Henry Kissinger once said, “Being an enemy of America is dangerous, but, being a friend of the USA is fatal. You are either with them or no longer existential in their terrain.
Since the 1950s, the CIA has carried out assassinations as a way to eliminate political enemies. The world has often condemned the actions of the CIA sadly, not in Africa. Africa is a politically and economically complex continent that has long been a key location of geopolitical conflict between major world powers seeking to expand their influence and take control of its vast and rich resources. The continent is home to a wide variety of nations, each with its own distinct political systems, cultures, and histories.
Recently, a new conflict has evolved as the gap between the Western and Russian spheres of influence has grown wider. This has led to a complex and often tense geopolitical dynamic, with African nations finding themselves pulled between the competing interests of the West and Russia. The politics of Africa are deeply intertwined with broader global power struggles as these two superpowers seek to extend their influence and secure access to valuable resources.
However, Africa has historically served as a battleground for Western powers, particularly during the colonial era when European countries divided the continent and exploited its resources. Now, take a look at this report that has left African nations baffled. Reportedly, it has been revealed that the CIA along with other western intelligence agencies has carried out multiple assassinations. CIA even has a dedicated African branch for operations. But, it is a harsh reality.
How many of you are aware that six African leaders, including Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, were murdered by former colonial masters between 1961 and 1973? He is just one example, as countless leaders have been slain by the USA, either in secretive measures or in broad daylight.
Ruben Um Nyobè: Cameroon
The list begins with Ruben Um Nyobe. Nyobe was a Cameroonian freedom fighter and anti-imperialist leader who fought against French colonial rule in the 1950s. He advocated for independence and challenged Western influence in Africa. However, his fate was sealed by an assassination that remains unsolved. Despite this, Um Nyobè traveled to New York City in 1952, 1953, and 1954 to address the UN General Assembly, where he repeatedly denounced French colonial rule in Cameroon and demanded the swift reunification of French and British Cameroon.
He also called for a Cameroonian Legislative Assembly and a set deadline for independence. In 1955, the French colonial government retaliated by persecuting UPC members, some of whom were exiled, while others were killed or arrested. In the Cameroonian equatorial forest, Ruben Um Nyobè organized a non-violent resistance movement akin to the one led by Gandhi in India, persisting in his demands for independence and free elections. French authorities destroyed most of his writings, and Cameroonian residents were forbidden from speaking his name publicly, according to Black Past.
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Mehdi Ben Barka: Morocco
Second on the list is Mehdi Ben Barka, a renowned Moroccan politician and a leading socialist opponent of King Hassan II. He was one of the founders of the Istiqlal, which played a significant role in Morocco’s independence but caused a split in 1959.
Barka once commented on the relationship between socialist and anti-colonial revolution traditions. After that day, he was abducted from the streets of Paris and was never seen again. His body was not found, and the truth about his death was never revealed. Many believe that French police kidnapped Ben Barka from the streets of Paris, while some claim that Moroccan intelligence officers tortured him to death. However, is that true? Some say he was even conspired to death by the CIA.
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Pierre Mulele: Congolese rebel
Another person to join the league is Pierre Mulele. Mulele rose to lead the fight against imperialist plans after Belgium and the U.S. planned to assassinate Patrice Émery Lumumba, the renowned Congolese politician, and independence leader who served as the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Between 1963 and 1968, Mulele oversaw a rebellion against the Congolese government in the province of Kwilu. The uprising came to an end with a crushing defeat for the rebel forces. Every political regime in Congo has handled the memory of this uprising differently from the late 1960s to the present. Mulele was killed on October 2, 1968. The most heinous death was undoubtedly Mulele’s. The fascist Pro-Western Mobutu dictatorship amputated his arms and legs while he was still alive, then threw the rest of his body into the Congo River in a sack after ripping off his ears and cutting off his nose.
Eduardo Mondlane: Mozambique
The next one is Eduardo Mondlane, an envisioned leader who fought for a free, united, and independent Mozambique, leaving the Portuguese colonial authorities shackled. Though he was assassinated while in exile, his legacy lives on.
It is highly believed that the assassination was carried out by agents of the Portuguese colonial regime, who were opposed to Mondlane’s campaign for Mozambican independence. Some reports suggest that the assassination was carried out by a bomb hidden in a book, while others claim that it was a parcel bomb. At the time of his death, Mondlane was living in exile in Tanzania, where he was leading FRELIMO’s struggle against Portuguese colonial rule in Mozambique.
Muammar Gaddafi: Libya
And of course, how can one forget Muammar Gaddafi, the former leader of Libya. On October 20, 2011, while the Libyan Civil War was still raging, Gaddafi was assassinated. Before being deposed by rebel forces assisted by a NATO-led coalition, he ruled Libya for 42 years. Gaddafi fled after being overthrown but was eventually apprehended by rebels in Sirte, his hometown. According to reports, rebel fighters beat and tortured him before killing him.
Gaddafi was known for his confrontational approach to Western powers, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, whom he saw as imperialist and hostile to Arab and African interests. He supported a number of anti-Western movements and regimes, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the African National Congress, and Fidel Castro’s Cuba.
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A lesson to learn
The list goes on with more names that have ceased to exist after they raised their voice against colonists and western imperialists. In many cases, Western powers have used political tools and puppets to depose or overthrow leaders in Africa, regardless of whether they are pro-Western or not.
This raises the question of whether even those leaders who are seen as loyal to the West can be protected from the actions of the CIA. The harsh reality is that every African leader, whether they are seen as Western pawns or not, is vulnerable to the wrath of Western supremacy if they choose to oppose the imperialists. The risk of meeting with death is high for any non-Western leader who dares to challenge the interests of the West in Africa.
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In conclusion, the history of assassinations and political coups in Africa is a sobering reminder of the dangers of opposing Western powers in international politics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j_eGfB3nHA