NIAMEY (Niger): The military government in Niger, which seized control in July, has accused France of stationing troops in various West African nations as part of “military intervention.”
Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for the government, stated that France “continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries in preparation for the aggression against Niger that it is planning in cooperation with this community organisation.” remarks aired on Saturday on national television.
Relations with France, Niger’s former colonial power, deteriorated rapidly after Paris sided with ousted President Mohamed Bazoum following a coup in July.
The Sahel state is also embroiled in a dispute with the West African bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened military intervention if diplomatic pressure to return Bazoum to office fails.
On August 3, Niger’s coup leaders reneged on several military cooperation agreements with France, which has about 1,500 troops stationed in the country as part of the broader fight against jihadists.
On Tuesday, a Paris-based defense ministry source told AFP the French military was in talks with the military regime to withdraw “elements” of its presence in Niger.
According to the regime’s statement on September 1, its chief of staff “received the commander of French forces in the Sahel… to discuss a plan to release French military capabilities.”
