In his statement about Niger, President Macron gave the message to leave the region and said, “We have decided to withdraw our ambassador. The ambassador and a few other diplomats will return to France in the coming hours.” Announcing that the military cooperation with the country has ended, Macron stated that French soldiers will leave Niger in the coming months.
NIGER FRONT IS SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION
The junta administration in Niger stated that they welcomed the decision; “Today we celebrate this new step towards Niger’s sovereignty,” he said.
There are approximately 1,500 French soldiers in the landlocked country in West Africa. In the pro-junta demonstrations following the military coup in the country, a former French colony, France’s presence in the country was also protested.
Withdrawing its troops will also deal a blow to France’s fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region of Africa and its influence in the region.
SAHEL REGION
Speaking on French TF1 and France 2 televisions, Macron stated that he recognized Niger’s elected President Mohammed Barzoum, who is still “held captive” by the coup administration, as the “only legitimate authority” and conveyed his decision to Barzoum.
Macron stated that Barzoum was targeted with a military coup because of his bold reforms and ongoing ethnic showdowns.
Many West African countries have recently witnessed military coups. Soldiers took over power in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Chad, Niger and, finally, Gabon in August.
Anti-French sentiment has been growing in the region where former French colonies are located in recent years, with local politicians accusing Paris of pursuing “neo-colonial policies”. France rejects these accusations.
Western countries also state that they are concerned about the “increasing presence” of Russia’s mercenary group Wagner in the region.
NIGER COUP
Military leaders who seized power with the coup on July 26 gave French ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave the country, but France refused to comply with this order.
The junta administration recently banned French planes from using the country’s airspace.
Regional airline safety organization ASECNA also announced that the country’s airspace is “open to all national and international commercial flights, except for aircraft used by French or French Airlines.”
Air France informed the French news agency AFP that it did not fly via Niger.
French troops are expected to withdraw from the country by the end of this year.