Military Junta in Niger has released a statement claiming that ECOWAS has completed its preparations for an Invasion of Niger with at least 2 Members of the Organization
ECOWAS’ deadline for the new Nigerien govt to peacefully step down lest they use military action has passed. "A Senior Military Commander with the ECOWAS-Standby Force has told the Wall Street Journal that it’s Forces need more time to prepare before any kind of Military Intervention in Niger, with the “Success” of the Operation being dependent on these preparations"
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs updates travel advisory to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso (the three nations declared to defend the new Nigerien govt against military intervention) the highest level of caution
French long-term energy security (who is apparently paying 10% of the world uranium market price - don’t have the sources to confirm atm) and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) that needs to cut across a few of the countries to supply natural gas to Europe, who is currently having a severe shortage and at great risk of de-industrialization.
Geopolitically, France has no choice but to seek to regain its control in the region. They simply cannot afford to just leave, for France’s sake and for Europe’s sake.
I hope the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline goes as well for the French as the Trans-Saharan Railroad did.
19th Century Spoiler
The plan for the rail line was first proposed in 1879. The Chamber of Deputies allocated 800,000 francs for an expedition, but the Flatters expedition, named after its leader Paul Flatters, ended in failure when the survey team was massacred by Tuareg in 1881