After several weeks of impasse with the Niger Republic coupists, France has decided to withdraw its ambassador and troops.

President Emmanuel Macron announced this decision on Sunday, declaring that France would immediately recall its ambassador from Niger, with plans to withdraw its military contingent later, ending two months of standoff with the Niger military junta. 

In an interview on French TV, Mr Macron revealed the details of the withdrawal, stating, “France has decided to withdraw its ambassador. In the next hours, our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France.” 

In a move that further strained relations, Niger’s military rulers recently imposed a ban on “French aircraft” from entering the country’s airspace, according to the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) website. It remained unclear whether this would impact the safe departure of the French ambassador.

Mr Macron also emphasised that military cooperation between France and Niger was now “over,” with French troops set to withdraw gradually over the coming months, culminating in a full pullout “by the end of the year.” 

“In the weeks and months to come, we will consult with the putschists because we want this to be done peacefully,” Mr Macron said. 

France maintains around 1,500 soldiers in Niger as part of its anti-jihadist efforts in the Sahel region. Mr Macron noted that the post-coup authorities in Niger had signalled their reluctance to continue the fight against terrorism, forcing France’s planned withdrawal of its troops.

The diplomatic tensions escalated when Niger’s military leaders demanded that French ambassador Sylvain Itte leave the country after they overthrew Mr Bazoum on July 26. However, a 48-hour ultimatum for his departure, issued in August, passed without compliance from the French government, which also refused to recognize the military regime as legitimate.

Mr Macron revealed earlier this month that the ambassador and his staff were “hostages” in the mission, subsisting on military rations without receiving food deliveries. Throughout this period, he reiterated France’s stance that Mr Bazoum remained the “sole legitimate authority” in Niger and had been targeted by the coup due to his courageous reform efforts and political motivations.

The coup against Mr Bazoum marked the third such upheaval in West Africa in recent years, following similar events in Mali and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022, which also led to the withdrawal of French troops. 

Mr Macron’s ambitions to establish a special alliance with Niamey and use it as a pivotal location for France’s regional presence were significantly undermined by the Niger coup. The United States also maintains a significant troop presence in the country, further complicating the situation.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had threatened military action to restore Mr Bazoum to power, a stance strongly supported by France.