Calm in Niamey after announcement of French soldiers' departure

Niamey, the capital of Niger, appeared calm on Monday following French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that his country's ambassador and French troops would soon depart. 

This decision was met with approval from some of the local population who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

There were no expected protests in the city, where activity appeared to be normal.

Soldiers were stationed in front of the French Embassy, and military vehicles were parked nearby.

After weeks of tensions between Paris and the military regime that seized power two months ago in a coup, Macron announced on Sunday that France's ambassador to Niger would return to France "in the coming hours," and French forces would leave the country by the end of the year. These were demands made by the military for several weeks.

There has been no confirmation that Ambassador Sylvain Itte left the country.

Many Nigeriens in the streets of the capital welcomed this decision.

Marzouk Dola, near the French Embassy in the popular district of Yantala, told AFP, "The French soldiers must leave immediately (the country) because we don't actually need them."

He added, "They say they are helping us, (but) we haven't noticed any change," referring to the approximately 1,500 French soldiers in Niger as part of the fight against jihadists.

Abdelkari Hassan Maikano, who also resides in the capital, shared a similar sentiment. He said, "France has brought its army here for a long time, but they have not been able to eliminate terrorism."

The ruling military council in Niger welcomed France's announcement on Sunday to withdraw its troops from the country by the end of the year, considering it a "new step towards sovereignty."

Prior to the coup on July 26th, Niger was one of France's last allies in the Sahel region. The withdrawal of the 1,500 French soldiers from this country follows the French forces' exit from Mali and Burkina Faso, pressured by the military that took power in those two countries.



AFP