Here We Go with Colonialism 2.0
Africa's Fight for Energy Sovereignty
We invented the term “post-colonial” too soon. It implies that we’ve moved on, and that bygones are bygones.
But every day, we Africans still fight for independence.
For centuries, European colonists came to Africa and pushed their ideologies onto our people. Their control extended to our governments, laws, economics, religion—you name it. The whole time, they reaped the benefits of our land and labor, while saying, “This is for your own good.”
They’re still doing it today. Only, the “for your own good” ideology they’re pushing now is climate activism.
Europeans—who have already reaped the massive economic and social benefits of fossil fuels—are telling Africans:
“You can’t produce oil and gas because it no longer fits our current needs.”
What’s more colonial than that?
Think only as I think. Do only as I do. My priorities are now your priorities.
These activists see all the benefits, like the great PR that Emmanuel Macron just got for his $100 billion climate aid pledge, while Africans have to suffer the negative consequences. (Not to mention living in countries that heavily used fossil fuels for hundreds of years.)
One of the projects they want to shut down is the high-profile East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. With this project, Uganda estimates the value of its oil and gas assets at $116 billion, and about 20 African countries are expected to become serious oil producers in the coming decades.
If African fossil fuel production is stopped, these African countries—and their people—will never be given their chance at progress.
And let’s be clear: the total cost to African economies would be much higher than any "loss and damage" compensation received by African governments. Macron’s $100 billion “achievement” would be a drop in the bucket compared to the opportunity cost of shutting down African oil and gas and its associated future economic development.
Africa’s oil and gas reserves are worth about $12 trillion at current prices (and possibly more). That value also doesn’t include the impact that reliable and affordable energy sources will have on economic growth, which could represent a significant multiple of this figure.
They want us to give up more than ten trillion dollars of wealth—not to mention a better quality of life for millions of people—just so we can continue to take paltry handouts.
We’re supposed to sacrifice energy production for African people that’s 120X more valuable than their aid.
We’re also supposed to see them as the good guys.
Who in their right mind would make that deal?
Decisions about Africa’s path to progress shouldn’t be made for us or dictated to us.
—Magatte Wade
Meanwhile, China and India continue to exploit their natural resources, including coal, to achieve the economic growth and prosperity that their people deserve. Since they’re independent powers, Europe can’t force them to stop.
Africa remains the poorest and most dependent region in the world. And because most African nations depend on the developed world for their finances, our leaders continue to bow to the white man to line their pockets.
We are being forced to pay the consequences of a climate scenario that’s almost impossible to achieve.
This is colonialism, plain and simple. Europe tells us how we should think and act, as if they’re a doting father who “knows best.” They insist we have to listen to them, bow down to their wishes, and accept their aid instead of producing our own wealth.
Why? Because, deep down, they still want us to rely on them. They still see Africa as a poor, needy child that needs European guidance.
Of course, if an African expresses the climate alarmist narrative, they are celebrated. But if an African expresses the opinion that Africans should have the right to develop oil and gas, crickets (or we are seen as the enemy). They have no respect for African voices per se; they only want African voices who repeat the party line.
Climate colonialism is condescending. It’s exploitative. And it’s just plain offensive.
Decisions about Africa’s path to progress shouldn’t be made for us. They shouldn’t be dictated to us.
We Africans must make our own decisions about the path to progress. We must stop listening to climate colonialists and start taking the actions that are truly in our own best interest.
Stand with me and say NO to Colonialism 2.0.
What a powerful women bringing forward, ideas and concepts, that we just don’t seem to understand in other places in the world
Well said.