Photos credit: Isseu Diouf Campbell
On January 25, 2022, Malians New Yorkers rallied at the Permanent Mission of Mali to the UN in Manhattan against France and in support of Colonel Assimi Goita, sworn in as transitional president in June 2021.
Despite sanctions from regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, both considered diplomatic puppets of the West, Malians New Yorkers rallied for the right to choose the leader they believe will better represent their interests. They said Colonel Assimi Goita was the right man to help them get rid of France, regain territorial integrity and create a better future for Malians.
They were joined by members of the African Diaspora, citizens of former French colonies who also expressed their distrust and general despondency against the former colonizer.
For many Francophone Africans present at the rally, France is an unwanted guest who invited itself into as many as 20 African territories from the late 1800s to 1960s and has yet to leave despite declared independence and several popular requests.
France is a super-power getting most of its power from a grip on many of these African countries’ natural resources; a control of these so-called independent nations’ economies via an imposed currency, the Franc CFA, which facilitates the transfer of capital from French companies based in Africa and holds needed African monies in hostage. Lastly the more than 150 million Africans speaking French keep this language from disappearing from many international circles.
The new generation of Africans is tired of being exploited by Western countries such as France and is more than ready to fight.
Since the Malian coup, the military has taken over in Burkina Faso on January 23, 2022, with the ambition to do what Mali has already done, cut ties with France and rebuild a nation that will benefit its citizens.
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