Africans have often thought of colonialism as a nineteenth and twentieth centuries phenomenon that emanated from the West to Africa. Neocolonialism is often thought to be the remnant of colonial politics that is manifested in Africa, like the fact that France still has a very large military force stationed in many of it former African colonies to this day and dictate the nature of politics at the highest level there. There is however a new colonialist emerging today and that colonialist is coming from the Middle East. This new colonialist is the so-called Islamic State or ISIS which is spreading its control in many parts of Africa today, especially in North and Central Africa. It has bases in Libya, and, by pledging allegiance to the group, Boko Haram has extended the reach of ISIS in Central Africa.
Understanding the activities of ISIS in terms of colonialism is more helpful because it brings out the pernicious power play and exploitation that is characteristic of the colonial enterprise. ISIS speaks in religious terms and attempts to shroud its rapacity in holiness. This is not unlike Western colonial enterprises that were also couch in the religious language of spreading the Christian understanding of salvation. Just like colonialists enlisted Africans to do their bidding in dehumanizing their own people, so too is ISIS enlisting the help of Africans from North to Central Africa to do their bidding. ISIS has clearly declared its intention of establishing a caliphate, which means colonizing Africa as well. With groups like Boko Haram, this will easily come to pass, moving Africans from the shadow of Western colonialism to the that of the so-called Islamic State. It appears that there will always be people in Africa who are willing to hand us over to every new colonialist. It behooves us to be vigilant in order not to fall into the cruel hands of our various new colonial conquerors and suitors. Perhaps the place to start is to ask ourselves how we are enlisted to work against our own interests.
Understanding the activities of ISIS in terms of colonialism is more helpful because it brings out the pernicious power play and exploitation that is characteristic of the colonial enterprise. ISIS speaks in religious terms and attempts to shroud its rapacity in holiness. This is not unlike Western colonial enterprises that were also couch in the religious language of spreading the Christian understanding of salvation. Just like colonialists enlisted Africans to do their bidding in dehumanizing their own people, so too is ISIS enlisting the help of Africans from North to Central Africa to do their bidding. ISIS has clearly declared its intention of establishing a caliphate, which means colonizing Africa as well. With groups like Boko Haram, this will easily come to pass, moving Africans from the shadow of Western colonialism to the that of the so-called Islamic State. It appears that there will always be people in Africa who are willing to hand us over to every new colonialist. It behooves us to be vigilant in order not to fall into the cruel hands of our various new colonial conquerors and suitors. Perhaps the place to start is to ask ourselves how we are enlisted to work against our own interests.
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