On August 3, 2023, Niger’s military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, announced the revocation of five military cooperation agreements with France, spanning from 1977 to 2020, as read on national television by junta spokesperson Amadou Abdramane. The decision, which terminates France’s military presence of 1,000–1,500 troops aiding in counterterrorism efforts against al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked insurgents, reflects a surge in anti-French sentiment following the July 26 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. France, which has not officially responded, previously stated it recognizes only Bazoum’s government as legitimate.
Bazoum’s Plea and Regional Concerns
In a Washington Post opinion piece on August 3, Bazoum, held hostage since the coup, warned that the takeover “has no justification whatsoever” and could have “devastating consequences for our country, our region, and the entire world.” He urged the international community to restore constitutional order, highlighting Niger’s role as a stable Western ally in the Sahel. Niger’s ambassador to Washington, Kiari Liman-Tinguiri, echoed this, stating, “If Niger collapses, the entire Sahel will collapse,” and called on the junta to relinquish power to avoid regional destabilization. Hours later, the junta sacked Liman-Tinguiri and ambassadors to France, Nigeria, and Togo.
Anti-French Actions and Media Crackdown
The junta’s moves mirror those of Mali and Burkina Faso, where post-coup regimes expelled French troops and banned French media. Niger suspended broadcasts of France 24 and Radio France Internationale, prompting condemnation from France’s foreign ministry. These actions align with growing anti-French sentiment, with protesters in Niamey waving Russian flags and chanting “Down with France” on August 3, Niger’s Independence Day. The junta’s alignment with Mali and Burkina Faso, both junta-led, signals a regional shift, with the trio warning that any ECOWAS military intervention would be a “declaration of war.”
ECOWAS Sanctions and Intervention Threat
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sweeping sanctions, including Nigeria cutting 70% of Niger’s electricity supply, and issued a one-week ultimatum (ending August 6) to restore Bazoum or face potential military action. ECOWAS’s defense chiefs met in Abuja from August 2–4 to discuss options, with Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah calling intervention a “last resort.” Despite Tchiani’s claim of persistent insecurity as justification, data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project shows a 40% decrease in violent incidents in Niger in early 2023, undermining the junta’s rationale.
Geopolitical Implications
The revocation of French military deals threatens to reshape the Sahel’s counterterrorism landscape, where France and the U.S. (with 1,100 troops in Niger) have been key players. Bazoum’s ousting, the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020, has sparked evacuations by France, the U.S., and Britain, alongside protests decrying Western influence. The junta’s defiance, backed by Mali and Burkina Faso, and the public’s pro-Russian sentiment suggest a potential pivot toward new allies like Russia, complicating Western strategies in the region. As ECOWAS’s deadline looms, the risk of escalation grows, with profound implications for Niger and the Sahel
