Niger: Niamey hosts an international seminar for a free and sovereign Africa
On Monday, January 6, 2025, the Governor of the Niamey Region, Brigadier General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, opened an international seminar of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). Organized in the auditorium of the police and National Guard mutual insurance in Niamey, this event brings together, from January 6 to 10, African activists engaged in the fight against neocolonialism and neoliberalism.
The seminar aims to explore ways to free Africa from the chains of foreign domination and to build an economically autonomous and sovereign continent. In his opening speech, Governor Assoumane Abdou Harouna praised the relevance of the theme, which aligns with the revolutionary aspirations of the AES Confederation.
“This struggle demands a responsible African mobilization, led by trade unions, associations, and civil society actors who defend the voiceles”, said the governor. He urged young people, women, workers, and vulnerable communities to seize this revolutionary momentum to build a bright future for Africa.
According to him, neocolonialism and neoliberalism have imposed a belligerent dynamic in Africa, dividing the populations. He emphasized that Africans are paradoxically “the richest poor people in the world and the poorest rich people.” He called for effective governance systems capable of having positive impacts on African societies.
Abdou Issaka, Secretary General of the National Union of Nigerien Trade Unions, stated that this seminar boldly affirms Africa’s right to chart its own course without foreign interference. He urged the participants to support the policies of African heads of state and resist imperialist pressures.
Cheikh Allassane, Secretary General of the National Union of Primary School Teachers, condemned the capitalist exploitation of Africans and the looting of the continent’s natural resources, which continue under colonial and neocolonial forms, fueled by war, poverty, and corruption. This seminar represents a call for unity and action to build a free and sovereign Africa.
