Niger seeks to reframe colonial history

Niger, which has transitioned from being a French colony to openly rejecting French influence, is now striving to reshape the narrative of its colonial history with France.

While Niger acknowledges that its colonial past cannot be erased, it believes that the way this history is told can influence how future generations perceive it, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

As a result, Mamadou Djibo, the General Rapporteur of the committee responsible for drafting the General History of Niger, told Sputnik that the present will eventually become part of history, emphasizing that the actions taken today are crucial for future generations.

"The colonial period in Niger's history is just one chapter," Djibo explained. "We are at the heart of continental Africa's history. So, why not update it? We don't want our children to continue being ignorant of their own history."

Regarding the project to revise historical narratives in Niger, the General Rapporteur remarked, "A slave's perception of their situation cannot be the same as that of their master." According to Britannica, the French conquest of Niger began in 1899, encountering significant resistance from the local population. 

This resistance was particularly pronounced during the colonial campaign led by French commanders Paul Voulet and Charles-Paul-Louis Chanoine, also known as Julien Chanoine. The French were unable to establish a permanent civilian government in Niger until 1922, following a series of significant events, including the devastating drought and famine of 1913–1915 and the Tuareg revolt of 1916–1917. By this time, the Tuareg’s power and influence had significantly waned. Niger would not achieve independence until August 3, 1960.

By Naila Huseynova