Niger is bracing itself for a weekend of planned anti-French rallies, with rising tensions between the country’s new military rulers and its traditional ally, France.
Protests and Sit-Ins: A coalition of civil society groups opposing the presence of French forces in Niger has called for a three-day sit-in, beginning on Friday. This protest, organized by the M62 grouping, is set to take place in central Niamey and demands the departure of the French contingent, which comprises around 1,500 troops stationed in Niger to assist in the fight against jihadist insurgency. Separately, another civil society group, the Patriotic Front for the Sovereignty of Niger, has called for a “permanent” sit-in starting on Saturday, with the goal of continuing it “until the departure of all French soldiers.”
Deteriorating Relations: Relations between Niger and France have been deteriorating since the coup on July 26, which toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, a close ally of France. Paris has refused to recognize the new rulers in Niger, and the row escalated this week when Niger’s military regime stripped France’s ambassador of diplomatic immunity and ordered his expulsion. France rejected the demand, leading to increased tensions.
Military Agreements and Transition: Additionally, on August 3, Niger’s new rulers denounced military agreements with France, a move that France has ignored on the grounds of legitimacy. The agreements cover different timeframes, with one dating back to 2012. The new military regime is also facing calls for a transition back to civilian rule, with varying suggestions for the duration of the transition, ranging from three years proposed by the military rulers to nine months suggested by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and six months proposed by Algeria.
ECOWAS Warning and Sanctions: ECOWAS, the regional bloc, has warned that it could militarily intervene to restore civilian rule if diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis fail. The bloc has also imposed sanctions on Niger after the coup. Human rights organizations have called for the lifting of these economic measures, arguing that they would further worsen the vulnerability of Niger’s population.
Niger is dealing with two jihadist insurgencies: one in the southeast, spilling over from Nigeria, and another in the southwest, involving militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso.
The situation remains highly fluid, and the protests and tensions between Niger and France continue to evolve.