Conference The Confederation of Sahel States: A Pan-African Renaissance?

In three years, three coups d’état will shake the Sahel

In Mali in May 2021, in Burkina Faso in September 2022 and in Niger in July 2023, with considerable repercussions for the region as a whole, but also for the interests of the former colonial power. For the dominant media, these are ‘classic’ coups d’état, carried out by corrupt military juntas as part of internal power struggles.

However, from the outset, these coups have been characterised by a degree of popular support from social movements, trade unions, social organisations and militant youth groups. Contrary to what the dominant media preach, these coups d’état reflect a popular rejection of the (neo)colonial grip on their countries, but also an opportunity to break free from this grip and move towards new models of development that are self-centred, self-determined and genuinely independent.

Lecture Tuesday 24 September 2024, 7pm Unimail – University of Geneva, room MS150.

Introduction: Cruz Melchor Eya Nchama, Equato-Guinean writer and historian

Speaker: Amzat Boukari-Yabara Beninese historian and writer, President of the Pan-African League UMOJA.

And by video message:

Aminata Traoré – Malian writer and pan-Africanist activist

Alex Anfruns – Author of the book ‘Niger: another coup d’état or pan-African revolution?’

Thomas Sankara Centre – Burkina Faso

La Via Campesina West Africa