Niger’s military-led government has officially announced its withdrawal from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a global body of French-speaking nations. The decision, confirmed on Monday, March 17, underscores the country’s continued shift away from its historical ties with France.
In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, the junta declared that Niger had made a sovereign decision to sever its membership with the OIF, an organization often likened to the Commonwealth but for nations with a shared French linguistic and colonial history.
The move follows Niger’s suspension from the OIF in the wake of the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The organization had condemned the military takeover, calling for a swift return to constitutional governance and demanding the release of the deposed leader and his wife, who remain in detention.
Also, read: Egypt’s Suez Canal Loses $800 million Monthly Due To Regional Unrest
Since taking power, Niger’s military rulers have distanced themselves from France, aligning instead with neighboring military-led governments in Burkina Faso and Mali. The junta has also strengthened ties with Russia, further signaling a geopolitical pivot away from Western influence.
Niger’s gradual departure from its colonial past has been reflected in other symbolic gestures as well. Just before the coup, the country adopted a new national anthem, Pour l’honneur de la patrie (For the Honor of the Fatherland), replacing La Nigérienne, which had been composed by French musician Maurice Albert Thiriet in 1961. The new anthem embraces themes of resistance and national pride, mirroring Niger’s current stance on foreign relations.
This latest withdrawal from the OIF reinforces Niger’s broader realignment, marking yet another step in its efforts to redefine its place on the global stage outside of France’s orbit.
