Because the yr of Our Lord 2023 involves an finish, so does the French navy presence within the West African nation of Niger.
This marks one other phasing out of centuries of French colonialism within the Sahel area of the African continent.
For the third time in only a yr and a half, French troops are despatched packing, bidding adieu to Africa.
Reuters reported:
“The final French troops deployed in Niger to assist combat a decade-old Islamist insurgency within the Sahel left the nation on Friday, sealing a withdrawal that has dealt an extra blow to France’s affect in West Africa.
Military officers who seized energy in Niger in July made France’s navy exit certainly one of their key calls for, echoing juntas in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali who severed long-standing safety ties with France after coups in 2020-2022.
After initially pushing again, France’s President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in September that 1,500 troops would pull out of Niger by the tip of the yr.”
The complete French withdrawal from Mali was accomplished in August 2022, and in Burkina Faso this February.
Earlier than the coup, Niger was a key safety accomplice of France and america.
“A doc marking the official finish of France’s navy engagement with Niger was signed by each events within the capital Niamey on Friday, in line with a Reuters reporter.
A final group of French troopers in fatigues and backpacks then boarded a navy aircraft that took off shortly after.”
AFP reported:
“The French exit leaves simply lots of of US navy personnel and a lot of Italian and German troops remaining within the nation.
[…] All three nations are battling a jihadist insurgency that erupted in northern Mali in 2012 and unfold, however their relations have nosedived with France since a string of coups within the area.”
France nonetheless has 1,000 troops in neighboring Chad, the bottom for its Sahel anti-jihadist operations.
“However an Italian diplomat has mentioned France’s departure presents its European companions with a dilemma.
‘We have now a duty to not depart as a result of the void would instantly be stuffed by the Russians’, the diplomat mentioned.”
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