Niger: French withdrawal to take place “this week”
The French military said on Thursday morning that the withdrawal of French troops from Niger will begin “this week.”
The military chief of staff said,
“We will begin our disengagement operation this week, in good order, safely and in coordination with the Nigeriens.”
In response, the military government of Niger stated in a press release published on social media that the troops’ withdrawal will occur in accordance with “their conditions” and “their interests”.
According to the regime, the first soldiers to depart would be those stationed in Ouallam, which is near the country’s western border, followed by those stationed at the French airbase in Niamey, the nation’s capital.
Following two tense months between the French and the Niger’s new leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision to withdraw on September 24.
The government demanded the French departure after the military coup in July as anti-French sentiment escalated.
The withdrawal will be completed, according to Macron, “by the end of the year.”
It will be not easy to conduct the withdrawal operation with 1000 soldiers stationed in Niamey and 400 in Ouallam.
Niger had become the centre of French antiterrorist operations since 2022, after its troops were forced to withdraw from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.
Since Niger banned French aircraft from flying over their territory, French soldiers will likely have to go by overland routes.
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