BREAKING: What French Troops Started Doing In Niger On Tuesday

BREAKING: What French Troops Started Doing In Niger On Tuesday

On Tuesday, the French army commenced the withdrawal of its troops from Niger, following orders from the leaders of a coup that ousted the president, a close ally of Paris.

This marks the beginning of a complex process that France anticipates will be concluded by year-end, bringing closure to another French anti-jihadist operation in Africa.

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“The first troops have departed,” confirmed the spokesperson for the French chief of staff, affirming an announcement made by Niger’s military leadership on Monday, stating that the 1,400-strong French contingent would begin departing on Tuesday.

A convoy of soldiers with trucks carrying equipment and armored vehicles from western Niger arrived in the capital Niamey around midday on Tuesday, as observed by an AFP journalist.

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A source from the French defense stated that a priority group of soldiers, due to health or humanitarian reasons, flew out of Niger on Monday.

Niamey mentioned convoys of troops being escorted out of the country overland by the Nigerien army, without specifying their ultimate destination.

The regime assured on Friday that the withdrawal would be conducted “safely”.

There has been no official announcement regarding the final destination of the French convoys.

According to security sources, they are expected to head towards Chad, covering over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) of roads and tracks to reach the capital N’Djamena, where French forces in the Sahel command are headquartered.

The withdrawal is anticipated to present logistical challenges for the French, with few secure routes out of a region beset by numerous jihadist groups.

Since the July 26 coup, Niger’s land borders with Benin and Nigeria have been closed.

Niamey has also prohibited French flights over its territory.

Approximately 1,000 French troops were stationed in Niamey, with an additional 400 deployed at two forward bases in the northwest, near Mali and Burkina Faso, areas marked by insurgent activity.

France had reinforced its presence in Niger, adding armored vehicles and helicopters to the drones and fighter jets already in deployment.

This marks the third instance in 18 months that French troops have been instructed to leave by a former African colony, dealing a significant blow to France’s influence on the continent and its prestige on the global stage.

The French ambassador to Niger was also recalled by the leaders of the coup that ousted French-backed President Mohamed Bazoum.

He returned to Paris on September 27, prompting celebrations in Niamey.

Niamey’s military rulers had characterized the announcement of France’s diplomatic and troop withdrawals in September as a “step towards the sovereignty of Niger”.

In recent months, Niger had been serving as a regional hub for French troops aiding regional armies in the fight against Islamist insurgents.

Initially, French President Emmanuel Macron sought to keep his troops and ambassador in the country, contending that only the deposed Bazoum had the authority to request their withdrawal.

However, in late September, he yielded to pressure to bring them back after months of anti-French protests.

France still asserts, however, that Bazoum’s ousted government remains the sole legitimate authority.

The former president remains under house arrest in Niamey.

The United States maintains approximately 1,100 military personnel in the country, but after Macron’s announcement last month, they stated they would “evaluate” their next steps.

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