Niger's military junta that overthrew the country's president today accused France of deploying soldiers to several West African countries to intervene militarily together with the regional bloc EKOVAS.
The junta has again called on French troops to leave Niger, a major source of tension between the former allies since the ouster of President Mohamed Bazum on July 26, Reuters reported on its website.
Since ousting the democratically elected president, the junta has exploited anti-French sentiment among the population.
People shout "Down with France!" at almost daily rallies in the capital, Niamey, and sometimes in front of the French military base in that city.
France has 1.500 troops in Niger who have been training and conducting joint operations with Niger's security forces to counter a growing insurgency by Islamists linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Those operations stopped after the coup, and jihadist attacks are intensifying.
Amid a wave of anti-French sentiment, coup leaders have also followed the junta's strategy in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso in an effort to end long-standing military ties with France in the fight against Islamist insurgencies across the region.
Asked about the junta's latest comments, French President Emmanuel Macron said he "does not recognize any legitimacy in the statements of the coup plotters."
As for the 1.500 or so French troops stationed in Niger, Macron said any decision on their deployment would only be made in coordination with Bazuma.
He did not directly address allegations that France is deploying troops elsewhere in West Africa as part of a regional bid to use force as a last resort to restore democracy.
The main regional bloc ECOVAS has imposed sanctions on Niger and activated so-called reserve forces for possible military intervention, although talks are ongoing to find a diplomatic solution.
Bonus video:
