France has officially announced the commencement of the withdrawal of its military forces stationed in Niger, starting this week, as confirmed by the French military headquarters.
President Emmanuel Macron had previously stated that the last French soldiers would depart from this economically challenged African nation south of the Sahara by the end of the current year.
The French military headquarters stated, “We will begin the withdrawal process this week, in a regular and secure manner, in cooperation with the Nigeriens.”
An official source reiterated, “We will begin the withdrawal process this week, in a regular and secure manner, in cooperation with the Nigeriens,” citing “comprehensive military deployment” in the Sahel region, equipped with intelligence capabilities and enhanced ground intervention forces. Additional military support from France will be available “if necessary.”
All French forces and their equipment will be withdrawn from Niger and returned to France, with no transfer to any other country, given the recent deterioration of the security situation in the country.
The statement added that they would take all necessary measures to ensure a smooth withdrawal in the face of any threats or attempts to disrupt the process, regardless of their source or nature.
Macron previously announced on September 24th that the withdrawal of French forces from Niger would be completed by the end of 2023, in line with the demands of the country’s authorities following the military coup on July 26th against the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who has yet to announce his resignation.
France had 1,500 soldiers stationed in Niger, which had become a key center for its security operations in the Sahel region after its withdrawal from Mali in 2022.
French forces were located in three main sites, including Military Base 101 in the capital, Niamey, where about a thousand troops were stationed, as well as a “support center” in the Tillaberi region.
Relations between France and Niger have been tense since July 26th, with the military leadership of General Abdoulkarim Tiani canceling defense cooperation agreements between Paris and Niamey, claiming that French forces were present “illegally” in Niger.
Additionally, the French Ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Étienne, was held at the embassy until he left the country on September 27th.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned on Friday of a potential “collapse” of the African Sahel region amid the escalating activities of jihadist organizations and the diminished presence of Paris following a series of military coups in some of its countries.
As an indication of the deteriorating security situation in Niger, the Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday the killing of 29 soldiers in the western part of the country near the Mali border in the deadliest jihadist attack since the coup.
The ministry stated via national television that a “security forces detachment was subjected to a complex attack by over a hundred terrorists in northwestern Tabelot, during which explosive devices and suicide vehicles were used.”
This attack marked the highest number of casualties in a jihadist attack since the military took power in a coup on July 26th, citing the deteriorating security situation in the country as a primary justification.
