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French President Emmanuel Macron introduced Sunday that French troops could be withdrawn from Niger within the subsequent couple of months, within the wake of a coup d’état within the Western African nation this summer season.
The navy withdrawal from Niger comes after French troops have been ousted from neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid rising anti-French sentiment throughout the continent and navy failures in containing jihadist terrorism within the Sahel area.
Macron additionally mentioned France would imminently withdraw its ambassador, who had been dwelling beneath efficient home arrest within the French embassy within the capital Niamey, based on French authorities.
“France has determined to withdraw its ambassador. Within the subsequent hours, our ambassador and several other diplomats will return to France,” Macron mentioned throughout an interview with French TV channels.
Macron additionally mentioned the navy cooperation between France and Niger was “over” and that French troops would return earlier than the tip of the 12 months. “Within the weeks and months to come back, we’ll seek the advice of with the putschists, as a result of we wish this to be achieved peacefully,” he added.
The navy junta, which got here to energy in July, had set France an ultimatum to withdraw its troops that have been concerned in anti-terrorist operations in North Africa. France on the time pledged to not withdraw troops until requested by the deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.
1,500 French troops are stationed in a number of bases throughout Niger.
Within the weeks after the coup, France additionally mentioned it could take into account supporting a potential navy intervention launched by the African regional physique ECOWAS in opposition to the putschists in Niamey. With the choice to withdraw, that prospect seems increasingly more unlikely.
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