Niger announced on Thursday evening that the initial departure of French troops from the country, following France’s decision to commence withdrawal this week, will involve 400 soldiers stationed in the southwestern town of Ouallam.
According to a statement broadcast on national radio, the majority of French soldiers stationed at the aerial base in the capital, Niamey, will see the base dismantled by the year’s end.
France has announced its start of troop withdrawal from coup-affected Niger this week. This decision comes after President Emmanuel Macron declared last month that he would not allow the coup leaders to hold the country hostage and subsequently terminated military cooperation with the West African nation.
The choice to withdraw 1,500 troops from Niger, where the military took control on July 26, creates a significant void in Western endeavors to combat a ten-year-long Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region and diminishes France’s sway in the area.
The Niger has expressed its commitment to conducting a well-organized and secure departure of troops “in respect of our interests and terms,” and have urged citizens to exercise vigilance during this “transitional period.”