The military junta in power in Niger ordered, Thursday, August 31, the expulsion of the French ambassador in a letter addressed to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The soldiers who seized power in Niger on July 26 and have since held the overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum prisoner in the presidential palace have taken France, the former colonial power, as their preferred target.
The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) in power, headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, had asked Friday evening for the departure of Sylvain Itté, within forty-eight hours.
Just as the ultimatum ended on Sunday evening, thousands of pro-coup protesters demonstrated near the French military base, holding signs demanding the departure of French troops. Paris supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in any action to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Faced with the putsch and the intimidation of the military in Niamey, France opposed a position of firmness, arguing that it does not recognize the military regime. “The putschists have no authority” to demand the departure of the ambassador, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday evening. On Monday, Emmanuel Macron reiterated this position, considering that “the weakness that some have shown with regard to previous putschs has nourished regional vocations”, in reference to the military coups that have successively taken place in Mali, in Burkina Faso, Guinea, then Niger.
