Many African countries are making more positive efforts to eliminate the remnants from colonial days and reject dominationism.

Recently, the Algerian ambassador to the United Nations censured France for its past crimes at an international meeting.

Exposing the fact that France had committed 17 nuclear tests in Algeria in the 1960s, he said that people suffering from congenital diseases were found around the test site, but the former has neither identified the exact test site nor provided necessary information. The French authorities have conducted a programme for eliminating pollution in French Polynesia, but, on the other hand, they refuse to accept the proposal concerning the removal of pollution in Algeria, he noted, adding that it can never be justified.

France occupied Algeria in the 1830s and enforced a harsh colonial rule over it.

Hundreds of thousands of Algerians have so far suffered pains due to the consequences of the nuclear test committed by France in Algeria during its colonial rule. Though the matter of eradicating the aftereffects of the damage has been persistently raised, France has turned its eyes away from it. The Algerian ambassador's remarks can be claimed to be a reflection of the consistent efforts of his government to eliminate the remnants of colonial rule.

Earlier, the South African president demanded that Western countries make reparations for having plundered Africa in the colonial era. In the past centuries the Western powers had enslaved innumerable Africans and stolen a huge amount of wealth and lots of cultural relics from Africa while giving them inhuman treatment, he noted. Their colonial rule was so cruel and exploitation so systematic that African countries are still suffering from constant economic losses, pains and debt burden, he said, adding that Western countries should definitely make reparations for their past crimes.

Mauritius made a stand to do its best to put an end to the occupation of the Chagos Archipelago by the UK. The British government announced last April that it would hold off passing the bill that allows the transfer of dominion over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. In this regard, the Mauritian minister of foreign affairs, regional integration and international trade said that his country has waged a struggle to regain the archipelago on the basis of international law over the past several decades and it is just the work to realize justice. His country would regain the Chagos Archipelago by mobilizing all diplomatic and legal means, he noted.

Ghana, Zimbabwe and Madagascar have also taken a determined stand against the arrogant behaviour of Western countries.

Such moves, which have emerged as a trend in several African countries, are not a matter which can be viewed simply as an effort to remove the aftereffects of colonial rule.

They are a manifestation of their strong desire to reject the dominationist arbitrariness of the West and to be definitely on the right track of achieving independent development.

The African Union has set itself a goal of making Africa an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent which is propelled by the continental peoples themselves and represents a powerful force in the world arena” and is confidently opening up the road of independent development by its united efforts even under the complicated international political situation.

Last year, the African Development Bank, turning its attention to the fact that the economic growth rate of Africa rose to 3.7% in 2024, estimated that the continent would be the second rapidly developing region in the world to Asia.

After the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the inter-regional trade volume is reportedly expected to grow from US$192.2 billion in 2023 to US$520 billion in 2030.

Many countries in the continent increase investments in technical innovations and talent development and actively push ahead with the establishment of research funds and technology areas.

An expert at Dar es Salaam University in Tanzania said that Africa has a shared history in which it put an end to colonial oppression and achieved independent development and that it is ready to greet a turning point in carving out its destiny.

Analysts comment that Africa is trying hard to reappraise its own development course and achieve political, economic and cultural independence free from the mode of imitating the Western development model.

With cooperation for the development and prosperity of the continent gaining impetus, the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union took place at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February.

The meeting held a serious discussion about the urgent issues arising in reality such as peace, political stability, economic development, regional integration, the enhancement of the status of Africa in the world and efforts to strengthen its unity as well as the issue of sustainable water management in the African continent. It marked another important occasion in the course of accelerating its independent development.