French diplomats, soldiers to leave Niger, says Macron

French diplomats and soldiers in Niger will return home by the end of the year, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday – something he refused to do a few weeks ago – adding that the military cooperation between both nations has ended.

“In the next few hours, our ambassador to Niger will return to France”, Macron told France 2 and TF1.

At the end of August, the ruling junta had ordered the expulsion of the French ambassador, but Macron refused at the time, saying he did not recognise their legitimacy.

“We are not here to be hostages to putschists”, he went on, referring to the living conditions of French soldiers and diplomats in the country.

On 15 September, he detailed the critical situation of the ambassador and diplomats, who were “taken hostage”, according to the president. “Food deliveries are being prevented, and they are eating military rations”, he explained.

In addition to the French diplomatic representation, the military presence in Niger will also be repatriated “in the weeks and months to come”, with the withdrawal of all the soldiers “by the end of the year”, said Macron.

Around 1,500 French soldiers are in Niger “at the request of the countries in the region” as part of a mission to combat terrorism. However, they have been prevented from leaving French military bases since the putschists came to power.

With the withdrawal of the troops, Macron also announced the “end of military cooperation” with Niger because “the de facto authorities […] no longer want to fight terrorism”.

“The putschists are friends of disorder”, he said, adding that “in Mali, dozens of people die every day. There have been more deaths linked to Islamist terrorism in Niger since the start of this coup than there were in the previous 18 months”.

“France, sometimes alone, has assumed all its responsibilities thanks to [its] military”, he added, praising the results of Operation Barkhane, without which “most of these countries would already have been taken over by territorial caliphates and jihadists”.

“We will continue to help the African continent in the fight against terrorism. But only if it comes from democratically elected governments”, he added.

Indeed, Macron has said on several occasions in recent months that France does not recognise the authority of the coup plotters but that of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, “the only legitimate authority in Niger, who was elected by his people”.

(Davide Basso | Euractiv.fr)