The military junta in power in Niger ordered the departure of the French ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, within forty-eight hours on Friday. France rejected the demand, stating that “the coup leaders do not have the authority” to make such a request.
While the military junta has been in power in Niger since the coup on July 26, they ordered the departure of the French ambassador to Niamey on Friday, August 25. Paris rejected the demand, stating that “the coup leaders do not have the authority” to make such a request.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government established by the coup leaders, the military regime requested the departure of Sylvain Itté, giving him 48 hours to leave the country.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France stated, “France has taken note of the demand from the coup leaders. The coup leaders do not have the authority to make this request, as the ambassador’s approval comes solely from the legitimate elected authorities of Niger.”
The statement from the coup leaders explained that they decided to withdraw their approval of Mr. Sylvain Itté and ask him to leave the Nigerien territory within forty-eight hours due to “the refusal of the French ambassador in Niamey to respond to the invitation” from the ministry “for a meeting” on Friday “and other actions by the French government contrary to the interests of Niger.”
The military regime in Niger has accused Paris of wanting to intervene militarily in Niger to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum, the overthrown elected President. They have also claimed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is an organization “at the service” of France, the former colonial power in the region.
ECOWAS has imposed heavy economic and financial sanctions on Niger after the coup and threatened the military regime with the use of armed force to restore constitutional order.
#Niger La junte donne 48 heures à l’ambassadeur de France pour quitter le territoire national et lui retire son agrément, dans ce communiqué pic.twitter.com/8aT5tqfLlR
— France TV Afrique (@France2Afrique) August 25, 2023
France has deployed 1,500 troops in Niger to assist President Bazoum’s regime in combating jihadist groups that have been plaguing Niger and the Sahel region for years. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not immediately available for comment.