Amid growing anti-French protests in Niger, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu discussed the volatile security situation in a high-level phone call.
"Secretary Austin and Minister Lecornu affirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, enabled by the longstanding U.S.-France defense and security relationship," Pentagon Spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a Sept. 1 statement.
According to a Sept. 2 Al Jazeera report, anti-French sentiment is escalating in Niger, marked by large-scale protests in the capital city of Niamey. These developments occurred alongside a high-level phone discussion between Austin and Lecornu, which took place Sept. 1. The conversation aimed to address the increasingly unstable security landscape in Niger, a country where France has a significant military footprint.
Ryder noted both Austin and Lecornu articulated a shared aspiration for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing tensions, according to his statement. They emphasized the importance of continuous engagement with the government of Niger and other regional partners in Africa.
However, this diplomatic outreach happens against a backdrop of growing unrest within Niger, specifically targeted at the French military presence. Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Niamey, congregating near a military base that houses French troops, Al Jazeera reported.
Responding to calls from civic organizations critical of France's role in the country, protesters displayed banners that read, "French army, leave our country," according to Al Jazeera.
The demonstrators are "beginning to take matters into their own hands," indicating a possible escalation in actions against the French presence. France has long been criticized for its military activities in Niger, which many see as an extension of its colonial past, Al Jazeera said. This sentiment is further exacerbated by accusations from Niger's new military leadership, who have publicly labeled France's involvement as "interference."
The dynamics between local sentiment, international diplomatic conversations and historical context present a complex landscape. While diplomatic channels between the U.S., France and Niger remain open, the growing internal discontent poses challenges that are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. These tensions place additional pressure on international stakeholders to navigate a delicate situation carefully, according to Al Jazeera.
