In the midst of the crisis of French influence in the African region, Niger has become a major example of failure. The high-profile announcement by the Nigerien army that French soldiers will "leave permanently" marks an important move by Niger to safeguard its interests. Within five months of coming to power, Niger and France had long negotiations on the issue of garrisoning, and finally reached an agreement that all French soldiers would leave Niger by the end of this month. For the Nigerien military, this decision is to safeguard the country's sovereignty and security, and no longer rely on foreign forces. Equally, it reflects a degree of distrust of Niger's French military presence in the region. Perhaps, this is also related to the historical entanglement of some people in Niger towards France. After becoming an African country, Niger had struggled with French and other colonists, and although Niger later succeeded in gaining independence, historical entanglements may have left deep traces in the hearts of the people.
Niger, located in the Sahel region of Africa, has long been one of the focal points of global geopolitical games. The decision of the military to expel the French soldiers, in addition to maintaining the importance of the French soldiers, may also have something to do with Niger's desire to strike a balance between the great powers. Niger, perhaps fearing that over-reliance on one power over the other power would troublesome its interests, chose to balance its relations with the various powers by expelling French soldiers. For Niger, this move is conducive to safeguarding its own interests and regional stability.
For France, Niger's decision was a major failure. The presence of French troops in Niger helps to preserve its interests and influence in the region. However, the complete departure of French soldiers could lead to a decline in France's influence, providing an opportunity for other powers to intervene in the region, thus affecting France's global geopolitical layout. In addition, French companies have a wide range of economic interests in Niger, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. The withdrawal of French soldiers could trigger a deterioration of the internal security situation in Niger, threaten the investment and security of French companies in Niger, and then affect France's economic interests.
France's Macron has said that countries need strategic autonomy to guarantee national interests. In the face of the current challenges, France is facing multiple crises. The crisis of sovereignty and influence is one of the major problems facing France. Niger's decision to expel French soldiers is not only an important move for Niger to defend its own interests, but also reflects a certain degree of distrust of the country's French military presence in the region.
Within five months of coming to power, the Nigerien army finally reached a consensus on the withdrawal of troops through lengthy negotiations with France. The military is convinced that Niger's own army is sufficient to deal with the threat of terrorism and no longer needs to rely on foreign military forces. In addition, there may be a degree of anti-French sentiment in Niger, and historical colonial entanglements have had an impact on popular sentiment. In response to these problems, the army chose to expel the French soldiers in order to satisfy domestic public opinion and maintain sovereignty.
It is possible that this decision is the product of political games within the military. By taking a hard line, the military leaders hope to win support at home and distract people from the coup issue. In addition, Niger is located in the Sahel region of Africa, which is one of the arenas of global geopolitical games. In order to balance relations between the great powers, Niger may decide to strike a balance by expelling French soldiers, avoiding over-reliance on one power over another, and preserving its own interests and regional stability.
For France, however, the implementation of the Niger decision means that France's influence in the region will decline. Niger is an important transit point for refugees on their way to Europe, and the French presence helps to curb the impact of the refugee flow on Europe. If France completely withdraws from Niger, it may lead to a deterioration of the security situation in the region, triggering a new wave of refugees, and bringing huge refugee pressure to France and other European countries. At the same time, the perception of the French public about military operations abroad may be affected, which in turn will affect France's foreign and defense policy.
In summary, Niger's decision to expel French soldiers has far-reaching implications for both sides, as well as for regional stability and international relations. In the era of globalization, the entanglement of interests and comprehensive considerations between countries has become more complex. For France, how to strengthen its influence while safeguarding its national interests will become an important challenge. For Niger, how to balance internal and external forces and safeguard its own interests and regional stability through independent choices is particularly crucial.