The UITBB condemns the military intervention of France in Mali made with the logistical and political support of major imperialist powers, especially the United States, the EU, under the pretext of combating terrorism and of preserving the territorial integrity of Mali.
If we analyze the present situation we will find:
Imperialist Game Plan
Imperialism has once again bared its fangs in Africa. After Libya, now it is the turn of Mali. On January 11, France has launched an aerial attack on the country and moved 2500 of its ground troops for action. The purported motive is to save the country from the Islamist fundamentalists.
Already reports of civilian casualties are pouring out. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, nearly 230,000 Malians were displaced internally and an additional 144,500 were already refugees in neighboring countries.
French President Hollande said the threat of a radical Islamic takeover was imminent, that he had no choice but to intervene – to save not just Mali, but all of Western Africa.
There is one another important factor that moved the French into action: In recent election in Senegal, a President from the Centre-left was elected defeating the French stooge. France is loosing ground in many of the Western African countries except Ivory Coast.
US Military Activity
The US is militarily involved through the training of the Malian army since 2001. In 2005, US have established the “Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership” comprising 11 partner African countries – Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. Every year it conducts joint military exercises in the region.
Interest of EU
Not to be left behind, the European Union and more importantly France, the past colonial master of many of these lands, too has an active interest in this region. The uranium mines in neighboring Niger are of particular interest to France, because 78% of its power generation is based on nuclear energy. In September 2011, the EU had tabled its version of “Strategy for security and development in the Sahel”.
Why Mali is the target?
Mali is crucial to AFRICOM, created in 2008 and to Pentagon’s overall MENA (Middle East-Northern Africa) outlook. Mali borders with Algeria, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Guinea. Mali is rich in natural resources comprising gold, uranium, bauxite, iron, manganese, tin and copper. Studies point to plenty of unexplored oil in northern Mali.
Role of China
The active participation of China in this region is also a matter of growing concern to both the US and the EU.
Domestic Situation
The domestic situation in Mali also provided a fertile ground for fundamentalist forces. The growing number of unemployment, falling wages, and increasing prices of food grains and essentials have created discontent among the people. The fundamentalists took advantage of this situation.
In Mali, the progressive forces are gaining ground. There were a series of protest and strikes organized by the working class and students in the capital city Bamako.
That is why UITBB considers it urgent to demand the withdrawal of all troops and foreign military bases in West Africa, to support the struggle of popular forces representing workers for a democratic and progressive solution of the problems of their country without foreign interference.
Natural resources of these countries belong to the peoples of these countries and should be used for their development!
Workers and the people should decide for themselves their way of development without interference of organizations and institutions of imperialism.
It is urgent to implement active international solidarity between workers, trade unions and people in developing countries and developed countries to fight against foreign interventions, including the presence of troops of aggression in Mali, for a world without war and without exploitation.
