Niger : Departure of France from Nigerien soil – Reality or Deception ?
Driven towards exit by the transitional authorities supported by the people, the last French soldier packed up from Niger on December 22, 2023. During the nearly two and a half months it took for their withdrawal, several containers were seen being convoyed by land to Chad, under local escort.
For the Nigerien authorities and people, France left with all its military equipment. No one could imagine that there might still be, on Nigerien soil, a single weapon belonging to the Barkhane operation forces, which have been seen as an obstacle to the fight against terrorism.
Yet, an unbelievable discovery made by security forces (a mixed team of national gendarmerie, forensic police, and judicial police elements) raises questions within public opinion and casts doubt on the intentions of the former colonial power. Searches in two houses previously occupied by French soldiers have exposed a malevolent plan being prepared against the Sahelian country.
« We follow, through our contacts on the ground, the internal politics of Niger, and continue to inform our political authorities about the situation. In other words, even without being in Niger, we actively carry out our activity and missions », said Sylvain Itté during his hearing at the National Assembly in Paris at the end of November 2023.
What mission is the French diplomat referring to ? One can legitimately wonder, estimating that this statement betrays France’s hidden intentions, which clearly does not digest its sudden and unexpected departure, and therefore does not intend to let go of Niger.
Anti-tank rocket launchers, a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, unregistered vehicles, but for which fake plates are planned, drones, but also geographical maps of West Africa, and above all, a Tasker map (a locality in Niger where a very surprising discovery was recently made), but also that of the city of Niamey on which several strategic places in the city are identified… these are among the materials discovered during this raid.
Added to this is a fragment of a sentence written on a board in their operation room, « Peace can be avoided », which confirms that these war materials are deliberately left. This leads to the safe conclusion that France intends to destabilize Niger and will stop at nothing to prevent the country from being at peace.
And yet, it is under the pretext of restoring peace in the Sahel that the European country sent its military troops to the Sahelian countries plagued by terrorism. What a paradox, which exposes France’s deceitfulness and discredits the military partnership signed with these countries !
It is time for African peoples and decision-makers to wake up from their slumber and ponder on General De Gaulle’s quote, « France has no friends, only interests ».
