Unimaid
I saw a post by a Facebook friend stating that France is going to build the biggest barracks in Africa for French troops in the northern parts of Nigeria. The source of the story is Damagaram Post, an online publication in Zinder, Republic of Niger.
Apart from this highlight, there are no additional details to the story. Given the reputation of Damagaram Post, it will be foolish to treat this news as a rumour. The Republic of Niger, after the coup that toppled Mohammed Bazoum, decided to expel the French and American military that had set up separate bases in their country.
Both France and America started looking for alternative locations for their military bases in Africa. It was reported, following a press statement by highly respected scholars and activists from Nigeria, that the French were making a deal with the Nigerian government to relocate their base to Nigeria. The Americans were reportedly thinking of doing the same. The scholars had raised concerns about the implications of establishing foreign military bases on Nigerian soil. Although the Nigerian government chose to deny that such an imperialist and neo-colonial project was not true, the posting by the Damagaram Post resurrects this officially denied plan.
The idea of having French military bases in Africa has nothing to do with the preservation, protection and promotion of the interest or security of the people and the countries that they are based. In reality, these are control forces to guarantee and sustain the exploitation of the countries that they ruled under direct colonial subjugation.
The Americans established a drone military base in the Republic of Niger under the pretext of "helping the countries in the Sahel to fight terrorists". Despite the presence of the American military base, terrorists operating under I SWAP and Jama'atul Ahlus Sunnah Liddawa'ati wal Jihad, better known as Boko Haram, were able to wrought attacks across Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger. It was strange that Nigeria did not object to the Republic of Niger then against having an American military base. From the experiences of Nigeria, the Americans refrained from helping the Nigerian military from acquiring weapons, with Nigerian hard earned money. Boko Haram must have been grateful to the Americans for that decision.
Regarding France, there were reports of French nationals caught in Nigeria and Cameroon working with the terrorists. The usual response that followed, in the character of international politics, was to simply deny it. The victims of the activities of Boko Haram across the three states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe were being made not to believe the practical evidence of foreign nationals involvement. There were also helicopter sightings allegedly dropping arms and ammunition for the insurgents that were also denied.
The point is France remains a strong suspect nation in the terrorists' activities in Nigeria. This suspicion is rooted in the historical antecedents of France against a United Nigeria. Its role in opposing the establishment of ECOWAS. It has sabotaged the plan by ECOWAS to have a common currency, the Eco. It is in line with its imperialistic designs to keep siphoning wealth from its forcefully acquired colonies through the Franc arrangement. It is sad that after the Republic of Niger pushed France out, it was able to convince ECOWAS to threaten war against the Republic of Niger in the name of restoration of democracy. Fortunately, the people in the northern parts of Nigeria recognising the irresponsibility of such an adventure opposed it. This is because it was going to be a battle between Nigeria and Niger, in the name of ECOWAS. Although no senseless war of Africans against Africans was fought, France has succeeded in undermining the unity of ECOWAS with the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger opting out.
It does seem Nigeria is increasingly becoming a ready and willing lackey of the interests of America and lately but strangely that of France. It is a disturbing development, a tragedy for the whole of Africa and a subversion against the people. There is the need for the people in the northern parts of Nigeria, particularly, to oppose any plan to allow France to build a military base in any of their states. It is a dangerous adventure. Given the history of Western military bases, it will make the people of Nigeria second class citizens, open to further imperialists' exploitation and perpetuation of poverty. This is what France has continued to do in the countries that it colonised across Africa.
Nigeria, especially the northern parts where France is likely to want to build its biggest military barracks in Africa, must be opposed. The Governor's and members of the National Assembly must send a clear message that their territory cannot be used to further France's exploitation schemes. No part of Nigeria should allow this colonialisation, neo-colonial, project should be allowed to happen.
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