France names conditions for troops withdrawal from Niger

France will not withdraw troops from Niger until it knows the fate of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Paris is constantly negotiating with the rebels who seized power in Niger, Al Arabiya TV channel reports, adding that they are discussing the removal of French artillery and aviation from the territory of the African state.

On September 6, France24 TV channel reported that France intends to withdraw some military aircraft, including drones, from Niger. It is noted that the French authorities plan to withdraw most of the drones from Niger and curtail the presence of aircraft “used to fight jihadists.”

Prior to this, the Nigerian rebels demanded that France provide a schedule for the withdrawal of troops from the country. We are talking about the forces of Operation Barkhane, which was carried out by the French army in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. In total, there are about 1,500 French military personnel in Niger, and the French General Staff plans to withdraw only part of them.