Latest news with #neocolonialism
Russia Today
24-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Kremlin outlines why Russia is ‘returning' to Africa
Russia's push to deepen ties with Africa coincides with mounting frustration over neocolonial influence among countries across the continent, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, according to Izvestia. Peskov told the news outlet in an interview published Monday that while Russia lost its foothold in Africa after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the situation has begun to shift in recent years. 'Over time, the mood in Africa has changed significantly. Let's just say that the neo-colonial trend is seriously boring for Africans…This coincided with a period when Russia regained its strength, capabilities and desire to return to its former places on the African continent,' he stated. 'Great opportunities are opening up for our African friends, and for us as well,' the presidential spokesperson said, adding that Moscow's growing engagement with countries across the continent stands to benefit both sides. Peskov's remarks echo those made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during an Africa Day event in Moscow last month, where he affirmed that Russia remains a steadfast ally to African nations seeking to strengthen their sovereignty amid ongoing neocolonial pressure. Moscow has declared that strengthening ties with African states is among its top foreign policy priorities and has since expanded its presence on the continent, where countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and South Africa regard it as a reliable ally. In recent months, several of the continent's nations have increasingly sought cooperation with Russia in areas such as energy, security, trade, and education. Chad, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have all severed longstanding defense ties with France and the US, citing dissatisfaction with their failure to curb jihadist violence and restore stability in the region. The Sahel states have since turned to Moscow for cooperation on counterterrorism efforts. Last week, South African Vice President Paul Mashatile announced his country's ambition to double trade turnover with Moscow during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Mashatile, who was attending the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, also invited Russian companies to invest in South Africa, describing it as 'the gateway to the continent of Africa,' with access to a market of over one billion people. Earlier this month, Peskov announced that Moscow plans to expand cooperation with African states, focusing primarily on economic and investment engagement, as well as 'sensitive areas' related to defense and security.
Russia Today
20-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
World needs ‘fundamentally new development model'
The world needs a new development model that is not based on the principles of neocolonialism and is resilient to political manipulation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Speaking on Friday at a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin stated that throughout the past several decades, the so-called 'golden billion' has been pumping out resources from other nations to benefit the interests of a narrow circle of elites. He pointed to the example of the US, saying the country's 'super incomes' never actually reached ordinary citizens or the middle class. The Russian president insisted that changes in the political sphere should be reflected in the people's quality of life, in education, science, and infrastructure. He called for a 'fundamentally new development model, one that is not built on the rules of neocolonialism.' He stressed that this model should be 'free from political manipulation' and 'focus on the needs of citizens.' Putin added that the old mechanisms of the globalization era have outlived their usefulness, and there isn't even an effort to modernize them. Instead, it is now necessary to create a new model, taking into account the national interests of all states, he said. The Russian president stated that the global economy is already undergoing its biggest transformation in decades, with the balance of power shifting and BRICS emerging as a leading force. Putin went on to say that BRICS now accounts for 40% of the global economy, and that this share will only grow given the rise of the Global South.
Russia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Armed, economic and media terrorism: What is France doing in Africa?
'Our enemies are many and they stand ready to exploit our every weakness,' but 'Neither brutality nor cruelty nor torture will ever bring me to ask for mercy, for I prefer to die with my head unbowed, my faith unshakable and with profound trust in the destiny of my country, rather than live under subjection'. These statements by Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba capture the predicaments of the members of the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger (AES) which have faced relentless terrorist insurgencies despite decades of military operations by former colonial powers. More than a security pact, the AES is sending a message of unequivocal rejection to neocolonial projects, signaling a shift towards absolute sovereignty, investing in local solutions and industrialization and building new strategic alliances. However, history offers a cautionary reminder to Africans that pan-Africanists like Patrice Lumumba, Muammar Gaddafi and Kwame Nkrumah paid the ultimate price for such ambitions, either with their lives or being overthrown through coups supported by the invisible hands of the colonial ghosts. To this end, the move by the AES is a daring bid to end what it considers neocolonialism. But will the beneficiaries of the old order allow them to succeed? Africa has been a theatre of conflict since the imperial partition of the continent by colonial powers at the Berlin conference 1884/1885. The colonial states carved up the continent without considering the kingdoms or ethnicities that existed at the time, leading to series of inter-ethnic clashes and conflicts between the imperial powers and the colonies. In the Sahel, the colonial footprint remains profound as all three members of the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger) were formally allocated to France as colonies following the partition. Using the policy of assimilation, these countries were directly placed under the French ministry of colonies by 1895 as an integral part of the French West African colonies until its dissolution in 1960. The integration by the French in the 18th century was a calculated response to strengthen its economic and military power and address demographic imbalances to counter arch-rival Germany, whose population had burgeoned while that of France had stagnated. An assertion that was admitted by French president Charles De Gaulle on April 11, 1961: 'We French were building our Empire at a time when our domestic activity had reached a kind of ceiling: industry that barely innovated; agriculture that did not involve change; unchanging trade flows; fixed wages and salaries […]. On the other hand, our ambitions were here: European sovereignty and natural borders collided with the barriers of the treaties of 1815 and, after 1870, with the unity and strength of a threatening Germany. So, we sought in distant territories a new career for our surplus entrepreneurial resources, a complement to our prestige, soldiers for our defense. […] What France has achieved in this capacity and in this form overseas, it has no reason to regret at all… always brings honor to France'. As colonialism waned, France insisted upon keeping these countries under its influence. Consequently, Paris ruled out any form of autonomy outside the French empire. This was emphasized by the then French Commissioner for the Colonies, René Pleven, during the Brazzaville Conference on January 30, 1944. He said: 'There are populations whom we intend to lead step by step to personality, and the most mature of them will be given political franchise, but they desire no independence other than French independence'. However, this move culminated in chaos as countries such as Guinea defiantly rejected every effort to remain a lifetime colony. France used brute-force to sabotage critical sectors of the country, such as the power grid and sewage system, in what was known as Operation Persil. Consequently, other colonies in Africa, including all three members of the AES, succumbed to Paris' demands, placing their security and economy under the influence of the French government as part of the neo-colonial Francafrique policy. France signed several accords with Francophone African countries which became known as the Francafrique. The accords actually legitimized French military intervention in the African countries. According to the Taiwan Center for Security studies, the accords included French military installations, the French West Africa zone with the ESF (éléments français au Sénégal) – created with the stated goals of keeping an eye on all of West Africa – and granted unhindered permission to France to use military force to intervene in any signatory nation. France utilized this as an opportunity to defend pro-French regimes, such as that of Mobutu Sese Seko in resource-rich Zaire (now DR Congo), Leon M'Ba in Gabon in 1964, and to overthrew leaders that threatened French interests through coups such as the Palace coup at Bangui and the ascent to power of the pro-French ruler, David Dacko in Central African Republic. In the 21st century, French security cooperation in West Africa has largely taken the form of counterterrorism operations, as all the Sahelian States have been blighted by terrorism. In an attempt to find African solutions through regional security initiatives, the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African Sates (ECOWAS) launched the African International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) in January 2013. Initially with 5300 troops, later expanded to 7700, it was set up to combat terrorism in Mali and prevent its spread to the rest of the Sahel region. In the same year France, in an attempt to retain its supremacy as the primary military actor in the region, launched its own counterterrorism military operations in the Sahel, codenamed Operation Serval with a similar troop count. While the AFISMA was barely mentioned, the French-led mission was extensively covered, a situation that worsened after the United Nations joined the operation. On 1st July, 2013, West African troops were incorporated into the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) established in 2013 with with around 6000 troops, later increased to over 15700. The ECOWAS-AU mission was completely sidelined,paving the way for several European-led missions to enter the Sahel. The French utilized the opportunity to expand its foothold by launching another military operation, Barkhane, in 2014. With 1800 staff, it led the operations of the European Takuba task force, which included staff from Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Estonia, Czech Republic and Belgium. Nevertheless, the quest for an African solution was not quenched, at least in principle. A new attempt to find an African military solution arose in 2014 with the establishment of the G5 Sahel, a union between Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Mauritania. The FC-GS5, a joint force to combat terrorism, was established by the Nouakchott process, launched by France, Germany and the EU. The United Nations recognized the importance of the FC-GS5 in UNSC resolution 2391(2017), a testament to UNSC resolution 2359(2017), which had earlier called for an African solution to African problems. However, even though the resolutions acknowledged that certain actors are benefiting from the precarious situation in the region, none of the resolutions addressed the historical injustices the countries had faced, neither did they provide for funding. Instead, the resolutions welcomed commitment from an extensive list of former European colonial powers including France, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Germany in security operations in the region. Despite the multiplicity of actors, the missions failed to dismantle terrorist networks. Instead, terrorist factions, such as Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS) expanded their influence, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres admitted as much in a report describing the situation as volatile, following a series of reported cases of civilian and troop massacres by terrorist organizations, forcing former Malian president Keita to consider negotiated settlement with terrorist groups. The volatility was attributed to the consequences of NATO's 'haphazard' intervention in Libya facilitating operations of terrorist groups, fuelling violence in Mali. Coupled with colonial pursuits, the result was greater exploitation of resources of the Sahelian countries. Deputy Prime minister of Mali, Abdoulaye Maiga appealed to the UNSC in September 2024, denouncing support for terrorism by 'foreign state sponsors' in the region. 'After having experienced insecurity imposed by the state of nature, the observation concerning Mali is appalling: Violated, humiliated, pillaged and torpedoed, abandoned in mid-flight and stabbed in the back. The expressions are not exhaustive to describe the suffering undergone by the Malian people and the Defense and Security Forces'. Maiga also recalled that the previous year AES member states had sent a joint letter to the UN Security Council to condemn Ukraine's support for international terrorism; denounce aggression against Mali; and demand that the council take appropriate measures against the Ukrainian government. He criticized France for aggression against Mali and its involvement in promoting terrorism in the Sahel through 'armed, economic and media terrorism'. These claims add to evidence produced by a study conducted by Konate Sinaly, a doctoral researcher at the Mohammed V university in Rabat, Morocco titled The Alliance of Sahel States (AES): Fruit of the failure of the international community. He found that the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad allegedly even held its annual independence celebrations in the Kidal zone in the presence of MINUSMA and the French forces. In November 14, 2023, evidence of mineral extraction was discovered in the Kidal zone, operated by the French Barkhane forces, however it was off limits to Malian forces, only becoming accessible after MINUSMA left in 2023. The attempt to break free from colonial bondage and protect the sovereignty of their countries emboldened military leaders to take over power and establish the AES. This alliance distinguishes itself from the FC-GS5 due to its focus on independence and sovereignty, reflected in the preamble of the Charter of Liptako-Gourma establishing the alliance, which calls for 'the need full exercise and respect of national and international sovereignty'. Even though several pan-Africanists have been directly or indirectly eliminated by colonial ghosts, their ideological legacies persist, unsettling the very structures that sought to erase them. As Nkrumah said, 'I am in the knowledge that death can never extinguish the torch which I have lit in Ghana and Africa. Long after I am dead and gone, the light will continue to burn and be borne aloft, giving light and guidance to all people'.
Russia Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa's chains have changed but slavery remains – Lumumba's son
Western colonialism in Africa never ended – it simply changed its form, Roland Lumumba has told RT. In an exclusive interview ahead of International Africa Day, the son of the Congolese independence hero and first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, said that while flags and borders may have changed, Africa remains under Western domination through debt, economic exploitation, and corrupt leadership that serves foreign masters over the people. Lumumba believes that Africa's struggle for independence is far from over. 'The colonial rulers are gone, but their strategy of division remains,' he said, adding that the neocolonialists of today are not concerned with Africa's needs, but are 'attracted by Africa's riches.' 'They left through the front door, only to slip back in through the windows of economic exploitation and political interference.' He pointed to the Western-backed conflicts that still rage in resource-rich regions like the Congo, where foreign interests profit from chaos. 'Today, they don't need armies. They use debt, sanctions, and banks. The IMF, the World Bank – these are the tools of modern colonialism,' he said. 'Our resources are taken, and in return, we get loans on impossible terms. The more we pay, the greater the debt. The yoke of colonialism has never been lifted; it has only been repainted.' Lumumba placed some of the blame on the African elites who 'remain fascinated by the West for their own gain' and 'sell Africa for a penny just to send their children to Harvard.' He argued that true independence can only come through good governance, regional unity, and cooperation with nations that respect African sovereignty. 'Africa must be led by its own sons and daughters – not by puppets of foreign powers,' he said. 'We need leaders who protect, not sell. Who build, not steal.' Lumumba hailed cooperation with Russia and the BRICS group of countries as a chance to escape Western control. 'The BRICS represents an opportunity. It's not a military bloc. It's a space where Africa has a voice, where we are respected as equal partners,' he said, adding that BRICS countries view Africa 'not as a place of plunder, but as a partner for progress.' Lumumba advised Africa to 'unite with those who come to build with us, not oppress us,' to achieve true independence.
Russia Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa's chains have changed, but slavery remains – Lumumba's son
Western colonialism in Africa never ended – it simply changed its form, Roland Lumumba has told RT. In an exclusive interview ahead of International Africa Day, the son of the Congolese independence hero and first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, said that while flags and borders may have changed, Africa remains under Western domination through debt, economic exploitation, and corrupt leadership that serves foreign masters over the people. Lumumba believes that Africa's struggle for independence is far from over. 'The colonial rulers are gone, but their strategy of division remains,' he said, adding that the neocolonialists of today are not concerned with Africa's needs, but are 'attracted by Africa's riches.' 'They left through the front door, only to slip back in through the windows of economic exploitation and political interference.' He pointed to the Western-backed conflicts that still rage in resource-rich regions like the Congo, where foreign interests profit from chaos. 'Today, they don't need armies. They use debt, sanctions, and banks. The IMF, the World Bank – these are the tools of modern colonialism,' he said. 'Our resources are taken, and in return, we get loans on impossible terms. The more we pay, the greater the debt. The yoke of colonialism has never been lifted; it has only been repainted.' Lumumba placed some of the blame on the African elites who 'remain fascinated by the West for their own gain' and 'sell Africa for a penny just to send their children to Harvard.' He argued that true independence can only come through good governance, regional unity, and cooperation with nations that respect African sovereignty. 'Africa must be led by its own sons and daughters – not by puppets of foreign powers,' he said. 'We need leaders who protect, not sell. Who build, not steal.' Lumumba hailed cooperation with Russia and the BRICS group of countries as a chance to escape Western control. 'The BRICS represents an opportunity. It's not a military bloc. It's a space where Africa has a voice, where we are respected as equal partners,' he said, adding that BRICS countries view Africa 'not as a place of plunder, but as a partner for progress.' Lumumba advised Africa to 'unite with those who come to build with us, not oppress us,' to achieve true independence.
