France has started to withdraw troops from Niger on Thursday, October 5 2023. This was made public by the French armed forces ministry.
“The disengagement of military personnel and assets stationed in Niger begins this week. This maneuver should enable all military personnel to return to France before the end of the year,” the statement reads.
In September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would gradually withdraw its 1,500 soldiers by the end of the year. For more than two months, the French leader had taken a defiant stance toward Niger’s military government – which came to power in July after a military coup – but eventually conceded to their demand that French troops leave.
