2023-09-10 05:50:01
A soldier stands guard in front of the Franco-Nigerian air base in Niamey, September 9, 2023. – / AFP
France was directly targeted, Saturday September 9, by the Nigerien military regime resulting from a coup d’état, which accuses Paris of preparing an intervention in the country.
“France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS countries [Communauté économique des Etats d’Afrique de l’Ouest] as part of preparations for an aggression against Niger, which it is considering in collaboration with this community organization”declared a member of the regime, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, in a press release read on national television.
According to the press release, the regime has noted since September 1 that “two A400M type military transport aircraft and a Dornier 328 were deployed as reinforcements in Ivory Coast”and “two Super Puma type multirole helicopters” et “around forty armored vehicles” have been “in Kandi and Malanville in Benin”.
“On September 7, 2023, a French military ship docked in Cotonou [au Bénin] with personnel and military assets on board.the statement added.
The ruling generals also report“a hundred rotations of military cargo planes having allowed the landing of large quantities of material and war equipment in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, to name but a few”. “These maneuvers” aim to “succeed in a military intervention against our country”according to them.
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French forces now present “illegally” in Niger
After the July 26 coup, ECOWAS brandished the threat of a military intervention in Niger, of which it had announced the preparation, to restore constitutional order, free the overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum and restore him to his functions. . A decision supported by France, which has around 1,500 soldiers in this Sahelian country, as part of the anti-jihadist fight.
On August 3, the Nigerien generals in power, who want the French soldiers to leave, had denounced several military cooperation agreements concluded with the former colonial power. One of these texts contained a notice of one month, according to them.
The regime claimed in the statement that these forces were now present “illegally” in Niger. “September 1st”the “Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Niger received the commander of the French forces in the Sahel in Zinder to discuss a plan for the disengagement of French military capabilities”, he said. The regime says it was informed of“an announcement of withdrawal (…) which comes to us from an operational level and is therefore carried neither by the general staff of the French armies, nor by the French government and has not been the subject of any press release official “.
Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Niger: the French army has started to discuss with the military the withdrawal of part of its troops
On Tuesday, Paris affirmed that ” trades “ were underway between the Nigerien and French armies to “facilitate the movements of French military assets”confirming remarks made the day before by the Prime Minister of Niger appointed by the regime, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine. “The question of maintaining some of our forces arises”had declared the French ministry of the armies.
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Every day for more than a week, thousands of people in total have gathered in the Nigerien capital Niamey, near a military base housing French soldiers to demand their departure.
For their part, the United States, which has some 1,100 soldiers in Niger, has started “as a precaution” to reposition their troops from base 101 in Niamey to base 201 in Agadez, in the center of the country, the defense department said on Thursday.
Read also: Niger: by repositioning its troops, the United States is distancing itself from France
“Ambassador declared persona non grata”
France is engaged in a standoff with Niger, which has also withdrawn the immunity and diplomatic visa of the French ambassador Sylvain Itté and demanded his « expulsion ». Paris, which does not recognize the military regime, has several times justified the maintenance of Mr. Itté.
“France refuses to recall its ambassador declared persona non grata by the authorities and the Nigerien justice”underlined once again the communiqué of the regime.
Mr. Zeine, however, declared that his government hoped “if possible maintain cooperation with a country with which we have shared a lot”. He also expressed that he had “good hope” that his country finds a « entente » with ECOWAS, after the head of the regime, General Abdourahamane Tiani, announced a transition lasting a maximum of three years. However, the regional organization does not want “not repeat” in this country “the experiences of Mali, Guinea and Burkina”where transition periods had been negotiated.
Read also: Coups d’état in Africa have followed one another since 2019: Mali, Sudan, Niger…
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