France will be pulling its military troops out of Niger after the July coup in the West African country, according to French President, Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, September 24. This move will adversely affect the French influence and counter-insurgency operations in the Sahel area.
According to Macron, about 1,500 troops would pull out by the end of the year because France, the former colonial power in Niger, refuses to “be held hostage by the putchists”.
France’s exit, is coming after weeks of pressure from the junta and the citizens demonstrations. The exit will probably heighten Western concerns over Russia’s expanding influence in Africa. This is as the Russian mercenary force, Wagner, is already present in Niger’s neighboring country, Mali.
Macron has refused to recognize the junta as Niger’s legitimate authority but has commented that Paris would be in charge of troop withdraw with the coup leaders.
France’s ambassador will also be pulled out and would return to his home country within today Macron added.
French influence over its former colonies has abated in West Africa over recent years, with vitriol replacing it.
Its forces have been removed out of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso since the coups in those countries, diminishing its role in a region-wide fight against deadly Islamist insurgencies.
