The French army has stated that it has started the withdrawal of its troops from Nigeria Republic, in response to the order issued by the military government of the African country.
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AFP reported that the first French troops has already left the country referencing a spokesman for the French chief of staff.
Niger’s military leadership had on Monday announced that the 1,400 strong French contingent would start leaving the country by Tuesday.
Around 1,000 French troops were stationed in Niamey, with another 400 deployed at two forward bases in the north-west, near Mali and Burkina Faso, a hotbed of insurgent activity.
A convoy of soldiers with trucks transporting equipment and armoured vehicles from western Niger arrived in the capital Niamey around midday on Tuesday, an AFP journalist saw.
There has been no official word on where the French convoys are ultimately headed.
According to security sources, they are expected to head towards Chad via more than 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) of roads and tracks to reach the capital N’Djamena, where French forces in the Sahel command are based.
The withdrawal was expected to cause logistical headaches for the French, with few safe routes out of a region plagued by myriad jihadist groups.
Niger’s land borders with Benin and Nigeria have been closed since the July 26 coup.
Niamey forbids French flights over its territory.
A French defence source said a first group of soldiers considered a priority for evacuation for health or humanitarian reasons flew out of Niger on Monday.
France’s ambassador to Niger was also given his marching orders by the leaders of the coup that toppled French-backed President Mohamed Bazoum.
He returned to Paris on September 27, prompting celebrations in Niamey.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
