Niger hosts pivotal conference on Sahel’s anti-imperialist struggle Bold stand against France’s grip

From November 19 to 21, delegates from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the US gathered in Niamey, Niger, for the "Conference in Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel," organized by the Pan Africanism Today Secretariat (PAT) and the West Africa People’s Organization (WAPO).

The conference, titled “For Anti-Imperialist Unity, Peace, and Friendship between Peoples,” focuses on the growing resistance against French neo-colonialism in the Sahel region, Caliber.Az reports citing Peoples Dispatch.

Over the past few years, military coups in Mali (2020-2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023) have ousted regimes perceived as subservient to France. These coups were driven by popular protests against France's continued influence in the region, particularly its military presence. The military governments in these countries responded to public demands by expelling French troops, despite France’s initial resistance, particularly in Niger. The French-backed president, Mohamed Bazoum, was ousted in a coup in July 2023, following mass protests against his pro-French policies. Abdullahi Salifou, a former civil servant, emphasized the widespread discontent with Bazoum, saying, “His election in 2021 was a joke… 103% voter turnout with 99% for Bazoum,” reflecting the perception that the election was fraudulent.

The anti-France movement grew after Bazoum invited French troops into Niger following their expulsion from Mali. Salifou recounted the mood of the people after the coup, stating, “We didn’t care who had taken over. We were happy that Bazoum’s regime was ousted and went to the streets early at 7 in the morning in pouring rain to celebrate.” Following the coup, protesters organized under the banner of the Convergence for the Nations of Sahel (COSNAS), and tensions with French forces escalated. “We marched on the city streets to the French embassy. Tear gas and shots were fired from inside, injuring some protesters,” Salifou recalled.

Despite violent crackdowns, including the storming of the French embassy, France eventually agreed to withdraw its troops by late September 2023. Aisha Maiga, known as “Mama Resistance” for her support of the protests, described her role in the protests: “When I went there with my family, I saw that the youth were staying put day and night with little food… I fed them hundreds of sandwiches for two months.”

This conference highlights the ongoing solidarity between countries resisting neo-colonialism, with mass support from the people of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The movement is also supported by popular organizations in neighbouring Benin and Ghana. In Benin, Philippe Noudjenoume, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Benin, explained how the Patriotic Front (PF) united progressive forces to prevent war: “We brought together a spectrum of progressive forces – including the Pan-African Emergencies, the Student Union of Benin, labour unions and peasants organizations – to form the Patriotic Front.”

The Nigerian parliament also voted against the war, showing broad regional opposition to French actions. Kwesi Pratt, General Secretary of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, pointed to this vote as significant, saying, “The Nigerian parliament is by no means left-wing. But its vote against the war is a testimony to how we can mobilize across the political spectrum against such misadventures.”

However, the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) remain under threat from potential external interventions, including NATO involvement. Despite these challenges, the AES countries have seen significant progress, with Mali becoming debt-free and Niger emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Kwesi Pratt noted, “Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, is now regarded among the fastest-growing economies in Africa.”

The conference serves as both a celebration of anti-colonial successes and a call for continued unity and resistance. Noudjenoume emphasized the importance of these movements, stating, “We hope to eventually form not only a confederation but a single federation that will erase the colonial borders drawn to separate the people of the same community with a common native language and history into separate states.”

Pan-African leaders discussed how these anti-colonial efforts serve as a model for other nations facing similar pressures. “It is clear that not all the countries in the region will follow the same path,” said Pratt, “but what matters is the outcome of liberation from neo-colonialism, be it through ‘so-called democratic elections, mass uprisings, or military coups.’” This shared struggle offers a vision for a united Africa, free from neo-colonial control.

By Tamilla Hasanova