Niger junta accuses France of deploying troops for possible intervention

FILE PHOTO: Thousands of Nigerians gather in front of the French army headquarters, in support of the putschist soldiers and to demand the French army to leave, in Niamey, Niger September 2, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou/File Photo

NIAMEY/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Niger's junta on Sunday accused France of deploying troops in several West African countries as part of preparations for a possible military intervention together with the regional bloc ECOWAS in Niger.

In a communique read on state television overnight, the junta also repeated its call for the departure of French troops from its territory - a major source of tension between the one-time allies since the July 26 ouster of president Mohamed Bazoum.