What We're Watching
France to leave Niger
Activists protest at Nigerian Embassy against Ecowas' military intervention in Niger
SIPA USA
September 24, 2023
After a marked increase in anti-French sentiment following a military coup in Niger on July 26, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will immediately withdraw its ambassador and remove its 1,500 soldiers over the next few months. The decision follows months of anti-French protests – linked to an increased presence of Russian mercenaries in the country – and escalating tensions between Paris and the coup leaders. Just hours before the announcement, the junta banned "French aircraft" from flying over the country.
Macron said that he still regards Mohamed Bazoum, the democratically elected leader now held prisoner by the junta, as the country's "sole legitimate authority."
The move leaves France’s counter terrorism strategy in the Sahel region in tatters, after Paris was forced to withdraw its troops from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years following military coups. France’s exit from resource-rich Niger will leave a power vacuum that both Russia’s Wagner Group and Islamic extremists will seek to fill.
More For You
An employee works on the beverage production line to meet the Spring Festival market demand at Leyuan Health Technology (Huzhou) Co., Ltd. on January 27, 2026 in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province of China.
Photo by Wang Shucheng/VCG
For China, hitting its annual growth target is as much a political victory as an economic one. It is proof that Beijing can weather slowing global demand, a slumping housing sector, and mounting pressure from Washington.
Most Popular
Two Iranian motorcyclists stop in front of the burned East Tehran General Directorate of Tax Affairs headquarters in Tehran, Iran, on January 21, 2026.
Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto
30,000: The estimated death toll in Iran during the protests at the start of the year, per local health officials, underscoring the scale of the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on its own citizens.
The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters is seen in Geneva, Switzerland, January 28, 2025.
REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Seventy-eight years after helping found the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States has formally withdrawn from the agency, following through on a pledge President Donald Trump made on his first day back in office.
Mastercard Economic Institute's Outlook 2026 explores the forces redefining global business. Tariffs, technology, and transformation define an adaptive economy for the year ahead. Expect moderate growth amid easing inflation, evolving fiscal policies, and rapid AI adoption, driving productivity. Digital transformation for SMEs and shifts in trade and consumer behavior will shape strategies worldwide. Stay ahead with insights to help navigate complexity and seize emerging opportunities. Learn more here.
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.