The French presidency announced on Friday that President Emmanuel Macron will chair a defense meeting on Saturday to discuss the fallout from the coup in Niger.
Macron had condemned what he described as a serious military coup in Niger, and said he was working with regional leaders in the Sahel region of Africa to defend democracy there.
“We call for the release of President (Mahamadou) Bazoum,” Macron added from Papua New Guinea, noting that France would support regional organizations if they decided to impose sanctions on the coup leaders.
The coup in Niger
On February 1, 2023, a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Souleymane Oumarou Dosso seized power in Niger. The coup leaders announced that they had dissolved the government, the parliament, and the constitution, and that they would be forming a new military government.
President Bazoum was arrested by the coup leaders, but he was released a few days later. The coup leaders have said that they will hold elections in the future, but it is unclear when those elections will be held.
The reaction to the coup
The coup in Niger has been condemned by the international community. The United States, the European Union, and the African Union have all called for the release of President Bazoum and the restoration of democracy in Niger.
France has also been critical of the coup. The French government has said that it will not recognize the new military government, and that it will work with other countries in the region to support the restoration of democracy in Niger.
The implications of the coup
The coup in Niger is a setback for democracy in Africa. Niger is a member of the G5 Sahel, a regional organization that is working to combat terrorism and insecurity in the Sahel region. The coup could destabilize the G5 Sahel and make it more difficult to combat terrorism in the region.
The coup in Niger is also a setback for France. France has been a major military and economic partner of Niger for many years. The coup could damage the relationship between France and Niger, and it could make it more difficult for France to operate in Niger.
The coup in Niger is a reminder of the fragility of democracy in Africa. It is important for the international community to support democracy in Africa and to work to prevent future coups.
