THE leaders of Niger have begun to rename streets and monuments bearing French names, it was reported today.

The spokesperson for the West African nation’s military government, Major Colonel Abdramane, said: “Most of our avenues, boulevards and streets bear names that are simply reminders of the suffering and bullying our people endured during the ordeal of colonisation.”

The changes by Niger to move on from the dominance of its former French colonial ruler saw Avenue Charles de Gaulle in the capital, Niamey, renamed on Tuesday as Avenue Djibo Bakary, in honour of a top Nigerien independence leader.