In recent years, three African nations — Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali — have emerged as the core of a rising anti-colonial alliance that has shaken European influence, especially France, to its foundation. All three countries have experienced military coups that ousted pro-Western governments and installed nationalist, pan-African leaders promising sovereignty, security, and a clean break from Western domination.
But behind the scenes, European powers — led by France and quietly backed by Brussels — have been accused of attempting to destabilize these new regimes, using bribes, covert channels, and soft coups to recoup their fading control over the Sahel.
The Rise of Military Nationalism in the Sahel
In 2020 and 2021, Mali underwent two successive coups, with Colonel Assimi Goïta rising to power. The military junta accused France of undermining Mali’s sovereignty and failing to curb jihadist violence, despite years of French military presence.
Mali:
- Expelled French troops.
- Suspended ties with ECOWAS.
- Strengthened alliances with Russia and Wagner-linked forces.
Burkina Faso
In 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré took power in Burkina Faso, riding a wave of popular anger against both terrorism and French interference.
Traoré:
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- Shut down French military bases.
- Rejected aid with conditions from Paris and Brussels.
- Called for an “African Renaissance” free from colonial legacy.
Niger
In July 2023, General Abdourahamane Tchiani led a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, a close ally of the West.
The new government:
- Ordered French troops out.
- Halted uranium exports to France.
- Sought military cooperation with Mali and Burkina Faso instead.
Together, these nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — a bold political and military coalition resisting foreign meddling and embracing African unity.
Europe’s Quiet Retaliation: Bribes, Backchannels, and Recoup Plans
Though Europe — especially France — initially condemned the coups, it soon moved beyond statements and began working in the shadows to reverse the tide.
Alleged tactics include:
- Secret bribes and offers of asylum to military officers within the junta to create internal divisions.
- Support to ECOWAS pressure campaigns, including threats of sanctions and military intervention.
- Cyber operations and media propaganda to discredit the new leaders as “dictators” or “Russian puppets.”
- Funding opposition networks and former political elites still loyal to Western interests.
According to intelligence leaks cited by African media, at least three European-backed plots to destabilize the AES alliance have failed — thanks to swift countermeasures by local security forces and
The People Push Back
In all three countries, massive street rallies have shown popular support for the coup leaders. Protesters wave not EU flags, but Russian, Burkinabè, Malian, and Nigerien flags — signaling a deep rejection of France and the old neocolonial order.
Many ordinary citizens see the coups not as power grabs, but as revolutions — a new chapter in African independence.
Graffiti in Ouagadougou reads: “Down with France. Long live Africa.”
Posters in Bamako declare: “This time, freedom is not negotiable.”
France’s Uranium Panic
Niger is one of France’s main suppliers of uranium — crucial for its nuclear energy sector. With the junta cutting off access and exploring deals with Russia and China, panic has set in within French energy circles.
Paris has reportedly pushed for economic sabotage, attempted backchannel diplomacy with tribal chiefs, and even floated covert military options — though none have succeeded.
The Future of the Sahel: Toward a New Sovereignty
The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have made it clear: they are not turning back. With growing economic cooperation, shared defense strategies, and potential monetary union, the Alliance of Sahel States is forming a real counterweight to Western pressure.
Their message is clear: Africa is no longer for sale.
What Europe once viewed as its backyard is now slipping away. The rise of military-led nationalist governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger marks the beginning of a new era — one in which Africa speaks for itself, fights for itself, and stands up to centuries of foreign control.
Europe can bribe, threaten, and plot — but the winds in the Sahel have changed. The days of quiet coups and compliant puppets are over.
