The President of Niger called France’s policy in Africa not very successful.

Niger President Mohamed Bazum admitted in an interview that French policy in Africa is not very successful, but at the same time defended the French presence in the Sahel region.

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“It is true that France’s policy in Africa is not very successful right now… But is France to blame? I don’t think so. France is an easy target for populist discourse of certain opinions, especially on social media among African youth… create the image of France as a neo-colonial power,” the president said in an interview.

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As the newspaper notes, Bazum tried to smooth over internal criticism of his decision to increase the French military presence in Niger, saying that intelligence from Paris helped Niger a lot in the fight against terrorism.

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According to the newspaper, the President also said that the institutions in Niger are being strengthened, despite the ongoing problems associated with instability, poverty and hunger in parts of the country. According to Bazum, “there is no chance” of a possible military coup in the country.

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Niger is located in the African Sahel region – one of the most problematic on the continent due to terrorist activities and illegal migration.