Lorsque vous bénéficiez des bénédictions de votre mère et de Dieu, peu importe qui s’oppose à vous (proverbe Yoruba – Nigéria).
When you stand with the blessings of your mother and God, it matters not who stands against you (Yoruba proverb – Nigeria).
We have previously spoken about the Trap of Democracy in Africa, and the double standards of the ‘International Community’ when it comes to the application of this word: a person who serves the West to the detriment of his country is deemed a democrat; however, someone who serves the interests of his people and not the West is deemed a tyrant, a dictator, a junta leader, etc.
Thus, it is no surprise that the mainstream media (MSM) has not applauded the vote of confidence which was recently granted to General Assimi Goïta of Mali by his people last week [Assimi Goïta Speaks to the Malian People: No Sacrifice is too Big for this Country]. Why? Because he does not serve their interests. The MSM has been lauding someone like Oligui Nguema of Gabon who traded his military fatigues to win elections by over 90% (talk about democracy!), because he does not disturb their system; however Goïta is not serving them, and he has even dared to liberate Kidal in the north of the country, where the French army and MINUSMA could not or chose not to [Mali Forces Succeed in Kidal where France and Allies could not!].
Singapore is known as an example of progress and development in the world. Do you know that Lee Kuan Yew ruled as prime minister for over 30 years, and was in the government in some shape or form for over 50 years? Have you ever heard Singaporeans complain about him, or talk about democracy?
Last week, General Assimi Goita was given 5 years by the people of Mali. Excerpts below are from the very biased article by BBC.
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Mali’s military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has won the backing of key political allies to be declared president for the next five years.
The 41-year-old, who has seized power twice, was named transitional president after his last coup in 2021. At the time he promised to hold elections the following year – but has since reneged, in a blow to efforts to restore multi-party rule in the West African state.
A national conference organised by the regime – but boycotted by leading opposition parties – has now recommended naming Gen Goïta president until 2030.
He has not yet commented on the recommendation, but the conference was seen as an attempt to legitimise his bid to remain in power.
Over the weekend, an opposition leader, Mohamed Salia Touré [backed by the West], told the AFP news agency that suppressing the multi-party system would be a “historic error”.
… The conference also recommended suspending anything to do with elections until there was peace in the country [rightfully so… how can there be elections when the country is at war or when the territory is divided? – Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire can tell you that, that is a sham], according to a document seen by AFP. The military government has been trying to quell jihadist violence unleashed by groups linked with the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda.
Since taking power, the junta leader has formed an alliance with coup leaders in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, pivoting the region towards Russia after drastically reducing ties with former colonial power France.
Gen Goïta has also withdrawn Mali from the regional grouping Ecowas over its demands to restore democratic rule. Burkina Faso and Niger have also left the grouping.
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For the past few weeks, the price of gold has hit a record high of $3400. Some of the places with some of the largest gold mines is in the Sahel, the AES. So it is no surprise that there was a recent coup against the president of Burkina Faso, one of the leaders of the AES a few weeks ago.
Ibrahim Traoré, president of Burkina Faso, escaped another coup attempt on his life. Coincidentally, this attempted coup happened the day after the American General Langley lied in front of the US congress saying that Traoré was embezzling the country’s funds for his personal security. It is quite preposterous to hear. Why doesn’t Langley mention Ouattara who has put Ivory Coast in debt and destroyed the country? Why doesn’t Langley mention Paul Biya of Cameroon who has been in power 43 years, and taken the country 60 years backwards? Why doesn’t Langley mention Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo who has siphoned all the country’s money into his pockets and those of his family? Or Faure Eyadema who comes from the Eyadema dynasty? Moreover, how can someone like Ibrahim Traoré who has foregone his presidential salary embezzle money?
Then how disgusting of this man to stand in front of congress and lie? It reminds me of another, a certain Colin Powell, who stood in front of the whole world and spoke of things which never existed in Irak?
Since coming to power, Ibrahim Traoré has bought over 400 tractors for farmers, 953 motorcycles, 710 motor pumps for water, 10,000 tons of fish food, 68,964 tons of fertilizer, 10,000 liters of products to name a few to try to empower the country’s agriculture. In the ministry of health, his accomplishments include buying 15 mobile clinics, 36 vehicles for hospitals, 3 oxygen units, 11 cold rooms, 835 tablets, 1,900 solar refrigerators. There was also the inauguration of a full tomato plant to enhance local productions, and now the plan for the largest Coca Cola plant in Africa.
This Langley dude reminds me of the slave/overseer Domato, in the Brazilian telenovela A Escrava Isaura who was always treating his slave brothers and sisters so much worse than the white master.
Excerpts below are from the BBC first about the Burkina Faso’s coup plot, and secondly about the subsequent protests which have occurred around the world in support of Traoré, Captain Ibrahim Traore: Why head of Burkina Faso military junta dey popular among young Africans? (originally in Pidgin, and translated by Dr. Y.). These worldwide protests and marches in support of Traoré have taken place in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ghana, UK, France, all the way even to Jamaica.
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Burkina Faso’s military government has said it foiled a “major plot” to overthrow junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré, with the army alleging the plotters were based in neighbouring Ivory Coast [this is no secret, but BBC writes it as if the Burkinabe people were hallucinating].
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the coup attempt was led by current and former soldiers working with “terrorist leaders“. The intention was to attack the presidential palace last week, he added. The aim of the plan was to “sow total chaos, and place the country under the supervision of an international organisation“, Sana said on state television on Monday.
It is the latest of several claims of attempts to remove the junta leader who seized power in 2022 amid increasing militant attacks. …
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Thousands of people gathered at the Place de la Révolution in Ouagadougou on Wednesday 30 April to show their support to the President of the transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The demonstration happened after the US commander of AFRICOM, General Michael Langley, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee in early April that the military regime in power in Burkina Faso has taken advantage of the resources of the country, particularly the gold reserves [interesting, why does he mention only gold and no other resources?], for his own protection instead of the population. What General Langley told the US Senate provoked people to react in Burkina Faso and throughout the AES countries and even beyond the region. The government of Burkina Faso condemned the statement by the US military command, made with the ‘aim to spoil the country’s image.’
… The massive support for Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, comes at a time of growing tensions with Western powers. General Langley’s accusations of corruption leveled against the President of the transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, instead of weakening the regime in Burkina Faso, has reinforced the status and aura of the young military leader, whose popularity extends beyond national borders.
… Traoré quickly adopted an anti-imperialist stance, where he strongly criticized the interference of Western powers, particularly France. They see his decision to draw closer to new partners like Russia and Iran, and to leave certain regional cooperation frameworks (G5 Sahel, ECOWAS) as a stamping of his sovereignty. This geopolitical shift excites young people seeking political and economic independence happy.
… Captain Traoré has become a symbol of resistance to Western influence, particularly French influence, and this has gone positively with the predominantly young population. His revolutionary stance and commitment to African unity appeals to many Burkinabè, especially young people.
‘There is a third element for me: Ibrahim Traoré’s youth, his outspokenness and his imperialist stance which are inline with another Burkinabe president, Captain Thomas Sankara, whose popularity for almost 40 years after his death is in doubt‘ [says] Seidik Abba, President of the Centre international d’études et de réflexions sur le Sahel (CIRES).
The military regime in power in Burkina Faso is multiplying symbolic and even populist acts to boost its image. The decision to forego the presidential salary and opt for the modest income he receives as army leader also makes his popular with the public.
… Since taking power in 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has undertaken a series of reforms that will strengthen the state’s control over mining resources, particularly gold, for the country’s main export.
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Last Tuesday, April 22, 2025, there was a big concert in Paris – Solidarite Congo, in solidarity for the victims of war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The concert featured some of Congo’s finest artists and from other African countries as well: Gims, Bisso na Bisso, Moise Mbiye, Dadju, Youssoupha, Singuila, Sidiki Diabate, Fally Ipupa and many others. It was a real success considering how much it had been torpedoed by the Rwandan government.
Last week also, on April 25, 2025, we saw the Foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Olivier Nduhungirehe, respectively, under the mediation of the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio sign a “Declaration of Principles.” This is an agreement which aims at restoring peace, stability, and economic cooperation in eastern DRC. Thus, the DRC and Rwanda agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2. As we have said countless times, these treaties should be made public so that the future of our nations is not signed away without our consent [African Governments should make Contracts Public to their Populations!]!
Some of the key points of this declaration of principles are : 1) mutual recognition – both nations pledge to respect the territorial integrity of the other and its sovereignty : not sure why both, since the Rwanda of Paul Kagame has always been the aggressor and the one not respecting and violating the DRC territory and people. 2) End the support to armed group, thus committing both governments to halt military support for non-state armed groups – again, not sure why both when we all know that Rwanda is the culprit. 3) Humanitarian efforts with the return of the displaced populations – how? when the culprits have not even been openly named? 4) Economic cooperation – the US will facilitate investments in infrastructure, mining, and regional trade – the US have always been in the great lakes region funding Rwanda against the DRC under Clinton and subsequent governments; what will change now? 5) Security coordination with the MONUSCO and joint forces – how can someone trust this organization of the United Nations which has produced zero results in over 30 years in eastern DRC?
As you can see, the treaty does not mention the culpability of Rwanda. How can the DRC sign a treaty which does not even state that the other party is guilty? What sort of a peace is that if the aggressor does not even acknowledge its crime? How can the rapist and its victim sit at the same table and they both talk of both pledging for peace? How? Over the past few months, the pressure was mounting from all sides on the Rwandan side which was running on its last cards; and then DRC signed this?
We are told that the treaty will come out tomorrow May 2. If this is what will be in there, then the people of the DRC, and all of Africa have marched for Congo for … nothing, and once again the people have been betrayed? Qui vivra verra!
Amour et haine sont les enfants du vin (Proverbe Azande – République Centrafricaine (RCA)).
Love and hate are the children of wine (Azande proverb – Central African Republic (CAR)).
A few weeks ago, President Trump of the United States started trade wars with China and other countries; these have had a ripple effect throughout the rest of the world felt even in Africa. This has made countries realize the importance of growing local businesses as well, which should be a normal vision: one’s country first, develop the local infrastructures, local companies, agriculture, local people, and interests first. Africa has a greater need for this, as it is so far behind in terms of development. How can we have so many resources, but not develop them on the continent? I get to eat chocolate from cocoa beans from Ivory Coast, but it is written “product of Switzerland”. When you visit high end furniture places around the world, you will find that the wood comes from the forests of Cameroon or Gabon. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is full of cobalt, tantalum, and so many other resources, yet does not refine any of them. Should we even mention the oil producers of Africa? Before Dangote of Nigeria [Africa’s Richest Man Builds One of the World’s Largest Oil Refineries], the oil was taken from Gabon, Nigeria, etc, shipped to somewhere in Europe, and then imported back into the same African countries as refined products [Swiss Firms poison Oil destined for Africa]. How can many African countries import sugar like Cameroon, when the country is filled with sugar cane fields? Or how can they import onions like Senegal, when there are many local Senegalese onion farmers? There is a need to, as Thomas Sankara said, “consume locally [The Faso Dan Fani: Woven Cloth of the Homeland].”
The most recent trade war on the continent involves Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa. Last week, normally bustling border crossings between Tanzania and Malawi were quieter than usual as an escalating regional trade row is taking place.
Last Thursday, Tanzania banned the entry of all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa in response to what has been seen as unfair restrictions on some of its exports. It is a tit for tat. South Africa has for years blocked the entry of bananas from Tanzania, yet it exports its grapes and apples to Tanzania. Last month, Malawi also blocked imports of flour, rice, ginger, bananas and maize. These various exports from South Africa will be impacted by the Tanzanian ban. Meanwhile, landlocked Malawi, which has relied on Tanzanian ports to carry its exports such as tobacco, sugar and soybeans to the rest of the world, will have to reroute its goods, most likely through Mozambique, or possibly South Africa?
Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister, Hussein Bashe confirmed the ban on Wednesday, “We are taking this step to protect our business interests… in business, we must all respect each other.” Since then, diplomatic efforts to resolve the trade issues have so far failed.
He added that Malawi’s move had “directly affected” his country’s traders and described the restrictions as “unfair and harmful“, he added, “No Tanzanian will die from a lack of South African grapes or apples,” he said, adding that, “we are taking these actions to protect Tanzanian interests“.
Check out articles from BBC: Tanzania bans South Africa and Malawi imports as trade row escalates
Malawi-Tanzania trade row: ‘My bananas were seized and destroyed’
Pope Francis visited Africa 5 times in his 12 years, traveling to 10 countries on the continent. His first visit took him to Kenya, the Central African Republic (CAR), and South Sudan in November 25 – 30, 2015. His second visit was to Morocco in March 30 – 31, 2019; his third visit was to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius in September 4 – 9, 2019; while his last visit was in February 2 – 5, 2023, to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and again South Sudan. His visits supposedly focused on inter-religious dialogue Christian-Muslim as in CAR, peace building as in South Sudan, and social justice. He denounced corruption and economic colonialism, and even ‘asked’ colonial powers to let Africa flourish, which many people saw mostly as symbolic empty words. Let us ponder below, on some of his visits.
As we all know, there are no coincidences, and no charity! Why would the Pope visit CAR, one of the worlds’ ‘poorest’ countries? Because he loved peace? Because he loved the poor so much? It is important to remember that CAR has a lot of diamond mines and … uranium. Remember how Bokassa used to give Valéry Giscard d’Estaing ostrich-egg-size diamonds? During his visit to the DRC, the Pope made a grand speech stating all the things Africans love to hear, Pope says Hands off Africa: “Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa, it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.” Why would the Pope visit the DRC just after the big signing of cobalt and copper mines to the US, and after Anthony Blinken, the Belgian king, …? Or South Sudan? Did you know that South Sudan has the 3rd largest oil fields in Africa behind Nigeria and Angola? This is not an attack on religion or the Pope, it is just facts! President Charles De Gaulle of France once said that, “states do not have friends, they only have interests.”
In 2019, the Pope visited Mozambique just before the major signing of the biggest gas fields in the world to the French firm Total and a condominium of commercial banks from around the world descended upon it? Ever since that 15 billion dollars contract with the French firm Total for the oil in Cabo Delgado, and the discovery of one of the largest oil, gas, diamonds, rubies fields in the world, peace in northern Mozambique has become evasive (Who/What did we say goodbye to in Africa in 2020?). Mozambique is home to some of the world’s largest ruby mines with Montepuez Ruby mine being the most significant … guess where it is located… Cabo Delgado! We are now to believe that Islamists jumped over Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, to land in… Mozambique to start an Islamic insurgency! After his Mozambican visit, Pope Francis sent money to help the people and children of Mozambique who have been displaced by conflict! … Why did the Vatican not help the government of Samora Machel in their fight for independence back in the days? or some of the more recent governments? Why send money for the displaced, and not force for peace or have peace summits (not that these help anyways), etc? It is no secret the part that the Vatican played in the Angolan Civil War between the MPLA of Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and the UNITA of Jonas Savimbi, so it is only fair to be skeptical about a pope touring these very rich countries.
In 2023, a Vatican statement said the papal bulls, or decrees, “did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples” and “therefore [the Vatican] repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political ‘doctrine of discovery.’” It has been 2 years since this “rejection of the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’”, and we can now state that it was all words … no actions! [Vatican rejects ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ used to Justify Colonial Quest and Theft of Land, Dum Diversas or The Vatican’s Authorization of Slavery].
Maybe now, we will see an African pope? Everyone acknowledges that the Catholic church’s future is in Africa, but the African presence in the Vatican is still sparse. We doubt that there will now be an African pope, but even if there is, it will probably be a bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet like Obama, and one used just like him or Kofi Annan before him, to usher some of the greatest atrocities on the continent. Thus, dear African, please don’t sleep! As the Catholics of the world mourn, sympathize; but don’t get distracted! This is the era of the New Scramble for Africa … Stay awake! Sharpen your minds and weapons, and free yourself! Let us not forget that the original Scramble for Africa started with missionaries as Sengat-Kuo showed in his poem ‘Ils Sont Venus’ / ‘They Came’.
Les dents sont toutes amies entre elles (Proverbe Galla – Ethiopie).
The teeth are all friends among themselves (Galla proverb – Ethiopia).
Pope Francis I, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, passed away this Monday April 21st, on Easter Monday. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first Latin American pontiff in world history, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, the first from the Society of Jesus (Jesuit order), and the first born or raised outside of Europe since the 8th century Syrian pope Gregory III. He sat at the realm of the Catholic Church for 12 years, as its 266th pope. His time as pontiff has been seen by many as controversial.
Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936. He came from an Italian family, his dad being an Italian immigrant in Argentina, and his mother from a family from northern Italy. He was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. He quickly rose through the ranks to serve as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
After the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Bergoglio was elected at the end of the papal conclave to succeed him on March 13, 2013. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment, animals and birds.
Throughout his public life, his leadership was defined by his dedication to social justice and support to the marginalized. However, he was accused by some of not doing enough to oppose the generals of the brutal military dictatorship that governed Argentina between 1976 and 1983 – especially after the military kidnapped two priests.
He maintained that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward LGBTQ people, and in 2023, he stated that although blessings of same-sex unions are not permitted, the LGBTQ individuals can be blessed as long as blessings are not given in a liturgical context. This was met by significant criticism from his members. Francis strongly opposed trickle-down economics, consumerism, and excessive development, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action throughout his papacy. However, the greatest challenge to his papacy came from those who accused him of failing to tackle child abuse.
With his election to the pontifical office, there was hope for him to rejuvenate the church, and expand to other parts of the world. As Pope, he appointed more than 140 cardinals from non-European countries – including 15 in December 2024.
Over the years, he visited 68 countries on all continents, including a) Africa: 10 countries, focusing on peace-building, social justice, and interfaith dialogue; b) Asia: 22 countries, emphasizing religious tolerance and environmental concerns; c) Europe: 23 countries, addressing migration, economic inequality, and Catholic unity; d) North & South America: 12 countries, advocating for indigenous rights, poverty alleviation, and climate action.
Early in 2022, Francis expressed “shame and sorrow” for the Catholic Church’s role in abuses against the Indigenous peoples in Canada. He apologized for the church’s role in “projects of cultural destruction” and forced assimilation. Near the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School, the site of a search for unmarked graves, Francis said: “I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples.” Vatican rejects ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ used to Justify Colonial Quest and Theft of Land. We are allergic to words without actions… and as you can see this was just it!
Pope Francis visited Africa 5 times in his 12 years, going to 10 countries. His first visit to the continent took him to Kenya, the Central African Republic (CAR), and South Sudan in November 25 – 30, 2015. His second visit was to Morocco in March 30 – 31, 2019; his third visit was to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius in September 4 – 9, 2019. His last visit was in February 2 – 5, 2023, to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and again South Sudan (The Pope Visits the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan). His visits supposedly focused, on paper, on inter-religious dialogue Christian-Muslim as in CAR, peace building as in South Sudan, and social justice. He ‘denounced’ corruption and economic colonialism, and even ‘asked’ colonial powers to let Africa flourish, Pope says Hands off Africa: “Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa, it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered. In Africa, although pope Francis addressed clerical abuse scandals, many felt that he did not denounce child abuse on the continent as much as he did in other parts of the world.
As days go by, we will discuss further.
When you are a chosen one of the West, democracy is just a word. You can win with numbers similar to those of a banana republic, and you will get applauded. You can trade your military fatigues for a suit, so long as you keep your friendship with the metropolis, you will be loved, cherished, and praised, and your intelligence will be lauded above all else. After all, you are there to serve the external masters, and they have given you carte blanche. This past Saturday, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema won the presidential elections in Gabon with an overwhelming 90.35% of the vote (only in our tropical banana republics can we see this). It reminds us of a time when another ‘great democrat’ (who, mind you, has been in power for over 30 years) of Rwanda won by 99%! My goodness! And the West will give us great lessons of democracy! When Traoré got his country and parliament to give him 5 years of confidence (Burkina Faso’s Transition Government Gets a 5-year Confidence Vote by the People)… there was an outcry in the MSM. Even when Maduro in Venezuela got 51+%, the mighty international community called him a dictator. What of Kagame? Double Standards is all! Honestly, the problem is not Oligui Nguema, but rather the double standards, and that concept which has been drilled into our heads called democracy, but which in reality is a tool used by the West to praise those who serve well or to destroy the ‘bad’ students who refuse to bow down (Africans and the Trap of Democracy, and Africans, let us not Fall in the Trap of Democracy!). By the way, did you notice that since we published our article on Friday, the MSM have now taken to calling him ‘coup leader’ when before it was not the case?
Oligui Nguema told Al Jazeera that he ‘will restore dignity to the Gabonese people‘. We can only hope for the best for the people of Gabon.
You can check out Le Monde, BBC, RFI, AP, The Print, and Al Jazeera… there is such a discrepancy compared to the treatment of the leaders of the AES in the media.
African Heritage 