Until the coup in July 2023, Niger was Europe's closest partner in the Sahel region. The concept of Françafrique, France's influence on the African continent, is at an end.
Signs of the devastation can still be seen at the entrance to the French embassy in Niamey. The EU has now decided to pursue a ‘transactional strategy,’ as stated in the resolution of the last Foreign Council meeting in Brussels. That means: talks with the junta are possible again.