“Revolutions can be hijacked, co-opted or stripped of their substance when they lack both a clear doctrine and an organization capable of ensuring that change is sustained over the long term. And that is why this congress is historic, two years after we assumed the highest offices of state,” is what Ousmane Sonko said during his address to the PASTEF congress this past weekend.
These words resume the essence of the congress. With delegates coming from all over the country, from other countries on the continent, and the diaspora, it was a real show of people’s dedication, strength, enthusiasm, and muscle power. It was beautiful! It was encouraging, and most importantly it was inspiring. Indeed, revolutions can be hijacked, co-opted, or stripped of their substance when they lack substance, but when a revolution is driven by the people, when a revolution is driven by a clear vision, it cannot be stopped!
With 553 sections from around the country, and the diaspora, Ousmane Sonko has been unanimously elected as the first official president of the Pastef party during its first ordinary congress, held on Saturday.
Flag of Senegal
This is the first time Pastef has formally elected a party president since its creation in 2014. The party’s internal regulatory body (HAREP) described the election process as transparent, inclusive, and democratic. The election is seen as a symbolic milestone, officially recognizing Sonko as the leader who has guided the party since its founding. The congress marks a new chapter in Pastef’s organizational and political evolution.
To read more check out Seneweb.com, Senego, and AfricaNews. Thank you to Sonko and the Senegalese people. We are all members of PASTEF today.
Kenyan President William Ruto (Source: Nairobileo.co.ke)
Since William Ruto came to power in Kenya, it has been one thing after the other, or rather one shady deal after the other. From deploying Kenyan troops to Haiti, deploying Kenyan nurses to Germany or who knows where, welcoming the Africa Forward summit with French President Emmanuel Macron who could not help showing open disdain for Africans on national television (he promised $27 billion investment in Africa… maybe that’s why he forgot manners?); Ruto appears to have tried to sneak in another controversial deal! It’s as if the man is in a hurry to cut deals! He has now signed a $13.5 million deal with the United States to open an Ebola quarantine center for US citizens in Kenya. This US-built facility was set to open at the Laikipia Air Base last week, but the High court of Kenya halted the launch. The facility was intended to host Americans from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who had contracted Ebola. This facility, located 200 km from the capital Nairobi, was built by the American army on Kenyan soil, to house American doctors, to treat American patients with state of the art medicine. Why not treat them in America where such advanced medical care already exists? The US president says he cannot risk infecting his population, but what about the risk posed to Kenyans?
Protests erupted on Monday near the facility when people stood against this project, and the Ruto’s government responded with teargas and violence! The population is angry, and rightfully so! Is Kenyan/African life worth nothing? Why have an Ebola quarantine center in Kenya? Why not Rwanda which is a neighbor to the DRC? Oh wait… Rwanda cannot have cases with its M23 forces looting Eastern DRC…
Flag of Kenya
President Ruto defended his plan on X, posting on today, that the proposed US facility was “neither unique nor exceptional but part of a broader national preparedness system“, adding that it “will be there to serve the people of Kenya and to serve our friends, including the Americans“. On Monday, he said: “I can assure the people of Kenya that the agreement between the government of Kenya and the American government is for the good of our country and for the partnership.”
The man is ready for deals, deals, deals… it does not matter what the people want so long as he gets his deals. The US is mad and vowed to have this treaty respected, i.e. open the quarantine facility in Kenya at all costs. Let’s pray no sudden cases are now discovered in the country.
Check out the summary of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call to President Ruto about the Ebola quarantine facility. ” The Secretary and President Ruto discussed coordinated efforts to secure vital medical supplies for Kenya and ensure the strength and preparedness of Kenya’s health system. The United States Government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts and has already committed to providing $112 million in bilateral assistance to the regional response.”
Recall that in December 2025, The Trump administration signed the first in what were expected to be dozens of “America First” global health funding agreements to prioritize combating infectious diseases in countries deemed to be aligned with the president’s broader foreign policy goals and positions. The five-year, $2.5 billion agreement with Kenya was signed by Kenyan President William Ruto and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to replace a patchwork of previous health agreements that had traditionally been run by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for decades…
The past few days have been quite eventful in Senegal. On Friday, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the President of Senegal, suddenly sacked his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko by a decree read on national television! On Saturday, Ousmane Sonko observed a day of strategic silence. On Sunday he became deputy of PASTEF, his party, at the parliament, and on Tuesday, he was elected the President of the National Assembly or parliament, the second person in the nation! If this is not some 5D chess, then tell me what is!
Diomaye mooy Ousmane (Source: Kalenews.net)
Imagine this: Ousmane Sonko who was denied running for the presidency by all the crooked ways (falsely accused, lied about, thrown in jail, denied from running in the presidential election…) of the previous government of Macky Sall, chose Diomaye Faye one of his lieutenant in the party to run in his stead. He campaigned in the entire country under the slogan “Diomaye mooy Sonko” i.e. “Diomaye is Sonko,” telling people that a vote for Diomaye was a vote for him, that voting for Diomaye would ensure victory for the party PASTEF and its ideas. The people trusted Sonko. Thus, Diomaye became President of the Republic and Sonko his Prime Minister (Senegal Presidential Elections: Bassirou Diomaye Faye is set to be the next president) … Now on Friday, after a year and half, Diomaye sacked Sonko via presidential decree read on public television. That night Sonko responded simply on Twitter by “Alhamdoulillah. Ce soir je dormirai le coeur lèger à la Cité Keur Gorgui” (Alhamdulillah. Tonight, I will sleep with a light heart in Cité Keur Gorgui)” and the crowds came to acclaim him at home. Saturday, radio silence! On Sunday, Deputy at the National Assembly and then Tuesday elected as the President of the Parliament, the second most powerful person in the nation! Simply Wow!
Flag of Senegal
For those of us who grew up reading the stories of the great Senegalese author Birago Diop (Les contes d’Amadou Koumba, …), one can see that Sonko is a proud son of Birago Diop with twists reminiscent of a Leuk-le-lievre. This past week, we all went to Sonko’s school to learn! The move was harmonious and perfect,… I don’t think anybody would have predicted that. Even Western media were all stunned! Those who were laughing were definitely shocked! There is so much to talk about : the betrayal of a protégé, the loyalty of the previous president of the parliament El Malick Ndiaye who stepped down, the trust of the people, the deputies of PASTEF, and even opposition, and the political genius of Sonko (who many probably thought would take to the streets in anger). Congratulations to the new President of the Parliament. His entrance at the parliament and his speech made us proud! Senegal is always giving us lessons in democracy! Senegal first! Senegal always!
Please enjoy Ousmane Sonko’s speech after being elected President of Parliament of Senegal, and learn!
The great Cameroonian filmmaker Bassek Ba Kobhio, the creator ofSango Malo or Le grand blanc de Lambaréné (the Great White of Lambarene), the founder of Écrans Noirs Film Festival in Yaoundé, one of Central Africa’s most vital platforms for regional stories and cinematic resistance, has joined his ancestors.
I remember watching ” Le grand blanc de Lambaréné (The Great White of Lambarene)” and thinking about all the pains Africans endured at the hand of the European explorers and missionaries who visited Africa. The cruelty of these missionaries, who claimed to have had a civilizing mission in Africa. The vivid scene in the movie where the doctor removes the teeth of a villager with pliers and without any anesthesia is still stuck in my mind. Ba Kobhio had a way of showing the portraits of flawed idealists like Albert Schweitzer, the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner whose biopic Le grand blanc de Lambaréné is, who had ‘good’ intentions but turned to authoritarianism, and paternalism towards Africans who he (Schweitzer) thought in a way inferior, seeing himself as an “elder brother” to them. In that movie, Bassek showed a part of the Gabonese history and Equatorial French colonies through the lens of an African.
Le Grand Blanc de Lambarene by Bassek Ba Kobhio (Source: imdb.com)
His filmography, including masterpieces like Sango Malo (which won the 1992 public prize at the 2nd Festival du cinéma africain of Milan, in Italie), Le grand blanc de Lambaréné and The Silence of the Forest, consistently sought to reclaim the African narrative, portraying the continent with a dignity that rejected the traditional, condescending external gaze. Beyond his work behind the camera, Bassek Ba Kobhio was a visionary architect of the African film industry’s infrastructure. In 1997, he founded the Écrans Noirs Film Festival in Yaoundé, one of Central Africa’s most vital platforms for regional stories and cinematic resistance, contributing to African cinematography.
Excerpts below are from an article written by Henri Matip Ma Soundjock for the African Intercontinental Press (AICP). I could not have written a better eulogy! Enjoy!
BASSECK BA KOBHIO N’EST PAS MORT : IL EST ENTRÉ DANS SES PROPRES IMAGES
Hommage au cinéaste camerounais, père du Festival Écrans Noirs, qui vient de rendre l’âme
Il filmait pour que le Cameroun se voie. Il a créé Écrans Noirs pour que l’Afrique se regarde. Basseck Ba Kobhio vient de s’éteindre. Mais un homme qui a donné des images à un peuple n’entre pas dans la mort. Il entre dans le montage final. Celui où les vivants reprennent le scénario.
I. LE CINÉASTE QUI A REFUSÉ QUE LE CAMEROUN SOIT HORS-CHAMP
1. Le nom : Basseck Ba Kobhio. Deux K. Comme Kamer. Comme Kribi, où il naît en 1957. Comme Kolatier, le quartier de Yaoundé où il installe ses bureaux.
2. L’œuvre : Sango Malo 1991. Le Grand Blanc de Lambaréné 1995. Le Silence de la Forêt 2003. Il ne filme pas l’Afrique des cartes postales. Il filme l’Afrique des dilemmes. Le maître d’école qui gifle la colonisation. Le docteur Schweitzer vu par les Gabonais. Le Pygmée qui juge les Bantous.
3. La thèse : Chez Basseck, la caméra n’est pas neutre. Elle est témoin. Elle est tribunal. Elle est confessionnal. Il filme comme on rend justice. Plan par plan, il a fait comparaître 100 ans de non-dits camerounais.
Et nous ? Nous regardions. Pour la première fois, nous ne regardions pas Paris ou Hollywood. Nous nous regardions. Et nous avions mal. Et c’était bien.
…
III. LE PÈRE, LE PUGILISTE, LE PASSEUR
1. Le Père : Il engueulait. Il exigeait. « Un plan mal cadré est une faute morale », disait-il. Ses stagiaires pleuraient. Puis ils devenaient chefs-op. Il ne formait pas des techniciens. Il formait des héritiers.
2. Le Pugiliste : Il se battait avec le MINFI pour 10 millions de subvention. Avec les hôtels pour loger les réalisateurs. Avec Air France pour des billets. Il perdait souvent. Il revenait toujours. Écrans Noirs a eu lieu même quand il n’y avait pas de courant. Groupe électrogène. Même quand il n’y avait pas d’argent. Dette personnelle.
3. Le Passeur : Il a passé 30 ans à connecter. Connecter Douala à Ouagadougou. Connecter le FESPACO à Cannes. Connecter le jeune de Mvog-Ada au producteur de Paris. Il était le câble HDMI de l’Afrique.
Aujourd’hui le câble est coupé. À nous de devenir la fibre.
On April 19, 2026, Pope Leo XIV gave the last blessing of his Angolan trip at a place which used to be pivotal in the slave trade! The irony is not lost on us. Can you imagine? The church that authorized and condoned the slavery of the African race, denying it of its humanity, now comes to bless the continent at an ancient slave fort? In 1452, the church authorized the eradication, subjugation, and enslavement of African people. Who told the pope that this was okay? Dum Diversas or The Vatican’s Authorization of Slavery, Vatican rejects ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ used to Justify Colonial Quest and Theft of Land.
Pope Leo XIV at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Muxima in Angola (Source: OSV News Photo, Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV visited Africa last month: visiting Algeria (first time for a pope to visit the predominantly Muslim country), Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. While in Angola, he delivered a message of peace and reconciliation at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a revered Catholic site that once served as a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade !!!
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Muxima was founded in the village of Muxima in the 16th century. It stands on the left bank of the Kwanza River and is a contemporary of the Fortress of Muxima. Muxima was occupied by the Portuguese in 1589 and ten years later in 1599, the fortress was founded and the church was built with a prayer invoking the intercession of Nossa Senhora da Muxima – Muxima means ‘heart’ in Kimbundu. It was an important center in the Portuguese slave trade in Angola, protected by the fortress, and the church played an important role as it is where slaves were baptized before being deported. Picture this, a subhuman getting baptized to get his soul purified to be deported to another continent to be tortured and enslaved (didn’t even know that subhumans or things had souls!) ! The church was a hub of the Atlantic slave trade. Today, it has become the most important place of pilgrimage in Angola, getting over one million visitor from August 31 to September 1. It became a place of pilgrimage for Marians in the 19th century because of a suspected apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1833. In 1924, the church was listed as a historical monument and was later added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 1996. Is this freaking serious? Why, oh why are Africans so gullible? A place where our brothers and sisters were sold to slavery, where our ancestors lost their lives, a slave trade hub, is now a place of pilgrimage for Africans, because there were apparitions of the virgin Mary there? And you believe? Those ‘apparitions’ must have been the spirits of those who were sold into slavery and deported! And a century later, the same church who relegated us to below human beings, comes to talk of peace and reconciliation where they used to baptize these same subhumans to be sold out? And we go there? No matter what anyone says… we have to admit that there is something unpalatable with this picture!
Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição Muxima pilgrimage site in Bengo province, Angola (Source: Wikipedia)
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday delivered a message of peace and reconciliation at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a revered Catholic site that once served as a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Set along the Kwanza River, the sanctuary became a pilgrimage destination after reported Marian apparitions in the 19th century.
Yet the Church of Our Lady of Muxima was originally built by Portuguese colonizers in the late 16th century as part of a fortress linked to slavery.
Enslaved Africans were gathered there, baptized by priests, and forced to march more than 100 kilometers to Luanda before being shipped to the Americas.
… “It is love that must triumph, not war,” Leo said in a prayer invoking the Virgin Mary, urging believers to act as “messenger angels” spreading compassion and blessing [Compassion? on a site which was the hub of slave trade in Angola?].
Praying the Rosary inside the modest church, he recalled centuries of “sorrow and great suffering” endured by Angolans, without directly referencing slavery. [of course… how could he? When they visit other continents they acknowledge it, but in Africa… silence].
Over the past week, there have been severe confrontations/battles in Mali between the government forces backed by the proud people of Mali and the jihadists forces funded by the West. These intense attacks culminated on April 25, 2026, with the deaths of the Malian Defense Minister, General Sadio Camara, members of his family, and countless soldiers and civilians. We have learned that the attacks were complex, coordinated, and simultaneous.
General Assimi Goita
As always, the Western media celebrated, and wondered where the Malian president was, and told us that the rebels were now in total control of Kidal. On Tuesday, President General Assimi Goïta, addressed the nation, and told us that, “A violent halt was put to the attackers who sought to establish a climate of violence.” These attacks, as President Assimi Goïta shared, were “coordinated [and] of an extreme gravity.”
ECOWAS Members – old map
The attacks were quite complex, as they were very sophisticated; the bandits were no longer thugs driving simple motorcycles, but advanced military vehicles instead, had high technology, missiles, and even satellite access for such coordination, and much more. As you can see, common bandits cannot have access to such high tech or intelligence: where do they get the money? It is clear that they are funded by the West, with France at the forefront, Ukraine, the E.U. and thus NATO, and the ECOWAS countries which are governed by puppets of France (Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Algeria, Mauritania). Remember that American general who lied about Ibrahim Traoré last summer visited several of these countries to establish other centers for the AFRICOM (What are American Troops doing in Nigeria ?)? This time, the jihadists hit almost simultaneously the cities of Gao, Kidal, Mopti, and Kati. You can see that this is an army, and not just ‘rebels’ as labelled by the western media, directly financed by the West with France in the front. It is said that they are numbering several thousand men.
Flag of Mali
President Goïta said, “Thanks to the promptness and professionalism of the armed and security forces, the attackers – whose objectives was to instill a climate of widespread violence in the affected localities –were dealt a decisive blow. Thanks to the calm of the personnel deployed and the maintenance of a cohesive chain of command, the enemy’s nefarious plot was thwarted, resulting in the neutralization of a significant number of attackers. As I speak to you now, security measures have been reinforced; the situation is under control, and operations involving combing, search, intelligence gathering, and security consolidation remain ongoing.”
AES Logo
This, as you can see, is the black winter (dark winter), President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso referred to at the beginning of the year. However, what the enemy has forgotten is that Assimi Goïta, Ibrahim Traoré, Abdourahamane Tchiani are all proud descendants of the great Mali Empire, Songhai Empire, Kanem-Bornu Empire, and offspring of the mighty Sundiata Keïta, Kankan Musa, Samori Touré, and so many others; these are men whose ancestors have been fighting for their freedom for generations (like Malians fighting the French forces at the battle of Sikasso). The fight for freedom did not start yesterday in 2020, but has been ongoing for centuries. As President Goïta said, “Our people have made the choice, the choice of sovereignty and dignity. The choice is the expression of a national will, fully embraced and boldly asserted. It comes at a price, and we are fully aware of it. This choice is the only path worth taking if we wish to offer our children a future that is free, just, and prosperous.” As president Goïta told us in 2022, No Sacrifice is too Big for this Country.
On April 18, 2026, during the AES-ECOWAS summit in Lomé, Togo, President of the National Commission of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) for Burkina Faso, Bassolma Bazié set the record straight. His intervention was fiery and strongly contrasted the AES with the ECOWAS/CEDEAO bloc. He reacted to current political tensions in West Africa, while delivering a forceful political address in Lomé. He spoke in defense of the AES, and made a call for African sovereignty. His speech was a call to action, and at the same time a summary of the progress Burkina Faso and the AES countries have made on their own. I felt proud to be African!
President Capitaine Ibrahim Traore (Source: sig.gov.bf)
He detailed some of the progress Burkina Faso has seen between 1960 to 2022 when it was ‘independent and democratic’ and ruled by the Western puppets, and since 2023 under the ‘junta’. The progress in 3 years is amazing, should be applauded and copied by all. Burkina Faso which never had air force bases, now has at least 4. Every citizen is happy to join in the effort of liberating their country. There were months when doctors and nurses who did not protest and understood the dire situation facing their countries did not receive pay; the President of the Faso, once the money came in, paid all the arrears. Burkina Faso saw its very first renal transplant operation last month; a first since forever! All citizens contributed, from their savings and salaries, over $2 billion to the cause of their country. Now that they are owners of their own destinies, they can do transactions without passing through the French slave currency FCFA, which gives them freedom to bargain with other countries and choose partners.
Here are some of the points President of the National Commission of the AES, Bassolma Bazié covered:
Assertion of Sovereignty : Bazié emphasizes that the AES countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) are reclaiming their autonomy and refusing external interference. He said “they [the West] will no longer impose leaders upon us, our raw materials will serve our people” [“On ne va plus nous imposer des dirigeants, nos matieres premieres vont servir a nos peuples…“]. AES countries should control their own resources, define their own political systems, choose their own partners, and reject “tutelage” from former colonial powers.
Critique of ECOWAS (CEDEAO) : He argues that ECOWAS has drifted from its original mission established by its founding fathers, and now acts against the interests of its own member states. It has become an instrument of foreign powers, which imposes sanctions that harm African populations, and interferes in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
Defense of the Sahel Alliance : He presents the AES as a necessary response to security, political, and economic challenges, positioning it as a more authentic and people‑centered alternative. As you know, before the Alliance reclaimed its lands and its territories, the foreign forces and interventions had utterly miserably failed. Bazié says that sovereignty is not negotiable, even under pressure. Now, the Sahel countries have been fighting alone and faced terrorism financed by the same foreigners. The AES is building a new security architecture whose foundation is the cooperation between the 3 countries. He
Call for African Unity : Despite criticizing ECOWAS leadership, he calls for solidarity among African nations and urges them to rethink their alliances, to be really sovereign and to use their resources for their own people. Unity must be horizontal, not imposed. African institutions must serve African peoples, not external agendas. The AES is open to cooperation with other African states, but cooperation must be based on respect and equality.
Reaction to International Pressure : He denounces what he sees as foreign manipulation and insists that Sahel countries must define their own path.
President Capitaine Ibrahim Traore (Source: sig.gov.bf)
In his April 2, 2026 interview, the President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, showed, through simple examples, like his illustrious predecessor Thomas Sankara, that true sovereignty is impossible without industrialization.
He used simple everyday objects, in layman’s terms, including a spoon, to illustrate how Africa remains trapped in a colonial economic model where it exports raw materials and imports the finished goods at a much higher cost. He took the example of soy beans that are grown locally, yet soy oil is imported; similarly with cotton which is produced locally, yet, clothing is imported from abroad even though there is a local industry. He said that Burkina Faso must stop exporting raw resources only to buy back manufactured items. Doesn’t this remind you of Sankara at the UN tribune? The Faso Dan Fani: Woven Cloth of the Homeland.
Faso Dan Fani
In 1986, the President of the Faso, Thomas Sankara, declared that it was important to “produce and consume Burkinabé.” Thus, Sankara declared “In all the villages of Burkina Faso, we know how to grow cotton. In all villages, women know how to spin cotton, men know how to weave it into cloth, and other men know how to sew those threads into clothes... [Dans tous les villages du Burkina Faso, l’on sait cultiver le coton. Dans tous les villages, des femmes savent filer le coton, des hommes savent tisser ce fil en pagnes et d’autres hommes savent coudre les pagnes en vêtements …]” and further “We should not be slave of what others produce[Nous ne devons pas être esclave de ce que les autres produisent].”
Fuel
Traoré argued that Africa must produce locally, adding value to its own resources instead of enriching foreign industries. Like currently, the world is held up by the energy crisis caused by the Iran war and the blockade of the strait of Ormuz. Can you imagine that some African oil-producing countries like Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, have an oil/fuel penury? How come? well, for instance, Cameroon’s oil refinery burnt down a few years back, and Cameroonian oil is exported to Europe, bought back from them to be imported into the country as cheap toxic fuel! There are countless examples like that: Swiss Firms poison Oil destined for Africa. This is why Africa’s Richest Man Dangote has built one of the world’s largest oil refineries.
Traoré explained that Burkina Faso cannot remain dependent on foreign factories for basic goods. He insisted that local transformation of resources is the only path to real independence. To come back to the spoon example, Burkina Faso exports metal ore, while foreign countries turn it into spoons or tools, and Burkina buys those finished products back. This is not development; it is dependency!
Flag of Burkina Faso
This development must be led by Burkinabe, and Africans themselves. It cannot be dictated by foreign institutions (IMF, World Bank, UN, etc) which do not serve our interests. Africa must build its own industries, and the opportunities and job creations are endless, from the example of the spoon, plates, medicine, clothing, housing materials, etc. True Burkinabe and African sovereignty cannot be done with industrialization!
Capitaine President Ibrahim Traore (Source: sig.gov.bf)
On April 2, 2026, President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso addressed the local and international press for more than 2 hours. He focused on several major themes central to Burkina Faso itself and its relationship with foreign powers. It was a real masterclass. He did not fall for the numerous press’ traps.
Below are some key themes he focused on:
Sovereignty and independence
Traoré emphasized that Burkina Faso must strengthen its sovereignty in all areas: political, economic, and security-related. He framed the country’s current path as a struggle for real independence, and not symbolic autonomy which many African countries have had since their ‘independence‘ in the 1960s. It is important to reclaim our sovereignty! He highlighted that Burkinabé are now in charge of their own army, and is funded and trained by Burkinabé themselves; thus the mindset and strategy have changed and lent to victories against terrorism.
“We are heirs of the revolution” by Thomas Sankara
For a country like Burkina Faso, Western-style democratic systems cannot be simply grafted or copied to a nation like his, fighting terrorism and dealing with Western embargo, and deep institutional corruption. Security and stability must come before adopting external political needs.
Democracy and Media Reactions
President Traoré said that “Burkinabé must forget democracy,” and many Western media were triggered by it. In reality, the president of the Faso (PF) was trying to say that western electoral models cannot function effectively in Burkina Faso during wartime and when it is trying to free itself from imperialist chains. Moreover, as we have discussed here before, Africans must stop falling into the trap of democracy; the West has cheated Africa for far too long with that word called democracythat most of them do not even apply! The PF also reminded us about the “Charte du Mandé” the very first declaration of human rights in the world established in Africa and which shows that Africa’s ancestral governance should be made more relevant today and is adapted to our struggles.
Burkina Faso
Justice and institutional reform
The PF highlighted that the focus is on rebuilding institutions and creating systems that are resistant to corruption and external manipulation. He also showed how old traditional/local/ancestral governments could live in harmony with the modern republican government for the benefit of the homeland.
Africa’s geopolitical position
He positioned Burkina Faso within a broader African struggle for independence. As the leader of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), he stated that priorities would be on the operationalization of the unified force, the acceleration of regional integration, and the implementation of major economic initiatives. He urged Africans everywhere to see themselves as part of one global community which should fight for its independence.
Our hearts go out to our Cuban brothers and sisters who are currently getting strangled alive! Yes… alive! Through no fault of their own, except standing for their freedom. Cuba has been struggling, facing embargo for over 64 years (the US imposed embargo on Cuba on February 3, 1962), and now, since January 3rd when the US kidnapped the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife (Pirates of the Caribbeans in Venezuela, or the Renewed Face of the Far West), Cuba has been denied any oil imports. Until then, Venezuela had been providing 50 % of all of Cuba’s oil. Since then, all other countries, like Mexico, which were providing oil to Cuba have stopped after getting threatened by American president Donald Trump with tariffs. On Monday, the power grid collapsed, and on Wednesday power was partially restored to the island of 11 millions. Faced with years of embargo, Cuba’s power grid is aging and now with the recent oil blocade, it is falling apart. Highways are deserted, hospitals suffer, doctors operate with candle lights, and mothers give birth in darkness.
Whatever happens, Cuba is a beacon to the ‘small’ people of the world, and we stand with them. Cubans with Fidel Castro (Fidel Castro: Ideas cannot be Killed!) have shown us that the size of a country or its people does not matter when fighting for freedom and principles. Cuba is a small country, but its actions, its help, has been immense to Africa for the past 50 years. Even to this day, doctors across Africa have been trained in Cuba, and Cuban doctors have vastly supported the health-care services of many countries including Ghana. We stand with them!
Cuba has reconnected its power grid and brought online its largest oil-fired power plant, energy officials said, putting an end to a nationwide blackout that lasted more than 29 hours amid a United States move to choke off the island’s fuel supply.
After the country’s 10 million people had been plunged into darkness overnight, the Caribbean island’s national power grid had fully come back online by 6:11pm (22:11 GMT) on Tuesday. However, officials said power shortages may continue because not enough electricity is being generated.
In addition to cutting off oil sales to Cuba, US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against the Communist-run island, saying on Monday he could do anything he wanted with the country.
A US State Department official blamed the Cuban government for the grid collapse, calling blackouts a “symptom of the failing regime’s incompetence”.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel fired back at Washington, criticising its “almost daily public threats against Cuba”.
“They intend to and announce plans to take over the country, its resources, its properties, and even the very economy they seek to suffocate in order to force us to surrender,” Diaz-Canel wrote on social media on Tuesday night, shortly after power returned nationwide.
Cuba has yet to say what caused Monday’s nationwide grid failure, the first such collapse since the US cut off the island’s oil supply from Venezuela and threatened to slap tariffs on countries that ship fuel to the nation.
By midday on Tuesday, grid workers successfully fired up the Antonio Guiteras power plant, a decades-old behemoth that underpins the country’s power grid.
African Heritage 