The Niger’s coup: Ramifications and Consequences.
Channel: RADIO UBUMWE
Date: 2023-08-12

The origins of the Sahel’s insecurity with the jihadists started with the destruction of Libya. Who is behind them could be another topic.


The responsibility of NATO in the Lybian and then African tragedy which unfolded thereafter is never highlighted by the Western media. Nothing is said about more than 150 billion $ Kadhafi held in Western financial institutions which today appear untraceable on the one hand.


On the other hand, France (and its Niger’s uranium) produce a quarter of French electricity. After being expelled from Mali and Burkina Faso, French contingents went to Niger. 


Are we reenacting the French Indochine era, where french presence was also obliged to leave southern east Asia countries when nationalists didn’t want their presence? Probably.


The removal of the pro-western president in Niger who was only elected 2 years ago is an extension of what happened in Mali, Guinee Conankry and Burkinafaso. He wasn’t apparently doing much in the interest of the nationals. He served instead the West.


Before the current trend of military coups, we have cases where France had managed to have its men in power easily. 


Ivory Coast case with Ouattara supported by France against Laurent Gbagbo because the latter was going against french interests in the country.

More recently in Tchad where France supported the son of Idriss Deby to be the president.


Ramifications


When Muammar Kaddafi was killed by NATO, his country Lybia destroyed, it entered into chaos. Many among Africans thought of the end of the soverein and dignity spirit on the continent.


When Robert Mugabe died of old age, the same thoughts spread

among the conscious Africans. But they were wrong for being pessimistic.


Luckily all these years the African youth had been scrutinising the political scenery looking for opportunities to stand up for the real independence (economic and political) this time, things that their forefathers couldn’t achieve in the 60s.


What has been happening since 3 years ago in West Africa, starting with Mali, then Guinee Conakry followed by Burkinafaso, and now Niger, is a sign of times. As the voice of current panafricanists has been advocating for sovereignity and dignity through people like Kemi Seba, Natalie Yamb and others, this is our time. Let us not let it pass.


Concretely, what are the revendications of that African youth working with their military to go against the neocolonialism which prevailed in Africa after the independence until today, 60 years after and continues?


1) foreign military presence, particularly French and American (Africom);


2) plundering of african resources while working with neo imperialists to leave African in persistent appalling poverty


3) paternalist relations between Africa and its ex-colonialists.


4) sovereignity and dignity for africans making them able to decide about their future themselves without the interference of foreigners.


5) persistent impoverisment of populations through a multitude of schemes concocted by the West, among these 

the international financial institutions, 

lack of governments policies aimed at veritably improving people’s lives but widely supported by the West; 

a multitude of other policies instead appearing to make them poorer (weak education systems, land grabbing, internal discrimination among society components, etc)


Consequences


The same way the Arab Spring spread within Northen Africa within a short period of time, the West African Awakening might touch several countries of the Sahel region and even further down in Central, Eastern and Southern parts of the continent. In those different areas, there are governments which are puppets of the West. 


It allows dictatorships when they are aligned with its interests (Rwanda and Uganda, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville)

It pushes for democracy when it’s convenient as well (DRC and Burundi)


Though it seems uncertain where the next military coup will occur, what is sure is that the African youth is ready for shaking up the tables where Africa and the West’s relations stood for decades.


Conclusion


What next?

The reactions (regional and western) have been condemnations. But those condemning should read the significance of what is happening and learn from it.

A fundamental change of relations between the West and Africa is long overdue.

The panafricanist African youth has swore not to stop until that radical change occurs. Let’s all join our efforts to make history happen on the African continent in the least tragic circumstances. We need to discourage anybody, any institution be it African or Western who would want to bring war in our borders.