Thousands of pro-coup demonstrators in Niger protested outside a French military base in Niamey on Saturday, opposing France’s reluctance to withdraw its military presence from the country, as demanded by Niger’s junta. The protesters carried banners expressing their discontent, with phrases such as “French army leave our country”. This rally marks the most significant since the July 26 coup.
Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s former President and an ally of France, has been under detention by his presidential guard since the coup. This development has strained the bilateral relations between France and Niger significantly. On 3rd August, the junta in Niger annulled the military agreements with France initiated by the Bazoum administration and requested the 1,500 French soldiers stationed in Niger to exit the country. This request was, however, denied by French authorities who view the junta as illegitimate.
The junta escalated matters when it revoked the accreditation of the French Ambassador Sylvain Itte on August 25th and instructed him to leave the country within 48 hours. In response to this, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that the ambassador would continue his stay in Niger despite the junta’s demand and reiterated France’s advocacy for the detained President Bazoum. Niger subsequently dismissed Macron’s remarks over the weekend, blaming him for attempt to manipulate the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to expand France’s influential power in Africa.
Interestingly, France’s influence in the region has been weakening in recent years. An example is the succession of coups and protests against French military presence conducted in Mali and Burkina Faso, both former French colonies, in 2020 and 2022.
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