The long-awaited event has finally arrived, French soldiers based in Niger are leaving the country in accordance with the commitment made by President Emmanuel Macron. With already 282 soldiers having left Niger and a carefully prepared plan, General Eric Ozanne, commander of French forces in the Sahel, affirms that the objective will be achieved.
Departures are mainly by land, with a route to Chad, then probably to Cameroon, before repatriation to France. A route of more than 3,000 km which crosses sometimes hostile areas, where jihadist groups are active. Nevertheless, General Ozanne assures that the journey was perfectly planned and prepared by the Nigerien authorities, and that the local populations were well informed.
It is important to emphasize that Chad is only a transit country and not a complete re-articulation of the French system in Niger. General Ozanne insists that despite differences of opinion, relations between the French and Nigerien forces were maintained in a professional state of mind, with the common objective of security and the success of this withdrawal operation.
This gradual departure of French soldiers from Niger marks an important step in the reorganization of French forces in the Sahel and in the redistribution of resources to face the terrorist threat in the region. The Nigerien authorities also expressed their satisfaction with the cooperation with France and the progress of this withdrawal process.
Moving forward, it is important to remain attentive to the evolution of the situation in the Sahel, the way in which French forces are adapting to this new configuration and the impact that this could have on the security of the region. The challenges remain numerous, but the withdrawal of French soldiers from Niger marks a significant step in the search for lasting solutions to fight terrorism.