2023-09-27 12:30:00
INTERNATIONAL – France gives in to the putschists in Niger. Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday September 24, 2023 the repatriation of his ambassador to Niamey “in the next few hours” and the return of 1,500 soldiers before the end of the current year. In a television interview on the 8 p.m. news on TF1 and France 2, the president said “the end of Paris’ military cooperation with Niger”. The putschists, who overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July, celebrated a “new historic step towards sovereignty” of this Sahel country. France will only have a presence in the region, with its 1,000 soldiers in Chad.
It is the end of a standoff, even a stalemate, which lasted two months. Preferred target of the putschists of the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP) and numerous demonstrations by Nigeriens, France, its embassy and its military presence in Niger have been constantly threatened since the coup d’état which overthrew the July 26, 2023 President Mohamed Bazoum.
In response to these threats, Paris warned against any “attack targeting its interests”while calling for “restoration of constitutional order”. The Élysée and the Quai d’Orsay also brought the “full support” from France “to all the conclusions” adopted by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), which provided for a military intervention to restore the deposed president to his post.
It is, in the eyes of the military, a “action” among several others, “contrary to the interests of Niger”. The putschists, who have always denounced a “neocolonial control” French over Niamey and its resources, also accused France of having violated Nigerien airspace. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up by the CNSP therefore summoned Ambassador Sylvain Itté on August 25, 2023.
A losing standoff?
The French embassy, however, rejected this summons, prompting a radical decision from the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland. The military announced the “withdrawal of their approval from Mr. Sylvain Itté”, “in reaction to his refusal to respond to the invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an interview.”
Mr. Itté was ordered to leave Nigerien territory “within forty-eight hours” but France also rejected this request. The putschists, “illegitimate”, “have no authority” for such a request, since “the approval of the ambassador emanating solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities”estime-t-on au Quai d’Orsay.
After two months during which tensions increased, Paris made an about-face. Sunday evening, Emmanuel Macron, whose statements had been firm until then, announced the repatriation of the French ambassador, who was to be evacuated from Niger “the next few hours” following the president’s television interview on TF1 and France 2. The 1,500 French soldiers will also be on the trip and will have to leave Niger before the end of the current year.
This withdrawal was predictable. The French soldiers have not been able to leave their base for two weeks. For his part, Ambassador Sylvain Itté, “virtually taken hostage” in the base where he was holed up, was liable to expulsion since he no longer benefited from his diplomatic immunity and visa. In addition, it is noted, food and water supplies were beginning to run out.
“France has decided to bring back its ambassador” et “we are ending our military cooperation with Niger”, declared Macron. He specified that this repatriation will be done in “consultation with the putschists because we want it to happen peacefully”. A rather necessary consultation because Niger banned its airspace to French planes on Sunday morning, while keeping it accessible to commercial flights from other countries.
Putschists hail “a historic moment”
The tenant of the Élysée declared that the French soldiers were in Niger to fight against terrorism and not to “to be hostages of the putschists”. These latter “are the friends of disorder”, he believes, affirming that jihadist attacks have resumed since the coup d’état in this Sahel country. “I am very worried about this region.” He also paid tribute to the French soldiers whose “he is proud”asserting that “France, sometimes alone, has taken all its responsibilities (…) But we are not responsible for the political life of these countries and we draw all the consequences.”
The putschists welcomed the French president’s decision. “This Sunday, we are celebrating the new step towards the sovereignty of Niger. French troops as well as the French ambassador will leave Nigerien soil by the end of the year. It is a historic moment which testifies to the determination and will of the Nigerien people”we declared on national television. “Any person, any institution or structure whose presence threatens the interests and projections of our country will have to leave the land of our ancestors whether they like it or not,” pursue the Nigerien soldiers.
This marks the end of a decade of anti-terrorist military operations in the Sahel countries. Before Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso put an end to the presence of French soldiers on their territories. France now only has one presence in the region, that is to say in Chad with around 1,000 soldiers. Paris is also facing another coup d’état, this time in Gabon, considered “like the cradle of Françafrique”.
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