AFP- Streets and squares in Bamako, several of which evoked the former French colonial power and the West African regional organization, were renamed, according to a decree from the head of the Malian junta released on Wednesday.
Avenue Cedeao (Economic Community of West African States), comes Avenue de l’Aes (Alliance of Sahel States), named after the new confederation formed by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger; three states governed by military regimes and then successive coups d’état between 2020 and 2023 and which have turned their backs on the regional organization. The Confederation of Sahel States Square replaces the Africa-France Summit Square, on the airport road. The streets Faidherbe, Brière de L’Isle, Archinard – figures of the French colonial administration – became respectively the streets Mamadou Lamine Dramé, Banzoumana Sissoko and El Hadj Cheick Oumar Tall. Avenue Ruault takes the name of Captain Sékou Traoré.
In total, nearly 25 places – boulevards, avenues, streets, public squares, public establishments – have been renamed. The renaming of streets bearing names referring to France’s colonial history has become recurrent in the Sahelian military regimes which have made respect for their sovereignty their mandate and now have stormy relations with France. Niger and Burkina Faso had already led the way by making several changes to street names and monuments over the past two years.
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