Niger’s military junta has requested that France’s ambassador, Sylvain Itte, leave the country within 48 hours, citing “actions of the French government contrary to the interests of Niger” as one of the reasons. This move further escalates the international crisis in the West African nation, which has been in turmoil since a coup ousted its democratically-elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, last month. Niger, a former French colony, has been a key partner with France in the fight against jihadi violence in the Sahel region.
The junta has also authorized troops from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso to come to its defense, raising the stakes in a stand-off with other West African nations who are threatening to use force to reinstate Bazoum. The junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has signed executive orders authorizing the security forces of the two countries to intervene on Nigerien territory in the event of aggression.
The situation has become increasingly tense, with the French Embassy in Niamey being attacked in the early days of the coup. The junta has also requested help from private Russian military company Wagner to stem extremist attacks, but it is unclear whether the request will be granted following the death of Wagner’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash this week.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani (Via Abdourahmane Tchiani/Twitter)
The West African bloc, ECOWAS, has threatened to use force to reinstate Bazoum, but ECOWAS Commission president, Omar Alieu Touray, has said that the bloc will continue to explore diplomatic options to reverse the coup. The bloc has also stated that it “stands against the use of private military contractors,” rejecting the junta’s request for help from Wagner.
The situation remains precarious, with over 7,000 migrants stranded in Niger unable to return home following the coup. The international community is watching the situation closely, with the stakes high as the crisis deepens and the threat of violence increases.
