ITS TIME FOR AFRICA

In a quiet but historic move, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have launched a joint regional bank aimed at reclaiming economic control from decades of foreign oversight. The announcement, made in Niamey, marks a major step away from the CFA franc and France’s lingering financial influence over the region.

Led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Colonel Assimi Goïta, and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the three governments say the bank will prioritize local industries, agriculture, and infrastructure, with reserves kept in Africa and policies set without external approval.

For years, these countries relied on a currency tied to European central banks, limiting their ability to fund their own development. With the new institution, African economists and engineers are being brought home, small businesses are gaining access to credit, and youth are being trained to run systems previously controlled from abroad.

The bank isn’t just a financial tool. It’s a political message—one that says sovereignty must include economic independence. No flags changed, no borders moved, but power quietly shifted back to African hands.