The Prime Minister appointed by the military regime in Niger said on Monday that “exchanges” were “in progress” for the French forces based in the country to withdraw “quickly”, while hoping to “maintain cooperation” with France.
Recalling that the Nigerien government has denounced military agreements with Paris, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine affirmed that the French forces “are in a position of illegality” and considered that “the exchanges which are in progress should allow these forces to withdraw”.
“What interests us is, if possible, to maintain cooperation with a country with which we have shared a lot of things”, he added, during a press conference.
Maximum voltages
Diplomatic tensions are at their height between the military regime in power since the July 26 coup and France, which does not recognize their legitimacy. Some 1,500 French soldiers are stationed in Niger to take part in the anti-jihadist fight under bilateral military agreements.
On August 3, the generals who took power in a coup had denounced several of these agreements. One of these texts contained a notice of one month, according to the military. Niger also withdrew the immunity and diplomatic visa of French Ambassador Sylvain Itté and demanded his expulsion.
Anti-French demonstrations
France, which regularly reaffirms that it does not recognize the new authorities in Niamey, has indicated that it does not intend to apply these decisions, whether it concerns the soldiers or the ambassador.
On Monday, Zeine considered that the French ambassador had displayed “contemptuous behavior” by refusing to respond to an invitation to meet with the authorities on August 25. This weekend, tens of tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Niamey to demand the departure of French forces.