France President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will remove 1,500 troops from Niger by the end of the year following the country’s July military coup.
France had previously stationed thousands of troops in the Sahl region at the request of African leaders to fight jihadist groups.
Macron said he spoke on Sunday to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, and told him France has decided to bring back its ambassador, “and in the coming hours our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France.”
He maintained that Bazoum remains the “sole legitimate authority” in the country.
