France ends decade of missions in Sahel as last troops leave Niger
The last French troops withdrew from Niger on Friday, marking an end to more than a decade of anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel. France has been forced to pull out of three countries in the region in less than 18 months, following military takeovers that have seen Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso all turn away from their former colonial ruler.
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"Today's date ... marks the end of the disengagement process of French forces in the Sahel," said Niger army lieutenant Salim Ibrahim.
France will also close its embassy in Niger following the departure of the last contingent of its troops. Its ambassador returned to Paris in September.
Relations between Niger and France have soured since soldiers of the presidential guard toppled President Mohamed Bazoum and seized power in a coup in July.
The generals now in charge of Niger demanded the withdrawal of some 1,500 French troops, who were deployed on a mission to contain a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the Sahel region for more than a decade.
French forces, who had been based in the capital Niamey as well as along the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, began pulling out in October.
The last French soldiers boarded a military plane from the French air base in Niamey on Friday afternoon, according to a correspondent for French news agency AFP, who watched them depart.
Regional exit
France's exit from Niger follows similar withdrawals from Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which are also under military rule after recent coups.
In all three countries, the takeovers have been followed by a break with France and its western allies, accompanied by friendlier relations with Russia.
In the aftermath of the coup in Niger, protesters gathered outside France's air base and the French embassy was attacked.
The diplomatic mission has now been closed indefinitely.
The future of the regional fight with groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State, which has killed thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel and beyond, is uncertain.
Earlier this month, military leaders in Niamey said they were ending two European Union security and defence missions in the country – within days of discussing a possible security deal with Russian officials.
Meanwhile Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger said in September they had agreed a joint defence pact to fight jihadists.
US troops remain
Until the coup, Niger was a key security partner of both France and the United States.
Hundreds of US military personnel and a smaller number of Italian and German troops remain in Niger, for now.
A US official said in October that Washington was keeping about 1,000 military personnel in the country, but was no longer actively training or assisting Nigerien forces.
The United States has said it will resume cooperation with Niger if its military regime commits to a rapid transition to civilian rule.
Niger's rulers, who still have the overthrown president under house arrest, say they want up to three years for a transition back to a civilian government.
(with newswires)
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