Faced with an “epidemic of putschs throughout the Sahel”, the latest of which took place at the end of July in Niger, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday, August 28, denied any “paternalism” as well as any “weakness” of France in Africa. “Neither paternalism nor weakness because otherwise we are nowhere,” he said during his speech at the annual conference of ambassadors at the Elysee Palace, defending in particular the maintenance of the French ambassador in Niamey.
He considered that “the weakness that some have shown with regard to previous putsches has nourished regional vocations”, in reference to the military coups that have successively taken place in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, then in Niger.
“I call on all the states in the region to have a responsible policy”, he insisted, recalling that “[they] support [the] diplomatic action, and when it decides military, of the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], in a partnership approach”.
Since their putsch on July 26, the soldiers who seized power in Niger have held President Mohamed Bazoum prisoner in the presidential palace and have taken France, the former colonial power, as their preferred target, demanding the departure of its ambassador.
Firm policy
The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) in power, headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, had asked Friday evening for the departure of Sylvain Itté, within forty-eight hours.
Just as the ultimatum ended on Sunday evening, thousands of pro-coup protesters demonstrated near the French military base, holding signs demanding the departure of French troops. Paris supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in any action to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Faced with the putsch and intimidation of the military in Niamey, France takes a firm stand, arguing that it does not recognize the military regime. “The putschists have no authority” to demand the departure of the ambassador, the foreign ministry said on Friday evening.
“We must not give in to a narrative used by the putschists which would consist of saying ‘our enemy has become France'”, warned Mr. Macron.
“The problem for Nigeriens today are putschists who are putting them in danger because they are abandoning the fight against terrorism, because they are abandoning a policy that was economically good for them and they are losing all the international funding that was lifting them out of poverty,” he insisted.
A “risk of weakening Europe and the West”
The French president thus praised on Monday the work of French diplomats, who work in difficult conditions, like the staff who remained in Niamey. “France and diplomats have been confronted in recent months with situations in certain particularly difficult countries, whether in Sudan where France has been exemplary, in Niger at this very moment and I salute your colleague and your colleagues who have been listening since their position,” he said.
During his speech, Emmanuel Macron also warned against a “risk of weakening” of Europe and the West in the current international context. This context “has rather hardened”, “complicated” and “runs the risk of a weakening of the West and more particularly of our Europe”, he said, citing “the emergence of [ new] great international powers”.
The Head of State also demanded the release of the four French people held hostage in Iran “in unacceptable conditions”, promised “an initiative” to increase pressure on Azerbaijan regarding the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and pleaded for again for a strengthening of the European Union with, if necessary, cooperation at “several speeds” to “evolve on essential subjects”.
He also announced that the next Baghdad conference on Middle East security will take place “at the end of November”, calling on regional states to demand “increased cooperation” from Syria in the fight against terrorism if they want to. reintegrate it into regional bodies.
