France has decided to remain silent in response to accusations from countries in the Sahel region of Africa that Paris is supporting militants, Jeune Afrique magazine reported, citing the Elysee Palace.
“We realized that responses to the provocations of the Sahel juntas do us a disservice […]. Every reaction we make is used against us. From now on, our strategy is to remain silent,” an unnamed adviser to the French presidential administration told the outlet.
This reaction came in response to the statements of the leader of Niger, Abdourahamane Tiani, who earlier accused France of supplying weapons to terrorists from the Boko Haram* group and French intelligence training Ansar al-Islam* militants.
After the removal of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum from power and the formation of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland in summer 2023, the agreement with France on the deployment of a military contingent in Niger to fight extremist groups was denounced.
The rebels demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador and announced the denunciation of military agreements with France, demanding the withdrawal of its troops. France has repeatedly stated that it only recognized the demands of the legitimate authorities of Niger, but in late September that year, it decided to recall the ambassador.
The withdrawal of troops began in late October: French military units handed over control of the military camp in the city of Ouallam, in the Tillaberi region, in a strategic area on the border with Mali in the country's south-west to the Niger army. At that time, about 1,400 French troops were stationed in Niger.
Meanwhile, in September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision to recall his ambassador Sylvain Itte and the staff of the embassy in Niamey. A few days later, Itte left the capital of Niger.
* terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other countries around the world