Niger is making bold moves to erase the remnants of its colonial past. In a recent decision, authorities in the capital city, Niamey, renamed several streets and monuments that once carried French names, signaling the country's effort to distance itself from its former colonizer. This comes at a time when anti-French sentiment is growing across many of France’s former colonies in Africa.

In recent months, Niger has been part of a broader push to cut ties with France. The country revoked ...