French Ministry of Defense official: Negotiations for withdrawal have begun
According to Agence France Presse on September 5th, French Ministry of Defense officials stated on the 5th that they are holding talks with the Niger military to withdraw some of the French military personnel stationed in the country.
According to the report, the French Ministry of Defense, who declined to be named, told reporters that "negotiations regarding the withdrawal of certain military personnel have begun." He did not disclose details of the negotiations.
It is reported that as part of France's efforts to combat extremists in the Sahel region, France has deployed approximately 1500 soldiers in Niger. Some speculate that France will be forced to fully withdraw its troops from Niger after the coup that ousted Niger's President Mohammad Bazum on July 26th. Bazum is an ally of France.
The report suggests that Niger has become an important hub for France after successive coups forced France to withdraw from its neighboring countries Mali and Burkina Faso.
On September 2nd, thousands of people in Niger held a rally outside the French military headquarters in Niamey, demanding that the French army withdraw.
The report pointed out that the relationship between Niger and France rapidly declined after Paris expressed support for the democratically elected Bazum and declared the regime after the Niger coup illegal.
![French Ministry of Defense official: Negotiations for withdrawal have begun](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/e6399c8b05ba38a71b520ac2b0efb184.jpg)
The report also stated that on August 3rd, the leader of the Niger coup announced the abandonment of multiple military cooperation agreements with France.
On the 4th, Prime Minister Ramin Zene Ali Mahaman, appointed by the Niger military, stated that "contacts" regarding the "rapid" withdrawal of French soldiers are underway.
A person close to French Defense Minister Sebastian Le Corney told reporters on the 5th that talks on "relaxing the flow of French military resources in Niger" are underway.