The Prime Minister appointed by the military in power in Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, affirmed on Monday September 4 that “exchanges” were underway to obtain a rapid departure of French soldiers, while hoping to obtain an “understanding” with the countries West Africans who are brandishing the threat of armed intervention.
Recalling that the Nigerien government has denounced military agreements with Paris, the prime minister appointed by the putschists affirmed that the French forces “are in a position of illegality” and considered that “the exchanges which are in progress should allow very quickly that these forces are withdrawing”. “What interests us is, if possible, to maintain cooperation with a country with which we have shared a lot of things,” he added.
On August 3, the generals who took power in a coup had denounced several military cooperation agreements with Paris, which has some 1,500 soldiers engaged in the anti-jihadist fight in Niger. One of these texts contained a notice of one month, according to them. Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, however, assured that his government hoped “if possible to maintain cooperation with a country with which we have shared a lot of things”.
Diplomatic tensions are at their height between the military regime in power since the July 26 coup and France, which does not recognize their legitimacy. On August 3, the generals who took power in a coup had denounced several of these agreements. One of these texts contained a notice of one month, according to the military. Niger also withdrew the immunity and diplomatic visa of the French ambassador, Sylvain Itté, and demanded his expulsion.
France regularly reaffirms that it does not recognize the new authorities in Niamey and has indicated that it does not intend to apply these decisions, whether it concerns the soldiers or the ambassador. On Monday, Prime Minister Zeine called the French ambassador “contemptuous behavior” by refusing to respond to an invitation to meet with authorities on August 25. This weekend, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Niamey to demand the departure of French forces.
The head of government appointed by the military who overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 also spoke of dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). “We have not stopped discussions with ECOWAS. We are hopeful to reach an agreement in a few days,” he said.
The West African organization has not changed its position since the coup: it calls for an “immediate” return to constitutional order, which requires the release of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his reinstatement in office. The new authorities in Niamey are planning a transition of “three years maximum”.
ECOWAS has repeatedly threatened armed intervention and imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niger. “We expect at any time to be able to be attacked. All arrangements are made. It would be an unjust war. We are determined to defend ourselves, if ever there is an attack,” Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said on Monday. But the diplomatic solution continues to be a priority.
China, through its ambassador in Niamey, indicated on Monday that it wanted to “play a mediating role” in the Niger crisis. “China always pursues a principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs” and encourages African countries “to solve their problems in African ways,” Jiang Feng said after meeting with Ali. Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
On Thursday, the President of Nigeria, also at the head of ECOWAS, opened the door to a possible short transition period. He cited as an example the nine-month transition that had been implemented in his country in 1999, seeing “no reason why this could not happen again in Niger, if the military authorities are sincere”.
On Monday, Niger also reopened its airspace for commercial flights. He had closed it on August 6 “in the face of the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries”. Niger’s airspace remains closed to all military flights, except with prior authorization from the authorities, according to a spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, quoted by the Niger News Agency.
