France does not recognize Niger’s rebel government and will agree to remove its soldiers only if asked to do so by deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday.
Niger’s military junta has accused France of deploying its forces in some parts of West Africa for a military intervention in Niger, according to AFP, citing regime member Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane.
“French troops were deployed on the territory of Niger at the request of Niger itself … France’s position is simple: we condemn it [the coup], we demand the release of President Bazoum and the restoration of constitutional order, and we do not recognize the legitimacy of the rebels’ statements … And if we ever redeploy troops, we will do so at the request of President Bazoum,” Macron stated at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
Thousands of people rallied in the Niger capital Niamey on separate occasions to call for the withdrawal of French troops from the country, as requested by the junta that seized power in June.
Protesters gathered near a French military base after several civic organizations issued the call for the withdrawal of French troops from the country.
France condemned the coup and reiterated its support for the “legitimate government” of Niger. The coup leaders halted gold and uranium exports to France, blocked French media, and denounced several military pacts with Paris.
In mid-August, they demanded that French forces withdraw from Niger by early September. Mass rallies have taken place in Niger since the coup, calling for the complete withdrawal of French troops from the country.
On August 3, the military government of Niger announced that it was scrapping all military agreements with France, which has 1,500 troops stationed in the country. France has rejected the move, saying that only the legitimate government of Niger can make such a decision.
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