Withdrawal Day: France gathers its last papers from Niger
Three months have passed since the military took control of power in Niger in July last year, during which it raised a “red card” against France and its military presence in the country.
After several disputes between the military and France, the latter succumbed to the winds of change sweeping across the African continent and withdrew its presence from several countries that witnessed coups.
The coup leaders issued a decision calling for the withdrawal of around 1,400 French soldiers from the West African state.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his forces would leave the country by the end of September.
Start of Withdrawal On Monday evening, the military council that came to power in a coup at the end of July last year announced the start of the withdrawal of French soldiers from Niger.
The council said in a statement broadcast during the news bulletin that “the operations to withdraw the first convoy under the protection of our defense and security forces will begin today, on October 10th.”
It added that “following meetings and communication between our authorities and the French side, a timetable for the withdrawal of its forces has been determined by mutual agreement.”
Over the past weekend, movements were recorded for several convoys between the front bases in the northwest, where 400 soldiers are deployed, and the capital Niamey, according to Nigerian and French security sources.
At that time, at least two convoys were able to deliver supplies to the Ouallam and Tbari-Barri bases and transport many French soldiers to Niamey.
Withdrawal Map A coordination cell was established “to facilitate the disengagement and coordination operations and ensure that they will take place in complete safety under the protection of the Nigerian armed forces.”
Last Thursday, the Nigerian military council stated that the 400 French soldiers stationed in Ouallam (west) would leave first.
According to the military, about a thousand French soldiers and pilots are stationed at the French airbase in Niamey and 400 in Ouallam and Aiuru (northwest).
As for heavy equipment such as combat vehicles, mobile stations, helicopters, and supplies, logistics experts in the French army will have to organize large ground convoys to reach the ports of Cotonou in Benin or Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire.
Afterwards, this equipment will be transported to France by boat, as there are no plans to redeploy the equipment to other French military bases in Africa.
This departure poses a new logistical challenge for Paris, which was required in 2022 to redeploy the Barkhane force of 4,500 men in Mali within 6 months.
