Niger’s military government has initiated a campaign to rename streets and monuments that previously bore French names, marking another step in distancing the country from its former colonial power.
In the capital Niamey, Avenue Charles de Gaulle has been renamed Avenue Djibo Bakary, honoring a key figure in Niger’s independence struggle. The junta spokesperson, Major Colonel Abdramane Amadou, stated that many of the country’s avenues and streets were reminders of colonial-era suffering.
This move follows Niger’s deteriorating relationship with France and other Western allies after the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum last year. Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, has formed the Alliance of Sahel States and is seeking Russian military support to combat jihadist insurgencies.
The renaming ceremony in Niamey included changes to a war memorial, now honoring victims of colonization. A monument featuring French Explorer Parfait-Louis Monteil has been replaced with a plaque of Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. The Place de La Francophonie has been renamed Place de l’Alliance des Etats du Sahel, reflecting Niger’s new alliances.
These changes are part of a broader trend in the region, with neighboring countries also distancing themselves from French influence and seeking new partnerships.