Niger junta revokes military deals with France
4 Min Read
Following Bazoum's overthrow, Niger's regional and Western affiliates, especially France, have implemented sweeping sanctions in an effort to put pressure on the coup leaders.
-
Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger, on August 3, 2023. (AP)
On Thursday, Niger's junta annulled a slew of military cooperation agreements with France.
Last week's military takeover in Niger, like recent coups in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, occurred amid a growing tide of anti-French sentiment.
France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, where they claim they are assisting in the battle against an extremist insurgency connected to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Amadou Abdramane, a junta spokesperson, announced on national television late Thursday a decision to revoke five military treaties with France running from 1977 to 2020, adding that a diplomatic warning will be addressed to France.
Following Bazoum's overthrow, Niger's regional and Western affiliates, especially France, have implemented sweeping sanctions in an effort to put pressure on the coup leaders to reinstate the ousted president - the sixth coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
The coup unfolded on Wednesday, July 26 when members of the Nigerien presidential guard announced on national television that they had ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Subsequently, they closed the country's borders and imposed a curfew "until further notice."
The coup came shortly after the presidential guard detained President Bazoum at his residence and sealed off access to public offices in the capital city, Niamey.
In an editorial article published Thursday in The Washington Post, ousted president Bazoum stated that he is a hostage and urged the international community to restore "constitutional order".
Bazoum wrote, "This coup, launched against my government by a faction in the military on July 26, has no justification whatsoever. If it succeeds, it will have devastating consequences for our country, our region, and the entire world."
Niger also banned transmissions of French state-funded international news stations France 24 and RFI earlier on Thursday, prompting the French Foreign Ministry to denounce the move.
Hundreds of demonstrators marched in Niamey, the Nigerien capital, on Thursday to express their opposition to foreign pressure on coup leaders. In addition to penalties, the main regional group, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has stated that if troops do not return Bazoum to power by Sunday, it may authorize the use of force.
Down with France, ECOWAS, EU
"Long live Niger, Russia, Mali, and Burkina. Down with France, ECOWAS, EU." Others gathered outside the National Assembly waving Russian flags.
The junta is at odds with ECOWAS, which has adopted its strongest position yet on the coup in West Africa, where it claims coups are common.
An ECOWAS team is in Niamey, seeking "a conclusive and amicable resolution," while the bloc's defense chiefs are gathering this week to consider a possible military reaction, which they have stated would be a last choice.
The junta declared on Thursday that any ECOWAS action or attempted aggression will be met with an instant riposte by Niger's military forces on any ECOWAS member-state save those sympathetic to Niger.
Mali and Burkina Faso have stated that any action in Niger would be considered a "declaration of war" against them as well and that they would come to Niamey's help. On Wednesday, Tiani dispatched a general to both nations to shore up support.
French authorities responded to the revoking stating that while it took note of the decision, claiming that the deals have been made with "legitimate authorities". The French Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Paris and the international community only recognize Bazoum's administration as the "legitimate authorities".
Late last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed that the recent events that unfolded in Niger were reflecting a larger trend in the belt of Africa south of the Sahara, where extremism and military escalations have been plaguing the Sahel region for a long time.
According to the UN chief, instability is "particularly glaring in countries already affected by conflict, violent extremism, and terrorism."
Since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, the African continent has been swept by a wave of change fueled by a sentiment of anti-Western imperialism.
In June, Niger's parliament approved a new national anthem in an effort to free the country of any relics of French colonization.
