France has made the decision to recall its ambassador. According to President Macron, our ambassador and a number of diplomats will be returning to France within the upcoming hours.
The speaker further stated that the military collaboration had reached its conclusion, and French forces would be withdrawn in the forthcoming months.
The military junta that assumed control in Niger in July expressed its approval of the action.
According to a statement cited by the AFP news agency, the junta expressed that the upcoming Sunday marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of Niger's sovereignty.
Approximately 1,500 French military personnel are currently deployed in the landlocked West African nation, providing assistance in the ongoing efforts to combat Islamist extremists. The United States now maintains a military presence of over 1,000 troops in Niger, but, there has been no formal request for their withdrawal.
The decision made by Paris is a response to a prolonged period of hostility and protests directed towards the French presence in its previous colony. These protests have been consistently taking place in the capital city of Niamey.
The decision significantly impacts France's counterterrorism efforts in the broader Sahel region and its overall influence in the area. However, President Macron expressed that France will not allow itself to be controlled by the individuals who orchestrated the coup, during his interviews with TF1 and France 2 television stations in France.
President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his continued recognition of Mohamed Bazoum, the deposed President of Niger, as the sole legitimate authority of the country. Despite being detained by the leaders of the coup, President Bazoum was told of President Macron's stance on the matter. The overthrown president was characterized as a "hostage" by the individual in question.
According to the speaker, the individual in question became the subject of the coup d'état because to their implementation of bold changes, as well as the prevalence of ethnic retribution and significant political timidity.
Niger is among a group of former French colonies located in West and Central Africa, where the military has recently assumed power. This trend follows similar occurrences in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Chad. The most recent coup occurred in Gabon during the month of August.
In recent years, there has been a notable proliferation of anti-French rhetoric in the region, wherein some local politicians have accused Paris of implementing neocolonialist practices. However, it is important to note that France has refuted these allegations.
There have also been concerns among Western countries regarding the increasing involvement of Russia's Wagner mercenary outfit in the Sahel region. The entity in question is accused of engaging in human rights violations and has been implicated in providing support to emerging military regimes.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional organization, with the backing of France, has expressed the possibility of employing military action in Niger with the aim of reinstating Mr. Bazoum. However, until far it has not demonstrated any action.
The military authorities of Niger instructed French ambassador Sylvain Itte to depart from the nation subsequent to the ousting of Mr. Bazoum on the 26th of July.
Nevertheless, despite the French government's refusal to comply or acknowledge the military dictatorship as legitimate, the 48-hour deadline given in August for his departure lapsed without his compliance.
The comment made by President Macron is noteworthy as it follows shortly after the imposition of a ban by the leaders of Niger's coup on the operation of "French aircraft" within the nation's airspace.
According to ASECNA, the regional aviation safety organization, Niger's airspace is accessible to all national and international commercial flights, with the exception of French aircraft or aircraft chartered by France, including those operated by aviation France.
According to the statement, the closure of the airspace would be in effect for all military, operational, and other specialized flights, unless explicit authorization is obtained in advance.
According to Air France's statement to AFP, the airline indicated that it was abstaining from utilizing the airspace of Niger.
Earlier this month, the United States made the decision to transfer a portion of its military personnel from Niamey to the central city of Agadez due to security concerns. The largest drone facility in the region of Niger is operated by the United States. This base has been utilized for conducting anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel region. Additionally, it provides training to soldiers from Niger.
Despite the successful negotiations between the United States and the junta, there remains uncertainty regarding the timeline for the resumption of comprehensive counterterrorism and training operations.