Nigerien coup leaders have been pushing France to set a timeline for withdrawing its troops from the West African country, Al Arabiya news channel reported on Wednesday.
Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) called on France to clarify the future of its troops, some 1,500 of whom have been stationed in the country as part of an anti-terrorism operation in the Sahel region, the report said.
Niger’s military-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said on Monday that French forces were staying in the country illegally and called for their swift departure.
French forces have been largely confined to their air base in Niger's capital, Niamey, since military ousted Paris-backed President Mohamed Bazoum in late July.
The West African bloc ECOWAS threatened military intervention if Niger's military did not restore Bazoum to power.