The Black Alliance for Peace calls on anti-imperialist forces to support Burkina Faso, following baseless attacks on interim President Ibrahim Traoré by U.S. military leaders. They warn against repeating past mistakes, emphasizing the need for unity in defense of sovereignty and against imperialist interests in Africa.
In a call to action, the Black Alliance for Peace’s Africa Team, along with the U.S. Out of Africa Network, has urged anti-imperialist advocates worldwide to support Burkina Faso amid escalating tensions. This turbulence stems from unfounded claims directed at interim President Ibrahim Traoré, purportedly made by U.S. AFRICOM Commander Michael Langley during a Senate hearing on April 3, 2025. Langley alleged Traoré was misusing the nation’s gold wealth for protection, yet he failed to substantiate these claims with any factual evidence.
This tactic is part of a larger imperialist strategy that often begins with demonizing leaders through baseless allegations. Ernesto Yeboah, a prominent figure from the Economic Fighters League of Ghana, rebuffed this narrative, emphasizing the fundamental conflict of imperialism versus liberation, insisting that Africans must collectively push back against foreign interventions.
Joining voices with Yeboah, BAP and USOAN express solidarity with Burkina Faso as they call for a unified resistance against what they consider imperialist meddling. Reflecting on past international inaction, they argue it’s crucial to avoid the mistakes made during the 2011 intervention in Libya, where anti-imperialist forces were largely ineffective.
Critics within the African Union and ECOWAS, along with other influential organizations, have been highlighting the need to express solidarity more vocally. Silence from these bodies suggests an alarming complicity in imperialist actions, a narrative the BAP and USOAN are eager to challenge.
The present moment is pivotal in the broader fight against imperialism in Africa. The emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States showcases a progressive step towards self-determination that many in the U.S. and NATO would prefer to see dismantled. This coalition not only seeks independence but also aims to halt external attempts at re-colonization and further exploitation.
Under Traoré’s leadership, Burkina Faso has made strides toward greater self-sufficiency, including advances in food production and establishing a national gold refinery. The claims made by AFRICOM are viewed as an attempt to destabilize these accomplishments, portraying foreign influences as protectors while they undermine local progress in favor of their own exploitative agendas.
“Strategic interests” from U.S. officials are perceived as euphemisms for unrestricted access to Africa’s resources, a notion strongly contested by the BAP and USOAN. They urge all anti-imperialist groups to rally behind Burkina Faso’s efforts and advocate for the expulsion of AFRICOM from the continent, ensuring that no nation endures the fate that Libya faced a decade ago. The rallying cry is clear: The time to take action is now!
In conclusion, Burkina Faso’s unfolding situation represents a critical juncture in the struggle against imperialism in Africa. The call from BAP and USOAN for global solidarity highlights the urgent need to counter false narratives and reaffirm support for local self-determination. With Burkina Faso showing promise in regaining control over its resources, there is a significant risk that external powers will attempt to undermine this progress. It’s essential that activists and organizations stand together to ensure such history does not repeat itself.
Original Source: mronline.org
