(3 minutes read)
France refuses any paternalism but also any weakness in Africa, said French President Emmanuel Macron recently as he referred to the volatile issues haunting the Sahel region
France refuses any paternalism but also any weakness in Africa, said French President Emmanuel Macron recently as he referred to the volatile issues haunting the Sahel region. He said the region is infested with an epidemic of putsches, although he was mostly referring to Niger, where the French ambassador was still in post despite an ultimatum from the ruling military. It may be recalled that Mali and Burkina Faso, neighbouring countries of Niger, recently faced coups and the military junta is still in power usurping democratically elected heads of state.
Read Also:
The French president told French ambassadors gathered at the Elysée Palace, to pursue a “responsible policy” in this area. There was an epidemic of putsches throughout the Sahel, he lamented, referring to the successive military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and, more recently, Niger.
The soldiers who seized power in Niger on July 26 have been holding the overthrown president, Mohamed Bazoum, prisoner in the presidential palace. Niger’s military junta has made France, the former colonial power, their prime target.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/algeria-navigates-peace-discussions-with-niger/
Macron recalled that France always supported diplomatic action. A segment of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), voiced concern over the long inaction of the military junta to release the arrested president and hand over the rule to civilian government. Emmanuel Macron said that the French ambassador to Niger was still in post, even though the military who had taken power had requested his departure. The ruling Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP), headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, told the French ambassador in Niamey, Sylvain Itté to leave the country.. But France is insisting not to obey the order since it has not recognized the military junta while backing the deposed democratically elected president.
Read Also:
The CNSP also denounced the military agreements between Niamey and Paris, which has 1,500 soldiers in Niger. Before the coup d’état, the latter was involved in the fight against jihadist groups that have been bloodying this country and a large part of the Sahel for years. In the meantime, thousands of people in favour of the coup d’état demonstrated near the French military base in Niamey recently, holding up placards demanding the departure of French troops.
But France is taking a firm stance, arguing that it does not recognize the military regime. “The putschists have no authority” to demand the departure of the ambassador, said the French Foreign Ministry on Friday evening.
