France has indicated it will not withdraw its troops from Niger until it confirms the fate of the displaced president Mohammad Bazum. This information comes from Al Arabiya, a television channel that monitors political developments in the region.
The report suggests Paris is in ongoing talks with the rebels who currently hold power in Niger. The discussions are said to involve the removal of French artillery and aircraft from Niger public space, a step that would reshape the military footprint in the country and the wider Sahel region.
On 6 September the France24 channel reported that Paris plans to pull back a portion of its military aviation assets, including drones, from Niger. The coverage notes that French authorities intend to reduce the number of drones deployed in Niger and to scale down aircraft that have been described as essential to countering jihadist threats in the area.
Before this, the Nigerien authorities reportedly demanded a timetable for the withdrawal of French troops. The forces involved form part of Operation Barkhane, a long running French counterterrorism mission that has previously operated across Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. In Niger, the number of French soldiers is estimated at about 1.5 thousand, and the French General Staff has signaled that only a portion of them would be brought home in the near term given evolving regional security concerns.
Earlier tensions escalated after Niger deprived the French ambassador of diplomatic immunity, a move that underscored the high stakes between Paris and Niamey amid shifting alliances and security responsibilities in the region. The situation remains fluid as both sides assess security needs, sovereignty considerations, and long term regional stability. Analysts note that any withdrawal plan will be tied to the progress of negotiations with Niger’s authorities and the security assessments of multinational partners operating in the Sahel. Observers emphasize that the outcome could influence future security arrangements in neighboring countries and the broader strategy for counterterrorism operations in the region. Updated reporting from multiple outlets indicates that a carefully staged drawdown could accompany a transition period, with international partners seeking to balance rapid security requirements against the imperative to respect Niger’s sovereignty and electoral legitimacy. The evolving dialogue continues to shape the posture of foreign troops in Niger and the strategic calculus for Western defense teams that remain engaged in the Sahel.