Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire not sending troops for intervention in Niger
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Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire both decided to abstain from sending troops to Benin.
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Mohamed Toumba, one of the soldiers who ousted Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, addresses supporters of Niger's ruling junta in Niamey, Niger, on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023 (AP)
French radio RFI reported on Saturday that both Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire refrained from sending troops to Benin for possible intervention in Niger.
Both have conducted reconnaissance missions in Benin, which reportedly authorized the deployment of troops for possible military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), RFI reported.
That said, the military in Benin is still waiting for orders from the politicians, as per the report.
Earlier this week, the foreign ministry of France confirmed to AFP that the ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, landed in Paris on September 27 after leaving Niger weeks after tensions between Paris and the new military leader in Niamey.
This comes amid deteriorating relations deepen between France and its former colony, Niger, with the latter's new rulers demanding full departure.
What you need to know
On July 26, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani led a coup d'état in Niger, ousting and detaining ex-President Mohamed Bazoum.
France condemned the coup and reiterated its support for the "legitimate government" of Niger. The coup leaders halted gold and uranium exports to France, blocked French media, and denounced several military pacts with Paris.
In mid-August, they demanded that French forces withdraw from Niger by early September. Mass rallies have taken place in Niger since the coup, calling for the complete withdrawal of French troops from the country.
On August 3, the military government of Niger announced that it was scrapping all military agreements with France, which has 1,500 troops stationed in the country. France has rejected the move, saying that only the legitimate government of Niger can make such a decision.
The military leaders said the agreements had different expiration dates, but one of them, which was signed in 2012, was due to expire within a month.
