France withdraws all troops from Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

According to RT , this move will cause about 1,500 soldiers to leave by the end of this year.

"France has decided to return its ambassador and diplomatic staff to France in the next few hours. We have also decided to suspend military cooperation with the current Niger government," Mr Macron told France 2 television.

According to Mr. Macron, the withdrawal will take place in the coming months.

Pháp rút hết binh sĩ ở Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso - Ảnh 1.

President Emmanuel Macron said on September 24 that France will withdraw troops and diplomats from Niger. Photo: AP

About 1,500 French troops are stationed in Niger after Paris suspended military operations in Mali and Burkina Faso, where similar coups have occurred.

The French base in Niger is one of the largest in the Sahel region and when the withdrawal is complete, only a few dozen French soldiers will remain in Chad.

Despite accepting the coup leader's request, Mr. Macron reaffirmed his position that ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum is the only legitimate authority in Niger.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a military coup in July. The coup leaders then suspended a military cooperation agreement with the French government and demanded that French troops leave.

Niger's military leaders in August demanded that French Ambassador Sylvain Itte leave and revoke his diplomatic immunity, a request that Paris rejected. Last week, Mr Macron said the Nigerien military was holding Mr Itte "hostage" by blocking food deliveries to the French embassy.

France withdraws all troops from Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced the formation of a military alliance last week. Mali and Burkina Faso have both pledged to support Niger in the event of a military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the coup, and the signing of the defense pact formalizes the agreement.

Mali's Defense Minister Abdoulaye Diop told Reuters the alliance of Sahel countries would also work together to fight terrorism and secure their shared borders.

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