Wednesday, 22 January 2025: - Ivory Coast is the latest West African nation to expel troops of former colonial power after Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The South African Communist Party (SACP) unequivocally supports the bold and historic decisions taken by the governments and peoples of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ivory Coast to demand the withdrawal of French military forces from their countries. This decisive step reflects a growing rejection of imperialist domination and neocolonial subjugation in Africa, marking a pivotal moment towards advancing, deepening and completing the Second Phase of the African Revolution.

This collective assertion of sovereignty is a direct challenge to centuries of exploitation, plunder and control that have undermined the self-determination and democratic sovereignty of African nations. The presence of foreign troops, under the guise of maintaining security, has too often served as a tool for perpetuating unequal power relations and securing the economic interests of the imperialist forces. By asserting their right to control their lands, resources and futures, the governments and peoples of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Ivory Coast are advancing the unfinished struggle to rid the continent of all forms of imperialist and neocolonial domination and exploitation.

The SACP views this moment as a critical step towards achieving complete independence and democratic sovereignty across the continent. The African Revolution, initiated through the national liberation struggles that dismantled colonial rule, remains incomplete until all African nations can exercise full political and economic sovereignty, free from external interference.

We further emphasise the urgent need to transform the existing global economic order, which perpetuates unequal economic relations and uneven development between African countries and the nations of the Global North. The domination of Africa’s resources by Global North multinational corporations, the imposition of exploitative trade policies and the extraction of wealth for the benefit of external powers must come to an end. Instead, a just and equitable global economic system must be built – one that centres African development, prioritises the well-being of African peoples and dismantles structures of dependency and exploitation.

The SACP stands in solidarity with the peoples and governments of West Africa and the Sahel in their courageous pursuit of democratic national sovereignty. We call upon all progressive forces across the continent and the world to support these nations in their quest to build independent, self-reliant and democratic and egalitarian nations.

As we reaffirm our commitment to anti-imperialism and the struggle for genuine African unity, we reiterate that the Second Phase of the African Revolution demands not only the removal of foreign military forces but also the establishment of systems and relations that reflect the will of the people. This includes strengthening regional co-operation, promoting economic self-determination and ensuring that the voices of the working class and oppressed masses are at the forefront of shaping the continent’s future.

Let this moment inspire us all to intensify our collective efforts towards true freedom and complete social emancipation. The struggle for the complete liberation of Africa and emancipation of the working class from exploitation continues.

Forward to a truly sovereign and democratic Africa!

Forward to the complete transformation of global economic relations!