On Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron made an announcement stating that France will be withdrawing its ambassador from Niger. This will be followed by the withdrawal of the French military contingent in the coming months. Niger’s military leaders have welcomed this decision as a positive step towards achieving sovereignty.
Macron’s announcement
Macron’s announcement follows a coup in the West African country, which occurred two months ago and resulted in the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum, who was supportive of Paris.
“France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next few hours, our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France,” Macron told French television in an interview, without giving details about how this would be organised.
Macron stated that military cooperation had come to an end and French troops would gradually withdraw in the upcoming months and weeks, aiming to complete the full pullout by the end of this year.
Niger responds to France’s decision
The military rulers of Niger promptly issued a statement that was broadcasted on national television.
In a statement, the military rulers, who took control by overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, expressed their celebration for a significant milestone in Niger’s journey towards sovereignty.
“This Sunday, we celebrate a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger,” they said.
The statement from Niger added that this is a historic moment that reflects the determination and will of the Nigerien people.
“This is a historic moment, which speaks to the determination and will of the Nigerien people,” the Niger statement furthered.
Earlier Sunday, the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) said on its website that the military rulers had banned “French aircraft” from flying over the country’s airspace. It was not clear if this would affect the ambassador being flown out.
In his comments, Macron said that “in the weeks and months to come, we will consult with the putschists, because we want this to be done peacefully”. France keeps about 1,500 soldiers in Niger as part of an anti-jihadist deployment in the Sahel region. Macron said the post-coup authorities “no longer wanted to fight against terrorism”.
Niger’s ultimatum to French ambassador
After the overthrow of Bazoum, the military leaders of Niger had instructed French ambassador Sylvain Itte to depart from the country. However, despite the French government’s refusal to comply or recognise the military regime as legitimate, the 48-hour ultimatum given in August for him to leave passed without him vacating the premises.
Earlier this month, Macron expressed that the ambassador and his staff were being held hostage in the mission, enduring a situation where they had to rely on military rations due to the lack of food deliveries. During Sunday’s interview, Macron reiterated France’s stance that Bazoum was being held as a “hostage” and emphasised that he is the “sole legitimate authority” in the country.
“He was targeted by this coup d’etat because he was carrying out courageous reforms and because there was a largely ethnic settling of scores and a lot of political cowardice,” he argued.
Recent waves of anti-imperialist sentiments in Africa
The coup against Bazoum marked the third instance of such a putsch in the region within the span of three years. Prior to this, similar actions had taken place in Mali and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022, respectively, resulting in the withdrawal of French troops in those countries as well.
The Niger coup is especially challenging for Macron as he had aimed to establish a strong partnership with Niamey and make it a central point for France’s presence in the region, following the Mali coup. The United States also maintains a presence of over 1,000 troops in the country.
Macron frequently engages in phone conversations with Bazoum, who is currently confined to the presidential residence. The French president has frequently expressed his intention to bring about a significant transformation in France’s post-colonial impact in Africa. However, analysts argue that Paris is experiencing a decline in influence across the continent, particularly in light of the increasing presence of China, Turkey, and Russia.
Other reactions to Niger’s coup
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened military action to restore Bazoum but so far its threats, which were strongly supported by France, have not been translated into action.
“We are not here to be hostages of the putschists,” said Macron. “The putschists are the allies of disorder,” he added.
Macron said that jihadist attacks were causing “dozens of deaths every day in Mali” after its coup and that now such assaults had resumed in Niger.
“I am very worried about this region,” he said. “France, sometimes alone, has taken on all its responsibilities and I am proud of our military. But we are not responsible for the political life of these countries, and we draw all the consequences.”
