(20 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Niamey, Niger – 20 November 2024
1. Nigerien military salute during the opening of the second day of the “Conference of Solidarity with the People of the Sahel” in Niamey
2. A woman, wearing a dress depicting the Nigerien flag, gathers with other women
3. A screen showing an AES (Alliance of Sahel States) graphic
4. People at the opening of the second day of the conference ++MUTE++
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Ali Moussa, conference visitor from Gabon:
“60 years of independence, no roads, no water. The people can’t find water, and water is life. How can we live under a so-called democracy, when there are no schools? People are learning on the floor, there are no tables. We think that times have changed, it is no longer the time to talk about democracy.”
6. Mohamed Sekou Doro, president of support committee for AES in Niger, talks with a group of women
7. Various of Mohamed Sekou Doro, president of the support committee for AES in Niger, with people
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Mohamed Sekou Doro, president of the support committee for AES in Niger:
“God gave us leaders who are visionaries. Three heads of state who defend women’s and children’s interests. Women should reassure themselves, they should know that we have the three heads of state that we need for their well being, for their emancipation."
9. People at the conference
10. Inem Richardson interviews a man at the conference
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Inem Richardson, founder of Thomas Sankara Center in Ouagadougou:
“The AES needs to unite. All of Africa needs to unite. Women must play a role. Women are more than half of the population. It’s not normal that we will have half or more than half of the population that will be asleep when there is a revolution outside. The masses should be 100% engaged.”
12. Various of Richardson at bookstand
13. Close up of Richardson’s bookstand
14. Nigerien military pose for a photo after the second day of the conference
STORYLINE:
People have been gathering in Niger for a conference in support for the Alliance of Sahel States, comprised of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The AES was formed after the three countries experienced recent military coups.
The gathering, called the Conference of Solidarity with the People of the Sahel, aims to provide support for the countries that have been cut off from much of the international community.
Military leaders said that AES would give the three countries a chance to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and to work together to establish independence from former colonial ruler France.
The movement is also supported by popular organizations in neighbouring Benin and Ghana.
Ali Moussa came to visit the conference from Gabon. He says that he doesn’t believe democracy has helped African countries since their independence.
“60 years of independence, no roads, no water. The people can’t find water, and water is life. How can we live under a so-called democracy, when there are no schools?” he said.
There were also discussions on women’s role in the fight against imperialism and neo-colonialism.
The three countries have long battled Islamist insurgencies, with French forces entering Mali in 2013 to take back control of the northern part of the country from militants.
But after nearly a decade, the security situation in the country had not improved and had spread into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The coups in AES countries came amid widespread discontent with leaders with close connections to France.
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