Africa at a Crossroads: Defending Sovereignty or Repeating the Tragedy of Libya?
Yet disturbingly, much of the resistance he faces comes not from foreign capitals, but from within the continent itself—from Africans conditioned to fear freedom more than dependency.
Uganda Today Today Edition: Africa at a Crossroads: Defending Sovereignty or Repeating the Tragedy of Libya?
By Dr. Joshua Einstein Brian
President, Africa Youth Convention | Network of Africa Mental Health Advocates
The war for Africa’s sovereignty is no longer waged through bombs and bullets alone. Today, it manifests through propaganda, economic manipulation, and strategic political interference. At the center of this silent storm stands President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, a young, determined leader challenging the neocolonial status quo and igniting a vision of African autonomy, dignity, and resource sovereignty.
Yet disturbingly, much of the resistance he faces comes not from foreign capitals, but from within the continent itself—from Africans conditioned to fear freedom more than dependency.
A New Chapter or a Familiar Mistake?
President Traoré has taken bold steps where others only spoke. He has reclaimed national resources, extricated his country from foreign military entanglements, and championed Pan-African ideals. His leadership spirit echoes that of Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary former president of Burkina Faso, assassinated for his daring vision of a self-reliant Africa.
Sankara once declared:
“We must dare to invent the future.”
Today, Traoré dares to do just that—yet many Africans watch passively as forces move to destabilize his leadership.
Why?
Is an Africa free from Western tutelage so threatening that we would rather sabotage our own hope?
Lessons from Libya: A Painful Reminder
The current situation in Burkina Faso parallels the tragic downfall of Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya. Once Africa’s most prosperous nation, Libya under Gaddafi offered free healthcare, education, and housing while championing an African Union backed by a gold-standard currency.
In 2011, NATO-led forces bombed Libya under the guise of humanitarian intervention, resulting in Gaddafi’s brutal assassination and plunging the nation into chaos, tribal warfare, and a thriving slave trade—modern horrors that persist today.
Even former U.S. President Barack Obama later admitted that failing to plan for Libya’s future was “the worst mistake” of his presidency.
For Africa, the mistake was catastrophic—and unforgivable.
Where Are Africa’s Institutions?
Faced with Traoré’s isolation, the question looms: Where are the African Union, ECOWAS, and IGAD?
Will they only respond after destabilization, issuing hollow statements from conference halls?
It is a grim irony that African leaders convene swiftly for banquets and summits, yet delay defending leaders who embody the values they profess—self-reliance, Pan-Africanism, and sovereign governance.
Beyond Burkina Faso: A Continental Crisis
The conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and elsewhere reveal a consistent pattern: foreign powers sponsor militias, install puppet regimes, and extract wealth while Africans pay the price in blood.
This is not mere exploitation; it is systematic sabotage.
If President Traoré falls, it will not only be a loss for Burkina Faso—it will be a devastating blow to the entire African liberation project.
The Time for Action is Now
Africa cannot afford another Libya. Apologies after the fact will not heal the wounds.
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To the African diaspora: Your silence is betrayal. Your platforms, your voices, your advocacy are urgently needed.
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To African youth: Freedom is not given. It is taken.
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To African leaders: History will judge whether you stood with your brothers or bowed to fear and expediency.
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To the West: Africa is not your battleground. Your games have cost us enough.
As Frantz Fanon warned:“Africa is shaped like a gun, and Congo is the trigger.”Every pull of that trigger costs African lives.A Future Worth Fighting ForThe Africa we desire will not be built by foreign aid or polite diplomacy. It will be forged through sacrifice, solidarity, and sovereign thinking.President Ibrahim Traoré’s example is not rebellion—it is reclamation.It is a call to reclaim our right to govern ourselves, harness our resources, and tell our own story.Let this be a turning point—not another missed opportunity. Let us act, let us unite, and let us choose the future that belongs to us. Before it is too late.
Author Contact:Dr. Joshua Einstein BrianPhone: +256 702 178 104 Email: einsteinjoshuabrian02@gmail.com
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