Nearly a month after the overthrow of the president, Niger’s ruling junta on Friday August 25 ordered the French ambassador to the country, Sylvain Itté, to “leave Nigerien territory within forty-eight hours” and announced his decision to “withdraw [their] approval”. Other similar decisions could follow.
In a letter from the Niger Foreign Ministry sent to the Quai d’Orsay, the military justifies this request by “the refusal of the ambassador to respond to the ministry’s invitation” to Niamey, the capital, for an interview, and by “other acts of the French government, contrary to the interests of Niger”. Shortly after this announcement, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected this request, considering that “the putschists have no authority” for such a request. “The ambassador’s approval comes only from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities,” the Quai d’Orsay told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
A few hours later, AFP announced, on the basis of letters authenticated by the power in place, that the ambassadors of Germany, the United States and Nigeria were also subject to expulsion. Information that Le Monde had relayed before AFP published a denial, explaining that it was based on “a false letter whose authenticity had been confirmed by the communication service of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP , in power) who later retracted”.
The decision to expel the French ambassador follows a series of statements, decisions and demonstrations hostile to Paris since the Nigerien army overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who is still detained with part of his family on July 26. .
The military regime notably accused France of wanting to intervene militarily in Niger to put Mr. Bazoum back in place and claimed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was an organization “in the pay” of the France, former colonial power in the region. ECOWAS imposed heavy economic and financial sanctions on Niger after the coup and threatened the military regime with using armed force to restore constitutional order.
Emmanuel Macron calls for the “restoration of constitutional order”
Niger hosts a French military force as part of Paris’ counter-terrorism policy in the Sahel, an extension of Operation Barkhane, whose withdrawal from Mali was announced following the installation of a military regime. The evacuation of the 1,500 French soldiers from Niger is not, at this stage, planned, while their presence has been denounced on several occasions by the putschists.
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron again called for the “restoration of constitutional order” in Niger and the release of President Bazoum. “This coup is a blow against democracy in Niger, against the people of Niger and against the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Four days after the putsch, hundreds of supporters of the military who took power demonstrated in front of the French embassy in Niamey, causing damage. Protesters were dispersed with tear gas, and the regime accused Paris of using weapons, which the French government denied.
On August 3, the new masters of Niamey denounced a series of military agreements with France, a decision that Paris ignored, recognizing only Mohamed Bazoum as the legitimate ruler of Niger.
Organizations hostile to the French military presence in Niamey said this week that they intended to demonstrate from September 3 in front of the French military base in Niamey to demand the departure of the soldiers.
The military also accused France of having repeatedly violated the country’s airspace, which was closed by decision of the regime, and of having “released terrorists”, which according to them constitutes “a real plan to destabilize [ their country “. Accusations vigorously denied by the French government.
