By: Djamel Benali
Africa has never been far from the ambitions of great powers. Once plundered in the name of “civilization,” it is now exploited under the banner of “cooperation.” With vast natural wealth and strategic positioning, the continent has become a global chessboard where international players move pieces — and crush sovereign wills.
A ruthless geopolitical game
What connects a U.S. base in Niger, a Chinese port in Djibouti, Russian mercenaries in Mali, and a Turkish arms deal in Sudan? The answer is simple: Africa no longer belongs to its people. It has become a battleground of interests, cloaked in diplomacy but driven by greed.
Every actor claims to “help,” yet leaves richer — with gold, uranium, oil, and loyalty.
France retreats… China advances
France, the former colonizer, is losing ground amid public uprisings across the Sahel. China quietly expands through ports, loans, and mega-projects — never firing a single bullet.
The U.S. watches from the skies with drones, warning of terrorism while ignoring corruption.
Russia, invoking “sovereignty,” slips through the backdoor with Wagner, only to block real independence.
The UAE: when trade turns to war
Among these silent invaders, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a major — and controversial — player. Under the pretense of stability, Abu Dhabi has funded militias, fueled wars, and backed military coups, notably in Sudan and Libya, all to secure its gold smuggling routes and regional dominance.
Not a traditional colonizer, but a master of shadow warfare, often bloody and opaque.
Intentions that build nothing
When aid becomes a trap, treaties become shackles, and cooperation turns into dependence, it’s clear the intentions were never clean.
Politics may not rely on good faith — but when guided by deception, it becomes a weapon of domination.
Africa must learn to say NO
The answer lies not in foreign agendas, but in African will. It’s time to say no to guardianship, no to foreign dominance, no to deals of submission.
Africa needs leaders who own their decisions, not those who rent their sovereignty for power or promises.
Closing Words:
Africa is not poor — it is impoverished. Not powerless — but weakened. Not a margin — but the very core they seek to silence.
Now is the time to leave the role of coveted prey and become a respected partner. The façade of “aid” must fall — and with it, the masks of hidden empires.
