The military Junta who had on the 26th of July seized control in Niamey have given the French ambassador 48 hours to leave Niger, the country’s minister of foreign affairs has confirmed.
The statement confirmed that faced with ‘the refusal of the French ambassador in Niamey to respond to an invitation’36 from the minister for a meeting Friday and “other actions of the French government contrary to the interests of Niger”, the authorities have decided to withdraw their approval of Sylvain Itte and ask him to depart within 48 hours.
Africa Today News, New York reports that tension has continued to heighten in the African sub region.
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The coup leaders have not been shy about their relationship with France.
Niger has accused French forces of freeing captured “terrorists” and breaching a ban on the country’s air space in an attempt to destabilise the country.
‘We are witnessing a real plan of destabilisation of our country, orchestrated by French forces,’ Abdramane said.
ECOWAS has imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niger following the coup and has threatened the use of armed force to restore constitutional order.
France has some 1,500 troops stationed in Niger to aid in fighting jihadist groups that have plagued the country along with the wider Sahel region for years.
This is coming barely 48 hours after the President of France, Emmanuel Macron called for the immediate release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum who was detained on the 26th of July, 2023, following a military coup led by the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard, Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Additionally, Macron urged the restoration of democracy in Niger, a former French colony whose elected government was overthrown in a military coup in July.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders ordered the activation of an ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger and stated that they would keep all options open for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Following the coup, former colonial powers France and the European Union withdrew their financial and security assistance to Niger, while the United States issued a warning that its own assistance would be at risk.