Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has said that his nation will withdraw its troops and ambassador from Niger aftermath of the July coup that ousted democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
In a Sunday televised interview, Macron said, “France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next hours, our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France.”
The military cooperation was “over” and that 1,500 Fance’s troops deployed in the nation would withdraw in “the months and weeks to come” with a full withdrawal “by the end of the year”, he added.
French departure comes after weeks of intimidation from the military and popular protests. Thousands of people have protested in the last weeks in the capital Niamey, including outside a military base housing French troopers.
Niger’s new rulers, who had been urging France’s departure after Macron denied to recognize the July 26 coup, greeted the French president’s announcement.
They said in a statement read out on national television, “This Sunday, we celebrate a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger. This is a historic moment, which speaks to the determination and will of the Nigerien people.”
The outcome comes as France’s armies have also been asked to exit its former colonies Mali and Burkina Faso.
