The last French troops withdrew from Niger on Friday, marking an end to more than a decade of anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel. France has been forced to pull out of three countries in the region in less than 18 months, following military takeovers that have seen Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso all turn away from their former colonial ruler.
"Today's date ... marks the end of the disengagement process of French forces in the Sahel," said Niger army lieutenant Salim Ibrahim.
