Macron Sparks Debate Over France's Role in Nuclear Weapons Discussion
French President Emmanuel Macron has ignited controversy by calling for France's nuclear arsenal to be integrated into the European defense discourse
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced that Paris will end its military presence in Niger by the end of 2023, CNN reported.
He also announced that he has decided to bring back the country's Ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, to France
The development comes amid high tensions between the two nations since the military junta seized power in Niger in July.
Macron said, "We are putting an end to our military cooperation with the de facto authorities of Niger because they don’t want to fight terrorism anymore," CNN reported.
The decision to end the "cooperation" has been taken "because we are not there to deal with internal politics and be hostages of putschists,” the French President said while referring to the military group. He announced that the withdrawal would take place in the coming weeks.
"They will come back in an orderly manner in the weeks and months to come, and for that, we will coordinate with the putschists because we want this to happen calmly," Macron said.
Asked about the timeline of withdrawal, Macron said that there will not be any French soldiers in Niger by the end of 2023.
Macron also announced that he has decided to bring back the country's Ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, to France. He said, "France has decided to bring back its ambassador," CNN reported.
He further said, "In the coming hours, our ambassador along with several diplomats will return to France." His decision comes over a week after Macron said the French Ambassador was “literally being held hostage at the French embassy." He further said that the “food was prevented from being delivered” to the embassy in Niger's Niamey.
French troops have been stationed in Niger, many of whom were there to assist with counterterrorism missions, on the basis that Niger was a relatively stable democracy in a region that faces problems like political upheaval and terrorism, CNN has reported. Some 1500 French troops have been stationed in Niger.
Notably, France has not recognized Niger’s military authorities and stressed that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum remains the country’s only legitimate authority.
After the coup in July, Niger military junta has asked Sylvain Itte to leave the country. It later revoked his visa and ordered police to expel him. However, the diplomat continued to stay in Niger.
Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook
Write to us at editors@novinite.com
Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg
/ANI
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Tragedy struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa as Russia unleashed a devastating assault, claiming the lives of five people and leaving over 30 injured
Chinese President Xi Jinping is embarking on a six-day tour of Europe amidst escalating trade tensions with the European Union and concerns over China's support for Russia. The trip, Xi's first to the continent since 2019, includes visits to France, Serbi
During the World Economic Forum, United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken raised concerns over Russia's unprecedented pace of weapon production, comparing it to historical records, including the Cold War era of the USSR.
A recent report by a group of Western insurers has shed light on Russia's ability to circumvent Western oil sanctions, revealing that measures aimed at capping Russian oil prices have proven ineffective and have inadvertently fueled a surge in gray zone a
The impending enforcement of the new mobilization law, slated to target all able-bodied men between the ages of 25 and 59, has instilled a sense of dread and desperation among Ukrainians
A devastating Russian rocket attack on an educational institution in the picturesque seaside park of Ukraine's Black Sea port, Odesa, has left a trail of destruction and claimed the lives of four individuals
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022