Niger: France Discusses withdrawal of its troops
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced that discussions are being held between the French army and the Niger army with a view to the repatriation of certain French servicemen.
Paris, which categorically rejected the withdrawal of its troops based in Niger and refused to recognise the legitimacy of the new transitional President of Niger, seems to have changed its mind.
The armies of the two countries have therefore resumed dialogue. «Functional coordination exchanges have taken place locally between military personnel to facilitate the movement of French military resources immobilised since the suspension of anti-terrorist cooperation» following the coup d’état, the French Minister of Defence’s entourage had indicated earlier, without specifying the nature of these «movements», their scale or how they would be carried out.
This confirms the statements made on Monday by the Prime Minister of Niger, appointed by the ruling military.
Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, affirmed that «exchanges» were taking place to obtain the departure of the French soldiers. He added that the withdrawal was to take place very quickly.
Maintaining cooperation
However, the Prime Minister of Niger stated that his government hoped to maintain cooperation with France, despite the current disagreements. France, as a former colonial power, does not recognise the new authorities in Niamey and is keeping its ambassador in the country, despite the demands of the new authorities, who have deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and are calling for his departure.
Until now, Paris had ruled out a withdrawal of its military forces from Niger, where 1,500 soldiers and airmen are stationed at the planned Niamey air base, as well as at Ouallam and Ayorou, alongside Nigerien forces in the “three borders” region between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, an area that has become a sanctuary for Islamic State militants.
Fayçal BADIE
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