French military convoys have officially begun their withdrawal from bases in southwest Niger, marking the start of a withdrawal process that was demanded by Niger’s junta.
This departure represents a further setback for France’s influence in the conflict-ridden Sahel region of West Africa.
On Tuesday, a procession of pickup trucks and armoured personnel carriers carrying French troops was seen traversing the dusty outskirts of the capital city, Niamey. This move came just a day after the junta announced that the withdrawal would commence the following day.
In a statement broadcast on state television, the military government urged the cooperation of citizens with the troop movements, emphasizing that the departure would involve around 1,500 French soldiers leaving Niger by road, making their way to Chad. This journey covers hundreds of kilometres, crossing sometimes insecure territories.
Notably, a small contingent of French servicemen departed from Niger on a military aircraft the day before. Airport personnel and additional sources familiar with the flight confirmed this development.
The French foreign ministry remained tight-lipped in response to requests for comments on the unfolding situation.
A comprehensive withdrawal plan, jointly agreed upon by France and Niger, outlined that Niger’s military would provide security support for the French convoys during their land-based withdrawal.
This withdrawal comes on the heels of sustained pressure from the military officers who assumed power in Niger in July. It represents a definitive rupture in the military ties between France and its former colony. This shift has been accompanied by a wave of anti-French sentiment in the region.
In recent months, French forces have faced a similar fate in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso following military takeovers in those countries. This development is believed to have left a substantial void in international efforts to combat the long-standing Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region, raising Western concerns regarding Russia’s growing influence in Africa.
