French troops withdraw from northern Niger

Following the military coup in Niger, French troops have left the Ouallam base. France plans to completely withdraw the approximately 1,500 stationed soldiers from the country by the end of the year.

France has completed the withdrawal of its soldiers from a base in northern Niger. This is part of the planned withdrawal of French troops from the West African country following the military coup in July. Junta spokesperson Amadou Abdramane said yesterday that nearly 200 soldiers, 28 trucks, and two dozen armored vehicles had left the Ouallam military base. It has been handed over to Niger.

It is expected that French troops will be fully withdrawn from Niger by the end of the year. Around 1,500 French soldiers were stationed in the country, where they trained the Nigerien military and conducted joint operations with them.

Tense relationship since the military coup

In Niger, the military overthrew the elected government on July 26. Since then, a military government led by former leader of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has been ruling the West African country. Deposed President Bazoum has been placed under house arrest. The former colonial power France does not recognize the new military government. Tensions between the two countries have been escalating since then. The rulers, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, ended cooperation with France in defense and security sectors in August. France’s President Emmanuel Macron initially resisted the military regime’s demand to withdraw the French ambassador. However, he withdrew him at the end of September. Macron then announced that France would abandon its military presence in Niger by the end of the year.

Observers fear that the withdrawal of the French will create a security vacuum that could be exploited by Islamist extremists.