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| Republic of the Niger Jamhuriyar Nijar | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 | |
| Capital and largest city | Niamey |
| Official languages | French |
| Government | Military junta |
• President | Abdourahamane Tchiani |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,267,000 km² |
| Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 25,396,840 |
Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa bordered by Nigeria, Chad, Libya, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Benin. In 1980, it relied on uranium for more than 70% of its export revenue.[1] It also has large reserves of gold and oil, but more than 40% of its population lives in extreme poverty.[2]
History
Independence
In 1957, Djibo Bakary of the Mouvement Socialiste Africain was elected to head a Nigerien government, but was overthrown and exiled by the French in 1958. In 1960 Niger received full independence from France but the socialist and pan-Africanist movement was then suppressed by regimes whose leaders had been handpicked by the French.[3]
2010 coup
Salifou Mody led a coup against President Mamadou Tandja in February 2010. Mahamadou Issoufou came to power in 2011 as a pro-Western leader. During Issoufou's rule, the USA built the world's largest drone base in Agadez, and France garrisoned Irlit on behalf of the uranium company Orano.[4]
2023 coup
On 26 July 2023, Abdourahamane Tchiani led a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, who was a corrupt French puppet. The EU and other imperialist organizations condemned the coup. Two days later, Niger released the names of the ten officers leading the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.[4]
On behalf of the USA and France, ECOWAS is threatening to invade Niger, but Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali have rejected these threats. On 6 August, 30,000 people rallied in support of the new government.[5]
In the months following the coup, the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, refused to leave the country despite pressure from the new Nigerien government because France did not recognize Tchiani's authority, causing a diplomatic crisis.[6] In late September, the ambassador was given the order to return by French President Macron after the disposed Bazoum gave permission. The ambassador had returned to Paris by September 27th.[7]
On September 16 2023, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali formed a collective defense pact called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), in which an attack on one of the countries is regarded as an attack on the other members.[8]
Western occupation
France
Through neo-colonialism France has remained in control of many of its former colonies including Niger. At independence France imposed the CFA Franc on the country, a currency tied to France's own currency allowing France to control Niger's currency and monetary policy. Use of the CFA Franc ensures that French goods can be exported without any trade barriers to the former French colonies, whilst raw materials, such as uranium, are sent back to France. Another stipulation of using the CFA Franc is that they have to deposit 50% of their foreign assets in the French Treasury, allowing France even more control over a supposedly independent country.[3]
US
The USA has one of its largest drone bases, Air Base 201, in Niger. The base cost $110 million to build. Roughly 1,000 U.S. soldiers are occupying the country.[2]
References
- ↑ Vijay Prashad (2008). The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World: 'Caracas' (p. 182). [PDF] The New Press. ISBN 9781595583420 [LG]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ben Norton (2023-08-05). "US/France threaten intervention in resource-rich Niger: Fears of war in West Africa" Geopolitical Economy Report. Archived from the original on 2023-08-07.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Nigerien coup spearheads a popular revolution" (2023-09). Lalkar. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vijay Prashad, Kambale Musavuli (2023-08-01). "Niger Is the Fourth Country in the Sahel to Experience an Anti-Western Coup" Independent Media Institute. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ Kayla Marie (2023-08-11). "Niger’s new government defies imperialist-backed ECOWAS war threats" Liberation News. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ↑ Wedaeli Chibelushi (2023-08-28). "Niger coup: France defies ultimatum for ambassador to leave Niamey" BBC. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
- ↑ "France's former envoy to Niger returns to Paris after weeks of tension" (2023-09-27). Africa News. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
- ↑ "Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact" (2023-09-16). Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2023-09-30.