French Troops Withdraw from Niger as Parisian Influence Fades

French troops have completed their withdrawal from Niger, marking the end of over a decade of French operations in the Sahel region. This is the third time in less than 18 months that French troops have been forced to leave a country in the Sahel, following military takeovers in Mali and Burkina Faso. The rise in anti-French sentiments and a shift towards closer ties with Russia have strained relations between France and the Sahel countries. The exit leaves US, Italian, and German soldiers remaining in Niger, while France's former ally, President Mohamed Bazoum, remains under house arrest.