Macron says France will end its military presence in Niger and pull ambassador after coup

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country after its democratically elected president was deposed in a coup.

France had stationed thousands of troops in the region at the request of African leaders to fight jihadist groups.

France has maintained some 1,500 troops in Niger since the July coup, and had repeatedly refused an order by the new junta for its ambassador to leave, saying that France did not recognise the coup leaders as legitimate.

In an interview with France-2 television, Macron said that he spoke on Sunday to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, and told him that “France has decided to bring back its ambassador, and in the coming hours our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France.”

He added: “And we will put an end to our military cooperation with the Niger authorities.” Macron said the troops would be gradually pulled out, likely by the end of the year.

“We will consult with the putschists because we want things to happen calmly,” Macron said in an interview with France’s TF1 and France 2 television stations.

He noted that France’s military presence in Niger was in response to a request from Niger’s government at the time.

Macron says France’s ambassador to Niger ‘literally held hostage’

The military cooperation between France and Niger had been suspended since the coup. The junta leaders claimed that Bazoum’s government wasn’t doing enough to protect the country from the insurgency.

The junta in August gave French Ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave. After the deadline expired without France recalling him, the coup leaders then revoked his diplomatic immunity.

The junta is now under sanctions by Western and regional African powers.

Additional reporting by Reuterrs