A civil society group in Niger, known as M62, has issued a plea for France to recall its troops from the nation. Abdoulaye Seydou, leader of M62 and a representative of a civil society coalition, expressed his opposition to the French military presence on Monday.
Seydou emphasised that their movement would persist until the departure of French forces. Approximately 1,500 French soldiers have been stationed in Niger since Paris established the country as the focal point of its Sahel operation the previous year.
Seydou asserted, “Once this specified period has lapsed, we will not grant the French forces any additional time on our territory. This stance aligns with the CNSP’s stance. The residents of all villages and surrounding communes will converge on the capital to facilitate their removal.
Despite their claims of remaining in Niger, they will eventually depart from Niamey.” Abdoulaye Seydou serves as the M62 national coordinator.
On August 3, the ruling military in Niamey disapproved of a series of military agreements with France, some of which incorporate a one-month advance notice period. Recent months have witnessed a surge in fervent anti-French sentiment within France’s former colonies in West Africa.
