AFRICA ...THE REVENGE OF SUNDIATA KEITA

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Special from Caracas VZ Special Caracas, VZ

- Today, some countries in Af- - some countries in Africa have risen up to reclaim rica have risen up to reclaim their sovereignties Niger, Mali, their sovereignties.

Burkina Faso and Guinea lead Burkina Faso, and Guinea lead the list of countries that have decided to rise up and lead their decided to rise up and lead their historical processes against all historical processes all types of oppression they have of have been subjected to First, the been to. the shameful African slave trade and slavery which were declared slavery, which were declared crimes against humanity at the crimes at the third World Conference Against third World Conference Racism in Durban, South Africa Racism in South Africa in 2001 Second the irreparable in 2001. Second, the irreparable damage caused by the colonial caused the colonial partitioning of African territory of African by colonial powers at the Berlin colonial powers at the Berlin Conference (1884-1885) in Ger- Conference in Ger-

In an arbitrary and criminal

In an and criminal manner, Belgium, France, Spain, manner, Portugal the Netherlands and Portugal, the Netherlands, and England distributed African terri- distributed African territories through bloodshed, turning tories them into “protectorates” since them into since, according to Europeans, Africa to Africa could not govern itself could not govern itself.

Guyanese researcher Walter researcher Walter Rodney wrote an extraordinary wrote an book titled How Europe Un- book titled “How Underdeveloped Africa?” in which Africa?” in which he explains the painful historical he the historical process of intensive exploitation process of intensive that African countries were sub- were

Today countries like Mali Today, countries like Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea Burkina and Guinea as they did in the past when lead- as did in the past when leader Sundiata er great Mandingo territory in great in 1235 in a place called Kangaba 1235 in a called Kangaba. groups in an extraordinary docu- groups in an extraordinary document called THE CHARTER OF KURUKAN FUGA which ex- KURUKAN FUGA, which expressed respect for women, fami- for women, families water and human rights lies, water, and human rights.

Since the European colonial Since the colonial penetration and the division of and the division of the African continent at the Ber- at Berlin Conference in 1885, African lin Conference in African territories have been distributed among Europeans in a criminal among in a criminal and arbitrary manner The Afri- and manner. The African peoples have never submitted can have never submitted to colonial aggression, and their to colonial and their struggles against colonialism colonialism have been ongoing In the 20th have been ongoing. In the 20th century many countries sought century, many countries full independence from colonial- full from colonialism Some leaders, like Modibo ism. Some like Modibo Keita in Mali or Thomas San- or kara in Burkina Faso, attempted kara in Burkina to build their independence but to build their independence, but both were assassinated by the both were assassinated the French military-political system French system known as France-Afrique known as “France-Afrique.”

Today, countries like Mali, countries like Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Ni- Burkina and Niger which produces 80 percent ger, which 80 percent percentage of gold for Western percentage of gold for Western powers, have risen up demand- powers, have risen up demanding their autonomy These four their autonomy. These four countries belonged to the great countries to the great Mandingo Empire led by Sundi- led Sundiata Keita The spirit of Sundiata ata Keita. The of Sundiata Keita has returned to support his Keita has returned to his children in this new stage of the children in this new stage of the