Niger is no ordinary country for France. Due to both its uranium reserves, which is an important mineral for the nuclear sector, and its historical relations (before and after the colonial period), the French government resists repeating what happened in other countries. unstable Sahe regionLike Mali or Burkina Faso. He does not want the success of the July 26 coup and the imposition of an administration hostile to French interests. There have been some tensions between Paris and Niamey that have intensified in recent days.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday: He will keep the ambassador in NiameyDespite the deportation requested by the new Nigerian authorities. The 48-hour period regarding the order given on Friday night ended this morning. In his speech at the conference of the ambassadors in Paris, Macron said, “We must not bow to the narrative that is used by the putschists, which consists of the rhetoric ‘our enemy is France’.” He reaffirmed his country’s stance in this direction at this event, which is held every year at the end of August. considers the new military officials illegitimate and “knows” the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Support for diplomatic and military operations
Following the strengthening of military governments hostile to Paris in Mali and Burkina Faso, the French authorities do not want the same story to be repeated in Niger. They are stationed there 1,500 French soldiersThe country with the largest French military presence in Africa. The new regime in Niamey had already expressed its willingness to end this cooperation in the framework of an anti-jihad operation at the beginning of August. Since then, numerous demonstrations have been held in this African country against France and its soldiers; The last of these was this weekend.
Before this “Coup epidemic”Macron defended his country’s determined position. Military interventionof the Economic Community of West African States. (ECOWAS) against the Nigerian junta. “I ask all states in the region to follow a responsible policy and support the diplomatic and military actions of ECOWAS,” the centrist leader assured. The countries of the region are divided before this possible war operation. Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast are in favor of negotiations, while other countries and the African Union are in favor of negotiations. Given that Mali and Burkina Faso have pledged to support the Niger junta, a military action could escalate into a regional conflict.
“Risk of weakening the West”
Macron also criticized Western governments for voicing their reservations about France’s strength in this thorny dossier. “I’ve heard that we’re being overbearing in Washington and other European capitals. This is not true, we have to be consistent,” the president agreed. He justified his position as Defending “democracy” in Africabut it did support the authorities as a result of military coups in other countries such as Chad in 2021. Adding to the resentment against his colonial past and the long-running military operation Barkhane, these familiar balancing games Decline of Gauls on the African continentbeing replaced by hostile or emerging powers such as China, Russia, Israel or Turkey.
In fact, Macron warned “The risk of weakening the West and especially our Europe”Due to “the emergence of great international powers”. He made this warning in reference to last week’s BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) meeting. At the summit in Johannesburg, they announced that Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates would join this alliance. Faced with increasing competition from Western hegemony, particularly the United States, the French president called for reforms in world governance, and in particular institutions such as the IMF or the World Bank.