By Our Reporter
In a bid to end the” Francafriqe”, and France’s post-colonial policies in Africa, Niger’s junta has demanded that France removes its troops spread across several African countries. Niger has also accused France of considering a military collaboration with the regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States against Niger.
The spokesman to the junta, Maj. Amadou Abdramane, in a statement broadcast on television on Saturday, claimed that France has sent forces in about six African countries for a proposed military intervention.
The military ringleaders allege that France has deployed military aircraft and armored vehicles in countries like Ivory Coast, Senegal and Benin, in a bid to restore Mahmoud Bazoum, the ousted president of Niger, back into power.
Niger has consistently accused France, its former colonial masters of exploiting the country to France’s gain. For instance since attaining independence from France in 1960, France has continued to ensure that their stooges are elected as presidents for increased exploitation of Niger’s natural resources.
Since forcefully taking over power in July 26, 2023, over a reported dissatisfaction with economic, social and security governance in the country under the watch of Mohammed Bazoum, the junta has defiantly held onto power despite pleas and threats that it should restore power to the democratically elected government.
In order to consolidate its hold onto power, the military ring leaders have increased the sale of the country’s uranium to the globally acceptable price of 200 Euros per Kilo as against the 80cents per kilo that France was buying it. These are some of the grievances that the junta has against their former colonial masters, accusing them of being responsible for the grinding poverty in Niger despite being rich in huge natural resources.
Niger is a mass producer of uranium and is reportedly counting on oil exploration and gold mining to revive its economy.
According to Associated Press, French president, Emmanuel Macron, refused to directly respond to the junta’s claim that France was getting ready forces within the ECOWAS region for a possible military intervention in Niger. He spoke after the G20 summit held in India.
“If we redeploy anything, it will only be at the demand of Bazoum and in coordination with him, not with those people who are holding a president hostage,” he said.
Macron, however, added that France “fully” supports the position of ECOWAS, which has said it’s considering a military intervention as an option to reinstate Bazoum as president.
Buoyed by the massive support the junta has continued to receive from the Nigeriens, it is demanding that French ambassador and troops leave Niger.
Given that Niger has been a strategic partner of France and the West in the fight against terrorism in the conflict ridden Sahel region, it is not clear what will become of the growing jihadi movement in the region and how it can be curbed.
With additional reports from Associated Press
