In an exclusive interview with Iran Press on the sidelines of the International Conference on Resistance in Abuja, Nigeria, Ali said the campaign, driven particularly by young people, had yielded tangible results and attracted international attention.
According to him, Niger Republic is increasingly being cited as an example of a country seeking to assert its sovereignty and determine its own political and development priorities without undue external influence.
“The movement and struggle waged by the people of Niger Republic, particularly the youth, to end the presence of French and American forces have yielded tangible results,” he said, adding, “This struggle has made Niger Republic a reference point for various countries. Indeed, Niger Republic is increasingly being cited as an example in the fight against oppression and foreign domination.”
Ali added that the country's changing relationship with foreign powers reflected a growing determination among Nigeriens to make independent decisions on national affairs.
He said that, in the past, Niger Republic had often considered the positions of European powers before taking decisions on major issues, but that the situation was changing as the country increasingly sought to chart its own course. "There was a time when Niger Republic could hardly take a position on major issues without first considering the views of European powers. But today, the country has reached a point where people are increasingly asserting their independence and determining their own course,” he said.
The activist also attributed the growing international influence of the movement to popular participation and cooperation among the three member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES): Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso. According to Ali, the involvement of citizens across the three countries, alongside the activities of their nationals living abroad, has helped extend the message of the movement beyond the Sahel region. He said members of the diaspora had continued to raise awareness about imperialist policies and foreign interference, helping to draw international attention to the campaign for greater sovereignty.
Ali maintained that the struggle was no longer confined to Niger Republic or the African continent, as its message had reached people and movements in other parts of the world. He added that Niger Republic was increasingly being presented by supporters of the movement as a model for countries seeking greater independence in determining their political direction and development priorities.
The International Conference on Resistance, held in Abuja, brought together participants from Nigeria and other countries to discuss resistance movements, foreign influence and the future of political sovereignty.
M.Pakravan - H.Hakimzadeh
