Niamey: An international seminar on colonialism and neoliberalism is set to take place in Niamey from January 6 to January 10, 2025. The event, organized by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), aims to explore solutions for a ‘free, sovereign and economically autonomous’ Africa, as reported by the Niger Press Agency (ANP).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the seminar will be hosted in the amphitheater of the Mutuelle de la police et de la Garde nationale de Niamey, where activists and trade union structures will convene to discuss the prospects of an independent Africa. Abdou Issaka, the secretary general of the National Union of Trade Unions of Niger, emphasized Africa’s right to self-determination at the seminar’s opening. He noted the presence of international experts and union leaders who are committed to achieving a liberated Africa.
General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, the governor of the Niamey region, expressed his appreciation for the seminar’s organizers, highlighting the theme’s alignment with the revolutionary and patriotic efforts of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He stressed the need for a responsible African dynamic, driven by unions and civil society actors, to amplify the voices of those often unheard.
General Abdou Harouna further elaborated on the seminar’s stakes, emphasizing the importance of reconfiguring geographical areas from a doctrinal and ideological perspective. He urged key participants to develop effective governance systems and precise objectives to positively impact societal progress.
The World Federation of Trade Unions, established in 1945 and based in Greece, is currently led by South African Mike Mawayiba. It initially united communist-leaning trade union organizations and continues to play a significant role in international labor movements.