In a fresh escalation between the two sides, French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that any potential redeployment of French forces in Niger will only occur upon the request of the deposed President, Mohamed Bazoum.
Speaking at a press conference following the G20 summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Macron asserted, “If we were to undertake any redeployment, it would be solely at the request of Bazoum and in coordination with him, not with military leaders who are holding the President hostage.” This remark referred to the military leaders who have held Bazoum under house arrest since the coup on July 26.
Withdrawal of French Forces
These statements have heightened tensions with the military in Niger, especially since they canceled several military cooperation agreements with France on August 3. France has deployed approximately 1,500 troops in Niger as part of its broader campaign against extremist groups in the African Sahel region.
Paris does not recognize the military council that has taken control of the country and refuses to consider the soldiers who ousted the President as legitimate partners in these military cooperation agreements.
Meanwhile, the military regime contends that the French forces are now stationed “illegally” in Niger.
Notably, a source within the French Ministry of Defense revealed last week to AFP that the French army is engaged in discussions with the military regarding the withdrawal of some of its “elements” from the country. This confirmed earlier statements by the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mohamed Ould Khaled, appointed by the military.
For over a week, thousands have gathered in the capital, Niamey, around a military base housing French soldiers, demanding their departure.
Furthermore, the United States, which has approximately 1,100 troops stationed in Niger, has initiated the relocation of its troops “as a precautionary measure” from Niamey to Agadez, as announced by the U.S. Department of Defense this week.
Tensions and Complex Relations
Relations between France and Niger have become increasingly strained in recent weeks. Niger revoked diplomatic immunity from the French Ambassador Sylvain Itté and ordered him to leave the country. However, France has repeatedly rejected this demand, emphasizing that the military regime lacks the legal authority to issue such orders.
French forces, stationed across three military bases in Niger, especially in the capital Niamey, are part of Operation Barkhane, an ongoing mission aimed at combating rebellion and extremism in the Sahel region.
However, military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and most recently in Niger, threaten the continuity of this mission, amid growing hostility towards the French presence.
