Nigerien civil society coalition calls on France to withdraw its troops

The leader of a civil society coalition opposed to the French military presence in Niger assured on Tuesday that his movement would not give “one second” to France to withdraw its troops from Niamey, after the expiry of the deadline set by the regime.

“We will not give a second to the French forces on our territory at the end of this period”, declared Abdoulaye Seydou, coordinator of M62, which brings together a dozen associations and NGOs.

On August 3, the soldiers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum denounced in a press release a series of military agreements with France, including 1,500 soldiers who are still deployed in Niger for the anti-jihadist fight.

Some of these agreements are subject to a month’s notice, according to the text. France has still not officially recognized the military authorities who came to power in a coup on July 26, and considers that this denunciation has no legal basis.

“All the villages, all the surrounding municipalities will descend on the capital and we will get them out,” said Abdoulaye Seydou on Tuesday.