By Ipole AMAJAMA
It was Marcus Garvey, the Jamaica-born British political activist, that said, “We have a beautiful history, but we will create one that will astonish the world.” But as things stand presently on the African continent, our leaders are not astonishing the world in positive ways, rather reenacting historical mistakes in their alliances and allegiances to foreign powers and interests.
The spirit of Ubuntu is severely weakened. Pan-Africanism that should be the glue to forging a common front is facing unprecedented assault on the continent. Pan-Africanism as a belief that Africans on the continent and in the diaspora share not only a common history, but also a common destiny, holds but little weight as leaders on the continent in their mistaken belief of forging new relationships tilt towards the Kremlin and Beijing with its broken record of democracy, rule or law and human rights. It is pertinent to stress that Pan-Africanism was developed at a time of crisis and tragedy, and anchored on the principle that unity among Africans is vital for their economic, social, cultural, and political progress. This thinking still remains valid and should be the basis on which our leaders should act. But the poser remains: Are there?
In the wake of their military seizure of power in their respective countries, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, immediately withdraw from the sub-regional body, ECOWAS, and in fits of anti-colonial rhetoric severed relationships with their European allies such as France, UK and the Americans with the allegations that they have stymied development on their countries and the continent as a whole. It would be imagined that such move would be tailored towards closer ties with other African countries, rather, it was merely replacing one hegemony with another – Russia and China.
Journalist Georges Dougueli surmises it succinctly when he argues that what has happened with the Alliance of Sahel States, AES, is their misunderstanding of the 2019 Russia-Africa summit in Sochi when forty African heads of state answered Vladimir Putin’s invitation to the Black Sea resort. The continent’s authoritarian powers in search of survival and their shared contempt for democracy, disdain for civil liberties and human rights, and a common taste for absolute, eternal power, alongside a habit of imprisoning – or assassinating – troublesome opponents and journalists, felt compelled to yield to Moscow’s mirage of security.
In so doing, they have capitulated to false guarantees as recent history has shown that Moscow is incapable of standing for its “friends” whether in the case of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela or standing up for Iran. Take the case of Mali for instance, since it turned to Russia since 2021 first with Russia-backed Wagner fighters to the present Africa Corps, there has been no improvement in the worsening insurgency. Rather, their presence has also been linked to allegations of unlawful killings, torture and arbitrary detentions and killings like the April 2022 incident when at least 50 civilians were reportedly killed and hundreds detained after a roadside bomb killed a “Russian advisor” working with Malian troops. Who holds these fellows accountable?
What of Burkina Faso? Since Ibrahim Traore led a putsch in September 2022, it has been a litany of false promises and a stab on the Pan-African spirit. Only a few days ago, the military government significantly intensified its campaign against civil society by ordering the dissolution of 118 non-governmental organisations and associations. This move targets numerous groups dedicated to human rights defence. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility announced the decision on April 15, 2026. Authorities cited a July 2025 law regarding freedom of association as the legal basis. However, the government provided no specific justification for the mass closure beyond vague references to noncompliance. The situation is no better in Niamey.
A disdain for the failure of Western alliance shouldn’t serve as impetus for internal slavery which are evident not just in these countries, but across the continent fueled by friendships of convenience which have largely decayed under a pile of broken promises, frustrated expectations and diverging visions.
There is the compelling urgency for leaders on the continent to review the parlous state of affairs for the peoples of Africa, renew their commitments to goals of growth, inclusion and democracy, deepen human rights and discard the cowering and servitude of the propaganda of Beijing and Moscow. Over sixty years of post-independent continent, the youths of Africa comprise the majority of its population are desirous of a chance to mobilize, exchange ideas, and organise themselves into formations that promote cultural re-discovery and belonging; inclusion and equality; collective consciousness and decision-making; and solutions to some of the crucial problems citizens and descendants of Africa face today.
Amajama, a social commentator, writes from Abuja and can be reached via amajamaip@gmail.com
