08:26Experts and locals in Niger - a former French colony - appeared to broadly welcome the National Rally's first round victory and President Emmanuel Macron's defeat in the recent legislative elections, speaking from Niamey on Monday.
"We believe that the break between France and its former colonies has now been confirmed by the policy of the Rassemblement National (National Rally). 'I don't love you and I don't love you'. France for the French and now Africa for the Africans," explained member of the Patriotic Movement for Responsible Citizenship - MPCR - and human rights lawyer Me Lirwana Abdourahamane.
Abdourahamane added that the change could reset relations with France on a more equal basis.
"[At first] we are going to see a fundamental breakdown in these diplomatic and economic relations," the analyst said. "From that moment on, we have nothing to lose, it's France that has to take [direction from us] because it's France that needs our uranium".
Local Ibrahim Moumouni Harouna added that it could mark a 'new relationship' between France and Niger.
"The newly elected representatives and France need to know that we have gone beyond this stage of colonisation, he said. "We need to get back to the negotiating table".
The anti-immigration, conservative National Rally group topped the polls in round one, with Macron's own party pushed into third by the leftist New Popular Front.
"Macron is reaping what he has sown," said Tahirou Guimbarde, member of Democratic Movement for the Development and Defence of Freedoms party. "That's one less enemy for us, one less problem for us," he added, claiming that whoever was in power, "we're going to disconnect ourselves once and for all from this neo-colonial system".
"She's [former NR president Marine Le Pen] clearly saying 'I don't like you'. I think it's a godsend for African countries that Marie Le Pen comes to power and that she rejects both Arabs and Africans," he added.
Tamboura Issoufou, member or political party MNSD Nassara, said he believed that an NR victory could change the 'political landscape' and change the relationship between France and the former colonies.
"Our expectations regarding relations between Niger and France can only be those of good collaboration," he said. "If they're going to decide to apologise for everything Emmanuel Macron has put us through, to show that he is there to make amends on behalf of the French Republic, and seek to build on new, objective foundations in a win-win partnership, I think it could work."
Another local claimed that Macron's own style of politics had helped to sour relations.
"Even in France, he behaved like a very rude person. And look. Look at the uproar in France against him by the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests protesters)," he said.
Niger's military government has repeatedly clashed with France and has been cutting ties since it came to power last July.
The final 1,500 French troops stationed in the former colony left in December, marking the end of military co-operation. Just last month, the government also revoked the operating licence for French nuclear fuel producer Orano at the huge Imouraren uranium mine, one of the largest such sites in the world.
'France for the French, Africa for the Africans' - Niger experts, locals react to National Rally's surge in elections
Experts and locals in Niger - a former French colony - appeared to broadly welcome the National Rally's first round victory and President Emmanuel Macron's defeat in the recent legislative elections, speaking from Niamey on Monday.
"We believe that the break between France and its former colonies has now been confirmed by the policy of the Rassemblement National (National Rally). 'I don't love you and I don't love you'. France for the French and now Africa for the Africans," explained member of the Patriotic Movement for Responsible Citizenship - MPCR - and human rights lawyer Me Lirwana Abdourahamane.
Abdourahamane added that the change could reset relations with France on a more equal basis.
"[At first] we are going to see a fundamental breakdown in these diplomatic and economic relations," the analyst said. "From that moment on, we have nothing to lose, it's France that has to take [direction from us] because it's France that needs our uranium".
Local Ibrahim Moumouni Harouna added that it could mark a 'new relationship' between France and Niger.
"The newly elected representatives and France need to know that we have gone beyond this stage of colonisation, he said. "We need to get back to the negotiating table".
The anti-immigration, conservative National Rally group topped the polls in round one, with Macron's own party pushed into third by the leftist New Popular Front.
"Macron is reaping what he has sown," said Tahirou Guimbarde, member of Democratic Movement for the Development and Defence of Freedoms party. "That's one less enemy for us, one less problem for us," he added, claiming that whoever was in power, "we're going to disconnect ourselves once and for all from this neo-colonial system".
"She's [former NR president Marine Le Pen] clearly saying 'I don't like you'. I think it's a godsend for African countries that Marie Le Pen comes to power and that she rejects both Arabs and Africans," he added.
Tamboura Issoufou, member or political party MNSD Nassara, said he believed that an NR victory could change the 'political landscape' and change the relationship between France and the former colonies.
"Our expectations regarding relations between Niger and France can only be those of good collaboration," he said. "If they're going to decide to apologise for everything Emmanuel Macron has put us through, to show that he is there to make amends on behalf of the French Republic, and seek to build on new, objective foundations in a win-win partnership, I think it could work."
Another local claimed that Macron's own style of politics had helped to sour relations.
"Even in France, he behaved like a very rude person. And look. Look at the uproar in France against him by the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests protesters)," he said.
Niger's military government has repeatedly clashed with France and has been cutting ties since it came to power last July.
The final 1,500 French troops stationed in the former colony left in December, marking the end of military co-operation. Just last month, the government also revoked the operating licence for French nuclear fuel producer Orano at the huge Imouraren uranium mine, one of the largest such sites in the world.
Experts and locals in Niger - a former French colony - appeared to broadly welcome the National Rally's first round victory and President Emmanuel Macron's defeat in the recent legislative elections, speaking from Niamey on Monday.
"We believe that the break between France and its former colonies has now been confirmed by the policy of the Rassemblement National (National Rally). 'I don't love you and I don't love you'. France for the French and now Africa for the Africans," explained member of the Patriotic Movement for Responsible Citizenship - MPCR - and human rights lawyer Me Lirwana Abdourahamane.
Abdourahamane added that the change could reset relations with France on a more equal basis.
"[At first] we are going to see a fundamental breakdown in these diplomatic and economic relations," the analyst said. "From that moment on, we have nothing to lose, it's France that has to take [direction from us] because it's France that needs our uranium".
Local Ibrahim Moumouni Harouna added that it could mark a 'new relationship' between France and Niger.
"The newly elected representatives and France need to know that we have gone beyond this stage of colonisation, he said. "We need to get back to the negotiating table".
The anti-immigration, conservative National Rally group topped the polls in round one, with Macron's own party pushed into third by the leftist New Popular Front.
"Macron is reaping what he has sown," said Tahirou Guimbarde, member of Democratic Movement for the Development and Defence of Freedoms party. "That's one less enemy for us, one less problem for us," he added, claiming that whoever was in power, "we're going to disconnect ourselves once and for all from this neo-colonial system".
"She's [former NR president Marine Le Pen] clearly saying 'I don't like you'. I think it's a godsend for African countries that Marie Le Pen comes to power and that she rejects both Arabs and Africans," he added.
Tamboura Issoufou, member or political party MNSD Nassara, said he believed that an NR victory could change the 'political landscape' and change the relationship between France and the former colonies.
"Our expectations regarding relations between Niger and France can only be those of good collaboration," he said. "If they're going to decide to apologise for everything Emmanuel Macron has put us through, to show that he is there to make amends on behalf of the French Republic, and seek to build on new, objective foundations in a win-win partnership, I think it could work."
Another local claimed that Macron's own style of politics had helped to sour relations.
"Even in France, he behaved like a very rude person. And look. Look at the uproar in France against him by the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests protesters)," he said.
Niger's military government has repeatedly clashed with France and has been cutting ties since it came to power last July.
The final 1,500 French troops stationed in the former colony left in December, marking the end of military co-operation. Just last month, the government also revoked the operating licence for French nuclear fuel producer Orano at the huge Imouraren uranium mine, one of the largest such sites in the world.