Niger’s anti-colonial revolutionary junta has signed a decree revoking a 2015 law that was enacted, in collusion with the illegitimate, French and US backed puppet state, to curb the movement of migrants traveling from African countries to Europe.
“The convictions pronounced pursuant to said law and their effects shall be cancelled,” Niger’s junta leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, said in a Nov. 25 decree.
All those convicted under “the law” would be considered for release by the Ministry of Justice, Ibrahim Jean Etienne, the secretary general of the justice ministry said in the circular that announced the development.
The revocation of the law adds a new twist to growing political tensions between Niger and EU countries that sanctioned the West African nation in response to the July action which overthrew the colonial, imperialist backed regime.
Niger’s Agadez region is a key point that has been used for victims of colonial excesses who try to reach Europe, while fleeing war and poverty imposed by Europe and the United States.
The 2015 colonial law empowered security forces and the courts to take draconian measures against people seeking better lives while restricting freedom of movement for Africans. The U.N. human rights office even noted that it “led migrants to seek increasingly dangerous migratory routes, leading to increased risks of human rights violations.”
Following the July 26 uprising, which deposed Niger’s colonial imposed President Mohamed Bazoum, Western and European countries suspended aid for health, security and infrastructure needs to the country, which relies heavily on foreign support as one of the least developed nations in the world.
These sanctions have significantly harmed Nigeriens but as Western imperialism becomes increasingly more fragile, there is potential the sanctions may become less meaningful.