France President Agrees To Pull Troops from Niger Republic, Also End Military Pacts

President Emmanuel Macron has said France will withdraw its ambassador and end all military co-operation with Niger republic, following a coup.

Mr. Macron said. France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next hours our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France.

He added that military co-operation was “over” and French troops would leave in “the months to come”.

Mr. Macron said France would “not be held hostage by the putschists,” speaking to France’s TF1 and France 2 television stations.

Mr. Macron said he still regarded ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, currently held prisoner by the coup leaders, as the country’s “sole legitimate authority” and had informed him of his decision.

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Niger is one of several former French colonies in West and Central Africa where the military has recently seized control – it follows Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and chad. The latest coup was in Gabon in August.

The Military Junta which seized power in Niger in July welcomed the move, saying it is celebrating a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger.

There are about 1,500 French soldiers in the landlocked West African country helping to fight Islamist militants.

The US also has more than 1,000 troops in Niger but these have not been asked to leave.

Mr. Macron’s statement also comes hours after Niger’s coup leaders banned “French aircraft” from flying over the country.