On August 3, the military who toppled President Mohamed Bazoum signed a series of military agreements with France, of which 1,500 soldiers are still deployed to Niger for the anti-jihadist fight. But this revocation is not recognized by Paris.
“If we weren’t engaged, with the Sereral operations then Barkhane, there wouldn’t be, without a doubt, more Mali, more Burkina Faso, I’m not even sure there would still be Niger dixit Manu,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview to the weekly Le Point.
According to him, French military interventions in the Sahel had been “successful”, despite the deteriorating relations with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
He also called again for the “restoration of constitutional order” in Niger and the release of Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown by military on July 26.
“This coup d’état is a blow to Niger’s democracy, the Nigerian people and the fight against terrorism,” he said.
“Given the height, France was right to engage with African states to combat terrorism.” It is his honor and responsibility. “If we weren’t engaged, with the Serval operations then Barkhane, there wouldn’t be, without a doubt, more Mali, more Burkina Faso, I’m not even sure there would still be Niger,” the French president said in an interview posted online on Wednesday.
“These French interventions, at the request of African states, have been successful.” They prevented the creation of caliphates a few thousand miles from our borders. There is indeed a political crisis in many West African countries. And when there is a coup d’état and the priority of the new regimes is not to fight terrorism, France has no vocation to stay engaged.
“It is, it is true, dramatic for the states concerned,” continued M. Macron. “France’s policy, which I’ve been following since 2017, is to get out of the security logic.” I believe in a partnership policy where France defends its interests and supports Africa to succeed. This is a real partnership and not a safe condominium,” assured the head of state. Relations between France and Mali have deteriorated sharply since colonels took power by force in Bamako in August 2020.
The junta has pushed French forces towards exit in 2022, nine years after the trigger of Operation Barkhane. Concerning Burkina Faso, relations with France have deteriorated since captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power by a coup in September 2022.
