The President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum said on Friday (December 17th) to have "
demanded from the French authorities
" an investigation into the clashes which took place at the end of November on the road of the military convoy of the Barkhane force, in western Niger, during which three people were killed according to Niamey.
"
With regard to the French soldiers, I demanded that the French authorities open an investigation with a view to sanctioning those who have been guilty of reprehensible acts
", explained the Nigerien president in a radio and television message to the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the proclamation of the republic in this former French colony.
Read also In Burkina Faso, the anger of the populations blocks Barkhane
This French military convoy that left the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan to reach Gao in Mali was first blocked and graveled by demonstrators in Kaya in central Burkina Faso.
He had resumed his journey before being interrupted again by angry demonstrators in Téra, in western Niger.
Three of them had been killed, in shots blamed on the Nigerien forces by some, French by others.
"Unfortunate dysfunctions"
According to Mohamed Bazoum, "
annoying dysfunctions
" of the "
law enforcement system
" which was "
largely insufficient
" to "
ensure the passage of the French military convoy
", is at the origin of these clashes. He also claimed to have "
ordered an investigation
" by the
Nigerien "
competent services
" "in
order to identify these dysfunctions and locate the various responsibilities
". An official toll reported three dead and 17 injured among the demonstrators.
"
The convoy of the French Barkhane Force under escort of the national gendarmerie on its way to Mali, was blocked by very violent demonstrators in Téra
", the Nigerien Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. He added, without specifying whether he was referring to the gendarmerie or the Barkhane force, that "
in her attempt to free herself she used force
". Following these incidents, the Nigerien president changed the Minister of the Interior, Alkache Alhada as well as the High Commander of the National Gendarmerie, General Salifou Wakasso, without explanation.
Niger faces regular and deadly attacks by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Sahel in the West, and those by Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap ) in the Southeast.
Bordering Burkina Faso and Mali, it is a regular crossing point for the French force which will lighten its footprint by reducing its workforce from more than 5,000 today, to 3,000 in mid-2022.
