For several years now, Africa has been in the grip of an unprecedented wave of protest against the West. Demonstrations, riots, calls for resistance and decolonization are breaking out all over the continent. But what is causing this anger and widespread revolt against the West?
The colonial legacy in Africa is a persistent burden, resulting from centuries of European domination that exploited natural resources while imposing foreign languages, cultures, and political systems. This legacy has left artificial borders that generate state fragility and instability, and has placed African economies under pronounced dependence on the West, with local resources regularly exploited for the benefit of multinationals without benefit to local populations. Economic policies imposed by international institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank accentuate poverty and inequality. At the same time, Western interference in African political affairs favors the perpetuation of authoritarian regimes, causing regional destabilization and the rise of militias. In response, a resistance is growing, led by Africans demanding sovereignty and dignity through genuine decolonization. The case of the leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) is very illustrative. Young people, in particular, are using social networks to catalyze this movement. Thus, the African revolt against the West, rich and complex, finds its roots in this colonial legacy, persistent economic exploitation and constant political manipulation, revealing an urgent need to restore African sovereignty.
Colonial legacy: a legacy of hate and suffering
In Africa, the Western colonial legacy represents a dark and painful chapter of history, marked by violence, manipulation and destruction. European colonization, relentless and oppressive, left a lasting impact on the continent, disrupting traditional societies, plundering natural resources and corrupting local economies. Africans suffered slavery, inhumane working conditions and systematic economic exploitation. In addition, African culture and identity were severely altered by the imposition of foreign languages, religions and values. Today, the consequences persist: poverty, inequality and foreign domination still hinder the development of African potential. This is why the multipolarism advocated by the BRICS Alliance offers sure guarantees for Africans to reclaim their destiny and build a prosperous and autonomous future.
Economic exploitation: a system of plunder and domination
As noted above, for centuries, the West has orchestrated a systematic economic exploitation of Africa, characterized by structured plunder and continuous domination aimed at appropriating the continent’s natural resources. This economic colonialism, which began in the colonial era with the subjugation of African colonies to produce raw materials for the metropolises, evolved after decolonization into systems of unequal trade, where African markets are forced to open up to Western products. International financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, which need to be reformed, accentuate these dynamics, imposing reforms that benefit Western investors at the expense of local populations. The repercussions of this system are seriously perceptible: blocking industrial development, exacerbating poverty and growing inequalities. This exploitation – inhumane as it is – enriches the West while marginalizing Africa. The time has come for the West to take responsibility for its wrongs and for Africa to emancipate itself in order to build a prosperous and multipolar future.
Political manipulation: a system of domination and control
Africa has been subject to decades of Western-orchestrated political manipulation designed to exert domination, control, and perpetuate its influence. This complex system is embodied through corruption, subversion, and intimidation, pushing African governments to adopt policies that are subservient to Western interests. International organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, are often mobilized to impose these agendas, sometimes justifying military interventions perceived as peacekeeping operations. This dynamic has led to disastrous consequences: recurring coups d’état, military interventions against resistant governments, and the economic marginalization of local populations. By favoring Western companies, these political manipulations exacerbate poverty and inequality. Therefore, the new multipolar world order is to be celebrated for putting an end to this cycle of manipulation in Africa, in order to allow Africans to build a prosperous and autonomous future.
Destabilization and destruction: the West’s legacy in Africa
The Western legacy in Africa is one of destabilization and destruction, resulting from centuries of domination by force, manipulation and deception. From the slave trade, which fractured communities and left a demographic vacuum with disastrous consequences, to European colonization, which instituted artificial borders and undermined traditional political and economic systems, the impact has been profound. Even after decolonization, destabilization continued through support for authoritarian regimes, coups against patriotic leaders resulting in the assassination of some and forced exile for others, and participation in armed conflicts. The consequences are clear: conflicts, genocides, epidemics and famines have left human and economic scars, with resources plundered and poverty persisting. Today, Africans are freeing themselves from this yoke to build a better future.
As the shadows of Western imperialism continue to loom over Africa, it is time to learn from the past and expose the crimes of the West. Africans will no longer be the silent victims of exploitation and oppression. They are rising up, resisting and rebuilding their continent on the ruins of imperialism. It is the same West that shamefully asks Africa to fight its own friend, historical ally de jure and de facto, reliable and privileged partner, the Russian Federation of Mr. Vladimir Putin.
It can be said that Africa will never again fall prey to the West.
Mohamed Lamine KABA, Expert in geopolitics of governance and regional integration, Institute of Governance, Human and Social Sciences, Pan-African University