IN a symbolic move to break from its colonial past, Niger’s ruling junta has renamed several key streets and monuments in the capital, Niamey. On Tuesday, Avenue Charles de Gaulle was rebranded as Avenue Djibo Bakary, a tribute to the late Nigerien socialist and independence leader. The renaming is part of a wider effort by Niger’s military rulers, who came to power after a coup in July 2023, to distance the country from its former colonial ruler, France, and strengthen ties with other African nations.
A shift away from France
Since the 2023 coup, Niger’s military leaders have been cutting ties with France while building stronger connections with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Russia. The renaming of key streets and monuments in Niamey is seen as a public rejection of the country’s colonial past. According to junta spokesman Major Colonel Abdramane Amadou, the streets previously honoured figures who represented the suffering endured during colonisation.
‘Most of our avenues, boulevards, and streets bore names that are reminders of the bullying our people endured,’ Amadou said at the renaming ceremony.
Tributes to African icons
One of the most significant changes is the replacement of a plaque dedicated to French explorer Parfait-Louis Monteil with a tribute to Thomas Sankara, the iconic Burkinabé leader and anti-imperialist hero. Sankara, often referred to as ‘Africa’s Che Guevara,’ was assassinated in 1987. His widow and supporters claim France played a role in his death.
Other historic sites have been similarly rebranded, with Place de Francophonie renamed after the Alliance of Sahel States, a confederation of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, formed in 2023. These moves underline Niger’s shifting allegiances and rejection of its colonial history.
A wider cultural and political break
The street renaming follows a broader trend in Niger, which includes the removal of French troops from the country and the expulsion of France’s ambassador. Additionally, the Franco-Nigerien cultural centre has been renamed after Nigerien filmmaker Moustapha Alassane. This reflects the junta’s ongoing efforts to reshape Niger’s national identity in a post-colonial context.
