France to withdraw its Ambassador and end all military cooperation with Niger

French President, Emmanuel Macron has decided to withdraw its ambassador and several diplomats from Niger several months after the Coup.

Speaking to France's TF1 and France 2 television stations over the weekend, he stated that military cooperation was "over" and French troops would leave in "the months to come".

There are currently about 1,500 French soldiers in the landlocked West African country helping to fight Islamist militants.

The decision by Paris follows months of animosity and protests against the French presence in its former colony, with regular demonstrations in the capital Niamey.

The move is a setback in France's operations against jihadists in the wider Sahel region and Paris' influence there. 

President Macron has emphasised that France would "not be held hostage by the putschists," adding that, he still regarded the ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, currently held prisoner by the coup leaders, as the country's "sole legitimate authority" and had informed him of his decision. 

 He described the deposed president as a "hostage" and purported that Bazoum was targeted by this coup d'etat because he was carrying out courageous reforms because there was a largely ethnic settling of scores and a lot of political cowardice.

Anti-French vitriol has flourished in the region in recent years, with many local politicians accusing Paris of carrying out neo-colonialist policies - a charge denied by France.

There have also been concerns in the West over the growing role in the Sahel of Russia's Wagner mercenary group which has been accused of many human rights abuses and helping some new military regimes.

The regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported by France, has threatened military intervention in Niger to reinstate Mr Bazoum. But so far it has not acted. 

The military junta in response to France’s decision welcomed the move in a statement issued Sunday, 24th September, 2023. In a statement quoted by AFP news agency the Junta have expressed excitement viewing this move by France as a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger.

Source: BBC AFRICA