French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected a proposal from Niger’s military leaders to withdraw French soldiers from the country following a coup that strained relations between the two nations.
Tensions escalated between Niger and its former colonial power, France, after the July 26 revolution that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and led to the termination of military cooperation between the two countries.
Macron has indicated he would support a decision by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to use force to restore democracy, but ECOWAS has now emphasized diplomacy as its primary approach.
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Macron stated, “If we redeploy, I would do it only at the request of President Bazoum,” referring to Niger’s ousted leader. He made these comments as the G-20 summit concluded in New Delhi, India, on Sunday. Macron emphasized that France did not recognize the legitimacy of the coup leaders.
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These remarks followed a statement by the ruling junta that accused France of ignoring its request for the 1,500 French troops stationed in Niger to depart by September 3. A junta spokesperson revealed that Nigerien and French military leaders had met earlier in the month to discuss a strategy for the withdrawal of French soldiers from Niger.
The spokesperson for the Ecowas Commissioner declined to comment on the matter, and the Ivory Coast’s defense ministry spokesperson stated that he had no knowledge of any military movements.
Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane also noted that France was deploying troops in several West African countries in preparation for a potential regional military intervention to remove the junta.
“As of today, there has been no progress in the plan’s implementation,” Abdramane stated on the national broadcaster, Tele Sahel.
He added, “France continues to deploy its forces in several Ecowas countries as part of preparations for an attack on Niger in collaboration with the regional bloc.”
