Speaking for the first time about the coup d’état that took place in Niger, French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Friday, July 28, 2023, that this military takeover is “perfectly illegitimate and deeply dangerous for the Nigerien people.”
As a strategic partner of Niger, France maintains excellent diplomatic relations with Niamey and has condemned the military coup in Niger. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, President Emmanuel Macron has contacted the ousted head of state of Niger and confirmed that he is “in good health.”
Continuing in the same vein, the head of the Élysée Palace openly expressed his stance on the matter this afternoon from Papua New Guinea. Emmanuel Macron firmly condemned the coup d’état as “dangerous” for the Sahelian region.
“I want to say here very clearly that France absolutely condemns, with the greatest firmness, this military coup against a democratically elected, courageous leader who is undertaking the reforms and investments his country needs, and whom we support, as we supported his predecessor, from the beginning,” declared the French President. “This coup d’état is perfectly illegitimate and deeply dangerous for the Nigerien people, for Niger, and the entire region,” he stated.
The commander of the presidential guard, a controversial figure in the army, suspected to be behind the mutiny against the Nigerien president, eventually declared himself as President of the CNSP on Friday, July 28.
