Thousands of protesters gathered outside a French army base in Niger’s capital, Niamey, over the weekend as a deadline for foreign forces to leave the country was set to expire. Demonstrators held up banners with messages like “French army leave our country.”
Niger’s military regime launched a verbal attack against France on Friday, accusing Paris of “blatant interference” for supporting the country’s ousted president. Protests near a French base outside Niamey accompanied this statement.
President Mohamed Bazoum, a French ally whose election in 2021 had raised hopes for stability in the troubled country, was detained on July 26 by members of his guard.
Relations between Niger and France, the country’s former colonial power and an ally in its fight against jihadism, deteriorated rapidly after Paris expressed support for Bazoum.
On August 3, the regime announced the cancellation of military agreements with France, which has about 1,500 soldiers stationed in the country to assist in the fight against jihadism in the region. France, however, has not acknowledged the cancellation, citing concerns over its legitimacy.
These agreements cover various timeframes, including one dating back to 2012, which was set to expire within a month, according to military leaders.
The military rulers have also declared the immediate “expulsion” of French Ambassador Sylvain Itte and announced the withdrawal of his diplomatic immunity, citing his presence as a threat to public order.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Ambassador Itte’s work in Niger and confirmed that he remains in the country, despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave Niger the previous Friday. These developments highlight the growing tensions between Niger and France as the two countries navigate complex political dynamics and diplomatic relations.
