General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the junta that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup last July, spoke in two television interviews on the national channel Télé Sahel. In these interviews, General Tiani defended the coup and addressed the issue of the imminent withdrawal of French troops from Niger.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced the withdrawal of French soldiers present in Niger by the end of the year. This decision was accompanied by the departure of the French ambassador to Niamey. In his statements, General Tiani confirmed that preparations were underway for the departure of French soldiers and welcomed their withdrawal from the country.
General Tiani stressed that the people of Niger would now be responsible for dictating future relations with France. He said the country’s resources belonged to the people and new partners would be sought for cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefits. He also affirmed that colonization was over and that this new era would allow Niger to make sovereign decisions.
General Tiani also criticized the role of the French military in the fight against terrorism. According to him, not only have they failed to eliminate terrorist groups, but they have become more and more numerous. These failures reinforced his belief that the coup was necessary to protect the country, given that previous leaders were not heeding the advice of military advisors.
Regarding the ongoing political transition in Niger, General Tiani stressed the importance of establishing an elected government on schedule. He said junta members did not intend to stay in power for an extended period of time, but that it was necessary to respect the will of the people through democratic elections.
These interviews with General Tiani provoked various reactions in Niger and abroad. Some support the coup and see the departure of French troops as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s independence and sovereignty. Others, however, express concern about the political instability created by the coup and the possibility of a deterioration in the security situation.
It is important to note that these interviews reflect the position of General Tiani and the junta, and there are still other voices and opinions that need to be heard to get the full picture of the situation in Niger.