French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments were published on the Elysee’s social media platform on Friday, saying that he regularly communicated with Mohamed Bazoum, the recently deposed former leader of Niger.
“I speak with President Bazoum daily. We endorse him. We do not recognize those responsible for the coup. Whatever decisions we make, they will be based on conversations with Bazoum,” said Macron.
The military government of Niger, which took authority on July 26, accused Macron on Friday of employing divisive language in his remarks about the coup and of attempting to perpetuate France’s neocolonial relationship with its former colony.