Caribbean Support for Burkina Faso Rally Highlights Global Solidarity

On April 30, 2025, a rally saw participants from Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago, marching to express solidarity with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

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The rally was part of a broader wave of demonstrations on April 30, 2025, supporting Burkina Faso’s military junta under Traoré’s leadership. Participants from Caribbean nations joined to show unity with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, countries that have faced political upheaval and sought to distance themselves from Western influence. The phrase “Africa is rising” in the caption reflected a sentiment of pan-African solidarity.

The Caribbean support for Burkina Faso rally occurred amid heightened regional tensions in West Africa. On April 30, 2025, thousands rallied in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, to back Traoré’s junta following an alleged coup attempt and criticism from U.S. officials, as reported by AP News. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, having experienced military coups in recent years (2022 for Burkina Faso, 2021 for Mali, and 2023 for Niger), formed the Alliance of Sahel States in 2023 to address security and sovereignty concerns. These nations have increasingly rejected Western partnerships, expelling French and U.S. forces while strengthening ties with Russia.

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The rally in London was one of several global demonstrations on the same day, as noted in a trending summary titled “Thousands rallied in Burkina Faso and globally on April 30, 2025, supporting Traoré’s junta amid coup claims and U.S. criticism, highlighting regional tensions.” Other protests occurred in Ghana and South Africa, millions in Burkina Faso protesting against foreign interference, particularly from France.

The involvement of Caribbean nations in the rally reflects historical and cultural ties with Africa, rooted in the African diaspora. The Transatlantic Slave Trade forcibly brought around 12 million Africans to the Americas, including the Caribbean, between the 16th and 19th centuries. This shared history has fostered a sense of solidarity, often expressed through pan-African movements.

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Caribbean communities in the UK, where the rally took place, have a long history of activism. The same Wikipedia entry highlights how African-Caribbean Britons faced discrimination in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to protests and cultural movements like the Notting Hill Carnival, which began as a response to racial tensions in 1958. This historical context may explain the Caribbean diaspora’s participation in the London rally supporting Burkina Faso.