On Tuesday, negotiations began between Niger and France on a partial withdrawal of troops from the West African country.
On Tuesday, negotiations began on a partial withdrawal of troops from the West African country. According to numerous sources, cooperation between France and Niger in the fight against terrorism has been stopped, so the start of negotiations on the withdrawal of French soldiers is a natural phenomenon.
However, the question of how many soldiers will be withdrawn from Niger remains open. At present, the regional counter-insurgency force has 1,500 French troops. At the moment, the regional counter-insurgency forces number 1,500 French troops.
Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine said on Tuesday that talks were underway for a “quick withdrawal” of French troops, whose presence is regarded as “illegal.”
On August 3, Niger’s military leaders rejected the military agreements concluded with France. However, the European country did not accept the refusal due to a lack of legitimacy.
Riots in Niger began on July 26, when the former commander of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, headed a military intervention that resulted in the overthrown of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Niger used to be a colony and then an ally of France, but relations between the countries deteriorated when Paris supported the president, calling the new regime illegitimate. France’s influence in the region was greatly shaken after the coup in Niger, which followed the coups in Mali in 2020 and in Burkina Faso in 2022.
Moreover, the military elite of Niger announced the “expulsion” of the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, depriving him of diplomatic immunity. Now his presence in the country is assessed as a threat to public order.
