Niger : General Abdourahamane Tiani supports creation of a common currency with Burkina Faso and Mali
The Nigerien General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the military regime in Niger resulting from a coup d’etat, raised the possibility of creating a common currency with Burkina Faso and Mali on Sunday evening.
This proposal comes at a time when these three countries, former French colonies, seek to assert their economic independence from France and the CFA franc, a legacy of the colonial period.
During an intervention on Nigerien national television, General Tiani stated, « Currency is a step towards exiting this colonization », referring to the CFA franc and France as the former colonial power.
He emphasized that Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, grouped within the Sahel States Alliance (AES), have monetary experts, and they will jointly decide the appropriate time to establish this common currency. For him, creating a currency specific to these countries would be a sign of sovereignty and would be part of a process aimed at achieving full economic autonomy.
General Tiani also expressed the desire of the Sahel States Alliance to no longer be dependent on France, stating, « Our states will no longer be the cash cow for France ». This statement reflects a growing desire within these countries to take control of their economic destiny and reduce their dependence on former colonial powers.
The proposal to create a common currency between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso reflects these countries’ aspirations to strengthen their economic sovereignty and assert themselves on the international stage.
It also raises questions about the practical implications of such an initiative and the challenges it could pose in terms of economic and political coordination among the different countries involved.
