The Russian military operation in Ukraine has completely changed the world, as it is the beginning of the end of the unipolar world and the birth of the multipolar world. Many movements perceive in it that way, including the main enemies of globalization in Africa, like the Pan-Africanism that seeks to the unify African countries with the intention of protecting their identity along with their cultural and geopolitical sovereignty. One of our Katechon correspondents in Africa interviewed Kemi Seba, who is the main contemporary representative of this movement, leader of the organization Urgences panafricanistes.
How will the war in Ukraine affect the current balance of power, and will Africa undergo major changes as a result?
– What is happening now in Ukraine will affect the whole world and not only Africa, as the latter is already at war with globalism. This war is a struggle between the defenders of globalism and those who defend multipolarity. Therefore, the war between Ukraine and Russia is really a confrontation between those who want to “westernize” humanity against those who want to protect the identity of the various peoples of the world. Vladimir Putin’s fight against NATO and the West will affect Africa as well as other continents. The West not only wants to destroy Vladimir Putin but also Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, as the goal of globalism is to destabilize all continents equally. Further destabilization of the West would benefit all those who fight against neoliberalism in all its forms.
Authorities in some African countries claim that Ukraine is trying to recruit its citizens to go to war (especially in Senegal). What do you think about that?
– I think this is a colonialist attitude that the Ukrainians have copied from their Western masters, as they want Africans to work for them and not for the good of Africa. This is typical of their contempt for us and I am very sorry that there are Africans who have decided to join the side of Zelensky and the Western oligarchy.
Interestingly, both Russia and Mali have had sanctions imposed on them. Do you think it is possible to overcome these sanctions in any way?
– The reason why we defend multipolarity has to do with the creation of an alliance between the different poles and civilizations to confront this unique model that they want to impose on us.
Several military movements defending the homeland have come to power this year in Africa, but the West has called for the military to hand over power to civilians. Do you think the military should listen to these calls?
– I don’t think it is necessary to hand over power to civilians, especially since some of Africa’s best leaders were military men like Qaddafi, Thomas Sankara or Gerry Rawlings. African freedom can go hand in hand with the military. Moreover, we must keep in mind that many African civilians work for the West (which ultimately wants to dominate our countries), although there are others, like us, who are anti-globalists and defend the sovereignty of the people. That is why we ally ourselves with the military who have similar ideas to ours.
Could you explain your’s previous point better?
– Characters like Ben Servo (pseudonym of activist Adam Diarra) who is a military man have come to power in our country. There are also civilians like Ousmane Sonko in Senegal, who is very close to his people and has been gaining prestige.
Why does the pan-African movement support Russia, an extra-regional power, in its struggle against the West?
– Because we see Russia as challenging Western hegemony. We also cooperate with Venezuela, Cuba and Iran. We sympathize with both Russia and Iran and are willing to cooperate with all forces fighting against globalism everywhere. We Africans seek first and foremost our liberation and for that we want to count on the support of all those who want to help us. Other liberation movements, such as Hamas in Palestine, have done the same. It is part of our peoples’ traditions of resistance.
Speaking of Pan-Africanism, what do you think are the main components of its ideology or does it defend any “Idea” of Africa?
– I believe that Africa, in both its Muslim and Christian versions, will return to its traditions, as there are several such movements. Pan-Africanism was founded precisely on this idea of Africa and it is precisely this idea that unites not only the great linguistic families of our continent, which are part of a single macro-family, but also the fact that we are heirs of a single civilization that shares the same objectives and the same common destiny. We could speak of a kind of African Dasein.
What do you see as the future of Africa?
– I believe that our future will be a defense of our sovereignty, a defense of our resources and to associate with those we want and not with those who impose something on us. Moreover, we must create a culturally sovereign Africa far from the stereotypes that the West tried to impose on us. For example, Iranian films are full of references to Persian or Islamic culture. We must defend this cultural component. Therefore, the New Africa that we want to create must be sovereign at the cultural, ideological, economic and political levels.