Recent news has been marked by the repatriation of the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, following the coup d’état perpetrated by the military junta on July 26. After several weeks of tensions between France and the Nigerien regime, Paris finally decided to recall its diplomat and his collaborators.
Sylvain Itté arrived in Paris on Wednesday morning, where he was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna. This meeting aimed to thank the ambassador for his mission and to salute the work accomplished in difficult conditions. Indeed, the Nigerien military authorities had withdrawn Sylvain Itté’s diplomatic immunity at the end of August, but France had until then refused to recall him, claiming not to recognize the legitimacy of the junta.
This repatriation decision comes in a context where France announced the withdrawal of its 1,500 soldiers deployed in Niger to fight against terrorism. President Emmanuel Macron has taken note of the fact that the “de facto” authorities of Niger no longer wish to fight against terrorism, and has decided to respect their request to leave by the end of the year. However, he underlined France’s determination to work for a return to constitutional order in the country.
This repatriation of the French ambassador and the gradual withdrawal of French troops raise questions about the future of Western contingents in the Sahel. While the French military presence has been criticized by some, this move marks a turning point in France’s policy in the region. It remains to be seen what consequences these decisions will have on the security situation in Niger and the Sahel.
In conclusion, the repatriation of the French ambassador to Niger and the withdrawal of French troops are major events which demonstrate a change of course in French policy in the Sahel region. With the military junta in power in Niger, the French government seeks to reaffirm its support for the ousted president and work for a return to constitutional order. The consequences of these decisions on the security and political situation in the region remain to be determined.