Are Africa’s leaders working for their own people — or for foreign powers? That question is back at the center of West African politics after a striking move by Burkina Faso’s President, Ibrahim Traoré. At a recent summit in Niger, Traoré publicly ruled out the membership of two West African states in the fledgling Sahel Confederation and signaled which country might be next in line to join. The announcement caught many by surprise because it wasn’t just about borders or diplomacy — it was a deliberate political statement about influence, independence, and who gets to shape the region’s future.The Sahel Confederation currently brings together Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — countries that share deep social, cultural and economic ties. Traoré’s stated vision is to build a confederation grounded in those commonalities: a bloc of states with similar development levels and cultural frameworks that can cooperate on security, economics and self-determination. In his view, cohesion depends on parity; admitting states with very different economic structures, or those too enmeshed with outside powers, would risk reproducing old hierarchies and opening the door to external economic domination.Put bluntly, Traoré argued that some prospective members are too tightly bound to foreign interests — and that their inclusion would import the very inequalities and elite capture the Confederation is meant to reject. He framed his stance as an anti-imperial, grassroots commitment: no more arrangements that let outside actors extract wealth while leaving ordinary citizens poor. That’s why, according to his remarks at the summit, certain countries were turned away — not because of geography, but because of economics, political alignments, and the danger of repeating patterns of economic exploitation.Many observers point to the broader logic behind this move: Traoré wants a union that protects member states from neo-colonial pressures, especially those that perpetuate French economic influence in the region. By prioritizing cultural and economic affinity and by insisting on independence from external control, he hopes to prevent the Confederation from becoming another channel for foreign elites to consolidate power.That said, the explanation raises questions that still need answering. Which two countries did Traoré exclude, precisely why were they rejected, and what criteria will be used going forward to admit new members? The answers matter because they will determine whether the Sahel Confederation becomes a model of regional solidarity and self-reliance — or simply reshapes old rivalries under a new banner.In short: Traoré’s announcement is more than a diplomatic decision. It’s a political test — a claim that West African unity must be built on shared development goals and freedom from outside economic manipulation. Whether that vision holds, and how other regional capitals respond, will shape the Sahel’s political landscape for years to come.Add your voice to the total liberation of Africa by leaving a comment in the comments section below. Do not forget to like and subscribe for more informative videos like this one. Let’s proceed.From the 1840s until its independence in 1960, Côte d’Ivoire — then known as Ivory Coast — remained under French colonial rule. But independence didn’t mean separation. Decades later, France’s deep political and economic ties still shape the country’s direction and, in many ways, explain its absence from the newly forming Sahel Confederation.France’s involvement in the region dates back centuries. As early as 1637, French missionaries were operating near the Gold Coast. By 1687, they had established a mission, and by 1701, they built a fort to strengthen their foothold. Then, during the Scramble for Africa, France formalized its control — declaring Ivory Coast a protectorate in 1843 and turning it into a full colony by 1893. What followed was a long era of French expansion and dominance, marked by aggressive efforts to reshape Ivorian society.#IbrahimTraoré #sahelconfederation #aes #westafricapolitics #africaunity #burkinafasonews #geopoliticsafrica