BURKINA FASO READY TO DEFEND ITS LAND

Burkina Faso has been investing most of its resources into defending its territory against paramilitary forces roaming the Sahel region, most recently by acquiring aircraft seen in this @rtburkina clip.

Words like ‘sovereignty’ and ‘autonomy’ are featured in President Ibrahim Traoré’s speeches and increasingly in the everyday conversations of citizens.

Burkina Faso, along with neighbouring countries Mali and Niger, are working to strengthen their relationships with one another, as well as with international partners, to fight back successfully.

Continued…. For Burkinabé, these aircraft are a step toward greater security, prosperity and self-determination.

Over the past nine years, paramilitary attacks led France to occupy this small landlocked country militarily. However, attacks continued across Burkina Faso and the Sahel, an arid zone south of the Sahara Desert. Many people across the region believe paramilitary forces, or what some refer to as ‘death squads,’ are connected to foreign powers outside of Africa. These forces increased in the aftermath of the 2011 NATO destabilisation of Libya. After former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s ouster, rebel groups from Mali were able to access the fallen government’s weapons stash. Since then, some have wondered how these militants have been obtaining new weapons and technologies.

After the 2022 military coup that ousted a Western-aligned leader, France got the boot to the cheers of the Burkinabè people.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

CASTRO: WHY U.S. HATES CUBA

Two months after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited Argentina, where he delivered a speech that highlighted Cuba’s staunch opposition to Washington’s destructive imperialist policies, a position that’s earned Cuba a six-decade blockade.

Castro compared the United States dropping bombs to Cuba’s medical internationalism, which benefits people in far-flung corners of the globe. Since 1963, more than 600,000 Cuban health workers have provided medical services in more than 160 countries. Cuba also provided free military support to the last of Africa’s liberation struggles in the southern part of our continent.

In contrast, in the past 20 years, US and allied air forces have dropped more than 337,000 bombs and missiles around the world. That doesn’t include the 7.6 million tonnes of explosives dropped on Vietnam alone.

Why is Washington desperate to crush Cuba’s revolution?

Let us know your thoughts.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

THE PENTAGON’S DIRTY CARBON BOOT-PRINT

As the world observes Earth Day today, one institution seems to have been let off the hook: the U.S. military. It’s the planet’s biggest polluter, according to multiple studies.

Washington has done much to bury this uncomfortable truth. It lobbied to exempt its military from reporting its emissions, as required by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The 2015 Paris Agreement overturned this exemption - but still does not legally bind the US to report military emissions.

With at least 750 American army bases globally (29 in Africa), it’s not just US boots on the ground that are a cause for concern - but the carbon footprint they leave. African Stream’s Kenneth Kaigua looks at how this enormous war machine is killing our beautiful planet.

It’s another reason to take pride in our brothers and sisters in the Sahel, as they kick out US forces from their counties - do you agree?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

MOROCCANS BLAME U.S. & ISRAEL FOR GAZA MASSACRE

Hundreds of Moroccans gathered on 20 April in front of the US consulate in Casablanca to say the United States is just as responsible as Israel for the bombardments and escalated siege that have killed 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

US diplomatic, financial and military support has allowed Israel to occupy Palestinian territories for 75 years.

On 19 April, the US House of Representatives passed a bill giving Israel $26 billion in ‘emergency aid.’ If it passes in the Senate, US President Joe Biden, who has promoted the bill since October, is likely to sign off on the $95 billion military aid package to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine.

Continued…. As of December, 244 aeroplanes and 20 ships had delivered more than 10,000 tonnes of military equipment worth $2.4 billion to Israel since October. Further, the Intercept reported the US Air Force has been flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip for the first time in history, and the news outlet reported a government document appears to indicate the United States has been providing Israel with targeting information to aid airstrikes and to help fire long-range artillery weapons.

Last week, the United States vetoed a UN resolution that would have recognised Palestine as a state. Meanwhile, the US has long claimed to support a two-state solution. The US has also vetoed three ceasefire resolutions at the global body.

What explains US support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine? Let us know in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

CHAD MOVES TO KICK OUT US MILITARY

The US is staring at yet another strategic loss in Africa. Chad's Air Force Chief of Staff has written to Washington's defence attaché - ordering the Pentagon to cease its operations at the Adji Kossei Air Base near the capital, N'Djamena.

In another letter addressed to Chad's armed forces minister, Idriss Amine Ahmed said the presence of US soldiers hadn’t been satisfactorily justified - noting also that the American side hadn’t provided sufficient documents on support for logistics and personnel.

Chad has threatened to cancel the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that regulates the operations of roughly 100 US military personnel in the Sahelian country.

Continued…. A US State Department spokesperson insisted in a statement that "Chad hasn't asked US forces to leave” - adding that both parties had "agreed that the period following the upcoming Chadian presidential election is an appropriate time to review our security cooperation."

Interim President Mahamat Déby, who seized power three years ago following his father's death, former president Idriss Déby, is expected to win the May 6th presidential elections.

In January 2024, Mahamat Déby stressed the need for "sovereignty" during a meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin. Observers say Chad is following the path of the Sahelian trio Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which have expelled US and French troops, and made security agreements with Russia.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

‘LEAVE ALREADY!’ - NIGERIENS TO U.S. TROOPS

For 11 years, the US military has intervened in and occupied the Sahelian West African country of Niger. However, on March 16th, 2024, the Nigerien government, led by anti-imperialist military officer Abdouramane Tchiani, announced that it would be putting an immediate end to the military accord signed by a prior administration with Washington. Niamey declared US military operations in Niger illegal. It means the 1,100 US troops stationed in the country now have to scoot.

Continued….. Across Niger, many have welcomed the decision - but many are also frustrated that, over a month on, nothing’s happened yet. After a major protest in the capital last week urging the Americans to get on with it and go, this weekend saw a similar rally in Agadez - the site of the Pentagon’s 201 drone base. People at the protest also shared their views on what any future military alliances must look like: “We are not slaves,” said one man.

Have a watch and please tell us if you share the sentiments expressed.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

China’s announced it’s writing off some loans owed by Zimbabwe which is struggling with heavy debt. The gesture was made during the African country’s independence celebrations marking 44 years of freedom from British colonial rule.

The exact amount remains undisclosed, but according to the Zimbabwean treasury, as of 2022 ,the country owed Chinese creditors about US$2-billion. China’s ambassador says the move demonstrates Beijings willingness to help Zimbabwe overcome financial challenges.

In recent years, China’s become a major lender to Zimbabwe which seeks to rebuild its economy devastated by more than two decades of Western sanctions imposed over Harare’s land reform programme.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

MALI TO HOLD ELECTIONS ONLY AFTER DEFEATING TERRORISTS

The Global North has defined democracy as only a matter of elections for most countries. Unfortunately, the masses remain disengaged from the political process, leading to a few people being in power.

However, in the African region of the Sahel, south of the Sahara Desert, things have been playing out differently over the past few years. Leaders have emerged from military ranks that have garnered widespread support due to their willingness to enact policies stemming from grassroots demands. The people organise rallies and protests calling for specific actions. Military leaders respond to their calls with compliance.

Continued….. While countries like France and the US are putting a lot of pressure on Sahelian states to move toward elections, the people and those in power say the timing is not right. Mali's elections were due in February, but the government recently announced they were postponed until the entire country eradicates terrorism.

Mali has been at the centre of the fight against terrorism since 2012. According to the Wilson Center, the Sahel region is the largest international hotbed of terrorist activities, accounting for 43 per cent of all attacks worldwide. Armed insurgents began staking out parts of the Sahel after the 2011 NATO invasion of Libya.

Do you agree with the Malian government's decision? Let us know in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

GENIUS NIGERIAN GIRL

Watch how Nigerian teen Faith Odunsi went genius mode in Season 4 of a game show called, ‘Cowbellpedia,’ in 2018.

Our only thought would be don’t succumb to the myth that we are not intelligent and that we need people from the West to do our maths for us, especially not our maths!

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio