Neocolonialism requires a pseudo-sovereign oppressive regime to be the executor of colonial violence.

An egalitarian nation would be more capable at resisting the west, and therefore neocolonial parties sabotage egalitarian regimes and replace them with oppressive regimes, which are weaker and more dependent on neocolonial support to suppress their populations.

Consider the EU's "everything but arms" tax scheme, where neocolonial corporations can get a tax benefit if they get their goods from destabilized African nations except when it would build up a weapons industry that could help empower nations to throw off the neocolonial yoke.

I wouldn't defend the law, it's totally unnecessary. I get, though, that it's probably to be expected because the vast majority of Nigeriens are Sunni Muslims and there's just no way a country that religious will be queer accepting.