Revolution in Africa

This development that we now see in Kenya and Nigeria has its roots in the West African states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Mali has seen two military coups since 2020. The first took place in August 2020, which overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (also known as IBK, was a prominent Malian politician. Born on January 29, 1945 in Koutiala, he previously served as Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly. Keïta's presidency was marked by challenges, including economic difficulties and security crises due to jihadist violence. He died on January 16, 2022, at the age of 76 in Bamako, after his health deteriorated following a stroke in 2020). The second coup followed in May 2021 under Colonel Assimi Goïta (born c. 198, is a Malian military officer and interim President of Mali since May 28, 2021. He headed the National Committee for the Rescue of the People, which orchestrated the coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in 2020. After a second coup in 2021, he consolidated his power, claiming he would address political instability and security problems in Mali. Under Goïta's leadership, military authority has increased and a turn toward Russian support, particularly involving the Wagner Group, has occurred amid growing tensions with France and the West).

In 2022, Burkina Faso saw a coup that deposed President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born April 25, 1957 in Ouagadougou, is a prominent banker and politician. He was President of Burkina Faso from 2015 until his deposition. Previously, he served as Prime Minister from 1994 to 1996 and President of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2012. Kaboré founded the Popular Movement for Progress party in 2014 after leaving the Congress for Democracy and Progress. His presidency faced significant challenges, particularly on security issues related to jihadist violence in the region). The coup took place in January 2022, led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba (born in Ouagadougou in January 1981. He graduated from the École militaire in Paris and holds a master's degree in criminology from the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM) in Paris. Damiba also holds a defense expert certificate in management, leadership and strategy.

Damiba is a lieutenant colonel and former commander of the third military region, which includes Ouagadougou, Manga, Koudougou and Fada N'gourma. He is a former member of the Presidential Security Regiment, the former presidential guard of Blaise Compaoré. Damiba left the RSP in 2011 following an army mutiny.

He served as interim president of Burkina Faso until September 30, 2022, when he was overthrown in another coup by fellow military officer Ibrahim Traoré (born March 14, 1988. He is a military officer and interim leader since the September 30, 2022 coup that overthrew Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. At 36, he is the world's youngest serving head of state. Traoré, who studied geology at the University of Ouagadougou, joined the army in 2009 and rose through the ranks until he became a captain in 2020. He is associated with anti-French sentiments and pro-Russian views and is believed to be working with the Wagner Group to combat jihadist threats in Burkina Faso).

The September 2022 coup was widely welcomed in Burkina Faso, with groups gathering in the capital to express their support.

The most recent coup occurred in Niger on July 26, 2023. President Mohamed Bazoum (born January 1, 1960, he is a Nigerien politician who served as the 10th President of Niger from April 2021 until his deposition. Before his presidency, he held various government positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Interior. Bazoum, a member of the Arab minority Ouled Slimane, was the first Arab president in Niger's history. He is currently in prison and faces treason charges after the military junta lifted his immunity) was deposed by a group of officers led by General Abdourahmane Tiani. On July 28, Tiani declared himself the new head of state.

Over the last four years, military coups have taken place in several countries in the Sahel region, which are increasingly destabilising the region. Mali and Burkina Faso are also under the control of military governments.

The withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has far-reaching consequences for both France and the countries concerned.

France is losing its access to the raw materials in these countries.

Mali is a country rich in natural resources with significant deposits of gold, copper, iron, diamonds, garnet, natural gas, phosphate, bauxite and oil. Gold mining is an important economic factor and accounts for a large proportion of exports. Lithium is also increasingly being mined.

Niger has uranium deposits and is one of the world's largest uranium producers. There are also deposits of gold, oil, coal and bauxite.

Burkina Faso is also rich in mineral resources such as gold, manganese, copper, iron, nickel, lead, zinc and silver. Gold mining is the most important economic factor and accounts for over 70% of exports.

The three countries recently formed an "Alliance of Sahel States" to strengthen cooperation in areas such as security, economy and infrastructure. Faced with political instability and threats from terrorist groups, the countries are trying to make better use of their natural resources and diversify their economies.

With these three states, France loses considerable political and military influence in the Sahel region. This affects France's ability to protect its interests in the region.

The withdrawal is perceived as a failure of French anti-terrorist missions, damaging France's international reputation.

Furthermore, France must reassess its foreign and security policy in Africa and possibly enter into new partnerships.

The consequences for these three countries could be a further deterioration of the security situation, as French troops have played an important role in the fight against jihadist groups. In Mali, jihadist groups have already conquered more territory.

The situation remains dynamic and the long-term effects will only become fully apparent over time.

France will not be thrown out so easily. It has apparently taken steps, one of these steps could be that France is trying to destabilize Nigeria. The Nigerian head of state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accused France of having repositioned these "DGSE agents". This is an unhealthy desire to destabilize Nigeria, he said, and it has been expanded by the repositioning of all the French DGSE agents who were expelled from Niger. This group, he said, operates in civilian clothes and is supported by people from the Beninese armed forces, who also operate in civilian clothes. This threat is real and Nigerians must understand it. France has a desire to destabilize Nigerians. The Nigerian Prime Minister also stated that there are French bases in Benin. The border with Benin will therefore not be reopened. Benin denies these allegations. The DGSE (Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure) is the French foreign intelligence service and is comparable to the American CIA or the British MI6. DGSE agents are employees who collect information on behalf of the government and represent security interests abroad.

West Africa already has some conflicts of its own. It is brimming with climate change and political and social unrest. Now Ukraine has apparently opened a second front. Just a few days ago, Ukraine carried out an attack on Malian soldiers, killing many soldiers, including those from the Wagner PMC group. After this incident, diplomatic disputes broke out between Ukraine and the two countries of Mali and Niger, over alleged Ukrainian support for terrorist groups in the region. Ukraine is currently active in Africa. Just recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba was in Africa and asked for support for his country. Ukraine is currently supported by the US, EU and NATO. Sergey Eledinov, an independent analyst of regional security issues in Africa, said: "Ukraine has participated in special operations in Africa before."

These are some of the pretexts that have been used to destabilize West African countries.

Africa has a long list of influential personalities, which are briefly presented here. Five influential African revolutionaries and freedom fighters are named who have had a lasting impact on their countries and the continent.

One of them is Kwame Nkrumah from Ghana.

Nkrumah led Ghana to independence from British colonial rule in 1957. As Ghana's first prime minister and president, he promoted Pan-Africanism and played a significant role in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

One who was and still is a very important person,

Patrice Lumumba from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lumumba became the first prime minister of the independent Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) in 1960.

His time in office was brief, but his influence on Congolese nationalism was profound. He was assassinated on January 17, 1961. His death was the result of a complex conspiracy involving several parties. He was captured by state authorities under Joseph-Désiré Mobutu and handed over to the separatist Katangan authorities under Moïse Tshombe. Lumumba was then tortured and executed with the involvement of Belgian officers. Lumumba's assassination is widely regarded as a significant and tragic event in African history, symbolizing the struggle against colonialism and the fight for independence. The US, which was in the DRC at the time, looked on; he was executed by the Belgians and the US. His body was never found.

Another very important person was Thomas Sankara from Burkina Faso.

Sankara, a charismatic revolutionary leader, was President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987.

He was a staunch Pan-Africanist and follower of Marxism and was often referred to as the "Che Guevara of Africa". In 1987, Sankara was assassinated in another coup led by his close ally Blaise Compaoré.

Nelson Mandela from South Africa. Perhaps the most famous freedom fighter in Africa. Mandela symbolized the fight against apartheid in South Africa.

After spending 27 years in prison, he was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994 and promoted reconciliation and diversity.

And finally, Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein from Egypt.

Nasser, Egypt's second president, promoted Arab nationalism and socialism.

His leadership during the Suez Crisis and his efforts to modernize Egypt left a lasting legacy.

These leaders forged paths toward independence while grappling with challenges posed by colonial legacies and global geopolitics. Their diverse approaches continue to influence discussions about leadership and governance in Africa today.

Ukraine Terror in Mali

In response to the statements made in a publication by Yurii Pyvovarov, Ambassador of Ukraine to Senegal, the interim government of the Republic of Mali had no choice but to say that it had "noted with deep astonishment the subversive statements... , spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, [who] admitted that Ukraine had participated in a cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups that led to the death of parts of the Malian defense and security forces in Tinzawatène". These remarks were reiterated by the Ukrainian ambassador to Senegal, who openly and without the slightest ambiguity expressed his country's support for international terrorism, particularly in Mali. These extremely serious allegations, which have neither been denied nor condemned by the Ukrainian authorities, demonstrate clear official support by the Ukrainian government for terrorism in Africa, the Sahel region and in particular in Mali. After a careful assessment of the situation, the Government finds that the actions taken by the Ukrainian authorities violate Mali's sovereignty, go beyond the already reprehensible framework of foreign interference, and constitute a blatant violation of aggression and support for international terrorism, as well as of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.

The severance of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Mali and Ukraine with immediate effect has been initiated;  referral to the competent judicial authorities following the remarks by Messrs Andriy Yusov and Yurii Pyvovarov;  taking the necessary measures to prevent destabilisation of Mali by African States, in particular by the Ukrainian embassies located in the sub-region;  formal warning to regional and international authorities, as well as to States supporting Ukraine.

Witches in Kenya

There is something else in Kenya that might be considered a delusion in Europe. It has already been covered in a chapter, and that is witches. Witches are plentiful in Kenya. There are traditional beliefs and practices related to witchcraft. Witchcraft is often used as an explanation for unexplained events or misfortunes. There are also reports of people being accused of being witches or warlocks, which can lead to social exclusion, violence or even death. The Kenyan government has taken steps to combat these practices and protect people from false accusations and witch hunts. Laws have been passed prohibiting the persecution of alleged witches and warlocks. This will be covered later. It is important to stress that the idea of ​​witchcraft often arises from cultural and social contexts and should not be considered a scientifically based reality. It is important to fight against witch hunts and discrimination based on accusations of witchcraft and instead focus on education, tolerance and respect for all people. There was an incident in Kisii (a community in southwestern Kenya and the capital of Kisii County). There was a file, it's old in Kenya, but she was just over 60 years old. Her husband simply burned her. He used the Bible to do it, built a pyre and burned his wife on it. A really horrible story. Did no one hear the woman scream? Did no one see the fire, the smoke? Why didn't anyone come to her aid? The police arrested her husband. When asked why, he said that she was a witch. Civil society organizations are now calling for concerted efforts to stop the killing of elderly people on accusations of witchcraft. There are also reports that the killing of elderly people has been turned into a commercial business. Some people have agreed to do this work, of course on behalf of the family members that this elderly person wants to get rid of. Representatives of the organizations called for a revision of the witchcraft law to take new trends into account. What must be noted is that the church plays a very special role here. The church is very strong in Kenya, without it nothing works. They preach about witches, talk about burning at the stake, ... This husband, who was just reported, invoked the church. So it is not unreasonable to take the church into prayer. Only recently a preacher was arrested who has more than 200 people on his conscience. (He is currently on trial). There are also centers where witches or warlocks can take refuge. In these centers, the elderly people are provided with food and other items. These elderly people fled their homes after family members or neighbors threatened them with death and accused them of being witches. Most cases have no chance of success in court. The stigma is too high and the church is too powerful.

Hexen in Kenia

In Kenia gibt es noch etwas, dass man in Europa vielleicht als Wahn bezeichnen würde. Es wurde schon in einem Kapitel darüber berichtet, und das sind Hexen. Hexen gibt es in Kenia zur genüge. Hier gibt es traditionelle Glaubensvorstellungen und Praktiken, die mit Hexerei in Verbindung stehen. Hexerei wird oft als Erklärung für unerklärliche Ereignisse oder Missgeschicke herangezogen. Es gibt auch Berichte über Menschen, die beschuldigt werden, Hexen oder Hexer zu sein, was zu sozialer Ausgrenzung, Gewalt oder sogar zum Tod führen kann. Die kenianische Regierung hat Schritte unternommen, um gegen diese Praktiken vorzugehen und Menschen vor falschen Anschuldigungen und Hexenjagden zu schützen. Es wurden Gesetze erlassen, die die Verfolgung von vermeintlichen Hexen und Hexern verbieten. Darüber wird noch berichtet werden. Es ist wichtig zu betonen, dass die Vorstellung von Hexerei oft aus kulturellen und sozialen Kontexten entsteht und nicht als wissenschaftlich fundierte Realität betrachtet werden sollte. Es ist wichtig, gegen Hexenverfolgung und Diskriminierung aufgrund von Hexereivorwürfen vorzugehen und stattdessen auf Aufklärung, Toleranz und Respekt für alle Menschen zu setzen. Da gab es einen Vorfall in Kisii (ist eine Gemeinde im Südwesten Kenias und die Hauptstadt des Kisii County). Da gab es eine Akte, in Kenia ist das alt, aber sie war etwas über 60 Jahre alt. Ihr Ehemann hat sie einfach verbrannt. Er hat dazu die Bibel herangezogen, einen Scheiterhaufen errichtet und seine Frau darauf verbrannt. Eine echt schlimme Geschichte. Hat die Frau niemand schreien hören? Hat niemand das Feuer, den Rauch gesehen? Warum ist ihr niemand zu Hilfe gekommen? Die Polizei hat ihren Ehemann verhaftet. Auf die Frage warum, hat er gemeint, dass sie eine Hexe gewesen sei. Zivilgesellschaftliche Organisationen forderten jetzt konzertierte Anstrengungen, um die Ermordung älterer Menschen wegen des Vorwurfs der Hexerei zu beenden. Es wird auch berichtet, dass das Töten älterer Menschen zu einem kommerziellen Geschäft gemacht wurde. Es hätten sich einige Personen bereit erklärt, diese Arbeit, natürlich im Auftrag der Familienmitglieder, die diese ältere Person loswerden möchte, zu erledigen, Vertreter der Organisationen forderten eine Überarbeitung des Hexereigesetzes, um neuen Trends Rechnung zu tragen. Was beachtet werden muss ist, dass die Kirche hier eine ganz besondere Rolle spielt. Die Kirche ist sehr stark in Kenia, ohne ihr funktioniert gar nichts. Sie predigen von Hexen, reden von Scheiterhaufen, ... Gerade dieser Ehemann von dem gerade berichtet wurde, berief sich auf die Kirche. Es ist also nicht abwegig die Kirche ins Gebet zu nehmen. Erst vor kurzem wurde ein Prediger verhaftet, der hat mehr als 200 Menschen auf dem Gewissen. (Derzeit steht er vor Gericht). Es gibt auch Zentren wohin sich die Hexen oder Hexer retten können. In diesen Zentren besucht, werden dort den untergebrachten älteren Menschen Nahrungsmittel und andere Gegenstände zur Verfügung gestellt. Diese alte Menschen, flohen von zu Hause, nachdem Familienangehörige oder Nachbarn, ihnen mit dem Tod gedroht und sie beschuldigt hatten, Hexen zu sein. Die meisten Fälle haben vor Gericht keine Aussicht auf Erfolg. Das Stigma ist zu hoch und die Kirche zu stark.

Mpox in Africa

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, cases of Mpox have risen sharply. 14,000 cases have been reported, the majority being children, and there have been 511 deaths.  The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is prepared to declare a "continental security public health emergency" as early as next week. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. It can spread through close contact with infected people, animals, or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, which usually last 2-4 weeks. Vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups and can prevent severe disease if given immediately after exposure. Treatment is primarily supportive, with antivirals such as tecovirimat used in severe cases. The disease has been increasing worldwide since 2022, primarily affecting regions outside Africa. Africa is currently very worried and there is a reason for this. Mpox has been detected in countries where there have never been cases of Mpox before. About 50 confirmed cases and further suspected cases have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda (WHO). The African continent wants to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) because Mpox (monkeypox) is spreading in many countries. The Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Jean Kaseya, said this about the situation of the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries. According to Kaseya, this move is to mobilize resources, streamline cross-border responses and strengthen the continent's health systems against the outbreak. It is also important to involve the continent's youth in the fight against the outbreak.

Westafrika und Ukraine

Westafrika hat bereits einige eigene Konflikte. Es strotzt vor Klimawandel und politischen und sozialen Unruhen. Nun hat die Ukraine offenbar eine zweite Front eröffnet. Erst vor wenigen Tagen verübte die Ukraine einen Angriff auf malische Soldaten, bei dem viele Soldaten getötet wurden, darunter auch solche der PMC-Gruppe Wagner. Nach diesem Vorfall brachen diplomatische Streitigkeiten zwischen der Ukraine und den beiden Ländern Mali und Niger aus, bei denen es um angebliche ukrainische Unterstützung terroristischer Gruppen in der Region ging. Die Ukraine ist derzeit in Afrika aktiv. Erst kürzlich war der ukrainische Außenminister Kuleba in Afrika und bat um Unterstützung für sein Land. Die Ukraine wird derzeit von den USA, der EU und der NATO unterstützt. Sergey Eledinov, ein unabhängiger Analyst für regionale Sicherheitsfragen in Afrika, sagte: „Die Ukraine hat bereits zuvor an Sonderoperationen in Afrika teilgenommen.“

Westafrica and Ukraine

West Africa already has some conflicts of its own. It is brimming with climate change and political and social unrest.

Now Ukraine has apparently opened a second front. Only a few days ago, Ukraine carried out an attack on Malian soldiers, killing many soldiers, including those from the PMC Wagner group. After this incident, diplomatic disputes broke out between Ukraine and the two countries of Mali and Niger, which were about alleged Ukrainian support for terrorist groups in the region.

Ukraine is currently active in Africa. Only recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba was in Africa and sought support for his country. Ukraine is currently supported by the USA, the EU and NATO.

Sergey Eledinov, an independent analyst of regional security issues in Africa, said: "Ukraine has previously participated in special operations in Africa."