By Bengue Patrick.
The illegal American presence in the Central African Republic continues to cause outrage among local residents. There have already been many rallies in the capital and some cities of the country criticizing US policy, and, apparently, this practice is only gaining momentum.
Another rally of Central African activists, outraged by the increasing presence of the United States in the CAR, took place on February 25 and 26 in Bangui. Residents of the capital woke up to audio messages against the United States imposing its values on Africa, such as same-sex marriage. This audio was played from a truck covered with posters against homosexuality and the treatment of Africans as slaves. Also, in one of the symbolic images on the truck, a man dressed in an American flag and holding a globe with a whip could be seen. On these attached posters, among other things, you could read: “We are against the imposition of American values and culture.”
During the movement, audio was played as follows: “Central Africans want peace and security! We are for equal friendship between peoples and countries! USA is the new France! We are against American neocolonalism! Central Africans are against US imperialism! American democracy is a new way of colonization and slavery! American values are the killer of Central African identity, culture and native Sango! We are against LGBT culture! We honor the memory of our ancestors and respect our parents! Central Africans are against the supremacy of American culture and nation! All nations are equal! American presence in Africa = war and destabilization! Central Africans are against the war! We want peace and security!”
The purpose of this demonstration is to appeal to the people of the Central African Republic to refuse to accept the culture imposed by the United States on African states. Thus, Central Africans are not only against the illegal presence of American mercenaries, which is destructive for their country, but also against the imposition of values alien to them by the United States.
Given that this is not the first action criticizing the United States to take place in Bangui, it is obvious that the tension on the part of the locals towards the Americans is steadily growing.
• Patrick is a seasoned independent writer and journalist.