Niger Alleges France Amassing Troops for Military Intervention

Facts

• On Saturday, Niger's military accused France of amassing soldiers and military resources in West African countries in preparation for 'military intervention.'¹
• According to the leaders of Niger's coup, France also plans to join forces with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the effort.²
• Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani — former leader of the Presidential Guard which staged a coup in July to overthrow then-President Mohammed Bazoum — last month promised to return Niger to civilian rule within three years.³
• Meanwhile, French Pres. Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that, though the country supports ECOWAS' position to reinstate Bazoum, military action will only be taken at the former president's demand.⁴
• Previously, Niger's coup leaders had given the French ambassador 48 hours to leave the country over his alleged refusal to meet the nation's new foreign minister.⁵
• This news comes after Niger's Junta severed several military agreements with France, which has stationed about 1.5K troops in the country to fight against jihadists.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Abc news, ³BBC News, ⁴Associated Press, ⁵Guardian and ⁶CNN.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by BBC News. Modern instability in West Africa is primarily down to hundreds of years of European colonialism. While other colonizing nations have largely retracted, France has remained a significant military player in West African countries. The coups that we've witnessed in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Chad, and now Niger with the subsequent ousting of French forces have been due to persistent meddling, the exploitation of West African people and resources, and failed efforts to stop Islamic insurgencies overrunning the land.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Euronews. France has been supportive of the allyship with Niger. However, Paris will make every effort to protect the French nationalists and assets currently housed within Niger as the dissent grows. Pres. Emmanuel Macron has been clear that any attack against French interests will result in swift and just retaliation. France seeks a peaceful agreement to restore order in Niger and return the democratically elected former president Bazoum to his position leading the Niger people.

Predictions