France revolts against Niger, vows to keep their Ambassador in the country after being ordered to leave
By Daily Tab24. Updated: Aug 27, 2023. 10:49 am.
The strangest development of the Niger coup has just propped up. France refused to adhere to the order of the Niger’s military government to recall their country’s ambassador after getting 48hours ultimatum to leave. The French government revolted and told the military government of Niger that their ambassador, Sylvain Itte would not leave the country as ordered by the military government of Niger.
The survival of France seems to depend on the pro-western government of Basoum who was deposed in a July 26 coup 2023. The country is growing impatient with the new military government and desperation is creeping in. The coupists have directly targeted French interest in the country, creating a remarkable rift between the country and its former colonial power. The rift is widening and could worsen in days and weeks to come if nothing is done now.
France significantly opposed the July 26 coup and has continued to stand on the side of Basoum who was deposed and detained by the military junta. France has used different proxies to try to reinstate their friendly President, but the move did not yield due to the defiant stance of the junta that has chosen to embrace their mission without any form of interferences. The junta continues to be firm in their decision to stick with new military government.
Reinstating Basoum is appearing impossible as the day goes on. France has said they would not shift from their position – which they would continue to uphold the constitution of Niger that made the military junta illegal. France has called for a return to constitutional order and said they would only listen to Basoum – a position that is driven by French colonial and neocolonial history in Niger.
Protesters in Niger have attacked French embassy and asked the country to leave Niger. The protesters said they have been under the whims and caprices of their former colonial master and that their country has rather deteriorated under the French neocolonial control of the country. They further called for the total withdrawal of French troops from Niamey.
France has reacted with anger, warning that those that target French interest and attack French properties will pay for any damage, a warning the protesters paid deaf ears to. Basoum was accused of being imposed on Niger by France, who is the major beneficiary of Niger’s uranium.
Since the coup, France has refused to identify with the military junta and has continued to say they only recognize the government of Basoum. The military junta have approached the issue kindly, giving the French ambassador time to familiarize with the new military government and diplomatically negotiate his country’s position with the new military government, instead, French ambassador stayed away – refused to recognize the junta as a new government in protest against the July 26 coup.
The junta demanded the leave of the ambassador on the account of working against the interest of Niger, but Paris said the junta has no legal right or neither recognized by the constitution as a legitimate government, hence they defiantly said the country’s ambassador would not leave Niger.
Since the coup, France has been the target of the junta, with the involvement of Mali and Burkina Faso, two countries that have expelled France ambassadors and cut diplomatic ties with the country, it was clear the same fate would befall France in Niger. French interest in Sahel-Sahara region of Africa is becoming increasingly frail.
It would be hard for France to leave the region as it has long history of managing and dictating to the region, but recent coups in Africa seems to be changing the dynamics for them.
