The leader of the military who seized power in Niger, Abdourahamane Tchiani, said that the French military currently preparing to leave his country has failed to help defeat terrorism.
"Not only have they failed to fight terrorism, but there are even more terrorists," French media quoted him as saying on Sunday.
"Since the French, who were with us to fight against terrorism, have unilaterally stopped cooperating with us, their stay in Niger is coming to an end," Tchiani added.
According to him, the Nigerian authorities are currently "making preparations" for the departure of the French military. Tchiani noted that the military carried out the coup in Niger precisely because the authorities did not listen to their opinion on the country's security issues.
Tchiani made the statements to journalists, speaking not in French, but in Djerma and Hausa, indigenous languages of Niger. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron, who does not recognize the new authorities of Niger, said that the French military contingent (about 1,500 troops) would leave the country by the end of the year.
On July 26, a coup took place in Niger. Nigerien President Bazoum was ousted and detained by Gen. Tchiani. Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened a military intervention if the new authorities did not reinstate Bazoum.
Insecurity in the region has increased in recent years due to radical Islamic terrorist activities in the Sahel region. According to the Africa Security Brief, this region "experienced the largest increase in violent extremist activity of any region in Africa" in 2017-2020.