@Shebeencounter@mastodon.world
I am an anti-imperialist, and in general, I agree with your posts. However, we should not blindly narrate a straightforward anti-imperialist story in the context of the Sahel states. (Not saying you are doing that, but many of your mutuals and followers may be.) I think this May 4, 2026 article, this follow-up from May 19, 2026, and this July 02, 2026 report on Burkina Faso receiving the Israeli ambassador with fanfare, should together provide some context. (The May 4 article also raises doubts about Ukraine's purported support to the Tuareg separatists in Mali.)
postscript:
@rzeta0@mastodon.ie
I saw your posts elsewhere wondering about the roles of Russia and China in the U.S.-Iran war. The May 4 article I linked above messes up simple narratives of an Iran-Russia alliance, without even taking into account the historical baggage of the earlier centuries. Doesn't mean there is no alliance, just that we should refrain from simplistic narratives.
Same with the Iran-China alliance—you must keep in mind that a significant proportion of Iranians still look up to life in the U.S. and the West as something to aspire to (despite their rage against Western imperialism), not (yet) to life in China; and that has had an effect on the foreign policies of the Iranian government. During the brief period of the JCPOA, for example, practically all the business contracts in Iran went to Western corporations, despite the Chinese often offering superior deals. Even today, there is a strong pro-U.S. neoliberal section in the Iranian government that wants Iran to be a part of the U.S.-led international order. So it isn't particularly surprising to see the Chinese hesitating to go all in. These are not the only factors, of course. Again, the lesson is to refrain from simplistic narratives.
#Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger #Algeria #Sahel #Africa #Iran #Russia #China #Israel #US #USA #America
