Kindling Revolution: How Niger Might Ignite Modern Anti-Colonial Resistance
Seismic shifts in West Africa: Niger's recent upheaval could ignite a new era of anti-colonial resistance, challenging decades of Western dominance and control
By Karim Bettache
A surge of self-determination is engulfing West Africa, a groundswell against the remnants of neo-colonial rule. A recent instance of this defiance was the overthrow of Niger's pro-Western leader by a military junta in July 2023. The new regime not only expelled French troops but also claimed national control over Niger's abundant natural resources.
This change in leadership is part of a wider series of military takeovers in the region, including nationalist uprisings in Burkina Faso and Mali, both former French colonies. France's historical influence still pervades their economies and political structures.
The CFA franc, a monetary relic of French colonial rule, is imposed on these nations, allowing France to control their fiscal policies. French corporations monopolize the extraction of gold, uranium, and other minerals, while the populace languishes in destitution.
Thus, the military officers who seized power acted on deep-seated anti-colonial sentiments. Surveys reveal that these coup governments enjoy robust public approval, with over 70% support. However, France and its Western allies denounce them as "undemocratic" (*yawn*) – ostensibly for their shifting alliances toward Russia.
In truth, the West fears the loss of its grip on its former African colonies. Consequently, the U.S. and France are attempting to oust the nationalist junta in Niger under the guise of the regional organization ECOWAS. Their goal is to reinstall Western-friendly leadership. However, this plot could ignite a broader regional conflict.
France's Stranglehold on its Former Colonies
Most of West Africa was subjugated by France in the 19th century. Despite gaining independence in the 1960s, these nations remain under France's extensive political and economic influence.
A key tool in maintaining this dominance is the CFA franc, a currency used by multiple West and Central African nations. The currency, created in 1945 by the French colonial government, is wholly controlled by France, which holds half of the foreign exchange reserves of CFA member states. This arrangement gives France ultimate power over their fiscal and monetary policies.
The CFA franc also artificially inflates the value of the euro relative to African economies, making imports more affordable for France while stifling African exports.
French corporations are the main beneficiaries of this system. Revenue from exports, such as gold and uranium, must be deposited into the French Treasury by France's former colonies. In return, France offers political and military support to allied African leaders.
This system bolsters loyal autocrats and suppresses genuine democracy. Whenever nationalist movements arise that threaten French interests, France has not hesitated to use military force to preserve its neocolonial dominance.
Nationalist Coups Challenge Western Dominance
In 2020, French neocolonial rule began to crumble with nationalist military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso. New regimes took power, purging the remnants of the old Western-friendly regimes. The public welcomed these coups, viewing the military leaders as patriots. Massive crowds gathered in support.
When France withdrew its forces from Mali, the troops retreated to neighboring Niger, considered France's "last resort partner." But this month, Niger also experienced a coup.
Colonel Assimi Goita now leads Mali, Master Sergeant Ibrahim Traore heads Burkina Faso, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani is the new leader of Niger. All three leaders have pledged to assert national sovereignty, gain control over natural resources, and break free from French influence. They are forging relationships with Russia to counterbalance Western powers.
The Reality of 'Democracy' in West Africa
France and its Western allies have labeled these coups as undemocratic, clamoring for new elections to restore civilian rule. This purported commitment to democracy is deeply hypocritical. The U.S. and France have sponsored coups across Africa for decades, toppling numerous nationalist leaders.
Western powers are notorious for manipulating African elections through bribery, threats, and sometimes blatant ballot-stuffing. Their "democratic" candidates often receive only a small fraction of the votes. The nationalist policies clearly represent the desires of most West Africans. Even in impoverished, exploited countries, the populace understands that their poverty is a deliberate result of unfair economic systems that favor the West.
Reclaiming Natural Resource Wealth
One major point of contention is the plundering of Africa's vast mineral riches. Western corporations profit immensely from the gold, oil, uranium, and other resources that should be used to develop African economies.
In 2021, Niger exported nearly $3 billion worth of gold. Yet 42% of Nigeriens live on less than $2 per day. This pattern is repeated across the region. So, where does all this gold end up? The answer lies with Western corporations, as well as a small African capitalist class that colludes with Western interests.
In Mali, the gold mining industry is dominated by foreign corporations, such as Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti. In Burkina Faso, gold mining companies, IAMGOLD and Endeavor Mining, hold significant stakes. These corporations take the lion's share of profits, leaving the countries impoverished.
The new leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have pledged to review mining contracts and ensure that the wealth of their nations benefits their people. They seek to break the neocolonial chains that have kept their countries impoverished and dependent.
The Threat of a Regional War
If France and the U.S. attempt to overthrow the nationalist governments and reinstall Western-friendly regimes, it could provoke a broader regional conflict. This could result in a catastrophic war that would destabilize the entire region.
This is not a new tactic. Western powers have a long history of instigating conflicts in Africa to maintain their dominance. The ongoing proxy war in Libya, the devastating civil war in Sierra Leone, and the brutal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo all bear the hallmarks of Western meddling.
If a war breaks out in West Africa, it will not be a struggle for democracy, but a battle over resources and control. It will be a fight for the independence and self-determination of the African people against the continuing neocolonial domination of the West.
Conclusion
The nationalist coups in West Africa represent a monumental struggle for autonomy, an assertion of the right of African nations to control their destinies and resources, free from Western domination.
The West's portrayal of these movements as undemocratic is a hypocritical attempt to maintain control over their former colonies and their resources. The real threat to democracy in West Africa comes not from nationalist military officers but from the neocolonial powers that have exploited and impoverished these nations for decades.
The battle unfolding in West Africa is not just about national sovereignty and control over natural resources. It is a struggle against a system that has kept Africa impoverished and dependent, a fight for a future where African nations are truly independent and their people can enjoy the wealth of their own land.