The Prime Minister appointed by the military in power in Niger said on Monday that “exchanges” were underway to obtain a rapid departure of French soldiers, while hoping to obtain an “understanding” with the West African countries which are brandishing the threat of an armed intervention.
Monday, during a press conference lasting more than an hour, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine affirmed that the French forces were “in a position of illegality” in Niger and that the “exchanges which are in progress should allow very quickly “their withdrawal.
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.
Mr. Zeine, however, assured that his government hoped “if possible to maintain cooperation with a country with which we have shared a lot of things”.
Niger also withdrew French Ambassador Sylvain Itté’s immunity and diplomatic visa and demanded his expulsion.
A decision justified according to Mr. Zeine by the “contemptuous behavior” of the diplomat who refused to respond to an invitation to a meeting with the authorities on August 25.
France, a former colonial power which regularly reaffirms that it does not recognize the new authorities in Niamey, has indicated that it does not intend to apply these decisions, whether it concerns the soldiers or the ambassador.
“Do you think we’re going to send the police into the embassy? It’s an enclave that we recognize. But if he comes out, he’s an irregular person,” Zeine said.
According to Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the premises of an embassy are “inviolable” and agents of the state in which they are located are not permitted “to enter therein, except with the consent of the head of the mission”.
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 of reaching an agreement in a few days,” he said.
The West African organization has not changed its position since the coup: it is calling 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 for their part a transition of “three years maximum”.
ECOWAS has repeatedly threatened armed intervention and imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niger.
“It is expected 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,” said Mr. Zeine 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 the internal affairs of other countries” and encourages African countries “to solve their problems in the African way”, explained Jiang Feng, at the end of a meeting with Mr. Zein.
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.
05/09/2023 11:16:02 – Niamey (Niger) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
