French troops to leave Niger by year's end

The commander of France's forces in the Sahel said on Friday, October 20, that 1,500 French soldiers would leave Niger by December 31, a timeframe announced by French President Emmanuel Macron late last month, Report informs via Le Monde.

"The objective of presidential announcements of a departure on December 31 will be met," said French General Eric Ozanne at a joint press conference with Niger's Colonel Mamane Sani Kiaou in the capital Niamey. The Nigerien colonel added that 282 soldiers had already left the country "as of today."