France collapse in Niger is inevitable
By Daily Tab24. Updated September 6, 2023. 8:51 am.
The pressure to force French soldiers to quit Niger looks to start yielding, with multiple reports suggesting there are discussions to that effect. Since the July 26 coup that deposed French-backed President of Niger, the coast has been unclear for the future of the relations between the two countries.
Citizens of Niger have rather taken it too far with serious protests across the country – calling for the complete disconnection with France. Citizens have accused France of extortions and neocolonialism, making life unbearable for the people.
Niger, a country known for Uranium – is still grappling with poverty. France is the major recipient of the natural resources of the Sahel-country.
France has played a fatherly role to the poor African country they colonized – involved in multiple military operations that woefully failed. France had previously said the presence of French soldiers in the sahel-sahara region of Africa is important to the fight against terrorism. The claim was accepted but the importance has not solved the very problem Niger faced.
Niger junta had massive fallout with France after the coup, because of Macron’s effort to return the country to constitutional order. France has been criticized for being selfish, and using a puppet President to milk the poor African country.
Reacting to the claims of using Niger as a cash cow, Macron said Niger would not had existed if not for the military operation financed and carried out by French troops. He said terrorists would have overrun Niger and other countries had it not been for the sake of France, and further said France deserves to be called in when issues are discussed in Africa.
the refusal of France to recognize Niger junta deteriorated the weakened relations between them, forcing the junta to expel French ambassador and severe military corporations with the country. France in retaliation refused to recall their ambassador and further insisted they would only take order from a legitimate government of Niger, presided by Basoum.
France commands influence in Niger, but the action of Nigeriens have played into the hands of junta, who stood aside and watch citizens of Niger call for the exit of French soldiers. The action of the Niger citizens weakened France, who sees it as a shield for the junta.
“France cannot carry out any sort of offensive against the junta because the people are shielding them. Nigeriens have made the junta impossible to impenetrate, because they are the ones pushing the junta and when the whole country want you to do something, you really have to do it because they will stand by you and defend you in any case” an analyst with Daily Tab24 said.
Protests have been raging since the July coup, and citizens of Niger have showed willingness to enroll with the country’s military. Enrollment was billed into the military by the organizers of the protest, but at some point, was cut off. It has been feared that allowing civilians to enroll into the military would cause chaos.
