(france24, sept.06): Paris is preparing to proceed with the withdrawal of most of its drones, as well as a reduction in its air resources used against the JNIM (
Support Group for Islam and Muslims, affiliated with al Qaeda) and the EIGS (
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara). This leads to the departure of a significant part of the French workforce.
The “exchanges” between the Nigerien army and France on the withdrawal of “certain military elements” are becoming clearer. According to information obtained by France 24, Paris is preparing to withdraw most of its drones, as well as a reduction in the air assets previously used as part of the anti-jihadist fight carried out jointly with Niamey.
These decisions should lead to the departure of some of the French soldiers present on site, while discussions are underway between Paris and the putschist soldiers, who are demanding the withdrawal of the French army.
Operations suspended for a month
This reduction in equipment would have been decreed due to the cessation of military cooperation between Paris and Niamey since the coup d'état of July 26. "The French army is there to carry out anti-terrorist operations. As this is no longer the case, part of the means have become useless; we are therefore going to downsize", explains a source, specifying that the capacity to carry out d The attack and defense "autonomously" will nevertheless be maintained with the French soldiers remaining on site.
More than a thousand French soldiers are still present in Niger as well as significant air capabilities. This device aimed to provide fire support (fire via aerial vectors, most often indirect, to support ground troops) and intelligence to the Nigerien army, collected in particular during surveillance flights.
Tuesday September 5, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces confirmed that discussions were underway with the junta, recognizing that "the question of maintaining some of our forces arises", in particular due to the maintenance of unused equipment such as drones , helicopters or fighter planes.
Escalation of tensions
France, which until now considered Niger a leading ally in the anti-jihadist fight in the Sahel, strongly condemned the coup, calling for the "restoration of constitutional order" and the release of the president. deposed Mohamed Bazoum, who still refuses to resign.
Paris also gave its support to ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) which excluded Niger from its bodies and left the threat of regional military intervention to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum in power.
For their part, the country's new authorities, dubbed the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), denounced the military agreements concluded with France and ordered the expulsion of the French ambassador, Sylvain Itté, to whom they withdrew diplomatic immunity and visa. Paris refuses his departure, believing that "the putschists have no authority" to make such a decision.
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A "very fast" start?
On Monday, during a press conference, the Nigerien Prime Minister appointed by the military in power, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, said that discussions were underway to obtain the departure of French soldiers "very quickly". However, he assured that his government hoped "if possible to maintain cooperation with a country with which we have shared a lot of things".
Forced to proceed with an accelerated departure from Mali during 2022, in a context of strong tensions with the military authorities in Bamako, France had refocused its military force in Niger, considered as a regional security lock.
The country, among the poorest in the world, has had to fight for several years in the area of the three borders, shared with Mali and Burkina Faso, against an upsurge in attacks by terrorist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the organization Islamic State.
According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, dozens of people have been displaced in Niger amid renewed violence, including deadly attacks, since the coup. These increased sharply in the days following the putsch, says the UN organization, in a context of increased competition between the Jnim (Support Group for Islam and Muslims) and the EIGS (Islamic State in the Great Sahara). /deepl