According to reports, France will begin removing its troops from Niger this week.
As per a statement made by a spokesperson of the French Armed Forces to the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), France will begin the operation to withdraw its troops from Niger this week, and it will be done in an orderly fashion in conditions of safety, and in conjunction with the Nigerien side.
In September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country would withdraw its ambassador from Niamey and all its other diplomatic personnel from Niger. In addition, he declared at that time that all French military personnel would have departed the nation by the end of the year.
On September 4, the Prime Minister of Niger disclosed that his government was in discussions with the government in France to secure the speedy withdrawal of French personnel.
French government sources too confirmed the news to the daily “Le Monde” that negotiations regarding the departure of some French personnel from the Sahel region had begun with the military council in Niger. According to the sources quoted by the newspaper, less than a month has passed since the military council in Niger cancelled agreements for military cooperation with France, and discussions have already begun regarding the removal of some French military troops from the country.
Paris had previously said that they would only submit to the requests of legitimate authorities.
As a former French colony, the current nation of Niger has been one of the West’s most reliable allies in the Sahel region throughout its history. In addition to this, the country possesses significant uranium reserves. According to various reports in the media, Niger is responsible for around 15–17% of the uranium utilised to generate energy in France. About 1,500 French military personnel serve in Niger in their permanent bases there.
