IBRAHIM TRAORÉ: WE MUST DECOLONISE THE MIND

On 13 January, Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré reminded his compatriots that one of the crucial steps toward combating imperialism is decolonising the mind, the most difficult part of the struggle. 

Traoré called out the West’s hypocrisy in deciding who is a trrorist based on their interests. South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela was a US designated trrorist until 2008, 14 years after he was elected president. Meanwhile, the US celebrates Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), the new Syrian leader who fought for and led regional affiliates of terror groups Al-Qada and ISS.

Former coloniser France wags its fingers at the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation, an anti-imperialist Pan-African bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, for a supposed lack of democracy. Yet, in a move largely viewed as undemocratic, French President Emmanuel Macron refused to install as prime minister Lucie Castets, a candidate selected by a coalition of left parties that won the most seats in recent parliamentary elections.

Africa needs something different, and that difference has finally arrived with the AES, which is charting a path toward sovereignty, self-determination and Pan-African unity.

As Traoré stated, Africa must wake up!

Video credit: Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina

(@rtburkina on X)

Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/27/macron-has-blocked-left-wing-choice-for-french-pm-what-happens-next

https://jacobin.com/2024/10/republicans-democrats-sponsors-2024-election

https://www.mintpressnews.com/from-terrorist-to-freedom-fighter-how-the-west-rebranded-al-qaedas-jolani-as-syrias-woke-new-leader/288820/

https://saiia.org.za/research/they-once-called-mandela-a-terrorist/

https://www.ecchr.eu/en/publication/my-terrorists-your-terrorists/