https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250317/a-new-era-former-colonies-redefining-their-relationships-with-colonizers-expert-says-1071130647.html
A New Era: Former African Colonies Redefining Their Relationships With Colonizers, Expert Says
A New Era: Former African Colonies Redefining Their Relationships With Colonizers, Expert Says
Sputnik Africa
On Monday, Rwanda's government cut off diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing it of making "pitiful attempts to sustain its neocolonial delusions," according... 17.03.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-03-17T18:15+0100
2025-03-17T18:15+0100
2025-03-18T16:40+0100
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The recent diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and Belgium highlight a broader transformation in how African nations engage with former colonial powers. For decades, relationships between Africa and the West have been shaped by historical ties, often maintaining a dynamic where Western countries held disproportionate influence.However, as Dr. Charles Tolit Atiya, a freelance researcher in geopolitics and security in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, Uganda, explained to Sputnik Africa, this is changing.Post-colonial Africa has long been tied to trade-driven relationships with former colonizers. Now, with globalization and the emergence of new economic powers like China, Brazil, and India, African nations have more options, the researcher noted. These rising powers offer alternative partnerships, reducing Africa’s dependence on its historical ties with Europe.Ultimately, as Dr. Atiya points out, former colonial powers must recognize that the era of unilateral dominance is over.
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africa insight, rwanda, belgium, europe, east africa, colonialism, neocolonialism, history, trade
africa insight, rwanda, belgium, europe, east africa, colonialism, neocolonialism, history, trade
A New Era: Former African Colonies Redefining Their Relationships With Colonizers, Expert Says
18:15 17.03.2025 (Updated: 16:40 18.03.2025) Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
On Monday, Rwanda's government cut off diplomatic ties with Belgium, accusing it of making "pitiful attempts to sustain its neocolonial delusions," according to the Rwandan Foreign Ministry. All Belgian diplomats were given 48 hours to depart the country.
The recent diplomatic tensions between
Rwanda and Belgium highlight a broader transformation in how African nations engage with former colonial powers. For decades, relationships between Africa and the West have been shaped by historical ties, often maintaining a dynamic where Western countries held disproportionate influence.
However, as
Dr. Charles Tolit Atiya, a freelance researcher in geopolitics and security in the Great Lakes region and the
Horn of Africa, Uganda, explained to
Sputnik Africa, this is changing.
"You find that there is a shift… Rwanda, Mali, Burkina Faso, and all these other countries, are beginning to realize, ‘Hey, wait a minute. This relationship needs to be reviewed,’ And in many ways, both political, economic, military […]," he said.
Post-colonial Africa has long been tied to trade-driven relationships with former colonizers. Now, with globalization and the emergence of new economic powers like China, Brazil, and India, African nations have more options, the researcher noted. These rising powers offer alternative partnerships, reducing Africa’s dependence on its historical ties with
Europe.Ultimately, as Dr. Atiya points out, former colonial powers must recognize that the era of unilateral dominance is over.
"The colonizer or the former colonizer needs to know it's not going to [do] business as usual. […] The former colonizer should know that he's no longer welcome in the old times," Atiya said.
