France's diplomats in Niger are returning home soon while 1,500 French troops are pulling out before the year ends.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of the ambassador and other diplomats from Niger in an interview with a French television on Sunday.

Macron also said the military cooperation with the African country is over.

Niger's military leaders, which ousted the pro-Paris president two months ago, welcomed the announcement.

"This Sunday, we celebrate a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger," military rulers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July said in a statement.

In August, the junta had told French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country in 48 hours after they overthrew Bazoum.

The French government refused to comply, or to recognize the military regime as legitimate.

Earlier this month, Macron said the ambassador and his staff were "literally being held hostage" in the mission, eating military rations with no food deliveries.

He regularly speaks by phone to Bazoum, who remains under house arrest in the presidential residence.

Meanwhile, the junta had banned "French aircraft" from flying over the country's airspace and it was not clear how the French diplomats will fly out of Niger.

The French president has repeatedly spoken of making a historic change to France's post-colonial imprint in Africa but analysts say Paris is losing influence across the continent especially in the face of a growing Chinese, Turkish and Russian presence.

The Economic Community of West African States threatened military action to restore Bazoum but so far its threats, which were strongly supported by France, have not transferred into action.

WITH AFP