Niger pursues swift withdrawal of French troops
Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said at a press conference on Monday that continued contacts should allow a very rapid withdrawal of French troops from the West African country, where about 1,500 French troops are stationed.
However, the
prime minister said that Niger wants to continue to work with a country with
which we have shared a huge number of issues.
Relations
between Niamey and Paris have seriously deteriorated since July 26, a military group
overthrew the government of the pro-Western ex-president of Nigeria, Mohamed
Bazoum.
On August 3,
the new rulers of Niger announced the end of military agreements with France.
Since then, Nigerians have held daily demonstrations in front of a military
base in the capital where French troops are stationed, threatening to attack
the facility if the French troops refuse to leave.
The prime
minister announced that as a result of the withdrawal of those agreements,
French troops in Niger are now in in a position of unlawfulness.
Nigeria's
military leaders also expelled French ambassador Sylvain Itte in late August
after revoking his diplomatic immunity. They gave Itte 48 hours to leave,
saying his presence threatened public order and accused France of interfering
in the country's internal affairs.
Referring to the meeting with the French
ambassador, Zeine said the ambassador showed a "contemptuous
attitude" by refusing to meet with Niger's new authorities on the 25th.
August.
Niger hopes
for an agreement with ECOWAS
Niger's new
prime minister also said his country hopes to reach an agreement with the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has threatened to
invade Niger militarily to return Bazoum and imposed sanctions on the country.
We have not
severed our contacts with ECOWAS, but we will continue our contacts. We have
good hope of reaching an agreement in the coming days, said Zeine.
Although
Niamey has not ruled out dialogue with the West African bloc, it has warned
that it is ready to defend itself in the event of any military intervention.
Referring to
ECOWAS' military threats, the prime minister said that we are bracing to be
attacked at any time. Every preparation has been taken. It would be an unjust
war. We are determined to defend ourselves if there is an attack.
