Malcolm X on Self-Defence

On 11 October 1963, Malcolm X was interviewed at the University of California, Berkeley. When questioned about his stance on self-defence, his remarks emphasised the need for African people to stick together to protect ourselves, as no one else will. A quick look around the African world today reveals that he was right.

Today, we see West African countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger teaming up to defend one another against Western imperialist forces as well as to grow the worldwide pan-African movement. Together, they form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Nevertheless, most African countries remain relatively divided due to colonial borders. Western Europe and the Western European diaspora in the United States and Canada have the world's strongest mutual defence alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). NATO has 32 members spanning from North America to Eastern Europe and non-NATO allies in Africa, South America and beyond. Whenever a country threatens a NATO member, NATO members rush to support.

However, in Africa, when the US bombs countries like Somalia or when t*rrorist attacks happen in northern Nigeria, it is every country for itself. The AES represents an exception to this rule, but they do not have as much support as they need. Shouldn't the entire African continent rush to support Mali's battle against t*rrorism or defend Mozambique from similar growing threats? And what about the struggles of our African brothers and sisters in the diaspora? Shouldn't the African continent support Haiti's struggle against bourgeoisie-backed gang violence and foreign military occupation in the same way Western Europe comes to the side of Canada and the US?

Let us know if you think Malcolm X's point remains relevant in 2024.