Niger’s military junta has taken a bold stance, expressing their frustration with external powers and their intent to take control of their own country. They have given a 72-hour ultimatum for the head of the United Nations diplomatic mission in Niger to leave. The reason behind this move is their accusation that the U.N. excluded Niger from its General Assembly meeting held last month in New York, where world leaders gathered. Notably, the military officers who came to power in a coup in July were not represented at this global assembly.
In a statement dated October 10, Niger’s foreign ministry pointed fingers at the U.N., alleging that the organization used “underhanded maneuvers,” possibly influenced by France, to prevent Niger from participating fully in the U.N. General Assembly and subsequent meetings of U.N. agencies in Vienna and Riyadh. Consequently, the government has ordered the U.N. resident coordinator, Louise Aubin, to leave the country.
This move echoes a pattern seen in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, where militaries that came to power became increasingly hostile towards the United Nations and France, their former colonial ruler. Notably, Niger had already expelled French troops and the French ambassador from its territory.
In a similar vein, Burkina Faso expelled its U.N. resident coordinator the previous year, and Mali terminated a U.N. peacekeeping mission that had been stationed there for a decade. These three nations are grappling with a rising Islamist insurgency that has posed significant security challenges, which prompted military coups with promises to improve security.
Accusations have accompanied these coups, suggesting that France exerts excessive influence in its former colonies, leading to a shift in their strategic partnerships, including a growing alignment with Russia. France, however, has denied allegations of undue influence.
This situation reflects a larger issue of neo-colonialism in many African countries, where they gained independence but continue to grapple with various forms of external influence and dependence. The actions of the junta in Niger underline the complex dynamics at play in post-colonial African nations.
