After its forced exit from Mali in the summer of 2022, the French army is now testing a discreet partnership in Niger, adapted to the demands of Niamey, a new posture that proves that France has learned from its experience with Mali.
General Bruno Baratz, commander of the French Forces in the Sahel (FFS), has summed up that France’s position is different from what it did in Mali and that the French armies in the Sahel will base their assistance on their partner’s needs.
France changed its paradigm after the departure of French troops from Mali in the Barkhane operation, under pressure from the junta and after military-led Burkina Faso demanded in January the withdrawal of French special forces from its territory.
President Emmanuel Macron ordered action strictly in line with the specific demands of the countries concerned, to counter criticism of the military presence in Africa of French forces.
Niger has accepted that 1,500 French soldiers return to its soil to increase its armed forces (FAN) to 50,000 men in 2025 and 100,000 in 2030.
In this context, the former Nigerien Minister of Defence, Kalla Moutari, expressed that there is a change of deal: the command is Nigerien and master of the terrain and needs and the French forces respond to Nigerien needs by providing military training, equipment, intelligence, and air assets that are lacking, to support Nigerien operations on the ground.