard’ military power” (2021: 99). In their telling, the CFA franc has for decades been France’s secret weapon in “Françafrique,” the zone in Africa where France, its representatives, and its monetary system have never really left. [...]

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The franc CFA was born in Paris on the 25th of December, 1945 [...]. The embattled empire was compelled to “loosen its grip” in Africa [in the midst of anticolonial fervor outside of Europe, and with rise of “decolonization” in metropolitan/European public discourses] [...]. Consequently, argue Pigeaud and Sylla, the creation of the CFA franc was “actually designed to allow France to regain control of its colonies” (13). What Minister Pleven called generosity might better be called a swindle. [...] French goods-for-export, now priced in a devalued currency (made cheaper), would find easy markets in the colonies [...]. African goods - especially important raw materials, from uranium to cocoa, priced too expensively for domestic consumption [...] -- would find buyers more exclusively in France [...]. In effect, the new CFA monetary policies re-consolidated France’s imperial economy even as the monopoly regime of the colonial pact could be formally retired in recognition of demands for change from colonial subjects. [...] [T]he egalitarian parlance of community and cooperation modernized French colonial authority, making it more invisible rather than marking its end. [...]

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Most importantly, France has held up a guarantee of unlimited convertibility between CFA francs and French currency [as its so-called most benevolent feature] [...]. [But] CFA francs can only ever be converted into France’s currency [...] before being exchanged for other currencies [...]. In 1994, in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund and against the wishes of most African leaders, French authorities adjusted the franc zone exchange rate for the first time, devaluing the CFA franc by half. This blanket devaluation was the shock through which structural adjustment was forced upon Françafrique [...].

And the devaluation proved, to Pigeaud and Sylla, that France’s “‘guarantee of unlimited convertibility’ was an intellectual and political fraud” (74). Nevertheless, French authorities have continually held up - that is, brandished and exploited - this guarantee, without honoring it. [...] Pigeaud and Sylla do not mince words: “France uses its presumed role of ‘guarantor’ as a pretext and as a tool to blackmail its former colonies in order to keep them in its orbit, both economically and politically” (38). [...] In that respect, the CFA franc system has ensured [...] the stabilization of raw material exportation and goods importation, hierarchy and indirect rule, [...] accumulation and mass impoverishment, in short, the colonial order.

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And all along, France has found - or compelled, coerced, and more-or-less directly put in place - useful political partners in Françafrique. [...]

The CFA franc has been central to the French strategy of decolonization-in-name-only. [...]

When and where demands for self-determination and changes to the monetary system (usually more minor than exit or abolition) have been strongest, from charismatic leaders or from below, they have been met with a retaliatory response from France and its African partners, frequently going so far as “destabilisation campaigns and even assassinations and coups d’état” (40). [...]

The first case is exemplary. In 1958, Ahmed Sékou Touré helped lead Guinea to independence [...]. Guinea was alone in voting down De Gaulle’s “Community” proposal [...], and [...] the new state established its own national currency and central bank by 1960. [...] [T]he decision was ultimately made to make Guinea a cautionary tale for the rest of Françafrique. French counter-intelligence officials plotted and hired out a series of mercenary attacks (“with the aim of creating a climate of insecurity and, if possible, overthrowing Sékou Touré,” recalled one such operative), in conjunction with “Operation Persil,” a scheme to flood the Guinean economy with false Guinean bills, successfully bringing about a devastating crash (43). [...] Yet, Sékou Touré was never removed, only ostracized - unlike Sylvanus Olympio in Togo or Modiba Keita in Mali, others whose (initially minor) desired changes to the CFA status quo were refused and rebuffed and who were then deposed in French-linked coups. [...]

So too the Cameroonian economist Joseph Tchundjang Pouemi, an even more overlooked figure since his death at the age of 47 in 1984. Pouemi’s experience working at the IMF [International Monetary Fund] in the 1970s led him to recognize that the leaders of the international monetary system would “repress any government that tries to offer their country a minimum of wellbeing” (60) and could do so especially easily in Françafrique because of the CFA franc.

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All text above by: Matt Schneider. “Africa’s Last Colonial Currency Review.” Society and Space [Book Reviews section of the online Magazine format]. 29 November 2021. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

#colonial #imperial #abolition #french algeria #carceral #debt and debt colonies #tidalectics #black methodologies #indigenous #kathryn yusoff #katherine mckittrick #french imperialism

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warningsine · 1 year ago

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BAMAKO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, three West African Sahel nations ruled by military juntas, signed a security pact on Saturday promising to come to the aid of each other in case of any rebellion or external aggression.

The three countries are struggling to contain Islamic insurgents linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State and have also seen their relations with neighbours and international partners strained because of the coups.

The latest coup in Niger drove a further wedge between the three and countries of the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, which has threatened to use force to restore constitutional rule in the country.

Mali and Burkina Faso have vowed to come to Niger's aid if it is attacked.

"Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," according to the charter of the pact, known as the Alliance of Sahel States.

It said the other states will assist individually or collectively, including with the use of armed force.

"I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali junta leader Assimi Goita said on his X social media account.

All three states were members of the France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania, launched in 2017 to tackle Islamist groups in the region.

Mali has since left the dormant organisation after a military coup, while ousted Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum said in May last year that the force is now "dead" following Mali's departure.

Relations between France and the three states have soured since the coups.

France has been forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, and is in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after it asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador.

France has refused to recognise the authority of the junta.

#Niger #Mali #Burkina Faso #Alliance of Sahel States

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darkmaga-returns · 1 month ago

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France and the US are expected to apply a three-pronged policy for pushing back against this.

Thursday was an historic day for African geopolitics since Chad announced that it’s expelling French troops while Senegal said that it plans to do the same in the near future. These are France’s last military outposts in the Sahel after it was expelled from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which now form the Sahelian Alliance that’s also merging into a Confederation. The immediate consequence is that Russian influence will likely surge while France is expected to turn the Ivory Coast into its top regional base.

These trends align with the larger one of Africa becoming a theater of competition in the New Cold War. The West wants to retain its declining unipolar hegemony while Russia and China are leading the push by the non-West to accelerate multipolar processes there. The first manifests itself through coups, Color Revolutions, and insurgencies (collectively known as Hybrid War) while the second takes the form of Russia helping its partners counteract these threats as China provides no-strings-attached economic aid.

The latest development confirms that the African Hinterland is the continent’s bastion of multipolarity while the coastal periphery serves as both the entry point and redoubt for unipolarity, which mirrors the dynamics in Eurasia. This in turn lends further credence to Professor Alexander Dugin’s theory about the historical rivalry between land powers and sea powers. In the African context, Eurasia’s land powers are helping their fellow Hinterland partners liberate themselves from the influence of Eurasia’s sea powers.

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thedailyvibe01 · 1 month ago

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Chad Ends Military Cooperation with France, Moves Toward Reaffirming Sovereignty

Chad has announced the termination of its military cooperation agreement with France, signaling a shift in its defense strategy and a push to assert its sovereignty. This decision will require French troops to leave the Central African nation, marking a significant change in the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

Chad's Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, acknowledged France as “an essential partner,” but emphasized that Chad is now a sovereign state that has “grown up” and is deeply protective of its independence. His remarks came shortly after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, which highlighted the timing of the announcement.

Chad has traditionally worked closely with Western military forces, but in recent years, it has increasingly aligned itself with Russia, signaling a shift in its strategic alliances. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the termination of the defense agreement, which was revised in 2019, would allow Chad to redefine its strategic partnerships moving forward, positioning itself as a more independent player in global affairs.

This move comes amid broader changes in the Sahel region, where several countries are reevaluating their relationships with former colonial powers and moving closer to Russia, as part of a growing trend of political realignment in Africa.

#France #MilitaryCooperation #Russia #Africa

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marketsndata · 1 month ago

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Global Arms and Ammunition Market Assessment 2031

Global arms and ammunition market size was valued at USD 62.25 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 96.63 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 5.65% for the forecast period between 2023 and 2030. In today’s contemporary era, characterized by expanding global economies and dwindling resources, nations fortify themselves to protect their interests, fostering peace internally and externally. They aim to secure their nations’ prosperity, survival, and continuity. The 2023 Global Peace Index, an annual publication from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), reports a 0.42 percent decline in the average level of global peacefulness, marking the ninth consecutive year of deteriorating global peace.

The arms and ammunition market is experiencing significant growth due to rising global conflicts, resource constraints, and political instability. Security concerns drive this growth as nations strive to maintain sovereignty and peace. The industry is an economic driver, with imported arms often costing high and requiring licensing and permissions. Countries continuously enhance their capabilities, forging alliances, and invest in advanced technologies to create more durable and efficient weapons and ammunition. The market is not limited to lethal weaponry and includes non-lethal and non-tactical ammunition for crowd control and managing internal conflicts. Rising crime rates contribute to the market’s expansion.

Escalating Global Conflict Escalate Use of Arms and Ammunition

Geopolitical tensions have led to conflicts in various nations, with major powers seeking to extend their influence by supporting opposing factions through troop deployment and arms supply. The 2022 Global Peace Index shows a shift in the global conflict landscape, with major conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia decreasing and tensions increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Since 2019, conflict intensity has increased, with a 45% increase in fatalities in the year preceding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It has led to a surge in demand for arms and ammunition, driven by geopolitical and economic reasons.

In 2022, Algeria procured arms, including recoilless rifles and grenade launchers from Bulgaria. North Africa, despite appearing stable, deals with underlying insecurity stemming from political, social, economic challenges, democratic deficits, extremist groups, and international rivalries. Algeria justifies its robust military posture due to its precarious neighborhood. It shares borders with unstable neighbors like Libya, which is affected by groups such as “Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb,” and Tunisia, marked by post-2011 political unrest. To the west, border tensions with Morocco are fueled by the Western Sahara conflict. Extensive frontiers with Mali and Niger, known for separatist and terrorist activities in the African Sahel, underscore the importance of military readiness.

Non-Lethal Ammunition Spurs the Market

Governments bear the responsibility of preserving internal peace and security. While protests are a natural part of global socio-political dynamics, they can sometimes escalate into violence. Unfortunately, the institutions meant to safeguard the populace might find themselves compelled to employ force against their citizens. In 2022, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project noted a substantial increase in political violence amid reduced demonstration activity. This escalation was evident worldwide, particularly in Europe and Central Asia, with political violence surging by 27% compared to 2021 while demonstrations fell by 12%. Incidents of violence targeting civilians grew by 12%, becoming deadlier with a 16% increase in fatalities from direct civilian targeting.

Protests, driven primarily by economic grievances like inflation, have escalated significantly. In September 2022, Sri Lanka witnessed violent confrontations as authorities dispersed demonstrators protesting for several months due to severe economic challenges. Additionally, unjust actions could trigger civil unrest, exemplified by France’s deployment of over 40,000 police officers in July 2023 to quell urban riots following fatal police shooting incident. The growing trend has spurred a heightened demand for advanced riot control equipment, crowd dispersal tactics, rubber bullets, and tear gas, propelling the global arms and ammunition market.

Rising Civilian Arms Purchases Boost Arms and Ammunition Market

The 2023 Global Organized Crime Index shows a rise in global criminal activities, with an average rating of 5.03 out of 10, indicating 83% of the global population lives in countries with high crime rates. Despite this, resilience across various factors remains relatively stable. The arms and ammunition market is expanding due to a surge in civilian firearm acquisitions, driven by concerns about rising crime and personal safety. However, the increased accessibility of firearms raises potential risks, as they can be misused for violent purposes.

In the United States, the Second Amendment guarantees the right to hold arms, with 40% of adults living in households with firearms and 32% personally owning one. A significant portion of gun owners, 72%, cite protection and self-defense as major reasons for firearm ownership. The increase in gun accessibility coincides with a significant rise in gun violence in the USA in 2022, with over 600 mass shootings contributing to the highest firearm-related deaths in nearly three decades. Firearms manufacturers like Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. reported substantial earnings, with net sales of USD 593.3 million linked to their firearms operations.

Technology Breakthroughs Propel the Global Arms and Ammunition Industry Forward

Technological advancements propel the global arms and ammunition market, especially in small arms and rifles. Manufacturers are incorporating state-of-the-art optics and accessories, including night and thermal vision capabilities, to enhance the performance of these firearms. Concurrently, there’s a notable increase in the production of advanced, compact, and lightweight assault rifles designed for counter-terrorism operations and urban warfare, featuring quick target acquisition and reduced recoil. Additionally, adjustable stock systems are gaining popularity, enabling shooters to customize their rifles for comfort and precision in extended engagements. These innovations empower military forces and contribute to the industry’s sustained growth.

In June 2023, Israel entered a contract with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) to procure an additional 2,800 Micro-Tavor assault rifles for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be delivered by 2028. As Israel went to war with Hamas in October 2023, it initiated a fresh order for 10,000 rifles to equip civilian security teams primarily stationed in towns near Israel’s borders.

North America Maintains Market Leadership: Rising Defense Expenditures and Advanced Weapon Procurement Propel Dominance

North America maintains its market leadership. This dominance is primarily driven by the region’s escalating defense expenditures and the heightened acquisition of advanced weapons and ammunition by the United States and Canada. The United States has consistently been at the forefront of light weaponry, solidifying its position as a global military powerhouse. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has significantly increased its investment in advanced weapon systems due to the evolving nature of warfare. Rigorous testing ensures reliability and assesses the performance enhancements associated with new integrated design changes.

In February 2023, the United States entered a USD 520 million contract with Northrop Grumman Corporation and Global Military Products to produce artillery ammunition for use by Ukraine. This underscores the region’s commitment to equipping its armed forces with cutting-edge weaponry.

Governments Regulations

Global regulations are essential for preserving domestic and international peace and security. They effectively curb conflicts, limit illicit arms trade, and prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands, promoting stability and safeguarding human rights. International arms control agreements, like the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) adopted in 2013 and enacted in 2014, govern the global transfer of conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons. The ATT addressed the transfer of small arms to non-state actors, such as armed groups and terrorist organizations. Other international agreements, like the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, play significant roles in regulating the trade and use of small arms and armaments, promoting global peace and security.

In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to comprehensively combat the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. Member states were urged to strengthen their national laws and regulatory frameworks, increase collaboration with other nations, and support developing countries. In 2023, the European Union implemented a regulation to enhance firearms traceability and prevent their acquisition by criminal elements and terrorist organizations, thereby advancing security and public safety. These international frameworks collectively contribute to responsible arms trade, accountability, and the pursuit of global peace.

Impact of COVID-19

The arms and ammunition market has shown resilience despite the global economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found a 1.3% increase in arms sales among the top 100 companies, indicating enduring demand driven by political and strategic motivations. Major arms manufacturers have used their financial influence to influence defense policies, sometimes accelerating orders to access funds ahead of schedule. The arms industry tapped into a growing South Asian market, with countries like India and China expanding their small arms production, catering to domestic and international exports. The resilience demonstrates the market’s adaptability to economic challenges and evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Impact of Russia-Ukraine War

Russia, a significant global arms supplier, saw its defense production capacity strained after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, along with subsequent sanctions that affected its arms industry’s reputation and complicated payment options for existing customers.

The conflict has heightened the demand for military equipment and ammunition in Europe. Global supply chain disruptions, such as shipping interruptions and semiconductor shortages, have impacted arms sales, particularly in Western countries with intricate global supply networks. Giving other countries opportunities to step in and fill the gap, for instance, since the war, Poland became a major supplier providing a significant share of major arms deliveries to Ukraine and NATO forces. Moreover, it has exposed contradictions in the global order, as business interests often trumped calls for peace, with certain EU member states continuing to export military equipment to Russia, amounting to 30 billion despite ongoing embargoes until 2021, according to Investigate Europe’s data analysis.

Global Arms and Ammunition Market: Report Scope

“Arms and Ammunition Market Assessment, Opportunities and Forecast, 2016-2030F” is a comprehensive report by Markets and Data, providing in-depth analysis and qualitative & quantitative assessment of the current state of the global arms and ammunition market, industry dynamics, and challenges. The report includes market size, segmental shares, growth trends, COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war impact, opportunities, and forecast between 2023 and 2030. Additionally, the report profiles the leading players in the industry, mentioning their respective market share, business model, competitive intelligence, etc.

Click here for full report- https://www.marketsandata.com/industry-reports/arms-and-ammunition-market

Latest reports-

Contact

Mr. Vivek Gupta 5741 Cleveland street, Suite 120, VA beach, VA, USA 23462 Tel: +1 (757) 343–3258 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.marketsandata.com

#Arms and Ammunition Market #Global Market News #Market Research Reports #Market Updates

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deepspaceboytoy · 2 months ago

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Imperial History

On the 21st of September, 454 CE, the Roman Emperor Valentinian III attempted to murder Flavius Aetius while he delivered an account in Ravenna. With an audience of nobles and senators, the Emperor interrupted Aetius and declaimed him, drawing his sword so that he could strike him down. Instead, Aetius killed the Emperor. Perhaps Valentinian had feared Aetius’ growing power and influence, perhaps he felt resentment over Aetius’ allegiances in the civil wars of decades prior. Regardless of the reason, a fearful emperor had tried to strike down the man called the last true Roman, and failed.

To empire-wide acclaim, Aetius was declared emperor, and immediately set about fixing the almost unfixable situation the Western Roman Empire found itself in. To the Germanic tribes flooding across her borders, Aetius offered alliance and citizenship. To the slave rebellions wracking the empire’s provinces, he offered freedom. To the plebes, so beleaguered by hunger and poverty, he offered land and wealth redistribution. To the military, he offered leadership and salvation. Across all sectors of empire, he tore down the foundations and built them anew.

By his death in 534, Rome was reborn, stronger, wealthier, smarter than before. The Imperial Highways stretched across every corner of the empire, the legions were rebuilt and cities expanded. Under the firm, even handed leadership of the Aetian Dynasty, the empire flourished.

Starting under Emperor Gaulterius, Rome sought a closer relationship with the nations of Africa. First with the Umayyad Caliphate and their successors, and later the Empire of Mali, Rome and Africa would develop rapidly. In 1634, Roman and Malian engineers would begin construction on the Continental Causeway, building a road and rail bridge from the lower tip of Italia through Sicily and into Roman Carthage on the coast of North Africa. Together, the two continents would embark on several other massive projects, including Terra’s first megacity of Damascus. Dagbon shipbuilders built the steamships that carried the first imperial explorers across the Atlantic, and Benin engineers helped design the underground Imperial Railway that spanned all across Europe.

In 1791, an alliance of African states signed the Sahel Accords, creating the Pan African Coalition. The same day, the Imperium Europum, as Rome had come to be known, declared them a permanent ally, equal, and partner.

This golden age would last until September 25th, 1933, when the Roman ambassador to the Qing Dynasty, Iolanus Vorenus, deliberately sabotaged a series of diplomatic communiques, and sparked a war between Rome and the Qing. As the series of border skirmishes between Roman legions and Qing troops escalated into a full blown war, the rest of the Pan-Asia Defense Initiative was drawn into the conflict, which soon spilled over into the PAC and Western Economic Union of the new world. The war would last until 1943, when Qing sued for peace, economically devastated by the war. The empire would not escape unscathed, as the regional capital of Triers was destroyed in a WEU nuclear strike.

After the war, the WEU and PADI would be folded into the empire, which declared itself the Imperium Terra. In 1991, Outpost Sapiens was established on Luna, marking the creation of humanity’s first off-world settlement. The outpost would serve as a fuel depot for further exploration of the solar system under the joint Imperial-PAC Global Aerospace Administration, although imperial zeitgeist for space development would die off following the ISV Mare Tyrrhenian Disaster in 2101 when a cargo launcher exploded over Celtiberia, spreading fallout across the entire province. It would take a miracle for the Imperium to restart its expansion to the stars.

This miracle would come in the form of Emperor Valerius Illurius Laerio and his adopted son, Herius Victus. Emperor Valerius was elected by the Senate in 2303, breaking the uninterrupted reign of the Aetian Dynasty for the first time in imperial history. Valerius was not a popular emperor, and ruled mostly from afar for the early years of his reign. It wasn’t until August 1st, 2314, that his image would be rehabilitated when an orphan was mysteriously left in his antechamber. Naming the child Herius, Valerius adopted him as his son and heir, and groomed him from that day forward to be his successor.

Herius would prove to have the charm and warmth his father lacked, and proved immensely popular at state functions, so when his coronation day arrived in 2332, massive crowds gathered to cheer. This was when three massive ships appeared in orbit over Terra, utterly immense in dimension and scale. The largest of them, measuring fully 43.7 kilometers in length, would soon be nicknamed the Invictus, in honor of the prince. Valerius, his interest clearly piqued by the ships, gathered a team of scientific, military, engineering, and cultural advisors, and boarded the Invictus along with his son.

For a year, cadres of experts shuttled back and forth from Terra to the ship, frequently accompanied by the crown prince. And then, suddenly and without warning, Victus stole the ship. He and a selected team of loyalists absconded with the Invictus, disappearing into the reaches of space.

The Imperium surged after him. Reverse engineered technology from the two other ships, christened the Harbingers, was used to develop humanity’s first interstellar vessels, and from there, the Imperium Humanum, as it was now known, spread through the stars. After the disaster of the 1st Aberinian War, it would meet the vast galactic community.

It is now 2762. The Imperium is the pinnacle of stellar civilization. Numbering over 4000 settled systems and nearly 13 trillion citizens, it is the largest spacefaring nation in galactic history. Gargantuan macro-engineering projects are a daily endeavor, and entire stars are rendered down to their raw materials to feed the needs of the growing populace. Massive Imperial warships ply its borders, and its proud Navy remains undefeated through the many attempts to conquer the nascent power. But on the eastern fringe of the Imperial Frontier, whole worlds are going dark, early warning beacons are being silenced, and disquiet grows. Rumors are spreading of something terrible in the deeps of space, spreading like a cancer. And amidst all this, the Dark Prince Herius Victus has been seen for the first time since the apocalyptic Unification Wars of the 2670s. No one knows what is coming, except maybe the once favored first son of the Empire.

#the victusverse #here’s the basic overview of the imperium and who Victus himself is

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kilowogcore · 6 months ago

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Socialist Victories

With everythin' goin' on in the US, an' word comin' that Macron is tryin' ta' hijack the left's victory in France (which wuz inevitable, really), a bit a' good news has slipped through the cracks. The Alliance of Sahel States has formed in West Africa.

This is Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the three biggest states in the region, an' their alliance has rejected former colonizers in the west.

As always happens in the real world, there's some messy bits. All three leaders are military, and the US has denounced this as an alliance of military juntas. But here's the thing: real world change is messy. An' at least the civilian government is involved.

Would I rather see civilian control from the community level in line with anarcho-communist principles? Of course I would. That's what I work toward. But I ain't so blinded by that ideal that I won't support other leftist pushes usin' other methods.

The takeaway here is that, fer the first time in a long time, these states have cut their predatory exports to France, explicitly declared their intentions to decolonize, an' allied with anti-Western states to form new trade partners. I hope they succeed. I hope their people, who've been impoverished by colonialism, gain that good life they deserve. An' I hope this is just the beginnin' of a pan-African revolution that is long overdue.

#africa #sahel #socialism #decolonize africa decolonize palestine decolonize the americas

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valiantsoldier · 6 months ago

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Their Excellencies, Capitaine Ibrahim TRAORÉ (President of Burkina Faso), Brigade General Abdourahamane Tchiani (President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Nigerian Homeland) and Colonel Assimi Goïta (President of Mali) have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The three Leaders have cemented their cooperation and AES will pave the way for regional cooperation in Africa, including a dominant military alliance and the elimination of any colonial influence.

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beardedmrbean · 7 months ago

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The implications of the U.S. military withdrawal from Niger — increasingly backfilled with Russian troops — have become the subject of a heated public discussion in the West African region.

In March, Niger’s junta announced it was breaking off its decades-long military alliance with the U.S. “with immediate effect” and demanded the withdrawal of nearly 1,000 U.S. troops stationed in the country.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed on May 3 that Russian military personnel have installed themselves at the American airbase in Niger. The Kremlin rebranded the notorious Wagner Group as the Africa Corps after the failed rebellion and death of its funder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, last August.

Some West Africa watchers, like Colin P. Clarke, the director of research at the Soufan Group, a global intelligence and security consultancy, expressed worry that the growing Russian presence in the Sahel, invited in by the military juntas that have ousted several democratically-elected governments, will only worsen the violence that is surging throughout the region.

“My concern is that if the Russians come in … they continue to make the terrorism problem worse, not better, and then when they’re done extracting what they want to extract, they’re going to pack up and go home, and this place is going to look like a nightmare, ” Clark told Foreign Policy magazine.

Others, like Nigerian investigative journalist and filmmaker David Hundeyin, say the U.S. never cared about protecting Africans from violent extremists but placed its troops in the Sahel to “ensure the flow of Africa’s natural resources,” the same as the “old colonial military bases.”

In a viral debate on X, on May 5, Hundeyin argued that:

’’American foreign policy sees the Uranium in Niger… the oil in Escravos and the lithium in Kogi as valuable assets… A U.S. military base anywhere in Africa serves EXACTLY the same purpose that the old colonial military bases did - to protect the flow of African resources, and not the lives of African people which America considers to be less than worthless.”

That is false.

Far from robbing the Sahel region of its natural resources, the United States has invested in strengthening its security more than any other foreign nation. Between 2001 and 2020, the U.S. dedicated $3.3 billion to the Sahel and trained at least 86,000 counterterrorism troops in the region, including nearly 18,000 in Niger. That is more than all other foreign nations combined.

U.S. long- and short-term civilian assistance in the region remains a significant source of food security, energy, agriculture, and transportation. In 2022 alone the U.S. spent about $11 billion in the African region, including $1 billion aid in humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflicts, floods, droughts, famine, and other disasters in the Sahel region, which includes Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Niger is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of USAID’s programs through the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.

As for the U.S.’s role in extracting Africa’s natural resources: China, France, Japan, and Spain are the largest extractors of uranium in Niger. China is also the single largest harvester of Nigeria’s lithium. Two private U.S. companies, Chevron and Exxon Mobile, are involved in Nigeria’s oil production through local subsidiaries.

Nigerian oil

The Nigerian government controls all sectors of the nation’s oil and gas industries through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the largest oil producer in Nigeria that operates under joint ventures with about 50 gas and oil companies.

The Escaravos GTL (gas to liquids) plant that Hundeyin named in his X post is a local subsidiary of the U.S. private firm Chevron and has a 75% share of that plant’s production in partnership with NNPC, which controls the remaining 25%.

Apart from Chevron, the top five oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria include a Nigerian government-controlled subsidiary of the British Shell Energy Nigeria; a Nigerian government-controlled local subsidiary of the U.S. Exxon Mobil; a Nigerian government-controlled subsidiary of French firm Total Energies and Italian Eni Spa; and Equinor ASA, another Chevron subsidiary, co-owned by a local firm, Prime 127 Nigeria Ltd.

Nigeria lost to corruption and mismanagement an estimated $35 billion in oil revenues between 2019 and 2022.

Eni Spa, Exxon, Shell, and TotalEnergies have all sought to exit Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta in recent years, citing security concerns, including theft and sabotage, to focus instead on deep-water drilling.

Nigerian lithium

According to public records, the U.S. government has zero involvement in the mining of Nigeria’s lithium.

When Tesla, a private U.S. company that manufactures electric vehicles, expressed interest in forming a trade relationship with the Nigerian government to mine lithium, Nigeria declined the offer, conditioning the agreement on Tesla’s establishment of a battery factory in Nigeria.

In February 2023, the Nigerian government awarded a contract to build the country’s first lithium-processing plant to China’s Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nig Ltd. (MXMS), making it the single-largest lithium harvester in the country. China proposed a plan to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) in Kaduna, a state in northwestern Nigeria, projected to yield 18,000 metric tons of lithium daily.

Nigeria's Minister of Solid Materials Dele Alake said that "…no company would be allowed to mine and export raw lithium unless they set up processing and refining plants in Nigeria."

As of January 2021, the Nigerian government had licensed 185 local companies to commence extraction of lithium in Nassarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, and Cross River States.

Nigerien uranium

Hundeyin’s suggestion that the U.S. government has stakes in Niger’s uranium is also false.

Niger’s Ministry of Mines has on its website a list of five companies licensed by the Nigerien government to mine uranium. The list does not include any U.S. firms. Instead, the Nigerien government is the major shareholder, partnering with Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese, and South African companies.

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