France’s Withdrawal from Niger: Minister Declares They Are Not Leaving

2023-10-03 22:53:45

(Niamey) France is “not in the logic of leaving Niger”, declared Tuesday the Nigerien Minister of the Interior, a week following the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron of the withdrawal by the end of the year of the tricolor troops of this Sahelian country.

Published yesterday at 6:53 p.m.

“These people are not in the logic of leaving Niger,” said the Minister of the Interior and Brigadier General Mohamed Toumba, during a meeting with civil society organizations, unions, religious leaders and traditional broadcasts on national television.

The minister was appointed by the military regime following a July 26 coup.

Some 1,500 French soldiers are present in Niger as part of the anti-jihadist fight. “Today, there are more than 3,000 or even 3,500,” estimated General Toumba.

Emmanuel Macron announced their departure more than a week ago “by the end of the year”, following the military regime repeated its desire for their withdrawal and denounced several military cooperation agreements with France.

The French will leave Niger “but not through Benin,” declared General Toumba. “Any direction except Benin,” he insisted.

“We’re going to let go of your planes at the last minute,” he added, without further details.

The French president also announced the departure of the ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, who returned to Paris last week.

The Nigerien regime had ordered the expulsion of the diplomat.

“The Nigerien people will now dictate the form of future relations with France,” the head of the military regime, General Abdourahamane Tiani, said on Saturday.

The military regime has been engaged in a standoff with France since the July coup that overthrew President-designate Mohamed Bazoum, an ally of the former colonial power. This does not recognize the new authorities of Niger.

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