The withdrawal of French military convoys has initiated from bases in southwest Niger, signaling the commencement of a departure demanded by Niger’s junta. This move represents a significant development that impacts France’s influence in the conflict-ridden Sahel region of West Africa.
On Tuesday, pickup trucks and armored personnel carriers, transporting French troops, were observed moving through the outskirts of the capital Niamey. The junta had announced late on Monday that the withdrawal process would begin the following day. In a statement broadcasted on state television, the military government called for citizens’ cooperation during the troop movements, emphasizing that the departure would involve approximately 1,500 French soldiers exiting Niger via road to Chad—a journey spanning hundreds of kilometers through areas that are sometimes insecure.
Earlier, on Monday, a few dozen French servicemen were reported to have flown out of Niger on a military plane, according to an airport worker and two other sources familiar with the flight.
A joint withdrawal plan between France and Niger, seen by Reuters, outlined that Niger’s military would provide security support to the French convoys during their withdrawal by land.
This move comes after weeks of pressure from military officers who seized power in July. France, responding to this pressure, agreed last month to withdraw its troops stationed in Niger, marking a definitive rupture in military relations with its former colony. The decision is situated within a broader context of rising anti-French sentiment in the region.
