In Abuja, Nigeria, the new leadership in Niger has accused France of amassing troops in preparation for a potential military intervention in the country following the coup that took place in July. French President Emmanuel Macron, however, stated on Sunday that any action on their part would only occur at the request of the ousted Nigerien leader, Mohamed Bazoum.
The spokesperson for Niger’s junta, Maj. Amadou Abdramane, revealed that France is also contemplating cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a potential intervention.
Abdramane stated in a broadcast on state television late Saturday, “France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS countries as part of preparations for an aggression against Niger.”
Macron, responding to the junta’s claims, indicated during the Group of 20 summit that any French involvement would be contingent on Bazoum’s request and coordinated with him. He emphasized that France would not cooperate with those who currently hold the president hostage. Macron did express full support for ECOWAS, which has suggested military intervention as an option to restore Bazoum to the presidency.
Since the removal of Bazoum from power, the Nigerien junta has capitalized on anti-French sentiment among the population, requesting the departure of the French ambassador and troops. This move has garnered support domestically and defied international pressure to reinstate the president. Niger, once a French colony, had been a crucial partner of France and the West in combating rising jihadist violence in the conflict-ridden Sahel region, located below the Sahara Desert.
The junta’s spokesperson claimed that France has deployed military aircraft and armored vehicles in countries like Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Benin for potential military action, a statement that could not be independently verified by The Associated Press.
In response, the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland and the transitional government in Niger have appealed to the nation’s people to remain vigilant and resolute until French troops depart from their territory.
French military spokesperson Col. Pierre Gaudilliere disclosed that there are now slightly fewer than 1,500 French troops in Niger who had been working alongside Nigerien security forces to counter jihadist violence. All French activities in Niger have been suspended since the coup, with ongoing discussions about the future use of these capabilities.
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SOURCE
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/niger-junta-accuses-france-of-amassing-forces-for-a-military-intervention-after-the-coup-in-july/ar-AA1gviVM