THE coup in Niger will undermine the fight against resurgent terror groups in Africa’s Sahel region, France’s defence minister said this week, accusing the country’s junta of taking “hostage” not just President Mohamed Bazoum but the entire country.
Speaking in an interview with AFP, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu praised the “strong” actions of regional West African group ECOWAS, which has given the junta until Sunday to restore democratic rule or face the threat of military action.
The coup against Bazoum has infuriated France, which has 1,500 troops deployed in the country and was using Niger as a hub for anti-terror operations in the region, after successive coups the last two years in Mali and then Burkina Faso prompted pullouts from those countries.
Paris has made clear it still regards Bazoum, who is currently held as the presidential residence in Niamey, as Niger’s sole legitimate leader.
Lecornu echoed comments by other Western officials and observers that the coup had come at a precarious moment when several terror Islamist terror groups including Boko Haram, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and Al-Qaeda’s local branch were regaining strength.
“Not only has President Bazoum been taken hostage but also the population of Niger,” Lecornu told AFP in the interview.
“This putsch will weaken the fight against terrorism in the Sahel, where activity by armed terrorist groups is resurging, notably taking advantage of certain failed states like Mali.”
“It’s an error of judgement that goes totally against the interests of the country,” he added.
he French foreign ministry said earlier on Saturday it “firmly” supported the efforts of ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) to reverse the coup and Lecornu said on the eve of the passing of the deadline that the 15-nation bloc was showing its stature.
“More generally, we see that ECOWAS is shouldering its responsibilities in the management of this crisis in Niger, taking strong positions in favour of respect for international law and respect for democratic processes.”
“This is an important milestone that must be welcomed and supported,” he said.
