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The coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger came amid widespread discontent with leaders with close connections to former colonial power, France. They have long battled Islamist insurgencies, with French forces entering Mali in 2013 to take back control of the northern part of the country from militants.
People have been gathering in Niger for a conference in solidarity with the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The Conference of Solidarity with the People of the Sahel aims to provide support for the countries which have been cut off from much of the international community following recent coups.
An economic and defence confederation, the ASS was formed in September last year following Niger’s crisis in which the West African political bloc, ECOWAS threatened to intervene. The Sahel solidarity movement is also supported by popular organisations in neighbouring Benin and Ghana.
Ali Moussa came to the conference from Gabon. He says that he doesn’t believe democracy has helped African countries, adding that in 60 years of independence, the country did not have roads or water. There were also discussions on the role of women in the fight against imperialism and neo-colonialism.
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The coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger came amid widespread discontent with leaders with close connections to former colonial power, France. They have long battled Islamist insurgencies, with French forces entering Mali in 2013 to take back control of the northern part of the country from militants.
But after nearly a decade, the security situation in the country had not improved and had spread into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
