🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Banlo Kambou's "Mentalities and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Struggles of the AES" launched in Ouagadougou
via Lefaso.net3 min read
Banlo Kambou has released a political essay titled "Mentalities and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Struggles of the AES," which aims to stimulate discussion on fundamental issues within the Alliance of Sahel States AES and across Africa. Launched on May 6, 2026, in Ouagadougou by Mercury Editions, the work seeks to raise awareness for genuine development in Africa. The book's central premise is that underdevelopment is not solely a matter of resources or infrastructure but also of mental frameworks. Kambou argues that for sub-Saharan Africa to develop, it must overcome a colonial psychological legacy that has fostered inferiority complexes and dependence on external entities. He advocates for reintegrating cultural values to promote productivity, discipline, and innovation. The book highlights the "struggles of the AES," portraying it as a paradigm shift beyond a mere military alliance, embodying a desire to regain control over natural resources and national security without foreign intervention. The work is structured into five main parts, comprising ten chapters. Chapter I, "Is despair justified," calls for mobilizing consciousness to transform despair into fighting energy. Chapter II, "African democracy and Afrocracy," explains that universal suffrage alone is insufficient to legitimize democracy if basic needs like security, food, and dignity are not met. Chapter III, "Health context," explores the fragile health systems in AES countries, linking health to develop
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