Niger: No more FrançAfrique!

Despite ECOWAS’s determination to stop the sixth military takeover in Niger, in just three years Its citizens share a different opinion. “We are going to make the French leave! ECOWAS isn’t independent, it’s being manipulated by France,” said demonstrator Aziz Rabeh Ali.

At such an outburst, you may wonder what can trigger these reactions that have spurred up since the coup. According to Euro News. Com thousands of people gathered in the Nigerien city of Niamey to show their support for the military coup.

FrançAfrique is a term used to describe France’s influence on its colonies one of which is Niger, which plays a significant role in sustaining France’s economy because of its large uranium deposit.
According to Reuters, Niger has Africa’s highest-grade uranium ores and produced 2,020 metric tons of uranium in 2022 from which France benefits Due to a long-standing policy that dates back to ex-president Charles de Gaulle, France derives about 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy, more than any other country. France is also the world’s largest net exporter of nuclear energy, bringing in more than €3 billion per year.

However, according to Ali, as quoted in relief web. Int “The Nigerien people aren’t benefiting from the revenues,” said the coordinator of the Niger branch of Publish What You Pay, a worldwide coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) calling on oil, gas and mining companies to disclose their payments to governments for the extraction of natural resources.

The government of Niger’s share of the uranium revenue is small: foreign companies have a majority stake in the two uranium production companies, SOMA=CFR and COMINAK, which are operated and mostly owned by Areva, a French multinational company and global mining giant
According to all Africa.com, though the Orano website boasts that it is the world leader in nuclear reactor waste recycling worldwide, environmental watchdogs in Niger and abroad report that dangerous levels of radioactive waste were left among the local populations living near the mines.

According to a French-based Independent Research Commission (CRIIRAD) on radioactivity, Niger’s northern town of Arlit has been left wallowing in 20 million tonnes of radioactive waste after a uranium mine run by Orano closed down. “The waste produces [the] radioactive gas radon.

The strong wind of the desert spreads radioactive dust, which is then inhaled by the surrounding population,” said CRIIRAD’s scientist, Bruno Chareyron. Soil and underground water have also been contaminated. The 100,000 people in the area have no alternative but to drink that water. The report added that exposure to such dangerously high radiation levels can lead to birth defects, cancer, and several other disorders. Journalists who visited the mining sites recently spoke about the abject poverty of the population, patients complaining about radiation effects, and lack of basic health facilities.

Over the years France has been accused of interference in Niger politically and economically to bend it to its tune. From the reaction of the Nigeriens, one can easily conclude that they are tired of FrancAfrique.

John Faith is a student of mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University zaria.