[Editorial] The French withdrawal from Niger. Inevitable, late
(B2) The withdrawal of the French ambassador from Niger was inevitable. As well as the withdrawal of French soldiers. It would undoubtedly have been wiser and wiser to do so earlier. Without this useless and ultimately lost standoff.
The decision taken by President Emmanuel Macron was the only one possible. Announced Sunday (September 24) at the bend of a TV interview well prepared (1) on TF1 and France 2, she calls out.
The substance and the form
If in substance, the French position is logical - refusing to deal with a military junta and considering the elected president Mohamed Bazoum as the only legitimate authority - the form is much more questionable. To camp like a bully on a firm position – we will not move – and then pack up, without fanfare is rather incomprehensible. No concrete justification is given for this turnaround. The only valid explanation being that the situation was politically, militarily and morally untenable.
Mali, Niger, repeat
The same situation occurred in Mali where, initially, the French said, we will not leave, then finally packed up, closing Operation Barkhane (read: The withdrawal of Mali: a sacred French defeat). In the end, France's image and reputation are damaged. It leaves the impression that if a military junta is firm and upright in refusing cooperation, France, after having said loud and clear what it thinks, breaks camp. This is a very bad signal sent to all our allies in Africa and a great encouragement for future coups.
A retreat into European territory?
At the same time, this departure marks, with the one that preceded it in Mali, the end of major external operations led by the French army (2) in Africa, and even in the world. The withdrawal is thus signaled towards the defense of the national territory and the European space. The visit of the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, to Moldova, is a notable sign of this development. A tactical change, rather than strategic for the moment (3).
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
- In the 27th minute on a question of relaunch, apparently well coordinated with the Élysée, from the presenter of 20 p.m. on TF1, Anne-Laure Coudray
- Operation Chammal in Iraq could be an exception. But it is taking place very discreetly and, above all, in a coalition (led by the Americans and not the French).
- This does not mean the end of external commitments. France maintains a significant number of support points in Africa or elsewhere in the world, whether military bases hosted by African countries (Djibouti, Chad, Ivory Coast, Senegal, etc.) or from the Middle East (United Arab Emirates), or overseas departments and territories (Guyana, Reunion, New Caledonia, etc.).
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