By: Fatou Krubally
The Secretary-General of the Gambia Action Party (GAP), Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, has issued a rallying call to Africans, warning that the continent remains shackled by a modern form of colonialism, one more insidious than the occupation of the past.
In a strongly worded statement, Batchilly said that while colonial flags may have been lowered decades ago, true liberation has been systematically undermined by neocolonial forces operating through debt traps, regime change, and economic manipulation.
“Our chains today are not iron, but debts, foreign aid dependency, and covert interference,” Batchilly declared. He accused former colonial powers, particularly France and America, of deploying financial institutions, intelligence agencies, and NGOs disguised as donors to maintain control over African nations.
Batchilly pointed to the fate of revolutionary African leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, and Amilcar Cabral, arguing that betrayals often orchestrated externally have been used to neutralize strong African leadership.
He reserved special praise for Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, describing him as a bold symbol of Africa’s continued resistance against external domination. Traoré, along with other Sahelian leaders in Mali and Niger, has faced mounting pressure for severing “exploitative” ties and asserting national sovereignty.
“What is happening in the Sahel is not just a regional shift, it is a continental awakening,” Batchilly said. He claimed that Western powers, under the guise of promoting democracy and development, continue to impose policies that keep Africa weak and fragmented.
Calling for solidarity among African nations, Batchilly urged citizens to resist puppet regimes and push for genuine Pan-African unity. He challenged the African Union to move beyond symbolic gestures and champion the cause of real independence.
“The destiny of Africa lies in African hands,” Batchilly said. “The time for rhetoric is over. Now is the time for action.”
