The French presidency had on Sunday, July 30, stated that any attack on French citizens or on Niger Republic would lead to a strong immediate reaction from its government.
The French government had made this proclamation on Sunday, as the pro-military protests were taking place outside the French Embassy in Niamey following the coup that happened last week.
The French presidency had released a statement saying:
“President Emmanuel Macron will not condone any attack against France and its interests.”
The statement had also announced that the government would respond to attacks against French ambassadors, armed forces or its businesses.
Macron had talked with the overthrown Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum and the ex-president, Mahamadou Issoufou within the past few hours, condemning the coup and asking for calm in the country, according to the statement.
Recall that on Saturday, July 29, France announced that it was severing all development aid to Niger pending when Bazoum is restored to office.
Niger has since been a security ally France and the U.S, –two former colonial powers.
Both foreign countries had been using Niger as a base to fight an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa’s wider Sahel region.
