The military leaders of Niger announced that the country has ceased all collaboration with the Organization of Francophone Nations (OIF) in an effort to gradually break its connections with the former colonial power, France.
A spokesman for the ruling junta in Niger claimed that France “has always used the 88-member body as an instrument to defend French interests.”
After a coup in July, which France and other Western allies fiercely denounced, the junta took control.
The country in West Africa saw the quick expulsion of French troops who were assisting in quelling an insurgency that had been going on for ten years.
The OIF had already suspended most cooperation with Niger last week because of the coup, but said it would maintain those programmes “directly benefiting civilian populations, and those contributing to the restoration of democracy”.
The organisation’s stated mission is to promote the French language, support peace and democracy, and encourage education and development in Francophone countries around the world, many of which are former French colonies.
In line with the principles of the Pan-Africanist founding fathers, the government of Niger urges the African people to “decolonize their minds and promote their own national languages.”
In a separate statement, the junta stated that the duration of the transition will be decided upon following an open national conversation, but it had not yet decided how long it would stay in power.
