2023-10-11 03:06:51
The departure of French troops has begun. French soldiers left their bases in Niger on Tuesday in a first land convoy under local escort, heading “in the direction of Chad” indicated the military regime in power in Niamey since the end of July.
“The troops based in Ouallam (west) left their base today. These are operations for the departure of the first land convoy towards Chad under escort of our Defense and Security Forces,” specifies the Niamey regime, in a press release read Tuesday evening on national television.
“Safe” withdrawal
In addition to this departure by land, “three special flights” were recorded at Niamey airport, two for the departure of “97 special forces elements” and one “dedicated to logistics”. The regime which had assured that it wanted this withdrawal to take place “in complete safety” specified that the disengagement will continue in accordance with “the timetable agreed by both parties”.
The withdrawal of the French was quickly demanded by the Nigerien generals after their arrival in power and French President Emmanuel Macron announced their departure at the end of September. Around 1,400 French soldiers and airmen have so far been deployed in the country to fight against jihadists alongside Nigeriens, including around 1,000 in Niamey and 400 on two forward bases in the west, in Ouallam and Tabarey-Barey, in heart of the so-called “three borders” zone with Mali and Burkina Faso.
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