France to Begin Withdrawing Troops From Niger – Junta

The military junta in Niger says the withdrawal of French troops from its territory will begin today.

There have been tensions between the two countries since a coup in July overthrew the democratically elected president and French ally, Mohamed Bazoum.

The junta said they would be escorting the first convoy of French soldiers out of the country. It’s not clear how they’ll be leaving.

Land borders with neighbouring Benin and Nigeria to the south are still closed.

But others with Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad, which are also under military rule, remain open.

About 1,500 French soldiers have been helping Nigerien forces fight militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The junta requested the French leave in August, accusing them of trying to reinstate President Bazoum by force.

There have been protests outside a base housing French troops in the capital, Niamey, for weeks

French President Emmanuel Macron initially refused to withdraw the troops, but eventually agreed to the request last month, saying they would be gone by the end of the year.

Niger was seen as one of the West’s last allies in the Sahel region in the war against terror.

France’s influence there has been waning following a wave of coups across some of its former colonies