France is set to commence the withdrawal of its troops from Niger, which has been grappling with a coup, this week, after President Emmanuel Macron’s declaration last month that he would not allow the coup leaders to dictate terms and was terminating military collaboration with the West African nation.
The withdrawal of 1,500 troops from Niger creates a significant void in Western attempts to combat a ten-year-long Islamist insurgency. Additionally, it severely diminishes French influence in the Sahel and opens up opportunities for Russia to extend its influence over the expansive and unstable regions of the area.
In an announcement made on Thursday, the French Ministry of Armed Forces stated that the troops would be repatriated to France, with the military withdrawal expected to be finalized by the end of this year.
Until a coup on July 26th, Niger had been the primary ally of Western nations in the central Sahel region, situated south of the Sahara Desert. The coup resulted in the installation of a military junta that demanded France’s departure.
Macron also pulled his ambassador out of Niger.
