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Muslims Around the World

African Sahel Countries Stand Up to Europe

 Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are taking action against French and European influence in their countries. And one way they're doing it is by decriminalizing irregular migration to Europe.

What's Happening in Niger?

So, here's the scoop. The military ruler of Niger, Abderrahmane Tiani, recently took power in a coup. But European leaders don't recognize him as the legitimate leader and want the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum back in charge. To push back against Europe, Tiani is using the issue of irregular migration as a bargaining chip.

The 2015 Law

In 2015, Niger signed a law with the European Union to combat irregular migration. This law imposed penalties, like fines and imprisonment, on people who helped others migrate irregularly. But some people in Niger didn't like this law. They thought it was serving European interests and making life harder for poor Nigeriens who rely on their children's migration for income.

Niger's Response

In response to pressure, the military junta in Niger decided to get rid of the 2015 law. They issued a new decree canceling the law and its consequences. This means that people who were convicted under the law will be released. The military rulers want to show Europe that they won't be pushed around.

Europe's Concerns

Europe is worried about Niger's decision. They believe that the 2015 law helped reduce the number of irregular arrivals to Europe and prevented deaths in the desert. But Niger's decision could lead to more deaths and cause a flood of migrants into Libya, which is a major gateway to Europe.

French Forces Leaving Niger

As if that wasn't enough, French forces are also leaving Niger. They had a military base in the capital city, Niamey, and other areas. But now, they're packing up and heading out. This is part of a larger process of disengagement between France and Niger, just like what happened in Mali.

 Niger is standing up to Europe by decriminalizing irregular migration and kicking out French forces. It's a moment of revenge for the African Sahel countries. Who knows what will happen next? 

Source: Al Jazeera