NIGER has taken another step in its campaign to remove colonial influences by renaming several streets and squares in the capital, Niamey. The move replaces French-era names with those of national figures, reflecting the country’s growing push for self-determination following the military-led government’s takeover in 2023.
Colonel Boubacar Suman Garanke, head of Niamey’s administration, announced the renaming during a ceremony on Sunday, stating that the changes were made ‘in accordance with the instructions of the president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), Head of State Abdourahamane Tiani.’
Key streets and landmarks renamed
As part of the initiative, several notable locations received new names:
- Avenue François Mitterrand, named after the former French president, is now Avenue Boubou Hama, in honour of the late Nigerien writer and historian.
- Avenue Jules Brevier, previously dedicated to a French colonial minister, has been renamed Avenue Dan Koulodo.
- The intersection near the Libyan and French embassies has been changed to Zancen Kassa Square.
- Avenue of President Karl Carsten, previously bearing the name of a German politician, is now Avenue Morou Karma.
‘This is a symbolic but necessary step in reclaiming our identity,’ said Colonel Boubacar. ‘Our streets and monuments should reflect our own history, not that of foreign rulers.’
A broader anti-colonial shift
This renaming effort is part of a wider push by Niger’s military-led government to eliminate remnants of French colonial influence. Similar changes were made to Niamey’s landmarks in October 2024, following rising anti-French sentiment across the country.
The shift gained momentum after the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. In the months that followed, Niger expelled French troops, shut down French military bases, and demanded the withdrawal of all French diplomatic personnel.
‘We are writing our own history now,’ said a local resident at the renaming ceremony. ‘This is about more than names—it is about taking back our sovereignty.’
Rewriting colonial narratives
Niger’s decolonisation efforts extend beyond physical landmarks. Authorities have expressed intentions to re-examine the country’s colonial past and rewrite historical narratives from a Nigerien perspective.
‘The version of history we were taught was not written by us,’ said a government official, who asked to remain anonymous. ‘We are now committed to telling our story as it truly happened, not as it was dictated to us.’
What’s next?
With French influence steadily being removed from the public sphere, analysts believe Niger will continue pushing policies that reinforce national identity and self-governance. Whether more landmarks will be renamed remains uncertain, but the government has made it clear that this is only the beginning of a broader transformation.
For many Nigeriens, the latest street renaming is not just about changing signs—it is a statement of independence, a move towards self-assertion, and a break from a colonial past that has long shaped the country’s political and social structures.
