Since immigrating to the United States in 1995, each opportunity I’ve had to return to Nigeria has meant reconnecting with my family, friends, and my cultural roots. It’s a way for me to maintain a strong link with my origins. However, this year’s journey back to my homeland carries a deeper emotional weight.
On July 26, President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger was placed under house arrest by the Nigerien Presidential Guards, who claimed he was a puppet of France. This coup d’état marks the fifth one since Niger gained independence from France and the first since 2010.
Unfortunately, this military coup took place just days after my departure, leaving me greatly concerned for the safety and future of my fellow Nigeriens. The prevailing instability highlights the urgency for France, the United States, and other external stakeholders to reassess their approach towards Niger and the broader West African region.
Niger possesses rich cultural heritage and abundant natural resources, yet it grapples with widespread poverty. Our nation’s soil is abundant in uranium, gold, petroleum, and other valuable resources, yet it is the people of Niger who bear the heavy burden of destitution. Despite being a major producer of uranium, we cannot utilize this resource to generate our own electricity and instead rely on Nigeria for power. In 2021, the United Nations ranked Niger as the world’s poorest country.
This stark divide is not only unjust but also undermines our efforts towards forging an independent and dignified path forward. The historical echoes, particularly the lasting effects of colonization in West Africa, add an additional layer of complexity to our challenges.
France and the United States, wielding significant global influence, have maintained a complex relationship with our region. While we acknowledge their roles on the world stage, we must also scrutinize the consequences of their actions.
As highlighted by Reuters in late July, France currently has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops stationed in Niger, while the U.S. has two military bases and 1,100 troops in the country. Imagine the feeling of seeing armed foreign troops on American soil. Although Niger gained independence from France in 1960, like many African countries, Niger remains economically controlled by our former colonizer.
In the aftermath of the coup, France has withdrawn its humanitarian aid. Furthermore, France is utilizing its influence to persuade the Economic Community of West African States to send troops to Niger to reinstate President Bazoum. Nigeria has cut off electricity to 70% of the Nigerien population. Various West African nations have taken contrasting stances on the coup.
The exploitation of our resources and the incitement of aggression from neighboring African countries serve as clear illustrations of how external powers can contribute to instability. These actions not only hinder our quest for self-sufficiency but also escalate tensions within West Africa.
Publicly, the United States has had little to say about the coup besides expressing concern for President Bazoum’s safety. While I understand that the U.S. has made significant military investments in Niger, the current situation is not the appropriate time or place for external influences.
It is crucial for the United States, France, and other African countries to recognize that military interventions have not proven effective in resolving global conflicts. It is wiser to let diplomacy take its course and allow Nigeriens and Africans to find their own solutions. Fostering diplomacy and cooperation among African nations, rather than aggression, is vital for regional stability and prosperity. Moving forward necessitates respecting our sovereignty, supporting our democratic processes, and acknowledging the Nigerien people’s capacity to confront their own challenges. We must trust Nigeriens and Africans to address our own issues.
The coup in Niger serves as a stark reminder that as Nigeriens, we must reclaim our own narrative and forge a path free from historical burdens, immune to external manipulations. Our natural resources should serve to improve the lives of Nigeriens instead of perpetuating exploitation. West Africa has lost so much to its colonizers – diamonds, gold, oil, uranium, and, most importantly, our people. It is now time for the United States, France, and all of Europe to mend the harm they have inflicted upon West Africa. The first step involves allowing us to determine our own destiny.
West Africans must come together in solidarity, utilizing our shared history and collective strength to carve out a path toward autonomy, stability, and prosperity – a path that truly allows Niger to shine on its terms.
My father served as a Nigerien Presidential Guard for President Diori Hamani, the first democratically elected president after French rule. If my father were alive today, I believe he would feel disappointed to see how little has changed in Niger since our days as a French colony. As the Ivorian song “David Contre Goliath” once conveyed to France, “The international community is yours, the United Nations is yours, the African Union is yours, the information on the internet is yours, but Côte d’Ivoire is ours.” I am here to remind France and my adopted country, the United States, that “Niger is ours.”
Yacouba Sangaré, a teacher in the Schenectady City School District and the founder and director of Hoops4Kids.
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