Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum believes that the withdrawal of European military forces such as Barkhane and Takuba from northern Mali risks plunging the entire Sahel into chaos.
Mr. Bazoum maintains that the departure of the French Barkhane force and the European Union Takuba, calls for an overhaul of the Sahel countries, including Niger, which shares border with Mali. “Our objective is that our border with Mali be secured. We expect that after the departure of Barkhane and Takuba, this area will be even more infested and that the terrorist groups will grow stronger. And we know that they are destined to expand their hold,” Bazoum said on his Twitter account.
According to the head of state of this G5 Sahel country, the risks of a resurgence of jihadist groups are real. “The departure of Barkhane will create a vacuum that will be filled by terrorist organizations already present in this region. This will be a threat that will jeopardize the stability of Mali first, and then that of Niger and the sub-region through a contagion effect,” he fears.
Bazoum deplores the withdrawal of the Barkhane and Takuba military forces which, in his eyes, play a very important role in securing northern Mali, which so close to Niger.
Barkhane will leave Malian territory, but not the Sahel strip, since the discussions held in Paris with the countries “unanimously led to the need to re-articulate the mechanism that was in place in Mali. This will lead to a form of presence of these forces in Niger and on the territory of other African countries, a little further south, which would request it,” the Nigerien president said with satisfaction.
In the light of recent developments in Benin, it is clear, Bazoum said, “that these countries have needs. It is foreseeable that a certain number of these forces will be deployed in these regions to face these new threats, as well as in Niger,” he said.
Niger is expected to host new bases for the European Takuba military force, Bazoum said. This decision will offer “great advantages to his country,” according to the successor of Mahamadou Issoufou, who came to power in April 2021. Because according to Bazoum, the “special forces have capabilities that respond to the threat posed by terrorist organizations.” In this regard, he adds, “discussions are underway with France and the European Union and protocols should be signed in June,” says Mohamed Bazoum.
But the arrival of Barkhane and Takuba is already causing a stir in Niger. The Deutsche Welle quoted Moussa Tchangari, Secretary General of the Association Alternative Espace Citoyens, as saying “It is a risk that the regime is taking by accepting this redeployment. A risk especially for Mohamed Bazoum, who after having contained the protests related to his election, is playing with his stability, his keeping of power at a time when we are witnessing, in our Sahelian space and in West Africa in general, a return of the military to business,” he said.
CD/fss/GIK/APA