7 September 2023 press conference at the Thomas Sankara Center for African Liberation and Unity in Burkina Faso.
Comrades in struggle, fighters for the liberation of Africa, friends of the African peoples,
We, the revolutionary pan-African organizations, raise our voices with unshakeable determination to denounce the inhuman and illegitimate sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Monetary Union of West African States (UEMOA), slavishly orchestrated by the imperialist and exploitative countries that continue to bleed our continent.
Following the military coup in Niger, ECOWAS decided to impose humiliating and illegitimate sanctions on Niger at the end of the Heads of State conference in Abuja on July 30. These sanctions quickly led to rising food prices in the country, reduced electricity supplies, inaccessibility to pharmaceutical products, difficulties in banking transactions, restrictions on the movement of goods and people, and so on. This inhuman situation worsens the plight of populations already suffering from the crisis of governance experienced by our neo-colonial states.
ECOWAS, which has historically cloaked itself in a bulwark of African solidarity, has betrayed the masses by claiming to act in the name of regional stability. In reality, it is acting as an instrument in the service of capitalist interests, which care nothing for the agony of the Niger people. These unjust sanctions aim to do nothing more than stifle resistance and protect the exploiters at the expense of the oppressed.
Savage imperialism has infiltrated our institutions, corrupting leaders who sell the future of our brothers and sisters for a handful of coins. We say loud and clear that the time has come to break the chains of this economic tyranny. The imperialist countries will not decide our fate, for our destiny is in our own hands, those of a proud and united Africa.
We are launching a resounding call for resistance and disobedience to the diktats of those who feed off our misery. We will no longer tolerate the power games that deprive our continent of its wealth and its right to self-determination. The exploiters will tremble before the collective strength of the African people.
This is an opportunity for us, as committed pan-African organizations, to salute the active solidarity of the Algerian, Burkinabè, Guinean and Malian authorities with the struggling people of Niger. We invite the peoples of Africa to converge in struggle through mass education for the total liberation and unification of Africa.
To ECOWAS, we demand the abandonment of the intention of military intervention and the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on Niger, as well as the categorical rejection of foreign interference in our affairs. Our struggle will not be stifled by the underhand tactics of the neo-colonialists. We declare our unwavering support for the people of Niger, who are courageously resisting oppression.
As guardians of the legacy of past struggles, we pledge to build a better future for our continent. We proclaim our commitment to pan-African solidarity and the struggle against all forms of exploitation and oppression. We are worthy heirs of Africa’s freedom fighters, and we will not fail in our sacred duty.
We call on our brothers and sisters, young and old, peasants and workers, students and intellectuals, to stand up and reject oppression in all its forms. Our revolution is non-negotiable. We demand the total liberation of Africa from imperialist rule!
Fait à Ouagadougou, le jeudi 07 septembre 2023
Le Centre Thomas Sankara pour la libération et l’unité africaine (Burkina Faso)
For revolutionary Pan-African organizations
Burkina Faso
Le Cadre deux heure pour nous, deux heures pour Kamita
Collectif Burkim-Bii Pour le Renouveau Démocratique
Union des jeunes pour une nouvelle vision
Convergence nationale pour la renaissance
Niger
Fédération syndicale mondiale du Niger
L’Union des syndicats libres des travailleurs du Niger
Tous Pour La République
Mali
Forum des Organisations de la Société Civile du Mali
Mouvement des Sans Voix
Nigeria
Movement for African Emancipation
Amilcar Cabral Ideological School Movement
Ghana
Economic Fighters League
Pro-Nkrumah Unity Movement, West Afrika
Senegal
Front pour une Révolution Anti-impérialiste Populaire et Panafricaine
Benin
Conseil Général de la Jeunesse Patriotique
Union de la Jeunesse Communiste du Bénin
Gambia
Gom Sa Bopa Movement
Guinea-Bissau
Associação de Jovens Pan-Africanistas e Revolucionários
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mouvement Citoyen BISO PEUPLE
Cercle des Pan Africanistes congolais
Congo Ubuntu
Mouvement des PanAfricanistes pour la libération du Congo et de l’Afrique
le populaire de citoyen et du Pan Africanisme
Quatrième voie
Kenya
Githurai Social Justice Center
African Stream
Azania
Black House Kollective Soweto
The Americas
Left Alliance for National Democracy and Socialism- LANDS (Jamaica)
Troïka Collective (The Americas)
Firoze Manji—Daraja Press (Canada)
United African Diaspora (Canada)
United for Change (Canada)
African Pride Club (US)
Lowcountry Action Committee (US)
Black Alliance for Peace- BAP (US)
Mass Emphasis Children’s History & Theatre Company (US)
Europe
Assata Bibliothèque Activiste (Norway)
ARISE (Norway)
Black Liberation Alliance (UK)
Aya Afrikan Learning (UK)
Stop the Maangamizi: We Charge Genocide/Ecocide Campaign- SMWECGEC (UK)
Pan-Afrikan Reparations Youth Forum- PARYF (UK)
Black Power Frankfurt (Germany)
Africa United Sports Club (Germany)
Migrantifa Mainz (Germany)
Migrantifa NRW(Germany)
l’Association NOUS (France)
International
La Ligue Panafricaine—UMOJA
Parti révolutionnaire de tous les peuples africains- PRTPA/ All-African People’s Revolutionary Party- A-APRP
MAATUBUNTUBUSUAFO-PAGNOCOR, Pan-Afrikan Grassroots Network of
Communities of Resistance
Mwamko
Coalition for the Elimination of Imperialism in Africa
Recent Related Researchs
Niger - the anti-imperialism coup
Niger - No Military Intervention
Burkina Faso fighting against Imperialism
The Occupation of Western Sahara
[ To read also The Niger Dilemma by Dr Muhammad Dan Suleiman ]