https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2xIFqAk0_I

Malians took to the streets en masse on Friday after the military junta called for protests against stringent sanctions imposed by the West Africa bloc ECOWAS over delayed elections.

In the capital Bamako, thousands of people wearing the national colours of red, yellow and green gathered in a central square, for a rally staged by the military government, and sang patriotic songs.

Interim prime minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga, wearing military uniform, addressed a crowd massed in a main square.

"All of Africa is watching Mali today," he said. "To some extent, the fate of Africa is being played out in Mali today".

Evoking the history of African resistance against colonisers, he also paid "special tribute" to China and Russia for opposing the "illegal and illegitimate embargo against our people".

A large crowd also gathered in the northern city of Timbuktu, AFP correspondents reported. Social media also showed mass demonstrations in the towns of Kadiolo and Bougouni in the south.

Leaders from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) agreed to sanction Mali last week, imposing a trade embargo and shutting borders, in a decision later backed by the United States, the European Union and former colonial power France.

The move followed a proposal by Mali's junta to stay in power for up to five years before staging elections -- despite international demands that it respect a promise to hold the vote in February.

The junta cast the sanctions as "extreme" and "inhumane" and called for demonstrations.

Strongman Colonel Assimi Goita, who first took power in a coup in August 2020, has also urged Malians to "defend our homeland".

The move followed a proposal by Mali's junta to stay in power for up to five years before staging elections -- despite international demands that it respect a promise to hold the vote in February.

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[b][/b]
Look at how Malians stood for their country against sanctions.
Look at them singing patriotic songs.

And some

Orissodiq:
Seriously i don't like people forcing a particular system of government on people. The people said they don't want democracy nothing more. American system of government cannot work everywhere. I c the issues in mali as struggling for power and influence between France and Russia(if u know u know)

Orissodiq:
Seriously i don't like people forcing a particular system of government on people. The people said they don't want democracy nothing more. American system of government cannot work everywhere. I c the issues in mali as struggling for power and influence between France and Russia(if u know u know)

samsard:
The military made a promise that it's failing to keep, likely because it has tasted power. Sanctioning coup plotters will discourage further coups which are capable of destabilizing countries.
The military should keep to it's word, or else even the Malian people will not be able to rely on it's word.
This protest will likely go down the drain. Mali is not a very important country economically.
China and Russia are backing the Malian military obviously because they're themselves authoritarian governments and basically opposed to anything the west supports.

joyandfaith:


Why were west and ecowas when former regime was abusing human rights? If international community really want democracy in every nation of the world, there should be international elections tribunal that can address issue of electoral fraud. Incumbents usually manipulate judiciary and security agencies to stay in power.

samsard:
Unfortunately that is a problem that countries with weak institutions face.
But the military should look at fixing the problem instead of becoming the problem. It's very likely that the top military man will like to spend 5 good years in power and then organize and contest elections. I'm sure we all know how that goes.

post=109463692:



[b][/b]
Look at how Malians stood for their country against sanctions.
Look at them singing patriotic songs.

And some set of barbaric cannibals from the country known worldwide as the GIANT OF AFRICA.
Some miserable souls will be calling our darling nation a Zoo, (cos they see themselves as animals are in sifia pains... Anuofias dem )

joyandfaith:
Democracy is not for most countries in Africa. Ecowas is not a serious entity. Can it stop abuses by elected president in the continent? It appears people are ok with military government. Ecowas should let the country be.

Orissodiq:
Seriously i don't like people forcing a particular system of government on people. The people said they don't want democracy nothing more. American system of government cannot work everywhere. I c the issues in mali as struggling for power and influence between France and Russia(if u know u know)

Etuagievin:
. And you called that patriotism! They should have protested against colonel goita who doesn't want to relinquish power despite the obvious unpopularity of military rule. What do you think will become of Mali if he stays for another 5 years? ECOWAS , US, UN and France their colonial masters knows exactly what would become of the people if Goita stays for more 5 years, hence the sanctions. If Malians were wise, the protest should be against the military junta who may eventually hold the reigns of power with its attendant sufferings as it's typical of many erstwhile military leaders

Atk1nson:


Demcracy is not for Africa? yet if you are given to option the choose between going to the leading democracies in the world (US & EU) and some of the leading autocracies in the world (North korea and china) you'll probably jump at the former.

LandMann:
[s][/s]

Being a fanatic and supporting someone blindly is not the same as being a patriot.

Patriotism is always strong in homogeneous nation with closely shared belief systems and a very good and functioning government.

Is Nigeria a homogeneous country given the presence of Igbo, Yoruba, Hausas, Fulanis, and over one hundred other ethnic groups?

The only unifying factor in Nigeria would have been language... Do we speak one language? Have you wondered why that your igbo, yoruba, hausa or Fulani friend will speak English to you in general conversations but quickly switch to his/her local dialect when they want to say something they don't want you to hear?

Distrust! And it is very prevalent in Nigeria today.

Do we have a good functioning government?
Can one get justice in Nigeria?
Is corruption and poverty rife in Nigeria?

We don't trust each other, we don't speak one language, we don't have a common religion, tradition or belief system, yet, simply because Britain and other resource thieves decided to force us together in one country and call us Nigeria just so they can perpetuate neocolonialism, you want the people in such an unholy union to be stupidly patriotic to such a forcefully created entity that is clearly malfunctioning with no cure to its problems in sight.

As a grown man, how do you face your children, if you have any, and tell them to be patriotic to a forcefully created entity called Nigeria where its political leaders are mostly greedy, stupid and selfish and practically steal and loot public resources when voted into power just so they can perpetuate their stay in power "forever".

Are you a beneficiary of corruption and a failed system that you can't see or refuse to see what is right in front of you?

Since you joined this forum, you have attracted nothing but hatred to yourself because of your blind support for someone who time has proven to be grossly incompetent and incapable of leading this dysfunctional country.

How do you want this contraption to get better if asslickism won't allow you call out incompetency for what it is?

Every economic indices used to measure progress and development is bleeding seriously under Buhari but you want Nigerians to be patriotic to your darling daddy whose incompetence, incapability and willingness to dine with the devils holding the country back plunged Nigeria into this age of darkness.

I won't be surprised if you are an illiterate or if you didn't go to any university. It's only illiterates and serious fanatics that behave the way you do on this forum. If you had any good education, you'd be able to call out the nepotistic, incompetent and incapable Buhari.

Nigeria will never work as long as people like you form the bulk of the population; illiterates, fanatics and grossly stupid people who hide behind the word "patriotism" to support nepotistic, corrupt, incompetent, incapable and equally stupid political leaders.

Shalom.