Columns/Opinions/Letters

Silent Coups: How Odious Pacts Weaponize Illegal Debts and Strangulating Treaties Against Postcolonial Sovereignty The phenomenon of illegal national debts—financial obligations incurred through corrupt practices, coercive loan agreements, or violations of sovereignty—has emerged as a critical mechanism of economic subjugation, particularly in postcolonial states. The Sahel region, encompassing nations such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, epitomizes the catastrophic consequences of such debts, which have systematically undermined development, exacerbated poverty, and destabilized political systems. Historically, these debts often originate from odious contracts imposed during colonial rule or post-independence eras, where external powers and multilateral institutions exploited fragile governance structures to…