Devendra Kumar
Niger’s new military leaders have accused France of amassing forces for a possible military intervention in the country following the coup in July. This claim has been made by Major Amadou Abdramane, the junta’s spokesman, who said that France was also considering collaborating with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in such an intervention. Abdramane stated that France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS countries as part of preparations for an aggression against Niger, said late on Saturday in a statement broadcast on state television.
In a response to the claim, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he would only take action at the demand of deposed Nigerien leader Mohamed Bazoum. However, Macron added that France “fully” supports the position of ECOWAS, which has said it is considering a military intervention as an option to reinstate Bazoum as president. This move has been seen as a significant escalation in the tensions between Niger and France, as the two countries have a long history of cooperation.
Since toppling Bazoum, the junta in Niger has leveraged anti-French sentiment among the population, asking the French ambassador and troops to leave, in an attempt to shore up support against regional and international pressure to reinstate the president. The country had been a strategic partner of France and the West in the fight against growing jihadi violence in the conflict-ridden Sahel region, the arid expanse below the Sahara Desert.
The situation has become increasingly volatile, with the junta spokesman claiming that France has deployed military aircraft and armored vehicles in countries like Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Benin for such an aggression. However, the French military spokesperson, Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere, has played down the situation, stating that there are now “a little less” than the 1,500 troops in Niger who had been working with Nigerien security forces to beat back the jihadi violence. Gaudilliere also stated that all French activities had been suspended since the coup, “therefore, declarations that have been made (earlier by the French) are about exploring what we’re going to do with these capabilities”.
The situation remains tense, with the junta in Niger continuing to demand the departure of French troops from the country. The conflict has the potential to destabilize the region, as Niger is a key player in the fight against growing jihadi violence in the Sahel region. The United Nations has called for restraint, but the situation remains precarious, and the international community is watching developments closely.