French military convoys started leaving bases in the Niger's southwest, further undermining France's standing in the conflict-torn Sahel region.
Pick-up vehicles and armored personnel carriers filled with French soldiers crossed the outskirts of capital Niamey on Tuesday, October 10, according to a
In a declaration on state television, the military administration asked for the support of the Nigeriens for the troop withdrawals, saying that a portion of the 1,500 French soldiers would be traveling hundreds of kilometers by road to Chad. Up until now, about 1,400 French soldiers and airmen were stationed in Niger toalongside Niger's previous government against militants.
The French soldiers were sent to Niger as part of a larger Sahel campaign against militants. However, since the new leadership started pressuring them to leave, French troops were facing sporadic food supplies and frequent anti-French protests outside their Niamey base. In September, under intense pressure from the military officers who took over in July, France decided to remove its troops in Niger, marking the end of France's military relationship with its former colony..
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