The colonization that never ended

The current unrest in West Africa is pretty much the usual struggle between colonizers and the colonized, but taken a bit further.

On July 26, 2023, agreeing with popular demand made by an angry population, the military forces in Niger did a coup against Mohamed Bazoum, one more corrupt president serving colonial interests and enriching himself. They listened to the many angry people fed up with the presence of the colonial forces still bleeding the country dry. General Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of the military junta created the «National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland».

This is one more coup in a series of recent anti-colonial coups in West Africa.

Niger, a fairly rich country when it comes to resources, like most African countries, has remained one of the poorest countries in the world due to ongoing colonial exploitation.

You see, the colonial times never truly ended. They just transitioned into a seemingly more benevolent form. The exploitation continued unabated.

Niger has been forced to sell their uranium production to France for a pittance of the market price. They weren’t allowed to sell to others without explicit permission from France.

France and the United States had a considerable presence of military troops and «advisors» there.

In the days after the removal of the president, France, United States and the usual bunch of colonists mobilized their local resources. ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), their willing tool acted on their demand. The Nigerian president threatened Niger with invasion and international sanctions on July 30 if Bazoum wasn’t reinstated within a week. The week passed without positive response from the new Niger government. ECOWAS activated its standing forces. Burkina Faso and Mali, however announced they would enter a given war on Niger’s side, and entered a defense pact with Niger.

Western countries, led by United States and France activated its colonial muscles. ECOWAS implemented sanctions on a wide range of economic and commercial activities, among them the freezing of Niger state enterprises and bonds worth at least $51 billion.

Nigerien pro-coup demonstrators walked to the French embassy and shouted «down with France, long live Putin», and other anti-western slogans, and set the building on fire. The new government’s military forces stopped the protests from going further.

On August third, the junta announced the end of its military deals with France.

The junta ended the curfew that had been in effect since the coup on August fourth.

Chad refused to take part in an invasion.

The Nigerian senate voted to deny the President Tinubi’s request of a military invasion.

Victoria Nuland, at the time acting deputy secretary of state, met with the junta, but the meeting ended without results. Anthony Blinken repeated his usual crap about «western democracy and its values». The standoff grew with several more countries choosing sides. Cape Verde declared themselves more or less neutral. Other countries didn’t want a military intervention, but negotiations. The efforts from the United States and EU can clearly be said to be far from neutral. They wanted the former president and the old order of colonialism reinstated.

ECOWAS kept issuing threats of invasion, but nothing happened.

The junta and the forces supporting it started a militia program to boost the country’s defenses. Burkina Faso and Malia sent war planes to support the junta.

On august 23, the junta declared their intentions of evicting French and US troops from Niger. French president Macron held a typical colonial speech where he claimed that France’s military operations in West Africa «were good for the region». He was pretty much ridiculed and ignored.

On August 27, pro-junta protesters demanded French retreat from the country.

Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali entered security pact, the Alliance of Sahel States September 16. Any attack on either would result in the activation of the pact. On September 24, President Macron declared that France would pull out its troops from Niger «before the end of 2023». The first withdrawn troops arrived in Chad on October 19.

An unknown diplomat is supposed to have claimed on October 27 that «no one is opting for military intervention anymore».

The situation remains tense, but calm.

There is no evidence that the Russian Wagner Group has ever been involved.

The junta and its actions enjoy great support in the country. Very little says otherwise.

The sanctions have led to more general suffering, as always.

As stated, this is a typical case of neocolonialism, with all its signs. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso remain steadfast against foreign involvement. They are still in the process of gaining complete control of its minerals and resources, but getting there. ECOWAS military invasion seems to be permanently off.

The Alliance of Sahel States is still sanctioned by both African and western countries, the usual suspects.

As stated, Africa isn’t poor because a lack of resources, but because of ongoing colonial exploitation.

Quite a bit more has happened, but mostly details. This is the gist of it.

I wrote most of this on November 9.

Something is happening in Africa. Several African leaders have recently stepped forward and stated that «United States and Europe have nothing to teach them about democracy».

Note: Niger = Nigerien, Nigeria = Nigerian.

Btw, the top link on Google was from the US department of state…

You have to dig far deeper than that to get to the truth.