After the condemnation of the coup d’etat carried out on Wednesday July 26 by the military against the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, France announced this Saturday the suspension, “with immediate effect”, of “all its actions of development aid and ‘budgetary support’ for this West African country.
The announcement was made through a press release from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs which also underlined that Paris “demands the return without delay to the Nigerien constitutional order, around President Bazoum, elected by the Nigeriens”.
Before the publication of the press release, the head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, underlined in a publication that “the people of Niger democratically elected President Bazoum” and “his will must be respected and the constitutional order restored without delay “.
This coup complicates the task for France, which had to deploy its soldiers to Niger, who were no longer welcome in Mali where they were operating in the fight against terrorism before packing up in August 2022. After the putsch, citizens of Niger took to the streets to support the military and demand the withdrawal of French troops.
The return to constitutional order is also demanded by many organizations including the African Union which, through its Peace and Security Council, has invited the Nigerien army to “return to its barracks and restore constitutional authority within 15 days”, while demanding the immediate and unconditional release of President Bazoum and all the other detainees, under penalty of sanctions.
The coup in Niger, one of France’s last allies in the Sahel, is the third perpetrated in recent years, after Burkina Faso and Mali.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1267 of 07/29/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
