France pulls ambassador, troops out of Niger in wake of military coup

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday, during an interview with France's TF1 and France 2 television stations, that it would end its military cooperation with Niger and pull its 1,500 troops out of the African country by the end of the year.

"It will be organized over time, in the weeks to come - but it is the end of this cooperation because we are not here to participate in political life, to be hostages in some way to the putschists," he said of the decision to leave.

The announcement came months after Niger's presidential guard detained ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and presidential guard commander Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself leader of a new military junta.

Macron said he still regards Bazoum, currently being held prisoner by coup leader, as the country's legitimate leader and had informed him of France's decision to leave the country.