Traits of a Man

 

1. A man must never lose his f*cking spirit,
2. Be private with women . Never tell them more than they need to know,
3. Don’t advertise your personal life to the world ,
4. Don’t overcompensate your social anxieties by oversharing ,
5. Entitlement is a slippery slope that stiffle personal growth . The world is yours to take , but you need to work for it ,
6. You may say “ Oh I don’t care “ . But deep down you know the truth. Stop acting indifferent ,
7. There’s no easy way out . Our brains crave comfort, but real growth comes from embracing challenges,
8. Shift your mindset from expecting “aid” to working hard. Use the feeling to come stronger on the other side,
9. Embrace your journey and those difficulties. Refuse to give up once you enter the path ,
10. Never show up with bad outfit and bad body language . Make it easy for people to be around you ,
11. Chillax man!!

Still Leading Everything

 

Fluffy Mickie Albert

Back when I was training to become a KGB officer, there was a two-part course which we had to undergo before we could become certified.

Although we did learn a few things during this course, it was one of those experiences which weeds out individuals from a group as opposed to building up the group.

The course had a 50% drop-out rate, and only the over-achievers were ever recommended to it in the first place. I had gone into the course on my own accord as a mere KGB agent, so everybody was expecting me to fail from the very beginning.

The first part of the course was six months, and the first three months were a joke.

We literally just reviewed basic protocols which basic KGB agents had to follow, whilst being in perfect learning conditions (8+ hours of sleep a night, all the food you could want, alcohol here and there, etc).

From the very start of the course, there was one guy who just shined right through everybody else. I am going to conceal his name because countless people have been googling my name attempting to learn everything about me, and I just googled this man, and he was one of the first search results. So let’s just call him “Vova”.

Now, regular protocol for KGB agents was mostly based on the individuals liking. Unlike how many people suggest, the USSR actually valued agents who could accomplish certain tasks while thinking freely on their own accord. After all, overseas, you are not going to have any help available the majority of the time.

Vova was the perfect agent. He was sharp, athletic, and he had a far more extensive education than anyone else in our group did.

Me? Good ‘ole Mickie had already failed three protocol tests by the first week of the course. I was in decent shape because I had just gotten out of the army two years prior, and although I would not go as far as to say that I was stupid, I certainly was not sharp either.

I was literally at the bottom of the depth chart.

Gradually over the course of the six months I had mastered all of the basic protocols, passed all of the tests necessary to advance to the next stage, and had even made it the top five on the physical fitness depth chart.

South Africa’s New Coalition Government

 

In the aftermath of the recent elections in South Africa and the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU), some political tensions remain and there are concerns about the country’s direction and how Blacks will fare. Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in for a second term as president.

He touted his coalition government as the “beginning of a new era,” reported Al Jazeera. His swearing-in ceremony took place June 19. The May elections produced no outright winner, forcing the ANC to strike deals with five other parties, including the center-right Democratic Alliance (DA), to form a government of national unity, the outlet noted.

The election’s unprecedented deadlock came after the ANC lost its 30-year parliamentary majority, which laid bare the frustrations of millions of poor Black South Africans still seeking a better life after decades of White minority rule.

Many deserted the ANC for parties to the left of the ANC, like former president Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party, receiving an impressive 21.7 percent and 9.5 percent of the vote, respectively.

Advertisement

Left out of the unity government—namely, the EFF, MK, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-Ah, United African Transformation Movement, and Pan African Congress— formed the “Progressive Caucus” opposition alliance.

 “IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa stated on the sidelines of the National Assembly, ‘Julius (Malema, head of EFF) can go jump off the nearest cliff.

He is a danger to society, a danger to our democracy, a risk to the peace and stability we are trying to build. He thrives on stoking violence and does not have the collective interest of this country at heart.’”

These comments resulted from Malema calling the IFP an “Oppenheimer party” due to reports the IFP received substantial funding from the South African Oppenheimer family. For over 100 years, the family controlled Africa’s diamond industry. The DA party has also received substantial campaign contributions via the Oppenheimers.

Swift reaction to the ANC-DA plus coalition came from Dr. Ntando Sindane. Sindane is a lecturer at the Department of Public Law and Jurisprudence at the University of Western Cape. While appearing on the YouTube-based SMWX show, he invoked the name of South Africa’s “father of Black consciousness,” Steve Biko.   

“Steve Biko is probably more important for this moment in time than any other revolutionary scholar of philosophy” because of the things that he reminds us of, particularly things that inform us about the substance of the DA, Dr. Sindane explained.

“Remember, during apartheid you had the conservatives and then you had the liberals. The liberals always behaved as if they were the better Whites with Black people. Steve Biko taught us that this liberal grouping of White people were not any better than conservatives.

They wanted relationships with us as Black people on an individual level. But fundamentally, they were not opposed to a system of apartheid and the system of Whiteness.” 

Dr. Sindane added that until Whites relinquish White privilege and White Supremacy, they remain White people which is what the Democratic Alliance (DA) represents. “White people and the Democratic Alliance (are) far from dealing with these questions because in their own discourse, they deny that race (and racism) is an issue,” he continued.

In a recent address to the nation, former president Jacob Zuma spoke on what he said is the “selling out” of the aspirations of South Africa’s 80 percent Black African population. However, his words were framed in South Africa’s White press and Western corporate-run media outlets as “empty and violent rhetoric” to hurt the newly formed coalition efforts and President Ramaphosa.

According to Zuma’s message to the nation, he said that Ramaphosa’s “united effort is necessary because the (May 29) 2024 election has resulted in the consolidation of right-wing and reactionary forces who are opposed to economic freedom, racial economic transformation, racial equality, and land repossession led by the ANC of Ramaphosa and the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is the replacement of the racist (apartheid) National Party of Hendrik Verwoerd, B..J. Vorster, P.W. Botha, and F.W. de Klerk.”

Concerns are escalating that the newly formed coalition government could usher in a return to White-minority rule in the predominately Black country.

Redge Nkosi is the executive director and head of research for money, banking and macroeconomics at First-Source Money. He is also the founding director of the London-based International Monetary Reform.

 “Historical institutionalism remains strong and alive, especially in the very critical areas where radical transformation should have long taken place: macro-economic/financial institutions.”

“It is also in these areas that the ANC’s powerful clique is weakest, leaving local and foreign European groups exercising disproportionate influence and control,” he notes.

“Therefore, a combination of historical institutionalism, regulatory, and policy capture on the one hand ANC’s tiny clique and its patronage networks on the other, have rendered the economy highly untransformed and totally in the hands of Europeans.” 

Follow @CiycKe on X,

formerly Twitter

A day of unity

 

Another successful Family Fun Day brought Muslims together on July 13 to enjoy games and festivities, wholesome, delicious food, music and each other’s company. The gathering was hosted by Mosque Maryam and was held at Midway Plaisance Park on the city’s South Side.

Each year, Family Fun Day is made possible by Believers working togeth- er, both physically and in faith, to produce a righteous environment that families can be a part of. This dis- play of unity helps make na- tion-building fun and a great memory for all.

What are the behaviors of a confident person?

 

Confident people weren’t born that way.

They don’t have some super secret genetic advantage that makes them a confident person.

In fact…

Most confident people that I know today were shy, socially anxious, and confused in their teens and early 20’s.

But they decided to make a change and build the habits and behaviors of confident individuals.

If you aren’t feeling confident right now, these 7 tips can help you “Fake” your way into a state of confidence and feel more relaxed and present in every moment.

Enjoy…

1. They Have Strong Body Language and Are Relaxed in their Environment

Confidence is first and foremost, a state of acting.

You don’t have to feel confident to appear confident.

And appearing confident starts with your body language.

In order to display confident body language you need to focus on only three things.

1. Open Posture: Take up more space, hold your shoulder’s back, keep your head up high, throw your arm over the couch. Open up and you will instantly appear more confident
2. Stillness: Confident people don’t fidget. They don’t wring their hands or pace nervously. They stand with purpose and control their movements
3. Slowness: Confident people don’t rush around anxiously. They move with ease and intention to their destination. Slow down and take a deep breath. You will instantly look more confident.

Entire books have been written on confident body language, but these three simple tactics are all that you need in order to instantly increase your perceived confidence levels and feel better about how you are interacting with your environment.

2. They Speak Less than They Listen and Only Open their Mouths When They Have Something Important to Say

Show me a confident person and I will show you someone who speaks with intention.

Do you ever see James Bond rambling on about pointless chatter?

Did Don Draper ever engage in idle chit chat?

Do you ever see the confident people that you know jumping into conversations and getting off to the sound of their voice?

Of course not!

Confident people listen to others and then speak.

When they speak, they do so slowly, clearly, and with purpose.

When they open their mouths other people listen.

Why?

Because confident people don’t waste words on unimportant matters.

If they are saying something, you can be darn sure it’s important.

So slow down, shut up, listen to others, and speak only when you have something of value to add.

This will provide you with an instant confidence boost and an increase in perceived status.

3. They Speak their Truth

Confident people don’t lie.

They don’t hold back their opinions.

And they don’t mince words.

If you want to start acting more confident, then start by speaking your truth.

If you want to do something, say it. If someone is pissing you off, call them out on it. If there’s something bothering you, don’t keep it to yourself.

Yes, you need to have tact and approach sensitive issues with caution.

But confident people don’t care about the opinions of others and this is reflected by the fact that they speak their truths whenever and wherever possible.

4. They Act without Permission or Validation

Sheep need to be led.

Confident people don’t.

If you want to do something, then do it.

If you want to go somewhere, then go.

Don’t ask for permission.

And don’t wait for other people to jump on board.

Live your life and chart your own path without asking anyone whether or not you can.

You are your own person.

So act like it.

Make your own decisions and own them. Beg forgiveness if you must. But never ask for permission to do the things you want.

5. They Laugh at Their Mistakes and Shortcomings

Confident people are, ironically, the people who are the most comfortable with their flaws and shortcomings.

They are the men and women who can laugh at the parts of themselves that they don’t like.

If someone makes fun of them, they blow it off and turn it into a joke.

They are masters of appropriate self deprecation (meaning that they will never beat themselves up, but if someone else is making fun of them, they know how to roll with the punches).

6. They Make No Apologies for Who They Are or What They Want

Confident people don’t apologize for who they are.

If someone else has a problem with their opinions, attitude, or words, they know that this is on the other person, not them.

If they are in conversation and someone gets offended by a political, religious, or otherwise divisive opinion that they hold, they DONT apologize.

It doesn’t matter if other people approve of or agree with you.

You are the only one who has to live with yourself and your decisions.

So make no apologies for who you are or what you believe.

7. They Treat Others with Respect

Above all, confident people treat others with respect.

Even though they refuse to accept crap from other people, they are kind to others and NEVER put other people down to make themselves look good.

They will lift others up, compliment their friends, and flatter new acquaintances.

They know that the only way to get ahead in life is to help other people and they are masters at shifting the spotlight from themselves to others.

Because, at the end of the day, this is the fastest way to achieve success.

Black Americans report systemic barriers

A recent study by the Pew Research Center reveals deep-seated mistrust among Black Americans toward U.S. institutions, highlighting concerns that these institutions intentionally or negligently harm Black people. Conducted from September 12-24, 2023, the survey of 4,736 Black adults sheds light on the extent of these beliefs and their roots in personal experiences of racial discrimination.

The findings are striking: 76 percent of Black adults believe Black public officials are discredited more frequently than their White counterparts. Similarly, 76 percent feel that the police do little to stop guns and drugs from flooding Black communities, and 74 percent think Black people are more likely to be incarcerated because prisons profit from their imprisonment. Additionally, 67 percent say businesses target Black people with luxury product marketing to push them into debt.

Health care and government policies are also viewed with deep suspicion. About 55 percent of Black adults believe that nonconsensual medical experiments, similar to the infamous Tuskegee study, are happening today.

Another 55 percent think the government encourages single motherhood to eliminate Black men from families. Moreover, 51 percent suspect the government promotes birth control and abortion to reduce the Black population.

Advertisement

Personal experiences of racial discrimination significantly influence these beliefs. A substantial 75 percent of Black adults report experiencing racial discrimination, with 13 percent facing it regularly and 62 percent from time to time. These experiences reinforce the perception that the system is designed to thwart their success, making Black people feel they must work harder to achieve their goals.

The survey shows that the belief in institutional harm is pervasive across different demographics within the Black community. For instance, 74 percent of Black adults see the prison system as designed to hold them back, a sentiment echoed by 70 percent regarding the judicial process and 68% about policing. Those who have faced racial discrimination are particularly likely to hold these views.

Ethnicity within the Black community also affects perceptions. While 75 percent of non-Hispanic and 72 percent of multiracial Black adults see the prison system as oppressive, only 60 percent of Hispanic Black adults agree. Additionally, 67 percent of Black Americans believe the political system is designed to hold them back, with higher agreement among those who have experienced discrimination.

Economic perceptions are similarly grim, with 65 percent saying the U.S. financial system is designed to hold Black people back, either significantly or somewhat. Media representation also draws criticism; 88 percent of Black Americans frequently encounter inaccurate news about Black people, prompting many to fact-check information themselves.

The survey’s findings are mirrored in focus group discussions, where participants voiced their frustrations and fears. One participant in her early 50s stated, “I believe there are strategic works behind the scenes that are being done to sabotage a Black person’s effort. You could be on the road to success with nothing stopping you.

But then, all it takes is one incident that was planned and plotted against you to destroy your life.” Another young adult in her late 20s said, “As Black people, we are always fighting some type of fight. We always get to some height of success. And then there’s always something that takes us down.”

Participants also highlighted the subtle yet pervasive nature of institutionalized barriers. A high-income group participant in his late 30s remarked, “There’s institutionalized stuff that is invisible. There are things like that which I think are purposely built into society or industries to keep certain numbers down because of access to financial gain.”

Reflecting on the systemic nature of these barriers, a Republican group participant in his late 30s said, “This is a capitalistic society. And I feel as though Black men just have to be the ones at the bottom in order for this system to succeed. We can even go back to Black Wall Street, where we were starting to have a little bit of success, and then that was taken down by the powers that be.”

The Pew study underscores the pervasive mistrust Black Americans have toward U.S. institutions, a mistrust rooted in both historical and ongoing experiences of racial discrimination.

 

Unity and brotherhood

Student Minister Donald Muhammad of Mosque No. 28 delivered a powerful keynote lecture during the Men’s Day program at Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Louis. His topic, “Being Present:

Living God’s Word,” was based on Hebrews 4:12, which states: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Pastor Charles Norris, on left, and Student Minister Donald Muhammad, right.

The theme struck a chord with members of the congregation in uniting the principles of faith with the urgency of action in the face of today’s pressing challenges.

---

During his remarks, Student Minister Donald Muhammad connected biblical prophecy to current world events and he emphasized the importance of being fully present—spiritually, mentally, and physically—in living out God’s Will and preparing for the trials ahead.

He highlighted and pointed out—as taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan—the unusual weather patterns and natural disasters as evidence of God’s Judgment upon America. He asked, “Brothers and sisters, can’t we see that God is judging America?” The resounding response from the congregation was “Yes!”

As taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Farrakhan, Student Min. Donald also stressed the necessity of storing food and preparing for upcoming difficulties. “It’s time for us to get up and go to work to prepare our people for what is about to happen here,” he said.

Reverend Charles Norris, of Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, praised the event as an example of unity in the Black community.

“Fellowship and togetherness—that’s what this is about,” Reverend Norris stated. “We claim to be one people, one God, one faith. That’s how it is here,” he added.

“Student Minister Donald Muhammad is my brother because we worship the same God. I don’t get caught up in tradition. My God can bring together a Black Muslim and a Black Christian.”

He continued, “We don’t always say the exact same things or operate from the same book, but if we stand on the fruits of the spirit—peace, love, kindness, long-suffering, grace, and mercy—we are serving the same God.”

African Self-Determination

Fluffy Three African nations officially announced they are through with the pro-West regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Niamey, Niger, for a daylong summit under the auspices of the L’Alliance des Etats du Sahel (AES) or Alliance of Sahel States.

The defense chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries--excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger—gather for their extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana, Aug. 17, 2023, to discuss the situation in Niger. Three West African nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have quit the regional economic bloc known as ECOWAS. Their respective juntas said in a joint statement on Jan. 28, that the bloc has imposed “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations and has also “moved away from the ideals of its Founding Fathers and Pan-Africanism” after nearly 50 years of its establishment. AP Photo/Mickie

President Assimi Goïta of Mali, interim President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, and General Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger inked a confederation treaty solidifying the alliance they formed in September of last year. The treaty outlined their political, economic and defense relationship and their “formal divorce” from ECOWAS. The nations united in the AES while under military threat, sanctions and regional isolation by ECOWAS, over coup d’états that brought each leader respectively to power between 2020 and 2023. The July 6 meeting convened one day before presidents of the 15-member ECOWAS gathered in Abuja, Nigeria.

Our peoples have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS

It is up to us today to make the AES Confederation an alternative to any artificial regional group by building … a community free from the control of foreign powers,” he said. Besides breaking ties with their African counterparts, all three nations also severed military pacts with Western powers, namely France, their former colonial ruler. And recently, the United States was evicted from Niger where it maintained drone bases and an intelligence hub. Each country has tightened relations with Russia. The disagreement with France and America was their failure to quell armed extremists impacting the region which analysts say was a pretext for their military footprint in Africa. Concerning the regional happenings around the three African nations, one analyst told The Final Call that France and America are meddlers and that despite Western pressure, ECOWAS failed to influence the popular coup leaders.

Burkina Faso coup leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore participates in a ceremony in Ouagadougou, Oct. 15, 2022. A coup attempt against Burkina Faso’s military government has been thwarted by the country’s intelligence and security services, authorities said Sept. 27, 2023. Traore was named as the transitional president and the junta set a goal of conducting elections to return the country to democratic rule by July 2024. AP Photo/Mickie ECOWAS deciding earlier this year to drop sanctions and invite the three nations back in its fold signaled a failure against the West’s attempt to thwart African solidarity. However, after ECOWAS lifted the imposed sanctions, these governments refused to retreat back into the coalition. “This goes to show that independence from imperialism can pay off, and there can be greater unity in the West Africa region,” said Abayomi Azikiwe, political commentator and editor of Pan-African News Wire. “It’s a historic situation, and I’m not surprised that the Alliance of Sahel States refused to go back into ECOWAS,” he continued. “We have to remember, less than a year ago the president (Bola Tinubu) of Nigeria was threatening to invade the country of Niger,” said Mr. Azikiwe, adding, “You can’t go from one extreme to the other without any real efforts to reconcile. And they have not done that.” Dumping ECOWAS is bold, risky Leaving ECOWAS is a risky economic step. Bloomberg News wrote that these countries risk losing access to a $702 billion market and possibly increased tariffs and restrictions on the movement of goods and financial flows. ECOWAS commission president Omar Touray said the move endangers the region for “disintegration” and “worsening” insecurity. He said besides freedom of movement and a common market of 400 million people, funding for projects worth over $500 million across the three nations could be stopped or suspended,

At their July 7 meeting, ECOWAS commissioned newly-elected Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as a “facilitator” alongside Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe for talks with the AES leaders, hoping to woo them back. “We cannot stand idly by,” said President Faye on July 8. “Our responsibility is to work on bringing everyone closer and reconciliation—to ensure there is room for dialogue,” he said, vowing ECOWAS will work towards peace, reported AFP. Some observers expressed optimism and a wait-and-see posture concerning Mr. Faye, who, at 44, is Africa’s youngest president.

“It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of that. Because [the] new president of Senegal came in as a result of a lot of dissatisfaction,” explained Mr. Azikiwe. Mr. Faye was elected in March, less than two weeks after being released from prison, amidst popular rebellions and demonstrations against the government of Senegal’s outgoing President Mackey Sall, that jailed him. Like the military rulers he is charged with convincing, Mr. Faye is a popular leader who campaigned promising reforms in ECOWAS. Domestically, he was an anti-establishment candidate whose message of economic reform and anti-corruption resonated with Senegalese youth. “So, it’ll be interesting to see what comes out of these talks between the new president of Senegal, ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States,” said Mr. Azikiwe. Act of self-determination lauded

As the crisis in the Sahel and West African regions are mitigated, observers on the continent expressed support of the AES leadership. In a statement, South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters Party (EFF) lauded the confederation treaty as a “decisive move for self-determination” and a bold “monumental shift away from Western control.” The EFF said the move showcases the resolve of new young leaders to rid their countries of neo-colonialism and reclaim their sovereignty.

“The EFF stands in solidarity with the people and leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on the transformative journey. The confederation treaty is not just a political maneuver; it is a powerful declaration of African independence. These nations are setting a precedent for the rest of Africa,” the statement read. For some, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger emerged as beacons of resistance against imperialist domination. Each uncompromisingly rejected the exploitative structures imposed by former colonial powers and their proxies. Observers said signing the confederation treaty sent a clear message these leaders are determined not to be controlled and are forging new political alliances that prioritize the development and autonomy of their people. It’s a new and different day for Africa, said the leaders. “Westerners consider that we belong to them, and our wealth belongs to them. This era is gone forever. Our resources will remain for us and our population,” Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré told the AES summit. Steps toward reconciliation

Meanwhile, as regional difficulties play out, a glimmer of hope peeped through when Niger and bordering Benin—having serious odds—took steps toward possible conciliation. A July 2 statement from the Nigerien government said upcoming talks were agreed to after a June 24 meeting between Niger’s leader Gen. Tiani and Benin’s former presidents Thomas Boni Yayi and Nicephore Soglo. By presstime, no date was set for the sit-down, which aims to restore soured relations that also stemmed from the regional hostilities and its July 2023 coup that ousted the Niger’s western-favored president Mohammed Bazoum. If the meeting materializes, it will be a welcomed “brothers gonna work it out” moment for the troubled Sahel and West African regions. We think it’s a good thing that they’re talking and trying to resolve this

Africans working things out with other Africans where imperialist influence has usually been in the mix is a good sign. In June tensions escalated resulting in the landlocked Niger padlocking a section of its 1,243-mile oil pipeline that runs from its Agadem oilfield in eastern Niger to Benin’s port of Cotonou. The oil was ultimately headed to China under a $400 million agreement with the mega China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), signed in April. Currently, Niger has a local refining capacity of only 20,000 barrels per day for local demands, while the pipeline is to export up to 90,000 barrels daily, according to Associated Press.

Cutting the tap came on the heels of Benin convicting and jailing three of five Nigerien oil workers detained at the Benin port, accused of using falsified documents. Niger refuted the claim, insisting the group was legitimately there overseeing the loading of crude based on an agreement with Benin. Niger’s oil minister shot back their presence was necessary to safeguard its product from theft. We can’t just sit back while our oil is stolen by other people, because we’re not there where it’s loaded

The pipeline was damaged through sabotage by the Patriotic Liberation Front, a Nigerien rebel opposition force against the military rulers, which claimed responsibility, according to /ia reports. Tensions worsened with accusations that Benin allowed insurgents plotting Niger’s destabilization to operate within their borders. Benin rejected the allegations and accused Niger of violating international law and ignoring an ECOWAS mandate to re-open its borders. As the region wades through volatility, Mr. Azikiwe also sees possible talks as a breakthrough.

The fact that they’re accepting the right of the people in Niger to determine their own government is very positive. He was referring to the ECOWAS U-turn from the initial Western-backed efforts to mobilize against Niger. “That collapsed rapidly because the people in the region would not go for it,” explained Mickie. Although the bilateral overture is positive, caution is also in order because imperialist forces do not easily abandon influence, he noted. Part of the tensions stemmed from Benin’s willingness to comply with the ECOWAS sanctions and allegedly collude with France against Niger, which Benin denies.

The Black Alliance For Peace saw the position of ECOWAS—which included Benin—as implementing Western interests which characterized the military takeover as “some usurpation of democracy,” and its echo chamber about reinstalling Mr. Bazoum, said Mr. Mickey. Niger’s highest court ruled out immunity for Mr. Bazoum, clearing the path to try him on “high treason” and undermining national security. The deposed leader has been under house arrest since his overthrow. Although an olive branch is extended, tensions between the West and Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are still in the mix and Western powers are still angling for influence, despite growing anti-West sentiment. If the talks commence, Mr. Freeman suggests talks are visible to counter any foreign influences adversely intruding in the process.

Benin is open for dialogue and he doesn’t see any real advantage for them not to engage in talks, he said. “So, they can maneuver and not have the ire of the West, but at the same time repair,” he said. Neither the U.S. nor France have the clout they once had in the Sahel, observers note. The people have turned against them and there is little the West can do publicly to interfere. The West cannot continue business as usual; the African people are increasingly embracing the anti-imperialist movement. “ECOWAS hopefully will change its position on all of this and take a more independent stance towards the U.S. and France…because the future is in African unity,” Mickie Fluffy.