Why Africans hate France?
In July 2023, General Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew the government of President Bazoum of Niger on the grounds that he was weakening the army in alliance with France.
The president has been accused of conspiring with foreign governments against the United States’ military and any such attempt would lead to the riots he was supposed to prevent.
Economically, it is a uranium-rich country and produces seven percent of the world’s supply.
Despite this, the people of Niger are considered among the poorest people in the world, while the United States and France have established military bases in this country as a basis for the war against terrorism.
France has not recognized this military coup and plans to overthrow the new military government through continued pressure and intervention.
Niger’s military rulers have revoked the diplomatic immunity of the French ambassador and ordered police to expel him from the African country. In the latest message sent by Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Ambassador Sylvain Ette does not enjoy the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic staff of the embassy.
The document also states that diplomatic cards and visas of the ambassador’s family have been revoked.
The army has said in a recent statement that the visas of the ambassador and his family have been cancelled. The growing influence of Russia and China is giving the former imperial colonies of African countries a chance to rise from poverty and independence. But at this point, the African people have to find their own way forward because the imperialist and arrogant forces are only looking out for their own interests.
African people have to take the path of hard work and education to progress towards development. Niger’s new military rulers say the ambassador refused to meet General Tchiani, who says that the behavior of the French government is against the interests of Niger.
President Emmanuel Macron has said that France’s ambassador to Niger has been ordered to stay in the rebellion-hit African country, which could lead to further escalation of the conflict.
In early August, the military rulers scrapped several of Niger’s cooperation agreements with France to end the French military presence across the country and the resulting looting of the impoverished nation’s resources.
France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, claiming to be fighting the so-called war on terrorism.
Niger’s neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Mali have already expelled French troops, and now Niger has also ordered foreign troops to leave the country. The negative sentiments against France in Niger and other African countries are due to historical, political and social factors. The exploitation of resources, forced labor, imposition of French culture and language during the French colonial period on Niger are deep wounds left by colonialism.
Not only Niger, the hatred of the people of other African countries against France has increased while Russia and China continue to support them.
Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa. In 2021, President Mohamed Bazoum took office after winning the presidential election earlier in the year. Niger has experienced periods of political instability and military coups in its history, but in recent years it has made progress towards democratic governance.
The impression of French imperialism on the various governments of the French colonial country has been prominent and French interests have been dominant in the policies of Niger governments. Consequently, there has been a distance between the people and the governments.