A Pan-Africanist movement is emerging in Britain, in response to the anti-imperialist coup in Niger. This follows the coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea Conakry that overthrew regimes which enabled French exploitation of natural resources in the Sahel region of Africa. The movement comes at a critical time. France is already escalating military intervention Niger. On 9 August 2023 a French A400M military aircraft took off from N’Djamena (Chad) and entered stealth mode to breach Niger’s airspace.
This movement will be protesting outside the French embassy on 10th August 2023 and issued the following press release.
France out of Africa – no to military intervention
African diaspora communities will say “France out of Africa – no to military intervention” at French embassy protest this Thursday
African diaspora communities from Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo and supporters will protest against France’s military and “imperialist” intervention in Africa this Thursday 10th August (details below).
The protest is organised by DARN-U.K. (Diaspora Association of Niger Republic Nationals in the United Kingdom), PASTEF (The African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity) London and other Pan-Africanist groups.
These communities oppose illegal military intervention to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger. They also support the movement in the Sahel which seeks to liberate the African region from “French exploitation” and are calling for a “free Africa.”
Former French colonies in the Sahel region are rich in natural resources, particularly gold. Niger and Mali are rich in uranium and gold, Burkina Faso gold, zinc and copper, Guinea Conakry and Senegal gold and oil. France profited from these resources prior to the coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and now Niger, while large sections of the population lived in poverty.
In Senegal, PASTEF leader Ousmane Sonko was recently hospitalised due to a hunger strike after he was arrested and imprisoned last week and the PASTEF party was dissolved, in an attempt to crush the popular Pan-Africanist “anti-imperialist” opposition party. Juan Branco, Sonko’s lawyer has been expelled from Senegal. Before its dissolution PASTEF sought to defeat President Macky Sall whom it believes allows France to profit from its natural resources.
Abdoul Kader Amadou Mossi, President DARN-UK said:
“The famous definition of democracy given by Abraham Lincoln was “the rule of the people, by the people and for the people”. On Friday 4th of August 2023, the People of Niger staged a protest to show their full Support to the military regime in place. The international community must respect the will of the people of Niger, who shall decide its own direction. We support the Nigerien people in their desire for sovereignty and independence.
“Our message is very simple and clear: we are asking for all foreign military bases to leave our country as soon as possible. We also want to manage our own affairs without external interference. We want to be independent and free from France, as they are still involved in Niger affairs by illegally exploiting our natural resources that have been confiscated by the corruptive authorities.
“The Africans people are sick and tired of getting international aid while we are very rich in naturals resources. We do not need help; we only need a free and fair trade. Therefore we strongly condemn the illegal and inhumane economic sanctions imposed by France through ECOWAS, which will exacerbate the already precarious situation in which the people of Niger live. We therefore urge France to lift its sanctions without delay and without conditions.”
Hodénou Yaovi Jeff Segnikin, Ex-General Secretary, Togo Union UK said:
The New Generation of African people clearly understand that French colonialism had never ceased in the 1960s but has instead, been intensified through the shadowy system known as FranceAfrique.
Today, we want a definitive and timely end to French neocolonialism in Africa by way of the dismantling or all French bases on our continent the end of the predatorial CFA Franc currency system that keep our counties impoverished for ever, and the resiliation, pure and simple, of the unfair *Accords de coopération* the instrument of the continuation of French colonisation of African countries after their supposed independence, among other things.
Myriam Kane, Black Liberation Alliance said:
“We strongly oppose any military intervention in Niger by France backed by the US or its proxies in ECOWAS. We stand in solidarity with the anti-imperialist coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. We call for the release of Sonko and political prisoners in Senegal. These movements have the support of large sections of the population because they cannot tolerate France’s exploitation of resources such as gold, uranium and oil while the people suffer.”
“No to Françafrique – No to Imperialist War”
Protest
Thursday 10th August
2:30pm-6:30pm
French Embassy (58 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7JT)
Organised by PASTEF (The African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity) London, DARN-U.K. (Diaspora Association of Niger Republic Nationals in the United Kingdom), Black Liberation Alliance and other Pan-Africanist groups