France has stated that the Niger junta lacks the right to dismiss France’s ambassador, Sylvain Itte.
The Niger military gave ltte 48 hours to leave the country after he refused an offer to meet with the junta’s designated foreign minister.
The French government’s actions, according to the Foreign Ministry, are “contrary to the interests of Niger.”
But France said Niger’s “putschists have no authority” to expel its ambassador in Niamey, as quoted by Deutsche Welle.
“The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities,” Paris said, adding: “We are constantly evaluating the security and operating conditions of our embassy.”
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron issued a demand for the release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained on July 26, 2023, as a result of a military coup orchestrated by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard.
Macron also called for the restoration of democratic order in Niger, a former French colony whose elected government was deposed in a July military coup.
