Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari’s arrival to power in May last year was promoted as a decisive factor in defeating Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria.
Buhari is an ex-general, a Muslim and a Northerner,
An estimated of 17,000 people have been killed and 2.6 million displaced in Nigeria and across the region, since Buhari took office.
There is no evidence to suggest that Boko Haram is about to be defeated.
Its capacity to wage terror attacks across West African countries has been maintained. Today, the neocolonial armies of Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger have joined forces in their attempt to crush Boko Haram.
The Boko Haram phenomenon is a manifestation of this crisis and the failure of neocolonialism that was put in place to patch up the cracks of imperialism, which came under a heavy African revolutionary assault in the sixties.
The African petty bourgeoisie is unable to realise that.
The sharp fall of oil price in Nigeria compounds the crisis of neocolonialism because the petty bourgeoisie has even more limited resources at its disposal.
Neocolonialism does not work
Neocolonialism does not work in South Africa, in Zimbabwe, Senegal, Algeria, the U.S., or anywhere.
Any social force who dares to fight neocolonial has a chance to win something.
This is something Boko Haram clearly understands.
Imperialism requires the existence and respect of colonial borders in order to securethe looting of Africa’s resources and labor.
Boko Haram is not a revolutionary organization, but their attacks on imperialist borders deepen the crisis of imperialism.
The goal of jihadists to build a caliphate is widely known in the world.
The goal of the African petty bourgeoisie to serve foreign imperialism white power and resist change from the impoverished masses of African workers and peasants is less publicised.
The corrupted Nigerian neocolonial army is hated by the people because of its murderous violence against the people. Naj.com claims that the actions of the Nigerian army favour Boko Haram’s recruitment.
Nigeria’s security forces have waged an anti–austerity campaign, characterised by massacres, extra-judicial killings and arrests without trial.
This onslaught has alienated many civilians and driven communities into the arms of Boko Haram.
This repression has influenced Boko Haram recruitment. Boko Haram expanded from an estimated 4000 members in 2009 to 6000-8000 in 2014 (Naj.com).
For the Nigerian army and the Nigerian ruling class, the people are the enemy, so the war against Boko Haram is part of the war against the people.
This does not mean that Boko Haram loves the people.
Boko Haram, too, considers the people dispensable, whom they can destroy or kill at will.
Boko Haram is another petty bourgeois solution for the African petty bourgeoisie
Islam and the Arab petty bourgeoisie offer an alternative to many Africans of Muslim faith who are disenchanted or dissatisfied with white power’s support for neocolonial looting and domination of Nigeria.
Boko Haram was funded by Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in 2002.
One thing that catches the eye of anyone who watches Boko Haram‘s videos is their wealth of new 4×4 vehicles and sophisticated weaponry.
Where do they get these? In Africa, only the African petty bourgeoisie has access to wealth.
The Independent, the London based newspaper, affirms that Boko Haram got its money from a variety of sources, including Al Qaida, kidnapping, al Shabaab, etc.
The spread of Boko Haram in the region has forced neocolonial leaders of, Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon to pledge closer cooperation to fight against Boko Haram.
Many African people have been outraged by the world’s solidarity with the 17 dead of Charlie hebdo in France.
Six African presidents travelled to France, while the world was silent as 2000 Africans were murdered and burned to death, in Baga, northern Nigerian by Boko Haram militants.
France demanded world solidarity for their 17 dead, but remained silent regarding 2000 dead Africans.
No African president travelled to Nigeria for this massacre.
The president of Nigeria was not bothered either.
The solution is to build the independent organization of the African working class, with access to all African people around the world.
The solution is to fight for genuine independence, social justice and unity—organized under the leadership of the African Socialist International.
Build the organization of African workers in Nigeria.
Build the African Socialist International
