Mohamed Bazoum
The second struggle for African independence has begun in the Sahel

“Many people outside think we are living under a military dictatorship. But the delegates who have come to attend the conference are seeing that we are free” and exerting independence like never before, said a Nigerien leader, addressing the conference in Niamey in solidarity with the people of Sahel.

Niger resists in the crosshairs of sanctions and climate catastrophe

Aboubakar Alassane of the West Africa Peoples Organization (WAPO) explains how Nigeriens are enduring the consequences of unprecedented floods that devastated their economy already crippled by sanctions.

Why has Niger declared US military presence in its territory illegal?

Only months after forcing its former colonizer France to withdraw its troops, Niger, West Africa’s largest country, has said the presence of US troops is illegal. This could be a major blow to the US military’s power-projection capacity in the region

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger withdraw from ECOWAS

Land area under ECOWAS, which is condemned by West Africa’s popular movements as an agent of French imperialism, has been reduced to less than half after their withdrawal

“People make the revolution:” charting an anti-imperialist path in West Africa

Achy Ekissi of the Communist Party of Côte d’Ivoire talks about the coup in Niger, the political changes in the Sahel and the struggle against imperialism. He also talks about the role of the left in these processes

Niger’s government accuses France of mobilizing for war after discussing troop withdrawal

The commander of French forces in the Sahel has discussed disengagement from Niger, yet Macron has refused to withdraw troops, whose continued presence in Niger was deemed ‘illegal’

Niger and the Sahel are pushing back against insecurity, exploitation, and France

We take a look at the developments in Niger and the Sahel region a month after the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. The developments in Niger are reflective of a larger trend which has mounted a resistance to insecurity, exploitation, and French presence

Niger Anti-French protests Mass protests against French troops intensify in Niger as the deadline for their withdrawal approaches

France refuses to withdraw its ambassador and troops from Niger, and reiterates its threat of supporting military invasion by ECOWAS, while the regional bloc itself is “determined to bend backwards to accommodate diplomatic efforts”   

African Union will not back ECOWAS intervention in Niger

Niger’s popular military government has been consolidating domestic and regional support. Meanwhile, ECOWAS is beset by disunity and domestic opposition after threatening military intervention to restore the ousted Mohamed Bazoum with the backing of France and US 

What’s happening in Niger is far from a typical coup

The recent wave of coups in West Africa must be understood in the context of widespread discontent with the ruling elites and their collaboration with imperialism

Causes and consequences of military takeover in Niger

Ghanaian journalist Esther Yiadom reflects on the different social, economic, and geopolitical motivations behind the coup in Niger

Nigeria’s Senate refuses to support ECOWAS plan for West-backed military intervention

A day after ECOWAS chiefs of staffs finalized plans for a military intervention, Nigeria’s Senate refused to support President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to deploy soldiers. Tinubu is the current chair of ECOWAS. Meanwhile, Niger has seen multiple demonstrations in support of the coup that overthrew Mohamed Bazoum