French officials confirm ‘talks’ on Tuesday with Nigerien Junta military officials to withdraw about 1,500 troops from Niger following the military’s coup on the nation’s government in late July. The Nigerien military held the Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum, at the Presidential Palace with plans to prosecute the official for ‘high treason’ since the initial attack. President Bazoum is the tip of Niger’s long history with French colonialism, not garnering their independenc