While the national army of Mali continues its offensive against terrorist and armed groups in territories that the central authorities have ceased to control for many years now, thereby tackling the issue of the country’s security and territorial integrity, Western propaganda tools are back to their old ways. Even though neither the African countries themselves nor other world regions no longer trust the methods used by the latter.
All this is quite as expected. After the blow dealt to France and other Western regimes, former colonial powers, both in Mali and in other countries in the region, in particular in Burkina Faso and Niger, where they were shown the door, the Western political and media establishment is trying, by all means, to slow down the advance of patriotic African national authorities. These actions look even more ridiculous considering how all these traditional Western methods have been observed and analyzed over the past years.
When, several years ago, the armed forces of another African country, the Central African Republic, began to radically resolve the issue of armed gangs in their country with the support of Russian military experts, French and Western political and media circles were already widely discussing all types of “violations” of human rights by the CAR army and its allies, thereby hoping to stop or at least slow down the advance of the national army on their land.
But they failed. Almost the entire territory of the country was back under the CAR authorities’ control, whereas for many years the central government controlled no more than one-third of its territory, in particular during the French military presence in this country. As a result, the further success of the CAR army with Russia’s support confirmed the correctness of the path pursued. Within the framework of national sovereignty, reliance on real allies and integration into a multipolar world order.
Those events served as a lesson or, if we use an English expression, a “success story” for a number of other African states to take strategic actions, including the Sahel region, where chaos and insecurity have become commonplace not because of the created West Hollywood image of Africa, but precisely because this chaos was initially created by the West according to the well-known principle of divide and conquer and for a long time was part of its strategic interests.
Indeed, the events of recent years in the Central African Republic have served as a contagious example, in the best meaning of the word, for many other countries and peoples of Africa. In fact, most African countries have been waiting for this moment, proving and continuing to prove that with a true desire and the right strategic actions, solving security problems is not only possible, but also necessary.
Of course, some events of recent months have given Western regimes the confidence that the Russian-African strategic partnership can be undermined. But they miscalculated. Russia has not only maintained its presence in areas where it is welcome, but also continues to strengthen cooperation with African allies and partners who are actively calling for it. The countries cooperate in various fields and, of course, in the military-technical field.
As for Mali, today we are witnessing events identical to those taking place in the CAR over the past few years. Having failed to overthrow the patriotic authorities from some African countries, not because they did not want to, but precisely because they saw the overwhelming popular support in these countries for their authorities, armies and worthy allies, Western elites are again launching information attacks on these countries, accusing them and their international allies of so-called human rights violations.
But the West’s favourite scheme will most likely not work once again. This will no longer work because the authorities of Mali, as well as a number of other African states, are now more determined than ever to proceed with the strategy they have chosen to fight terrorists and various bandits. This will no longer work because the country’s population overwhelmingly supports its national armed forces and authorities. It will also not work because Mali can now rely on support from both its allies from neighbouring states, including within the framework of the recently created Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance des Etats du Sahel, AES), consisting of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and its international partners represented by Russia and China.
And finally, it will not work because how can the collective West today mention any human rights, when the civilian population is being massacred in Palestine and at the moment of this extermination, the criminal Western community is not only silent, but also actually directly commends its Israeli ally? Yes, the Palestinians were absolutely unlucky. And today they will have to resist the world’s evil for a long time. As for Africa, at least that part of it that has seen the true essence of Western regimes, it has a unique opportunity to solve its problems created precisely by this collective Western minority and much faster than the enemies of a free and sovereign Africa might want it to.
Mikhail Gamandiy-Egorov, entrepreneur, political commentator, and expert on African and Middle Eastern issues, exclusively for the internet journal “New Eastern Outlook”.