The Nigerien soldiers who overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum accused France of wanting to “intervene militarily” to restore him to office, said a press release Monday (July 31) on national television.
“In its line of conduct, going in the direction of finding ways and means to intervene militarily in Niger, France, with the complicity of certain Nigeriens, held a meeting at the staff of the National Guard of Niger , to obtain necessary political and military authorizations,” the statement said.
The European Union said on Monday it held the coup leaders who seized power in Niger accountable “for any attack on civilians, diplomatic personnel or installations”, after thousands of pro-coup protesters targeted the French Embassy. The EU will “quickly and resolutely support” the decisions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which ordered an economic blockade of Niger on Sunday, added the head of diplomacy of the Twenty-Seven, Josep Borrel, in a press release.
France threatens an “immediate and intractable” response
France threatened, for its part, on Sunday to respond “immediately and intractably” to any attack against its nationals and its interests in Niger. “Anyone attacking French nationals, the army, diplomats and rights of way would see France respond immediately and intractably,” warned the Elysée. President Emmanuel Macron “will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests”.
“France as always protects its nationals, the situation this afternoon is calmer” but “we are extremely vigilant”, declared on RTL Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. The 500 to 600 French nationals currently present in Niger “have all been contacted, precautionary measures are being taken” and “they will be reinforced if necessary, but there is no evacuation decision at the time when I speaks to you,” she said.
1,500 French soldiers
Thousands of pro-coup demonstrators gathered this Sunday in front of the French embassy in Niamey, before being dispersed by tear gas canisters. Some wanted to enter the building, others ripped off the plaque displaying “French Embassy in Niger”, before trampling it on the tarmac and replacing it with Russian and Nigerien flags. Niger is a strategic partner of France, which currently has some 1,500 soldiers in this key country in the fight against jihadists and also provides 20% of European uranium.
The pressure increases every day a little more on the new proclaimed strong man of Niger, the putschist general Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the presidential guard, at the origin of the fall of Mohamed Bazoum detained by the putschists for four days.
West Africa decides on an economic blockade
France hailed “the decisions taken by the heads of state” of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This West African bloc, the African Union, and Western countries, including France and the United States, do not recognize the “authorities” resulting from the putsch and demand a return to constitutional order. An extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (of which Niger is a member with 14 other countries) was held in Abuja on Sunday, under the aegis of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, at the head of the regional institution since the beginning of the month.
ECOWAS demanded the “immediate release” of President Bazoum and the “complete return to constitutional order”, according to the resolutions read at the end of the summit. If these requests are “not met within one week”, ECOWAS “will take all necessary measures” and “these measures may include the use of force”, according to these resolutions.
“The sanctions will hurt a lot”
The “sanctions” against Niger “will hurt a lot”, said Nigerien Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, calling for a solution to be found for this poor country dependent on foreign aid, in an interview granted on Sunday to the France 24 channel. Niger, a Sahelian country of 20 million inhabitants, is one of the poorest in the world, despite its uranium resources.
“I know the fragility of Niger”, declared the Prime Minister, adding that “it is a country which will not be able to resist this kind of sanctions. Economically, it will be a disaster”, as “on the Social plans”. “We are really appealing to each other” to “look at the interest of the country”, he added. After the European Union (EU), France announced on Saturday suspending “all its development aid and budget support actions”. In 2022, French official development assistance for Niger amounted to 120 million euros.