“We are too weak”
Kiesewetter: There are signs of the withdrawal of the Bundeswehr from Niger
07/31/2023 10:31 am
Chaos reigns in Niger – which could also have consequences for the deployment of the Bundeswehr there. CDU foreign politician Kiesewetter calls for checking “whether we should withdraw our soldiers.” After the coup, Germany lacked the basis to be present in the country.
After the putsch in Niger, the CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter assumes that Germany will have to evacuate the soldiers stationed there. The West African community of states Ecowas had given the new rulers an ultimatum by Sunday next week, and “during this time we also have to check whether we should withdraw our soldiers,” Kiesewetter said on Deutschlandfunk. Ecowas threatens military force. “So it is becoming apparent that we will probably have to evacuate our soldiers there.”
On Sunday evening, the West African community of states Ecowas presented the putschists in Niger with an ultimatum. If the detained President Mohamed Bazoum is not released and reinstated within a week, Ecowas will take action that may include the use of force.
According to Kiesewetter, Germany now lacks the basis to be present in the country. After the fall of the democratically legitimized government, one would have to withdraw for the duration of the putsch phase and, on the other hand, conduct negotiations with the Ecowas states, which had created a pressure backdrop. “But we are far too weak and don’t have the opportunity to influence national sensitivities,” said Kiesewetter. “We are there at the invitation of the previous government. It has been disempowered. This means that our basis for residence is no longer valid and we no longer have the legitimacy to be there.”
Pistorius: Keep us out of domestic Nigerien affairs
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius from the SPD said that in talks with the Nigerien side, it would be made clear “that our forces will stay out of domestic Nigerien affairs.” The putschists had warned foreign states not to intervene militarily. The Bundeswehr operates an air transport base for military engagement in West Africa in the Nigerien capital Niamey. This also plays an important role in the withdrawal from Mali.
According to Kiesewetter, Germany could militarily accompany an intervention by Ecowas if Ecowas invited it and there was a UN mandate. All in all, it would be good if the African organizations solved their problems themselves and the Europeans coordinated better in the area of development cooperation.