France is accused by the Nigerien military of wanting to “intervene militarily” to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup on Wednesday, July 26.
“In its line of action, going in the direction of finding ways and means to intervene militarily in Niger, France, with the complicity of certain Nigeriens, held a meeting at the staff of the National Guard of Niger , to obtain the necessary political and military authorizations, “say the putschists in a press release read this Monday, July 31 on national television.
French President Emmanuel Macron threatened on Sunday to respond “immediately and intractably” to any attack on French nationals and his interests in Niger, where thousands of pro-military coup protesters targeted his embassy in Niamey. Some wanted to enter, before being dispersed by tear gas canisters.
Niger is a strategic partner of France, which currently has some 1,500 soldiers in this key country in the fight against jihadists.
