2024 in Africa: The growing struggle for independence

In the last four years, the struggle against neo-colonialism in Africa has continued to achieve significant successes.

Coup plotters?

While its roots go back further, a decisive turning point occurred in 2020 when a group of anti-imperialist revolutionary officers in Mali overthrew the pro-French government, shut down French military bases, and expelled their troops. This marked the beginning of a broader resistance against neo-colonial forces across Africa.

The Mali case showed how crucial is the military in defending independence and security of a state with the support of its people. Also, Mali’s victory against the US and France created a model for Africa. Western media characterized the development as a “military coup”. Yet, this was a heavy blow against imperialism.  Soldiers who collaborate with US and French imperialists to seize power for their imperialists’ interest are the true coup plotters. Those who unite with their people to confront imperialists and colonizers, gaining popular support, are revolutionaries.

The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States

The wave of independence sparked by Mali resonated strongly in Burkina Faso. In 2022, with the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, a group of young officers dealt another heavy blow to French imperialism by seizing power. And in 2023, Niger witnessed a military uprising led by Abdourahmane Tchiani which toppled the French collaborator government.

These three pioneering countries against imperialism in Africa -Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger- founded Alliance of Sahel States Alliance (Alliance des États du Sahel – AES) on September 16, 2023, to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, combat Western-backed terrorism, form a joint military force and coordinate in foreign policy. In doing so, they also withdrew from France-controlled organization of the G5 Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). They also annulled all agreements with the European Union, including those in military and security domains, and began strengthening ties with China, Russia, Türkiye, India and Iran. Moreover, they decided to take the path of to joining BRICS.

On July 6, 2024, the leaders of these three countries -General Tchiani, Colonel Goïta, and Captain Traoré- came together to officially declare the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States.

Chad and Senegal expel French troops

So, a new era has begun in Africa.

In 2024, presidential elections in France’s former colonies brought Bassirou Diomaye Faye to power in Senegal and Mahamat Idriss Déby in Chad. In Algeria and Tunisia, Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Kais Saied were reelected.

The remnants of post-colonial military presence are being erased in the continent. The Central African Republic (2015), Mali (2022), Burkina Faso, and Niger (2023), Chad and Senegal decided to expel French troops from their territories. The French military bases in Ouakam of Senegal and N’Djamena of Chad were officially shut down. On November 28, 2024, Chad’s Foreign Minister announced, “The Government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to terminate the defense cooperation agreement signed with the French Republic”.

In January 2024, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby visited Moscow and reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to strengthen strategic relations between their countries. On the same day with that agreement, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared “Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country”. “All of Senegal’s friends will be treated like strategic partners, within the framework of open, diversified and uninhibited cooperation” he added.

Sanctions boost Africa-Russia relations

During the war in Ukraine, most African countries refrained from joining the US-led sanctions on Russia. Instead, they decided to strengthen their ties with Moscow.

On the same day Chad and Senegal announced their decision to expel French troops, a high-level Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Alexander Novak, visited Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. During the visit discussions centered on enhancing military cooperation, including fight against Western-backed terrorism and investments in energy, infrastructure and agriculture for economic development.

The new strategy of imperialists

Defeated and expelled from the Sahel region, US and French imperialists are now reactivating the separatist and jihadist terrorist organizations they previously established, trained and financed.

The spread of terrorist groups in the Sahel region began with NATO’s intervention in Libya in 2011 and assassination of Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi by France. These terrorist organizations have long served as destabilizing instruments through invasions, coups, and ethnic or religious divides to maintain imperialist influence over African countries.

Russia’s growing influence in the military sphere has alarmed the US, France and NATO. They developed a new military strategy to counter Russia and China in Africa and destabilize the Sahel states through separatist and jihadist terrorist groups.

France has established its own Africa Command (Commandement pour l’Afrique – CPA), similar to the US’s AFRICOM. CPA is tasked with overseeing the “operational control” of French forces in Africa. The troops stationed in Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon will be highly trained intelligence units and mobile special forces. Also, the terrorist groups supported by France and the US have been stationed as anti-Russian strike forces.