Tension remains as high as ever between Paris and Niamey. A week after Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of the withdrawal of Niger’s tricolor troops by the end of the year, the Nigerien Minister of the Interior believes that in reality France is not about to leave.
“These people are not in the logic of leaving Niger,” said Minister and Brigadier General Mohamed Toumba on Tuesday, during a meeting with civil society organizations, unions, religious and traditional leaders broadcast on national television. The minister was appointed by the military regime following a July 26 coup.
Niamey does not want a departure via Benin
Some 1,500 French soldiers are present in Niger as part of the anti-jihadist fight. “Today, there are more than 3,000 or even 3,500,” estimated General Toumba. Emmanuel Macron announced their departure “by the end of the year”, after the military regime repeated its desire for their withdrawal and denounced several military cooperation agreements with France.
The French will leave Niger “but not through Benin,” declared General Toumba. “Any direction except Benin,” he insisted. “We’re going to let go of your planes at the last minute,” he added, without further details.
The French president also announced the departure of the ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, who returned to Paris last week. The Nigerien regime had ordered his expulsion. “The Nigerien people will now dictate the form of future relations with France,” the head of the military regime, General Abdourahamane Tiani, said on Saturday.