French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of military cooperation with Niger and the beginning of the withdrawal of French troops from the African country, the process should be completed by the end of the year, Al Jazeera reports.
He also announced the return to their homeland of the French ambador and employees of the French Emby who are in Niger.
“France has decided to recall the ambador. “Over the next few hours, our ambador and several diplomats will return to France,” Macron announced during a televised address.
Currently, there are about 1,500 French troops in Niger. The new authorities of the African country after the coup demanded that France withdraw its troops and recall the ambador, but Paris has so far refused to do this, believing that the putschists “have no right” to make such demands.
Earlier on September 24, Niger authorities banned French aviation from flying over the country.
The military coup in Niger took place on July 27. President Mohamed Bazoum was removed, and the leader of the rebellion, the head of the presidential guard, Abdurrahman Tchiani, became the new leader. On August 31, Niger’s Foreign Ministry announced that French Ambador to the country Sylvain Itte no longer enjoys diplomatic immunity, demanding that he leave the country.