New york: Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine took the stage at the United Nations to call on France to acknowledge the crimes committed during its colonial rule in Niger since 1899, emphasizing the need for France to fulfill a duty of remembrance. The address highlighted the enduring impact of French colonization on the Nigerien people, who continue to bear the scars of this dark chapter in history.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Prime Minister detailed the atrocities committed during the colonial period, including mass graves, the murder of pregnant women, rapes, hangings of young girls, and executions of resistance fighters. He made a solemn demand for France to recognize these crimes as part of its historical responsibility.
The Nigerien government, under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has established a commission of experts, academics, and scientists to study this period thoroughly and document the true history of Niger. The Prime Minister emphasized that the goal is to re-establish the facts, uncover the truth, and restore the dignity of the Nigerien people.
Ali Lamine Zeine also condemned the exploitation of Niger’s resources, particularly uranium, by France. He criticized the half-century of exploitation that left Niger with pollution, rebellion, corruption, and desolation, while France gained prosperity and power. The contamination of groundwater was highlighted as a significant consequence, calling for France to assume historical and moral responsibility for the situation faced by the Nigerien people.