Niger’s putschists cancel military agreements with France and vow an “immediate response” to any “aggression”
The putschists in Niger announced, in a statement read on national television on Thursday evening, the cancellation of several military agreements concluded with France, especially related to the “positioning” of the French battalion and the “status” of the soldiers present in the framework of the battle against extremists, vowing also an “immediate response” to any “Aggression” or “attempted aggression” by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
A member of the coup military council said that in the face of “France’s indifferent attitude” and its reaction to the situation in Niger, “the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland decided to nullify cooperation agreements with this country in the field of security and defense.”
Likewise, the perpetrators of the military coup in Niger announced the “termination” of the missions of their country’s ambassadors to France, the United States, Nigeria and Togo, at a time when international pressure is mounting to push for the return of constitutional order to the country.
The coup military council said that “the duties of ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiaries of the Republic of Niger (…) to the French Republic, Nigeria, the Togolese Republic and the United States have been terminated.”
The coup perpetrators announced that they would respond “immediately” to any “aggression or attempted aggression” against their country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 3 days before the end of a deadline given by the organization for the return of constitutional order in Niger.
The coup military council said, “Any aggression, or attempted aggression, against the state of Niger will witness an immediate response and without warning by the Nigerien defense and security forces to any member (of the organization’s members) except for the friendly countries whose membership has been suspended,” in reference to Burkina Faso and Mali.
This comes at a time when a delegation from ECOWAS arrived Thursday evening in Niger’s capital, Niamey, in an attempt to find a way out of the crisis, 8 days after the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
A statement issued by the Nigerian presidency stated that the ECOWAS delegation, led by former Nigerian head of state Abdusalam Abubakar, “will meet the putschists in Niger to present their requests.”
Before the delegation arrived in Niamey, Nigerian President Paula Tinubu stressed the need to reach a “friendly solution” to the crisis in Niger after the sanctions imposed on this country and to give the putschists a deadline to restore constitutional order.
ECOWAS imposed strict sanctions on Niamey and gave the coup perpetrators until Sunday to restore elected President Bazoum, who was overthrown on July 26, to office, hinting at the use of “force”.
The regional organization, which suspended especially financial dealings with Niger, said it was preparing for the possibility of military intervention, but stressed that this remains “the last option on the table.”
Meanwhile, the chiefs of staff of the armies of the member states of the Economic Community of West African States are meeting in Abuja until Friday, while several countries in the region, including Senegal, have expressed their willingness to intervene if Bazoum is not reinstated.
Relations are tense between Niger and France, the former colonial power. Thursday, in Niger, the broadcasts of “France 24” and “Radio France International” were stopped, in “a decision taken outside any legal framework,” according to the parent company of the two media outlets. France Media Monde.
A senior official in Niger told Agence France-Presse that the measure came “with instructions from the new military authorities.”
“France reaffirms its permanent commitment and determination to preserve freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the protection of journalists,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In turn, the “Reporters Without Borders” organization denounced “violating the public’s right to obtain a variety of information in an already difficult security context in the Sahel region.”
Television and radio broadcasts have already been suspended in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, which are led by two military councils, and Niger’s ruling army sent two delegations to the two countries on Wednesday.
The authorities in Ouagadougou and Bamako warned Monday in a joint statement that any military intervention in Niger to restore Bazoum to power would be tantamount to “a declaration of war on Burkina Faso and Mali.”
The suspension of the broadcasts of “France 24” and “Radio France Internationale” comes on the day of the sixty-third anniversary of Niger’s independence from France.
Since the coup, relations with Paris have deteriorated, and the incidents that occurred Sunday during a demonstration in front of the French embassy led to the evacuation of more than 500 French people.
Thousands of demonstrators supporting the ruling military council marched peacefully in the streets of several cities in Niger on Thursday, at the invitation of the “M62” coalition, which is composed of “sovereign” civil society organizations.
Many of the demonstrators chanted slogans criticizing France and waved the flags of Russia, with which Mali and Burkina Faso have warmed up.
French Press correspondents indicated that the Nigerien police prevented access to the French embassy on Thursday. Paris had stated before the demonstration that “ensuring the security of diplomatic missions and personnel are obligations under international law.”
France evacuated 577 of its citizens from Niger on Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, the leader of the coup military group, General Abd al-Rahman Tiani, saw that there was “no objective reason” for the French to leave the country, stressing that French nationals “were never exposed to the slightest threat.”
In turn, the United States sent a plane to evacuate its non-essential employees from Niger, while President Joe Biden called for “the immediate release of President Bazoum.”
Paris and Washington deploy 1,100 and 1,500 military personnel, respectively, in Niger, and their evacuation is not planned.
And the German army announced on Thursday evening that it had transferred from Niamey to German territory “about 30 people” of “Germany, the European Union and other countries.”
The army explained in a message posted on the social network “X” (formerly “Twitter”) that the military transport plane “A400M had arrived at Niamey airport before the coup to change its crew,” adding: “On the return trip to Germany today, it will carry about 30 people.” »,
According to an article published online by the German weekly Der Spiegel on Thursday evening, these are mainly soldiers of the German army who participated in the UN mission in neighboring Mali (MINUSMA). The departure of these soldiers is scheduled as part of a pre-planned rotation.
Given that there were still places on the plane, the German army decided to receive about 10 non-German civilians on board, according to Der Spiegel.
Bazoum, 63, has been detained with his family since the day of the coup in the presidential residence. His party said his electricity was deliberately cut off on Thursday.
Regarding sanctions, General Tiane said in a televised address on Wednesday that he rejects “collective sanctions” and “give in to any threat,” adding: “We reject any interference in Niger’s internal affairs.”
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2023-08-04 13:35:46
