Situation in Niger After Military Coup
On July 26, Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader.

French Military Refuses to Leave Niger, Says Ousted President Bazoum’s Adviser

© AFP 2023 Ludovic MarinFrench President Emmanuel Macron greets Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum
French President Emmanuel Macron greets Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 09.08.2023
Subscribe
The French military has rejected the Nigerien rebels’ demand to leave the African country, Antinekar Al-Hassan, the political adviser of ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, told Sputnik.
The rebels who seized power in Niger after a military coup have announced the denunciation of military agreements with France. Niger currently hosts 1,500 French soldiers.
"The junta demanded the departure of the French, but the French refused to leave. They are not going to leave the country, this is an illegitimate regime," Al-Hassan said.
Moreover, the political adviser said that the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Niger may result in all of Africa being at war.
ECOWAS gave coup leaders one week to reinstate Bazoum and restore order, hinting that it would resort to military intervention otherwise. Its ultimatum expired on Sunday.
"I don't think ECOWAS will know the price of this mistake of military intervention in Niger, because if they intervene militarily, it means that all of Africa will be at war," the adviser said.
Al-Hassan added that there had been talks with ECOWAS, the European Union and the United Nations following the military coup in Niger.

"We spoke with ECOWAS and the European Union, as well as with the UN. But I did not hear about Russia in the negotiations," Al-Hassan said.

Regarding the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the West African country in response to the coup, Bazoum's Aid said they were "illegal and illegitimate" because they directly affect the people of the country.
The Economic Community of West African States has suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze rebels' assets and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country, as well as closed all borders in response to the coup. Nigeria, Niger's southern neighbor, cut electricity supply to the nation.
"This [sanctions] are illegal and illegitimate. We are against sanctions. It will not be the junta that will suffer, the people of Niger will suffer," Al-Hassan said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the European Union's Special Representative for the African Sahel Emanuela Del Re said the EU is satisfied that ECOWAS sanctions against Niger are starting to take effect by causing a shortage of food and medication in the coup-hit country.
"Sanctions are starting to take effect. There is not enough medication, not enough food. Power outages are even more frequent than before. If we want [the Nigerien military] junta to weaken, we must continue with the sanctions," Del Re told Italian daily La Repubblica.
Newsfeed
0