Increasing tension between America and France regarding Niger.
In a report on the tension between the United States and France, the Russian Sputnik news agency wrote: The Paris-Washington alliance is witnessing increasing tensions in Niger because the United States is trying to communicate with the coup leaders in Niger through diplomatic channels, but France is against this method.
It is stated in this report: On August 7, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Noland traveled to Niger and met with a number of coup leaders. He later announced that he met Moussa Salo Barmo, the leader of the coup plotters, and three others in Niamey.
A few days ago, America appointed its new ambassador to Niger and he is supposed to travel to Niamey to “lead a mission”. In a conversation with the media, a French official said in response to Victoria Noland’s visit to Niger: “Perhaps it would have been better if some conditions or guarantees had been specified before opening such channels in Niger.”
Cameron Hudson, the former head of the National Security Council in the White House, said that Paris’s dissatisfaction with Washington’s approach is due to the loss of France’s last strategic base in West Africa. The risks in Niger are much greater for France than for America. This is a psychological and strategic failure for Paris.
Another American official said that some of America’s allies are upset with Noland’s visit to Niger. This is while a senior French diplomat announced that Paris will not be in contact with the leaders of the coup in Niger and that the new regime is not legitimate in this country.
Earlier, Adrian Watson, the spokesperson of the American National Security Council, announced that Washington does not deny the existence of tension with Paris regarding Niger.
Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, the Shia leader of Nigeria, recently emphasized in his remarks that America and France may use the Boko Haram terrorist group to create a crisis between Nigeria and Niger.
