Regional countries should focus on economic independence – Malian Minister

Abdoulaye Diop, Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Sochi, Russia, where he made a case for independence of regional countries. During his speech on November 9, he raised pressing issues regarding the influence of former colonial powers and regional security concerns. He stated […]

Abdoulaye Diop, Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Sochi, Russia, where he made a case for independence of regional countries.

During his speech on November 9, he raised pressing issues regarding the influence of former colonial powers and regional security concerns.

He stated that Mali remained under the pressure of neocolonialism, manifested in various forms.

One of the key topics of Diop’s speech was the colonial currency — the CFA franc – still used in West African countries, including Mali.

According to Diop, France maintains control over its former colonies by enforcing the use of this currency.

“Mali, in its interactions with the Central Bank of West African States, faces challenges as this bank has become an instrument that “punishes the population,” he said.

Diop emphasized that such monetary mechanisms keep the region under France’s economic control, limiting its financial independence.

Diop noted that it is essential for regional countries to focus on economic independence and consider alternative currency systems to free West Africa from this influence.

The minister also criticized the role of Western media in African countries, emphasizing that the media has become a tool of manipulation, promoting narratives favorable to the West.

He pointed out that investments directed at developing media structures in African states are often used for information warfare.

“Western media has become a weapon of mass influence,” the minister stated. This undermines the independence of African countries, leaving them vulnerable to external interference.

He also spoke about the fight against terrorism, highlighting that armed groups in the Sahel region receive support from certain powers, making the fight against threats in the region more complex.

According to him, this support undermines the security, stability, and sovereignty of nations striving for independence in the region.

Diop’s speech highlighted the need for regional countries to strengthen their independence and build their own economic and informational systems to resist external pressure and ensure regional security.