The withdrawal of French troops from Niger began with several convoys this weekend between the advanced bases in the North-West, where 400 soldiers are deployed, and the capital, Niamey, Agence France-Presse (AFP) has learned. , Monday October 9, from Nigerien and French security sources.
The Nigerien military regime, installed by a coup d’état on July 26, announced on Friday the first movements of French troops “by the end of the week, with the resumption of resupply of the rights of way [bases] and the departure of the first soldiers and materials from Niger to France”. He thus confirmed what the French general staff had announced the day before to AFP.
At least two convoys have since allowed the bases of Ouallam and Tabarey-Barey to be supplied and several French soldiers considered as priorities to be transported to Niamey, from where they could fly away on Tuesday by military plane, according to sources. Nigerien and French security forces.
“Safe” withdrawal
The supplies made it possible to improve the situation of the French soldiers on site, where the reserves of rations, water and fuel – therefore, electricity, produced from generators – left them only a few days, in this situation. region known as the “three borders” between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where they were deployed in the fight against terrorism alongside the Nigeriens.
The French still have little visibility on the routes that can be used to leave Niger. Land borders are closed with Benin and Nigeria, and Nigeriens prohibit flights over their territory by French, civil and military aircraft, unless authorized otherwise.
The other borders have been reopened with the five other neighboring countries, Algeria, Libya, Burkina Faso, Mali as well as Chad, where the command of the French forces in the Sahel is located, based in N’Djamena.
If the French containers are transported to Chad, they should transit through the port of Douala, in Cameroon, according to a source close to the matter. The Niamey regime assured that the withdrawal would take place “in complete safety, under escort of the Nigerien army”.