Global Courant
On Sunday, September 24, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would end its military presence in Niger and recall its ambassador from the country. “France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the coming hours, our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France,” Macron said. He also declared that military cooperation was “over” and that 1,500 French troops would leave in “the coming months”, with a full withdrawal by the end of the year.
France’s departure follows the coup that deposed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July. After which Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of Niger’s presidential guard, declared himself leader of a transitional government in the country.
The military junta welcomed Macron’s announcement, having previously refused to recognize the new government in Niger. “This Sunday we celebrate another step towards Niger’s sovereignty,” they said in a televised address. “This is a historic moment that speaks of the determination and will of the Nigerian people.”
Macron reiterated France’s position, affirming that Bazoum was being held against his will and remains the only recognized legitimate authority in the country. “He was targeted in this coup because he introduced courageous reforms and because there was a largely ethnic reckoning and a lot of political cowardice,” he said.
Niger is one of several former French colonies in West and Central Africa that have experienced military takeovers. This trend has been seen in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Chad, with the most recent coup taking place in Gabon last month. On September 16, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formed a coalition mutual defense pact against possible threats of armed rebellion or external aggression.
Coups often have damaging consequences for a country’s economy, including high inflation rates, higher government debt and poor economic growth. The coup in Niger has already led to this sanctions of ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations, with many Western allies withdrawing their financial support.
The withdrawal of foreign aid is likely to lead to a rise in unemployment and further dissatisfaction with the economic situation in the country. Mali’s GDP growth dropped to 1.8 percent due to a combination of ECOWAS sanctions, high food inflation and parasite infestations affecting agricultural production. This resulted in an increase in poverty and a postponement of fiscal consolidation targets.
The closed borders, imposed by sanctions, have led to rising food prices, a burden on the people of Niger amid economic and political instability. With heavy dependence on foreign aid, the military junta’s ability to finance development initiatives will be significantly tested due to a lack of adequate domestic revenue. Niger was the last partner to work with the West in the fight against violent extremism in the Sahel, and the junta’s decision to end military cooperation with France further weakens counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
There are concerns that the coup in Niger could create a security loophole that could escalate insurgent activities. Compared to democratically elected governments of the past, there are doubts about the military junta’s ability to control extremist violence. Military takeovers often increase insecurity, leading to an increase in terrorist attacks, as seen in Mali and Burkina Faso.
