France set to withdraw soldiers from Niger

PARIS — France said on Thursday that it would start withdrawing its troops from Niger this week, insisting that the exit be carried out in accordance with its "conditions".

"We will begin our disengagement operation this week, in good order, safely and in coordination with the Nigeriens," the French Joint Defense Staff was quoted by French daily Le Figaro as saying.

According to the Joint Defense Staff, about 1,000 French soldiers are based in the capital Niamey, and 400 others are in the northwest near the so-called three borders zone of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

"We are taking steps to ensure the safety of the people engaged in the maneuver," the French army headquarters said.

In a televised interview late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would withdraw its troops deployed in Niger by the end of this year.

"We are ending our military cooperation with the de facto authorities of Niger because they no longer want to fight against terrorism," he said.

"We will continue to support the African continent in the fight against terrorism, but we can only do so if it is at the request of democratically elected powers and regional authorities."

Relations between Niger and France nose-dived after the July coup in Niger. France has suspended visa processing in the country and evacuated its citizens, while Niger has closed its airspace for all French-registered aircraft.

France's ambassador to Niamey last week also returned home from the West African country, after the country demanded his expulsion.

Agencies - Xinhua