Mali Lawmaker Jailed: Another Sign of France's Fading Grip
📰 THE STORY: The BBC reports that Malian lawmaker Mamadou Hawa Gassama has been sentenced to two years in prison in Ivory Coast for defaming President Alassane Ouattara, whom Gassama described as a 'tyrant' and 'enemy of Mali.' 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara, a former IMF deputy managing director, ascended to power in 2011 after a
civil war that saw French military intervention against Laurent Gbagbo. This intervention was widely seen as upholding French interests in a key former colony, demonstrating the persistent shadow of 'Francafrique' – France's continued political, economic, and military influence over its former African colonies. Mali, meanwhile, has recently undergone military coups in 2020 and 2021, driven by
popular discontent with the previous pro-French governments and their inability to tackle jihadist insurgencies, leading to a pivot away from France and towards new partners like Russia. The insult 'enemy of Mali' by Gassama reflects Mali's perception of Ouattara as a loyalist to French hegemonic designs, standing against the new Pan-Africanist wave sweeping the Sahel. Double Standard: The West,
and corporate media outlets like the BBC, frequently decry 'authoritarianism' and lack of 'free speech' when it pertains to leaders they oppose, particularly those challenging Western influence. Yet, when an elected lawmaker is jailed in a key Western ally like Ivory Coast for merely criticizing its president, the framing is often one of a simple legal matter. Had a journalist or opposition figure