Sébastien Le Belzic / Photo credits: AFP
France is discussing with the junta, in power in Niger for more than a month, and could redeploy some of its 1,500 soldiers on the spot in another African country. A change of foot for Paris which refused until now to hear about it.
While the generals who took power demanded the departure of the French soldiers, “exchanges” took place between the Nigerien and French armies on the withdrawal of “certain French military elements” in Niger. The withdrawal could be done quickly as soon as security conditions are met. Paris is negotiating the final details with the ruling junta in Niamey. However, until now, France rejected the idea of a departure of part of its 1,500 soldiers deployed in the country. How can this change of course be explained?
French soldiers could be redeployed to Chad
Since July 26 and the fall of President Bazoum, French soldiers have simply been confined to their bases in Niamey, Ouallam and Ayorou on the border with Mali. For a month and the denunciation by the junta of the military cooperation agreements between the two countries, the French helicopters, drones and planes have been grounded. French soldiers no longer leave their barracks.
As the French Ministry of Defense explains, the mission of our troops is at a standstill, and it is therefore normal to discuss a withdrawal or rather a redeployment of some of these soldiers to Chad where is the main and last French base in the region. An air base with fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and drones.
At the height of Operation Barkhane, France deployed up to 5,500 men in the Sahel, but that was before this series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. From now on, we must therefore redeploy our troops and concentrate them on a single strong position which could therefore be Chad.