PARIS (Reuters) – France is to finish its navy cooperation with Niger and pull its 1,500 troops out of the African nation by the tip of the 12 months after a navy coup there in July, French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Sunday.
The transfer offers a hammer blow to France’s counter-terrorism operations within the Sahel and France’s affect within the area, however Macron mentioned France would “not be held hostage by the putchists.”
“France has determined to recall its ambassador and finish its navy cooperation with Niger,” Macron mentioned in an interview with France’s TF1 and France 2 tv stations.
Macron mentioned he nonetheless regarded democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum, at present held prisoner by the coup leaders, because the nation’s professional chief and had knowledgeable him of his resolution.
(Reporting by Sybille de la Hamaide and Michel Rose; Modifying by Richard Lough and Sharon Singleton)
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