Why Emmanuel Macron is pulling French troops out of Niger
France’s decision to quit leaves its Africa policy in disarray
When on July 26th soldiers from Niger’s presidential guard detained and overthrew the leader they were supposed to be protecting, France insisted that it would not take orders from the new junta. When the coup leaders told France’s ambassador and its 1,500 soldiers stationed in the country to get out, the former colonial power dug in its heels, citing a point of democratic principle. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, declared that Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s captive president, had been democratically elected and so France would recognise only his authority.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “The weight of history”
From the September 30th 2023 edition
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