French troops to withdraw from Niger next week: French army official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Oct 2023 12:22

The chief of staff of the French armed forces announces that French troops will be withdrawing from Niger next week.

French soldiers assist French nationals on a bus waiting to be airlifted back to France on a French military aircraft, at the International Airport in Niamey, Niger, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 (AP)

France will begin withdrawing its troops from Niger next week, AFP reported citing the chief of staff of the French armed forces.

The withdrawal operation will reportedly be carried out in coordination with Niger.

Back in September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will summon back its French Ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, along with the entire personnel from the French Embassy, along with all military personnel.

Consequently, the new Nigerien government hailed the news as "a new step towards sovereignty."

Yesterday, Niger’s junta-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine accused France of plotting to assassinate ministers and other figures in Niger.

Talking to Al Jazeera, Zeine said: "France, along with our other enemies, has a plan to assassinate prominent ministers and members of the country's leadership," adding that France takes advantage to destabilize the situation in the country.

On July 26, Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew the pro-West incumbent president Mohammed Bazzoum during a military coup led by the presidential guard.

France was quick to condemn the coup. Macron warned the military junta of a swift and firm retaliation if their interests were threatened in the country. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, similarly affirmed his support for the ousted president and expressed his commitment to restore his government.

On July 30th, ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) froze Niger's assets, imposed sanctions on the junta officials, and gave a stern warning of military intervention if the former government is not restored within a week's deadline.

Since then, the Nigerien junta slowly consolidated and legitimized its authority, and France has backed down from escalating after demanding the reinstallment of Mohammad Bazzoum.