Since it took control over the country in a July 2023 coup, Niger’s military junta has been cutting ties with France and forging stronger ones with fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali. One example of this shift is Tuesday's rebranding of a major avenue in Niamey after Djibo Bakary – a key figure in Niger’s struggle for independence.
https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20241016-niger-renames-its-historic-places-to-sever-ties-with-french-colonial-past
Posted by Naurgul
4 comments
A waste of time on theatrics that isn’t going to fix their economic and insurgent problems. Hating on the French when they aren’t around anymore will only work so long before these leaders find themselves through a coup themselves.
“It makes no sense for our streets to continue to bear the names of former colonists… and so justice is being done by renaming these streets, by naming them after our country’s heroes,” he said.
I mean that’s fair
Well…
At least I didn’t know those place names to begin with, so this doesn’t affect me too much (which is of course all that matters, right? Lol!).
Good on them for taking it back and removing the bootprint of France stomping on their face, even if only symbolically.
That’s good stuff!
One day, when I actually go there (5 or 6 lifetimes from now, maybe longer), I’ll be sure to use the proper names and not those of the colonial oppressors.
Good luck and godspeed Niger.
Very fair. Whatever I think about the Junta in power in Niamey and the perspicacity of their policies, Paris just renamed Avenue Bugeaud, Bugeaud being the butcher who conquered Algeria, into Avenue Hubert Germain, Germain being the last Compagnon de la Libération (honoured free France soldiers and resistance operatives from WWII), and it would be rather hypocritical for me to be happy about that and not about Niger celebrating decolonization and their independence.