Balé Community Supports National Transition with DonationsComoros President Calls for Renewed Solidarity to Fight Neo-Colonialism in Africa

BALÉ — In a significant display of solidarity and support for Burkina Faso’s transition, the citizen watch movement and the Boromo merchants’ association in Balé province have contributed a sum of 2 million CFA francs along with food supplies to the patriotic support fund. This donation ceremony, held on March 2, 2024, in Boromo, witnessed the participation of administrative authorities and numerous actors from the citizen monitoring sector.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the contributions were made in response to a call from the citizen watch movement and the local traders’ association, encouraging citizens across various socio-professional backgrounds to support the national transition efforts. The High Commissioner of Balé province, Ibrahim Boly, received the donations on behalf of the government during a ceremony that also saw the attendance of defense and security forces officials, as well as representatives from the military detachment of Balé province.

The ceremony, sponsored by High Commissioner Ibrahim Boly, not only highlighted the community’s ongoing support for Burkina Faso’s transitional phase but also served as an opportunity for the provincial authority to express gratitude and admiration towards the donors for their patriotic spirit. Mr. Boly, representing the governor of the Boucle du Mouhoun region and national authorities, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in bolstering the transition and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting these efforts, in accordance with Burkina Faso’s laws.

Organizers noted that the success of the donation event was a result of the collaborative effort of various groups, including youth and women’s associations of the province and the informal sector traders’ association. The president of the regional youth council of Boucle du Mouhoun, Issa Gnanou, commended the residents of Balé province for their enthusiastic participation and underscored the clear direction provided by national authorities in these challenging times.

Additionally, the traditional leader of Boromo, His Majesty Naaba Pegdwendé, acknowledged the contributions from surrounding villages and called for continued support for the transition and the defense and security forces working towards reclaiming the territory. The ceremony concluded with a unified call from all speakers for sustained mobilization behind Captain Ibrahim Traoré and his government, celebrating the positive developments at the front and the collective efforts towards achieving total victory.

ADDIS ABABA — In a poignant call to action, Comoros President and former Chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, urged Africans to embark on a new phase of struggle against the ideas of neo-colonization, emphasizing the need for the continent to forge its own destiny independently. This appeal was made as Ethiopia celebrated the 128th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa, a significant event that marked the defeat of the Italian colonial campaign in Africa.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, in an exclusive interview, President Assoumani highlighted the inspirational role of the Victory of Adwa in promoting the spirit of pan-Africanism among African nations. This historic triumph, he noted, has motivated countries across the continent to unite and strive towards creating a better Africa, leveraging their collective strength. The president also underscored Ethiopia’s unique position as an ancient, never-colonized nation that continues to symbolize the African struggle for independence and sovereignty.

President Assoumani pointed out the contemporary challenges posed by a modern form of colonialism that threatens the social and economic development of sovereign nations. He criticized the ongoing economic pressures, political tensions, cultural invasions, and the imbalance of power facilitated by international financial institutions and aid organizations, which he views as instruments of neo-colonial objectives.

Furthermore, Assoumani lamented the lasting impact of colonialism and slavery on African societies, advocating for reparations to heal the deep-seated wounds inflicted by these historical injustices. He emphasized the importance of educational initiatives and the provision of equal opportunities for sustainable community development as critical components of these reparations.

Highlighting the African Union’s Agenda 2063, President Assoumani praised the decade-long efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development across the continent. He sees this as a tangible expression of pan-Africanism’s goals for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity.

In conclusion, President Assoumani called for a concerted effort to bolster the African Union’s capacity to safeguard the continent’s shared interests. He advocated for the promotion of pan-Africanism and solidarity with nations like Ethiopia, which have historically defended their sovereignty, asserting that sovereign rights are non-negotiable and central to Africa’s victory in the fight against neo-colonialism.