France's security policy in former African colonies – a case study of Niger

This bachelor’s thesis examines the development of Franco-Nigerien relations in the field of security, with a particular focus on the period following the military coup in Niger in 2023. The aim of the thesis is to assess whether and how these relations are being transformed, and to what extent traditional neocolonial forms of influence persist. Using a qualitative case study approach, it analyses the bilateral treaty framework, the evolution of France’s military presence in Niger, and French military interventions. The findings show that despite the proclaimed partnership, security cooperation was long structured in an unequal manner. However, after 2023, there was a significant disruption of the traditional structure of Franco-Nigerien security cooperation. The denunciation of agreements by the Nigerien military government and the subsequent withdrawal of French forces reflect not only a shift in bilateral relations but also a broader transformation in the dynamics of French engagement in the Sahel. The case of Niger thus highlights a wider trend of weakening France’s traditional forms of involvement in the region and raises questions about the future nature of relations between France and the states of Francophone Africa.