Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman, the Prime Minister of the Transitional Government of Niger, emphasized that his people and those of the Sahel have a great tradition of living together in diversity and solidarity.  They “naturally support all initiatives which support international cooperation and solidarity so as to achieve our common objectives of peace, development, and the wellbeing for all”.  They oppose actions undermining peace and development.  Therefore, Niger’s people “unreservedly condemn the Israeli genocide in Gaza,” as well as Israeli aggression against Iran and Qatar. They protest the trivialization of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and the Sahel, “while the international community looks on indifferent”.  In fact, some international powers are “complicit in what’s happening on the African continent”, he asserted, denouncing the inaction of those with power in the face of attacks on truth and peace.

Niger and the Sahel face such indifference, as well as destabilizing actions and violent campaigns of disinformation in their fight against imported and sponsored terrorism.  Western powers and armies set up shop in the Sahel, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, supposedly to help them deal with terrorism, yet there has been an expansion of it.  The true terrorist leaders are from outside the region, have significant resources and display unprecedented violence totally foreign to the local geography and culture.  The region has “never seen such bloody, gratuitous, indiscriminate violence on the scale that we are experiencing now”.  He denounced France for its destabilizing efforts against Niger, including training terrorists, fomenting inter-ethnic conflict, creating a campaign of disinformation, fuelling tensions with neighbouring countries, and waging economic and financial war.

From the nineteenth century to today, France has waged total war against his country, evidenced in assassinations, the threat of military intervention and the sponsoring of terrorism.  It has plundered Niger’s resources.  “Following half a century of exploitation, uranium has brought our people nothing but misery, pollution, rebellion, corruption and despair, while the French prospered and bolstered their power.”  Despite this, since 2023, when the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland took power, Niger has cast away forces that hindered its sovereignty and prevented its security forces from building strength.  It has broken all unfair conventions, treaties and laws that did not serve Niger’s interests.  “This is a strong sign for of all those who are accustomed to looting Niger, that now our country will defend its interests unashamedly.”

Niger has embarked on new governance, adopting a Charter of Refoundation, building institutions, opening new diplomatic missions, starting a vast agricultural programme to ensure food self-sufficiency and undertaking macroeconomic reforms.  Niger is committed to honest governance and invites international investors to support its economic development.  Despite Niger’s significant challenges, it is enjoying a renaissance and on the road to recovery.  It is not breaking with the international community but rather reaffirming Niger’s sovereignty and dignity.  Niger understands that it must rely on its own strength, not that of a powerless UN, which is hampered by the veto of Western powers.  “The UN has to be reformed,” he said.  “We still believe in multilateralism as the way to overcome global challenges,” he said.  But the UN must be reformed to become more inclusive.  “It must be fairer”, he said, with Africa having a full place in decision-making bodies, including the Council.