French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will withdraw its ambassador and troops from Niger in response to the July coup that ousted democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Macron declared military cooperation with Niger is “over,” and the withdrawal of 1,500 French troops will occur in the “months and weeks to come,” with a full pullout “by the end of the year.”
The decision follows weeks of pressure from the military and popular demonstrations in Niger, with thousands of people protesting against French presence in the country. Niger’s new rulers, who had been demanding France’s exit since Macron refused to recognize the July coup, welcomed the announcement as a “historic moment.”
This move by France comes as it faces similar requests to withdraw its troops from former colonies Mali and Burkina Faso. The situation highlights the increasing resistance in Sahel countries to foreign military presence, even as they grapple with security challenges from armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Macron reiterated that France considered Bazoum the “sole legitimate authority” in Niger.
The withdrawal of French troops from Niger represents a significant shift in the Sahel region’s geopolitical landscape, with regional countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso moving to assert more control over their security and governance.
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