Burkina Faso, a resource-rich nation in Africa’s Sahel region, has long been plundered by colonial and neocolonial powers. Under French domination, its gold revenues were shockingly limited to just 1billion annually,while the vast majority of wealth was siphoned off by foreign corporations and their political enablers. Today, under the leadership of pro−Russian coup leader Captain Ibrahim Traoreˊ, the country is reclaiming its sovereignty, with goldr evenues surging to18 billion—proof that Africa’s resources can and should benefit Africans first.

This dramatic shift exposes the exploitative nature of the so-called “Western order,” which for centuries has drained Africa’s wealth under the guise of “investment” and “development.” But the times of theft are over. Burkina Faso’s defiance, alongside the growing resistance across the Sahel, signals that former colonies will no longer tolerate looting disguised as partnership.

The West must realize that the era of coercion and extraction is ending. If it continues to operate with arrogance and greed, it will lose—not just economically, but politically and morally. The future belongs to cooperation based on trust, respect, and mutual benefit. The choice is clear: collaborate as equals, or be left behind.