France on Thursday demanded the release and reinstatement of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum. It called the incident an act of “power grab” in a nation which is crucial for its little military interests in the Sahel.
After France received a setback from withdrawing its thousands of troops from the Sahel’s Mali and Burkina Faso, it was compelled to change its approach to combating Islamist extremists in the region.
Already low, France has been losing its influence even more in the region as incidents of coups in Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso are increasing. The coups are weakening its alliance and strengthening extremist elements who took over large areas of desert and scrubland.
In an official statement, French foreign ministry said, “We call for the respect and immediate restoration of the integrity of democratic institutions in Niger. We support regional efforts to find an urgent solution to the crisis that respects Niger’s democratic framework and allows the immediate restoration of civil authority.”
A French diplomatic source revealed that the country has its contacts maintained with Niger President Bazoum and said that the situation in reality was still “very confused.”
Niger is France’s crucial partner in the region for combatting militants controlling the neighboring region of Mali and Burkina Faso. France has focused on sending troops to Niger to support the government.
As its key ally in the region and the best starting point for operations against extremists in the border regions separating Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, France has focused its strategy on sending troops to Niger.
Niger has been a crucial connection between France and the Sahel region as to watch over what’s happening in the bordering areas of Libya where extremists and traffickers have long taken advantage of the lack of the state.
Diplomats and analysts warned that losing Niger’s assistance would leave Paris with few choices and would likely force it to withdraw its forces.
Niger’s chief of staff appeared to back the rebels, stating that the army had “decided to adhere to the… declaration” made by soldiers in a late-night television address that they had removed Bazoum out of power.
Around 1,000 to 1,500 French soldiers are stationed there, supported by drones and fighter jets. Another 1,000 soldiers are stationed in the adjacent country of Chad, where Paris has been less critical of a sluggish return to civilian government following a coup in 2021.
However, unlike in the past, the French troops’ only duty is to assist the Niger forces during operations.
