RABAT, December 13. /TASS/. The French military contingent still remaining in Niger will pull out of the West African country by December 22, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing Nigerien military authorities.

"By December 22, all French soldiers and their equipment will finally leave Niger," AFP quoted the Nigerien army as saying. According to a representative of the Nigerien authorities, speaking on a broadcast by ORTN television, 1,346 French military personnel and 80% of their equipment have already left the country. Currently, 157 members of the French contingent remain in Niger, 75 of whom are technical staff, the military added.

On July 26, a group of soldiers from Niger’s Presidential Guard (PG) rose in rebellion against President Mohamed Bazoum and announced his removal from power. After the coup, the rebels formed the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, headed by PG Commander General Abdourahmane Tchiani. Among the new authorities’ first decisions was to denounce agreements with Paris regarding the stationing of a French military contingent in Niger to combat extremist groups. At the request of the new Nigerien authorities, France began withdrawing its troops from the West African country on October 10. At that time, there were approximately 1,400 French troops in Niger, 1,000 in Niamey, the capital, and another 400 in Niger’s western provinces.