<img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2023/02/19/1/0/7392/4928/1440/960/60/0/e9d5dbf_5521664-01-06.jpg" alt="Inline image" width="100%" height="auto"> <p class="article__paragraph ">The ongoing withdrawal of French troops participating in an anti-jihadist mission in Niger will be complete by December 22, the Sahel country's army said on Tuesday, December 12.</p> <p class="article__paragraph ">Niger's military rulers scrapped defense agreements with France, its traditional security partner, as relations nosedived following a July coup. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/10/20/french-troops-to-leave-niger-by-year-s-end-says-general_6191450_4.html">forces would leave by the year's end</a>, with a first contingent exiting the country in October. "By December 22, all French soldiers as well as their logistics will have left Niger for good," the Nigerien army said in a statement. The withdrawal has so far been carried out "in a coordinated manner and safely," it added.</p> <p class="article__paragraph ">According to Nigerien media, 1,346 French troops and 80% of their logistical equipment have left, with only 157 soldiers remaining. Niger's new rulers have rowed back on security cooperation with Western partners agreed under ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, while forging closer ties with its military-ruled neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.</p> <section class="catcher catcher--favoris"> <div class="catcher__content"><span class="catcher__title catcher__title--hide">Read more</span><span class="catcher__desc"> <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2023/12/06/niger-chooses-russia-over-europe_6318064_124.html" class="js-article-read-also catcher--favoris__link" data-premium="">Niger chooses Russia over Europe</a> </span> </div> </section> <p class="article__paragraph ">All three Sahel nations are battling long-running and bloody insurgencies waged by rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.</p>  <p class="article__paragraph ">Neighboring West African countries agreed in Nigeria last week to maintain sanctions imposed against Niger over the coup, making any relief contingent on a speedier transition to civilian rule.</p> <section class="catcher catcher--favoris"> <div class="catcher__content"><span class="catcher__title catcher__title--hide">Read more</span><span class="catcher__desc"> <span class="icon__premium"><span class="sr-only">Article réservé à nos abonnés</span></span> <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2023/11/25/france-s-military-presence-in-africa-faces-an-uncertain-future_6288990_124.html" class="js-article-read-also catcher--favoris__link" data-premium="1">France's military presence in Africa faces an uncertain future</a> </span> </div> </section> <section class="author"> <p class="author__detail"> <span class="author__name">Le Monde</span> </p> </section> 

After relations between the two countries nosedived, France said it would withdraw all its troops by the end of the year. Nigerien media has reported that 80% of the French forces have already left.{ai:summary}<p>French troops participating in an anti-jihadist mission in Niger will complete their withdrawal by December 22. Niger's new rulers have ended defense agreements with France and are forging closer ties with Mali and Burkina Faso. All three Sahel nations are battling insurgencies. #foreignaffairs</p>