Between Paris and Niamey, the showdown continues. On Friday, the spokesman for the regime, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane denounced remarks made on Monday by Emmanuel Macron, considering that they constituted “flagrant additional interference in the internal affairs of Niger”.
In a statement read on national television, he said that the French president’s “relentless efforts” “in favor of an invasion of Niger are aimed at perpetuating a neocolonialist enterprise on the Nigerien people”. Emmanuel Macron recalled his support for ECOWAS and its military action “when it decides”.
France has repeatedly affirmed its support for ECOWAS, which for several weeks has been brandishing the threat of a possible military intervention to restore constitutional order in Niger and free President Mohamed Bazoum, held prisoner in the presidential palace since the July 26 putsch. .
“France must leave and it will leave, because it is not at home in Niger”
These statements constitute the latest episode of several weeks of tension between Niamey and Paris. The immunity and diplomatic visa of the French ambassador to Niger have been withdrawn and the authorities notified Paris on Tuesday of their intention to deport him. Last Friday, they had initially given Sylvain Itté 48 hours to leave the territory, an ultimatum rejected by Paris.
However, another ultimatum could expire over the weekend: on August 3, the new Nigerien leaders had denounced several military agreements with France, which has 1,500 soldiers deployed in the anti-jihadist fight in Niger. The agreements all contained different notices for their effective termination, one of which, relating to a 2012 agreement, was one month, according to the military.
Nigeria and Algeria open the door to a transition
Thousands of people gathered this Friday in front of the Nigerien air force base which houses the French forces in the capital. This “sit-in” organized at the call of the M62 Movement, a coalition of civil society organizations hostile to the French military presence in Niger, was preceded by numerous rallies with similar demands since the coup, and should last until Sunday. “France must leave and it will leave, because it is not at home in Niger,” Falma Taya, a leader of the M62 Movement, told the crowd.
But beyond the quarrel between Paris and Niamey, other chancelleries are busy trying to find a way out of the diplomatic crisis in Niger. If ECOWAS remains firm on its position – an immediate restoration of constitutional order and the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum – two neighbors of Niger have opened the door to a possible transition: Nigeria and Algeria. For the time being, the generals in power in Niamey have not reacted to these proposals