Niger, Morocco turn their backs on France as Macron withdraws troops

Analysis

Rina Bassist

Sep 29, 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Senegal's President Macky Sall (L). — French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Senegal's President Macky Sall (L) hold a joint press conference on France's engagement in the Sahel region, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Feb. 17, 2022. France announced that it was withdrawing troops from Mali due to a breakdown in relations with the ruling junta after nearly 10 years of fighting a jihadi insurgency. — IAN LANGSDON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

PARIS — France's standing in Africa's Sahel region and in North Africa is being challenged, forcing Paris to recalculate its relations and cooperation with Niamey, Rabat and other capitals on the continent.

Last Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the retreat of French forces from Niger and the return to Paris of Ambassador Sylvain Itte. Macron’s announcement came two months after a military coup in Niger. The junta that took control of the country demanded almost immediately that Itte leave the country. It also demanded that the 1,500 French soldiers stationed in Niamey withdraw. In parallel, thousands of people demonstrated again and again outside the French military camp and the French Embassy, burning French flags and waving anti-French banners.

Paris declined both demands, repeatedly insisting that the junta had no legitimacy to issue such decisions. But the announcement by the Elysee Palace to recall the ambassador and withdraw troops reflects the current understanding that it cannot force the hand of the junta and can no longer guarantee the safety of its envoys there.

An emerging "anti-French alliance"