"During a joint operation, fighters of the Wagner PMC and soldiers of the local armed forces suffered heavy losses as a result of an ambush by Azawad militants. The militants are already spreading videos online of the killed and captive fighters. We will not post those videos.
A Wagner PMC Mi-24, allegedly covering the convoy, also seems to have been shot down."
Very sad follow up.
"According to some information, the admin of Grey Zone (https://t.me/grey_zone) Telegram Channel died in Mali.
Allegedly people recognized him in the videos published by the militants."
If confirmed this is a great loss RIP great soldier and chronicler of the liberation of Syria.
Thanks. I figured as much, but I had to look them up. From this long article it seems they can’t figure out what exactly they’re fighting for from one moment to the next— which seems to characterize the qualifications of any group the Outlaw US Empire chooses to employ for its purposes of regional strategic terrorist agendas. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Movement_for_the_Liberation_of_Azawad
As last time MK’s comments are somewhat scattershot, while also concentrated on the Sahel : RF has longer lasting and deeper and perhaps more significant relations with, say Congo Brazza : his view on the Rwanda civil war of the 1990’s is simplistic
In fact this war is much more closely parallel to the Ukraine situation than he mentions, the Tutsi and the Hutu are not so much distinct groups, but different classes: they are distinguished somewhat by occupation, but mainly by wealth, the Belgian colonists favouring the higher caste Tutsi over the lower cast Hutus – they speak the same language foods and traditions
There have been recurrent civil wars between the two for a very long time –
The new element which gave rise to the aggravated viciousness of the last was due to the intervention of the US – who wished to displace the traditional colonial powers, France and England, and infiltrate weaken and exploit the Congo- the same ‘copybook’ as the Ukraine
And has experimented in the creation of a security state – K won the latest election with 99% of the vote, as he has all previous
The CIA picked up a barely adult Kagamé in Uganda, exiled there as a young child subsequent to a previous bout of H-T warfare – took him, groomed him, installed him, and have used him ever since as their proxy mainly to foment civil war in the neighbouring Congo along with large scale theft of their very valued mineral resources
Congo Kinshasa is of increasing interest to the RF, as hinted recent rumours of a security pact with Tshisekedi – who has not been shy about his preferences for RF and China over the French and the US
Yes, you're on the spot and have more knowledge that Marat, and I understand that his writings are incomplete; but, no one else is writing on the region that I can readily access--his writings drop into my lap so to speak as I read him daily for his SMO reports.
To present the views of MK is certainly useful as a reflection of one perhaps influential line of thought in the RF - I do not know how well he may reflect certains points of view
And certainly Africa as a whole if rarely covered reliably by any news source- still split between East and West, North and South
Sorry Karl this abovecut off comment escaped before completion last night-
To present the views of MK is certainly useful as a reflection of one perhaps influential line of thought in the RF - I do not know how well he may reflect certain points of view
And certainly Africa as a whole is rarely covered reliably by any news source- still split between East and West, North and South
There is no reason for MK to express general objective review of the all round situation in Africa, this would take a Lavrov level genius
What in true is that RF has very widespread interests and is pursuing them very actively – whereas the US has very limited options, which are going badly
– Their puppets, Kenya and Nigeria are prime examples of failure/failed states
For the RF Libya is extremely important as a potential naval base, RF has a close relationship with the Haftars, and in a position to perhaps do a deal with the UN recognised Libyan gvmt, dependent on Turkish support
RF is also looking for a Red Sea/Horn of Africa port, negotiating with many parties, including the Aden gvmt, but apparently not with Ansar Allah
Not to forget South Africa, BRICS member....the US is trying to suborn SA, but without great success
And it appears that diplomatic activity is increasing with Congo Kinshasa, the resource lynchpin
Thanks. I figured as much, but I had to look them up. From this long article it seems they can’t figure out what exactly they’re fighting for from one moment to the next— which seems to characterize the qualifications of any group the Outlaw US Empire chooses to employ for its purposes of regional strategic terrorist agendas. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Movement_for_the_Liberation_of_Azawad
When you refer to the West, America, Europe etc, the average resident of those nations was clueless as to what was going on - they were just the ignorant tools of DaSynagogue of Satan. Who dat?
For the most part - the European Christian Whites who built Western Civilization - were also usurped by their satanic parasites - https://crushlimbraw.blogspot.com/2022/12/satans-wars-christians-killing.html?m=0 - which led to countless wars between Christian nations - and that includes the American Civil War as well as WW1 and 2.
And BTW - those same Bastahds were DaBolsheviks who usurped Russia! But the real fault lies in DaPulpits and DaPews - who to this day still cheerlead DaSynagogue of Satan. A reckoning is coming - and interestingly, both Russia and China seem part of the solution. Thank God!
This is a try to help understand the economic picture in the Sahel region.
Sorry for I'm not a specialist, I just intend to inform with verifiable facts.
For those who wish to understand why the famous west-east transport corridor of Marat Khairullen is irrelevant, it is necessary to know how Africans themselves organized their trade and internal relations.
First, a warning: What is described below is a construction in progress, an ideal that is far from being achieved. In practice, African countries still have an extroverted economy, more directed towards the outside of the continent.
Out of 55 countries, about 50 have China as their main economic partner. It also puts into perspective the claim that these economies have remained tied to their former colonies, France, the United Kingdom or Portugal.
Even those included in the same economic blocs are not really interconnected.
The African continent has organized its gradual integration through regional blocs of neighboring countries within the African Union (AU), which recognizes 54 of the 55 countries.
*The Arab-African bloc, with five countries, called the Maghreb Union. *The West African bloc, with 15 countries, called ECOWAS or ECOWAS.
The 3 sahelians countries are among them.
*The East African bloc, with 8 countries, named EAC.
*The Central African bloc, with 11 countries, named ECCAS.
*The Southern African bloc, with 16 countries, named SADC.
Trade circuits, customs agreements and infrastructure are designed first within these blocks, then interconnection projects between blocks.
This makes sense, since it corresponds to economic realities. Burkina Faso and Mali, landlocked countries, trade and use the ports of their neighbours Côte d'ivoire, Togo or Benin, located 700 to 1200 km away, rather than that of Algeria 2500 km away or Sudan, more than 4000 km away.
Endogenous languages spoken, the common currency or populations from the same ethnic and cultural settlements help to facilitate this proximity approach. And this far supplants official languages and imported religions.
Only foreigners ignorant of local geography and economics can imagine economic exchanges between states based mainly on common religion or, more ironically, on ties with Russia, which is rarely among the top five partners of these countries.
Even Russophiles like us do not want the ruin of our countries.
Recently, the 3 Sahel countries hit by terrorism and now partners of Russia announced their exit from ECOWAS.
The economic reality is that they are their immediate neighbours and as landlocked countries, they have no choice but to continue to work with them.
A d they remain tied by UEMOA, the union of 8 countries with the same currency.
When Russia sends wheat or heavy weapons to one of these countries, it necessarily involves the port of a country of ECOWAS.
It is therefore clear that projects that would like to privilege "white elephants" of several thousand kilometers to economically unproductive destinations, just to please the geopolitical vision of a distant partner to connect its supposed "friendly countries", have no chance of being realized, let alone have local support.
Have you ever heard the term, "worshiping the accomplished fact"? I mean, you provide a nice statement of existing national/cultural divisions in the region, but if you take a gander at Marat's article you'll see how he accounts for that. So, quick quiz. How does Marat account for existing divisions?
Ultimately, you might want to read up on the philosophy of historical materialism. Really, even a consideration of historical idealism ala Hegel would be preferable to what appears to be your method: worshiping the accomplished fact.
Believe it or not, things as they are today we're not that way yesterday and will not be that way tomorrow either. Reality changes and that change can be directed to a certain extent. Russia is seriously engaging in changing the horrid reality you seem to take as an eternal fact of life.
You seem to have some first hand knowledge of the situation, and with a better perspective, you may be an aid to Russia"s efforts to a unified, any Imperialist alliance of nations in the Sahel. If they succeed Africa will be greatly strengthened and finally begin its development into a stable, happy and modern region of the globe.
Your moniker is familiar, maybe at Moon of Alabama, I think.
You didn't get the intent of this post. It's a "follow up" of an exchange with Karl sooner.
Yes, I have I "first hand knowledge" of the situation. I'm african, I'm from Burkina Faso and I actually live there.
And think you very much, I have done my "classical reads" several years ago.
For that, I tend to desagree when someone else, far away, try to lecture me on what's going on where I live or what would be better for me and my country according to what he believes.
I was a "russophile" long before the SMO and before Russia make an alliance with our 3 countries.
But before being russophile, I am concerned by the fate of my country and my people.
Yes, we need partners like Russia and China to get rid of the "empire", as some call them. And yes, things must change for better.
But it's not to take the same fate again, just to be a pawn and our countries another battlefield with no actual benefit.
And the thinking that Marat or another stranger like you knows better than us what is needed to be "stable, modern and happy" is just polite racism.
Marat Khairullen is describing a tale where the "mighty russians" have built a powerful army and defeating the western proxys while we, the "locals", are just there to obey to a legendary russian general. This is just not true.
Marat is describing what he think is the key to the economic growth of our region, the so called "West East transport corridor".
It's just not true, and this project is not being implemented right now.
We want partners to help each other win his own battles. We don't need lecturers and landlords to make us "happy".
That's why we rejected westerners, and that's why Russia is not going to succeed if you and others just want to play the same games of "old brothers" telling us what to think and what to do.
Well, it sounds like you're a committed racialist. Not uncommon in my part of the world. I see the world in terms of social class, so race isn't a huge issue for me, unless I encounter an extreme racial thinker like yourself, then I do take it into account only for my own personal safety.
So, yeah, imo your just another useful idiot of western Imperialism. I hope some day you'll learn to think a bit more broadly, but probably unlikely. Perhaps your kids will be able to see themselves as humans first and embrace their brothers around the world? Maybe Russia's efforts will yield a healthier, new generation in Africa?
Ok. Now, I remember why I never engage with you (and others) at MoA.
As for the "useful idiot" and embracing the world, I'm from what Donald Trump call a "shit country" among the smallest and poorer in the world, with shitty Internet connection and not supposed to be fluent in English.
And here I am, on substack on the net exchanging views with those who have everything but can't find a way out of puting everything and everybody into a box with a name on it, giving lectures about what they are clueless, and responding by "unfriendly" words when they have no argument.
So, maybe one must ask where are the idiots and who bear the inability to think broader than is little ideology and tiny world or understand another context than is own.
Even incapable of making the distinction about describing something and "worshipping" it.
Vladimir Poutine called the West the "empire of lies", a well deserved name. But this suppose the Russia we like is not making exactly the same thing. It's as simple as that.
Some countries have navigated through several blocs or are members of two. Other institutions exist within a bloc or cross several of them, such as the WAEMU or UEMOA, which brings together 8 countries of the West African bloc with the same currency, or COMESA, which covers SADC, EAC and ECCAS.
Only one country is not integrated into any group, because of its disputed sovereignty. it is the Saharahoui Democratic Republic (SADR).
Hello Karl. Thank you for the very valuable work you do to give us acces to what's going on in Russia and around.
Just to tell you, again, that all this author, Marat Khairullen has written about Sahel is bullshit.
No, our officers and general will never agree to obey to a russian general, Surovokin or anyone else. Why should they ? Where have you ever seen this ?
I just don't understand how people can think you can come to another country, not speaking the language and not having any authority and just make everybody obey to your orders.
Even all the military grades, the chain of command, the military doctrine are so different that this will be very difficult.
Yes, our 3 countries want to create a joint task force, but no, there's no "unified army" yet, under the command of a "legendary" russian general. Before the arrival of Wagner, we have an army of 25 thousand in Burkina, and we are growing to reach 30 thousand.
We have no dozens of "battalions", no air force and no "battle tanks". This is not a war between conventional forces. The islamist terrorists have nothing like towns to bomb and they move merely with motorbikes.
We have purchased several Mi helicopter, small arms and APC carriers from Russia recently, but we are far from the large and heavily dumped with weapons powerful army showcased in this piece.
All the others numbers are bullshit. As for the story of the so called "West East transafrican corridor", this guy knows nothing about the way our countries connect and trade. This is not an actual project and no, nothing like this is "undertaken by Russia" here.
And for sure he never visited one of the countries he's describing.
All this narrative, we can supposed made for another public, is very shocking for we africans and specifically from Sahel.
Are we so deeply "slave minded" that we just have to obey to russians after obeing to french and others ?
Is that all we are ? A "theme" for propaganda and "african fairy tales" ?
Telling people that Russia is the one who can give "assurances of equal rights" to people in our countries ??
This guy is a very dangerous propagandist, not because he's making up things that are not true, but because he's able to make any african reading his pieces anti-russian.
Sorry for "not helping" but this is just disgusting.
it would be very helpful for your POV to provide evidence that backs it, links to new reports, copies of government documents and such. Otherwise, what transpires is a He said, She said debate based on opinions and POV. IMO we can agree there's a big problem with foreign financed terrorists in Africa whose aims are to stifle development and facilitate NATO entry, as well as there being big problems with comprador "leaders" who are western puppets.
I have several subscribers located in Africa with one who regularly contributes comments, but too few to get a good picture. Suggest some sources and I'll have a look that might grow into something bigger and more regular than what I now provide.
I don't know what to say as the things I refer to are everywhere in the news, including Sputnik and RT, and can be checked by a few research with every browser.
The scale of the army in Burkina or Mali. The number of russian men in Mali or Burkina. The fact that Burkina have no jets anymore. The distance between the lybian border and the so called "3 frontier zone".
But most of my point are simple logical things.
Why would the air force of our country be taking of from lybia ?
Why would a russian general command soldiers in another country ? Can they do this even in Belorussia ?
Why should we be trying to teach Sudan at more than 4000 km away while we can have the sea at 800 km in a neighboring country ?
But I can understand people are lacking informations about our region and need maybe an well informed and documented view.
What is possible is ti try, by the comments, to give some facts that can be verifyed.
Sorry for looking to try to make Marat Khairullen not credible but I just live there.
By the way, we don't need to create a "common custom union" among the 3 Sahel countries and Togo.
Because this custom union already exists between the 8 countries of UEMOA including Togo, the 3 "AES" countries and 4 others.
Those 8 countries already have a common paiement system, as their have the same currency and the same central bank. On can withdraw money from any terminal from any bank in the 8 countries.
And no, Sénégal is not the port those countries may need to have access to the sea. The ports of Togo, Bénin, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are far more accessible, being to 700 or 1000 km while Dakar port is several kilometers far away. Not speaking about others.
You'll need to explain this news item that says Marat is correct,
"Leaders and customs officials from members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and neighbouring countries gathered in Niamey on Thursday to establish a customs union.
"Representatives of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Togo attended the event at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre in Niger."
Yes. This was a meeting to interconnect the customs online systems of those countries.
We have 3 level in our customs :
At the national level, each country has is own application system and administration.
Inside the UEMOA, the 8 countries with the same central bank and money, we have a "common tarif agrement" for goods entering the union.
And finally, at the level of the 15 countries of ECOWAS, we have another "common tarif agrement".
First, as we are exiting ECOWAS, number of things must be agreed at the bilateral level with those remaining.
Second, an online connection between the computerized systems can help increase the trade.
Togo is paying the card of Lome, is capital and port, becaming the main port for our "breakeway countries" that formerly preferred Abidjan and Cotonou ports.
It’s a great comfort knowing Russia is supporting Africa’s struggle for liberation from western imperialism.
Excellent article. Thanks to both authors involved 💖
Sad news from Mali: https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/117544
"During a joint operation, fighters of the Wagner PMC and soldiers of the local armed forces suffered heavy losses as a result of an ambush by Azawad militants. The militants are already spreading videos online of the killed and captive fighters. We will not post those videos.
A Wagner PMC Mi-24, allegedly covering the convoy, also seems to have been shot down."
Very sad follow up.
"According to some information, the admin of Grey Zone (https://t.me/grey_zone) Telegram Channel died in Mali.
Allegedly people recognized him in the videos published by the militants."
If confirmed this is a great loss RIP great soldier and chronicler of the liberation of Syria.
His telegram page is well worth reviewing - last post: https://t.me/grey_zone/23646
Very sad. Who are the Azawad militants of Mali?
Members of the Outlaw US Empire's Terrorist Foreign Legion paid to do what Marat described.
Thanks. I figured as much, but I had to look them up. From this long article it seems they can’t figure out what exactly they’re fighting for from one moment to the next— which seems to characterize the qualifications of any group the Outlaw US Empire chooses to employ for its purposes of regional strategic terrorist agendas. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Movement_for_the_Liberation_of_Azawad
Terrorist eradication is risky business and losses are unfortunate but must be expected. Yes, sad indeed.
Dear Karl
As last time MK’s comments are somewhat scattershot, while also concentrated on the Sahel : RF has longer lasting and deeper and perhaps more significant relations with, say Congo Brazza : his view on the Rwanda civil war of the 1990’s is simplistic
In fact this war is much more closely parallel to the Ukraine situation than he mentions, the Tutsi and the Hutu are not so much distinct groups, but different classes: they are distinguished somewhat by occupation, but mainly by wealth, the Belgian colonists favouring the higher caste Tutsi over the lower cast Hutus – they speak the same language foods and traditions
There have been recurrent civil wars between the two for a very long time –
The new element which gave rise to the aggravated viciousness of the last was due to the intervention of the US – who wished to displace the traditional colonial powers, France and England, and infiltrate weaken and exploit the Congo- the same ‘copybook’ as the Ukraine
And has experimented in the creation of a security state – K won the latest election with 99% of the vote, as he has all previous
The CIA picked up a barely adult Kagamé in Uganda, exiled there as a young child subsequent to a previous bout of H-T warfare – took him, groomed him, installed him, and have used him ever since as their proxy mainly to foment civil war in the neighbouring Congo along with large scale theft of their very valued mineral resources
Congo Kinshasa is of increasing interest to the RF, as hinted recent rumours of a security pact with Tshisekedi – who has not been shy about his preferences for RF and China over the French and the US
Yes, you're on the spot and have more knowledge that Marat, and I understand that his writings are incomplete; but, no one else is writing on the region that I can readily access--his writings drop into my lap so to speak as I read him daily for his SMO reports.
To present the views of MK is certainly useful as a reflection of one perhaps influential line of thought in the RF - I do not know how well he may reflect certains points of view
And certainly Africa as a whole if rarely covered reliably by any news source- still split between East and West, North and South
What in true is that RF has very widesprea
Sorry Karl this abovecut off comment escaped before completion last night-
To present the views of MK is certainly useful as a reflection of one perhaps influential line of thought in the RF - I do not know how well he may reflect certain points of view
And certainly Africa as a whole is rarely covered reliably by any news source- still split between East and West, North and South
There is no reason for MK to express general objective review of the all round situation in Africa, this would take a Lavrov level genius
What in true is that RF has very widespread interests and is pursuing them very actively – whereas the US has very limited options, which are going badly
– Their puppets, Kenya and Nigeria are prime examples of failure/failed states
For the RF Libya is extremely important as a potential naval base, RF has a close relationship with the Haftars, and in a position to perhaps do a deal with the UN recognised Libyan gvmt, dependent on Turkish support
RF is also looking for a Red Sea/Horn of Africa port, negotiating with many parties, including the Aden gvmt, but apparently not with Ansar Allah
Not to forget South Africa, BRICS member....the US is trying to suborn SA, but without great success
And it appears that diplomatic activity is increasing with Congo Kinshasa, the resource lynchpin
Meanwhile the old USSR rail system in Ukraine is well known to Russian planners according to John Helmer: https://johnhelmer.net/zelensky-gets-the-ukrainian-trains-to-run-on-time-gerasimov-strikes-them-as-they-unload-at-the-front/#more-90193
Apologies for being off continent but gymnasts will some extra lift from this post.
This one was excellent, Karl. Real news you just can't get in the west anymore!
You may want to compare your comment with that of Sebgo's below.
Thanks. I figured as much, but I had to look them up. From this long article it seems they can’t figure out what exactly they’re fighting for from one moment to the next— which seems to characterize the qualifications of any group the Outlaw US Empire chooses to employ for its purposes of regional strategic terrorist agendas. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Movement_for_the_Liberation_of_Azawad
When you refer to the West, America, Europe etc, the average resident of those nations was clueless as to what was going on - they were just the ignorant tools of DaSynagogue of Satan. Who dat?
For the most part - the European Christian Whites who built Western Civilization - were also usurped by their satanic parasites - https://crushlimbraw.blogspot.com/2022/12/satans-wars-christians-killing.html?m=0 - which led to countless wars between Christian nations - and that includes the American Civil War as well as WW1 and 2.
And BTW - those same Bastahds were DaBolsheviks who usurped Russia! But the real fault lies in DaPulpits and DaPews - who to this day still cheerlead DaSynagogue of Satan. A reckoning is coming - and interestingly, both Russia and China seem part of the solution. Thank God!
This is a try to help understand the economic picture in the Sahel region.
Sorry for I'm not a specialist, I just intend to inform with verifiable facts.
For those who wish to understand why the famous west-east transport corridor of Marat Khairullen is irrelevant, it is necessary to know how Africans themselves organized their trade and internal relations.
First, a warning: What is described below is a construction in progress, an ideal that is far from being achieved. In practice, African countries still have an extroverted economy, more directed towards the outside of the continent.
Out of 55 countries, about 50 have China as their main economic partner. It also puts into perspective the claim that these economies have remained tied to their former colonies, France, the United Kingdom or Portugal.
Even those included in the same economic blocs are not really interconnected.
The African continent has organized its gradual integration through regional blocs of neighboring countries within the African Union (AU), which recognizes 54 of the 55 countries.
*The Arab-African bloc, with five countries, called the Maghreb Union. *The West African bloc, with 15 countries, called ECOWAS or ECOWAS.
The 3 sahelians countries are among them.
*The East African bloc, with 8 countries, named EAC.
*The Central African bloc, with 11 countries, named ECCAS.
*The Southern African bloc, with 16 countries, named SADC.
Trade circuits, customs agreements and infrastructure are designed first within these blocks, then interconnection projects between blocks.
This makes sense, since it corresponds to economic realities. Burkina Faso and Mali, landlocked countries, trade and use the ports of their neighbours Côte d'ivoire, Togo or Benin, located 700 to 1200 km away, rather than that of Algeria 2500 km away or Sudan, more than 4000 km away.
Endogenous languages spoken, the common currency or populations from the same ethnic and cultural settlements help to facilitate this proximity approach. And this far supplants official languages and imported religions.
Only foreigners ignorant of local geography and economics can imagine economic exchanges between states based mainly on common religion or, more ironically, on ties with Russia, which is rarely among the top five partners of these countries.
Even Russophiles like us do not want the ruin of our countries.
Recently, the 3 Sahel countries hit by terrorism and now partners of Russia announced their exit from ECOWAS.
The economic reality is that they are their immediate neighbours and as landlocked countries, they have no choice but to continue to work with them.
A d they remain tied by UEMOA, the union of 8 countries with the same currency.
When Russia sends wheat or heavy weapons to one of these countries, it necessarily involves the port of a country of ECOWAS.
It is therefore clear that projects that would like to privilege "white elephants" of several thousand kilometers to economically unproductive destinations, just to please the geopolitical vision of a distant partner to connect its supposed "friendly countries", have no chance of being realized, let alone have local support.
Have you ever heard the term, "worshiping the accomplished fact"? I mean, you provide a nice statement of existing national/cultural divisions in the region, but if you take a gander at Marat's article you'll see how he accounts for that. So, quick quiz. How does Marat account for existing divisions?
Ultimately, you might want to read up on the philosophy of historical materialism. Really, even a consideration of historical idealism ala Hegel would be preferable to what appears to be your method: worshiping the accomplished fact.
Believe it or not, things as they are today we're not that way yesterday and will not be that way tomorrow either. Reality changes and that change can be directed to a certain extent. Russia is seriously engaging in changing the horrid reality you seem to take as an eternal fact of life.
You seem to have some first hand knowledge of the situation, and with a better perspective, you may be an aid to Russia"s efforts to a unified, any Imperialist alliance of nations in the Sahel. If they succeed Africa will be greatly strengthened and finally begin its development into a stable, happy and modern region of the globe.
Thanks for your comment.
Your moniker is familiar, maybe at Moon of Alabama, I think.
You didn't get the intent of this post. It's a "follow up" of an exchange with Karl sooner.
Yes, I have I "first hand knowledge" of the situation. I'm african, I'm from Burkina Faso and I actually live there.
And think you very much, I have done my "classical reads" several years ago.
For that, I tend to desagree when someone else, far away, try to lecture me on what's going on where I live or what would be better for me and my country according to what he believes.
I was a "russophile" long before the SMO and before Russia make an alliance with our 3 countries.
But before being russophile, I am concerned by the fate of my country and my people.
Yes, we need partners like Russia and China to get rid of the "empire", as some call them. And yes, things must change for better.
But it's not to take the same fate again, just to be a pawn and our countries another battlefield with no actual benefit.
And the thinking that Marat or another stranger like you knows better than us what is needed to be "stable, modern and happy" is just polite racism.
Marat Khairullen is describing a tale where the "mighty russians" have built a powerful army and defeating the western proxys while we, the "locals", are just there to obey to a legendary russian general. This is just not true.
Marat is describing what he think is the key to the economic growth of our region, the so called "West East transport corridor".
It's just not true, and this project is not being implemented right now.
We want partners to help each other win his own battles. We don't need lecturers and landlords to make us "happy".
That's why we rejected westerners, and that's why Russia is not going to succeed if you and others just want to play the same games of "old brothers" telling us what to think and what to do.
Have a good day.
Sorry for the typos, a little bit upset by lecturers giving "quizz"...
Well, it sounds like you're a committed racialist. Not uncommon in my part of the world. I see the world in terms of social class, so race isn't a huge issue for me, unless I encounter an extreme racial thinker like yourself, then I do take it into account only for my own personal safety.
So, yeah, imo your just another useful idiot of western Imperialism. I hope some day you'll learn to think a bit more broadly, but probably unlikely. Perhaps your kids will be able to see themselves as humans first and embrace their brothers around the world? Maybe Russia's efforts will yield a healthier, new generation in Africa?
Ok. Now, I remember why I never engage with you (and others) at MoA.
As for the "useful idiot" and embracing the world, I'm from what Donald Trump call a "shit country" among the smallest and poorer in the world, with shitty Internet connection and not supposed to be fluent in English.
And here I am, on substack on the net exchanging views with those who have everything but can't find a way out of puting everything and everybody into a box with a name on it, giving lectures about what they are clueless, and responding by "unfriendly" words when they have no argument.
So, maybe one must ask where are the idiots and who bear the inability to think broader than is little ideology and tiny world or understand another context than is own.
Even incapable of making the distinction about describing something and "worshipping" it.
Vladimir Poutine called the West the "empire of lies", a well deserved name. But this suppose the Russia we like is not making exactly the same thing. It's as simple as that.
Good riddance.
Some countries have navigated through several blocs or are members of two. Other institutions exist within a bloc or cross several of them, such as the WAEMU or UEMOA, which brings together 8 countries of the West African bloc with the same currency, or COMESA, which covers SADC, EAC and ECCAS.
Only one country is not integrated into any group, because of its disputed sovereignty. it is the Saharahoui Democratic Republic (SADR).
This is not to be published if not "suitable".
Hello Karl. Thank you for the very valuable work you do to give us acces to what's going on in Russia and around.
Just to tell you, again, that all this author, Marat Khairullen has written about Sahel is bullshit.
No, our officers and general will never agree to obey to a russian general, Surovokin or anyone else. Why should they ? Where have you ever seen this ?
I just don't understand how people can think you can come to another country, not speaking the language and not having any authority and just make everybody obey to your orders.
Even all the military grades, the chain of command, the military doctrine are so different that this will be very difficult.
Yes, our 3 countries want to create a joint task force, but no, there's no "unified army" yet, under the command of a "legendary" russian general. Before the arrival of Wagner, we have an army of 25 thousand in Burkina, and we are growing to reach 30 thousand.
We have no dozens of "battalions", no air force and no "battle tanks". This is not a war between conventional forces. The islamist terrorists have nothing like towns to bomb and they move merely with motorbikes.
We have purchased several Mi helicopter, small arms and APC carriers from Russia recently, but we are far from the large and heavily dumped with weapons powerful army showcased in this piece.
All the others numbers are bullshit. As for the story of the so called "West East transafrican corridor", this guy knows nothing about the way our countries connect and trade. This is not an actual project and no, nothing like this is "undertaken by Russia" here.
And for sure he never visited one of the countries he's describing.
All this narrative, we can supposed made for another public, is very shocking for we africans and specifically from Sahel.
Are we so deeply "slave minded" that we just have to obey to russians after obeing to french and others ?
Is that all we are ? A "theme" for propaganda and "african fairy tales" ?
Telling people that Russia is the one who can give "assurances of equal rights" to people in our countries ??
This guy is a very dangerous propagandist, not because he's making up things that are not true, but because he's able to make any african reading his pieces anti-russian.
Sorry for "not helping" but this is just disgusting.
it would be very helpful for your POV to provide evidence that backs it, links to new reports, copies of government documents and such. Otherwise, what transpires is a He said, She said debate based on opinions and POV. IMO we can agree there's a big problem with foreign financed terrorists in Africa whose aims are to stifle development and facilitate NATO entry, as well as there being big problems with comprador "leaders" who are western puppets.
I have several subscribers located in Africa with one who regularly contributes comments, but too few to get a good picture. Suggest some sources and I'll have a look that might grow into something bigger and more regular than what I now provide.
I will be back with the suggestion of sources for news on the region.
Thanks for your feedback.
I don't know what to say as the things I refer to are everywhere in the news, including Sputnik and RT, and can be checked by a few research with every browser.
The scale of the army in Burkina or Mali. The number of russian men in Mali or Burkina. The fact that Burkina have no jets anymore. The distance between the lybian border and the so called "3 frontier zone".
But most of my point are simple logical things.
Why would the air force of our country be taking of from lybia ?
Why would a russian general command soldiers in another country ? Can they do this even in Belorussia ?
Why should we be trying to teach Sudan at more than 4000 km away while we can have the sea at 800 km in a neighboring country ?
But I can understand people are lacking informations about our region and need maybe an well informed and documented view.
What is possible is ti try, by the comments, to give some facts that can be verifyed.
Sorry for looking to try to make Marat Khairullen not credible but I just live there.
By the way, we don't need to create a "common custom union" among the 3 Sahel countries and Togo.
Because this custom union already exists between the 8 countries of UEMOA including Togo, the 3 "AES" countries and 4 others.
Those 8 countries already have a common paiement system, as their have the same currency and the same central bank. On can withdraw money from any terminal from any bank in the 8 countries.
And no, Sénégal is not the port those countries may need to have access to the sea. The ports of Togo, Bénin, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are far more accessible, being to 700 or 1000 km while Dakar port is several kilometers far away. Not speaking about others.
All this is sickening.
You'll need to explain this news item that says Marat is correct,
"Leaders and customs officials from members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and neighbouring countries gathered in Niamey on Thursday to establish a customs union.
"Representatives of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Togo attended the event at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre in Niger."
https://www.viory.video/en/videos/a3039_25072024
Yes. This was a meeting to interconnect the customs online systems of those countries.
We have 3 level in our customs :
At the national level, each country has is own application system and administration.
Inside the UEMOA, the 8 countries with the same central bank and money, we have a "common tarif agrement" for goods entering the union.
And finally, at the level of the 15 countries of ECOWAS, we have another "common tarif agrement".
First, as we are exiting ECOWAS, number of things must be agreed at the bilateral level with those remaining.
Second, an online connection between the computerized systems can help increase the trade.
Togo is paying the card of Lome, is capital and port, becaming the main port for our "breakeway countries" that formerly preferred Abidjan and Cotonou ports.