He and his right-hand man Ousmane Sonko have an anti-colonial stance and want to pull out of the CFA Franc.

France was recently expelled from Niger, and now there is a new blow coming.

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/4176177

> Kwame Ture: Marx did not 'invent' laws of socialism

>The [neo]imperialists don’t respect Nigerien sovereignty, just as they don’t respect Iraqi sovereignty. In 2020, Iraq’s Parliament voted to have all U.S. troops leave the country. They are still there in 2024. > >If the troops refuse to leave, the U.S. becomes an occupation force, illegal under international law. What part of “Get out!” don’t these Pentagon operatives understand? > >Historically, capitalism developed in Europe and later in the United States based on the rapid accumulation of wealth needed to finance industrialization and expansion by brutally kidnapping, enslaving and exploiting Africa’s people. Western capitalists have plundered the African continent for centuries, looting its land and precious resources and squeezing exorbitant wealth from its impoverished working class, including by paying starvation wages. > >Of course, in true arrogant, [neo]colonial fashion, [neo]imperialism insists its presence is welcome. Welcome? Why would any African country want this ugly, bloody history to continue on its soil? > >U.S. out of Africa! Get out and stay out!

>The Confederation for Democracy and Socialism, a coalition of nine popular parties, in a Feb. 2 statement released in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, wrote: “For the CDS member parties, postponing the elections is not only legally impossible but also politically inappropriate. There is no institutional crisis in the country, no interruption in the regular functioning of institutions that could justify such a postponement.” They demanded that Sall schedule the election for Feb. 25. > >A Feb. 24 demonstration supported this demand, according to El Salto, a left-wing Spanish newspaper: “‘We took to the streets to ask Macky Sall to call elections before April 2,’ explained Ana, 32 years old. She was taking part in a peaceful protest in favor of the party of the opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, imprisoned since June 2023, attended by several hundred people on February 24 in the center of Dakar.” > >More demonstrations in Dakar protested the election postponement in early March. The struggle over scheduling the election is really a struggle over letting the party in power, the Alliance for the Republic, rig the elections. > >Senegal is a member of ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, along with Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo. In its 50 years, ECOWAS has been the regional organization coordinating the economic development of its members.

>At the end of the 37th African Union (AU) summit, which took place the weekend of Feb. 17–18 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the organization’s member states pledged their “unbreakable, permanent and total commitment to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against the […] occupation and for the restoration of their inalienable rights,” including the right to self-determination, the return of refugees and the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem [al-Quds] as its capital. > >Another declaration highlights the need to put an end to the […] occupation, which undermines the foundations of the international legal order. The African countries renewed their call for an end to […] aggression against Gaza and expressed their deep dismay at the humanitarian and health catastrophe in that territory. Up to now, the genocidal war waged in Gaza by Tel Aviv has already claimed more than 100,000 victims, including all dead, wounded and missing. > >In the same vein, the AU summit called for removing Cuba from the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, a list drawn up unilaterally by the U.S. The pan-African organization condemned, for the fifteenth consecutive year, the illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade perpetrated by Washington against Havana, now for more than six decades. > >The African countries reaffirmed their support for the resolution that the United Nations General Assembly passes every year regarding removing the blockade of Cuba and deplored the measures implemented by the U.S. at the end of 2017, which reinforced this unilateral measure and extended its extraterritorial character.

>These military actions, which were portrayed in the U.S. and French media as “undemocratic,” had strong popular support. The first took place in Mali in 2020, the last in Niger in 2023. They all led to the expulsion of French troops and a reduction of U.S. intervention emanating from the CIA’s base in Niger. > >The joint statement, published on the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland of Niger webpage, read, “ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers and having betrayed its founding principles, has become a threat to member states and their peoples […] the organization has failed to assist our countries in the fight against terrorism and insecurity.” > >Col. Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson for Niger’s junta, reading from a statement in a televised address, said ECOWAS had turned away from “the ideals of its founders.” > >The three countries have formed a mutual defense pact and hired Russian advisors to supply the military technical aid that the French troops previously provided. > >It is still not clear what the outcome will be, but it is clear that the masses of the three countries are engaged and active.

Here is the message just to save you an extra click:

>Namibia rejects Germany’s Support of the Genocidal Intent of the Racist [neocolony] against Innocent Civilians in #Gaza > >On Namibian soil, #Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians died in the most inhumane and brutal conditions. The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil. Therefore, in light of Germany’s inability to draw lessons from its horrific history, President @hagegeingob expresses deep concern with the shocking decision communicated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany yesterday, 12 January 2024, in which it rejected the morally upright indictment brought forward by South Africa before the International Criminal Court that [neocolonialism] is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. > >Worryingly, ignoring the violent deaths of over 23 000 Palestinians in Gaza and various United Nations reports disturbingly highlighting the internal displacement of 85% of civilians in Gaza amid acute shortages of food and essential services, the German Government has chosen to defend in the International Criminal Court the genocidal and gruesome acts of the [neocolony] against innocent civilians in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. > >Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza. Various international organizations, such as Human Rights Watch have chillingly concluded that [Zionism’s régime] is committing war crimes in Gaza. > >President Geingob reiterates his call made on 31 December 2023, “No peace-loving human being can ignore the carnage waged against Palestinians in Gaza”. In that vein, President Geingob appeals to the German Government to reconsider its untimely decision to intervene as a third-party in defence and support of the genocidal acts of [neocolonialism] before the International Criminal Court.

>The ICJ has had a sordid history of either ruling on behalf of [neo]imperialist governments and their puppets […] against oppressed and/or sovereign governments, or to censor genuine complaints such as the one South Africa just filed. Even though the ICJ has not formally responded to the complaint to date, [Zionists] felt compelled to respond right away, falsely labeling it as being “antisemitic”. > >Two Palestinian resistance groups praised the South African complaint on Dec. 30 — Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — that were republished on the Resistance News Network.

ETA: South Africa puts [Zionists] on trial before the world

Book on African history and economies over various time periods. Includes many other books as recommended reading.

>Sezia: “My name is Sezia, I’m also with Samidoun New York, New Jersey. We’re on day 35 of this — I don’t even know what to call it. It’s not a war, it’s a genocide we’re seeing unfold before our eyes. We are in Cairo; we are an international delegation made up of folks from the U.S. and from Europe who have come to Cairo in an attempt to make it to the Rafah Crossing. There has been a call put out by both the Egyptian and Palestinian civil societies for anyone who can make it to come to Rafah, because the situation that is unfolding right in front of our eyes is getting more dire by the second. > >“The first convoy of Egyptian communities from Cairo just left this morning to travel to Rafah. Unfortunately, we were denied permission to go today, but we are hopeful that, in the coming days, we will be able to travel and make it to Rafah where we hope to put international pressure to keep the crossing open, so that as much aid as can possibly be let in, be let in, and also for folks to be getting medical attention. We are seeing videos of the situation on the ground, where there’s no fuel, there’s no electricity, hospitals cannot give people the care that they need during a time when bombs are being dropped continuously, and the [neocolony] and its imperial supporters are not letting up. > >“So, we are hopeful to go there and not only demand that the crossing be open for aid but it continues to stay open to ensure that we do not let a genocide take place and we are not complicit and implicated in the actions of our governments who are doing this in the name of the free people of the world.”

(Emphasis original.)

>The expulsion of [neo]imperialist missions has dealt French [neo]imperialism a historic setback, considering its vast economic interests in Mali and the rest of the Sahel region, located between the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the tropical regions of Central Africa. > >This Sahel includes Niger and Burkina Faso, where the current governments have also demanded the French military leave. In messages of Pan-African solidarity, both neighboring countries congratulated Mali on the liberation of Kidal.

>Water, food, fuel and medical supplies have been cut off, with only a trickle of aid trucks making it through the Rafah crossing. The healthcare sector has completely collapsed, either through direct […] bombing or from lack of medicine and electricity to treat patients. [Neocolonial] targeting of civilians includes destruction of more than 50% of homes in Gaza, nearly all bakeries, water treatment plants, schools, clinics, and other infrastructures for life. > >As Palestinians in Gaza teeter on the brink of life, without sustenance or shelter, we call for an immediate end to [the] barbaric bombing and invasion of Gaza. We call on the world to intervene in any and every capacity to end the ongoing genocidal attacks against a defenseless civilian society, which has been unrelentingly terrorized for 35 days. > >We urge all peoples and governments to act urgently to end this horror. There are hundreds of aid trucks currently parked in the desert waiting to enter the Rafah crossing. We demand they be allowed to reach Palestinians whose needs are dire and desperate. > >Stop [the] war on Gaza Now! > >Open the Rafah border Now!

>Nelson Mandela, speaking in the Palestinian Gaza Strip in 1999, explained: “The lesson of history is that for the masses of the people, the methods of political action which they use are determined by the oppressor himself. If the oppressor uses peaceful means, the oppressed would never resort to violence. It is when the oppressor — in addition to his repressive policies — uses violence, that the oppressed have no alternative but to retaliate by similar forms of action. > >“And, therefore, the pains, the blood that was spilled, and the responsibility for that lies squarely on the shoulders of the [oppressive] régime … Our men and women with vision choose peace rather than confrontation, except in cases where we cannot proceed, where we cannot move forward, then, if the only alternative is violence, we will use violence.” > >Africans across the continent will be rolling out solidarity actions in support of the Palestinian people and fellow peace-loving peoples are encouraged to join.

>The Central Organizing Committee of the Communist Party of Kenya expresses deep concern regarding the proposed deal between the USA and the Kenyan government. It is with great displeasure and utmost frustration that we are forced to witness Kenya allowing itself to be recruited into the [neo]imperialist activities of the United States, the Core Group and the United Nations. > >The reported plan of involving Kenyan police to carry out actions on behalf of the USA government in Haiti raises serious ethical and moral questions. In its efforts to endear itself to the systems of power that underpin Western hegemony, Kenya is providing legitimacy for a long-standing series of interventions into Haiti that seek to undermine the aspirations of the Haitian people. > >Kenya’s motive to send a small contingent of police officers to Haiti is not to solve the so-called problems of insecurity that beset Haiti. Just as it has been done in the past through recruitment of Caribbean and African countries, it is [meant] to prevent accusations of racism and the oppressive grip of Western foreign powers by having Third World nations give their support for the exploitation of Haiti.

>Recently, during the United Nations General Assembly, Burkina Faso’s Minister of State, Bassolma Bazie, denounced the fact that his country, like Mali and Niger, was involved in the Sahel “in a war dictated by imperialism” under the guise of “fighting terrorism.” He explained that the three countries, with common borders, have established a collective defense and mutual assistance pact, called the Alliance of Sahel States, “to take our destiny into our own hands.” > >Bazie emphasized that, “We say no to all those so-called friends who claim to want our supposed well-being or who threaten us with war in order to impose their friendship.” The Burkinabe leader also expressed the opinion that ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations should act for the benefit of the peoples and not be structures controlled by a “global minority.”

>In a very under-reported letter to the United Nations Security Council, Aboubacar Daddo, the United Nations Representative stationed in Niamey reported a long series of egregious violations of international law committed by France against the new government in Niger. > >In the letter, the ECOWAS sanctions against Niger are denounced as being against regional and international law – without any authorization sought from the Security Council; the French ambassador’s presence in Niamey in defiance of the Nigerien request for him to leave is seen as similarly problematic while France’s refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the cancellation of the military pact linking it to Bazoum is in itself illegitimate, according to this United Nations expert. > >Worse still, the letter goes on to document that on Aug. 9, French troops released terrorists whose leaders were then convened in a meeting with a view to attack Nigerien positions in the three border regions. Not to speak of repeatedly violated Nigerien airspace by French aircraft. But when the new Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, writes to the Secretary General of the UN to inform him that he will be representing his country at the Assembly General opening in New York this month, António Guterres responds that “You are not invited.”

>According to reports from Libya, the dams had no maintenance during the last 12 years, there was no warning system in place, there were no popular organizations to provide emergency service and during the first week there was no organized rescue operation, either from the two contesting Libyan régimes or from foreign organizations.

>France, in particular, has used the CFA franc to keep West and Central African nations undeveloped — and from ports to mineral deals has forced African countries into deeply unequal economic relationships. Despite their boats of “aid” in 2021, “aid” to Niger amounted to $1.37 a week per Nigerien; only 7 cents were spent on education and 15 cents on supporting health care services. > >Appealing to “democracy,” blaming Russia and various other excuses are born out of desperation as [neo]imperialism loses its grip on the African continent. The military forces of the NATO countries are no longer able to enforce a deeply unequal order. Africans understand what’s going on, and won’t take it any longer. French neocolonialism is the most odious manifestation of a broader set of policies backed by the G7 nations to keep Africa in chains; the uprising against it is the first step in removing those shackles.

>WAPO therefore strongly and unambiguously condemns the current warmongering attitude of ECOWAS and demands that the military bases of all [neo]imperialist and neo-conservative forces in West Africa be withdrawn. > >We call on our member organizations to close ranks and fight against any unjust [neo]imperialist war that might be imposed on our region by the folly of our bankrupt rulers. > >We firmly believe that the U.S., France, the U.K. and NATO will be the current beneficiaries of any war in Niger. It is clear that the dignity of our peoples and the sovereignty of Niger will be the losers.

>The governments of Burkina Faso and Mali issued a joint statement, asserting that any attempt at military intervention to remove Tchiani would be taken as a declaration of war against both their countries. “The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, One: have expressed their fraternal solidarity of the people of Mali and Burkina Faso with their brothers in Niger who have decided of their own accord to take their destiny in hand and to assume their sovereignty. Two: Denounce the persistence of the regional organizations to apply sanctions that aggravate the suffering of the population and imperil the spirit of Pan-Africanism. Three: Refuse to apply these illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the Nigerien people and authorities, Four: Any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali”, the statement read. (africanews.com, Aug. 1)

>The coup d’état was immediately condemned by the Economic Community of West African States, by the African Union, and by the European Union. Both France and the United States — which have military bases in Niger — said that they were watching the situation closely. A tussle between the Army — which claimed to be pro-Bazoum — and the presidential guard threatened the capital, but it soon fizzled out. > >On July 27, General Abdou Sidikou Issa of the army released a statement saying that he would accept the situation to “avoid a deadly confrontation between the different forces which … could cause a bloodbath.” > >Brigadier General Tchiani went on television on July 28 to announce that he was the new president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil National pour la Sauvegarde de la Patrie or CNSP). > >The coup in Niger follows similar coups in Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), Burkina Faso (January and September 2022) and Guinea (September 2021). Each of these coups was led by military officers angered by the presence of French and U.S. troops and by the permanent economic crises inflicted on their countries.

>This summit was the latest step taken by the continent’s countries to fulfill the commitment to “silence the weapons in Africa,” a goal that is still far from being achieved. > >But the African states — while demanding greater and better representation in multilateral organizations such as the U.N. Security Council, and demanding the reform of institutions at the service of the great “Western” powers, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank — are increasingly intervening in the search for peace not only in Africa but also in other parts of the world. > >An example of this is the African mission that went to Kiev and Moscow, seeking to contribute to the solution of the conflict in Ukraine. This conflict threatens to escalate into a war of even greater proportions and already affects Africa by blocking the export of Russian grain and fertilizers to countries on the continent.

>After a military coup in May 2021 that enjoyed widespread popular support, France began to withdraw all its troops from Mali — nearly 8,000 at the height of its involvement. By August 2022 they were all withdrawn. > >[…] > >The new cooperative agreements allow French banking representatives to be brought back. Removing the deposit requirement takes pressure off the French banks to offer a fair interest rate on the deposits. French control is less obvious but still exists. > >According to Ndongo Samba Sylla, a Senegalese development economist at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s West Africa Office in Dakar, Senegal, “France is facing more and more pressure in Africa, militarily speaking, because people oppose its interventions, and as we see in Sénégal, economically speaking as well.”

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https://www.gofundme.com/f/sinethemba-women-marikana-south-africa-workshop