The context is tense between Paris and the putschists who came to power in Niamey at the end of July, but, according to a press release read on Nigerien television, Friday October 6, a “coordination meeting” was held Thursday between French and Nigerien military officials in Zinder (south-east of the country) “to agree on the terms of withdrawal of French troops, with the common objective of a coordinated disengagement, in good order, and completed before January 1, 2024.”
A coordination cell has been set up to “facilitate future disengagement operations and ensure that they will take place in complete safety, under escort of the Nigerien armed forces”.
The first movements will begin “by the end of the week, with the resumption of supply to the [bases] and the departure of the first soldiers and equipment from Niger to France”, confirming what the general staff announced on Thursday French.
“Avoid any trouble”
On Thursday, the Nigerien military regime specified that the 400 French soldiers based in Ouallam (West) would leave first. Some 1,000 French soldiers and airmen are deployed at the French air base in Niamey and 400 in Ouallam and Ayorou (North-West), alongside the Nigeriens, in the so-called “three borders” zone between Niger and Burkina Faso. and Mali, sanctuary of the Islamic State organization.
In a second press release, the military in power said they had sent a “mission to Ouallam” with, in particular, the desire to raise awareness among the populations on the conduct to be taken until the departure of “the last French soldier from the camp” and to call them “quietly” to “avoid any disturbance throughout the French soldiers’ crossing”.
This withdrawal, a demand from Nigeriens, comes after a standoff of more than two months between France and the military regime resulting from the July 26 coup against President Mohamed Bazoum.
