France is bidding farewell to Niger as their relationship takes a sour turn. French military convoys have begun withdrawing from bases in southwest Niger, as demanded by Niger’s junta. This marks a blow to France’s influence in West Africa’s troubled Sahel region.
On Tuesday, pickup trucks and armoured vehicles carrying French troops were seen leaving the outskirts of Niamey, the capital, following the junta’s announcement the previous day.
The military government, in a statement broadcast on state television, called for citizens’ cooperation during the troop movements. Around 1,500 French soldiers will be departing Niger, travelling by road to Chad, a journey spanning hundreds of kilometers through occasionally insecure areas.
A small number of French servicemen departed Niger on a military plane on Monday, as reported by an airport worker and other sources.
The French foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
A joint France-Niger withdrawal plan, obtained by Reuters, outlines that Niger’s military will provide security support to the departing French convoys.
This withdrawal comes after weeks of pressure from the military officers who seized power in July. France agreed to withdraw its troops from Niger, signaling a definitive breakdown in their military relationship with the former colony. This move coincides with rising anti-French sentiments in the region.
France has also been forced to withdraw its forces from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso following military takeovers. This leaves a significant gap in international efforts to combat the decade-old Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region and heightens concerns about Russia’s expanding influence in Africa.
As for Niger’s ousted President Bazoum, there is no current information regarding his release or status, adding to the uncertainty in Niger’s political landscape.
