France recalls its ambassador and diplomats from Niger

On September 24, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision to recall the French ambassador and diplomats from Niger. It is specified that they should arrive in Paris in the coming hours.

“France has decided to return its ambassador. In the coming hours, our ambassador, along with many diplomats, will return to France“, said the French President.

In addition, Macron said that France would stop “military cooperation” with Niger and promised to withdraw its troops by the end of 2023.

Let us recall that in early September, the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamin Zein, appointed by the rebels, said that French forces were illegally in his country, and the military authorities began negotiations on the speedy withdrawal of these troops.

On July 25, military personnel of the presidential guard blocked the palace of the head of the republic in Niamey, where Mohamed Bazoum was located. On July 27, the Niger military went on national television to announce the overthrow of the president.

Russia condemned the overthrow of elected President Bazoum. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for the restoration of constitutional order in the state. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that Europe does not recognize the change of power in Niger as a result of the rebellion.

On July 31, Niger residents rallied at the French Embassy. The protesters chanted anti-French slogans and demanded the closure of foreign military bases located in Niger. France began evacuating its citizens from Niger on August 1. The European Union later announced the evacuation of citizens. On August 3, the central body of the rebels, the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland, announced the termination of the powers of the republic’s ambassadors to Nigeria, the USA, Togo and France.

On August 4, Reuters reported that the states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had agreed on a plan for possible intervention in Niger. This possibility was criticized by a number of countries, including Algeria and Chad. The Russian Foreign Ministry also called interference in Niger’s affairs counterproductive. On August 18, ECOWAS announced that it was ready for a military invasion in order to restore the constitutional order in Niger and even set a start date. Rebel leader Abdurahman Tchiani stressed that Niger does not want war, but is ready for it. In addition, Niger’s armed forces have deployed personnel to state borders to repel attacks from neighbors.