France will organize a withdrawal of its troops from Niger in the coming weeks or months, and the French military will return to France until the end of 2023, President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday.
"I spoke with President Mohamed Bazoum today and informed him that France has decided to recall its ambassador … We will also put an end to our military cooperation with the current Nigerien authorities because they are no longer aiming to fight terrorism. This is the end of this cooperation, it [the troops withdrawal] will be organized in the coming weeks or months. The troops will return in an organized manner before the end of the year," Macron told French broadcaster TF1.
Apart from that, Macron announced that Paris is recalling French Ambassador to Niger Sylvain Itte and all staff of the French Embassy in the West African country.
"The Ambassador in Niamey, as well as all staff of the embassy, will return to France in the coming weeks or months," Macron told French broadcaster TF1.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.
Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened military intervention if the military did not reinstate Bazoum.
France has around 1,500 troops in Niger, most of whom are restricted to the country's military base in Niamey.