Niger scraps French place names to honor native heroes

International Courant

AFP

Djibo Bakary, the primary mayor of Niamey, was a key determine within the battle for independence that occurred in 1960, when Charles de Gaulle was President of France

Niger’s army leaders have renamed streets and monuments after French names within the newest transfer to chop ties with the nation’s former colonial energy.

Avenue Charles de Gaulle within the capital Niamey is now referred to as Avenue Djibo Bakary, in honor of the Nigerien politician who performed a key position within the West African nation’s battle for independence.

“Most of our avenues, boulevards and streets bear names that merely recall the struggling and harassment that our individuals needed to endure throughout the ordeal of colonization,” mentioned junta spokesman Main-Colonel Abdramane Amadou.

Niger’s relationship with France and different Western allies deteriorated after President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a coup final 12 months.

Like its military-led neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has been courting Russia for army assist as a jihadist insurgency threatens the area – and the three international locations have joined collectively to type what they name the Alliance of Sahel States.

Beneath Bazoum, France had stationed greater than 1,500 troops in Niger to assist battle jihadist teams linked to each al-Qaeda and Islamic State. All of them withdrew on the finish of final 12 months.

A ceremony was held in Niamey on Tuesday to mark the a number of identify modifications, together with the avenue as soon as named after a French basic, in addition to a struggle memorial constructed to commemorate those that died within the First and Second World Wars.

It’s now a tribute to all civilian and army victims of colonization to this present day.

Charles de Gaulle was a soldier and politician who fashioned a French authorities in exile throughout World Conflict II when Nazi German forces overran France. He turned chief of the Free French Forces.

Many Africans within the French colonies volunteered to battle for the Free French Forces, though many have been additionally drafted.

About 400,000 got here from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, and greater than 70,000 from Senegal and different sub-Saharan colonies. They took half within the Allied landings in southern France in August 1944, which have been essential in driving the Nazis out of the realm.

In truth, as a part of a reappraisal of the colonial previous, France started renaming a few of its streets and squares after African heroes of World Conflict II 4 years in the past.

AFP

The picture of the charismatic pan-Africanist and anti-imperialist Thomas Sankara replaces that of a French explorer

One other spot in Niamey that has acquired a facelift is a stone monument with a carving of French colonial officer and explorer Parfait-Louis Monteil. He had traveled from Senegal by means of West Africa in 1890 and wrote a guide about his two-year journey.

His likeness has now been changed by a plaque with a portrait of Burkina Faso’s iconic revolutionary chief Thomas Sankara, a charismatic Pan-Africanist who was assassinated in 1987.

Throughout his time in energy, he pursued an anti-imperialist overseas coverage that challenged the dominance of France, which retained huge affect in a lot of its former colonies in Africa.

One other necessary identify change is Niamey’s Place de La Francophonie, named after the group of French-speaking states.

As an alternative, it will likely be referred to as Place de l’Alliance des Etats du Sahel, after the nation’s new confederation with Burkina Faso and Mali.

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Niger scraps French place names to honor native heroes

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