Title: The withdrawal of French soldiers from Niger is taking place in a coordinated manner
Introduction :
The process of withdrawal of French soldiers deployed in Niger continues in accordance with announcements made by President Emmanuel Macron. General Eric Ozanne, commander of French forces in the Sahel, affirmed during a press conference that the objective of a departure of 1,400 French soldiers by December 31 will be met. The withdrawal is being carried out in coordination with the Nigerien authorities, in a climate of professionalism and compromise.
A departure in several stages:
The withdrawal of French troops from Niger is being carried out in several stages. So far, 282 soldiers have already left the country. Two large convoys were organized for the transport of non-sensitive equipment. Large logistics flows will begin next week, with the transport of 2,500 containers out of the country. This process is carried out with an outsourced and civilian carrier to ensure the transparency of the transfer.
A complex journey:
The withdrawal of French soldiers from Niger will be mainly by land via Chad, and will then probably be repatriated to France via Cameroon. This route of more than 3,000 km includes certain hostile areas where jihadist groups are active. Nevertheless, General Ozanne assured that the journey had been perfectly planned and prepared by the Nigerien authorities, with effective communication with the population.
Coordinated disengagement:
After months of sometimes tense negotiations between Paris and Niamey, the tone is now one of appeasement between the military leaders. General Ozanne stressed that despite some disagreements, the disengagement is taking place in a state of mind of professionalism and the search for common solutions. For his part, Colonel Mamane Sani Kiaou, chief of staff of the Nigerien land army, declared that everything is going very well and that an agreement has been signed by the two parties.
Conclusion :
The withdrawal of French soldiers from Niger is taking place in accordance with the commitments made by President Macron. This process, planned and coordinated with the Nigerien authorities, aims to ensure the safety of soldiers during their passage through Chad before their possible repatriation to France. Despite the logistical and security challenges, the joint efforts of the two countries make it possible to move forward in this withdrawal process in an efficient and professional manner.