France fields 1,500 soldiers in Niger as part of an anti-jihadist deployment in the Sahel region and the United States 1,100 military personnel.

“While we give diplomacy a chance, we will also continue to evaluate any future steps that would prioritise both our diplomatic and security goals,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Nairobi.

He stressed Washington had “not made any significant change to our force postures and…we really want to see a diplomatic solution, a peaceful end” to the crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced that France would withdraw its ambassador from Niger shortly, with French troops leaving by year’s end.

The decision came two months after the July 26 coup ousted pro-Paris President Mohamed Bazoum.

Macron added that military cooperation was “over” and French troops would withdraw in “the months and weeks to come” with a full pullout “by the end of the year”.

The Pentagon had announced on September 7 that some US soldiers were being transferred as a precaution from a base in the capital Niamey to an air base to the north in the Agadez region.

“We’ll do an assessment of what it means for France to…have its troops withdraw from Niger, but right now, we’re just focused on continuing that move,” said Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson.

The United States said on September 18 it was resuming surveillance flights over Niger which had been halted by the coup, with other operations on hold.

Tens of thousands had taken to the streets of Niamey in support of the coup leaders and the demand for the French ambassador and the troops to leave, but Niamey remained calm on Monday after Macron’s announcement.

– ‘Historic moment’ –

Pan-Africanist militant Kemi Seba, a Franco-Beninois, arrived in Niamey on Monday and spoke out against the French “arrogance”.

“The people of Niger asked for the French army to leave as soon a possible,” he said.

“Macron in his full colonial arrogance says the French army will leave by the end of the year as if it was for him to decide when the colonialist should pack his bags.”

On the streets of the capital several Nigeriens hailed the French departure.

“The French military has to go immediately because really we don’t need them,” Marzouk Doulla told AFP in the Yantala area, near the embassy.

“They say they are helping us, we don’t seen any change.” 

Another local, Abdoulkari Hassane Maikano, agreed.

“It’s a long time since France brought its army here to Niger, but they have not been able to wipe out terrorism,” he noted.

The military regime welcomed the pullout saying, “This Sunday, we celebrate a new step towards the sovereignty of Niger.”

“This is a historic moment, which speaks to the determination and will of the Nigerien people,” it said in a statement read out on national television.

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Hollywood has been brought to a standstill by a combined writers and actors strike — primarily over pay and concerns over the impact of AI technology.

Stars such as Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) are unable to attend their premieres in Venice since they are barred from publicity work. 

“It’s not great, Hollywood is going through a rough time now,” said Chazelle, director of “La La Land” and “Babylon”, a few hours before the opening of the festival. 

“I hope it’s for the best, that something good will come out of it.I think some of the things people are striking for had to be addressed.It’s sad that it came to this but I understand.”

The strike has shut down massive productions including “Gladiator” and “Mission: Impossible” sequels and delayed releases including “Dune 2”, pushed back to March. 

Chazelle said he understood the anxiety around AI — which many fear could lead to computer-generated actors and scripts replacing humans — but he said some of the fears may be overblown.

“It’s important that we know exactly what we’re going to do with AI.It’s hard to predict at the moment,” he said. 

“I don’t think it will really change the art of cinema.People have some apocalyptic ideas about it.I agree it’s a major technological change like the internet or radio, and it will overturn a lot of things, but the art will survive.”

Chazelle, who has French and US nationality, said he would consider making a movie in France if Hollywood remained blocked, but jokingly added: “They have strikes in France, too!”

His jury will be judging a slate of 23 films, including entries from beloved directors Michael Mann, Sofia Coppola and Pablo Larrain of “Jackie” fame. 

Asked about his approach to leading the jury, Chazelle said with a laugh: “I haven’t earned the right to be a tyrant yet, so I’ll be democratic.”

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