More than a month after the ousting of elected President Mohamed Bazoum from the presidency in Niger, popular protests have intensified across the country, especially in the capital Niamey, demanding an end to the French military presence in Niger. France has reached a critical stage regarding its military influence in West Africa due to a wave of coups in the region that has affected Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, and even Gabon.

Towards the withdrawal of French military forces from Niger... but

While the pace of protests in Niger has escalated with the burning of the French flag and its representation in the form of a coffin, along with raising flags of Russia, China, and other forms of expression rejecting the French military presence in the country, Niger has somewhat maintained a peaceful character in the protests. France has not resorted to military intervention to forcibly reinstate former President Bazoum.

The French newspaper Le Monde reported on Tuesday that Paris has initiated talks with military leaders in Niger to withdraw some of its forces.

The same newspaper clarified that the French army is considering transferring some of its forces from Niger to Chad or returning them directly to France.

French authorities have reiterated their refusal to the request of military leaders in Niger to withdraw all their forces, which number 1,500 soldiers, along with three military bases in Oulam, Niamey, and Ayoro in the south of the country.

The French military presence in Niger

The military council in Niger had previously canceled a number of military cooperation agreements with France at the beginning of last August, just days after the coup against former President Mohamed Bazoum.

The shrinking map of France's military influence in West Africa

France's military presence in West African countries has noticeably diminished since 2021, the date of the military coup in Mali, which led to the withdrawal of French forces to Niger.

The coup in Burkina Faso and the rise of military leader Ibrahim Traoré in September 2022 added to the troubles of the French army, causing French forces to withdraw from Ouagadougou to Chad and Niger.

Gabon also experienced its share of the wave of coups in Africa after military leaders announced in late August their seizure of power, canceling the results of the presidential elections and dissolving government institutions.

The French government quickly condemned the military coup in Gabon, confirming that it is "monitoring the developments of the situation very closely and reiterates its desire for the results of the elections to be respected." While the policies of the new military council in the country have yet to become clear, the ousting of President Ali Bongo, a prominent ally of France, represents a significant new loss of French influence in the country.

Macron stated that the situation in Niger is very different from what is happening in Gabon, emphasizing that France does not recognize those who carried out the coup, adding that "any decisions we make, whatever they may be, will be based on our communication with Bazoum."

Today, France's military presence in Africa amounts to nearly 6,000 soldiers, including 950 in Chad, which is France's oldest military presence in Africa, along with 350 between Senegal and Gabon, 1,500 in Djibouti, and 1,700 on Mayotte Island in the Indian Ocean, in addition to the military presence in Niger.

The loss of France's significant military influence in West African countries could lead to a loss of its economic influence in these resource-rich countries, such as uranium, gold, and iron.