France begins talks to withdraw some of its troops from Niger

France is negotiating with the Nigerien junta on the withdrawal of French troops from Niger after the coup, Report informs via Le Monde.

Now there are almost 1,500 French troops in Niger, who were sent there to fight jihadists in the Sahel region.

According to an unnamed source of the newspaper, a month after the ruling junta denounced long-term agreements on military cooperation between France and Niger, "discussions began on the withdrawal of certain military groups"

"It is normal to discuss this since anti-terrorist cooperation is suspended," the source added.

Niger's military-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine said the parties are in contact to send French troops to France "as soon as possible".