The importance of the Sahel region cannot be overstated. Burkina Faso and Mali themselves represent the fourth and third largest gold producers in Africa, along with maintaining sizable deposits of copper and other rare earth minerals. The gold industry in Burkina Faso alone generates a minimum of $2 billion in profit annually—the majority of which goes to Canadian and Australian mining firms. Yet, 40% of Burkinabés live below the poverty line.

I like to highlight the astonishing levels of evil of Canadian resource companies whenever possible. I feel they fly under the international radar because of my country's unearned reputation for "niceness". Expect a lot of support in the Canadian business community for whatever violent actions the various imperial powers decide to take against those resource-rich African countries.