The French army has already carried out an "
internal investigation
" into the circumstances in which three people were killed on the passage of one of its convoys in Niger, declared the Minister of the Armies Florence Parly, in response to a request for an investigation of the Nigerien president.
Read also Barkhane's convoy to Niger: President Bazoum "demands" a French investigation
"
There was an internal investigation, which showed that faced with demonstrations of great violence, our soldiers demonstrated the necessary control and had the adequate reaction
", she noted in an interview with Sunday Newspaper (JDD).
President Mohamed Bazoum "
demanded
" Friday from the "
French authorities
" an investigation into the clashes at the end of November on the route of the Barkhane force convoy, during which three people were killed according to Niamey.
This convoy, which left from the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan, was to join Gao in Mali, as has happened frequently since the start of the French intervention in the Sahel in 2013.
It was first stranded and graveled in Kaya, central Burkina Faso, before resuming its journey a few days later and again being interrupted by angry protesters in Téra, western Niger.
Three of them were killed, in shots blamed on the Nigerien forces by some, French by others.
The Minister of the Armed Forces assured that dialogue was continuing with Niamey on these incidents.
"
We continue to discuss with the Nigerien authorities to understand what happened before, during and after these clashes
", noted Florence Parly.
"
We have a very high quality dialogue with Nigeriens which, I hope, will help prevent any new event of this type,
" she added.
Mohamed Bazoum also announced that he had "
ordered an investigation
" by the
Nigerien "
competent services
" in order to identify the "
dysfunctions
" of the law enforcement system at the origin of the clashes. This convoy has become a symbol of hostility to the armed engagement of France in the Sahel, which is growing in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, among populations exasperated by jihadist violence that has become omnipresent.
The anti-French discourse is fueled by "
political actors in their own interest or under external influence
", noted the minister, in an allusion to Russia.
"
But where our soldiers are present, the population understands that it is a question of forces of protection and reassurance because it is they who are the first target of the terrorists
", she estimated.