“We Decide For Ourselves”

Military Independence

Since the coup d’état on July 26, 2023, Niger has been freeing itself from its dependence on France, the former colonial power, as well as from other Western powers. Following the coup, it forced the total withdrawal of all French troops, later the closure of the USA’s military drone-launching base in the north of the country, not far from Agadez – which was the largest and most significant base of its kind on the African continent – and finally, the termination of the Bundeswehr’s presence in Niger. The last of the Bundeswehr soldiers landed August 30, of this year at Wunstorf airbase near Hannover.[1] The military government has successfully thwarted all of France’s attempts to reinstate the overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, who had cooperated closely and loyally with Paris, but also with Washington and Berlin. Niger has withstood threats of invasion as well as harsh sanctions by the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – both had been coordinated with France.[2] Niger developed close ties with Mali and Burkina Faso. Together the three countries comprise the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), striving for genuine independence and relying on military and systematic cooperation with Russia.[3]

Economic Independence

Parallel to military independence from the Western powers, the transitional government formed by the leaders of the Nigerien coup is also striving for the country’s economic independence. The core element in this struggle is to gain better control over Nigerian uranium deposits near Arlit to the north of Agadez. Niamey is in the process of annulling the mining rights of the French state-owned Orano. Orano, which, for decades, has had exclusive exploitation rights to the uranium deposits, provides 20 percent of France’s and 25 percent of the EU’s uranium imports. Beginning October 31, Orano has temporarily halted its Niger mining operations.[4] At the same time, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has restarted an uranium mining project in Niger. The Niamey government is negotiating with Turkish authorities on nuclear cooperation.[5] According to reports, Russia is also negotiating with Niger on possible closer cooperation in uranium mining.[6] Russia is also negotiating with the AES countries, Niger included, to provide communications satellites, permitting mobil communications coverage throughout the vast expances of the Sahel and the Sahara.[7] For the time being, Niamey has reached an agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink for that purpose.[8]

Countering Insurgency and the DGSE

At the same time, Niger is facing insurgency in the north of the country, as well as all sorts of intrigues by the French intelligence service DGSE (Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure). From his exile in Paris, where he reportedly flies regularly to the USA, the Tuareg leader Rhissa Ag Boula, a veteran of the Niger’s 1990s Tuareg revolts, had founded in September a militia – the Forces armées libres (FAL) – that operates in the north of the country. In the meantime, the FAL has allied with other Tuareg militias. The Paris-based Jeune Afrique magazine reports that the number of DGSE agents sent to Benin and Nigeria last year, when the two countries were planning to invade Niger to reinstate the overthrown president Bazoum, has since been reduced.[9] However, DGSE agents are still stationed in Benin, particularly in the border regions with Niger. There are regular reports from Niger about repeated overflights of surveillance drones – presumably French – originating in Benin. In September, it was reported in Niamey that an attempted DGSE-supported coup had just been thwarted. November 13, a French ex-legionare and former empoloyee of a private security company –  classified as a DGSE agent –was arrested in this context.[10]

“No longer Taking Orders from Paris”

The Nigerien transitional government’s efforts to shake off France’s once dominant influence, as well as that of other Western powers, and transform the current merely formal independence into genuine political and economic independence, continues to enjoy broad support in the Nigierien population. This is similar in the case of the two other AES countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also struggling for their genuine independence. In addition, the attempts to permanently shake off French influence, is strongly supported by the populations of other West African countries, such as Benin and Togo. Last week, hundreds of delagates from numerous civil society organizations, trade unions and explicitly political organizations attended a solidarity conference in Niamey, to show their support for the Nigierien government and the other two AES governments warding off all sorts of subversion and coup attempts. Today, we’re “no longer taking orders from Paris,” declared one delegate from a Nigerien organization, “we decide for ourselves.” However, it was also noted that France’s domination had not been broken by civilian forces, but by the military, because social movements were unable to gain strength under the neocolonial conditions of the three Sahel countries. Now, however, social movements urgently need to take the initiative to prevent the military’s rule from becoming entrenched.[11]

The EU’s Highhandedness

The EU is now interfering in this dynamic development – clearly instrumentalizing aid for victims of the floods that have been ravaging the country since June. To date, more than 300 deaths have been registered. Well over a million have been forced to leave their homes. Niger's government explains that the EU ambassador Salvador Pinto da Franca began to unilaterally distribute €1.3 million in aid “ignoring transparency principles bypassing collaboration with Nigerien authorities.”[12] Da Franca had already been warned in October that Niger is a sovereign nation in which the activities of foreign states and alliance of states, such as the EU, are only allowed in coordination with the accord of the nation’s authorities.[13] Da Franca has consistently ignored Niamey’s warnings. It was announced on the weekend that Brussels had recalled its ambassador from Niamey. It is obviously unwilling to properly coordinate its activities in Niger with that country’s political authorities. Sunday, the Nigerien government, for its part, has followed suit and declared it is no longer prepared to cooperate with da Franca, asking that Brussels appoint a new ambassador “as soon as possible.” If the EU – maintaining its neo-colonial customs – should refuse, it could lose one of its last remaining levers of influence in Niamey.

[1] Deutschland schließt seinen Militärstützpunkt im Niger. bundeswehr.de 30.08.2024.

[2] See Gewalt und Sanktionen, Tödliche Sanktionen and Die ignorierte Hungerblockade.

[3] See Abzug aus dem Sahel and Auf dem Weg zur Eigenständigkeit (III).

[4] Orano halts uranium output at Niger’s Arlit mine amid financial strain. rfi.fr 24.10.2024.

[5] Salimata Koné, Marie Toulemonde: L’uranium nigérien entre dans l’ère post-Orano. jeuneafrique.com 25.10.2024.

[6] Niger embraces Russia for uranium production leaving France out in the cold. rfi.fr 13.11.2024.

[7] Paul Lorgerie: Grâce à la Russie, l’Alliance des États du Sahel aura-t-elle bientôt la tête dans les étoiles ? jeuneafrique.com 11.10.2024.

[8] Niger Signs Deal With Starlink To Boost Internet Coverage. barrons.com 30.10.2024.

[9] Mathieu Olivier: La DGSE française dans la tourmente après les accusations du Niger. jeuneafrique.com 06.11.2024.

[10] Damien Glez: Entre la France et le Niger, la guerre des nerfs et des mots continue. jeuneafrique.com 18.11.2024.

[11] Jörg Kronauer: Progressives in Niamey. junge Welt 23.11.2024.

[12] EU recalls its ambassador from Niger as relations deteriorate. africanews.com 23.11.2024.

[13] Niger Says Requests Replacement Of EU Ambassador Amid Aid Row. barrons.com 24.11.2024.