Tensions between France and Niger, a former French colony, have mounted and French president Emmanuel Macron said recently that diplomats were surviving on military rations.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country after its democratically elected president was deposed in a coup.
The announcement is a significant, if predicted, blow to Franceâs policy in Africa, after French troops pulled out of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years after coups there.
France had stationed thousands of troops in the region at the request of African leaders to fight jihadist groups.
France has maintained some 1,500 troops in Niger since the July coup, and had repeatedly refused an order by the new junta for its ambassador to leave, saying that France did not recognise the coup leaders as legitimate.
The announcement is a significant, if predicted, blow to Franceâs policy in Africa, after French troops pulled out of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years after coups there.
France had stationed thousands of troops in the region at the request of African leaders to fight jihadist groups.
France has maintained some 1,500 troops in Niger since the July coup, and had repeatedly refused an order by the new junta for its ambassador to leave, saying that France did not recognise the coup leaders as legitimate.
