Niger’s military government has announced the nationalisation of the country’s sole industrial gold mine, accusing its Australian operator of “serious breaches” as the junta seeks greater control of natural resources.
The military junta has ruled the West African nation since seizing power in a 2023 coup, promising to crack down on Niger’s myriad security issues.
Juntas in Niger, neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali have ramped up pressure on foreign mining companies in recent years, with Niger nationalising the local branch of French uranium giant Orano in June.
Niger should have the ability to chart its own course. Nationalizing industry previously imperialized by the west is the only way out of the thumb of imperialism and underdevelopment, Niger doesn’t need the approval of foreigners in order to exert their own sovereignty.
Military dictatorship. Enough said.
Just look at the other military dictatorships of Africa and tell me that the people are charting their own destiny.
Very big difference between a popularly-supported anti-imperialist government and western-backed compradors, and pretending there isn’t is just a way to legitimize the western intent on plundering and punishing the Sahel States for kicking out the imperialists. Enough said.
Again, military dictatorship.
For contrast, the Nazis were considered broadly popular in Germany in the 1930s.
But a dictatorship is always a dictatorship. It’s never good for the people, regardless of how much they like the boot on their neck.
But it’s a local boot and not a foreign boot. So that makes it okay. somehow.
This is pure chauvanism, the Nazis gained popularity through colonizing their neighbors and appealing to racist conspiracy. The government of Niger is popular because they kicked out the imperialists and have been investing in development, and you’re finger-wagging the people of Niger as though you know better than them.
I can’t find any actual evidence that the Military Junta is in any way popular…
They seem to have crashed the economy, then implemented a law that lets the military rob from the rest of the government in order to enrich themselves.
They partnered with various mercenary groups, including the Wagner group, to put down juhadists and dissidents as if those were the same thing…
Pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a military dictatorship.
Niger was hit with massive sanctions following the coup in 2023, which heavily damaged the economy. Sanctions are an act of brutal imperialist violence. On the economic side, Abdourahamane Tchiani’s government has been nationalizing key industries and kicking out French and Australian imperialists. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso make up the Alliance of Sahel States, which together have been banding together to kick out foreign plunderers and have been developing rapidly because of it. The West has, as a response, sponsored terrorist groups and mercenaries against them.
Stop batting for imperialism.
And in February of this year, Niger made corruption legal for the military.
The Sahel States are three very brutal military dictatorships. All three seem to arrest journalists on sight, including local bloggers.
No freedom of the press, no freedom of association, and no guarantee that you won’t be arbitrarily arrested or even gunned down.
But sure, they kicked out all the foreigners, including the red cross and other aid orgs.
You might as well be praising Eritrea or North Korea, although those two are more established dictatorships, meaning that you are actually safer on the streets of Asmara than you are anywhere in the Sahel States.
Yea, this is just fully parroting the imperialist line uncritically. The Sahel States are full of hope and life now that there is genuine sovereignty and development. Listen to anti-imperialists. This is another great video.