French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the withdrawal of France’s military presence in Niger and the recall of its ambassador in response to the recent coup that ousted the democratically elected president.
Niger’s junta, in turn, viewed this announcement as a significant step toward the nation’s sovereignty. They stated, “Imperialist and neo-colonialist forces are no longer welcome on our national territory. The new era of cooperation, based on mutual respect and sovereignty, is already underway.”
France’s decision deals a blow to its African policy, as French troops had previously withdrawn from Mali and Burkina Faso following coups in those countries. France had stationed around 1,500 troops in Niger since the July coup but had refused to comply with the junta’s demand to recall its ambassador, citing the non-recognition of the coup leaders as legitimate.
Tensions had been escalating between France and Niger in recent weeks, prompting Macron to reveal that French diplomats were living in the embassy and surviving on military rations.
The coup leaders’ announcement that they were closing Niger’s airspace to French planes, both commercial and military, led to Macron’s decision. The move aimed to allow the new leadership to regain full control of the country’s skies and territory.
In response, President Mohamed Bazoum, who was deposed in the coup, requested Macron to withdraw the French ambassador to ease tensions.
Macron, in a televised interview, explained that France had decided to bring back its ambassador and diplomats to France. He also announced the gradual withdrawal of French troops, likely by year-end, in coordination with the coup leaders, as they wanted it to happen peacefully.
Macron emphasized that France’s military presence had been at the request of Niger’s government at the time but had been suspended since the coup. The junta leaders argued that Bazoum’s government had not done enough to combat insurgency, resulting in the suspension of military cooperation between France and Niger.
The junta now faces sanctions from Western and regional African powers as a consequence of the coup