The crisis in Niger has redrawn the world's attention to Africa. It is undeniable that France, with its economic plundering of former colonies, has secured its position as a great power and ranks among the P5. But now, West African countries have risen up to unite against France, and the military coup in Niger has made France almost helpless. France is largely left alone by the statements of Niger's neighbor, Algeria. Algeria, the North African bully, made it clear that if France intervened, he would also send troops to support Niger.
Algeria, a country with a blood feud with France, now has a chance to take revenge.
Feud of the IX: The heroic past of the Algerian people
The French invaded Algeria in 1830, and in 1905 Algeria became a French colony. For many years, French colonialists plundered resources and human lives in Algeria, and tried to build Algeria as "native", suppressing local cultural practices, and a large number of white French immigrants to Algeria as superiors, forcing Algerians to learn French, just as the Japanese were to Manchukuo. In 1945, Algeria broke out a huge independence march, which was suppressed and massacred by the French military and police, killing more than 45,000 people. The French colonization of Algeria was to China what Japanese aggression against China was to China.
Deep hatred.
Algeria's War of Independence that year
In 1954, a large-scale armed uprising finally broke out in Algeria and the War of Independence broke out. In 1962, the French admitted defeat and withdrew their colonial institutions and troops, and Algeria won full independence.
This history of Algeria is different from that of other African countries. Most African countries, whose sovereign status is almost handed out by the colonizers, have not experienced a brutal war of independence and are peaceful and independent, so in exchange, the former colonizers such as Britain and France still firmly control the economic lifeline of African countries, and the African people have only gained nominal independence.
On the contrary, Algeria shed blood and sacrificed, drove the French away with the barrel of a gun, and achieved a well-deserved "independence":
Algeria has been politically stable for many years. Great powers can manipulate African politics behind their backs, but in Algeria, that's fine.
Algeria's fiscal revenues have been stable for many years. The great powers control the ownership of a large number of minerals and energy in Africa in the form of a controlling stake, but here in Algeria, there is no way.
It was precisely because the Algerians had won their independence with their blood and sacrifice that they had developed a strong army in the long period of peace and stability, waiting for the day of revenge.
Anti-colonial matchpoint: The Niger crisis
The development of France's economy could not be separated from his plundering of Niger's resources. Use the looted mines to develop the economy, maintain the army, and then use the army to rob the mines. Now, the people of Niger have risen up and pointed directly to France's fate, if France cannot suppress it, then the collapse of hegemony is only a matter of time, and if the five permanent members are not successful, they will become the fourth permanent member.
This is Algeria's chance for revenge.
Once war breaks out and Algeria enters the war, the situation in Niger will not be the same. Algeria's military power can be called a small overlord in North Africa, and it is difficult to fight with France, let alone the army of ECOWAS.
Algeria's big move has been holding back for many years
Algeria is rich in oil and natural gas, and for years has spent most of its energy revenues on weapons and the army. Just looking at the equipment, it is enough for France to drink a pot. The number of tanks and artillery of the Algerian army is higher than that of France, and the quality of weapons is also not far behind; In terms of air force, France has the advantage, but Algeria still has a war worthy air force that can maneuver at least a few rounds. Algeria has quite a few missiles and air defense systems of all kinds.
On the other hand, I am afraid that France's real enemy is its own logistical capabilities. The war in Ukraine has exposed the fact that NATO countries have weak military production capacity. In order to support the Ukrainian front, NATO countries have long emptied ammunition stocks, and even Biden accidentally leaked his mouth in an interview, admitting that the US military has insufficient stocks of large-caliber shells. At that time, the war in Niger broke out, and France could not supply weapons and ammunition, what to do? What's more, the military industry cannot expand production capacity in a short period of time.
Therefore, once Algeria entered the war, it was actually quite empty from the paper data.
Macron, does he still have a move?
Even France itself is empty, not to mention the troops of the SCEC countries.
What's more, supporting Niger is not only revenge, but also an opportunity to chase West Africa. Algeria, which has a territorial dispute with its neighbor Morocco, has been waiting for years to recover territory, but has been thwarted by feuding France. Once the French hegemony in West Africa is overturned, then the strongest in this territory is Algeria. Not to mention the recapture of the territory, France's former sphere of influence, Algeria can also get a piece of the pie.
The new government of Niger leads Chiani
The revenge of the ninth life, can you avenge it?
In fact, there are many Algerian immigrants in mainland France. Without him, France is more developed and can make money. This phenomenon, just like today, we also have many compatriots who immigrated to Japan and went to Japan to work. The little people are nothing more than mixed food, nothing to blame. But state-to-state diplomacy doesn't have to be the case.
Today's African countries have reached a historical stage where they have to unite. The colonizers withdrew from Africa nominally, but the economic lifeblood and resource ownership of African countries were still in the hands of European and American colonizers. The colonialists do not want to see any country in Africa make steady progress, develop national industries, and accumulate national capital in order to perpetuate the country, and they will provoke regional conflicts, support coups, and support compradors. As long as there are colonial remnants in Africa, there will be no peace.
Therefore, Algeria's support for Niger is not as simple as revenge, but a great alliance of African peoples that deserves encouragement, which is an important part of anti-colonialism!