A new wind of change in Africa

The army has taken over in Niger, a land-locked, poverty-stricken part of what was once “French West Africa” that gained formal independence from its colonial masters in 1960. But the French maintained a hold over their former territory using pliant civilian and military leaders to maintain their grip on the country’s gold and uranium exports which largely went to France. Or did do until the army led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani kicked out the old gang last week.

In the capital, Niamey, people took to the streets in support of the new leadership and call for the closure of the French air base and withdrawal of all French troops from the country. Many were carrying Russian flags during the protests calling on people to block Niamey airport, where the French are based, until all French military personnel leave the country. 

General Tchiani  has suspended the export of uranium and gold to France while warning against foreign meddling and military intervention against the coup. He called on "...the people of Niger as a whole and their unity to defeat all those who want to inflict unspeakable suffering on our hard-working populations and destabilise our country,". But the intervention has already begun as the imperialists on both sides of the Atlantic work to restore the old regime politicians that long did their bidding in Niger. 

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the revolt as "completely illegitimate and profoundly dangerous for the Nigeriens, Niger and the whole region". And in Washington Joe Biden called for the release of deposed president Muhammed Bazoum and the restoration of what he called “democracy” in the country. “I call for President Bazoum and his family to be immediately released, and for the preservation of Niger’s hard-earned democracy,” Biden said.

“In this critical moment, the United States stands with the people of Niger to honour our decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values and support for civilian-led governance. The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders. They have expressed their will through free and fair elections- and that must be respected” Biden said.

The pro-Western Economic Community of West Africa, known as Ecowas and led by Nigeria, is already threatening military intervention as a “last resort” should the coup leaders fail to back down. But few, if any, will want to send in their troops without substantial Western backing.

Though the stage is set for an imperialist inspired civil war the days when the imperialists and their hirelings simply could do what they liked in Africa are long gone.  

The future of Niger is not the plaything of Western politicians and big energy and mining corporations that have mercilessly looted and plundered the country for over a hundred years. Biden and Macron don’t speak for the Nigeriens whose voice was stifled by the bogus values of imperialism and the sham ‘democracy’ of the West. Their voice is in the barracks and on the streets of Niger who want the French out and genuine independence and the right to choose their own way of life without imperialist interference.

General Tchiani and his National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland may or may not succeed. But that can only be the choice of the people of Niger.