PROGRESSIVE political leaders, activists, trade unionists, and pan-African allies from across Africa and the diaspora have convened in Niger’s capital for the Conference in Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel. Taking place at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre from November 19–21 2024, the gathering unites diverse voices under the banner: For Anti-Imperialist Unity, Peace, and Friendship between Peoples.
The three-day conference seeks to galvanise global attention on the ongoing struggles in the Sahel, a region grappling with violent conflict, external interference, and socio-economic instability. Discussions will focus on supporting movements fighting for sovereignty, dignity, and prosperity amid what organisers describe as ‘French imperialist aggression’ and broader Western influence in the sub-region.
Countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have emerged as pivotal battlegrounds in West Africa’s broader confrontation with neo-imperialism. In these nations, alliances between popular movements and reformist factions within state institutions, including the military, have pushed back against foreign domination, capturing state power in the process. These shifts, hailed as ‘patriotic victories’ by participants, have drawn international attention to the Sahel as a frontline in global anti-imperialist struggles.
‘West Africa is at the heart of a global confrontation between imperialism and the peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America,’ said a spokesperson from the Pan Africanism Today Secretariat (PAT).
Hosted jointly by PAT and the West Africa Peoples Organisation (WAPO), the conference seeks to build solidarity beyond borders. It is expected to attract delegates from across Africa, the diaspora, and allied movements in Latin America and Asia. Organisers emphasise the event’s role in fostering unity and amplifying the voices of Sahel communities confronting foreign domination.
Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tchiani, Niger’s Head of State and Chair of the CNSP government, is supporting the initiative, which he described as essential to bolstering anti-imperialist unity.
This conference comes at a time when Africa’s sovereignty is under renewed scrutiny, with global powers vying for influence in the resource-rich Sahel. As instability and foreign military interventions persist, the Niamey gathering underscores the urgency of pan-African solidarity in achieving peace, dignity, and self-determination for the region’s people.
Credit: Africabriefing
